Shadowed Truth

Author's Note: English is not my mother tongue so be warned. I don't know where this story is going but I just couldn't not write this. The idea kinda stuck in my head. I don't have a beta reader so bear with me on this account. Well, enough with this. On with the story.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. Everything belongs to JKR and I only do this for my enjoyment and not for any profit or money.

Chapter 3-

A New Beginning

The Ministry of Magic. The one institution which was truthful and honorable, helping the people and hunting down evil. Minister Fudge especially was someone who upheld the law and stopped corruption. If that was true or not could be argued about, but the poster of Fudge certainly said so and it gave Kingsley Shackelbolt a headache. Some stupid, bureaucratic idiot thought that hanging the smiling head of the minister's three feet big head on the wall where everyone could see it was a great idea.

He groaned. Sometimes he really hated his job. Well, he couldn't do anything about it, since he was one of the order's informants. Kingsley remembered the order meeting where the mention of this ridiculous poster came up. He snickered. That had been one of the few times that he'd actually agreed with Severus Snape. The incompetent idiot had to be eliminated.

"I. Hate. My. Job." Kingsley Shackelbolt said as he sauntered into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place 12 and lowered himself into a seat. The Order members around the table looked curiously at him but he only sighed.

"Can we have Fudge assassinated?" The reactions were different. Snape raised an eyebrow but looked interested enough, while Molly was simply shocked and Fred and George Weasley grinned.

"I have a three feet big head of him right in the middle of the auror division's office." He grimaced but it turned into a rather shocked smirk as he heard the next sentence, which came most surprisingly from Snape.

"Would you prefer a painless death or something slow and agonizing? I think that I have some of the Craindiare potion left."

He snorted to himself as he remembered the reactions to that statement. Nobody had known if Snape was joking or actually seriously considering to give him the potion. Well, Shackelbolt wouldn't put it past him. After all, Severus Snape didn't suffer fools, or imbeciles, as he called them, easily.

His musings were cut short as he heard the alarms. With a quick look at the map dread crept up in him. Lord Voldemort was attacking and it was very close to Harry Potter's location. If something happened to him, there would be hell to pay.


Harry Potter was in heaven. The beat of the music resonated loudly in the air and the heat of this place was suffocating. Her scent was weighting heavily around him, enticing him, controlling him, her body pressing against him, ready to give her soul.

"God." He moaned. "I missed you." His forehead settled against hers, as their raged breaths started to calm down.

"I know. I craved you." She kissed him again. Suddenly she growled." It was torture at the platform. Those girls all falling over you and you pretending to be ignorant. I nearly went over and ripped their throats out for daring to do that!"

He chuckled as she glared at him. God, he loved her.

"It's not funny, Des." She glared anew, before sighing. "I just…it's so difficult to stay away from you, when I see you. We should be able to show the world who you are, who we are, but we can't. I can't love you in public and it's tearing me apart." She lowered her head, while he held her closer. The misery radiated from them, basking them in the coldness of the world's harshness. It wasn't fair but then, not many things were.

"There will be a time, my love. Do not despair." His soft voice filled her with hope. Hope that it wouldn't be necessary to continue like this.

"I know, but do you…" She was interrupted as the ground trembled. Several dancers stopped to see what was going on, only to scream and run away. Blind panic swept through the crowd as green lights and battle cries filled the air.

"We're never lucky." The young woman by his side said. "What's it with our dates and evil maniacs? It always the bloody same."

He grinned, even though the situation was anything but funny.

"Well, my dear. The curse of my family. We get the fun things to deal with." With a quick motion of his hand the beautiful and deadly sword was out of its sheath, a green snake wrapped around its hilt, ready to strike, and shiny runes flowing along the sword. They glanced at each other and smirked. After all, what is a relationship without some action?

"Let's dance."


The kitchen of Grimmauld Place 12 was filled to the brim with noise and order members, although most of the noise came from the Weasley family, the twins in particular. After a tiring and long meeting everyone got together at the kitchen. From time to time, one could hear the screeching voice of Molly Weasley trying to control her children, the paranoid mutterings of old Mad Eye Moody or feel the glare of one spy extraordinaire Severus Snape. And of course, in the middle of it all sat one very happy and merrily smiling Albus Dumbledore.

While some people would say that Albus Dumbledore was an eccentric and totally mad wizard, although the greatest of all, it could also be said that Albus Dumbledore loved the people around him and tried to do the best for everyone.

"Molly, your cooking is just delicious this evening. My dear, I must commend you." His grandfatherly voice praised, as Mrs. Weasley blushed. It wasn't everyday that you got comments like that from the greatest wizard of that century.

"Thank you, Albus. How kind of you. Would you like some more potatoes?" However, he never got the chance to answer as the kitchen door slammed open and a heavily breathing Nymphadora Tonks raced in, panting and speaking too fast to understand.

"What's the matter, Nymphadora?" She glared at him, nobody was allowed to call her Nymphadora, but answered nevertheless.

"Headmaster, there's been an attack. It's not too far from Harry's residence. Kingsley sends me."

He reached into his robes and got a crystal ball out, ignoring the questioning looks from the others, and stared into it. He blanched.

"It should show me Harry Potter, as it is linked to the Potter blood but I do not see him."

An alarmed look crossed his face as he swiftly got up and almost ran out of the room, while giving orders.

"Alastor, take Tonks and Severus and check on Harry. Filius, Remus, Mundungus and everybody else, you're with me. We apparate to the battle. Take formations."

It was only a matter of seconds before everyone was out of the door.


Cries of despair, pain and death rang through the air. The night smelled of decay and blood. No one would have believed that this had been one of the more intense raves just some minutes ago, where people had fun while dancing to their heart's content.

The eyes of Albus Dumbledore grew cold as he quickly surveyed the massacre, giving orders while throwing curses himself. Death, despair and lost innocence were some of the things he hated about war. Unfortunately it was necessary sometimes. One had to fight for what one believed in. This, he had learned many years ago.

The battle ragged around him, as a new Death Eater fell and his partner yelled that Albus Dumbledore was here. Many turned with fear, whereas others with hope.

"Albus, behind you!" the voice of Remus yelled.

With long practiced movements he bent to the right and sidestepped the claws of the creature. Big, deadly claws and menacing eyes gave the beast an evil character. But it were the surrounding shadows and the fact that he had not seen such a creature in his 150 years ever, that really scared him.

"Reducto!" The spell flew as fast as a bullet at the monster but went right through it. The fear intensified. He ducked again as a killing curse flew right where his head would have been and moved in a fluid motion to the left, barely escaping the sharp claws, which would have bored a hole into him if he had been a little slower. Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him, as if something cut the air, and turned. There, before him, was the beast, lying dead on the dark street. His head shot around, trying to see what killed it, for whatever it was, it would be a lot more dangerous than the creature, but found nothing. The old headmaster saw his companions coming his way, medi-wizards, aurors and obliviators behind them, all helping the wounded muggles and erasing their memories. The fight had, apparently, ended while he had been battling this monster.

"What in heaven's name is that, headmaster?" Remus asked. The werewolf seemed very concerned. No wonder, really. He had been the one next to him and had seen what this creature could do.

"I do not know, my boy. I do not know." He sighed.

"Headmaster! Headmaster!" A shout came from behind him. He turned around and saw a young medi-wizard waving him his way. There was someone lying beside him. The group quickly walked to him and many gasped as they saw what he had discovered. There, on the ground, lay Minerva McGonagall, unconscious.

"My dear, what happened to you?" his whispered words reached each one of the group and let a shiver curse through them.


How disgusting! That was the main thought that went through Severus Snape's mind as they apparated to Little Whining. The houses were disgustingly similar, the gardens were similar. The bloody muggles probably too. If there was one thing he really hated, it was similarity. It reminded him too much of his service with Voldemort.

Moody's eyes ran over the whole place, his paranoid behavior not in the least affected by the calm night. The moon shone brightly on the bad lit street and the white clouds floated calmly on the night sky.

With mostly silent steps-Tonks was with them- they reached the door to No. 4 Privet Drive, private hell hole of Harry Potter and empire of Vernon Dursley, the Almighty. Tonks knocked.

"Bloody…!...do not know when normal people…surely boy…gonna pay" Heavy footsteps were heard going down the stairs. Several seconds later, a man came out, purple colored face, incredibly fat and seriously angry.

"What do you bloody want?" he growled.

Snape raised an eyebrow, while Tonks grinned happily on and Moody frowned. He certainly didn't like that.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley. We hope we're not making too many problems but we're here to see Harry. You know…" She was rudely interrupted before she could speak again.

"So you're the same bloody freaks as him! I should have known. Bloody boy. No normal people…"

An angry growl came from Moody.

"It seems that you do not remember me as well as I do you, Dursley. We've met at the station. I'm sure you remember that or do I have to remind you, Dursley?" His voice was menacing and intimidating. Alastor Moody wasn't the best auror for nothing. Vernon blanched.

"I…I d-d-d-didn't do anything. Please, spar me and my family. The boy's up in his room. I didn't do anything! Please, do not curse me with this m…m word!" The man was reduced to a pleading and shivering mass.

Moody nodded and motioned for the others to precede him before turning to Vernon.

"That better be true. You would not like the consequences. That I promise you."

Harry Potter's bedroom was nothing like he thought it would be. It was bare, decorated with only a trunk, a bed, a desk and a chair. Nothing else.

Maybe he's not as spoilt as I thought was his first thought but he stubbornly chased it away. Ok, maybe he didn't live in the lap of luxury but then, he still was an arrogant, self-centered child.

Unfortunately the fact that Harry Potter was nowhere seen, helped him in this assumption.

"Seems as if our savior ran away." He whispered amused.

"Shut up, Snape! The boy's not here and I do not see any indication that here might have been a fight going on. So he must have left on his own. Search through the room for clues." Moody growled.

Snape rolled his eyes but complied. The savior was probably at a party or such other inconsequential nonsense. Annoyance filled him. He would remember it the next time he could take points from Potter.

The sudden shout of I found something ripped him from his masochistic fantasies. Snape leveled a glare at Tonks.

"What is it this time?" He reached and looked at the parchment. It was not big, obviously a kind of letter, but the only thing written there was: mine.

"Did you try revealing spells?" While he didn't know how or why Potter would get concealed messages, the feel of the magic inside the parchment was distinctly that of a concealment charm, a strong one. Being a spy had its perks.

He wasn't surprised when she shook her head.

"Revelaro!" Beautiful spidery words appeared instead of the mine.

My love,

The raven flies tonight, again.

I crave you.

May the darkness protect you.

B.

He raised an eyebrow at these words.

"Interesting. Your savior has apparently more secrets than some would have thought."

"What do you mean, Snape?"

Severus sneered.

"What I mean, Moody, is that this is a typical Slytherin code." His order amulet heated up. It was time to return. With a swish of his robes, the Slytherin Head of House left, one bewildered Tonks and even more paranoid Moody trailing behind him.


"Do you know what happened?" Severus asked him. The headmaster shook his head.

"We found her on a side street near the battle. She isn't harmed and should wake up soon but I'm still concerned." He shook his head, his silver hair falling into his concerned blue eyes.

"Why was she there? I do not believe that someone like Minerva would wander at two o'clock at night in one of the worse parts of London, especially when she received four stunners only weeks ago. You would never let any harm come to her." Severus concluded. He knew how much Minerva meant to Albus. The headmaster would never have let her go into battle in such a condition. He loved her too much for that.

"You're right, she would not. After her injuries, I sent her on a mission to look after Harry in her cat form. It was only observation, nothing harmful. You told me that he wasn't there and showed me the note. The answers lie with him." Albus frowned. Where was Harry and what happened? Why was he in such a part of town? He looked at the sleeping beauty before him, gently covered with warm blankets and sleeping peacefully.


"We are assembled here to discuss a predicament that we have come across last night. Minerva here," he nodded to his right," was found unconscious at the sight of the battle last night. As many of you have heard, yesterday at two o'clock at night, Voldemort attacked a muggle gathering called rave with his Death Eaters and creatures of unknown origin.", he held a hand up before the questions could begin, "Do not worry, you'll get your chance to ask. At the end of the school year, I gave Minerva the mission of observing Harry Potter and protecting him if need be. Harry Potter disappeared last night from his relative's house and Minerva can't remember what happened." He sat down.

And everything was over flooded with chaos.


To say that it had been a tiring meeting was like saying that the Minister is a moron. Minerva sighed. In the end, the heated debates brought them only to some conclusions: Firstly, they had to see what and why her memories were erased. She only remembered sleeping on the tree in front of Harry Potter's house and there were some scenes of someone in a dark street. But that was all she remembered. Secondly, they had to know what these creatures were. Even Albus had problems defeating them, not knowing what they were. She shivered. They could become a great danger. And then there was Harry Potter. He disappeared and only reappeared at the brig of dawn. Minerva knew that Albus wanted to bring him here but waited for the right moment.

She slowly massaged her temples. It was all so confusing! Why couldn't she remember! Minerva felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She didn't need to turn to know whose it was. His warm voice filled her with calm.

"Are you alright?" He slipped silently into the seat beside her.

Minerva slowly nodded and relaxed a bit more when his arm went around her and pressed her to him, the warmth of his body pleasantly washing over her.

"Yes. It's just so…frustrating!" Her hand settled comfortably on his chest. "I know that someone memory charmed me and I know that I saw something important but I don't know what! You know, I've got the feeling that it has something to do with Harry." She suddenly frowned, thinking.

"What is it, my dear?" His twinkling blue eyes smiled down at her, trying to ease her discomfort, even not knowing what troubled her.

"It's just…He seemed to be a completely different person than at school." Her frown deepened. "I don't know how to describe it but he was somewhat…darker." His twinkling dimmed. "No, not that way. I mean, he reminded me of Severus. The way he moved and held himself. It just wasn't the way he usually moves. You know that I studied a lot about body movement for my animagus transformation and I know the difference between the way he moved before and the way he moves now." Her soft hands squeezed his, as she saw how much this statement had affected him.

"Do not worry. I may not know Harry as well as you do, but I do not believe that he would turn dark," she reassured him.

"Anyway, I think I know of a way to break the memory charm. We need to go to Hogwarts. Severus, Filius, Remus, Alastor and Poppy are already there. It is a complicated ritual but we would know what you saw. Do you want to do this," The sincerity in his eyes and voice convinced her right away, "We would see a lot of your memories and thoughts before coming to the block the memory charm has built up. It is your right to decline." But she only smiled at him, knowing in her heart that she could trust him with everything.

"I want to know what happened and I trust you all. You've been the best friends I ever had." Albus offered her his hand and she took it, both going to the fireplace and flooing away.


The chanting grew and the earth vibrated with barely reigned magic. Six of the most powerful witches and wizards of this time were standing in a circle, in the middle of them Minerva McGonagall, hands on a bowl and concentrating. They would do everything in their power to help their friend.

The colors swirled and encompassed the group, the magic now flowing freely, trying to find an opening.

Finally, the chanting ceased and everything dissolved. The quest for the lost memory and the answers to their questions began. Come hell or high water, they would not back down before they knew what had happened.


In the depths of the castle a figure raised his head, acknowledging the powerful magic that filled the air. A frown graced his face. He lowered his face again, his amused muttering echoing in the silent hall.

"It seems as if we're not going to be hidden for long now, my son." A relieved and deep laugh went through the hall.

"Yes, indeed. The curse of our family. But then, we wouldn't want it any other way."


"Do you feel it?", he asked as she only rolled her eyes and hugged him from behind, almost hanging on him.

"Of course, I feel it. Every bloody magical creature in the radius of 500 miles must feel it." He smirked at her sarcasm.

"Well, what do you think they're doing? My memory charm is pretty strong but I don't know if it's going to hold against something like this." She gave him a skeptical look.

"Who are you trying to kid? If you wanted you could have put a strong enough charm on her that she wouldn't even remember her own name. You wanted him to find out. You're tired of going behind their backs." she whispered in his ear, clearly pleased by the shiver that followed it.

He moaned as she nibbled at his ear, her eyes glinting with barely suppressed passion.

"Clearly, my love, you're even more devious than I have thought." He snickered, swiftly turning around and taking her in his arms.

She raised an eyebrow, an eerie imitation of her godfather.

"What?" The perfect picture of innocence. "We are here between Slytherins, after all. Did you expect anything less?"

"Of course not."


A fine mist floated above the ground, filling everything, so that they couldn't see a thing. The group of seven looked around, clearly wondering where they were.

"Now, what?" Irritation was written all over the potions master's face. He didn't know where he was exactly and that was one thing that he didn't like at all. As a spy information and knowledge were crucial for your survival.

The headmaster only smiled at him and he glared back. Another thing that was bloody irritating about the old man: he was always unnatural calm.

"Now, we see what happened." The mist cleared, almost as if on command.

The scene they saw was a familiar one. The staff was gathered at the staff room, hearing for the first time that Ginny Weasley had been taken to the chamber of secrets. A sharp gasp was heard from behind the door, heard by the real staff but not by those in the memory. There pressed against the door were two of the infamous Gryffindor Golden Trio. Ron was shocked, falling down to the floor, while Harry had a determined spark in his eyes.

The scene dissolved.

"I've always wondered how they knew that she had been taken." Minerva said, storing away the look Harry had for a short moment. "But why does it show us this? I never saw them."

"This ancient artifact of Rowena Ravenclaw is a kind of Pensive. We can walk around freely and it will show us the events that it thinks are important for us to know." A new scene appeared. "Even if it is not your memory, Minerva."

The chamber of secrets was lightened eerily. The older teachers gasped at what they saw. There, in the appearance of a sixteen year old, stood Tom Marvolo Riddle, the man who would later become the feared Dark Lord Voldemort. It seemed that they were in the middle of talking to each other, both with cold, dangerous eyes and calm and cold tone.

"So, why did you want to meet me?" Harry's tone was deliberately cold, but the teachers could see the hate in his eyes.

"I've never seen him like that." whispered Remus, slightly afraid of the young man he considered a godson. The others nodded, although Snape had a calculating glint in his eyes. They heard as Riddle talked about the way he tricked Hagrid, hearing the pleasure in his voice.

"I'm quite sure that Dumbledore saw through you." Harry mentioned, while Tom only nodded.

"Yes. I recognized the danger of doing anything while the old fool was here, keeping a close surveillance on me. But I didn't want to waste the years I had searched for the chamber and so I decided to make this diary to preserve my memory and fulfill the work of Salazar Slytherin when there was the chance." He sneered.

A cold laugh sounded through the chamber and all teachers quickly turned to Harry, only to find him laughing at Tom, his eyes having a crueler version of the headmaster's twinkle.

"You are misguided, Tom. You think that you know what Salazar Slytherin really wanted, do you? You really think that. How sad is that, Tom, that you pretend to be his heir and do not even know the truth." He whispered cruelly, a feral grin on his face.

"What do you mean?" The other asked, while the teachers stared strangely at Harry. This was not the usual Harry Potter. The kind-hearted and brave one but another, a cold calculating and totally different boy.

Potter hissed something and Riddle's eyes widened.

"You lie. That cannot be true."

"It's hard, isn't it? To find that you believed in something false your whole life." They stared as the talking continued, seeing with their own eyes how the name Voldemort came into existence.

"I knew that there would be a day when the whole world would fear my name and I would be the greatest wizard of the world."

The cold words of Harry halted him in his speech.

"You aren't."

"I'm not…?"

"You aren't the greatest wizard in the world." Filius choked as he heard it. There he stood and saw as a twelve year old boy defied the Dark Lord, a man crueler than many before him.

"I pity you. The greatest wizard in this world is Albus Dumbledore." Tears shone in the headmaster's eyes as he saw how the young boy stood to him, even faced against death. He felt Minerva squeeze his hand and smiled down at her, silently wondering how someone so young could survive this. "Your magical powers are not enough to take Hogwarts. Not once have you dared to do so. Not once have you stood face to face against Albus Dumbledore. You fear him." Harry stated and saw as Riddle became enraged.

"You know that if you go against Hogwarts, it would be your defeat. For Hogwarts will not help a false heir." Riddle's face was covered in hate.

"I do not fear Dumbledore! He ran at the memory of me!" He snarled.

"Do you really believe that? He isn't as far away as you seem to believe." The cold tone again. Suddenly beautiful music filled the air and interrupted them both. A beautiful phoenix swept from above, with the sorting hat in his claws.

"So this is what the almighty Dumbledore sends you? A batty, old hat and a singing bird? Is this the power of your Dumbledore?" Riddle sneered.

Harry didn't answer and the teachers were captured in their own thoughts. Was this indeed the only thing that the young boy had to survive this? How could that be? Surely, there would be more than that. They barely heard Riddle and Harry talk about the sacrifice of his mother, wondering when things would escalate.

"So your mother saved you? But I see now, that there is nothing special about you. That's strange, isn't it? You and I, we are so similar. Even you should see that." A chill went down the spines of the teachers. "We are both half-bloods, both orphans, both raised by muggles who hated us. We are probably the only ones to speak parseltongue since the times of the Great Salazar Slytherin himself. Was it only luck that you escaped me so many, many times?" He asked, his voice like silk.

"But let's test it, shall we? The greatest Dark Lord of all, heir of Salazar Slytherin," Harry snorted." against the famous Harry Potter and the weapons, sent by Dumbledore." He sneered.

Minerva looked over at her young lion, expecting to see at least a little fear, but to her astonishment, a strange smile graced his face, his eyes remaining as cold as during the whole talk.

"Bring it on, Riddle and be warned: I may be a savior to the wizarding world but I am not a Gryffindor." His eyes sparkled and the green shone even more than before, standing out from everything else.

The young Voldemort seemed surprised but said nonetheless. "As you wish." With a swish of his robes, he turned to the statue of Salazar Slytherin, hovering menacing above them. The teachers were only now recognizing it, as they had been concentrating solely on the word duel. Salazar Slytherin had been a handsome man, his high cheekbones and piercing eyes giving him a lot of charisma.

Riddle opened his mouth and hissed. In blank shock and horror the teachers looked as a big snake slithered out of Slytherin's open mouth.

A hiss came from behind them. Riddle only laughed.

"You can't bring him on your side. He has been too long a time in my service."

Disgust appeared on Harry's face.

"You robed him of his soul!" The sharp accusation came without hesitation.

Riddle only smirked.

"Run for your life."

Harry closed his eyes, the strange smile still on his lips.

"When this is over, I will kill you, Tom." He set the sorting hat on his head and kneeled, completely still.

"The basilisk can't do anything to us, my friends. This is only a memory. Lifelike, yes. Real and harmful, no." The soft and reassuring voice of Albus Dumbledore said. Some sighed in relief, while others looked at the basilisks and Harry, now wondering how he came out of this mess alive.

"I really wonder what he did. Big thing, hard to kill." Moody grumbled, his respect for the boy-who-lived rising extremely.

"He's probably been lucky. Potters and their luck." sneered Snape.

They saw as the basilisk, poised to strike, hovered over Harry, who was still kneeling. Everyone tensed, clearly thinking that he just couldn't escape something like this.

The head of the basilisk rushed down, ready to kill its prey, who still didn't move, even though he must have heard the snake. In the last second, Harry jumped to the left wall, tossing himself with his feet against it and propelling himself into the air, swirling above the ground, still grasping the edge of the sorting hat. Suddenly, he ripped it from his head and landed on the ground, while Fawkes was busy poking the eyes of the basilisk out.

Harry reached into the hat and pulled something out. Dumbledore smiled. "The Sword of Gryffindor." he said. "Harry killed the basilisk with that." With a sure grasp he settled into a battle stance and ran at the basilisk, trying to wound it.

"My god, where did he learn that?" Filius was obviously referring to the acrobatics young Mister Potter did.

"I have no clue, Filius. It seems that there are more things to Harry Potter than meets the eyes." Albus frowned. The Gryffindor had always seemed so open about his feelings and actions, something he was not in this exchange with Riddle. Was the Harry Potter he knew the real Harry Potter? Or was he seeing just a façade, made to please the world?

A metallic ring could be heard throughout the chamber. All heads shot to their young student, seeing that Gryffindor's sword was lying several feet away from him and that the basilisk was ready to kill him. Tears started to gather in Minerva's eyes as she saw him. Of course, she knew that he came out alive after this confrontation but it still bothered her seeing him like that.

Riddle's laughter could be heard echoing around the chamber. He clearly thought that this was the end of Harry.

"Well, it seems as if I won." But the grim smile on his opponents lips told him something completely different. A bright green and silver light gathered around Harry, fully wrapping around him, embracing and bathing him. Albus and the others shielded their eyes, for the light was too bright.

The sight that showed itself to them was something that not one of them had expected.

There he was kneeling, the, now from silk, black robes, wrapping themselves around him like waves of a dark ocean. A sword was in his hands, adorned with spotless emeralds and a snake, poised to strike. Runes were running down the glinting metal, the blade deadly sharp. He stood up, his hair shifting with a nonexistent wind. On his chest was the crest of Slytherin, flowing with magic and power. His eyes, glinting in the dim light, had become even more dangerous.

"How can that be?" the astonished Riddle whispered, as shocked as the teachers.

Harry smirked. With a quick thrust his sword bored itself into the basilisk, effectively killing it, but not before slightly gracing him with a tooth, the poison already spreading throughout his body. A beautiful cry filled the air as Fawkes swept down to him and let his tears run into his wound, healing it.

His movements were as elegant as the robes he wore, as he came near Riddle. He smirked.

"I think I forgot to tell you that the sorting hat wanted to place me into Slytherin. We have really a lot in common." He bent his head, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But unlike you, I know that there is not only power." With a cry his blade went through the diary, Riddle screaming as the life giving magic left him. "You underestimated me, Tom. Again."

Ginny began to stir and he carefully hid his sword. The teachers could see the name Salazar Slytherin on the blade. The crest disappeared fully and he dropped to his knees, cradling Ginny gently in his arms. A voice came from behind him.

"I've always told you that you could be great in Slytherin." The sorting hat.

Harry smiled, his eyes softening and giving him more of the appearance of being the young Gryffindor the teachers knew.

"I know. Me being in Gryffindor doesn't mean that I'm any less Slytherin." He smirked as the sorting hat snorted.

"Should have put you to the other snakes. You're too devious to be in Gryffindor, although you have a large amount of their courage. Poor Gryffindors are not gonna survive with someone like you between them." A sudden hopeful look crossed his face. "You are sure that you do not want a resorting?"

This time the snort came from Harry. "What, and always look behind my back so that the little junior Death Eaters do not slit my throat when I'm asleep? No thank you. Another time, maybe. I'm a Slytherin after all and my first goal is survival."

The sorting hat only smiled.

"She's coming around." And then it happened. As if a switch had been pushed, the shoulders sacked, the face became emotional and teary-eyed, while the hands shook slightly. The order members looked on in astonishment as the Slytherin version of Harry Potter switched in the time of an eye blink into that of a Gryffindor Harry Potter. They looked on as he led Ginny out of the chamber, knowing that he would be explaining everything to the staff a few minutes later.

For a few minutes no one spoke. Nobody could really believe what happened. Certainly, it was quite shocking to see someone so young defeat the young Dark Lord but it was a lot more shocking to see that Harry Potter had fooled everyone for five years.

"Did you know that the hat had wanted to place him into Slytherin?" Minerva asked, while the others also showed their curiosity.

Albus nodded, himself not quite believing what had happened.

"Yes. I had no idea, however, that his Slytherin side was this…prominent." He spoke a little concerned.

"The question is if this is the real Harry Potter we just saw. Or if the Gryffindor version is him." Remus concluded. The fact that James' son was this cunning, clever, Slytherin was quite disconcerting.

Severus snorted. He had seen many Slytherins and as much as it pained him to include James' son in this group, it seemed that Harry Potter had become one of his snakes.

"Of course, that had been the real one. I saw many facades in my work as spy and as Head of House but Mr. Potter has topped them all. As much as it pains me to admit it: You will not find someone more Slytherin than that. Hiding his talents, manipulating Riddle so he underestimated him, this extreme cunning." His voice ended sounding proud and appreciating.

Despite the situation Albus chuckled. It was finally time that Severus saw who Harry Potter was. Although this was not quite what he himself had thought, it was a more acceptable Harry Potter for Severus Snape.

A laugh came from his left.

"Always said that the lad had it in him. Constant vigilance. Good tactic." Moody nodded, pleased to find that their savior wasn't as incompetent as some made him out to be.

The scene dissolved as even Minerva started to laugh. Harry Potter may have been mostly Slytherin but he still was one of hers and she cared about her cubs.

As new surroundings appeared, Minerva somehow knew that this was the end of their journey. Powerful magic floated in front of her, seemingly locking a memory inside it, not letting it out.

"This is it." Albus whispered in awe. Even he had not seen such a powerful memory charm in his life.

"It's incredible." Filius said, completely taken with this magnificent sight. "I've never seen anything like that before. Look at the patterns, this delicate woven strings, interweaving with each other, powerful and thus creating something so masterful."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get to work!" Snape sneered. Several nodded. It was time to know what happened.


Filius smiled happily as the last string disappeared. It had taken them roughly two hours to fully bring it down. A pity, really, considering the fact that it had truly been a masterpiece.

They were all sitting in Albus' office waiting for Minerva to wake up.

"I know what happened." He looked over at his friend, seeing the teary but determined eyes.

Albus smiled kindly at her.

"I woke up to the feeling of something brushing against me. It was then that I saw Harry climbing on the roof. You should have seen his acrobatics! He could have broken his neck!" Albus squeezed her hands, giving her the reassurances that she needed. "He had the same sword we saw in the chamber, the one with the snake and was clothed completely in black. When he started running and jumping the rooftops I followed him. We came to a rather run down part of town, it was where the attack has been. There were people and they called him Slytherin or Des."

"Seems as if he is widely known as a Slytherin." Remus muttered, frowning while Severus smirked. Yes, he could definitely get along with this new- or was it old?- Potter.

Minerva shot them a glare.

"Then he was suddenly grabbed from behind and pressed to the wall." Alarm came into the eyes of the others, fearing the worst but Minerva only chuckled and shook her head. "I think he might have been kissed unconscious by the young woman." She turned with an amused look to Severus. "It was one of yours."

He raised an eyebrow. Of his?

"Of mine?"

"Blaise Zabini." She chuckled again as she saw the shocked look in his eyes. "Mister Potter seems to have a lot more secrets than we thought, doesn't he, Severus?"

"And a good taste in women." Severus absently muttered.

The headmaster's eyes were twinkling furiously but dimmed when he heard the next sentence.

"Then came the attack."

Flashback

"There will be a time, my love. Do not despair." His soft voice filled her with hope. Hope that it wouldn't be necessary to continue like this.

"I know, but do you…" She was interrupted as the ground trembled. Several dancers stopped to see what was going on, only to scream and run away. Blind panic swept through the crowd as green lights and battle cries filled the air.

"We're never lucky." The young woman by his side said. "What's it with our dates and evil maniacs? It always the bloody same."

He grinned, even though the situation was anything but funny.

"Well, my dear. The curse of my family. We get the fun things to deal with." With a quick motion of his hand the beautiful and deadly sword was out of its sheath, a green snake wrapped around its hilt, ready to strike, and shiny runes flowing along the sword. They glanced at each other and smirked. After all, what is a relationship without some action?

"Let's dance."

And dance they did. With cat-like grace they hid in the shadows and attacked Death Eaters and creatures alike, always quickly putting them out of action. Minutes ticked away as the fight continued, finally ending when they heard aurors apparating in.

Harry turned, only to see his transfiguration professor lying wounded on the ground. With quick steps he and Blaise were by her side.

"Do not speak, professor. We are going to help you." He motioned to Blaise who laid a soft hand on her wounded stomach. A warm light filled her as she began to feel herself healing.

Harry shot her a sad but determined look.

"I'm sorry, Professor. You won't be able to remember this for a while. Professor Dumbledore is not far away. Do not worry. Everything will be alright." With a last sad look, he softly lowered her to the ground, speaking the memory charm in a whisper.

A soft I'm sorry was the last thing she heard.

End Flashback

"So he saved you?" Albus asked, tears in his eyes. He had always considered Harry to be something like a grandson to him. To know that he had been forced to memory charm Minerva, while saving her life, brought grief up in him. What was it that Harry couldn't tell him? Oh, how he hoped that he would tell him!

"Yes." She had also tears in her eyes.

"We will bring him and Blaise here, tomorrow morning. Hopefully, we will be able to help them in whatever they need." The others nodded softly, privately wondering what had happened to make Harry see the need to do something so drastic.


Somewhere else Harry Potter stood with his arms around Blaise Zabini, her head softly settled against his shoulder.

"They know." Her quiet voice said. Her blue eyes shone with contentment.

He smiled down at her. Even if the world went down in chaos, he still had her.

"I know. Now, we will not hide anymore." They stared up to the heavens, knowing that the next day would bring hardships but also joy and as the stars twinkled down at them, they found themselves, for the first time, really relaxing. Tomorrow would be a new beginning.


Author's Note: Puh! 20 pages! I wrote the whole day and just couldn't stop! grin

I hope that you like this chapter. So, how many of you thought that it would be Blaise? As you see there is even a little AD/MM interaction, although I didn't plan it. Enjoy the chapter and review if you want. I'm always glad if I get some reviews or constructive criticism.

Chi