Disclaimer - I do not own the characters in this story only the plot.

Title - Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 2 - The Attack

The following day the golden trio sauntered off to breakfast where they received their schedules.

"Yuck! Double potions with Slytherin first thing." Harry exclaimed

Ron snickered, "That's why I'm glad I failed my potions OWL. I don't miss that greasy git for nothing."

Hermione stood up, glaring at Ron, "Ron, it wouldn't hurt you to look out for your future for once. Harry and I are willing to put up with potions if it means better opportunities when we graduate." Hermione straightened her robe and gathered her books to head for class. "Coming Harry?"

Harry swallowed the piece of bacon he was chewing and grabbed his books. "Coming mother" he grinned "See you at lunch Ron."

Potions class went normal enough. Gryffindor lost points and Slytherin gained points even though Hermione clearly had the best potion. The only odd thing was the way Snape kept looking at him. It unnerved Harry a bit. It wasn't the usual loathing. It was almost a blatant curiosity. Harry just tried to ignore it and finish his potion.

Eating lunch with Ron was enlightening. The great strategist that he is, Ron had wonderful new quidditch tactics for the new year. They were definitely going to crush the Slytherins this year. And if Harry could manage to stay out of trouble they might win the house cup too.

After lunch Harry enjoyed getting dirty in herbology with Ron and Hermione. Harry wasn't necessarily good at remembering the magical properties of plants. Nor, was he good at translating any of this knowledge to potions, but he did enjoy working with his hands. But next was a dull History of magic class on the evolution of trolls (or lack there of).

Harry was glad to be headed towards the entrance hall just before dinner, after having taken a quick shower to clean up a bit. Ron and Hermione, who didn't manage to get hit with a big clump of dirt in herbology, went ahead without him.

Professor Severus Snape's POV

Severus had a free period before dinner and he used it to walk around the lake. His thoughts kept going back to one Mister Harry Potter. He looked different this year. He wasn't that spitting image of his father anymore. He almost looked like ..... 'No. I'm being ridiculous. He couldn't possible be him.' He thought. "Insufferable Gryffindor. It can't be him. I'd know." He let out a growl and headed for dinner.

He entered the great hall, sweeping in like a bat, and terrified a few first years in the process. He was almost enjoying a conversation with Flitwick when his attention went to Harry Potter who had grabbed his forehead and gasped. It coincided with the alarms for the wards going off. Than the doors burst open to reveal the scaly bastard himself, Lord Voldemort, accompanied by a few death eaters.

Severus joined all of the teachers who were pointing their wands at him when The Golden Boy jumped up from the table and charged at the snake. 'Stupid Gryffindor.'

"Voldemort. You're mine. This is our duel not theirs. Let everyone else go."

Then that high-pitched voice cut through the room. "Harry Potter. Always the brave one aren't you. I will leave the others alone but they will stay here to see you die."

The professors were all trying to get through the shield Voldemort had put around him, his death eaters, and Harry. Poor Professor Sprout was thrown across the hall when she touched the ward.

Severus raised an eyebrow when he saw Potter drink a bright blue potion he had pulled from his robes. 'What could that be? Not very many potions that color.'

Then began the duel, dodging Voldemort's cursing and throwing his own hexes.

'The kid is good' Snape mused.

Potter actually managed to hit the monster with an impediment curse but it only held for a second. It was then that the worst happened. While Harry had been dodging curse after curse a death eater had grabbed him from behind. Severus hated the powerless feeling, not being able to save the boy. Potter seemed to have a resigned look about him. The potions master was curious to what the potion was and was waiting for the inevitable killing curse to be uttered.

Voldemort, if he were able to, would have been smiling. "Potter, now it is time for you to die and nothing painless like that silly death curse. This curse I created just to use on you. Say goodbye Potter."

Harry shut his eyes tightly and when the teachers tried to reach him to save him they hit the invisible barrier again. Severus could see Albus trying to disable it. But everything in the hall stopped as Voldemort shouted the curse.

"Abuto Viginti Aera Minuo"

And Harry Potter disappeared.

A/N:

"Abuto Viginti Aera Minuo" is probably a very poor use of Latin that I hope says "to make twenty years younger" I'm sorry if there is a Latin scholar that I have offended.

I know that the idea of making Harry younger than he could exist as a way of killing him has been done but I hope that I've added my own twists to it.