CHAPTER SIX: THE CHOSEN ONE

As they opened the massive doors, they narrowly missed the curses that were rebounding off the tall marble walls. They stepped into the deserted main entrance hall with their wands poised to strike, not knowing what to expect. Harry took out his map and noted once more that it was too long to wait for the others. He also noted that he could see on the very edge of the map in the door in front of them, there were nine death eaters, and so did Ron and Hermione as they peered over his shoulder. Voldemort, as it was shown was stationary, presumably sitting- waiting for something or someone.

They decided to take on three each, because Harry said they were grouped in threes and it would be easy- to easy.

"ALAHORMA!" They exclaimed and the doors burst open. The trio battled the three groups individually, which caught them off guard and soon the death eaters retreated. Ron, Harry and Hermione had disarmed them all and placed them in a pile at the open doors, away from their owners.

Voldemort got up from his seat. The death eaters were standing behind him now. Ron and Hermione stood on the other side at the doorway. Harry faced him.

"So the famous Harry Potter has come to challenge me once again." The death eaters snickered, "Well I'm sorry to say Harry Potter, but how can you duel- ' Voldemort flung Harry's wand onto the floor between him and Ron, 'if you have no wand?" His sneer could have reached both his ears.

Harry's temper was rising. He could not really explain it, but he could feel something growing inside him self like, like- power.

"So, I guess the famous Harry Potter will finally be out of my way. Isn't that right? Answer me!" and Voldemort pointed his wand and once more Harry felt the terrible pain of the Circuitous Curse and the wish of the needles and nails to go away. "I am going to kill you now because everytime we duel – you escape. And that's not part of the game. That is cheating and I don't like cheaters. You will die here and you will die tonight. In front of your friends and in front of my death eaters. Goodbye Harry Potter."

Harry's head was spinning feveriously, but he stood his ground. And as he saw the red appear from his wand, he didn't know what made him do it. He swung his right arm back behind his head and threw it forward, straight at the deadly curse. What he saw connecting from his palm to Voldemorts curse was once again, the golden line that connected both their wands the previous year.

Voldemort and Harry rose off the ground. Harry did not feel scared, he felt powerful. But Voldemort looked petrified.

Harry knew what was to happen and did not want to witness it again. It already hurt as it was. He pushed all his strength to push the dot to Voldemorts wand. As he did this, he saw the teachers being led in by Dumbledore. Harry started to see the hand, which Voldemort gave to Wormtail as a reward emerge and pulled away. They both landed on their feet. But before Voldemort could respond, Harry did the same motion (which now made the teachers gasp) and threw him against the chair, which Voldemort had sat previously.

He stood up, but did not raise his wand. "Again Harry Potter, you have escaped with your life. But let it be heard it will be your last time. You shall draw your last breath before you leave Hogwarts. You will DIE!" With that he and the death eaters dissapperated, along with their wands.

Harry, who was so weak from the power in which he found, started to stumble towards to his friends and teachers. But he had drained all his energy and passed into what he could barely make out – Professor Snapes arms.

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He did not need to open his eyes to know that he was in a carriage heading back to school he heard the other occupants conversing in low voices. Professor Dumbledore sounded directly across from him. Professor Snape was next to him and it seemed that Harry's head was in Professor McGonagall's lap.

"…He's got the power. He's only a boy, Albus." Harry felt her shaking as she talked, but he did not care.

"I told you two this might happen. Harry has powers no other wizard has. Not even Merlin."

"But how did he get these powers?" McGonagall asked again shakily.

"Well it started when…"

Dumbledore did not get to finish because Harry sat up, looked at all three teachers. "I do not want to know." He looked out the window and no one spoke for the rest of the journey. Harry ignored that Snape kept looking at him and McGonagall kept looking at Dumbledore.

Upon arrival, McGonagall insisted that he go to the infirmary. But he said no; he would prefer his own bed. Ron and Hermione headed back with him to the Gryffindor tower to go to a restful sleep, thanks to a strong sleeping draught given to him by Snape.

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Over the next few days the castle was at unease, with children being scared and still half the Slytherins still in the hospital wing. But by the end of the week, they were all out.

By the end of the second week, somehow, no doubt a Slytherin leaked out Harry's new power and no one wanted to go near him. Even some of the Gryffindors, especially the younger ones, doubted his goodness.

Harry decided to ask Dumbledore to speak to the students for him. He went through the gargoyle and up the spiral staircase to the large oak door in which he knocked smartly.

"Come in." As he entered, he immediately tried to turn around and walk right back out. But he could not because Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, in his pinstripe suit, took his hand shaking it while asking him a hundred questions. Harry chose to be rude. He ignored him, took back his hand and without a word walked past him. Harry was still angry at Fudge with his reaction to Voldemort's return last year.

"Professor, can I please speak to you-' he looked at Fudge with grimace '- alone?"

Dumbledore, who had the expression of not having a good meeting with Fudge, stood up and said "Certainly, Harry. I guess that concludes our meeting Minister." With the flick of his wand the door flew open. "Good day."

Fudge sensed that he should leave and walked towards the doors. "I'll come by same time next week Albus. Remember what I said," And he left.

Dumbledore sat down and sighed. "That is the most stubbernist man I've ever met. Well he is gone for the moment. How are you Harry?"

"I'm not too good sir. I keep having those dreams again. Voldemort is so angry. But that is not why I'm here. Sir can you tell the school I am not going to use the powers on anyone except Voldemort?"

"Yes Harry I will. But hopefully you will not have to use these powers ever again. Are you ready to talk about it?" Dumbledore's twinkled returned.

"No not yet. But when I am I will return." Harry stood up and Dumbledore followed suit.

"Harry before you go, I unfortunately have to give you the bad news before Fudge comes back next week to tell me the further details. You will have to attend a hearing at the Ministry of Magic soon and once again relive what happened last year and on Halloween. Okay?" Harry just simply nodded and walked out. He pushed it out of his mind because he did not want to think of it.

Dumbledore did inform the school about Harry's new power, but not that he would ever use it again if necessary. In any case, that was enough. Everyone turned back to their normal selves, except of course the Slytherins. They kept jeering Harry on, hoping he would explode and use the powers on someone, but he just ignored them with the help of Ron and Hermione.