The Hidden City

by The Lady Reaper of the Shadows

Well then here we go. Hope you guys are enjoying reading this. AU, Harry comes to his powers and the upcoming war is scaled into new heights. All your favorite characters back for another year at Hogwarts. Various ships, may be some slash later on

2. Part 1 And So it Begins

The Hidden City

A.N. Telepathy or mind speech is shown by "" "" , the Owl tongue is shown by # # , not to be confused with telepathy. Phoenix tongue is shown by and Parseltongue by . Link speech is represented by - - this is when two or more people are linked and they can send messages down the link. The words appear like writing in their mind. Hope it's not too confusing, but if it is do mention it in your review! Two stars represent the beginning and ending of dreams. And one star the beginning and ending of a letter or letters. This was just general info, everything else is at the end.

Part 1 – And So It Begins

"Both of us."

"What?"

"We'll take it at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We'll tie for it."

"On three right? One-two-three-"

"Wands out do you reckon?" "Yeah."

"Kill the spare." "Avada Kedavra!"

"Kill the spare." "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry turned towards the spread-eagled figure that was Cedric Diggory. It sat up, startled, and looked at Harry.

"You...you killed me!"

"No, no I didn't..."

"You killed me, you bastard! This was because I asked Cho to the dance wasn't it? You killed me because of that!"

"No. Cedric I didn't I would never..."

"You were the one who told me to take it with you. You knew all along didn't you? That this would happen. You're a murderer Harry Potter. You're a murderer!"

The dream fast-forwarded to the Priori Incantatem sequence. The ghostly hand flew out followed by Cedric. "You killed me. Killed me Harry." The old man flew out. "You're a failure boy. You should have defeated him properly first time around boy. Should have done it in one go. Look what your failure's done. It killed me."

The voice echoed as Bertha Jorkins emerged. "He tortured me, killed me for information. Information that would give him you. You. You don't deserve our respect. Murderer."

"I'm not a murderer!" Harry shrieked as his father emerged.

"I died for your mother and look what you did, you killed her so you could live. My son. I am ashamed that you're my flesh and blood. I would never call you my son!"

"I didn't do it." Harry choked out the words sinking to his knees.

"I died for you!" screamed Lily Potter as she, in turn, came out of the wand. "I died to save you and look at what you've become! A murderer, you're no better than Voldemort. You scum!" she spat at him and Voldemort's eyes glittered maliciously as the taunts filled Harry's ears.

"Murderer!"

"You don't deserve our respect!"

"You killed me. Killed me because I asked Cho to the dance."

"You're a failure."

"You told me to take the cup with you. You knew about this all along didn't you?" Other bodies appeared Hermione and Ron, the Weasleys, Sirius and Remus.

"Are you going to kill us Harry? Kill us like you killed Cedric?" Hermione and Ron ghosted around Harry pointing to Cedric's body lying in the distance.

"Like you killed Lily and James?" Sirius and Remus joined in, taunting him.

"You killed your parents. Your parents! Why Harry? Why did you do this to me? I loved James like a brother. Lily was like a sister to me. Why?" Sirius sobbed and cried, as Dumbledore appeared, angry and powerful, towering above Harry.

"The decision of the Wizengamot is this, you have been found guilty of the murders of Lily and James Potter, Frank Bryce, Bertha Jorkins, Cedric Diggory, the innocent Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, Mr and Mrs Weasley and their sons, William Weasley, Charles Weasley, Percival Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Ronald Weasley and their daughter Ginny Weasley as well as Hermione Granger. I hereby sentence you to life in Azkaban where you can rot with the knowledge that your actions have resulted in these deaths and many others. Namely the deaths of two thousand muggles." Harry shook his head.

"I...I didn't..."

"SILENCE! You killed us. It is our right to demand your incarceration in Azkaban. You shall rot for your actions." A roar of voices filled the air.

"Why won't mummy move, is she sleeping?"

"You killed us like you killed Cedric."

"You told me to take the cup with you, you planned all this didn't you? You knew, all along you knew."

"SHUT UP! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I'm just a boy. Just a boy." Harry sobbed to himself and fell to the ground. His scar flared and burned as Voldemort lifted his face.

"Join me Harry. We could be brothers, we're so alike. Join me and we shall rule this puny world. You're not appreciated, nobody likes you and nobody loves you. But come, come to me, I shall be your family. Father and son. Yes you could be my son Harry and we'll be together. Take my hand Harry, we'll be family."

Harry half outstretched his hand. But something inside stood up and refused. " 'Don't do it Harry, it's not real. You're better than Voldemort. You must refuse. Think of Ron and Hermione. They're your friends. And the Weasley's and Sirius, Remus they're your family, they love you. Voldemort spins lies and falsehood like a spider in its web.' "

'But it's true, I am like Voldemort, we share blood, powers. And I, I killed Cedric. I have so much blood on my hands.' Silent tears ran down Harry's face. 'I'm just a boy and I have to be able to do everything and be everything that I'm not.'

" 'But you are special Harry. You were chosen to suffer this Fate and sometimes Fate deals a nasty hand. You have to play with that hand Harry.' "

'But I don't want it. I don't want to be special I just wanted to be normal, lead a normal life, and be a normal person.'

" 'You can't Harry. It is your destiny to be different. And one way or another it will happen. You can choose darkness now and go against everything your parents lived, fought and died for. Or you can walk away, walk away and fight for good, for light and know that all battles come to an end and only one will triumph. All that rests on your decision now and once again later on. With just one gesture you will be the downfall of all you hold dear, or you will be the downfall of the cause of the pain and suffering in the world. It is your choice and only you can make it.' "

"Harry?" Voldemort spoke again and Harry looked up into his eyes and jumped back as he saw through them to Voldemort's soul, if you could call it a soul.

"No. I will never join you for you are the embodiment of evil and could never express love or care. And you could certainly never be a father to me. Hiding as you do behind your thick minded servants." Harry spat into his face and smiled as Voldemort started to turn purple.

"You insolent brat." He hissed. "This decision you made today shall be your downfall and you shall be mine. You may be protected physically but your mind is mine to work on. And I shall make it so that you never sleep peacefully again. And your friends will suffer forever for your foolishness. You can run but no one can hide from Lord Voldemort." His evil laughter filled the graveyard and echoed their long after he had disappeared. The scene changed no longer the graveyard that filled Harry's nightmares but a green meadow with rolling hills in the far distance. Tranquillity filled Harry as he looked around the beautiful meadow.

"Harry." Harry turned around. In front of him stood Cedric.

"Where are we?"

"These are the spirit plains, not many people ever visit here. Very few ever have a need to visit here while they're alive." Harry looked at Cedric, comparing him to the Cedric who appeared in his nightmares about the third task. "I do not blame you Harry," said Cedric softly.

"You...you don't?" Cedric shook his head, and Harry sank to the ground. "Then why...?"

"That was Voldemort changing your memories to benefit his gain. He's able to because you believe you're guilty. You're not. Voldemort's the problem, he always has and always will be until he is destroyed." Said Cedric sitting beside him. "I've spoken to Cho you know. She doesn't blame you either." Harry shook his head.

"But if I hadn't told you to..." Harry choked on the words and shook his head.

"What did you learn tonight Harry?"

"That I am exactly what I don't want to be, and with one wrong move I'll destroy the futures of countless people."

"Do you know what I learned when I died?" Harry shook his head. "That the right path isn't the easiest one to follow. You chose the right path tonight and you will probably see much bloodshed and unimaginable horrors in the years to come, but it will end. I was born so Voldemort would kill me, and so I could help you make this decision. I determined that fate when I agreed to take the cup with you. I could have taken it by myself, or continued to refuse it. I took the hardest path at the time; not knowing it was the path that would lead me to death. The same reason can be applied for every single person on this earth, muggles, squibs and wizards alike. They have no idea of the outcome of their choices. You however chose your path knowing the consequences. And that is why you are who you are."

Cedric stood up. "I have to go, there are others who wish to talk to you. I would be gratified if you'd tell Cho the truth. She deserves to know." Harry nodded. "And would you also tell her I still love her?" Harry nodded again.

"Who wants to talk to me?"

"You'll have to wait and see." Cedric grinned mischievously. "See you around Harry." Cedric smiled and waved before he faded away.

Harry stood up, looking around before he was grabbed from behind into a hug. "Oh Harry, it's so good to see you again." Harry turned round.

"Mum?" she nodded as James appeared behind her.

"I thought we agreed we'd leave together Lily." Said James mock scolding Lily. She smiled and winked at Harry and turned round and smiled sheepishly at James.

"I couldn't help it I was just so excited."

"I forgive you." Lily gave him a hug.

"Hello Harry."

"Dad?" James gave Harry a hug.

"Does Sirius' mum still yell at everyone?"

"What do you mean?"

"The portrait of his mum, when we went there she was always yelling and screaming if you made a noise in the hall. Harry's face fell.

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"I've been living with the Dursley's for the past fourteen years." James gaped. And Lily sputtered.

"Why? We made it clear that Sirius was godfather. And if not..."

"Sirius has been in Azkaban for twelve years and only escaped two years ago. He's running from the ministry, because after you died he went after Wormtail. Wormtail shouted that Sirius had killed you, blew up a street behind him and killed twelve muggles and then transformed into a rat and ran into the sewers. Sirius was charged with killing 13 people and sentenced to Azkaban without trial. He only stayed sane because he knew he was innocent, and because he was an animagus." Harry sat and watched as his parent's faces went from white shock to red anger.

"That little bastard, I'm going to kill him." Growled James.

"No you're not." Said Lily. "Because when I get my hands on him, I swear I'm going to rip him limb from limb."

"Well for that to happen you'd have to be alive." Said Harry quietly.

"Why haven't Sirius and Remus killed him yet?"

"One because he's hiding with Voldemort. And two because the only chance they had I refused to let them."

"Why?" asked James grinding his teeth.

"Because I assumed you wouldn't want two murderers for friends. Besides he owes me a wizards debt at the moment, which will probably come in very useful later on."

"Later on?"

"Oh you know, the whole I'm top on his list, Voldemort is a megalomaniac and is determined to kill me..." Harry trailed off slightly as looks of shock crossed his parent's faces.

"They never mentioned that." Said James grinding his teeth.

"Never told us you were number one on his hit list." Lily said looking at James, he nodded.

"We'll be back in a bit kid. Just, wait for us."

"Where are you...going" Harry finished the sentence just as they disappeared. He shrugged. "Oh well, now, where was I with that potions homework?" Harry dragged through his memory trying to find the last words he'd written on the assignment Snape had given them on healing potions. Harry's eyes glazed over as he mentally prepared the paper in his mind.

"Yo Harry. HARRY!" someone screamed in his ear. Harry blinked.

"Yes?"

"Where were you?" asked James from in front of him.

"Doing homework."

"Homework?"

"Yes, my potions assignment on healing potions. I was mentally preparing it." James looked at Lily.

"This is from your side of the family! I can't believe it a Marauders son doing his homework in the first week of the holidays!!"

"I think it's a good thing James."

"Yes and what else was I supposed to do while you two were off yelling at whoever you were yelling at. In fact is there a reason you called me here? Because if the Dursleys can't wake me up in the morning they'll..." Harry clapped his hand over his mouth.

"They'll do what Harry?" asked James.

"Oh nothing, just make me cook breakfast, it's my turn tomorrow morning you see..." Harry trailed off slightly as he saw he was standing behind his parents.

"Hello Harry."

"I take it this is about the whole me refusing to join Voldemort thingy..." Harry waited till one of them nodded. "Good, then can we get to the point of this meeting?"

"That'll be you showing through there Godric. You always were impatient and annoying."

"Hush you." This came from Helga Hufflepuff who was doing a perfect angry Mrs Weasley as she glared at Salazar.

"Well it's true."

"Did you ever consider that you are just as annoying Salazar?" Helga started tapping her foot. "Well?"

"I know this must be pretty regular for you lot, but would you care explaining to me how I fit into all of this?"

"Oh look Godric, he's dense like you too."

"Salazar, stop it this instant. I thought you'd made up your mind to grow up?" she turned to Gryffindor. "At least you've learned not to rise to his baiting."

Harry turned to his parents as the four founders started bickering amongst themselves. "Who was it you went and yelled at earlier?" James muttered something incomprehensible. "Pardon?"

"Merlin."

"Why?"

"Did someone call my name?"

"That would have been him, who was just about to tell me why they disappeared half an hour ago to yell at you. I don't suppose you'd like to explain this to me?" asked Harry gesturing to the bickering founders where Ravenclaw had interposed herself between Slytherin and Gryffindor while Hufflepuff screamed at them like a harpy.

"Deere me, why does this always happen?" Merlin turned to Harry. "Who do they remind you of?" Harry shook his head.

"My Godfather Sirius and Professor Snape, they're always fighting. Lady Rowena would be Remus, the peacemaker, and Lady Helga would be Professor McGonagall telling them that they're worse than the student body."

"You're perfectly right my boy, perfectly right." Merlin looked over to the left where a table and some chairs had just appeared. "Now, how about we sit down and start talking while they finish they're little scrap. Now who do you think will come over first?"

"Lady Rowena and then Lady Helga and those two will either knock each other out or Lady Helga will end up stunning them and tying them to chairs as far away from each other as possible."

Merlin grinned at Harry. "Always knew he was a smart one Lily." He said as he turned to look at the two adults standing behind Harry.

"Well, this is bound to take a while." Said Rowena as she flopped gracefully onto the chair next to Harry. (A.N. Can you do that? Flop gracefully I mean?) "How are you dear?"

"Amused that grown men could act like squabbling four year olds."

"You weren't surprised?" Harry shook his head.

"Two adults I know act like that every time they see each other."

"Who?" asked James as he bent over the back of the chair.

"Sirius and Snape."

"They're still at it then?" Harry nodded,

"Dumbledore asked them to call a truce, they touched hands for about five seconds before moving to stand at opposite sides of the room. And I think both of them wiped their hands on their robes afterwards." Harry grinned and turned to his mum. "Where they like that at school?" She smiled and nodded.

"All the time. You would not believe the things they did to each other. Severus is a good man, you just have to get beneath that extremely frosty surface of his." James mumbled something next to her. "I'm well aware that you didn't like my friendship with him James. Just the same as I never really liked Peter after fifth year." She arched an eyebrow. "And at least I had a reason for not liking him. If you'd trusted my instincts this would never had happened." She gestured around her.

"Yes well. Fate does sometimes help along these decisions sometimes." Said Merlin, his eyes twinkling.

'In fact when he does that,' Harry thought to himself, 'he reminds me of Dumbledore.'

"Does what dear?" Harry looked at Lady Helga as she sat opposite him.

"Does the eye twinkling thing." Helga looked at Merlin.

"Oh that, I agree entirely." She smiled at Harry who smiled back at her.

"I see you decided to let them scrap it out?" she nodded.

"I'm not physically strong enough to restrain them and I left my wand in my room." Harry nodded.

"Why didn't you use your telekinesis?" Helga blinked.

"You know, I'd forgotten all about that. Thank you dear." She looked at the fighting Godric and Salazar and they suddenly couldn't move. Helga wafted them over to where they were sitting and place them into two chairs. "Now how to keep them there." Harry flicked a hand at the two prone figures and ropes appeared.

"Now that that's sorted shall we get down to business?" asked Merlin cheerfully.

"How in hell did he do that?" asked Salazar glaring at Harry.

"It's my mind, I can do what I want."

"Well only in the spirit realm with some limitations." Said Merlin. "Now then. Who wants to begin?"

"Personally I think you should let Godric begin, he gets so impatient." Salazar twitched to the left as if something had poked him hard in the ribs. "Stop it that hurt!" he said glaring at Merlin.

"Not me." He said raising his hands defensively. Harry shook his head and looked at Rowena.

"What?" she asked as Gryffindor and Slytherin looked at her astonished. "Just because I didn't fight like you two did when we were alive didn't mean I could never hold my own."

"In fact Rowena could wipe the floor with you." Said Helga smugly. Harry shook his head.

"Before all out war breaks out can we get this done please. Whatever this is?"

"Ah yes the reason we've called you here. Well that would be because..." Merlin was cut short as Helga asked Harry a question.

"Sorry to interrupt Merlin, how did you know that I was a telekinetic and that Rowena was the one to poke Salazar in the ribs?"

"I saw it."

"Saw it?"

"Yes. Just here." Harry gestured to the right side of the back of her head. "In your aura there is a red/gold smudge. That's where your telekinetic powers stem from. And is where you control them. The gold means you're a telepath and the red means a telekinetic."

"And Rowena's poking me in the ribs?"

"I saw that too and felt it." Harry looked slightly surprised. "It was like a thin tendril shooting from Lady Rowena's hand and contacting Lord Salazar. It felt like a tingling." Harry looked at the startled faces around him and then groaned, banging his head on the table. Rowena grabbed him.

"Whatever's the matter?"

"Something else now, that makes me different, more powerful. Why won't it just go away?" a tear ran down his face as he buried his face in his hands. Rowena touched his shoulder and jerked away suddenly horror-taking hold of her face.

"What is it Rowena?" asked Helga, staring in shock at Rowena's expression.

"It's horrible." She whispered her voice hoarse. "The pain and the anguish he's suffered." She shook her head and held out her hand. Helga took it and gasping slightly.

"That's what you saw?" she asked quietly. Rowena nodded. "The poor child. To suffer that and still be sane and willing to fight..." she shook slightly. The ropes binding Slytherin and Gryffindor fell. They looked at one another and then Gryffindor reached out to Rowena. She threw her arms round his neck and started to sob slightly. He put his arms around her stroking the back of her neck.

"Hush love. It'll be okay." He pulled her into his arms and sat on her chair with her across his lap, stroking her hair. She rested her head on his chest and sighed.

She and Godric turned to look at Harry who Lily had gathered in her arms with James next to her. The sight brought renewed tears to her eyes for this boy would never know the parents who stood beside him, unseen by all. She looked across at Helga who Salazar was doing his best to comfort.

She smiled slightly and whispered something in Godric's ear. He smiled too and whispered back. Their eyes twinkled mischievously but they managed to keep a straight face when Salazar looked at the curiously. Harry pulled himself up and sat between his parents, one on either side, as he looked Merlin in the eye.

"She misses you, you know that, even if you think it not true." Merlin's eyes widened slightly. "You mean a lot to her Lord Phoenix."

"I bear not that title anymore. It is yours to bear. How do you know she misses me?"

"She told me in a dream, I've only just remembered her message. Her time grows thin. She can only wait so long for you to teach me. So the elves will come to find me and finish my training."

"We'd best get started."

"You know she will join you. So the quicker you begin, the quicker you finish." Harry smiled slightly at Merlin and turned to look at Rowena and Godric. He winked. "I know what you plan. If you don't shield your thoughts Helga will get wind."

"How do we shield?"

"Like this." as Harry passed on the knowledge to Rowena and Godric their eyes glazed over slightly. He turned to Merlin and nodded slightly.

"Lord Phoenix it is time for you to come to your inheritance. Just this night you passed your final test. How do you swear?"

"I swear to defend all good and defeat all evil. To this I bind my life and shall honour this vow eternally." Merlin nodded.

"So be it." A swift golden light swept the room and phoenix song filled the air.

"My gift to you Lord Phoenix, the Magus powers. May you bear your powers well and not forsake your purpose." Merlin laid his hand on his forehead and for a brief moment the symbol of the Mage Lord glowed into being. The Four Founders stood in a semi circle in front of Harry.

"Our powers you already have and have only just begun to receive." Said Rowena. "Our marks we will give you to awaken the rest of your powers and so Hogwarts will recognise you and lead you to our stored memories and belongings that we left under her guard." Harry nodded and held out his left hand.

The founders left hands joint at the fingertips over his outstretched palm so that they made a circle. A glow spread down each of their arms to their hands. Each one the colour of their Hogwarts house, Slytherin's green and silver, Hufflepuff's yellow and black, Ravenclaw's blue and bronze and Gryffindor's red and gold. The colours formed a circle inside the tips of the founders' hands and as the colours spread down touching Harry's palm the house animals appeared centred around a gold phoenix with silver wing tips and with the tips of its tail scarlet. The badger, snake, eagle and lion were all joined with the phoenix by their house colours, which formed a circle of multicoloured flame around it.

Harry looked at the marking and smiled. He touched his hands together palm to palm and then brought his hands up to meet his forehead where the Mage Lord symbol resided.

Harry nodded his head, almost to himself, as he brought his hands down to his side. "What were you doing Harry?" asked James.

"Checking they wouldn't interfere with each other." Everyone bar Lily and James looked confused. The Mage Lord symbol glowed into being and Harry turned his hands over so that his most recent symbol showed as well as the intertwined Shadow Wielder and Death Bringer symbols. Helga looked sharply at Merlin.

"He bears the marks of the Shadow Wielder and Death Bringer and you did not tell us?" Merlin looked slightly shocked.

"I ... I didn't know..." Rowena drew in a sharp breath.

' "He shall be the last to bear these curses, as he was the first." ' Lily said quietly.

"What?"

"She told me on the eve of my death before I passed on my powers, he will be the last to bear them as he was the first. The first bore both the marks but could not bear to pass both of them on to the same person so passed them onto two different people, a man and a woman. They would continue to pass them on until the symbols were united in love and produced a child, a son, in a time of great need. Then they would be told to pass both marks to their son otherwise the world would be destroyed. We were told to pass them on to Harry that night."

"And who was the first?" asked Rowena, looking first to James and than to Lily.

"We don't know. No one ever knew, not even those he passed the marks onto knew." Said James.

"So who is this she?" Salazar looked at them expectantly.

"She is the ruling force that governs the Earth and always has. She is ageless and will remain forever." Said Harry.

"How did you know that?" Harry shrugged.

"I just did. I've always known it."

"I think we'll have to think about how we're going to train you." Said Merlin. Harry nodded.

"You'll probably notice increase in speed, stamina, fighting and magical abilities." Said Godric.

"You're making the transition from what you are to what you will be, you magic will change you in many ways so you and it fit together better and so that the change to Phoenix Lord will not be so dangerous to those around you." Said Merlin.

"Your old body would not have been able to contain all your magical energy so it changes you." Harry nodded and looked at Salazar as he continued.

"Don't be too alarmed when new abilities show themselves. They'll be on automatic pilot until you can be taught how to use them properly." Harry nodded again and hugged his parent's goodbye.

"Be careful Harry." They said together.

"I will. See ya." He said waving as the spirit realm dissolved around him.

Harry sat up abruptly in bed and touched his scar lightly. Once again it was burning, a dull ache that made is head throb. He winced slightly as a knife of pain shot through it. "Moldievort's angry tonight." Harry grinned and then his face softened into sadness. He glanced down at his hands, the marks stood out against his pale skin, he closed his eyes and concentrated, the marks faded softly and disappeared beneath his skin. In plain sight, but hidden if you didn't know they were there.

Harry brushed his right palm and got a flash of his parents, and a trunk with two boxes in. he shook his head slightly and glanced at the clock. Four am. "I won't be getting back to sleep tonight." He muttered. 'I might as well go for a run.' Harry clambered out of bed and pulled on a too big t-shirt and a pair of jogging bottoms. He smiled again.

'I think I'll go shopping today.' He pulled on his trainers and dug his lock picking tools out of his pocket. 'I must remember to thank Fred and George for these.' He quietly unlocked his door and pushed it shut behind him. On the way downstairs he avoided the sixth and seven steps, which creaked, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, unlocked the front door and locked it behind him. Harry set off a fast pace, determined to test what Godric had told him. He entered the town centre and kept up a running mental commentary as he passed the shops. 'No, no no no, yes, yes and no.' he nodded to himself, drained the water bottle and made a note to himself which shops he wanted to visit before heading back to the Dursleys.

As Harry locked himself in his room again he caught sight of the clock and nearly fell over in shock. It now read six o'clock! 'I can't believe I was out jogging for two hours!' Harry sat at his desk and opened the window before starting to write out his potions essay.

"BOY! Get out of bed and downstairs." Shouted uncle Vernon as he unlocked Harry's door and stomped downstairs. Harry sighed and put his finished essay away before walking down the stairs, only to get squished by Dudley as he stampeded past on his way to breakfast. Now the size and weight of an adolescent whale he was just starting to develop muscles. Harry walked into the kitchen to have a frying pan shoved into his stomach.

"Cook the breakfast boy." Said Vernon. Harry muttered something under his breath as Dudley heaved himself into a chair, which promptly creaked and then collapsed underneath him. Dudley thudded to the floor, leg twisting underneath him and there was an audible crack. Dudley screamed and then whimpered in pain.

"Daddy that freak did it, he made the chair brake! I saw him whisper something." Vernon whipped round and started screaming at Harry.

"WE GAVE YOU A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD!! WE SHOULD HAVE THROWN YOU OUT LONG AGO WITH YOUR FREAKISH POWERS!! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO DUDLEY!!" Vernon's fist came flying through the air and connected with Harry's chest who went stumbling backwards into the stove. He felt for any broken ribs that a blow from Vernon would normally give him. He grinned inwardly when he realised that nothing was broken and his magic had already started changing his body, making it stronger, more versatile. Vernon grabbed a pot of boiling water that was simmering on the stove and threw it towards Harry.

Harry whacked the pot out of the window with the saucepan and turned to Vernon again. Vernon had heaved Dudley to a standing position and positioned himself in front of Dudley's bulk.

"N...now you hear me boy. I'm g...going to take Dudley to the h...hospital. Your aunts not feeling well so don't d...disturb her. And if I find anything missing when I get back." He paused, riding his sudden wave of confidence. "Y...you'll regret ever being born by those worthless parents of yours." Vernon hurriedly dragged Dudley down the hall.

"And mend that window." He shouted before slamming the front door. Harry took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He opened the back door and seeing an old football of Dudley's he kicked it as hard as he could. Grunting in satisfaction when it flew over the roof of next doors house. He had a quick look around and without thinking of the consequences waved a hand at the window, which promptly mended itself. Harry picked up the saucepan and went inside again. He went upstairs and knocked on the door to Petunia and Vernon's door.

"Aunt Petunia, would you like any breakfast?" there was no answer. He knocked harder and then opened the door. "What would you like for..." he stopped when he saw her face. "What did he do to you?" he asked quietly looking at her face.

"N...nothing. I...I walked into a door."

"You obviously did it more than once then." He said as he took a step forward. She shrank towards the wall. He held his hands out passively, projecting reassurance. "I won't hurt you, I just want to help."

"Why would you want to help me? After all these years..."

"I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of Vernon's fist. Let me have a look." She took a hesitant step forward, into the light shining in from the chink in the curtains. Harry drew in a breath. "How long has this been going on?"

"N...not long." Harry looked at the bruising on Petunia's face. "Where else?" he asked looking at the wrist she was cradling in her arms.

"T...that's j...just b...broken." She said, whimpering slightly when Harry had a look at it.

""Lady Helga?"

"Harry? How are you talking to me?"

"Through our link. I know what you and Lady Rowena saw, I would appreciate it if you didn't say anything to my mother and father."

"They should know."

"I will tell them when it is time. Only then. You may tell Lady Rowena how if you wish. Is there anything I can do about this."" he projected a picture of his aunt in his head.

""How did this happen?" she asked sharply.

"My uncle. Is there anything?"

"I can show you what to do. You possess the knowledge, you just don't know how to use it yet."" he felt her reach out, streaming him a series of pictures. He felt her manipulating his magic. Showing him what he had to do. ""There. Next time you can do it. And if you don't tell your parents I will."

"Yes Lady Helga."

"Drop the Lady Harry. We're going to be working closely in the next few months or so while we're getting you ready."

"Yes Helga."

"Good boy. I'll see you soon.""

"Is there anything else?" Petunia mumbled slightly. "I didn't hear you."

"J...just m...my foot." Harry looked at her feet sharply to see one misshapen and bruised.

"What happened?" he asked kneeling down.

"I...it doesn't m...matter." She said. Harry looked up at her.

"What did he do?" She shook her head. "W...wasn't him."

"Who?" she shook her head again and Harry sighed. "Don't tell me then. I'll just have a look..." he touched the foot lightly, noticing his aunt's wince as his finger came into contact with the skin. He sighed again. And then frowned.

""There's seven bones broken in the foot and the toes are dislocated."" The quiet voice of Rowena resounded in his mind.

""I take it Helga spoke to you then?"

"Yes. I must say I think it's rather foolish of you. Staying with that...that man."

"I don't have a choice at the moment. The wards here are the only things that are stopping me from being captured by Voldemort. And very soon they won't even stand against him. The official wards I mean."

"Official?"

"The ones the Ministry put up are the official wards. Voldemort'll be able to get the information out of the ministry about how to counter those, it's Dumbledore's wards that are protecting me."

"Couldn't he place the wards somewhere more pleasant for you?"

"It's the blood that keep's them so strong. The blood connection to my aunt."

"Why on earth haven't you gone to Alice?"" Lily's voice came over the link.

""Who's Alice?"

"You've never met Ali? She's my youngest sister. The baby of the family really. Why didn't Albus send you to her? At least she approved of my abilities. In fact she married into a wizarding family. Who was it she married again James?"

"Wasn't it Frank. Frank Longbottom in the year below us?"

"Yes that's it Frank Longbottom. They had a son around the same time you were born Harry. What did they name him? Neville wasn't it. Do you know him Harry?"

"I know Neville, he's in my year at school. In my dorm actually. I...I don't know how to tell you this but..."" Harry bit his lip. ""Mr and Mrs Longbottom, Frank and Alice, your sister and bother in law are... insane."" There was dead silence over the link.

""W...what did you say?"

"They're at St. Mungos. Neville and his gran visit them at Christmas and so on."

"W...who did it?"

"Bellatrix Lestrange."" Harry said quietly. Listening to the silence on the link he applied a numbing spell to Petunia's foot and set about popping the toes back into place and mending the broken bones.

""H...how, w...why?"

"She and her cronies wanted to know where Voldemort was. She was half mad, she tortured Mr Longbottom first and then Mrs Longbottom, she held the cruciatus curse on them until they went insane."" Harry stopped and concentrated on healing Aunt Petunia's foot. He looked up at her.

"Nearly done." He said quietly.

"Who're you talking to?" she asked quietly. Harry blinked.

"How do you know I was talking to someone?"

"I hear this annoying buzz in my head. Almost like I'm listening to something that's too far away to hear." Harry frowned, concentrating on her aura. He blinked suddenly and stared at the gold smudge that surrounded the right side of her head.

"I was talking through telepathy, it looks like you have a latent gift for it. If I just..." Harry nudged at something and shoved a thought in her direction. ""Can you hear me?"" Petunia looked astounded.

"Yes I..."

""Think it, concentrate on pushing your thoughts towards me."

"L...like this?"

"Congratulations!"

"I...I'm a freak!"

"No. You're talented.""

"So who were you talking to?"

"Hmmm? Oh, Lady Rowena and I was telling mum about something and she and dad were telling me about Alice, your sister." He said quietly. Petunia frowned.

"I haven't heard from Ali since she had the baby." She said, equally quiet.

"You wouldn't have. She and her husband are insane."

Petunia's face blanched and Harry dusted his hands off after finishing with her foot. "What do you mean?"

"Some of Voldemort's followers drove her insane with the cruciatus curse after doing the same thing to her husband. They were trying to find out some information about Voldemort." Harry's tone was bitter.

"Why didn't anyone tell me. My own sister..." Harry shrugged.

""Because Albus didn't know I had another sister."" Lily spoke quietly ""Alice wasn't our parents biological child. My parents adopted her when her family disowned her for being a squib. So therefore He never knew that Alice was my sister in all but birth. No one knew, except James and Petunia."

"L...Lily?"

"Petunia? How are you able to talk to me?"

"Aunt Petunia has a latent gift for telepathy, I just activated it."

"Lily, is it true. What Harry said about...Ali?"

"I don't know. I was unaware of this myself until Harry told me just now."

"It's true."" Helga rejoined the link. ""I just looked."

"I have to see her."

"You can't. Not unless someone's there to bridge the gap."" Godric had now joined the conversation.

""Harry. Can you, would you go? Please. I have to see her."

"Of course. But I've no idea how to get there. Let alone how to get in."

"It's easy. Listen."" Harry listened to his father's explanation and nodded silently.

""All right. I'll go now."

"Can I go. I ... I want to see her."

"You've changed Petunia. You feel, different. Better.""

"Having the snot kicked out of you'll do that." Harry mumbled. Petunia glanced at him.

""We'll manage. I'll call you when we get there."" Harry broke the connection and turned to his aunt.

"Ready?" she asked.

"One minute, I've got to do something about that." He said gesturing to her face. He touched a cheek and the bruises faded, cuts healing themselves and all trace of the beaten appearance disappearing. "Right. As soon as you're ready we'll leave. Holler when you're done. I'll just get changed." Petunia nodded and Harry left, shutting the door behind him.

Harry looked up from his letter as he heard a knock on the door. "Come in. I'll be finished in a bit." He said. The door opened and he finished scribbling a letter to Dumbledore.

"I'm ready to go."

"Me too. Just a sec. While I send this letter." He whistled to Hedwig and she flew over to the desk to the perch that was standing there for that purpose. "Can you take this to Dumbledore for me please Hedwig."

#Of course I can. And you still haven't told him of the nightmares you're having have you?#

#Hedwig?# The owl looked startled as her master's voice sounded in her tongue.

#You can talk!#

#Of course I can talk Hedwig.#

# I mean you can talk to me.# She rolled her eyes and rubbed her head affectionately against Harry's cheek. Her eyes took a stern look, reminiscant of McGonagall. #When will you tell the white one of your dreams?# Harry rolled his eyes now.

#They're nothing to do with Voldemort directly...# Hedwig looked at him intently.

#What were you told by the one that died?# Harry blinked.

#Oh all right. Give me the letter.# Hedwig extended her leg hooting in relief. Harry scribbled another few sentences onto the bottom of the letter. #Happy now?#

#I only worry. As is my right.#

#Well thank you Hedwig. I'll see you later. You might as well wait for a reply from Dumbledore.#

#Thank you Harry master, I like talking to Fawkes.#

#Would you please give Fawkes my regards?#

#Of course.# Hedwig stretched her wings and flew out of the open window. Harry reached his thoughts out to those he knew where listening.

""How am I supposed to get to St. Mungos? I can't exactly take Aunt Petunia on the knight bus"" He heard the buzz of a conference happening on the other end.

""I'll show you how to use your 'porting powers. They would have shown themselves later on anyway but you'd still have to master them. Watch."" the stream of information unlocked itself from Harry's brain, flowing through his mind.

""Now. You need an image to 'port with and your father's going to give you one."

"Harry?"

"Yes."

"This is an alleyway that wizards use to portkey and apparate to. Got it?"

"Yes. I'll see you later then."

"In a sense."" Harry turned to his aunt.

"All right?" she nodded. "Lets go then." He took hold of her arm and set about teleporting to the alleyway his father had told him about.

Dumbledore looked up as a hooting sound reached his ears. He looked up at the window and saw Harry's owl perched on the window ledge. He opened the window and Hedwig fluttered in to land on his desk. She held out her leg and Dumbledore untied the message. Fawkes trilled at her from his perch and she fluttered over to him perching next to him dipping her head to him in greeting. Dumbledore watched in amusement, as the two seemed to have a conversation. He shook his head as he opened Harry's letter. His face grew more and more tense as he read the letter to himself. He approached the fire and threw in some powder.

"Severus, could I have a word?"

"Of course Headmaster." Severus Snape's spinning form appeared in the fire and he emerged a minute later, shaking soot from his robes. "How can I help Albus?"

"Do you know anything about Voldemort altering Harry's dreams?" Snape looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head.

"He's been muttering about being able to access the dream stand for a couple of weeks." He shrugged. "I'm not really privy to much information these day's Albus." Dumbledore nodded his head.

"Sirius has been tailing Wormtail quite a bit recently and believes he's found a way into one of Voldemort's hiding places. I'd like you to check it out with him if that's possible." Snape wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"I'll see if I can do some digging about this dream altering. What is it he's doing to Potter exactly?" Dumbledore shook his head.

"Harry hasn't given me any exact details. Read it for yourself." He handed over the piece of parchment and Snape frowned at it before reading.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I'm writing to ask you to start looking for somewhere for my aunt Petunia to move to. Vernon has started beating her. She says it hasn't been going on for very long but I fear for her well being if it continues much longer. Someone else is hurting her as well. She hasn't told me whom yet but she is not going to be very secure here for much longer. Coincidentally I believe she's not as muggle as she hoped. Some of my distant ancestors contacted me last night to inform me of the changes that will be happening to me, resulting in the accumulation of my powers. This was how I discovered my aunt is a latent telepath and I suspect she has other abilities that will be making themselves known soon enough. I ask that you send someone YOU trust to asses her abilities so she can be trained to use them without causing extensive magical damage to herself and those around her.

Yours Sincerely

Harry Potter.

P.S. Hedwig is making me write this. Last night and since I left Hogwarts I've been dreaming about the third task and the events that occurred in the graveyard. Except last night the dream was different. Everybody that I know was taunting me. Saying I'd failed and that I was worthless. Voldemort offered his hand to me saying that if I accepted we could rule the world. And I almost accepted before something within me stood up and showed me what was really there. I believe that Voldemort is altering my dreams, trying to turn me against the world. And I'm scared because I almost accepted. Is there some way I can fight this? Because I ... I'm scared to sleep in case I do something that could end in the collapse of the world as we know it.

Snape raised an eyebrow, looking at the blurred and blotched lines that were the last few sentences on the parchment. "I see we have a problem." He said finally, handing Dumbledore back the piece of parchment.

"I see that we have three." Said Dumbledore sighing. "Trouble always comes in threes. This is the way I see it. One, Harry's dreams are being altered by Voldemort and he has somehow gained access to the dream stand. Two, Harry's aunt may have latent magical talents. And three, Harry is coming to his powers much earlier than was predicted and has already been spoken to by his ancestors." Snape shook his head.

"And what, exactly, do you think I can do about it?"

"I hope you can teach him Occlumency." Snape spluttered.

"Are you insane?!" he turned away from Dumbledore, composing himself before speaking again. "The boy hates me and quite frankly I'm not fond of him that much either." Dumbledore smiled.

"No. You just not fond of who his father is, I see no other option." Snape shook his head slightly before looking suddenly enlightened.

"There's always..." the door burst open.

"Albus!" A very harried Minerva stormed into the office. "Harry's gone!" A look of shock crossed Dumbledore's face not something that happened very often in the real world.

"What?!"

"Exactly that. He's gone! Mrs Figg just fire called me. Her clock showed that Harry and his aunt just disappeared from Privet Drive." Dumbledore got up and threw some floo powder into his fireplace.

"Molly Weasley!" Dumbledore stuck his head into the grate and waited for the connection to establish. "Molly."

"Hello Albus. What can I do for you?"

"I know you added Harry to your clock. Could you take a look at it for me and tell me where he is?" Molly looked slightly alarmed before bustling out of the room. She came back in a second.

"It says he's at St. Mungos Albus. But what on earth is he doing there?" Albus shook his head.

"Thank you Molly. I contact you later to tell you." She nodded and Dumbledore pulled his head out of the fire.

"Well?"

"He's at St. Mungos."

"What's he doing there?"

"I don't know Minerva. Perhaps you could collect Remus and find out?" The deputy headmistress nodded and left Dumbledore's office. "Well Severus. What were you going to say?" Snape shook his head.

"I've quite forgotten. What do you think the idiot boy's done now? Hopefully blown himself up for all I care."

"Now Severus. Really. I'm sure Mr Potter has a valid reason for visiting St. Mungos." Snape muttered something under his breath. "That's quite enough." Dumbledore said sharply. Snape grimaced and left the office with his trademark billowing robes.

Petunia blinked as they appeared in the alleyway. "All right?" She nodded. "Right. This way then." Harry led her out of the alley and towards a department store with a sign reading. 'Closed for Refurbishment'. Harry stepped forwards and looked at the ugly female dummy standing in the window. He walked right up to the glass before speaking. "We're here to see Alice and Frank Longbottom." Petunia gasped slightly as the dummy nodded and beckoned with its jointed finger. Harry grabbed his aunt's elbow and propelled her through the glass.

"That was different." Murmured Harry as he felt the oddest sensation of stepping through a sheet of cool water. Harry looked around the reception area and saw a floor map of the hospital. He walked over to it, wondering where the Longbottoms would be. "Irreversible Spell Damage." He said to himself. He walked back to Petunia. "This way." He said mentally calling out to his parents.

"We're here. Just about to enter the ward."

"We'll be with you in a bit them. Do you remember how to bridge the realms?"

"Rowena only told me ten minutes ago. I don't have that bad a memory you know." He rolled his eyes and entered the ward Petunia following behind him. Harry looked around the ward. Wincing as he saw Gilderoy Lockheart. He blinked when he saw Neville and his Grandmother sitting besides two beds. He looked at Petunia to see that she had tears in her eyes. Harry took her hand silently and led her over to the beds.

"I'm sorry to interrupt." He said quietly. Mrs Longbottom swivelled to face him. "I'm Harry Potter Mrs Longbottom. I came with my aunt to see her sister." Mrs Longbottom looked at him sharply.

"I wasn't aware Alice had a sister." Petunia nodded.

"I'm Petunia Dursley. My parents adopted Ali when her family disowned her because she was a squib." She said quietly. Silent tears running down her face at the sight of her sister lying there.

"Oh Ali." Alice Longbottom turned her head at the noise and smiled when she saw Petunia.

"Petunia." She said, standing and giving her a hug before sitting down again. Neville and his grandmother looked shocked.

"That's the first word she's said in years." She said, tears forming in her face.

""You ready Harry?"

"Yes."" Harry concentrated and formed the portal. Lily and James stepped through and Lily floated to her sister's bed. She reached out a ghostly hand to touch Alice's face and Alice turned once again to the new arrival. She smiled sadly as she looked up at Lily.

"Lily." The word was full of sadness and Lily gave her sister a smile and a peck on the cheek. She turned to Mrs Longbottom.

"Hello Agnes."

"Lily, how are you. Here?"

"We can't stay long. I only recently learned of what had happened to Ali and Frank. I had to see them. You don't mind? Petunia only learned of their fate this morning." Agnes shook her head. Lily turned to her nephew.

"Hello Neville."

"Mrs Potter." He stammered. Lily smiled.

"You can call me Aunt Lily. I am, after all, your aunt." He smiled at her and she smiled back. Frank Longbottom looked over to where James was floating next to Lily.

"James."

"Hello Frank." James extended his hand to Frank who grasped it tightly, smiling broadly. "Proud of you." He said quietly, James nodded.

"Me too." Frank pointed to Neville.

"Neville. My son. Your nephew. Proud of him too." Agnes Longbottom was crying openly now. Her tears rolling down her cheeks as her son spoke a sentence. Neville too had tears in his eyes after hearing what his dad had said about him. He turned to Agnes.

"Mum. Love you." Agnes patted his hand.

"I love you too Frank dear." Frank beamed and Harry turned round as he heard the rapidly approaching footsteps. Five doctors appeared, following a mediwitch who had obviously called them.

"What is going on here? Who are all these people?" Agnes turned round to face the doctors.

"I'm sure you recognise Lily, James and Harry Potter. My daughter in laws sister, brother in law and nephew. And this is her other sister Petunia. Who only found out this morning what had happened to Alice. I would like to know who is responsible for informing members of the family when things like this happen?" She glared at the assembled men in white coats. "NO? Well I think it's appalling. Can you think of the dreadful shock Petunia had when she was told this morning? I think not. As you can see, My Son and his Wife have responded to their presence by speaking. Frankly I think that you oafs could have been interfering with the healing process. Now clear off so my family and I may finish our visit in peace and then I will be registering a complaint with your superiors." Harry had never seen full-grown men scatter so fast.

"Well said." Said Harry.

"Thank you dear." Agnes beamed at Harry, the forbidding woman who had appeared moments before disappearing until needed again.

Two more pairs of feet came rushing down the ward. Harry turned to see Remus and McGonagall coming towards them.

"Goodbye Alice. Frank. I'll see you soon." Said Lily as she and James faded from view.

"Bye Lily. Bye James." Said Alice before turning to Neville and looking at him intently. "Tell me of school Neville." She said. Neville smiled again and started talking about anything and everything to do with Hogwarts.

"What are you doing here Harry?" asked McGonagall.

"Visiting my aunt." Said Harry at the same time as Petunia said,

"Visiting my sister." McGonagall looked bewildered.

"I thought Lily was your only sister."

"My only blood sister. My mother and father adopted Ali when her own family abandoned her for being a squib." Petunia looked McGonagall in the eye haughtily. "I was slightly shocked when I only heard this morning what had happened to my sister and her husband. I haven't seen her since she gave birth to Neville here. And certainly haven't had any contact with my nephew since then. I would like someone to find out why I wasn't informed."

"I'll do my best Mrs Dursley."

"Petunia will do, if I'm right you teach Harry?" McGonagall nodded.

"Minerva McGonagall, I teach transfiguration." Petunia nodded.

"And I believe you're Remus Lupin, a friend of James' weren't you?" Remus nodded.

"Lily was my first friend at Hogwarts though." Petunia smiled.

"I take it you were once friends with Harry's godfather?" Remus nodded sadly. "Well then. Perhaps you could do something about the large black dog that has taken upon itself the duty of sitting on my front lawn." Remus looked surprised.

"How?"

"My sister and I have been catching up." She saw Remus' startled look towards Ali.

"Aunt Petunia means mum." Said Harry quietly still looking at Ali with a vaguely confused look upon his face. Remus blinked and wobbled.

"I need to sit down." Neville quickly stood and pushed his chair towards Lupin. Remus nodded his thanks and sat down. Harry walked over to his aunt and looked deeply into her eyes, he saw something trying to escape, to communicate. A tear ran down her cheek and Harry reached out a finger to brush it away. He felt a connection form between his mind and the trapped mind of his aunts.

""Aunt Ali?"

"H...Harry?"

"It's me."

"Oh thank you. You don't know what it's like. Being trapped, still seeing and hearing not being able to communicate to any of those around you!"

"I'm here. What triggered today?"

"I haven't got a clue. It felt like I spoke. Did I?"

"Yes. Not much. You just said your sisters' names and asked Neville about school. I'm sure your speech will improve."

"Can you talk to Frank too? He and I have been so proud of Neville. And unable to express anything."

"One minute. I'll try."" Harry pulled his finger away from her cheek. Feeling the connection remaining. He touched Frank's hand and felt the same sensation.

""Uncle Frank?"

"How can you do this? Who is it?"

"Harry. I was just talking to Aunt Ali. One minute. I'll try to link the two of you."

"Harry? What are you doing?"

"Ali?"

"Frank! How is this possible?"

"It just is. One minute I'll try to connect mum and dad as well."" Harry concentrated on joining his parents to the link as well. ""Mum, dad?"

"Harry. What is it?"

"Lils???? Is that you?"

"Ali!!"

"Hello Lily."

"Frank, how is this possible?"

"I don't know James. Ask your son."" Harry was aware of four minds concentrating on his own.

""Well young man. Explain yourself?"" Harry projected a mental shrug at them.

""I saw something in Aunt Ali's eyes, something trying to escape, to communicate. I went to wipe a tear from her face and kind of felt pulled in, forming a connection between my mind and her trapped one. Then I tried the same thing with Uncle Frank and joined them together and then I added you two."" Silence filled the link and Harry shrugged concluding that they were having a private conversation before tuning back into the conversation in the ward.

"Harry?"

"Yes Neville?"

"I'd just like to say thank you."

"Whatever for?"

"For this. Whatever you did."

"I didn't do anything. Your parents have been dying to speak for so long. I think the pleasure of seeing my aunt and my parents was a sort of catalyst."

"But why did dad speak more?"

"From what I know, and what I saw, your mother suffered more damage mentally than your father did." Neville shook his head. "There is a way."

"To do what?"

"Make them better." Said Harry softly. Neville looked shocked. "The main problem is that the cruciatus curse formed a block in their minds. They're not insane, all the signs point to it but they just can't access the thought processes." Neville looked stunned.

"Why did no one else see this?" Harry shrugged.

"Possibly no one looked inside the mind using telepathy. It's a very rare talent these days. Because the condition was induced by magic it made any magical scans see what the Longbottoms themselves saw. Talking through telepathy, they sound normal. All there is to do is to break down the barrier." Neville's Gran turned to Harry.

"You saw all that?" Harry nodded.

"As I said to Neville. The only problem is the barrier. Telepathically their minds are fine."

"Can it be done?"

"I believe so. The process would be extremely trial and error. But eventually the desired result could be achieved."

"Desired result being?"

"Removal of the block."

""I can think of two potions that when combined might do it."

"Just that alone wouldn't do it Salazar. You'd have to combine the potion with telepathy. Which means that Harry would have to do it. And make the potions."

"We can help him there though."

"We could Salazar, true."

"I don't suppose you could continue this conversation the next time we meet?"

"Why not now?"

"Because I need to devote my full attention to it. That's not something I can do while talking to Neville and his Gran and eavesdropping on McGonagall's and Remus' conversation with Dumbledore."

"All right, don't get your knickers in a twist."

"I don't wear knickers Salazar, I wear boxers."

"Mere technicalities. I'm glad to see you showing your Slytherin side though. You're too Gryffindor really."

"The hat really wanted to put me in Slytherin in my first year."

"Really? Well that's something to consider. And wind Godric up about."

"We better leave Salazar, Godric's looking for us."

"Sheesh, what are you my mother?"

"Salazar!"

"All right Helga. See you later Harry."

"Bye Salazar."" Harry blinked as the arguing founders left his head. He turned to Remus.

"Aunt Petunia and I should probably be getting back now." He turned to his aunt who nodded. "Mrs Longbottom, Neville, I'll keep in touch. Okay?" Agnes Longbottom nodded.

"I'll send you an owl when we're next going to visit Petunia."

"Better send it to Harry. My husband's a bit nervy around owls." Agnes smiled and shook Harry's hand.

"Thank you Harry dear. You're welcome to come back with Neville one holiday if you want."

"Thank you for the invitation Mrs Longbottom. I'll definitely consider it." Agnes nodded in approval of his manners.

"We'll take you back Harry. Sort out that Black dog that's bothering your aunt." Harry grinned at Remus.

"We're not portkeying are we?" Remus shook his head.

"I'm afraid it will have to be forced apparation. While not pleasant..."

"Better than a portkey." Said Harry fiercely. Remus smiled and he led the way to the apparation circle. He took Harry's arm and McGonagall took Petunia's.

"Bye Harry." Alice and Frank said together. "Thank you."

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Remus nodded and with a pop the small group disappeared.

They smiled at Agnes and Neville.

"Love you mum, Neville." Frank said.

"Love you Neville." Alice said to Neville.

"We're proud of you." They said together before smiling and going to sleep. Neville smiled. Tears running down his face. He looked at his grandmother she was crying to.

"Let's go home Neville." He nodded and followed her from the ward.

They appeared with a pop in an alley about two streets over from number four Privet Drive. Harry shook his head. "Here, I'll get us closer." He grasped Lupin's arm and Petunia grabbed both McGonagall and Harry before he silently teleported them into the kitchen of number four. As they materialised in the kitchen McGonagall blinked, looking slightly shocked at what had just happened.

"What was that?"

"Teleportation." Said Harry. "One of the many psychic abilities. I get mine from..."

"You get them from me Harry." The slight pause went unnoticed.

"My mother's side of the family."

"But she was muggleborn." Harry shrugged.

"Psychic abilities can evolve when people are injured. For example my great great great grandfather developed telekinesis as a result of a wall falling on him. The brain is not able to use the damaged nerves and therefore parts of the brain not normally used took over movement." Said Petunia stunning them.

"I never knew that." Said McGonagall.

"And what happened this afternoon with the Longbottoms, I assume you have an explanation for that as well?" Petunia looked at Harry this time.

"Their minds are not actually damaged from the amount of magical abuse they suffered. The magic merely erected a block not allowing them contact with anything. Much worse than being insane and unaware of what you're missing. Seeing my aunt and possibly me today, someone new that they haven't seen for fourteen years allowed them to partially tear a hole in the barrier. Well that's my theory anyway." McGonagall looked slightly stunned and Harry grinned as he looked out the window.

"There's your Black dog Professor." Harry said to Remus.

"Call me Remus Harry. Or at least Moony. And I agree with you. That is definitely our Black dog." He grinned at Harry before turning to Petunia. "Do you mind if I let him in? I've got a few choice words to tell him." Petunia shook her head. And Remus went and opened the back door.

"Um, Pro... Moony, he answers to Snuffles." Said Harry evilly. Remus looked surprised before grinning back.

"Snuffles! Come here you naughty dog!" he said glaring at the large Black animal. The dog whimpered slightly and slunk into the house tail between his legs. Remus shut the door.

"Well? I think you have some explaining to do." Said Harry, his arms crossed and his foot tapping on the floor. Remus smiled at Harry from behind Snuffles, realising that Harry could do a much better job into making Padfoot feel guilty than he could. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." Said Harry sternly. Sirius appeared before Harry after making sure that he wasn't in view of the window. He looked down at his godson, not hearing the startled gasp from Petunia. Harry heard McGonagall mumbling an explanation to her in the background.

"How are you holding up Harry?" asked Sirius nervously.

"Fine. Explain please?"

"What?"

"What you think you're doing sitting outside the house?"

"I came to check on you."

"Voldemort is unable to get past the numerous wards which protect the house and at the moment he doesn't know where I am. Did you even consider the fact that Wormtail could have told him you're an animagus and be following you? Trying to find where I am?" Sirius had been backed against the wall by Harry's ferocious attack. Remus and Minerva stifled a giggle and tried to look moderately angry. It didn't work, they burst into laughter which caused Harry to spin round and glare at them before turning back to berate his godfather.

"Or have told Lucius Malfoy, who is in the perfect place to whisper words into the ears of the corrupt government officials and therefore get you captured and put back into Azkaban, more and likely ending up with you being kissed." Harry paused. His expression changing to one of sorrow. "I've lost too many Siri. Too many people that I've loved who shouldn't have been harmed. I can't lose anymore links to my past. You and Moony are my only links to my parents. And until you see that and stop putting yourself in such danger, I'm not going to talk to you." And with that Harry turned his back on Sirius and left the room. Only McGonagall caught sight of the tears running silently down his face. She glanced over at Remus and nodded towards Harry. He gestured for her to follow him and she nodded.

"Harry?" she asked quietly. He turned and looked at her. His shoulders shaking. "Oh Harry." She said holding out her arms to him. He accepted her hug, his arms going round her waist as he cried on her shoulder. She stroked his hair gently. "There, there. It'll be all right." He clung to her as the tears still flowed down his cheeks. She sat down on a chair and pulled him onto her lap, rocking him gently as his sobbing eased. She glanced down at him to see he'd fallen asleep. She smiled gently and laid him on the sofa, covering him up with a conjured blanket before going back into the kitchen. She stood in the doorway watching Remus have his own go at Sirius in a very soft voice that was probably worse than Remus yelling.

"Where's Harry?"

"Asleep on the sofa."

"Good. He needs the sleep. How is he?"

"He'll be fine. How did you know?"

"Your robes are wet." Petunia said quietly. "Remus. I think that's enough." She said quietly. Remus looked at her and she pointed to the tears rolling down Sirius' face. She picked up a tissue from the box on the table and without a word wiped the tears away. There was a knock on the front door.

"I'll go." Said Minerva. Petunia nodded and when Minerva opened the door she was greeted with someone she'd not seen in a long time.

"Minnie!"

"'Bella!" they gave each other a hug and then Arabella came in, shutting the door behind her. "Come into the kitchen. That's where the others are."

"Others?"

"Remus, Petunia and Sirius."

"What on earth is Sirius still here for? He left my mum's two days ago!" Minerva shrugged. Arabella paused in the doorway. "What's wrong with him?"

"Harry and I just gave him a rather sound bullocking."

"Whatever for?"

"He's been sitting in my garden for the past two days." Petunia said, standing up from in front of Sirius. Arabella looked at them all and went over and put her arms around Sirius' shoulders. He turned and buried his face in her shoulder. She sat down on the floor and pulled him to her. She stroked his hair and gestured for the others to go into the lounge.

"I'll be in a bit." She said softly. Muttering soothing words to the sobbing and shuddering body of Sirius Black.

The others entered the living room and spying the sleeping Harry they all smiled. Remus sat down on the other sofa and Petunia sat next to him. McGonagall took the chair next to Harry's sofa. Her hand stroking his hair, brushing it back from his face. "You miss it don't you Minerva?" asked Remus softly.

"Miss what?"

"Being Harry's Godmother."

"I've never not been his Godmother." She said quietly. "Though I do miss his knowledge of it." She smiled contentedly at her godson sleeping peaceful within the arms of the couch. Sirius and Arabella came into the living room, ignorant to their clasped hands until they saw the grins on Remus' and Minerva's face. They quickly let go and sat down at opposite ends of the room. Arabella next to Minerva and Sirius sitting next to Remus where they started to glare at each other for a bit. There was a muffled moan from the couch and Harry twitched in his sleep. All eyes fell on him until he seemed to settle into a slightly easier sleep.

"So then. What do we do now?"

"And why are you here 'Bella?" asked Remus.

"Dumbledore asked me to validate and assess Petunia's magical abilities."

"That's all well and good but who are you?" asked Petunia.

"My apologies. My mother is Mrs Figg. I was coming to visit her today anyway and Dumbledore asked me to visit you as well. I've got what's known as a scanning ability. Which allows me to see the magical signatures, or auras that every person has." Petunia nodded.

"What exactly does this process entail?"

"Nothing strenuous on your part it shouldn't take too long. You just have to sit there." She drew a pad out from her bag and a quill, sinking back into her chair and looking towards Petunia. Her eyes slightly unfocussed as if she was looking at something camouflaged against normal appraisal. Her hand flew across the parchment, sketching an image of Petunia, changing colours to suit the particular areas of her aura that corresponded with different abilities and finally listing them at the bottom of the page some marked with a star and others not. She came out of the light trance and blinked a few times before looking down at the page. She shook her head.

"Definitely a late bloomer." She said before getting up. "If you'll excuse me. I have to report to Dumbledore." The others nodded and Petunia started to get up. "Don't worry, I can show myself out." Petunia nodded and sat back down. "See you guys later then."

"Bye 'Bella." Said Remus as he looked over at Sirius' face. He smiled slightly. "Still hot on 'Bella then Sirius." Sirius snapped out of whatever he'd been thinking about.

"Don't go there Moony." He said dangerously quiet. Remus smiled at him and leant back.

"So then. I suppose we'd better be leaving." He said. Petunia smiled. "It's been nice meeting you." Remus and Minerva nodded.

"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon." Minerva said, raising and shaking her hand. They were all distracted when a loud bang came from the living room all four rushed back into the house to see Harry lying on the floor, blood streaming from his scar. They stood in the doorway stunned until he went into convulsions. Remus and Sirius sprang to hold him as still as possible while Minerva hurriedly contacted Dumbledore through the Order tattoo all members carried.

-Albus!-

-Minerva? What is it?-

-You have to get to Harry's house as quickly as possible. Bring Poppy!-

-What's wrong?-

-Just hurry!- She turned to the others.

"Poppy and Albus are on their way." Remus and Sirius struggled to hold Harry down. "Be careful he doesn't bite or swallow his tongue." Minerva said. Looking at her watch. Albus and Poppy arrived care of Fawkes who fluttered down to the floor next to Harry's head. Trilling softly. Fawkes rested his head on Harry's forehead. Over the Magus mark.

Harry looked towards the light that was calling his name.

/Harry! You must leave now!/

/I can't Voldemort has trapped me here./ A young man appeared before Harry. His hair was scarlet and gold and he wore robes of an indistinguishable colour.

/Take my hand. I can help you to leave/ Harry outstretched his hand before pulling it back, unsure.

/I am Fawkes./ Harry shoved his hand forward, sure of the identity of the person before him now. There was a shimmer of flame and Harry heard a roar of anger and he smiled before disappearing. He opened his eyes to find Sirius looking at him intently with Madam Pomfrey next to him.

"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I'm sorry Siri." Harry said before lapsing into unconsciousness. Poppy Pomfrey exclaimed.

"He's been subjected to sixteen Cruciatus curses!"

"What!" Barked Sirius. "How can that be? He was only asleep for twenty minutes."

"Time in the dream stand moves slower than time out here." Said Dumbledore. "It seems Harry has been subjected to some rather disturbing dreams of late." Minerva turned to Petunia.

"That's what you meant about Harry needing more sleep." Petunia nodded.

"The first week of the holidays he woke up screaming every night. Then, he just stopped sleeping."

"How long has he had without sleep?"

"Two weeks, give or take, I know he slept last night though." Petunia said.

"He was crying in his sleep for about half an hour and then I didn't hear anything so I assumed that he stayed awake or found more peaceful dreams."

"He was tested last night." Said a voice from the corner. All heads spun to fins themselves faced with Lily and James.

"How are you here?"

"We're still in the realms of the dead." Said Lily. "Merlin was told to send us to talk to you."

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Merlin, forefather of magic." James said. "We were not supposed to die that night. We had things to teach Harry that he now must learn by himself. There is however, a Rogue Reaper on the lose." He crossed his arms, looking intently at his son. "He sent Voldemort after us that night by getting things to flow more quickly than they should have done. In doing so he altered the flow of time and the Fates did not like this. However they are bound to the realms and cannot interfere with the Reapers. The Lady Reaper of the Shadows declared long ago that the only ones who can meddle in her realm are herself, the Head Reaper and Death Bringer. As the Reaper has gone Rogue only Death Bringer can sort him out. Unfortunately the Rogue's deep within the enemy camps at this moment in time. Helping Voldemort summon the demons."

"How do you know all this?"

"We are not able to tell you." Lily said. "We are bound by rules. Our opposite has told things to the enemy, which he should not have, therefore we have been ordered to tell you these things. No more may we tell you or the opposite will be able to perhaps turn things which would not be good for our side."

"What is this opposite? Is this opposite the one who ordered Merlin to send you?"

"Harry knows. He may tell you. This will be a difficult time for him, this and the years to come. Try to remember all the good that he does, all the good he could do and remember that and this in your judgement of him."

They nodded, slightly confused as to the meaning of the message and Lily reached forward and touched Harry's forehead. A symbol glowed into being, the eye of Ra. "The first to bear the Magus powers and first Lord of Light bore the same symbol as you see here. The Phoenix Lord is once again among you. Heed his word." Lily and James disappeared, leaving a shocked audience behind them.

"Did we just see what I thought we saw?"

"Indeed we did." Albus bowed his head. "Things are indeed moving quickly." All eyes fell on the unmoving figure of the boy who lived. "Hard times indeed. They will soon be among us. Minerva, I'd like you to contact Cassie. We'll be needing her assistance." Minerva nodded. "Mrs Dursley, Petunia. We need you to come with us so we may train your latent abilities. Is there anyway you can excuse yourself from all activities for some time?" Petunia nodded.

"I can just go. I've stayed here too long." she looked towards the now awake Harry and gave him a hug. "Please be careful Harry. Of Vernon. I don't know what he'll do." She whispered, clutching him fearfully to her.

"I do." He whispered back. "I am not afraid. It needs to be done."

"But it shouldn't, you don't deserve it."

"It is the Rogue Reaper's last action. It was set into action long ago and must be played through. The clock is wound up and must wind down before I can begin."

"You do not blame me?"

"No. I'll see you soon. I suspect they'll be taking you to Hogwarts. Try not to be too shocked when you change. This is not really you, you know. Your true form will start to assert itself soon. Take care?"

"I will. Write to me."

"Definitely." He let go of his aunt and turned to Sirius.

"Look after Aunt Petunia Sirius." He said. "And you Remus, make sure Sirius behaves himself." He lent forward to give Sirius a hug. "Hope you're ready for a prank war." Sirius looked delighted and gave Harry a squeeze. Harry turned to McGonagall and surprised her by giving her a hug. "Thank you." He said quietly. "Godmother." She looked surprised and then smiled, dropping a kiss on his cheek. "You'd best leave now." Harry said. "Uncle Vernon will be home soon and he won't be too happy if you're still here."

"I'll just write him a note and then we can go." Petunia said.

"If you'll excuse me, I have homework to do." Harry nodded at all of the adults present and went upstairs to his bedroom. Sitting down to finish his potions essay.

Two hours later he sighed. "Finished." He lent back in his chair and thought about the afternoon's activities. 'I have another aunt.' He thought to himself, smiling slightly. He sat up abruptly. 'I'll have to ask Salazar and Helga about getting that block down.' He delved into his trunk finding some of the books he'd received for his birthday. His fingers came in contact with a shrunken trunk and he pulled it out and set it on the floor. He waved a hand over the lid and it expanded to its normal size. He opened the lid and he remembered the image he'd seen earlier. The boxes matched the image. He brushed his fingers over the two lids, noting that the separate symbols engraved on them could join together to match the one on his palm. He opened the first one, the Shadow Wielder's box. He picked up the chain with the Shadow Wielder's emblem on it. He smiled and fastened the chain before taking out the book and unfolding the battle robes. A piece of paper fluttered out of the robes. He picked it up and read it. A note from his father.

Read the book, it will explain things for you. James Potter. He smiled and refolded the robes, putting them inside the box and putting the book to one side. He opened the second box, the Death Bringer's box. There was again a chain with the Death Bringer's emblem on it. He put it round his neck and felt the two emblems join together to match the mark on his palm. He unfolded the night cloak, letting its silky material flow through his fingers. The fabric was like a chameleon, matching the backgrounds it fell against. He looked at another note. This one from his mother.

Again you must read the book, it will makes things clear to you. The cloak is made of phototropic camouflage material, as you've probably realised, it matches any background. And with the battle robes you'll get from your father, it'll be very useful. I'll talk to you soon. Beware the Rogue Reaper; you are the only real defence left in this world. You must take him out before he can take you out. Lily Potter nee Evens. He folded the cloak back up, placing it neatly in the box and settling down to read both books. Three hours later he was done with both. He but the books in their corresponding boxes and lent back against the wall, eyes closed. His mind going over the enormity of the tasks laid on his shoulders. He looked at the clock and blinked in surprise when he saw that it was eight o'clock. He stood up. Shutting his bedroom door behind him and going down stairs. The house was silent.

"Odd. Dudley and Vernon should have been back by now." He entered the kitchen and started to get some pasta out of the cupboard as well as one of the jars of low fat pasta sauce. He set the table for four, getting plates out of the cupboard and knives and forks from the drawer. He heard the door open just as he was dishing the servings up. He put the pots into the dishwasher and went out into the hall. "Dinner's on the table Uncle Vernon." Vernon grunted and Dudley limped down the hallway on crutches to the kitchen.

"Help your cousin boy." Harry sighed and helped Dudley into his chair, setting the crutches against the wall. "Where's your aunt?"

"I haven't seen her all day." Vernon started up the stairs. "Don't let Dudley eat mine or your Aunt's dinner boy." Dudley glared across the table at Harry and Harry glared right back.

"You haven't forgotten what happened this morning have you Duddykins?" asked Harry, his voice sickly sweet.

"That was you!"

"I never said anything." Said Harry baring his teeth in a grin. "How was the hospital?"

"Like you care."

"Your right I don't. What do you reckon your gang'll say when they realise you bawled your eyes out after spraining your ankle?"

"If you breath a word I'll pound you into mush!" said Dudley, smashing a ham sized fist into his palm.

"And I'll turn you into a snail before you get close enough." Both boys turned their heads towards the doorway as they heard a roar of outrage from the stairs. Vernon came pounding down them, face the colour of rotten tomatoes.

"What did you do boy? What did you say to her and those freaks of yours?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Uncle Vernon."

"This." He said, waving a fistful of paper at Harry. "This! Petunia's left me. And says she's going to tell the police about what happened to her. Well, they can't do anything without testimony from a witness."

He swung one of the meathooks he called fists at Harry, smacking him in the side of the head and sending him flying backwards into the oven door. There was a crunch as the bones in Harry's foot, caught between the table and his chair, cracked and broke. Harry lay spread-eagled on the floor, his head bleeding from his impact with the oven.

"I think you killed him dad!" Dudley whispered. Sounding horrified. Vernon leant over Harry, his stinking breath coming out in gasps.

"He's alive." He said. "Just got a small bump on the head." Dudley leant over and poked Harry's body with his knife, standing on his wrist.

"Looks dead to me. Can I have his dinner?" Vernon smiled at Dudley.

"Of course you can Dudders. Tuck in." half an hour later they were watching television in the living room when they heard a groan from the kitchen. Vernon walked into the kitchen looking down on the dazed boy sitting on the floor. "Get up boy and move your things into the cupboard. I don't want you mucking up Dudley's bedroom anymore. Harry tried to stand up but collapsed instantly when he found out the hard way that his foot was broken.

"Actually boy, I've changed my mind. It's a lot easier to keep you inside when you're upstairs, go to your room and don't come out until you're called." Harry dragged himself forward. Aware that he couldn't heal his foot until he got upstairs into the dubious safety of his room. He heard Vernon and Dudley's laughter echoing from the living room as he shut his bedroom door. He sighed and set about mending his foot. Piecing together the broken bones one by one, reshaping his foot until exhausted, he stood and wobbled over to his bed. He looked down at his wrist and mended that too, wincing as the swollen joint throbbed with being moved. He strapped it and conjured a sling, sliding his wrist into it before looking at the barn owl perched on his disk. He smiled as he recognised Fred and George's owl. They'd been corresponding with him since his birthday, when he'd received a Weasley Wizards Wheezes Mischief Makers kit.

Dear Harry,
We send you this letter with our most heartfelt thanks for the donation you gave us for the jokeshop. We have already invested the money and production is starting once again. We brought Ron some Navy dress robes, he hasn't yet found an excuse to touch them and they are in a corner of his room. Please find contained our most recent products, which as silent partner you will be kept in the loop with all developments.

Thanks again

Gred and Forge Owners and Developers of WWW

P.S. Are your hands red yet?

Dear Gred and Forge,
Yes my hands are red. My uncle went spare. Thanks for making me a silent partner, and really you didn't have to. Have you taken a look in the WWW vault yet? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Harry Silent partner of WWW

P.S. are your hands blue yet? Don't prank me, I know Messrs Moony, Padfoot and Prongs.

Dear Harry,
Yes our hands are blue, Mum couldn't stop laughing! We figure that she's not soon keen on a Ministry career for us now. We met Professor Lupin and his dog Snuffles in Gringotts yesterday. He said to tell you a letter is on its way to you with your birthday present. Why is Professor Lupin sending you a birthday present? Who are the Marauders? We must know! Thank you for the further donation, how did you get such a superbly placed residence for WWW? We enclose a key to the vault. Gred and Forge have conferred, you own 15% of the shop. If you'd prefer we can simply transfer your share of profit to your vault, but we'll need your number.

Gred and Forge

Dear Gred and Forge,
It's no problem, its surprising what my face can do among humans! I can't tell you who the Marauders are with out first asking their permission. However I will tell you this, You've met three of them, Messrs Moony, Wormtail and Padfoot. And remember this, the only person who can out Marauder a Marauder is a Marauder's son. Of which there is only one in existence. Just tell the goblins that you wish to transfer money to my account. They'll do the rest for you. How do you think I did it? The Dursley's aren't exactly allowing me out of the house, except of course, to do chores.

Harry

Dear Harry,
Have you conferred with the Marauders yet? We send our condolences about you not being allowed to leave the house. Have you tried any of our products yet?

Gred and Forge

Dear Gred and Forge,
I have conferred with the Marauders, they wish to introduce themselves to you face to face. They said you'll know by Christmas. I have as yet to use any of WWW's fine products, I don't want to waste them on Dudley. You did him a favour really, he doesn't touch sweets anymore. Well, not after I mentioned being friends with you! I am now allowed out of the house, Dudley was sacked from his job for harassing staff and assaulting the animals so I'm working at the local zoo. Two days in the Snake house and two in the Big cats nursery enclosure! The Dursleys think I work three days in each so instead of three days with the Dursleys I only have one!

Harry Harry grinned to himself and sat down to read their latest letter.

Dear Harry,
It's official. Dumbledore's finally lost it, he sent your Hogwarts letter to us. Don't know why. You'll find it enclosed along with some food from mum. She thinks the Dursley's are starving you again. WWW is going well and will be opening day after tomorrow for the Hogwarts shopping rush. We really can't thank you enough. Opposite Flourish and Blotts? Anyone that goes in will see our store! Anyway you could get down for the opening? Congrats! on the job! You think you can wangle a free day for day after tomorrow? If you can come, meet us at seven at the shop. If not we'll see you at some point in the holidays, or if not that at school.

Gred and Forge

Harry grabbed a quill and started to write out a reply.

Dear Gred and Forge,
That's no problem, today was my Dursley day so the Dursleys think I'm 'working' for the next six, when really I have tomorrow and the next day off. I'll meet you at your store at seven. See you soon.

Harry

Harry signed the letter with a flourish and attached it to the leg of Marauder. He laughed every time he thought or said the name. But it was just like Fred and George to name their owl after one of the biggest sets of pranksters since Hogwarts began. He smiled to himself as the owl launched itself out the window and Harry sat down to read his Hogwarts letter. He smiled as he read through the normal letters. His smile disappeared when he reached the book list. Or rather, the lack of one. He shook out the envelope and shook his head.

"I don't believe this! He's locking me in this house." his hands shook as he went to his desk to write Dumbledore an angry letter. He heard a trill from behind him and he saw Fawkes perched on his bed with a black and gold phoenix.

/Sorry I took so long to get here./ the black and gold phoenix said. /Fawkes gave me the wrong directions./

/You shouldn't even need directions to reach your master./

/Shut it you./

/Excuse me?/ asked Harry. /But just what in hell is going on here? And Fawkes, can you tell me why Dumbledore has banned me from getting my supplies?/

/He worries for your safety. Your supplies are here./ Fawkes nodded his head at a previously unnoticed stack on the floor.

/Well you can tell the old coot that I'm sick and tired of this house and the company of Vernon and Dudley. I work four days out of seven, one I have to spend here and the other two I plan to use to visit my friends and go shopping./

/Strong words young master./

/I'm not a master, I'm Harry. Please call me that./ Harry sat down on his bed. Glaring at the two phoenixes.

/I'll tell him./ Fawkes said, stretching his wings. /Leave you two to get aquatinted./ Fawkes vanished with a blaze of flame and Harry turned to the phoenix.

/So, do you have a name?/

/My name is Evelyn, you may call me Eve' if you so desire. I am the sole War Phoenix left in the world and you are my master./

/Why did you choose me?/

/Every Phoenix Lord has a War Phoenix. I am all that is left of my race. Oh I forgot, you need Scarlet./

/Scarlet?/

I am Ssscarlet hissed the red band around Evelyn's neck. She seemed to disappear for a second before appearing around Harry's arm, wrapped tightly around it. I am yoursss and you are mine. We have agreed to join your ssside in the battlesss, except Nagini'sss kind they have joined the sssnake man. They are traitorsss. the little fire snake hissed angrily.

Sssalmarisssa will be arriving sssoon. Ssshe is chief of the ssspy network. We are playing falssse to the sssnake man. Nagini and her kind believe we are loyal and have told him ssso. He hasss ssset one of the Drakena ssspeciessss on each of hisss Death Eatersss to kill if they act traitorousssly. They are loyal to usss and will report all they hear. Asss well asss ssstun, maim or kill if told to by you. Harry nodded and hissed his thanks for her concise report.

He caught sight of his wand lying on his desk and picked it up thoughtfully. 'I wonder how the ministry keeps track of underage magic. It can't be anything to do with the person because if an underage wizard uses a qualified wizards wand noting happens, which means it's got to be something on the wand.' He focused on the wand, trying to see the underlying magic. His eyes showed him a swirl of red and gold that probably had something to do with the wand core. He noticed a blinking blue spot and smiled. "There it is." He brushed a finger over the spot and it disappeared.

'Now I can practice spells.' He dug all of his spell books out of his trunk and started going through them one by one. Some hours later he was finished, surprised at the amount he'd learned in that short time. He turned to the pile on the floor that Fawkes had delivered. He shrugged and started to go through those as well, including the books on healing potions and charms he'd found in a shop attached to the local chemist. He smiled as he remembered his surprise at seeing it. He looked up at the clock, shocked to see it was six 'o clock.

I'm going for a run Ssscarlet, are you coming?

No thank you, it'sss cold enough in here, let alone outssside. Harry laughed.

Would you like a fire?

A fire would be nice. Harry conjured up some flames into a glass jar and smiled as Scarlet curled herself around them hissing in pleasure. Harry looked at Eve'

/You?/

/Someone's got to keep an eye on you. Can't have you getting into trouble./

/Come on then, down the trellis I spent hours the other day putting up./ he opened the window and Evelyn swooped out and Harry followed, shimming down the trellis and setting off at a jog towards town.

/What do we do today Harry?/

/Shopping./

/Shopping where?/

/Diagon Alley and London probably./

/No offence, but how are you going to go shopping, someone's bound to recognise you./

/I'll use an alias. There's a potion in one of my books, I've got the ingredients to create an alias./

""You could just make yourself a new persona."

"How Helga?"

"Well you simply create a new person, an overlapping persona or personality if you wish and then you can remember it for future use. it's a slight variation on the magic that metamorphmages use. you have abilities in that field it won't be hard to adapt them."

"Show me." Helga sent the processes involved to Harry and he nodded in understanding. "Thank you."

"I'll talk to you later. And Harry."

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

"I will, Harry out."" Harry looked down at Evelyn.

/What ya think?/

/What on earth have you done to yourself Harry?/

/This isn't Harry, this is Ethan James./ Evelyn rolled her eyes.

/Ha ha smarty pants. So what now?/

/Now we go home, collect Scarlet, avoid whatever guard dogs the codger has assigned me and head for Diagon Alley./

/Sure, but you'd better change back first. Don't want to scare your uncle to an early death do you?/

/Yeah right./

/You should tell someone./

/You have got to be joking, I get enough sympathy as it is./ the phoenix fell silent, broadcasting her disapproval as Harry headed for home.

Harry swept up the trellis and into his room. Shutting the window quietly. Two minutes later Fawkes appeared again. /Hey Fawkes, so what did he say? No, let me guess he said it's for my own safety and that I'm better off here?/ Fawkes nodded his head. And Harry crossed his arms grumpily.

/Show him./

/Show me what?/

/Harry, show Fawkes./

/What?/

/Show Fawkes Ethan./ said Eve' frustratedly. Harry smiled.

/Well you could have said./ He changed into his Ethan persona, his eyes became an icy blue grey and his hair grew longer and became dark brown in colour. Harry smiled when he caught a glimpse of his alias in the mirror. He thoughtfully inclined his head and added a duelling scar to one cheek.

/Well, well, well, roguishly handsome are we?/

/What you wanted me to take a chunk out of my nose and perhaps lose an eye as well?/

/Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit./ Fawkes sated dryly reminding Harry of Severus Snape which he dutifully informed the phoenix, changing back to his natural form. Harry grinned at the bird and turned to Scarlet's jar.

Are you coming ssshopping?

Sssoundsss fun what isss it? Harry rolled his eyes.

Well if you come, you'll find out won't you?

I think I'll come then. If it ssso pleasssesss you.

I think you'll enjoy yourssself. Harry said extending his wrist. "Ready?" Eve' settled on his shoulder and Scarlet hissed assent. Harry smiled and shifted to Ethan James before teleporting to the Leaky Cauldron. Making sure he made a popping sound when he appeared. He smiled and nodded at Tom when he appeared.

"Can I get you anything?"

"No Thank you, I have business in Diagon Alley." He walked out into the courtyard behind the pub and tapped the bricks, one up and three across. His smile grew as the familiar alley blossomed into view. He strode through the crowds of people, making his own path as he wandered to Gringotts. He walked through the doors and up to one of the desks.

"How can I help you?"

"I'd like to visit my vault."

"Key please." Harry handed over his key and the Goblin scrutinised it. "All is in order. Griphook." The goblin that had taken Harry down to his vault in is first year approached.

"Take Mr...?"

"James."

"James, down to vault 469 please." The goblin nodded and looked at Harry.

"This way please." Harry followed the goblin to one of the carts and they rocketed off. Harry was surprised that he was able to remember the route to his vault perfectly this time.

"We helped build Gringotts, you are our descendant so it only makes sense that you should know where your own vault is." Harry smiled at Rowena's comment and stepped out of the cart when it stopped. He opened the door, green smoke billowing out. He shook his head as he entered and his eyes widened the vault seemed even bigger than he remembered.

"I think you've taken me to the wrong vault. This one is bigger than it should be."

"This is the specified vault. On the arrival of Mr Potter's fifteenth birthday the management responded to prior instructions and combined the vaults on either side, numbers 468 and 470 with number 469 as ordered by instructions left from your ancestors." Harry blinked.

"You are the sole survivor of the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Potter blood, it stands to reason you should inherit it all."

"Most of mine's in there as well, but Voldemort did get his hands on some of it, can't image how."

"Well, thanks, I think."

"No problem Harry." The founder's voices chimed in his head and then left. Harry shook his head.

"I suppose I better sort this lot out then." He rolled up his sleeves and dug out his wand, searching for an appropriate spell.

""The sorting spell would work Harry."

"Thanks mum."" Harry raised the wand and muttered the incantation. He sat down to watch as the contents of his vault sorted themselves into piles. Weapons, trunks, money and gems all in different piles. Harry wandered over to the piles of trunks. He touched the lid of each one. They contained battle robes, some were empty, and one was full of dark detectors and others, full of jewellery. He looked at one of the empty ones, with several keyholes like Mad Eye Moody's trunk. He touched the lid and a set of keys fell into his hand he tucked them in his pocket and shrank the trunk, placing it with the keys in his pocket. He scooped quite a bit of money into his moneybag, feeling that he might need it and turned to the goblin.

"I'm done." The Goblin lead the way out of the vault and Harry shut the door. Back in the cart they rattled back to the lobby by a different route which Harry also remembered. Time seemed to slow down for a split second as they went past another vault. Harry frowned.

"That's mine. It doesn't have a key but will recognise the Magus Lord's symbol its number is 1988 you can't get into it today, you'll have to come later on." Harry sent his affirmations to Merlin through the link. Harry once again approached the goblin at the desk and asked for a printout of the contents of his vault.

He scanned the list, his heart faltering for a second when he saw the total of galleons in his vault. He shook his head to clear it and asked the goblin to separate the vaults again, half his money in his original vault the other half in vault 468 and everything else in 470. The goblin nodded and said that the keys would be sent later by special delivery.

If he would register a palm print now so only he could open it. Harry did ask that the money in vault 468 be registered under the name Ethan James and then left, heading for Flourish and Blotts.

He looked around the shop, it was full of students getting their supplies. He spotted the usual gaggle of redheads and smiled to himself as he went past them to look at some of the books in the isle behind them listening to their conversation.

"Have you heard from him lately Ron? I mean, it's not like Harry not to answer our letters." Ron shrugged. Ginny spoke quietly to Hermione.

"Ignore him, he's been behaving like a prat for the last few days." Harry frowned to himself.

'Letters? They haven't sent me any letters.' A sudden thought came to him.

'Dumbledore's stopping my letters.' He turned his head towards Evelyn who was sitting on one of the bookshelves.

/I'm right aren't I? Dumbledore's blocking my letters./ Eve' nodded her head slightly. /Then how come the twin's letters are getting through?/

/Perhaps because you don't normally receive letters from them? And their owl is new isn't he? So Dumbledore probably wouldn't know about him./

/Thanks Eve' seen anything interesting?/

/There are some good spellbooks over there./ she gestured with her head. /I take it your gathering as many books as possible?/

/Yes. I need to learn as much as I can./

""There's always the library at the Order's base."

"What order is this?"

"The Order of the Phoenix, the only protection against the Dark Lords that rise and fall with the times. The Lord Phoenix is its leader. So there would be no problem with you gaining entrance."

"How do I find this place?"

"You know where it is, it was built by a previous Lord Phoenix obviously, you just have to want to go there."

"Thanks Merlin. Is there anything here I won't be able to get hold of?"

"While there are some texts on Dark Magic the more useful texts can probably only be found in Knockturn Alley. You needn't worry about being noticed, you are a true Dark Wizard, able to use both sides of magic equally."

"Isn't it more like seeing the sense in using both magics freely? If I remember correctly the true definition of a Dark Wizard is someone that uses both Light and Dark magic freely? So how can I be a Dark Wizard? I don't know any Dark Magic."

"You inherit the ability of Dark Magic from me. If the need arises, I can show you how to use it."

"Thanks Salazar, Merlin."

"You never know what you'll find in Knockturn Alley, maybe you'll be able to find some of our lost relics that only you can use."

"Okay then Godric I'll go and look later. But now, there is something here that is calling me."" Harry cut the link, searching for the item calling for his attention. He frowned slightly.

/Call it to you, no one is watching./

/Thanks Eve'./ Harry closed his eyes, thinking of calling the object to him or himself to the object. He felt something land in his palm and he opened his eyes to look at it.

"Excuse me." Harry turned his head to find Hermione looking at him.

"Could you please pass me that book on the top shelf on Magical theory?"

"Of course Ma'am." Hermione blushed slightly.

"I'm no Ma'am." she said though she seemed pleased with the compliment.

"Which volume, one, two or three?"

"Just one please. If I like it I'll be able to get the others from the branch of Flourish and Blotts opening in Hogsmede during the year." Harry nodded and handed over the book. Taking a second from the shelf and flicking through it.

""The Order Library is self updating there is a copy of that there."

"Thanks Helga."

"Pad a problem."" he put the book back on the shelf and took another look at the book in his hand.

/It came from this shelf./ Evelyn said, fluttering to land on the bookcase. Harry wandered over. His hand passing over the titles, picking a book up if it pulled his attention towards it and stacking them with the others he picked up. He soon had a pile of about forty books and carefully levitated them over towards the sales desk. He smiled at the wizard behind the counter and dumped them onto the desk.

"And I believe that you have some books waiting for me." Harry was surprised, someone was speaking through him.

""S'Only me. These books have been waiting for you for ages."

"Well if it's only you I suppose I don't mind that much."" Harry said dryly to Merlin.

"Here." Harry handed over a slip of paper. The clerk glanced at it.

"Right away Mr. James sir." The clerk hurried into the back of the shop. Ten minutes later he was back with a small cart load of books.

""Jesus Christ Merlin! How many are there?"

"About six more cart loads."

"SIX?!!"" Harry sighed and dug out his trunk. He enlarged it and then unlocked the fourth compartment which had library written round the lock. He looked at the assistant.

"Can I start packing these?" the assistant nodded.

"All of them are logged into the system. I just have to add these and then I can tell you how much it will cost." He gulped nervously and Harry knew that it would be reasonably expensive, for anyone without five massive fortunes in their vault. Harry waved his wand over the accumulating books, which then flew into the trunk and seeming to place themselves on different shelves in different places. Harry raised an eyebrow. 'Automatic genre and alphabetical sorting.' He smiled once more at the clerk and turned to the people in the queue.

"I do apologise. This shouldn't take too much longer."

"Not a problem Mr...?"

"James. Ethan James. It's a pleasure to meet you...?"

"Molly Weasley." Harry smiled and shook her hand feeling a tiny shock as their hands connected. Molly also seemed to look slightly surprised which she then covered admirably well.

- I was unaware of any other existing Order members that had not been contacted. –

'So that's what it was.' –Are we being called again?-

-Yes, next meeting is tomorrow at six.-

-Thank you, I've been a bit out of touch recently. I'll see you then. – Harry smiled once more at the Weasleys and turned to the clerk who it seemed now had a total for the books.

"Um, that'll be..."

"Out with it. You can't shock me that easily."

"That'll be one thousand galleons please." The man whispered. Harry nodded.

"Fine. Can I pay you directly from my account?" the man nodded, almost relieved that Harry wouldn't be paying in cash. He handed Harry a piece of parchment and a quill. Harry filled in the relevant data and signed it with a flourish. Remembering at the last second that he was signing as Ethan James and not as Harry Potter.

"Thank you very much for your assistance." Harry said, slamming the lid of the trunk, locking it and once it was shrunken again, slipped it into his pocket. He nodded to Molly and Hermione and then wondered across to WWW.

""Care to explain why I have an Order link?"

"As the Lord Phoenix, you must be connected to the Order."

"The link is in the form of a tattoo on the underside of your right wrist."" Harry turned his wrist over, looking at the picture there.

He smiled and entered the shop invisibly, dropping his Ethan image and carefully walking through the crowds to where Fred and George were in their element, demonstrating products and from where Harry was standing looking like they were raking in a huge amount of money. Harry tapped gently on George's shoulder in Morse, he'd taught it to them over the summer along with semaphore so they could continue their work in code. He finished and George's foot tapped out a reply on the floor. Harry grinned and slipped through to the back and sitting on a chair. A split second later and a grinning Fred and George slipped through.

"Who's covering?"

"Charlie and Bill." Said George.

"Charlie's over on some R&R from his Dragons..."

"...and Bill's taking a break from the curse breaking and is helping us with the shop." Harry nodded.

"Can't stay long." He made a face. "I'm not supposed to be here, Dumbledore's got me on house arrest." Fred and George shook their heads in sympathy.

"What'll he do if he finds out..."

"...you're not at home?"

"The Dursleys'll tell him I'm working." He shrugged. "Before I go I want to do something. Give me your wands." They handed them over and Harry removed the spell from theirs as he had from his.

"What did you..."

"...do?" "Removed the spell that tells the ministry if you do magic. Anyway, I'd better dash, got a bit more shopping to do."

"Thanks for the wands..."

"...yes, thanks, wait a bit though..."

"...Charlie and Bill wanted..."

"...a word with you." They both slipped through the curtain and then Bill and Charlie came through.

"Hey Harry." They both said. Harry smiled and nodded.

"Right, basically we think you're insane." Said Charlie. "Giving those two that amount of money? That's like asking for trouble." Harry's grin widened.

"We'll be needing the laughs." He said sadly, thinking of the three deaths that had already occurred.

"And also to give you your birthday present." Said Bill. "She's not something you can really send by owl." Bill went over to a basket on the floor and plucked a jet black kitten from it's midst.

"This is Athene." Charlie said as Bill handed her over. "She's an Egyptian cat, Bill found her in his last tomb and he picked her up and brought her out. I was going to keep her until I saw this." He pointed to a tiny patch of white fur, shaped like a miniature lighting bolt on the kitten's left front paw. Harry smiled as the ball of fluff stretched and looking up at him, purred delicately before leaping into the sling and curling up inside. Looking intently at Scarlet who had appeared in the sling before she mewed in approval and settled into sleep, Scarlet poked her head out, tongue flickering in and out as she tasted the air around her. She turned her head towards Bill and Charlie.

They tassste good. They will be jussst and loyal friends she hissed. Harry smiled at her

Thanksss Ssscarlet

Sss'no problem. and she flickered back to his other wrist. Bill and Charlie blinked. Harry smiled at them,

"Don't worry about her. She was a birthday present."

"Well that settles it." Said Charlie laughing. "You gave money to the twins and you got a snake for your birthday. You are definitely not normal!" Harry laughed as well.

"Me? Normal? Those words just don't go together." Bill grinned at him.

"Listen Harry, if you ever need to talk. Just send me an owl okay?"

"You can talk to me as well." Said Charlie. "We grew up during the last war, and we know what its like. Ron and the others, they probably have no idea what you're going through." Harry nodded.

"Thanks, I might just take you up on that. How's Norbert Charlie?"

"Norbert?" Charlie scratched his head looking a little puzzled.

"Oh Hagrid's dragon! He's doing fine. He never really integrated with the rest of the Norwegian Ridgebacks though. And he always has a good look at the wizards that check up on the colonies. Every single time as if he's looking for someone." Harry nodded, his attention pulled towards Charlie's last sentence.

"I'll see you then. I've got some more shopping to do." He nodded at Bill and Charlie, pulled his invisibility back on and then walked out the shop, pulling his Ethan visage back up as soon as he left. He stopped outside Gladrags and dropped the invisibility spell before striding towards Knockturn Alley. He strode confidently into the dank and dingy alley, half- listening to Salazar's directions. He found himself outside a miscellaneous store and entered, a tiny tinkling bell echoing in the confines of the shop as he closed the door. He frowned, his eyes sweeping the room, searching for the object calling his attention.

"Can I help you?" a weedy voice from the corner punctuated the darkness. Harry glanced over at the person, surprised to see Peter Pettigrew sitting in the corner.

"No thank you. I'll find it in a minute. Wormtail." He said quietly. The little man fell off his stool.

"How do you know that name?" he hissed, glancing around nervously. Harry waved his hand in a gesture indicating silence as he approached a display case. He opened it, taking out the staff inside.

""That's it!!! That's what you're looking for!"

"What is it exactly? I know it's mine, and that it is the key to some immense power. But I can't quite put my finger on its name."

"It is the Staff of Phoenix, forged in the Magus powers themselves. It is akin to the Twin Blades of Deathsong. It will help you find them."" Harry nodded and approached the desk. Placing the staff upon it reverently. His eyes wandered towards a bookcase, several books appeared from it and laid themselves next to the staff.

"Just these. And the books you have waiting for me." He handed over a slip of paper again.

""What is this? Possess Harry day?"

"I'm not possessing you, just speaking through you."

"One in the same Salazar."

"No it's not."

"It is Salazar."

"Stay out of this Rowena!"

"Really Salazar! Stop being so rude."

"Yes Helga."" Harry chuckled at Salazar's meekness and the expression on Wormtail's face.

"This will come to a substantial total."

"And? I want everything now." He pulled out his wand pointing it at Wormtail's face. "Unless you'd wish to spend the rest of your miserable life eating your own excretion and slobbering over everyone else's toes." Wormtail hurriedly shook his head and scurried out with more books. Harry pulled out his trunk, enlarged it and opened the library again. Started sending the books flying in once they'd been rung through the till. He closed the section and opened the last one marked 'Stuff 'n Junk'. He placed the staff inside before once again shrinking the trunk and replacing it in his pocket.

"T...that'll be..."

"Hurry up, I don't have all day!" Harry snapped.

"Two thousand."

"What? Sickles? Knuts?"

"Galleons." Harry threw down the correct amount and placed his hands on the desk.

"You'll find that that is the correct amount and you can tell your Master that if he ever has me followed again I will insert a very large, automatic, golf umbrella into his anal orifice. Got that?" Wormtail nodded very shakily. (A.N. the umbrella bit was courtesy of Dark Raven Lady of Spork, specifically an automatic umbrella.) "Good. I've got my eye on you. And your Master. You can tell him that too." Harry stalked out of the shop, leaving a very shaky Wormtail behind him. He grinned and deliberately walked into Lucius Malfoy. "Watch where you're walking Malfoy." He snarled.

"I don't think you quite know who I am." Replied Lucius, glaring at Harry. "It is you who needs to watch where he's going."

"Moi?" asked Harry, placing a hand on his chest innocently. "I wouldn't mess with me Lucius, I'm a very dangerous person to annoy. You wouldn't want to be on my personal 'To Kill' list. I've just put one of your 'fellow Death Eaters' into his place and I'm assuming you wouldn't like your 'Lord' to see you lose face now would he?" Lucius turned a rather delicious colour of purple. "I'd breathe if I were you Lucius. Voldemort needs his lap dogs." Lucius whipped his wand out. Harry muttered a spell under his breath.

"Reversus." Lucius' wand flipped around unnoticed in his hand just as he finished his spell. Harry grinned as the pain curse Lucius had tried to hit him with hit him instead. Hs scream sounded in the air and Harry smiled slightly before ending the spell, placing a silencing charm on him and making him drink a potion. Lucius immediately started mouthing words and Harry forced him to turn around and continue his errand before he teleported away.

He appeared outside number four Privet Drive to see a masked stranger knocking on the door of the house. A drunken Vernon opened the door. "Whatever you're selling I don't want it."

"I'm not selling anything Mr. Dursley. Can I come in?"

"No."

"Very well. I'm from the Ministry of Magic, a member of the wizard government, and I'm here to reset the wards to make sure your family continues to reside here in safety."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Hasn't your nephew told you? With the rise of Voldemort the lives of your family are all that protect him from the Dark Lord."

"You mean the boy, is endangering me and my family?" the man nodded and Harry tried to get a closer look at this stranger. He extended his senses.

"That is the Rogue Reaper Harry. Beware of him. Can you call your Death Bringer equipment to you? You have to get rid of him now."

"How?"

"Call on the powers of the Death Bringer. They'll show you the way. You mustn't forget to contact the Head Reaper to let them know you're bringing him in."

"Okay. See you later." Harry smiled to himself and did just what his mother told him. He summoned his equipment and contacted the Head Reaper.

"This is Death Bringer. I'm about to bring in the Rogue."

"Roger that Death Bringer, Head Reaper will be standing by. Reaper base out." Harry concentrated on what the book had told him, and how to go about it. A sword appeared before him and he grasped it. Runes ran over the blades, symbols that could only be read by a practised eye. He approached the Rogue who spun round when he sensed Harry's presence.

"So you think you can take me in do you?"

"You're upsetting the balance, the Fates are not happy with you."

"They shouldn't have sent me from the Realms then. They did it to themselves."

"You and I know that's not it. You should have been terminated, I can't understand why you were not, all I know is I have to take you in. I've been ordered to do so, and so I must."

"Do you always follow orders?"

"So far? Yes." Harry advanced, his blade flickering and shimmering in anticipation. The Reaper's face flickered behind his mask. "Now are you coming quietly or are we doing this the hard way?"

"What do you think? Damn I was sure I'd got rid of you! There's no way that Lily Potter could have passed the mark on, there was no one around!"

"She takes care of us. There will always be a Death Bringer and a Shadow Wielder in this world." The Reaper ripped the mask away from his face.

"There was no one there!" Harry smiled, bringing the sword up to meet his forehead. (A.N. If anyone's seen LOTR, Like the Nazguls do at Weathertop or like Aragorn does when facing all the Urak-kai at Amon Hen.)

"The Rogue is being brought in."

"The Death Bringer's first assignment. How does it go so far?"

"He has not risen to The Rogue's baiting, nor has he accepted his offers."

"Was the Death Bringer not tested last night?"

"He passed his test, I see no reason why he should fail with this task, as duly appointed by Her." "He will not fail." A third person joined the first two.

"What makes you say that?"

"Do you question The Lady Reaper of the Shadows? Do you question my judgement?"

"N...no. Of course not..."

"Silence. You don't know what you're talking about. Accept my judgement, or accept a demotion to Canada." The male Reaper gulped and the Head Reaper smiled at his nervousness.

"She won't eat you you know." She whispered in his ear. The man jumped. She sighed, the new Reapers were always extremely nervous.

"I don't know why you're so nervous. Canada is a lovely place." A new voice joined the three.

"The Death Bringer." Murmured the new Reaper.

"Ah. Don't go all respectful on me." Said Harry. "I am only fifteen." He grinned at the Head Reaper and turned to the Lady Reaper.

"Lady Reaper of the Shadows. I trust I can hand over the Rogue Reaper to you?"

"Yes. We will deal with him now." Harry pulled a figure out of his pocket.

"Here you are. I hope the termination succeeds this time."

"It will. I'll make sure of it personally. I thank you for your assistance."

"No problem, just doing my job. I've got to go, I'll see you around."

"I don't think you will." Harry smiled.

"That's what you think." He waved a cheery goodbye and disappeared. Back to wherever he'd come from.

"I like him." Said the Head Reaper.

"I do too Mariana." The women smiled at each other.

"Excuse me. What about me?" asked the male reaper nervously.

"I won't be sending you to Canada."

"No." Said Mariana the Head Reaper. "I'll be sending you to Los Angeles." She smiled and tapped the butt of her staff on the un-dead man's head. "Have fun!" she smiled. And he vanished. "Where do you need me?" she asked the Lady Reaper.

"I need you in England, got to have someone keep and eye on the new Death Bringer. He may need your help, and maybe some instruction and guidance as well." Mariana smiled and turned, walking to the portal. "Be careful Mariana, Voldemort has lost his Reaper, and his one voice on what will come. He will be eager to gain another." Mariana smiled.

"I'll be fine. And if I need help. There's always Harry." The Lady smiled and nodded. "I'll be seeing you soon then."

"Every tenth soul. I know the rules, just as you do. Don't forget, I helped you write them." She smiled and stepped through the portal, giving the Lady Reaper a backhand wave. The Lady sighed and stepped through a portal of her own, staring into the mists of time.

"It must happen."

"I know, but the pain he'll suffer, he has suffered so much already." A hand clasped her shoulder and she turned to find herself face to face with the Fates.

"It is regrettable..."

"...that all this was necessary."

"Forget not that if the Rogue had not strayed..."

"...things would have been different."

"Futures changed, futures became better..."

"...or worse."

"You must not think on what might have been..."

"...but what will be."

"Concentrate your efforts on this..."

"...that is all we can tell you for the moment."

"Mariana may not be enough..."

"...you must be prepared to instruct as well..."

"...he must learn more of the opposite,..."

"...this he must learn from you."

"He will keep looking until told..."

"...you must decide when to tell him." The Lady Reaper nodded.

"I will do my bit."

"This we knew..."

"...we chose well..."

"...when we chose you." The three nodded to her and vanished, as they always did and as they always would. Her hand reached out to rub the eye ridges of the huge Dragon beside her.

¬ I chose my rider well. ¬

¬ I'm glad you approve. ¬

¬ I always approve. ¬ the giant beast raised his head level with her eyes. She stared into the endless depths of his eyes. ¬ You will do well. ¬

¬ Thank you Ragnor. ¬

¬I merely fulfil my purposes. I would like to meet this Death Bringer who Mariana holds in such high esteem. ¬

¬ And so you shall my bonded. For how else am I to get there? ¬

¬ Like any other Reaper. ¬

¬ I yield. ¬

¬ You grow wiser with your years. ¬

¬ Indeed. As do you. ¬ With one last caress she turned back to her perusal of the mists.

"What did you just do?" asked Vernon, staring at the man who had just attacked a member of the wizarding government with a sword, and then disappeared and reappeared.

"I'm Ethan James Mr. Dursley, a friend of Harry's. That man is or rather was a member of a band of wizarding terrorists. Following someone known as Voldemort. You won't have heard of him, your government has not been informed of this threat because the leader of the British Ministry for Magic does not believe in Voldemort's return." Harry smiled to himself as he saw the amount of confusion that the complexity the amount of information been thrown at him was causing. "I suggest that you send an owl to Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts School for witchcraft and wizardry and ask for his assistance, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to help you." He turned to leave.

"Wait a minute can't you do something, I mean, seeing as you're here and all, and then you tell this Dumbledore?"

"I have no proof of my identity. I could be another member of Voldemort's Death Eaters for all you know, sent to capture you and torture you for the enjoyment of it and then impersonate you to capture your nephew who Voldemort would very much like to kill. However if Voldemort ever did come here to get your nephew himself he would more than likely kill you first and ask questions later. That's the way he works you see." Vernon stood there speechless. "Good day to you sir." Ethan walked off down the road, or seemed to. He watched as Vernon ran into his house and dialled the police. Obviously to tell them about the insane megalomaniac named Voldemort on the lose. Ethan faded away to be replaced by Harry who entered the house, closing the open door and heading into the kitchen to prepare his dinner. He looked at the chart taped to fridge, or rather at the space where the cart had once been taped to the fridge.

"Um. Uncle Vernon, the diet chart has disappeared."

"Cook your own dinner, Dudley and I are eating out." Harry opened the fridge door and then the freezer, pulling out the stuff he wanted for dinner.

"Gammon, egg and chips." He muttered to himself as he slipped the gammon steak and the chips into the oven. He smiled and turned to find himself in front of his uncle. "Can I help you?"

"Don't blow up the house or anything while we're gone. And I want you to send this to that headmaster of yours." He handed Harry a letter and stomped out of the room. Harry looked at the piece of paper and shrugged. He whistled and Evelyn popped into the room.

/I don't suppose you know if Fawkes is still floating around?/

/He went back about an hour ago./

/Can you take this to Dumbledore for me? Hedwig's not back yet./

/Sure. What's in it?I don't know. It's from Vernon. Be quick./

/I'm always quick.See you later./ Evelyn disappeared in a blaze of flame and Harry tucked into his dinner.

Harry smiled to himself as he washed his plate up, it was very rare he was left alone in the house. He absently glanced down at the kitten curled up in his sling. He smiled removed her and the sling so he could check his wrist. He undid the strapping and went and got an ice bag from the freezer. Hoping to take down the swelling on his wrist. He sat there for half an hour before restrapping the wrist. Athene was awake now and stretched before mewing. Harry got some milk from the fridge and set it to warm in the microwave.

When it was warm enough he scooped Athene up onto his shoulder and picked up the saucer, taking it to his room. Hedwig was back and he gave her an owl treat before setting down to write a letter to Hermione asking for her advice on what kittens needed to survive.

#Hedwig are you okay to take a letter to Hermione?#

#Yes thank you Harry Master. She is not that far.#

#Thanks, how come there wasn't a reply?#

#A Black Gold Fawkes bird showed up. She said she'd bring the reply. The White one was busy and could not reply immediately and by the time he sat to write the letter the Black Gold Fawkes bird had come and said she would bring the letter.#

#Thanks Hedwig. The Black Gold Fawkes bird is called Evelyn and is a War Phoenix.#

# She is yours yes?#

#Yes. Apparently every Lord Phoenix has a War Phoenix.# Harry shrugged. #But you were here first Hedwig, and I respect that, and so will Eve'.#

#This one does not worry Harry master.# Hedwig stroked her head against Harry's cheek. #There will be another as well. A Ra Phoenix.#

#How do you know?#

#One just does.# Hedwig ruffled her feathers. #One knows there will be another and that the other will be a Ra Phoenix named Ariana. One does not know where she will come from though.# Hedwig appeared to notice the black kitten on Harry's shoulder. #I see Harry master now has the cub. One was told the cub was white with black stripes.#

#This is Athene, she was a birthday present and she's a kitten not a cub.#

#The cub is named Selena one wonders why you don't have her yet. The cub would have made herself known to you.#

#There's a Siberian tiger cub at the zoo. The first day I saw her she launched herself at me and claimed she was mine.#

#This is the cub. You must find her and take her from this zoo.#

#I don't know if I can. It would constitute as stealing in the muggle world.#

#Either you take her or she'll escape.#

/Too late./ Evelyn swept through the window.

/What do you mean? Too late?/

/There is a Siberian tiger cub sitting outside your window./ She dropped the rolls of parchment on the bed. Harry opened the window and climbed down the trellis.

"You have come." the cub padded over to Harry and nuzzled his hand.

"Why did you escape from the zoo? And how did you grow so big? You're no longer a cub you're a fully grown tigress."

"I willed myself to be this way, you need me this way and so I am this way."

"I suppose that makes sense." Harry waved his hand and floated the tigress into the air and through his window before climbing back up the trellis after her. He sat back down on his bed and looked at the veritable menagerie he now owned in some form or another.

#I shall take the message now Harry Master.#

#Thanks Hedwig.# Hedwig rubbed her head on Harry's cheek before flying out of the open window.

/Dumbledore wants a reply from his letter./ Harry looked up at Eve.

/Okay./ Harry turned back to his perusal of the letter.

Dear Harry,
As you will have gathered by now I have already sent someone to measure your aunt's abilities. I believe you met briefly. Arabella Figg is a one of the 'old crowd' that I sent Sirius to reconnect to my network. I cannot tell you anymore than this obviously and you will know eventually. As for your worries about the dream you had. Severus is unaware of anything that Voldemort could be doing, apart from being able to now access the Dream Stand. He is going to try and find out some more information about it and is currently touching base with Sirius about an entrance into Voldemort's fortress. He will be instructing you in the art of Occlumency when you come back to school, this should enable you to be able to block your mind from external attacks. As regard to your Uncle's concern about the wards and your safety.

Harry snorted at reading this. 'More like worried about his own and darling Dudder's skin.'

I will be sending some trustworthy people round to add some additional security wards to those already existing in two days time. I believe you already know Alastor Moody and Remus Lupin, they will be coming as will Arabella Figg who has Scanning abilities. She will be assessing your magical abilities so that I can begin a training regime for when you return to Hogwarts. I was concerned to hear of this apparently very powerful wizard who claims to know you. One Ethan James. I believe Sirius was particularly concerned to hear of this and I would ask you to forward any information you have on him to me as soon as possible or to ask him to come and see me so I can ascertain if he is a danger to you.

Albus Dumbledore.

Harry shook his head slightly. And sat down to write back to Dumbledore.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,
Please thank Professor Snape for me and tell him not to put himself at undue risk. Voldemort knows there is a leak within his circle and I think he's getting closer to guessing who it is. I also have a very bad feeling about sending Snuffles and Professor Snape to check out this entrance to Voldemort's hideout. He's not stupid and I feel that if Snuffles did find such an entrance it was with Voldemort's knowledge. Wormtail probably spilled anything and everything he could to save his worthless hide. You have no need to worry about Ethan, Evelyn vouched for him and I believe you've already met both her and Ethan. You just don't remember him. This will be cleared up for you soon as I believe he is making plans to meet you. I'm sending you this magically binding blood contract we both signed. It should stop you worrying about my safety. I would like it returned though so that I have it if it is needed. How many people will you be sending round to add to the wards? While I am sure that I will be able to recognise Remus and Moody I need to know numbers so I know I'm not letting strangers into the house. I believe that Arabella Figg's abilities, as a scanner will not be very useful at the moment. One of my ancestors will explain this to you at some point in time, but I cannot inform you when. Time passes differently for them than it does for us. Do not worry about my training, this will be taken care of over the summer. Again I cannot explain when nor why to you but it will all be explained some day. I cannot write more now but urge you to not send Snuffles and Professor Snape to investigate this entrance they've found. I really believe that it will end in Voldemort's favour otherwise.

Harry

/Can you take this for me 'Eve?/

/Duh. Of course I can./

"Well aren't we high and mighty bird brain."

/Giant furball!/

"Harpy."

"Ladies. That's enough." Harry glared at them. "If it's too much of a bother 'Eve I can wait for Hedwig."

/I'll take it now. It'll get me away from the walking rug./ Evelyn snatched the scroll and disappeared before Selena could reply.

"Stupid bird." Selena grumbled to herself before stretching herself out on the bed. Athene sniffed her giant cousin, seemed satisfied and curled herself up next to the tigress.

You ssshould sssleep Harry.

There isss much to do.

Sssleep. You can accomplisssh it tomorrow.

I will do asss you sssay.

You humansss have a very wissse sssaying. Do asss I sssay not asss I do. In thisss inssstance you should follow the lead Ssselena and sssleep.

Yesss Ssscarlet. Would you like a jar of flamesss?

Thank you. You are mossst consssiderate for a human. Harry conjured a jar of flames for Scarlet, watched as she curled herself around them and shoved Selena over so he could lie down. Athene immediately curled up next to his head and Selena stretched out over his feet.

A.N. First off, I'm really really really really really really really really really sorry I didn't get this updated sooner. I can't believe I finally got this finished!! It feels amazing to get something up. Part two is started but I have no idea when it'll be up because I have GCSEs starting in May. I hope you all liked this and I accept all reviews be they flames or not.

The Lady Reaper

And thanx to anyone that actually read that!

Thank You's go out to these people:

Arivaeya- You have such a cool name, I love it! I glad you thought the prologue was so good and hoped you like this part!

Dark Heart – I'm glad you thought it was a good prologue. And that you looked forward to reading this, can't wait to hear your response.

Blackheart Syaoran – Thank you for being honest, if you read this.

Potter and the Weasley – It will all become clear, (I hope!) in this part. I hope you understand now and if not send me an e-mail and I'll do my best to explain better!

Cara the Mord Sith – glad you liked the prologue!

Leah Clem – I'm pleased you enjoyed the part and sorry if you found it confusing, I hope all has become clear now and if not feel free to e-mail me.

Liliana-Suger – I'm very glad you're back and that you liked the prologue! And you did indeed assume right as this part will have confirmed for you. The powers of the Shadow Wielder and the Death Bringer do not follow the pureblood lines. They could be anyone and only She, the ruling force that governs these entities, determines who they will be. That has probably confused you even more but I hope not!

Rilaisseth – Please don't kill me! ducks flying objects I thank you for putting me on your favourites list, (my own needs a lot of revising!)I hope you enjoyed this!

Well that's it, a thank you to Jedi Solo, who kindly betad this for me, even though I'm currently not speaking to her, but that's besides the point! If you'd like something cleared up or want me to e-mail you when I post next, leave me a note in your review or, alternatively, drop me a line at:

sugarquilltalk21com

and I'll get back to you A SAP. See you next part! disappears in whirlwind of flame