I do not own any of the characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.

This is my first story. Please review.

Chapter 1: Revelations

"No! Get away from me….l-l-leave me alone! Aaahhhh!!!" were the last screams the man would ever utter.

'Why me?' Thought Harry as he walked along the familiar blocks in his neighborhood. This is a question he had been asking himself ever since he had found out about the prophecy. He also knew that there was no real answer. He was just so angry that fate would be this cruel – his parents had been taken away, his godfather, and now he had to choose between death and being a murderer.

"Harry!"

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Harry, we must leave quickly. Your things are already at Hogwarts," Dumbledore said as he put his hand out for Harry to take.

Without question, Harry took Dumbledore's hand and as he apparated both of them to Hogwarts. They arrived in Dumbledore's office with items Harry so clearly remembered, items that signified Voldemort's attempts, ones that helped Harry to quench those attempts – the Sorting Hat, Falkes, Gordric Gryiffindor's sword quenched by Harry, but still items that signified the final battle would still come.

'When would it end?' Harry furiously thought.

"Harry, it is my sincerest displeasure to have to tell you this, however, I must deliver this grave news to you," began Dumbledore.

"What is it, Professor?" Harry asked, very perplexed. 'How much worse can it get?'

"There was a dementor attack this very night. They attacked and kissed three muggles."

"Okay…" Harry could not understand what this had to do with him. They knew that there would be more muggle attacks since Voldemort rose once more to power, as the dementors once more turned to him, as once more there would be a war.

"Harry…the three muggles were the Dursleys," Dumbledore stated very quietly and uneasily.

"What?! No, it can't be!" Harry shouted. 'No, they can't be dead. I may not like them much, but they are still the only family I have.' After a few moments of processing this, he had to ask, "What will happen to me?"

"Yes, Harry, that is a most important question, is it not? The Dursleys had no will to state their wishes. After some serious thought, I have concluded that you will remain at Hogwarts as I feel this would be the safest place."

"Yes, Professor. May I go to my room now?"

"Of course. Goodnight, Harry."

'I trulyam an orphan now," he thought. Sure, he had considered leaving the Dursleys plenty of times, he had even gone once with the intention of never coming back, but to actually have no one left?

Harry didn't know how much longer he could deal with all of this – how many more people, muggles and wizards, would die as a result of him.

"Password?"

Harry looked around him. He realized that he had reached his destination, his dorm.

"Password?" said the Fat Lady.

"Um, I dunno. The prefects usually set the password and there are none here," Harry replied. 'This was not good. I am not going to be able to get up to my room.'

"Name?"

"What?" Harry asked, as he was very much confused. The Fat Lady had never asked for a name before.

"Name?"

"Harry Potter."

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore said that you would be along. Since you are first here, you will need to set a password."

"Oh…um…ah…telephone." It was the first thing he could think of.

"Telephone?" The Fat Lady asked, a bit confused.

"Yes, telephone," Harry said regaining his composure.

"Alright, then," the Fat Lady sighed as she let him through the portrait hole.

Harry looked around the dormitory. It still looked the same, a bit more empty, but the same. It was strange how he thought the Gryffindor tower would change just as he had. He still looked like Harry, a child, but inside he had become, Harry, a man, the innocence gone from him. Now, he understood why Dumbledore had wanted to protect him so. Harry climbed the steps to his room. He saw all of his belongings were there. He briefly wondered if Hedwig was in the Owlery as he collapsed onto the bed.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry awoke with a start. Someone had just said his name, but he knew that no one would be here for another two weeks.

"Is it really you, Harry Potter?"

Harry looked up to see who it could be.

"Dobby!" Harry cried. He was ecstatic, for once, to see Dobby. "How have you been?"

"Fine, Harry Potter. Dobby is enjoying being free. Dobby wanted to see you, Sir. Dobby has missed Harry Potter."

"I missed you too, Dobby," Harry said and he really meant it. It felt good to see a familiar face, even if it was Dobby's.

"Dobby does not mean to pry, but Dobby heard that Harry Potter has lost his family." The little house-elf looked at him with a fearful expression.

Harry felt sorry for Dobby. He knew that the house-elf had no intention of prying and was only concerned. Harry also remembered that Dobby had risked his own safety to try and save him even thought it meant being tortured by his Masters, the Malfoys. Thinking about them left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Harry started slowly, not completely trusting his voice at the moment, "Yes, Dobby,my family, the Dursleys, were murdered."

"Does Harry Potter need anything from Dobby? Dobby wished to be of service to the great Harry Potter."

"No, Dobby, I don't need anything right now. Thank you, though,"

"Dobby will leave Harry Potter alone now. If Harry Potter needs anything, just call for Dobby." With that said, Dobby vanished.

For the next few days, Harry kept mostly to his room. He slept and ate mostly. He would also occasionally read books that he had taken from the library.

'Hermione would be so proud of me,' Harry thought amusingly. He missed her and Ron so much. He wondered what they were up to. They were probably at the Burrow right now, having fun. He hadn't received any letters from them, but then he knew that sending letters right now was a dangerous thing.

"Harry Potter, are you reading a book? Not you!"

'Can it be?' Harry looked up from his book to see a wonderful sight. There they were, Hermione, Ron, and. …Ginny? 'Wow, she looks amazing!' Ginny had changed much over the summer. Her hair had grown longer and had changed into a golden red shimmer. Her face had filled out, allowing her diminutive features to be more pronounced. Her figure had filled out, showing slight curves. Most importantly, her eyes – they held the understanding that he longed for.

Realizing himself, he jumped up from his chair and gave them each a hug. It was so good to see them.

"You're all here early," Harry said.

"Dumbledore showed up at the Burrow. He gave mom a right fright and all too –"

Hermione interrupted Ron, "Yes, and then he said that it would be alright for us to come early. He thought you might need some company." She placed her hand over his.

"I don't know what to say, except thank you."

The weeks left before school passed rather uneventfully, but Harry was remembering that it was okay to have fun and for once this summer, not feel like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

It felt weird not riding on the train and arriving with everyone else to school. Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny walked down to the Great Hall to eat and watch the sorting.

As they walked down the corridor, when they were greeted with something most unexpected.

"Severus, you shouldn't be thinking such things. They're only children."

"Minerva, they are no longer children. They need to be taught…" At that moment, Snape saw them, "We shall continue this conversation later."

"Very well. I have to help the first years," said McGonagall as with that she hurried away.

The four made to do the same, but were unable to escape Snape's wrath.

"You four fancy yourself spies – privileged to eavesdropping on private conversations?" Snape asked as he surveyed them with his cold, calculating eyes.

"N..no, Sir," Harry stammered. "We were – "

"I know perfectly well what you were up to, Potter," Snape snarled. "Fifty points from Gryffindor."

"But Professor – " Hermione objected.

"Detention, Miss Granger. I will see you in my office at eight. Now, I suggest the rest of you head to the Great Hall before I give out any more."

They hurried off. Harry and Ron couldn't believe it. Hermione got detention, on the first day of school? They also knew not to annoy Hermione right now as she was bound to be in a foul mood at the way she was storming to the Great Hall.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were seated at the Gryffindor table when the first years walked through the Great Hall, led by Professor McGonagall.

"Alright, first years, please form a straight line. After you are sorted, please proceed to your House table," McGonagall said.

They were about to hear the Sorting Hat's new song. Everyone, but the first years, was a bit nervous to hear what it sang. Last year, it had given them advice to unite rather than divide, but that had proven futile.

The tear in the hat opened and so the song began:

I may place you in Gryffindor

If you are brave and strong,

I may place you in Hufflepuff

If you are loyal and true,

I may place you in Ravenclaw

If you are of sound mind,

If I place you in Slytherin

You should beware.

For all the houses are united

All but for one,

This one will not be the downfall

As long as the rest stand tall.

Please believe me when I say

This is where you need to be,

With this, my song is done

So step up so that you may be one.

Everyone in the room looked at each other in shock. The sorting house had not only given advice this year, but had warned about Slytherin. The students looked from the Slytherins, to Snape, and then to Dumbledore. An outburst of cheers from three of the tables erupted as the Slytherins glared at everyone.

"Quiet, everyone! We will now begin the sorting!" McGonagall shouted to be heard.

Once everyone had quieted down, the sorting began with 'Akins, Leal,' who ended up in Hufflepuff and ending with 'Zabini, Sidero,' who became a Slytherin, however that was no surprise as her older brother, Blaise, was in that house.

"Now that you are all seated, let the feast begin," said Dumbledore and with that food appeared on the tables.

After everyone had finished feasting, the Headmaster stood up. "May I have your attention, please. I have a few start of term announcements to give. The forbidden forest is off limits to all students. Quidditch tryouts will be next week. Also, please note, that everyone would do well to listen to the Sorting Hat. That is all."

Hermione, Ron, and Harry were walking to the dormitories when Hermione looked at her watch.

"Oh! I'm late! I have detention with Snape tonight. I'll see you guys later!" She waved as ran off to Snape's office.

"I still can't believe that Hermione, of all people, got detention the first day, " Ron said to Harry.

Harry didn't reply though as his mind was occupied with other thoughts – thoughts of Ginny. 'Why haven't I noticed her before now? I've been such an idiot!' To Harry, Ginny was emotionally, mentally, and physically beautiful.

"Harry?" Ron was looking at him with a strange expression on his face.

"Yeah, Hermione…" as his mind drifted once more.

Ron just shook his head as they continued to the dormitories.

Hermione walked into Snape's office.

"You're late and you should have the courtesy to knock, " Snape snapped at her.

"I'm sorry, Professor Snape."

"Yes, well so am I, seeing as how I will be seeing you every night this week for detention."

Hermione gasped. "But, Professor – "

"No, buts. Every night. Tonight, you be making a list of ingredients that I am low on. I'm sure you won't have any trouble familiarizing yourself with my storage closet as you have been in it before…" Snape let his voice trail off.

Hermione didn't say anything, but she knew he meant the time three years ago when she had needed ingredients for the Polyjuice potion. They had known only one place and one way to obtain them, which was by sneaking into Snape's storage closet and stealing them.

She set to work making a list of ingredients that were running low as Snape, with apparently nothing better to do, stared at her. Hermione tried to ignore it, but it made her feel uncomfortable as he usually looked at Gryffindors as least as possible and now he was staring at one.

Snape tried not to stare at her, but he could not help himself. She was so beautiful and intelligent. It pained him so much that he had to treat her this way, but there were just so many reasons why he could not let himself fall in love with her…so many…

Snape's Memories –

Severus Snape had fallen in love once and look where that had gotten him. He had known better. Gryffindors and Slytherins don't mix and more importantly, no one mixes with him. He remembered when she broke up with him, how much it had hurt him as if it had been yesterday…

"Severus, I don't have those feelings for you anymore and I think we shouldn't see each other anymore."

'How can she do this to me? I thought I meant something to her. I thought…I thought…Who are you kidding, Severus? It was just a matter of time before she came to realize who you are. Everyone else hates you so she may as well too.' He looked up into her eyes – those beautiful eyes – ones that he could once feel himself falling into. 'Well, not anymore,' he thought as he hardened himself against them and her.

"I understand perfectly well, Evans," he snarled and walked away from her.

She would later try to help him and he would call her the foulest name he knew of – Mudblood. He had felt horrible doing so, but it was better this way. Better to never let anyone hurt him, to be the one that hurt others and he knew that he had hurt her that day. That was the day he had sent her running into the arms of his worst enemy, James Potter.

Their lives had changed drastically from that point. She would marry Potter and he would become a deatheater. She would give life, a son, Harry Potter. He would take lives.

He knew it was wrong, but being a deatheater seemed to be the best option at the time. He had wanted to be accepted all of his life – he had never been so, not by his parent, not by his peers, not by his professors. Finally, it seemed as though there were people, powerful wizards, no less that would accept him.

Then, there was that fateful night when his world had changed. The Dark Lord had killed Lily. He had walked all day and all night trying to figure out what to do. He had still loved her so much and now she was dead. He had never wanted her dead. He couldn't stand that thought of her not smiling or laughing even if it wasn't with him, but now she would never smile or laugh again.

"I'm so sorry Lily. I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you," he said softly. He knew what he had to do. It was his fault that she had died. Tonight, he had to do what he must do to make sure she hadn't died in vain. Tonight, he would join Dumbledore.