The Final Lesson

Written by: HoshiHikari

Disclaimer: I do not own HP! That's right, the characters still all belong to J.K Rowling As for the plot, it might have been done before, so I won't take credit for that either

Summary:

He is tainted by evil. He had lost all emotions, all feelings all humane senses. He had become heartless, soulless towards all living creatures. The final straw had snapped. How could Harry save the world and bring light into a world consumed by darkness, when he, himself is the cause of chaos and destruction? When he himself is the Dark Master, the Half-Blooded Prince?

He is a werewolf, a dark creature, tainted by the goodness of people. He is the remaining Marauder, given the responsibility and the burden to raise young Harry. Now that Harry's gone evil, to what lengths would his guardian goes to protect him, to save him, not only from the world but from himself? Can Remus bring back the Harry that was once adored by everyone? Will Remus be able to teach Harry the most important lesson of all time? Can Remus teach Harry how to once again be humane, to have a heart and a soul? Will he, Remus be persuaded to give up, and cross over, when all is lost, and Harry is past being worth saving? Or will he stick by his beliefs, run out of time, and in turn pay the ultimate price?

NO SLASH! NO SLASH! in fact, Romance is not important, nothing romantically, and if there is, its not meant at all!

Author Notes: "…." talk Italic thoughts/dreams /…/ Parseltongue Snake language underlinetext/letter/writings bold/italicslyrics from songs (if any)

Strega: the young man in questioning is 'blonde' (that's, all to say…that gave it away….pretty much)

Going to go with Harry and the 'lost boy' for sure. I have to agree with you. Well here is my lame way of doing it. (this chapter) However, I don't think it will leave 'them' (in this case Remus) confused. Think it'll actually be more of an eye opener, like he use to blind, oblivious of a fact(s) and now know. Harry, himself would have to be more careful, as he did, (or will in this chapter spill the truth, and the truth, the entire truth, maybe slightly tweaked, but nevertheless the truth.) speak of the truth. In a way, it would seem more realistic then making a bunch of lies and then accidentally causing a slip somewhere.

Thanks for the suggestions for the replacement eye. So hard to choose and to pick. I'll have to put it aside to decide. Hmm, to have a potion to bring out Remus' wolf nature? Well that is the goal. However, wouldn't it conflict with Harry being a lost boy. If Remus knew that Harry wasn't meaning what he was doing, then wouldn't he strive to keep his own human nature in hopes that it can somehow help with turning Harry around? Still, that is the goal. Remus is slowly changing. He is becoming like Harry, more and more. After all, he has nothing to lose. There really isn't anyone else in the world that he cares about. Besides, those people he's assigned to take down, actually hurt Harry, so in a way, he's just doing what any protective guardian would do (maybe a little extreme) and really living up to his name 'Avenger'.

Glad you like the Black Rose marker. Thought it would be different. Get too tired of the skull and snakes a lot. Yes, always test Snape…always. sighs when would that man actually get tired of being a spy and then declare his true loyalty to one side or the other? You can't really trust him, if he jumps constantly from side to side.

Well a Ravenclaw eh? I would have guess so. Very brilliant and smart. Good for fanfic writers. It suits you. I don't mind the reviews. I actually love them, wish everyone would write more and comment, with more then the usual 'good job' stuff. Creativity is good, and frankly after writing 'Reign of Darkness' I really need some. Keep it up, keep it coming!

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed! I'm going to update my bio often so please check it out!

Chapter 18 A poor lost confused little boy

Avenger walked silently through the halls of the Potter Manor. He was idly swinging a pair of daggers in his left hand, while carrying a bundle with his left.

It was night and the hall was empty. The Death Eaters were still scattered about the world, enjoying themselves with the nightly massacres that they created. Avenger himself had just returned from one, not really a massacre, but more of a one man raid through the cities that he had traveled through while tracking down Dolores Umbridge.

He headed for the room that belonged to the Master. He didn't bother knocking, as he admitted himself, for even if he did, the Master ignored him completely. When he entered, nothing prepared him for what he saw.

On one side of the room was a tall, pale skeletal looking figure, looming over another that looked like an identical twin only much worst, who was slumped on the floor, bathed in a pool of blood. The one standing had a wand and was madly crucio-ing the other, who surprisingly had not made a sound.

Avenger stood rooted to the spot. Then, before he knew it, he threw the two daggers at the towering image. It went straight through the image of the person, and pinned itself on the opposite wall. Without thinking, he launched himself at the image, who had stopped the spell and was looking keenly at him. Brown eyes met blood red.

"What the hell are you doing to Harry, Voldmort!" The words had barely escaped his mouth when he realized what he had just said. His eyes widened, unbelieving at what he had just said as well as what was happening. Nevertheless, he kept his composure and brutally tried to attack the Dark Lord. It was to no avail.

"you're lucky this time Potter. However, you won't be the next." The Dark Lord hissed. Like a bullet it launched itself towards Avenger, passed through him and then entered the person that was on the floor. The wand that Voldemort had been clutching fell silently onto the floor.

Avenger stared for a long time. When he did react, he rushed to the man that was drowning in the pool of his own blood. Quickly he healed the wounds, lifted the other and placed him onto his bed. Questions could be asked later, and indeed would be asked. At the moment though, the boy needed to be tended to.

That was what he did. That night, he stayed with Harry, keeping him in a stable condition, tending to him, and making sure that he would stay alive.

The next morning, Harry was the first to awake. He sat up, placed on his glasses, and looked around. He was startled to find Avenger sleeping in a chair that was pulled up next to his bed.

Oh my God? Why is he here? What happened?

Then slowly memories of last night erupted through his mind. He gasped. Voldemort and he were having a decent conversation. It had somehow turned nasty. He couldn't clearly remember the subject matter, but knew that it involved the other man that was currently residing in the room.

No! This wasn't suppose to happen! He isn't suppose to be here! He isn't suppose to know.

A cup of hot tea was placed before him. It startled Harry. He turned quickly to see Avenger had awoken and was holding up the cup for him. He quietly thanked the man, before taking it.

"Harry, are you aright?" Avenger asked slowly, taking off his mask to show the concerned face. "What happened last night? Why was Voldemort here? Why were you looking like that?" Remus did not need to speak more, for Harry to understand.

"I don't want to talk about it…ok?" Remus was surprised. He had never seen the other so tired and well pretty much Harry like, the Harry that he had remembered in his memories.

"Harry, we need to talk. Last night, Voldemort was here wasn't he? Surprisingly enough you were under the Cruciatus Curse. Harry something is going on here. What is it? What are you keeping from me?"

"I don't…" Harry trailed off, before something clicked. No one that he knew, aside from himself, not even the Death Eaters could see Voldemort. How was it possible for his guardian to be able to?

"How do you know Voldemort was here?" he snapped at his guardian. Remus raised an eyebrow. "So he was…" Harry was silent.

"Harry, Voldemort is dead, right?" "Yes" came the monotone reply. "but how…." Harry thought long and hard. He stared at his fingers, deciding how to continue.

Do I really want Remus to know? How much do I want him to know?

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. Perhaps he could use this argument with the Dark Lord in a happier way, turn into something useful.

"He isn't truly gone, Remus…" One of the rare times that Harry ever called him that. "he imprinted himself into his own wand, he imprinted himself into me. Sometimes, he likes to check up on me. Last night was one of those times. It's unfortunate that you had to catch me in that state….I usually have more control, I suppose I really lost it last night." He paused. "don't mention any of this to anyone, not even the Death Eaters, and especially not Dumbledore and his minions. No one besides, me and now you, know that he exists…"

"How is that possible?" Harry heaved in a deep sigh. "What did you notice about him?" "He was transparent, spirit like. I tried to attack him, but my daggers went through, so did my fists. He didn't really fight, just smiled, and….and went back into you."

"exactly." Harry got up, and walked over to the daggers that were still on the wand. With an enormous pull, he tugged out the daggers. Gently he fingered them, the weapons that the werewolf preferred to use, and was highly skilled at, aside from the wand.

"The reason you see him is because you are special." Harry looked up at his guardian. "You see him because you believe. You believe in things that everyone else have abandoned. You give hope to where there is none. You shed light to places that have darkened."

"Do I now?" Remus took back his weapons, placing it back within his robes. "I admire you Professor. Last night you have witnessed a part of me, that you should never have been able to. You saw a part of me that wasn't me, but is me."

"Care to explain?" His guardian sat down next to him on his bed.

"I will tell you a story Professor." Harry took in a deep breath. "I will share with you something that no one in this world knows, and I don't expect anyone to discover it." Remus nodded for him to go on.

For the next two hours, Harry spilled out his entire life to his guardian. At first, he told parts of it, but soon found it difficult to hold back and told the truth. The entire truth. Bit by bit, Remus discovered an entirely different, shielded life that the boy had hidden from him and the rest of the world. He learned of the nightly transformations, his altered ego, the split personality that Harry had desperately tried to hold down, hold in until he finally snapped and gave up.

The silence that followed was unbearable. Neither spoke. Remus didn't know what to say, how to react. The information was finally sinking in. Harry himself felt good. A sense of relive-ness washed over him and somehow he felt his burden slightly lighten.

"I'm sorry Harry." Remus said a last, pulling the boy into a deep hug. "You should never have gone through this, any of this by yourself. I….I…should have been…" Harry shook his head. "It's not your fault, Remus. None of this is really your fault." "but if I…" "You couldn't have known. If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't have known."

Remus said nothing. He looked away, not really knowing how to ever face the boy again. Now, he understood why one minute Harry wanted to kill him and the next minute he never really wanted to hurt him.

According to Harry, Remus found out that Harry had a split personality that he had no control over (that was partially true, as at an early age Harry had found out his dark side and had madly suppressed it, while now he freely let the Dark side take over and didn't really give a dam about the world. However there were times when he lost entire control of himself). One of them being the Boy-Who-Lived and the other half being part Lord Voldemort/Tom Riddle/ Half-Blood Prince.

"but now I do know. I won't let you suffer alone. I can't let you suffer alone. I won't let you be controlled by Lord Voldemort again." Harry shifted slightly. "He doesn't control me. He protects me."

Remus banged his hand against a wall. He was suddenly angry. "Protect you?" he raised his voice. "He's using you! Harry, God dam it! For once wake up! He's turning you into a bloody monster!" "I know that" came the soft reply. "but I can't do anything about it. I have no control. Voldemort is apart of me, the day I destroy him completely, the day I die. We all have a Dark side, Remus, you, me, Dumbledore. Why is it ok, that you and Dumbledore can, and I can't? I'm not the world's f—king Boy-Who-Lived, not the world's 'savior'. Frankly, I enjoy, being the Villain. It suits me. I've suffered long enough. It's about time everyone else does."

Harry burst out into a soft laughter. Now, after Harry shared his tale, Remus knew the signs to look for. It was clearly written that Harry's better nature was losing control, seeping further down into darkness.

Remus reached out and grabbed a hold of him. He shook him violently. Harry's laughter stopped abruptly. He tore himself away from the man, and in the process, slapping him in his face. His check swelled and stung. It was hot and it burned. Remus rubbed it gently.

He was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. Remus looked at Harry to see if he had been expecting anyone. "Quiet…" the Prince muttered coldly, suddenly the darker side taking over. "Not a single word…" Remus only nodded, accepting the sudden change. When Harry saw that Avenger was ready, he snapped his fingers and the door opened.

"Snape" Harry spoke evenly, once the Death Eater had finished the former greetings. The Death Eater rose to his feet, taking off his mask at the same time.

"Report" It came out in a monotone, and Avenger noted that there was no hint of the younger man having only minutes earlier been in a very unstable state.

Snape took one glance at Avenger, shook his head slightly before returning his full attention back to his Master.

"I went to Dumbledore as ordered." He began. Seeing no indication that the other had heard, he continued. "The old man is beginning to distrust me."

"Cruico…" Of course Snape had been expecting this, but he had not expected Avenger to be the one to send it as he usally did not interfere unless ordered. He screamed in agony and pain as he fell onto his knees. Tears were dripping out of his eyes, as he felt his skin tore. Previously, he had seen Avenger torture, and on occasion kill, but he had never experienced it for himself. Stealing a quick glance, he noticed the hatred and anger and burning deadly glint in the cold man's otherwise stone face. It was scary, absolutely frightening.

Finally to what seemed like an eternity to Snape, but was only a little less then ½ a minute in reality, the spell was lifted. By that time, Snape was sprawled on the floor, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He didn't move, he didn't dare move. By the time he was sure no more spells were going to be thrown at him, he felt more then sense that if he didn't act fast, another one would be sent to him for being too slow. With a jolt, that pained his knees, he stood up again.

"Dumbledore, he does not trust me completely…" He could see the twitch on his Master's face, so he spoke up quickly. "however, I have found out that he is ready to retaliate. He already has an army prepared. In fact, he hinted that he has a day prepared."

"When?" came out of the Prince, disturbing the other's report.

"he did not say…."

"I think I have an idea…" Avenger spoke quietly. The other two looked at him. "In exactly 4 days, it will be July 31st. I believe you will turn 18 then." Harry gave a nod of confirmation. "yes, of course…" "it is not a day to look down upon. It's a significant day, and if I were Dumbledore, I would attack then."

Harry turned his gaze back to Snape. Snape took this chance to continue. "You're trap has been set to action. He should be visiting some time soon." No one said anything, so Snape continued again. "I believe there's a spy within the ranks." At this, Harry's eyes flashed opened. "Explain" The prince spoke coldly.

"When Dumbledore mentioned that he was not satisfied with me, he had said, and in his own words, 'I must rely on other sources for support as you do not seem to be able to help'. I believe there is a rat among the group. A spy who is 100 loyal to Dumbledore and has been rating us out."

"I see…." Harry spoke at last, eyeing his guardian to see if he might know anything, only to find that he was just as surprised as the other. "whoever it is should know better. After all, it's their life at stake. No one ever betrays Harry and gets away with it. I won't let them." Avenger spoke just as coolly. He didn't know why. No matter what Harry did, how terrible and evil and dark he was, there was no one that would hurt Harry or betray him, and get away with it.

Harry must have seen that in his eyes for he spoke to Snape again. "Anything else?" Severus shook his head. He knew when he was dismissed, and this was one of those times. "Good…take some Death Eaters and guard the cave. I will leave you in charge there." "Thank you Master." Having said that, Snape left.

It was long after Snape had left before Harry spoke again. "Remus, I can never get a firm grip on you. One minute, you're overly angry at me, and it was clear that you were, cause you used Snape as a scapegoat. You had meant to deliver such intensity on me, but could not, so you did it on Snape. The next minute though, you're defending as if the whole world turned against me and it was only the two of us left…." Remus said nothing. "and why exactly can you have a split personality and I can't?" Harry hinted, bringing back the topic before they were interrupted. "Re…" "I don't know…" his guardian replied. "if you would excuses me. I must think. I need to get some fresh air." He didn't wait for a reply, he just got up and left.

"My master, is this a wise decision?" Voldemort's voice filter through the air as he reappeared before the younger man, once Remus had left. Harry rolled his eyes. "What the f—k do you want Voldemort?" he asked, annoyed. "Don't believe I'm on speaking terms with you. At least not after you put one hell of a Cruciatus Curse on me…." Voldemort seemed to smile. "You're such a great actor" he paused. "You did order it my prince. It's not in my place to refuse such an offer, even if I wished to."

Harry nodded, suddenly remembering. It had been a few days back when both of them were discussing matters, matters over a certain werewolf. Voldemort had taken the stance of all those Death Eaters who knew who Avenger really was. He had argued that there was no point in keeping the werewolf. The man was a hazard that must be eliminated. Keeping Remus alive was like raising a beast that would one day turn his back on his trainer the first moment it gets. Of course, Harry had defended his guardian, without hesitation. He said he had everything under control. Voldemort had pointed out that he didn't, for the other man was beginning to gain power and had too much freedom. Harry had grown annoyed at that. He had snapped at the Dark Lord with things that he could not recall. His Lord had not interrupted once. Later, they had come up with some sort of agreement. After doing that, they both agreed on one thing, and that thing had led to Harry ordering Voldemort to attack him the next time Remus was present.

"You want to be saved. You set it up so that you convinced yourself that its just a back-up plan, when you actually are doing it because you want to be saved" Voldemort interrupted his thoughts, sounding angry. Harry snapped out of his daze immediately. "What!" he yelled out in response. "why else would you want to play the role of 'the lone lost, confused, helpless boy'?" Then he recovered quickly. "It's all part of the plan, Voldemort. It's not in your place to question. Just do as you're ordered, and I'll handle the rest." He snapped again. Voldemort looked at him dangerously. "Look, we've been through this whole thing already. No more arguments. Got it?" Then in a softer voice so that each word came out clearly, he continued. "I have got everything under control."

Avenger had no idea where he was going. The conversation between him and Harry was finally sinking in. Somehow, a sense of hope as well as angry flushed through him. Hope, the possibility that deep down somewhere, the Harry Potter that he had grown to know and love existed, and all he had to do was to crush the darker Hary Poter side. He swore silently. One way or another, he would get the old Harry back and things would resume to how it use to be, how it was suppose to be. He didn't know how to do it, but he knew that the first step was to accept Hary, the darker side of Harry. Next, would be to just sit back and do things that the three of them, (Remus, Harry and Sirius) use to do and actually enjoyed. It was a long and difficult path ahead. He had a feeling that he had to reintroduce the basics, the basics of being human, the basics of humanity that Harry was actually capable of and that he wasn't a killing machine.

A killing machine. Avenger pounded his fist into stone cold rock. It hurt, but it didn't seem to ease the hatred and helplessness in him. A killing machine, a bloody, mechanical robot that didn't know its own limitations. He hated Voldemort for that, for imprinting himself into Harry and then turning him into a cold-blooded pawn. He despised Hary to core, but loved Harry just as much. It was one of those mysteries that would never be solved. Avenger cursed out loud. It was all the Dark Lord's fault for creating and then bringing out Harry's alter ego. He could and would never forgive that man for it. He would kill the man if they ever met, even if Voldemort was just a shadow, a spirit of his former self. There just had to be a way to either split the personalities completely or just to make the side he wanted overcome the darker side.

He cursed again. He was helpless, confused, angry and hurt. His emotions were anything but stable. Silently, he left the Potter's Manor and apperated away. He needed to go, he needed to get somewhere, to do something that could let him let out his frustrations and calm himself down enough so that he could actually carry out a decent conversation with the Prince, something that he desperately needed to do.

That Night

Avenger walked silently through the passages toward the Prince's bedroom. Behind him were two other Death Eaters. After the afternoon killing spree (and it was a killing spree as he gave in and lost himself in it until both Lucius and Bellatrix, who had been ordered by the Prince, had appeared, leading about a hundred Death Eaters each. They were shocked to say the least. Avenger had been blasting away anything that gave the slightest sign of life, and was completely out of control. He was laughing insanely, as he killed Death Eaters as well. It had taken the two leaders about an hour and very powerful stunners and binding spells, as the Prince had said not to hurt the man at all. Then they had to forcefully pour down the blue vile Potion, a dose larger then any of the others combined, so that the werewolf was completely knocked out by it. When he did awake, he found himself at the place where he had been having 'fun' until he was interrupted, with Lucius and Bella staring down at him in a very funny way. He looked around and saw the damage that he had done, surprising himself. "I did that, didn't I?" They nodded mutely. "Come on, lets go back" Malfoy had said, extending his hand to the werewolf. Avenger had not argued and had quietly followed back.), he was surprised to find his thoughts clear and sorted and his body refreshed.

"Come in" Harry spoke, at the doorway, being unclothed tightly in black robes, so much that the voice was muffled. "Thank you Lucius, Bella." The other two Death Eater's bowed and left Avenger with their Master. Harry gestured his guardian to come in, shut the door, and then motioned him to sit next to him on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Hary asked, taking off the excessive clothing so that he was robbed in his regular clothes that he wore in the morning, allowing the other to see his darker side, the twin side of Voldemort's look-a-like.

"Better…" came the reply, as Avenger took off his mask to better study the other's physical appearance. "if I had not known better, I would have mistaken you as Voldemort." "won't we all?" the Half-Blood Prince replied with a scoff. "We've been through this already. I am him…." "but you don't have to be….Harry…"

"You enjoyed your little Killing Spree today?" Hary interrupted, changing the subject. Remus frowned. "News travel fast around here. Even if it didn't it's not hard to miss. You did leave your mark, spontaneously across Southern Europe, being the first of my men to mark territory out of the United Kingdom." Remus smiled weakly, forcefully. "You led my Death Eaters on a fruitless cat and mouse chase." He paused. "What's bothering you? It's unlike you to start a massacre out of the blue. You really lost control back there."

"You, Harry Potter, you and your little talk about what's really going on here. I needed some time for it to sink, needed to go out and get some air." "To let your frustration out, your anger and hatred on innocent people that should have been directly to me, to Hary Poter?" "Didn't think you would care." Remus replied coldly.

"I do care." He whispered after a long time. Remus saw an odd glint in his eyes, a look that he could not grasp the meaning of.

"You're right Remus. I do have a choice. I don't have to be Voldemort. I don't have to let the Dark Side win. I don't have to look and act like some freak. I choose to do it."

Remus looked as though he was going to interrupt, but Hary waived him off.

"I choose to do so. I've picked my path and I'll stick with it to the end. I've long past the point of no return. There's no turning back, only going forward. Forward into a dark and desolate land. There is no future for me." He whispered the last line, with such certainty that it scared Remus.

"I do care." Hary continued. "It's enough for the world to have one of me. As much as I want, I don't need you to follow my path. I don't want you to. At least Harry Potter doesn't. Hary does. I don't know if you know it or not, but you're turning into me, I'm forcefully doing so, and somehow seemingly to succeed."

"Harry…I know that, and it is my greatest weakness. Weather you know it or not, I would have done the same without the aid of that Potion."

"Really? Why?" he asked curiously, wondering if his guardian was playing with him, or if he really meant it.

"You're my cub, and nothing, nothing is going to change that. I'm a lousy guardian, and I know that. However, having one is better then none. You've made one mistake and now you're tumbling into darkness. I'm glad you told me, actually shared with me your reasons. At least I know who I'm facing."

"and who exactly is that?" Hary pondered, then said sarcastically. "a manic, a tyrant, a manipulator…"

"No Harry. You are not that. You're just a poor lost confused little boy who has fallen and now needs someone to come and pick you up off the ground, who needs to be saved. I can't abandon you. I won't abandon you. Not at this point in time. I can't just stand and do nothing when my little cub is flinging his arms in the air, giving all signs of help. I'm not that kind of person. You know that. I know you know that."

Neither spoke for a long time. There was a burning fire in the werewolf's eyes a glowing flame that promised his final success.

"Harry, give me a chance. One chance is all that I need. Please, let me help you. Let me pull you out. Let's start over again. Both of us. Please Harry, you have a whole life ahead of you. Don't throw it down the drain. Please, trust me. I can help you."

Something that Harry had lost started to glisten from within him. Something that was buried inside seem to shift ever so slightly. He growled out loud. Though he didn't know what it was, he knew it wasn't something good.

"It's too late Remus." Harry continued softly. "I have already abandoned my prior self to become who I am. I won't let you take that away. The Harry Potter you knew won't ever come back. I won't permit it."

Hary stared at the look of defeat in the other man's eyes. It was defeat, momentarily defeat, a look that promised more to come. He ignored it completely.

Well at least the beginning of the plan has formed. A plan that would still assure me a spot on the other side if I ever accidentally get defeated by someone, anyone. A plan that I need to tread and weave carefully for as they say, sometimes false hope can become real hope and therefore, what you tired to squash down may actually come to light.

So, long chapter. How was it? Review as always!