Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters derived from the genius mind of J.K. Rowling…though I certainly wish I did.

Storyline: Takes place directly after Half-Blood Prince, The crew; Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Luna are on their way to Kings Cross aboard the Hogwarts Express just hours after the end of Dumbledore's funeral. And now I present…

Harry Potter

And the

Sorcerer of Shadowdale

Chapter One: Life goes on

He couldn't move…Frozen solid but for his eyes he had no choice but to stand still and watch as it happened. The cold expression, the plea, then the incantation, a flash of green and he was gone…Albus Percival Brian Dumbledore, one of the first Harry James Potter would come to call "family" was dead. Killed by the man the headmaster trusted most, Severus Snape.

That was nine days ago. Since then many things have happened, the funeral, the board of Governors shutting down the school, Fawkes' disappearance, Minister Scrigemour's attempt to recruit Harry. And now the students were on board the express eager to get home, all but one. The aforementioned teenager Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, wanted to do nothing more than return to Hogwarts, crawl under the Headmasters desk and cry himself to sleep. And most certainly the last thing he wanted to do was return to the Dursley's. But he had made promise that he was bound to keep, he would return until his birthday then he'd set out with his companions.

"Harry?" Hermione, one of his two closest friends, a young and brilliant witch, her bushy hair much like her attitude had mellowed out recently it was wavier now.

"Yeah 'Mione?" Harry replied as he turned away from the window.

"Well um Ginny and I were wondering what the plan was again. We're only a couple miles from King's Cross and I think it'd be best if you went over it again with us." She said with an inquiring, yet comforting look in her eye as she placed a hand on his knee.

'Huh!' He must've explained this five times already, 'Either she's really worried about what's going on in my head or everything's getting to her and she's forgetting things.' A very un-Hermione thing to do.

"Well." He began as he surveyed his friends faces, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasly his constant companions for the past six years 'and likely to become quite a bit more than friends on their own!' Harry thought grinning to himself thinking about the times he's seen them intimately consoling each other in the past few days. Neville Longbottom, a good faithful and strong friend, 'if there were anyone I'd want by my side in this war' Harry thought to himself as he smiled warmly at Neville 'It'd be Neville Longbottom.' His eyes drifted opposite Neville to Luna Lovegood, who was unabashedly staring straight at Neville her wand tucked in its customary place behind her ear. She seemed so completely enthralled by him that one would think she wouldn't notice it if everyone else in the room spontaneously combusted and fell over screaming. Though it was more likely, as he had come to realize recently, that she absorbed her surroundings much better than most, and probably had a better grip on what was going on than everybody else. Despite having come to consider her a close friend, she still greatly unnerved him. And lastly his eyes came to rest on one Ginerva Weasly at his side her arm locked with his and a worried yet loving expression on her face. In the last year he'd discovered he harbored great feelings for this girl, slightly embarrassed to admit he'd come to the conclusion he loved her with all his heart. 'But' Harry thought chastising himself 'Back to the topic at hand.'

"When we hit the station, you Ron and I will head back to my 'home' until my birthday. Since it's unlikely that school will open next year, we need to brush up on our skills. While we're there we'll go over the last six years of classes in our notes and books…"

"Blimey mate I think I'd rather face the entire bloody centaur tribe than that!" Ron said with a slight grin only half joking. Hermione promptly cuffed him for it.

"Thanks 'Mione, anyway while we do that Ginny, Luna and Neville will be at the Burrow doing the same, right?" Harry asked as he looked around at his friends again, they replied with a chorused affirmative.

"On my birthday after I hex Vernon into oblivion (Everyone chuckled at this) I plan to go to Diagon Alley, stop by Gringotts to see what the family vaults have and make a few withdrawals. Then after we've picked up the supplies and books we would have used for our seventh year we go home to the Burrow, For Bill and Fluer's wedding in August, and do a little schooling of our own." Harry finished locking eyes with Hermione then Ginny.

"Everyone Clear?" Harry asked.

"Yeah Harry I just hope my Gran will be ok with it." Neville replied impishly as he fidgeted under Luna's eye.

"Me too…" Luna whispered barely audible, before turning her attention back to the issue of the Quibbler she had on her lap.

As low as the comment was everyone heard it, Neville's face had gone beet red, causing Harry and Ron to snicker while Ginny giggled and Hermione just rolled her eyes with a smile, their minds temporarily taken off the traumatic recent events and their daunting future.

Some thirty miles North in a rarely used shack in a thick magical forest.

Gods he had splitting headache. The dark robed man thought as he awoke in the chair he had passed out in the night before, setting the half empty bottle of fire-whiskey down he got up and smoothed his clothes and hair.

Carefully making sure to keep quiet as he walked down the hall to the room of the shacks only other inhabitant, he mulled over the events of the last few days. None of which were remembered pleasantly. How was anything going to work out now? He asked himself not for the first time. In his mind all life as he knew it was over, nothing would EVER be the same. How could they ever win now? And it was all his fault wasn't it? He thought gloomily to himself as he reached the end of the hall.

Making sure his godson was still under the influence of the dehabilitating potions he'd been subjected to when he refused to co-operate; satisfied that Draco would be under for at least another day he moved back down the hall to the sitting room he'd just vacated. And, as he sat looking out the window hoping to see the return owl from the man he was attempting to contact soon, Severus Snape for the eighth time in as many days, ten in over twenty years wept long into the night.

Back at King's Cross Station

'Well this was completely unexpected' Harry thought as he got off the train, 'how the hell did she get here?' he asked himself as he looked across the many faces waiting to greet them on platform nine and three quarters.

Of those assembled to collect the children were the whole of the Weasly family; Molly, Arthur, Bill and Fleur (Bill having been released from care at the school a day ago had gone back home with his parents), Charlie, and The Twins. Scattered around them was Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, and Remus Lupin. And slightly to the side about six to eight feet away was Mrs. Longbottom standing fairly close to Petunia Dursley.

'What's she doing here? Bloody Hell, fuck that! How did she know how to get here!' Harry continued to ask himself as he and his aunts eyes locked with one another.

As the Weasley's all pressed forward to greet one another, and Neville's Gran marched forth to retrieve her grandson, Harry's eyes never left Petunia's. Even when he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug by Mrs. Weasly. Then he saw her gaze shift and she began moving towards Remus. 'Huh!' Harry thought, thoroughly bewildered.

He was pulled from his reprieve by the current conversation between Neville his Gran and Mrs. Weasly.

"I'd really like to s-stay at the burrow with the others t-this summer Gran." Neville stammered out unable to meet his formidable Grandmother's gaze, Harry didn't blame him.

"That sounds wonderful dear; well what do you think Augusta?" Molly asked as she clasped her hands together, hoping she'll agree since it would defiantly help the children cope having more around.

"Absolutely not." Augusta Longbottom replied straightening herself.

This of course brought a prominent frown to Molly and Arthur's faces.

"You'll be coming home with me where you be guaranteed your safety, no offense Molly, Arthur." Augusta replied with a sense of finality and a nod in their direction. This however seemed to spark something within Neville, a hint of that Gryffindor courage shinning through as he rounded on his Grandmother.

"Gran, come the end of next month I'll be seventeen and a legal adult and at that point you won't be able to stop me. But I ask you to please let me go now so I don't fall behind in our studies, o-of course only if that's still o-okay with you?" Neville finished with his chest slightly puffed and a blush creeping up his neck.

"Studies?" Chorused the three adults, briefly scanning the children with inquiring gazes.

"Y-yea," Ginny replied for them stepping forward. "we don't want to fall behind with chance school may not open next year." A blush also finding a home on her cheeks as she chastised herself silently for being so bold.

"And we want to be ready. We know V-v-Volde-mort is after Harry, and we plan to stick by him no matter what may come." Neville said his chest puffing out a little more and a steely resolve settling over his face.

Augusta Longbottom silently straightened herself again and stood taller. Matching her gaze with her grandson, a new emotion seeped into her visage; admiration and pride. Stepping forward she pulled Neville into a strong embrace, and whispered to him "Your parents would be proud, I am." Stepping back to see the slight shock on her grandson's face she redirected her attention to the Weasley's.

"Okay he may stay with you, but only if I may come by for tea every now and then Molly to say hello." Mrs. Longbottom finished as she stepped back.

"Of course Augusta dear you're always welcome in our home." Molly replied with a smile.

"Thank You Molly" Augusta said before hugging Neville again and turning to walk back to the apparition point.

Needless to say one Harry Potter and his assorted friends were fairly stunned. When they came out of their stupor to congratulate Neville on his bravery their attention was diverted to the dower figure of Petunia coming their way with a grim frown on her face.

"Harry, are you ready? It's time to go dear." Petunia stated as she looked him over before eying his friends. "I suppose Ron, and Hermione Yes?..." she queried with a tilt of her head in their direction not waiting for a response before continuing "…Will be joining us?" Petunia finished bringing her eyes back to rest on Harry's dumbfounded look.

"Uhh...ummm…huh?" Was all Harry could get out as he stood with his jaw slightly ajar, seriously wondering if maybe he'd injured himself worse than he thought for the battle and was hallucinating?

"Harry, that's not very polite. Now pick your jaw up from the platform, gather your things and follow me please you dears as well, we must hurry." Petunia admonished as she began to turn, "Have a pleasant and safe evening Mr. Weasly, Mrs. Weasly, William Charlie." Harry's aunt added as she finished turning back towards Lupin and the others and set off at a brisk pace.

"What the BLOODY HELL was THAT?" Harry finally managed to get out when Petunia was no longer within range. Everyone, with the exception of Molly and Arthur, were just as confused as he.

After their goodbyes the group took their leave of each other; Lupin, Moody and Tonks headed back to Grimmauld Place, The Weasley's minus Ron, plus Neville and Luna to the Burrow, Kingsley back to the Ministry, and he, Ron, Hermione and Aunt Petunia off to the Dursley's. Currently they were sitting in his aunt's car just leaving the station. It appeared to be a new car, a dark blue Saab, 'Vernon must have gotten a raise' Harry thought to himself as he eyed his aunt wearily. Her actions within the last half hour had truly stunned the young man. While she had never been overtly cruel or even mean, she had NEVER been polite, or called him dear, nor had she ever once acknowledged the others with anything beyond disdain. 'And she'd even been openly acceptable to the fact that Ron and Hermione were coming with me, what's going on?' Harry questioned himself again.

About the only thing that seemed the same was how she had left the station. Walking as quickly as her long legs could take, Petunia had hurried out of King's Cross as fast as she could manage.

'But even that had been different hadn't it?' Harry thought as he fidgeted in his seat suddenly uncomfortable.

While Mr. and Mrs. Dursley had always moved to leave as soon and as fast as possible it had always been because they were with Harry, and the last thing Vernon Dursley had wanted was to be seen in public with the young Wizard. Sometimes they had even moved so quickly that Harry would fall behind to about ten of fifteen feet, all the while casting nervous glances around. But this time? This time his aunt had ensured that the four of them stay within two to three feet of each other at all times, all the while still nervously glancing this way and that. Though even that had seemed…different, almost as though she were actually, genuinely worried over something. He was pulled from his thoughts as the car came to a stop on a street Harry didn't recognize in front of an apartment building.

"Mrs. Dursley I thought you and your family lived in Surrey on Privet Drive?" Hermione questioned looking slightly worried yet firm. It then occurred to Harry they were not far from downtown London. He'd almost had enough of the weirdness and was contemplating asking his aunt to show him her forearms to confirm whether or not she was a Death Eater in disguise, he suddenly became very paranoid at the forlorn look his aunt had and was about to go for his wand when she spoke.

"Evans, dear." Petunia said as she unbuckled her safety belt.

"Excuse me?" Hermione replied taken aback.

"Vernon and I had a divorce this last Christmas I now go by my maiden name." Petunia answered as she cast a glance in Harry's direction. "To answer your question I no longer live on Privet drive, with the settlement money I bought a three bedroom flat over there." She said as she pointed to an apartment complex.

"WHAT?" Harry let slip his rather loud inquisition without realizing it he'd been so stunned.

Turning to her nephew Petunia gave him a silent glare before her eyes warmed slightly and she motioned for them to move it.

"Now hurry, I'd rather not dally here all evening." Petunia said as she got out of her car.

The trio shared a dubious look with one another before they too stepped out of the Saab, gathered their things from the trunk and headed towards the apartment.

Meanwhile at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus' Tomb

A tall man with medium length silver hair combed back and to the side and a short sharp and jagged yet refined beard surveyed his surroundings with his intense, piercing slate blue eyes. By his face alone the man appeared to be in his late forties early fifties, physically he looked to be closer to mid to late thirties, standing tall with a lean yet well built frame, no signs of age showed in his posture as he held his head high and his back straight. Despite this the man was nearing eighty years of age.

He had mildly calloused hands and a weathered feel to his skin. He was clothed in a pair of black trousers tucked into a pair of fine black Basilisk leather riding boots with a fine blood red trimming. He wore a white button down collared shirt with exaggerated collar and cuff. The shirt was left unbuttoned to a few inches below his collarbone to reveal a small red-gold jewel that seemed to swirl as though filled with some sort of liquid. The jewel encased in an ornate pendant hung to mid-chest from a thin black leather strap loosely tied around his neck. A lone small but thick black hoop with gold engravings hung from his left ear. He was also wearing a dark red leather battle robe that hung to just about the knee with an emblazoned gold phoenix on the back. The lapel collar was finished with a sharp black fur that matched the jagged feel of the man's short beard. The man's cuffs from his shirt slightly flared out from underneath the cuffs of the robe. On each cuff was a gold, black and red cufflink in the shape a phoenix.

Aside from the black leather belt he wore to hold his trousers up he was wearing a black and red leather belt slightly looser hanging from his right hip. Strapped to this belt was a sword a sort of cross between a broadsword and a rapier. The hilt of the blade was long enough he could comfortably fit both hands on it, it had a black leather grip with intricate designs done in dark red and gold trimming coming to the end the hilt seemed to open up into a sort of claw and was holding a jewel very similar to the one around his neck only larger. The scabbard of the sword matched the hilt. On his left hand the man wore a white thin leather glove, a gold, black and red phoenix emblazoned here as well on the back end of the glove. His right hand was bare but for two rings; the first on his ring finger of a large lion facing outward with two bright diamond-looking jewels for eyes. The other on his thumb of a snake wrapping around his finger, this ring also had the same sort of jewel as the other though there were three and they studded from the back of the snakes head down its length. In the man's hand was his wand, twelve and a half inches of Eldar wood from one of the last remaining Elvin woods in the world, complete with a black, red and gold phoenix feather from the rare black phoenix of his native country. The wand also had strange runes and grooves engraved into it that seemed to flow with a stream of energy.

Kneeling down to place a hand on the engraved tomb which read; "Here lays Albus Percival Brian Dumbledore." The undoubtedly powerful wizard smiled sadly before he whispered to the wind passing over him.

"Hello father"