Harry Potter and the Tears of the Light
Chapter 6
Liberated Secrets

-For those who have been following the story, I thank you and ask you please read my AN at the bottom for some info-

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter or anything in here you may be familiar with. New characters, plots etc. are all I am responsible for.

The thrill of finally leaving the Dursely's continued to build for Harry over the next 48 hours. He finished weeding the garden and washing the windows rather early that afternoon. Packing required little effort on his part, as he saw no need to unpack his trunk and haul out the few belongings he had. Once out of Surrey, Harry would be one step closer to home and to his family… The family he held in his heart…

Sitting in his dusty room, Harry quietly read another thick tomb on Transfiguration. Soon, Hedwig flapped her wings and called her friend over. Tossing his book onto the old bed, he walked over and looked out his barred window to see what had gotten her all worked up. Two figures walked up the small driveway bound for the front door. A smile flashed across his face when he opened the window for his white owl.

"You know what to do girl. I'll see you when we get there," said Harry. Once the front of her cage was open, the doorbell rang. The creak of the door opening was closely followed by an upset fat man.

"Boy! Get down here NOW!" yelled Harry's heavyset uncle.

It was there, in that moment, that Harry realized he had forgotten to tell the Dursleys about leaving. They hated surprises and this time was no exception. Although their anger was climbing, the moment they grasp the reality that he would gone, all would be normal again at Number 4. He quietly shut the window now that Hedwig was gone andwalked downstairs.

"I thought I told you to never have freaks of your kind in my house!" Vernon spat as Harry reached the bottom of the stairs. "And you," he said turning to the two older wizards in his house, "Where do you get the idea that barging into my house—"

"DURSLEY!" roared the older of the two wizards with wand drawn. "The only reason I haven't turned your muggle backside into a teapot is because Dumbledore doesn't want anything to happen to you while Potter's here."

All three Dursleys stood planted with fear with the exception of Vernon who attempted to put on a strong face. The old wizard took one step forward before he was stopped with a hand on his shoulder.

"As the case may be," said the other bald wizard, "Harry will be leaving with us. You won't see us or him until next year."

"You would do well to remember what I said. Potter, are you about ready to get out of this hell hole?" Alastor Moody grunted.

"Yes. Let me just go fetch my trunk," the youngest wizard in the room said as he turned for his room.

"Kingsley, why don't you help Potter with his things while I have a quick word with these three," Mad-Eye suggested.

With a nod, the bald, black Auror climbed to the top of the stairs in search of the young man. Passing through the house with no sense of love or care, Kingsley silently wondered to himself how anyone could survive emotionally in this place. Light streamed through a doorway with one skinny Hogwarts student hovering over a trunk. Seeing Harry use his physical strength to gather his things, Kingsley held up both hands with amusement.

"Harry," he said with a deep chuckle, "I think I can help you out."

In one fluid motion, the Auror pulled out his wand and shrunk all of Harry's belongings. Eyes of appreciation smiled up as Harry put his trunk and cage into his pocket. With one last look around his barren room, they made their way out and shut the door.

"Thanks! That makes it a bit easier," Harry lightheartedly said. "Let's get out of here before Moody does anything rash downstairs."

As they walked back down, they heard Moody end his little encounter with the Dursleys.

"— keeping you safe! One more year till he leaves and you're all mine unless Potter gets to you first! And believe me," the retired Auror said in a hushed tone, "one way or another, you'll get yours. Good you're both back. Grab on and let's get out of here," he said while holding out a worn wool sock.

"I guess I'll see you after term. And… thanks for letting me stay here," Harry quietly said. Vernon didn't say anything but stare with pure loathing. Petunia was beside herself hanging onto a shaking Dudley. With the two Phoenix members holding on already, the young wizard reached out and felt the familiar, eerie tug in his stomach.

After regaining his bearings, Harry found himself in London looking at his Godfather's ancestral home. Moody took a quick glance around the area to make sure everything was secure before approaching the front door. Barking out another reminder of 'Constant Vigilance', the three made their way to the door and gave it a hard knock. Much to Harry's surprise, his head of house answered the door. She shared brief exchanges with the two Order members than faced her star seeker as they walked in.

"Hello Mr. Potter. I'm glad to see you well," McGonagall said without her usual strict tone. In fact, it held the hint of concern and sorrow.

"Good to see you too, Professor. I don't mean to be rude," he slowly started hoping to avoid annoying her, "but what are you doing here? I thought you'd be at Hogwarts getting ready to for the new term?"

"It's quite alright Mr. Potter," she reassured him with the smallest of smiles. "The Headmaster has requested an Order meeting as soon as the three of you arrived. I imagine Mrs. Weasley is in the kitchen this very moment preparing a nice meal for you and the rest of your friends. I'm sure they miss you."

"I've missed them too."

"If I may, I have a word of advice for you. Don't be angry with them Harry," she began. "You're going to find out some things tonight that will upset you but understand there was nothing they could do. Yes, I remember how quick your temper was last year so try and stay calm."

"I will try Professor," Harry honestly said while they made their way to the kitchen. Afterclearing the doorway, he was quickly bombarded with locks of red and brown hair in his face.

"Harry! Oh it's so good to see you!" Ginny quickly said before letting go.

"Harry, what did they feed you over there? You look skinnier than the last time I saw you!" Hermione pointed out.

"I missed you guys. Say Hermione, isn't that Mrs. Weasley's line?" he smirked. No sooner did he say that did he become engulfed in a great hug.

"Harry dear, good to see you! She is quite right, you are looking thin," she concurred while appraising him. "Go on and sit next to Ron while I fix a plate for you." Looking towards the table, Harry his best friend doing what he does best.

"Oi mate, take a..." Ron tired to say in-between spoonfuls of food while getting up. "…take a seat!" Ron momentarily broke off his attempt at the world eating record to give Harry a manly hug. Before they could sit back down, the kitchen door opened with Dumbledore leading the way followed by a great majority of the Order. Even Fred and George found their way into the kitchen.

"I apologize for the early Order meeting, but seeing as how Harry is finally back with us, I think we should do this as soon as possible. We all have much to discuss," the ancient wizard emphasized.

With a wave of his wand, seats were conjured and the room was expanded; set to hold the largest Order meeting since Voldemort's return. In the center was a small circular platform with the emblem of the Order. A blue light emanated from the seal. Surrounding it were four cresset shaped rows of seats, each elevated above the previous. The younger crowd stood in astonishment as they have never seen an Order meeting, let alone be a part of it.

"Alright kids, up to your rooms," Molly ordered. Before the usual protest began to ring out, Dumbledore raised his hand.

"There is no need to send them away Molly. The first part of our meeting concerns us all including the students," he explained without a hint of a twinkle in his eyes.

"Now see here Albus, I do not want them exposed to this. They are only children!" Hearing Molly's last attempt at justifying their lack of presence, Harry felt a shot of irritation as he quickly responded.

"Although I appreciate your concern Mrs. Weasley, we are not children," Harry stated with strength and conviction. "Just because a number associated with our age is what you might view as an adult, I can assure you we have been qualified for some time. If this meeting helps me to survive, then I'm going to be here. As much as I love you as one, you are not my mum and you are not Hermione's. As for Ron and Ginny…They've faced Deatheaters too. They are as much a part of this as anyone else in this room." He paused for a moment looking around the room before he continued. "You have always valued Professor Dumbledore's opinion in the past, so please listen to mine as well. We all need to be here."

Molly was torn between hugging Harry and binding all the students and sending them out the room. After receiving a comforting hand on her shoulder from Arthur, she looked towards Dumbledore and relented. Soon, everyone began to get settled into their respective chairs. Harry and his friends stood off to the side where the tiered crescent was left open. Dumbledore slowly walked over the young group and quietly provided four seats.

"No need to remain standing while you are here. Harry, if I may have a word with you," the Headmaster stated, more than requested. Two powerful wizards moved out of sight to a solitary corner of the room. Looking down, Dumbledore spoke with a pang of regret. "Harry… Have you thought about whether you are going to tell your friends and the Order of the prophecy? I have meddled for far too long in matters concerning you."

"Thank you for that Professor," he sincerely said. In-between all of his studying and limited training, Harry wondered how and when he was going to tell his friends. Now, possibly telling the entire Order, Harry wondered if it would truly be a wise choice. Sure he trusted his friends, but the entire Order? Snape? Maybe it would turn out to be a critical decision later down the road, but in a matter of moments, he knew what he wanted to do. "I'll tell them..."

The chatter died down as two figures emerged from the shadows. Harry sat with his friends while Dumbledore moved to the center platform. Gazing around the room, there were many in the group that Harry didn't recognize. Remus was back from his assignment sitting next to Tonks. Even Snape showed his greasy face. He had to do this. Everyone within these walls were people Dumbledore trusted. Despite his greatest desire to keep everyone away, he knew that he needed as much help as possible. Secrets were the last thing people needed. Even Rector made a point of secrets.

'I know you have a history of secrets, both ones you keep and ones others keep from you…'

"I call this meeting to order," Dumbledore began. "Tradition has been broken today by including underage witches and wizards into our midst, however, it is not without a valid reason."

"Oh, what a surprise... Potter and his band of miscreants are arrogant enough to think they are above tradition," came a sneering voice that could only come from one man. "Just like your father." Although no one else in the Order would say it quite the way the Potions Master put it, everyone was curious as to why the four were present. Harry promptly stood up, tired of Snape's comments.

"Apparently you were absent until recently because Professor Dumbledore invited us to stay. Furthermore, I am not my father. That is getting rather old at this point Professor," the young Gryffindor wizard declared.

"Why you little—"

"That is quite enough," Dumbledore said cutting off the Slytherin. "There will be no more interruptions for the rest of the evening and we will conduct business as we always have. Now moving on, I feel it is prudent to discuss the recent attacks. Most of us here are privy to the information, but I shall get everyone up to speed. Since the Department of Mysteries Battle, Voldemort has issued several attacks on both the muggle and magical community. The first was in Dolau where a muggle family was killed." Members continued to flinch as the mention of Voldemort. Turning to the boy with the scar upon his head, Dumbledore knew he would finally face Harry's anger. "Your name was burnt into the front door Harry. Etched in an inside wall, Voldemort blames you for the attack. We all know that could not be further from the truth."

"What were their names?" Harry asked attempting to keep an even keel. 'Even after keeping information about the prophecy, the old man still keeps more secrets,' he thought to himself.

"Anfri and Glynnis… Their son Stephen was also killed."

Nobody could see the dimming of his eyes as his eyelids shut upon them. Emotions varied from anger at Dumbledore and his friends, to hate towards Voldemort and his foot solders. For the briefest of moments, the entire room could feel his anger before it was filled with sadness. Despite all of the acceptance of events in his life, Harry will always carry the burden of responsibility in his heart. That wasn't something he could just get rid of… It was, after all, placed upon him by Trelawney's prophecy.

"What else Professor? I think I'd like to know it all now rather than down the road," Harry calmly explained.

"I put up with your insolence at school Potter, but this is completely out of line! Who do you think you are!" demanded a fuming Snape.

"I've had enough of you Professor!" Harry began as his anger rose. "Professor Dumbledore, if I may join you? I hope to tell this once and only once."

"The floor is yours Harry," the silver haired wizard said while stepping off the seal to taking his vacant seat. Harry hated being the center of attention and the room was not conducive towards keeping him out of the spotlight. Stepping upon the center seal, his green eyes met the eyes of the Order. Unable to begin, he lowered his head to close his eyes for the second time.

"Before I was born, a prophecy was made about Voldemort and the person who could bring about his downfall. Only Professor Dumbledore knew what it said. I found out at the end of the school year. Now, you will all know.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

He paused to let the information sink in for everyone in the room before he continued with a hint of trepidation. Even Snape had been able to bite his tongue thus far. Fear mounted within him as the seconds passed. This time, it wasn't from any dark wizard, but from himself and what he might have to do.

"I alone am the one who can defeat Voldemort."

A/N: I've read HBP and that will cause no changes in how this story will unfold. I will NOT incorporate anything from the latest book. So if you haven't read it yet, (although I'm sure everyone who uses this site has) don't worry. Sorry this chapter is on the shorter side, but any more and I think it would've taken away from the chapter's point. That being said, the things I said was going to be in this chapter will be in the next. The chapter was not high on action, but I promise to make it up in the next.

Thanks to my reviewers, even if it was ages ago: lovergirl, harryp123, Silver Warrior, SwT-LiL-AnGeL and Citan.

Seeing as it was a while since reviews have been posted, I will do the whole 'answer each person' the next time around. I do apologize for the mistakes made within my writing, and feel free to lay into me about anything! I don't mind constructive crit.

Remember to review please!

Till next time...