The Dawn of Darkness

by Daisuke Shadow Kitsune

DMHP AU-Thought dead after that Halloween Night, Harry Potter was raised as a weapon to the dark. Powerful, dark Harry must struggle with his upbringing to renew familial bonds, save the world from evil and fall in love. Can he truly turn his back?ABANDONNED

2. Unmasked

Chapter II-

Chapter II- Unmasked

'Death Eaters Destroy Order of the Phoenix Headquarters

Last night at number twelve Grimmauld Place, home of Sirius Black, a Death Eater attack transpired. This attack was unanticipated, and took place during a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, where a Death Eater impersonated one of their members and lead a great number of Death Eaters into the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. It was utter chaos, as the imposter hinted at inside help to get in. Who could this traitor be?

Only three people were confirmed dead after the collapse of their headquarters. We at the Daily Prophet would like to express our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We all raise our glasses to the dearly departed Frank and Alice Longbottom, two great Aurors that will be greatly missed by their son; also, to Elvin Knight who was butchered in his own home prior to having his identity stolen.

We pray soon that this war ends!

--Arnold Hufferlink'

News of the attack spread like wildfire across Wizarding Britain, and many people began to feel utterly crushed. The Order had crumbled, so what chance did any of them have for a peaceful future? It was a dark day that dawned September the first…

The Hogwarts express' whistle sounded, informing those still upon the platform that the train would be leaving shortly. "Mom we got to go!" A young brown haired boy explained as he and his brother attempted to pry themselves free from their mother's grasp.

"And besides, you will see us as soon as we get to school." The other identical boy added, successfully getting them free of their mother's crushing hug.

"You boys be good and do a lot of pranks this year." Their father said with a grin as their uncle Sirius suddenly gave them both large noogies, his barking laughter loud on the solemn platform.

"Oh James, don't you encourage them." Lily chastised her husband and leveled him with a stern look.

"Yes Lily-flower." The man responded sheepishly before winking at his sons and hurrying them onto the train. "I'll see you two after work!" He called out as the twins waved their farewells.

Lily Potter worked at Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and had done so since her sons' first year there, shattering the belief that the position had been cursed. James though, still worked at the Ministry as an Auror with Sirius as his partner in crime, though during the school year he lived at Hogwarts with his family instead of all alone at Potter Manor.

James wrapped his arms around his red headed wife's waist and the three of them waved farewell to the boys.

The train began to pull away, moving ever so slowly before it began to pick up speed and was moving quickly out of their sight. "You know… I've got a bad feeling about this." Lily admitted softly. "Not sure what it is about, but I'm worried."

"Ah come on Lily you are just being dramatic." Sirius chirped up, earning a glare from the emerald eyed red head. "Those two can handle what ever Hogwarts has to offer them, and besides, you will be there to baby them the whole time." He added with a grin as the three of them headed towards the barrier and into the Muggle section of the train station.

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The twins, Jason and Lucas Potter sat in their compartment side by side, identical books propped open upon their laps and each page they turned was turned simultaneously. It was impossible to tell the two boys apart when they dressed and acted the same at all times seeing as they were identical twins down to every last detail. Mismatched eyes of green and hazel moved over the words of their newest text books at the same pace as they read.

Both of them were already in their Hogwarts robes, the crest of Ravenclaw clear upon their chests. The twins' house had been a shocker to everyone who had thought that they, much like their parents, would be sorted into Gryffindor; it was a family tradition after all. Not too long after that though, everyone learnt why they had been sorted as such. They were both intelligent boys, always studying and trying to learn everything then could. It was rare to see the twins without a book under their noses.

Their compartment door slid open and both twins looked up at the same time before grinning at their closest friend Luna Lovegood, a fellow Ravenclaw student. She was a year older then the twins, but they got along astoundingly well, and the trio was known as the strangest people in Hogwarts. Luna gave them an airy smile that made her pale blue eyes shine happily before she entered the compartment and closed the door behind herself. She then proceeded to sit across from her two friends and withdrew her edition of the Quibbler and then ensued to read it upside down.

"How was your holiday?" Luna asked kindly, eyes not leaving her magazine as she puzzled the riddle there.

"Adventurous." The twins said at the same time.

"Though Uncle Sirius' house was destroyed." Lucas supplied thoughtfully.

"Both him and Uncle Remus will be staying at our house from now on though." Jason added on as they both turned another page.

"I heard about that… Father thinks it was the Silver Hornbeaks that lead the Death Eaters in." Luna admitted quietly as she stuck her wand behind her ear. "I personally agree with him. They are known for letting in unwanted visitors." She concluded.

"It's plausible." The twins said in agreement as they exchanged a thoughtful look. "But I suppose that is not really our concern. After all, tomorrow we will all be preoccupied with classes." The youngest twin, Jason said with a grin that was mirrored on his brother's face.

"And we have to make father and Uncle Sirius proud by coming up with some new pranks." The eldest twin said as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear and out of his way.

"Yes, I suppose we do need to open with a bang to celebrate the return of classes. We need to do it before the Chameleon Ghouls take all the fun away from us." Luna added thoughtfully as the compartment door slid open revealing identical red headed twins.

"Ah ha! Just who we were looking for, right George?" The one on the right stated with an amused grin at his identical twin.

"Right you are Fred!" The other twin responded before they slipped into the compartment, the door being closed with a snap behind them.

"Hello fellow Pranksters, allies of ours."

"We just thought we'd drop by and maybe do a joint prank,"

"For opening night, to start things off,"

"With a bang." The Weasley twins explained as they plopped themselves down on either side of Luna who merely smiled at the older Gryffindors with a spacey look.

"We're in." The Potter twins stated as they looked up from their Potions text books and closed them with a sharp snap. "What have you two on the scheming board?" They asked eagerly, their eyes glowing with interest.

"Well we were thinking…" Fred and George began, allowing the other prankster twins to add in their input, as Luna offered them suggestions too. The opening feast would be an interesting one…

Hours passed and the train hurtled along as the sky outside went from a bright cheery blue to a mixture of pink, gold and purple as sunset neared. "Well Mr. Potters, Miss Lovegood, I do believe that this plot of ours is idiot and fool proof." The twins stated in conclusion as they both stood a stretched, mischief written in their eyes.

"I do believe that we have the same opinion on the events to come as you do Messieurs Weasley." The Potter twins said with matching impish expressions. Their expressions were suddenly wiped blank as the train suddenly slammed on the brakes, skidding forward, causing Luna and the Weasley twins to be launched into the seats that Jason and Lucas were seated. Luggage rained down from above, thankfully hitting none of the occupants in their compartment.

The screeching of the train on its track trying to stop easily covered all the terror filled screeches that were echoing from all students on board. Slowly, the train slowed down, stopping only after a great rocking as the train hit something. Silence then took over, everyone's ears ringing sweet abuse. "Attention all Hogwarts students." A voice came magically over the train, grabbing everyone's attention as they righted themselves out. "This is your conductor and I apologize most sincerely for that stop, but it seems that a large tree fell upon the tracks, hence the sudden stop. Please remain in your compartments as I head out to remove the tree. Thank you." The magical voice cut out as the man likely left to do what it was that he said he would do.

Mutterings rose up on the train, as Head boy and Girl with prefects in tow moved through the compartments helping the younger years with their fallen luggage and patching up any injuries until they arrived at Hogwarts where Madame Pomfrey would fuss over them. "Well that was a real scream." George commented as he replaced their belongings back upon the racks over their heads with his brother's assistance.

"It was likely the Woodlouse that toppled that poor tree." Luna commented as she plucked her fallen wand from the ground and placed it once again behind her ears. "They tend to do that… usually to Muggles though." She added on after a moment's thought.

Their compartment door swung open and Hermione Granger, a newly appointed prefect this year entered and surveyed the room with sharp brown eyes. "Does anyone in here require any medical assistance?" She questioned briskly, her tone reminiscent of the Transfiguration Professor.

"A few bruises have never gotten any of us down before." The Potter twins responded with a careless shrug, causing the stern teen at their door to open her mouth to undoubtedly offer a sharp retort before Luna spoke up to break off any possible amnesty.

"I think that the Woodlouses are in league with them." She stated quietly as she peered pale blues eyes out their compartment window, causing the rest of them to move to the window. The Weasley twins paled.

"Death Eaters…" The Potter twins whispered to the compartment just as fear filled screams alerted them to the awareness of the other student that there was an imposing threat lurking at the forest edge.

A group of twenty Death Eaters stood still, their wands in their hands as they seemed to be surveying the train. "What do you suppose they are waiting for?" Hermione questioned quietly as she regarded the group, her features somewhat paler then normal, before her eyes noted that one of them was dressed differently. "There," She motioned to the assembled black cloaked people all baring white skeletal masks. "Look at the one standing several feet ahead of the others." She pointed out, causing the rest of the group to look on at the strange pure black figure. "He doesn't look like your regular Death Eater… And he seems to be lecturing them, seeing as the rest are nodding every moment or so…" She concluded with a frown.

"That one is probably telling the rest the most effective way to kill or torture us." Jason stated with his own frown.

"But that doesn't make sense… Why attack the Hogwarts Express? There are plenty of children from families that support You-Know-Who? Why would he risk taking out future servants?" The Muggle Born prefect asked more to herself then the rest just as the Death Eaters behind the darkly cloaked one raced forward, red stunners flying at the oblivious conductor that was having great difficulty levitating the massive tree to the side.

The stunners easily hit their unsuspecting mark and the group levitated the fool to the feet of the one that seemed to be their ring leader. Fred cracked the window open ever so slightly as the Death Eaters set their captured target on the ground none too gently. Slowly the other twin cast a concealment charm on something in his hand before making it float unseen out the middle and set it down right near the enemies.

"The Dark Lord will be pleased that we apprehended this traitorous Muggle-lover so swiftly and unhindered." A voice came through and the occupants held their breath as they listened to the familiar sneer of Rockwood. "What is the plan Lucis?" The man questioned, his hate easily heard in the saying of 'Lucis'.

"Voldemort expects him to be executed." The one addressed stated coldly, his voice sounding quite young, much to the surprise of the spying Hogwarts students.

"Well then." A female voice stated as she whipped out her wand, the killing curse on her tongue before Lucis held up his hand and stopped her. "Why are you stopping me, brat?!" The woman hissed darkly as she grudgingly lowered her wand.

"Because I can Bellatrix." The leader said with a careless dismissal, earning a growl of annoyance from the woman.

"I don't know who you think you are…" She began darkly. "I don't care if you are my Master's beloved new weapon, I will kill you when your back is turned…" She growled out as the other Death Eaters remained silent, knowing better then to interfere or even utter a word.

"Empty threats Bellatrix." Lucis stated with a wave of his hand. "Return to Voldemort." He stated his words directed at the entire group. "I will take care of this miscreant." He affirmed and the group left with a great amount of sharp cracking leaving Lucis alone with the stunned conductor. With a sigh, the figure waved his hand and his captive became bound from head to foot in heavy ropes. "Ennervate."

The conductor gasped as he came back to consciousness. "What do you want from me?" The man spluttered in fear. "Please! Spare me!" He begged as great sobs escaped him.

"Voldemort sent me to kill you." Lucis stated as he looked down upon the man sobbing desperately at his feet. "He calls you a blood traitor. An embarrassment to Pure blooded wizards." He said quietly. "How do you plead?" He asked as he crouched down to eye level with his captive.

"Please spare me! I have a wife! Three children, please!" He begged desperately as Lucis reached down and grabbed a hold of his victims chin to hold the crying man's face in position for observations.

"Can you at least tell me why he wants you dead?" Lucis questioned in a slightly less cold voice, sounding almost sympathetic towards his prey.

Sudden cracks of Apparition sounded out before the train and grounds were swarming with people in white robes appeared. Cheering rose up, and Fred hastily deactivated the little listening tool they had and reeled it back inside the compartment as they cheered as well at the arrival of the Order of the Phoenix.

Lucis looked up from his position low to the ground, hand still grasping onto his prisoner's chin as wands were pointed sharply in his face, stern faces pointed at him. Slowly, Lucis released his grasp on the desperately sobbing man and stood, spinning on spot to find at least a hundred wands pointed at his person. The cloaked entity quirked his head thoughtfully to the side, as though he was contemplating something. "Drop your wand and surrender!" A stern male voice ordered sharply, and Lucis turned to focus on Albus Dumbledore.

"You people enjoy outnumbering me." Lucis stated with a sigh. "Perhaps… it was unwise of me to dismiss my escort as I have the niggling feeling that one of them was a spy and rushed off to inform you." He stated clearly, easily noticing some of the worried expressions on several faces.

"Drop you wand Death Eater!" Sirius Black hissed, both hands on his wand leveled at the small figure's heart.

"I'm not a Death Eater." Lucis stated as he slowly raised the sleeve of his cloak, revealing pale and delicate looking hands. He easily bared his left forearm, revealing himself as unmarked. "Nor do I have a wand." He added as an after thought.

"Accio wand!" James Potter muttered and frowned in confusion when no wand came to him, causing his target to chuckle.

"You will come with us quietly." Albus stated sharply.

"I'm afraid I can not." Lucis countered softly. "My presence is required elsewhere and I have a failed mission to explain." He said with a sigh as he shifted.

"Stupefy!" A jumpy new Order member shouted, releasing his stunner at the target. Lucis sighed as he vanished from sight, the spell hitting Kingsley unaware and knocking him out. The group shouted as they looked up at the airborne Lucis who landed deftly on a tree branch, crouched like a cat as everyone else pointed their wands at him.

"I didn't expect you guys to fight dirty." Lucis commented honestly as he watched his prey be untied and shoved into the train. "I suppose I should retaliate…" He added thoughtfully as he lifted his right hand. Suddenly the ground began to shake, causing most the Order to look down in fear as great roots shot out from the ground and entwined themselves around the weaker. Spells flew as they attempted to free themselves. "Be good." Lucis said above the panic before he vanished into the shadows, leaving the Order to tend to the wayward roots that seemed to just keep coming.

Albus frowned as he cast freezing jinxes at the roots, leaving them immobile and hastily the others joined in and soon, they were surrounded by an eerie mess of roots that stood like ominous statues. With a sigh at failing to capture anyone, the Order began to make sure the students and conductor was unhurt before they destroyed the fallen tree. Many Apparated out, though some remained to guard the train for the remainder of its journey to Hogsmead Station.

Hermione sat with the strange group, all of them discussing the conversation that they had overheard. Of course that was after the prefect had forced the twins to explain their device and how they created it.

"That character was quite strange… I still don't know why he didn't let Bellatrix Lestrange kill the target, or even kill him prior to the arrival of the Order… It doesn't make any sense. He had plenty of time, but it looked as though he was stalling." She added on frowning. "And what a strange name… Lucis."

"I think that is a foreign language." Lucas stated as he looked at his brother.

"Sounds about right." Jason said with a nod.

"Sounds Latin to me." George stated.

"The name more then likely has a second meaning." Fred added

"I think it means light." Luna added dreamily.

"Wow… Be afraid of Light the Horrible!" George Weasley dead panned.

"I think there is something else to his name that we are missing, maybe it isn't Latin." Granger suggested with frown, all of them knowing that the Gryffindor would hit the library almost as soon as their arrival to figure it out.

The train began to slow, and soon all the Hogwarts students were disembarking the train to the shouts of the Grounds Keeper calling first years to him. First years entered small boats while the remaining students took the carriages up to the school. It was the start of another school year, and something told the secretly smiling Luna that it would be an interesting one.

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"What was that?" Voldemort questioned as he narrowed his crimson eyes at the cloaked figure before him as he stood, irritated in the otherwise empty meeting chamber.

"I said I didn't get a chance to kill him." Lucis stated clearly.

"Strange… how you dismissed my Death Eaters and they all returned here smug that the mission had been swift and easy. They all claimed you would kill the Muggle-lover, and so they left as you told them too." The Dark Lord stated with a hiss as he raised his wand. "Crucio!" He growled causing his cloaked weapon to fall to the ground, silently, his body writhing in pain as thousands of white hot pokers invaded every single nerve in his body with molten cruelty. After what felt to be ages, he released his curse and let the weapon slowly return to his feet.

"You let him escape." The Dark Lord hissed as he moved forward and ripped the small figure's hood off, shattering the concealment and shadowing spells Lucis had in place. A pale young face, void of emotion met the older wizards glare. Crimson eyes studied the deathly pale skin and the silvery scar that started just below the teens left eye and trailed crookedly down his face, ending at his sharp jaw line.

Glowing deep emerald eyes met crimson. A smacking echoed through the room as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Names backhanded Lucis with a snarl. "Insolent whelp." The man hissed as he grabbed a hold of the teen's cloak and lifted him clean off the ground so that he could be face to face with the smaller teen. "Remember this; it was my mercy that allowed you to be as powerful as you are." He jeered softly but intimidating. "It was through my glorious mercy that you are even alive!" He snarled, spittle flying in Lucis' face.

"You are nothing without me!" The Dark Lord growled as he slammed the teen against the cold and damp stone wall. "You had better never fail me again; I will not be so lenient next time. You will understand true pain." He growled in warning before releasing the teen and storming over to his throne as Lucis replaced his hood and respelled his concealment spells.

"Leave my sight!" Voldemort snapped, and Lucis complied, vanishing through the shadows.

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'Powerful Death Eater Attacks the Hogwarts Express!

Yesterday, September the first, the day that all students are to return to Hogwarts for the year was ambushed by a terrible assault on the train that carted the students to their school. About an hour's travel from Hogsmead, the train came to a sudden shuddering halt, sending all students aboard flying. A tree had fallen on the tracks. It was a diversion thought out by about twenty Death Eaters who readily ambushed the conductor as he exited the train to take care of the fallen tree. They bound him and left him at the feet of the raid leader before leaving. Fortunately the Order of the Phoenix arrived moments later, strong even without their headquarters, wands aimed at the only remaining Death Eater.

It was easily one-hundred to one, and the Death Eater managed to not only avoid every spell launched at him, but managed to escape, but not before using some unknown spell that caused many tree roots to attack Order members. Luckily no one was hurt, and the train made it to Hogsmead without further ado. This reporter knows she speaks for many when she questions 'Just who is this powerful wandless Death Eater?'

-Emilie Carty

Daily Prophet'

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The dark, damp stone meeting hall was packed full of black robed, white masked people that knelt silently before their glorious lord. Voldemort, on a slightly elevated platform sat upon his throne eyes falling upon his groveling servants in amusement. "Death Eaters," He began as he swept up from his cold throne his robes flaring behind him as he did so before he cast a sneer at his weapon that leaned against the wall near to his throne. "I have finalized the plans to dispose of the traitorous Lucius Malfoy." He hissed with cold glee.

Murmurs and sounds of excitement met his ears as his loyal follows looked up from where they were prostrating themselves to stare admiringly at Voldemort, hanging onto his every word with fear and excitement. "You all know that the traitor is located in St. Mungos, so we will kill two birds with one curse. We will annihilate the hospital and take down the traitor with it!" He shouted darkly, his perverse pleasure at the idea alone sending chill of sick anticipation down his servants' spines.

"Inner Circle come with me, the rest prepare for us to go destroy St. Mungos!" He hissed his command before stalking into an adjacent chamber to the meeting hall well his Inner Circle plus Lucis entered, the door creaking shut behind him.

"All of you will lead a squadron—" Voldemort began, pausing as he was cut off.

"I'm afraid I must decline." Lucis stated clearly, causing the Inner Circle to freeze and stare at the cloaked figure as though he was mad for openly defying their lord.

"Impertinent brat!" Voldemort hissed as he leveled his wand at the cloaked figure, his eyes ablaze with rage. "Crucio!" He growled, causing his weapon to once again fall silently to the ground, twisting in pain. Voldemort held the curse for a full minute, hoping to hear sounds of pain, but none came. "Bellatrix, you will stay behind and teach him a lesson that he will never forget. Though you are forbidden to remove his cloak or try to see his face." He ordered the woman, who smirked devilishly behind her mask. "Do not kill him." He added a moment later.

"I will be most honored to teach this ingrate some manors milord!" She said with a grin as she whipped out her wand and motioned for Lucis to stand. Slowly he did and she led him through another doorway that led to the dungeons where they kept their prisoners and tortured enemies.

Lucis descended the moldy stone steps that spiraled down into the depths of the dungeons before he was thrown roughly into the cell. Bellatrix removed her mask, banishing it to her quarters before she attached her new toy's wrists to the chains dangling from the ceiling at the center of the room. Dark eyes surveyed the filthy room with a sneer as grime and bodily waste attached itself to her boots and the hem of her once pristine robes. The cell smelt like long rotten corpses under hot and humid air. It was rank.

"Crucio!" She hissed gleefully as she watched her toy squirm in pain, though pouted when after two minutes he made not a sound. With a sigh she stopped her spell before sending a slashing hex at him, cutting his left arm shallowly from mid wrist to elbow. Blood spurted from the wound, though her prey did not flinch. With a growl she mimicked her actions and placed the same wound upon his other arm. "Oh poor ickle baby." She said in a sickly sweet voice. "Does it hurt?" She asked before cackling like an insane person, her dark curls bouncing with her laugh.

With a malicious grin she moved up to him and landed her boot clad foot heavily against his chest, smiling in satisfaction as she not only heard, but also felt, bones snapping under her slime encrusted boot. She grinned devilishly at the sharp intake of breath. "Oh so you do make sounds when you hurt!" She simpered with great sadistic joy. "It's a pity I can't torture you to insanity or death!" She stated in mock distress as she stuck her wand tip inside the cut she made on his left arm, before using a burning curse.

Lucis flinched at the burn in his heavily bleeding arm, though voiced no sound of pain. "Oh did that hurt?" Bellatrix questioned sadistically as she licked her lips. "Crucio!" She hissed, her eyes were blissful as she watched his body spasm under her tender care. "I want you to scream for me Lucis." She whispered into his ear; sneering his name. "I want you to cry, to beg me for mercy.' She added as she touched his bleeding arm with her finger and brought the bloodied digit to her mouth where she licked it off with a throaty moan. "I want you to bleed, writhe, scream, cry, beg, and even break." She said as she conjured a whip, smirking as her toy tensed at the sight of her new weapon.

"Oh, you don't like whips?" She questioned tauntingly as she lovingly caressed the black leather cattails. With a glee-filled cackle she struck, the sound snapping as the cattails ruthlessly tore through both cloak and skin. Again and again she brought down her whip against the flesh of her prey, rendering the front side of his robes mere shredded rags. Blood pooled down his chest, stomach and arms from angry red crisscrossing gashes. "So good." She sneered darkly before she walked behind him, her boots crunching on the filth laden floor.

With insane laughter she began whipping his back as ruthlessly as she did the front. Blood sprayed at her, though she didn't care. It painted her pale face and slid down the filthy walls. She was already standing in a dark pool of blood, and that only seemed to further spur on her enjoyment. She loved blood.

After she had ensured that he was well lashed, she banished the whip and cast another Crucio upon his form, loving the way his body moved as his nerve endings burned and the way that blood flew from her freshly dealt blows. "You still won't cry for me?" She asked in a false-loving voice as she moved in front of him, inwardly annoyed that she had been forbidden from looking at his face.

"Perhaps I haven't lavished you with enough love?" She asked as she mockingly placed a hand over her heart. "I need to fix that immediately." She cackled as she leveled a bone breaking curse at his left leg, taking pleasure from the sickening snap that echoed off the walls. She then proceeded to break his other leg with the same spell before she walked up to him and teasingly ran her manicured hand over his. "Oh! Such delicate hands!" She exclaimed haughtily. "Hands worthy of a young girl." She added before she tenderly took hold of his pinky, stroking it thoughtfully before abruptly twisting, breaking his finger with an echoing wet sounding snap.

"Oops, my hand slipped." She said with false regret as she moved to the next finger and repeated the action with a shiver of sick pleasure until all his fingers on both hands were broken, leaving the once pale and delicate hands purple and swollen. "Aww did that hurt?" She questioned in a mocking baby tone as she pursed her lips at him.

"Well I promise this will hurt more, Crucio!" She stated ecstatically as she held him once again under her favorite Unforgivable curse. Begrudgingly, after a few moments, she stopped her tormenting spell and sighed. "You should scream." She advised in what sounded like annoyance.

Lucis' entire frame began to shake, and Bellatrix smirked thinking that finally she had broken her prey and that he was sobbing in pain, soon to beg for mercy. However, she was soon disillusioned. A pained chuckle escaped her toy, causing her face to take on a stony look of disbelief and anger. Disbelief that he could still find amusement and anger that he was so boldly laughing at her. She was Voldemort's most sadistic Death Eater; no one laughed at her and got away with it.

"You dare mock me?" She questioned in an acidic voice, her dark eyes narrowing and an ugly sneer covered her face. With a growl at his continued chuckle she recalled her whip to her and began mercilessly whipping, causing him to stop laughing and tense as the leather cattails sliced into his pale skin, splashing more blood and flesh upon the grimy stone floor. "Not laughing now are you?" She growled before she tossed her whip to the ground and stalked out; enraged as she slammed the cell door closed behind him and moved quickly up the stairs.

Lucis was left alone… in the cold dark…

He had already lost too much blood, and soon, darkness claimed his mind and he slumped awkwardly in his chains as he slipped into unconsciousness.

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Screams echoed through the burning white halls of St. Mungos as Death Eaters slaughtered, tortured and burnt everything and one in sight. The Auror division, the Order and all the medical personnel fought to rescue the patients from the burning hospital and to keep their lives safe from the attackers. Green lights danced ominously through halls as corpse after corpse landed heavily and unmoving in the wake of the Death Eaters. It was a horrid night…

Severus Snape, esteemed potions master led his squad through the fiery inferno of corpses, flames and rumble, heading towards a higher floor. His group, which had been twenty large, had dwindled down to him and five others. Both he and Crouch Jr. had been assigned to lead their squads up to the room that Lucius Malfoy was located in.

Snape purposely led his group on a winding trail through the smoldering ruins, to as delay them making it to the room before Albus could. He dodged under a slashing hex which promptly hit the Death Eater behind him before he tossed his own cutting hex, cleanly slicing off the medi-wizard's wand arm. With a shriek of agony and a crimson arc of blood, the man crumbled to his knees just as he received the killing curse from one of Snape's crew.

Inwardly cursing, Snape checked and noticed that the man who was hit by the spell he dodged was dead, and he hastily led his last four up another set of stares, growling at them for being a group of incompetent fools. A sudden groan of the building had the part of the stairwell they had been on to crumble. Severus, ever quick on his feet managed to run up to a non falling part and cast a shield upon himself. Debris rained on his shield bouncing off of it before the building stopped.

Cautiously he lowered his shield and climbed out of the rubble that encircled him before peering down into a deep hole of cement where the rest of his squad lay visible dead and mangled glazed eyes staring unseeingly up at him. With a grimace, Snape continued up the stairs, cautious to stick to the edges.

He ascended five more levels before quickly moving out onto an untouched and already evacuated floor. With hope he raced forwards and into the room he knew Lucius had been placed, and found it to be long empty with a chocolate frog card lain upon the bed. The Order had gotten him out. Severus quietly released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and banished the card just as he heard echoing footsteps race towards him.

Raising his wand he peered out the door before fully exiting the room. "We were too late." He sneered as Barty Crouch Jr. ran to a halt in front of the taller man, nine of his squad right behind him.

"Where is your squad?" Crouch asked as he peered into the room as though doubting the man.

"The incompetent fools all managed to get themselves killed." Severus responded in a dry drawl that expressed his annoyance at such useless fools.

Crouch smirked under his mask before nodding at Severus and waving farewell before he motioned for his squad to follow him as they returned racing the way they came. Since their initial target was already removed, they might as well do what damage they could here before returning to their master's wrath…

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'Ministry & Order incompetent: St. Mungos Crumbles!!

Late last night Death Eaters raided St. Mungos in a deathly assault far more damaging then any previous attack. There were three hundred and nineteen people killed in the assault. Another five hundred injured excluded all previous patients of the hospital. Foreign Ministry of Magic in Bulgaria has generously opened their hospital doors to the patients of St. Mungos. The injured however have been sent to Hogwarts School, where the medical wing has been vastly expanded and all surviving staff of St. Mungos are busy helping these injured. It was a devastating move on the part of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Aurors only managed to arrest twelve Death Eaters and all eye-witnesses claim that neither You-Know-Who, or his super Death Eater were there.

For more information about the attack see page 2

For a list of the deceased see page 12-14

--Aaron Kinderly

Daily Prophet'

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His head was pounding ruthlessly as he slowly opened his eyes only to see blackness. With a violent force that caused him to flinch, all of Lucis' memories from today, or was it last night; came back to him. His body was cold, even with the fiery aches that ran through every nerve. He was injured something fierce.

"I see you are awake." A cold voice stated, and emerald eyes looked up as Voldemort activated a dim lighting spell so he could properly survey his delinquent weapon. Crimson eyes slowly roamed the torn flesh, taking in the swollen joints, the odd angle of limbs, and the deep and shallow lacerations. "You had fun with Bella." He commented as he reached down and picked up the chin of his weapon, removing all spells that concealed the teen's face as he pulled down the hood.

Crimson and emerald met in a cold unreadable fashion. "You still have that annoying insolent look in your eyes boy…" He hissed before backhanding him, splitting the teen's lip with ease. "Bellatrix and Severus will be joining you shortly for more lessons." He added before he plucked the hood up none too gently and reapplied the powerful concealment charms.

With a cold cruel laugh he turned and stalked from the cell, his black robes flaring dramatically behind him. Lucis inwardly cringed at the thought of another torture session as he calmly listened to the retreating footsteps of the Dark Lord. Inwardly, the teen cursed his master Valdere for having been so subservient to that mad man that dare call himself Lord. With a sigh he took a deep breath focusing on the two pairs of descending footsteps and steeled himself for what was to come.

Two people entered his cell, the first giddy at the prospect of playing with her new toy again, and the second, somewhat tense. "Well, well ickle baby wants to play again?" She asked haughtily as she tossed her long dark curls over her shoulder dramatically. "Will you cry for me this time?" She questioned as she moved over to him and at length inspected his body. "Crucio." She said with a smile, eyes alight as he squirmed silently under her curse.

After a moment she lifted her curse, before glancing warily over at Severus. "You're turn." She stated in a sing song voice as the man stalked forward and copied her on the pain curse, though held it for double the time she did. He had to not make the woman suspicious of him after all…

"Good." She said with approval, as she studied her prey much as Severus' blank onyx eyes did, though inside he was cringing at what he was doing to the already mortally wounded man. "My last trip down here I learned something useful, he doesn't like whips." She stated, causing her prisoner to tense noticeably in both their eyes. "See." She commented as she conjured a whip and held it out to Severus. "You do the honors." She whispered in a sultry voice.

With inward trepidation, he accepted the whip and momentarily inspected it, looking as though he was ensuring that it would cause enough damage to his victim, though inwardly he was stalling. Steeling his nerves he raised the whip and brought it down upon the broken looking body, its sharp crack slicing through flesh and pulling blood in its wake.

He raised the whip again, and brought it down again, catching the cloaked figure along his upper shoulder and back.

"You seem a little awkward with that weapon." Bellatrix muttered as she pulled it lovingly from his grasp. "I suppose you do look awkward with any tool that hasn't anything to do with potions." She commented dryly as she brought the whip down far harder then Severus had. She did it again and again, in quick succession, the next blow hitting before blood even had a chance to seep out of the previous blow. "Perhaps you have a nifty little potion to make him… feel more obliged to scream?" She suggested sadistically as she move the whip again and again against the torn flesh.

Severus looked thoughtful for a moment as he fingered the vials of potions on his belt. "No, the potions on my person would either kill or heal him; two things that the Dark Lord told us not to do." He commented with a cold drawl, knowing he would have to join in other ways.

Bellatrix nodded her understanding before cackling gleefully as she dropped her whip and conjured a small dagger and tossed it to her colleague. "I think I'm going to go to my husband, you can finish up here." She concluded before sweeping out of the cell and up the stone steps.

With a sigh, Severus stepped forwards and looked down at the broken body before him. He opened his mouth to say something at the slumped figure, but before he could utter a sound the alarms signaling enemy entrance into the headquarters went off. "It would seem Lucius has awakened…" He commented to himself as he looked up, guessing that the blond had awakened and informed the Order of the exact location of the Dark Lord's headquarters.

Footsteps thundered down the stone stairs, brilliant Lumos lights with them. "Wotcher Snape!" A cheery voiced female said as she and a tall black man came to a halt at the base of the stairs. "You had best get out so Voldemort doesn't think you turned traitor or got caught." The woman advised as she peered behind the Death Eater spy. She gasped sharply.

"He needs immediate help." Snape uttered before he activated his portkey out, and quickly, Tonks stumbled over to the figure in chains. "Hey it's the super Death Eater!" She exclaimed in shock as Kingsley followed her in. "You look in bad shape." She commented earning a quiet pain filled chuckle.

"If you think it looks bad, you should feel it." The prisoner stated with humor, before his mind slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

"We need to get him out of here fast." Kingsley advised and hastily the two broke the teen from his chains and the man gently scooped him up in his arms before they portkeyed out, landing in a lavish manor.

"We need a medi-witch!" Tonks called out and hastily Poppy Pomfrey ran into the entrance hall where she took one look at Kingsley's charge and paled.

"Bring him in, quick!" She ordered sharply and the two Aurors quickly moved him onto the bed that was in the makeshift medical area. Already several Order members were there, but their wounds were light, and they all watched on in curiosity as the figure was deposited on the bed.

Quickly, the matron conjured blockades for privacy around the bed and began feeding potions down through a mouth she couldn't see. Muttering to herself she began to apply salves, realign and mend bones, relocate joints out of place, cauterize and bandage the deep wounds, and force more potions down the man's throat. "Come on…" She muttered to herself as she worked long and hard, ignoring the whispered conversations outside of her little white cloth barriers.

Over two hours later, Poppy left her white cloth barricade and came to meet up with five people who had no doubt been waiting for her finish in there. With a quick glance around the room, asserting that no more patients needed tending too, she focused on Dumbledore and nodded sharply. "He should live… but he isn't likely to wake up for a long time. He needs constant surveillance." She added quietly, eyes shifting to meet Lily's then James', expecting them to be there as it was their house that they were in. She met Minerva's next then Severus'. "He is still in critical condition."

"How bad was he?" Albus questioned.

"Well…" Poppy paused unsure where to begin. "He suffered from severe blood loss, dehydration, both legs broken in at least five places, both shoulders were dislocated, gashes running the length of both arms, burns within one of his cuts, all fingers broken, three broken ribs, two bruised ribs, his lungs were punctured in two places, severe internal bleeding, signs of extreme exposure to the Cruciatus curse, and hundreds of lashes, presumably from a whip covering both the front and back of his body, though he had some whip scars that looked to have been there for many, many years." She concluded with a look of exhaustion.

He audience cringed in horror at the sum up Lucis' condition. "Sweet Merlin…" James breathed in shock as he looked at his wife who looked slightly green around the gills. "What do you suppose he did?" He questioned, frowning.

Eyes drifted to Severus. "The majority of the wounds came from Bellatrix." He stated, causing the less composed of the group to shudder. That woman's vindictiveness was legendary. "I will admit to being forced to hit him with the Cruciatus once and the whip six times." He admitted, inwardly feeling guilty, though the rest present knew he had to ensure his position as spy.

"The Dark Lord believed that he purposefully blotched the mission to kill the train conductor, and when he wanted Lucis to participate in the raid on St. Mungos he refused and was handed off to Bellatrix." He concluded with a dark sigh.

"Well, it's a miracle the teen is alive…" Pomfrey muttered.

"Teen?" Lily inquired instantly. "Just how old is he?" She questioned with a worried look.

"According to my diagnostic spell, he is just over the age of fifteen." Poppy said sadly as she peered over at her patient, whose heavily bandaged chest quivered up and down slowly.

"This is worse then I thought…" Dumbledore stated as the group moved over to the teen's bedside. "Poppy, why is it you removed all of his garments except for his hood and the concealment spells on his face?" The old man questioned.

"I tried but I couldn't." She admitted with a frown, before looking pointedly at the headmaster and leader of the Order.

With a few whispered words under his breath, Albus gently tapped his wand to the ailing teen before he reached his aged hands up and gently pulled the hood clear. Gasps rose up as eyes fell upon the boy before flickering over to James who stood there wide eyed, his mouth moving with no sounds. "He's the one I spotted in Knockturn." Severus stated with a frown as he compared the two together. "Though shorter."

The differences were almost as astounding as the similarities, and Severus wondered how he did not notice initially. James, and the teen had the same jet black wayward hair and jaw line, but the teen had slightly higher cheek bones, a smaller nose and lips much like the ones he once yearned to kiss. Onyx eyes darted to Lily, and he could tell those lips were the same. He then looked back down at the heavily bandaged teen, noticing his small stature and rather petite frame much like Lily's. It was only then that he noticed the silvery scar under the boys left eye and the darker scar in the shape of a lightning bolt upon his forehead.

Dumbledore shakily placed his hand upon the teen slightly clammy forehead. "Lily… James…" He began as he met their eyes. "I believe he is your son…" Albus whispered, causing a chocked sob to escape Lily as she launched forward and tenderly grabbed the broken boy's hand, weeping onto his hand. James, ever so pale, moved to comfort his wife and stare down into the face so like his and Lily's.

"Does that mean Voldemort took him away after the attack?" Minerva questioned tearfully.

"Yes Minerva, I believe that is exactly what happened…" Dumbledore stated, looking far older then he was. "I think… due to the prophecy… Tom believed that if the toddler who deflected his killing curse could be used as a weapon, there would be no chance at defeat." He concluded gravely as he peered down his crooked nose at the teen who had suffered much.

"I can not say what he has been through, what he has been taught, or what he believes. But I do know this, he is strong, and he will need our help to overcome this." He stated clearly as he peered at the two who stared down at their son with tears of joy, pain and sadness.

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Lily Potter stood before her class of Seventh Year Ravenclaws, absently teaching. She had been very absent minded and pale for the last week and a half, much to the concern of both staff and students alike. She was also suspiciously unavailable after class times, According to Fred and George Weasley; she would leave Hogwarts immediately after her classes had ended, but when questioned on how they knew that, they merely smiled and skipped off looking smugly secretive.

Her behavior was quite strange for the fun loving, kind and sometimes stern teacher. But everyone knew better then to question her… Her sons though were fair game for interrogation…

Despite all threats, pleading and insistent questioning, both Potter twins claimed to know nothing, though they too looked worry, though to a lesser extent then their mother. Most presumed they were honest with their lack of knowledge in regards to what was ailing their mother, but they were obviously concerned over her well being.

It was after another Transfiguration class, two weeks into September that the Potter twins managed to corner the Weasley twins and ask for assistance in finding out what was wrong with their mother. So they plotted…

Lily moved quietly, lost in her thoughts, as she exited her class room, and headed at a brisk pace, unaware that she was being tailed by four people. Two under silencing charms and the invisibility cloak that their father had smuggled them, and the other two using nifty pendants that render the wearer invisible. It was another gadget that the Weasley twins had cooked up.

So they followed Lily, slipping easily into her private chambers behind her, catching her whisk from her fire place, but not before hearing her state clearly: "Potter Manor!"

With smirks that more often then not appeared on the faces of the Slytherin students, the two sets of twins, still unseen, mimicked her actions and Flooed directly into Potter Manor, fortunately unseen. "Did you hear something?" Lucas and Jason's father's voice questioned from the dinning room, causing the four to freeze and hold their breath as the older Potter peered out of the open doorway and into the entrance foyer, though he turned away a moment later dismissing whatever it was that he thought he heard.

With batted breath the pairs of twins slipped across the hall, and peered into the dinning room that had most obviously been remade into a temporary hospital wing. The Potter twins, below their cloak, exchanged a curious look as they looked at their parents and two uncles seated around a figure lying prone upon the bed. Lily was crying, holding the person's hand, James looked on, his hand on the sobbing red head's shoulder. Remus and Sirius sat somewhat further back, whispering quietly to each other, occasionally looking at the bed with a sad but happy looks.

"Come on Lily, its supper time." James said quietly to his wife as he gently ushered her and his two dear friends into the adjoining room for dinner. Slowly, the two sets of twins took this as their queue, and cautiously moved towards the bed. They gathered, still invisible around the unconscious and severely beaten looking teen.

"By George,"

"He looks like you father." The Weasley twins stated in shock.

"I did not know…"

"He even had a brother." They concluded, peering at the spot that they knew their friends stood.

"He doesn't." The Potter twins muttered at the same time. "But… we do have an older brother, but he is supposed to be dead…" They whispered in shock as they both reached out to touch the person who looked so much like a grown up version of the portrait of their older brother.

"Looks like he is alive,"

"And has been through hell and back again… twice." The red heads stated comfortingly as the group edged towards the kitchen door, eager to listen in.

"…coming?" Remus questioned softly, as the twins paused on either side of the door.

"Later this evening." Lily responded as she absently picked at her food, her thoughts on the long lost son of hers that was lying near dead in the room adjacent.

"Come on Lily… You need to eat. It won't do Harry any good to wake up as you collapse." James advised softly.

"Yeah, Harry might be handsome and tough like me, his favorite Godfather, but he will need you to be strong and healthy. I mean he is likely going to need a lot of mental help after being tortured so seriously, and all the extended abuse he suffered over the years of his captivity." Sirius said earning a glare of annoyance from Remus for sounding so insincere.

"You are way too arrogant for you own good. Good looking and tough? We are talking about you right?" Remus challenged the sapphire eyed Auror, earning himself a pout of hurt and a light laugh from James and a watery smile from Lily.

"I just… always thought he had been killed that night. If I had known he was still alive I would have done everything in my power to get him back." Lily said softly as James wrapped his arm around her, his meal completely gone already though hers was hardly touched.

"We all would have." James admitted. "But now is not the time to wallow in guilt and 'if only I had s'." He stated sounding very mature for a change. "Harry will need us all to be strong to help him, who knows what Voldemort or that Valdere guy did to him for these past thirteen years." He finished with a growl. "Though we do know he is physically and magically powerful, he just may need help… okay he will need plenty of mental help." He finished as he kissed his wife's temple.

"Sounds like we have a lot of work to do." Sirius stated as he downed what looked suspiciously like a glass of Firewhiskey, just as the twins slipped away from the door to overhear the conversing adults and back towards the bedside of their long lost elder brother who had been stolen away from them before they had even known him.

"Sounds like your brother…"

"…has led quite the rough life." The red heads commented soberly, for once not in a cheery mischievous mood. "We will help him get better." The two vowed quietly.

"Thank you, we're sure he will need a lot of support and we have a hunch that things will be quite rocky once he awakens…" Lucas and Jason whispered before they cast one last look at their frail looking older brother who looked to be shorter then they did before they pulled their partners in crime from the room, to the entrance hall, where they hurriedly Flooed back to school, moving quickly to the Great Hall to catch supper. Hopefully they weren't missed…

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Emerald eyes flickered slowly open, blurry and crusty from their lack of use. The room was dark, and for a moment, he felt as though he were still in that God forsaken dungeon and that Bellatrix would show up at any moment to play with what seemed to be her new favorite 'toy'. With a slight shudder of disgust at that sadistic woman, he silently blinked his eyes to clear his vision. Within a moment his location was within his sight, but he frowned, having never been there before, at least to his recollection.

Stifling a groan of pain as every muscle and joint screamed their protest at his movements, he slowly sat up. As he managed to get into a sitting position, his breathing was ragged, and his head felt as though someone had turned the world on 'spin'. Carefully he took even breaths as he remained perfectly still, allowing his battered body the chance to calm and his breathing became less erratic. "Moving is not a good thing…" He muttered; his voice hoarse and raspy with disuse to himself as he looked around the grand room, which seemed to have been at last second, turned into a medical wing. With a frown he wondered exactly where he was and how he had managed to get wherever he was in the first place. Slowly, more so then when he sat up, he turned and lowered his legs over the side of the bed.

Emerald eyes looked down at the ground before he slid noiselessly from the white linen wrapped bed and onto the chilled floor. A slight gasp at the sudden coldness on his feet echoed around him, while chills raced unwanted up his back. Muttering a warming charm, he slowly and shakily with the help of his bed, walked towards the window. With each step he gritted his teeth. He hurt like hell. After a good ten minutes he made it to the large bay window nearest his bed and curiously peered out. Eyes surveyed the moon lit landscape and he frowned yet again as he leaned against the cool glass, not recognizing his location in the least.

A sudden gasp broke him from his musings, and he slowly tore his gaze away from the marvelous garden to focus on the person who stood clearly in the light of another window, pale as a ghost and eyes wide. It was a woman, Lucis noted as he slowly moved his painful body away from the window and faced the tearful person staring at him, his own face blank.

"…Harry?" The woman whispered softly, her hands trembling at her chest.

'Harry?' Lucis asked to himself, sensing that he and the strange woman were alone.

Hesitant feet brought the woman forward. Lucis, leaned slightly back a cautious glint in his eyes as he regarded the female that was so boldly walking up to him, looking at him as though he were some ghost of a beloved. "Oh Harry." She whispered as she came to a halt mere feet in front of him and looked down upon his small person with unsure softness. Slowly, as though afraid, the woman lifted a horrendously shaking hand and gently set it on the smaller teen's cheek with tenderness. Her hand was warm.

"I think…" Lucis spoke up, his voice raspy but young. "You are mistaking me for someone else. My name is Lucis." He stated clearly, causing the woman to tense slightly, tears slipping down her pale cheeks as she looked down mournfully at him.

"No…" She stated quietly, her voice filled with resolution as she shook her head denying his words. "You are Harry. You are my son!" She said firmly, conviction firm in her deep tear filled eyes. "You are the son that was stolen from me…" She added with a sob as she brought her hand up to the other side of his face and caressed it gently. "I thought I had lost you… that you were dead…" She admitted brokenly.

Lucis stood there frozen. "You must be mistaken." He whispered coldly, eyes unreadable, though inside he was squirming. "I've never had parents. Master Valdere told me as such." He explained, using what logic he could, though inwards he was somewhat uncertain, after all, one wasn't born from nothing or no one.

His words caused the woman to flinch. "But you are." She said convincingly. "You look so much like your father and I, is that not proof enough?" She questioned.

The dark haired teen frowned. "I…" He paused. "I have never once seen my own appearance." He admitted, causing the woman to look at him in shock. "I was never permitted too. In the face of a reflective surface I was always made to conceal my face from sight." He stated clearly, and the woman's hands fell from his face before pulling out a wand, causing Lucis to tense.

With a flick of her wrist and a muttered word she conjured a makeup mirror and handed it to the boy. "Then look upon your face." She said kindly as he slowly accepted it.

Slowly, the teen opened the compact mirror, flinching at the yellow orange light that appeared as he opened it, instantly ruining his night vision. After a moment of blinking light dots from his vision he looked into a mirror for the first time in all his memory. Startling emerald eyes met his, causing the teen to flicker his gaze into the matching eyes of the woman standing there, smiling sadly at him.

With reluctance, he tore his gaze from hers and proceeded to look at his face again, easily trailing his scars as they stood out rather vividly, before he noticed his features that were indeed quite similar to the woman who stood in front of him. Inwards he felt a little thrill of childish excitement. He did have parents. The proof was staggering. "What is my name?" He questioned softly as he touched his finger gently to the mirror.

"Harry James Potter." The woman stated proudly as she stared at her baby boy. "You were named after your father, James Potter." She added softly and easily accepted the mirror back as he handed it to her.

Shakily, Lucis—no Harry--, turned and slowly ambled painfully back over to his bed and sat down heavily, holding back his wince under the woman's studious gaze. "I was lied to." He stated quietly as he looked up at the ceiling blankly, his lack of emotions scaring Lily Potter, though she did not show it.

Footsteps echoed lightly, and a man appeared in the doorway, hazel eyes focused on his wife, unnoticing the conscious teen on the bed. "Lily-love, why aren't you in the bed?" James questioned softly a look of concern on his face. Lily though smiled at him and motioned her head towards Harry. James followed his wife's line of sight before his eyes widened dramatically behind his glasses. "Harry!" He gasped in shock as he stared into the emerald eyes so much like his wife's.

With a choked sound, James moved hastily to the teen, noting sadly as the boy leaned backwards, weary of the man. Hazel eyes scanned his face, much as the woman had, and Harry had to admit he did look very much like these two people. "How are you feeling Harry?" James asked softly, his voice shaking with repressed emotions.

"Why are you being so concerned over me? I am your enemy…" Harry stated quietly as he averted his face from the man's and looked blankly at the wall, looking quite uncomfortable with the situation.

James brought a shaking hand to his son's pale face and tenderly turned the teen's face back to his own. Love filled hazel eyes, though sad, met uneasy green. "Because you are our son." He stated with such blunt honesty that Harry could only stare at him. James' eyes suddenly darkened. "And I will make Voldemort pay for taking you from us, leaving us to believe you were dead." He vowed firmly, nodding to accentuate his point as Lily walked up to the two of them and placed a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder.

"But… I so ruthlessly attacked your friends and allies." Harry stated with a quirked eyebrow. "Should you not hate me? Shouldn't you be plotting my demise?" He questioned with a frown.

"No." Lily said softly, James nodded his affirmation to his wife's words. "You never knew… You were snatched away, told that you had no parents." She stated sadly, causing James to frown at this revelation. "I do not know what you were… raised to believe, but you are a good person, and you are our son." Lily said.

"I've slaughtered many, how is that good? How can any parent, much less one who never knew their own child, say that they still care for their murderous son?" Harry questioned, feeling uncomfortable with the two so close to him, and the two hands still firm on his person.

"Because any good parent has unconditional love for their children. We know that kids and adults too, make mistakes." Lily whispered reassuringly. "We want to help you learn from those mistakes. I want us to be a family again. Please let us?" Lily asked gently.

Harry sighed softly, unsure what to do. He had lived that last thirteen years of his life believing he had no parents. That he had been forged to be a living weapon. He had spent his life for as far back as he could remember, training long and hard to become the most powerful weapon possible for Voldemort. If he even put a toe out of line he was severely punished. He was beaten in his youth for questioning his master about his parents and had leaned quickly never to ask again. But all the harsh words and lessons were just rendered untruthful in the span of fifteen minutes.

Harry inwardly growled, he hated dishonesty deeply, and his master Valdere had proven to be most dishonest. But still, his gaze flickered over the two hopeful looking people, could he trust them? Would be able to let his long years of training go and accept a family and all that it would likely entail? He wasn't sure. 'But… they seem honest… and not despicable…' He thought absently, studying the two of them silently. He had all but been abandoned by the man he had been made a weapon into for when said man had handed him over to Bellatrix.

Slowly Harry inclined his head, not trusting his voice to speak his decision. Lily squealed in happiness and literally threw herself at him, causing him to tense, eyes wide. He sat there stiff in her arms, as the man, his father, encircled the both of them in a firm hug. "Though…" Harry spoke up, his words muffled from both pain and the bodies clinging to him. "I can not promise I will do well. I've never had parents, or a family." He said, never noticing the sad looks the two exchanged as they pulled themselves away from their son.

"We will help." James said softly before his expression turned serious. "But I'll have you know… that the Ministry is well aware that we, the Order of the Phoenix, have 'captured' Lucis, Voldemort's super Death Eater." He explained with a dark frown. "They demanded that we immediately hand you over to them, but Albus managed to explain your unstable condition." He paused before taking a deep breath. "The Ministry is permitting us to keep you until you are healed, but they want to bring you in for a trial right after." James concluded, meeting the eyes of his son head on.

"So I am to be arrested and placed in Azkaban?" Harry questioned thoughtfully.

"Yes, but we, your mother and I, your Godfather, your uncle, and even Albus, will do whatever is within our power to ensure that you do not go to Azkaban. We won't let them take you away from us when we just got you back." The man promised as he gave the teen's pale hand a gentle squeeze.

Harry let a soft, hesitant smile blossom on his face. No one had gone out of their way for him like that. "Master Valdere would have never done that for me. He would have left me there to rot." Harry admitted, causing his parents to frown.

"Harry…" Lily began, and stopped, unsure of how to continue.

"Harry." James said, eyes locking with young emerald ones. "That man is no longer your master." He said firmly.

Harry, face blank once more, looked at the two. "I have… no master?" He questioned with a hint of uncertainty in his young voice.

"No son, you have no Master." James affirmed.

"That sounds… appealing." Harry said with honesty before a small yawn escaped him, causing his parents to fuss him into bed. Slowly, he was settled in, and slipped off into dreams once more, and for once he had a warm feeling in his heart…

James and Lily stood, holding each other, eyes staring upon their long lost son as he drifted back to sleep, no doubt exhausted from all the healing his body was trying to do. "Our son is an honest boy." Lily whispered with a smile as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "I just wished he had been with us all these years, safe… happy." She admitted sadly. "It hurts to see him lying there, obviously injured, and foreign to love or even happy emotions…." She added.

"I know your feelings Lily-love." James whispered back as he stared proudly down at his heavily scarred son. "And I will do all in my power to protect him from this day forward." He vowed as he led his wife from the room, leaving their son to sleep as they went back upstairs to retire for some much deserved sleep.

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Light shone down on closed eyes, slowly drawing the teen from the depths of his slumbers. Though against it, Harry gradually came to consciousness. He really didn't want to wake up, he was comfortable. Within a moment, his senses came back to him, and he noticed that he was no longer alone and that someone he didn't know was standing near by. Whoever it was, they were powerful.

With a relenting sigh, emerald eyes were cracked open, blinking at the sudden brightness of the sun shinning in through the large bay window. Inwardly cursing the sun, Harry pushed himself into a sitting position and moved to look at his visitor. Deep green met aged pale blue. Harry blinked and inclined his head curtly in greeting. "I see you have awakened Harry." The old man stated; a small smile upon his face as he studied the teen.

"Lily and James spoke with me this morning, and told me of your talk last night. Am I safe in assuming that you no longer wish to serve Voldemort?" He questioned seriously as he moved closer to the bed, his maroon and gold star dotted robes swaying behind him as he moved.

"I have no intention to serve a man who encouraged dishonesty with me." Harry said plainly, his eyes staring intently into the blue. He ignored the probe in his mind, blocking it most effectively with his Occulmency, earning a slightly shocked look from the old wizard.

"Very well." Albus said as he broke their staring contest a light smile upon his elderly lips as he studied the Potter heir over the rims of his glasses. "I would be most interested in discussing your past, but now is neither the time nor the place." He said with a regretful look. "I am afraid, that on that note, that the Ministry is impatiently awaiting your arrival today for a trial. I could not put them off any longer." He admitted, looking aged. "Poppy, the medi-witch who healed you, will be arriving shortly to administer more potions and change your bandages." He concluded before he turned and walked from the room.

Minutes later, a well aged woman swept into the room, her arms filled with linen bandages and potion vials. She paused briefly as she noticed her seated patient, before she moved over to him. She fussed over him, asking if he was sore in certain places while she changed the dressing on many of his wounds and applied more salves. She also handed him many vials to drink, which he did so after cautiously sniffing the contents.

She bustled around, fussing for a good twenty minutes before James Potter reentered the room, a dopy grin upon his face as he watched his son, his living, breathing, son, be pampered by the matron. "Poppy if you fuss over him too long he won't have time to dress and eat before he is to be taken in for his trial." He spoke, amusement clear in his voice as the woman paused.

"Though you are mocking me James, I see you have a point. He needs to get some food in him." She said in agreement as she nodded that she was finished before exiting the room just as a House Elf popped in with a tray carrying a bowl of steaming soup and a small bowl of fresh cut fruits.

"Thank you." Harry said courteously as the elf placed the tray on a table at the side of his bed before vanishing with a smile. He turned his focus to eating, slowly as it was hot. Meanwhile, James just stood there, observing the teen as he eat unrushed. Before he knew it the teen was done with his light lunch and was gazing at him with that ever blank look. "I don't suppose you managed to salvage my robes?" He inquired after he was certain he had the older man's attention.

"I'm afraid they were beyond hope of repair." James said with a frown as he recalled the state the teen had been upon his removal of Riddle Manor. "Tiddly!" He called out, and the elf that had given Harry his food reappeared and curtseyed towards the head of the Potter family.

"You is calling Tiddly, sir?" She questioned softly.

"Yes, could you manage to find something suitable for my son here to wear for his Ministry trial today and bring it to him so that he might change?" He asked kindly before his elf popped out, and then back in with an armful of neatly folded clothing. She promptly set it on the corner of the bed before looking back at her master with a smile.

"Is yous needing anything else, sir?" She asked.

"No, thank you." James said and the elf vanished with a crack to resume her chores.

James then glanced at his son who, much to his surprise, was already standing there, wearing the clothing brought down to him, his pajama pants folded neatly on the bed. The teen stood in black dress pants with a tucked in white button up shirt. Over his shoulders was a plain black robe. Though simple, it suited him just find. "How did you get into that so fast?" He asked, curious.

"Magic." The teen responded with a shrug, causing the older man to laugh in amusement at his son's wise ass comment.

"Well oh great magical one, I don't suppose you have a wand?" He questioned, remembering not finding one on the boy.

Harry shook his head negatively. "I don't own a wand. Never have." He admitted causing James to go slack jaw.

"You mean to tell me that all your magic is wandless?" He questioned in shock, surprise and disbelief showing clearly on his face at his son's nod. "Well I'll be damned." He whistled with an approving nod before a grin split out on his face. "That is way cool." He said with a wink. "But you had best not mention that at your trial." He added as an after thought before he checked the time. "Sweet Merlin! We had best be off or we might be late!" He exclaimed before beckoning for the teen to follow him out into the hall.

Blinking, Harry shrugged to himself and walked out of the room feeling quite stiff and sore, but he refused to outwardly show it. "We are Flooing directly into the Ministry, and your Mother and the rest of the Order will be there already. Oh, and you will probably be put at wand point upon arrival." He added sheepishly as he handed Harry a handful of green powder before taking a handful himself. "Ministry of Magic: Atrium!" The elder Potter said clearly as he tossed the powder in. Orange flames turned green, and James leapt in, swirling from sight.

With a shrug, Harry copied his dad and stepped into the green flames, before he whirled around and was tossed violently from the fireplace, landing against a firm chest. Shaking his head to rid himself of his dizziness and pain caused by impact on his still tender body, Harry looked up into the eyes of his father who was grinning in amusement at his exit. "You defiantly didn't inherit your grace from me." He said in laughter as the teen straightened himself out to scan the room full of crimson robed people that had their wands pointed firmly at him.

Untrusting eyes glared at his person from all around him as he was slowly beckoned to follow his father, one of the very few Aurors there that didn't seem to think his very existence was repulsive. Blinking, keeping his face as blank as always, he unhurriedly followed James, Head Auror. The trip to the lifts wasn't long, and he seemed to have an honor guard in the form of the Wizarding law and justice force.

At the end of the Atrium, James Potter entered the golden gated lift, Harry on his tail. With a swift nod, the eldest Potter pressed the button to close the doors. He hit the button that meant level nine and at a hasty pace, the lift lowered them down, deep into the Ministry. The lift slowed before shuddering to a stop as a cool voice, one Harry recognized from the phone booth, spoke up. "Level Nine, Department of Mysteries."

The doors slid open and the father son duo stepped out, following a long corridor. They soon came to an intersection, where one could either turn left or continue straight. Harry's eyes, though he followed his father's steps to the left, remained focused on the strangely decorated hall that had a large ornate door at the end. He felt drawn to that door for some reason…

Snapping his focus from the door, he descended the steps that were to the left of what Harry presumed to be the Department of Mysteries. "The lifts don't go down to Level 10." His father said out of the blue as he fidgeted nervously with his wand. "This is the floor with the courtroom used for the trials of all people considered highly dangerous." James explained in a whispered voice as they arrived outside the door. "Everyone is inside waiting. Are you ready?" He questioned, looking far worse then Harry did about the situation at hand.

With a silent nod, James took a deep breath and opened the doors before escorting his son past many eyes and towards a well lit chair at the dead center of the room. Harry walked gracefully, eyes focused on no one as he swept with a flare of his robes through the room and sat himself down on the chair, looking quite impressive despite the many visible bandages littering his person. With a motion from Fudge's hands, James begrudgingly chained his son to the chair, whispering a quiet apology.

After he was secured in place, James assumed his spot in the row of on lookers, while Harry turned emotionless emerald eyes to meet the Minister's. "Let us begin." Fudge stated, his voice halting all whispered conversations as all eyes darted to him. "Trial of the thirteenth of September." He stated clearly, the young red haired man at his side hastened to copy down the Minister's words.

"The accused: Harry James Potter, alias Lucis." He stated with distaste. "His crimes: Allegiance to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Murder of the first degree in twenty-nine confirmed instances. Use of the Unforgivable Curses in five confirmed cases." He paused, wiping up the sweat upon his forehead with a damp looking handkerchief. "Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister; and Court Scribe, Percy Ignatius Weasley." He said, eyes flickering to the neat scrawl of his scribe.

"Witness for the Defense…" Fudge paused, seemingly uneasy with this. "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." He concluded, noticing that many of the witnesses to this court sat up straighter as Dumbledore strode forwards from his spot near to the Minister. "Harry James Potter how do you plead?" Fudge questioned.

Harry looked up at the Minister blankly. "Presumably from the ground, hands clasped together, and a puppy-like expression on one's face." He commented dryly, causing Fudge to visibly purple as whispers broke out into the room along with some poorly concealed chuckles.

"That is not what I meant…" The Minister sighed before taking a sip of his water.

"Minister, perhaps we ought administer the Veritaserum and question him." Dolores offered with a sickly sweet smile on her pudgy toad-like face.

"Yes, Madame, I believe you are correct." Cornelius sighed and motioned an Auror forward. The man, tall and blond, strode forward, a vial full of clear potion in his hands. Without a fuss from the suspect, he placed three drops of the potion upon the tongue of the accused teen.

"State your name." Fudge ordered.

"Harry James Potter… Lucis."

"Are you in fact in allegiance with You-Know-Who?"

"No." Mutterings rose up at this, and Fudge hastily ruffled some papers before him.

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"No."

"Why were you with the Death Eaters on raids?"

"My master ordered me to follow Voldemort's orders." Gasps echoed in the room, and pale faces turned to stare ever more intently at the accused.

"Who is your master?"

Harry paused, a frown on his face. "I no longer have a master…" He stated.

"Who was your master?" Madame Bones quickly questioned over a flabbergasted Minister.

"Valdere."

"Why was he your master?" Fudge hastily asked as he regained his bearings.

"He was responsible for training me since I was a child."

Fudge frowned and took another sip of water. "What was he training you for?"

"To become Voldemort's most powerful weapon."

Whispers rang out, shouts of accusation and fear following. It took several minutes before the pale Aurors that were present to calm down the Jury and Witnesses.

"Do you have any intensions of becoming his weapon?" Cornelius questioned weakly his knees shaking at the prospect of a super-powered human weapon in the hands of the most ruthless Dark Lord to ever reign upon History's parade.

"No." A sigh of relief was heard from many a person.

"Did you in fact kill twenty-nine wizards?"

"No."

"Have you killed anyone?"

"Yes." A dark murmur broke out at this, while James and Lily exchanged a worried look.

"How many people have you killed?"

"Four hundred and eleven." He stated and Fudge gulped down his nervousness at speaking with such a calm and deadly man.

"Have you ever used any of the Unforgivable Curses?"

"Yes."

"Which ones?"

"All of them."

"…How many times?"

"Around thirty a piece."

"At the time you implemented these curses, were you aware of the illegalness of their casting?"

"Yes and no."

"Please explain."

"In my training Valdere had me use them, unaware of what they really were."

"After you learnt the illegality of the curses you used them?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I was ordered too."

"Will you use them again?"

"Yes."

"On who?"

"My enemies."

"Who are your enemies?"

Harry's mouth moved in response, but his answered was unheard of the smashing open of the doors. All heads swiveled to the door where a heavily cloaked figure stood. Silence rang through the courtroom, and Aurors wearily raised their wands, unsure of what to make of the figure in the door.

"For a weapon… you sure are a liability." A cold snake like voice rang out as the figure lowered his hood revealing the well known and feared face of the Dark Lord. Screams and gasped echoed in the court as people attempted to scramble as far away from the crimson eyed menace, while the more brave, or possibly foolish, moved forward, wands raised.

Voldemort stepped forwards, ignoring the unimportant fleas before him, eyes focused on his chained prey. He took another step forwards, and Dumbledore moved between him and the teen. "Step aside old fool!" He hissed darkly, eyes narrowing in hate. "I will have my toy back." He growled as he leveled his own wand at the old headmaster's heart.

"I'm afraid you can not have Harry." Dumbledore said in a firm voice as James and Lily moved to stand on either side of the old wizard, their wands raised too.

"You will not take my son from me again!" James yelled with a dark glare, his wife nodding in agreement to his statement.

"Yeah, no Dark scum can have my Godson!" Sirius Black growled as he moved to stand beside his dearest friend, sapphire eyes narrowed dangerously, his lip curled up in a snarl as Remus firmly scowled, taking his spot on Lily's side.

A low chuckle escaped the Dark Lord before growing much louder, moving into a maniacal cackle that chilled many to the bone. "You think." He began after he calmed down. "That you five fools can match me?" He questioned with a sneer. "I have already decimated the levels between here and the Atrium. My Death Eaters will soon claim the top. But I came here for my prize." He stated. "Hand him over, and I may just spare a few of you."

"Never!" Lily said breathlessly as all watched on.

"Foolish girl." Voldemort hissed. "Are you willing to die for that weapon?" He asked with a deep frown.

"I would gladly die to keep him safe!" Lily said clearly, voice filled with honesty.

"Then I will grant you your wish." Voldemort stated as he pointed his wand at the red haired woman.

"Stop." A blank voice rang up as chains clattered uselessly to the ground. Lucis stood, in all his pale glory, before he turned, eyes unreadable to peer into crimson eyes. Slowly he marched past his protectors his chains no longer binding and stood face to face with the man that had torn the Potter family apart so many years ago.

"You will come with me of your own will?" Voldemort asked smugly, a smirk about his jagged lips.

"No." Harry stated as he lifted his arms and blocked the occupants of the Courtroom.

Voldemort hissed, eyes narrowing. "You dare oppose me?" He hissed quietly, his wand now leveled at the teen.

"Yes."

"You dare turn your back on me? I liberated you from those fools! I brought you to Valdere. I gave you power!" He growled darkly.

"No…" Harry spoke up, his head moving from side to side with determination. "You gave me lies." He stated and Voldemort howled with fury.

"Then die!" He hissed, venom lacing his words.

From behind the Dark Lord, three great golden beasts stalked in. They were massive, each barely missing the height of the large door that lead into the room. Their bodies were that of a lion, they had the tail of a scorpion and the head of a man. Flaming red eyes pierced the wizards in the room, a drool leaked from the mouths that bore three rows of jagged sharp teeth. "Feast to your hearts' content!" Voldemort growled before swirling around and stalking forth from the chamber.

Growls rose in velocity, and Harry boldly took a step forwards. "Harry no!" Lily cried out as one of the massive Manticores sprang forwards, lunging towards the small teen. Before it could reach its prey, a silver and black katana appeared in Harry's hand and he brought it up to parry the fangs that sought his head. He aimed a burst of magic at the beast, throwing it skidding on its paws backwards.

The Potters and Harry's Uncles all moved to help the teen, but Dumbledore held them all back. With a sharp look at the group, they nervously stayed still, eagerly wanting to aid the teen. Fudge on the other hand stood there, face white and limbs shaking. A dark splotch was spread over his crotch, clearly indicating not only by stench but also by appearance, that the Minister had wet himself in fear.

The creature howled; enraged at having been thwarted before he lunged forward, his claws swiping at the teen who ducked under the swipe, dragging his blade across the belly of the beast. A furious howl echoed as the two other Manticores watched on…

The envenomed tail swung down, slicing a jagged line through the sleeve of Harry's robe, barely missing his arm. The acidic poison in the stinger hissed and burnt at the robes, and the teen hastily rolled to the right, sword dropped as he ripped the sleeve from his person and tossed it to the side where it dissolved into a puddle of black and purple ooze.

Emerald eyes met crimson, and the sword vanished from below the clawed paw of the beast, before reappearing in the teen's pale hand. Harry was the first to move this time. He ran forward, bending his knees at the last moment as he launched himself over the swipe of deadly claws. His sword sliced through the scorpion tail, severing it from the beast in a spray of black blood and purple poison. The severed appendage fell to the ground with a slick thump, before the hissing of stone dissolving echoed up in the air. With a swift move, as the creature howled its pain, he ran the blade through the skull of the creature, halting its wail and ending its existence.

The Manticore crumbled to the ground dead, and Harry leapt gracefully from his furred back and looked to face the other two Manticores that stood there growling fiercely at him. Harry was oblivious to the incredulous eyes riveted on his form that came from most those who looked on. He didn't even notice the twinkling of an old man's eyes. He had left the spectators shocked and speechless. Never before had they seen someone face off against a Manticore so large and came out the victor unscathed. Not too mention he was only a teenager that had yet to reach his majority. He would be far more powerful as he grew, that much was obvious to Albus.

Harry glanced between the two beasts before he banished his blade and held both palms open towards the beasts. Large fireballs flung forth from his hands, smashing into the stone and melting it as the creatures leapt back to avoid being hit. The flames died down quickly and Harry walked forwards as the two creatures lowered themselves to their haunches preparing to spring upon the foolish human that dare oppose them.

The left one sprung forwards first, the right one right on its tail. The first leveled its claws at the teen, the second its poisonous tail. A silver shield sprang up, taking the claws with ease as Harry side stepped the tail, letting it crash to the floor, knocking several pieces of stone airborne. The first swung its tail at Harry's new position, barely nicking his bare shoulder, but a small cut formed, sizzling as the poison began to eat away at the skin, blood and muscle.

Cursing loudly to himself, he launched a massive Reducto at the Manticore that had wounded him, blowing it to smithereens. Blood and gore flew everywhere, and the hissing of poison rang out loudly as many people retched at the gory sight. "Avada Kedavra!" Harry hissed as he waved his hand at the lunging beast, jumping out of the way as the lifeless brute crumbled to the ground, skidding through the gore to where he had been standing moments ago.

Silence echoed through Courtroom ten, before Lily rushed forwards and pulled her eldest son into a tight embrace, sobbing hysterically at his recklessness. "Harry, son!" James exclaimed as he followed his wife, a worried yet proud look upon his face.

"You need that wound tended to fast." Remus stated worriedly as he gazed at what had once been a small gash, but was now a severely mangled burn that had grown and was continuing to grow as the poison spread through the flesh.

"Fuck." Harry whispered, earning a smack on his non injured shoulder. "Language." Lily chastised sadly, as her green eyes staring helplessly at his left shoulder.

A member of the court scrambled forwards, tapping her wand to his arm, cleansing the poison from the wound. "I have had some medical training." The witch stated as she did a cleaning spell before bandaging the wound. "There isn't much I can do beyond that, you will need to see a proper medi-wizard for that soon." She stated, before offering the small teen a smile. "Nice job on those." She commented with a grim grin in the direction of the three lifeless beasts.

"Thanks." Harry said with a lopsided grin as he looked back at the creatures he had just slain. After a moment the grin slide from his face and his blank mask reappeared upon his face. "But we aren't out of the woods yet." He paused. "I know one can not disparate in and out of the Ministry, and this level has no Floo." He stated, as the trembling court and Aurors all moved forwards. "But we need to get out of here."

"Yes." Albus said with a nod, his eyes twinkling as he regarded the Potter heir with a small smile. "Young Harry here is correct; we need to get out of here." He said in agreement, his twinkle dying down in the face of such a dangerous situation.

"Fortunately there is only one level between us and the Atrium." He continued, everyone had their absolute attention on him. "We must all venture out of this Courtroom. I do not know what lies on the rest of this floor or on the ninth floor, but we all have to be cautious if we want to make it out alive."

"Everyone get your wands out." Harry stated; his attention focused on the wide open doors. "I smell rotting flesh… Inferi and likely mummies as well." He added on with a slight frown, while many of the room's occupants exchanged fearful glances.

"Are they near?" James questioned; his voice quiet as though hoping the sound wouldn't draw the attention of the animated corpses and the cursed dead.

"I think… they are right out this room in the hall…" Harry stated with a frown.

"Alright, we will all get out of here. Auror Jackson, bind the prisoner—" Fudge began, only to be cut off by many cries of outrage.

"Minister you can't be serious!" Lily stated with a frown.

"Yeah, that boy is far too powerful to chain up. If we want out we need to trust him." Amelia Bones said with calm authority, causing Cornelius to stutter.

"But he has testified to killing hundreds of people!" Fudge exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Yes, and I have a feeling he will kill much more just to get us all out of here correct?" Madame Bones questioned as she looked through her monocle at the small teen.

"You are correct Madame Bones. We will all have to fight tooth and nail to get out. If we just stun our enemy they can easily be revived and resume the fight. Voldemort's legions will kill all who oppose; they won't let anyone get back up again." Harry said with honesty as he walked towards the door conjuring his beloved Katana once more. He leaned against the frame and peered out before hastily ducking back in. "The undead are… lurking just down the hall, devouring some freshly dead." He stated, eyes locking with his families' before he offered the four of them a soft smile.

"Aurors!" Madame Bones commenced, and her men stepped to attention. "I want you to divide into three groups. James, you will lead the front group with Black. Jackson, you and Doverly have the middle. Longbottom and Dawlish have the rear. The rest of you Aurors jump into one of the three groups. Those with the better dueling skills to the front." She ordered swiftly before looking to the Minister and the rest of the Jury members. "I want half of you between the middle and back group of Aurors while the other half of you goes between the front and middle groups." She said, leaving no room for arguments.

"I will be in the front group with you." Amelia added firmly as she looked at Harry who merely nodded.

The group quickly leapt into position, with both Harry and Dumbledore at the lead, behind them Lily, James, Remus and Sirius. It would be a slow procession, but Harry figured they would make it. With a nod at the old Headmaster, Harry stepped into the hall, his sword raised and his emerald eyes focused on a flood of Inferi. The nearest to them several meters down the hall, were gnawing on a bloodied leg…

Hp –hp –hp –hp –hp –hp

That is all for this chapter. Sorry about the cliffy, but I felt like stopping on a more dramatic note. Well thank you for reading, please drop a review or a flame if it suites your fancy. I'd like opinions and thoughts on this little fic.