Please read Nonezumi's story 'Keeping the Light'!

A/N: I just got a beautiful PM from a now loyal reader. I want to say thank you for taking the time to send that to me. You're correct, I have said I'm not a review whore and I'm not, but I won't lie. The more reviews I have the more and faster I am at writing each chapter. Reviews are like caffeine to my writing, it energises and keeps me going through the day. Let me tell you I have no intentions of abandoning this story. I try posting it in the weee hours of the morning every morning. So if you don't get the chapter notice till late never fear it will be there. It just takes time.

I wrote this chapter as an explanation/filler chapter.

Aw, so a few of you think Snape had acted stupid last chapter...well That may be true but I never found the man to be highly intelligent. I mean he spent his time picking on an eleven-year-old boy instead of doing the job he was paid to do. I basically just stuck to the character Rowling had created, but just added on a lack of tacked due to old age.

Some one mentioned a nice twist in the last chapter. Wait till you read the end of this one.

If none of you want to be bored, I would suggest skipping the first part. It's nothing but boring facts. Just find the line break.

Look, I'm sorry if the fact that I only glance over very quickly upsets some of you, but like I've said every chapter I don't have time to beta. If someone else would, would love that, but I don't have time to. It takes too much just to dish it out as is. I give it a once over, but I'm no professional.

Summary- 2011 NaNoWriMo Harry was betrayed and left to rot in the darkest corners of Azkaban biding his time as Voldemort rose to power. But a far darker and more powerful threat approaches that even the Dark Lord can not defeat, the world looks to Harry for rescue. But Harry's not ready to save them. A twist on the usual Azkaban fic. Probably VoldemortXHarry.

Dark Intentions

VanityIre

Chapter six

Haunted

Unlike what he and likely the entire light side had been expecting, over the years and even in the beginning, once the dark was truly in power and Voldemort began establishing himself as more than a vigilante Dark Lord. The ministry began running serious campaigns and changing regulations.

Different to how it was when Harry was gallivanting around destroying horcrux after horcrux, the ministry slowly began forming real laws and ordinances. Ones that may have weighed in the favor of pure-bloods, but were all in all good in the long term for all magical beings.

They abolished the snatcher system shortly after his imprisonment. Due to this Harry figured it was only issued to capture him and his former friends. The registration and rules that had restricted Magical creatures in the beginning were lifted and in it's place was a system that held far greater and better support for dark creatures. Hospitals that catered to the need of magical creatures specifically were set up so Werewolves and Vampires would not be discriminated against in the wizarding ones.

Old laws that before Voldemort's reign took away the rights and freedom of magical creatures, many were given back, like to legally allow marriage between a werewolf and a human. And after the age of consent at seventeen one was permitted to turn their offspring or spouse. They were all legislation the dark creatures agreed to when siding with Voldemort. In the end the Dark Lord had held his end of the bargain.

As much as he hated to, even Harry could admit that society was thriving under some of the changes. Muggleborn's were nurtured upon entrance to a magical school. They were taken away from their muggle upbringing, and the muggles that knew them were placed under a brilliant memory charm that effected all who knew the child's name. There were remedial classes given to each muggleborn before being sent to a school, taking away one of the many prejudices pure-bloods had for them, their ignorance. They were even given to other wizard families as surrogates until the time came for them to choose between worlds, wizard and muggle. In the end most had chosen to stay in the wizarding world.

People like Delores Umbridge who had hated all things impure were probably seething that they put their faith in a Dark Lord who wasn't as biased as he first appeared. In fact, Harry was sure one of the main reasons Voldemort was seen as a cruel tyrant was do to his beginning campaign to power. In order to gain powerful allies, the man needed to fold to many of their belief's. Even if they didn't see eye to eye. Voldemort had obviously appealed to one sect of British wizards. Pure-bloods that stood with conservative positions. Then he had later switched to his own agenda after garnering enough power.

There were of course still many problems with the system. It separated all creature from the pure-bloods of society. And there was obviously a big different between how a pure-blood and those with muggle backgrounds were treated. For example, the purer the blood the more pay a wizard would receive, even if two of them had the same exact job and began simultaneously. Harry knew from reading the paper that many Muggleborns, like Granger had been working to pass bills that would stop the blatant discrimination. But not even the Dark Lord was dumb enough to go so far against those who put him in power. The man new his boundaries and worked surreptitiously against them. But he never out right opposed and pure-blood charters.

His only true obstacle in the past must have been Dumbledore who portrayed Voldemort in a tyrannical light at the beginning of his career. Dumbledore hadn't agreed with many of Voldemort's reforms. he believed a parent had a right to keep their children and that magical creatures should be able to live non-threatened by society but still with them. Which was all well and good in an ideal world where these reforms would work out, but the wizarding world was far from ideal. Wizards would never make magical creatures and Muggleborns their equals.

Harry wasn't sure how it all went down, but from what he could figure Dumbledore had something to do with Voldemort's ten year self exile. When the Dark Lord returned in the 70's he was darker and more insane than ever before. He became vicious with his politics. He started eliminating any who spoke against his reforms and bills he sent through legislation. When the fourth board member of the Muggleborn Relations Committee went mysteriously missing the light side took action with Dumbledore leading the stampede.

And the light would have lost in the first war against Voldemort, if Dumbledore hadn't stumbled upon a certain prophecy. And into the work came Dumbledore's grand plans for the greater good, all revolving around Harry himself.

But for all his grand schemes Dumbledore forgot to anticipate one very important factor. Human fear. Fear that drives an entire society to betray a young impressionable wizard for their own safety. The biggest laugh was that Harry was sure he would have won. He was far more than sure, he was down right positive. The realization kept him awake in a cold dink cell in Azkaban every night for three years laughing like he was some insane lunatic into the brisk air. He must have made a creepy picture those first few years, crying hysterically only stopping to laugh at sporadic intervals.

It would have been less surprising if they had decided he wasn't really worth the effort of putting up with and had just dumped him away like the rest of the wizarding world. But the guards had a cruel streak, and they knew getting rid of Harry Potter would draw Voldemort's attention. The Dark Lord wanted him alive. While Harry wasn't sure why he hadn't just killed him off, he could guess. The man wanted something to exploit over the rest of the wizarding world. He wanted a reason to gloat, and killing Harry would have lost it's effects long ago. Keeping him alive just locked away from the rest of the world, it would prove that the light were utterly defeated. Harry's imprisonment was nothing more then a symbol of what happened to those to opposed Voldemort's rule.

Of course there were those who had opposed Voldemort still even after Harry was captured and an agreement was made between the both sides of the war. People who saw the way the world was changing and fought against the laws. The Dark Lord honoring the agreement between both sides did not out right eliminate these people. Instead Voldemort had them locked away in prison for a few years as well. She had been one of them...

The Penn estate was located in an isolated spot somewhere north of Dales.

Not many people were aware, but Presley Penn, a Pure-blood of the age Sixty-nine, loved large expanses of open land. As a boy growing up in a bustling London, Presley had hated the city life, and had longed to more rural living arrangements away from the noise of the city. When he married his wife, Aubrey who shared his love for quiet living, they packed up and moved to one of the Penn families large country houses.

Harry loved Penn Estate. It wasn't a manor, or a mansions but still large enough to be considered a big house. With only three floors and an attic the house sat on a large grassy tundra. It also had quite a few acres of wild flower fields surrounding it and a large lake in the distance reachable by broom. He hoped Lily would enjoy running around when she grew older.

When he stepped through the door on the third floor he didn't waste much time in handing Lily off to her. Alice snatched the child up and began cooing over her instantly.

"Oh you missed Auntie didn't you darling?" She spoke softly offering her finger to the babe that grasped and shook it wildly.

"Bah!"

Alice turned to Harry, "She's okay right?"

Harry nodded, "As far as I know yes, but she's been sleeping quite a bit, if you'd be so kind as to check her over for me."

Alice looked back down at Lily with concern. "Are you going to let Auntie Alice check you over my darling?" She asked the baby. She gathered Lily up closer to her and began walking down stairs. "I'll look her over in the study, father was waiting for your return for a while. You took so long contacting use he was worried that Wizengamot may have chosen to send you back to prison on a bigger sentence, than release you with a bribe like he had believed."

"Ah, Presley shouldn't be too worried, He knows wizarding law better than I do, He should know they couldn't give me a bigger sentence if I didn't want it."

Alice smiled, "Father is old Harry. What his mind knows means little, not when he his heart tells him to worry anyway."

Harry sighed, "I'll talk to him, will you join us?"

"In a little while, I want to make sure Lily is okay first, after I examine her I will meet you in the study."

Harry accepted this and watched as she made her way further down stairs. He stopped on the second floor and made his way to the study. The double doors were slightly ajar so Harry invited himself inside.

"Presley?" He called not seeing the man by his desk like he usually was during most visits.

"You've joined the military?" The deep wavering voice came from behind him making Harry jump in surprise.

He turned to see Presley, grey haired and wrinkled, sitting in a chair by the door. Harry must have passed him without realising it. "I've decided to stop waiting, it's time I took action," he told the man unhesitatingly. Presley gazed at him fingers interwoven and eyes narrowed. "The Council won't stop hunting you Harry. No matter if you join the British Military or not. We both know this. What are your true reasons?"

Harry sighed knowing that convincing Presley that joining the BMW would be difficult if the man wasn't open to the change. "The Council isn't going to quit searching for me, so it's probably best if I make myself well known through my fame once again. They won't be able to publicly capture me if I'm once again in the spot light. Unlike before they can't use stealth and such to get to me, not when my absence will be noticed," Harry told the man.

Presley frowned, "There is more to it." He said with surety.

"Yes," Harry responded immediately, "My main goal is to expose the council through political means. I had been unsure how I would have gone about that at first, but the ministry gave me an in through the army."

"You plan on moving your way up, possible through promotion," Presley said with realisation. And What of your political relations under your false title of a Pure-blood Lord?" Presley asked standing from the chair and approaching the desk. He shifted though a few papers before handing Harry a white piece of parchment. It was folded in three, and sealed with wax. On it was curving black writing.

Lord Desmond Obsidian

Harry could hear the contempt for the name Presley held. The old wizard still regarded Harry's false claims as a Pure-blood wizard to be a disgrace to the old ways. Even though Presley himself had taken the time to teach harry about the laws and how to maneuver politics to refine his mask as Lord Obsidian.

Harry took the parchment without care, having received many of these parchments through the years. It was only a letter of notice, that his presence would be required tomorrow for an International Confederation of Wizards meeting. One that he would not be able to attend. He would have to make note to resign from his position on the in his seat on the ICW.

"Yes, I already know how to use politics to my advantage," He told the older man waving the parchment around. "If nothing else, my deception as Desmond Obsidian was perfect in preparing me for the ministry take over I have planned." At Presley's confused look he elaborated. "The Council has been trying to capture me since Sarah fell ill. I plan to use high authority in the British Ministry in order to abolish the Council legally. If nothing else I can take away their political power. And use what I gain to abolish the need for Their influence."

"So you're willing to follow the British government, the very same that betrayed you, and offered you to a tyrannical Dark Lord?"

Harry laughed humorlessly, "Do you know why they betrayed me Presley?" When Presley did not answer Harry continued. "It was due to fear. Voldemort offered the light a ceasefire and a binding agreement that no more blood would be spilled in that particular war if I was given over to them. Albeit I hadn't believed they would ever consider it, but after waking up in Azkaban after being captured and stunned by my former best mates, I knew then that fear could guide a man's actions."

"So you would trust them now? Because you can forgive them for their fear?"

Harry snorted. "No, you know I would never trust them again. Nor will I ever forgive them. Quite the opposite in fact. I planned to use this opportunity to defy them. They think me controllable, and weak. Without any training and willing to do anything to escape life in Azkaban again. If I had stayed in Azkaban maybe I would have been. But I completed my magical training years ago. And I know more about the laws than likely the whole ministry put together."

"Will you be part of the action?" Alice asked from the door way. "I placed Lily down for the night," She assured Harry who had looked as if he were trying to find out what she had done with his daughter.

Now that Alice was there, harry began telling them about the days' events. Having to tunnel and spell his way wandlessly through the ground to his original cell in Azkaban, to Shackelbolt's entrance, the trial, which had Alice giggling, his enrollment, and finally, his arrangements to live with Snape for the time being.

"I'll be leaving Lily with you tomorrow Alice, I'll need you to appear in Diagon Alley at twelve thirty, I have a plan for naming you temporary caregiver."

Alice blinked. "You've managed to form a plan already? I don't suppose you'll be telling me the details..."

Harry only smirked causing Alice to shake her head exasperatedly.

"Never mind, back to the topic of war. What in the Circe are you planning on doing about this enlistment. Will they be sending you into combat?" She asked worriedly. Harry smiled at her mother-hennaing.

"Not if the Wizengamot has any say about it. For whatever reason they wanted me to hold back from the action. They actually wanted me to be placed in off field duties. Possibly mechanics. I'm not sure why." Alice seemed perplexed by it as well.

Presley snorted, "It's politics you silly boy. Think about it. Britain is at war, And likely outnumbered by what ever their enemy is. So much so, that an official draft is placed. A draft that has effectively served to ruin all foreign relations that were just on the cusps of being reformed. Furthermore, they call a retrial, and order you to join the military. Why? Think you stupid boy." Presley said all this with a bitter tongue.

Harry didn't have to think long, when put like that it made perfect sense. "I was a world wide icon after Voldemort's first defeat. The only person in known existence to survive the killing curse, and the youngest participant in the Triwizard Tournament, and to actually win such. I became a political figure in my own right. One who could hold sway over others."

Alice seemed to have finally caught on and finished all of the their thoughts for them. "They wish to use you as a tool to gain allies. They even went as far as to enroll you in the army, completely legally, knowing that having you there would show other countries..."

Harry was finally catching almost completely on, and cursed himself for not realising sooner. He had originally joined the army in hopes of gaining public favor. If he was in the public eye more frequently, then the council were less likely to send more parties after he and Lily. But to know that the ministry wished to use him as a bait for other countries, it was both amusing and slightly unhelpful. Sure he could probably manage to gain Britain more favor in the world's eye, but in the end it was the government who would be able to gain allies. So they hadn't wanted him to fight after all. Which was a relief but a huge damper on his original plans. He was glad he decided to hide that paper from the initiation officer. He would need to make sure in the future that he was placed in a combative unit and not on off field duties.

Harry nodded to both of them. He glanced down at his watch, he had been there for and hour and a half. "I should return before Snape does, it wouldn't do to have everything spoiled too soon. I'll be writing to keep in touch, I'll need you to keep me up-to-date on the council Presley. Inform of of all their actions."

Presley sighed gazing at Harry with unsteady eyes. "Just be careful bo- Harry. Sarah was willing to believe you were something important, so important she gave the last few years of her life to you, so that you would have the opportunity to do what ever it was she was so sure you had to do."

Harry placed the parchment down on the desk. "Prophecies can be tricky, that is something I've come to learn. A prophecy will only tell of what may come to be, they are never certain. But Sarah was more sure than anything else of this."

Still, Presley said taken a seat behind his desk. "I worry for you lad. You Alice and Lily. You're all I have now. It took me a while to accept you as family, please don't have me lose you so quickly."

Harry looked at the man with almost sparkling eyes. "Presley-" He wanted to say more, but couldn't find the words. The man had never said anything like this before. He tried not to think about how final the mans words sounded. Did he think Harry would not be returning?

Alice sighed interrupting a potentially awkward moment, "I'll see you out."

After retreiving Lily, Harry stopped outside the Third floor cabinet. "I'll see you tomorrow Alice?" Harry asked.

Alice nodded. "Right after my shift at St. Mongos." She rolled her should and gave Lily, who was sleeping in her father's arms a quick peck. "Take care both of you."

Harry was relieved to come home to a still empty house. The lights were still off when he peaked his head out of the bedroom door to check and no light shone from The door Snape had earlier told him was his own.

He placed Lily down for good that night, and realised they would have to start getting her on a better timed schedule if he didn't want her awake at odd hours when she got older.

He discarded his clothing, cloak shirt and pants and stripped down to just his underwear. He had little clothes, and though Snape had not mentioned it earlier, he knew that they would need to go shopping the next day. That was why he had told Alice to meet them there in Diagon Alley.

And there he was, just pulling the cover back from the full sized bed, in nothing but his underwear was when it happened.

A frosty chilled expanded through the whole room, Lily whimpered but other wise stayed asleep.

Harry frowned glancing hesitantly around the room, unsure why he was getting goosebumps up and down his arms.

"Okay, I know you're there, whatever you are, just come out," He demanded lowly, not wishing to wake his daughter.

A soft chuckle came from his right and slowly in the dim lighting of the bed room a translucent silhouette began to appear. A ghost Harry realised. He hadn't known Snape was being haunted, but he was unsurprised, the man was an arse to everyone, there was bound to be a few who, even in death, would want to exact revenge. Possibly a resentful student or aggravated Death Eater. Those blighters had a tendency to hold grudges.

But the ghost before him was not child, or Death Eater.

"P-Professor Dumbled-dore?" Harry was left spluttering. If any were around to see he'd have argue that his mouth hadn't become unhinged, just slightly opened.

"Hello Harry," The apparition of his former Headmaster greeted waving his hands about enthusiastically. That damn twinkle in his eye left a chill down Harry's spine as the ghostly version made them appears shimmery and wet almost like water.

"How? Why?"

"Hmm," the old man said, "Well, my boy,I suppose being a meddlesome old man in life carried over to death, I couldn't leave a job half done, could I?"

A/N: So what'd you think? Was it unexpected. Let me tell you it was unexpected for me as well. I had originally planned of making Dumbledore alive and well but decided against that since I was definitely following canon up til the last couple of chapters in Harry Potter. Here's a hint to some of you trying to figure things out, though I already said this earlier in this chapter. The Battle of Hogwarts never happened.

But tell me everyone. What clues have you picked up along the way for this story?

Also I'm trying to write more european english and not american, so I'm replacing the z with s. (i.e realizing=realising) If that is annoying let me know and I'll change it.