Chapter Eighteen: The Fool, the Snake, and the Stone

To be honest, Harry was too busy the first week to miss Ron, Hermione, or Hogwarts. Considering his day began before the sun rose and ended with him going to bed at an unusually early hour, he had been too busy and too tired to think of anything but surviving the week.

Every morning, his first priority was to keep Sensei from killing him. That lasted for two hours. Once he managed to survive, he had an hour to shower, dress, and eat breakfast while reading the day's papers. These activities happened before eight in the morning, at eight classes began. First Herbology in the Potter greenhouses, then Potions in the lab, why potion labs were always set up in basements, he never knew. At least the basement of Castle Potter was well ventilated. After morning classes, he had an hour and an half break for lunch where he read mail, business reports, and finished reading the newspapers. After lunch his afternoon classes, which were Care of Magical Creatures and Science began. This went on until five. He and Sensei ate dinner at six, then after dinner, he spent a half hour on his Japanese language tutorial. After that, he chilled out in front of the telly, while reading over his texts for his next day classes. If he were lucky, he would write back and forth with Takashi, who being eight hours ahead, was usually just waking to begin his morning training. Sometimes, the only thing that kept him going was knowing that if he collapsed under the pressure, he wouldn't be able to see Takashi during winter holidays. When he told Takashi this, Takashi had informed him that the World Kendo Championships were being held in Glasgow, which meant Harry would also see Takashi for a week in May as well, so it was in his best interest to persevere. So Harry did, even if it meant, he often found himself in bed by nine.

Being the only student in his lessons, he couldn't ignore his instructors, goof off, nor close his eyes and nap. Though to be fair, his classes were interesting, his instructors worked hard to engage him in discussions, so it wasn't just him sitting in a chair taking notes while the instructor rambled on. So far, he mainly sat around with his professor discussing the required reading, discussing theories to make sure he comprehended what he read. Even practical work was interactive. Instead of being focused on a grade, like at Hogwarts, it was more about making sure he understood the concepts. If he got confused or stuck on a pertinent point, his professors were there to bounce off ideas on how he could fix whatever problem he had, without outright giving him the solution to said problem.

Classes while intense weren't his biggest stresses that week. What had really unnerved him was the stack of letters May had given him from his backlogged fan mail. If you ever wanted to be grossed out, try reading years of fan mail from Ginny Weasley. The letters were somewhat stalkerish and scary. Immediately upon finishing Ginny's letters, he'd written Bill Weasley and forwarded a copy of the letters to him. He suggested that Ginny, like him continue working with the mind healer, despite her being back at Hogwarts. He also sent a letter to Hermione addressing his concerns and seeing if she could gauge if the girl was finally overcoming her strange obsession with him.

Therefore, his Saturday morning meeting with Dumbledore was almost a relief, especially when he caught the look of anger and betrayal that flashed across Dumbledore's face, when he walked through the fireplace inside the Headmaster's office with Sensei, Sean, and a contingent of goblins.

"Harry my boy, what is the meaning of this?"

Harry sighed. "Mr. Dumbledore, I keep telling you my name is Lord Potter. Would you excuse me for a moment, I need to escort everyone down to the Chamber of Secrets. I'll return shortly to begin our meeting."

Dumbledore rose from his seat with a scowl on his face. "I am afraid I can't allow that. I cannot allow unauthorized guests access to the castle."

Harry snorted. "Now, you're worried about protocol? Seriously, Mr. Dumbledore? Okay, if you're sure, I'll contact my attorneys. I had assumed with you being the head of the Wizengamot, and the ICW you were familiar with the Right of Conquest rule, and my right to claim the creature I destroyed in combat." Harry turned to Sensei. "Please contact the Potter attorneys and my press agent."

"Harry," Dumbledore began. "That won't be necessary."

"Yes it is. Now, shall I contact my attorney and have my press agent contact the media?"

"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore bit back shortly.

"Cool." Harry beamed happily. "It won't take me long to show them the entrance to the chamber. Thanks for your patience, Mr. Dumbledore. I'll be right back. What's the password to get back in?"

"Caramel toffees."

Harry snorted and left after he returned he saw Dumbledore eyeing Sensei and Sean with distrust.

"I believe I requested a private meeting."

"This is as private as it gets, Mr. Dumbledore. Even if you weren't a threat to me, my security team follows me everywhere. Don't worry with the oaths they took their more secure than anyone and can keep any secret that involves me."

"How long have you had a security team? I don't recall seeing them before."

"Really," Harry said truly surprised. He turned to Sensei. "A week's paid vacation at any overseas Potter property to whoever was on-duty the other times, Dumbledore tried to confront me."

"Of course Lord Potter."

With the faux subservience in Sensei's voice, it took everything in Harry not to break down in laughter. He turned back to the headmaster before he gave the game away. He whipped out his wand and conjured three squishy chairs in front of the headmaster's desk so he, Sensei and Sean could sit down as the headmaster's office didn't have any.

"How can I help you Headmaster," Harry asked pleasantly. "Normally, I'm well aware of the purpose of my meetings before acceptance. I'm sorry, I couldn't come sooner, but I've been swamped with my new class schedule."

"Ah, I can't say I am not disappointed in seeing you drop out of Hogwarts. I know we've had our problems," here Harry snorted, "but I am sure your parents would have—"

Harry rolled his eyes, so like Mrs. Weasley he was going to try to guilt trip him by bringing up his parents. Had he really been that gullible? Harry sighed, as he already knew the answer to that question, yes he had been.

"Unfortunately, they aren't here, so I have to make my own decisions. Although, I can't help but hope my parents would've been overjoyed I'm alive and they hadn't died in vain. I hope they would be proud that I'm following my dreams instead of fighting for my life as I did every year I've attended your school. It's very relaxing to have the opportunity to learn without being distraction by life and death situations or being harassed by unqualified teachers."

Dumbledore leaned back in his seat and sighed his hands absently stroking his heavy beard.

"I believe we will just have to agree to disagree. I am very proud of Hogwarts and the education we are providing to the next generation of witches and wizards. But I did not call you here to debate the efficiency of Hogwarts."

"You didn't?" Harry asked somewhat surprised. He assumed he was going to try to blackmail him to attend the school or do something in that capacity. "Then why am I here?"

"Harry, how did you learn about the prophecy?"

"That's all you wanted to know?" Harry asked shocked. "Is this why you attempted to kidnap me? Because you want to know how I learned about a prophecy that concerns me? You could've just asked you know. It's not some big secret. An Unspeakable told me."

Harry could tell he was driving Dumbledore crazy.

"I am sorry that they informed you of the prophecy orb, that is knowledge that should not be shared. I—"

"And I'm sorry that you feel it is your right to determine the action of others. It is their job to inform me of such matters, Mr. Dumbledore. Unlike you, I believe they felt that is well within my rights to have knowledge of events that concerned my future and me. Was there another purpose to this meeting?"

Harry knew he couldn't maintain his composure much longer. His magic was bubbling under the surface and it took everything in him not to lash out at this man. Albus Dumbledore had wronged him as much as Thomas Riddle had and it annoyed him that he had to sit here and pretend he hadn't. Why did he? Was he hoping for a sincere explanation, a real apology? He glared at the self-important man sitting in his too elaborate, self-absorbed office space.

"Harry," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "I know you'll never forgive. I know you'll never believe that I had your best interests in mind, but I did."

"Mr. Dumbledore, to me you are just another Thomas Riddle. Now, please tell me why you called this meeting."

Albus Dumbledore blanched at his words. "Harry, you really can't believe that?"

"If I have to ask you to call me Lord Potter one more time, you are not going to be happy Mr. Dumbledore. Why. Am. I. Here."

"I know it's hard for you to understand, but you are too young to be burdened with the responsibility of the prophecy."

"Yes, but when have I ever been allowed to be a child Mr. Dumbledore. I haven't been a child since the night you dropped me off at the Dursleys like a bottle of milk. I haven't been a child since the morning my loving aunt shoved me in a cupboard under the stairs and I became a punching bag to that family. I haven't been a child since I came to your school and you tossed me into manufactured situations to test my readiness to be your soldier for the light. Once again, is this all? Was this the only reason why you wanted to meet? I have a busy day ahead of me."

In his anger, Harry hadn't noticed the sparks emanating from his body waiting to be unleashed.

"No, the prophecy was not the only reason, Harry. I noticed that the scar on your forehead disappeared. How did that come about?"

"Bruise salve," Harry answered shortly, giving a half-truth. "Is there anything else, I'm bored, and you aren't my headmaster anymore so I don't . .. Oh, I have something for you." Harry dug into his backpack and handed the Headmaster a thick roll of parchment as soon as Dumbledore touched it the magic flared and the paper unfurled locking him into a magical agreement. "The Potter attorneys asked me to give this to you. It's a summons to appear before the Wizengamot. You are going to have to answer charges for violating the will of a Lord of an Ancient and Noble House, for taking illegal custody of the heir, and placing said child in a neglectful environment. You are also charged with blocking all attempts for the Potter retainers to contact me and inform me of my heritage, among other things too numerous to name.

Dumbledore affected a sad grandfatherly mien as if Harry was the one at fault. "Harry, I know this is hard for you to believe, but I've always had you're best interest in mind."

"How?" Harry asked plainly.

"You are aware of the prophecy you needed to be protected. When your mother cast herself in front of you a powerful protection, protection that solidified as long as you called a place where your mother's blood dwelled, your home. Your mother's blood dwells in yourself and in your Aunt. It was the safest place in the world for you."

Harry anger finally exploded. He rose from his seat and took a step closer to the Headmaster his anger causing his magic to erupt. All of the instruments in the headmasters office exploded, books flew off their shelves, papers flew everywhere as Harry glared daggers at the headmaster who sat behind his desk with a beign smile on his face as if chaos was not going on around him.

"Every person who knew my mother knew what an evil and mean spirited person Petunia Dursley was towards her sister and magic in general. But since the great Albus Dumbledore who is never wrong decided that is where I should've been left, it was fine. Why should you care if I was abused as long as I became your sacrificial lamb against Voldemort? After all, while I was stashed away, you sat here in your ivory tower with your fake grandfather smile sucking on candy reaping the glory of my family's sacrifice. Frankly, I think you are a disgrace and put far too much stock in your 'greatest wizard of the age' reputation."

Harry felt Sensei's hand on his shoulder and stepped back from the desk taking several deep breaths as he tried to calm himself. It was not working.

"As I suspected, this meeting was pointless. I believe I will wait for the team to finish rendering the basilisk elsewhere. Do not attempt to contact me again or I will kill you. Have a great day."

Harry swung around and strode out the office, the gargoyle lowered them into the main hallway, and he walked briskly down the hall, his shoulders shaking. He felt Sensei catch up to him and pull him into his arms. Sensei's hands massaged his scalp as Harry buried his face in Sensei's chest, his arms wrapped around the older man's waist as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"I want him dead, probably more than I want Voldemort dead. At least with Voldemort it wasn't personal," Harry whispered after a long while.

"He'll get his, Harry, but right now we have to focus on you, getting you strong."

"Yeah," Harry shuddered and stifled another sob. "It's hard. Sometimes, I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I get so tired. I wish I weren't alone."

"I know Harry. I know you miss not having your family, your parents, people you could depend on, but no matter what you believe, you aren't alone. I know it probably can't compare, but you have your friends, and you have me."

"You're paid to like me," Harry muttered sullenly.

Sensei sighed and pushed Harry's head back so their eyes met.

"I wasn't paid to take you to my home and introduce you to my nephews who I love more than anyone else in this world. I wasn't paid to manipulate you into having dinner with me every night." Harry snorted a laugh. "Harry you've come to mean just as much to me as Takashi and Satoshi. I know I am not your parent, but you can unload on me anytime, okay?" Harry nodded and Sensei kissed his forehead. "Good, now let's go see if your friends can get you to laugh again."

Harry nodded and watched as Sensei disillusioned himself before Harry turned and made his way to Gryffindor tower ignoring the wide-eyed looks sent his way. Luckily, he did manage to stop and ask a passing Gryffindor the password to the tower.

Once he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry felt ashamed for never asking the woman her real name. Curious, he cocked his head and stared, the woman actually seemed somewhat familiar to him.

"I don't know your real name."

She smiled and inclined her head at him. "Lady Cordelia Potter, my Lord. I believe a younger version of myself is hosted inside a portrait at Castle Potter with my husband and sons."

Harry gaped at her. "You . . . you're the one who snapped at me for being a reckless Gryffindor? But, aren't you a Gryffindor as well?"

"Oh please. The Potters' wouldn't have survived if those foolish boys married equally foolish Gryffindor girls, your mother being the exception of course. I was a Slytherin in school. After my husband died, I became involved in charity work and donated funds to Hogwarts, which is why Hogwarts had my portrait commissioned. I requested to be posted here at the Gryffindor Tower so I could keep an eye on my descendants while they were at school and tell their parents what they were up to," she laughed. "Your father, the foolish boy, never figured out who I was or how his parents always knew what he'd been up to at school."

Harry thought about it for a moment, as a Potter, she would have more loyalty to the Potter family than Hogwarts, especially since she wasn't a former headmaster and bound by their oaths. He grinned.

"Will you do me a favor? Can you keep an eye on things going on here at Hogwarts and let me know if anything interesting happens that I should know about?"

"Yes." Amused she reached out, poured herself a glass of wine, and lifted the full glass to toast him. "I'm impressed, thinking like a Slytherin finally. Maybe there's hope for you yet."

With that, she swung open her portrait and let him inside the tower. Since it was Saturday, the common room was packed. There were several shouts of Harry's name as he entered the room. He stopped and chatted with his former housemates before dropping down on the sofa next to Neville who was reading some obscure Herbology text. Harry dropped his head on Neville's shoulder, which made Neville look up and sigh upon seeing the expression on his face. He could never hide from Neville.

"Dumbledore?" Neville asked resigned.

Harry nodded. "I wish I had parents to talk to."

"Me too," Neville said softly hugging him close. As always, sitting with Neville was calming. After a while, the tension he felt building up since he entered Dumbledore's office, melted away.

"Where's Ron and Hermione?"

Neville laughed. "After arguing all through breakfast they finally reached a compromise. They'll spend the morning in the library doing homework then they'll spend the afternoon flying."

Harry gaped. "Maybe I should start shopping for wedding gifts."

Neville snorted. Harry spent the rest of the morning chatting and laughing with Neville and the Quidditch team before walking with them to the Great Hall for lunch. The twins took them through an amazing short cut that had them darting through paintings and tapestries.

Harry laughed. "This is a Marauder worthy short cut."

Fred and George froze and swung around to stare at Harry shell-shocked.

"Harry, you—"

"-know the Marauders?"

"Well yeah," Harry stared at them confused. "But how do you know of them, they left Hogwarts ages ago, did Professor Lupin tell you?"

"What does,"

"Professor Lupin know"

"about the Marauders?"

Harry laughed. "I seem to know more than you."

Fred and George shared a look indicating that they were having one of their private conversations. They turned to see the others had moved ahead of them. Fred went into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a worn, heavy piece of parchment. Harry gasped and held out his hand only to find it shaking. He dropped it back to his side.

"You stole it from Filch?" he asked shakily. "He confiscated it from the Marauders when they were in their seventh year."

"Yeah, back in first year," George began.

"When we were young and innocent."

Harry snorted. "Naturally. May I?"

They handed the map to him and Harry slid to the ground clutching it to his chest. When he finally came to himself, Harry dug out his barely used wand and held it to the parchment until the map glowed.

"Harrison James Potter, son of Prongs solemnly swears I am up to no good."

The twins gasped at his declaration, but Harry grinned as he saw his father's writing across the page.

"Prongs is happy to induct his little Prongslet in the fine art of pranking, just don't tell your mother, especially if your mother is the beautiful Lilyflower."

"Padfoot would be very disappointed if his future godson never learned the secret passageways out of Hogwarts."

"Moony is amused that Prongs believes he has a chance with Lily."

"Wormtail agrees with Moony and welcomes the newest Marauder into their ranks."

He swung the map around so the twins could see the words before they were wiped clean and the map activated. He tapped his wand again and muttered 'mischief managed' before giving it back to the twins, a blinding grin on his face.

"That was awesome, thank you."

George passed the map back to Harry. "You keep it."

"It belongs at Hogwarts," Harry cast one, last longing look at the map before thrusting it back to them. "Give it back to me when you graduate. If I were you I would corner Professor Lupin, he was Moony and could probably give you some great ideas for the shop."

Fred and George both looked like Christmas had come early.

When they entered the great hall, lunch had begun. Harry saw Theo Nott sitting slightly apart from the rest of the Slytherins eating as if he were in front of the Queen. Harry noticed that the rest of the Slytherin table exhibited the same table manners unlike the majority of the students in the school. Harry sat across from Theo, piled food on his plate, and began to eat mimicking Theo's table manners.

"Am I ruining your reputation?" Harry asked somewhat amusedly by all the stares they received.

"Yes," Theo calmly answered. "I am known as the loner Slytherin who acts more like a Ravenclaw. I am the Slytherin who stays under the radar instead of rising up to lead the Slytherins as I should since not only am I the heir to an Ancient and Noble House, I am also a member of the peerage, which few can claim. I am the boy who has all that potential and doesn't know how to use it, apparently. It was a safe place to be under the radar and be constantly underestimated."

"And evil Harry Potter came and upset the balance of the universe," Harry said with mock sadness. "Seriously, are you okay?"

Theo laughed. "Harry you just took apart the ministry, former escaped Death Eaters, and nearly Dumbledore at thirteen years old not to mention the talk going on about the party at the amusement park and the jealously it inspired in everyone who was not invited. The other Slytherins are wondering how we were included and what they could do to slip in, especially as they now know you aren't biased against them as everyone had assumed. Slytherins respect power. You have always had power; they are thrilled you're finally using it. You not only invited Blaise, Daphne, Tracey, and myself to your party, you also issued more personal invitations to us. You've increased our previous non-existent profile a hundred fold. I am still underestimated, but now, no one will dare touch me or the other Slytherins you included into your little group. If I were so inclined and I often am, once I got back to my common room, I could stick a dagger into Pansy Parkinson's throat and no one would speak a word against me. It's rather refreshing actually."

Harry shook his head and took a bite of his vegetables. "I am glad I talked the hat out of Slytherin, dealing with all that sounds exhausting."

Theo just smirked but his eyes softened as Luna skipped in the great hall and plopped herself down next to Harry after kissing his cheek.

"Hello Luna love."

"Hello Harry heart."

"Any trouble with those pesky nargles yet, Luna love?"

Luna beamed. "No. On the first day back, Hermione, Daphne, and Tracey followed me back to the dorms and sprayed nargle repellent onto my belongings. When Professor Flitwick arrived and asked what they were doing, they explained about the infestation. Apparently, the potion Hermione created lasts for a month, so Professor Flitwick has a month to figure out a way to deal with the infestation, but if they come back, they said he wouldn't like what they have planned to permanently remove the pests. Oh, I do hope the nargles can be reasoned with because even though they're pests the plans those three have for the creatures are scary.

Harry bit his lips to stop himself from laughing.

"You know, I think I know just why someone created that stupid rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, because once those two houses get together and agree on something, world domination will occur."

Daphne and Tracey who were sitting a couple seats down from him heard him and smirked evilly in return.

"Harry!"

He was suddenly bowled over by Ron and Hermione, they fell to the ground hugging in a tangle of arms and legs laughing.

"What are you doing here?"

"Meeting."

They sat down and chatted happily with Theo and each other about the first week of school and Harry's rigorous tutoring program. When they looked up Luna had wandered off with a large bowl of fruit and seemed to be leaning against a wall talking to herself.

Hermione sighed. "I know with Luna that if something looks totally insane it has a slightly logical explanation, so can someone please tell me what it is, before I go crazy?"

"Your guards?" Theo said blandly.

Harry laughed and nodded.

"Huh?" Ron asked.

"My personal guards are under a heavy disillusionment charm. Powerful magic users are sensitive to the magic in the environment and can see through it. I've been in Dumbledore's presence with them several times and he's admitted to not noticing them."

Hermione gasped. "Luna is more powerful than Dumbledore?"

"In raw magical power, yes, but of course knowledge and experience is another matter."

They continued to talk throughout lunch, eventually the Goblins returned and approached. Harry rose from his seat and bowed to the warrior before him.

"We finished rendering the basilisk and made our analysis, it seems its worth more than we anticipated and have updated our records accordingly."

As they spoke as if on cue, several Gringotts owls arrived and dropped off official letters to everyone affected by the basilisk last year, gasps could be heard from everyone, Ginny Weasley and Argus Filch actually fainted.

"Harry?" Justin Finch-Fletchley questioned in disbelief.

"In the wizarding world there is a law called Right of Conquest, last year I killed the basilisk inside the Chamber of Secrets so it became my property. I sold the basilisk to Gringotts that is your cut of the proceeds. If you're underage, a letter has gone out to your guardians to set up an allowance for you. Your guardians can't take any of the money out, but they can monitor and restrict your access," Harry looked up as Sir Nicholas the Gryffindor House Ghost glided into the room. "Sir Nicholas, I couldn't offer you compensation, but I used your cut of the proceeds to hire goblins to use a specially crafted blade that should remove the half inch of flesh around your neck." Sir Nicholas eyes gleamed. "If you do this, it can't be reversed, so it has to be something you truly want and not just to fit in with those idiots in the Headless Hunt. You're great the way you are."

Sir Nicholas blinked at his words silent, silver tears ran down his face as he bowed to Harry. "Lord Potter, you do your ancestors proud. I will think on your offer and contact you once I made my final decision."

Harry inclined his head. "Thank you. If you can give the same message to Myrtle. I couldn't give her compensation, but I found her brother and his family and distributed the funds between them." Sir Nicholas nodded and Harry turned back to the Great Hall. "Oh well, I caused enough chaos here for the day. Toodles."

Harry swept out of the great hall, the hems of another of his custom robes, this one in white billowing behind him.

Thirty minutes later, he stood in front of a dilapidated shack in the village of Little Hangleton surrounded by Unspeakables.

"This was the home of the Gaunts," Mr. D. said in an oddly familiar gruff voice. "They were purebloods so obsessed with blood purity they married brothers to sisters. Of course, that resulted in instability and squibs. Merope Gaunt was a squib who fell in love with a local nobleman," he nodded to a rundown manor in the distance, "Thomas Riddle. Merope doused Thomas with love potions, married him, and got pregnant. Once pregnant she deluded herself that Thomas was in love with her and stopped the potion, which made Thomas run away screaming about being bewitched. Penniless, pregnant, and alone Merope wandered the streets of London and gave birth to Thomas Marvolo Riddle at a muggle orphanage dying shortly thereafter. When Riddle was sixteen, he discovered his family history, killed the Riddles. We believe one of the horcruxes is buried here, the place is warded too tightly for it not to be."

Harry shivered as he thought of the loneliness of Voldemort's life, maybe the Thomas Riddle in the diary was right, and they really were similar. Half-bloods raised in the muggle world, where they stuck out, Slytherins at heart. But it was worse for Riddle, at least everyone had known Harry was a half-blood, the Slytherins must have assumed he was a muggleborn and treated him horribly until proven otherwise. Yet instead of using that experience and becoming stronger for it, Voldemort had lashed out and styled himself as a pureblood, and Slytherin's heir.

"There is a horcrux hidden somewhere in Hogwarts," Harry declared as he thought of Voldemort's life. "Hogwarts was where he first began, first felt comfortable. It would amuse him to have a horcrux right under Dumbledore's nose."

Mr. D snorted. "You could be right. Riddle asked Albus for a job as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor before his first rise. Albus turned him down and ever since, he hasn't been able to keep a Defense teacher for more than a year. If had time to place a curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, he had time to hide a horcrux."

"Why hadn't anyone tried to remove the curse before this year?"

"Albus believes the hype surrounding him. He was taught secrecy and lies from a young age," he said bitterly. "He believes if he can't figure something out, no one can."

Suddenly it became clear why Mr. D seemed familiar to Harry. Mr. D indeed, he was related somehow to Dumbledore.

"Does the headmaster know that you are the Head Unspeakable?" Harry questioned curiously.

Mr. D snorted. "As I said before, Albus believes he is the only person capable of greatness who is not dark. He believes my cover."

"Much to your amusement."

"Of course," Mr. D grinned. "Sibling rivalry is a tricky game to play. I believe they are ready for you now, Lord Potter."

Harry approached the shack. The wards had been dismantled with the exception of one by the door. Harry could feel the heavy coil of magic in the air. The Unspeakable pointed to the door where writing was carefully etched around the frame.

"Can you read that?" the man asked.

"Of course," Harry snapped. "I don't know what you've been told about me, but I can read."

The man snorted. "It's in parseltongue. Only parseltongues can see and decode the message, it's just gibberish to me. I could probably break the ward but doing so would weaken my core."

Harry flushed. "Sorry, it looks like English to me." Harry looked to the doorway and began to read the message unknowingly speaking the words in parseltongue. "None shall enter except those descended from Salazar Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four." Harry held out his hand and the snake bit it. "I beseech you to find me worthy and allow me entrance to this domain."

The door clicked open. Before Harry could push the door open and walk in, Sean grabbed his hand and pushed him back so they were the last to enter the room. By the time they were inside the house, the team had found a hidden trap door and lifted a box from underneath it.

Mr. Lovegood gasped. "The Resurrection stone, he used a Hollow as a horcrux."

To Harry's surprise, Mr. Lovegood had a maniac gleam in his eyes and was just about to put the ring on his finger before his hand was knocked away.

"Crazy old fool," the young Unspeakable snarled. "Not only is the ring a horcrux, it's also laced with a strong compulsion charm and several other dark curses."

Although Harry couldn't see Mr. Lovegood's face, he could tell the man was bright red with embarrassment. The Unspeakables got rid of all the charms and curses before pouring a few drops of basilisk venom on the ring. Just like in the chamber, an unearthly scream echoed around the shack as a cloud of black smoke rose in the air and disappeared. Mr. Lovegood took the ring and held it reverently in his hands for several moments before thrusting it towards Harry.

"It rightfully belongs to you," Mr. Lovegood said gruffly as if he were holding back tears. "You have Peverall blood in your veins and conquered the rings previous owner. Be careful, the stone's last true wielder went insane and killed himself from using the stone too much."

Harry took the ring and felt the intensely curious gazes of the room's occupants. Remembering the Tale of Three Brothers, and before he could stop himself, Harry closed his eyes and turned the ring in his hand three times. He felt a ripple of magic in the air but was too scared to open his eyes.

"Harry," a musical voice feminine voice said from beside him. "Open your eyes, love. I've missed you so much."

Harry's eyes snapped open and he couldn't prevent the tears from running down his face. His mother and father stood on either side of him. Off to the side, standing next to an oblivious Xeno Lovegood was a beautiful blonde-haired woman who reminded him of an older, more put together Luna. In shock, Harry sank to the floor landing unceremoniously on his butt. The three figures mirrored his movements and sat on the floor, only they were more gracious about it than he had been.

Mesmerized, Harry stared at the three, his eyes wide. They weren't ghosts, or at least they didn't resemble what Harry had come to know what a ghost looked like. They weren't transparent, yet when Harry reached out a hand to touch his parents, his hand passed right through them so he placed his hands firmly in his lap.

"Is this real?"

"We are here Harry," his mother said. "We love you, we are always with you."

"We are proud of you," his father continued. "I know you feel alone, Harry, but you are not. Can't you see what a beautiful soul you have? You see the good in everyone and your belief in them strives to make them try to be the best person they can be, just so that they can make your proud, even Sirius and Remus."

Harry snorted. "I still am not sure what to do about them."

"They're idiots," Harry's mum said bluntly, "But they are idiots who love you unconditionally. Give them another chance, I think they learned from their mistakes."

Harry nodded and they spent nearly a half hour talking. Mostly it was his parents reassuring him that he was doing the right thing and his father teasing him about his crush on Takashi, which his mother thought was adorable much to his complete embarrassment.

"Harry, you'll have to let us go now," his mother gently chided. "Keep the stone and the cloak in the vault Harry. And see if you can find the wand after this nasty business is taken care of. It's closer than you think. Too many people know and suspect what the Hollows are now and can't be trusted. They need to be kept away from everyone."

"Yes mum."

"Always remember that we love you Bambi," his father said. "We are proud of you and the man you're becoming."

Harry nodded tears running down his face.

"Harry," Mrs. Lovegood spoke up, Harry had forgotten she was there. "My being here shows what a great heart you have. Please tell Xeno to stop living in the past and move on. There is more to life than mythical creatures and conspiracy theories. And that Paris is beautiful. Can you write to Luna and tell her I love the flowers and she has to stop blaming herself, nothing could be done to prevent my death. Her face was the last thing I saw before I passed and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

"I'll tell her," he swore.

"We are always here Harry," his mother whispered. "You don't need a stone to tell you that."

"I love you."

Harry dropped the stone and stared at the awed faces of the Unspeakables surrounding him.

"I guess I was the only one who saw that?" Harry asked through his tears when he was able to gather his bearings enough to speak.

"Yes, but we could feel the magic in the air," an Unspeakable said. "It was unlike anything we'd ever felt before."

Nodding, Harry told Mr. Lovegood his wife's message and from the way everyone snorted and from the way Mr. Lovegood's face went crimson when Paris was mentioned Harry suspected the message didn't mean what he had originally thought it meant.

Glad it was over, he, Sensei, and Sean made their way back to Castle Potter. Harry went to his room to lay down. He had a couple hours to kill before he met Sirius.

At least now, he wasn't so scared of facing the cottage where his life had changed so dramatically.

Author's Notes:

*Happy Monday. I hope the Americans are enjoying Veteran's Day.

*This chapter feels a little rushed to me, so I hope you like it. Harry is very emotional in this chapter, understandably in my opinion, but I tried to tone it down some so he is not screeching like a two-year old. I hope you like it.

*As a side note the 2003 World Kendo Competition actually did take place in Glasgow, though technically in my story it will be 2004 when Harry sees Takashi at the match. Author's right, I guess.

*I hope everyone has a great week.

*As always, I do not own Harry Potter nor Ouran Highschool Host Club and I own up to all the mistakes that I made writing this.