Erised's Bane

Author's Note: Hiya! I'm really sorry about the cruddy summary earlier...I forgot that there are people out there who haven't read OoP yet and I let my smug summary-writing self get in the way of my consideration for others who haven't yet read the story. I am sorry. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and being so nice...no flames and the only criticism was on my cruddy summary that gave away OoP secrets...oops.

Disclaimer: Of all the things I own, Harry Potter is not one of them. But now that J.K. has so cruelly disposed of Sirius, I have taken him and now let him run around in my back yard while I watch gleefully and toss out the occasional bone. I LOVE YOU SIRIUS! J.K., how could you dispose of my trifecta of hot black-haired sexy guys? I LOVED Sirius/Harry/Snape...

Chapter Two: Before Term at Hogwarts

Harry stirred slightly when he heard the movements from outside. Muffled sounds came to him through the darkness and he rose quickly, pulling the threadbare blanket off and sliding up on the hard cot. Through his blurred vision he could only see dark shadows moving through the darkness...he reached out blindly and groped for his glasses, wincing when they slid from the table near his bed and shattered on the ground.

Softly cursing, he unfolded himself from the cot and stood, creeping closer to the bars. He squinted slightly and saw a faint burst of a silvery light followed by a slight gasp of surprise, which was likewise followed by the soft thud of somebody colliding with the ground. In a moment a shadowy figure could be seen coming towards him down the long hall--the absence of sound from the nearby cells indicated the others were all asleep or else had been stunned.

Wishing for his wand more than anything else, Harry pulled back from the bars and pressed himself against the cold stone wall. "Who's there?" he asked nervously, trying to make sense of the dim outline in the shadows.

"It's me, Potter, come to get you out of yet another foolish scrape." Harry breathed a cold sigh of relief at the icily familiar voice. In a moment he saw the all-too-familiar outline of Snape's hooked nose in the darkness.

"Interesting. It usually takes a bit longer for somebody to come and rescue me. By the way, it's not my fault I'm in here." He sneered back through the darkness. "You have my pig cousin to thank for that."

Snape made no reply and in a moment Harry heard a faint click followed by a creak as the door swung open. "Come on, we haven't got much time." Snape said coldly.

"I can't go yet." Harry said. "Unless you want me stumbling around Little Whinging blind as a bat."

"Excuse me, Potter?"

"My glasses are shattered on the floor, and as I have neither a wand or the permission to use magic outside of school, it might help if you were to repair them for me." Harry said darkly. Snape froze for a moment before kneeling. A faint sparkle shown on the lens before Snape arose and thrust the glasses into Harry's hands.

"Let's go." He said icily. Harry pushed the glasses back up on his nose and started after Snape, who was already halfway back down the hall. He caught sight of the officers in the station. Most of them were slumped over their desks, stirring slightly as the spell began to wear off. They left the station quickly, entering into a night that was almost as dark as the bowels of the dank police station.

"Now what?" asked Harry, who was glaring darkly at Snape, who had paused at the side of the street. "Do I get to go back home and be a 'good boy' for another month?"

"Don't use that derisive tone with me." Snape spat. "But if you must know, you are not returning to your relatives. I was unfortunately sent to retrieve you because you are going to Hogwarts immediately--things are much too hectic at headquarters for mere children." Harry rolled his eyes at this statement.

"Will I be allowed to get my things at least?" Harry said shortly. "I don't even have my wand."

Snape smiled darkly. "As much as I would like to disarm you, unfortunately I have your wand here. Direct me to your house and we will leave this muggle infestation as quickly as possible." He thrust Harry's wand at him so quickly that sparks shot out, stinging his skin. He winced and shoved it into his back pocket. Without a word he started down the street.

Though the police station was much farther than most of his nightly walks, it wasn't so far that Harry had trouble finding his way and within ten minutes they had already reached the mouth of Privet Drive. Harry heard Snape scuffing along behind him but kept his eyes fixed on the ground in front of him...of all the people he had imagined rescuing him on a hot summer's night, his least favorite potions professor was not one of them.

They rounded the corner. "Is this it?" Snape said quickly when they approached Number Four. Harry nodded curtly. "Be quick then, the sooner I'm rid of you the better." Harry shrugged absently, feeling anger for the greasy-haired man at his heels, and approached the door, hissing when the knob didn't turn at his touch. He reached into his sneaker and pulled out a thin metal wire that he kept there for such occasions and slid it into the keyhole, moving it around until it unlatched with a satisfying click.

"Don't you have a key?" Snape asked in a bored monotone. Harry chuckled dryly.

"No. The Dursleys haven't exactly been keen on giving me access to the house. Any more questions?"

"None, Potter. I'm sure the less I know about you the better." Harry made a sardonic noise and slipped into the house. He paused at the base of the steps when he heard his cousin's loud snores rattling from upstairs. Quietly as possible he moved up the stairs, gritting his teeth when he heard Snape move in behind him. Moving swiftly he opened the door to his bedroom and stepped in.

Absently he began picking up his books from the floor and tossing them into his trunk, which he pulled into the middle of the room. He picked up his mingled assortment of robes and other clothes, tossing them into the trunk and pushing them down. He paused for a moment at the pile of letters and shrugged before tossing them, as well as the pile of papers, into the trash bin. But it was with an irritated glance at the door that he knelt and pried up the loose plank on the floor.

He reached in and pulled out a shoebox filled with assorted pieces of paper. "Your press clippings, Potter?" Snape said in irritation.

"No." Harry replied in irritation. "My homework. I had it mostly done two weeks ago but my cousin decided to play a little joke on me while I was out on a walk. It turns out there isn't much you can do when three feet worth of a potions essay are flushed down the toilet." Then he slowly reached out and picked up a piece of paper that was lying untouched on his bed. He flipped it open...it was his O.W.L. report. "I guess the essay doesn't matter anyway." He muttered. "Congratulations, I'm not in your N.E.W.T. class."

Snape smirked. "Just how badly did you do, Potter?"

"I got an E, whether you believe it or not. Still isn't enough to get me in your prestigious class, is it?" Harry muttered. Quickly he stuffed the report in his pocket and shoved the last of his things into the trunk. "And how exactly are you getting this out of here?"

"I'll levitate it to the front yard. From there I'll hail you the Knight Bus. I have other business to attend to, but it will take you to Hogsmeade."

"Terrific." Harry said under his breath. Hefting Hedwig in her cage over one shoulder, he followed Snape out the door. However, their exit wasn't as smooth as Harry would have wished. Halfway down the stairs, Harry's trunk slammed into the wall. In a matter of seconds, the lights flashed on, blinding Harry, and Uncle Vernon appeared at the head of the stairs, his face purple. In a flash Aunt Petunia and Dudley appeared behind him.

"What...you were arrested!" he shouted. "What are you doing in my house? What are you doing bringing YOUR kind into my house!" he roared.

"I'm just leaving." Harry muttered. "See you next summer."

"YOU-WAIT-JUST-THERE!" he shouted. Harry turned and looked into his uncle's beady eyes. Snape was peering intently at him, his mouth quirked as if he couldn't decided whether to be irritated or highly amused. "I've had enough of your goings on in this house! And I am not about to let you get away with MURDER!"

Harry blinked before laughing softly. "Murder?" he snorted. "I wasn't part of that attack. Whoever attacked that night was only upset I didn't have the sudden hankering to see a late 'Night of the Living Dead' marathon."

"I know what you people are like." Uncle Vernon said as he made his way slowly down the stairs. "And I have had enough of it." he turned suddenly to Snape. "And who exactly do you think you are, barging into my house in the middle of the night? I have half a mind to call the police and put you under arrest."

"Please." Snape said darkly. "I just retrieved Potter from the police station, do you think it would make much difference if you called the officers to take me away?" he sneered.

Uncle Vernon paled. "I will thank you not to insult me in my own home!" he said gruffly. "But so long as you have come, take the brat and get him out of here." Snape stared at Uncle Vernon for a long moment before turning and continuing down the stairs. He stopped at the door and turned to look at Harry, who was still standing on the stairs staring at his family.

"Are you coming, Potter?" he hissed.

"Yeah." Harry said. He turned sharply and made his way down the stairs, stopping when he felt his uncle's hand on his shoulder.

"Do me a favor and just get yourself killed, why don't you?" he sneered. "You've darkened my house one too many summers." He spat.

Snape narrowed his eyes and looked from Harry to Uncle Vernon, who were shooting daggers at one another. After a long moment Harry shook his uncle's hand from his shoulder quickly, making his way down the stairs and out of the door. He exited without a word and Snape followed, shutting the door quickly behind him.

He let the trunk fall to the sidewalk and raised his wand quickly. In a moment the Knight Bus appeared with a crash on the gravel in front of him and the door swung open. "Welcome to th' Knight Bus..." Stan began. Harry rolled his eyes and lifted the trunk onto the bus, not turning when he heard Snape disapparate behind him with a crack.

He paid his fare quickly and sat down on an empty bed at the front of the bus. It was otherwise empty, save for an old witch who was holding tightly to the edge of her bed and a trio of wizards talking in hushed tones across from Harry. " 'ogsmeade, then?" he said. "Right." They took off again with a jolt and Harry gripped the post of the bed as he fell forward. He glanced around at the street, watching idly as the mailboxes jumped out of the way to make room for the bus.

Sighing he leaned back, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "Hi Stan." He muttered when he saw the man's eyes flicker to his forehead.

"You 'ere again?" he said. "Third time. Goin' to school a bit early, aren' yeh?"

Harry shrugged. "Guess so. Things a bit odd lately."

"Real sorry we was to think yeh were bonkers, weren' we Ern?" Stan said. "Felt awful when we saw all the things in the paper, 'bout how yeh had to watch as You-Know-Who came back and all. I 'member yesterday mornin', muh sister like to cried her eyes out reading abou' how yer relatives are."

"What?" Harry said, his attention suddenly drawn to Stan. "What about my relatives?" Harry said quickly.

"Blimey, didn' yeh know? Yer' in the paper almos' everyday. The Quibbler was talkin' abou' it, how yer relatives use all sorts of muggle torture, an' everything."

"Oh." Harry said. The Quibbler...he could only imagine the sorts of 'torture' that it had been reported was used on him. Sighing, he blocked out Stan's voice and pulled the O.W.L. report from his pocket. He smiled slightly--though it meant the end of his ambitions as an Auror, his Exceeds Expectations in potions was sure to annoy Snape somewhat. Added to that was an E in Transfiguration, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures.

To his relief, he saw that he had gotten the exemplary O for Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Divination wasn't a shock--he got a P but as he didn't care much for the course he felt almost relieved that he wouldn't have to take a N.E.W.T. course for it. He would have gotten a P also in Astronomy, but for the fact that with the interruption midway through the examiners had seen it fit to add extra points, bumping him up to an average. So that was it...six O.W.L.S. Pretty good, overall, though he was sure Hermione would receive at least eight.

He shoved it back into his pocket and laid down on the bed, a hard task to accomplish as the bus was jerking about every which way and Harry felt as if he were near to throwing up every few minutes. The trio of wizards got off in Diagon Alley, and fifteen minutes later the witch was left at a remote location in the middle of a field, where Harry decided he would rather not know what she was doing, as she had left with a rather peaked look.

Finally left alone he sat up and watched as the countryside flew past the final few miles to Hogsmeade. Lights were flying past like faint blurs, and every once in a while a house would swing out of the way to make way. Once Harry was jolted hard from the bed and slammed his shoulder hard on the side of the bed. He ignored Stan's proffered ice pack and was rubbing his shoulder faintly when the bus finally screeched to a halt. Harry helped Stan take down the trunk and watched as the Knight Bus once again flew away with a crack.

"Yeh all righ', Harry?" Despite the hectic, confusing day Harry felt a smile tease at the side of his lips.

"Sure, Hagrid." He said quickly, turning. "So I guess you've been sent to make sure I get back to the castle without being abducted or running off to get myself killed?"

"Tha's the scheme of it, yeah." Hagrid grunted with a sheepish grin. "Yeh got 'edwig? Then le's go." He picked up Harry's trunk and hefted it over one shoulder as the two of them made their way towards the flickering lights of Hogwarts.

"What exactly goes on here during the summer?" Harry asked curiously, seeing four owls exit the Owlery into the night.

"Mostly jes' preparin' for the year. Sendin' out letters, forms, and the like. Dumbledore wanted you to come here firs, but if yeh'd like I think yeh can go to the Burrow in a few days. He wants to ready things up for yeh, though."

"Yeah. I guess so." Harry muttered. The truth was, he didn't know if he wanted to go and stay with Ron. Lately, he had just wanted to spend time alone.

"Snape give yeh' a hard time?" Hagrid asked as they neared the castle. "I 'eard he got yeh. Would've done it myself but I still can' technically use magic. The res' of the Order was too busy fer it, and Snape was goin' that way fer business. He wasn' too happy....mumblin' somethin' about babysitten."

"Oh...he was fine." Harry managed to say over the snigger resting at the top of his throat. "I think he managed okay, but at one point I think he was trying to make up his mind if he would rather rip off my head or Uncle Vernon's."

Hagrid grunted. "I don' blame him. Your uncle's the sort tha' even the scummiest scum wouldn'..." realizing what he was saying Hagrid broke into a series of loud, false coughs. "Not that I'm sayin' anything, mind you." Harry grinned.

"Sure." He replied. They rounded towards the castle and entered the great hall. Several house-elves scampered out of view when they entered--Harry could just see a few of them trembling behind statues. Then, without warning, he felt a heavy object pelt into his shins. "Dobby!" he cried as he pulled off the house-elf with his many-tiered layers of clothes, which he was amused to see included a pair of undershorts which were abandoned--by a Slytherin, he would judge, seeing as they were green and silver.

"Master Potter! How good it is to see you, sir!" he cried. "I heard you was coming before term started, and how happy I was to see you! Dobby has many things to tell you, sir! Would you...would you mind if Dobby visited once in a while? If it would not be too much trouble?"

"What? Oh...oh sure, Dobby." Harry replied. "I won't have much to do, and I don't think I'll be visiting my friend Ron's, so company would be welcome. You can...you can bring some of your friends if you like." He added, seeing the wistful gazes peering out from some of the statues. "So long as it isn't that bastard Kreacher." He muttered under his breath.

"Really, sir?" Dobby squeaked, fairly bouncing up and down in his excitement. "I shall, I shall! But now we must get back to work...we have much to do before the term starts. Much to do." He bowed, his long nose scraping the floor, and quickly ran back to a group that had gathered behind a large stone witch who was staring up at the sky, tapping her chin.

"Bye Dobby." Harry said half-heartedly. "I guess I'll be going to my dorm then?" Harry muttered to Hagrid, who frowned.

"Actually, I think the headmaster would like a few words with you. He's in his office...password is 'Sugar Quill'. I'll be seein' yeh...got ter go and visit Grawp righ' now. He's had some problems lately...doesn' seem ter be takin' well with the centaurs, they've 'ad a few scuffles lately." With that Hagrid stumbled out, though Harry caught the unmistakable wink.

He reached down for his trunk but discovered to his amusement that it had disappeared. Shrugging, he started down the hall, finding that it wasn't only the house-elves engaged in pre-term furor. Many of the paintings in the hall were bustling about their frames tidying up, and Harry saw unmistakably that Sir Cadogan, a crazy old knight in a portrait leading to the Divination tower, was furiously scrubbing at his armor with a dingy old rag that seemed to be doing more harm than good.

Nearing the gargoyle, Harry took a deep breath and muttered the password. It almost immediately sprung to life and Harry ascended the slowly rotating steps and put his hand in his pockets, swallowing deeply. When he reached the office he tapped lightly. The door sprung open without hesitation and Harry peered in. Dumbledore appeared not to have noticed and was bent over a long sheet of parchment on his desk, signing his name at the bottom. "Excuse me...Professor?" Harry said.

Dumbledore looked up. "Good." He mumbled. "You're here, without harm apparently." He stood and the sheet of paper disappeared with a small poof. "Please sit Harry, and I will explain to you why I have requested you come here instead of returning to your friends at the Burrow." Harry took a seat and reclined, feeling and repressing the small jolt of anger that wasn't his when he looked at Dumbledore.

Seeing Harry's intense concentration, a gray shadow passed Dumbledore's face. "It still hasn't gotten any better, has it?" he said. He didn't need to elaborate...Harry knew exactly what he meant.

"No sir." Harry mumbled. "Maybe a little bit in dreams, but I think that's only because he realizes that I know he's controlling them. He most uses it to..." Harry froze, unable to continue.

"To taunt you?" Dumbledore finished. With a swallow, Harry nodded. Dumbledore sat back down and stared hard at Harry.

"I had hoped that once he realized you knew about his--control--he might leave that part of your connection to one another alone. But I suppose that is too much to hope for." He took a deep breath. "This is part of the reason I wanted to bring you here first, Harry. Voldemort uses those qualities that one might think made us good and turns them against us. He uses ambition and power to tempt those who would need such things...for you, once he has found that he cannot use power to his advantage, he uses bravery and emotion."

"I hadn't noticed." Harry said dryly, instantly regretting the dark tone of his voice. "Sorry." He said quietly.

Dumbledore looked at him for a long moment. "I don't blame you, Harry. I would be worried if you didn't show emotion. But I think it would be best if you stay out of a familiar setting such as the Weasley's until you are better able to control your emotions. Also, I think it would be preferable if you used the library to perpetuate your studies...you will be having N.E.W.T. courses this year, and I have arranged to put you in transfiguration, charms, and potions..."

"Potions?" Harry cut in. "But my O.W.L. wasn't high enough." Harry said, blinking.

Dumbledore smiled. "No, it wasn't, but McGonagall tells me that you have Auror ambitions, and..." he stopped, his smile faltering for a moment. "Well, considering circumstances, I think it best you complete the training necessary for an Auror. I don't know how long the war will last Harry...another week or twenty years. But I do know that...you being you...perhaps the proper training will keep you protected."

Harry blinked. Perhaps the proper training will keep me protected? He thought bitterly. More like, perhaps the proper training will better prepare me to be Dumbledore's little weapon. He nodded slowly. "All right." He muttered. "I just hope Sn--Professor Snape isn't too bitter about this arrangement."

Dumbledore said nothing but Harry noticed a faint twinkle light up in his eyes as he hadn't seen in the entire time he had been in his office. The two of the them rose and Harry began to exit, stopping suddenly when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "I forgot to tell you." Dumbledore said. "But I have prepared separate chambers for you for the time being. I understand if, when the year begins, you would like to return to your dormitory with the others, but this place is yours alone...for anytime you need somewhere to get away, or if you would like to stay by yourself instead of returning to the dormitories." Harry looked down at the small golden key Dumbledore slipped into the palm of Harry's hand. "It is five paintings past the Fat Lady, behind a group of wizards wearing paisley robes. Ask Lord Hornswaggle to step aside."

Harry stared at Dumbledore for a second before nodding and slipping the key into his pocket. Slowly he walked back down the hall and peered around for a moment. Catching a glimpse of the sky through a window at the far end of the hall, he saw that the night was over and the sun was just starting to rise in the sky. Shrugging, he headed down to the Fat Lady and past, counting the paintings.

He paused when he came to one he had never noticed before. It was in a dingy frame no more than two feet wide and three feet tall, and five wizards were grouped around a table. In a moment the scruffiest of the lot, an old wizard with beady black eyes and a long pipe sticking out of hi smouth, peered up at Harry blinkingly. "What do you want, sonny?" he wheezed, spitting on the floor.

"Erm...could Lord Hornswaggle please step aside?" Harry said cautiously. The old wizard grinned.

"So your Harry Potter, eh? The old man told us you'd be taken the room, but I admit I didn't believe him. Since when do students get their own rooms in this school? Course, I'm biased, been living in this frame with these four idiots for far too long." He muttered. At this the others in the painting began shouting at him, and one old man reached out and smacked him hard on the back, causing him to swallow a goodly bit of tobacco from the pipe. He began coughing hard, shaking his heard roughly.

When he looked back up at Harry it was with an extremely dazed look. "Now what was it you were wanting?" he said. "Oh yeah. I, Lord Hornswaggle, do yadda-yadda-yadda...admit Harry Potter to room 332 of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, providing he has the key to enter." He stepped aside, revealing a shining circular hole. Harry reached into his pocket and took out he key, inserting it into the keyhole. A moment passed and then suddenly he heard a series of clicking noises from inside. He jumped back when the painting fell down the floor, revealing a large black hole where the portrait used to be. Then the hole widened, reaching out to either side and up over his head, until it was the appropriate size for Harry to enter.

"Thanks." He mumbled. He stepped into the dark entrance and the wall closed back up behind him. All was silent and dark until he heard a faint popping from the opposite wall and torches suddenly started lighting up around the room, coming full circle at either side of Harry. He let out a low whistle as he stared around him, from the stone floor covered with a thick carpet of some leathery material to the fireplace, which sat across from a large bed piled with scarlet blankets. A cauldron swung idly in the middle of the flames, and Harry thought with dark humor about N.E.W.T. potions...thinking of both Snape's irritation he would not be rid of Harry yet, and Snape's undeniable pleasure when Harry failed, as he had no doubt he would.

His trunk lay open at the bottom of a large window to one side of his bed. He wandered over and glanced out, quickly understanding why the room was circular in shape. He saw that he was at the middle of a large tower...some quick calculations in his mind confirmed this decision when he realized he was most likely just under the dormitories for Gryffindor house. "Guess this is where the heads of houses used to sleep." Harry muttered idly.

He glanced over and saw a large shelf filled with books. Advanced Strengthening and Augmentation Potions he read. Rolling his eyes, he replaced it. Shaking his head in confusion he turned back around and sat. He hadn't been waiting for long when a low wooden table and a single chair appeared before him...covered in dishes full of food.

"What's this?" he snorted. "I get breakfast in bed, I guess." He sat down at the chair and piled up his plate, taking a long drink of butterbeer, which Dobby had no doubt sent up--probably intent on ridding the kitchens of the stuff, seeing as Winky hadn't doused her drinking habits.

Finally full, he stood and just as suddenly the table disappeared. He yawned and was in the middle of debating whether he wanted to sleep or try and find something to do--maybe ask Dumbledore if he had permission to visit Hogsmeade--when he heard a faint tapping at the window. He opened the window and Pig fluttered in, dropping a thick letter on his head with a resounding klunk.

Rubbing his pate, he picked up the package and pulled it open. There was a large, flat golden disk on a long chain and no less than five scraps of paper. He put the disk in his lap and turned to the papers.

Harry,

We all heard about what happened and I couldn't be more relieved that they've put you in Hogwarts...I don't want to go into it, but I really don't think the Burrow is secure...we'll tell you all about it as soon as we see you. If things can be made secure enough here, we'll come to get you.

Hermione

He sat the paper down and turned to the next.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. Mum and dad are irritated but they know Dumbledore means best. They were saying that you might be able to come here later, but I doubt it. Some weird characters have been lurking around, and I think only a few of them have been here for the Order. Grimmauld place is now off limits unless you are officially an order member...though I wouldn't want to go, I've started having nightmares about that night and I wasn't even there when...well, when you-know-what happened. Please take care.

Ginny says hello, as do Fred and George. They said they had a surprise for you, and I'm not sure that sounds too good.

Ron

He smiled vaguely, glad to have gotten a little more information from Ron--that explained, at least, why he hadn't immediately gone to the headquarters. He supposed it was best, at the very least. Images of Sirius wandering the halls, cooped up and restless...

Harry,

Glad to hear you're doing all right. I'd curse the muggles if I were you, but then again you're not allowed to use magic outside of school, so just forgot what I said. Hope you're doing all right, get some rest, and if Snape is too hard on you I have a few choice words for him...which I'm told I'm not really allowed to use, so forget that too. We're going to make sure nothing happens, really, so just keep up your grades and be a 'good boy'. Don't do anything I wouldn't do (which isn't a whole lot, if you get my drift).

Tonks

At least one person was encouraging him to have fun...but the main message was the same. Don't be an idiot. Don't get yourself killed.

Hello, Harry.

Just making sure you keep an eye out for anything unusual. I'm glad to see you're being more cautious now, that's the most important thing, you never know what could be lurking about. I should be visiting Hogwarts sometime soon, so be watching. I'll try and see you if I don't get caught up in whatever Albus...and that's Professor Dumbledore to you...has me doing. And do me a favor, don't sneak up from behind. I accidentally set Tonks' head on fire last week and I don't think I can stand another Tarantellegra curse like she gave me.

Moody

He laughed softly. Same message, just a different tone.

I'm glad to hear that you are safe.

I've been worried, Harry, I must admit. There are things that are happening right now that have me wondering if perhaps some of this isn't in vain...but I shouldn't be worrying you with that right now. The Order is growing as fast as the others, and after long consideration we have decided it is in your best interest to become one of us, though not in such an active role...I will not lie, it is more for your protection that we do this than it is any help to us. This medallion in a Locater--each member of the Order has one. Never take it off. Be safe.

Remus Lupin

Harry frowned and looked at the medallion in his lap. He blinked when a bright light began shining from it and he picked it up--the metal was now tingling and warm. When the light faded he saw a faint inscription in silver on the gold.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

MEMBER #34

ORDER of THE PHOENIX

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Hiya!

So, what do you think? I hope this isn't too far-fetched or anything, I am really trying to keep with the new tone J.K. set for us. Please read and review, I love hearing what you guys have to say! To tell you the truth, I'm already beginning to get ideas for chapters much farther along in this story...well, you'll see my genius *wink* when the time comes.

And a special note for those of you kind enough to leave a review...

Osunale-Thanks for the review. I know, this story will be focused on Harry's inner turmoil more than any physical danger. I agree, I dearly miss my Sirius, but I certainly won't boycott HP as *some* people are saying. I sadly have only Harry and Snape to huggle now...

Jasmine Black-Crud, what to say. You know I love ya'! You've been there from day one and you are the best! Thanks so much for reviewing all my stories!

Addy-Problem taken care of.

Nexus-Thanks for reviewing. Made you curious, have I?

LilyGinnyBlack-Hmm...interesting name. You know what I'm going through with poor Sirius...yes this will be a darker, more painful toned work, much more mature than my other HP fanfictions. Thanks for the nice words, and I read your peom the moment Jasmine posted it. It was great!

PhoenixKat89-Thanks for the review! Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of seperating Harry from his wand. Good to know I've got a good reviewer like you.