Chp.1

Harry

As the clock switched over to midnight, I crossed off another day on the wall calender that Hermione had given to me shortly before we boarded the train headed back to King's Cross Station. Hermione was always giving me various items that she thought would help me study better, not knowing that I was probably the last person in the school, maybe even the country, who needed one. The people at Hogwarts all assumed that I was a slightly better than average student, mainly with the help of one Hermione Granger, although that couldn't be further from the truth. What most people, my "best friends" included, don't understand is that I have been able to consciously control my magic for as long as I can remember. I have always been able to feel it flowing through my body, simply waiting to be used. However, I learned early on that using my magic freely in front of other people generally resulted in punishment; 'aka' the Dursley way of handling anything "abnormal". So from an early age I learned to keep my abilities hidden from everyone but myself, even those that claimed to only be looking after my best interests. Unfortunately for me, there was one person who seemed to be able to tell that I wasn't what I seemed to be.

Albus Dumbledore. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and professional pain in my ass. He is the only person who has never bought into the whole "I'm normal" persona. From the first time I met him, I knew there was something strange about him, something that no one else knew. I have always been able to sense another person's magic, which is very helpful in recognizing people who try and sneak up on you, however something about the Headmaster's magic felt wrong. His magic feels as if it's angry, almost like a caged lion would be. To this day, I have no idea what would make someone's magic feel like that, which is something that worries me because it means that the Headmaster is also not who he appears to be. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that he actually is Albus Dumbledore, however that whole "I'm a crazy old man" act that he puts on is complete bullshit.

How do I know that Albus Dumbledore has put on an act that has fooled everyone into believing that he is a harmless, insane old professor? I have two reasons to believe I'm right, the first of which is actually very simple to explain. The first, is obviously the way his magic feels; no doddering idiot would have magic with that potential for violence. However the second might take a bit longer to explain. Whenever the Headmaster and I are alone in his office, he lets whatever mask he is displaying drop, at least a little, allowing me to see a completely different person. The first time I saw this change, he had called me to his office after that whole dragon incident in first year. After he finished discussing with Professor McGonagall the various repercussions of my actions, he asked to speak with me privately, which is when I saw it. As soon as McGonagall was gone, the Headmaster's whole demeanor instantly switched from that of a grandfather, to something I could only describe as powerful. His eyes lost their well known twinkle, only to start glowing with an eerie blue light, his posture subtly changed into a more commanding position, and his aura became visible all around him. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. However his next actions were even more astonishing.

Flashback

I was suddenly extremely alert. The old man in front of me had just transformed into the man that I could now believe to be feared by Voldemort himself.

"Harry, I think it is time that you show me who you really are" the Headmaster stated in a rich, deep voice. I was immediately floored by the absolute power radiating from his voice. It was one of those voices that could convince someone to do just about anything. I was speechless, and reacted unconsciously, dropping all the masks that I myself had built up over the years.

"How did you know?" I asked in a slightly bewildered voice, although it too was much different than the voice I normally used.

"Harry, you are not as alone as you once thought you were. However, there is precious little I can do about it at this time. Just know that within this school, only you can know of my true self, and even this is but a mere imitation of it. Now before you go back to your dorm, I want you to know there will come a time in the not so distant future, when I will be able to tell you everything. Before you complain just know that I am bound by magic to reveal nothing to you until I am freed from this curse, but soon, very soon, I will be able to tell you all you wish to know".

I stared at the headmaster trying to wrap my head around what he was telling me, but before I could get very far he dismissed me.

"Now, off you go, back to bed, and don't forget, this is our little secret."

As I walked out of the Headmaster's office, I was somewhat concerned that I did not know what the professor spoke of, however it was comforting to know that I was not the only one who put up a front to other people.

End Flashback

Pretty simple right? Having the headmaster just come out and show me that there was more to him than a simple old man made it easy to know that he is a complicated person. However, there is something else that happened. Something which has troubled me to no end, and it happened not even two weeks ago, on the night of the third task.

I still have a hard time wrapping my head around everything that happened the night that Voldemort was resurrected. That night started off just how I had planned. I was gradually making my way through the maze, letting just a bit of my power show, when all of a sudden I find that I have not beaten Cedric like I thought I had. After a mad dash towards the cup, we decided to take it together, and wouldn't you know it, we end up in some creepy graveyard instead of the winners stage. What happened next is just a big blur, starting with a green flash and ending with me waking up tied to some tombstone, which was pretty uncomfortable to say the least. Now, I could have quite easily broken the ropes holding me in place, but I'm a fairly curious person by nature and have always had a deep fascination with rare magics, so I waited to see what was about to happen.

After a short ritual, which sounded somewhat cheesy to me, Voldemort stepped out of a massive cauldron, looking like some strange version of a skeleton. However, that is when I felt it. Let me make this clear, apart from Dumbledore, there is only one other person I know whose magic feels trapped; mine. So when I got the first feel of Voldemort's magic, and it felt damn near exactly like Dumbledore's and my own, I was sort of freaked out. What in the hell would make Dumbledore, Voldemort, and me have such similar magic? Now most people would assume that this would be enough to genuinely scare me, however, what happened next was much, much worse.

After calling his ignorant, stupid followers, Voldemort decided that it would be an impressive show of his power if he bested me in a duel, which makes absolutely no sense seeing as I'm not even fifteen yet. However because this was 'Voldemort's party' we ended up having that duel that he so desired. Although I knew I was fighting one of the most powerful wizards alive, I still did not want to show the true extent of my knowledge because too many other wizards were present. However, this did not stop me from stepping up the amount of power that I was putting into the simple spells I was using. After several minutes of throwing around some pretty childish spells, Voldemort and I happened to each release a spell at exactly the same time resulting in some sort of connection between our wands. At this point I could feel the amount of power we both were sending through our wands, making them heat up to the point where I could feel the skin on my hand start to burn. Before I could decide whether to break the connection or not there was a blinding flash, and Voldemort and I were both thrown from the places we had been standing. Looking up I noticed something immediately, something that enraged both myself and Voldemort. Our wands, something that every wizard has a personal connection to, were both lying on the ground smoking, and broken into several pieces. Before Voldemort could do more than just stare at me, I wandlessly summoned the cup and Cedric's body, and returned to Hogwarts.

After I was released from the infirmary, the Headmaster called me to his office one last time before I was to depart from the school for the summer. As soon as I entered I could tell that something had the headmaster extremely happy. Unfortunately he told me nothing, staring at me until I looked away. After an awkward few minutes he dismissed me, but right as my hand touched the door he called out to me, "Harry, it is almost time". I turned around as he spoke and caught a glimpse of pure joy flash across his eyes before he turned around to take a book from one of the many bookshelves in his office. I left his office and went to board the train, confused about what the Headmaster was speaking of.

During the last couple of weeks that I've been at the Dursleys, I have constantly tried to figure out why Voldemort's magic was so similar to mine and Dumbledore's, and also what Dumbledore meant when he said that it is almost time. The closest I can figure, Dumbledore was referencing our first meeting where he mentioned he would tell me 'everything', whatever that is. However I can't help but wonder if it also has to do with the way our magic feels. Dumbledore did mention that he was cursed in our first meeting, but I don't see how I could have been cursed, yet have no memory of it. Unfortunately, I will probably just have to wait and see what Dumbledore means, and hopefully he will know about the problem with our magic. However that still leaves Voldemort. How, and why, would Voldemort and Dumbledore, the supposed leaders of two different magical factions, have near identical magic?

Suddenly all the lights on the street cut off. Staring out into the night, I cannot see anything out of place, and almost attribute the sudden loss of light to a power outage, when someone appears on the Dursleys doorstep. I instantly know who it is, and rush down the stairs to greet the Headmaster. Opening the door, I can see him standing there, all masks gone, looking every bit the powerful mage that he is.

He slowly looked me over, and then said in that rich, powerful voice, "Harry, my boy. Come, we have an errand to run."