Chapter 10 -- A penny for your thoughts

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This is a chapter containing all the thoughts of what is going on in every bodies mind.

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Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk and watched the stars twinkling in the sky. His thoughts drifted from topic to topic. His first and foremost concern was the safety of the children at Hogwarts. The Vampires should not have been able to enter without disturbing the wards. Yet It had happened. How? . It was obvious that there had to be someone helping them and it was not Severus. But then WHO? He must thank Lupin and Harry. Harry. He had faced something that he should not have been able to bear. His first killing. Yet he stood up and was ready to face the dangers. 16 barely 16. The old man sighed heavily. Few men have been able to shoulder what that child has taken on. He often wondered about how this would end. He wondered how the prophecy was to be fulfilled. When the final battle would take place. Where it would take place. How will the Wizarding world survive from this?

Harry was maturing fast. To fast. He still needed to laugh and play. But he now did that just to keep his friends from worrying.

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Minerva McGonagall was grading her tests. It was the 6th years. Some of them were good. Harry and Hermione were the best as usual. Malfoy came in second. Who knew that Harry had his mother's potential. It seems hidden till now. Little Lily Evans. She remembered her when she got of the train the year Lily had come to Hogwarts. Someone else did the sorting then. She smiled.

A tiny little girl sat in the corner of one of the carriages when Minerva entered. Minerva said, "Do you mind if I sit here? All the other compartments are full." She had shook her had indicating no. Minerva sat in another corner reading some notes. The girl had beautiful red hair and those green eyes filled with such innocence. The girl turned to her and said, "You are too old to go to Hogwarts. In Hogwarts, A History it says that you can study for 7 years."

Minerva smiled so she has read Hogwarts a history. The last time she checked it was over 1000 pages on length "I am a teacher at Hogwarts. I am Minerva McGonagall, your Transfigation Professor. I am just returning from America. My daughter has just moved there."

Harry's eyes had held that same innocence when he came to Hogwarts. Yes. Each year it seemed to reduce a little bit. Till the end of the 4th year. Then she only got glimpses of it in his 5 year. Now...... she felt pity for him. But she knew that he did not want her pity. He would be strong. She had seen him cry after rejecting the captain's badge. A single tear. She wondered how much bottled emotion was there in him. The energy she felt when Voldemort had killed the child. How could she even forget. That much magical power. She envied him for it just as much as she felt sorry. Look at Albus he has power but everywhere he goes people just want him to do something or the other for them.

Her thoughts had wondered to her daughter. She had spoken to her today after the Vampire incident. It was nice to know they were so far away from what was happening here. Safe. But in a world that has monsters like Voldemort who could be safe.

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A cauldron simmered in from of a man, the potion inside had an eerie glow that fell on its makers face. He sat and staring at his unclothed arm. He watched the tattoo on his arm. It was dark but not as dark as it was a some time ago. He was back from another one of the deatheaters meeting. It had gone well for him. Not so well for some of the others. The Deatheaters captured by Potter and gang were also there. They now wore no masks. They were cursing Potter and his meddlesome nature. Potter. He had power that he had to admit. He had the knack of landing in trouble. He never went through the right channels. First consult friends and then do something stupid. Hell!! Never consult just jump in headfirst.

I am so fed up of his stupidity. So fed up of covering up after him. First year Quirrell wanted to kill him. It was up to me to save him at the quidditch match. Second year endure a Lockhart to start a dueling class so that the students could learn something. Third year save him from the Dementors, try to save him from Sirius only to get cursed. The forth year with the tri-wizard tournament, god only knows how dobby would have found Gillyweed if I had not removed it and kept it out for him to find. Fifth year was the biggest test of all. Give false Veristaserum. Protect Potter. Give him lessons. This boy will be the end of me. Just like his father an Idiot will no equal.

Yet. Yet there was not an unnoble bone in his body. He will go to any length to protect those he chooses. But that innocence was soon fading. Yes. All that happened last year and the vampires this year were proof of it. Voldemort was most unhappy to hear that it was Potter again who had found the vampires but at the same time he was pleased that being the instrument that caused the killing so directly had pained the boy so much. No question that the darklord will sleep a bit better today.

He asked Dumbledore why he was so destroyed after Sirius' death. The answer had yanked the ground from under his feet. Dumbledore had told him about Dursley's calling him a freak all the time and having to live in a cupboard for 11 years. Sometimes he felt sorry for the boy. But if he did not put up his appearance then there would be hell to pay for. The Dark Lord seemed to enjoy every point that Snape took of Harry Potter for supposed tardiness. He even used to hold Severus back to listen to this and relish every second of it.

The lost thought that crossed his mind was how is all this going to end. What ever it is, Potter was there at the start and will be at the end of this.

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The Red haired boy lay in bed staring at the window out side to see the black silhouette of a person on a broom fly out of a window towards one of the various towers of the castle. The moment he closed his eyes he saw the image of his sister lying in the chamber of secrets. He knew he had the determination and the courage to be a gryffindor. He showed that in his first year and last year. But nothing scared him like what he had seen. It could have so easily ended the wrong way. 'Tom Riddle. Dame you. If you fear Dumbledore, I will give you reason to fear any Gryffindor. You will never rule the world totally until there is blood in the veins of a Weasley. No one can use my sister in that way and get away with it. Now I must prepare. Be ready. This war has started and the places set. The pawns are already moving.'

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Tear filled eyes gazed the house in the distance. The kitchen was filled with people eating a late dinner some just came in from somewhere. 'I wonder if I will be able to sit at that table again and enjoy a laugh.' Tears streamed down before freezing halfway down the onlookers cheek. How did I make such a mess of things? He turned his back to this house and just before he apperated gave one last glance back at it.

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Luna was sitting and watching the fire burn in the fireplace of the Ravenclaw common room. "Why would someone want you as a friend?" She told herself. She never had one till her third year. In the 4th year one trip with HARRY POTTER himself and it all changes. Ginny was first. Then Neville. followed by Ron, Hermione and Harry himself.

They still don't believe in Heliopaths and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. But there were her friends. She had found a few amazing contractual charm. Even Hermione was impressed. There were some complicated Runes involved but that was her forte. Runes. She had to admit. All the people in this group brought their own specialty. Any one is the 6 of them. She now felt what is was to have friends. That trust and bond was something that word could not describe. It meant to accept a person with all the flaws they had.

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There were only a few thoughts that were in this monster's mind.

All of them started and ended with Harry Potter. I need that prophecy. All my attempts to enter his head had resulted in failier. Dame Dumble-Sore for helping that boy. The only time I was even able share a connection with the boy was when he killed the McAllen Child. But that was when Potter had blown his top. That boy was powerful. Too Powerful. And for his own good. He had to be pushed out of the picture. Then I will be safe to rule what is mine.

Severus is wreaking that boy in school. But he claims he cannot poison him. I must keep an eye on him as well. He has been under Dumblesore's nose for too long. Sebastian has left for Hogwarts and will be there soon to direct things. Good. He must be able to remove either Dumbledore or Potter out of this picture. Once the order is wreaked. I will move in and seize it all. Yessssssss. Yesssss. I will take what isss MINE.

He looked down to the snake at his feet and said "Yesss Nagini. After I am done with Dumbledore and Potter you can have them. Now Go and bring me Wormtail. I have work for him. And he better not fail me."

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The Ancient Vampire looked at his forearm and the black tattoo that was present on it. He knew that now there was no way out. He had a master now. He was once everything. Now.... But His master had fears. Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. Yes. He wondered why the dark lord feared them. 'They were humans to start with. I am more, So Much More. They do don't have half the advantages that I do. I will Kill them all. Yes. I will kill them All HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH'

He turned to look at the castle shining in the moonlight. Impressive. Hogwarts. He remembered when he passed through the halls of the castle; He was not yet a monster then.

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A small green fire was burning on the ground. There was a lady sitting there and watching it surrounding her and the fire were a 6 of the foulest creature on this planet. The small figure kept saying "Potter will die Potter will die We will kill him Hehehe." The eyes glowed with madness. She tilted her head to one talked like a small child who had learned her first rhyme "Potter is a Liar. He has lost his head. Does not go to bed." She was clapping her hand and she continued this mindless sort of murmuring. The light fell across her face. Dolores had nothing to loose she had place all she had on the table and Potter had pulled The Royal Flush. All the big Cards. 'Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge. Severus Snape and another half breeds.' There was a turncoat in all this. The Minister was her trump card. She had gone running to him after leaving Hogwarts. He had dropped her like a hot potato. All of them will pay. One by One. But where to start. Where to start. "Hehehe. Yes. YES. I KNOW. We Know where to start. Don't we Me Pets." One of the Dementors close to her face causing her to shudder. She suddenly turned her head and looked at it. The dementor went back to standing straight. As if it was afraid. Its mistress sat there continuing her mindless cackling.

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There was no Moon that night. The stars burnt bright. The Dog Star burnt the brightest of them all. The young man sat on the roof of one of the towers of Hogwarts. A Firebolt next to him. He sat on the edge and though 'Masks. All of them wore masks. Not like the ones the Deatheaters wore, but a mask of expression to confuse the opposite person.' He wondered if anyone knew what was behind his. Soft green eyes gazed the distance between him and the earth and Sighed. Maybe. Maybe when this is all over. Yes. When this is all over till then he had be strong.

He slowly took his Firebolt and made his way to his common room unknown to the fact that be was being watched by more than one person

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Hi everybody. Sorry about being so late to update the fan fic this time. Was in some real trouble. Dad has hospitalized. Lots of work.

Also thanks a lot of all my reviewers.

Promise to have the next chapter up very soon.

Also Please Review