Well, it's been a while since my last update, but I made this chapter bigger than normal so I hope you like it.

kagkur all-the-way, I do like your ideas, both of them actually. Hopefully the way the story works out I can put that it.

I know that some people believe that what happened to Harry in the earlier chapters seems a little exaggerated, but there is an explanation for it, you just won't get it until Harry's third year 

My spelling is off on a few things, I'll be the first to admit that, especially with names. Trust me it is on the list of things I won't to change for the final version.

Anyway, on with the story!

The Chronicles of Merlin: The Return

Chapter Ten

October 20th, Alexandria, the market place…

Harry looked around as he and Altia appeared. They were standing in an open market, there were hundreds of people milling around, and thankfully they hadn't noticed their arrival or more importantly the way they arrived. Harry guessed that since they were muggles they couldn't see the magic they used.

"Altia?" Harry asked. "How do we find this pyramid?"

"I'm not really sure." Altia admitted. "This place has changed so much in the past few hundred years. With all of the shifting of the sands it's going to be difficult to get my bearings."

"There must be something," Harry thought out loud. Merlin must have realized that something like this might happen. There had to be a way to find the pyramid.

"The magic even separated from you is yours Harry. It is a part of you, reach out with your senses."

"I'll try," Harry said as he closed his eyes. He first felt the magic of his core, not really sure about how he was going to detect the other part of his magic that was hidden here somewhere.

Taking a chance Harry sent a low level wave of magic outwards in the hopes that it was somehow cause a resonance, or reaction with his magic that was hidden here.

At first Harry didn't feel anything as his magic swept outward in all directions. The reaction he got was faint, he was sure that he would have missed it if he was more any more than 50 kilometers away.

Harry started walking through the crowded followed by Altia.

It was almost a half hour later that Harry and Altia pushed past the crowd. Harry sent out another wave of magic. He could easily tell that he was getting closer with the stronger way his magic was reacting.

It was almost like radar, the way that Harry was using his magic. When they reached the outskirts of the city Harry suddenly stopped.

"What is it Harry?" Altia asked as she came up beside him.

"This is it," Harry said as he looked out at the endless desert. This was the place that his magic led him, the next piece of his power was here.

"I don't see anything Harry," Altia said. "Could the sands have covered it?"

"I think so," Harry said as he looked around to make sure no one was watching. He didn't want anyone to see what he was about to do. "I think that I might need your help with this."

Harry lifted his hand into the air as sparks of white magic filled his hand before shooting upwards into the sky, creating a large dome before quickly fading into nothing. "So no one will see us," Harry explained the powerful repelling ward.

"Altia, can you move the sands?" Harry asked. "That took a little more out of me than I thought it would." He said feeling winded. He didn't have much of a reason to exercise his magic and his body. His classes required such a small amount of his magic that he wasn't prepared for it.

Harry promised himself that when he returned to Hogwarts that he would exercise his magic as well as his body.

Altia nodded as she raised her hands, sparks of gold and white magic swirling around her arms as the magic streaked to the sands and created a whirlwind.

Harry and Altia could just make out the very tip of the pyramid as it was slowly revealed. The sands inched away, finally revealing the pyramid.

"This isn't an Egyptian Pyramid," Harry remarked as he looked at it strangely. Instead of a small entrance at the bottom like all Egyptian pyramids there was a large one in the centre at top of a large set of steps.

"You're right," Altia agreed. "It is said that there was one race, one people that created the fist pyramid. Something happened to those people, they scattered to the four winds, the survivors all taking one aspect of pyramid building with them, and finally creating the pyramids that we know of today."

"Why didn't Merlin leave me any memory of this?" Harry wondered.

"That knowledge may have been able to let you find the other pyramids." Altia explained. "If you combine all of your powers too soon it could destroy you."

"Do you think that the search will lead me back to the original pyramid builders?" Harry asked.

"I don't really know." Altia admitted. "The first piece of your power was entrusted to me. I was trapped in the lake when Merlin sought to separate his powers for his reincarnation."

"This doesn't make any sense." Harry said. "The pyramid was created before Merlin's time, in fact they all were, even the ones that the rest of the world knows about." Harry said as the questions all began to pile up in his head. "How could a pyramid with the singular purpose of containing a portion of Merlin's power have been created before he was even born?"

"Merlin never thought of the world the same way that everyone else did." Altia offered. "There is definitely something greater than just the remaining portions of your powers behind this."

"I don't understand." Harry admitted.

"Neither do I, but we will. Shall we proceed?" Altia asked as she walked up the steps to the pyramid, followed closely by Harry.

When they finally reached the door they saw a large flat jewel in the centre of the door. "Just like the vault," Harry realized. He knew for sure now that Merlin definitely had something to do with the creation of this pyramid.

Harry placed his hand on the jewel, watching as it pulsed with light as soon as he touched it, and heard a grinding noise as the door slowly raised up.

Harry and Altia looked inside to find a dark corridor leading further inside. They each conjured a ball of light in their hands as they walked inside.

As they looked along the walls they both say the ancient hieroglyphics covering the walls. Harry wasn't quite sure what they said, but it had to relate to the creation of the pyramid, and possibly how Merlin could have been involved in the creation of something that pre-dated him.

The centre of the pyramid was a large circular room bathed in sunlight. As Harry and Altia looked up they realized the top of the pyramid was an illusion. It was a giant glass ceiling.

In the very centre of the room was green glowing orb that was floating a few inches above a dais, just a little smaller than a basketball. It wasn't solid, and seemed to be made entirely out of energy. It pulsed and it rippled, almost like a living entity breathing in and out.

Harry looked to Altia. "Is this it? Is this the test?"

"Yes Harry, the test of loyalty. When you are ready touch the orb," Altia explained.

Harry took a deep breath and placed his hand on the orb. This was it, the test. He would either merge with this power or it would destroy him.

As soon as Harry touched the orb his vision was engaged by a white light. Everywhere he looked all he could see was white, leaving Harry to wonder what was to happen.

Suddenly and without warning images began to flash before Harry's eyes, they were changing so quickly that Harry couldn't even tell what they were, when finally the image stopped.

It was an image of all his friends. Hermione, Draco, Ron, Ginny, Paul, the Dursley's, Julia, and everyone else that he knew and cared about. They were smiling, they were happy. In that instant Harry knew what the test was.

It reinforced the knowledge that he wasn't alone anymore, that he had people that he could depend on, that without them he never would have passed this test, and most importantly that his friends would always be there for him.

In that moment of acceptance the power rushed into Harry as a powerful wave of energy. It was just like the first time. Images flashed before his eyes, things that Merlin had done, seen, and learned. It was incredible. The knowledge thought lost for hundreds if not thousands of years now existed within him.

Harry screamed as the magic finally reached the last stage. It was changing his body, just as Altia had predicted. He could literally feel the magic painfully changing his body. His arms and legs grew stronger as new muscle began to develop. The bones in his legs increased making him a few inches taller. His shoulders grew broader. His eyes changed, the swirling white light in his eyes changed, replaced with an ethereal green, the color of life. The final change was his hair. It was no longer streaked with grey, but green, the same as his eyes.

Harry slowly stood up as the pain finally lessened. He looked down at his hands, and touched his face. He was different now than he was before this started. He could feel his magic was stronger, abilities that he remembered Merlin had, that he didn't have the power to do before, he know felt that he could.

Altia watched Harry's metamorphosis in awe. She had never seen anything like it before. She was startled when he screamed out but knew that she could not interfere.

"Harry," Altia said as she cupped his face in her hands. "How do you feel?"

"Stronger, more complete," Harry answered. He leaned forward impulsively and kissed Altia. His lips softly pressed against Altia's, who returned the kiss without hesitation. It felt right, to be like this with Altia.

"My time is running out Harry," Altia said as they broke the kiss. "I can feel the lake, it's pulling me back."

Harry could only watch as Altia began to fade, becoming transparent. Then as if an invisible force was pulling her she was yanked backwards. "I love you Harry!" were the last words she was able to utter before she disappeared.

Harry touched his lips where he had kissed Altia. "I love you too." He whispered to the quiet room.

Harry looked around the room again, wondering if the knowledge that Merlin had imparted would help him to understand the hieroglyphics.

It was slow at first, but he was starting to understand them. The hieroglyphics spoke of surprisingly enough, himself. They chronicled his life, most of the major points in his life. His birth, the stone he discovered in the lake, Altia, even how he found this pyramid.

All that knowledge, inscribed before even the existence of his previous incarnation.

Harry searched the walls, hoping to find the answer to this mystery, when it suddenly hit him. Merlin was his last incarnation, who was to say that there weren't others? How many times had he done this? How many times had he separated his powers, only to find them again after his next incarnation?

It seemed that he had even more questions know than when he started. Why would Merlin even reincarnate himself? He did not have the knowledge himself yet but he knew immortality was possible. Altia was proof of that, and the legends spoke of Merlin having immortality as well.

Harry spend days reading the hieroglyphics, hoping to find some answers, but he finally had to admit to himself that the answers he was looking for couldn't be found here, that Merlin did not want him to know everything just yet.

October 31st, Hogwarts, the great hall…

Hermione, Draco, Ron, and Ginny were worried about Harry. He hadn't been seen or heard from in almost two weeks. There were no mentions of him in the daily prophet, the headmaster had no idea what happened to him, and any inquires by the ministry about Harry's whereabouts led to nothing but dead ends.

"I hope he's okay," Ginny said with a sigh. "It just isn't the same without him."

"I know what you mean," Hermione agreed. While Harry was gone Glory had gotten even further out of control. Every other house was not at 0 points, and Gryffindor stood at 1247 points at last count.

"He'll come back when he's ready, it won't be much longer." Draco said adamantly. He was Harry's first friend at Hogwarts, and arguably knew him the best. Out of all of them his support of Harry had always been the strongest.

"You've been saying that for almost two weeks," Ron snapped. More irritated by the stress about what Gory was doing than anything Draco had done. It had been a novelty at first, at time even a little funny, but now it was just insulting. Glory had robbed Gryffindor of its honor. It was supposed to be the house of the strong and the brave, but there was nothing strong or brave about what Glory had done.

Ron just wished that more of his house mates could see that. None of them could see what this was doing. All the other houses were beginning to hate the Gryffindor's and he couldn't blame them. They were going to win the house cup, but it didn't mean a damn thing anymore.

"I KNOW!" Draco snapped back. "When I said Harry was coming back I meant it, and to hell with anyone that thinks any differently!"

Ron immediately felt bad. He shouldn't have snapped at Draco. He knew how much Draco's friendship to Harry meant. Harry was the first true friend that Draco ever had.

"Look Draco, I'm sorry. I was just-" Ron never got to finish as the door opened, and someone in tattered clothes quietly walked into the room.

He looked a little different, but his friends instantly recognized him. It was Harry! Harry was back!

Hermione and Ginny quickly ran up to him hugging him.

"What happened to you Harry?" Hermione asked taking in his new appearance. "You look different."

"After I left, I ended up back at the lake." Harry explained. "Altia told me a few things about Merlin."

"What's going on?" Draco asked. What happened to Harry was far from normal.

"Not here," Harry said as he saw Dumbledore and Snape approach. "It isn't safe."

"Ah, Harry my boy," Dumbledore said. "It's good to have you back." He said jovially. "Perhaps you can enlighten us to where you have been?"

"Finding myself," Harry replied, refusing to tell the Headmaster anything.

"You will tell the headmaster where you have been you impudent brat." Snape threatened, more than a little curious where Harry had been, and more importantly what had happened to him.

"That is not your concern headmaster. I am more than capable of taking care of myself." Harry replied evenly.

"Very well Harry, but I need to see you in my office after dinner. Student's aren't permitted to leave the school during term." The headmaster said.

"As you wish headmaster," Harry agreed as Dumbledore and Snape returned to the teacher's table.

"Harry, maybe you should have told the headmaster what happened." Hermione suggested. She knew how Harry felt about him, but wasn't quite sure as to why.

"The headmaster can't be fully trusted." Harry warned. "He has his own agenda."

"The headmaster defeated Grindewald," Ron pointed out. "He is on the light side." He insisted.

"Ron, there is no dark or light side." Harry pointed out. "There can never be anyone or anything that is completely good, or completely evil, not me, not you, not Dumbledore, not anyone."

"You're different Harry," Ginny realized. Harry had always had a deeper understanding of things, but this was something else.

"I will try to explain what I can tomorrow," Harry promised, sitting down to dinner with his friends.

Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Draco reluctantly agreed, sitting down beside Harry.

Harry had just begun to eat when Glory decided to saunter over. "So you're back then?" She asked arrogantly. "Well if you ask me you shouldn't have come back you big fake," she smirked.

"Glory," Harry acknowledged. "I see you've been busy," he referred to the house point situation.

"I can't help it if the other houses aren't any good." Glory laughed. "What happened to you anyway, another one of your little disguises faker?" She said as she wondered about Harry's new looks.

"They are all good houses," Harry replied, refusing to be drawn off topic. "The only reason that Gryffindor is ahead is because you have been abusing your rights as heir."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Seamus growled. "Gryffindor earned those points fair and square."

"I disagree," Harry said as he stood to his full height, which now gave him a height of four inches above Seamus.

Seamus gulped visibly as he looked up at Harry. Sure Harry was always powerful, but the added height seemed to only increase it.

"Well there isn't anything you can do about it!" Glory said hotly. How dare Harry try to intimidate one of her friends?

"If you keep this up you're going to turn the other houses against you." Harry warned. "They will eventually become ¾ of the wizards and witches in Britain. Do you really want to have that many enemies?" Harry asked.

Glory paled slightly at that realization. How could she be famous if ¾ of the school hated her? There had to be a way to fix this problem. She quickly turned on her heel, returning to the Gryffindor table as she wondered how to fix this.

Just as everyone was beginning to eat again Professor Quirrell burst into the room gasping for breath. "TROLL, TROLL in the dungeons!" He shouted as he collapsed to the floor.

Most of the students screamed, and started to panic at the news. Trolls were extremely dangerous, and with their resistance to magic it only made things worse.

Dumbledore raised his wand into the air and created a loud bang, getting everyone's attention. "Everyone will please calm down." He said in the suddenly silent great hall. "Prefects please lead the students in an orderly fashion to the common rooms." He ordered.

"Something isn't right here." Draco pointed out. "None of this makes any sense."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked. He hadn't really stopped to think about it.

"Quirrell is the defense against the darks professor." Hermione pointed out. "If anyone can handle the troll it would be him."

"Why would he just burst into the great hall like that?" Ginny wondered. "He must have known that he would have caused a panic."

"That was exactly what he wanted to do." Ron said, catching on as well. "This is all just a distraction so that he can get whatever's in the third floor corridor."

"Alright Hermione, you come with me." Harry said. "We need to stop the troll before it hurts someone. Draco, Ron, I need you to follow Quirrell. Don't let him see you, but find out as much as you can."

"What about me?" Ginny asked. She didn't want to be left out.

"Ginny… you don't know enough spells." Harry said as delicately as possible. "If something happens a stunner may not be enough."

"Harry's right," Ron agreed. "Sorry Ginny, but you have to sit this one out."

"This isn't fair!" Ginny said angrily. She deserved to go too.

"No, it isn't." Harry agreed immediately. "You have to trust me though, I'll explain tonight. I promise."

Ginny gave in as soon as she heard that. She remembered what Harry said about trust. "You better," She demanded as she caught up with the rest of Hufflepuff house.

October 31st, Hogwarts, Corridor in the dungeons…

Harry and Hermione searched the corridors, hoping to find the troll before it had the chance to itself, or anyone else.

The trail was easy enough to follow. The troll made no effort to hide where it was going, leaving a trail of dirt, and the odd broken suit of armor in its wake.

"Harry maybe we should have left the troll to the teachers." Hermione said. "Draco and Ron may need our help." She pointed out.

"They can handle themselves." Harry said. "Besides, too many of going to the third floor corridor would have been too suspicious."

"Still the teachers wouldn't need our help for this," Hermione insisted.

"Trolls are highly resistant to magic Hermione, which makes them especially dangerous to face. If the teachers find the troll first they will kill it." Harry insisted.

Hermione was about to respond when they both heard screams coming from up ahead. They both broke out into a run hoping that they weren't too late.

They followed the screams to the girls washroom, rushing in they were met with the sight of Seamus, Lavender, and Glory cowering in a corner as the troll advanced on them.

As soon as Glory caught sight of Harry she couldn't help herself. "Harry! Please, you have to save us!" She begged in fear. She knew that Harry could never leave her to die like this.

"Hermione," Harry said in a calm voice. "Were you practicing the spells I told you about?"

"Yes, every night." Hermione responded immediately.

"Good, when I give you the word I need you to perform the summoning charm." Harry said as he put his wand a way and slowly began to walk towards the troll.

"Harry!" Hermione said in alarm. "What are you doing? Pull out your bloody wand and get back here!"

"Hermione, summon them over. One at a time," Harry asked.

"Accio Glory," Hermione said. She really didn't like this plan of Harry's. It was crazy! Unfortunately she couldn't think of anything better.

The troll turned around immediately as he wondered what happened to the girl. He stopped as he met the eyes of someone, or something. It was powerful and looking right at him, causing him to falter.

"Hermione, summon the next one." Harry said as he kept eye contact with the troll.

"Accio Lavender," Hermione said, pushing Lavender behind her with Glory as soon as she arrived.

Harry stepped forward again, extending his hand to the troll in a non threatening manor.

The troll didn't know what to do as the human approached. It was different from all the others. The only thing it new for sure was that it didn't even want to try to hurt this one. It could literally feel the waves of kindness, love, and trust flowing from the human, and the feeling only got stronger as the human approached.

The club dropped from the troll's slack hand, forgotten as the human approached.

"Now Hermione," Harry said.

"Accio Seamus," Hermione said as she summoned the last one, pushing him behind her.

Hermione, Seamus, Lavender, and Glory then watched in amazement as the troll dropped to its knee so that it could be on the same level as Harry.

Harry carefully reached out, not wanting to startle the troll and placed his hand on its forehead. "It's alright," he told the troll quietly. "I'll make sure you get outside again."

The troll didn't say anything. It just sat there calmly.

Everyone thought that it was over, and were breathing sighs of relief when the teachers all burst in, wands at the ready.

The troll surged to its feet. It could tell when it was in danger. They might even want to hurt the kind human. It growled menacingly at the wizards.

"Harry," Professor McGonagall said in alarm as she saw him. There was a troll right there in front him, the boy was in serious danger Merlin incarnate or not.

Snape unfortunately jumped the gun and sent a bludgeoning hex at the troll, followed shortly by Dumbledore and McGonagall. Since Snape had attacked first they had to make sure that the troll went down.

"NO!" Harry said as he cast a wand less magic shield. All three spells struck the shield creating an arc of magic, but otherwise nothing else.

"It's alright." Harry said to the troll soothingly, seeing that it was ready to attack. "No one is going to hurt you, I promise."

Harry knew that the troll could not understand the words, but the meaning behind the words was clear. The troll stopped immediately.

"You will not harm this troll." Harry said to the teachers. "I will lead it outside."

"It's a wild animal." Dumbledore insisted. "It is too dangerous Harry."

"I won't let you hurt him." Harry said firmly.

"That troll is dangerous you brat!" Snape shouted. "Get out of our way so that we can do our job!"

"Let's go," Harry said as he led the troll out of the dungeon, careful to keep the wand less shield up in case the teachers tried to stop him.

The others could only watch in shock as Harry led the fearsome troll out of the dungeons, and back into the forbidden forest.

October 31st, Hogwarts, the third floor…

"He's moving pretty quickly for a guy that just collapsed in the great hall," Draco said sarcastically.

"Tell me about it," Ron said as he made sure that Quirrell couldn't see them.

They both watched as Quirrell unlocked the door and stepped inside. A few seconds later they heard some loud barking. A second later Quirrell scrambled out of the door, slamming it closed behind him as he breathed heavily.

"Well I think it's safe to say that Quirrell not only knows what's in there, but that he also wants to get it," remarked Ron.

"Well he isn't getting in anytime soon," Draco agreed. "We should get back to our common rooms before anyone notices we're missing.

Ron nodded as they started to walk down the stairs.

"Wait," Draco whispered as he pulled Ron down, and they peered down over the staircase.

"It the headmaster," Ron said. "Maybe he already found the troll."

"I don't think that it was him," Draco said as he spotted McGonagall, Snape, Hermione, Lavender, Seamus, and Ginny following after the headmaster.

A few seconds later they were again shocked to see Harry leading a full grown mountain troll to the main door. He followed everyone out, in what they assumed was the way to the forbidden forest.

"Well there's something you don't see everyday," Ron said. He was too shocked to say anything else. Ginny was right, that had to have been magic. No one could just tame a mountain troll.

"We have to get out of here now!" Draco said as he and Ron rushed down the stairs. They both knew that with the teachers outside this was the best time to get back to their common rooms undetected.

October 31st, Hogwarts, the Edge of the Forbidden Forest…

Harry and the troll stopped at the edge of the forest. "This is it, you're home." Harry said as he looked out at the forbidden forest.

The troll looked between Harry and the forest, moving his head back and forth. It wasn't really sure what it wanted to do.

"You belong there," Harry said as he noticed the look of indecision on the troll's face. "It isn't safe for you at the school."

The troll nodded sadly as it took one last look at Harry before slowly walking back into the forest.

"Harry that was a very dangerous thing you did." Dumbledore scolded. "Someone could have gotten hurt."

"From where I was standing headmaster, it was you, Professor Snape, and Professor McGonagall that were doing something dangerous." Hermione came to Harry's defense.

"15 points from Ravenclaw for disrespecting a Professor," McGonagall said forgetting that only Gryffindor had any house points remaining. "We did what we did to protect you from that animal."

"Harry already had everything well in hand." Hermione denied. "It wouldn't have attacked anyone, even after you tried to kill it."

The headmaster knew that this wasn't an argument that he could win, especially when Harry had people like Hermione on his side. "Very well, perhaps you can tell me what you were doing going after the troll in the first place? I distinctly remember telling all the students to go to their common rooms."

"We were going after the troll." Glory said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "If Harry and his friend hadn't come running in we would have handled it ourselves." She said arrogantly. Now that the danger was over she had no problem trying to take the credit.

Lavender looked at Glory in shock for a moment. She had seemed just as afraid of the troll as she and Seamus were. In fact if it wasn't for Harry they would probably already be dead. Maybe Glory wasn't the hero that she thought she was, and maybe Harry wasn't the liar Glory always claimed he was.

Seamus didn't know what to believe, on the one hand Glory was the girl-who-lived, and she was a hero. Unfortunately he hadn't really seen anything yet that proved she lived up to her title.

Both Seamus and Lavender decided not to say anything yet, it was probably better to have the conversation in private anyway.

"What about you Ms. Granger, Harry?" Dumbledore asked. "What reason did you have to go after the troll?"

"What would you have done if you went after the troll?" Harry asked.

"Full grown mountain trolls are dangerous Harry." Dumbledore replied.

"So you would have killed it?" Harry asked.

"My first duty is to the safety of the students Harry." Dumbledore replied.

"That troll was afraid and only trying to protect itself. The reason I went after it was because I didn't want it to get hurt." Harry explained.

"Mr. Finnigan, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Potter," McGonagall addressed them. "For knowingly putting yourselves in danger, and disobeying a professor 100 points from Gryffindor each."

"How generous of you Minerva," Snape sneered. "Why I dare say that Gryffindor is out of the running for the house cup now." He said sarcastically.

"You three will have detention for a week with Mr. Filch. Perhaps that will teach you some respect for the school rules." Snape said. It felt good to be able to hand out detentions again.

"What about Harry?" Glory said snottily. "He was there too! If he didn't get in the way I would have taken down that lumbering brute myself." She declared, once again refusing to acknowledge that she had all but begged for Harry's help.

"Harry, Ms. Granger as I am unable to take any house points from you at the present, I believe that a week's detention will have to suffice." Dumbledore said. "Harry we must still discuss the terms of you absence, and you punishment for leaving the school without permission. Follow me to my office please." He said turning to leave.

"Do you always punish students for saving the lives of their fellow students?" Hermione asked. She would be damned if Glory was allowed to leave here thinking she had won something.

"You disobeyed an order from the headmaster," McGonagall said. "Consider yourselves lucky that all you are receiving is a week's worth of detentions."

"It still does not change the fact that we saved the lives of three students," Hermione said as she glared at Seamus, Lavender, and Glory. "Even though they didn't deserve it with the way they have been acting."

Seamus and Lavender had the decency to look apologetic and ashamed of their actions at least. Glory on the other hand looked offended that. "How dare you speak to me like that?" She growled. "I am the girl-who-lived!"

"Then act like it." Hermione snapped. "All I've seen from you so far is a spoiled brat hiding behind her big brother whenever you get yourself into a scrape. He may not be able to save you the next time." Hermione warned.

"We didn't need Harry's help, we could have handled it all by ourselves before he showed up, trying to steal my fame!"

"Hermione it's alright," Harry tried to interject.

"No it isn't Harry!" Hermione said angrily. "I'm tired of the way she treats everyone, like they're beneath her. She couldn't have beaten the troll, and it's time she stops pretending, before she get someone hurt."

Harry sighed. He knew that Hermione was right. The way Glory was doing things it was inevitable. She would get herself hurt one day, and probably a few other people as well.

"You're right Hermione." Harry agreed. "If you check Hermione's wands professors you will find the summoning charm was used. I calmed down the troll and instructed Hermione to summon them to her when the troll was distracted."

The headmaster agreed, taking Hermione's wand and saying "prior incantem." He could easily tell that what Harry said was true. He knew that Glory didn't have the power necessary to defeat the troll. What he found from Hermione's wand only confirmed it.

"Very well," Dumbledore said after a long pause. "Ms. Granger, Harry, for saving the lives of three students take one hundred points for Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff."

Glory chose not to say anything, knowing that it would only make things worse for her. She wouldn't admit it to anyone else but she had made a mistake going after the troll. Worse still she had to change the way the other houses saw her, it was already hurting her popularity as it was.

October 31st, Hogwarts, the Headmaster's Office…

As Harry sat down in the headmaster's office he wondered why Snape had accompanied them, especially since he wasn't even his head of house.

"Harry my boy," the headmaster addressed him jovially. "Would you care for a lemon drop?"

"No thank you headmaster." Harry responded politely.

"How about you Serverus?" The headmaster offered the candy to the potions master as well.

"No thank you headmaster." Serverus refused as well.

"Very well then," The headmaster said, not the least bit perturbed that no one had taken his offer. "Harry it was against the school rules for you to leave during the semester. Would you are to tell me where you have been all this time?"

"No headmaster, I would not. My reasons for leaving are personal." Harry said truthfully.

"Now Harry my boy," Dumbledore said trying to get Harry to trust him. "I am only looking out for your best interests." He knew that if Harry began to trust him he could mold him into the weapon that he needed, and possibly even replace Glory.

"Perhaps you can tell me what has happened to you?" The headmaster said when he realized that he would not be able to get an answer to that question easily. "How has your appearance changed so drastically?"

"Headmaster I was under the impression that this was to be a discussion about my schooling." Harry said, again refusing to answer any of his questions. There was just something about this man that he didn't trust.

"You will answer the headmaster's questions," Snape demanded, speaking for the first time.

"The answers to those questions are private," Harry replied calmly.

"Very well, if that is how you feel Harry," The headmaster said with a sight. "I have no choice but to give you a week's detention with Filch."

As Albus was speaking Harry felt a tickling in his mind, someone was trying to enter his mind! He snapped his occlumency shields into place. His eyes immediately fell to Serverus Snape who was staring at him intently.

"Why are you trying to enter my mind?" Harry asked Snape point blank.

Snape looked startled that he had been found out. A powerful mind shield snapped into place, blocking any further attempts on his part.

"I know that there are very few laws regarding legemency, which is the only reason I allow this transgression to pass." Harry said as he stood to face Snape, his eyes glowing green with power. "If it ever happens again I will cauterize your mind magic." Harry warned.

"No one has that kind of power," Snape laughed, brushing off the threat.

Harry didn't hesitate as he used his own legemency against the professor. He sliced through his shields with frightening precision, causing Snape to gasp sharply.

Snape felt Harry enter his mind, and there wasn't a thing he could do to stop him. It was as if his shields weren't even there. He saw images flashing before his eyes as Harry searched his memory, before it suddenly stopped and he blacked out.

"Harry, you must stop." Dumbledore said in alarm as he realized what Harry was doing.

"You walk a very fine line headmaster." Harry warned. "And my patience will only extend so far. You have allowed this man free reign in this school too long. This is your final warning. Hope that I never find Snape has done anything morally wrong again, or you may end up sharing his fate."

"You are walking down a dark path Harry," the headmaster said. Harry had after all threatened him as well as Snape. Couldn't the boy see that everything he had done so far was for the greater good? "I knew of another that walked the same path as you, and done horrible things. Let me help you before it is too late."

"If I am walking down a dark path, it is my path to choose headmaster." Harry replied. "But I would be more concerned with your own path."

"My intentions are only to help you Harry." Dumbledore replied.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions" Harry replied. "And sometimes the greatest evil in the world is not the kind that hides in the shadows, but walks among us in the light." Harry said as he left.

To Be Continued…