Chapter two
The cost of innocents
When Harry awoke again he was in better shape then he had in a long time, he felt rested and refreshed his wounds no longer in pain. He didn't have to wait long before Snape came billowing back into the room. "Good you're awake again its time you were told the truth about certain things." Severus said as he handed the boy some robes and left he to change.
When Harry finished getting dressed he left the room to find Snape there to lead him to his study. When they got to the room Harry was instantly on alert he had caught sight of the other two people in the room. Snape saw the boy tense up like he was about to be hit and decided to speak. "It's alright Harry they helped to rescue you they are no more death eaters then I am."
That persuaded Harry to lift his downcast eyes and he meet two sets of steal gray eyes. Draco and Lucius Malfoy were there. He thought he would see disgust on Lucius's face and hatred on Draco's, but he was proven wrong. Lucius had an expression of rage but he knew it was not directed towards him and Draco had a look of curiosity.
"You said you had things to explain to me I assume that this is part of it." Harry said addressing Snape.
"You would be right," Severus told him. "Now what we have to say might sound unbelievable but please hear us out before you pass judgment." At Harry's nod he continued. "You know that I am a spy what most people don't know is why I became a death eater in the first place and then switched. Well the truth is I never wanted to be one, Dumbledore needed a spy in the ranks and he can be ruthless to get what he thinks he needs. I had a wife and child at the time and that made me the perfect target. I had been raised in the Dark Arts and was very good at them Dumbledore knew I was the best choice. He blackmailed me saying that if I did this for him he would protect my family and that if I didn't then he would accuse me of Dark activities and have them taken away. I did the only thing I could I went along with his plan. In order to receive the Mark when I was not truly devoted to the cause I invented a potion that would protect me. When Dumbledore found out about the potion he started looking for more spies. Lucius here was his next target and Dumbledore got him for similar reasons as he got me.
Then the worst happened Dumbledore did not keep his promise, my family was attacked by Light supporters wanting to stop an evil death eater's life. They killed my wife and took my son, I know he is dead now I felt him die just days after they took him. When Lucius found out about Dumbledore's treachery he decided to go against Dumbledore's ultimatum. I leave that story for him to tell you if he feel like revealing it.
Now we are getting in to parts that pertain to you, when Dumbledore first heard the prophecy he knew you were going to be special. He also knew that you had to meet Voldemort to be marked. Have you ever wondered why they stayed at Godrics Hollow when Potter Manor still stands and the wards there would keep most things out. Well the reason is Dumbledore persuaded them that the Hollow would be a better choice and he actually suggested they use Pettigrew instead of Black as secret keeper. That's why he believed you so fast about Sirius's innocents. In other words Harry he set up your family to be attacked, and did not stop them from imprisoning Sirius. Your parents will was never read because Dumbledore told them to wait until you were older, I know for a fact that the will said that if anything happened to them you were not to be placed with the Dursleys. Harry I hate to bring up old wounds but he is fully aware of the abuse you suffer, in fact he is using that abuse to make you follow him unquestioningly he is trying to turn you into the ultimate weapon a tool to be used to defeat Voldemort and then be abandoned to the wolves.
I know this is coming at you fast I just want you to be aware that while everyone in this room is accused of Dark activities we are not on either the light or Dark side we are part of the grey and we think you need all the help you can get. You may not wish to believe me but think back to everything that has happened in the last four years and tell me Dumbledore has not been manipulating you all throughout your time at Hogwarts."
Harry did exactly as his professor told him and thought back to all that had happened. Starting with the first day he went to Diagon Alley with Hagrid and some of the things he said. Like not a witch or wizard went bad that wasn't in Slytherin but he knew about Black or Pettigrew. Then it was meeting Ron on the Hogwarts express and his comments on Slytherins before his meeting with Draco Malfoy. Heal so thought about all the difficult and dangerous things he had been through, and he could see the hand of Dumbledore on them all.
He looked up to the rooms occupants and they all saw determination and rage swimming in his emerald eyes and his power was just radiating off of him. "I believe you now what do we do about it."
Severus and Lucius both winced at the headache Harry's power gave them and then Lucius spoke "If you allow us we will train you your power is enormous and must be controlled. Also its time for the manipulator to get a taste of his own medicine, we will get Dumbledore back at his own game. We can exact our revenge on the Dursleys. So are you willing to learn from us alongside Draco?"
With that Harry looked at Draco, who had looked just as shocked as Harry when Severus told them about Dumbledore. "You once offered me your hand in friendship and I was too scared to take it, now it is my turn I propose a truce and see where that leads. I would be honored to learn alongside you." And with that Harry held out his hand. Draco hesitated for a moment then took the hand.
"I agree to the truce, but may I ask why you would want to have a possible friendship with a Slytherin?" he asked.
"You deserve to know that much, the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, I fought it and ended up in Gryffindor not that I think about it me fighting the Hat so hard came from Dumbledore's manipulations." Then the rest of the people in the room were shocked to see a smirk come across Harry's face. "Professor," he said addressing Snape, "I remember reading something in a book from the school library that if a student feels they have been placed in the wrong house that student may request a resorting. Wouldn't that be a great way of getting back at Dumbledore? I know the Hat would put me in Slytherin given the chance. Would you allow me to switch?"
"That would be the perfect revenge foiling one of his plots." Snape said musing over the possibilities these new ideas brought. "I would definitely accept you into the house after what I saw last year, you really do belong there. If you have Draco's backing and proves yourself the serpent house will be the perfect lair for you. The fact that you are so much a Slytherin yet in Gryffindor suggests the Hat may have been tampered with we will have to check that before your resorted." Snape answered.
"Now that, that part is settled what will you be teaching me?" Harry asked the determination showing clearly on his face.
"We don't know yet simply because we don't know what you already know we will have to test you somehow then proceed from there. Your power is immense but it will do you little good if you don't know the spells." Lucius said.
"That reminds me we have a problem. My uncle destroyed all my stuff including my wand I will need a new one." Harry said.
"We will have to go out then, a simple glamour to hide the damage and your scar would work, you have changed a lot this summer." Snape said. "I have a question though if you didn't have a wand how do you open your bedroom door, and yes I know you did?"
Instead of answering Harry held his hand out and one of the candlesticks on the mantle piece flew into his hand. "I picked up a few tricks after Voldemort killed Cedric I couldn't help but think it was my fault I should have done something."
"Wandless magic is rare this is a very good thing." Snape sad sounding a trifle impressed. "We will work to develop that, though it looks like you don't need much help. You still need a wand we will want to keep this a surprise."
Draco spoke up then "Is there a place where we can fly here, Sev?" Draco asked using the old name he had given his godfather when he was younger.
"Yes Draco there is a place for you two to fly, and I have asked you not to call me that around other people." Snape said sounding strict but everyone could see the humor in his eyes.
"Are we going to Diagon Alley today or tomorrow?" Harry asked.
"The sooner the better I am sure Dumbledore knows you are gone already and Voldemort probably knew as soon as we took you. There will be people out looking for you, we will need to make the glamour as strong as possible." Lucius said.
"I can put the glamour on wandlessly, if I say the spell in Parseltongue then only another Parselmouth will be able to take it off. Do you have any nieces or nephews professor?" Harry said after some thought.
"Yes I do have a nephew, Dumbledore and Voldemort know about him, why do you want to know?" Snape asked although he had a pretty good idea.
"If I glamour myself as your nephew then I can blend in with the three of you. No one would have any reason to check." Harry said. "I am aware that Dumbledore is a legilimens, I need one of you to check my shields."
"I will Harry, but one question first how do you know what Legilimency and Occlumency are?" Snape asked.
"I came across the two practices when I was looking for something to help me breathe underwater in the second task. I was getting desperate so was looking in any book I could lay my hands on. I read about how to tell if someone was attacking your mind. To my surprise I found out I was being scanned regularly from someone within the school. I narrowed it down to Dumbledore but at the time I thought he was doing it to protect me I know differently now he was making sure his tool was still his. I didn't think much about it again until after the third task, I figured they would come in handy. Plus the Legilimency complements some of the other things I can do."
The three people in the room looked shocked a fourth teaching himself two extremely advanced bits of magic the two adults looked at him with new respect. Draco didn't know what to think so he kept quiet. Snape snapped out of his shock and silently went into Harry's mind, and came to a thick wall. As much as he tried he could not get through, Harry's shield was better then his own.
"Well done Harry your shield is impenetrable." Severus said.
"Um not to be rude but you have a small flaw in your shields if someone struck you hard enough and fast enough they could get through. Lucius your wall is solid but it could use some reinforcements. To repay you for your trouble of rescuing me do you want me to teach Draco?"
The two older wizards were shocked this child just proved his mind was stronger then there own. They had been fooling both Voldemort and Dumbledore for years and no one had gotten through there shields before. They hadn't even felt Harry's attack. "If Draco wishes to learn by all means help him keep safe." Lucius answered.
Draco couldn't keep quiet any longer he had to speak. "I would like too learn from you Harry, I can tell from Sev's and Father's reactions that you're good at it."
"You two can start that later, it is getting late if we wish to go to the alley today it will have to be done soon." Snape said sorry to interrupt those two could use an honest friendship.
Snape fetched a picture of his nephew who attended Durmstrang School. Harry studied the picture for a moment then closed his eyes and concentrated. The others watched as his features changed and molded until there was an exact replica of Snape's nephew standing there. Then they all flooed to the Leaky Cauldron.
The patrons that were in the dim pub were shocked when four tall figures stalked gracefully into the Leaky Cauldron. The four people went out the back and opened the archway into the alley.
"Where do we go first?" Harry asked.
"Grinngotts then Ollivanders," Snape said after a moments thought.
"Fine," Lucius said. "lets get going we need to get out of here soon."
They made there way to he snowy white marble building. They were immediately accosted by a goblin and in short order was speeding along one of the subterranean tunnels in the Grinngotts cart.
They got to Harry's vault first and he was surprised to see the dark looks that came across the two adult wizard's faces. "I know there should be more here, the Potters were one of the richest purebloods and the Evans weren't far behind." Lucius told Harry in a low voice so the goblin driving them couldn't here.
"Who would be able to keep me from my money, and wait my mother was a pureblood?" Harry asked questioningly.
"Yes your mother was a pureblood you were told otherwise under orders from Dumbledore. Your aunt hated magic because she was a squib I am guessing the night he placed you with them he put a memory charm on her to make her forget magic but not her hatred. The only way someone would be able to affect your money would be if your parents Willed it to someone else or your magical guardian stepped in. Your magical guardian is Sirius and I know that mutt would never steal from you so it must be because the Will wasn't read. This money must be your trust fund. We can talk it over with the goblins some other time we need to get moving." Snape explained all this very quickly while helping Harry to pile money into his money pouch.
The four wizards continued on to the Malfoy and Snape vaults and were soon outside of Grinngotts blinking in the bright light. They all drew the hoods of there black robes up to shield there eyes. The four of them went down the alley and into Ollivanders wand shop.
"Ah Mr. Potter I wondered when you would be in again." (He was able to sense Harry's magical signature) Then he wondered off amongst the shelves grabbing long thin boxes as he went. Then he had Harry try each wand, as time paced the pile of tried wands grew and grew until Ollivander reached into the very back of the very last shelf and came out with a black box. Inside the box on a bed of red velvet sat the most powerful wand Harry had ever seen. "Try this one please Mr. Potter." The old wand maker told him as he carefully laid the wand in Harry's hand.
Harry felt the magic course through him aligning all his power and pulling latent strengths to the surface, instead of the red and gold sparks he got with the first wand. This time the tip of his wand erupted with sparks of all different hues and brightness.
"Perfect," Ollivander started taking the wand from Harry and wrapping it up. "This wand is 14 inch with ash wood and the core is phoenix feather, unicorn tail hair, and dragon heart-string braided together soaked in the blood of all three creatures, willingly given of course. This wand will give power and strength to any spell as long as the intentions are good, the moment Mr. Potter that you intend to do harm with evil in your heart the unicorn elements in the wand will stop the spell. Just remember when it comes to magic there is no light or dark only intentions."
The four quickly left the shop their thoughts weighed down with what Olivander had said. Harry walked around in a fog, barely even registering the trip to the robe shop, he only tore himself out of his stupor when they arrived at the book store. Harry replaced all the books Vernon had burned and then perused the self grabbing books that caught his interest. He went to the counter to pay for his books and Snape looked on curious as to what the young man had bought himself, he was surprised to see no fiction books only books on Charms, defense, Transfiguration, history, and not a small amount on potions. He met Harry's eyes and nodded approvingly at his choices.
They made there way back to the Leaky Cauldron and from there got to Snape Manor. The four of them ate dinner together in the dinning room and preceded to get ready for bed. Harry crawled in and fell asleep quickly for once exhausted enough to not worry about dreams.
He couldn't be that lucky in the middle of the night he was thrown in a vision from a death eater meeting. He watched as muggles were tortured and killed and every time the Cruciatus curse was cast Harry felt it. The pain was like white hot knives piercing his flesh. In between rounds of pain he could see death eaters running and casting other curses he noticed two death eaters were running along with the rest but never once cast a spell. As the raid started to end Harry knew what was coming next, the one curse that hurt worse then the Cruciatus in his dreams. The death eaters began to call out Avada Kedavra, and as the green curses hit the innocent people Harry felt like his body was being ripped apart piece by agonizingly slow piece. Finally his body could no longer stand the pain and he started screaming. He felt someone shaking him trying to get him awake, but in his already frightened state he panicked and curled up in a ball shielding himself from what ever was shaking him. Ever so slowly he came through the fright and was able to look around coherently, just to find Draco Malfoy on the side of his bed, worry pouring off of him like lava.
"Harry finally your awake what was that all about." He asked.
"I saw a death eater raid. Did Snape and your father get called tonight by a chance?" Harry asked.
"Yes they did get called but they should be back soon it is nearly 2 am."
"They are not going to be in very good shape when they come back, I have seen raids like this one before and they are spawned by Voldemort's anger that means he is going to put every one of them under the Cruciatus."
"Severus has a stash of potions for after meetings, do you want to go back to sleep or wait up for them?" Draco asked somewhat hesitantly.
Harry still getting used to this new side of Draco took a moment to answer. "I will wait up for them I never can sleep after seeing one of their raids at least if I wait up I can tell myself that I am being useful." Harry then noticed a warm fluid on his face and wiped of the blood that had seeped from his scar.
"Why was your scar bleeding and why were you screaming like that, I can understand fright but you were screaming from pain." Draco asked.
"My scar bled because I am connected to Voldemort it opens every time I have mind to mind contact with him which I do in the visions. I was screaming because the curses used in the visions effect me, I can actually keep quiet through a Cruciatus curse now, I screamed because tonight they used Avada Kedavra."
"You were under Cruciatus, for how long and how many times?" Draco asked deadly serious.
"I am not sure how many over a dozen and for about ten minutes a piece."
"You were under the Cruciatus that much and you can throw off the pain, most people don't last more then a minute." Draco said his voice showing a large measure of respect. He then continued to speak, "I know you have been wondering why I have been acting so different and I want you to know why." He took a moment to collect himself then began again. "I ware a mask at school, I have to maintain the family name and with Voldemort still out there we needed to make sure he had nothing to be suspicious about. Right now you are finally seeing the real me. When I first offered you my hand you refused, I had to try if you had started out in Slytherin no one would complain about me being nice to the Boy Who Lived. When you refused you made it so I would put my father in jeopardy if I tried to befriend you again. I am glad you were resorted into Slytherin you will find we are not as bad as every one thinks. We take care of our own, I have seen the way the other houses abandon there own members when they need them the most. Even your Gryffindors are the same maybe even more so then the others."
"I know you are right about Gryffindors, most of the time I am their Golden Boy other times I am their scapegoat. I regretted going into that house many times, no one there understands what it is like for me. I think some of the Slytherins would."
"What bothers you the most?" Draco asked out of pure curiosity.
Harry took time and read him carefully before replying. "I don't like loud noises and I absolutely detest touch, it reminds me of things I would rather forget."
"I know you must be worried that I would use this against you, just think for a moment has a single Slytherin lied to you including Voldemort?"
Draco had Harry stumped with that one, he couldn't think of one time. Voldemort hated him but at least he was honest in his hatred he never tried to make him think otherwise. With the possible exception of the offer in first year but that was more like trying to recruit him then anything else.
"I see your point Draco, I am glad you took the time to talk to me."
The two boys continued talking between themselves at some of their more memorable fights, each one of them saying what the fight was about to them. They surprised themselves most of the fights they had had they could not think of why they were started in the first place.
There conversation was interrupted by the two battered men apparating into the room. Draco managed to catch his father while Harry was left to deal with Snape. Luckily Draco knew where the potions were. They carefully fed them to the older wizards, waiting until they were fully recovered before settling back into chairs before the fire.
"Why are you two up?" Lucius asked his son.
Draco looked over to Harry silently asking for permission, when he saw Harry nod he started speaking. "I was sleeping until I heard Harry scream, when I got to his room I found him screaming and thrashing and his scar was bleeding. I tried to wake him up but he just curled up in a ball and tried to suppress his screams, he slowly came to. He told me he saw the raid and to expect you two back in bad shape, turns out he was right."
"Why were you screaming Harry?" Snape asked knowing there was more.
"I feel the curses sir, every time Cruciatus was cast I was hit with it too." Harry answered.
"No wonder you screamed." He said.
"Actually I didn't scream from that, though it hurt like hell. I screamed when they started using Avada Kedavra it feels about ten times worse then Cruciatus." Harry corrected him and opened his mind shields just enough to let Snape see he wasn't exaggerating.
Severus just looked stunned, the expression would have been amusing to see on the normally stoic potions professor if it wasn't such a deadly serious topic. "You can trow off the pain of Cruciatus it was thought impossible, Harry you must have seen more pain then most people alive today to be able to do that." He thought to himself for a moment as if debating whether or not to ask the next question. Finally he apparently finished the private debate as he opened his mouth to speak. "Harry could you tell us what happened to you at the Dursleys, you don't have to but it would help."
"It will be a long story, but I guess most of us aren't going to sleep so I might as well tell it now. I was at first their servant by the time I was two I could walk on my own I was given chores to keep me busy all day. When I could reach the stove I made the meals. If I didn't complete the chores or something went wrong with the kitchen I was locked in the cupboard under stairs that was my room for eleven years. I was not given food during any of my punishments. They began to hit me when I was young not a severe beating just a slap or a punch here or there when I was five. When I was six and Dudley and I were in school woe betide me if I got better marks then him. If any accidental magic was performed or indeed if anything went wrong at all it was blamed on me and I was one again looked in my cupboard. The years kept going and the abuse escalated into more and worse beatings, I am not sure how many bones he broke but I know it was quite a lot. Then school started and living on with the Dursleys became hell on earth. I was beat every night and they slowly stopped feeding me. I tried to get Dumbledore to keep me at the school but he wouldn't here about it. He kept spouting nonsense that I would be safer there then anywhere else." By the end of Harry's rant his power had come back into view pulsing around him.
Snape just thought about what Dumbledore's manipulations had cost this boy. His very innocence was taken from him, Dumbledore was extremely lucky that this wizard did not turn into another Voldemort. Snape knew he and Lucius would need a headache cure potion Harry's magic was so bright it was painful to a fully trained wizard not even Voldemort or Dumbledore could match this boy for raw power. All Harry needed was training and Snape was now fully committed to this boy, and his thoughts were echoed by the two Malfoys. Lucius was amazed that this boy had come through all that and was still a light wizard. Draco could barely suppress the fury that someone, especially a muggle could do that to Harry. And to make matters worse Dumbledore knew about it, not just knew about it he set it up to happen.
Lucius was the one to speak for the rest. "We are on your side now Harry, you will never go back there and Dumbledore will be dealt with accordingly." The other two nodded fervently, while Harry just wanted to hide in the shadows. Lucius attempted to calm Harry by putting a hand on his shoulder, Harry flinched before relaxing into the touch. The flinch did not go unnoticed.