Embracing His True Self

Chapter 36

"Huh, so they actually believed the lies," Harry said idly, amusement thrumming through him at her reaction, he'd been scared, yes, even he'd admit that much, only to himself. Yet he'd never actually done something so stupid as faint at Voldemort's presence, what kind of idiot fainted dead away when faced with an enemy? That was just asking for death really, the only time he went down was when he'd been stunned by Voldemort that one time. "And this is supposed to be the Ex-secretary for the Minister of magic, honestly, the more I see or hear of the Ministry the more pathetic they seem." rolling his eyes with a derisive snort leaving his mouth.

"Which part of that is supposed to surprise me?" Voldemort drawled his snake-like visage on full blast, it wasn't as if he was going to give his true appearance away now was he?

Harry grinned, "Well, they did know you weren't gone for good, that much I've pierced together, the Ministry looked for you for years after your supposed demise," shrugging effortlessly as if he couldn't care less. "Someone like her must have known, at least I assumed they would have known…Fudge is just an idiot in denial because he doesn't want to work for his position."

Bellatrix leaned against the opposite cells, actually echoing Harry's earlier actions, watching her Lord and Potter curiously. They had a strange camaraderie, it wasn't something she was used to seeing. Not now and certainly not in the past before her Lord had been defeated by the boy as a baby. The closest she could honestly say to anyone being so…flippant and nonchalant with her Lord would be Greyback. Greyback had sworn to support their Lord but he had not become a Death Eater so perhaps he didn't count as a true follower. Greyback was quite honest with the Dark Lord, gave him his opinion even if everyone else remained frozen in fear and worry, especially towards the end before his mind became so narrowly focused on a baby and forgot all else, including his goals, and most of them had gone the same way.

The boy wasn't scared, not even in the slightest, it was such an odd sight, who in their right mind didn't have a health fear and respect for her Lord? He was the most powerful wizard in existence, and could kill him where he stood - it didn't matter that he seemingly had no desire to do so - he could, which should make all the difference. To make it more baffling he seemed to be following Potter's lead when it came to this woman, Umbridge. He was standing back just enjoying the show, letting the boy have his way. Something that so rarely happened…what had the boy done to garner her Lord's respect and basically given him carte blanche over what he wanted? She was one of her Lord's most loyal followers and just five minutes prior she'd been threatened and the Dark Lord hadn't so much as given even a subtle sign or sound to indicate he wasn't happy with what was going on.

"Are you going to prattle on or wake her?" Voldemort drawled bored, examining the witch through the bars like a snake would a rat.

"Sadist," Harry teased, with a triumphant smirk, as if he had just figured it out for the first time.

Bellatrix had to bite down harshly on her tongue, the urge to defend her Lord was so strong, but as usual as of late…many things didn't add up or make sense. The Dark Lord didn't look angered by the words, if anything he looked amused by the disrespect, she belated realize that she'd just heard Harry Potter teasing her Lord. Teasing. It was almost as if they were used to this banter, perhaps they were, if she was correct in everything he'd pierced together from both the Dark Lord and Barty Potter had joined them nearly a year ago now. So yes, perhaps they were used to this.

When Bellatrix realized the truth in her thoughts, urgent pangs of anger, jealousy and sadness enveloped her. Part of her wished it was her who he was so friendly with, her who he held in such high regard, her who was able to elicited something other than sadistic amusement, impassiveness or anger from him. She would do absolutely anything for her Lord, kill, torture even die…she had spent over a decade in Azkaban prison to prove her loyalty, yet all she got was more demands after being rescued, reprimanded for trying to find him, no for cursing the Longbottoms…they were pureblood's that's why he'd been so angry, yet the Dark Lord said she had better follow his orders this time or else. He hadn't elaborated on what the 'Or else' was, he didn't need to, for each Death Eater could imagine the torture that would be heaped upon them for disobeying. Normally she wouldn't pay so much attention to his words, but there was something telling her he was being very truthful and very frank with her. If she went against any of his orders…Bellatrix honestly believed her life would be forfeit.

"Crucio!" the cold dulcet tones of Harry Potter washed over her along with the relished screamed of Umbridge, she found herself staring at the boy yet again. Perhaps he wasn't someone she should try to sabotage, or feel jealous of, instead she should step aside gracefully, the boy…was powerful, she could feel it in the air, and she could clearly see how her Lord was reacting to Potters spell. He wasn't a stupid teenager, he was a worthy wizard to bow down to in respect if she valued her life…even if he was technically a half-blood. She was having to hastily revaluate everything she knew in just a single afternoon. It was no wonder her mind was reeling.

If she thoughts things were changing since returning…she knew it hadn't stopped changing yet. She wasn't sure what, whether it was due to her mind not being at full capacity or if she was missing something she just knew Harry Potter was going to change everything. Where these feelings were coming from she didn't know…she felt like they could win, for the first time realizing that with Potter on their side, they would win this war. They had come so close last time, the only thorns in their side was the damn order and the prophecy.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement, oh, yes, she wanted so badly to tell her husband and brother-in-law, but she didn't dare leave…she didn't want to miss a single thing. Despite all these revelations this was the most fun she'd had since constantly envisioning torturing her damn therapist even if he was a Death Eater. Not that she'd touched him. No matter how much she'd pouted about it.

"Just a nightmare, it's just a nightmare," Umbridge muttered under her breath as she whimpered in pain as she moved. She had never been under the Cruciatus Curse before and it hurt like blazes. Oh, how she wished the damn Dementors had done their job, kissed the pathetic little boy during the summer when they were supposed to. She'd spent all that time feeling so smug and superior knowing she'd finally taken care of the brat. So sure in their ability, she'd eagerly awaited for those within Hogwarts walls to realize something was wrong…when the boy did not appear. Yet the opposite happened, the boy did appear and Dumbledore still had been furious over it. Why she still didn't know.

"Crucio!" the spell was so swift and sudden that everyone was surprised.

"Hey!" Harry complained, glancing at Voldemort, his eyes shrewd, he knew something had changed but what…he'd need to figure it out or find out. "She's mine, you promised,"

"You'll find I did no such thing," Voldemort replied his anger still visible, but solely focused on the witch in the cell. "I merely stated that you not make me regret it."

"What did you see?" Harry asked eyes narrowed in contemplation, pondering on what she could have done that made Voldemort lose control albeit not very much but enough to curse her despite the fact he wanted her to be his to torture…and most definitely his to kill. He knew that Voldemort relished in seeing him torturing others, while his face didn't betray much, his voice and eyes gave him away.

Bellatrix stared between them, knowing she was missing something - but what? What?

"This pathetic worm is the reason Dementors came onto my property," Voldemort seethed visibly exuding the urge to cause untold violence. What went unsaid was 'this pathetic worm had been the cause of harm to what was his' and Harry was his, and he was very possessive of those who he considered his.

"My Lord?" Bellatrix ventured in confusion, "I thought…well, don't you have control over the Dementors?" It was how they were able to get out of Azkaban wasn't it, without being detected? Her tone was unsure, which was so unlike Bellatrix that even the Dark Lord was taken back by her tone.

"Voldemort was just negotiating with them when they came, they were after me, I don't think they knew who they were fucking with," Harry chortled darkly. Although if it had been his first encounter with the Dementors, it was doubtful he would have survived, Voldemort had been too far away, and he had been on his broomstick. He had been a sitting duck, just like the time he'd been in the air playing Quidditch during his third year.

Whether he meant Voldemort or himself remained unknown…at least to Bellatrix who didn't know what went down that day.

"Stop…please stop," Umbridge begged, sobbing utterly deliriously with the pain coursing through her body, having endured three rounds of the torture curse…it was a bit much for even those experienced in the curse to endure let alone a novice in being in pain.

"Oh, come on! Seriously? Its only been on you three times and you're already begging?" Harry whined, this wasn't going to be very much fun. "I was under it twice last year and I managed to run away! AND I didn't beg!" his tone here turned mocking.

Bellatrix giggled at the words, oooo, he was a tough one if that was true.

"So it's not just rumours," the hulking form of Fenrir Greyback grumbled, amber eyes flashing angrily as his wolf almost took control and so far away from the full moon giving away the true extent of his anger.

"You were there when I mentioned her," Harry pointed out in confusion.

Fenrir blinked at the boy, who stared right back at him no sign of smell of fear even with his wolf so close to the surface. He merely grumbled at his lack of attention, he'd been a bit focused on the half cryptic conversation Barty and the boy had been having, about taking care of them and not neglecting them, his relatives, who he assumed were in here too, perhaps he should have been a bit more observant about the extent of the conversation going on around him. He'd honestly still been reeling over the fact that Potter was here and willingly so, talking to Voldemort like nobody else dared.

A grunt was all he gave in lieu of a proper reply.

"It's not your revenge to have," Bellatrix sang with devilish delight, completely ignoring the fact she had been the one to suggest that they left Greyback have a go just twenty some minutes ago. She just liked winding everyone up, it was who she was.

Fenrir glared at her ferociously, but the insane witch didn't so much as twitch.

"What will it take for you to let me have my revenge?" Fenrir grumbled out through clenched teeth, hands fisted, eyeing Umbridge like the piece of meat she actually was to a werewolf. There were many in his pack who would be quite content with getting revenge on her, after everything she'd done. Although knowing she was going to be tortured and kill would placate them…it wasn't enough for him.

Calculating green eyes met amber, "How about we come up with some sort of compromise so we all get what we want?" completely ignoring Umbridge's very loud whimper of terror, and incidentally the fresh scent of urine permeating the air.

"What do you want in return?" Fenrir narrowed his own eyes, there was no way the boy was going to do this for nothing, not when he'd been so adamant even against the Dark Lord getting a shot of the bitch. Hmm, the bitch, now that did make him envision her in a way that pleased both him and his wolf.

Voldemort watched Harry closely, while he felt and looked calculating, there was no desire to further his own goals or gather 'favours' or boons as it were from Fenrir. He seemed to genuinely want nothing more than to see Umbridge in the maximum pain possible, and he had already acknowledged that out of all people on this side…Fenrir was the one who deserved a piece of her. He was proud of himself, of unearthing this boy beneath the façade of the Boy-Who-Lived, of getting him on his side, relatively speaking, he was mesmerising to watch. Nobody had quite come so close to reminding him so much of himself…if anything he would say the boy was probably more fearless than him at that age. He had brought that out otherwise the boy would have continued to hide until he as he said, remembered the tournament and that he was legally an adult and free of Dumbledore's control. In such a sort window…the opportunity could have passed him by, that did make him more grateful, occasionally, he wasn't one for wondering what could have been, there was little point to that.

A cutthroat smirk was a reply, very wolf-like surprising Fenrir despite what he had seen so far, this boy would be a glorious wolf, oddly enough he didn't dare contemplate turning him which was odd in itself. "You do nothing without me there, I want to see it all, you can do whatever you like…as long as you bite her on the full moon…I want her to be the very thing she loathes the most, the creature she fears above all others."

A similar look flared in Fenrir's eyes, bloodthirsty and awed at this boy who was so amazing to see, he was more wolf than some of his betas. "Agreed," a pleased growl leaving his lips, inhaling sharply, thoroughly enjoying the scent of terror permeating the air around them, she was terrified - good - she should be.

"Nothing that kills her, that's my stipulation, I want to be the one to see the life leave her eyes after I'm done with her," Harry added, peering at Umbridge momentarily, relishing in the blatant fear she so expressively displayed in her speechless state, too shocked and horrified to even plead for her life. Oh, he was so going to enjoy breaking her.

"Agreed," Fenrir didn't even pause to wonder if it was worth it, he didn't care about whether he got to kill her, knowing he was going to be able to pay her back for all she'd done to his kind was more than enough.

"And what exactly do you have planned for her right now?" the Dark Lord enquired, impatient to see Harry at work, his spell work was fantastic, so he truly looked forward to seeing what else he had in that ingenious mind of his.

"I'm starting off slow," Harry admitted, bringing out the blood quill and paper. "This…this is just the start,"

Fenrir gave him a disappointed look, what was he going to do compel her to write lines?

"This is an adapted blood quill, it will write what she does everywhere, on every line of her body, and it will burn like hell, as if she's being poisoned, and I've added something extra to prevent her from suffering from blood loss…I don't want to end the game so soon now do I?" Harry looked inordinately pleased with himself.

Fenrir lost that disappointed look very, very quickly, but it was lost on Harry who cast the Imperius curse on her, commanding she remain seated, to do nothing. Harry knew what desperate people were capable of, and thus would take no chances when it came to keeping Umbridge from escaping. Upon entering the cell he placed the quill and paper down on the floor, before exiting.

He stood for a few moments, trying to figure out the best thing for her to write…nothing seemed enough.

Nobody knew what Harry had commanded until it clearly wrote itself out against her forehead.

'I am a werewolf's bitch' as was his thoughts, the compulsion on the quill took hold with a little flourish of Harry's magic. Once the quill had been picked up as Harry dictated by the Imperius curse, Harry removed the Unforgivable, as predicted she did not drop it, compelled as she was to write.

Umbridge gave a small moue of pain before her lips began to purse as she quickly realized she couldn't stop herself…the small cries soon became outright squeals of pain.

Bellatrix laughed gleefully at the sight, and what a sight it was, small legible words that turned swiftly into little scabs wrote all over her, beginning with her face, chin throat and slowly continued on downwards.

Fenrir just watched her with rapid ease, enjoying each and every sound she let out. Sure it wasn't as fun as physically scaring her, or biting her, but that day would come. Until then she was going to suffer pain beyond pain, and quite frankly Fenrir couldn't wait to see what Harry had up his sleeve next. If the Dark Lord wanted him on his side so badly…he just knew whatever he planned would be ingenious. Fenrir glanced at the Dark Lord, his gaze shifted between Harry and Umbridge now and again, a subtle sniff made his eyes widen, there was an attraction between them, they liked each other.

Just a Death Eater his ass, he wouldn't be surprised to see the boy leading alongside the Dark Lord when the time came.

Oh, this was glorious.

It was definitely going to be the beginning of a new era.

A sudden pop had everyone's attention diverted to a House-elf, Dobby.

Harry absently silenced Umbridge's sobbing, "What is it, Dobby?" he asked the House-elf, silently encouraging him due to his nerves with the proximity of such 'evil' wizards - and a witch not to forget - who spoke up.

"I recognize that thing," Bellatrix muttered eyes narrowed at him.

Harry threw her a dry look, "That thing happens to have a name, he's called Dobby, and if you ever hurt him, I will make sure you suffer tortures of the damned, he's mine."

"He belongs to my sister!" Bellatrix hissed a little deranged.

"Bellatrix!" Voldemort barked loudly, his tone curt, well aware that she sometimes went into rabid mode, it was becoming less frequent, the damage done to her in Azkaban was insurmountable.

Bellatrix flinched back, blinking slowly taking in her surroundings, "My Lord," she murmured apologetically, bowing low, bearing her most vulnerable area - her neck - towards him to show how sorry she was.

Dobby watched it all wide-eyed half in wonder half terror, but that terror was draining knowing his great Master Harry wouldn't allow harm to come to him. He'd willingly allowed himself to be bound more tightly than just a normal Elf/Wizard bond, no matter what he would always serve his great Master.

"He belonged to Lucius actually," Harry said icily, "I loath abuse of any kind, I tricked him into freeing Dobby, so if you are looking for someone to blame, then blame me."

Bellatrix said nothing, staying quiet for the first time in her life, sensing the magic leaching from Harry, and the look of warning from her Lord is the most notable reason of course.

"Master received a call," Dobby explained when Harry gave him a look that clearly demonstrated the order to continue.

"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said giving a nod, clearly dismissing him.

Dobby bowed before disappearing with a pop, he knew his Master didn't care for social necessities such as bowing and showing his submission but Dobby felt it was best to do so. His Master was going to be extremely important one day, so he would continue to do it when he was with others but alone he would do as Harry asked and refrain from bowing.

"A call?" the deceptively soft tone was applied to Harry now from Voldemort.

"Not a Floo call, I still don't know the password, it's the mirror," Harry explained, a frown evident on his face, Sirius always called at night, usually around ten o'clock for half an hour before they went to bed. Why would he be calling him so soon? Whatever it was, something was obviously wrong.

Voldemort relaxed upon hearing that, he wouldn't have put it past Harry to have figured out the Floo address and password, considering his words earlier about the password he was going to assume he did indeed figure out the address at some point. Nobody other than himself should know, it was constantly monitored and closed off when not in use so nobody could accidentally find them. He was very paranoid about his security and took every and all measure possible to secure his home.

"Excuse me," Harry muttered distractedly, as he swiftly squeezed through the passageway and straight to his bedroom.

Grasping the mirror once he was in his room, he left the door open and made sure to sit facing it so if anyone came Sirius wouldn't get a full glimpse of them. It was still blue showing that he had a call, but it was no longer active, Sirius must have de-activated the mirror when he failed to pick up.

"Sirius Black," Harry intoned into the mirror, waiting patiently.

He didn't need to wait long.

"Harry!" Sirius breathed in relief, his eyes shadowed but he smiled at his godson.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, still slightly worried.

"You were right," Sirius informed him, rubbing his face tiredly, "The things the healer said," he choked out.

Harry's internal organs shrank at the sound of Sirius' heartbreak, he was fond of Sirius, he might not love him yet, but he did care, and he would grieve for him if he died. "What did she say? Are there options for him?" there had better be! Otherwise, he was going to find the idiot who created the potion and he was going to kill him.

"Um, his internal organs are only working up to forty percent, she says she's seen nothing like it before on a wizard his age in the magical world." she must have done some time in the Muggle world while learning about healing.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered, shaking his head, "That's near enough organ failure, if it dipped below thirty-five he would have needed new organs in the Muggle world. What else did she say?"

"There's only one potion that will help him," Sirius sighed, sounding extremely tired, and he was so very tired. "Consanesco healing draught, only three Potion Masters are able to brew it to St. Mungo's standards…um, she also said I'd need to get the Phoenix tears first but I'm having trouble finding anyone willing to part with enough for the potion."

"You want to go to Dumbledore," Harry deduced seeing the look on Sirius' face.

Sirius clenched his teeth, "It might be my only option," he didn't like the thought of going back to being indebted to Dumbledore…especially considering his godson wanted nothing to do with him or the Order but this was Remus…and Harry had said he wouldn't hold it against him.

"How much do you need?" Harry queried determinedly.

"Two milliliters," Sirius revealed, which was a lot when it came to Phoenix tears, and expensive to boot but the price was not a concern to Sirius he just wanted to potion brewed so his partner can begin to recover.

"That much? I was dying of basilisk poison and it didn't take that much to cure me!" Harry protested his eyebrows sky high.

Sirius grimaced and nodded as if to say you see now why he was at his wit's end.

"I'll be right back!" Harry stated placing the mirror on the bed and silencing it so he could concentrate and nobody could hear him.

Closing his eyes he meditated calmly, searching for the bond with the Dark Lord, finding it, he kept his eyes closed and merely focused on sending words through not peeking. Voldemort hadn't been happy about it the last time, but he had gained control of himself since then. "Voldemort do you have someone who supplies your potion ingredients?"

"Obviously," came the dry yet blunt reply, trying to hide his curiosity and failing.

"I need two milliliters of phoenix tears, the price won't be a problem," Harry told him, his tone unwittingly more hopeful than he would have liked.

There was silence for a few moments, "You will have it tonight," Voldemort replied.

The anxiety that had twisted in his stomach ceased immediately, Voldemort would keep his word, of that Harry had no doubt. "Thank you," he added sincerely, before drawing back out of the bond they shared, easing himself back down on the bed. Removing the silencing charm, he summoned the book with potion, and began to run his fingers over the recipe.

"I'll have the tears by tonight," Harry explained, grinning at the surprise on Sirius' face, he could only imagine the reaction if he knew who was getting them for him. "I also know someone who could brew the potion with me too, in fact, I could start now since the tears aren't put in until last when the potion is in its ending stage, which is a good thing, it will prevent any waste. Which means I could have the potion sent to you within the next twenty-four hours."

"But she said…only three potions Masters were qualified to brew it…you've only just passed your exams…are you sure you can…?" Sirius paused, not wanting to insult his godson, "It's just that potions wasn't exactly your thing you know,"

"Do you think I'd suggest it if for a second I didn't think I was capable of it? Especially considering who it's for?" Harry asked grimly, his masks cracking just a tad he did not like to be doubted. He cared more about Sirius than Remus, don't get him wrong, Remus was one of his favorite teachers, but considering others had tried to kill him…well, it wasn't exactly a huge step up.

"I know that Harry, alright, but I'll pay you for you, deal?" Sirius stated he definitely wasn't going to budge. "The tears and making the potion," he added, so Harry couldn't try and squirm out of the deal by using logic.

"Alright, I'm sure you know the vault numbers," Harry said wryly, probably better than his own, no doubt about it.

Sirius smiled, a genuine smile that so rarely made an appearance, "I do," he confessed, "Your dad…he kept both me and Remus going for years when things were bad money wise. At least until my uncle left me money in his will, it allowed me to get a flat and kept us afloat," it wasn't easy for him finding a job being a 'Black' and Remus being a werewolf added with everything he had been doing for the Order. Now he never had to worry about money again, he had the entire Black estate for himself as the only living male heir.

"It's nice to hear something good about him," Harry commented honestly, "Other than the fact I look like him that is…or the pranks you pulled on people or bullying them." James Potter looked after those he loved and cared for apparently, something he found he could happily have in common.

Sirius swallowed, "I'm sorry, it's still hard to talk about…he was still young, Harry, he didn't really get a chance to grow up."

"Twenty-one," Harry answered, yes he knew his parent's ages. "I have to go, Sirius, I'll let you know what's happening when you call later, I'll probably be in the lab though and won't be able to talk long tonight." he wasn't sure why he had said that it wasn't like he wanted to know more about them, knowing more about them wouldn't bring them back, nor would it give him a sense of familiarity with them. He didn't know his parents, and quite honestly…he didn't care overly much about that.

"Alright, I'll talk to you later, Harry," Sirius agreed, "Goodbye," and with that, they both de-activated their screens.

Harry grumbled silently as he stood, time to get back down there and really stop her from actually bleeding out completely. The spell would only help prevent complete blood loss if they weren't careless. He'd missed most of the fun, he would just need to come up with something else.

When he got there, he found that the others had evidently gotten bored and left, sighing in exasperation, he summoned the paper and quill from her shaking hands, the paper was utterly saturated in blood and tears. He didn't even spare Umbridge a second glance as he left, leaving her huddled in on herself drowning in tears, snot, and bloody wounds.

"Enter!" Albus called, trying really hard to put on a joyful façade, which was extremely difficult. He didn't even bother trying to summon up any hope or excitement that his people had managed to find the teenager. At this point, he honestly believed it would take a miracle to find the boy. They hadn't all summer, he didn't think it would be any different now.

Damn the boy, damn the Ministry who made him believe this was the only option. Nothing was going according to plan.

"Ah, Severus, have you heard anything?" Albus asked, to make things worse the Ministry had raided his school looking for Umbridge in order to arrest her for her crimes.

"The Dark Lord knows nothing, but I will have to tell him, Albus, the news will get out soon enough, I'm surprised it hasn't already," Severus said, grimacing at the prospect of telling the 'Dark Lord' anything, purely for show of course.

Albus deflated, "I know," which would mean that Voldemort would be out there looking for the boy as well, making it more difficult for them. The only good thing to have happened lately was the outbreak that had caused the death of quite a few of Voldemort's Death Eaters, the worst of them too. It eased him to know that Voldemort would find it difficult to regain his power base.

"Has anyone thought to check any of the Potter homes?" Severus questioned, "Is it even possible? The boy knows about his estate, it's surely the most obvious of places to go to get to safety."

"It's possible," Albus said slowly, thoughtfully, "Regretfully he knows how to stay hidden, nobody was able to find him during the summer, he said he didn't stay in one place longer than a day or so…he wasn't lying, but I do believe a few details may have been omitted,"

"Such as?" Severus drawled, utterly indifferent to the conversation or so it seemed.

"I don't know," Albus admitted, it was as if he didn't know the boy at all, especially as of late. He had gone about it all wrong, he knew that now, he shouldn't have punished the boy, all that had done was pull him further out of his sphere of control. It had backfired, and when he had tried to correct his wrongs the boy had been too far out of it to be ensnared back. Now he was Merlin knows where, and he heavily suspected he had someone on his side. Someone that obviously didn't care about himself or Voldemort, perhaps someone neutral, which was worse, he had spent five years making sure the boy understood he must kill Voldemort. Now there was someone out there offering him independence and a way out of the war…but he didn't let himself worry too much about that, Voldemort would continue to look for the boy no matter what it took, a confrontation would occur. However, the fact he wasn't in control of where and when truly terrified him of the outcome. Especially with the unknown factor and what he could be teaching Harry. "I do not believe he was on his own."

"You think he has help?" Severus stated, "That makes more sense than a fourteen-year-old being about to avoid detection for so long."

Albus felt like pouting, he didn't want anyone agreeing with him on this matter, he had rather hoped Severus would have dissuaded him of that potential outcome.

"He was receiving mail now and again, I assumed it was from Hagrid…perhaps it was not," Severus pointed out, knowing he had nothing to worry about, not only was Harry gone but he lit the letters on fire, he wasn't stupid enough to keep them.

Albus sat up straighter, "He what?" Albus managed to get out without being seen as undignified.

"Hedwig was much more active this year, he received letters from regular barn owls, I assumed it was from Hagrid…" Severus repeated himself adding a small layer of sarcasm to it.

Albus closed his eyes, it was time to bring Granger and the two Weasleys up, he had to know now. "Severus please bring Mr. Weasley, Miss. Granger and Miss. Weasley to my office please." Albus ordered. He couldn't believe he'd missed all that, and worse that Severus hadn't thought to say anything, but Harry did receive owls from Hagrid offering tea, had done since the boy had started Hogwarts. There was only one problem with that, Hagrid had been absent from Hogwarts trying to make the giants see sense and stay out of the war.

"Very well, Headmaster," Severus sighed as he stood, exiting the room, prepared to do as the Headmaster dictated, such as it was, the life of a spy.

Yes, finally a decent chapter length! It's been a while but I'm getting there. Will Harry's secrets come out and Granger tell Dumbledore that he was receiving letters from someone called Barty? Or will the world only find out about him as its secured and people begin to feel safe again? Or will Voldemort always work from the shadows with nobody the wiser? R&R, please

HAPPY HOLIDAYS GUYS! I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME! I'll probably update again before Xmas day but we will see!