POTTER RESURGENCE

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J. K ROWLING.

26th December 1991

Granger Residence

"Relax Hermione, you're shaking the couch."

Hermione couldn't relax though, not with what was at stake. She looked up at her father's chocolate-brown eyes and sighed dejectedly. Where were they? Had they forgotten? Did they even care about her? Did they care whether she was at Hogwarts or not? Granted tht didn't know about the last part but still!

Hardwin did. That, she was sure about, even Harry did, if only to have her as a researcher that didn't require being paid. Thinking of the twins reminded her of her situation and who wasn't arriving.

She focused slightly on the motorcycle race that her father was watching but her thoughts drifted away, back to the beginning of the Christmas holidays. She had been excited to see her parents. Even the fact that she couldn't show them what she had learned hadn't dampened that fact.

Knowing her parents were smart and rational people, she had told them everything. How she was an outcast at the start, Harry taking notice of her and starting to talk to her. About Halloween and how she had made her first friends as well as those who started treating her better because she was Hardwin's friend.

She had seen the proud looks on their faces and she had been happy. Untill the next day when they told her they were pulling her out of Hogwarts. That had flushed the festive mood out of her and it hasn't returned up to this point, not even the numerous books she had received as presents had pulled her out of her mood.

She glanced at the wall clock above the TV and her anxiety doubled as the second hand was approaching twelve. With ten seconds left untill it reached three, Hermione glanced at the door but still couldn't see anything. Maybe they had forgotten? Hardwin said Lily Potter's job kept her very busy maybe the_

She jumped when the doorbell sounded throughout the house. Her eyes jumped back to the clock to see that only seconds had passed 3pm. It rang again and she was rooted to the spot, afraid of finding someone else at the door.

"Won't you let in your friends, pumpkin?" Her father's voice jolted her out of her stupor and she rushed at the door. She ripped it open and nearly collapsed in relief at Harry's familiar flat look and raised eyebrow.

"Merry Christmas, Ms. Granger." Harry stated, his voice flat like he was observing the weather.

"Bloody hell, Harry no need for the Slytherin act." She almost cried at Hardwin's voice as he peered around his brother and flashed her a lopsided grin.

"Well, excuse him, he hasn't had a chance to use it since we left Hogwarts." She did cry at Neville's voice though. Thy had come! Her friends had actually come!

"Well, are you boys going to stand there all day?" Hermione had her mother say from behind her. "Why don't you come in, it must be real cold outside."

"Thanks Mrs. Granger." Harry nimbly stepped around Hermione who was still frozen in the doorway. Hardwin though paused and looked at her in concern.

"Hey, you're ok_oof!" He grabbed the boy in a bonecrushing hug. "Err... Hermione, can't breathe!"

"Sorry!" She squeaked and released him. "You came!"

"Of course we came, you asked us to and there was no way we were not going to come." Hardwin grinned at her as he whispered. "Harry even blackmailed mom into coming, she should be arriving soon."

"Oh, thanks." Hermione had told her parents that her friends will be coming to visit hoping that seeing what she will miss once she was pulled out of Hogwarts would soften their hearts. "Not that I'm happy that she is coming but why did you want her to come?"

She hadn't expected them to bring their mother as she hadn't even told them why she wanted them here.

"Harry said that she may want to meet your parents." He shrugged. "Said that since she knew all our friends' parents, it was only fair that she met yours as well."

As she led Hardwin into the house proper, she found Neville seated with her father watching the race.

"Where is Harry?"

"He is offered to help your mother in the kitchen and setting up the table." Her father said, shaking his head. "Why don't you go and help him."

She left as Hardwin joined the other two on the couch and found Harry in the dining room setting the table.

"How did you know they were pulling me out?" She hissed quietly at him and he frowned at her though there was no surprise.

"They are?"

"You didn't know?"

"I knew it was a possibility as I expected you to tell them everything that happened at Hogwarts." He shook his head at that fact.

"What did you want me to do, lie to them?"

"No." He said firmly. "You could have told them only what was necessary."

"Well, excuse me if not all of us aren't the pinnacle of cunning."

"Then be glad that one of us is." He answered easily. "Knowing you Gryffindors, when you asked as to come, I just knew something was up and here we are."

"Thanks, Harry." She told him genuinely.

"We may not be friends, Ms. Granger but you do have some uses to us smart enough to see them." He said haughtily, his nose in the air. "And if you hadn't inherited your mother's beauty, we probably wouldn't be in this place in the first place."

"Well, I've always been told our family genes are dominant." Her mother said with a smile as she entered the dining.

"I can definitely see that." Harry smiled. "To think she could have looked like your husband, now that would have been a sight to behold."

Her mother laughed while Hermione huffed playfully. "If you lot are going to have fun at my expense, then I'll leave you to do this alone."

"I know I'm not that haughty." Her mother said as Hermione left.

"I wholeheartedly agree." Harry said. "No one that beautiful could pull it off, it's definitely from the other genes."

"May I join you Mr. Granger?"

"Sure Harry!" The older man smiled at the boy who had already showed that he was years older than his age. "And I thought I told you to call me George."

"Well, in the magical world we only call people by their first names only when they're really close acquaintances." He paused cocking his head to the side. "Or when you're about to insult them."

George laughed.

"We just shared dinner, you an your mom managed to stop us from making a grave mistake and now we about to watch a football match together." He cocked an eyebrow with a mischievous smile. "I don't think we will be getting any closer unless you plan on marrying my daughter?"

Harry didn't blush.

"I'm afraid you're talking to the wrong twin." He had mischievous smile of his own. They're not old enough to think like that though yet. Though she is pretty enough for my brother to have a crush on her, you should probably check up on them just to be safe."

"Oh, you're good." George laughed for a moment before shaking his head. "I thought you would be with your friends though."

"Friends? Didn't your daughter tell you we Slytherins don't do friends?" Harry shook his head. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you something, Mr. Granger."

"Oh?"

"You see, I don't plan on limiting myself to the magical world like most wizards and witches." Harry started seriously. "I was hoping to do something for myself in the normal world, as a matter of fact once I leave Hogwarts, I plan to have as little contact with it as much as possible."

George looked at the boy before him and couldn't resist. "Isn't telling me your life goals against that Slytherin cunning of yours?"

"Not if I'm gaining something bigger." Harry answered without missing a beat and George laughed once again.

"So, what did you need me for?"

"Well, I don't know many people from the normal world and my mom hasn't been in it in a long time." Harry said. "I was hoping you could give me some advice on the best way to...slither my way in."

George leaned back on the couch and studied the boy infront of him for about a minute. Harry waited patiently like he had all the time in the world.

"Well, if I were in your place, and I have the resources that I think you have, I would begin with investing." George started and Harry nodded, clearly having thought of it as well. "The trick could be where..."

Meanwhile, in Hermione's room

"So, have any of you guys found out who Flamel is?"

"Well..." The two boys blushed and Hermione narrowed her eyes at them. "Have you found anything?"

"You haven't even tried have you?"

"Well, we've been busy!" Hardwin said defensively. "We haven't exactly had time to waste on unimportant things like Snape."

"And what exactly were you doing?" Hermione asked with a pointed look and Hardwin faltered.

"Well..."

"Training with Harry!" Neville pipped in but shrunk on himself when she turned her glare at him and he continued weakly. "Well, we have!"

Hermione stared at them with her arms crossed, enjoying seeing the two squirm before she smiled. "Why don't you just ask Harry anyway?"

The two boys' eyes widened, clearly having never considered something so obvious.

"Ask me what?"

Hermione spun around to stare at Harry who was looking at the three with a raised eyebrow. She turned to look at the two boys behind her but none of them looked ready to take on the responsibility. Infact they were both intently staring at book on the shelf.

"Well?" Harry prompted and after shooting her cowardly friends one more look sh took a deep breath.

"Nicholas Flamel." She said hesitantly. "Do you know who he is?"

"Yes." He answered. "I'm surprised that you actually don't, I've read that he is also known in the muggle world."

"Really?" She asked in surprise. "What did he do?"

"A great many things." He replied and she fought hard to hide her frustration at his answer. "Why are you lot suddenly interested in him?"

"Nothing really, he seemed like someone any witch should know about." Hermione said, trying not to sho her anxiety.

"Ms. Granger?" Harry asked, voice sharp as he pinned her cold unblinking stare. Hermione gulp and looked at her friends for help but they didn't even look at her and she sighed.

"According to Hagrid, whatever is being kept on the third floor corridor has something to do with him." She mumbled but he heard her all the same.

Harry stared at her for moment before his eyes widened slightly.

"No." He shook his head. "Dumbledore may be going barmy but even he wouldn't keep the Sorcerer's stone in a school of children."

The two boys gasped, clearly having an idea what Harry was taking about.

"Harry!" Lily Potter called from downstairs. "What's happening, we've got to go."

"Coming!" Harry called back. "Come on guys."

May 26th 1992

Forbidden forest

Hardwin carefully picked his way after his brother who was walking ahead like he had no care in the world. Their path was illuminated by a small ball of light that Harry had conjured that was just enough to ensure that they didn't fall into holes.

Harry had argued that any brighter and the ball would have attracted attention and seeing where they were, that attention wouldn't necessarily be wanted. Malfoy had cursed, argued and threatened Harry but he hadn't been moved.

The two brothers had started walking and left the blonde behind before he rushed after them about a second later claiming to have seen a werewolf.

"I still can't believe Dumbledore approved this." Harry grumbled, strolling ahead looking like had been here before. "Detention in the forbidden forest, when something dangerous enough to kill unicorns was roaming here no less!"

"Well, it was either that or be expelled." Hardwin said. "If only we hadn't been been caught, all this would have been avoided."

Harry didn't reply. He was probably not happy that he was being forced to trudge through the forbidden forest in the middle eof the night as punishment for something he hadn't done. The trio of Gryffindors had decided to keep Harry out of the loop concerning Nobert.

They hadn't wanted to involve him knowing how risky it was and knowing that he would probably refuse to even take part. Their plan had been fool proof though, they just hadn't counted on Malfoy and his desire to get them into trouble and now here he was with Malfoy while Hermione and Neville were with Hagrid.

Before the dragon, life had gone back to normal at Hogwarts. Classes, homework, quidditch and the general brattiness of young wizards and witches taking up their time. Hardwin did everything to practice, trying to keep up with his brother and a head of everyone else in their class.

Him, Hermione and Neville had decided to put the stone out of their minds, safe in the knowledge that if the stone was really at Hogwarts, then it was only natural that Dumbledore would protect it more thoroughly than a bunch of first years could.

Harry had applauded them for finally using their brains, something which had annoyed Hermione.

"Wait." Harry suddenly said, pulling Hardwin from his thoughts. He looked around and realized they were pretty deep in the forest and the ball of light they had been using had been extinguished.

Hardwin heard a pained whimper from a head and knew it was the unicorn and it was clearly in pain. He brushed past Harry and ran towards the sound ignoring his brother's whispered warnings. He suddenly burst through a clearing and gasped at the sight that met his eyes.

Illuminated by the moonlight, a unicorn was lying in the middle of the clearing. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leaves.

What made Hardwin's blood freeze was the black hooded figure over the unicorn that was clearly drinking from it. His gasp had the figure suddenly looking up at him, silver blood dripping from its hooded face.

Then a pain like he'd never felt before pierced his head; it was as though his scar were on fire. Half blinded, he staggered backward as the figure straightened and started advancing on him. The pain in his scar doubled and he sank on his knees, his wand falling uselessly to the ground.

"Fulguris!" The clearing was suddenly illuminated as a bolt of lightning erupted from Harry's wand, traveling faster than any spell he had ever seen and slammed into the figure. An inhuman cry came from it as it was sent flying across the clearing.

The pain in his head reduced and Hardwin grabbed his wand and pointed it at the smoking figure. It wasn't necessary though as figure swiftly slithered into the night without a backwards glance.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked in concern and Hardwin nodded before cautiously approaching the unicorn. "Episkey!"

There was no effect and the blood kept flowing from the would. Harry cast the spell over and over to no effect and Hardwin could feel the unicorn's struggles lessen as he watched helplessly.

"That is no minor wound, young Potter." The twins spun around, wands ready and saw a centaur standing at the edge of the clearing. The man-horse raised his arms in peace. "I'm here to help, you need something stronger, more suited against the darker aspects of magic."

Harry watched the centaur for a few seconds before he closed his eyes and suddenly turned around, wand pointed at the unicorn. "Vulnera Sanentur!"

Harry's voice was soft, almost like he was singing as the tip of his wand glowed a gental green that was reflected in the silver blood. The blood stopped flowing and almost gently, the wound slowly closed itself. While the wool didn't cover it, there wasn't any chance of it blooding again.

When the wound was sealed, Harry slumped onto the ground breathing heavily while chuckling to himself. "It actually worked! I can't believe it actually worked!'

"Why wouldn't it work?" Hardwin asked, he had never seen his brother attempt a spell and it failed.

"It's a spell I read in on of mom's journals." He looked at his wand as if in wonder. "It's very advanced, Auror-level advanced and that was my first time even attempting it."

"Intent and will are some of the most fundamental principles of magic." The centaur lectured. "And the both of you have the touch of prophecy, you will never be limited by normal rules."

"Yeah, thanks for the lecture." Harry grumbled as he stood up and Hardwin barely managed to catch him as he stumbled and nearly fell again. "I can bloody walk by myself!"

Hardwin almost dropped his brother at Harry's statement. Harry never swore. He touched his arm and shuddered at how cold it was.

"Young Harry is suffering magical exhaustion." the centaur said as he got down on his knees. "It will be real hard to find the castle on your own."

Hardwin managed to get a complaining Harry on the back of the centaur before he passed out. Even as his scar prickled slightly, he held onto his brother, tonight's even having shown him once again just how lucky he was to have Harry as a brother.

"Mom is not going to be happy." Hardwin said as he looked at his brother seated on the hospital bed.

Hardwin hadn't known what to tell them except for the fact that Harry was suffering from magical exhaustion. He refused to give any details on how his brother had ended up that way but they knew a unicorn had been involved.

"Yeah." Harry said quietly, his body not yet recovered completely and the only reason he was still confined to the hospital wing. "Though I reckon she will be more worried than pissed."

"What was that thing anyway?"

Harry was quiet for a moment, clearly wondering how to answer Hardwin's question.

"It is a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn," said Harry, his eyes closed. "Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips."

"Death would be a better option than being cursed for life." Hardwin said and Harry nodded.

"It is," Harry agreed, "unless all you need is to stay alive long enough to drink something else —something that will bring you back to full strength and power, something that will mean you can never die."

"The elixir of life!" Hardwin breathed in realization as he felt something drop in the pit of his stomach like a brick. "It was not Snape."

"No." Harry shook his head confirming his thoughts. "Someone who has been on the edge of death for years, someone who would do anything to get back to his full power."

"Voldemort." He said with a shiver and for the first time in his life, Hardwin felt a spike of fear when the name was being mentioned by his own mouth. "What do we do?"

"Nothing." Harry replied promptly and Hardwin looked at him incredulously. "If the Dark Lord is involved, it gives even more reason not to get involved. We may be above our peers but we areno match for an adult wizard let alone the Dark Lord or whoever is trying to steal the stone for him."

"You hurt him in the forest!"

"It was a fluke and I doubt it will happen again if we were to ever come across him again." Harry shook his head. "The stone is being protected by the only wizard the Dark Lord ever feared. If Dumbledore of all people ends up losing the stone to him, then know that someone like you and I wouldn't have stood a chance."

"What do we do in the meantime?" He asked finally after a moment of contemplation knowing Harry was right.

"Concentrate on your studies." Harry said softly. "Exams are next week and I want you to perform at your very best. I want you to show the world that you're more than just the boy-who-lived. Can you do that for me?"

Hardwin nodded.

"Good, now excuse me while I take a nap." Harry said as he laid back on the bed. "This magical exhaustion is very annoying."

Hardwin left his brother to sleep and left the hospital wing. He hadn't told him about the nightmare he had last night after they came back to the castle or the fact that his scar hadn't stopped paining ever since the encounter with Voldemort in the forest.

4th June 1992

Hogwarts grounds

The exams were finished and everyone was outside the hot castle. Hardwin had done the exams with relative ease and he knew that apart from potions and history of magic, he will likely get Os in every other subject.

He wondered how Harry had fared but shook his head when he realized that if there was a grade higher than an O then it will be the one Harry gets. He walked with Hermione and Neville across the school grounds, merely trying to relax.

His friends looked like they were on their way but Hardwin just couldn't find it in himself to relax. His scar had been paining every day accompanied by the recurring nightmare of that night. Only this time, while Voldemort shot the killing curse at him, his face was dripping with blood.

Harry knew nothing about all this. He hadn't wanted to worry his brother especially as exams approached but now that they were finished, it would be the first thing he told him when they met.

"What are we doing here, Hardwin?" Hermione asked and Hardwin blinked when he realized they were standing infront of Hagrid's but.

"I don't know." He confessed. "It's just I have this feeling that something is about to go very wrong and Hagrid has something to do about it."

"Well, let's check and see, maybe he has another dragon egg or something similar." Neville joked but Harry suddenly grabbed him.

"The dragon egg!"

"What about it? And would you keep your voice down!" Hermione hissed and Hardwin blushed. He knocked at the door and Hagrid led them inside. "So, what about Norbert?"

"Not Norbert." Hardwin said as he turned to Hagrid. "The stranger that you won the egg from, what did he look like?"

"I dunno, he couldn't take off his hood."

"And was he interested in Hogwarts or fluffy?" Hermione asked sharply, clearly having caught on Hardwin's thoughts.

"Well — yeah — how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep —"

That was all the trio needed and Hermione pulled the two boys out, completely ignoring Hagrid's shouts to come back. "Hagrid told the man how to get passed fluffy, the stone is no longer safe."

"It could have been Voldemort or his agent under that cloak!." Hardwin said. "We must tell Dumbledore immediately!"

"Will he even believe us?" Neville asked as he struggled to keep up with the pair.

As it turned none of them even knew where the headmaster's office was. They found McGonagall who told them about Dumbledore's absence. Why he was flying to the ministry when he had a floo in his office and a Phoenix, Hardwin had no idea.

One thing he knew for sure was that it fell on him to protect the stone as McGonagall was so convinced that no one could get to it. The trio of Gryffindors decided to steal the stone and find another way of hidding it before Voldemort could get it.

Later that day

Dungeons

"Where have you been, Potter?" Blaise asked when Harry entered their room.

"Been practicing with a friend that's sitting their DADA NEWTS tomorrow." He sighed as he sank on his bed. "Did I miss anything?"

"Not much." The Italian boy shrugged. "Flint, it has been found out, even before the results came back that he is likely to repeat the class. Someone found out and spread it throughout the whole house. Flint got fed up and challenged the whole house for someone to say it to his face."

"Let me guess." Harry said. "No one did?"

"We are Slytherins, Potter. Not Gryffindors."

"Point." Harry conceeded as he prepared his bed. He suddenly paused when he felt his link to his brother flare in panic.

Someone is after the stone. Has already passed fluffy. We're going after them.

Harry reached under his bed and retrieved the school broom he had borrowed. "Zabini, find Snape and tell him someone is going after the stone."

"What!? What Stone?"

"Just tell him that, he will understand." Harry said as he started heading towards the door while making sure the Invisibility Cloak was in his pocket.

"And where are you going?"

"After the stone." Was Harry's answer before he pulled the door open and bounded down the stairs. The moment he passed through the entrance to the common room, he whipped out the Invisibility Cloak from his pocket, covered himself and mounted the broom.

Meanwhile

"Go, Hermione before it wears off." Hardwin said and the girl gave him one more sad look and walked through the fire back to Neville.

The devil's snare had been child's, his seeker skill had let them pass by the flying keys and the numerous times he had played chess with Harry had played off against the giant chess board. Though they had to sacrifice Neville to win the game.

The troll had been thankfully knocked out and the puzzle had been easy enough for Hermione to solve once she stopped panicking and thought. Which had left him to this point.

Voldemort or his agent was in the next room and it was up to him to do something. Harry had yet to show up and time was running out, gathering his legendary Gryffindor courage, Hardwin swallowed the potion, put back the vial and stepped through the fire.

Harry wasted no time the moment he reached the door with the sleeping Fluffy. He dived through the open trapdoor while at the same time conjuring a ball of light to go ahead of him.

Ignoring the fleeing Devil's snare, he headed for the door which simple knock-back jinx pushed open before the broom reached it. He flew into the next room and seeing nothing in place, another knock-back jinx also opened the door.

The next room, he found an unconscious Neville lying amongst destroyed chess pieces. He landed softly next to the blonde and after making sure no one else was in the room, whipped off the Invisibility Cloak and checked for a pulse.

"Episkey!" He incanted and the large bruise on the boy's head disappeared. Hearing movement behind him, Harry spun around and a silent stunner flew from his wand and hit the person before he could even see who it was.

He shook his head and walked over to Hermione and revived her.

"Harry?" He nodded. "I thought you were someone else, how did you move so fast?"

"Where is my brother?"

Her eyes widened when she remembered what was happening. "He went ahead, the potion wasn't enough for the two of us and he went ahead by himself."

"Shit!" Harry swore and left the girl. A gust of wind from his favorite wind spell cleared the board and he walked through the door on the other end.

He didn't even spare the troll on the floor a second glance as he ran to the next room, intent to get to his brother before he got killed. When his way was blocked by fire, he simply covered himself with the Ancient invisibility cloak and walked right through the enchanted flames, not for the first time marveling at his ancestors' enchanting skill.

Or Death, if the stories are to be believed.

Harry put the Invisibility Cloak into his pocket, not wishing Voldemort to get his serpentine hands on it.

"Fulguris!" Harry thought, casting the spell silently thanks to the number of times he had practiced it. Quirrell spun around unnaturally fast and a shimmering shield intercepted the fast-moving bolt of lightning sending it up to the ceiling.

The room shook slights from the strength of the spell.

"Impressive, Mr. Potter." Quirrell said as he turned around, not even bothering with the fake stutter. "You didn't honestly think that would work a second time, did you?"

"Not really." Harry said, trying to keep his voice steady as he glanced at his brother who was bound by ropes and gagged on the floor. "Merely proving a point to my brother."

"Oh, trouble in paradise?"

"Not particularly." Harry shook his head. "Just something I tried to tell him but unfortunately, he proved to be too idiotic to listen."

"Well, he is a Gryffindor."

Harry nodded to Quirrell in agreement, ignoring his brother's muffled protests. "I'm surprised though, I expected your master to personally come for the stone himself."

"You don't think I can retrieve the stone myself?" Quirrell asked with narrowed eyes.

"Well, you haven't, have you?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow and continued before Quirrell could say anything. "Is there any chance I could meet him?"

"You want to meet the Dark Lord?" Quirrell asked in amusement. "May I ask why?"

"As a matter of fact yes. As for my reasons, well..." Harry walked over where brother was lying. "Sorry brother but this is not a conversation for delicate ears. Stupefy!"

The stunner hit Hardwin and his emerald eyes flickered from Harry to the Invisibility Cloak that landed on his chest before they closed as the spell took effect. It wasn't particularly powerful and would wear off in a few minutes.

Harry just hoped Quirrell hadn't caught on.

"You're full of surprises Mr. Potter, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't be much of a Slytherin if I wasn't." Harry said, standing between the professor and his unconscious brother. "So, where is he?"

"Let me speak to the boy." A soft voice said and Harry suppressed a shiver.

"But master...are you sure?"

"Are you questioning me?"

"No...of course not!" He hurried to answer. "Just worried is all."

Quirrell turned around and started untying the turban and Harry braced himself. However when he was finished, only his impressive occulmency kept him from screaming aloud. He took a step back at the visage that was studying him. There was a face, the most terrible face Harry had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.

"Harry Potter…" it whispered. "Or should I say 'the other Potter', the forgotten Potter...the spare Potter."

"Voldemort." Harry whispered in the same tone as if in greeting.

"See what I have become?" the Dark Lord said. "Mere shadow and vapor… I have form only when I can share another's body… but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds… Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks."

Voldemort paused and stared at him for a second.

"But it was never enough, I needed something better, the very thing that pulled me all the way from Albania." The Dark Lord looked at him. "Once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own."

"And I wish you good luck in your endeavors." Harry said and his lips stretched into a smile at the obvious look of surprise on the Dark Lord's face. "Unlike my brother, I'm not stupid enough to think I could stop you if you wanted to get something"

Hardwin blinked as the stunner wore off. Feeling the cold stone floor under him, Hadrian remembered where he was and what had transpired before his forced nap. He barely stopped himself from jerking upright when he heard a quiet voice.

"Very smart, Mr. Potter." The voice said and Hardwin heard Harry chuckle. "So tell me, Mr. Potter, why did you come down here if not to protect the Stone."

"Like I told Quirrell, I had hoped you would come for the stone yourself." Hardwin froze when he realized who Harry was actually talking to. "I do have some questions for you regarding that night."

With the Dark Lord's attention at Harry, Hardwin covered himself with the cloak and stood up.

"Why did you come after us that night?" Harry asked and Voldemort laughed a cold laugh.

"You mean Dumbledore never told you about the prophecy!?" He asked. "How one of you had been destined to kill me?"

Harry didn't answer for a moment and Hardwin continued walking, quietly getting between Quirrell and the mirror he had found him staring at knowing it was where the Stone was likely being kept.

"What did you do to my father?" Harry asked again and Quirrell shook his head before the other voice_ the Dark Lord's voice_ replied.

"I will answer that question on one condition." He said. "You join me Harry Potter... you're clearly a skilled wizard and likely to be very powerful in the future... together, we can archive great things...and in return, I will heal your father."

There was a moment of silence as Hardwin and Voldemort waited for Harry's answer and when it came, Hardwin knew the game was up.

"What do I have to do?" Harry said submissively. Harry was not submissive. Not to anyone.

"Bow to me, Harry Potter." Voldemort said. "Help me get the stone and the world will never be the same again."

There was a tense moment of silence and it was like the world had come to a standstill before Harry broke the silence.

"A Potter never bows to anyone, now brother!"

"Depulso!" Hardwin incanted a he threw the cloak to the side. The same shimmering shield from earlier intercepted the spell but it gave Harry an opening.

A bright yellow spell slammed into Quirrellmort's back moments before Hardwin's bone breaker slammed into his shoulder. A blueish dome suddenly erupted around Quirrell and blocked Hardwin's next spell as well as the flury of spells that came from Harry. The two brothers stopped casting when they realized they were having no effect.

"That's enough!" Quirrell shouted and the dome exploded outwards sending the two brothers flying. Hardwin grunted as he hit the floor and jumped to his feet and cursed when he realized he had lost his grip on his wand.

He scrambled around trying to find it. On the other side of the room, Quirrell was trading spells with Harry. While his repertoire was still limited, Harry was a fast caster and he didn't stay in one place for more than a second. However he was tiring and Quirrell was simply batting away every single spell that came near him. Those he couldn't bat away, that shimmering shield was there to deflect the spell.

Quirrell wasn't just on the defensive though. For every spell he batted away, two were sent back and with Harry getting tired both from casting and dodging the flury of spells from Quirrell, Harry's left arm was clipped by a sizzling spell that felt like his bone had been transformed into lava and he felt with a cry.

"CRUCIO!" Hardwin's head snapped up at Harry's screams and he gave up finding his wand and ran at Quirrell.

Quirrell cut off the spell and spun around and raised his wand at him but Harry, shaking on the ground pointed his wand at the back of Quirrell's legs and just as he was about to cast. A very small gust of wind hit the professor's legs and he stumbled, the sickly white spell flying over Hardwin's head just as he slammed into Quirrellmort and the two fell.

Hardwin screamed at the pain from his scar and his hands but he kept his hands on the professor's neck as he felt Quirrell's skin disintegrate under him. He could feel blood flowing down his face from his scar but he held on. He fought against the blackness in his vision untill Quirrell stopped fighting and let only then did it let it engulf him.

Harry from his prone position watched a black shade jump from the pile of ash and fly off through the ceiling. Forcing his burning muscles to move, Harry shakily got to his knees and crawled towards the mirror. After what felt like forever, he knelt infront of it, his knees burning.

In the mirror, he saw Lily Potter, old but looking as beautiful as ever, smiling like she had no worry in the world the obvious reason her two sons standing on either side of her. Looking at his brother, the only word he could think of was powerful.

Hardwin stood confidently, his messy hair swaying in a breeze with a mischievous smile on his face. Looking at himself, Harry smiled despite himself at the man that looked back at him, the Head of house ring on his finger. And in the background, Potter Manor stood regally looking like the Ancient seat that it's supposed to be.

His older self reached into the pockets of his robes and retrieved a bloodred stone, winked at him and replaced it back. Harry almost collapsed from the sudden weight in his pocket. Looking back at the image in the mirror one last time, Harry raised his shaking hand and pointed the wand at the mirror.

"Fli..Flippendo!" The spell was weak but it was enough to send the mirror flying into the wall behind it. The frame stayed intact but the mirror shattered into a hundred pieces.

His vision was filled with stars and Harry used all his occulmency to keep awake. "Trippy!"

It took a moment but the Potter head elf appeared with a loud pop. "Master Harry!"

The elderly elf exclaimed at Harry's state but he raised a hand and stopped her in its trucks. Retrieving the stone from his pocket he handed it to her.

"Ta..take..this s.. stone." He stammered, his nerves sporadically failing him. "Keep it..as..safe as possible. D..do NOT show it to...to anyone."

The elf nodded. "Now Go!"

She disappeared and Harry sighed and fell unconscious, right next to his brother.