Disclaimer: I am currently falling into a trash can after escaping prison for being falsely accused of plagiarizing J.K Rowling's work. Let me clear up the rumor I am not claiming the Great role of Rowling I am simply writing fan fiction, so respect the plot and it will respect you.

Chapter Nine:

Who are you?

The past:

It was around 8:00 o'clock in the evening and the current students of Hogwarts were dining at their respectable house tables.

Over at the Gryffindor table Lily Evans currently sat with her friend's Chlöe and Shelby, only half engaging in the whole heart discussion of who was going out with whom. Her mind was on other matters the main being that prick of a Potter, and no these thoughts were nothing that one would consider good.

A little ways down the table, James Potter sat with his friends, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. At this moment Sirius, or Padfoot as his friends referred to him as, was telling the others of his amusing detention with Flitwick. James himself was not listening fully his mind was in Lily-land as the other marauders referred to it as. Every minute or so he would look at his beloved Lily and mentally sigh, he would never get the girl that he had been pining for six years, and the start of their seventh so far did not look to bright. But then again some of the dimmest light bulbs can suddenly spark brilliantly.

Up at the staff table, Albus Dumbledore sat looking over all his students, he looked at the Hufflepuff table were so many loyal young people sat, laughing and enjoying each others company.

The Ravenclaw table was so many young people sat just like those of Hufflepuff though they sat a little straighter and were not as cordial.

The Slytherin table, were most sat stiff and few talked and most that did were not up to much good, but Dumbledore could not judge them all for some peoples mistakes.

And finally the Gryffindor table, where the brave and courageous sat, all chatting merrily with friends and what was that Sirius Black throwing a loaf of bread at one James potters head in order to snap him out of "lily-land" as he had heard the marauders call it.

He smiled to himself it was always quite amusing that no matter how much lily seemed to hate him, James never would give up, it sure did prove for a lot of chaotic occasions often ending with James having a red handprint on his face, but that did not stop him.

Memories of the past like these often made the headmaster chuckle, it was a wonder, blind love, and wonderful when the screen lifted and it was viewed.

As Dumbledore mused in his thoughts, a young man, entered the great hall, wet from the rain that had started falling in the past hour. His head was hidden behind the hood of his dark green cloak.

The strange and unknown person, seemed not to realize that he had arrived at his destination, for he was muttering quite plainly, things that sounded much like

"This is it"

"I can't believe I agreed to do this"

The man also seemed unaware of the attention he was currently getting, most of the hall had turned his way, including lily, the marauders, and a certain group of Slytherin's that included a certain greasy haired male.

Harry walking up to the castle:

Harry could not believe how short the walk had been from deep inside the forbidden forest to the grounds, just outside of the quidditch pitch.

On his journey, he had not come across anything to dangerous, he could see the regular findings of the forest but nothing looked to out of place. As he walked and the trees started to thin, rain started to fall on his head and cloak.

He raised his hood over his face and produced a brighter light on the tip of his wand and continued, he did not mind walking in the rain, but he did not find it as calming as it used to be, or would be in his time.

For now, he had another mission to complete, and hopefully do so successfully. He had thoughts on his mind that seemed to twist into a large grapevine as he thought more and more.

He thought of what he was going to do if he was not accepted, he thought about meeting his parents, and teaching them and their friends. He thought about how he needed once again to protect the castle from Voldemort and his death eaters.

This was going to be a harder task than he could anticipate, not only did he have to teach and stop Voldemort and the death eaters, but he also had to this all alone with no one to really confide in, what had he got himself into?

He then would remind himself that he had made his decision, and it would not have changed if he had really thought about it as deeply as he did now before he left.

He did not yet realize that he had through the time of his musings reached the great hall and was currently standing in the middle of the room, center of attention.

He was snapped out of his thoughts, and mutters, by a distant fork and knife clattering against a student's plate. He snapped his head up, suddenly aware of his surroundings; he stared up at the staff table, to see a serious looking younger Dumbledore who seemed not to trust this 'invader' one bit.

Harry walked forward towards the man that had rose from his seat and was waiting for the Harry to come closer to him.

The hall was filled with no noise as Harry did this; every eye was on this 'stranger' and every eye held confusion, worry, and suspicion.

Harry stopped before the past Dumbledore and moved his head from the left of the staff table to the right, looking at every teacher who was all currently watching him.

"Who are you?" Dumbledore said all but in his normally cheery voice.

Harry thought it would be best to reveal his face to the headmaster and the rest of them, hoping then that he might gain just a little of their trust. Harry lowered his hood casually, and shook his head to get his mussed hair out of his eyes.

Harry extended his right hand, "my name is Harry Granger, and I am here to apply for the open defense post."

Instead of shaking his hand Dumbledore raised his robe sleeve. He searched through the many scars and burn marks to not come across what he was looking for.

"I assure you that what you are looking for you will not find." Harry said seriously.

Dumbledore stared straight into his eyes searching for something that might prove that the man in front of him was not trustworthy. As he looked, he saw eyes that showed various emotions, guilt, sadness, happiness, nervousness, and a great amount of love.

Still not satisfied, Dumbledore tried his very best to search the mind of the stranger that so far had only stated his name.

As he seeked entry he found that he was not getting any.

"Sir I would appreciate it if you did not do that again, if you want to know something kindly ask me and I will do my very best to give you the truth." Harry said somewhat annoyed at what Dumbledore had just done, he hated to have to be reminded of what that art had caused him to lose in the past.

Dumbledore gave a brief nod, he was somewhat shocked that the boy that looked very young, could block him, somebody whom people thought to be extremely powerful.

"Who are you?"

"as I said, my name is Harry Granger and I am here to apply for the defense post, I am sorry about my late arrival but it seemed that I was needed else where at the time and could not avoid the situation. Sir, if you do not mind me saying I think it would be best if we continued this conversation in a more quiet area" Harry said and then used his arm to gesture the other occupants whom were all staring at the encounter.

All of them were thinking the same thoughts

"whom ever this person was, he had an uncanny resemblance to the head boy, James potter, he looks as if he could be his brother" well the crowd was not to far off.

A.N. So what do you think I don't think it was one of my favorite chapters but hey if everything was good then there would be no purpose of a trash can.

Well tell me what you think in a nice long review.

Love to readers and reviewers,

Petroleumjellydotone.