AN: This is the chapter you have all been waiting for. The Claoked figure is soon to be revealed. Have funn guys and please remember to review aftre reading the chapter so I know all of you are still reading this! Thank and enjoy!!!

– Chapter Eighteen –

'Avucinor Sarco'

As the winter continued and the days to Christmas became shorter and shorter, the teachers were having a hard time controlling their classes. It seemed that everyone was getting into the Christmas spirit. Professor Flitwick had even started to decorate the school starting with his own classroom where he had little fairy like creatures floating around the class that were glowing in many different colours.

Harry, on the other hand, wasn't having the best of times. People were still avoiding him and his nightmares had decided to come back, full force. He'd woken up early almost every morning in a cold sweat for the past few weeks.

The first few times this had happened, Harry had spent the last few hours of the night down in the common room staring into the fire, but then one night he had gone down to find Sirius sitting in one of the chairs facing him. Harry hadn't known how Sirius knew and Sirius hadn't told him, but Harry was very grateful that Sirius had found out.

Sirius had told him that if he ever had nightmares again, to just come straight to him regardless of what time it was and so that's what Harry did. The Gryffindors who weren't afraid to talk to Harry kept asking where he went every night but he wouldn't tell them. There were only four other people who knew that Harry went to Sirius's chamber every night; Ron, Hermione, Remus, and Harry suspected that Dumbledore knew as well.

Of course disappearing every night only made people even more suspicious of him. Some had even started spouting the ridiculous idea that he was heading off to the Chamber of Secrets again.

Harry couldn't be more relived when the Christmas holidays finally came. Surprisingly enough, he was the only one staying at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. Ron was heading home to spend some time with his family and Hermione and her parents were going to join the Weasleys. Harry had wanted to go, but Dumbledore had said that it would be better if he and Sirius stayed at the school for the holidays.

Everyone else, Harry thought, all left because they didn't want any trouble with him. Most of them were terrified of him and he, personally, couldn't be more relived that they had left because that would leave him all alone to do what he pleased.

It was the morning after everyone left and Harry was just sitting alone in Gryffindor Tower reading by the fire. He had nothing better to do, as all the teachers were busy doing other things.

Hermione would be proud of him if she knew what he was reading. He was reading up on Mages, the second most powerful wizards. There had only been one wizard that had been more powerful then any Mage and that had been Merlin.

This particular book, though, was of book of prophecies about Mages and they were really quite interesting.

Harry flipped the pages slowly and read the title on what looked like a really interesting prophecy.

"The Prophecy of the Phoenix," Harry read aloud. "Sounds interesting enough."

He read the first line slowly. "A phoenix shall emerge in a time of great darkness and despair. Sired by a-"

His voice died when he heard the portrait hole creak open. He looked up to find Sirius and Remus starting at him.

Sirius shook his head. "Moony, we have to do something about this. We can't let the boy read on the Christmas holidays!"

Remus frowned. "And what's wrong with reading on the Christmas holidays?" He asked, placing his hands on his hips.

Sirius stared at Remus for a moment and then dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "I keep forgetting you were the one who always wanted to be left alone to read."

Harry just shut his book and chuckled. Leave it too the Marauders to make him feel better. And what was more then that was they were both his Godfathers. Harry was still trying to get his head around it and he knew Remus was going to need some time to adjust as well, but they had managed to get through everything the needed too and so far, life with his two Godfathers had been great.

"What are the two of you up to now?" Harry asked with a huge smile on his face.

Sirius pretended to look like he was deep in thought, which only made Harry laugh. "Well," he said, "we could always pull a prank on Snape. That would be fun."

"Just as long as we're not caught," said Remus, even though he was beginning to smile.

"Hey, Harry has James's old invisibility cloak. We can do it. Beside Moony, I know you're just itching to pull a prank and also we need to teach Harry the ropes of mischief-making," Sirius said, elbowing his friend.

"And what make you think I want to learn?" Harry answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Sirius smiled. "Oh come on, Harry, you can't fool me. You haven't had much fun this year yet and I know you're just dying for a good laugh. Besides, Snape can't take points away since it is the holidays."

Remus shook his head. "Sirius isn't going to let you leave this room until you agree, Harry. You know how he can get."

"Damn straight. Besides," Sirius said, "what would Prongs say if he knew his son didn't pull some pranks on Snape."

"Okay, so he has a point," Remus answered. "So what do you say, Harry? Want to teach Snape a thing or too?"

Harry considered them for a moment. Playing a prank on Snape did sound like fun, especially with the guidance of two Marauders, but he wasn't sure if he felt up to it. He wasn't yet over all the issues that had been plaguing him these past few months and all he really wanted to do right now was be left alone, but he knew both of his Godfathers wouldn't let him.

He sighed and put his book down before turning to face Sirius and Remus. "Okay," he answered. "What did you have in mind?"

Sirius smiled and pulled out a small book from inside his robes. He walked over to Harry and handed the book to him. Harry quickly read the title. 'The Marauders' Guide To Magical Mischief Making.'

"We wrote this book near the end of our seventh year. It was still up in our old meeting place. It contains every single prank we ever pulled. See if there's something you'd like to do," Sirius said proudly.

Harry slowly opened the book. There were pages after pages after pages of different pranks. He couldn't believe how many of them there were and couldn't imagine being able to pull them all, even being at Hogwarts for seven years.

"You guys must have gotten into a lot of trouble," Harry answered, slowly scanning the book for something good to do.

"You have no idea," Remus said, coming to stand by Sirius. "I don't think there was anybody in the whole history of Hogwarts that caused more trouble…or lost more points."

"Hmmm," Harry mumbled, looking at an interesting one. "This one looks good."

"Let's see." Harry handed the book back to Sirius and pointed to the one he was talking about.

Sirius smiled. "Perfect. Snape will hate it."

Remus read over Sirius' shoulder. "Isn't that the one we pulled on our Potions Master in our third year?"

Sirius nodded. "We'll have to do this quickly if we don't want to get caught. Come on," he said and the three of them hurried out of the Common room.

The room was dark and cold. Not one person in this room dared to utter a single word for they knew it would be a death sentence. They valued their lives far too much to disobey their master.

The skeleton like figure wrapped its bony hand around its wand. The tension in the room was steadily rising. They were waiting.

"Wormtail," drawled the cold voice that sent a shiver down everyone's spine. "Is everything in place?"

The pathetic mass beside the skeleton like figure gave a shutter. "Y-yes, m-my Lord," he stuttered.

Voldemort smiled. "Good." He then turned to face his Death Eaters. "For the past fourteen years, Harry Potter has slipped through my fingers, but not any longer. Today is the day that the boy who was said to have been my downfall will meet his own."

The Death Eaters smiled to each other. "Today is the day that the last Potter will fall. Dumbledore thought he could protect the boy from me. Oh how wrong he was."

Voldemort scanned the room for a few moments before speaking again. "Severus?"

Snape rose. "Yes my Lord?"

"When my plan is complete, Potter will be mine, but there will be a way to save him," Voldemort said. "I need you to make sure Dumbledore does not find out how, but if he does, make sure he can't get near Potter."

Snape bowed. "Yes my Lord."

"Now," Voldemort continued coldly. "Proceed to the Chamber and start the spell. I will be there shortly. Dismissed."

The Death Eaters quickly scrabbled out of the room, not wanting to anger their master. Only one of them stayed: Wormtail.

Voldemort then turned to the poor excuse for a man, never mind a wizard. "Wormtail, I have a special job for you."

The cloaked figure sighed in frustration, leaning against the window frame. There was something wrong, he could feel it but he hadn't a clue as to what it could mean.

He slammed his fist down hard against the windowsill. "Damn it!" he yelled in anger. He hated it when he couldn't figure things like this out. Something terrible was about to happen and he didn't know what.

Voldemort was behind it, he knew, but that he didn't help him in the slightest. It was like something was blocking him; trying to stop him from seeing whatever it was that was going to happen. He just couldn't understand why.

The cloaked figure turned as a swooshing sound was heard from behind him. Flame had come gliding into the room and now was perched on his shoulder.

"Flame?" he said, slightly confused. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Harry?"

Flame just tilted her head and sang out a note, as though she was trying to tell him something. Surprisingly, he understood.

"Something's wrong," he said. Flame knew it as well, he noticed, but there was something else that she was trying to tell him. Suddenly, he knew it.

"What?" he asked.

Flame sang out again and pecked at his robes. It took him a moment for him to realize exactly what was happening.

"Shit!" He shouted. "Flame, go! Find him!" Flame left immediately.

The cloaked figure then set off out of Dumbledore's office at a run and skidded into the empty hall wall below, racing down the corridor as quickly as his legs could carry him. His footsteps echoing loudly as he ran.

'Oh God, Harry!' The cloaked figure thought. 'I've got to find him before it's too late.'

"I like it!" Sirius exclaimed loudly.

"It looks much better then before, don't you agree Harry?" Remus asked, admiring their work.

"Defiantly," Harry answered, trying hard not to fall over laughing.

They had total remodelled Snape's office. Instead of the dull and dark color, the place was now a bright pink with red hearts flying everywhere. They had transfigured all the potion ingredients into shampoo and conditioner bottles, which kept dancing on their selves and singing 'Take a shower you slimy git'. They also replaced all the parchment with paper that would insult you instead of keeping what you wrote.

"I think we did quiet well," Sirius said with a huge smile on his face. "Ah nothing like a good prank to start off the holidays, don't you agree Moony?"

Remus nodded. "I think we better leave, though, just in case he comes back." The three made their way out of the office and headed towards the Great Hall.

"So what are we going to do now?" Harry asked.

Sirius shrugged. "I don't know. I would say Quidditch, but the weather outside doesn't look too promising," he said, pointing to a window. He was right; it was really stormy out there.

"Is there anything in particular that you'd like to do?" Remus asked.

Harry shrugged. "Not really. I would like to practice wizard duelling through."

Sirius smiled as they reached the Great Hall. "Well, there we can help you. Why don't you go and get Volume four of Advanced Auror training for the Physical and Mental mind and then come back here. Moony and I will give you a little lesson. Does that sound okay, Moony?"

Remus nodded. "It's fine with me."

"Okay,' Harry answered. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He then ran off down the hall towards Gryffindor Tower.

As he ran round a corner, he smiled. He hadn't had this much fun for a while now. Maybe the holidays weren't going to be nearly as bad as he had originally thought.

He couldn't believe the peace here. No one staring at him or whispering fearfully behind his back, no one avoiding him or treating him as though he was some sort of freak. He sighed. This was much better.

A cold shiver stopped him for proceeding any further and caused him to frown. Something wasn't right here. He could feel it creeping up on him but he didn't have any idea what it could be.

The halls around him were cold and silent, like they usually were during the holidays, but something felt wrong about it all. Something was different.

"Something's not right here," Harry said to himself, as he slowly scanned the hall. He felt like something or someone was there, watching him…waiting.

"Avucinor Sarco!" Harry crumbled to the ground, panting hard. He felt dizzy and sick again, but this time was worst. He felt like something was trying to tear him apart from the inside out.

"Avucinor Sarco!" His scar was burning painfully now and he felt like someone was kicking him over and over again in his stomach. He started to cough up blood.

"Avucinor Sarco!" He wanted to scream out in pain, but found that he couldn't. He couldn't do anything anymore; his body wasn't following his commands. He was total helpless.

The song of the Phoenix interrupted his thought and dulled the pain just enough for him to look up. Flame came gliding down the hall and landed beside him. She cranked her head to the side observing him silently as though she was waiting.

"Avucinor Sarco!" Harry shut his eyes tightly, trying to drown out the pain, but it was no use. He was losing whatever battle he was now fighting.

"Harry?!" Harry tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. It hurt too much. Someone carefully lifted him up into their lap, trying not to cause him further pain.

"Harry, please answer me," the voice held so much concern and fear for him and Harry was sure that he had heard the voice before. He tried to open his eyes again, this time succeeding. A cloaked figure loomed over him, but Harry could see the man's face. Part of him couldn't believe what he was seeing could possibly be real but another part of him, a deeper part had always known that this man was around…watching him.

"You…you shouldn't…be here," Harry managed to get out, trying to ignore the pain. "He'll …find you and…it'll all be…my…fault."

The cloaked figure wasn't surprised by Harry's reaction at all. He knew that Dumbledore had been premature in thinking Harry wouldn't be able to cope with it, but he knew differently.

"I don't care," he answered Harry. "You're more important."

"Avucinor Sarco!" Harry shut his eyes and bit down on his lip so hard that it bled. Something was tearing at him, dragging him away. But what was doing all this to him?

"Harry?!" The cloaked figure said in alarm.

Harry opened his eyes again and looked up at the man. His eyes were glowing green. "It…it was you," Harry answered simply.

"What?" the cloaked figure asked confused.

Harry stared up at him with knowing green eyes. "When I was lonely…or afraid. When I thought…there was nothing left…it was you that was…always there."

The cloaked figure merrily nodded. He didn't know what to say. He could feel Harry slipping away and he didn't know what he could do.

Harry gripped the figures cloak tightly as another wave of pain swept through him. He wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer.

"Harry?!"

Harry answered by burying his head in the man's cloak. The man held him close.

"I'm …sor…ry…da…" Harry's grip loosened and his head fell to one side.

The cloaked figure looked panic stricken. "Harry? Harry?!" he yelled, shaking him. Harry didn't response. The man quickly checked Harry's pulse and sighed in relief when he found it, strong and steady.

"Oh God, Harry," he gently lifted Harry into his arms and began to head for the hospital wing, Flam on his shoulder. He was walking so quickly that his hood fell, revelling his face.

James Potter held his son close for the first time in fourteen years and as he neared the hospital wing, he had but one thought on his mind: 'Stay with me, Harry. Just hold on. I lost you before, I refuse to let you leave me now!'