He immediately set to work using the concoction in the cauldron to draw runes on specific spots on the walls. Each corner had a large torch giving light to the room. A stunned and bound orc lay on the floor. Time passed as Harry prepared the room to the requirements. When he finished he drew shapes around his head, which was now bald, with the last of the potion. Setting the cauldron aside he took four large beakers of blood, Harry's blood, and poured each one over the fire of the torches in the room. As he did, instead of banking the flames, the fire turned a bloody red. Placing the glass beakers in the cauldron Harry moved to the center of the room and picked up a crystal dagger he had made for this ritual. He knelt down in the exact center of the room and started chanting. Even though he was attempting to speak normally the sound coming from his mouth could only be described as demonic. The orc, who had waken at some point in the preparations, thrashed wildly trying to escape, scarred more than it had ever been in its miserable life. Holding the dagger point down by both hands above his head Harry chanted the last of his incantation and drove the dagger down into the heart of the orc. The blood of his sacrifice spilled onto the floor and flowed to each of the runes Harry had drawn earlier on the wall and himself. Blood red fire from the torches lashed about setting the bloody runes on fire that kept growing and growing until it slammed into the runes around the wizard's head. Harry closed his eyes and screamed as the fire burned into his mind.
The pain stopped suddenly and Harry opened his eyes.
Chapter 4
It hadn't seemed like the pain Godric had described in his journal. As he looked around he noticed he was in a different place. It was still a rather small stone room but now there was only a thing of humanoid shape sitting across from him. It had a body like a human but its skin was ebony black. For hands and feet it had deadly sharp claws. Its face was long and angled. Its mouth held a row of sharp teeth and it had long pointy ears sticking out of hair that was just as black as its skin. The only colors the being had on it were the blood red runes covering its face, the porcelain white of the teeth and the blood red of the eyes surrounding the black pupils.
"It has been quite a while since I have been summoned." Said the creature across from Harry. "Those four sought what you are after as well. Shields to protect their mind from invasion."
Figuring the being in front of him was referring to the Founders, Harry nodded his agreement. "I have a book from one of them that told me how to perform this ritual. It is very secret and I don't know if anyone besides he and his friends did the ritual since." Harry stammered. He had no doubt the thing in front of him could kill him in an instant if it wanted to.
The thing laughed softly. "Yes child I could kill you quickly but you do have power. I can feel it in you but your mind is open as a book. To satisfy your curiosity, no, no one has summoned me for my assistance since the time of your Founders. To answer your other question I am a demon, The Demon if you will, though we are given a rather bad name in your world."
Harry blanched then felt a sickly dread fill his stomach. 'What if Voldemort somehow summoned some of these demons to do his bidding?'
"We do not come to the bidding of anyone!" The demon spit out after reading Harry's thoughts. "The only reason I am here is because of the sacrifices you have offered me. The soul of the creature will be fun toying with and the knowledge you have will assist me in the continued domination of my world. It is a mutual benefit we both gain. Worry not about your little squabbles with your dark lords, we will not interfere."
Harry nodded. "Thank you. May I ask what you will be doing?"
The demon looked both impatient and shrewd. "You are only the second human that has bothered to ask me that question in more than ten thousand years."
After a pause it continued. "You don't look like much but you have power, like I said before, and you are looking for more. You fight bravely but not stupidly. You are shrewd and cunning. You are smart, oh yes, and you are loyal to those you call friends. You hold the willingness to do whatever needs to be done. Very well then." It seemed to be sorting out its thoughts. "I will delve into your mind and use my power to force yours to form shields around your mind. I will pull your magic into your mind and create new magical channels for you to send attacks into other's minds. I will give you the knowledge of how to maintain your shield and attack others. That is all I am required to do but I think I will give you more if you want it." Harry nodded his head.
"I have gained much of your knowledge from our time together already but your life intrigues me. If you are willing I will sort your memories for you like I did for your four Founders and then, unlike them, I will channel your magic and give you knowledge to not only shield your mind but ways to make unwanted guests rue the day they tried. It will all be very painful." The demon grinned lecherously at the wizard.
It didn't take long for Harry to think it over before he mentally agreed to the whole thing. "You are only going to view the memories as you sort them, nothing else, correct? And will there be any other side effects to this?"
The demon grinned again, seemingly proud and amused at the questions. "I will only view the memories and give you my knowledge and then leave your mind. As for side effects, your head will hurt worse than you ever thought imaginable. Your magic will probably be erratic until you get use to the new channels. Your body will probably hurt because as I create and enlarge the new channel, it will also force the other channels in your body in increase in size as well. After your mind and body heal, you should be able to remember things in greater detail, recall pages in books, learn quicker, that sort of thing. Now if you are done with your questions, I would like to get started so I can return to my world and ensure some idiot hasn't tried to take my throne."
Harry nodded and quicker than he could follow, even with his enhanced senses, the demon's sharp claws slammed into his head and sunk though skin and bone. Pain worse than being possessed in the Ministry wracked his frame and his mouth opened in a silent scream of agony. Memories and knowledge rushed into his mind at a rate he couldn't comprehend. He could feel his magic burrowing though his body slowly pushing and expanding. The foreign power of the demon pulsed in his newly integrated core forcing the channels of magic to his hands, muscles, eyes, groin, blood and all different places to expand so more and more magic could pass though.
It felt like his body was on fire, muscles tore from the strain, bones broke and were remade with his magic assisting in removing any defects regardless of the ritual he had done years earlier. Suddenly it felt like the demon's claws were tearing though his mind, pulling out one memory after the other. As it viewed them so did Harry. In addition to the physical abuse, he was now going through mental torture as well. Every good, bad or in between memory was removed before they were viewed again, this time in order of when they occurred. It could have taken years for all Harry knew as the pain continued past the point of endurance but he wasn't allowed the black peace of unconsciousness or insanity.
Finally it was over and the black claws slid from the wizard's head as he collapsed to the ground. The demon moved back to his own chair looking contemplative. The boy had been through much in his young life but it had no want to assist the boy past this point. This Voldemort character could cause problems though if he were allowed to win the war. It was inevitable that he would seek different worlds to rule if he won his and with the amount of power he already had it would be difficult for many of his warriors to beat him. He looked down at the boy at his feet, the only one that would be able to defeat the man. One more thing wouldn't hurt. He knelt beside the boy and placed his hand over his heart. A bloody light came out of the hand and sunk into Harry's chest and the demon grinned. Yes, giving him even more strength would help him if the boy was correct about the spell, which the aged demon agreed with. Expanding his magic would help as well. The demon magic would assist in the battle and dark spells the boy knew and wouldn't interfere with the lighter and healing spells or rituals he had done.
As he stood and readied himself to leave he smirked. He was sure the boy would be one hell of a mage one day. After all he had already seen it. With a shimmer the demon was gone from the stone room leaving the boy on the floor to find his own way back.
As Harry spent hours on the cold stone he sweated with fever and magic pulsed all around him causing anything not tied into the stonework to be tossed around like dust.
A lone figure of glowing white seemed to materialize beside him and held him as he thrashed about. Pearly tears fell from her eyes as her flowing red hair gently fell onto the boy's face.
Hours passed as the angelic figure soothed the boy's injured mind, body and spirit, never letting go. When Harry started to wake he thought he could feel someone holding him and he could hear a soft beautiful voice singing gently to him. He was able to open his eyes just long enough to see a woman with long red hair holding him before he fell back into sleep. The song stopped and he thought he heard the woman speak "Sleep my baby boy, sleep" before the darkness took him once more
When Harry awoke again he was in the same stone room. He still felt sick and fevered but he was more coherent than the last time he woke. The beautiful woman he had only thought to be a dream was still there. Still refusing to relinquish her hold of him.
Seeing the boy awake she smiled. "Hello Harry. Are you feeling better?"
Harry could do nothing but stare. He had seen her before, many times actually. This, however, was the first time he had seen her in anything but a memory or a photo.
"Mum?" She nodded as new tears slid down her cheeks. Harry only sat in stared into her sparkling green eyes. Eyes that so many said he had and could now understand why everyone thought them to be so unique and beautiful. His eyes roamed her face, drinking in every inch of her. His hand rose and softly brushed away her tears but he made no other attempts to remove himself from her grasp. "But how?" His own eyes starting to water and his voice was thick with emotion.
"Many reasons my baby." Harry smiled cherishing the endearment from his mother. She was probably the only person in any realm who he would let call him that. "Mostly because you are now in a place that allows two people from different dimensions to meet. It is an ancient place that very few know about."
"I've missed you so much mum. I'm so sorry for everything I've done." It was like a dam burst as emotions of everything he had done to ensure he gained more power flooded his thoughts. All the insecurities and feelings of unworthiness flooded him as he cried for the first time he could remember into his mother's lap.
Lily Potter held her son close, comforting him in the only way she could. She tried to show him how much she loved him and would always no matter what he ever did. It was something only a parent could understand. It was truly unconditional love. The still-sick boy's sobs quieted as rhythmic breathing took its place and she knew her son had fallen asleep once again.
Harry woke once more hours later and spent more hours talking to his mother. He told her all about his life from the time she died until then. She had known a few things as they were able to look into what was happening to their loved ones but due to a time ratio difference it was hard to be watching everything. Harry learned that during all the more difficult times in his life his parents were watching and trying to help him in the only way they could, by loving him. She talked to him about the dark rituals he had preformed and they came to an understanding. Neither of them was happy that he had to do it but they both understood that he did. Lily had told Harry about how the war went when she and James were living. Dumbledore had always made it seem that they only captured Death Eaters but learned that they fought much like he did now, if they tried to kill him he would do the same to them, equal force.
Lily was ecstatic to learn about Middle Earth but worried at the seemingly impending battle soon to come. Soon however Harry started to feel a pull as the magic of the ritual dissipated dragging him back to his reality.
"How do I come back Mum?" Harry asked as he felt the pull.
"I don't know. I'm sorry. Work on it though. I'm sure you will be able to find a way one day."
"I love you Mum. Tell Dad I love him and Sirius too. I'll find a way back here, I promise."
"I love you too my baby boy. Stay safe, please stay safe for me."
"I love you so much Mum." Harry wrapped his arms around her for what must have been the millionth time as the pull became greater.
"I know and I love you. Oh quickly, your dad and Sirius say to try to find out about animagi and if you're one. It could help you in the future. I tend to agree. You father was teaching me when we died. Goodbye my wonderful son."
"Bye Mum!" Harry was fading away and his voice was distant. "I love…" The voice faded completely and Harry was gone.
"I know my child. I know." And Lily Potter shimmered from the chamber back to her next adventure and to find a meddlesome old man and kick his ass across the galaxy for all the stupid mistakes he made with her son.
Harry opened his eyes to total darkness and wondered if he had actually opened them at all. He thought back to the past however long it was ago now to everything that had happened to him. First a demon then an angel. He smiled a light and goofy smile as he remembered that the torches must have gone out and waved his hand around the room. A soft light lit the stone chamber showing the mess the ritual left him to clean up. But that could be done another time. He could still feel the chaotic nature of his magic as it hummed and pulsed though his body. Stumbling to his feet he opened the door and crawled up the stairs. He was exhausted as he reached the top and climbed into his waiting bed. It was still warm in the house but the charms were starting to dissipate. That meant he had to have been gone for at least a week to this world's time but no longer than a month. It was dark outside but he could still see the wind howling, pushing snow onto the window of the small house. He waved his hand again and the fireplace lit filling the room with a warm heat much quicker than a normal fire should have. With that Harry Potter passed out under his blankets in the soft warm bed not to wake up for another four days.
It took until spring for Harry to get his magic back under control. After he had finally gained enough strength to start practicing again he would sometimes cast a spell with such power that it either would just blow up whatever it hit or it would be so weak that a simple levitation spell couldn't lift a small pebble. Since the winter snows ruined all chances for physical outdoor running or swimming Harry spent his time working on getting his magic back under control.
When the month of May rolled around, everything settled down for him finally. He noticed the additional strength the demon gave him quickly as he was splitting wood for his fire and preparing the ground for his garden the old fashion way due to the inconsistencies in his magic at the time. Plus it did a bang up job working him back into shape from the winter. If he had to hazard a guess he would say he was nearly twice as strong as he was before and that was saying something. He was also noticeably quicker and nimbler but he didn't know if that was so much because of something the demon did or his use of yoga.
After he started being able to practice magic again, he first set out to practice his occlumency and legilimency as much as he could. Over the months he had become quite adept at retrieving memories from his now sorted mind. Finding the knowledge the demon gave him, he quickly set out to create his barrier. He already had a permanent shield that the demon created after drawing up magic from his core and creating new channels for his magic, but that was all it was, a shield. It would work to keep most out of his head and keep an enemy legilimancer from glancing at what he would do during a fight, but anyone with the strength of Voldemort or even Snape, as disgusted as he was to admit it, would be able to break into his mind with a full blown attack.
For four long days Harry stayed in a trance as he moved his magic around to create defenses. He almost wished someone would test them out for him. The shield around his mind had been turned into a small cottage much like he though Godric's Hollow must have looked like. There was only one way into the house, by the foot path. Every step the attacker would make would bring the pain from an experience Harry had lived through. Not the memory, just the pain he remembered feeling. The first few step caused blows to rain down from his attacks from Dudley while growing up. The next few were from the broken bones from years of quidditch. As they came closer and closer the pain would increase from curses Harry had taken in his life. They would feel the pain of having another's magic forced into your body, the Cruciatus cast by Voldemort himself, from possession and then the pain the demon dealt him when they reached the front door. As they entered they were accosted by a giant Hungarian Horntail dragon, then hippogriff, then the Marauders, a giant Grim, snarling Were-wolf, and majestic stag with razor sharp antlers. If they somehow managed to get past that each step leading them to the nursery where his mind lay would bring heart wrenching sorrows from all the emotional pain he had ever been in. The door to his nursery was guarded by a Siberian tiger. If they somehow managed to get past all that as soon as they touched the door they would relive the memory of Harry getting hit with the Avada Kadavra. Harry was pretty sure no one would ever gain access to his mind without his permission. What he had done had never been done by any human before him. It was a skill the demon gave him and not one humans possessed. The uniqueness of it alone would stop Riddle. The bond they shared let to his mind yes but not through his defenses. He like everyone else would have to bypass them if he ever wanted to gain access to the boy's mind again.
This didn't mean however that he was not able to exit his own shields to attack Riddle. That was one of the beauties of his occlumency shields. Satisfied at now having a barrier that he was sure no one would be able to pass he set to work on the other mind art. Legilimency. After reviewing the steps from his mind he set out to a small town where he would be able to test his new skills. Harry sat on the edge of town and attacked unknowing town folk. It had taken a while to get a hold of the intensity and amount of power to put behind a normal probe. He had managed to completely knock out twenty seven people over the course of a week before he became more comfortable. Still the residence of the town that he practiced on unknowingly gave him feedback on how well he was doing. Many had said they felt like someone was watching them or that they got sudden headaches. Mentally taking notes from the people Harry went to correct his mistakes. After all, if mere muggles could detect his intrusion it was no doubt that a magic user would detect it even easier.
Over the months of spring and summer he had refined his ability greatly. He had traveled to many a town and sent out soft gentle probes and learned much about what was going on. Much was mundane but a few times he managed to connect with people having affairs, lewd thoughts or even lusting for him. Most of it was amusing to him but as more and more people started having thoughts of a growing darkness, Harry grew worried. He had noticed himself the dark creatures roaming just at the edge of his sight during the night. New men showed up in towns that looked almost orcish and had the feeling of mal-intent on them. Harry hadn't been able to get into one's mind yet but he knew that he needed to do so and soon.
Back in the little house on top of the hill of flowers Harry got ready to celebrate his twentieth year in Middle Earth. He figured he was half way through his stay since he was pretty sure when Voldemort said it would take him a hundred and twenty years to challenge him it seemed to change the spell he had cast. He wondered what was going on in his homeland and how much time had passed there. With a nostalgic smile Harry slipped off to sleep.
Pain lanced though his body as the clock struck twelve. A moan escaped his mouth as he noticed it must have just turned midnight. Again a sudden pain wracked him as he dropped to his knees as he was getting out of bed. Grabbing his wand quickly he summoned his duster, boots and sword. He knew this pain. He had felt it twenty years ago when he had arrived. 'Was it time to move on already. I haven't even done anything here yet really. The next jerk was stronger and a scream split the night air. Harry tried to summon his trunk but another jolt of soul wrenching pain disrupted the magic. He quickly dressed and shoved his hat on his head just as another, stronger jerk started pulling at him again. This time he didn't fight the pull but grabbed the thread of magic and pulled with it. Stronger and stronger the pull came as more and more magic pooled together. Suddenly the strangest feeling Harry had ever encountered in his short life happened. It felt like his body and soul split. Most of it rocketed through space and time while a little piece of him stayed behind, connecting him to Middle Earth. Lights of all colors flew past him as he moved quicker than he even thought possible to his next destination. He was no longer in pain but he felt a giant pull of someone's magic as it moved him from one dimension to another. He could only guess that he would be going back since part of him never left. The light suddenly stopped as Harry materialized in the middle of a very familiar alley.
He had returned.
Diagon Alley was deserted at this time of night. It didn't look that much different than the day he left. He could still feel the magic around him that was coming from an unidentified source. As he though about it he smiled a wicked smile as he realized it must be Riddle's energy and magic allowing him to come back home. But for how long? That was the question.
Harry didn't waste any time as he drew his wand and cast a Tempus spell. October 31, 1999, a full year after the fight. He looked over to Gringotts and saw that most of it had been repaired and not wanting to get into another fight with the goblins he moved in the other direction toward the Leaky Cauldron.
Inside Harry found Tom cleaning a glass by the bar. Only a few people were in the bar and none looked very friendly. With his wide brimmed hat concealing his identity he moved to the bar.
"How's business Tom. I haven't seen you in a while."
The old man looked at the new comer with weary eyes and then curiosity. Not many of his customers would dare wear muggle type clothing like this man was. "I'm sorry sir but do I know you?"
"You could say that. Would you mind bringing me a cold butterbeer and a shot of firewhiskey?" He laid a gold coin he had in his pocket on the counter. He never even noticed it was a coin from Middle Earth.
As the bartender brought him his drinks he inspected the coin he was given. It was different but looked to be even more than a galleon. He would have to take it to Gringotts in the morning to find out it's worth. As it was it was nice to have a nicer chap in his tavern for once. "Her you go Sir. I must say it's nice to get a chap in here that doesn't feel evil for once."
Harry knocked back the shot then turned back to Tom. "I could imagine." Harry chuckled. "So how bad is it around these parts? It's been a year since I've left and I don't know how long I will be staying."
"Not as bad as they could be I reckon. After all it has just been the last month or so that the Death Eaters started killing again. We've had nearly eleven months of relative peace thanks to the heroics of Harry Potter, God rest his soul."
"You don't say." Harry sounded amused. "What did the Potter boy do that could have kept Vol… sorry, You-Know-Who from attacking for almost a year?"
"Don't rightly know. I guess I know more than most of the every day types. From what I heard, he used all his magic to kill the boy. Hasn't been able to cast a spell since without nearly knocking himself out."
"Magical exhaustion. Interesting." Harry mused mostly to himself. 'Tommy boy's been knocked out of using his magic the same amount of time I was. But since time was distorted between our two worlds I've had twenty years to his one. And if my guess is correct I'm probably draining all his magic as we speak. I wonder how it will affect him since I'm not using my magic this time. Would it sap all his magic leaving him a muggle, or maybe even kill him? We can only wait and see I guess.'
"Are you alright sir? You've been staring into space for a few minutes."
"Oh, of course, sorry to worry you Tom. Just thinking."
"You seem to know me pretty well but I can't remember seeing you here before. I'm sorry."
"Not at all Tom. After all…" Harry lifted his hat to show more of his face and his scar. His eyes glowed with a new power as they were still in the shadows of his hat. "…I'm supposed to be dead." Harry laughed at the gob smacked expression on the bartender's face. The commotion drew the attention of the other patrons.
"My word. It can't be…" He never got further as Harry snapped his wand out and silenced the man.
"I was never here Tom. I don't know how long I can stay. Something with Voldie's spell sent me to another world and I was able to come back today because of something. I guess it's the same day of the spell or the magic of Halloween. I really don't know. I was as shocked as you are."
The old man nodded as Harry removed the silencing charm and stared at Harry in undisguised awe. "I can't believe you're back. We all thought you were dead when you disappeared. The Ministry declared you dead and everything. My word, I'd never have thought..."
A silky voice came from behind Harry. "So what do we have here boys?" Harry turned to see four vampires that were sitting in the back of the pub had surrounded him. "It looks like we'll get an easy meal tonight. Maybe we'll even bring him to the Dark Lord when we're done with our fun." The others laughed.
"Now wait just a moment. There is no fighting in this establishment. That has been the rule from when it was built and even You-Know-Who abides by it. All races and those on all sides of war can come here without harassment."
"Shut it old man before I send you to the next life and drain you body."
As Tom was about to reply Harry held up a hand. "It's alright Tom. Sometimes talking just doesn't help any." Harry turned back to the vampires. He had felt them coming as soon as they stood but didn't want to cause a scene. The rules Tom just talked about surprised him some but he soon realized that something like that would be needed for the gateway from the muggle to wizarding world. It was kind of like neutral territory. That's not to say that if a convicted criminal was found there by a bunch of aurors they wouldn't' arrest him, just that the criminal couldn't fight back and would either have to flee or go peacefully. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry quirked his eyebrow to the leader of the pack.
"What could a mere mortal like you do to us." He laughed.
"Sorry Tom. I'll pay for what I break." The bartender nodded nervously and stepped back.
Quicker that any of the vampires could move Harry was off the stool, duster swung aside and his sword drawn in his left hand. At the same time his wand materialized in his right. The leader only had time to lung a foot before the shiny steel blade cut cleanly through his neck. Another fell as an invisible blade cut from below his right arm to above his left shoulder. The two still alive reacted with all their speed and strength. The first to him swung a fist only to have it connect with a shimmering gold shield. The cracks and breaking bones reverberated off the walls. The next second he didn't even have an arm as the sword passed millimeters from the thing's face.
Ducking into a roll Harry avoided the second and concentrated on killing the one he had already injured. A deft flick of his wand and a flaming whip encircled the vampire's throat. Another jerk and the head came clean off and the flaming whip disappeared.
The last vampire stood shocked. In less than thirty seconds this mortal had killed three of his clan in close combat. He had never seen anyone beside the Dark Lord as strong or as quick as the man in front of him and that was before he had tried to curse Potter into another dimension. Since then he had been rather weak. Still he had been gaining his strength back and was now almost ready to start his rein of terror again.
Harry smirked but the only thing the vampire saw were his lips and his dimly glowing killing curse green eyes under the hood of his muggle style hat. "Who are you?" The vampire asked as he backed his way into the bar.
"You can call me Judge and you have been found lacking." The vampire was only able to raise his hand to block the blow as the shining metal of the sword descended on him, cutting his head clean off.
On the floor were the charred remains of the four idiots that had attacked him. Shaking his head at the stupidity of certain species he sheathed his sword and wand. Rummaging though the vampire's clothing he found a bag of gold in each of their pockets and tossed them to Tom. "Here you are Tom. What ever we broke I hope that covers it."
The bartender was staring in awe at what Harry just did and didn't even bother to acknowledge that the four bags would have enough gold in them to totally renovate the entire inside of the pub if he wanted to.
"Hey Tom?" Harry waved his hand in front of the old man's face. After he came out of his daze Harry asked, "Do you know of any way I can contact my friends or where they might be?"
"Oh yea, they gave me this." Tom pulled out a mirror from underneath the bar. "They said you would know what it meant."
Harry nodded and took the mirror. "Thanks for the drinks Tom. Feel free to let people know I'm still hanging around after I leave."
The bartender nodded as the young man left out into muggle London and for the first time in a year he felt hope in his heart that someone would be able to end the Dark Lord.
Harry only walked to a little allay before he apparated to the safest place he could think of. As he arrived he scowled. It was exactly as he remembered it. Perfect little houses all perfectly alike. It made him disgusted just looking at them. Moving to sit by a tree across from his childhood home Harry looked into the mirror.
"Ron, Hermione, Ginny, is anyone there?" He whispered into the device. After a few minutes he received no answer. "Ron, Ginny, Hermione, are you there? This is Harry. I'm trying to find you." Still no answer.
'Okay Potter, use that brain of yours. It must be password protected or something.' He smiled.
"I solomely swear that I am up to no good." He intoned. The mirror rippled as the magic activated it. "Ron, Hermione, Ginny, are you there? It's Harry." This time it only took a moment before the face of his best friend answered his call. Ron stared wide eyed into the face of his long lost best friend for a moment before starting to scream for Ginny and Hermione to wake up. It didn't take long before all three were trying to squeeze themselves into the mirror's view.
"Harry! Ginny squealed as she saw his face. "Where are you? We'll be right there."
"At my relative's house in Little Whinging. I thought it would be the last place attacked or where I would be found. Do you know where it is?"
"Yea we know mate." Ron was grinning ear to ear. "We paid them a little visit after you disappeared."
"We have to be careful though Harry. Scrimgeour was killed after you left and the bloody idiots placed Fudge back as the Minister." Hermione pushed her way into view. "He and Umbridge almost immediately put out a warrant for our arrest because Voldemort supposedly negotiated with him that he would cease his campaign if all four of us were given to him."
Flames danced in Harry's eyes as anger coursed though him. He took a breath and managed to use some of his occlumency skills to move the emotion away from the time being. "Alright, we'll play it safe for now. Do you still want to come here or do you want to meet me somewhere?"
"Stay there. Fudge never knew where you were staying over the summer. It seems as though Dumbledore's wards obliviated the wizards of the location after they corrected any accidental magic your third year."
"Well that certainly came in handy." Harry thought a bit. "Alright, how soon can you get here?"
"We'll be there in five minutes." Ginny yelled as the screen went blank.
Three soft pops notified Harry that someone had arrived. Peaking out from behind the tree he noticed the distinct Weasley red hair on two and the other a bushy brown that just reeked Hermione. Still he didn't let his excitement get the better of him. If the Ministry was after them then they would also be after him as soon as he was found to be alive. Sliding his knife from his boot and his sword from its sheath he quietly sneaked behind the three.
The two red heads on the outside of the group suddenly felt the cold metal that could only be from a blade pressed against their necks. "Don't move if you value your two friend's lives." Spoke a menacing voice behind them. "Now tell me who you used to enhance your power."
"Malfoy." The tall redhead answered.
"Rookwood and Dean." Ginny supplied.
"That powerful woman. I never got her name." Hermione answered as she slowly turned around.
The cold steel vanished as fast as it had arrived and the three barely turned around before they were gathered in a rib breaking hug.
"I can't believe it. I was beginning to think I would never see you guys again." Harry said around the wide smile and tears leaking from his eyes.
The others returned the hug passionately but Harry shushed them before they could talk. Pointing toward number four they all nodded and quietly moved to the front door. A quick spell later and the door glided open soundlessly. It might have been the only time Harry would ever be thankful about the meticulousness of the Dursleys.
After securing the door and placing silencing and security wards of all types around the room and house Harry rushed the other three and wrapped them an a giant hug once more.
After the hugs all around and the kisses shared between the girls they sat down to talk.
"What happened, Harry?"
So Harry told them everything he could think of and all of his theories and conclusions up to that point.
"Really I don't know how long I can stay here. I'm pretty sure it's Riddle's magic that is keeping me here as it is. I can still feel the part of me that is back in Middle Earth. Hopefully I can drain the bastard for another year."
"You've been gone from us for twenty years? I'm so sorry Harry." Ginny cried on him. "I couldn't imagine being away from all of you that long. It must have been so hard."
"At first I was just trying to fight the effects of the exhaustion. Don't ever do that by the way. It sucks. So tell me what's been going on with you all. I want to hear everything."
"Well," Hermione began. "After you disappeared the dragon dung really hit the fan. With the goblins helping to try and kill us. Oh that's one of the charges against us. Destroying and killing countless goblins and Gringotts. The Ministry however has still not let the goblins back into the bank and has warded the entire nation to keep them from the fight. It seems we did destroy the only entrance and exit for them. Negotiations are ongoing even now to let them back. Scrimgeour did a good job after that. He ditched Fudge and Umbridge and tossed a whole bunch of Voldemort supporters into Azkaban along with Umbridge. There were very few attacks for the first six months. Things started picking up after that. Small attacks at first and only on muggles. Then almost two months ago, Scrimgeour was assassinated. The others panicked at how easy it was to off the Minister, buckled under pressure from the few pro-dark supporters left, and voted Fudge in. It only took a day for him to reverse all the progress that had been made and then another month before him and that hag passed the law to arrest us and to alienate nearly all the magical creatures. He even passed a law forbidding the ownership of a phoenix, can you believe that? After that we left and been living in the Chamber since. We've cleared out the tunnel behind where Salazar's statue and found that it empties in the middle of the Forbidden Forest well past the anti-apparation wards so we can still come and go as we please. The only problem is if Voldemort himself attacks the school and in his weakened state he dare not leave his stronghold."
"What a bunch of bloody idiots." Harry murmured. He sat and thought in silence for a good thirty minutes and could only think of one thing to do. If Voldemort was going to assassinate all the pro-light wizards in the Ministry then Harry would have to do the same for all the pro-dark. It probably wouldn't be that hard to do either. After all, who would think that the "Light" would ever kill? 'Stupid wizards.' Harry thought to himself. The only problem with this was the fact that Harry still had his reservation about killing. True he had killed probably hundreds of Middle-Earth goblins, orcs and wargs. Not to mention torturing a Balrog and desecrating the resting place of an evil dragon. Still he had never intentionally killed a human outside of a duel. He knew he would have to do it at one point in his life. Hell, he would probably end up killing quite a few. After all the Death Eaters wouldn't just lay down their wands for him. Then there was the fact that Middle-Earth was about to go to war and no telling what other places he might get shipped to before all this was over. Harry sighed as he knew what he had to do but hated doing it. Lowering his head he addressed his friends once again. "I'll have to take care of them then." He said in a resigned voice. "We have things that need to get done and we can't be watching our back every step of the way more than we are now. We already have one side against us, we damn sure don't need another."
"Not you, WE!" Demanded Ginny. "We were thinking along the same lines but not sure if we should follow though with it. It seems like cold blooded murder." She grimaced.
"I know, but if Fudge is dealing with Death Eaters or even Riddle himself then chances are he is one too. I'm pretty sure Umbridge flocked to his banner after the Centaurs nearly killed her. Do you have a list of who else needs to go?"
"Yea we do. I just hate having to do this."
"Me too Ron, Me too. I think it is something we need to do while I'm here though."
"So what have you accomplished with the horcruxes and training?" Harry moved to a different line of conversation.
"No luck so far. We haven't had time to really search with all the magical world looking for us. We did go to the orphanage. It was just a trap. We had to get past a bloody big hydra to get out. Riddle had made a huge chamber in the bottom of the basement. We had to smear blood on the secret door to get in then we were trapped as that thing attacked us. It only had one head thankfully and Hermione here made sure we didn't cut it off. As it was we had the advantage with three to one we didn't need to even the odds. Any way we knew you would want it so we managed to trap it then bind it in chains before forcing it to drink a cauldron full of dreamless sleep we had been brewing. After that we put it in a stasis egg like yours. You can have it once we get back to the Chamber." Ron noted to Harry then continued. "After that we had to get past a few more curses but with the three of us we were able to get by without injury. Ginny finally found out what the curse was keeping us from getting out. He had somehow mixed a rapid skin rotting curse with a insanity curse. After a bit we managed to break it but the magical disruption started causing the building above us to collapse. We apparated out as soon as we had the chance just as the entire place sunk into the ground. We managed to do it with only a few cuts and bruises to show for it." Harry nodded.
"I've been studying a bit on necromancy with Gin. We hope to be able to destroy any we come across quickly." Hermione stated. "We've almost got the locket. We found Dung and Ron cursed him until he told us who he sold it to. We've had a hard time trying to track the person down as they fled the UK already but we have them narrowed down to a little town just outside Paris. We should have it in a week."
"Good, any luck finding the fifth horcrux?"
"No, really we haven't even tried to find it yet."
"Take your time. If my guess is right it will be a while before I'm back here for good." Harry glanced up the stairs as he heard the sound of someone waking up. "Let's get out of here. It's better if no one knows we are here."
The rest nodded and quietly followed Harry out the back door. With a quick flick of his wand and a password the wards he had placed fell and as Ginny grabbed hold of Harry's arm there were three muffled pops and they were gone.
They spent until noon in the Chamber which mostly consisted of Ginny and Hermione welcoming back Harry privately. Ron didn't seem to mind and even said that he had them both the rest of the year, Harry could have this one day. It seemed that the whole getting cursed into another world and being alone for twenty years caused most of the youngest male Weasley's jealousy to evaporate rather swiftly.
The rest of the time they chatted and talked about how they had progressed. The three had started learning occlumency when Harry started and had much better results. They already had moderately strong shields and had spent a lot of time sorting memories. Harry tested them and in turn got feedback on how well he did. He was able to get past the shields but not without them noticing. They had been amazed at his story of the demon and meeting his mother but decided to just continue on as they were. The descriptions Harry gave of the demons claws sinking into his head and forcing the process didn't sound too appealing when they already had the basics down and were steadily getting better on their own.
Soon though it was time to do what needed to be done. Ginny had spent some time creating backpack with a dimensional pocket inside since he hadn't been able to bring his trunk. After a visit to the elves where they again loaded his bag with food, the group set out to Diagon Alley.
They used some of Harry's money to purchase the entire stock of the apothecary, filling the backpack to it's limit. This time Harry kept it all since the other three could sneak into the alley themselves when they needed to. He bought rolls of parchment and dozens of quills along with bottles of ink to replace what he had used already. He purchased new cauldrons to replace the ones he had either melted or blown up when he first started learning potions over again. Those he had to shrink and place in his duster's pockets.
While they were shopping they searched for known Death Eaters to travel by before seemingly accidentally bumping into them. Each coming away with a hair from the person's head. It was such a simple plan.
That night visited Remus and Tonks. They spent what time they could together. It had been a rather good year for the two until Fudge resumed power over the wizarding world. Hearing the many new laws that went so far as to ban a marriage between the were-wolf and metamorph rekindled the fire for a restructuring of wizarding government. They met with many others that they had known since Remus and Tonks apparated all over Britain bring the good news of Harry's appearance. Mrs Weasley was nearly impossible to deal with. Eventually Ron had to stun his own mother to stop the worrying woman. It was impressive how she could go from smothering to enraged in a moment.
Unfortunately the gathering had to end. Most of the key Order members or good friends knew that Harry wouldn't be seen for another year. And in all likelihood that was the way it would be for the better part of a decade. As the guests left only the core members of Harry's friends stayed behind. It was time to plan the premeditated assassination of many of the world's top magical officials.
The Ministry of magic was nearly as easy to break into as it was in years prior. A ward had been erected just past the check in desk which was manned by a sleeping guard and an auror who was too busy reading his book to notice the four intruders under invisibility cloaks. He never saw the stunner hit him in the back and the guard never woke. After a few quick spells from Harry the ward had a large breach in it but did not come down. Four individuals stepped from beneath the invisibility cloaks each looking nothing like they actually did. Over the course of two hours, just before the clock struck eleven, the same four people were seen by over three dozen witnesses to break into a secret meeting and kill fifteen government employees. Everyone that was killed was suspected of having dark ties. Later the next day aurors found Cornelius Fudge dead at his desk from poison in his tea. Moments later Special Assistant to the Minister Dolores Umbridge was found in a similarly dead state only she died of blood loss. Across her body the words 'I must not tell lies' was carved and burned into her flesh. The Daily Prophet was filled with private memos from the two top government officials describing back room dealings the ex-minister had. So much so only a few small articles were written describing the deaths of so many government officials.
At exactly midnight Harry was again whisked away back to Middle Earth to deal with what ever it was that needed to be done. Hermione had tried to read the series but it was no use. Harry explained to her that his presence had already caused the chain of events to become altered. Plus he just wanted to spend some time with his best friends before he would again be separated for another twenty years. As the clock struck twelve tears rolled off his cheeks as the all too familiar tugging started once again. With a last 'Love you' Harry vanished. Leaving behind three distraught friends wondering why life had to be so hard to the one man who was more than any mere brother could be.
As Hermione read the next morning's edition of the Prophet the four people they were impersonating the night before had already been apprehended and sent through the death veil for their crimes against the wizarding world without the benefit of a trial. 'The wizarding world was run by a bunch of idiots.' She thought as she read on. She had been shocked to read about what Harry had done to Umbridge. He had asked to have her to himself. The poison Fudge drank was from the basilisk Harry had killed. Now that they had most of the darker elements removed from the government she could only hope things would get better. She worried about her best friend and lover. She spent the entire night reading the trilogy and found that Harry was going to have a hard time.
Over the next few months the wizarding world breathed a sigh of relief as the progressively frequent attacks stopped suddenly Halloween night and Tom the barkeep spread word to anyone who would listen that Harry Potter was not dead but had come back to save them all.
A/N: Another chapter over and done with. Things should start moving right along here soon. I've planned up to the point where Frodo and Sam take the stone steps on the way to Mordor but I am trying to find something exciting for Harry to get into.
Some reviewers have said that Harry has had it too easy in Middle Earth. I agree to an extent but we have to look at the powers and abilities that Harry has at his disposal compared to anyone else in the realm. Even Gandalf would be hard pressed to reproduce Harry's feats regarding magic. That and Harry has only really been working on making himself stronger and battle magic for over twenty years now. With that much time focusing on a single subject he is bound to get pretty good at it with the resorces he has available to him.
Fear not however. There are things in Middle Earth that still go bump in the night. Though most of them weren't mentioned in LotR or The Hobbit, there are some very dark creatures still lurking under Saurman's control.
Again I want to thanks vampgoddesss. Without her beta-ing (is that even a word) skills this would not have been nearly as easy or fun to read.
Authors pick of the week would be Bungle in the Jungle: A Harry Potter Adventure by jbern. Great first person story that shows Harry working to get stronger and learning to play a new wizarding sport.