Return to Hogwarts

"What? How can I possibly get in?" "I'll think of something. But I think when they see young Harry Potter staring at the castle pitifully, they will let you in." "I have to get the book by myself? They are probably watching the room of requirement though." "Do you still have that map?" "How do you know about that?" "You thought I wouldn't figure it out? Why would Lupin be so interested in it, if it wasn't worth something? Something I stayed around to find out about. Find out why you somehow get to bend all the rules." "Hey, I didn't ask for people to be easy on me!" "No, but you didn't seem to mind it either. It doesn't matter. You will use that map to get to the book, is that clear?" "Yea." Harry looked out the window to discover that it was now day time.

It was unusually warm. But that didn't really seem to surprise Harry. He couldn't really remember, but it seemed like some wizards and witches could control the weather. It was illegal of course, and anyone caught was sent to Azkaban. Most likely because changing the weather patterns can cause tornados and hurricanes. Harry wasn't positive if earthquakes were also caused by this sort of misuse of magic. "Get your map. We are going back to school." Doesn't he know how to take a break? My god, we just now found out about the book and he is already anxious to get it. What if it's a trap?

Harry went through his things and grabbed the old piece of parchment. "How do we know this isn't a trap?" "That never seemed to bother you before." It was true of course. Harry had walked into numerous things blindly hoping for the best. Snape grabbed Harry's arm again. Harry had no idea why he had to hold on so tight. He supposed it was just to annoy him. Harry of course could not apparate himself because he never got his license. The last thing he needed was headlines about being arrested.

Harry watched as reality seemed to blur for a moment before appearing in the Forbidden Forest. Harry supposed that was as close as they could get. "Okay, here's the plan…" Snape picked up a fallen branch and bashed it into Harry's stomach, and then again hitting his arm. Harry had no idea what was going on. Did he just hit me? Snape then proceeded to mess Harry's hair up a bit. He really hit me. "What was that for?" "We needed it to look convincing. They won't question you too much like this. Just don't mention me." Snape pushed Harry in the right direction. He could barely walk. That first blow really hit him hard.

If I do get that book, I'm really going to kill him this time. Almost at the gates….Harry saw some red sparks shoot up in the air. "There's someone on the grounds!" "Well go see who it is." "It looks like Harry Potter?" "Out of the way, let's see." Finally the voices got close enough to where Harry could see who was talking. It was McGonagall and Tonks. "Harry! What happened?" So far so good, they seem to recognize me. Oh, I'm going to need a reason for being here all bruised and sore. "I…I…don't really remember. Someone hit me and…" McGonagall and Tonks did some kind of spell without saying the words and Harry could feel the barrier leave. "Come inside quickly." They closed it again after he was in.

Harry followed the two into the castle. "It's good to see you Harry, though I do wish it were under different circumstances." Harry watched as all the paintings began pointing and muttering about him. "Yes…that's him. That's Harry Potter. Poor boy, what do you suppose happened to him?" "This way, Mr. Potter." Harry kept following until they were in Dumbledore's old office. It was kind of sad. Most of his trinkets were packed up in boxes. Hogwarts wasn't quite the same without him. "Have a seat." Harry sat down in a plain wooden chair. "I just had to see the school, you know. It's always been like a home to me."

Tonks left the room. "Yes, so it has for many. How are you doing? With all that has been going on I mean." "Fair enough, I guess. I don't really think I can talk about it." "That is perfectly understandable. But Harry, I wish you would be careful though." What is that supposed to mean? Does she think that I purposely go out and try to get beat up? "Are they ever going to open the school again?" McGonagall frowned. "We are working on that. But I'm afraid no one wants to send their children to a school that has already been attacked directly. Maybe after things settle down a bit. Most of the students went to other schools or even back to live their lives as a Muggle would. I'm sorry, but I really have a lot to do. Come find me when you wish to leave. Feel free to look around one last time if you wish." "Okay."

Harry watched McGonagall leave the office. He could hear her talking to Tonks on the other side. "It's such a tragedy that he has to go through all of this. He is only seventeen and already has been through more than most grown wizards." That was all he could make out before the voices faded completely. Harry walked around the office feeling rather hollow from the experience. It looks like they haven't taken any of the paintings down yet. Harry nearly cried when he saw a new addition to the collection. It was a portrait of Dumbledore. Harry remembered that sparkle he used to always have in his eyes.

Of course none of that was recent. He watched Dumbledore eat some lemon drops. "I wonder what he would think about me working with Snape now? All this time he trusted him…" When Harry was about to leave he was quite sure he saw the painting wink at him. I better get that book before Snape finds a way in. Harry got out his wand and the map. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry discovered that about half of the Hogwarts teaching staff was walking around the castle, but the Room of Requirement seemed to be clear for the time being. Harry couldn't believe his luck, he had already made it to the door without being sighted. Thinking of how to find the book Harry opened the door to the room.

It was filled with all sorts of old things. Old desks and even broom sticks. There were piles of books though. This is going to take me a while isn't it? Harry knew it would be a book on top of something. There just happened to be one sitting on top of a desk away from all the other books. I wonder if that could be the one. It looks old enough. Harry opened the book up and discovered that it was spell book. A very complex one at that. He seriously doubted that he could possibly master anything in it. He felt something hit the back of his neck.

"Oh, it's ickle little Potty. What's Potty doing at school? Should tell someone, I should. Stealing from the school." "Just forget it okay, I'm leaving." "Not very nice." Peeves threw a wad of paper at Harry and flew off. Harry figured no one would really listen to him. That is if it appeared that he wasn't carrying a book. Harry racked his mind for a spell that could shrink the book and put it to use. He smiled to himself, thinking that he always liked magic. Just as he got to the stairwell he spotted McGonagall. "I trust you are ready to leave then?" "Yes, that would be good. It was nice seeing you again." They went back to the front of the castle and the barrier dropped for Harry to walk through. "Do be careful." And that was the last he saw of her.

Walking back to the forest, Harry reconsidered his thoughts about killing Snape. He couldn't even move all that well at the moment. "Potter." Harry followed the voice to find Snape once again. Snape pulled a small bottle out of his cloak. "Drink this. It will help with the pain." Harry took the bottle and swallowed it in one gulp. Not surprised that it had a bitter taste. He didn't really want to know what it was made of. "You could have told me about this when you hit me." Snape smirked, "It had to look convincing." Harry was positive that Snape took great pleasure in getting to him like that.

Harry enlarged the book once again to show Snape what he had found. He seemed to be satisfied with the find. "I'll just send this ahead then." Snape must have done some sort of spell because the book had vanished. Harry felt a sense of relief as his body began to heal itself and the pain had alleviated. It was kind of odd. But he was glad he didn't have to wait a long time to heal. "That really hurt, you know?" "No one said life was easy." That's typical. He always seems to find the easy way out for himself.