Disclaimer:          I don't own, nor do I want to own, Harry Potter.  J.K. Rowling owns them.  I do own a Draco though, my cat was somehow renamed that without my knowledge.  Song Lyrics from Bullet With Butterfly Wings belong to Smashing Pumpkins or Billy Corgan. 

Warning:              This will be R and will contain *SLASH*  You don't like it, don't read.

Summary:             Harry returned to Hogwarts after six years of self-exile into the Muggle World and the defeat of Voldemort.

AN:                                         I hate money!  Sucks than the world relies on it so much, but it's a necessary evil.  Manages to make decent people's lives hell though.

                                                Enough about my rant, however.  Thanks again for all of the reviews.  I'm surprised no ones flamed me about SOMETHING.  I'm desperate to cry out for a flame here or I might get to big headed.

                                                Here's a few replied to certain reviews:

Xikum-                   Homework is evil, but doing it early provides time to do whatever I want with the rest of my day, namely drawing, writing or playing with pets.

Frankie-                Not updating more quickly.  Two parts in two days is more than I can handle.  I unfortunately have to attend that bothersome thing some call school.  Expect and update every two are three days maybe?

t.a.g.-                      Thanks for the corrections.  I currently don't have the books because I lent them to a Harry Potter sceptic.  I'm hoping to get her hooked…

Katrina-                Congratulations on the new cat.  I like cats two.  I currently have a tabby sleeping on my monitor and her tails in the way…

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The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game
Even though I know- I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold- like old job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal
But can you fake it, for just one more show
And what do you want, I want to change
And what have you got
When you feel the same
Even though I know- I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold- like old job
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was an only son
Tell me I'm the chosen one
Jesus was an only son for you
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
And I still believe that I cannot be saved

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                I woke to another knock on the cabin door, this one softer, almost timid.  I opened my eye and saw a young student standing at the now open door.  At first I was a little surprised because I thought I had locked it, but then I realized I had forgotten to relock it after I'd bought the food from the trolley lady.

                The young boy had messy brown hair, and I was pretty sure he had a group of friends hiding in the hallway.  He stood there staring at me for several moments, and, seeing as how he wasn't leaving, I sat up and smiled at him.

                "Um… sir…" the boy stuttered timidly and trailed off, reminding me somewhat of Neville Longbottom's dealings with Severus.   That made the smile on my face genuine.  I wondered briefly how he was doing.  How everyone was doing. 

                The boy continued once he'd composed himself.  "Sir.  We've arrived at the school.  I didn't know if you'd noticed, because you were sleeping."  He glanced slightly to his left, presumably at his friends.  "My friends and I just thought you should know."

                I brushed the hair off of my face that had escaped the tie at the nape of my neck and tucked it behind my ears subconsciously.  The boy winced slightly when he saw the scars over my missing eye, but I'd become used to this reactions, so I simply smiled and ignored him.

                "Thank you very much," I replied softly, turning around to grab my belongings from the shelf.  "You should rejoin your friends now.  I'll see you at the welcoming feast."

                The boy seemed somewhat flustered, though I wasn't sure why.  He nodded jerkily and then offered a hesitant smile of his own before fleeing the cabin.  I hear him speak to his friends after he caught up with them.

                "See!  I told you he was a teacher."

                "Can't be.  He looks too young," another voice answered.

                "Besides, he's got an earring and leather pants…" came a slightly wistful female voice.

                "Only you would notice that, Janie."

                The brief conversation reminded me of my third year when Remus had come to teach the DADA.  Our appraisal of him hadn't been as kind, but he'd looked ill, and it hadn't been malicious in any way.

                Oh Merlin, poor Remus.

                Of my closest companions, he'd suffered the most through the war.  He'd been shunned by both sides of the war: by the light for being a werewolf, by the Death Eaters for being on our side.  It was ironic.  He'd been crippled trying to save a Death Eater who'd been a spy for our side, Severus.  He'd saved the very person he was supposed to hate. 

                It had been that event that had breeched the gap between my godfather and my potions professor, but it was too high a price to pay.  Remus had never been able to walk again.

                I wondered how Sirius, Remus and Snape were doing now.  I hoped I could at least see them again, even if I was no longer in their lives, nor the boy they used to know.

                I suddenly found myself wondering what it would be like living close to them, yet not being able to be part of their lives.  I couldn't go back now, not after so long, not with all the pain I associated with the school.   One year.  That was my deal with Albus.  I'd spent too long trying to forget what I had done.  I wasn't going to get myself involved in this live only to have to flee again.

                Even so, returning to this life only made me realize how much I had missed it.

                For me Hogwarts seemed to represent a double-edged sword.  I yearned to stay, but I would survive it.   Past daemons did too good a job haunting me, and seeing the faces of those who'd lost loved ones would only feed their power on me.

                Realizing I'd been standing there for a little too long, I slung my bags over my shoulders and, steeling my nerves, I walked down the aisle and stepped off the train.  The sun bathed my skin and I smiled.  Looking over to the lake I saw Hagrid leading the first years to the boats that would take them to the school where they would be sorted.

                Hagrid: the friendly giant.  Taller than any other man I knew, always dressed in long brown robes with his bushy hair and long bushy beard.   There seemed a little more grey in it that when last I saw it, but I knew he hadn't aged a bit.  To mater what you threw at him, he would always be innocent, always believing in the fact that everyone would have some good in them.

                He was my first friend, and while I would never trust him with a secret, I would trust him with my life.

                I think I actually felt tears well up in my eyes, but I wouldn't do something as foolish as to let them fall in public.  I forced myself to hold back the tears of joy, mingled with sadness.  Once more, I was home, but I couldn't stay.

                The rest of the students were making their way to the entrance of the school.  At first I wondered if I should follow them, but then I saw a familiar sight:  black robes seemed to billow dramatically behind him as Severus walked up to me.  He extended his hand in greeting.

                His voice was a silky baritone.  "I am Severus Snape, Potions Master here.  Albus bade me to bid you welcome and lead you to the dinning hall where you will be formally introduced to the students." 

Bade you with a cane, I'm sure, I thought good-naturedly.

He took a quick look at my choice in clothing, and the corner of his lips twitched up slightly, as not quite wanting to smile.  "Though I suspect you might want to change your attire before the Welcome Feast."

                I returned his nit quite smile.  "You may have something there, Professor," I replied taking his hand.  "I've heard much about you from Headmaster Dumbeldor. Your reputation precedes you."

                This time Severus actually did smile and it was nice to see.  There was also a hint of a chuckle in his voice, as he spoke and raised his hands as if in defence.  "I assure you!  It's not what you think!"

                I laughed out loud at his joke, half from the joke and part from the shock that it had come from Severus.  Though I'd known him better than most students, he'd never been one for normal humour. 

                Though perhaps it was simply because of the strain from being a spy for the light.  It seemed the past six years had agreed with him.  Being free of the chains both Voldemort and Albus had placed on him seemed to agree with him.  I was happy for him.

                …though the little voice in the back of my head cried at the injustice of it all.  Why can't I ever be free, it seemed to cry.

                Because I can't let go, I responded to it, and then let out a bitter chuckle.  First because I was suffering from mood swings worse than a woman complaining of PMS, and secondly, because I was talking to the little voices in the back of my head.

                My friends were right.  I was crazy.

                "I'll lead you to a chamber in which you can change and after that we can join the others in the Great Hall, and with luck we'll be able to hear the Sorting Hat's song.  It's rather amusing at times."

                I nodded slightly.  I enjoyed the song each year, because, while following the same patterns, it was always different from year to year.  Ron and I had wondered why in a third year, and had realized that it was probably because the Hat was stored on a shelf for a entire year, and had nothing better to do with itself.

                I trailed Severus as he led me through yet another doorway into Hogwarts.  This was one I hadn't noticed before, and obviously neither had the Marauders, because it wasn't on their map.

                The thought left my mind as we approached the Great Hall.  We stopped briefly for me to rummage through the only bag I had left with me (because the house elves had taken the rest of my belongings) for my black robes. 

I slipped them on overtop my other clothing, and then followed Severus to the back entrance to the Great Hall.  We arrived just in time to hear the Sorting Hat sing, though we didn't enter the Hall, instead standing in the doorway to look in, unseen.

The Hall fell silent as the Hat began its song.

"I might not be a pretty thing,

But there's more here, obviously.

While others pull hares from their hats

I tell the truth, you see,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I'll tell you what you'll be.

From Gryffindor the brave will come

To protect those unprepared

For Gryffindors will do the things

Those others wouldn't dare.

Look to the clever in your group;

From Ravenclaw they'll hail.

Those with brains will always know

That logic never fails.

For those whose actions are never rash,

In Hufflepuff you'll thrive.

With hard work and charity

You'll certainly survive.

In Slytherin you'll certainly be,

If ambition is your thing.

Their action always has import

And glory it will bring.

Now step up all to try me on

For I have done my song.

You have no need to be afraid

For I am never wrong!"

The Great Hall burst into applause as the song came to a close, and Severus and I snuck silently to the two empty seats left at the staff table, which were on either end from each other.  Fortunately, no one noticed our entrance, because Mcgonagall had begun announcing the names of the first years.

I clapped as each child was sorted into their prospective houses, ate when the food arrived and made polite conversations, avoiding any topic that dealt too closely with my past.  I was quite prepared with my veil of lies I'd been constructing since I'd agreed to take the position. 

No one was going to know who I was.

At the end of the dinner, when the prefects were leading the students to their common rooms, Albus approached me.  My heart sank, though I'd always loved talking with him when I was younger.

"Mr. James.  A word with you in my office when you're ready?" he said, and while it was phrased as a question, I knew it was really and order.  Not in the conventional sense though.  Albus would merely hunt you down in a way you would never notice and give you no choice but to speak with him.

"Very well."

Bloody hell.

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AN:         I didn't really like the way this chapter turned out, but I've been really busy this week.  Projects and school events, etc…

                I saw Bowling For Columbine yesterday.  An amazing movie.  Mike Moore did a great job, but there was too much propaganda in it for me.

                Anyway.  Reviews are always welcome.  Good or bad.  They normally get me updating more often.  Sorry for the gap.  Tell me if I should keep writing, if I should quite, if you got that theoretical new dog or if you have any suggestions for improvement. 

Also, while I know where this is going, I need random plot filler, so tell me if there's anything you want to see.

As always, hit the go button in the bottom left and feed the author.