I know the idea of Harry stealing Voldemort's knowledge and memories has been used before, but it's one I like. Also, I haven't seen a story where Harry gets it when Voldemort tries possessing him at the Ministry.

I do not own Harry Potter.

"There you are Harry, I knew they would drag you into it somehow," Hermione said, breaking him out of his thoughts, as she lowered the paper.

Harry mentally shook himself. He had been going through his newfound knowledge when he realized Hermione was talking to him. It wouldn't do to be zoning out while in the presence of others. Though he doubted if any one would question him, considering what just happened.

It was Friday afternoon and Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna were visiting Ron and Hermione in the hospital wing. Harry was sitting on the end of Ron's bed, barely paying attention as Hermione rattled on about something or another. What was it? Ah yes, the Daily Prophet, Harry thought sardonically.

The Prophet had done a180 over night. The day before he had been the lying, attention seeking, nutcase. Today though. . . . . . well today he was once again their hero. The lone voice of truth, who was forced to suffer slander and ridicule, while never wavering in his story, the article said. Of course, it didn't mention that they were the ones slandering and ridiculing him the whole time.

No, today he was once more the Boy Who Lived. The icon of the light, the savior of the wizarding world. Rather convenient, was it not?

Harry hadn't told any of them what happened in the Death Chamber, and he wasn't planning to any time soon. Seeing as Hermione hadn't done her usual interrogation though, he figured Neville had briefed them. It was all too fresh in his mind, and he would have to come to terms with it himself before he shared his thoughts with others. It's not like they could possibly understand anyway.

They didn't watch their godfather fall through the veil, try their hand at the Cruciatus, and then get possessed by a Dark Lord. And in turn, break into said Dark Lord's mind, gaining all his knowledge and memories. All in one night. No, Harry was pretty sure they hadn't experienced that one.

Then, to top it all off, there was the prophecy. Wonderful news that was, Harry thought sarcastically. Dumbledore couldn't have told him at a better time. He hadn't told the Headmaster what happened when Voldemort tried possessing him, and he wasn't going to. He figured Dumbledore would be watching him closely after telling him the prophecy.

If he told Dumbledore that he just raped Voldemort's mind, and new more Dark Arts than all of the Lord Wanker's inner circle combined, the old man would probably lock him in a cage. For his own protection of course. He would keep the prophecy and his new knowledge to himself for the time being, thank you very much.

His friends wouldn't understand and Dumbledore and the Order couldn't help him. He would have to get through Sirius' death alone. He would mourn, as he had mourned last night after leaving Dumbledore's office, but he wouldn't let it drag him down. No, he had more important things to do.

With any luck, people will give him room. They will think he's mourning, and respect his wishes to be left alone. And Harry wouldn't do anything to dispel those notions. As long as they thought he was a saddened and depressed teen, they would see him as such. They wouldbe blind tothe changes that had occurred. They didn't need to know that he had shed his tears already.

To say that he had changed would be an understatement. He felt like a whole new person. It wasn't just his newfound knowledge though. He felt as if something had woken inside of him.

He felt, to his surprise, rather. . . . Slytherin like. And even more surprising was how much he enjoyed the feeling. It was his serpent side he had felt rise in him. As if the dormant snake had awoken at last.

He was just as much a Slytherin as he was a Gryffindor. Yet, he had been denying it since he put on the sorting hat. He had never accepted the snake, and that had held him back . Everyone had expected him to be the perfect little Gryffindor, and that was what he had become.

He would be there Golden Boy no more, though. He would not allow them to control him. He would not be there puppet, to defeat the Dark Lord and then be discarded. He would not fight for those who had scorned and abandoned him. Let them suffer the consequences of their betrayal.

If he were to defeat Voldemort for himself, he would need the Slytherin inside of him. He embraced it, and he accepted it as who he was. The power was there, he could feel it flowing through him. Now he had the knowledge to use it. And at that moment, Harry James Potter was born anew.

There was work to be done.

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