Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe isn't mine, it belongs to JK Rowling and all she deems worthy to own a part of it. I am not worthy enough to be considered, but I'm just having some fun in the Harry Potter sandbox. Enjoy

September 1st 10:30am Platform 9 ¾ King's Cross Station, London, England

As Hermione and Ron made their way onto the hidden platform, the sights and sounds of dozens of frightened chattering students and their families making their way onto the scarlet red engine and train cars of the Hogwarts Express immediately assaulted them.

"Where is he?" Hermione asked, craning her head around looking for a familiar shock of raven hair.

"I don't know," Ron said. "Maybe he's already on the train. Don't worry Hermione; I'm sure that Harry is fine. He's come back from situations a lot stranger than this. It's just want Harry does, he's a survivor."

"Let's get aboard," Hermione said. She and Ron dragged their trunks aboard the scarlet train. The pair found an empty compartment near the end of the train and stowed their trunks away before beginning their search for their hopefully still friend. However they were disappointed, as they couldn't find Harry. They did find Neville and Luna sitting in a compartment near theirs along with a student that neither Hermione and Ron recognized, the young man looked to be about their age though he had dirty brown hair cut in a military-type buzz cut, piercing blue eyes much like the Headmaster and definitely had the build of a Beater, he was taller than Fred or George were but was built in the same way.

"Hello Luna, Neville," Hermione said. "How were your summers?"

Neville and Luna looked up at the pair with frowns. "What do you two want?" Neville snapped.

"Neville," Hermione cried in shock.

"What do you two traitors want?" Neville continued.

"Who you calling a traitor?" Ron growled.

"I'm calling you a traitor Weasley," the Longbottom heir growled. "You and Granger abandoned Harry just like last summer. He needed his friends but you two decided to forget about him."

SLAP!

Silence rang through the compartment as Neville clutched his stinging red cheek. Hermione had tears streaming down her red cheeks.

"How dare you Neville Longbottom," Hermione hissed. "Yes, Ronald and I bollocks things up last summer by listening to the Headmaster regarding Harry. But don't you dare think we forgot about him! We were constantly trying to send letters to Harry but the Headmaster and Mrs. Weasley would confiscate all of them. When Dumbledore showed up at the Burrow without Harry, we were devastated. Here was our chance to apologize and try and tell Harry that we were trying to contact him but it seems that Harry has given up. It will be the biggest regret of my life if Harry never talks to me again because he feels that we forgot about him."

"I see," a deep voice said from the corner. It was the brown-haired young man. "Why don't you two come in and sit down. It seems that we have much to discuss."

"Who are you?" Ron asked.

The brown haired young man waved a hand in front of his face and seemed to shimmer. In his place was a very recognizable face.

"HARRY!" Hermione cried as she threw herself into Harry's arms. Harry caught her gently and rubbed her back as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Harry!" Ron shouted as he rushed over and pulled the pair into a strong hug.

"That's enough of that guys," Harry said. "I think it's time that we sat down at had a chat."

Hermione and Ron nodded meekly, slightly wilting under the stern look coming from Harry's emerald gaze and sat down across from Harry, Neville and Luna. Another wave of the hand had the compartment door squelched shut. Hermione and Ron looked at Harry with wide eyes.

"Now that we are alone and secured, we can talk," Harry said. "I'm sure that you both have plenty of questions but I need to know, where do you stand with Dumbledore now?"

"We've both lost a lot of trust with the Headmaster right now," Hermione answered. "He seems to keep making decisions that don't make sense and won't tell anyone why."

Harry chuckled. "I think you've got a very good grasp of Albus Dumbledore," he said. "Dumbledore's motto is 'the ends justify the means.' He believes that as long as Riddle is defeated it doesn't matter what happens to achieve it."

"The Greater Good," Hermione huffed. "If I hear that phrase coming from the Headmaster one more time, I'm going to strangle him with his own beard."

Harry and Ron exchanged an amused look.

"I've recently found out that Dumbledore has been taking some liberties with my livelihood," Harry said.

"What are you taking about Harry, sure Dumbledore has made some mistakes but…" Hermione began but she faltered when Harry laughed darkly.

"Hermione, I know you think very highly of authority figures especially Dumbledore and McGonagall but you have to realize that they are also only human. They make mistakes, the problem is when we make mistakes, we own up to them and learn from them. Dumbledore doesn't believe he makes mistakes, and when he does, it costs people their lives."

"What do you mean Harry?" Ron asked.

"During the holidays, I found out that I wasn't supposed to go to the Dursleys when my parents were killed," Harry said. "Sirius was the first person on the scene that Halloween, but he gave me to Hagrid because Hagrid told Sirius that it was Dumbledore's orders that I go to the Dursleys. Also, I learned that Dumbledore was the one who cast the Fidelius Charm on Godric's Hollow."

"But that means…" Hermione gasped.

Harry nodded. "Yes, he knew that Sirius wasn't the Secret Keeper for my parents," he said. "Sirius wasn't arrested until the day after the attack, and I was already at the Dursleys. Dumbledore sealed my parents' Will a day after the attack because it said that Peter was the Secret Keeper and that I wasn't supposed to go to the Dursleys. But this didn't fall into Dumbledore's plans for me. He wanted me isolated and alone. He wanted a weapon to aim at Voldemort."

"What? That can't be!" Hermione cried. "Whatever Dumbledore has done, he does care for you like a grandson Harry."

"Really? Think about it Hermione," Harry said. "I'm taken away from my legal guardian on his orders, sent to an abuse home that was specifically excluded from a list of guardians and left there to rot for ten years. I had no idea that I was a wizard until I got my letter, which Hagrid had to come and hand deliver because if the Dursleys had their way, magic would have been beaten out of me. And don't give me the line that Dumbledore couldn't have known about it. The night of the Department of Mysteries, when he sent me back to his office, Dumbledore flat out told me that he knew that the Dursleys didn't want me. He told me, "You had suffered. I knew you would when I left you on your aunt and uncle's doorstep. I knew I was condemning you to ten dark and difficult years.' He had Mrs. Figg watching me all those years, he knew that I was being abused and mistreated and yet did absolutely nothing to stop them."

Hermione and Ron's opinion of the Headmaster dropped several more points after hearing that Dumbledore had known the hardships that Harry had suffered through at his relatives.

"The so-called Blood Wards that he erected never took hold," Harry said. "Mainly because they require love to work but my relatives despise me. While they did take me in, it was mainly out of fear. They knew that if they didn't, Dumbledore would most likely do something to them. Dumbledore only wants a weapon that he can aim at Voldemort, he's only treated me as a weapon rather than as a human being."

"But…" Ron stammered.

"Ron, Hermione, think about it. I was kept away from the magical world until I got my letter, and then am sent back to the Dursleys every holiday even though everyone knows that we hate each other. Every year, I am thrown into a deadly situation usually against Riddle, first, second, fourth and fifth year, only third year did I have a 'quiet' year and I still had to face off against an army of Dementors three times and a rampaging werewolf. For the last two years, I've seen someone killed right in front of me but instead of being surrounded by my friends and 'family', I'm sent back to the Dursleys and left alone 'with my grief'. Hermione, do you really think that's healthy?"

"No," Hermione said thickly as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I spoke with my parents last year and they said the same thing. My father was in the military before becoming a dentist and he said that whenever his group would see combat and return, they were ordered to see a psychologist in order to work out their feelings. He told me that it was extremely unhealthy for someone who had just seen death for the first time to be left alone because it could led to depression, anger and even suicide."

Harry nodded.

"But Harry, no offence mate, but you don't see all bollocked up after seeing all that," Ron said bluntly. Hermione whacked Ron upside the head though she was surprised to see that Harry was laughing.

"None taken Ron," Harry said. "This summer I did get to talk with some professionals who deal with what I've gone through. I've come to accept what has happened and that there wasn't anything else I could have done regarding Sirius or Cedric, and in all honesty, I didn't really know either of them very well so while I did and do feel some grief for them, it isn't crippling."

"How can you say that Harry? Sirius was your godfather, he loved you!" Hermione cried.

"I know he did Hermione," Harry said sharply. "But how much time did I get to actually spend with Sirius, at least that I can remember. Less than two months really, and that was all last year with Sirius still recovering from the effects of being exposed to the Dementors for twelve years. In fact, you two had more time with Sirius than I did."

Hermione and Ron's faces resembled fish at this point.

"Merlin Harry, you're right," Ron gaped. "But why would Dumbledore do that? I mean, Sirius loved you, he escaped Azkaban for you!"

"I know," Harry said lowly. "It comes back to the prophecy."

"What prophecy?" Hermione asked.

"The reason Riddle wanted me to come to the DoM was to retrieve a prophecy that was made several months before I was born," Harry said. Harry went on to tell the group the full contents of the prophecy as well as who made it and who heard it.

"Harry, you can't believe anything that that fraud said," Hermione scoffed.

"I know Hermione, I am not putting much stock in the prophecy however Dumbledore and Voldemort both believe in it so at some point, Dumbledore is going to create a situation where I have to face off against Voldemort."

"Hermione, while Professor Trelawney isn't a very good teacher, and Divination is a very imprecise branch of magic, it is still relevant," Luna said. "Think about the Prophets of Delphi for example. True prophecy has been around for thousands of years, did you not see all those spheres that were in the Prophecy Room at the DoM?"

Hermione nodded reluctantly.

"Look Hermione, you don't have to believe in the prophecy, I certainly don't but the problem is Dumbledore and Voldemort do," Harry said. "And that means it will come to pass."

"So what are you going to do Harry?" Ron asked. "I mean if you are right, and I'm not saying you aren't, if everything holds serve, you're going to have to face off against You-Know-Who again this year."

"Call him Voldemort, or Riddle if you can't," Harry said shortly. "And I know but I plan on using this year as recruitment."

"Recruitment for what?" Hermione asked. Harry waved his hand once more over his body, his shabby hand-me-downs melted away and turned into a very familiar uniform to Hermione. "Harry, what are you doing wearing a Royal Marine's uniform?"

"I joined Her Majesty's military," Harry said.

"You WHAT!" Hermione shouted causing Ron, Neville and Luna to flinch.

"You heard me Hermione," Harry said evenly. "Dumbledore is setting me up for something, he thinks I'm the Chosen One, the one destined to defeat Voldemort and yet he hasn't done anything to prepare me for it. I have just an Hogwarts' education, a pretty sorry one as well."

"Speaking of education Harry, what did you do on your OWLs?" Hermione asked. Harry chuckled as he pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to Hermione.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results:

Pass Grades

O (Outstanding): 1 OWL

EE (Exceeds Expectations): 1 OWL

A (Acceptable): 1 OWL

Fail Grades

P (Poor): 0 OWL

D (Dreadful): 0 OWL

T (Troll): 0 OWL

Honorary Grades

H (Honors): 3 OWLs

O+ (Above Outstanding): 2 OWLs

The results below are for:

Harry James Potter

Astronomy: A

Arithmancy: EE

Ancient Runes: EE

Care of Magical Creatures: EE

Charms: O+

Defence Against the Dark Arts: H

Divination: P

Herbology: EE

History of Magic: P

Potions: O

Transfiguration: O+

This student, Harry James Potter, has received 13 OWLs. Mr. Potter has been cleared for NEWT level Astronomy, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, COMC, Charms, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration. Mr. Potter's DADA mark is the highest in history and may be used for an Outstanding in NEWT-level DADA.

"Harry, these marks are unbelievable!" Hermione gasped. "But wait, you never took Runes or Arithmancy?"

"True but I've been stealing looks at your books for the last several years and took the exams over the summer at the Ministry," Harry said. "Apparently I have quite a gift with them, though I did always enjoy math back in primary school."

"Harry, you got an Honors in Defence, the highest recorded score in history!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's wonderful! I knew that you were smart but you never seemed to apply yourself."

"Yeah well, you can thank the Dursleys for that," Harry growled. At the confused looks, he added, "I had to temper my scores because if I was better than Dudley, well let's just say it wasn't pleasant." Hermione looked ready to explode and hex the Dursleys into oblivion. "It wasn't until third year that I realized that they didn't care about my Hogwarts grades, and fourth year with the Tournament I realized that I could learn a whole lot more than people thought because I was supposed to be 'catching' up to the other competitors."

"But why didn't you tell me…us?" Hermione asked, feeling hurt that Harry hadn't trust her with this.

Harry sighed. "I'm sorry Hermione but I didn't truly know where you stood on the Dumbledore issue," he said. "If he found out that I was learning more than he thought, he would have put a stop to it. Dumbledore wants me to look up at him like he's this glowing white savior. Dumbledore has controlled my experiences in the wizarding world because he wants me to think of him as the kindly old-grandfather figure, the hero that will always swoop in and save the day."

"Look Harry, we believe you," Ron said. "I mean, I've already made two too many mistakes when it comes to our friendship, but no longer. Whatever you need Harry, I'm there."

"Me too," Hermione said emphatically.

"We're in," Neville said pointing at himself and Luna.

"Thank you," Harry said. "Look this year is going to very tough, especially with Dumbledore and the Order bumbling around. It's up to us to protect Hogwarts and by extension the wizarding world. I won't be surprised if Dumbledore pulls me aside after the feast, so I need all four of you to keep this a secret." Harry restored his glamor that masked his uniform as well as his more physically fit physic, something that Hermione didn't really appreciate as she remembered how handsome her father had looked in his uniform and Harry easily outmatched Robert Granger.

"So Hermione, how did you parents react when they heard about what happened at the end of last term?" Harry asked. But as soon as he asked it, Harry realized that this was a touchy subject.

"I'm not really sure," Hermione whispered. "I was only at my house for two days before Dumbledore showed up and took me to the Burrow. He said that it was safer for me there under the protection of several adult witches and wizards."

"But what about your parents?" Harry asked.

Hermione's face grew stony. "I asked the same thing to Dumbledore but he didn't answer, just twinkled at me," she said. "I didn't want to leave my parents all alone. I haven't spent any time with them since before our fourth year."

"It seems to me that I'm not the only one that Dumbledore wants under his control," Harry mused. "The Boy-Who-Lived and the 'smartest witch of the age' both under the control of the Leader of the Light. Sounds fishy?"

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked. "There's nothing wrong with fish."

"It's a Muggle expression Ronald," Hermione said.

"Don't say Muggle Hermione, it's demeaning to non-magicals," Harry said. "We're all human, magicals just have an extra ability that the rest of the world don't. You know, even the phrase Muggleborn is demeaning to first generation witches and wizards. The other two 'classifications' of witches and wizards, Purebloods and Half-Bloods, both have blood in them, yet Muggleborn doesn't. Blood doesn't really have any bearing on magical ability or power."

"Why aren't you guys at the prefect's meeting anyway? Or did you already finish?" Harry asked.

"We gave up our prefect's badges Harry," Hermione said.

"What! Why?" he asked.

"Dumbledore wanted us to keep an eye on you," Ron said. "Like I said earlier, I've already made two too many mistakes, asking me to spy on my best friend was something I couldn't stand by and allow."

"But Hermione, I mean, it was your dream to be prefect and then Head Girl right?" Harry asked.

"Something's are more important than some silly badges," Hermione said with a bright blush.

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The Great Hall looked magnificent as Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron entered, Luna had splintered off from the group and made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. Harry glanced up at the Head Table as he sat down at the Gryffindor table flanked by Ron and Hermione with Neville sitting across from them. He spotted Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape all looking at him, Dumbledore with heavy disappointment, Snape with fury and McGonagall with curiosity.

"Looks likes Dumbledore isn't very pleased with me," Harry said with a chuckle. Hermione and Ron looked up at the Head Table and locked eyes with Dumbledore and glared at the Headmaster, who blinked back at the pair of Gryffindors.

The Welcoming Feast went by without incident and it was only after Dumbledore had dismissed the students that he called Harry back.

"Mr. Potter, if you would stay behind? We have much to discuss," Dumbledore said. Harry rolled his eyes and looked to Ron and Hermione, who nodded. He then turned to Neville.

"Don't worry Harry, I'll see you guys back up at the common room," Neville said.

"Mr. Potter, I just asked for you," Dumbledore said as he, McGonagall and Snape approached. "Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley can go up to the Gryffindor Common Room."

"I don't think so Headmaster," Harry said. "They stay with me. You have your two lackeys, while I have my two advisors and friends."

"Potter!" Snape shouted. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for your impudence!"

"Sod off Snivellus," Harry snarled. "Don't test me Death Eater, I know you took great pleasure in making sure that relaying the fact that we were going after Sirius that night. I find it interesting that it took six Hogwarts students almost three hours to fly from Scotland to London and yet the Order was still late in finding us. Very curious, wouldn't you say?"

Snape snarled and his hand twitched toward his robe pocket when he froze at the feeling of a wand pressing underneath his chin.

"Don't test me Death Eater," Harry snarled. "I know quite about you Severus Snape, things that you wouldn't want the public to know. Things that would get you an up and close date with a Dementor, perhaps the same one that you wanted to feed Sirius' soul to three years ago."

Snape's normally pallid face paled drastically while Dumbledore's face also lost all color. Hermione, Ron and McGonagall's faces all took on curious looks.

"Perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere else Headmaster?" Harry asked, not taking his eyes off Snape.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Come along you three."

Ten minutes later, the Golden Trio, Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall were outside the Room of Requirement. Dumbledore pulled open the wooden door and gestured them inside. The whole Order of the Phoenix was waiting inside. Harry looked around the room, memorizing each face and trying to place names to those faces. He recognized most of the members; Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, Dedalus Diggle, Hestia Jones, Mundungus Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Hagrid. There was a seat at the end of the table, where Harry figured he was supposed to sit, however he didn't see seats for Ron or Hermione. With a negligible wave of his wand, two chairs appeared beside Harry's. The Golden Trio sat down and waited. Harry hid a grin at the fuming face of Mrs. Weasley who was obviously holding back from making her thoughts of Ron and Hermione being able to attend an Order meeting known.

"So then Headmaster, what would you like to talk about?" Harry asked.

"I must say I am very disappointed in you Harry," Dumbledore said.

"And I'm supposed to care about that?" Harry responded, ignoring the gasps and cries of the assembled Order.

"Harry Potter, don't speak to the Headmaster like that!" Mrs. Weasley shouted. Harry just pinned her with a stern glare that sent shivers up her spine.

Suddenly Dumbledore was on his feet, wand outstretched in front of him. "Who are you!" he demanded. "You are not Harry Potter." There were several rustles as many other wands came flying out. Harry didn't even blink, while Hermione and Ron rose and drew their own wands in defense of Harry.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, step away from this imposter!" Dumbledore demanded but Hermione and Ron just stood there.

"In some respect you are correct Headmaster," Harry said. "I am not Harry Potter, at least not the Harry Potter that you abandoned and imprisoned at Privet Drive." Harry waved his hand over his face, and dispelled his glamor. The Order was stunned to see Harry change right before their eyes from the slightly scrawny boy to a man with presence. Barely any of the members of the Order recognized the uniform that Harry was wearing, only Dumbledore, Moody, Lupin and Shacklebolt did.

"Mr. Potter, what is the meaning of this?" Dumbledore demanded. "What have you done?"

"I found someone who will help me defeat Voldemort," Harry said. "Isn't that what you've groomed me for Headmaster? I mean, you yourself told me that I was the one prophesized to defeat Voldemort, of course you didn't tell me that until thirty minutes after I had just seen my godfather murdered right in front of me. Curious timing that, it is almost as if you wanted to me to have given up hope and just roll over and die. I mean telling me that I have to kill the most powerful Dark Wizard the wizarding world has ever seen just after seeing the last member of my family killed, pretty morbid."

Dumbledore froze as many members of the Order turned from Harry to the Headmaster. "Our conversation was supposed to be private Harry," Dumbledore said.

"Oops," Harry said with a smirk.

"Harry," Remus spoke up. "What did you mean that you saw that last member of your family killed when Sirius died?"

"It's true isn't it," Harry said flatly. "I mean Sirius was my godfather and the only one of my parents' friend who actually made an attempt to get to know me."

Remus flinched.

"Now that's uncalled for Harry," Tonks shouted. "Remus did the best he could."

"Really," Harry drawled. "Well then Professor Lupin, where were you during the first twelve years of my life before we met on the train before third year? How come you never contacted me when I was at the Dursleys? Why didn't you send me a letter after my third year?"

"I…" Lupin began but Harry cut him off.

"You can't, can you?" Harry growled. "You wallowed in your self pity, being a coward. My parents and Sirius would be ashamed of you."

"You don't know what it's like!" Lupin shouted. "You don't know what it's like to be hated for something that was totally out of your control! To be ostracized from the rest of society because of what you are."

Harry laughed darkly. It was cold and cruel. "You are pathetic Lupin," Harry snarled. "You think you are the only one who feel that way! Well, newsflash, you aren't! I felt the exact same way while living with the Dursleys. Do you know what it's like to be an orphan, to be completely alone, being told that your parents were drunks who got themselves killed in a car crash! Do you know what it's like to not even know your own name until you started primary school? Answering only to 'boy' or 'freak' nearly all your life! So don't start with your damn 'I'm a werewolf, woe-is-me shite'! You don't think for a second that a scared little boy wouldn't latch onto someone who could tell him about his parents." Every face in the room were covered in tears (aside from Snape) at Harry's story. "You just ignored me after third year. Sirius, even though he was still on the run, was able to send me letters, what do you have to say?"

Lupin's mouth gaped open but no sound came out. Harry was right; Lupin had no answer for Harry's questions. Lupin had just run off after that Halloween, sinking into an immense depression without even thinking about Harry. And then after he had resigned from the Defence post, he had just ignored Harry once again.

"Harry, you must forgive Remus," Dumbledore said. "He has had a rough life and certainly didn't mean to…"

"To what Dumbledore? Ignore the only child of his so-called best friends?" Harry snapped. "Like I said, at least Sirius made an effort to contact me. But of course, it's all thanks to you and Snape that this whole thing is bollocksed up!"

"What are you talking about Harry?" Tonks asked, even though she was glaring at the younger man.

"This isn't the best time for this conversation," Dumbledore said. "Harry, why did you leave the Dursleys? You were protected there."

"From whom?" Harry asked. "I mean you know exactly what happened in that house. You told me that you were 'condemning me to ten dark and difficult years.' Do you consider living in a cupboard under the stairs an appropriate bedroom for a child? What about being forced to cook, clean and slave away for a family of abusive people, a home where you placed me even though my parents' Will specifically eliminated!"

"What is he talking about Albus?" McGonagall asked.

"You know, I could go to the DMLE about that," Harry mused, stroking his chin. "I'm sure that Madam Bones would be greatly interested in the charges of kidnapping, child negligence and accessary to child abuse that could be attached to your name Dumbledore."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed as he realized that this Harry was much different than the angry boy who had trashed his office just less than three months previous. While this Harry was still angry, the anger was focused. And it was focused on him. He had to divert this misplaced anger before it truly corrupted Harry and turned Harry Dark.

"Harry, I understand your frustration with me," Dumbledore said. "And I apologize. But you must realize that all I've done has been for the Greater Good."

"The Greater Good for whom, Albus?" Harry asked. "You say you've done all these things for my own good, please explain this? How could being treated as a slave for ten years, having to sleep in a cupboard and not knowing my own name until I was five be for my own good!"

Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer but saw that the majority of the Order, actually all of them aside from Snape, were glaring daggers at him. Realizing that there was no way out of this, bowed his head.

"I thought what I did was best," Dumbledore said. "I believed that your mother constructed extremely powerful Blood Wards, powered by her willing sacrifice, that would protect you from Voldemort as long as you were in the care of someone of the same blood, your aunt."

"You do know that my so-called Aunt Petunia isn't related to Lily Evans at all," Harry said.

"What!" the room cried.

"If you had bothered to read my parents' Wills, you would have realized that my mother was adopted when she was three years old by the Evans family," Harry said. "So for all your posturing about the vaunted Blood Wards, they were useless from the start. My mother did place some basic wards around Privet Drive in case some people came after the Dursleys, I would have just left them to rot but they were my mother's last link to the people she called family. Also these Blood Wards needed love to work; yet the Dursleys hated me from the moment I was dropped off on their doorstep like a bottle of milk. Did you really think that they would accept me as their own, especially after that letter you left? I wonder how many Compulsion Charms were on it to make Aunt Petunia take me in and not just toss me into the trash or dump me at an orphanage. Hell, I would have been better off at an orphanage. But of course, you didn't want another Tom Riddle did you."

"I don't know what you are taking about Harry my boy," Dumbledore said. "And those wards protected you and still do as long…"

"Forget it Dumbledore," Harry snapped. "I have renounced all ties to that family and will never return to Privet Drive again unless it is to evict them."

"I told you!" Professor McGonagall erupted from beside Dumbledore. "I told you that night that they were the 'worst sort of muggles'!"

"Professor McGonagall, you insult the majority of the human race by saying muggles," Harry said. "Though I'm not sure the Dursleys are truly human, I mean, considering how they acted toward a child."

"I believe that is all for tonight," Dumbledore said. "We shall have another meeting when cooler heads have prevailed."

"Cooler heads," Moody barked. "Who are you kidding Albus? You just want time to try and wiggle your way out of this mess. You kept saying that Potter was safe and yet we now find out that you were lying out of your ass."

"Indeed Albus," McGonagall said. "Every year you insisted that Mr. Potter return to those ghastly relatives, and now we know that you knew how he was being treated and still ignored it all. Just what are you playing at?"

"That's enough!" Harry barked. "You can all dismantle the Headmaster later. Right now, I think you should all figure out how you are going to save your world."

"Your world?" Dumbledore asked. "What are you talking about Harry, it is your world as well."

"Wrong," Harry said. "Thanks to you Dumbledore, I don't see this backwater world as 'my' world. You saw to that by allowing bigotry and discrimination to run rampart up and down these hallowed halls. You speak platitudes of spreading equality and yet you continually punish the victims while the criminals get off scot free."

Dumbledore opened his mouth to retort Harry's claim.

"Don't even try it Dumbledore," Harry growled. "A perfect example is the pathetic piece of so-called man sitting to your right."

"What was that Potter?" Snape snarled.

"I'm talking about how you, Death Eater, got off for your crimes just because Dumbledore said so," Harry said. "Yes, yes, your so-called spying abilities. But didn't anyone ever realize that Snape's so-called important information always came too late to save anyone or stop any attacks. And let's not forget about the fact that this man was the reason Voldemort came after my parents."

"WHAT!" Remus roared, speaking for the first time since Harry had dismissed him as a coward.

"Yes, when Dumbledore was given the prophecy, Snape overheard it," Harry said with hard glare at the fuming Headmaster and seething Potions Professor. "Snape got caught, but I wonder why Dumbledore just didn't erase the information from Snape's head, or since we were at war just kill the murdering piece of filth."

"Have you truly turned so Dark Harry to so callously call for the murder of a man?" Dumbledore said.

"You're joking right?" Harry laughed. "Snape is just as much responsible for the murders of my parents as Voldemort and Wormtail. Also, Snivellus, did you really think that my mother would come running to you after her husband and son were killed right in front of her? Especially when she learned that you were the reason that Voldemort came after them?"

"Avada Kedavra!" Snape roared, his wand out in a flash and a green bolt of Death magic soaring toward Harry, who was just grinning. The curse impacted Harry directly in the chest and dissipated in a dull flash. Snape's eyes widened before he howled in pain as a 7" piece of metal sliced through his wand as well as his hand, pinning it to the back of his chair.

"Congrats Snivellus," Harry chuckled, wincing slightly in pain. "You just signed your death warrant, you attacked a Lord of a Most Ancient and Noble House with lethal intent. Your ass is mine!"

"Let's not be…"

"Dumbledore, you say one more word, and you'll be next," Harry snarled, his wand pointing at the aged Headmaster, it wasn't the only one. "Your precious Death Eater spy just used an Unforgivable against a Lord, there's nothing you can do to stop this."

Harry walked around the table before coming to a stop right next to Snape. Harry put a hand on Snape's shoulder, gripped his knife and yanked it free of the wood and flesh. Snape howled as blood spurted from the wound. Harry leaned down and whispered, "Enjoy hell Snivellus, and you were right about me. I am my father's son, and that means, my mother, Lily Rose Potter, loved me more than life itself."

Harry sheathed his knife after wiping the blood on Snape's ruined robes, and turned on his heel and left the room, with Hermione, Ron and the twins following him. The door closing ominously behind them as the assembled Order closed in on Dumbledore and Snape.

A/N: Well, here's the second chapter of Vengence or Justice. This completes my two pre-written outlined and typed chapters, so updates will be slower in coming. As you can probably tell, I don't like Snape. While JK made Snape into a respectable character (Alan Rickman was brilliant in the films) but Snape is in no way redeemable at least to my eyes. He put the Potter's in Voldemort's crosshairs after giving Riddle the prophecy, also Dumbledore is at fault, why wasn't Snape Oblivated of the prophecy or killed (they were at war and Snape was a Death Eater). He's just as culpable for the Potter's death as Voldemort and Wormtail, IMO. Also, Snape believed that he loved Lily, BS. Loving someone means having them be happy no matter what it means to you, he thought that Lily would come rushing into his arms after his boss killed her husband and child, come on. Well, there's my rant.

Please read and review, any suggestions on where to go from here will be greatly appreciated. Enjoy

S.R.W.M.O