DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, he belongs to J.K Rowling and if you are reading this and think any different then St. Mungo's should be your next port of call.

Chapter 15: Battling the Tide

1st September 1991

"My name is Harry Potter!"

McGonagall fainted, children screamed, people grabbed their wands

The world stood still, the lost hero had returned.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

Harry stood there like a coiled spring waiting to pounce and protect himself but he had to admit that if he was anyone else than him at this given moment in time then he may of found the situation comical. How it stood however was that Harry had hundreds of wands pointed directly at him waiting for a signal but no one had any idea what that signal would be. In fact the only people in the room that didn't have their wands pointed at Harry was McGonagall who had now begun to rouse from her state of unconsciousness and Dumbledore who was trying to convince the staff members to lower their wands.

Then the inevitable happened, some Gryffindor couldn't wait any longer and cried "Stupefy". Harry easily dodged the curse when his worst fear became true. Suddenly what seemed like and probably was a hundred voices bellowed.

"Stupefy"

"Petrificus Totalus"

"Impedimenta"

Luckily for Harry half of the students that had fired curses at him were so fearful of him that they missed him by quite a wide margin. Either that or they were just a terrible aim. Unfortunately that still left around fifty curses heading towards him.

As the first curses approached Harry decided to try and save his shield so he flung himself to the left and dodged around six. That unluckily put him in the path of about another ten curses. He managed to dodge another four with a neat gymnastics move he had picked up yet six still hit him hard and although his shield held he was sent back five feet to land on the floor. Quick as quick Harry was back on his feet to the shock of the student body.

Harry was running out of ideas as he saw the remainder of the curses heading straight for him when he sensed a powerful invisible barrier erected in front of him. All the curses harmlessly hit the shield and were absorbed making the shield stronger if Harry's senses were right.

More screams came from the student body came when they realised that none of their curses had any effect on Harry and rumours were flying.

"Dark Lord gave him some of his powers" A sixth year Slytherin said almost excitedly

"Waiting for the signal to attack." A third year Hufflepuff said, which caused all the people who had heard to look round fearfully.

"They're here hiding, waiting to pounce." A Gryffindor mentioned to his friend who was looking around wand pointed at any noise.

Some of the braver older students had stood up and looked ready to fire another curse when:

"SILENCE"

Albus Dumbledore stood there at the staff table and saw for the first time how powerful he really was. The aura he was giving off was truly magnificent and he radiated power. Every student in the room shut up and listened to him for instructions.

"Hogwarts is not under threat and Mr. Potter is not a danger to any of you so I insist that you stop firing curses in his directions please. Now if Mr. Potter would please accompany me to my office so we could have a little chat. I only have two more words to say: Tuck In!" With that proclamation Albus Dumbledore left the Great Hall robes billowing, beckoning Harry to follow him.

Harry begrudgingly agreed and followed silently behind the Headmaster as they made their way through the castle to the Headmaster's office. The trip was made in silence and Harry could almost feel the tension in the air. After about a couple a minutes of walking the pair came to a stone gargoyle where Dumbledore stopped. Then with a wave of his hand the Gargoyle actually bowed shocking Harry and revealed a moving staircase that undoubtedly led to Dumbledore's office. Harry strongly suspected that if any one else tried to open the gargoyle with that gesture that they would be sorely disappointed.

The pair moved up the automatic staircase Harry stayed silent but Dumbledore was humming a muggle tune that Harry suspected of hearing once or twice but couldn't put his finger on. As Dumbledore opened the door to his office and went to sit behind his desk, Harry followed and was in awe of what he saw.

The room was magnificent, fit for a king. Beautifully decorated in every sense the room was jam packed full of objects that Harry had never seen or heard of. Strange objects lined many shelves and several old tombs adorned a bookcase. A sword was hung on the wall decorated with red rubies and dozens of wizards' pictures hung on the wall each illustrating a previous Headmaster/Headmistress. To cap it all off on a perch by the window sat a phoenix, one of the rarest birds in the world.

"Are you going to take a seat Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore enquired a soft look on his face as he gave the youngster the once over. This brought Harry out of his dreamlike state and back to the matter at hand.

"Sure beats standing, sir." Harry casually addressed the Headmaster trying not to explode in a fit of anger remembering the last meeting between the pair.

"Lemon Drop, cup of tea." Dumbledore asked Harry who was sitting there looking at him with a blank face.

"No thanks, can we get to the point." Harry asked a little irritation showing in his voice but his face remained blank hiding his emotions like Sirius and Remus taught him last year.

"If we must, my question is, what brings you to Hogwarts." Dumbledore asked blankly though deep down he was very interested in this boy and curious of the answers that he might give.

"To finish my schooling." Harry plainly said careful not to lie as Remus and Sirius had warned him that the old man always seemed to know when people were lying.

"Finish my dear child?" Dumbledore inquired barely able to keep the curiosity out of his voice.

"Yes, I have been home schooled in certain subjects and I am at a fairly high level in them." Harry answered truthfully.

"May I ask what subjects you have been taught in." Dumbledore simply said.

"Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defence against the Dark Arts and Duelling." Harry answered quite proud of his own achievements though he managed to keep it from his voice.

"So why come to Hogwarts if you are proficient in these subjects as in all fairness they are the main parts of the curriculum. I'm sure it was quite hard to get all the required things." Dumbledore asked fishing for more information about this intriguing child.

"It was decided that I needed to get my qualifications and learn all the other things that I either couldn't be taught or had no practice in. I also came to meet people and make friends sir." Harry added the last two parts on purpose as he now knew where this conversation would be heading and had to watch his answers. The next question confirmed his suspicions.

"Who decided?" Dumbledore asked even though he knew the answer and this really angered Harry.

"You know damn who, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Now I know where this is going so ask your questions already, I know you are dying too so save us both some time." Harry angrily stated while still barely keeping his blank expression.

Albus Dumbledore was stunned at the anger in the boy's voice but also at how confident, fit and healthy he was. He certainly didn't look like two dark and evil wizards raised him. However he didn't let any of this show and keep the same irritating placid expression on his face as though Harry seemed to be good, Albus Dumbledore was the master at hiding emotions.

"We're in no hurry Harry, I just need to know a few things, please indulge an old man if just a little." Dumbledore said wearily though the twinkle was till shining in his eyes.

"Ask away but I can't guarantee I'll answer." Harry said calmly

"Harry have Sirius and Remus ever hurt you?" Dumbledore ventured getting straight to the point.

"No" Harry answered shortly staring straight into Dumbledore's twinkling eyes as if to dare him to say that he was lying.

"Have they ever threatened you in any way?" Dumbledore had a quizzical expression as he asked this question.

"No, they love me, I love them." Was all Harry could say on the matter otherwise he might say something that he might regret and start shouting at the old man.

"Alright Harry I believe you but please tell me about the day at the hospital. What happened?" Dumbledore asked a need to know look plastered on his face.

"It started when we went shopping. As we took the Portkey we were transported someplace different. There were loads of people in black robes and white masks; they were threatening Sirius, Remus and me. Sirius and Remus managed to break free of the bonds. Sirius and Remus tried to fight them but there was too many and I couldn't help much and Remus got hit with the killing curse so we had to take him to St. Mungo's as that was the only way to get him treatment. Then when we arrived everyone panicked and Sirius had to do something so he pretended to hold me hostage. He didn't hurt me or nobody else." Harry vehemently defended his Godfather as the Headmaster looked on deep in thought.

"Thank you Harry and I am sorry you were hurt. Now I need…" Dumbledore was about to continue when Harry could take no more.

"SORRY I GOT HURT, THAT'S RICH CONSIDERING THAT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT TOLD THEM TO CURSE SIRIUS. I WAS OUT COLD FOR TWO DAYS YOU…" At that Harry trailed off and after a few deep breaths managed to keep his anger in check settled down again.

"Now we have got that out the way, may I ask what Sirius and Remus have told you regarding you living with them all these years." Dumbledore asked part hesitant, part interested about what the answer would contain.

"They told me the truth but seeing as you either don't know it or are too "wise" to accept it I shall tell you what I know. Sirius was not my parents secret keeper, at the last minute they changed to Pettigrew." Harry spat the traitors' name. "Sirius said that he found my parents and me but some Death Eaters were still there, looking for "their lord" and once he fought them off he grabbed me and apparated back to wherever he was living. He said he was about to contact you and explain when Remus had sent him an owl telling him that he had to leave. Then him and Remus met up at home and I have lived there ever since." Harry told Dumbledore the truth while omitting many facts like the house name and location and his guardians trips into the world that happened on more than one occasion.

After hearing this Dumbledore looked ancient, his shoulders were sagged and the wrinkles on his face were prominent and his twinkle was almost non-existent.

"We will talk about your schooling in the morning. I will have the house-elves make a bed up for you in any tower of your liking before we get you sorted in the morning. Any preference of house?" Dumbledore asked politely.

"Gryffindor." Harry answered straight away.

"I thought as much, good night Harry." Dumbledore said in a grand fatherly gesture that made Harry feel safe despite his dislike of the man as he was too tired to care, it had been a long day.

"Goodnight sir." Harry mumbled just rising from his chair.

Suddenly the door to Dumbledore's office crashed open and entered an irate looking Minister Fudge. Harry had his wand out in an instant while he noticed Dumbledores was out quicker than his was.

"You've done it this time Dumbledore, I always knew you were working against me but with them. Where have you hidden him then." Fudge shouted at Dumbledore who kept an ever-calm face.

"Cornelius I've said this before why have you always thought that I am plotting against you and who have I hidden." Dumbledore said with a hint of anger in his voice that the Minister didn't pick up on as he had seen Harry at last.

"You" Fudge said noticing Harry for the first time then when he realised Harry had his wand out and pointing at him Fudge cried "Aurors he's in here"

"Hello Minister." Harry spat the name like a curse and the Minister visibly shuddered.

AN

Enter Minister Fudge and oh I don't like him at all just keep that in mind!

Another chapter done. I'm going to Amsterdam for a long weekend so I will be back on Tuesday and if I work quick enough when I get back one should be up Wednesday.

Thanks to all those reviewers who confirmed the Hogwarts Express leaving time, it was greatly appreciated.

This story is around half way through give or take one or two chapters. I have a vague idea about what is going to happen at the end. Your own theories? I will say who is the farthest away from the real answer and that is all.

Tanydwr: School is a bitch at the moment isn't it. You may get a longer holiday but that is if you don't kill it first. I mean this week, my holiday, I have so far gone to two revisions days already and have to go to one tomorrow. Your lucky about your Coursework I still have to work on one more piece that is in tomorrow. Actually that is what I should be doing now…

Starlight Dreams: I don't like Ron either but he will play a small role in the upcoming chapters. Hermione will be more of a friend to Harry than Ron I can tell you that.

Serebii: Actually if you read it again you will see that I've done the birthday as a look into the past and the day in question is actually the 31st August. Honest mistake and thanks for the review.

Cheers to all my reviewers and I thank you all.

Halstead