-Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. The lyrics to "You Have to be Carefully Taught" is from South Pacific and is copyrighted. The full song can be Goggled. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't

Chapter 23: Harry With a Twist

Now that he had killed the great monster and the diary that was the real culprit, maybe things would get back to normal. Well, normal for him.

"I want to go home but I can't yet, can I?" He looked hopefully up at his father.

"No my son. You must finish the term. And it's no use wishing. I would not grant it." Jareth said, with a slight smirk. His hands tightened a bit on Harry's arm.

"Frack!"

"What have I told you about swearing?"

"Sorry?"

0o0o0o0

Harry sat on the train totally disgruntled. He hadn't managed to ditch Dumbledore's pet stooge this time around. The man had stayed with him from the time he woke up to the time they had to leave for the station. The man had even followed him into the dorm's bathroom er loo for pity sakes!

To make it even worse, Snape boarded the train with him and even sat in the same compartment. Dumbledore wasn't taking any chances this time. Ron and Hermione didn't look too pleased either. Thankfully, he still had his guitar case with him. He could lose himself in his music ignoring Ron's sour looks and wordless mutterings about slimey slytherins and greasy gits. Hermione lost herself in a book. She was no help.

Harry sighed as he remembered a song from South Pacific. Catching Ron's eye, he began to play.

You've got to be taught to hate and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You've got to be carefully taught

You've got to be taught before it's too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be carefully taught

Snape snorted, peering over the potion magazine he was reading. Harry caught the look and rolled his eyes, before going into another song.

They managed toget to King's Crossing without killing each other. As the train rolled to a stop Harry wondered who would be waiting for him, Mother or Uncle Cory? He shuddered at the thought of Snape speaking with his mother. He didn't want to even think about the fall out or the pool of goo if Mother decided to pour on the charm. ICK! That was just plain wrong!

"Potter. Bid your little friends good bye and come along. I would like to return to Hogwarts sometime today," Snape sneered at the trio as they started for the barrier.

"Bye! Harry! Don't forget to write!"

"Yea Mate. I'll let you know what Dad has plan for this summer. Maybe we can get together or something. See ya Mate!"

Harry waved as his friends disappear into the station with their families. Suddenly a beefy hand clamped on his shoulder, almost knocking him to his knees. Looking up, Harry saw the fattest, ruddiest man he had ever seen in his life. This wasn't a man, it was a walrus on two feet!

"Potter! You'll be spending the summer with us. The headmaster of that freak school has it all arranged," the walrus grunted.

Shaking off the hand, Harry moved away. "Just who are you?! I don't know you mister! Get the heck away from me!" Harry's voice started to raise in volume.

"Mr. Potter! Language. The headmaster has arranged that you should spend time with your relatives," Snape interjected.

"Well, no one's told me!" Harry cried indignantly. "I've never seen this man before in my life."

"Is there a problem here?" came a voice from behind the trio.

Harry turned to find a station bobby, peering inquisitively over his shoulder. "Yes sir! I don't know this man and he wants me to go with him!" the boy whined, moving closer to the bobby as if seeking protection. "For all I know, he's some sort of pervert or child molester." Harry was livid at this change of events. NO way was he going to go with this walrus. Time to put all those years of summer stock to good use ala 'Oliver.'

"Please sir? Can you help me?" Harry asked, flashing his best innocent look.

The bobby's eyebrow raised at Harry's statement. Looking from the walrus man to the greasy bat man. "Right. I need some ID's."

Harry snuck a look at Snape and almost burst out laughing. The man was struck dumb. YES! Snuffles owes me, big time!

"Now see here! I am Vernon Dursley. I am the boy's uncle. I was contacted by the boy's school to take him for the summer," Vernon huffed, turning redder by the moment.

Snape sneered, "I am Professor Severus Snape. I teach at Hogwarts, School for the Gifted. The Headmaster requested that I escort Mr. Potter to his uncle."

"And that would be me."

"UNCLE CORY!" Harry shouted with relief as he ran to embrace a tall blonde elegantly dressed man, who had just appeared.

"And what is going on here?" Cory asked, imperiously as he moved to protect Harry from the others. "I was given the impression that students were safe from this type of harassment at this station!"

"I was just ad-addressing that, s-s-sir," the bobby stuttered. Harry hid a snicker. Uncle Cory strikes again. Fae allure, gotta love it.

Vernon was now the ugliest shade of purple Harry had ever seen on a human being. "Now see here! I was told to pick the boy up. It's no loss to me where he goes. I was doing the headmaster a favor taking the freak in the first place. Always knew that my wife's sister's family were nutters."

"Some favor!" Harry grumbled. "I don't even know this guy."

"Right-o!" The bobby, now getting a picture of what is going on, spoke, "You two, come with me. There are laws about pedophiles, you know."

"Now see here!" Both Snape and Vernon roared at the same time. Harry turned away. It was hard to stay in character. He didn't dare to look at Uncle Cory or he was sure he would have lost it.

The bobby spoke into his mic clipped to his shoulder. Cory looked down at a shaking Harry who was hiding his face in Cory's arm. "Can't you stay out of trouble for five minutes? You haven't even made it home yet," he whispered.

Harry just shrugged.

Catching the bobby's eye, Harry whimpered, piteously, "Excuse me, Sir? Can I go home now? I want to see my mum."

0o0o0o0

Severus Snape stormed into the castle and up to Albus' office. Never had he spent a day like today. First he had to tail Potter all the way to London so that he could turn the brat over to his relatives. The train ride itself had been mildly entertaining as Potter played his guitar for most of it. However, never in his wildest dreams would he imagine that he would be accosted by the station security force for pedophilia! And Potter! All sweet and innocent. Butter wouldn't even melt in his mouth. How in Merlin's name did he get sorted into Gryffindor!? The brat was more Slytherin than Salazar himself!

"Albus! I know you are in there!" Snape raged as he entered the headmaster's office.

"Severus, my boy. Did Harry get picked up by his relatives?"

Severus growled under his breath. "Which one?"

"Whatever do you mean, my boy?" Albus looked up. "I arranged for Harry to stay with the Dursleys. Lily's sister and her family."

"Your plan back-fired, old man. Vernon Dursley was arrested for pedophilia and almost took me with him. Didn't you stop to think that you should've introduced Harry to his uncle before meeting at the station?"

Albus sighed, stroking his beard. "What happened?"

"Vernon Dursley is what happened. The man was the size of a beached whale and twice as revolting. He's the worse sort of muggle. I wouldn't leave a flobberworm with him let alone a child." Severus paced back and forth, still ranting. "I had to obliviate the muggle bobby and Dursley just to get away. Your precious Potter walked away with his other 'Uncle' who showed up. Both of them left as if they didn't have a without a care in the world," Snape snarled, pacing the headmaster's office. "Never again, Albus. Find someone else to deal with your 'little problem.' I'm going to my rooms. I wish to not be disturbed, for any reason!"

0o0o0o0

That night, Harry had his family in stitches as he re-enacted the train station scenario. "You should've seen Snape's face when I played poor little Oliver Twist. All alone and scared of the big bad perverts. I think both would've strangled me, if they could've."

Uncle Snuffles was rolling on the floor. "Good one, prongslet. Poor ol' Snivellus. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

Sarah reached over and thwapped Sirius in the back of his head with a rolled up newspaper. "Really! Stop encouraging him. Garion has to return to school next fall and face that man in class. This won't make it any easier for him."

"Indeed," Jareth said, coming into the conversation. "Although, I would like to know what the headmaster hoped to gain by involving the Dursleys. He must know that we would not stand for any interference in Garion's life."

"Father?"

"Yes, my son?"

"I am glad that you and mother raised me. That man was. . . " Garion shuddered. "The hate seemed to roll off him. Why would Dumbledore put me there in the first place?" Although Garrion was well trained in many magical disciplines, he was only a boy of twelve and still coping with the memories emerging from his past life.

Jareth closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Opening his eyes, he looked solemnly down at his adopted son. "Dumbledore is misguided in his use of the old magic. He fails to completely understand the consequences of his actions. He felt that the loving sacrifice that your mother made would carry over to her sister, your aunt through their shared blood. However, he was wrong. For the ancient blood magic to work, there must be love and a sense of family. Your aunt disowned Lily and wanted nothing to do with her world. This broke all blood ties and made the magic ineffective."

Garion was pulled into Sarah's arms. For all that he has been made to go through, Garion knew that he was loved and had been loved. He would be forever thankful that he been Wished Away.

0o0o0o0

Sorry for the long hiatus. Real life caught Frau and myself off guard. Well we are back. Sorry there was no scene with Dobby. We did mention that we weren't going to rehash the books but highlight certain scenes. So assume that the scene with Dobby happened. We can't believe all the reviews this story is getting. We're told it's even was giving a recommendation on another forum. Thank you!

Sorry about the flashback confusion. It'll be edited soon, we hope.

Frau and I thank you all for the wonderful reviews. Until next time. --GF and The Frau