A/N: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy. The poll I posted will be closed by the next chapter update. So please vote which house you think Harry should be in.

Spells used in this chapter:

Locomotor is a charm which enchants an object or creature, causing them to ascend into the air and travel floating where the spell caster wishes. To use this charm, you must first say the incantation, and then whatever it is that you are trying to move, for example, "Locomotor Trunk". Loco" is Latin for "place". "Moto" is Latin for "to move".

The sorting hat's song can be found in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Chapter 9

Kings Cross Station

September 1st, 1991

Kings Cross Station was crowded with people. Men and women in suits taking the underground to get to work, families going to and from their destinations, station employee's helping lost tourists at the terminal find their train. There was a boy and a girl leaning on the side of the wall kissing and whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears.

Harry observed all this while eating his food. He was sitting on one of the benches in the station having bought some food from the café located next to the underground. He wasn't sure how long it would be before he arrived at Hogwarts and not knowing if some type of meal would be given on the train ride decided to get something to eat.

After putting his trunk in the rear compartment of the train Harry realized he had plenty of time left. The train wouldn't leave before eleven which gave him a little over thirty minutes to get some food and come back. He remembered seeing a stand in the lobby of the terminal selling food.

Finding the stand he bought a bagel with butter on it and some orange juice. He sat down on one of the benches near the stand and started eating while watching people pass by.

Finishing his breakfast he looked at the clock which showed him the time at 10:43. Realizing he had less than twenty minutes to get back to the train before it left he threw away his now empty bag and drink in the garbage and started walking back.

Walking down the crowded platform Harry was weaving through the multitude of people making his way back to the train. No sooner had he passed through a particularly packed group full of people did he collide with someone.

"Sorry." Harry automatically said. The phrase being said more out of reflex than for any actual meaning.

"Watch wear your going." The person answered back rudely. It was actually a red haired boy his age that ran into him. He had a smattering of freckles across his face and was wearing clothing that was obviously a hand me down. He had an expression of annoyance on his face.

Harry looked at the red head with an eyebrow raised. Before he could say anything two identical older looking boys came up from behind the redhead and grabbed him by the shoulders and pinning him between them.

"So sorry about that." Said the twin on to his right.

"It seems our dear younger brother still hasn't learned how not to put his foot in his mouth." continued the twin to his left.

"Geroff mmph…" The redhead between the twins tried to say before one of the twins covered his mouth with his hand.

"Fred, George you let Ron go this instant." Said a feminine voice shrilly. The newcomer was a short plump woman with the same shade of red hair that the three boys had.

Must be their mother.

She was followed by another red haired boy who looked older than the other three and a small girl who had red hair and brown eyes.

How many of them are there? Harry thought looking around to see if anymore red heads were going to pop out.

The twins now known as Fred and George complied with the request and the younger boy between them stumbled a little before regaining his balance.

"Leave that poor boy alone." Said the red haired woman. She spared a quick glance at Harry before dismissing him from her mind. "Hurry up now. The train is about to leave and I don't want any of you to miss it."

The family of redheads walked off leaving Harry standing there alone.

That was weird.

Shaking off that thought he looked at the clock which now said 10:50. Realizing he had only ten minutes left he ran towards the portal that would take him to platform 9 ¾'s. He passed through the barrier and came out on the other side. He thought he saw a flash of red in front of him and thought for a moment that it was the family he saw minutes ago but there were too many people on the platform for Harry to get a good look so he dismissed the errant thought. He reached the train and got on with a minute to spare.

Looking back at the platform he saw parents hugging their children and giving their goodbyes. Harry felt a brief pang of jealousy at the sight. It reminded him that he was alone and nobody cared about him.

Turning away from the sight he ruthlessly suppressed the emotions that were beginning to overtake him.

"All aboard!"

The voice of the conductor shook Harry from his thoughts. The train started moving and in a couple of minutes pulled out of the station. The scenery outside changed from the platform into the wilderness.

Harry started walking back to his compartment. Right before he entered his compartment he heard his name being called.

"Harry."

It was Hermione who called him dragging her trunk with her. She was breathing a little hard from having to pull her trunk. He entered the compartment with her and helped put her trunk on the rack.

"I've been looking all over for you." Hermione said sitting down.

"Have you now?" Harry asked leaning back.

"Yes and I have a few questions for you."

"And they are…?"

"Is your name really Harry Potter?" Hermione started off.

Of all the questions he wondered why she would ask that. "Yes?" It came out more as a question than a fact.

Seeing his confusion she clarified. "It's just that your name was familiar and I wondered where I heard it before. I remembered reading it somewhere and looked through my books. It was in Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Modern Magical History that I found the answer."

Leaning forward she looked straight into his eyes and said, "You're the son of James and Lily Potter and your family is the one who defeated You-Know-Who which earned your family the name as the Family-Who-Conquered."

"And how did you come to this conclusion?"Harry replied coolly. Inside though he was wondering how she knew.

"Firstly, the Potters had a child and he was one years old when they were attacked. His body was never found so if he was alive he would have received his letter when he turned eleven and would be the same age we are. Secondly, you yourself said that your parents died and that the Headmaster knew them. The Potters were known to be close to him. I asked Professor McGonagall if the headmaster usually fetches incoming students and she said only if the situation called for it but that it was rare that such a situation would come up. So…"

"When did you ask her that?" Harry interrupted listening closely.

"After the Healer was done." She answered back without missing a beat. "So anyway I first thought that this could all be one big coincidence but then again I don't believe in coincidences and the information fits together too perfectly to be anything other than fact."

"What makes you so sure that this whole thing isn't one big coincidence?" Harry asked warily. "I can see that it makes sense if you put it like that but all you have is speculation." Picking up some steam he added, "Yea it sounds good in theory but that's all it is. A theory. Do you have any solid evidence that proves your theory?"

"As a matter of fact I do."Hermione replied back smirking.

After a minute of sitting there Harry said, "Well what is it?"

"It's right above you." She answered back pointing above him. Harry looked above him but all he saw was his trunk.

"How is my trunk your proof?" Harry asked confused.

"Not your trunk. It's the image on it that's the proof." Responded Hermione rolling her eyes.

Harry looked back at his trunk and seeing the image of his family crest gave him the answer. Stunned he turned back to Hermione and said only one word. "How?"

"Only family members are allowed to have crests placed on their belongings to show who it belongs to. If a person who is not a part of the family did that they would be arrested for fraud and either pay a fine or go to jail depending on the charge." Standing up she went to her trunk and pulled out a book called Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. Hermione flipped through the book looking for something. Finding it she turned the book over to Harry to show him. The title on the page said The Potter Family and had the picture of a griffin. The same image that was located on Harry's trunk.

Harry silently handed back the book and leaned back in his seat. He watched as Hermione put the book back in her trunk and sat down staring at him waiting to see his reaction. Harry didn't have to look into her mind to know she was anxiously waiting to see his response.

Neither person talked for the next ten minutes. The only sounds coming from the train speeding along the track. One was waiting for the other person's answer while the other just digested all that he heard.

It was Harry who broke the silence first.

"I'm impressed. You were able to figure all that with the information you had. Pretty resourceful of you."

Hermione beamed at Harry with a grin and Harry admitted to himself that it was impressive. Not many people would have made the connection. After all everyone believed that Harry Potter died along with his parents and if anybody commented on his name he could just say that it was coincidence.

"I guess the question is what are you going to do with the information?" Harry carefully asked.

"Nothing really." Hermione replied shrugging. "I'm sure you have your reasons for wanting everyone to think your dead though I don't know why."

"That's because everyone thought I was dead."Harry replied bluntly.

Seeing Hermione's eyes widen from that little tidbit he continued, "From what I was told my house was pretty much destroyed by the time the authorities got there. Nobody is really sure how I survived but they all knew I was there on Halloween."

"So how did you end up at the orphanage then?" Hermione questioned.

"No idea but the most common theory is that I was found by someone before the authorities got there and they put me in the orphanage. I do wonder why they put me in a muggle orphanage and not a wizarding one."

"Interesting." Was the reply Harry received.

He didn't press her for more information preferring to leave Hermione in her peace though it got him thinking about the situation. If Hermione, a muggle-born was able to figure it out how soon would it be before other people would as well? Should he announce that Harry Potter is alive and well? Granted it's not like he was trying to hide his identity but he wasn't shouting it from the rooftops as well.

He eventually decided that he wouldn't advertise it but if a person did find out he wouldn't deny it either. Happy to come to a solution he pulled out Hogwarts: A History from his trunk and started to read it hoping Hermione would get the hint that he didn't want to talk anymore. Thankfully she did and she pulled out her own book and started to read as well.

They continued to read in silence only pausing when a witch with a trolley came asking if they would like to buy sweets. Hermione declined but Harry never tasting it before bought a couple of different selections.

"That'll be eleven sickles and five knuts." The woman said after counting the total. He paid for it and she left.

Harry ate his sweets while continuing to read, the chocolate frogs and the pumpkin pastries tasting the best. He also found a card in his chocolate frog's container and saw the name Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. The man named Moody looked as though his face was carved from wood by an untalented person. It was covered with scars, and a chunk of his nose was missing. He had dark gray, grizzled hair. His eyes, however, were his most shocking feature: one was small and dark, normal eye while the other was a vivid, electric blue magical eye and moved around independently from his normal eye. His eccentric eyes gave him the nickname of "Mad-eye Moody."

Alastor Moody was known as the most powerful Auror of his time before injuries forced him to retire. He had mastery in both offensive and defensive magic, the hallmarks of the Auror's trade, which he employed so effectively that he personally ensured that half the cells of Azkaban prison were filled with Death Eaters. He was also capable of placing powerful protective enchantments and curses a means of warding off Death Eaters. He also had a Charms Mastery. It also stated he was capable of performing the Disillusionment charm, a charm which apparently required a certain amount of skill as not many could do so. He also has a mastery dueling and is considered by many to be extremely talented.

Harry finished reading the card and was impressed. He looked back at his picture and saw he was gone.

There was a knock on the door and a round faced boy entered. He was slightly pudgy but not too fat.

"Have you seen a toad? I lost mine." The boy asked without preamble.

He got negative responses from both.

"Do you want some help looking for him?" asked Hermione offering her help.

"That'd be great. Thanks. Oh I'm Neville." He introduced himself as.

"I'm Hermione and this is Harry." Hermione replied pointing to Harry when she said his name.

"Are you coming?"Hermione asked seeing Harry was still sitting down reading.

"No." Was Harry's reply still reading his charms textbook. Hermione seeing he wasn't going to help left with Neville in a huff.

Hermione came back an hour later having no luck finding Neville's toad. She glared at Harry as if it was his fault the toad was gone. Honestly, why would he waste his time trying to find a toad on a locomotive the length of a cricket field.

The rest of the train ride continued in silence. By the time they reached the station Harry and Hermione had already changed into their school robes. The joined the rest of the students at disembarking the rain.


Hogsmeade Station

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" a man bellowed. He was large, easily the largest man they had ever seen and he was hairy. He was about twice as tall as an average man and five times as wide, and he had a long mane of shaggy black hair and a beard that covers most of his face. He has light skin and dark eyes that glint like black beetles. He was wearing an exceptionally large moleskin overcoat with many pockets.

Harry, Hermione, and the other first years followed the man as he rounded the corner. The reached the edge of the lake and saw rowboats lined up along the shore. The large man motioned to the rowboats along the shore of the lake.

"Four to a boat!" He instructed

Harry, Hermione, the boy named Neville and a boy with red hair climbed into one boat which began to magically move as soon as they were seated. Travelling through the water the made a turn around the bend and got their first view of Hogwarts.

It was breathtaking. There was no other word for it. The castle was on top of a mountain overlooking the lake looking imposing yet majestic.

When everyone had reached the shore, the large man shouted once more for them to follow him. He led them to a large wooden door where he raised his burly hand and knocked on the door three times. A stern-faced woman, who Harry immediately recognized as Professor McGonagall opened the door and without glancing to the students gathered, nodded at the man.

"This way, first years," she said. When the last student passed through the doors behind them closed with a resounding thud.

"Remain here. I will fetch you when it is time for you to be sorted."

The students waited several minutes before she came back. During that time Harry looked around at the other students. He was standing next to Hermione with the boy-Neville-standing near them talking with a red haired boy who sat with them on the boat ride. Harry recognized him as the boy who he ran into earlier-Rob, Ray Roy- or whatever his name was. He heard the redhead saying that they had to fight trolls as the test to see which house they got into.

Harry mentally snorted at that. Not entirely certain what trolls in the wizarding world were but was positive that any test they would have to take wouldn't include physical injury.

He also saw the blond boy he met at Madam Malkin's talking with two large boys and a few other witches and wizards. The blond boy felt as if he was being watched and raised his head. He saw Harry looking at him and sneered. He looked as if he was about to walk to Harry but before he made more than two steps Professor McGonagall returned.

"I am Professor McGonagall," she began once everyone had quieted down. "I am the Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration professor here at Hogwarts. I welcome each and every one of you. Now, before you are sorted there are a few things you need to know. Hogwarts has a house system. There are four houses and each house is named after one of the four founders. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house has its own history which you will come to learn throughout your schooling. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because during your tenure here your House will be similar to your family within Hogwarts. You will share the same classes, sleep in the same dormitories, and spend free time in your house common room. You will be rewarded if you follow the rules and similarly punished by the receiving and detraction of house points if you don't. The house with the most points at the end of the year receives the House Cup. Now, if you would follow me we can begin."

Harry followed the professor into the Great Hall. It was an amazing sight to behold. A vast chamber with an enchanted ceiling that mirrors the sky outside, four long tables filled with students for the four houses. The teachers were placed at the High Table, a table on a raised platform at the front of the room.

"I read in Hogwarts: A History that the ceiling is bewitched to look like the night sky," commented Hermione as she stared above them. The hall itself was lit up with hundreds upon hundreds of candles floating in midair.

In front of the table there was a stool and on that stool sat an old shabby looking hat.

Professor McGonagall led the student's right up to the hat. The hall quieting down the minute the new students walked in. A moment later, the hat which before was unmoving opened its mouth—it had a mouth---and began to sing a song.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a steady mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

There was silence for a moment before the hall broke into applause.

"When I call your name please step up and place the hat on your head." Professor McGonagall instructed. Thus the sorting began. Name after name was being called and sorted into a house. Whenever a student as sorted that house would clap the loudest. Terry Boot, Harry noted went to Ravenclaw.

"Granger. Hermione."

Hermione nervously went up and put the hat on. It seemed that she was having a debate with the hat. Eventually the hat shouted "Gryffindor" and she joined their table.

After Hermione the sorting continued in the same vein as before.

"Malfoy, Draco." It was the name of the blond kid he met at Madam Malkin's. Unlike Hermione's sorting which took some time the hat barely touched Malfoy's head before shouting, "Slytherin." He sauntered over to the Slytherin table as if he knew all along where he was going.

Eventually it was Harry's turn. "Potter, Harry."

The students in the hall were suddenly talking in hushed whispers the minute his name was called. Everybody knew the Potter name and were wondering who he was. It was common knowledge that the Potter line ended Halloween night. Even the professors took a closer look at him from their table.

Harry ignored the whispering and staring and made his way to the stool. He placed the hat on his head and felt a brush against his mind.

Most intriguing that a child so young is able to use the mind arts. Intriguing indeed. What's this? Hmm. Fascinating. I should say welcome back Mister Potter but it seems you wouldn't have any idea what I'm talking about.

What are you talking about? Harry asked.

There is a block that is placed on you. I can see through it and I see what it is. . I see what you have done and what you need to do but it will not be enough.

A block? What does that mean?

It is a barrier placed so that you cannot access what is beyond it. I can understand the need for it at that time but if you are going to succeed in your endeavor you will need what lies within.

Endeavor? Need? I don't have a bloody clue what the hell your saying. Just sort me already and be done with it. Shot back Harry aggravated.

As you wish but do you not wish to know the answers to the questions you seek? Like how you ended up in the orphanage? Why were you placed there? It is all here and I only need your approval to show you the answers you desperately want. If not I will not bring it up again and will sort you. But know this is only a one time offer I give young Potter. You are destined for great things but only if you accept it. If you refuse you may still achieve great things but it will be so much harder for you or you may not. Choose now for time is running out.

Harry didn't know what to think. All he wanted was to get sorted and start learning to do magic. Instead he's told that he has a block on him and if he doesn't have it removed it'll restrict him. Also the answers to his questions are already in him and he has to decide now.

Your answer?

Harry thought his options over but he realized that there was really only one choice to make. He hoped that it wouldn't bite him in the ass. Do it.

Very well. I apologize in advance for what is about to happen.

Before Harry could ask why the hat would be apologizing he felt a white-hot searing pain envelop him. He never felt anything as painful as this before. He was unable to stop the cry of pain erupting from his lips. Thoughts and feelings passed through his mind, images that he has never seen before flash through and the pain increases. As fast as the pain surrounded him it abruptly stopped and Harry thankfully passed into unconsciousness.


Albus Dumbledore always loved the welcome feast at Hogwarts. It always brought with it a sense of anticipation and excitement for the new school year. This year was especially thrilling due to one of the new students. Harry Potter was coming to Hogwarts. He wondered which house young Potter would go to. He didn't know enough about the boy to give a guess but feverently hoped it wouldn't be Slytherin. Tom Riddle was in Slytherin and what he saw of young Harry's behavior reminded him entirely too much of Tom. But it wasn't his decision to make and could only hope the sorting hat would place him in a house that would be more beneficial to the wizarding world than just for Mister Potter himself.

He saw Professor McGonagall lead the new students through the great hall. He saw as young Neville, his unofficial apprentice was sorted into Gryffindor and clapped with the rest. He wondered if he should continue to train Neville now that Harry was found but he still had no idea which child the prophecy spoke of.

He continued to ponder the thought before he heard the name of the person he was most interested in seeing sorted. He watched Harry Potter as he reached for the hat. He waited with bated breath to see which house he would belong to so he could make plans that would work best.

His look turned from interesting to confused when he felt a huge build up of magic gather together where young Harry was sitting. His look quickly went to horrifying as he heard Harry scream in pain. He immediately vacated his seat and rushed to Harry with a speed belying his age. The minute he reached him though the screams stopped and Harry was unconscious.

Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse was right behind him waving her wand and casting medical charms on Harry.

"Headmaster he is fine now but whatever happened caused him a great deal of pain. I need to take him to the hospital wing to make sure nothing else happens." She diagnosed.

"Very well. Severus go with Poppy and see if she needs your expertise." Poppy waved her wand and said, "Locomotor Harry Potter." Harry was levitated off the ground. Madam Pomfrey held her wand in front of her and started walking. Harry was in front of her being pushed like he was on an invisible stretcher with Severus following.

Dumbledore then turned to face the rest of the students who stared horrified at what happened.

Can't say the year started off boring. He thought nonchalantly.


Headmaster's Offfice

After assuring the students that everything is under control and assuring the rest of the first years that the hat was harmless though nobody believed him they continued the sorting. He didn't give the opening feast with his usual exuberance with his mind preoccupied with the health of Harry.

As soon as the feast finished he went up to the hospital wing to check on the status of one Harry Potter. When he received the report he was flabbergasted at what he heard. It seemed that whatever occurred caused Harry to have more magic then normal running throughout his whole body.

The human body especially a wizard's body can only have a certain amount of magic circulating otherwise it would overload the body and cause the person's organs to shut down. In cases similar to this that have occurred every single witch or wizard died only after an excruciating amount of pain. Harry Potter it seemed was the exception. His body had too much magic in him so his body had to either adapt to it or it would die. His body adapted and it seemed that his body aided by the magic within had created more magical pathways.

Not only had that occurred it also seemed that his body aged as well by a full year to compensate for the increase in pathways. Normally it wouldn't cause problems in the short term but in the long run it would mean that if he lived to an old age and died of natural causes it would be a year earlier than he was supposed to.

As for his body it seemed to be in peak physical condition for a twelve year old. His senses are the sharpest they would ever be and as he aged the senses would increase as well. It would not be a noticeable increase but it would be as well as a human being's senses would ever become.

The extra magic in his body might have even awakened some dormant magical gift past Potter's might have had. Bloodlines actually have some role in a wizard's power but if a witch or wizard did not train their power to its full extent then they could never reach their full potential.

After reading the report a shocked Dumbledore went back to his office to contemplate this new development. He tried asking the sorting hat what happened but the hat was stubbornly tight lipped about all of it. He said that he could not tell the secrets in the boy's head due to the many charms and enchantments placed on it. It was to insure future generations could not steal the information inside of their heads. It was a failsafe so that heirs from families who studied in their family magic's could not accidently give their techniques away.

Needless to say Dumbledore was not pleased by this.

The tests done when he went to St. Mungo's didn't reveal anything as well. There was no trace of any foreign influence in Harry Potter at all. All the tests, physical exam, magical potency, magical core, soul exam came up clean. The only noteworthy thing was that Harry Potter had an above average magical core for an eleven year old. It was more on the level of a third year student and would continue to grow as he got older.

Sighing, he got up and went over to cabinet located on the right side of his office. He opened it and pulled out a device called a pensieve. A pensieve is an object used to review memories. It has the appearance of a shallow stone basin, into which are carved runes and strange symbols. It is filled with a silvery substance that appears to be a cloud-like liquid/gas; the collected memories of people who have siphoned their recollections into it. Memories can then be viewed from a third-person point of view.

He took out his wand and placed the tip of it at his temple. Concentrating on the memory he wanted to take out he pulled his wand away from his temple. A silvery, shimmering liquid like strand was on the tip of his wand. Placing the strand in the pensieve he viewed the memory.

The memory was a recent one. It involved four people. One was himself, the second his potion professor, Severus Snape and the last two were muggles. The muggles in question were Vernon and Petunia Dursley.

He watched as Petunia Dursley nee Evans, the sister of the late Lily Potter, recognized Severus Snape as her former neighbor. She insulted them both about being freaks until Severus pulled out his wand and was about to curse her. He watched as he saw his memory self put a restraining hand on Severus and turned to Petunia's paling face.

He then watched as he saw his memory self ask them questions about Harry Potter. They listened as Vernon and Petunia explained after being suitably reminded that they had no choice but to answer the questions asked otherwise they would not like the consequences. Dumbledore never liked using threats and force but sometimes he had to admit it did get the job done.

He listened as they explained hearing an extremely loud popping noise coming from their living room. Vernon, with a cricket bat, walked down the stairs thinking it was a robber while Petunia rushed towards their son, Dudley's room, to make sure he was safe. Vernon then described that he saw a baby in the middle of their living room.

He then called down his wife and together they approached the baby. He had a cut on his forehead and it seemed to be bleeding. Petunia then cleaned the blood of his head and saw that the cut was in the shape of a lightning bolt. The cut was glowing a little and seemed to be pulsing to an unknown rhythm.

Petunia recognized him as the son of that Potter freak and his equally freakish wife. She recognized the crest that was on his blanket having seen it years ago at her sister's wedding. She remembered the baby's name being written in a letter Lily had sent as Harry James Potter. They explained that they had no idea how the little devil got there but there was no way in hell they were going to take care of a freak. Dumbledore listened as he heard Vernon say that he was all for killing the freak then and there but Petunia stopped him.

Albus paid attention as he heard Petunia say that they couldn't kill him otherwise it could cause problems. Vernon then said that he was not going to keep an abnormal child in the house and suggested an orphanage. Petunia agreed and Vernon dropped him off at the Surrey orphanage.

Vernon told the caretaker at the orphanage that the baby was dropped off at his doorstep and told him he didn't want any responsibility for it. He gave him to the caretaker only telling him the baby's name and after signing some documents that absolved him of any accountability he left and that was it.

After that Dumbledore and Snape left but not before obliviating the conversation from the muggles mind.

Albus withdrew himself from the memory and paced back and forth in his office. He prided himself on being able to get whatever information he needed whenever he needed it and hated not knowing what was going on. Especially circumstances that forced him to change plans completely.

Looking over at his phoenix companion, Fawkes, Dumbledore asked, "I wish I knew what was going on. If he is truly the prophesized one is this turn of events helpful for the light or the dark?"

A trill was the only response he received.