IMPORTANT NOTICE:

            I will be away from a computer from June 22-July 13 before having a half day on July 13 and leaving again on the 14th for five days. So that basically means no updates. Sorry. I tried to make this chapter longer for those reasons. And I know that OotP has just come out. So I was just wondering if people would still read this after reading the new book.

Changed Perspectives

            "Where—how the hell did you find him?" Harry asked, completely shocked at the appearance of the stunned Wormtail in front of his face. He smiled widely at the thought of Sirius finally being proved innocent.

            Draco grinned at the happy smile going across Harry's face. "You can say that it is all due to Pansy that he was captured. We found to Hufflepuffs arguing over what to do with it." Harry turned and whirled to grip Pansy in a tight hug.

            "I can't thank you enough for this." He said into her hair. "I can't believe it. Do you know what this means! I might never have to go back to the Dursleys again!"

            Pansy's face brightened with a wide grin as she winked at Draco. "I'm not the only one to thank, Harry. I believe that it was Draco that scared the Hufflepuffs enough to get the boy to hand the rat over. I think that Drake deserves a very big thank you, don't you?" This time she winked at Harry, whose eyes widened considerably. "Oh, come on, Harry. I think Draco deserves a great big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Don't you agree everyone?" she asked at the other Slytherins around her.

            A chorus of "uh-huh"s came from around Harry, excepting Draco who was too busy staring at Harry—awaiting his reaction. Harry looked nervously at Draco before saying, "I don't think Drake would want me to do that," to Pansy.

            Pansy looked abashed at this statement. "I think you underestimate your charms, Harry Potter." Draco glared at her at this statement, thinking that this made his 'slight' crush on Harry obvious to all. Pansy just continued on. "I mean really, Harry. I think that painting over there on the wall of that wizard over there is just gaping in awe of you. And you know that that portrait rarely moves at all. I believe I actually see him turn his head every time you pass by."

            As soon as Harry turned to look for whatever painting Pansy had been talking about, she pushed the green eyed boy forward in Draco; whose arms came immediately went around his body to hold him upright. Harry blushed profusely at the close proximity of the blonde's body. "Going to thank me at all, Harry?" Draco whispered hotly into his ear. Harry shivered and looked into Draco's eyes as they were roughly the same height of almost six feet.

            Green eyes widened even more if that was even possible and Harry hugged Draco loosely. But before he could pull away, Draco pulled him tightly against his chest. "Is that all the thanks I get?" Harry hesitated before placing a tentative kiss on Draco's cheek and blushing furiously.

            "Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever seen?" Pansy asked Blaise as Harry pulled away from Draco to stand next to him still blushing slightly. Draco had a look of happiness on his face.

            "I'd reckon that they are sweet on each other." Gwen said watching as Harry stared at the ground nervously refusing to look at Draco. "No, I have to change that opinion. I am almost completely positive that they are sweet on each other."

            Pansy grinned. "So finally someone else takes notice." The others looked to her. "I was wondering how long it would take you all to realize what was going on between the two of them. But we'll have to talk about that later." She called to Draco and Harry, "Everyone will be coming out from dinner soon so we should go."

            Draco nodded. "Can we stop by the kitchens though first? I'm starving. Catching evil traitors seems to give me a bit of an appetite."

            "Either that or the thanks that you receive for it," Pansy whispered into his ear. "You owe me. Big time." They both looked over at Harry as he picked Wormtail up by his tail and swung him around as they walked to the kitchens (of course they knew the location by now being that Harry had shown them one day after a quidditch practice).

            "So who are we going to give the rat to?" Vince asked.

            "I would say Padfoot and Moony," Harry said as he entered the kitchens through the food bowl painting, "but the full moon was yesterday so they wouldn't be here. You know, with the wolfsbane potion Moony turns into a wolf so Padfoot just keeps him company. I don't really want to disturb them. I guess we could just take it to Snape. I mean they are—well, at least Moony is—really busy with teaching and all the other things going on and I don't want to have to wait until tomorrow to turn in the rat."

            "Do mine ears deceive me*?" The question came from the other side of the kitchens by a group of tables by the pantries where a crowd of house elves were serving five people. It was Fred Weasley speaking from his spot around a table with George, Seamus, Dean, and Neville. "I thought I just heard the names Padfoot and Moony being used. And the way the name Moony was spoken makes me think that he is in actuality a teacher here."

            Fred and George looked positively like little children getting ready for bed on Christmas Eve thinking about the new toys that they would be receiving the next day. "So—who are the Marauders?" they asked. "It's obvious that you know!" Seamus, Dean, and Neville all looked intrigued as well.

            Harry looked at the last two nervously. "Oh, don't mind them. They still are actually cool." Seamus said. "So go on and tell about the Marauders. Fred and George never shut up about them."

            "Well, I guess you could say that it all started with a werewolf…" Harry went on to tell the rest of the story.

            "Oh wow!" Neville said eagerly. "Your dad became an animagus when he was only fifteen? That's amazing! I wish I could do something as powerful as that!"

            "Professor Lupin was a Marauder?" George shouted. "That's unbelievable!"

           Harry snorted. "Neville, you have the potential to do great things and you are great at herbology as it is. And George, really, who is the only professor, besides Dumbledore, that ever really laughs at the pranks that you pull off?"

            "You got a point there, Potter," Fred said jokingly. "Why do you hate Dumbledore though? He still seems pretty cool. I mean, how many other headmasters would let us get away with everything else that we have?"

            "I don't hate him, per se. I guess I was rather harsh on him the day I got resorted. But I guess I'll just have to blame my actions due to the fact that I had a horribly horrendous summer. That coupled with the fact that I knew the only reason that I wasn't staying with you at the Burrow was because he said that I couldn't go. I understand his reasoning now but damn. There are times when I wonder who is worse; Voldemort or the Dursleys."

            "Were your relatives really that bad?" Neville asked nervously.

            "Let's just say that I didn't know that my name wasn't boy or freak until the week before I started preschool."

            "Damn, that's pretty bad."

*

            "Greg, do you really have to hit the door that hard?" Harry asked, as he watched his friend bang on the door to Severus' office. He could almost see the dents forming on the wood. "You know there is a perfectly good knocker in the shape of a snake just inches above where your hand is. Why don't you just use that instead?"

            "This way Severus knows that it's us coming to visit." Greg hit the door even harder if possible. "I wonder why he's taking so long though."

            Suddenly there came a voice from behind the door. "You can stop that annoying noise now, Gregory Goyle. And if your hand comes and hits me as I open this door I will not be as lenient with punishment as I was last time." With that, Severus opened his door with a flourish and beckoned them in.

            "What's this about a last time?" Harry asked.

            Greg turned red and mumbled. "I kind of hit Severus when he went to open the door the last time we came to visit here."

            "Kind of?" Severus snorted. "More like knocked me out silly on the ground. I swear, if you were coordinated on a broom you would be one awesome beater." He looked at Draco, Blaise, and Harry next. "So the match against Gryffindor is tomorrow. Who's going to be playing Seeker? I heard that they got a third year to play Seeker for the Gryffindors. Absolutely pathetic player, I've heard."

            "We can't tell you who's playing Seeker. That would spoil the surprise. The boy chosen to play Seeker for Gryffindor is actually not that bad. By the time he's a sixth year he'll be really good." Harry said. "The whole Slytherin team went to the try-outs to watch; without the Gryffindors knowing of course." The three members on the Slytherin team started laughing loudly.

            "You should have seen Weasel try to play Seeker." Draco laughed.

            "Nearly fell off his broom, he did." Blaise added. "He tried to do a Wronksi Feint."

            "It was a pitiful attempt. Not only did he do it from an altitude of less than thirty feet and was going at almost a horizontal slope." Harry finished. "You should have seen it. Unfortunately, he was picked as a Keeper instead. Although he is an okay Keeper, he's nothing compared to Isabelle's talents."

            "You know, I never did find out who was voted as the team captain.*" Severus said.

            "Devon Bletchley was voted as captain. You know, I just found yesterday that he isn't in sixth year as I thought. Since it's his last year here we decided to let him have the job."

            "That's good to hear." Severus said. "But what is it that you came here for?"

            "Ah, that is a very good question, dear potions master." Blaise said. "Harry will do the honors I believe."

            Harry placed Wormtail down on the desk in front of Severus. The stunning spell had faded off of the rat and it was squeaking and thrashing in the small ropes that were tied around it.

            "I had to threaten a Hufflepuff to give me the rat." Draco informed the shell shocked professor. "The boy seems to like rats and thought that I was going to exterminate it. You should have seen the look on his face when we passed by him on the way here."

            "We'll have to take him to the headmaster now." Snape said glaring at the rat in front of him. He then turned to look at Harry. "You don't mind this, do you?"

            "Nah," Harry said. "I should probably apologize to him, I guess. I mean, I still do feel as if he used me as a tool but well, people look to him to do everything perfect. He probably has to think of life as a game of chess; always thinking ahead. I know how that feels."

*

            Albus smiled, eyes twinkling merrily. "I believe that Mr. Sirius Black will be most happy when he is informed. But for now, I'll contact some of the Aurors at the Ministry. Of course, I will make sure that they will see the truth unlike our Minister." He nodded to tell everyone that their meeting was over.  "Harry, will you stay please."

            Harry sat back down. He looked nervous. "I know that I said I'm sorry already, headmaster. And I do mean it. So if this is because of what I said to you before about me being used like a pawn. I'm sorry, although I still believe what I said before. I should not have said it so disrespectfully though."

            "I have already accepted your apology, Harry. And I must give one of my own. I am sorry, Harry, for ever making you feel as if you were nothing more than a tool in this war."

            Harry nodded to show his acceptance before turning to leave. But Dumbledore called out for him to sit down again. "There are some other things that I must discuss with you, Harry."

            The Slytherin went back to his chair and leaned back. "Do you remember when you asked why Voldemort had gone after your parents near the end of your first year?"

            "How could I forget? You said that you would tell me later when I was old enough."

            "I believe that know is the time." Dumbledore paused. "The story does not begin with your parents though. To start this tale we must go back into the time of the founders of Hogwarts.

            "The Gryffindor and Slytherin families had been feuding for many years before Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were ever born. However, until their birth the feud had mostly been about lands and other such things. It was the birth of Salazar and Godric that brought forth the highest point of the feud."

            "Only their birth?" Harry asked. "I was always told that the two of them disliked each other because of their views on Muggleborns."

            "Oh no, not at all. Although, Slytherin didn't want Muggleborns at Hogwarts; it was more of the fear of the secret of magic getting out into the Muggle world. Witch and wizard burnings were popular then. In fact, I have heard that the statue and basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets was placed in their by one of the Slytherin descendants not Salazar himself. The Chamber of Secrets was supposedly built as a research center for Salazar's more dangerous workings." Dumbledore said. "Salazar and Godric did not hate each other according to the more accurate and rare historical texts. In fact, they were close friends. Twins, in actuality."

            Harry's jaw dropped and the lemon drop that he had been chewing on fell out of his mouth. He quickly grabbed it before it hit the ground and placed it back into his mouth. "I think I just heard you wrong, headmaster. I could almost swear that I heard you say that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor were twins."

            "That is exactly what I said Harry. Sebastian Slytherin and Gretchen Gryffindor had a secret affair that ended with the conception of the boys. The two families were so outraged with the affair that after the birth of the twins they separated them. And so the twins grew up being told to hate the family of their other twin that they did not know about. Vampires, epidemics of deadly plagues, and other deadly things were common then and one day the entire Gryffindor family fell sick with the plague of that time, excepting Godric who was at a university. The Slytherin family suffered that same fate, excepting Salazar who was at university as well."

            "This is beginning to sound like one of those clichéd stories were the long lost twins meet through mutual friends."

            "That is exactly what happens. Salazar was friends with Helga Hufflepuff who was friends with Rowena Ravenclaw who knew Godric Gryffindor."

            "And so they realized that they were, in fact, twins and decided to found Hogwarts (naming it that for some odd reason) because their university was lacking in proper education?" Dumbledore nodded. "But what does this have to do with me and why Voldemort wants to kill me?"

            "Harry, think. What does this make Voldemort?"

            "You told me before that he was the heir of Slytherin."

            "Yes, but think of the circumstances of Salazar Slytherin's birth." Dumbledore said quickly, looking intently at Harry.

            Realization dawned on Harry. "Oh shit!" he then looked at Dumbledore. "Sorry about that."

            "I have yet again gone temporarily deaf and haven't an idea what you just said. Old age weakens the ears, you know."

            "You're telling me that Voldemort has the blood of the line of Gryffindor in his veins as well as Slytherin?"

            Albus nodded. "But he is only counted as the descendant of Slytherin though because he descended from Salazar Slytherin. The Gryffindor blood in him has almost vanished through time. So, he can't really be counted as the descendant. For you, however, it is a much different story."

            "What?" Harry asked. "Why?"

            "You are the heir of Gryffindor line, Harry." Harry had to catch the lemon drop falling from his mouth again. "That is the reason that Voldemort wanted to kill only you and your father that night and not your mother. Professor Trelawney's first true prediction that I mentioned was told to Peter Pettigrew. It told how the heir of Godric Gryffindor would vanquish the descendant of Slytherin."

            "Oh, God no." Harry whispered. "Are you trying to tell me that I have to go back to Gryffindor because I'm his heir?"

            "No," Dumbledore said at once. "I have said that your case is different than Voldemort's. For you possess the powers of Slytherin in your veins. So technically, while Voldemort is only the descendant of Slytherin, you are the descendant of both Slytherin and Gryffindor."

            "How is that possible?" Harry asked, confused.

            "The connection that is forged by the scar on your forehead allows you to draw Slytherin magic and power."

            "I use Voldemort's magic and power?" Harry asked, getting more confused by the minute. "I thought that that is impossible to do."

            "No. It is only possible to use other living being's powers and magic through highly illegal magic or through the bond formed between soulmates."

            "Then how…"

            "Do you know why many Purebloods pride themselves as better than Muggleborns?"

            "Not really."

            "This will be rather confusing to explain." Dumbledore said. "Plainly said, Purebloods have more power to use. For instance, the Malfoys have been around since the times of the founders. Families with lines as long as that gain more power over the years. Lucius and Draco Malfoy both have their separate magical powers that were born into them. But they also, along with Narcissa since she married into the family, can draw magic and power from a separate source that comes from the family line. The magic and power gathers as each of the Malfoys is born and dies; adding more power to the external source that they have. Think of it as a source of magic that is only available to the Malfoy line. All of the older wizarding families has one; such as the Weasleys."

            "So I will be able to draw magic from the Gryffindor and Slytherin source but Voldemort can only draw the magic from the Slytherin source."

            "That is correct. But to draw from that source of power is to be available only as a last resort."

            "Damn, that's a lot of info at once." Harry whispered to himself, putting his fingers to his temples, before looking up at Dumbledore and saying. "But according to the prophecy you say was told to Wormtail I am the one to defeat Voldemort?"

            "Yes. But because of the experiments he has done to prevent death though, he cannot die magically by such curses as Avada Kedrava."

            "So I'm supposed to kill him by getting a Muggle gun and blasting his head off?" Harry asked. "I can't say that I'm found of that manner."

            "Ah," Dumbledore paused. "No. I was thinking of more along the traditional lines of the ancient times when magic was not allowed in specific duels." He glanced towards the Gryffindor sword that was in a glass case. "I believe that the sword rightfully belongs to you as you were the one to pull it from the hat."

            "I didn't pull it. It nearly knocked me out." Harry muttered to himself.

            Dumbledore continued on. "Harry, I will not lie to you and say that this is not going to be dangerous. Lives may be lost and childhood innocence will vanish. Not everyone will believe that there is a threat from Voldemort. People may slander you as it seems that Fudge is doing his best to block any mentions of Voldemort from the public. But I still believe that you need to be trained so that you are prepared to face the worst should the worst ever occur."

            "And that would be what?"

            "Well, you will have to be trained with extra lessons obviously in offensive and defensive magicks. And of course, you will need to learn how to use your weapons."

            "Weapons? What weapons?"

            Albus shook his head. "I don't know yet. The sorting hat has told me to let it do all the work." He grabbed the hat from its place on a shelf and placed it on Harry's head.

            "My, my, Mr. Potter." The hat's voice said into his ear. "It seems that you are one of my more frequent visitors. Ah, yes, we are here to discuss about the weapons stored within me that I must give to you, hmm?"

            "They aren't going to drop on my head, are they?"

            "No, no, dear boy." The hat said. "But which weapons would be right for you? I must say I have quite a bit stored in me."

            "Just as long as they don't fall on my head, I'm fine with it."

            The hat chuckled for a moment before saying. "I have found the perfect weapons for you."

            Harry felt cold metal materialize in both of his hands. He pulled the hat up barely to look at what he was holding. Two blades about a foot long with intricate emerald snakes on the handles were in his hands.

            "Ah," the hat said. "Yes, the twin knives of Salazar Slytherin."

TBC…

* I've had two reviews I believe that have mentioned that Blaise was the quidditch team captain. I can't remember if or when I put that in the story so if I did just ignore that previous comment.