Sorry this took so long. It would have been longer but between you all waiting for it and I being too out of it to properly re-read and check for errors this one's coming fresh off the press. I am sad to say this one only has a basic spell check run on it and I am pleased to say Year one is finally complete. Book one is over and Book two begins. Finally the smutty stuff is about to begin. Note that this will involve underage individuals at times so if your uncomfortable with that leave and don't look back. Also note That this here marks the end of the weekly updates that I've been really bad with apparently in hindsight. Errors will rise as I'll be back to writing everything from scratch off of my story guideline sheet. Without further wait, Chapter 20.
Book I :: Chapter 20 :: Death vs Life
Through the flames Harry descended down into the abyss, unsure of what he would find below. Not if those he sought were well, nor the state of the enemy below. Upon exiting the spiraling stairs Harry entered the open room below and spotted Quirrell, towering over a bloodied and beaten Seamus.
Harry sharpened his awareness, taking in everything around him. The position of those in the room, the shape and size of all objects in and around it. Everything he could see and speculate about Harry took in with quick precision.
Quickly Harry took note of Seamus who lay abandoned on the stone ground, the flames surrounding the descending amphitheater like room flickering around him and off the stone floor providing ample lighting and minimal shadows.
But all strategic thought halted at what he saw that was the center of the great stage.
"AWNSER ME!" Quirrell shouted his hand pressing into the poor girl's neck.
Hermione's body lay flush against the Mirror, against her will, pinned for Harry to see. Her chest and face flush against the Mirror so firmly that it threatened the crack under the force of her body, but only just. Her blood dripping down her cheeks glowed beautifully against the light of the flames from a shallow wound upon her head. Quirrell's out stretched hand crushing into her back his lips shouting in her ear in demanding outrage.
"WHERE IS THE STONE!" Quirrell shouted. Harry could just barely hear Hermione's whimpers from across the room.
"I don't know. I only wanted to save Harry."
This was the wrong thing for her to say. Quirrell's unoccupied hand rose menacingly, his finger pointed firm at her heart. Hermione froze, bracing herself for the pain that was about to hit her.
"Cruci- Move you fool!" a second voice commanded, interrupting Quirrell's spell.
Taken by surprise Quirrell had moved in surprise at the voices order. By sheer luck this action moved him out of the way resulting in Quirrell dropping Hermione to the ground. The spell aimed at his chest instead missing and rebounded off the Mirror or Erised. The spell whizzed past Harry and hitting the stone walls behind him proceeded to rot the stone masonry away like molten butter.
Harry's preemptive spell missed but it didn't matter. It happened. He was already casting it a third time as the second flew midflight directly at Quirrell. His intent flaring madly with the desire to melt Quirrell's arm off his body.
"The Mirror, use the mirror." Quirrell realizing he was still in danger mindlessly obeyed the voice and rushed behind it. Even as he fled Harry unphased tossed out two pot shots toward him, wand level.
They missed but that didn't faze him.
"Wingardium Leviosa" Harry whispered calmly redirecting his focus towards Hermione and Seamus.
"Potter. I wondered when I would see you."
Harry ignored him, showing not emotion upon hearing Quirrells voice from behind the mirror. Continuing his priority of saving Hermione and Seamus he maneuvered them behind him, his wand pointed at them hovering them just centimeters off the ground so that if needed he could drop them safely to respond to any attack.
"That was quite the spell you tried to hit me with. Very dark magic indeed. Did you think I wouldn't notice? I didn't think you had it in you." Quirrell said aloud with a modicum of mockery in his voice.
Harry smirked as he retorted, "You're one to talk. How long are you going to cower behind that mirror?"
Quirrell stepped forward with a frown upon his face. No longer behind the mirror he looked upon Harry. When he didn't move to attack Harry returned his attention back to moving Seamus and Hermione. "You don't seem surprised. What gave me away?"
Seamus and Hermione fell to the stone stairs behind Harry with a soft plop, a cushioning charm placed there just after he broke the levitation spell.
"Interesting display of magic Potter. From what you've shown in class I didn't think you were proficient enough to have such control."
Harry smirked a smile so slight that Snape would have been impressed. "Well, I guess I just need a bit of pressure to get my magic flowing." Harry jokingly retorted. "And to answer your earlier question-" Harry added bring his wand up and at the ready, aimed at Quirrell, "- not everything is about you, professor. There were several reasons as to how if I'm honest, but let's just say since day one you've been a pain in my head." Harry stated flatly wand level with Quirrell's chest.
"Interesting. Now, not that this isn't fun but you're not that important either. I am quite busy if you haven't noticed." Quirrell stated as he turned around to focus on the Mirror.
Harry felt slightly pissed at this. Quirrell didn't even consider him a threat. Then again, even if it was merely luck, Quirrell did dodge three of his spells and had someone watching his back.
Harry glanced down at his body. He was definitely fit, his reflexes close to perfect, but he was still only eleven.
He was up against a clearly skilled mage, and something or someone else was aiding him, informing him of attacks from his blind spot. Knowing this Harry rationalized that the best method to bring him down to his own level was...
…to piss him off.
"The Stone is gone."
The one statement killed any joy within Quirrell as in a fury he turned to glare at Harry.
Harry smiled internally. Aggro acquired.
"Do not test me with your lies Potter or you will suffer along with your little friends. Wait your turn. I will figure out this Mirrors secret and then deal with you."
"First, friends? Making a lot of assumptions there. I hardly know Seamus. To me he's just that guy with an incredible and unfortunate talent for pyrotechnics. Second, the mirror does not show you what is real. Only what the user wants. The Mirror will show you the stone because it's what you want. Here's the thing, the stone is long gone. It's not here, never was." Harry explained moving closer, slowly advancing his position.
His scar was now screaming at him. It burned like fire, but Harry had it dulled down to a mild burning sensation. "Ignore the pain." Harry thought calmly, "Use it to heighten your senses. Tell him what he wants, enrage him, get him to focus only on yourself. Force him to slip up."
"You lie." Quirrell shouted his anger rising as a seed of doubt began to sprout. He stared into Harry's eyes as he slowly and calmly approached and for the first time since Harry had met the man Quirrell showed true fear.
Harry's murderous eyes drilled into him the image of his own death. A simple and uncaring death. Eyes that upon his death, the boy before him would go about his days as if his passing was just a mild fancy.
Quirrell errored. He paused and in his shock at the eyes that didn't belong to a small boy, he hesitated. His mind was unable to process the figure before him. It was a child. He was only eleven. Yet staring back at him was not the eyes of a child nor an adult. It was inhuman. In Harry's cold gaze he saw the eyes of death. The same death promised in the eyes of his master.
"Let me speak with the boy."
Harry stopped moving at the sudden reappearance of a third voice. He had already surveyed the room. There was no one else aside from Seamus, Hermione, Quirrell and himself. Harry readied himself for the voices to show itself.
He could take out Quirrell right now if he wanted too…
"Master you're not strong enough." Quirrell retorted.
However, that would leave him open, Harry knew he would risk the two behind him if he began exchanging blows.
"I have strength enough... for this."
Attacking would leave him open to the second person as well. He needed to know were they both were to finish this with absolute certainty. He wouldn't risk Hermione.
Quirrell nodded. He reached up and began unraveling the turban from his head. Slowly strip by strip the bandage like cloth fell and Harry stared into their faces waiting and confused. Quirrell stood idle while within the mirror Harry saw the reflection and his train of thought stopped.
He needed to hold his position for now and move in close so he could kill… but that thought died upon the sight Harry saw.
"Voldemort." Harry said aghast. In the back of Quirrell's head was a face that was no longer human. The face was snake like with slits for nostrils and pupils that cut in half the yellow irises the held them. Its flesh emerged sickeningly from the back of Quirrell's head.
"Yess." Voldemort said hoarsely. It sounded pained, weak, even sickly to Harry's ears. "See what I have become, forced to live of another. A mere parasite."
"It was for you. The Unicorn blood, you can't survive without it." Harry muttered in realization.
"Yess. This body, like any other that's not my own, cannot survive my presence for very long. Unicorn Blood is all that can sustain me."
"So it was Quirrell in the forest. I'm surprised you weren't put into a cast after I shot you clean through the forest." Harry snarkily replied.
"The wonders of magic a pain killing spell, and no one was any the wiser. Getting his arm treated would have… aroused suspicion." Voldemort taunted.
Harry started to feel something tickle the boundaries of his mind. Voldemort's eyes sharpening like daggers towards Harry through the mirror. Harry grinned. Finally, he made a mistake.
"Go ahead," he thought, "You want to read my thoughts give it your best shot."
Unaware Voldemort continued to monolog even as he coughed slightly. "Once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to recreate my body, a body of my own."
"That won't happen." Harry answered honestly with a reassured smile as Quirrell cautiously eyed his leveled wand. He needed Voldemort to try a little hard. Reading another's mind was a two-way street. Try to dive in forcibly and you leave yourself vulnerable. Just a little more and a bit of impatience and Harry knew he would win.
What Harry couldn't figure out was why Quirrell had yet to raise or even summon his own wand to his hand. If he had it hidden that was one thing, but he was almost too lax for that to be the case. He should have at least pocketed it…
Harry hid his shock well as he pondered something, he originally deemed impossible.
Quirrell didn't have his wand. No, not just that. Harry grinned. The act of drinking unicorn blood was a curse. The act in all likelihood might very well have left Quirrell unable to use his magic with a wand anymore.
"Such Bravery." Voldemort continued mockingly unaware of Harry's thoughts even as he continued to breach his mind, "So much like your parents. Just as brave, just as foolish. I always value bravery. Your parents had it too. When I killed your father, he was just as brave, just as foolish. He fought but regardless he died a fool. Your mother was just as foolish. She need not have died. She could have lived had she just stepped aside. Instead she begged me to spare you."
Harry flinched at this. Something in its voice was off. He spoke of killing Harry's father with pride, accomplishment, but his mother… there was no pride. It wasn't shame, but something close to shame. Something more…arrogant and frustrating. Voldemort wasn't boasting over his mother's death. Something must have happened, something Tom didn't want anyone to know.
Upon seeing Harry flinch Voldemort thought falsely he had intimidated the boy but the sudden grin on Harry crushed that hope. Voldemort had jumped the gun. His probe pushed just a bit too far and Harry now gripped it with an iron hand. "You're a bad liar." Harry said focusing his wand.
"Why don't you tell the truth." Harry said.
"Dear Harry, I have told you nothing but the truth." Voldemort retorted but his mind realized that his magic was stuck. Unable to accept a child was more proficient then himself, the thought that Harry could even grab hold of his mental probing never even crossed his mind.
"Then tell me Voldemort. Why do you not boast of my Mother's death like my Fathers." Harry asked with a shit eating grin. He readied himself, reinforcing his mind for his own frontal assault. He just needed Voldemort to think back to that moment. That single movement of weakness that mocked him internally.
And there it was, the moment of hesitation, the moment of recollection. Harry kept his wand level as he took the dive. "Turnabouts fair play Voldemort." Harry bit out harshly. "You shouldn't lie. Legilimens!"
Harry's spell ripped into Voldemort's mind through Quirrell. With his already weakened state, the unpreparedness for the surprise attack and the strength of a wand backing up Harry's already powerful natural proficiency, Harry saw everything.
Harry stood in the door way. Lily Evans, his mother, standing between him and his one-year old self. Harry was too overwhelmed by emotion to listen to their bickering, but his eyes saw the events unfold. The two bickered, Lily mocked and denied Voldemort who laughed. Suddenly Lily threw up her hand casting a spell that scarred Voldemort's face.
Rage enveloped Harry as he cast the torture curse over and over on Lily.
Crucio... Crucio... Crucio...
Harry watched as his mother defied him, endured and resisted even as she reeled in agony. She mocked him with her resistance and defiance in the face of the curse. The curse's inability to break her only furthered fueled the fires that was his rage. Eventually the women lay too weak to stay awake and she lied there continuously defiant. Done with the women Voldemort raised his wand, his anger and desire to destroy this defiant woman consuming him.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A shimmering green ball of light shot out of his wand and hit Lily bursting apart upon impact. Harry stared in disbelief. No, not just Harry. Harry realized that Voldemort was also stunned in disbelief. His most faithful spell, that killed all in his way, self-destructed before reaching its mark. "Impossible."
"Avada Kedavra!" he shouted again.
And again.
And again.
His rage grew to newer heights as even in this pathetic state she defied him. Harry paused. That's right. She was not the point of tonight. Tonight, he was to rid the world of the one who could end him. Tonight, he would kill the prophesied child.
He looked at the boy and raised his wand.
"Avada Kedavra!" and the world went black as the memory faded.
Harry refocused his eyes on Quirrell who was reeling from the sudden attack. Not risking his magic not working Harry charge at the first sign of opportunity given. Maybe it was due to the rage from the memory or something else, but Harry drowned in the furry that took him. He didn't need magic for this. He only needs his two hands to kill Quirrellmort.
Harry charged him, moving at top speed and lunged.
He didn't need magic, he was already close enough. Quirrell was almost certainly wandless. The man was staggered, shocked by the invasion of his mind. Harry refused to use magic, would not give him the honor. He would squeeze the life out of him. This monster didn't deserve the death of a wizard. Not for what he did, not for what he felt.
When the two collided Harry had successfully tackled Quirrell to the ground and had both his hands wrapped firmly around his neck.
Quirrell's head smashed against the mirror behind him causing it to crack at the rim. Voldemort feeling everything Quirrell did only screamed in rage as Quirrell choked and struggled to breath.
However, Harry didn't even take notice even as his knee scraped hard on the stone. Only a single thought played in his head over and over again. The thought of loosing someone he loved. The thought of revenge painted with righteousness.
"Never. Again." Harry gasped out in between his mounting anger.
Harry felt his fingers tighten against his skin. Quirrell's fleshy warmth raising in the heat of impending death. However, just as suddenly as the warmth met Harry's touch it vanished along with all resistance. As suddenly as it happened Harry was left with only the realization that he was now gripping ash. Looking up from his hands Harry saw the dead eyes of Quirrell blank with shock. His whole face breathless and unable to scream seemed frozen like a statue, marred black and gray as if turned to soot and ash.
Harry however could still hear breathing weak and feeble, shouts of silent screams. Harry realized it wasn't Quirrell but the sound of Hermione behind him. She was coming too, having passed out after Quirrell had dropped her and was now suffering the feedback loop from multiple cruciatus exposure.
Taking a calming breath Harry placed his hands on Quirrell's head and with a firm thrust watched as the flesh turned to dust, squashed underneath his palm. Content that the act was a sufficient double tap Harry stood up.
Looking around carefully Harry confirmed there were no additional hostiles just to be safe. With a sigh he let the tension drain.
It was over. Harry sat back. He had done it. Voldemort was officially dead. Quirrell was dead, and the Stone was safely lost in his possession. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew it wasn't completely over yet. It wouldn't be until all of them came out with a clean bill of health.
Hermione was coming too and injured. Seamus was still down along with Dean, and Ron was still left upstairs with a crippled Neville.
Lifting himself up Harry went over to Hermione to check up on her. Just as he reached her a chill shook his spine, his hairs standing on end. Harry twirled around raising his wand at the ready just in time to see a shade of black smoke screaming angrily at him. It hit his body and attempted to enter him.
As suddenly as it had done so Harry felt himself become consumed by a black mist. He couldn't see but he could feel. He could feel Hermione underneath him. He could feel Seamus, and he could feel Voldemort's touch. His anger grew upon feeling his touch and Harry felt his body rip apart the wisps of Voldemort's touch violently. He could feel it move, attempting to flee, stretching itself apart desperate to be free from his assault.
Eventually the touch succeeded, wounded, Voldemort disappeared. Harry could sense Voldemort's retreat and with it, his sight returned.
Everything began to return. The darkness returned to the bright fiery atrium.
Confused, Harry looked down and saw his arms reforming from a mass of oily-sandy mist. Harry stared wide eyed at his arms. He could feel Voldemort's intrusion. He saw it. And no soon did he Harry felt something inside him rise to his defense.
"Was that... my Obscurus?" Harry pondered in shock. If it was, that was the first time he actively felt his Obscurus.
Hermione's groan of pain refocused Harry's attention away from himself.
She looked at him in shock, but her smile told him she was fine.
Looking her over Harry identified a slight head wound and sustained cruciatus exposure. Seamus had similar signs with the exception of his own exposure to the spell being far more severe, possibly permanent.
Pulling out the small bottle he had drank earlier Harry smiled at the full contents within. The bottles replenished their contents. "Love or hate the man as much as you want Harry, but you got to give Snape credit for thorough planning." Harry wistfully joked to himself.
Giving the contents to Hermione and then to Seamus upon its refilling, Harry lifted the two and as gently as he could levitated them out of the room. It was a slow journey, but Harry was more focused on their comfort then his speed. Neither was in immediate danger, so Harry felt it better to not make it worse by waiting around and letting someone come to them.
Upon entering the chess room Harry was greeted with the sight of McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, Snape and Pomfrey. Harry was relieved to see them all mobilizing to help Neville and Ron. They apparently just got there seeing as Neville was still busted up and Ron at present was being analyzed by Pomfrey. The rest of the teachers who were readying themselves to chase after the others paused at the sight of seeing Harry levitating Seamus and Hermione towards them.
"Head Trauma and cruciatus exposure. Hermione's is significant, but Seamus is severe." Harry shouted, calling Madam Pomfrey's attention to them. To the rest of the teachers Harry informed them, "Dean is still under the effects of Snape's Living Death, but otherwise is unharmed. He's still in the Potions chamber."
The Professor's stood still with the exception of Pomfrey who was working to make some room to work with. Harry sighed at their hesitation. "Can we get a hand please?"
At this McGonagall, Flitwick and Snape awoke from their inaction. McGonagall transfigured a stone to walk Hermione towards Madam Pomfrey while Flitwick took over levitating Seamus. Harry glanced at Snape ignoring the scowl on his face as the man left to assumable retrieve Dean.
Harry walked over to Neville and sat next to him in silence out of the way from the working Professors. A simple hand gesture informing the boy that Harry didn't want to talk.
Neville nodded and watch the professors work as they left the two alone for the time being. Harry was left to his thoughts.
He did it. He rescued Hermione, but not in the manner he had wanted.
Unlike the force of nature, he once was, he was rusty. While his latest activities had brought him somewhat back into shape, he had lost everything else. The freedom and range of magic he once wielded back in the day, the tools and relics that overwhelmed his opponents no longer existed.
Harry looked at his hand, the hand of an eleven-year-old. A very fit and practiced eleven-year-olds hands showing months of exorcise, practice, and experience in evading swarms of enemy's curtesy of his fellow housemates, but still an eleven-year old's.
Thinking on it, Harry realized that this wasn't the first time he had just barely survived an attack. Looking back, he rushed in to save Hermione from the troll. He had the power to pull it off back then but was unlucky, no rather he was careless. He lacked the confidence and proficiency with the magic he knew and played it safe, only using what he was sure he could pull off.
There were a thousand things he could have done but only one he could have done back then without regretting his actions.
The Troll caught everyone with their pants down back then.
This time however, there were other options. Ideas, plans, plots that could have been carried out instead of charging right in. With better preparation, had he assumed a combat situation would or truly had arisen within the school Harry would have equipped himself for combat against a stronger more capable wizard then himself. Instead he trusted the professors knew what they were doing, that Albus knew what he was doing. He knew they were intelligent and capable and left it up to them. No reason for him, and eleven-year-old to risk himself.
In the end that was his mistake. He left it up to others and ignored the possibility that he would be forced to engage an enemy so soon. Until then, Harry could simply flee from any problems with ease.
And while he was successful, any number of events could have gone wrong and surprised him. That was after all what troubled muggle soldiers so often. Against a witch or wizard, you have no idea what they might do. At least that was the case. Once broken free from the traditional methods of spamming two spells, magic was down-right undefeatable at least by conventional means.
Harry understood that he could have died if Quirrell had something, done anything to compensate for his weakened wandless magic.
Harry had no cover, no real plan, nothing but wit and confidence.
He went forward and charged like an idiot with a death wish.
Harry paused at that.
Perhaps he still had one. Not a death wish, like the one he once held, but the mental mindset of a fighter seeking his own death.
A single mistake and he'd have lost his chance to reunite with Ginny and foster a stronger bond with Hermione. Yet in the heat of the moment his life had no value. Yes, he cautioned against being attacked but that was from being an immortal that still possessed pain receptors.
In the end he did save Hermione and killed Quirrellmort in the process.
Harry felt an over whelming desire to laugh.
He had just killed a man who was obsessed with life. His polar opposite. It was almost like it was staged. Harry Potter, the man who was always shadowed by life and wished for death to take him had just killed Voldemort the man who feared and fled death and hung arrogantly to life, fearful of his own end.
However, Harry wondered if he was really dead. That feeling towards the end… did Voldemort actually die? If that touch was real and wasn't a dream or hallucination, then maybe he was still out there.
What's more Harry learned something more shocking. His mother wasn't killed. At least Voldemort didn't kill her. He was unable too. If Harry killed him that night, it must have been because his spell rebounded. If so, he wouldn't be able to kill his mother.
Harry sat in silence.
Why?
It wasn't that Voldemort didn't kill her, he failed to kill her. But the question was why? How?
Why didn't his curse kill her? Why did the torture curse work yet not the killing curse?
If he didn't kill her then how did she die?
She did die, right? Or was she alive?
Harry wondered quietly. The thought of his mother being alive, that thought sparked hope. The idea of family. It rekindled a longing he had long lost but still retained in the form of Ginny and Hermione.
Family was everything to Harry, everything he ever wanted and more. He had started anew, wanted to reunite with Hermione and Ginny, the loves of his life, and started over. He wanted to protect them and rebuild the world for the better to avoid the nightmares of his past.
Never in his wildest dreams did Harry think the return of his parents, even a parent was possible. The return of his flesh and blood family. It was like a golden ticket had fallen into his lap.
No, Harry thought. If she was alive someone would have noticed. Gringotts, the Ministry, someone would have noticed. Magic marked her as dead. He paused. There was a record confirming her death wasn't there? A body? Did magic mark her as dead? If she was still alive how did Albus become his magic guardian.
Was he even his magic guardian? Hell, could magic be used to confirm someone's death?
Harry wondered and pondered, thinking back to even before his first visit to their world.
"No", was the only conclusion he could come too. A lack of evidence wasn't evidence.
There wasn't any evidence showing she was dead. Harry had just accepted it because that was what he was told. Everyone told him his parents died but no one proved this true, only that they believed it to be the case.
He had not seen her corpse nor her grave. Plus, the magical world failed to confirm Voldemort's death, he saw that truth himself. He even strangled it with his own hands. The only evidence was the will which was signed and witnessed by Albus Dumbledore.
A fact that Harry realized wasn't reassuring considering the mans track record and questionable intentions.
While it could mean nothing, Harry's experience with Dumbledore was shoot up red flags that might not even exist. His trust in the man was on faulty foundations and his inability to identify the man's goals and objectives was only making him more suspicious.
Outwardly he was a kind old man, but too many things had Harry suspicious of him.
Harry thought back to Ragnuk's reaction at Gringotts. Harry needed to look at his parent's will more closely. If his mother was still alive, then her will that he saw that day had to have been faked. Why he wasn't sure but if it was signed and faked by Albus in an attempt to gain control over him, Harry had to know and make sure.
Even if that wasn't the case Harry had to confirm as it was the only clue, he had right then that could point him to the truth.
Harry couldn't deny the possibility.
It was entirely possible that Albus Dumbledore would try to hide his mother's survival especially if he had plans that required himself to be under his control.
If his mother was dead, then who killed her? Voldemort's last memory of that night was his failure to kill him and Harry knew it wasn't faked. The ghost of the feared man did not have the strength to oppose Harry's mental assault.
Harry felt his eyelids droop as he began to believe that Voldemort was likely still alive, wounded by his Obscurus, but alive all the same. His eyes fell heavy upon his cheeks. His head hanging. He was tired, the stress of the situation and possible plots overwhelming him.
Harry fell into slumber as the weight and stress of the day's events and lack of sound sleep hit their peak. His final thoughts were questions of where he would end up that summer.
A gentle hand shook his shoulder awake as he sat on the cold stone floor. McGonagall looked down at him with worry in her eyes from above.
"Mr. Potter, can you stand?"
Harry smiled and lifted himself off the ground. The Teachers were prepping to move, and Harry had begun to doze off.
"I can."
The journey back was made in relative silence, at least by Harry's perspective. Only the commands of Madam Pomfrey ordering the teachers in the proper transfer of the injured broke the relatively quiet journey. Harry assisted were he could, mostly with levitating charms here and there and a few cushion charms.
As each was levitated up back to the third-floor corridor Harry found himself crushed by the earth-shattering hug of Hagrid whose tears had soaked is overly shaggy beard.
The giant was caring for Fluffy who diligently sat in the corner obediently yet was clearly itching to bite on someone or something. While the teachers weren't looking, Harry's curiosity got the better of him. Tracing a hand over its fur Harry had to resist from simply hugging the large furry beast.
Pulling away Harry let a small smile out. "Huh, it really is fluffy. Guess Hagrid's naming sense isn't as daft as everyone thought."
The remaining journey to the hospital wing was done before Harry knew it. Upon awakening in the hospital wing he realized that after confirming everyone was there, he himself had passed out from exhaustion only to wake up the next morning.
"I swear if I wake up in here again before next term, it will be all too soon." Harry grumbled.
Madam Pomfrey appeared by his side with a smile. "I couldn't agree more Mr. Potter. Now hold still."
Harry froze as she worked. He caught sight of the others laying in the cots around the room. His eyes spotted the flaming red hair of the Weasley's quickly enough. Percy, Fred, and George all stood around Ron's bunk worry and concern on their faces. They had all just arrived a few minutes ago. Percy was already in his prat mode as the twins called it, looking down and berating his younger brother.
Harry glanced sideways to see Seamus and Neville laying down. Seamus was still out, but Neville was sitting up in his bed. Most likely both were being detained for observations, just in case. Maybe even questioning. Dean was gone as with a simple potion he was revived and rightfully kicked to the curb for taking up space in Pomfrey's ward.
And then there was Hermione, lying next to his cot, again. This time she was the injured party and he was the one sleeping over, watching her.
She laid there sleeping peacefully a stark contrast to how she was down in the mirror room. Harry smiled contently as he confirmed her wellbeing for god knows the hundredth time. Her breathing was stead, rhythmic in its repetition. Her complexion was returning to normal and her head wound all but gone. All that remained was to confirm that no trauma remained from the ordeal.
"Mr. Potter, you are awake."
Harry turned to see Professor McGonagall stalking to him. "I see you look well. How is Miss Granger?"
Harry smiled, "Better. She's asleep for now."
McGonagall nodded. "I see. Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Weasely both appear to be in similar states still."
"If you mean okay and alive, then yes Professor." Harry said smugly as neither student was asleep. Harry however was taken aback as instead she did not berate him for his comment like he was expecting. Normally she would have responded to his teasing but instead she was quiet, and a frown firmly plastered upon her features.
Deciding to change topics quickly Harry added, "I'm glad you listened to the Twins, Professor. We would have been stuck otherwise."
"Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. They were quite persistent when they told me that several first years went after the stone and you had gone after them." McGonagall said distractedly.
Harry looked at her curiously.
"Everything alright Professor?" Harry asked. McGonagall looked unsettled but nodded. "Yes, fine." She said haphazardly and without real consideration or thought.
It was said a bit too curtly and quick for Harry's taste. Harry traced her line of sight towards the young amber headed girl laying blissfully in his cot. So that was it he thought.
"It isn't your fault you know." Harry said causing McGonagall to spin her head towards him. "The fact is we all made the choice to go down there. If anyone holds blame, it's Albus. The Headmaster shouldn't have placed such things in the castle to begin with."
McGonagall seemed to lighten up at his statement. Internally she was grateful for it as the events still left her a bit shaken.
Harry smiled at her, "So Professor, raise that stiff lip of yours. If you're worried and not intimidating rumors might spread that you're going soft."
Mcgonagall scoffed at this. "Mr. Potter I'd never..."
Harry laughed at her indignation. His mirth was contagious and soon both were laughing and caught the attention of the others.
Later that day Albus Dumbledore returned and the Professor's interrogated the students. Harry told them what happened form his view point. How he realized long ago what the dog was guarding and how he held absolute confidence in the Professor's protections.
He didn't tell them that was a lie and that he wasn't worried because he had the stone since that night on Christmas hols. Harry told them how he knew how dangerous the protections were and his concern sparked his immediate response seeing as they had been missing since last night.
He informed them of how he found Neville and how he essentially walked through all the defenses. He also told them how he found Quirrell fused with Voldemort and how he turned to ash the moment he touched him. Thankfully Hermione and Seamus were out during that time since it meant that he could hide keep details of their encounter. Especially his encounter which informed Harry of his mom's possible survival.
"And the stone, Harry?" Albus asked.
"I don't know." Harry stated quickly and clearly.
"Quirrell seemed to believe it was in the Mirror. But the mirror only shows what the users wants. It's not like you could retrieve the stone from the Mirror." Harry explained. "I don't know Professor, if the stone was down there, we didn't see it and Quirrell didn't get it. I wasn't really worried about the stone truthfully. I was more focused on stopping Quirrell from hurting Hermione and Seamus any further." Harry explained.
Albus looked down with worry unsure of what to make of this. Both Hermione and Seamus had passed out during the most important part. The period of time Harry confronted Quirrell was missing and neither had witnessed it. Neither were awake to give him the answers he needed and since the children went before Harry, Dumbledore was unsure if Harry had overcome any of the trials he had made himself.
He did know that Harry had the answers but pushing him for more detailed answers was liable to distance the boy further away, something he couldn't afford. Instead he left, leaving one piece of very unwelcome information upon Harry before he left.
Something that left Harry in a right mood for the duration of his stay in the hospital wing.
When Harry was 'released' with Neville from Madam Pomfrey's care, the two went straight down to lunch and had a quiet meal together. Both needing a bit of normalcy in their lives. Neville more so then Harry who just understood the importance of a proper meal after a battle.
Afterwards Neville thanked Harry for saving them.
Harry smiled, shrugged it off, and told him that next time he had trouble, ask for help first. He joked how Potions wasn't getting any easier for them and laughed together despite Neville paling slightly at the notion.
On his way back towards the Hospital, Harry took a shortcut which lead him close to the Owlery. There on his way back Harry bumped into Tonks as a result of this decision.
"Watcher Harry."
"Sup Tonks." Harry said in passing but was stopped by her firm hand.
"Hold up buster. You don't call me Tonks. What's up."
Harry blushed and shook his head. "Don't know what you mean."
Tonks grinned evilly "I bet you don't. The Twins made quite a ruckus at breakfast after you left with them. I'm not that stupid Harry. Something happened and now its stuck in your head. Now talk."
Harry smiled. "Alright fine. I've gotta talk to you about something anyway. I just didn't know how to go about bringing it up."
Heading into an empty room Harry told her everything that had transpired in the background of her final school year. The troll, the stone, everything that had being going on behind the scenes and what Harry had found out and had to do.
The story left her dumbstruck.
"You're kidding. That's what they've been keeping on the third floor all year?" she asked indigently.
"Yup. Let's not even talk about how I had to kill an evil spirit possessed unicorn blood sucking DADA Professor who was after immortality. Or how I save five Gryffindor's in the process." Harry snorted back.
"Yeah let's not mention that." Tonks said mirthfully in teasing. "Did he really just turn to ash?"
Harry nodded. "Yep, must be my magic touch."
"I doubt that." Tonks said delivering a playful elbow to his rib cage, pleased he was taking it so well. "And you don't know why at all?"
"Haven't got a clue. I was so angry I was content to just strangling him. Don't have an inkling as to why he turned to dust in my hands."
"And you're sure you… you know…" Tonks asked hesitantly.
"Killed him?" Harry asked. "Tonks worse case was he killed us all once he got the stone. Less as bad would be if he killed us trying to figure out how to get it. Ethics aside I have no regrets in my decision. Even if I got a bit emotional in the end."
Tonks nodded in silence. She wasn't okay with killing herself, but she understood why Harry made the decision he had.
"So, what now? Does it have something to do with what you wanted to talk to me about?" Tonks asked.
"Yeah remember I told you before… about my relatives. How before the school year started my darker half made itself known and hospitalized my relatives?" Harry started.
Tonks cautiously looked around and nodded, "Yeah. You said you didn't know what happened to them."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I just assumed they'd been killed, and no one had the heart to tell me I killed them. Turns out they're alive and well."
"And that's good…?" Tonks asked uncertainly.
Harry just shrugged. "Not sure. Personally, for me no it isn't, but it is good for them. You know, not being dead." Sighing Harry continued on, "Worse, Dumbledore's insisting I return and live with them. That little hiccup is going to make things difficult."
Tonks looked at him uncertainly. "What do you mean?"
Harry just glared at Tonks. "Really Nymphy?"
"What?" Tonks shouted more perplexed then before. "Was it something I said?"
"Think about it. What is the name of my condition."
"You're an Obscurial."
"Yup," Harry retorted, "And what does that mean for me?"
"That you have an Obscurus inside you."
"Yup, and how do you think I got that Obscurus?"
Tonks froze as it finally clicked. "Ohhhhhh… that makes sense."
"This is the women who wants to become an Auror. Wizarding London's finest." Harry teased.
"Shut up Harry." Tonks spat out while sticking her tongue at him. After a second of silence she finally asked, "So what were you planning on doing?"
"I was planning on winging it." Harry stated flatly. "First, I was planning to head to Gringotts, get some cash, and rent out a flat, maybe outright purchase it and get some powerful anti-tracking wards installed asap while moving around constantly so as not to be caught by the Headmaster. Now that Albus is likely to try and keep an eye and leash on me the possible locations I can reside is drastically limited and I need to figure out a way to hide without being found easily."
While Albus had explained that there were blood protection in place that was the reason he needed to go back to his relatives, Harry wasn't going to just roll over and agree. Albus's demands aside, Harry had his own plans and his relatives would only inhibit him. Honestly, he was more at risk with them then he was away from them.
Under their house he was powerless. No that wasn't true. He possessed magic and could easily kill them if he wanted too. No, the simple truth was that there were more risks and consequences living under them then without.
"Harry?" Harry looked over at a madly grinning Tonks.
"What is it?" Harry asked cautiously.
Tonks looked slightly flustered but then cared on as sincerely as possible, "What would you say to spending the summer at my place?"
Harry stared at her blankly, he didn't expect that. "You're inviting me to stay the summer?"
Tonks nodded. "It's not like I could let you go back to your folks in good conscious. Muggle or not, the mistreatment of a young wizard in our world is a serious crime. Besides I can't let a friend go back to the place that allowed an Obscurus to fester and develop."
Harry just looked at her a started to break into laughter. Tonks just stood there confused before she finally asked, "What? What's so funny?"
Catching his breath Harry shook his head. "Sorry, its just here I was trying to figure out how best to ask for your help sneaking out from Dumbledore's watch and you just flat up asked me if it was okay to help."
Getting his breathing and laughter under control Harry looked up at Tonks knowingly.
"And yes, I'm all for it, but what's the real reason your inviting me over."
"What I'm being serious." Tonks insisted but Harry just grinned and stared harder at her.
Tonks pouted, "Fine. I wasn't lying about before but the real reason I wanted to invite you is because of the Auror exams. I thought it would work out for both of us. I could really use a practice partner to prepare for the exams and you mentioned before about getting into shape, so I just thought that we'd kill two birds with one spell. Plus, this would solve your housing dilemma at least for a while."
Harry agreed that it would solve most of their issues for the summer, plus it was likely be fun since Tonks was involved.
"Sure, if you don't mind lugging me under the radar. Though… you're sure it wouldn't be a problem? What about your folks? Is your place even warded enough to keep me hidden?" Harry asked.
Tonks waved her hand nonchalantly at the notion.
"Of course its fine. I'll handle convincing my folks and yeah, its warded pretty heavily. My dad deals with a lot of confidential lawyer stuff so its pretty well shielded. My folks might resist at first, but I know they wouldn't hesitate to accept you for a measly summer. As for trouble, I'd expect nothing less from the famous Harry Potter, Potion Genius, trouble maker, and all round Slytherin... Slayer of Evil Unicorn Vampires." she finished with a dramatic flair.
"Oh ha-ha." Harry sarcastically laughed out. "And it wasn't a Unicorn Vampire. It was an evil spirit possessed teacher sucking the blood of Unicorns in a bid for immortality."
"Geeze, only you would encounter something that weird. Kind of liked the vampire bit better." Tonks chuckled out.
"Yeah well, hopefully I don't start a trend." Harry muttered.
Tonks nodded in agreement. "So, what now?"
"I suggest you send a post to your parents asking them about having me over, cryptically mind you, while I go pack up and figure out how you can smuggle me out from Dumbledore's nose."
Tonks grinned evilly, "Oh man we're pranking the Headmaster. Oh, the Twins are going to freak when they learn about this."
"Why is that?"
Tonks grinned, "the Twins have been going on and on about how muggles have graduation pranks and they made a bet with me for my final year. They said they could pull a better prank off then I could by the end of this year. Jokes on them. I'd love to see them beat this."
Harry just watched as she practically skipped away before tripping over herself. "Somehow I get the feeling that was the real reason you agreed to this." He muttered to himself knowing that it wasn't.
Afterwards Harry packed all his things which technically was just him organizing his trunk.
Everything was pretty much already in there, so he didn't have really anything to do in the end. Hell, he even got a pass from Madam Pomfrey's seminar on M.U.K due to as the Headmaster apparently put it, "Critical and resent dangerous events."
Meaning no one in his year learned more about it, not that it was of any concern to Harry at this point. His worries lied mostly with Hermione and the coming end of graduation prank with Tonks.
A week would pass before Hermione finally awoke in the Hospital Wing, relieving him of that worry. Until then Harry passed the days by visiting her daily, both because he had nothing better to do and because he wanted to be there for when she woke up.
When she finally awoke Harry smiled and rubbed her forehead gently welcoming her back. She smiled and went back to sleep since she was immediately drugged by Pomfrey, but Harry knew she was well after that. Pomfrey also confirmed this the next day. Hermione didn't have any lasting or negative effects thanks to his quick action and response to the crisis. The same couldn't be said of Seamus who had to be transferred to a private ward in St. Mungo's due to cruciatus exposure.
Dean Thomas while miffed by the fact he had potion'd himself to sleep was more so grateful that Harry came to help them when he did. The boy stated he didn't like Slytherins but was okay with Harry being a friend.
Once they had all returned, Hogwarts went about its days as if nothing had gone wrong.
The rumors regarding their experience traveled fast and oddly accurately. Harry had a sneaky suspition that the Twins and Tonks had something to do with that.
By the time the final Quidditch match came around, the whole school knew of Harry's actions and his attempt to rescue five Gryffindor's who had knowingly rushed into danger.
Dumbledore confronted Harry about how the rumors came about to which he blatantly admitted that he might have spoken to Tonks and might have mentioned something to Fred and George who pieced together the grittier details of what happened on their own.
Upon being told this Albus just smiled and kindly laughed it off mentioning how kids would be kids. If his jovial nature was a mask Harry couldn't tell. Even as he wondered off, Harry couldn't tell what the Headmaster was thinking. He was clearly interested in how the truth got out but at the same time didn't appear worried about it getting out.
In stark contrast Gryffindor and Slytherins both made their intentions perfectly clear.
Gryffindor shouted his praise to the shock of the remaining houses. It had been decades since the last time a Slytherin was accepted amongst the sea of red so openly. In public Hermione's house congratulated him and cheered for him as he traversed the halls of the school.
Harry however was not disillusioned that the reason for their support was because he had won their house the Quidditch cup. While Gryffindor's team was no slouch the point gap between the houses was so absurd that the school was more interested in who would take second place rather than first during their final match.
Harry surprised even himself when he felt himself join in celebration at wining when he watched Wood holding up the Quidditch Cup. Their team having made a new record for total points accumulated in a Quidditch season, breaking the old record by two hundred and sixty points. Wood had tears in his eyes as he held the shining trophy up to McGonagall as a wave of gold and red flooded the field in celebration.
For those final moments Harry basked in the freedom flying granted him knowing that he would be denied this joy for quite a while. Nothing good every stayed with him for long after all.
On the other side of the house divide, Slytherin house rather than being more unified by the recent events had become more divided than ever before.
While many within viewed their newest first year rebel as an outsider and to some a threat to the natural order in their house there was one thing, they all acknowledged, results.
With vast vocal opposition from many upper years and Draco, the traditionalist's side of the house embarked hard on a mocking campaign, claiming what happened in the third-floor corridor was all lies. The problem with this was everyone knew something happened and harry was there, unharmed.
More so even had they been right, the fact remained. Slytherin house couldn't touch Harry.
Everything they were using to mock and insult him, all of which Harry ignored to the point he hadn't realized it was happening, his dead parents, his lack of nobility, his blood lineage only made him more untouchable.
With no parents and Dumbledore's tight grip on his legal guardianship, they couldn't threaten his family as Harry had none. His lack of nobility made Harry oblivious and uncaring for their traditions. And his blood lineage while not pure in their eyes was without question one of the, if not the, most long-lasting blood line in the magical world.
What's more his achievements that were true spoke volumes for to those willing to look. The first Slytherin first year to not undergo the Slytherin tradition indoctrination. His skills in magic were a bit unruly but undoubtably powerful for his age. He was a genius in potion making and showed signs of talent in several other fields. Unconquered in the air, an enigma in the school, the last heir to the potter family, and single handedly responsible for protecting the lower years from the pranks of the devilish twins.
His achievements were unarguable. Plus his scores and grades were not to be mocked. While not a top student like Hermione, Harry was well above average in his placement in the ranks.
The house of Slytherin was officially divided by those who out right hated him and those who saw a possible escape from the torment they suffered. While there were a few exceptions the house was well split between the young and the old. Those who feared muttered to themselves and their friends, planning for the following year.
Those who hated, clustered together plotting to regain their unquestioning dominance over their house. Harry continued to ignore the whispers until the final day arrived. Whispers he would listen too and take note of. Harry would help them if they asked but so far none had. Many whispers told him that several wanted to help but until one asked Harry wasn't going to lift a finger. He'd act if someone was in danger right in front of him but those unwilling to act would never follow through.
So, while the many whispers left him sad as it was a sign that all of them were resigned to their fates the sudden outburst from Daphne Greengrass brought some hope to the house's future.
The loud slap rang loudly shocking the whole house from the discussions and drawing everyone's eyes to Malfoy flying face first into the floor, Daphne's hand still hanging in midair.
"You…?" Malfoy sputtered out with enraged eyes. Daphne's likewise stared back even more enraged.
"You beast. Degenerate!" She screamed her wand out pointing at Malfoy sparking several others to ready their own. No surprise, Harry thought. Those about to act were the children of several parents depended to the Malfoy family. Harry could only imagine the political storm they might suffer if the right people learned they did nothing to save Malfoy Seniors precious heir.
"A pathetic worm, let me make this clear, heir Malfoy… no, Draco." Daphne spit out. "If you so much touch my sister, your father be damned, not even Albus Dumbledore himself would be able to save you from what I might do."
Harry had no idea what Malfoy had said, and Daphne's mind was a torrent of rage so making sense of what he done was far from clear. However, he knew the sight of a landmine about to blow when he saw it.
What he did know, was right then, Daphne had insulted him. By calling him Draco in public after changing her phrasing from heir to Draco, she had public informed everyone that she dejected his right as heir to his family. While it amounted to nothing in reality, in terms of nobility and politics Harry understood that Daphne had announced that she would never side with Draco Malfoy. Quite the opposite in fact.
"You dare!? When my father hears about this, I'll see your family dragged into the mud Greengrass." Draco shout out defiantly.
Harry saw the slight hesitation in her body movements when he said he'd drag her family into the mud. Regaining her pose she kept her mask on frigidly tight.
"You're all talk Malfoy." She whispered almost like a prayer under her breath, stoking her inner rebellion. Your weak pathetic and a sniveling coward who can't do anything with Daddy's say so."
Malfoy grinned as he pushed himself off the floor. With the smugness that only someone of nobility could bare Draco stared directly back at Daphne.
Draco grinned with a maddeningly confident smile.
"You're all talk too, Daphne." He muttered aloud, calling her bluff.
As suddenly as he said it, the rage in Daphne's eyes turned to well disguised fear.
"I wonder," Draco mumbled out, "Just how long your family will last without my Father's connections."
He grinned walking forward towards Daphne who refused to back down but was shaking under her robes. "Your family's business relies on the ministry to thrive. Shipping all those potion ingredients to and fro, your family makes a lot of wealth from it."
He was now almost next to her ear his lips mockingly close enough for even Harry to spot the slight flinching when his breath touched her. "Your father made a lot of enemies for choosing to stay out of the war. My father's friends don't like your father very much and the light doesn't like your either."
"We both know your family's just like mine, only to cowardly to act upon it. The Greengrass name walks a very thin line now a days." Draco continued encouraging his dominance. "You'll do as I say because you don't have a choice. If I want, you to step in line you step. If I tell you to give me your wand you hand it over."
He whispered into her ear just enough so that only she could hear him but reading his lips Harry's temper started to flare.
"And if I tell you to bend over, you bend. That goes for you, your mother, and even your sister. You'll not cross me Greengrass."
Daphne was now on the verge of tears. Hidden behind her mask she was breaking down cursing herself. Her own pride and protectiveness over her sister might have just brought the end of her family. Their family business was already in dire straits. Legal goods were becoming too costly with floo travel methods, and if restrictions became any tighter her family would only be able to survive with their shadier ventures.
And those were most definitely not classified as legal. Draco was also right; her family made no allies during He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's rise to power. Her family essentially sided with the dark lord publicly making enemies with those against him, and by actively avoiding participating and not joining his legion they made no allies among the more traditional families. Draco's threats might have been unlikely and weak, but they were a real possibility. Considering who had Malfoy's father's ear, the possibility that he could follow through with his threat was hitting too close to home.
"Help will come-"
The phrase shattered the common room like a blasting curse. Everyone turned to look at Harry who like all of them stood watching the scene playing out before them.
"Stay out of this Potter." An irated Malfoy spat out.
Ignoring him Harry just looked emotionlessly at Daphne who stared back into his emerald eyes.
"Help," Harry stated again with an air of one who knew a truth that was seemingly forgotten. "-will always be found at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it. Only after truly coming to understand this castle do I truly understand those words."
Harry spoke them aloud, not to any one individual. However, his intentions were clear. To those who saw a new possibility in siding with him, his words were clearly meant for each of them.
His eyes focus onto Malfoy for a second and like a worthless insect he turned his attention to the other students, at least the ones who tried and failed to ambush him.
"The lot of you need to step up your game. Exams are over and its been a week since you've last tried something against me. Hope you haven't given up, I like the workout." Harry arrogantly stated in a blatant manner.
"Shut it, Potter. You'll get what's coming to you!" Malfoy shout out, enraged that Harry just ignored him.
Harry grinned. "Oh, I know." He said, throwing off his momentum. Green eyes stared sharply into the boy. "Do you?" Malfoy froze. Those eyes that seemed to cry out to death, that guaranteed ruin, the same eyes that stared at him in the forest returned.
"W-what? What are you on about Potter?" Malfoy sputtered out with a pitiful resistance.
Shaking his head Harry walked off. "Guess not. I'm heading to the feast."
Stopping at the portrait Harry gave one last word of advice. "Malfoy, be mindful of what wheat your sow."
The common room remained silent for all but the sputtering of Malfoy. None of them had a clue of what Harry meant. While many assumed Harry was subtly insulting Malfoy Daphne was left to wonder as his words were far to sincere to be an insult. Then again, why would Potter warn Malfoy of all people.
Her attention was redrawn towards the blond as he raced after Harry in an attempt to have the last laugh. Stopping he pointed his finger towards Daphne.
"Remember this Greengrass, you better watch yourself or else you and yours will meet an end befitting a mudblood. I'll get what I want, and you'll fall into place whether you like it or not."
Daphne simply stood there as unbecoming as a lamp post. Clutched in her hand the mail from her father detailing the trigger of that evening's events.
As the last feast came to an end with the House cup going to Slytherin and while many in green cheered, the earlier event left many asking themselves were they wanted to be.
Daphne herself dreaded returning home. Her hand still clutching the letter her father had sent her that drove her to act recklessly. Fear, worry, and concern storming within her now not just for her sister but for her whole family.
Tonks sat at her table, decoding legal script and code that her father had sent her before pumping her fist in excitement.
Hermione sat similarly quiet with Neville as the mourned the loss of the house cup. Every so often she would turn to glimpse Harry before returning her attention to her house mates.
Fred and George seemed almost bored, entertaining themselves with some kind of parchment that everyone else seemed to be ignoring.
A lone Katie Bell sat quite peeved and unaware or the proceedings as she fidgeted uncomfortable in her seat.
As for Harry, he sat quietly waiting for the end, only to be disturbed by Tonks flashing him a green light. A smile threated to appear on his face for but a moment at the sight.
Like that, his summer had just become more interesting.
Content and ready, for the rest of the evening Harry waited with Hedwig who remined perched on his shoulder. The two keeping each other company until the end arrived. When it did, he let her fly off to meet him at Kings Cross Station.
With his trunk dragging behind him Harry looked back at the towering school. For the briefest of moments Harry saw a small blue light sparked across the sky around one of the towers.
Harry smiled happy with how much warmer and welcoming the school felt in comparison to the day he arrived. When he returned he knew things would only get better.
Harry joined the rest of the students as they climbed into the carriages. Harry paused for a moment to eye the black bones-thin horses that pulled the carriage. Silently he climbed in with his trunk. When he arrived at Hogsmeade station, the Express greeted him, vibrant and at half steam.
Placing his Trunk inside the train Harry dreamily looked at the school. Pensive about leaving he knew logically that he would return. The school was his home and now he was leaving it if of only temporarily. The act still made him feel lonely.
Stepping back off the train Harry walked slightly closer to the school. He didn't want to leave. At some point he felt a hand on his shoulder. Tonks's hand.
"Watcher Harry? Kids aren't supposed to miss school." She teased.
"Not going to miss school, just home." Harry softly spoke looking at the school.
"Oh..." Tonks muttered. She was unsure how to respond to this shifting uncomfortably behind him trying to find the right words to say to his admission.
She gave him a tight squeeze. "Relax, we'll get you out of your old place, you'll see. Before you know it, you'll feel right at home in time to dread returning to school."
Harry chucked, "I hope so, I almost died this year."
Tonks punched his shoulder, feeling a tad slighted. "Kill joy."
"Hiya Harry!" Shouted George. Harry looked up and waved. "Hey Fred. Hey George."
"Ready to head home?" Fred asked but winced when Tonks first met his shoulder.
"Bastard." Tonks growled. Fed was confused and Harry realized the problem.
"Nymphie relax they don't know." Harry said trying to calm her down. She realized what he meant and frowned.
"That doesn't mean it's okay." she retorted.
"Let it go... please." Harry begged. He turned to apologize but was waved off. The twins tried to ask what he meant, and he told them he would explain later. His attention diverted to see Hermione comforting a crying Hagrid. The man was descending down to the station and was a right mess of tears and regrets.
"Hagrid, its fine. You didn't mean any harm and you were only following orders." Hermione said comfortingly.
"Yeh could have died!" Hagrid sobbed out. Almost illegibly due to his crying and beard.
"It was Professor Quirrell who hurt me Hagrid, not you. Please stop crying." Hermione begged.
"Yeh it is. I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! All fer a dragon egg which got yer and 'Arry in trouble. All cuz I was drunk. I'll never drink again. Should be chucked out as a muggle I should."
"VOLDESHORTS!" Harry shouted surprising both Hagrid and Hermione. Harry smiled laughing noticing he shocked several other students present, "Technically Quirrell was just a puppet and I know you can't say his name Hagrid but that doesn't mean we should fear him. Besides again, technically, Quirrell did all that and he's dead."
Hagrid stopped crying but his mood went grim. Instantly Harry knew what he was thinking and walked up to hug the giant man. Hagrid stiffened at the gesture before melting into the gesture.
"Hagrid you're not at fault. Besides I killed Voldeshorts when I was a year old. A year-old Hagrid and I already have a kill under my belt. Sure, you told him about Fluffy but that doesn't matter. Evil men will always find a way to succeed. Fluffy wasn't even that good at guarding. A well time slide, and I got past him easy." Harry teased.
"Fluffy ain't useless. He's a good guard dog." Hagrid retorted. Harry laughed at this glad to see the man coming around. "Better then Fang that's for sure." Harry went silent before returning to hugging the man. "Hagrid you saved me back in august. In more ways than you know. Nothing you do could ever undo what you did then. You helped bring me back into this world of magic. I'll miss you."
Hagrid broke down again, tears falling freely. Joyful this time. Hermione was crying alongside him. She watched the gesture and admiration Harry had for the man and welt warm inside. This is what she liked about Harry. His devotion to his friends. The love he had for others. The same love that protected her from the Troll and the first time she met him scared and insecure on the train.
"Oh, befor' I forget." Hagrid said breaking free of the hug. He pulled out a small book, large in Harry's hands. "At least it's not a sandwich." Harry joked causing Hagrid to chuckle.
"Nah, Dumbledore gave me the day off yesterday. Used the time to put it together." Hagrid said as Harry opened up the book. "Sent owls off to yer parent's old friends. Asked for photo's an' stuff.
Harry wiped away a tear from his eye. He swallowed, and barely choked out, "Thank you." before turning the page to see his parents holding him. Smiling. His father looked just like him. Messy black hair, glasses sitting on his slim nose. His eyes were different thought, the wrong color.
No, his mother had the same green eyes that he had. Harry bit his lip to hold back a pained gasp. She looked a bit younger, but this was proof. She looked identical. She lacked the bags under her eyes and thinner frame that Harry saw in Voldemort's memories of her, but it was her. If he didn't have confidence in what he saw before, he did now.
It really wasn't evidence, but it was the excuse Harry needed to remove any doubt that what he saw was a lie. There was no reason to believe such, but Harry needed this. More than Hagrid himself even knew.
Hagrid grinned as Hermione and Tonks guided Harry towards the train. The two guided him to the comforts of the cabin where Harry's stuff was and sat down as he gazed at the picture book.
During the train ride Harry finally looked up breaking away from the book, only to realize they were already in motion, had left the station, and were well on their way back to London. Hermione and Tonks who had been chatting cheerfully about Tonks's Newts and how Harry help her pass Potions both stopped to smile at him.
"Glad to see you come back to us." Hermione said.
Harry rolled his eyes. "It's only fair. How many times have I told you to come up for air when your reading?"
Hermione frowned and rolled her eyes while Tonks laughed rosily. Hermione pout grew larger. Standing up she made for the door.
"I'm sorry Mione. I wasn't trying too –", Harry started to say.
"I'm just going to the powder room." She said closing the door behind her.
"I think you made her angry." Tonks teased.
Harry scoffed, "Like you helped." Maturely Tonks stuck her tongue at him with a grin.
"So?" Tonks's asked, calling Harry's attention. "Have any plans as to how you're going to get yourself off the train without being noticed? Like I told you, my parents said you can stay with us, but you can't be seen leaving with us."
"You know that green wand light only signaled that I was good to hide at your place right."
Tonks stuck her tongue out again. "Not the point. You know now, so got any ideas?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Got your trunk with you?"
Tonks shivered when she saw him grinning. It was a grin that would make the Twins dance with glee and start asking to join whatever he was brewing up. A smile only a fellow prankster could love.
The Hogwarts express rolled into the station a few hours afternoon. Tonks helped Hermione get off trunk off the station. As she assisted Hermione, she saw her father talking with her mother. Both seemed worried and anxious which wasn't a good sign.
"I can't believe he'd just lock the cabin like that." Hermione complained as she hefted her things onto a trolly.
"Oh Hermione, Hermione. You're going to have to learn that not everything is so cut and dry. Plus, when you grow older, you'll learn that boys need some privacy to do... stuff." Tonks said finishing her statement with a heavy implied action.
Hermione flushed embarrassed at the suggestion. "He's only eleven!" Hermione countered, outraged.
"He's also a wizard, and they grow fast." Tonks teased.
"Nymphadora!" a voiced shouted out with a firm slap to her noggin. "You will conduct yourself properly young lady"
Tonks turned around and in a change of angry red retorted, "Don't call me that!"
"Dear let's not cause a seen. You too love." The man behind Tonks's mum said in an attempt to keep the peace. He looked around as if looking for someone before asking nonchalantly, "So~o, I heard you met Harry Potter. How is the chap?" the middle-aged man asked walking up behind his wife.
"You too dear," the women informed. "We must conduct ourselves properly." She turned to Hermione who just stared blankly. "Introductions. My name is Andromeda Tonks nee Black. Nymph – Tonks's mother." she said correcting herself with a jump as her husband pinched her bum. Tonks tried not to snicker and retain her frown at her mother's insistence on that name.
"Right you are dear. Edward Tonks, Ted if you will." Ted introduced holding a hand to Hermione.
"Hermione Granger." Hermione said. Spotting her parents again, she said goodbye to Tonks and left them hoping to find Harry after reassuring her folks. As she left, she tried to find out where Harry was but for the life of her she couldn't find him.
Ted looked around as well and not spotting the boy hugged his daughter close so he could whisper to her.
"I don't see Harry, did you two figure out some plan before hand?"
"Don't know dad. Harry had us leave the cabin half way during the train ride and locked us out. When we re-entered Harry left me a note telling us he'd keep in touch and I'd see him soon. But he was gone along with his trunk."
Andromeda chuckled, spotting her daughters lie. "That sounds very Slytherin of him dear."
Tonks glared at her mother. "Oh, relax dear it is a compliment. Now let us get moving ourselves. He did say not to wait on him after all."
Ted looked hesitant but the smile on his wife told him to agree with her. That smile she used when she was planning something either cunning or sneaky. Usually both.
"We're going to be traveling by taxi as usual." Ted told Tonks, "So let's grab your trunk and head home."
As they left Andromeda looked one more time at her daughter's trunk. The boy was clever. Thinking back to her husband's work she smiled. This was going to be a very interesting summer indeed.
And with that thought, Harry's summer would begin. The Wizarding World went about its daily business as Harry vanished from the world and out of sight.