Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of J.K. Rowling's characters etc.

A/N- Thanks to everyone who reviewed again! w00t! I have over 50 now! I'm going to make this chapter extra cool just for you guys...and for the people that I threatened...lol. (Gosh it's fun to threaten)

Sorry for being so late on this chapter. I had 2 huge projects on the weekend and haven't been in a very good mood. You wouldn't want me in a bad mood when I'm writing. I tend to "kill" people that way. ;)

This Is My Major Spoiler Warning. That means that if you read this chapter, then you'd better hope that you read the book already because...well...SPOILERS! (in all capitals too!)

NOTE: Once again, I have taken a direct quote from the Half-Blood Prince. I give J.K. Rowling full credit for writing it since I did not. Don't sue me. (It's been changed slightly for my story).

To all the people who told me not to kill off characters: lol. You'll all just have to wait and see what happens ;)

Jennypoo: You shall never smite me from beyond the grave, for I am immortal! Muahaha! Fear the Dark Dragon! >:D

James Jago: But still, if they made Dumbledore the secret keeper, then Harry still wouldn't get Voldemort's powers and Voldemort would still be running around ruling the world!

Nooka: hmm... never thought about the horcruxes... but then again, I'm (for the most part) making this story up as I go, so we shall see ;)

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Chapter 7

Survival and Betrayal

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It was a long night and Harry wasn't sure if he would ever get to sleep. He tossed about in his bed going over the events that occurred after James left. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to accept it.

When he got to the coast, Dumbledore had led him into a cave where he used a blood sacrifice to open a door. They had climbed into a boat over dark water. The Headmaster had warned him several times not to touch it. All that Harry could see was the green glow that came from the center of the dark lake. Upon reaching the source of the light, he and Dumbledore stepped onto a small sort of island to find a basin sitting atop an elegant stand. The glow was coming from a green liquid inside of the bowl.

The Headmaster came to the conclusion that the horcrux must be beneath the liquid, and the only way that they could get it is to drink the liquid. Dumbledore made Harry promise to force him to keep drinking the liquid until they could reach the horcrux, and Harry did so; against his better judgement. They soon reached the horcrux; Slytherins locket. Harry eventually realized that it was a fake though. The agony that Dumbledore went through from drinking the green liquid was all for nothing.

Harry and Dumbledore apparated back to Hogsmeade where they met Madam Rosmerta. That's when she pointed out the Dark Mark that was hovering above Hogwarts. It was a skull wreathed in green flame with a snake twisting out of its mouth. Dumbledore was very weak, but he and Harry needed to get back to the castle as soon as possible. They borrowed Rosmerta's broomsticks and made their way to the castle. Harry had put on his invisibility cloak.

The two wizards made their way to the top of the astronomy tower, where the Dark Mark was the closest. After landing, Dumbledore told Harry to get Snape and Harry did so... Or he would have, anyways. Someone was climbing the stairs, so Harry waited on top of the tower with his invisibility cloak on. Dumbledore cast a spell to immobilize Harry just before he had his own wand removed.

That's when Draco came onto the top of the tower. There was a battle going on inside of the castle between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix and DA. Draco and Dumbledore conversed for a while. Apparently, Draco had become a Death Eater and was sent to kill Dumbledore.

Soon, more Death Eaters including Fenrir Greyback the werewolf were with Draco on the roof. Then Snape came forth. It shocked Dumbledore when he saw Snape betraying him. The Headmaster had always trusted Snape; nobody seemed to have any idea why. It was then that Snape shouted "Avada Kedavra!". The curse caused Dumbledore to fall off the edge of the tower, although he would already be long dead by the time he hit the ground below. Snape, Draco, and the rest of the Death Eaters were able to escape.

After meeting up with his friends again, Harry discovered that no one died, but Bill Weasley had been attacked by Fenrir. Harry met briefly with McGonagall before heading back to his dormitory for the night.

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The students were going to be sent home after Dumbledore's funeral which would be a few days later. Harry once again remembered James. He wondered if he would be arriving at a different home when he left the school with the other Hogwarts students.

Harry sat beside Hermione during the funeral. He knew he was going to have to talk to her about this sooner or later.

"Hermione, listen..." he said very quietly, as the buzz of conversation grew louder around them and people began to get to their feet. "I can't be involved with you anymore. We've got to stop seeing eachother. We can't be together."

She said, with an oddly twisted smile, "It's for some stupid, noble reason, isn't it?"

"It's been like ...like something out of someone else's life, these last few weeks with you," said Harry. "But I can't ...we can't ...I've got things to do alone now." She did not cry, she simply looked at him. "Voldemort uses people his enemies are close to. Think how much danger you'll be in if we keep this up. He'll know, he'll find out. He'll try to get to me through you."

"I understand," said Hermione calmly. She looked out across the lake.

"Friends?" asked Harry when she said nothing else.

Hermione looked back at him and smiled. The tears from the funeral were still shining in her brown eyes. "Friends," she said.

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The students all climbed aboard the Hogwarts express a few days later. Harry was still furious about Snape and Draco, but curiosty overcame him on the trip home.

"Do you think it worked? With James I mean." Ron asked Harry, who had been silently staring out the window for most of the trip.

Harry looked back at him. "Honestly," He began. "I don't think it worked. I never got an owl-"

"James likely forgot," Hermione tried to assure him.

Harry was still disbelieving. "I don't know. Everything feels the same as it did before he came here." He sighed and returned his gaze to the fog laced hills that ran by the window of the train. "I just wish I could've met my Mum too."

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Harry waited with Hermione and Ron at the train stop, expecting to see his Uncle Vernon lumbering around somewhere. Soon, Harry's friends had left and he stood in the crowd of people, waiting for Vernon to get there already. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around.

"Mr. Potter, I presume?" Harry recognized his uniform. He was a driver from the Ministry. Well, it's no wonder that they want to get me home safely. Harry thought. He followed the man outside of the station and loaded Hedwig and his suitcase into the special Ministry car.

When the car started, Harry asked "This might sound strange... but where are we going?"

The man craned his neck around the seat to look at Harry curiously. "To your house, of course."

Obviously, this didn't answer Harry's question, but he figured that he would find out soon enough. Harry's heart sank as he soon realized that they were driving in the direction of the Dursley's house. Harry got ready to get out of the car as he saw the house approaching, sending the dream of meeting his parents far behind.

"Good day to you, Mr. Potter," said the man from the Ministry of Magic before driving away. Harry stood for a moment and looked at the house. After all that time, nothing has changed. He thought miserabley. He had his head bowed slightly as he picked up his suitcase and Hedwig's cage and shuffled towards the door. He rang the doorbell while concentrating on the 'Welcome' mat under his feet.

"Hello Harry. It's good to see you again."

Harry frowned. Since when was any of the Dursleys happy to see him? He looked up with a quizzicle expression before his jaw dropped. Standing in front of him was none other than Sirius Black, his godfather.

"But... how did... but when... you..." He stuttered as Sirius ushered him inside.

"Your aunt and uncle are out shopping." He explained. Harry was still struggling for words.

"But... you were dead, Sirius."

Sirius grinned. "That's right. I was. But when James came back to the past, I was once again alive. He warned me about my death in the Ministry of Magic when we were young."

Harry looked at his godfather in thought. "But... Mum and Dad! Are they alright?"

"I'm..." Sirius began. "I'm afraid not, Harry. The plan didn't work." He looked down at Harry sympathetically.

Harry's stomach hit the floor. "What happens now, then?" He asked with a stitch in his chest.

"Well, if you'd like, you can come to live with me at my house."

Harry tried to smile. Even if he still didn't have his parents, at least his godfather was back. It wasn't all for nothing. But try as he might to hold onto this thought, he still felt regret at having let James and Lily down.

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A/N- I've already got the next chapter planned out. Don't hate me for this you guys. -runs away from mob of angry fans with wands-