Harry Potter and the Scars of Time
By: Krystal Lily Potter
Chapter Twenty: Last Hogwarts Christmas
Rating: AA (which means, around here, 14 and up)
Couples: HP/HG, KB/RW/LL, NL/GW/DM, GW/DM/EM
Summary: Harry's last year at Hogwarts has finally come but that doesn't mean things will be any easier for him. After last year's horrifying events the school things that nothing worse could happen. They were all wrong. The prophecy resurfaces and is dangling in front of Harry, held up by the pain from the past, quite literally. As the world is slowly being morphed outside of the safety of Hogwarts the people inside it are finding out that they cannot hide for much longer and that time is as much their best friend now as it is their worst enemy. What is a person supposed to do when they know they have to face the most evil wizard in history and if they're killed then the rest of the world, magic and muggle is doomed?
Warning: More violence then last time. There are mentions of suicide, murder, rape, and sex (I don't go into details with that). There will also be fighting, cursing (and I don't mean spells) and gory stuff. For now the rating stays AA/PG-13 but later, towards the end, it might go up to R.

Heed this warning if you don't like death: there will be A LOT more deaths of characters you recognise from JKRs books and some original ones. If you thought I was cruel and brutal in the prequel to this then I don't know what you're going to think of me after reading this story.

Sequel to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Note: Well…I've just cut out about seven chapters and replaced them with two better ones…it make the work load of this less intimidating for me and more enjoyable, especially when I FEEL like writing about it. Those will forever be known as Scars of Time, the lost chapters! HAHA! Anyways I've also noticed, that in my notes about this story, that majority of this story takes place before Christmas, the rest of it is kind of not worth mentioning because there are mostly just classes, seventh year (my seventh year spin-off at least) is the most normal for Harry yet, I figured he needed a break. So nobody complain about the way most of this fic was centered around the first semester ok because I AM aware of it!

One other thing, I know I'm starting to make Harry seem all powerful, well trust me, he's not. I just wanted to point that out…

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"Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies,
But I'm all grown up now
And need some help somehow
I'm not a child but my heart still believes.
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas List,
Not for myself but for a world in need

-Kelly Clarkson, My Grownup Christmas List

"Dumbledore killed her, I know he did."

"No way, I think it was Potter, he almost did her in once."

"Well I think…"

These were the whispers that echoed around the castle as the air started to turn cooler and Christmas started coming around. People started pulling out their heavier cloaks and their scarves.

"Only two more days of school left until break," Ron said happily one day as he walked around Hogsmead with Harry, Neville, Seamus and Dean. Hermione, Kaylee, Ginny, Parvati and Lavender had gone off on their own way somewhere else.

"Yeah," Harry said through chattering teeth. By some twist of fate the Hogsmead trip had been planned on what turned out to be the coldest day of the year so far.

"So, what are you getting Parvati Seamus?" Dean asked him.

"I don't have to worry about choosing, she gives me a list of things to get her for every occasion," Seamus said dully.

Harry snorted and said, "Nice."

"I'm getting Lavender the blue dress robes she's been eyeing lately," Dean said about his girlfriend. He and Lavender had started going out about a month ago.

"I don't know what to get Kaylee," Ron muttered.

Harry laughed and said, "Something nice. When it comes to girlfriends presents DO count."

"Oh great," he said, "I have no clue what Kay wants."

They all stopped walking and stared at each other. All looked hopelessly at each other before Neville suggested, "Three Broomsticks?"

"Maybe we could go to Hogshead," Ron suggested eagerly, "I bet that man in there would sell us anything if we asked."

Harry chuckled and said, "I don't think Kaylee would appreciate you doing something idiotic like stumbling into Luna and thinking she was Kay and doing something stupid in your drunken state."

Ron squinted lightly, picturing the scene with his vivid imagination. His ears turned red and his cheeks turned a prune colour at the image of what Kaylee would do to him if she caught him cheating on her.

Harry chuckled at his friend's face but then his suddenly face got a thunderstruck look on it. He grabbed Ron's arm and said, "I know what Kaylee would want."

"Hmmm?" his friend asked him.

"I remember the last time we were here, when Hogwarts and Salem came on the Hogsmead trip together (all the schools were there now since there wasn't many left of them) Kaylee was eyeing an owl," he said.

Ron's eyes lit up with hope and he said, "Do you remember which one?"

"Yeah," Harry said and turned to the others before adding, "You guys go to The Three Broomsticks, we'll meet you there."

"Sure, later guys," and with that the other three boys disappeared down the road.

They got to the pet shop and Harry set off towards the owls right away. Ron however stopped and glared at a bunch of rats who were using hula-hoops before turning away and going over to his friend.

"That one," Harry said and pointed out a beautiful silver owl.

"It kind of looks like Athena," Ron said, referring to Hermione's Water Owl.

"Yeah I know, that's what I thought, but that's not an elemental, but it's not a normal owl either," he replied, "At least I don't think so."

"Is there something I can help you with boys?" a smiling old man asked them. Harry could pretty much see his face in the man's shiny, bald head.

"Er…yeah…what kind of owl is this?" Ron asked him and pointed to the silver one. The owl in mention was now staring at them with wide bright yellow eyes.

"Ahh yes, that owl was some sort of experiment if I'm right. Someone mixed magic into its egg before it was born to see what would happen. He's a work of art this one is. Although he seems a little temperamental to males," his quick eyes glanced at Harry and Ron.

"That's ok, it'd be for my girlfriend," Ron said, "How much is he?"

"Normally I'd sell this guy for 20 galleons but because I remember how annoying shopping for girlfriends at Christmas is I'll sell it to you for 10," the man said briskly.

Ron hesitantly pulled out about six galleons a frowned. Harry stared at him for a moment before pulling another four out of his pocket and handed them to Ron. Ron was about to protest but Harry said, "For my sister."

After some protesting on Ron's part Harry grabbed all the money from his friends hand and gave it to the old man who grinned at him and put the owl in a cage and handed it to Ron. He smiled at him and said, "You have good friends, and there's nothing wrong with borrowing things from them. Tell you what, for no extra cost I'll send it to your girlfriend on Christmas Eve so she doesn't see it."

Ron's face lit up and he said, "That's a great idea! Thanks!"

"No problem young man," the man said with a grin and he said, "What's her name?"

"Kaylee Black," Ron said without hesitation. Her name stirred an odd look out of the man but he said nothing of it. It was common for Kaylee to receive odd looks whenever her last name was mentioned because of the fact that majority of the wizarding world believed Sirius to still be a murderer on the loose, even though he had been dead for a year and a half. He wrote it down all the same though.

"Have a good Christmas young man," the man said as Ron left. Harry had walked outside moments before quite suddenly. Ron had a theory about why but kept it to himself, a theory that screamed in his mind that Harry continued to blame himself for the tragic demise of Sirius Orion Black.

Hermione's brown eyes studied her friends as they happily looked through a wizarding department store. Shopping wasn't really her forte but who was she to deny shopping with them when it meant hanging out with a bunch of guys all day.

Besides, Harry said he was getting her present today and she wanted to be surprised.

"Hermione," Lavender called over, "Come and smell these."

Hermione happily skipped over to her friend to see what she was looking at. She found out when she was sprayed in the face with a cloud of pink perfume. She choked and coughed, waving her hand in front of her face. Finally, after she was no longer sucking in the product, she got to smell it.

"Wow, what is it?" Hermione asked.

"Not a clue," the blond replied.

"Hey look, there are the guys," Ginny called out while looking out the window. Her brown eyes fell on Neville and a guilty frown appeared on her face.

"What's going on between you and Neville?" Hermione asked her curiously as she walked over and sat down next to her on the bench.

"We broke up a little while ago," Ginny explained without hesitation, "I've got my sights on another guy."

"Moving a little fast aren't you Ginny?" Kaylee asked as she bounced over to them.

Ginny shrugged and said, "I just don't know what I really like yet."

"Fair enough," the ebony haired girl replied.

"Come on," Hermione said, "They just went to Hogsmead. I'm a tad bored of this store and it'd be nice to talk to someone who isn't obsessed with the way lime green stands out so much. No offence (her eyes playfully flickered to Lavender and Parvati), it's just not my thing."

The two girls shrugged and Lavender said, "I want to keep looking, I'll meet up with you guys later."

"Me too," Parvati agreed. She was quite content with being surrounded by flowers, robes, makeup, colours and pleasant smells.

"I'll come," Kaylee said happily.

"Me too, we have to watch this one," Ginny said playfully while nudging Black.

The grey eyed girl glared at her friend and swatted at her as they walked out of the store together and crossed over to the Three Broomsticks. When they got inside the smell of Butterbeer reached their noses, calming them like it always did.

Hermione, being the tallest of them, stood on her tiptoes to look around over the heads and shoulders of the other students until she saw the boys sitting by the side windows. She pointed the direction to the other two and they all made their way towards them.

Neville looked up, smiled and said, "Hey Hermione, Ginny, and Kaylee."

"Hey Nev," Kaylee said. Ginny quickly took an empty seat between Ron and Seamus so it wouldn't make Neville even more uncomfortable around her.

Harry looked around and realized there were no more empty seats at the table but it seemed Hermione was ahead of him there as she sat on his lap. Kaylee on the other hand simply shared a chair with Ginny, but was on the side so she was next to Ron.

Ron, on the other hand, was looking quite distracted by something. He noticed six pairs of eyes watching him and became very uncomfortable.

"Are you alright Ron?" Kaylee asked him and took his hand.

"Yeah," he said after a moment of thought, "I was just thinking about the whole Teather Dae thing. I know it's kind of random, but still there's more then beats the eye to this."

Harry stared at him for a minute and said, "Your right Ron. Now that I think about it he does look really familiar."

"Just like Nickleson does," Hermione piped up.

"THANK MERLIN!" Harry blurted out causing many people to stare at him oddly. His face went red and he looked down for a period of time until everyone else had gone back to what they were doing.

Ron chuckled at him but that only earned him a glare from both Harry and Hermione. The latter turned her attention to Harry again and said, "What were you saying?"

"It's just, since the first of the year; I've felt as if I've known her. It's the oddest feeling, and I can't shake it off," he said slowly.

"I can't think of WHO she reminds me of, but there is someone…" Hermione trailed off.

"That's what I've been thinking all year so far," Harry said with a sigh.

"Look," Ron hissed suddenly, causing everyone to follow his gaze. All of them saw what he was seeing and they didn't like it, it was Teather Dae.

Harry studied him and noticed that the man's steely grey eyes landed on him for a moment before flickering away.

"Give us the prophecy Potter…"

"Malfoy!" Harry said suddenly with a loud whisper. Luckily no one else heard him except for his friends.

"Malfoy?" Kaylee asked with confusion and looked around, searching for the blond boy.

Hermione made a noise and her mouth went into the shape of an O as she said, "OF COURSE! Look at him. Make his brown hair blond, change his features only slightly and grow out his hair! It's Lucius Malfoy!

"It makes sense you know," Ron said suddenly, "I mean Malfoy IS out of Azkaban and he knows his way around the Ministry."

"And Dumbledore did mention that he had no clue where Teather Dae came from," Kaylee piped up, "which would mean the fact that he was a totally different person before so there was no way of tracking him."

Neville had an odd look at his face and he said, "Why would he poison Draco then?"

There was an uncomfortable silence between them all and Harry glanced over at Teather Dae. His eyes shifted over to where he saw a now healthy Draco Malfoy outside the window with Ebony, "Because he's not a Death Eater. At least not yet, and I'm sure that won't make Lucius or Voldemort very happy."

"I think we should tell Dumbledore," Hermione said after a moment, "Before someone else gets hurt at the hands of a Malfoy."

"Will he believe us though?" Ginny asked.

"Well if he doesn't," Dean muttered, "We're all screwed."

Dumbledore stared at his pensive quietly as he waited for Harry to reach his office. The teenager hadn't made an appointment to see him like even most teachers do but the old man's sixth sense gave him the ability to sense when a strong, developing power was approaching.

His thoughts turned to the past few years and all the arguments Harry had with him. Most of them had been very childish on Harry's part and there was a look in the younger boy's eyes now that he realized that as well. Dumbledore could understand why Harry reacted in that childish fashion though; he had never really gotten the chance to do that as of younger. Still, that was not a reason or an excuse, it was a shield for the truth, the truth that Harry Potter didn't know how to react to every situation presented to him.

Dumbledore did what he was doing now very often. He would sit in his office looking through his pensive or pace back and forth, remembering. He was a man of the past; he was trapped in it, in the original time of Voldemort, back when James, Lily and Sirius were still alive. He knew how to survive in the old dark times, but things were different now, much too different for him.

It was closing in on Christmas yet he could see that many weren't thinking about it. It had been voted by the teachers that it was in the best interest of the children that they all remain at Hogwarts for Christmas, just like last year. There would be no ball, but nobody seemed to care.

Harry walked into the room, but not in a rage as he would usually do. Instead there was a look on his face Dumbledore hadn't seen in along time, it was a look that cried that he both needed and wanted help.

"Can I help you Mr. Potter?" he asked politely.

"You can just call me Harry," he muttered quickly before saying, "A little while ago Hermione figured something out, that the name Teather Dae was an anagram for Death Eater. (Dumbledore nodded, he too had figured that out). But sir, I saw him in Hogsmead yesterday and…sir I believe that Teather Dae is actually Lucius Malfoy."

Dumbledore sat up in his chair straighter and said, "But he poisoned Draco…"

"I thought about that too, but I think it was a punishment because Draco hasn't exactly been like a Death Eater in the past year," Harry said.

Dumbledore stroked his white beard with thought and said, "Yes, that does make sense."

"What do we do?" Harry asked.

"We?" the older man asked slowly.

"I've been childish since Sirius died," Potter started, "I've been the world's biggest git take tantrums for the stupidest things and saying the stupidest things during those tantrums, I know this. I blamed you for the death of Sirius and those students last year, but I don't anymore. I need you to win this war and you need me."

A smile appeared on Dumbledore's face as he said, "You, of course, are right Harry."

Harry grinned at him. He was glad Hermione had told him to forgive Dumbledore and to apologize to him. He knew now wasn't the time to have a small civil war especially not had Hogwarts.

"Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open slay
HEY!"

Harry groaned and rolled over in his bed. He glared across the room at Seamus, who had accidentally smacked an enchanted tree that they had just managed to quit singing the night before.

Flopping out of bed Neville went across the room and kicked the tree, which yelled the words "Jingle Bells" at him and went quiet.

"Nice way to wake up on Christmas morning," Dean muttered as he sat up. Soon all the boys who were awake (Harry, Neville, Dean and Seamus) all started reaching for their presents.

"Ron!" Harry yelled at him, "Looks like you got a nice pile of presents there!"

Ronald Weasley was surprisingly easy to wake on both Christmas day and the last day of school. The second he heard the word "presents" he was up so fast that everyone suspected he had simply been lying with his eyes closed.

"So Harry," Seamus said, "you never said why you wanted to sleep in here last night."

"Because it was Christmas eve and it only felt right to be here in this dormitory to open present…it's our last year here," Harry said.

"Nice thought," Neville said, "now really why. I know you better then that Harry to know that would be your only reason."

"Hermione's a little mad and I wanted to be in a room with other people so there would be witnesses if she murdered me," Harry replied sheepishly.

"What did you do?" Dean asked with a laugh.

"He forgot that yesterday was their one year anniversary," Ron said in a sing-song voice.

"Ouch," the others muttered.

"I feel your pain," Seamus said, "I forgot my one year with Parvati. Oh lord let me tell you, that girl can be scary when she wants to be."

"I don't doubt that," Harry replied as he started opening his gifts. From Mrs. Weasley he received a black and scarlet red jumper (sweater) and some mince meat pies. From Hagrid he got what looked like a homemade compass. From Alyssa he got some pictures from her days in school, from Remus and Sarah he got a book on ghosts and other kinds of spirits. Kaylee sent him a box with many types of sweets in it but there was no present from Hermione.

"Thanks for the hat Ron," Harry said and put on a scarlet red cap with the Gryffindor crest on it.

"Hey no problem," Ron replied happily as he admired the Chudley Cannon's jersey he received from Harry. He glanced over at his friend and said, "Seems Hermione's present is missing."

Harry chuckled a little bit and said, "I got a present for her…well two. I suppose I should go and give it to her."

The other boys nodded at him and he quickly got up and used the magic passage into his room.

"Hermione?" he called out to her as he walked into their shared common room.

"What do you want?" she snapped at him as she looked through all her presents.

"To say I'm sorry about forgetting our one year anniversary?" he suggested.

"That sounds more like a question then an answer to me," she replied shortly, "Aren't your fans the ones who are supposed to ask the questions Potter?"

"OK I deserved that," he admitted. He knew that she knew that he hated any mention of his fame or fans (which he had plenty of both), "But I really am sorry. I don't really have an excuse, I mean even I should have been able to remember it was one Christmas Eve!"

A small smile came to her face but she tried to hide it, to no avail. She faced away from him, placed some of the items she had been holding onto the floor, crossed her arms and said, "Why should I forget you?"

Harry grinned and wrapped his arms around her, placing his chin on the top of her head. Without looking down at her he said, "Because you love me."

"Maybe, but I need another reason."

He could feel her hiding her laughter but he said nothing. Instead he said, "Because I'm stupid?"

"There you go," she agreed happily as she turned around and faced him.

He made a face as if he smelt something foul and replied, "Nice to know that the only way I can get my girlfriend to forgive me is to admit I'm stupid."

She smiled cutely at him before saying, "Aww what can I say, we all know it's true."

He grinned at her and ruffled her hair lightly. She laughed but quickly her face turned serious. She said nothing and just continued to stare at him.

"Oh alright," he said after they had a lengthy staring contest. With a wave of his wand a present wrapped in silver appeared in his hands and he gave it to her. At the same time she passed him one from her with a grin on her face and happily tore open the present. She pulled out what looked like a prophecy orb yet clearly wasn't. Instead of a bright white appearance it was glowing different colours.

Her mouth opened wide and she said, "Is this what I think it is?"

"Well if you think it's a Memory Ball then you'd be correct," he said to her, "I put in some memories that I'd thought you'd like in here. Mind you I could only take them from the heads of the people that allowed me to."

Her eyes welded up with tears and she threw her arms tightly around him. She nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck. After a little awhile she drew back and said, "Mine is so stupid compared to yours."

"I'm sure it'll be nice," Harry said as he swiftly opened the package. He grinned as he pulled out what it was. It was a very nice frame and inside of it was a picture of Ron, Hermione and him in first year, "I love it!"

"It's charmed," she said meekly and tapped her wand against it. It changed from one of them in first year, to second, to third, to fourth, to fifth, to sixth and finally one of them from this year. It was amazing watching yourself grow up.

"Wow," he said in awe, "That's amazing! How do you do it?"

"Oh, I found a few photos and charmed them all into one," she mumbled, "You can change them to switch however you want. In seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years…you name it you can do it."

He gave her a giant hug and said, "I've got another surprise for you! Come on!" he grabbed her hand and quickly led her into the hallway, leaving their presents behind, "It took forever to get Dumbledore to allow this."

"Oh Merlin, what did you do Harry?" Hermione asked and started leaning backwards so it was harder for him to drag her. He whipped around quickly and pulled her into a kiss. They stayed like that for a few seconds before he pulled back grinned and continued to drag her to a room. When they reached their destination Hermione said, "The room of requirements?"

"You'll see," he said and pushed open the door. He gave her a light tap to go in first and she did. Looking around she saw it looked like a normal living room but she nearly had a heart attack when she saw who was sitting on the couch.

"Nicola?" she asked slowly.

"Hi Hermione," her little sister replied with a grin. The little girl's hard had grown a lot (later on Harry and Hermione learned that Tonks had charmed it for her) so it was red at the top and brown at the bottom.

The older Granger let out a very odd sound and pretty much tackled her. While watching the scene Harry got a feeling of dejavu…when Nicola finally woke up after the attack at Privet Drive.

A smile appeared on his face as he watched the two and thought, "I did the right thing by bringing her here."

"I don't get it," Hermione asked after awhile of meaningless chatter, "how can you get in the school? Your magic ability was blocked…"

"Flitch is a squib and he's in the school," the younger Granger pointed out, "But the real reason I'm allowed is this," she pulled out her wand and said, "Wingardium Leviosa." The book she was pointing it at started floating in front of them.

This time both Hermione and Harry were shocked! He had no clue that she was slowly recovering her magical abilities.

"But I--how?" Hermione asked with amazement.

"My magic was still in me, just blocked. So Sarah, Tonks and Remus are slowly working at helping me learn all over again. They think by next year that I'll be able to come back for my second year. I'll be a year behind but that's ok," she trailed off then muttered, "I'd mind if my best friend was still here but there's nothing I can do about that."

"So you'll be here after we leave," Harry said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "I think you'll be safe then. Voldemort only seems to like me."

"You'll beat him by then," she said, "I know you will." But Nicola was actually thinking, "At least, I hope you do…"

Author's Not-so-Random Babbling

A little shorter then normal but oh well. LAST DAY OF SCHOOL TODAY! WOOT! Then only two exams…but I can live with that. This chapter MIGHT seem meaningless but it wasn't. It was to show Nikky was getting better and there's something important about Harry's gift to Hermione. That's all I'm saying…

Now onto the reviews!

Aqua Mage – Yes an update at last, amazing isn't it! The chapters won't be really short, just not super long…I'm better around 7 pages instead of my traditional 10…maybe…

nandhp – LMAO yes don't worry I will update sooner

Trumpet-Geek – Yes, the Orb of efil does have something to do with Nickelson but that's all I'm saying…

Zirconium – I'm glad it's back too because I missed writing it! Teather Dae we HAVE seen before and Harry and Draco being poisoned was simply a test to see how good Dumbledore was at keeping watch over his students.

Drake Smythe – What disclaimer? I guess it's lighter,

Ryan – Yes I'm back. Yes the ugly one is dead and I'm so happy about that 

Rayl – What? OK now I'm confused…

QueenWeasel – LMAO! Sorry bout the near heart attack experience! HAHA! Yes I plan on updating sooner then the last update! Promise!

Randomreaderguy – Well it's definitely not his real name, and yes he was the one following the ULD members. BINGO! Damn I leave for a few months and your suddenly figuring out everything!

CastusAlbusCor – You and me both.

PruePotter – Yeah I'd feel bad for myself too if I went to a year-round school, which I don't! Might have been…I can't remember.

Holimontski – Yeah it did help, and I probably will be looking at colleges next year, even though I'll only be in grade 11. HA! Tech and gym…I'm so glad I didn't have those this year! Art and music were fun though. I got the highest mark out of all three of my teachers English classes.

Lady Nicole Potter – Yeah I have my exams coming up in a couple weeks and my marks are as good as I can get them. It's an anagram! You got drunk? HAHA I'm doing that again this Friday with a guy named Matt! No it wasn't Evelyn! LMFAO nice sign, and kittens are cute but I'm a dog person myself.

Nikky B – Yes it does get confusing for me so sorry if I spazzed at you or something! As you can see the review above you is also to a Nicole so it makes everything nice and confusing! Glad you liked the story and I'm hopping I'll be done with it soon.

Carn – Ahhh, please don't die on me! I still need you reviewers! A few people got the Teather Dae thing but I'm surprised more didn't!

Dumblupin – It all comes in time…don't worry I didn't forget about it!

Aubs – Thanks.

Urazz – Yeah I remember that some people DID figure it out along time ago, but I bet you never guess who he REALLY was now did you? I'm going to try to update once a week, and if I CAN possibly twice a week.

Mystic Powers91 – Thank you :)

Colorguardbaby23 – It's a good thing; I just wanted her out of the picture now so I wouldn't have to explain her LATER. You weren't the only one who was lost, promise you that!

PGHammer – Careful what you say. I never said Umbridge was murdered by Dae (yes, that's a hint). And as for the Draco part, it was more of a punishment then anything else but yes he tried to kill Harry.

Danrad820 – Yeah I know that doesn't make any sense does it?

FuZzYsPaZ04 – Thank you! Oops…I'll pretend to care that I spelt le frog's name from for a minute…wow that was painful! LOL

Krystal Lily Potter Fan#1 – Awww thank you. I also love the name too ;)

Kim Hughes – Thank you

Treck - ?

Please read and review! It does wonders for the updating spirit!

Krystal Lily Potter