Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: So sorry for the wait! For anyone who follows my other stories, I am still working on them and hope to update them soon. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Good afternoon everyone," Sirius said cheerfully as students took their seats. "Re-um, Professor Lupin is recovering from the full moon so you get to have me as your defense professor for the next couple of days."

Several of the girls in class got dreamy looks on their faces while some were whispering to each other and giggling. Harry snickered quietly to himself, wondering if Sirius noticed the attention he was getting.

"So, today we will begin studying non-verbal spells," Sirius said as he glanced through the notes Remus had left for him. "This is a great way to defend yourself against someone who wants to do you harm. Who can tell me why?"

Harry raised his hand along with a few others. He had touched on this briefly during the summer during his training.

"Harry?"

"Your opponent will have no warning about what you are about to cast, which gives you a split-second advantage," Harry answered. And if you are a legilimens, you have an even better advantage because you will be able to know what they plan to cast, unless they can occlude, Harry added silently. He didn't say that point out loud as he and his dad had decided to try and keep it quiet that Harry was learning to occlude. The less Voldemort knew about him, the better.

"Very good Harry, ten points," Sirius said with a nod. "Yes, those who are able to grow strong in using magic without resorting to shouting out the incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting." He paused and narrowed his eyes as Blaise suddenly gave a loud yawn, causing the Slytherins around him to snicker. He casually walked through the room, stopping in front of the irritating boy. "Of course, not all wizards will be able to do this. Some lack the concentration and mind power that is needed to achieve this form of magic." He stared at Blaise with a smirk for a moment and then sauntered away.

Blaise scowled as most of the students snickered.

"As you start, think of the spell clearly in your head. Ideally, you will advance to the point where it is almost second nature," Sirius lazily flicked his wand without saying a word an empty chair floated in the air. After the chair lowered back down, the lanterns in the room went out and then back on. "You'll find that some spells are easier than others," Sirius continued after his demonstration. "The spell you will practice today will be Levicorpus, which causes the victim to be hoisted into the air by their ankle." Sirius smirked. "A popular spell when I was in Hogwarts. Some students couldn't walk down the hallway without suddenly being hoisted into the air."

Harry frowned as he realized that Snape had likely suffered from that spell due to his father and Sirius. He gave his godfather a disapproving look, causing Sirius to merely grin in response. "Ron, why don't you try to levitate Harry?" He suggested.

"With pleasure," Ron grinned as he hopped out of his seat.

Harry stood in front of his classmates, waiting for his friend to try the jinx.

Ron's face scrunched up as he tried to concentrate, giving his wand an upward flick. He gave a huff after a minute and tried again, his face twisted in determination, his eyes almost looking crossed.

Harry couldn't help it; he began laughing at the funny look on Ron's face. The rest of the class began snickering and even Sirius was chuckling.

Ron stopped and glared at everyone. "It's difficult," He insisted.

"It is," Sirius agreed.

"You try," Ron said to Harry.

Harry bit his lip and focused, saying the incantation in his head as he did the wand movement over and over. He hadn't covered this yet with his dad, so the exercise was new to him. After repeated attempts he thought he saw Ron's body jerk up a little but he wasn't sure if it was just Ron shifting his stance. "Yeah, this is difficult," He agreed as he stopped.

"It takes practice," Sirius assured them. "Another spell that is usually easy to try is the shield charm. We'll practice both, that way you can alternate between the two. Daphne and Tracey, why don't you two try a silent Protego?"

Harry and Ron sat back down, ignoring their friends good natured teasing that they couldn't perform non verbal magic.

"Wait until you try it," Ron huffed.

HP

Snape began cleaning up his classroom after dismissing his third year's early due to a poorly attempted potion one of the Hufflepuff's had done. He scowled as he stared at the half melted cauldron and mess on the table. He was about to banish it when he felt it. He gave a start, and stared down at his left arm. He pushed up the sleeve and stared at the faded mark. Though, the mark wasn't nearly so faded. In fact, the mark was becoming clearer by the second. "No," He whispered in horror. His feeling of panic grew as his thoughts went to Harry and if his scar was hurting him. After sending a patronus to both Albus and Poppy, he began to run to the Defense classroom.

HP

"Protego!" Harry shouted and then sighed. "Drat, I meant to say that only in my head." He muttered as his shield blocked Ron's jinx.

Ron snickered. "It's too automatic for us to shout out a spell."

"Send me another jinx," Harry ordered, wanting to try again. The students had paired up to practice as Sirius walked around the room to observe their progress.

Harry lifted his wand when suddenly a sharp pain in his scar made him cry out. The pain began intensifying and his vision became blurry. He couldn't see the Defense classroom anymore, instead he saw a graveyard where several robed men were standing around a large stone cauldron, one of the robed holding a small bundle in his arms. Another lit a fire under it and the liquid in the cauldron began to quickly heat. It quickly started to bubble and shoot out fiery sparks and thick steam rose from its surface.

"It is ready master."

"Then hurry," A cold voice snapped.

Harry was now able to see what the bundle was and he felt like he was going to be sick. It was small like a child, hairless and scaly with thin arms and legs. Its eyes glowed red. Harry wanted to run but it was like he couldn't move. All he could do was watch in horror.

The death eater holding it gently lowered it into the cauldron, the liquid hissing as the creature was covered completely.

Please be drowning it, Harry thought desperately.

The death eater held a closed fist over the cauldron. "Bone of the father, unknowingly given, renew your son!"

He opened his hand and a fine dust fell into the cauldron, making the water hiss violently and turn a vivid blue.

The death eater turned to another. "Do it!" He snapped.

Harry could hear the hooded figure whimpering as he stepped forward. "Fle-Flesh of the s-servant willingly given, re-revive your master." He pulled a long thin silver dagger from his robes and sliced off his own hand, letting it drop into the cauldron. He screamed and fell to the ground writhing in pain.

Harry watched as the robbed figure ignored the fellow death eater's pain, pulling a vial of blood out of his pockets.

My blood, Harry realized with icy fear.

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, will now restore your foe." He poured the vial into the cauldron.

"No!" Harry screamed, vaguely aware of others shouting his name but all he could see was the cauldron, sparks emanating from it when it finally stopped and a gust of white steam rose thickly. Please let it have drowned, he thought desperately.

But then a tall, thin man rose slowly from the cauldron. "My robe," The cold voice ordered.

Harry could see the man as he slipped on his robe; it was almost like he knew Harry was watching. Face whiter than skull and livid red eyes and a nose that was flat like a snake…

Lord Voldemort had risen again.

HP

"Harry? Harry!"

Harry opened his eyes and was surprised to find he was lying on the floor of the Defense classroom, Sirius shaking him in alarm.

"Merlin, you had me worried," Sirius breathed. "Are you all right?"

"He's back," Harry whispered, his hand going to his scar which was burning intensely. He groaned.

"What?"

"Voldemort is back," Harry squeezed his eyes shut, trying to occlude against the pain. He heard his classmates gasp and Sirius visibly paled.

The door burst open and Snape hurried in, clutching his left arm. He dropped to his knees next to Harry. "Are you all right?" He asked in a slightly shaky voice. He could tell from look on Harry's face that he knew what was happening. He reached out to lower Harry's arm so that he could look at his scar, which was vivid red and inflamed.

"My scar hurts," Harry answered, his eyes dropping to his dad's left arm. "He's back. I saw it happen, almost like I was there…how bad is your arm?"

"I need to get to the infirmary to begin treatment," Snape said as he handed Harry a vial of his special pain potion. "Come with me and don't rub your scar. I want to hear what you saw and have you checked over by Madame Pomfrey." He kept his voice calm even though his heart was pounding. What they had feared for so long had happened. Voldemort had returned. And Merlin, Harry had been able to see it happening…

Harry didn't argue, as he didn't want his dad to be alone. He knew he would be in the infirmary for some treatments to block Voldemort from using the mark to hurt him. He wasn't even surprised to see Pomfrey and Dumbledore waiting for them as they entered the infirmary. Sirius had looked like wanted to come with them but had reluctantly stayed behind to try and calm his students down.

"My boys, how are you doing?" Dumbledore asked in clear concern.

"Harry saw it happen," Snape told him as he settled on a cot, Poppy already rolling up his sleeve to look at his arm.

"He had four death eaters with him, but they had their hoods up so I couldn't see them clearly," Harry spoke up. "There was a big cauldron and they began adding ingredients…one even cut off his hand to add it in," Harry felt sick all over again. "And…a vial of my blood. They put Voldemort in, he was small and scaly looking but when he emerged…" Harry trailed off and couldn't help but shudder.

Snape reached over and grabbed Harry's arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We knew this was coming," He said. "You are not in this fight alone."

"Shouldn't we tell the ministry?" Harry asked anxiously, watching his dad take some potions as Pomfrey waved her wand over his arm, murmuring a spell.

Dumbledore exchanged a look with Snape. "Of course, I will inform Minister Fudge. However," He hesitated. "Don't expect that everyone in the ministry to believe that Voldemort is back until they see it with their own eyes."

Harry's mouth dropped open. "They won't believe me?"

"I suspect that many will be determined not to believe you." Dumbledore sighed. "They will be too scared of the idea that he is back, never mind how terrified the public will be. But there are also those that will be believe you Harry, and we will join together to fight. We are all in this together."

Harry nodded slowly. He looked over at his dad and found him asleep. He looked at Pomfrey in surprise.

"He'll be out until tomorrow," Poppy announced. "When he wakes, he should not have much pain in his arm and the mark will be safe from Voldemort."

"Thank you Poppy," Dumbledore said, noticing Harry's distressed expression. "I'm sorry Harry; I know you would like him awake right now."

"Not if he would be in pain or danger," Harry sighed, although he wished they could treat the arm without his dad being asleep. He needed him. That vision…

"How is your scar?" Dumbledore asked, peering at him intently.

"Better since I took my potion," Harry said, rubbing it absently until Pomfrey pulled his hand away so that she could look at it closely. "Do you think Voldemort knew I could see him?"

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Doubtful, but it's hard to be sure. He knows there is a link between you but hopefully he doesn't know how strong it is. You are occluding aren't you?"

"Yes," Harry shut his eyes for a moment. "As much as I can, anyway."

"If you need help, please let me know," Dumbledore said.

Poppy finished her quick assessment of him and returned to running diagnostics of Snape's arm.

The infirmary door opened and Sirius hurried in. "Harry, are you all right?" He noticed Snape. "What's going on?"

"Severus has begun his treatment to block the dark mark," Poppy spoke up. "He will be out until tomorrow."

"Right," Sirius rubbed his hand over his face and then looked at Harry in concern. "You doing okay?"

Harry didn't answer. Truthfully he was completely shaken from seeing the events unfold but he didn't want to whine about it. How he felt was nothing compared to the fact that Voldemort was back. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Oh, what about Mr. Malfoy? His mark –"

"I sent the potions needed to his home weeks ago," Poppy interrupted. "Narcissa will be monitoring him and I will floo to their manor later this evening to check up on him."

"Come on Harry, your friends are worried about you," Sirius said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"No, I shouldn't leave dad," Harry shook his head.

"There's nothing you can do for him right now," Sirius said gently. "He'll wake up tomorrow. Besides, your friends need to be reassured that you are okay. You left them very concerned about you."

"Professor Snape will be fine, Mr. Potter," Poppy assured Harry. "If you would like, you can come back and sit with him for a bit after dinner."

"I'll do that. Thank you," Harry gave in. He looked at Dumbledore. "What now?" Shouldn't they be doing something to stop Voldemort now that he was back?

"I will be going to the ministry," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure rumors will be flying through the school as well as students owling their parents. Remember Harry, some will not believe you." He warned.

"Yeah, I figure I know which ones won't," Harry said a little bitterly, thinking of Seamus and McLaggen.

"I will also need to inform the teachers, address the school…" Dumbledore was mumbling to himself as he left the infirmary.

Harry followed Sirius back to the Defense classroom, which had emptied out except for his friends. Sirius frowned. "Where is everyone else?"

"They said class was almost over anyway…" Hermione trailed off. "Harry, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Harry replied quietly.

"He's really back?" Theo asked in a strangled voice.

Harry nodded wearily. "I saw it."

"He's probably gathering his death eaters right now," Daphne shivered at the thought. She grabbed Harry's hand and he gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"Draco, your dad," Hermione murmured in concern.

Draco was pale. "My dad is doing the same thing as Professor Snape, blocking the call of the dark mark. My mum will be helping him." He took a deep breath. "So now war begins."

"Nothing will be the same will it?" Tracey asked grimly.

"No," Harry said softly. "It won't."

HP

"Please Cornelius, you must take action now," Dumbledore said.

Fudge leaned back in his chair. "You-Know-Who is dead. I am not going to take the word of teenager that he is actually alive."

"You need to accept this so that we can try to gain the upper hand," Dumbledore insisted. "First you need to remove the dementors from Azkaban and then-"

"Are you insane?" Fudge almost shouted. "Why would I do something like that? We are better protected because we have the demetors standing guard at Azkaban!"

"Voldemort will get them on his side and he has more to offer them than you do," Dumbledore snapped. "They will not remain loyal to you!"

Fudge simply glared.

"The next step to take is to send envoys to the giants."

"You're mad Albus!"

"You must reach out in friendship before Voldemort persuade them to join his side," Dumbledore said.

Fudge shook his head. "This is completely insane."

"I told you this was coming, I warned you," Dumbledore said, frustration clear in his voice.

"And I told you that boy was nothing but trouble," Fudge snapped.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Harry has already gone up against Voldemort several times and prevailed. You would be wise to listen to him. You owe him after letting Delores Umbridge torture him."

Fudge flinched. He still got hate mail for letting that woman teach at Hogwarts. And the public didn't even know that Potter was one of the students whom she had hurt. If they did…

Dumbledore smiled as if he knew what Fudge was thinking. "Yes, what would people think?" He mused out loud.

"I didn't know she would use a blood quill," Fudge said quickly.

"But you did hire her with the intent of her making Harry's life harder," Dumbledore's eyes hardened. "Just as you tried to manipulate Sirius Black into getting custody of Harry."

Fudge looked away. "I don't know what you are talking about. I was merely trying to-"

"I know what you were trying to do," Dumbledore said. "You wanted Harry distracted. More than that, you wanted him broken so that no one would take his word seriously. You're scared of the truth, scared that you won't know what to do to protect people from Voldemort. You are also blinded by the love of the office you hold. I implore you to take the steps I have suggested."

Fudge's face grew red. "Now see here-"

"You see here," Dumbledore said angrily. "Voldemort is back. He is most likely gathering his remaining death eaters and making plans. You need to take action, have your Aurors on alert."

"They have been," Fudge said stiffly. "I believe that there are remaining death eaters causing trouble, such as that attack on Hogsmeade but I don't believe that You-Know-Who is back and I will not cause a panic simply because you tell me to."

Dumbledore stood up. "I see you will not budge. Perhaps Lucius Malfoy will be able to get you to see reason." He said coolly. "Contact me when you are ready to face the truth, Cornelius. In the mean time, I must act as I see fit." He swept from the room.

TBC: