1Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, Adrian Is Mine...not that I'm proud of it or anything but he is mine.

Darkest before the Dawn

Chapter 5

Return to Hogwarts

The morning of the Second day after they had escaped Voldemort, found Severus watching the boy sleep. Wondering how much longer he could wait before he snapped and fed from the teen he jumped when a rather loud pop announced the arrival of the foretold house elf.

Harry woke to the blazing white of the hospital wing and wondered briefly how he had gotten there. The arrival of Madam Pomfrey put a stop to his wondering. "Ah! Good I see you're awake." She cast a number of diagnostic tests on him before leaving him alone with the suggestion of a shower. "When your done Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office."

Nodding to her he closed the bathroom door and took a shower. Fifteen minutes later feeling refreshed and significantly cleaner Harry made his way up to the Headmasters office, only to realize that he did not know the password. Not that he had to worry though, for as he reached the entrance he found Dobby the house-elf there waiting for him. "Morning master Harry Potter, I is trusting that your sleep was being undisturbed by yous transport to Hogwarts this morning?"

"Is that how I got here then?" He mumbled before addressing the small creature. "Yes Dobby it was fine thank you."

"That is good Harry Potter, sir. Dobby is not wanting yous to be tired for your meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore." Some how they had gotten to the top of the staircase outside of Dumbledore's office, Dobby knocked once and pushed the door open to reveal the old wizard sitting behind his desk looking over a document. "Headmaster, sir. Dobby is bringing you Harry Potter as yous requested."

Dumbledore looked up at the house- elves voice, smiling briefly. "Thank you Dobby that will be all."

Harry sat in the chair across from Dumbledore the desk separating them and waited for the man to finish with what ever it was that he was doing. It wasn't long before the Headmaster set the paper aside and fixed him with an intense gaze, making Harry uncomfortable and subconsciously occlude his mind. After a moment a twinkle entered the old man's eye and he gave the boy a small smile. "Well it seems you aren't as safe at your Aunts house as we thought and because if this you have learned a secret that not very many people know."

"Sir?" Harry questioned a frown in his voice and on his face.

"It's my fault Harry and for that I feel must apologize. I knew that your realities weren't exactly nurturing to you...most of the time they where barely civil, but forgive and old man for thinking it was the only way to keep you safe not only from Voldemort but also from your fame." At that moment Dumbledore looked very tired and Harry couldn't be mad at the man for worrying about him, especially when so few did. "Other arrangements have been made for the remainder of the holiday. I believe Miss. Granger and the Weasley's will be quite happy to see you. As soon as the proper wards and precautions have been set in place Arthur will be coming to fetch you in a few days I should think."

"Don't the Weasley's have enough to worry about with there own kids sir? They shouldn't have to worry about me as well."

"Nonsense Harry, Molly insisted that they would look after you." Harry blushed he could see the Weasley Matriarch throwing a fit if anyone even suggested that they didn't have the means to take on another child. "Bill's moved home, and the twins are bringing in their own money, so they are more than capable of feeding one more mouth, but if it bothers you that much I can set up something to help pay for those expenses." Dumbledore gave him a serious look and Harry nodded.

"I would appreciate that sir." He replied quietly.

"I hope you realize Harry that the Weasley's love you and had I allowed them to they would have taken you as a baby as would have many other members of the order." Harry nodded again. "That said there are a few other things that need to be taken care of before we talk about before you can go. Sirius left you Grimmauld place..."

"You can continue to use it as headquarters sir. What about Kretcher though?"

"I do believe that Remus made a good show of eating him the full moon after the semester ended." Dumbledore had a melancholic look in his eyes, almost as if he did not know if to laugh and the image that his statement brought up, or to be saddened because of the loss it conveyed. "At any rate he will no longer be a problem. Winky has shown interest in being put in charge of the houses care, all that needs to be done is for you to bind her to the estate." Seeing the look on Harry's face Dumbledore quickly moved on. "Your godfather also left you the vast majority of his family vault, as well as a smaller vault he had set aside when you where born. He had three other vaults which he left to the Weasleys, Remus, and the Order. He also left this letter for you, which I suggest you read at your leisure." He handed Harry the cream parchment which the youth stared at for several moments before taking it and looking up at the old man.

"Thank you sir."

"Of course Harry. Now that that is settled, we should probably talk about Severus and this secret of his that you found out. More than likely to his displeasure." The twinkle was back in the Headmasters eye and Harry gave him a small smile, he really did have a tendency of finding things out that he wasn't supposed to.