Note: Please look to prologue for disclaimer and additional notes about the story.

A Dance With Fate

Canopus Carina

Chapter 4 of 20

The temptation to throw the book across the Library was hard to break as it lacked the information they needed. Any mention of the Manas Curse was a warning to not do it as they will die. They had been in the library for forty-five hours straight, only getting food from Dobby who appeared periodically. The lack of sleep was starting to get to him. If it weren't for the fact that the Death Eater was already dead, he would have unleashed his newfound violent feelings on him. But the curse was warned against for a reason: anyone not magically strong enough will die slowly as their magic is ripped from them and their core implodes. Not a very nice way to die.

But if they didn't figure out anyway to save Ron, who had already gone through a lot since they had become best friends, he would have to figure out a way to resurrect the Death Eater. And then end his life for him again.

Thursday: 1 September 1977

Harry left the others that were gathered to consider what he had said, before they could turn on him with questions of who he was and why he was there. Remus made sure to follow him quickly, and sensed that the other Marauders, though not completely out of their contemplation, followed him as well. The house elf, Dobby, was sitting across from Harry who had his head in his hands.

"How did you know where I was, and better yet, how did you get here?"

"You wasn't in your room, Harry Potter, when Dobby came to give present! And Dobby found Miss Hermione who said yous gone away but wouldn't tell Dobby where. But she looked to healer's room where Dobby found big book, so Dobby had Twilly – who could reads Harry Potter! – tell mes what it said. And Dobby follows it, Harry Potter, Dobby did. And here Dobby is!"

Harry just stared at the little house elf, but not with amazement as the other Marauders were due to his excited and fast passed rendition. He was looking at Dobby with what some could consider love. Caring of a dearest friend when they offered to cross the globe with them. Caring of the deepest kind. "House elves really are the smartest and most powerful creatures if given the chance," he said kindly. The house elf's ears perked up and his wide eyes seemed to glow.

"Harry Potter not going to send Dobby back?" he asked happily.

"No, I'm not going to send you back," he answered with a pleasant sigh. Dobby became even more excited, if it were even possible, when Harry continued with, "It will be nice to have someone along side that I could trust. Who knows what the journey shall bring this time."

"Dobby won't let Harry Potter down!" he bounced.

"Good, so could you go to the Headmaster's office and explain to him? It'll be just like back home, okay?"

The elf nodded excitedly and with a "CRACK!" disappeared from the small room.

Once the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, it seemed a pandemonium spell was cast. Students were flying at every direction to find misplaced objects, lift heavy trunks, and partner up for the carriage ride up to the castle. First years ran around confused as even the prefects were preoccupied with where they needed to be. Massive Hagrid forced his way through the chaos calling out to the miniscule newcomers, but it only increased the confusion. It wasn't until the first carriages started the journey to the castle did the chaos slow as there simply were fewer people to cause the chaos. But it was then that the Marauders thought of their own pressing question.

Where did Harry go?

Up until then, they never wondered why the non-student was going on the journey to Hogwarts. The school simply did not accept exchange students and transfers had never been accepted to Hogwarts. It was simply unheard of. When James voiced the question, Harry just smile relieved.

"That's all you are worrying about?" He answered as if it was nothing. "Here I was worried that someone left something at home that they needed tonight! No, the headmaster had informed me earlier that I am to take the carriages and that more instructions would be given once I get there. And the boats are already gone so it leaves us with only one option anyway. Let's go catch a carriage."

Looking behind him, Remus saw that, sure enough, the boats were on their journey across the lake. So the four marauders and Harry commandeered their own carriage and rearranged themselves so they could all fit. Thankfully it was only a short ride to the castle, especially when telling takes of previous year's pranks. Laughter always made anything go quickly. A little too quickly, Remus believed as the carriage stepped unexpectedly as Sirius was imitating Filch once they escaped him sometime in fourth year. They piled out with an unspoken promise to continue it that night.

It was then, as Remus quickly sobered up, that he realized he never heard Harry's laugh. And it wasn't because James' and Sirius' bellowing laughter were muting it out. Turning now to the fifth member, Remus could see Harry looking down at a fallen Sirius, who couldn't stop laughing, with a wistful smile and shadowed eyes. But he must have felt he was being watched as he soon turned to Remus, smiled in understanding, and then turned towards the formidable castle. Questions continued to run through Remus' head as the young werewolf watched Harry's face. Normally looks of amazement crossed newcomer's faces when looking up on Hogwarts due to the size and, for those who could feel it, the magic radiating from it. But instead of amazement or even a small bit of wonder, Harry looked upon the castle with a mixture of relief, understanding, and a sense of closure. It was if he was welcoming himself home.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Harry asked as he noticed he was still being watched. The other three Marauders quieted to watch him.

"Have you been here before?" Remus questioned softly. "You just look as if you have by your behavior."

Harry didn't answer for a long while, instead turned to the castle again while even the slowest straggler passed through the front entrance. "Home is just like it," he answered mysteriously and passed through the doorway as well.

The hall quieted quickly as Dumbledore rose from his seat and raised an arm in greeting. Remus felt that this was the first time that the Marauders were being watched with such intensity without loosing a mass about of points. But it was evident that it was Harry that the headmaster was greeting. The boy in question turned uncertainly to the Marauders behind him. When no one else thought to do anything, Remus motioned for him to sit with the headmaster, as that was what he thought Dumbledore was saying. And the boy left.

Harry sat down three seats away from the Headmaster with a question in his eyes but didn't question the seat reserved for him. Remus didn't watch long as he turned to watch Professor McGonagall walk up the house tables with the wide eyed first years. He laughed at their amazed expressions. Was he like that six years ago? The sorting passed quickly without any interruption. Gryffindor became the proud residence of eleven first years, six girls and five boys, somewhat of a record in the past years of a max of ten students. And then Dumbledore rose to address them.

"Welcome to a new year," he started. The first years again were staring in amazement at the headmaster's choice of wardrobe, today with a lime green robe set. Something that just stayed the same each year. "And with the new year comes change.

"Many of you returning are wondering about the two additions to this table. I would first like to introduce to you our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Stewart Braun. He is most known for his trips to Southern Britain and his work with the uprising of pixie migration. I am sure Professor Braun is ready to take on postion with no trouble." A polite applause was given as the professor stood and quickly sat down.

"And then we have the pleasure of adding a new opportunity to our school. A distant relative of the Potter family, Harry Potter has seen and participated in fights against dark wizards of his home. He has come here to Hogwarts in a quest to combat a curse that does not have any recorded cure where he is from. But he has come in a time where our home is conflicted in an evil, much like that of his own home. While we now have a celebrated and competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," many students laughed thinking back to last years teacher who had a deep hatred towards centaurs and spent most of the lectures on how they were damaging the world, "I would like to take this opportunity to ask Mr. Potter to impart some of his wisdom in combating dark wizards. Mr. Potter?"

The entire hall turned their heads to the other addition to the table. James looked at his cousin with a sense of disbelief, one mirrored by Sirius as well. They had lived with the boy for the past month without any mention of him being offered a teaching position at Hogwarts. He just popped out of now where and was now getting anything that he could possibly need. This was their home, not this stranger's.

Harry remained frozen under the hall's stares. After a minute or so, he turned pained eyes to the Marauders but most of them turned away in betrayal. Only Remus watched back head on. He wanted to know what Harry was thinking then when was put on the spot. If he had not known about the offer, he would have denied it quickly to the headmaster, but instead, he turned to the Marauders. It was as if he knew but didn't want them to know for some reason. But what reason was it?

"I see our guest has not made a decision yet," Dumbledore continued as Harry still hadn't come with an answer, "I hope that he considers the offer carefully as it could make all the difference in the future. He will be found wandering the castle from time to time, or perusing the library for information. I expect you all to treat him with the utmost care."

End of Chapter 4 – 1,600 of words

Posted: 28 May 2007