Chapter 13

Harry awoke screaming clutching at his scar. Godric sleeping in his portrait frame in the next room awoke hearing the scream. Harry ran out in front of the portrait and stumbled to his knees.

Godric looked down at Harry and said "what is it lad what's wrong?"

Harry struggled to his feet and was only to gasp out the words "attack..... Voldemort.... England"

Godric's expression suddenly became grave as Harry finished and said "hurry lad you have to go tell Dumbledore now"

Harry just nodded and said, "I'll try and explain more later Gramps"

Harry opened a portal to Dumbledores office and stepped through. Upon entering, he saw Dumbledore in conversation with Arthur Weasley and Professor Snape.

Dumbledore looked up at Harry and said "yes Harry we know there was an attack there have been many many casualties. It would seem that after our last encounter with Voldemort's death eaters he decided to spread his attacks out all over England to ensure that at least some of them would succeed."

Harry just nodded and looked over at Arthur " are there aurors on the case he asked?"

Though looking grave and very tired Arthur looked over at Harry and nodded" yes we have aurors assigned to every attack site that we know of at the moment"

Harry just sighed in defeat in asked "do we have a body count he had?"

Arthur and Dumbledore just shook her heads and said "no, not at the moment".

Harry suddenly turned on Snape and started screaming at him "you were at the meeting! you knew what was going to happen. You are supposed to be a spy! Why wasn't this information given to Dumbledore earlier and the ministry!"?

Harry continued on furious at Snape "you could have stopped this. How many people died?"

Snape looked at Harry as if he was going to say something but then decided not to.

Dumbledore looked toward Harry and said" Harry, Severus had nothing to do with this. He gave us information as soon as he got back to the castle from his meeting with the dark Lord. Even though we knew attacks were going to take place we did not know where."

Harry just looked over to Snape and said please forgive me professor "I know this is not your fault, you are just spying to get us as much information as you could. However I think it's safe to say that your spying days are over"

the three men looked over at Harry questioningly. Dumbledore raised eyebrow and said "whatever do mean Harry. "

Harry sat down in his seat and relayed to the men in the room Voldemort's current distrust towards Snape. Harry looked over at Snape and said "I know we've never gotten along Professor, I know of your dislike for my father in the things he did to you. But we have to get by those issues now and put them to rest."

Harry looked at Snape and continued "the fact is your life is in danger if you do not carry out your mission that Voldemort gave you. Draco Malfoy has been ordered to kill you."

Snape just scowled and said" The boy has been trying to prove himself like his father too much."

Harry just nodded at Snape and said, "well I think it's safe to say that your spying days are over."

Snape gave Harry a curious look and said "listen Potter even though I appreciate your warning we have no one else on the inside of Voldemort's inner circle so I have to go back, I'll just have to make it look good here."

As they were speaking, Snape suddenly grasped his left arm as if in pain. Snape suddenly looked up at both Harry's and Dumbledores faces and said, " I'm being summoned."

Dumbledore suddenly looking tired said "very well Severus but be careful."

Severus nodded wordlessly and said "don't worry Albus I have no intention of throwing my life away for nothing."

As Snape departed, Harry said, " Albus perhaps we should start trying to recruit new members for the order."

Dumbledore looked thoughtfully over at Harry and said "that is an excellent idea Harry"

Harry looked at Arthur and said " any word from Moody on how long it will take for the new cadets to get trained properly"

Arthur smiled at Harry and said " well you know Moody, according to him they will never be properly trained but by our best estimates we should be able to turn out a new class by the end of September."

Harry nodded smiling slightly "yes Moody is quite the perfectionist"

the three tried to make small talk for a little while, while waiting for the first casualty reports. Harry asked Arthur how the rest of the family was doing well there waiting.

Arthur replied "oh, good, good Fred and Georges shop is doing great. Molly has totally redecorated the burrow and Ginny's been flying on the new broom that we got for her for this years Quidditch matches."

Harry just sighed how he missed being at the burrow for the summer and being with his friends living a normal existence instead he had to be with his friends where they were all training for war.

Harry just sighed spoke to Dumbledore saying "I have my final lesson plans for the DA if you want to look them over."

Dumbledore looked over at Harry pleased and said "that's excellent Harry. You make a fine teacher. Did you know Harry that everyone in the DA scored either an EE or O on the DADA O.W.L or N.E.W.T.?"

Harry just look surprises said, " that's great but I didn't really teach them anything."

Dumbledore smiled and said you're too modest Harry you taught them more than you realize. Said Dumbledore "sometimes a lesson is not only about spell casting; sometimes a lesson is about courage, bravery and loyalty. You possess these qualities in abundance and you have helped bring it out of the others. To bring out the best in people is TRULY teaching."

At about two o'clock in the morning, the first reports began coming. It seems that 5000 people were killed in 10 separate attacks throughout Great Britain. Harry was flabbergasted 5000 people! It was outrageous.

Harry swore to himself " by God as my witness you will pay Voldemort, You will suffer!"

Both Dumbledore and Arthur looked like they had been struck across the face. Dumbledore then said" this is indeed serious we need to increase security immediately. Harry I think tomorrow morning we shall go and strengthen the wards."

Harry just nodded at Dumbledore and said "I was going to do it anyway Grandfather taught me a few spells to recharge the original wards and I came up with a few of my own to stop those bearing the dark mark from entering the school."

But Harry Dumbledore spoke up" what about Severus? He bears the dark mark as our spy"

Harry just nodded and said the spell allows for me to key people in if I choose to do so. So he will be fine"

Since they were going to work on the wards next morning or rather later on in the morning Harry decided to go get some sleep. He did his best to trying sleep but his dream or so troubled that he just decided to get up and remain awake. As it was the last day before school started all of the teachers were now back except for Hagrid who was still on a mission for Dumbledore. Harry changed is clothes and headed down to the great hall for breakfast.

The assembled teachers greeted him and made room at the table for him. " I must say," said Professor vector " Your looking quite fit for nobleman."

This statement said the rest of the staff and Harry to peals of laughter. After the laughter had died down Harry looked at them seriously and said, "look I know I'm the heir of Gryffindor but for the next two years I'm still a semi student here."

Harry continued on" please try not to treat me differently than any other student. If it gets out that I'm receiving preferential, treatment people will start calling the Malfoy." At this, the staff burst out laughing.

About this time, Dumbledore came in and said down. Looking over the rest of the staff is eyes twinkling madly he said "good morning everyone welcome to the new school year. I see you have met my apprentice Mr. Potter."

Dumbledore continued on I have a few notices to give out for the new term. His eyes came to rest on Harry as he spoke "as you know I have taken Mr. Potter on as my apprentice. He will not be residing in any of the house towers what in his own chambers designed and built by Godric Gryffindor.

As my apprentice, he will not be bound to some of the rules and regulations normally set for students his age. No curfew will apply to him and he will have the ability to give and take house points as if he were a prefect.

The prefects will answer to the head boy and girl and they in turn are answerable to myself, the heads of the houses and Mr. Potter." Dumbledore then looked at the assembled Professors and said I will be sending him to some of your classes when I cannot teach him please teach him all you can to the best of your abilities."

Dumbledore looked at Harry and said "is there anything you wish to add?"

Harry looked at the assembled staff and said" nothing different and I said before about the treatment but also this may not be aware but last night there were multiple attacks by death eaters over the whole of Britain. More than 5000 men, women, and children lost their lives. Undoubtedly many of the students returning tomorrow have lost family members."

Harry stopped and let his last statement sink in and continued "please be there for them if they need a shoulder cry on or just someone to talk to. Thank you"

then as an afterthought Harry said "oh by the way I will study hard with you, I will learn all I can and do everything I can to protect the school and people. Sometimes you may not agree with what I do but I'm asking you to trust me now."

Everyone stopped and looked at Harry. Ever since he had set foot in Hogwarts the teachers had watched him take on more responsibility and do more to protect the school and students that he didn't even know at times risking even his own life to do so. But now they thought Lord Gryffindor has returned to his home and if they didn't feel safe before they did now. Suddenly one of the teachers began to clap followed by another soon they're all clapping, cheering, and looking forward to the coming year.