Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter, I am not JK Rowling. If I was, I wouldn't be scrambling around looking for a full-time job, though I still might be writing under a false name.

"HARRY!" the DA cried as Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the Room of Requirement. "Welcome back!"

"Thank you all," Harry said. "I've heard what you all did for me and I know that I will never be able to repay you for your loyalty. But now is not the time for pleasantries, we know that Riddle is not going to be happy with what happened. So we're going to have to step up your training, I would not be surprised if Riddle doesn't start getting ready for a major offensive soon. He never was the patient type, and he's always had an anger problem. For the next two weeks, I'm going run you maggots ragged. When I get done with you, no slimy Death Eater will be able to touch you."

"What about Dumbledore?" Hermione asked. The Room went deathly silent.

"Dumbledore has become a hindrance to this world's survival," Harry said. "He has proven time and time again that he does not care for the future of the magical world. He is more concerned about keeping the status quo the same. The magical world will continue to rot away and crumble under Dumbledore's leadership. It has to change or risk falling apart and being destroyed. We are either going have to make him shape up or remove him."

"Harry this isn't funny," Hermione said. "You're talking about taking over the school."

"Not necessarily Hermione," Harry said. "But we can't allow Riddle's lackeys to gain anymore traction here in the school. Riddle is going to make a play for Hogwarts at some point; I won't be surprised if it comes near the end of the year. The revelation that the Queen rules over all of us is a major slap in the face to the Ministry and all the purebloods that believe in Riddle's pureblood superiority. Now get back to work!" Harry barked.

As the training session wound down, Hermione managed to corner Harry. "Harry, you really seem to know what Voldemort is going to do," Hermione said. "But how? How do you know so much about what Voldemort is planning?"

Harry looked at Hermione. The bushy haired Gryffindor was taken aback by the grave look that Harry was giving her. "Because Hermione, that's what I would do in his place," he said before turning back to the DA.

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The aftermath of Harry's trial was widespread and immediate. No longer was Hogwarts hounded by the Dark-aligned Slytherins, even though Malfoy and his goons had been captured and arrested over Christmas holidays there were still Dark elements roaming the halls of Hogwarts and with Dumbledore still in charge, nothing was being done to curb the Dark tendencies of several groups of students. However with Harry's return and the reemergence of the DA, now called Potter's Marauders decided it was time to take a more pro-active approach toward protecting the school and her students. Dumbledore didn't like the fact though that Harry and his friends were slowly but surely turning the school against him.

"Harry, you must stop this madness," Dumbledore pleaded as he and Harry met in Dumbledore's office for the third time since Harry's return to Hogwarts.

"Madness Headmaster," Harry quipped. "Surely you don't mean to tell me that stopping those Ravenclaws from tormenting those first years wasn't the right thing to do? Weren't you always the one who told me that you should do what is right rather than what is easy?"

Dumbledore frowned as his words were twisted against him. "Yes, you should so what is right but at the cost of your soul!" Dumbledore argued. "You nearly destroyed any chance of those children redeeming themselves and coming back to the Light."

"You've lost the plot Headmaster," Harry growled. "Those Claws were bullying those first years and making their lives miserable just because they could. You could have stopped it from reaching this point but you just sat back and did nothing, letting these children believe that there are no consequences to their actions. But I am correcting that inaction."

"But they are just children, we need to show them the error of their ways," Dumbledore said.

"Yes we do but just letting them think that there is no consequences to their actions is NOT the way to go!" Harry shouted. "They have to feel sorry for what they've done if they ever will, and the only way to do that is to punish them when they deserve it. Just a slap on the wrist like loss of house points and detentions don't make the point we are trying to make."

"But stealing their wands!" Dumbledore cried.

"We did not 'steal' their wands, we confiscated them for a determined amount of time," Harry said. "They will be returned in good order when I feel that those responsible have learned their lesson."

"What about their lessons? How can they hope to use magic in the classroom without their wands?" Dumbledore argued.

"Perhaps they should have thought of that before nearly putting a first year in the hospital wing with a mental breakdown," Harry snapped. "Also it will teach them that magic is a gift not a privilege, and they shouldn't take advantage of that gift. I will hand their wands over to Professor Flitwick when I leave here and inform him why I came into possession of them. I'm sure he will agree with my idea. Good day Headmaster." Harry rose from his seat and walked out of the office without another word, leaving a stunned Albus Dumbledore starring after him.

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"So Harry, are you staying here for Easter holidays?" Hermione asked as she, Harry and Neville sat down at the Gryffindor table for dinner the Wednesday night before the holiday break.

"No I'm going to be staying at my parents' flat again," said Harry. "I want to get away from the castle for a little bit, and there are some things I need to take care of while we have a break from class." Both Hermione and Neville nodded, knowing that Harry had some secrets that he was keeping from them, though they both trusted Harry to do right. "Though I have a feeling that the Headmaster isn't going to like that fact. He's probably going to try and keep me here in the castle."

"But he can't do that," Hermione said. "You are legally an adult and can leave Hogwarts whenever you want."

"I know that, you know that, and he knows that but it won't stop him," Harry said. "He'll say it's for my own safety, try and guilt trip me by saying something about how my parents and Sirius gave their lives so I could be safe and all that bull but it won't matter. I know that my parents and Sirius died for me, and I have to live with that for the rest of my life but I also think that they would have sacrificed some efforts regarding my safety so that I could have a happy childhood."

Hermione frowned at the mention of Harry's 'childhood'. She had never liked Harry's relatives and was furious with Dumbledore when he kept insisting that Harry return there. "Harry, do you think we will win?" Hermione asked.

"What are you talking about Hermione?" Harry asked.

"The war Harry, do you think we will win the war?" she asked again. Harry blinked and Hermione looked down at her plate as tears began to pool in her eyes.

"Hermione," Harry said softly, taking her hands in his own. "I know that we will win. Will it be easy? No but then nothing ever worthwhile is attained easily. We will win because we have something that Riddle doesn't."

"What's that?" Neville asked.

"We have a reason to fight, we are fighting to protect those who can not protect themselves and to avenge those who lost their lives in the struggle against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm this land," answered Harry. "Don't worry guys, I can't promise you that we will all make it through this but I can promise that we will win."

Hermione nodded.

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"Harry, what are you doing? You know how dangerous it is for you to leave Hogwarts, you do remember what happened during Christmas holidays," Dumbledore said.

"Headmaster, what I do on my holidays are not any of your business," Harry said. "I have family business to attend too and this week offers an perfect opportunity to finish it without it affecting my studies."

"Harry my boy, if you are determined on this course of action, at least let one of the Order accompany you while you are away from the protections of the castle," Dumbledore argued.

"In case you didn't hear me Headmaster, I am conducting family business and have no need for any of your lackeys trailing me," Harry argued. "So respectively back off."

Once reaching King's Cross, Harry quickly made his way out of the station and headed toward downtown London. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could easily see the Order members that Dumbledore had sent to keep an eye on him trying to keep up. Hailing a taxi, Harry climbed in and had the cabbie take him to Piccadilly Circus. Halfway there, Harry told the cabbie to drop him off several blocks short of the Circus saying it was a nice day to walk around London. Once out of the taxi, Harry quickly found an alley and Disapparated out of the city.

Shaking his head, Harry looked up to see the large wrought-iron gates of Potter Manor on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Harry stepped forward and put a hand against the gates, wincing Harry felt the magic of the wards take some blood. The wards flashed silver before vanishing and the gates creaked open allowing Harry entry.

Just as soon as Harry stepped across the ward barrier a soft pop heralded his arrival.

"Who are you sir?" a squeaky voice asked from Harry's knee. Harry looked down to see an older house elf peering up at him. Harry knelt down to eye-level with the elf.

"Hello, my name is Harry Potter," Harry said. Suddenly the elderly elf's eyes widened in shock.

"Master Harry, you've returned!" the elf cried. "Oh it is so good to see you again!"

"I'm sorry but do I know you?" Harry asked. "I didn't know that my family had any house elves."

"My name is David, Master Harry," the elf squeaked. "I am the Potter Head elf."

"Nice to meet you David," Harry said. "Would you mind showing me around the Manor? I have not been here in a very long time I think."

"Oh yes Master Harry, you haven't been here since your very first birthday," David said. "It was just three weeks later when your parents were convinced that leaving the Manor was the safest path for them to take. Your grandparents, Lord Charlus and Lady Elizabeth, argued that they were safest behind the wards of the Manor. But your mother trusted in Dumbledore too much and your father finally relented. Your grandparents were killed only a month before that horrible night."

Harry flinched as a high, cold, cruel laugh echoed through his head. Harry silently followed the small elf through the gates and up the gravel path toward the large white manor house. Entering the house, Harry was shown the entrance hall. It was much like the entrance hall at Hogwarts, a winding staircase led off the hall leading to upper floors, to the right of the front doors was a large dining hall and to the left was a very fancy sitting room.

"Come Master Harry, I will show you the study," David said. "It is the center of the house and you will need to reset the wards."

"Oh right, lead the way David," Harry said still looking around the entrance hall in awe. The house elf took Harry's hand and dragged the wizard from the entrance hall and up the winding staircase to the second floor.

"Through that door Master Harry," David said. Harry looked up to see a handsome wooden door at the end of the hall. Slowly Harry approached the door and reached out for the doorknob. Harry felt a rush of warmth fill his bones as he gripped the bronze-colored doorknob.

"The last person to enter that room was your father several days after the funerals for Lord Charlus and Lady Elizabeth," David said.

Harry took a deep breath and turned the doorknob. The door opened silently to revel a cozy office. A large wooden desk dominated the far side of the room below a window that looked out over the spacious backyard where Harry spied several Quidditch hoops in the distance. To the right of the desk was a trophy case that held several different items including several Hogwarts' diplomas, prefects' badges and a pair of Head Boy and Girl plaques. Walking over to the trophy case, Harry saw the names of his grandparents and parents gleaming proudly off the badges. Harry felt disappointment well up inside him as he felt he wasn't living up to his parents' wishes and reputations.

"David, what do I have to do to reset the wards?" Harry asked.

"You must place your hand on the ward stone and channel some of your magic into it," David said. "It will recognize your magic then and you will feel the wards shift to your control."

Harry nodded. Looking around the room, Harry frowned as he turned back to David. "David, where is the ward stone? I don't see anything like that in this room."

"I'm sorry Master Harry, only the Head of House Potter may know where the ward stone is," David said. "I don't know where it is, all that I know is that it is in this room."

Harry frowned at the cryptic elf but nodded. "Ok then David, do you mind then going downstairs are preparing some dinner? I'm getting quite peckish and I don't know how long I'll be searching."

"Of course Master Harry," David said before vanishing with a crack.

Harry turned back to the room, his eyes scanning each and every nook and cranny of the study. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted a gleaming plague with the Potter crest embossed on it. A downturned sword clasped in the claws of a golden griffin on a field of red surrounded by some sort vine. As Harry approached the gleaming plague, he felt himself being drawn toward it. Gently, Harry placed his hand on the shield. Wincing Harry drew his hand back and saw a bead of blood pooling in the palm of his hand. The shield glowed brightly before Harry felt something shift in his magic. A pop behind Harry signaled the arrival of David.

"Congratulations Master Harry," David said. "You now control the wards of Potter Manor. I have your dinner here."

"Thank you David," Harry said as he took a seat at the heavy wooden desk. "David, what can you tell me about my grandparents? I don't remember them at all."

"Oh Master Harry, Lord Charlus and Lady Elizabeth were wonderful masters and mistresses," David gushed. "They treated us like family they did. However, they were never afraid to show the strength of their wills. The Dark Lord was quite hesitant in trying to attack the Manor unless it was with overwhelming numbers."

Harry felt a surge of pride well up within him at the elf's mention that Riddle feared another aside from Dumbledore. 'Don't worry grandfather, you won't be the only Potter that Riddle learns to fear,' Harry thought as he listened to David speak of Potter family.

The next morning Harry was pulled from Morpheus' realm by the insistent tapping against his window. Grabbing his glasses from the bedside table, Harry rolled over to see Hedwig at the window.

"Hedwig!" Harry cried as he leapt out of bed. He flung open the window and Hedwig swooped inside, landing on the headboard of the bed. "Sorry about that Hed, I forgot to leave a window open for you," Harry said, stroking the snowy owl's back. "Can you ever forgive me? I've got bacon."

Hedwig gave Harry a mock-stern glare with her amber eyes before cuffing him upside the head with her wing and then leaping down from the headboard and landing next to Harry's plate and immediately began gulping up the scraps of bacon on Harry's plate. Harry gently ran his fingers up and down her back as he laid the letter out in front of him with his free hand.

'Dear Harry,

I hope that you reached you reached home safely. Even though it has only been one night, Hogwarts seems very different without you here. Dumbledore has been storming around the castle in quite a snick. Most of the MA has been seeing Dumbledore in a different light ever since you spoke up at the last meeting. I think they are starting to see through the 'Leader of the Light' persona that Dumbledore has created and cultivated through the years. It's amazing to see people beginning to question things rather than just following along like sheep. I think you might have really started something, something that could change the entire wizarding world.

Anyway, I hope that you are allowing yourself to rest. You push yourself too hard sometimes and that isn't healthy. Remember you don't have to do everything by yourself; you have friends who will help you.

Please write back and I can't wait to see you after break,

Love,

Hermione

Harry put the letter down on the bedside table and rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up. 'Leave it to Hermione to state the obvious,' Harry thought, though he was very glad to hear that several of his fellow classmates were starting to open their eyes and throwing off the vision that was Albus Dumbledore. Harry heard a soft 'pop' from his side and saw David standing next to his bed with a tray.

"Good morning Master Harry," David said. "Here is your breakfast."

"Thank you David," Harry said as he took the tray and put it in his lap. "David, did my parents leave anything here before they went to Godric's Hollow? I had hoped to find more of their works, I only have gotten their school trunks."

"Of course Master Harry, Master James and Mistress Lily had all their work materials stored here at the Manor," David said. "I will show you once you have finished breakfast."

"Thank you again David," Harry said. "Do you know what my parents did for a living?"

"Well, Master James was a Hit Wizard while he was training to become an Auror and Mistress Lily was a consultant for the Department of Spell-Crafting, I believe once the war ended, Mistress Lily was planning on becoming an apprentice to Professor Flitwick in Charms."

Harry felt his heart warm. He had never been told what his parents were planning on doing once the war against Voldemort had ended, all anyone had told him that he was a spitting image of his father with his mother's eyes, and that his father was a prodigy in Transfiguration and Lily was brilliant at Charms.

After breakfast, David brought Harry back to the study where the Head Elf gave Harry two boxes that held all of Lily and James' notes from after they had graduated Hogwarts. Harry, with a trembling hand, opened the box labeled 'Lily' and pulled out a folder full of bits and pieces of paper. The folder was labeled 'Escape Plans'. Hesitantly Harry opened the folder and looked over his mother's notes about the forms of magical transport as well as her research into improving them. What really caught his eye were the notes about Lily's prototype for a messenger Portkey, to Harry it looked like a cross between a regular Portkey and the DA coins that Hermione had created the previous year. Reading further into Lily's notes, Harry discovered that his mother had managed, at least in theory, to Charm each Portkey to people's magical signature. This, in theory, would allow people to Portkey to a person's location. Instantly, Harry could see the military effectiveness of this new method, the ability to Portkey to one's side would be a huge boon in battle. Harry couldn't really understand the notes so he decided to give the notes to Hermione the next time he saw her. Perhaps she could make head or tails of the complicated Arithmancy calculations.

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"You wanted to see me Mr. Prime Minister?" Harry asked as he stepped out of the shadows of the office of Number 10 Downing Street.

"Bloody Hell Potter, don't do that!" the Prime Minister cursed as he clutched at his chest. The door flew open and two burly MPs rushed in. "It's all right gentleman, he's expected. Thank you for the quick response but return to your posts."

The MPs nodded and filed out of the office. The Prime Minister turned back to Harry and gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

"So then Mr. Potter, you got my letter?"

"Yes sir," Harry said. "What did you wish to discuss with me?"

"Actually, I don't have anything to discuss with you at the moment," the Minister said.

"Then why did you call me in here?" Harry asked, his voice taking on a slightly impatient tone.

"She does," the Minister said. Harry furrowed his brow for a moment before his eyes widened and the color drained from his face.

"You surely can't mean…"

"I do, Her Majesty wants to speak to you as soon as possible," the Minister said. Harry blinked.

"You're serious Mr. Minister," Harry said. "Her Majesty wants to speak with me, whatever for!"

"She wants an update on your progress and just wants to meet you," the Minister said, though Harry thought he could detect that the Minister was hiding something. "She wants to meet with you this week."

Harry blinked. What could one say when told that the Queen of England wanted to talk with you? "Well you know that its Easter hols, so I'm going to be away from Hogwarts for the next nine days."

"Very well then, I shall contact Her Majesty's staff and we will work something out," the Minister said. "Now Potter, is there anything else you needed to discuss with me?"

"No sir," Harry said.

"Right then you are dismissed, though I am sure that I shall be seeing you again quite soon," the Minister said.

It had been three days since Harry had been called to 10 Downing Street the first time. However this time he wasn't meeting with the Prime Minister, no Harry Potter was on his way to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen herself, Queen Elizabeth II. Seated next to Harry, in the Mercedes armored SUV, was the Prime Minister, who had a small smug smile etched on his face.

Harry glanced out the window as the convoy entered the gates of Buckingham Palace. Harry shivered as they crossed the barrier; Harry turned an arched eyebrow toward the Prime Minister. "Who put up wards around the Palace?" he asked.

"What wards?" the Minister asked. "I didn't feel anything."

"Well, no offense Mr. Minister, you aren't a wizard," Harry said. "Some magicals have the ability to sense magic. I guess I am one of the few who can. But I have never heard of Buckingham having wards around them. But it's not surprising."

The SUV slowly came to a stop in the hidden garage and the doors opened, reveling several British MPs that were armed and armored. Harry and the Prime Minister followed the squad of MPs up from the underground garage and into the palace proper. Harry looked around the ornate entrance room; it was draped in red and gold giving off a very-Gryffindor feel that made Harry feel more at home.

"Lord Potter," a voice came from the other end of the room. Harry turned around to see a Palace security man stepping out of the room.

"Yes," Harry said.

"Her Majesty is ready for you," the man said. Harry blinked and swallowed reflexively his suddenly dry throat before nodding and following the man into the adjacent room.

"Welcome Lord Potter," Queen Elizabeth II said. Harry instantly dropped to a knee.

"Your Majesty, you do me immense honor by inviting me to your presence," Harry said, his eyes glued to the floor.

"Rise Lord Potter," the Queen said. "Please have a seat and take some tea with us. We have much to discuss but I find that bad news is somewhat mitigated over tea."

"Thank you Your Majesty," Harry said, getting to his feet and taking the offered seat.

"So Lord Potter, tell me what of the magical world? Is it truly as bad as your reports make it seem?" the Queen asked.

"Unfortunately my reports are for the most part accurate," Harry said heavily. "Racism and bigotry is running rampart throughout the magical world. Too many of the politically powerful believe that just because they have had magic in their families for so many generations they believed themselves to be superior to anyone else. A good majority of the population does not believe it, mainly because by numbers the Purebloods make up only about ¼ of the total wizarding population. However because their families have been around for so long, they have accumulated enough power and wealth to in essence run the magical world."

"And your leaders have done nothing to stop this?" the Queen gasped.

"No," Harry said. "Some have tried but unfortunately too many people are in support of the maintaining the status quo, it also doesn't help that the major voice for reform is too afraid of doing anything to upset the balance himself."

"This Albus Dumbledore person correct?" the Queen asked.

"Yes, he is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, as well as the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamont and the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, which is the magical world's version of the UN," Harry said. "Dumbledore has been in 'power' since he defeated the last Dark Lord, Grindelwald, who the mastermind behind Hitler's rise to prominence in Germany before WWII. And because he has been in power so long, he only sees the world at large, not caring about the individual. It is my opinion that as long as Riddle is somehow defeated, any loss is justified, and while that is an understandable goal because if Riddle is not stopped, he will end up revealing the magical world to the rest of the world and that would spend the end of the world as we know it."

"What do you mean?" the Queen asked.

"The outside world has changed drastically since the last time that the two worlds mixed," Harry said. "Today, I think that the two worlds could eventually come together peacefully but under certain circumstances. If Riddle is able to take control of the magical world and the magical world is revealed with him in charge, two things would happen; either the magical world would be wiped out entirely or the world would end in a global catastrophe. Magic is a powerful and tempting gift, it can produce many wonderful things but it can also destroy all that we hold dear."

"So what do you plan do about it?" the Queen asked.

"Me, Your Majesty?"

"Yes Lord Potter, you seem to be Our best chance at stopping this Riddle maniac," the Queen said. "You know what needs to be done to bring these unruly elements to heel. We have been kept abreast of your mission and we know that you have been slowly bringing together like-minded students who you believe would side with England or you rather than the magical world in general."

Harry rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "That is correct Your Majesty," Harry said. "I do believe that my friends would do what is right, I couldn't answer for them in regards to leading a fight against the magical world."

"Quite understandable Lord Potter," the Queen said. "Now Lord Potter, tell about this Riddle? I have heard that you have faced him in combat several times in your young life."

"That is true Your Majesty," Harry said. "Thomas Riddle, though he is more commonly known as Lord Voldemort…" Suddenly a sharp crack rent the air. Harry felt the wards around the palace shudder.

"Lord Potter?" the Queen asked.

"My apologies Your Majesty but it seems that we are about to have some unwanted guests," Harry said. "You," Harry barked toward a security guard. "Get the protection detail in here now and get the Queen out of here immediately, we're about to be attacked!"

"Attacked?" the Queen asked sharply.

"Yes Your Majesty," Harry said. "That loud crack you heard were the protections around the Palace being ripped down. I don't know how but I do know who would gain most from this. It seems that Riddle has decided to make his presence known. I beg of you Your Majesty, get away from here as quickly as you possibly can. I will hold them back as long as I can, and if Riddle is leading this assault it is very likely that he will forego his attack on you to come after me."

"Your Majesty, this way please," one of the security guards said quietly. "We have just received word that the front doors are under heavy assault. We must get to safety."

"Very well," the Queen said, though Harry could tell that she didn't like being told to evacuate her home. "Lord Potter, I charge you with the destruction of this Thomas Riddle person."

"It would be my genuine pleasure Your Majesty," Harry said with a sharp bow. The Queen nodded to Harry before allowing her security detail to lead her out of the room. Harry instantly pulled out his wand and began Transfiguring the furniture in the room into barricades and walls. He also turned around and Vanished the door to the back room that the Queen had been taken through and then made the wall overlap over the gap that the Vanished door had left, leaving nothing but blank wall behind.

Just then the front doors of the room burst open and several curses shot through the open doors. Harry ducked behind a Transfigured barricade to avoid the green, purple and dark blue curses, before peaking out from behind his barrier. Harry quickly sent off several Piercing Curses through the smoke and was rewarded with at least two cries of pain coming from the doorway. Harry reached for his sidearm but then remembered that he had to hand it over to Palace security when he arrived.

"Get in there you cowards," a high cruel voice snapped through the darkness and smoke. Harry sighed.

"That you Thomas?" Harry called out. "I didn't know that you had been granted an audience with Her Majesty. But unfortunately, Her Majesty is not here at the moment, if you would like to leave a message just wait for the beep. Beep!" Harry's wand flashed into motion as it spat a volley of Piercing, Explosive and Cutting Curses toward the assembled Death Eaters. Three masked figures dropped to the floor, either dead or clutching a wound.

"Potter!" Riddle spat as he advanced into the room, his minions parting before him. "Come out Potter and face me like a man you bastard son of a Mudblood."

Harry felt his blood rise at Riddle's taunt but channeled the rising anger into focus as his trainers had taught him to do. "You have some nerve calling me that Riddle," Harry snarled. "At least my parents were both married and MAGICAL! What about you, the son of a Muggle and a Squib bet that your minions didn't know that!"

"Potter! If you will not face me like a man, then I shall destroy you like the coward you are!" Voldemort screamed, rage tingling his voice.

"Fine then Riddle, if you are so angling for a fight, I'll oblige," Harry said stepping out from behind his cover. His wand snapped up and several Piercing Curses spat from the tip of the holly and phoenix feather wand. Three more Death Eaters dropped to the floor with holes in their heads or chests. Riddle whirled on Harry, a Killing Curse already speeding its way toward Harry. Harry, anticipating this move, was already in motion and darted sideways to avoid the green bolt of lightning. Harry launched another volley of Piercing, Blasting and Cutting Curses at his enemy. Voldemort easily conjured a shield that protected him but a majority of the curses weren't aimed directly at him. The remaining Death Eaters were caught unawares and were dropped like their comrades by the volley.

Voldemort was not happy. This boy had just decimated his best and 'brightest' followers easily by using simple tactics. Voldemort launched another volley of Dark curses toward Harry, but the boy just either dodged them or Summoned pieces of furniture or masonry to block the curses.

"So you can fight when it's just one on one? And here I thought that you always needed your mass of minions to fight for you," Harry taunted.

"I don't need anyone to fight my battles for me," Voldemort shouted. "I am the greatest sorcerer in the world and I am going to kill you."

"You've tried how many times to kill me and I'm still alive," Harry said. "Merlin's beard, you tried to kill me as a baby and still couldn't, granted it was my mum's sacrifice that did it but still. So much for the 'greatest sorcerer in the world,' don't you think?"

"Die Potter! Avada Kedavra!" the Dark Lord roared, a massive bolt of green lightning spat from his wand and hurtled toward the dark haired teen. Harry dove out of the curse's path. The curse slammed into the wall behind Harry and exploded into green flames that burned quickly and intensely. Harry sent a Piercing Curse at the Dark Lord but watched as Voldemort easily deflected it.

"Not bad Potter, certainly much better than that old fool Dumbledore would have done," Voldemort sneered. "At least you know the rules of the game and are willing to fight to kill and not take some naïve and idiotic moral high ground. This is war and in war, people die. I am glad to see that you have learned that."

"Yes I have learned that in war people die and there's nothing you can do to change that," Harry said. "I also learned that the point of war is not to die for your own cause or country, but to make the other guy die for his. So die Tom Riddle! Avada Kedavra!" Harry roared.

Voldemort stood frozen as his mortal enemy sent the Killing Curse! toward him. It was unbelievable. But his instincts took over and Voldemort Summoned a corpse of one of his followers to intercept the curse. The body erupted into green flames as he dropped it to the floor. Voldemort looked over at his enemy, the boy was panting heavily.

"Was that the first time you ever used an Unforgivable…oh wait, let us not forget the time you tried to curse Bella at the Ministry," Voldemort hissed. "It takes more than anger or hatred to cast the Killing Curse my dear Harry, it takes a certain mindset, that of a killer. And while you seem to have convinced yourself that you have that mindset, I can easily see that you are not. Perhaps in time you would gain that mindset but unfortunately you don't have that time. Allow me to educate you on the proper way to cast that curse, I do have a great wealth of experience in casting it. Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort hissed. The green bolt of lightning spat from Voldemort's wand far faster than any other before it. Harry watched in horror as the curse that took the lives of his parents and godfather crossed the room far quicker than even his Seeker-reflexes could track and splashed into his chest.

The room went dark and Harry knew no more…

DUN...DUN...DUN!

A/N: And there you have it, finally the newest installment of 'Vengeance or Justice' I'm sorry it took so long to update, real life got in the way. I have been working nearly full time at my current job, and between that and looking for a better job it is sapping all my time. I hope you enjoy it, we are winding down on this story. I've got it outlined through the end, now it is just the part of sitting down and writing it out.

S.R.W.M.O