Chapter 5

(Unused Classroom)

Harry relaxed against the wall after an hour's no stop training in many curses he had never heard about before, it seems as purebloods both Daphne and Tracy knew a lot more magic than halfbloods or muggleborn. According to Daphne it was due to a rather helpful but unknown law to most that allowed pureblood children to be taught magic at home. He found it just another bit of evidence that the magical world was controlled by blood purists. It seemed just another way to keep halfbloods and more importantly muggleborn behind the purebloods, it disgusted him. He had been surprised that Daphne and Tracy both agreed with his stance. It seemed, according to them, that there were some purebloods who wanted to see a change come over the Wizarding world and not the kind of change Voldemort and the Death Eaters represented.

"Not bad for our first training session," Daphne said with a smile having already guessed that Harry would be a fast learner.

Harry may have come into the Wizarding world late, but he had quickly adapted to it, his skills and power were beyond most of the school. He eclipsed most of the purebloods especially Draco and his bookends, he had survived three years of hellish adventures that had never happened to any other student in the history of Hogwarts. By rights he should be dead, but Harry refused to die and fought all the more to stay alive. It was one of the things that had first begun to intrigue her about the young green eyed wizard. While Dumbledore had tried to keep his adventures quiet he hadn't succeeded. Things got out mostly thanks to Snape's attempts to make a mockery of the young boy. Most of the Slytherins bought it but to the few who didn't believe what the others did it just made them hope Harry could be the one to bring about real change.

"How do you feel?" Tracy inquired from beside Daphne, feeling somewhat better after spending an hour in Harry's presence so she didn't get nervous talking to him.

"Tired, but focused," Harry answered as he stretched a little. "I just hope this training will help me survive this thing," he added. "Not that I don't appreciate the help," he told them quickly.

"It all depends on the tasks," Daphne pointed out. "We don't know what they plan to throw at you, so we can only plan for so much," she told him with a sigh.

"I know that Daphne, believe me I do," Harry assured her. "I guess I'm just frustrated that once again my life is threatened by someone who wants me dead," he admitted. "School isn't supposed to be a place where your life is constantly on the line, that you have to fight against someone's nefarious plans each year thus putting your friends lives on the line as they try and help you," he continued to vent as his frustration at what had befell him at Hogwarts boiled over.

"I can't say I understand what you are feeling as what you've gone through is unique and never happened to any other student at Hogwarts," Daphne told him as she sat down next to him. "I've gone through Hogwarts a History and even asked a few family friends in the Ministry who have access to historical files going back centuries, not one student has ever had to face what you've had to face," she informed him. "I almost begin to think that Dumbledore was letting all these things happen to you on purpose, but that doesn't really fit his personality and I can't really see him doing it as he seems to genuinely care about you," she added.

"No, me neither," Harry agreed as he recalled all the times Dumbledore had helped him over the years even when he had little reason to do so like during second year when all the evidence pointed to him being the Heir of Slytherin, especially when he was seen next to the petrified Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. "Snape... I could see doing all he could to get me killed, but even he doesn't have enough power at the school for it to be him," he mused.

"What is the deal with you and Snape, Harry?" Tracy asked, feeling Harry was beginning to trust them. "I've noted where you are concerned he loses all focus," she said with a frown.

It had always been a mystery why Snape acted the way he did with Harry, she knew most of the school would like the answer to this particular question. Granted the majority of the Slytherins loved the way Snape treated Harry and the rest of the school as a whole, it gave them no small measure of amusement to see Harry being put down time after time.

Harry slowly turned to her and she almost backed up at the look in his eyes, they were cold but she could tell the anger he felt was not directed at her but at Snape. "Snape was in school at the same time as my mother, father and his friends, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin and although there was a third friend I won't mention him here," Harry told them slowly. "They didn't get on. In fact you could say they despised one another. But it was only later on that things began to get nasty between them," he continued with a sigh as he recalled everything Sirius and Remus had told him. "Remus as you will recall is a werewolf, he only got into Hogwarts thanks to Dumbledore. They built the Shrieking Shack so he could be taken there on the full moon to transform, it is why everyone believes it is haunted due to his cries as a wolf," he went on, noticing the two girls were listening with real interest. "Snape got interested in where Remus kept disappearing to and so Sirius played a prank on him by telling him about the passageway under the Whomping Willow. Snape saw the transformed Remus and almost got killed, but my father saved his life much to his eternal frustration I'm sure," he paused as he recalled how Snape had revealed himself almost incoherent with rage as the story was retold.

"Why did Sirius Black tell him where Professor Lupin was? He must have known what might happen," Tracy inquired, shocked by the tale, having never expected such a tangled web between Snape and Harry's father and his friends.

Harry snorted a chuckle as he recalled Sirius's own response to that question when Hermione had asked it. "Oh he knew alright, but he felt Snape deserved it for trying to get Remus expelled," he answered much to their surprise. "In the end Dumbledore got involved forcing Snape to never reveal what he had seen. The fact he owed my father a life debt grated on him and his anger and hatred for the three just got worse as things went," he started up again. "Even with my father and mother now dead, Snape continues to hate them and I'm his sole outlet for that hate," he stated, locking eyes with Daphne first and then turning to Tracy. "Ever since I entered this school, Snape has taken his revenge on my father and his friends by going after me. It is why he attacks me whenever he can, it is why he takes all the points he does from me or sticks me in detention for the least offence," he said with a shake of his head. "It probably doesn't help that I look like my father somewhat, and I have my mother's eyes, but whether it has anything to do with it I don't know," he finally finished.

"Man I knew Snape could be twisted, but that is just childish," Daphne spat as she saw another side to her head of house. "You weren't even born when they went to school. To take out what boils down to an ancient school rivalry on you is just stupid and not what I expect from an adult," she added with a shake of her head, making her dark hair fly about her gaining Harry's attention for a few seconds before he shook his head and reminded himself he had only just really met these two girls.

"That is messed up, why haven't you told Dumbledore?" Tracy asked, wondering if Snape actually wanted to do more than just insult Harry. Was it possible he actually wanted to harm Harry even if only indirectly?

"I have many times, but he won't listen and always defends him. There is something between them I don't understand that makes the headmaster trust him," Harry answered with a frustrated shake of his head. "Whatever it is I hope it is worth it, I don't trust Snape and I never will," he stated.

"I guess for now you will just have to trust the headmaster to know whether Snape is a threat or not, but that doesn't mean you have to take the kind of shit he throws at you," Daphne told him with a speculative look on her face.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, not willing to believe she may know a way to get Snape to back off.

"If Dumbledore doesn't want to listen to you then go over his head to the board of governors or one better use your celebrity to go the Minister," Daphne advised him with a wicked looking smile on her face.

"The board won't listen Daphne, you forget Draco's all mighty father is on the board and he will do anything to keep Snape where he is and with no sanctions placed on him," Tracy reminded her. "Likewise he is also friends with Minister Fudge," she added.

"True but Harry is just as much of a celebrity as Malfoy and he is richer," Daphne argued.

"I am?" Harry asked in surprise turning back to face Daphne.

"You mean you don't know?" Daphne asked in genuine shock. "The Potters are an old family with a lot of property and a lot of money," she informed him, wondering why Harry had no clue as to his family's holdings. "They hold a seat on the Wizengamot and have had a member as Minister back some hundred years ago if I recall correctly," she told him.

"Holy shit," Harry said with awe, wondering why in the hell he didn't know any of this. Hell not even Hermione had told him about any of this and she seemed to know a lot about this family, it was her who had shown him his father had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team when he had been in school. "Guess I'm going to need to have a long overdue conversation with Dumbledore about this, aren't I?" he mused.

"I'd say so," Tracy agreed with a nod of her head. "Hell if it was me I would demand the information especially if he tries to blow you off with some excuse like you not being ready or old enough," she advised him. "You are the sole Potter heir and it makes me wonder if Dumbledore has been having his own people stand in the Potter's sted, thus using their votes in the Wizengamot to get what he wants," she wondered aloud. "It would be the smart thing to do as it would stop any of the Dark Lord's people from doing the same, but he still should have told you about it all when you came back to this world," she stated.

"I'll ask him later on about it all and see what I can do about talking to Fudge," Harry decided. "Maybe you are right and my celebrity status as you call it, might do me some good for a chance," he mused. "I don't really care for being famous, I'd rather have my family back," he admitted with a pained sigh.

"We've noticed that about you Harry, instead of basking in the spotlight you try and stay in the background. Although you end up there anyway," Tracy said in understanding. "It is one of the things we like about you. If Draco or even your friend Weasley were in your shoes they would be in everyone's face trying to remind everyone they were famous," she told him. "You, you don't care about being famous and that is unique," she added.

At the mention of Ron Harry stiffened as his memory of what he had learned what his former friend had almost done came back to him, he had to force himself to relax but he noted Daphne had caught his reaction.

"Harry you said you'd tell us later what happened with Weasley that made you so angry when we met up. So what happened?" Daphne finally asked. "The way you just reacted to Tracy saying his name means it must have been bad," she pointed out as gently as she could, as she knew whatever it was Weasley had done it had really angered Harry.

"He tried to hit Hermione during a rather nasty argument and would have done so had not Neville stepped in and caught him," Harry admitted after a few minutes. He wasn't surprised by the stunned looks the girls gave him in response to his statement. "I almost attacked him in response, but Hermione stopped me, and someone got McGonagall involved and she warned me away from Ron and from what I hear he is in deep trouble and will be for a while," he added.

"I almost don't believe it," Tracy said finally. "But having seen some of his temper tantrums I suspected he could be capable of such a thing," she admitted.

"I take it then your friendship with him is over?" Daphne inquired even though inside she felt like jumping for joy as she had never liked the red head. Having to put up with him would have been a nightmare, if he was now cut lose she felt relieved. She had always believed Harry's friendship with Ron had been detrimental anyway, unlike Hermione he did nothing that actually helped Harry learn to survive in this world and mostly dragged him down doing useless things like playing chess.

"I can't see myself forgiving him, Hermione is almost like my sister," Harry answered with a shrug. "Ron almost hit her, the very idea he could do that makes me angry and his actions since my name came out of the Goblet has made me question whether he was ever truly my friend anyway," he told them.

"Daphne, we are going to have to go," Tracy suddenly said before Daphne could respond. "We've got Arithmancy," she reminded her as she got up.

"Damn," Daphne cursed as she had wanted to stay and get to know Harry better. "We'll pick this up tomorrow Harry, same place same time," she told him as she put things away and headed for the door.

"Ok," Harry responded, feeling somewhat let down their time was over already. "I'll see you later," he added watching them leave, but remaining where he was and thinking over what Daphne had told him about his family.

+TWS+

(Hogwarts, Potions Office)

Snape sat in his office looking at the letter he had just received with relief. It was brief and coded with a code only used by Death Eaters. It seemed his Master was closer than he had imagined to regaining his body, the message was brief and only ordered him to keep an eye on Potter and ensure he didn't get himself too badly hurt in the tournament. It didn't say anything as to why he was to ensure Potter's good health, nor was he inclined to ask if he could. If his Master wanted Potter healthy it had to be for a reason that benefited him, but what that could be he did not know. He closed his eyes and pictured the future where Dumbledore and all his followers were dead and his Master ruled, and more importantly he had his long overdue reward. He remembered his last talk with his Master just before he had gone to the Potter's house, he had been promised Lily Potter. And if the Dark Lord had to kill her to get to the brat, then he swore as a reward for his faithful service to bring her back through the knowledge of ancient dark magical rites.

When the Dark Lord had his body destroyed he had been angered, even more so that his fall had been at the hands of the Potter's brat. The only thing that had sustained him in his undercover role at Hogwarts had been his Master's return, and the fulfillment of his promise to bring Lily Potter back to life. He had dreamed many a time of a future where Lily would be his, her spirit broken by her death and returned to life plus the knowledge that her precious son the thing she died for was dead as well. Yes he could imagine her on her knee's willing to do anything he asked, the broken look in her eyes would be addictive to look at. It would be his ultimate revenge on her for refusing his advances, and his revenge on James Potter for taking what should have been his. Keeping this knowledge from Dumbledore had been the real challenge. He had been taught Occlumency by the Dark Lord himself, but he still worried that one day his shields wouldn't hold up against the old man's probes.

He quickly took the note and burnt it in the nearby fire place. It would do him no good for it to be found by someone especially the ever paranoid Mad Eye Moody. The fact Dumbledore had hired the retired Moody as defence teacher had been worrisome. The man may be paranoid and old, but he was still the best Auror to ever walk the streets. Even Voldemort had respected the man's skills, and that was a rare feat. Exiting the classroom he paused and wondered just what the Dark Lord planned, and when the plan would be activated. Would he been notified or left in the dark? Either way the Dark Lord knew where his true loyalty lay and he didn't doubt that if Voldemort got his body back he would be sent for.

+TWS+

(Headmaster's Office)

Dumbledore looked up as someone knocked on his door, expecting Harry and Miss Delacour to return to finish their conversation from the night before. He was thus surprised to find it was only Harry himself who had come. He leaned back and noted the rather intense look in the young man's eyes. Something was on his mind and he wondered what it was, he waited as the young man sat down and stared right at him. He had to remind himself not to try and read Harry's mind as that would be a violation of the trust between them, so he waited.

"We need to talk Professor before Fleur comes here to finish our conversation from yesterday," Harry began, wondering if the headmaster would be honest with him. "Sir I need to know why you've never told me about my family's wealth and place in the Wizengamot?" he asked.

Dumbledore's eyebrows went up as he heard what had brought Harry here. 'How had he found out about the Potter fortune and seat in the government?' he wondered. He hadn't actively been hiding the information from him, more like waiting until he believed Harry being old enough to use the wealth and power that came with it wisely. He had seen what money and power had done to Malfoy and those like him, he had no wish to see Harry transformed into something like them. And that was something he feared when Harry first came back to their world, so he had held off and watched and waited to see what kind of man Harry would grow up into. So far Harry had proved to be exactly the sort of person he had hoped him to be when he older, strong, willing to sacrifice himself for his friends and even those he didn't know well. Granted he had a knack for getting into trouble, but it was usually for a good cause and that boded well for the future.

"May I inquire who gave you this information?" Dumbledore asked, leaning forward in interest.

"Not right now, but let us say I have some new friends who told me when I answered a question that showed my complete lack of knowledge of it," Harry answered. "Now please headmaster I need to know," he added.

"Very well Harry, I want you to understand I was not withholding this information for any nefarious plot, but was waiting until you had grown up somewhat and would be able to wield the money and power with wisdom and not like Malfoy and his ilk do," Dumbledore finally replied and was grateful when Harry nodded in understanding. "Power and wealth have a way of changing people especially if they are not wise or experienced enough to resist it's call. I wanted to ensure you had that experience before I told you about your family's riches," he stated. "So far you've proven to be someone I believe could do wonders with such power and wealth, but I still fear you might let it go to your head," he admitted with a sigh. "The Wizarding World needs you Harry, more than you or they know. I'm sad to say I'm getting on in years and soon I will need to stand aside for someone to take my place as the one people look up to," he went on. "I have been hoping and praying you would prove to be the person who would replace me" he finished.

Harry stared at the headmaster in shock at his admission, especially the bit at the end. Him replacing Dumbledore? That was a mind-blowing concept. "Sir, how could you possibly think I could replace you? I'm still in school and I have a Dark Lord after my head along with his followers so what makes you think I will survive to do anything?" he asked, trying to control his emotions but finding it difficult.

"I have faith in you Harry to succeed against Voldemort and his followers. So far you've proven more than his match especially when helped by your friends," Dumbledore answered, unsurprised by the young man's response. "And I intend to help you as much as I'm able, as for replacing me I don't mean right now or even a year or two down the road," he told him with a soft chuckle while Fawkes crowed in what sounded like laughter behind them from his perch. "I'm talking of the future where you are a grown man, and Voldemort is nothing but an old memory," he assured him.

"Oh," Harry said, somewhat embarrassed but he was unsure if the headmaster was realistic. Voldemort was powerful and when he got a body back he would be even more dangerous than he was as a wraith, the chances of him being able to defeat such a foe was slim. Still hearing the headmaster had faith in him was reassuring, maybe the training he had started with Daphne and Tracy would not just be so he could survive the tournament. Maybe he should continue it even once the tournament was over. It was time to start getting serious.

"Now may I inquire as to why you wished to know about your family's wealth and seat in the government?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Because sir I intend to use it to gain Fudge's attention," Harry responded as calmly as he could.

"For what purpose Harry?" Dumbledore asked in surprise at the answer.

"First for a personal problem I'm having to which I'm hoping Fudge can do something about, and second so we can combat the hold I take it Malfoy's father has on him if I heard correctly from my new friends," Harry answered.

Dumbledore frowned as he listened to the answer and wondered who Harry had befriended now that would know such things, the close friendship between Fudge and Lucius was well known in the Wizengamot and most adult witches and wizards. Steepling his fingers he wondered if Harry knew exactly what he was actually suggesting, it was more than just friendship between Fudge and Lucius. He had long suspected there was a lot of money exchanged so that the Minister would do as Lucius wanted.

"Are you aware Harry of just what it might take to get Fudge to do what you want and ignore Lucius?" Dumbledore asked just to see if Harry was aware of what he may have to do if he wanted to combat Lucius's hold on Fudge.

"I do sir, I'm not blind to believe there is not some sort of bribery going on," Harry explained in answer. "I know Malfoy and others were arrested after the first war as followers of Voldemort and yet nearly all of them got away with it," he told him. "The only way they could do that is with bribery, unless the entire government at that time was just plain stupid," he added sarcastically at the end.

"You've been studying our history I see," Dumbledore said with an approving nod. "Yes they escaped by bribing people like Fudge who became Minister just after the war ended. In fact I'm sure that is where their supposed friendship began," he admitted. "Again Harry you have impressed me, I wasn't aware you knew of such things," he told him with a smile. "If you are certain you can handle the wealth and power of your family then I will take you to Gringotts to hear your parents will, we have time before the next task starts," he offered.

"I can handle the wealth sir, which will never change me especially as long as I have friends who are there to remind me of what is really important in the world," Harry replied. "I don't think I'm ready for the power though, I take it you have someone standing in for my parents who you trust?" he admitted.

Dumbledore again felt his eyebrows go up in surprise at Harry's knowledge of things he shouldn't know just yet. It was true he had moved fast to ensure the Potter seat was not taken by someone who supported Voldemort's ways. He had entrusted the seat to an old friend and colleague during the war, Elphias Doge had been a member of the Order of the Phoenix during the war. He had also been a school friend when they were both in Hogwarts together, my how long ago that now seemed. He trusted Doge to use the power that came with being the proxy for the Potters wisely and so far he had done a great job. The fact Harry seemed to know he wasn't ready to take over his family's seat relieved him.

"I do. I choose a most trusted friend and someone who fought alongside me against Voldemort," Dumbledore told him. "He has held the seat since just after the war, he can be trusted to hold it until you are ready to take it up," he assured him.

Harry nodded, willing to trust Dumbledore's opinion of this friend of his. He may not be ready to wield the power of his family, but he could still use it to try and influence Fudge. If Daphne was right and his family was an old one with money and power, then it should be enough to get Fudge's attention at least.

"I trust your opinion sir, and I want to hear my parents will as soon as you can arrange it," Harry finally said. "I fear things are reaching a point that we will be facing Voldemort again and this time he will not be just a wraith," he said. "I've been having dreams sir, visions of an old house and Pettigrew is there kneeling in front of a chair where I can hear Voldemort's voice coming from though I can't see him," he admitted. "There is another man who I don't recognize, they are planning something connected to me and the tournament," he added.

Dumbledore became pensive as Harry explained this, wondering if it was just a dream or a vision as Harry had said. "How long have you been having this vision or dream?" he asked.

"Since just before the world cup," Harry answered. "At first I paid it little head, but then the Death Eaters attacked the world cup. I saw them as well as the dark mark the strange man conjured that scared them off," he explained. "In fact if I close my eyes and picture that man, he fits the unknown man in my vision," he said.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair as he considered all this, it was troubling. Was Harry's name coming out of the Goblet another plan of Voldemort's to regain his body? How he did not know, but maybe he had made a mistake in not doing more to try and get Harry out of the whole thing. Although there was little he could have done, the Goblet constituted a binding magical contract. How did this unknown man at the world cup fit into things? Was it possible another of Voldemort's servants who had escaped punishment?

"I will think deeply on this Harry I assure you, for now though I just want you to focus on surviving the tournament," Dumbledore finally told him. "I will make arrangements to take you to Gringotts soon, I thank you for your trust and your willingness to listen to my reasons," he told him.

"Thank for your honesty in return sir," Harry replied before he got up and left the office, having a lot to think about.

Dumbledore rested against his seat as Fawkes sang from his perch, the notes calmed him as he thought over his recent conversation with Harry. It showed Harry had grown up far more than he had originally thought. He wondered again about these new friends who were not only helping Harry, but also making him aware of things he had not known before. He promised to keep a closer eye out just in case he saw Harry with these new friends. He didn't mind them helping him or even giving him information he hadn't known before, just as long as they didn't try and steer Harry in the wrong direction. His mind also locked on what this personal problem Harry had that he wanted Fudge to fix for him.