Save him Potter! Save my son! Do not let this monster get to him!

Harry Potter woke up on the semi-bright morning before his birthday, clutching the side of his head. He had grown tired of this nightmare Lucius Malfoy had been haunting him with those few words as he looked into the Dark Lord's eyes, Green eyes, his eyes.

A month had passed since Harry first found himself murdering Lucius Malfoy by his hand. Harry remembered the carefully copied out note he wrote to Minerva McGonagall, newly instated Headmistress of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Alastor Mad – Eye Moody, the elected leader of the Order of the Phoenix, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his best friends. The note had said briefly that Lucius Malfoy had died at the hands of Voldemort. Harry of course didn't include the message Lucius had said to him. The responses were expected.

Dear Harry,

Lucius Malfoy finally snuffed it eh? Who would have thought that You-know-who could have done it himself? I'm coming to pick you up on your birthday, and a week after that is Bill's wedding. We can then proceed on what we were planning to do.

-Ron

Harry smiled at Ron's response. His hate for Lucius Malfoy was completely expected seeing that the Malfoy and Weasley family always seemed to have an ongoing feud. But Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for the circumstances he had to die under.

Dear Harry,

Do you know the circumstances that Voldemort killed Malfoy under? Maybe that'll hold some clues to our mission. Why would Voldemort just kill one of his most loyal Death Eaters? I heard from Ron that you were coming to the Burrow on your birthday. See you there.

-Hermione

Harry was perhaps a bit peaked at Hermione's intuition, so he had just scribbled a note telling her that they'd discuss it at the Burrow. He remembered Alastor Moody's note only too well.

Potter,

Good thing you tipped us off. Malfoy was a huge thorn by our side. He kept influencing the Ministry against us. I suppose now the Ministry would be easier to work with. Minerva passed to me the message that you were going to leave school this year. So seeing as Albus said to me 'not to take you lightly' before he died, I'm formally inviting you to the Order of the Phoenix. Weasley and Granger have already been inducted if you didn't know.

-Moody

Harry of course wrote a polite note back thanking Mad-Eye for the praise. He then proceeded to tell him that he wouldn't be joining the order, since it's more than a title, but a commitment. Harry went on to explain that he already had a commitment set up by Dumbledore, and he couldn't join the order, and even if he did, he would be of little use. Professor McGonagall's note was slightly heartening, but Harry saw behind the strict mask and could see that his Ex-Professor turned Headmistress had still been mourning for Albus Dumbledore.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I hope this letter finds you in good spirit. I understand the past week has been hard on you. I also understand that You, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley have decided to skip your last year at Hogwarts. I would have requested you three to remain back at Hogwarts, but seeing as Albus has set you with a task, I feel rather selfish to ask you to stay behind. Albus has left a small, closed crate of things to be given to you. I will come to your residence at 6 pm on the eve of your birthday for tea, and to hand this over. I am well aware that your relatives will not provide the tea, so I shall bring some of my own.

-Minerva McGonagall

Harry was looking forward to today for the longest time, today was the day he was going to leave the Dursleys. The Dursleys never really treated him well. He was always the boy, who lived off their money and good-will. Harry of course, was never the receiving end of the good will. After he was forced out of his parents care he was sent to relatives to live with. His aunt and uncle had him live in the cupboard under the stairs for a good 10 years of his life. He was often yelled at and punished for any abnormal thing that had happened.

Then one day, the truths about their hate for him were revealed. Harry Potter had not been ordinary, just like they said, He had been a Wizard. He was, not even ordinary in Wizard standards.

Harry was the only person alive, due to the death of Albus Dumbledore, whohad escaped Lord Voldemort's wrath – sure death – more than 5 times. At the age of one, Voldemort had attacked his parents' house and murdered both of them. He had then turned his wand upon Harry, and connected Harry to himself – unintentionally – with the curse that failed. Voldemort was then banished, and turned into nothing more than a mean spirit before he regained his body just more than two years ago. In this time, Harry had found that wizarding wars worked nothing like Muggle – Non-magical folk – wars. They didn't end when all the forces from both sides agree to meet on a great plain, and shot curses until the other side depleted. Wizarding wars worked slightly more complexly. Voldemort used techniques of espionage and fear to infiltrate the large and corrupt Ministries. There was perhaps no way of fighting for the resistors of evil. For every Death Eater – servant of the dark lord – caught, 10 more appeared in their place. The only salvation the Wizarding World had against dark wizards had was to survive until their heroes defeated the Dark Lords. Since Albus Dumbledore had died the Wizarding World had turned their heads to perhaps the only hero they had left. They turned their heads to a sixteen turning seventeen year old boy.

Harry wasn't as unprepared as the forces of the Dark Lord thought. During the previous year, Dumbledore had given a greater gift than weapons, and training to defeat Voldemort. Dumbledore had given Harry the gift of Voldemort's psychology. Dumbledore had understood that trying to teach Harry what Voldemort had learned over 70 years was not the best way to help Harry defeat Voldemort. Like his late mentor had once said, 'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.'

However, Harry's train of thought had been interrupted. Dudley Dursley pounded on Harry's door with his pudgy hands. Harry silently agreed to himself that if he had other cousins, which he didn't, Dudley would be his least favorite. 'Come out Potter! Mum wants you to do the dishes.' Dudley called and quickly made his way downstairs, his foot steps heard. Harry snorted in disbelief. Even in the last day of his residence in their humble household, they had chores for him.

Harry quickly started packing. Before he went down to his family he wanted to make sure he was completely ready to go. He stashed many old cloaks, robes and such inside his old school trunk. He set out a few pairs of jeans, and plain white shirts. He also took out his invisibility cloak, and set it near the rest of the articles of clothing he was going to take. Harry then separated his large traveling cloak from the trunk, keeping it aside. As he started dumping his old school books into the trunk, he came across one particularly tattered one. A small label in the back read, 'This book is property of the Half-Blood Prince.' Tears welled in Harry's eyes as he connected the book to the particularly painful memories of last year. He contemplated putting the book into the trunk, like the rest of his old stuff, but at the end he put the book in the stash of things he was taking.

I'll make him pay; Harry thought savagely, He'll fall to every curse he created. At the end, Harry had put everything away in his old school trunk, excluding some clothing, a traveling cloak, his invisibility cloak, Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potions Making, his Firebolt and the Marauders map. Harry of course, was not planning on taking the Map on the adventure with him, but was planning on handing it over to Minerva McGonagall, who was supposed to come for tea this evening.

Harry finally shut the trunk, and started dragging it downstairs.

'WHAT'S THAT INFERNAL RACKET BOY?' Uncle Vernon shouted, sitting comfortably in the kitchen. 'WHY ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR – he paused looking at Harry's trunk – ABNORMALITY DOWN HERE!'

'There's no reason to shout Uncle Vernon, honestly, you're two meters away from me,' Harry said, an eyebrow raised, then he added sarcastically, 'Or is that how normal people talk.'

'THE NERVE OF YOU BOY!' Uncle Vernon purpled, 'AFTER ALL THE TIMES WE'VE FED YOU, CLOTHED Y–'

'And it'll end tonight, so bear my defiling presence for one more day.' Harry said again, in the same sarcastic manner. He found that this was the only way he could deal with the Dursleys, once he had grown too old to be shut in the cupboard.

'It's true then?' Aunt Petunia suddenly seemed aware of the conversation, if you could call it that, 'You're leaving tonight, and taking all your abnormality with you.' She had said this with a fixed gaze on his trunk.

'No…' Harry said, 'I'm taking the abnormality I left upstairs with me. This –' Harry said pointing to the trunk, 'This I'm going to leave with you to hand over to a friend who will come over tomorrow. Once you've done that, you can cut your ties with us freaks.'

'You have a place to stay then, since this Dumblebee character is dead?' Uncle Vernon grunted.

Harry look surprised. Were they actually concerned for him? Harry's surprise was quickly smashed like it was trampled by a herd of Dragons.

'We don't want you landing on our door step again if some Policeman catches you roaming the street.'

'You can be assured that I'll be out of your hair.' Harry said spitefully. 'An old professor of mine will be coming over for tea tonight.'

'Don't expect us to serve any refreshments for your kind, boy.' Uncle Vernon spat back at him.

'She didn't expect anything,' Harry smiled, 'Actually, she predicted you'd be bad enough hosts, so therefore, she's bringing her own tea.'

Uncle Vernon purpled again, but thought it better not to say anything.

Dudley for the first time in the conversation spoke up timidly, 'So there'll be no more Dimmentiwhatsits?'

'There won't be any Dementors here because of my presence, Dudley.' Harry said, 'But since Voldemort – you know, Dark Lord, Destroyer of Peace – has started escalating his war, it won't be long before he turns on normal folk like you.'

'So- So there's a chance I'll see him again?' Dudley whimpered.

'See who Dudley?' Harry said, his mind racing through the possible things Dudley could have seen in the presence of Dementors.

'Th-The Giant man, you know, the one that came to give you your letter.' Dudley shivered. Harry almost laughed as Dudley was scared of a man who probably couldn't hurt a fly, intentionally anyway.

Both breakfast and lunch were a silent ordeal in the house of Dursley, Harry had taken the trunk and locked it into his childhood bedroom, the Cupboard under the stairs. He stashed all he was taking with him into his old school bag. By 5:30 all the Dursleys, had assembled in the living room, fully dressed formally, as though they were attending a banquet. Harry smiled. They were anxious that he was going to leave.

Exactly at 6:00 pm, the door bell rang. Vernon Dursley bustled up to the door to answer it. He opened it, and found he was looking at no one. He looked around, there was no one to be seen. Harry, a few feet behind him called out. 'Nice to see you again Professor McGonagall.'

Uncle Vernon followed Harry's line of sight and saw a tabby cat. A strangely familiar tabby cat. Uncle Vernon had no time to contemplate this of course, since the cat instantly changed into a mildly serious looking woman. She had her red hair, which had more recently turned grayer, pulled into a tight bun. Her glasses fit perfectly on the brim of her nose and she was wearing a business suit. A muggle business suit.

Under her left arm she carried a bag which sagged since there were a few books in it. 'Shall we proceed to the living room then Harry?' She asked in a mild mannered tone.

McGonagall sat across to Harry, while pouring him a cup of tea. 'In light of current events Harry, The ministry is trying to keep as many tabs on you as possible. I have a brief idea on what you and your two friends are going to do – Professor McGonagall looked into his eyes – You're not taking them are you?'

Harry nodded in acceptance of her accusation. 'They do not know what they're dealing with. I will not allow them to walk blindly into their death. Perhaps when they see…'

'And you Harry, are you not walking blindly into death?' She responded.

'I am doing what is asked of me, not blindly, but surely deadly.' Harry said, choosing his words carefully.

'Dumbledore has perhaps asked too much. But I will not meddle in those things, for it is not my place. My place is with Hogwarts, as Alastor's place is with the Order. Dumbledore has given you his old school trunk, containing a few items.' Professor McGonagall said, pulling out a thin quillcase out of her bag and tapped it with her wand twice, causing it to grow into a lengthy but narrow trunk. Quite like a slightly enlarged broom case, 'He asked me to give this to you, along with this letter in the case of his death. Tap it twice with your wand, it'll enlarge, tap it thrice with your wand, it'll shrink again to the size of a quillcase.' Minerva said handing him an envelope.

Harry curiously took the letter from his Ex-Transfiguration teacher and ripped open its covers. There was a note, with a loopy handwriting he had grown too fond of.

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this letter, then I am dead, and my only weakness has killed me. Yes, I did understand that Severus would be the one to kill me in this war, but why did I not act on it? Simple, I trusted the man too much. But in doing so, I have left you with a burden of a near impossible task. You will perform admirably Harry. In the trunk I have left you a few of my possessions. I have left three pensieves, Harry. One being my own, it is the larger one with the gold trimming. One being full of memories of Tom Riddle from various men and womenwhich might prove helpful to you to find the lost artifacts. The last being an empty one, for your own use. Sometimes man finds that he has too many memories. You will also find a book, a note book in which I made all my notes on Alchemy. The last thing I have left for you in the trunk is a bag of Sherbet Lemons. They, of course are not simply for enjoying, and they may prove useful in the most stressful of times. They have all been laced with a slight Cheering draught and a Calming draught. Good luck Harry, you are the grandson I never had. The world has placed a burden upon you unfairly. Face it Harry. There is no worse weapon you can use against Voldemort other than love.

Yours, beyond the grave

Albus Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall smiled sympathetically at him, tears welling in her own eyes. Harry spoke in a crackled voice, 'A great man once said, "Death is nothing but the next adventure".'

'So you're going then?' Professor McGonagall asked the question that she knew the answer to. Harry nodded sadly.

'Then allow me to present a birthday gift that Filius, Alastor, and I have prepared for you.' She said smiling, taking out three tattered books from her bag, 'Severus told me, rather angrily, that you were in possession of a book that once belonged to him. I am assuming that you still have it?' She asked lightly. Harry nodded and she proceeded. 'Allow me to present three similar books, my old Advanced Transfiguration book, Filius's old Advanced Charms book and Alastor's old Auror Handbook. You will find that they are all similar to the book that once belonged to the Half-Blood Prince.'

'Thank You.' Harry said, tucking all his things, including the texts into Albus Dumbledore's old school trunk.

'You are welcome, Harry. He would be proud of you, you know?' Professor McGonagall said.

Harry swished the invisibility cloak around him, but did not cover his head. He then covered himself with his traveling cloak, which made him appear to have a body under the cloak. 'I hope I can live up to the praise Professor McGonagall.' He said as they both exited Number Four for the last time.

She smiled slightly, 'You may call me Minerva, Harry. Dumbledore's trust in you will not go unfounded.'

Harry smiled back and said, 'It better not, I am Dumbledore's Man, Through and Through after all.'

They both apparated away with loud cracks, as Petunia Dursley looked through the blinds to see if the freaks had gone yet.