A/N

Ears91 - Anything with Luna is fun!

Pele1, and Cho Look Alike, and Coke Freak, and - Thanks!

White Rose - Never underestimate the power of the cackle

Samilia - Everything will be okay in the end. I hate unhappy endings.

David Potter - No doubt

Isabella grace - LOL

Keebler-elmo - yep and I really hate the term soul-mates, It's sooooooo sappy but it fits.

Freckled Angel - Read this chapter ... explanation ahead.

Chapter 22

Harry was released the next morning and per instructions he was to wait in the headmaster's office until Dumbledore's arrival within minutes.

"'Lo Fawkes."

The phoenix called out to Harry and ruffled it's feathers at his approach. He hadn't much time to visit the legendary bird that had saved his life twice in his second year, and had used the powers of his tears to heal his injuries less than two years ago incurred in the last contest of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

He stroked the colorful feathers along its back, "Guess you haven't heard. I'm possessed again ... almost killed Snape. Can't see as how they can keep me here at Hogwart's much less let me teach anymore. Probably toss me in the deepest dungeons at Azkaban."

He saw a tray of crackers underneath the perch and gave Fawkes one to nibble up. "Think you can come see me from time to time, fella?"

"And why would that be necessary?"

Harry turned and saw Professor Dumbledore standing at the door to the office.

"Morning Professor."

"And a good morning to you. I hear tell of some excitement while I was at the Ministry."

Harry hung his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I almost killed Professor Snape. I used an Unforgivable Curse on him as well."

The professor walked around his desk and sat, "I've heard a different tale from Professor McGonagall. Of how our potions master threatened Miss. Granger?"

Harry shook his head, "I was almost a loon when she questioned me. I had a boggart in class and found out I wasn't scared much of dementor's anymore ... it was the veiled archway."

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully.

"It had put me in a bad mood and then I had Potions tutoring that afternoon." He walked around to the front of the desk and sat while he collected his thoughts. "Snape was being a pra ... he was yelling at me like he always does, but this time I yelled back and drew my wand without thinking. He threatened me and then he threatened Hermione ... and ..."

"You were furious?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry squeezed his eyes shut and nodded, "It was like a white light went off in my head ... and he took over."

Dumbledore reached into his candy dish, withdrew a lemon drop and popped it into his mouth. He pushed the dish up so Harry could help himself, but he declined.

"What did he offer you?"

His green eyes snapped open behind his glasses in shock, "How ... "

Dumbledore smiled, "Harry, Voldemort has tried to kill you four times, and once through a intermediary, he has tried to subvert you, he has tried to get at you through your friends, and classmates and through the Ministry. One of the few strategies he has yet to try is through bribery, and by using Professor Snape as he did, it was easily deduced."

"Power."

"You have that, already."

"I what?"

The headmaster leaned forward. "I said you already have power, or the ability to have whatever it is you desire out of life. You are very smart when you desire to be, you have cunning and guile. You have friends in high places and one day I would not be surprised if you achieved the lofty goal as Minister of Magic."

"But I ..."

"Think ahead, Harry. You wish to be an Auror, correct?"

He nodded.

"And if in that pursuit you fulfill the prophecy and defeat Voldemort once and for all? You will not be a student forever. People, whether or not they want to believe it, look up to you and a not surprisingly large number already follow you. I refer of course to your D.A. club of last year."

"But that was because of Umbridge."

The headmaster shook his head slightly, "Not entirely, Harry. She was the catalyst that propelled you into the position that you are currently in. And as a Assistant Professor you are building an even larger following. A good majority of the students at Hogwart's see you as their leader now in the absence of their adult role models."

The conversation was turning from one uncomfortable subject to another for Harry.

"I am not encouraging you to run for office. However I am saying the potential is there for you. The power is yours for the taking and Voldemort is beginning to realize this. So it could not be his intention to offer you something you already possess."

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Tell me everything he said, Harry. Only in this way may I assist you."

"He ... he wants to ... us to combine our power."

It was time for Dumbledore to look confused. "What would he have to gain by having you as a Death Ea ..." he paused and looked intensely at the boy in front of him. "This is very important, Harry. How did you feel when he was ... merged with you."

He noticed how Dumbledore avoided the word possessing, and he didn't want to tell.

The headmaster saw his reluctance. "Harry, I believe I know what triggered Voldemort's ability to possess you and I am quite sure we can avoid it in the future. Your position at Hogwart's has not changed."

Harry considered only for a moment longer. "I felt good, better than good ... invincible. He pointed it out to me. Said we could rule, and he said I could have Hermione at my side and destroy my enemies and nobody would ever laugh at me again and ..."

"Enough, Harry. Have a lemon drop."

He looked at the headmaster like he had gone insane. "I don't want any candy!"

"It it not any candy. Why do you think I pass them out to people that are upset?"

Harry looked at him and down to the dish. They looked like ordinary lemon drops.

"They are laced with a subtle form of calming elixir. Not enough to do any harm. And I find the sucking motion is quite distracting from hard to think through issues."

Harry grabbed a handful and popped them into his mouth.

"First, I want to assure you Professor Snape is recovering nicely at St. Mungo's and should return to class after a day off. He was the first to alert me to the tell-tale signs of your possession and he bears no ill will for the use of the Cruciatus Curse. However he wants me to relay to you the deduction in house points for losing your temper will not be taken away."

Harry was visibly relieved and didn't care about the points.

"Second, in regards to what triggered this event."

"My temper." offered Harry.

"Indeed. I will provide you with a supply of lemon drops of which you will imbibe when the occasion arises. You must master your emotions, Harry. If there is one Achilles heel that you possess it is your inability to rationally think through certain situations.

"I believe it is extreme fury, the same kind that lives inside Voldemort and fuels his quest, that connects you to him through your scar."

Harry nodded.

"You must learn to center your anger and divert it to a more useful endeavor. I believe Miss Granger can help you in this regard."

He looked up, confused.

"I will speak to her and see if we can come up with something to divert your anger," he smiled.

"Lastly, You and Professor Snape need to come to terms with your mutual animosity."

Harry fall backwards in a defeated motion and raised his hand as if to argue, but Dumbledore cut him off.

"It is in yours and the Order's best interest if you can at least put aside your differences until the matter with Voldemort is settled."

He remembered this very same speech that Dumbledore gave in the Hospital wing as he watched on as Sirius and Snape begrudgingly agreed to work together for a greater cause. He nodded, but not happily.

"Now I believe you have some classes to teach, but do stop by and say hello to Miss Granger for me as I will catch, what was it she said ... oh yes 'ten kinds of heck if you are held for anything Professor Snape caused in her regard.' And I for one would be frightened. She will be a very formidable Witch when she graduates."

Harry chuckled more at Hermione actually telling Dumbledore off about anything, than him actually being scared of her. He got up and made his way to the door.

"And Harry, do not forget that you are who you want to be. Be a leader."

*************************

"He told you I said that?" her face reddened. "Well it's not exactly true ... I didn't say 'heck'."

Professor Flitwick opened the door to his Charms class. "Miss Ganger if you are through saying good morning to Mr. Potter, the students are waiting for you and I believe you have a class of your own, Professor Potter. Hmmm?"

Harry looked at his watch and saw that he was five minutes late to his seventh-year Defense class. After giving his girl a peck on the lips, he raced the length of hallway and down the stairs to class.

Sliding through the doors he was greeted with looks of fear and happiness from different students. "Sorry I'm late, just got out of ... what?"

Cho Chang was closest to the door and obviously to him. "Harry, she paused sheepishly. "It's gotten around school that you finally lost it and did in Snape yesterday in Potions."

He was about to make a joke out of it, to Snape's detriment, but remembered what Dumbledore had to say and instead he bit his tongue in frustration.

"There was an accident it my Potions lesson, yesterday. Snape took the brunt of it and had to go to St. Mungo's. I regret having to say he will be back bright and early tomorrow morning."

He turned and walked to the front of the class. "Now this, of course didn't keep any of you from finishing your two scrolls about incorporating the seventeen uses of ordinary table salt in defense against an attacking Sewer Slug."

A few groans were heard from the back row, mostly by Hufflepuff's. A Ravenclaw wouldn't be caught dead with out their finished homework.

***********************

"It's not something that I would like to relive over and over, Ron!"

His friend looked away and then right back again. "Look I know it must have been horrible with you-know-who inside your head and all, but wasn't it even the least bit satisfying ..."

Hermione jumped on him, figuratively, "Ron Weasley, I did not tell you the truth to have you drumming away at poor Harry. He's been through enough without having to tell you if he's got his jollies off torturing Snape!"

She huffed and sat back in her chair with her advance transfiguration book. "And shouldn't you be studying for your N.E.W.T.'s"

He turned unbelievingly to Hermione. "They're not 'till next year!"

She rolled her eyes upward. "There's a reason they call them Nastily Exhausting Wizard's Tests, you know. If you thought your O.W.L. year was tough," she paused. "Best to get your studying done now and then review next year."

Ron continued to look at her like she was completely bonkers. "Harry, fancy a game of chess?"

Harry shook his head, "I'm behind last night's studies, and I've missed my Charms lesson because of Snape. I'm too backed up."

Hermione looked at Ron with a very satisfied smile.

He gave up and opened the portrait, almost tripping over a orange blur in the process.

Hermione squealed, "Crookshanks! Where have you been? Naughty kitty for scaring me like that." She stroked his fur and checked him out for any injuries.

"I thought I hadn't seen him for a few days." commented Harry.

Finding her cat was safe and secure Hermione scooted back up to the desk and scratched Crookshanks behind the ears. "He's miserable since I've moved in. He misses Ginny. I bet that's where he's been."

Harry really had noticed the cat had been gone to his relief. Waking up with a furball on your chest isn't the most calming of experiences.