Author's Note: Something my friend Jen came up with when I was telling her all my fanfiction woes and about this really cool icon I saw online.

Emma's Muse: Now...for this next chapter w-

Emma: No. I've had it up to HERE with you and your plot twists. The next chapter goes like this: "Rocks fall. Everyone dies."

Emma's Muse: But the plot...and the fans...and Harry!

Emma: ROCKS FALL! EVERYONE DIES!

Emma's Muse: (hides)

Enjoy the chapter. I'm off to the land of Middle-Earth. Who knew I could write a paper on Tolkien? In university!

Dumbledore smiled down at the sleeping boy and reached out a withered hand to stroke the cheek. Harry didn't move and Dumbledore's smile grew wider. He knew the boy disagreed with his actions and thought about the new prophecy. He knew that the boy would hate him when he woke up. He also knew that this might break their relationship beyond repair. He sighed and grasped Harry's limp hand in his own, pressing it between his hands and trembling at the thought of losing a child he considered one of his family. It was for the best, he knew, but why did it have to hurt so much? To lose this boy hurt far more than he ever thought it would.

He sighed and caught his trembling bottom lip between his teeth. He stood and placed Harry's hand back in a restful position. He smiled a little ruefully and hoped the boy would forgive him for House prejudices when he saw the red and gold pajamas. Dumbledore reached out and pulled the coverlet over the child, no, his child, and smoothed it out. His hand reached out and ran through the boy's hair a few times before he tore himself away from the peaceful sight of Harry sleeping. Dumbledore knew he needed to go down to dinner, but he hesitated to leave the boy alone. He didn't want Harry to wake up confused. He knew it would be a week before Harry woke, but that didn't ease the worry he felt when Harry looked so small, innocent, and defenseless as he lay under the blankets. "I can only hope that you'll forgive me in time, my son." Dumbledore told the prone figure as he drew away. He stopped and reached out to run a hand through the boy's hair one last time...

Something was stroking his hair. It was a light touch, and it seemed to want to keep Harry from coming awake. Harry fought up through the lethargy drowning his limbs. Something was wrong with him. He never felt like this. He was never this tired. "Back with the world, child?" a soft voice asked him. Harry's mind immediately shifted to the task of identifying the voice. Soft, kind, with a hint of accent…

"Bleys." Harry whispered.

"Yes, that's right. I hadn't thought you'd need me again." He told Harry as he lifted Harry upright and wedged a pillow behind Harry's back. "Then again," he said as he pushed Harry back into the pillow, "I've been wrong before." He chuckled a bit and patted Harry's hand.

"What's wrong with me?" Harry asked as he fought to keep his eyes open.

"Dumbledore got to you." Bleys said as he stood from the edge of the bed and went to the fireplace. "I'm sorry I told you to fool him, to let him think you were nothing more than a child. This may not have happened had you acted differently." Bleys picked up a small cup and started spooning something from the cauldron. "He suppressed your magic and gave you Draught of the Living Death." Bleys sprinkled some black powder into the cup and swirled the liquid. "What Dumbledore forgot, and not surprising because he is not a first class Potions Master, is the wormwood in the Draught of the Living Death, and the nettles from most common suppression potions are not good bedfellows."

Harry could only stare at the man through half-closed eyes. "Huh?" was the only thing he could manage as Bleys came back and sat down on the bed again.

"He poisoned you, child." Bleys told him gently. "By accident, I am sure, but all the same." Bleys moved closer and a large basin appeared next to him. "His actions allowed me to bring you here. Hopefully, no permanent damage has been done." Harry's mind was practically howling, but all he could manage to let out was a pathetic whimper. "Yes, I know." Bleys said in sympathy. "Now, this is not going to be pleasant." Bleys warned Harry as he shifted the boy into his arms. "It's going to be dreadful, in fact, but it'll clear out the poison that much faster." Bleys lifted the cup to Harry's lips. "Drink all of it." He ordered.

The potion wasn't all that bad. It tasted like peppery lemonade with a hint of fresh earth. He gulped it down and sighed, fully expecting Bleys to put him back to bed to sleep off the effects. It didn't happen. He found his chest resting on Bleys's legs with his head hanging down over the basin. "Wha-" What followed was Harry's worst experience with sicking up.

He wasn't sure how much time passed…he also found that he didn't care. He retched one more time and shuddered when only acid came up. "It's over. You're finished." Bleys said as he moved Harry back a bit. Harry grabbed Bleys around the waist and rested his head on the man's lap. He felt drained and sick, freezing and weak. Dumbledore had nearly killed him. "You're safe now." Bleys said, running a hand through Harry's sweaty hair.

Harry lay there for a while, enjoying the sensation and gathering his strength. "Can I kill Dumbledore?" he asked with weary tones.

Bleys chuckled and his hand moved from Harry's hair to massage the corded neck muscles. "I'm sure you are capable, but you have some ethical issues to consider."

"Don't care." Harry muttered petulantly. His eyes shut and he sighed.

"You do care. Otherwise, you would have just killed him without asking." Bleys said as his other hand played with Harry's hair.

"I hate when you're right." Harry told him.

"I know, son." Bleys said with a laugh. "Let's get you cleaned up and then you can sleep for a while." Bleys said as he picked Harry up from the bed.

"Am I small again?" Harry asked in tired alarm. He actually wouldn't mind being small again; it would give him an excuse for letting Bleys cart him around.

"No." Bleys answered as he carried Harry into the bathroom.

"Then how can you pick me up?" Harry demanded as he heard water start filling the bathtub.

"I do believe that it is called 'magic'." Bleys answered as Harry's clothing disappeared, and he lowered the boy into the steaming water.

"Remind me to roll my eyes later." Harry said as he relaxed into the water.

"Alright. Close your eyes." Harry complied as Bleys poured water over his hair. It was nice to be back here again.

"Son, it's time to wake up." He heard as someone smoothed a hand back over his hair. "I know you can hear me." Bley's voice said.

"Ok." Harry said as he fought to open his eyes. "Just a minute." He rolled over and untangled himself from the blankets. "Why can't I sleep more often? It seems that I just want to sleep, but no one will let me." Harry said as he stood from his bed and stretched.

"The curse of a youngster, I suppose." Bleys nudged Harry towards the bathroom. "Merlin said much the same thing when he was your age." Bleys told Harry with a smile.

"I'm seeing disturbing patterns between the two of us." Harry grumbled, weaving around the furniture and over Alden's prone and still sleeping form. Even the dog gets more sleep than I do. Harry thought.

"Oh, the two of you are similar." Bleys called after him. "You both have such wonderful dispositions in the morning!" Harry shut the door on Bleys' laughter and started his bathwater. Were all adults this annoying in the morning?

Harry found himself bustled out into the sun first thing in the morning. Bleys seemed happier to have Harry back than Harry was to be there. He needled Harry into answering questions about how life had been since the last time they had been together. Harry was soon seated on a log in the middle of the woods relating everything Dumbledore had done or said to him since he was in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. The thing that had bothered him the most was the reason he had gotten sick when he tried to leave.

"Sick when you left the castle?" Bleys asked. The man stripped a piece of rotting bark from the log and started to shred it between his fingers. "Dumbledore was giving you a suppression potion, right?"

"As far as I know. My pumpkin juice tasted too sweet every time I had it." Harry answered.

"Mm." Bleys dropped the shredded bark and closed his eyes. "Let me think." He told Harry in a soft voice. "There has to be an answer." Harry nodded even though his teacher couldn't see him and waited. Alden dropped onto his feet and he reached down to scratch the dog's ears. Alden dropped to the ground in bliss, crushing Harry's feet under his furry and suddenly boneless body. "He tied you to him and the castle somehow." Bleys said shortly as his eyes popped open. He stood and started walking further into the woods.

"He what?" Harry asked.

"You said that he couldn't control your magic without suppressing it." Bleys said. "Perhaps he grounded his strength to the castle. From what you've said, Hogwarts sounds practically sentient. He could have used Hogwarts to boost his power and ground it. Once he managed that, he was able to step in as magical guardian. Having a magical building as part of himself would give him the extra power he needed to build this bond and keep you grounded."

"But he used it to try to keep me within so far of him. After the Order meeting..."

"Yes, that's true, but who says he couldn't manipulate the bond?" Bleys answered. "He manipulated it to keep you where he wanted. With that much power, well, he'd be able to do as he liked."

Harry trotted after Bleys. "Are you saying that he could control everything in the castle?" Harry demanded. That did not sound good. In fact, it sounded terrible. Dumbledore with that much power...it was a catastrophe waiting to happen.

"Well, he could." Bleys said. "I have a feeling that he was more focused on you than any thing else." Bleys told him.

"So, all I had to do was wave my little hand and then I could have broken the ritual and left?" Harry asked.

"The potion presented some difficulty." Bleys told him. "Remember, the physical aspect of your magic is the most vital part of it. Your magic is limited by your physical state."

"Right." Harry nodded and reached out for his magic. It bubbled up through him, and he wrapped it around him. "You know, I missed this at Hogwarts. I couldn't really do it. My magic was there, but there was something between us. I didn't even notice it until it was gone." Harry confided as his magic soothed him into heady intoxication.

"It makes you feel almost invincible, doesn't it?" Bleys asked.

Harry shuddered as he nodded. He was invincible. He had forgotten that he had no limits on his magic. Dumbledore had made him forget what magic really felt like. He couldn't believe that he had forgotten. "Yes, invincible." Harry agreed.

"Mm." Bleys sounded off. Harry looked up at him in time to see Bleys' hands grab him and throw him against a tree. One of Harry's hands flew up, and Bleys's hand lashed out. Harry gasped in pain and stared at his hand. It was stuck to the tree with a dagger. His hand was pinned to the tree trunk with a dagger. A dagger was in his hand. His brain processed this, and he looked up at Bleys in shock. What-? A fist slammed under his chin.

Bleys caught Harry as he slumped from the tree trunk. He hated hitting anyone. It hurt his hand something awful, and he was sure that Harry would agree that it had been fairly painful for him, too. A thought removed his dagger from Harry's hand and staunched the bleeding. Bleys lifted Harry and carried him back to the cottage. Looks like I had one more lesson to teach him.

"Ow." Harry said the moment he regained consciousness.

"Welcome back from your ego." Bleys commented from his stool next to the bed.

"You could have said 'your head is getting too big, Harry'. I would have listened." Harry said dryly. "Ow."

"Stop whining. You were off into magic. You couldn't have heard me if you wanted." Bleys washed the cut a final time and then frowned down at it. He could heal it without or without pain. The important thing now was how to heal it. Had Harry learned his lesson?

"You don't know that." Harry grumbled. He watched as Bleys raised a hand to his hand. "Let it scar." Harry said calmly.

"What?" Bleys asked, shifting his eyes up to meet Harry's.

"Let it scar." Harry said firmly. "I'll need a reminder when I start thinking I'm invincible again." Harry told him as he shifted back into his bed. Well, that solved that question, Bleys thought, as he healed the hand with a twist of his wrist.

"You have to go home now." Bleys said as he pulled Harry up.

"Now?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, now." Bleys said firmly. "You've been here a week." Bleys explained. "It's more than enough time for you to recover from poisoning."

"Why do I keep coming back here?" Harry asked curiously. "I feel like I've known you all my life." He said solemnly.

Bleys studied Harry for a few seconds before dropping down onto the bed next to him. "You have been here before, Harry." Bleys said slowly. "You've spent quite a bit of time here."

"Yeah. I feel like I know you from before all that time, though." Harry shrugged as though to dismiss the feeling.

"You have. I've seen you nearly every time you have been near death." Bleys told him.

"What?" Harry burst out.

Bleys gave Harry a sidelong glace and nodded as he put an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Yes, every time you nearly died. I first saw you when you were just a little baby. It was only for an instance, but I saw you, wide-eyed and not quite sure what had happened to you. Once or twice when that uncle of yours went just a little too far. That time you fell out of the tree. Your first year at Hogwarts...your second year at Hogwarts...your third year at Hogwarts." Harry stared at Bleys. "Yes. You've had quite a few brushes with death." Bleys told him. "I'm your guardian in this realm between life and death." Bleys explained.

"You couldn't tell me before?" Harry asked.

"No." Bleys answered shortly as he stood. "You needed training for wandless magic. Do you think you could have listened to me about magic if you knew that you would see me again the next time you skirted death?" Bleys asked.

"Who says I will skirt death again?" Harry asked shortly. "I'm having my doubts." He said honestly.

"You'll make it." Bleys said with a smile. "You always do."

"Maybe I'm tired of it all." Harry said, turning away from Bleys. "Maybe I don't want to continue against Voldemort, or fighting with Dumbledore. Maybe I just want to be normal?" Harry demanded.

"True. You could die. That has always been an option for you." Bleys said, moving up behind Harry and reaching up to put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Or you could fulfill that destiny of yours and start to live." He whispered.

Harry shuddered as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Those words sounded almost like a prophecy, and that meant Harry already hated them a second after hearing them. He decided to ignore them for now. "So, why didn't I see you before I got my hands on that book?" He asked.

"I arranged for the book to be a trigger to allow you to see me when you were ready for training." Bleys admitted. "It worked better than I thought."

"You arranged..."

"Don't think about it too hard, son. It's very confusing, plays with time and has absolutely no logic." Bleys told him with a smile that said even Bleys himself found it confusing. He stepped forward and gave Harry a serious look. "There are greater things that exist than us, Harry. Greater powers in the universe than us. Don't you think those greater powers would arrange the things they put into motion, as they know the outcome of what they do?"

"Okay." Harry said. He felt like his brain would explode if he tried to figure out what Bleys had meant by that entire convoluted sentence.

"Alden will be going with you." Bleys said suddenly, startling Harry out of his thoughts. "He's your familiar. I picked him out for you."

"I thought he was yours?" Harry asked in shock. "I have Hedwig." He said as Alden started pawing at him.

"No, he's just been staying with me while he was waiting for you." Bleys said. "He seems very excited. Just don't allow him to tear out Dumbledore's throat. You'll never get out all the blood from his fur."

Harry couldn't help himself. The laughter bubbled out of him before he could stop it. It was an entirely morbid thought, but it also seemed funny to think of himself scrubbing a very satisfied Alden free of blood. "Aunt Petunia's not going to like this. She doesn't like animals." Harry told Bleys. "I'm going to have to sneak him in the house."

"Do what you must, but take him with you. He'll help keep you relaxed so you don't accidentally blow something up." Harry glared at Bleys for the blowing up comment. That incident with Aunt Marge was an accident.

"So, what should I do about Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"Show him a little power and then leave. It was a mistake to tell you to mislead him. You should have shown him what you could do straight away. He may have not enforced such restrictive measures for you."

"Can I hurt him?" Harry asked.

"We've already been over this." Bleys said as he straightened "He's a powerful ally, but he can be just as powerful an enemy. Choose your battles, son." Bleys patted Harry's arm. "Now, get out of here. There are people waiting on you. I don't want to see you again until you're old and gray, understand?" Bleys was trying to be stern, but he couldn't quite pull it off with that look in his eyes.

"Sure." Harry gave the man a swift hug before stepping back. "Alden, you ready, boy?" Harry asked, bending down to rub behind the dog's ears. Alden only thumped his tail on the floor and glued himself to Harry's side. "I'll see you later." He told Bleys.

"Much later." Bleys agreed. He merely nodded to Harry and walked away. Harry shut his eyes and focused on taking Alden with him. He jerked when he felt the floor leave his feet and something incredibly soft under him. He opened his eyes and saw that he was in a room somewhere in Hogwarts. The canopy bed was done up in Gryffindor colors, and Harry discovered that he was in red and gold as well after a quick inspection. Gryffindor much, Headmaster? Harry sat up. Alden lounged next to him and panted at him.

"Who's a good dog?" Harry asked Alden as he stroked the animal's ears. Alden went boneless, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. Harry nudged the animal's body off him and fought to get out of the blankets. His bare feet hit the floor, and he noticed that the entire floor had fluffy rugs in Gryffindor red. This is almost nauseating. Harry thought to himself. Those colors were everywhere. Harry looked around for clothing and frowned when he couldn't even find the clothing Khalid had given him.

Harry stood and reoriented himself. He had been with Bleys a week...that meant he had only been asleep an hour here. Oh, Dumbledore was going to freak out when he realized that Harry had only slept an hour with Draught of the Living Death and... Harry felt a surge of anger in the pit of his stomach. Dumbledore had poisoned him. With the best of intentions, of course. He remembered the saying about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions and tried to calm himself. His magic didn't want to listen to him. It was outraged on his behalf. Dumbledore had nearly killed him. Dumbledore was responsible. Dumbledore had to pay.

Harry let out his magic a little bit and felt a breeze start in the room. It ruffled his hair, and he took a few deep breaths to calm down. It wasn't working. Dumbledore wouldn't stand in his way again. Not anymore. He wasn't going to let that old coot do anything to him any more. Harry was a full-grown wizard with fully mature magic. He didn't need anyone to protect him. Harry raised his hands and stared at them in shock. His magic would do it! His magic could destroy anything that stood in his way, and he would be invincible! No one would be able to harm him or take away his freedom again. Harry could protect himself from anything that- oh. Harry stared at the scar still on his left hand, and he felt his magic die down around him. His crazy thoughts skidded to a stop.

His magic could destroy everything. It could happen. Why should it? Harry sighed and looked at Alden. "I bet you think I'm completely mental." He told the animal. Alden merely yawned and burrowed into the covers. Harry smiled and rolled his eyes at his familiar. His aunt was going to kill him about Alden. He only hoped she would spare his life long enough for him to explain. He hoped Remus would be there when he got home. The man would prevent immediate bloodshed, he was sure.

"Kreacher!" He called.

"Yes, Harry Potter, sir?" Kreacher said in the next instant.

"Hello, Kreacher. I was wondering if you could do something for me?" He asked politely.

"Kreacher is happy to do something for Harry Potter!" The elf said, bouncing in place.

"Thank you, Kreacher. Could you bring me one of my Muggle suits with shoes and tell my aunt that I'm coming home?" He asked the elf.

"Kreacher will." The elf disappeared with a tiny pop.

"We're going home, Alden." Harry said as he rubbed the dog's belly with both hands. "Won't that be fun?" Alden responded to Harry's affection by licking Harry's nose. "Eww." Harry stopped petting his dog and wiped the drool off his nose.

"Aunty Petunia says that she wants an explanation when Harry Potter gets home." Kreacher said in the next second as he popped in. "She sends your suit and shoes, a bag of things Aunty Petunia thinks Harry Potter needs, plus a comb and...this." Kreacher held up a bottle of hair gel.

"Yes!" Harry said as he took the things from Kreacher. "No more bird's nest." He said happily. "I'll be home within the hour, Kreacher. Could you go home and wait for me?" He asked.

Kreacher didn't bother responding. He simply disappeared. Harry smiled at the elf's antics and started throwing off the Gryffindor pajamas. What was he thinking?" Harry wondered aloud about Dumbledore's color choices. "Would the colors influence me while I slept or something?" He snickered to himself and pawed through the bag. He blushed a bit when he realized that he had forgotten to ask for pants and socks. Aunt Petunia thought of everything. He dressed quickly and fought with his hair for a few minutes without a mirror (Rick would have died at that thought). He was just tying his shoes when the door flew open to admit a frantic looking vampire.

A quick movement brought a throwing dart into Harry's hand while the other flew into a defensive posture. "Well, it looks like you don't need rescuing!" Khalid Haven said from the doorway. "Here I thought I could carry you off to meet the real Dracula. My plans are dashed."

"Sorry to disappoint, Khalid." He told the pouting vampire. "I'm about to go confront Dumbledore with a huge mistake he made, if you'd care to watch." Harry said as he sheathed his dart.

"Was his mistake a really big one?" Harry could almost see the vampire in a five year old's body, jumping up and down and asking about his trip to the ice cream store.

"He nearly killed me." Harry said with a shrug. That's true. He did. I had better not overdo this. Hope the shock doesn't kill Dumbledore; he still has his uses.

"Was it also a stupid mistake?" Khalid said with growing interest.

"Absolutely." Harry said.

"Then I shall be honored to accompany you, my fine man." Khalid moved out of the way for Harry, and Harry found himself in Dumbledore's office. I guess the man was serious about me being in his quarters. Harry moved through the office and down the revolving staircase with little trouble. Alden trotted along beside him, acting every inch of protective puppy that would abandon all work for a belly scratch.

"Have you thought about how you will confront him before you return home?" Khalid asked as he examined his fingernails. Harry had to wonder why vampires were considered vain.

"With the truth." Harry said calmly. "He needs to know that his 'for the best' attitude nearly killed me and that I'll be making my own decisions without his input from now on." Harry confessed to the man next to him.

"Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard, Magus." Khalid said as he clasped his hands behind his back. "You may find it difficult to maneuver around his actions."

"What did you call me?" Harry asked quietly. Alden nudged his leg and panted up at him. He stared down at the dog, wondering why Bleys had thought to give him as a familiar. What good was a familiar when he couldn't speak dog?

"Magus." Khalid told him. "That is what you are." Khalid said with a smile.

"Please continue calling me 'Harry'." Harry told him. "I have no use for titles." Harry said as he fought to keep from cringing. "The Boy Who Lived" was bad enough. He didn't need anything else like it.

"Very well." Khalid said with a grin. "I wish to go in before you." Khalid said with an eager expression on his face. "This is going to be the best entertainment since that silly accident with those fireworks." Harry was a little confused by what the vampire had meant, but he didn't have time to ask him as he disappeared. Alden lay down at his feet and sniffed.

"I guess this is it, huh, Alden?" Harry said to the animal. "Did you want to come in with me, or will you wait here?" Alden jumped to his feet and gave Harry a look that said 'you need someone with you'. "Thanks." He reached down and scratched Alden's ears. "Guess I should do this."

"Not without me!" Harry turned to see Zen slithering down the hallway at top speed. "Can't you keep yourself out of trouble while I'm napping?" He demanded as he came to a stop at Harry's feet. "Let's let some insane wizard poison you while Zen is sleeping! Yes, that's a brilliant idea!"

"Are you upset with me?" Harry asked in surprised. "I don't plan these things, you know." Harry was just a little peeved.

"Yes, I know, which makes these events all the more disturbing." Zen told him. "Now, you're going to pick me up and put me in that pocket, and then you're going to do what you came down here to do. After that, we are leaving." Zen lectured Harry. "Do you understand what that means, lightning child? We are leaving. No more silly wizards, no more changing staircases or humming armor. We are going back to a sane world."

"Sure, Zen. I'm ready to go." Harry lowered his arm, and Zen curled around his wrist. Harry placed the little snake in his pocket and sighed. He couldn't help the strange things that happened around him. They just...happened.

Harry took a deep breath and smoothed his clothing down. He wasn't nervous. No, that didn't fit him at all. He was apprehensive. Harry knew that the guardianship would break at the slightest thought. He didn't need to worry about that. Something just felt off.

The doors opened, and Harry pedaled backwards away from them. The teachers rushed from the Great Hall, only to stop when they saw Harry standing there. Students starting, crowding around the teachers, filling in the spaces between the confused educators. "Good evening, Headmaster." Harry said calmly.

"Harry." Dumbledore said. "I thought you were resting." Dumbledore was staring at Harry, as though trying to figure out what, exactly, happened in the hour that had passed.

"Yes." Harry paused before turning to Snape. "Professor, what would happen if a person ingested a common magical suppression potion and Draught of Living Death?" Harry hadn't thought it possible for Snape to go any paler than he already was.

"The ingredients contained in those potions would combine to form quite a lethal dose of poison in a human's blood stream." Snape answered with an almost undetectable quiver to his voice. Harry could practically feel the man's thoughts of "please tell me I won't have to save you from such a combination". Harry nodded to the man in thanks before turning back to the headmaster.

"Your mistake nearly cost me my life, sir." He told Dumbledore in a serious tone. "It makes me question exactly how safe I am here." Harry heard several gasps go up from behind the teachers, and one anguished "Bloody hell!". Welcome back, Ron, he thought with a smirk. "I'm going home, Headmaster." Harry said, drawing himself up to his full 'harmless' height.

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave the safety of the castle, Harry." Dumbledore said calmly. "You know how dangerous it is for you." He appeared to be trying to give Harry a significant look that was supposed to mean something, but Harry ignored him. Harry reached out with his magic and touched the wards and spells surrounding Hogwarts. I need to leave now. Harry told the castle. He felt something warm like sunshine bubble up and smother his senses for a moment before receding. Harry gave his magic a quick twist and felt something snap inside him. Dumbledore actually lurched on his feet for a second before lifting surprised eyes to stare at Harry.

"You know, Headmaster. There was a time when I actually trusted you." Harry said nonchalantly as he stepped forward towards the man. "A time when I would have called you my closest confidant. A surrogate grandfather, family." He shrugged and studied the aged wizard in front of him as he ignored all of the other teachers. He raised his wand and studied Dumbledore's aged face for a few seconds. "You're slipping, Headmaster." He said as his voice dropped to a whisper so none of the students could hear him. "You've endangered me more than Voldemort ever has. Your little trials you've put me through each year left me unable to function. Nightmares haunted me both day and night. My aunt had to send me to a mental hospital so that I could find some peace. What would I have found here, under your omniscient care? 'Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori'?" Harry quoted the poem he and his classmates had studied at St. Jude's and smirked when Dumbledore paled. "I'm not your puppet; I'm not your student, and I'm not your savior. Not anymore. Don't come near me again. Do not attempt to contact me. Do not even speak as though you know me as you would a grandchild. In fact, forget I exist. Come September, I may or may not return here. Whether I do or not is up to you." Harry whirled away from him and started walking away.

"Harry, I have always tried to do what is best for you." Dumbledore said with a voice filled with tears.

Harry turned and studied the man. There was true regret in his voice. Tears were welling up in his eyes. "Not anymore." Harry told him with a smile.

"Suppression potion and Draught of Living Death!?" Snape demanded as soon as Harry turned away. "You practically did the Dark Lord's work for him!" Harry wondered if he should call off Snape's attack...nah. Dumbledore had this coming. He deserved to be lectured by the Potions master. "Headmaster, I cannot believe you would make such a mistake. You could have killed Harry Potter!"

"You did what?" Hagrid boomed over the chaos erupting in the hallway. Harry went down the hallway and wondered how crazy things were about to get at Hogwarts.

"Dumbledore, you great fool!" Harry cheered a little inside when he heard Madame Pomfrey attack Dumbledore. "I've not spent the last five and a half YEARS patching that boy up only to have you undo all of my hard work! Have you any idea how difficult it is to keep him in a hospital bed?!"

Harry was hard-pressed to continue walking at that point. Hearing Snape go on about his life was a little too much for him, and Pomfrey's promises to dismember Dumbledore the next time he tried such 'an idiotic and blatant display of stupidity' made him wonder how lethal medical professionals could be when pushed beyond their limits. He left the building and stopped when he saw Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Ginny waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "Dumbledore nearly killed you?" Ron asked in a shocked and wounded voice.

"With the best of intentions, I'm sure." Harry said as he eyed Ron. He gave a quick glance behind to see Dumbledore trying to fight his way out of the crowd that surrounded him just inside Hogwarts doors.

"Bloody hell." Ron said tightly. "Mate, I'm sorry." He told Harry. Harry smiled and stepped forward. He reached out and squeezed Ron's shoulder.

"Welcome back, mate." He told the red-head. "Now, my aunt's expecting me home." He told the boy. "Write to me, okay? Hedwig will make sure I get it." Harry smiled at his friend and brushed past him

"I'll see you guys this summer?" Harry asked, looking at the gathered students in front of him.

"Your aunt wouldn't survive if she doesn't let me see you." Hermione said with a smile. "You go ahead and go, Harry. We'll make sure to create a few headaches for the staff so they won't be able to come after you for a little while." Hermione smiled at him.

"Thanks." Harry looked up and noticed Snape and Dumbledore engaged in a fierce verbal match about Dumbledore's various shortcomings when it came to potions and the administration of said potions when a dunderhead doesn't know what he is doing.

Harry smiled and thought that that couldn't have gone any better than if he had planned it out in advance. He stopped and closed his eyes. He focused on his aunt's home and reminded himself that he did not have limits on his magic anymore. He looked at the wards and saw how they were built. He imagined himself going in between two and felt his body start squeezing through a tube. His stomach dropped when he felt pavement beneath his feet. He stopped and checked to make sure that all pertinent body parts had come with him. "That was wicked." Harry said to himself. "That was wicked, wasn't it, Alden?" He asked the dog beside him. He reached down and petted the scruffy head. "Let's go break the news to Aunt Petunia." He told Alden as he started up the walk.

He opened the lock with a flick of the wrist and went inside. "Aunt Petunia?" He called out as he shut the door behind him. Harry heard a crash from the kitchen and the door flew open to reveal his aunt.

"Harry!" Harry nearly fell over as she pulled him into a hug. "We tried! We tried so hard! I didn't want to abandon you there, and I would have gone there if I could." Harry was surprised when he heard his aunt start crying.

"I'm okay, Aunt Petunia." Harry said as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm okay. I'm not hurt. I'm fine." He held her and looked up as Remus came out of the kitchen. "Hey, Remus." Harry said to the werewolf. "Give us a second...I think she's a little upset." The werewolf gave him an amused look and raised an eyebrow at Alden. Harry mouthed the word 'later' to him and held his aunt. She continued babbling about how much they had tried.

"It's okay." He told her. "I know you tried. I know you were doing everything you could to get me out of there." Harry looked up from her face to see his two solicitors and nodded to them. He wondered how much he had paid them to work on that case...until he remembered how much money he actually had.

"I'm so glad you're not hurt! I was so worried about you!" Petunia practically wailed. Harry felt a warmth growing in his stomach, and he smiled. His aunt really did care for him. He reached out with his magic and soothed her emotions just the slightest bit. Hysteria did nothing for his aunt. She cried for a few more minutes before calming enough to look at Harry. "Welcome home, Harry." She said as she reached up to hold his face. Harry smiled and covered her hands with his own.

"Thank you, Aunt Petunia. I'm happy to be home." Harry said. Alden barked, and he cringed. Aunt Petunia hated animals.

"What's that?" She asked as she moved to look at the dog.

"His name is Alden. He's my familiar." Harry told her. "I didn't have a choice in the matter." He said in explanation.

"Is he housebroken?" she asked.

"Yes." Harry said. "I'll take care of him. You won't have to do a thing for him, I promise." He wanted to keep Alden if at all possible. He didn't think his aunt would make him get rid of him...would she? "Can he stay?" He asked.

"As long as you accept responsibility for him." Petunia said before pulling Harry to her in a hug. Harry smiled and allowed his aunt to hold him. He would allow her to enjoy 'small' Harry now. Starting tomorrow, he was going to grow a little each day until he was at his true height. He was tired of being short. This was nice, though. He liked this. He lowered his head to rest on his aunt's shoulder and smiled to himself. It was good to be home. He nearly fell when his aunt jumped. "You must be starving!" She said with horror in her voice. "Who knows what they were feeding you at that place!" Petunia pulled Harry into the kitchen and made him sit down in the chair closest to her. She bustled about getting dinner ready for the table. Kreacher appeared and started helping her.

Harry only smiled and turned to consider the kitchen table. It looked like a Hermione study session on law and custody was taking place. "Wow." He said, looking at all the books.

"Useless, the lot of them." He heard from the doorway. He smiled up at Cynthia Bell, the Potters' solicitor. She was very straight forward about her opinions, and the books didn't impress her. "Thank goodness you're home." She said. "Now we can quit worrying about that guardianship...unless it's not broken?"

"Shattered." Harry told her with a smile. "Dumbledore will never be able to do anything like that again." Harry told her.

"Good." Ms. Bell waved her wand and most of the books disappeared into a satchel. "Would you care to press charges against him?" She asked. "You're within your rights to do so."

"No." Harry saw Remus's disapproval and smiled. "We're at war. I don't want to divide the resistance any more than it already is. I know that if I were to press charges, people would divide over the issue. It's over, and that's all I really care about."

"A very mature decision." Ms. Bell said with a nod. "You've raised a fine boy, Mrs. Dursley. I have to get back to the office. You know how to contact me if you need me, Mr. Potter. Try not to get into any more life or freedom threatening situations, if you please." She told him a little sternly.

"I keep saying that they find me." He said with a shrug. "I'll try." He promised.

"Do that. Take care, everyone." She left the house then, and Harry felt her Apparate a few minutes later.

"Remus, I want you to call a security company, if you would. I want this house so heavily warded the Minister of Magic wouldn't be able to get through." Harry said the instant the lawyer left. "I want a wizard on duty here twenty-four hours a day."

"Are you sure that's necessary?" Petunia asked as she started setting the table. "Remus, books off the table." She told the man. Remus waved his wand, and the books disappeared.

"I upset Dumbledore greatly." Harry told her. "So much so that I'm afraid of what he might try to do." Harry said in explanation. "I don't want to take any chances. I feel like he sees me as a weapon, one he must control." Harry massaged his forehead. "I just want to know that you'll be safe here." Harry said. "I won't always be at home, and I don't want to worry that Dumbledore will appear and try to take you away from me." Harry had to wonder if all women cried at hearing their male relatives express worry over their well-being. Petunia cried and hugged him for a few minutes before pulling away.

"No problem, Harry. I know of several good companies. James' grandfather used one to ward one of the houses, and the wards are still strong today. I'll get in touch with them and see what they can do." Remus opened a little notepad on the table, only to snatch it back when Petunia lowered a plate of food in front of him.

"My favorite!" Harry said happily.

"I started on it when Kreacher promised me that you were coming home." Petunia said. "I know how much you like Shepherd's pie."

"Followed closely by pizza and spaghetti and meatballs." Harry informed his aunt.

"I'm sure you like vegetables as well." She said in a warning tone.

"Of course." Harry agreed. Anything to keep pizza from being banned in the house. That would make things very difficult.

"Harry, we should set up a few things." Remus said as he brought out his notepad again. "Your education, for one thing. The press. Things like that." Remus told him.

"Can we do it after dinner?" Harry asked. "I just want to spend some time with you guys tonight." Harry said.

"Certainly." Remus put his pad away. "Though, if the two of you will excuse me, I have some phone calls to make. Something about you coming home safe and sound so Sensei can cancel his invasion plans." Remus said as he left the kitchen.

"Was he serious?" Harry asked in shock.

"I think so." Petunia said. She smiled at Harry and reached out to mess up his hair. "Eat up." Petunia told him. "You're too thin." She gave him a look that meant business. Harry smiled and picked up his fork. He'd let her boss him around for now. Okay, he'd let her boss him around whenever she wanted. He'd missed home.

Author's Note: There you go. Now, I expect no death threats until after the Christmas holidays. Do you have that? Nothing until after the Christmas holidays. Oh, I also need to speak with someone from England. Just message me or leave a review, please. I have some questions that the Internet doesn't seem to be able to answer. Thanks!