The raven, Imber, chatted at Hedwig. Hedwig was on his right shoulder and Imber the left. He sighed as they continued to chat in the bird language ignoring the people starring at him. He rubbed his temples slightly and slid onto the train. He found an empty compartment and quickly locked it. He wanted some peace and quiet before Hogwarts. He sighed again as the two birds hopped to the luggage carrier and laid down on a seat easily drifting off in the beam of sun from the window.

.--.

Harry followed a stone hallway and soon came upon a larger portrait with a man grumbling to himself as he stirred a potion. The man looked up as he came close.

"Yes?" he sneered.

The man reminded him of Snape, except he had blonde hair. He couldn't picture Snape with blonde hair.

"Is Snape in?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell him I'm here then?"

The portrait grumbled, but the man vanished a moment later. A few minutes afterwards the portrait swung open showing a sneering Snape. He blinked at Harry though. Harry could see someone sitting on a couch behind him. Lucius Malfoy.

"May I come in" Harry asked.

Silently and slowly Snape stepped aside. Harry stepped in gently holding the two packages in his arms and Imber on his shoulders. Harry sat down on the couch opposite of Lucius as Snape sat beside the blonde. They both looked at him cautiously. Harry looked to Imber who was studying Snape. Then it cawed and hopped onto his shoulder preening Snape's bangs. Snape frowned at it.

"He wishes to be your familiar." Harry said easily.

Snape blinked. Then he opened his mouth before snapping it shut.

"His name is Imber, and I doubt you shall be able to get rid of him." Harry said.

Snape looked to the bird who gave a caw like laugh. Then Harry handed each of the two men their packages. He had known Snape was friends with Lucius and just planned to get Snape to send the package to the blonde, but as he was here already, having a drink with Snape, it worked out even better. They gently tore the plain paper around them (used to protect them) and stared at them. Finally Snape lowered his to look at Harry.

"You painted it."

It as a statement, not a question. Harry inclined his head.

"Amazing." Lucius breathed.

"I called the one I did for Snape 'Regret'." Harry said gazing into the inky depths.

The man gave a barely noticeable flinch. Lucius noticed and peered at Harry in a wary, curious manner.

"I named Lucius's 'Pride'."

Lucius quirked his lips at the title and Snape raised a brow.

"I did not know you were on a first name basis." He drawled.

Harry gave a smirk.

"Why give us these?" Lucius asked after a moment of studying them.

"I was simply bored and decided to paint. I felt it fair to give who I had painted the painting."

"Do you have any others?" Snape asked.

Harry gave a smirk and pulled a small necklace off. It was a locket that had all his shrunken paintings in it. Noir had given it to him. He unshrunk the few paintings he hadn't sold. The two gazed at the 'Black Innocence' and Snape's eyes grew slightly.

"That has a resemblance to the newly escaped criminal, Sirius Black." He said, the name sounding like poison.

"It's called 'Black Innocence'."

Their eyes searched him. He held up a few others, the men just staring slightly. Then he revealed the last one. The one of Tom. They both gave sharp intakes as they stared wide-eyed.

"W-who is that?" Snape asked swallowing hard.

They knew of course.

"Why Tom of course." Harry smirked. "He even posed."

They stared at the painting like the red eyes had them trapped. Harry returned the other paintings to his locket and stood. The two were still starring.

"I believe you call him Voldemort now."

Then he swept out before they could respond.

.--.

Harry peered over the twin's shoulders as they both giggled over a map. His eyebrows rose as he saw it was a map of Hogwarts, showing even the people.

"What is that?" he asked simply.

The two spun, automatically stuffing the map behind them. They blinked at Harry.

"Oh! It's you." They chorused.

Then they grinned.

"And this-" One started.

"Is the Marauder's Map!" The second finished.

"It shows everything-"

"Including people-"

"In Hogwarts."

Harry looked at it again.

"It was made by-"

"The greatest pranksters-"

"That ever lived."

The two shared a look.

"To activate it-"

"You tap it with your wand-"

"And say 'I Solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

"Then to wipe it-"

"You say-"

"Mischief Managed."

Harry raised a brow.

"And you're telling me because?"

"We'll give it to you." They said. "We've memorized it anyways. And think of it as a small thanks for saving our sister."

They stuffed it in his hands and then hurried off. Harry smirked at the innocent looking paper.

.--.

Harry set the paper gently in Filtch's hand. The man narrows his eyes at the paper then waved him on. Harry had easily gotten D to sign. As soon as he was free he hurrying down the path, striding easily. He reached Hogsmead in a few minutes and smiled. His first stop was Honeydukes. He slipped into the crowded store and gazed at the amount of candy. Then he was picking out things for himself and things to send D. When he was finished in the store he strode out and set out exploring the rest of hogsmead.

.--.

Harry painted the woman elegantly. He dipped the brush in the paint and finished the last delicate stroke of her face. He sighed slightly as he cut off the magic. He had been supplying magic to the brush and paint the whole time. As the last stroke finished and he set his brushes down the woman in the painting blinked. Large blue eyes were briefly covered by long lashes. Then her ruby lips twisted into a content smile. She laughed softly though no sound came out. Then she twirled around, her long white summer dress swaying with her.

She happily sat on the grass under the large tree and started to look out at the lake. The bright flower crown in her blonde hair swayed with the breeze. Her long pale blonde hair was also tugged playfully by the wind. The sun light lit up her pale skin and she gave another smile. Hogwart's grounds were empty except for the soft grass and flowers. The lake behind her glistened softly in the morning light. It was peaceful with only the woman singing. Harry watched for a moment, content to just admire his painting.

He heard a soft gasp behind him and turned to look over his shoulder at Dumbledore. He had walked up and looked at Harry's painting. Harry tucked his hair behind his ear as he moved slightly so Dumbledore could see the picture, like he clearly wanted to. As Dumbledore watched the singing woman he looked out across the lake. Harry stood after a moment and started to clean up his paints. When it was all finished he found Dumbledore still watching him and the painting.

"How did you do this Harry?" He asked softly.

Harry blinked once.

"I simply poured magic into it while I painted. Don't mistake it for a portrait though. She is not alive, nor can she talk, nor can she have any knowledge. She's just a picture."

Harry gently cast a drying spell then picked the canvas up, leaving the easel and the paints to sit. He walked around it towards the lake, and a large tree. He stopped in the shade of the tree and looked at the blonde girl singing softly. She looked up at him with dreamy blue eyes. He held the painting out. She blinked once in faint surprise and gently took it. He saw her eyes widen slightly before he turned and headed back to pack his things.

.--.

Harry watched the dementors as the glided along the grounds. From his window he could see there were quiet a few of them. He watched them, studying every fact about them. They would make great paintings. If he made them move it would be ominous. He smirked slightly. Then he pulled his wand out and pointed it out the window.

"Expecto patronum." He said clearly.

A large silver wolf flew from his wand and leapt across the roof of Hogwarts to the Hogwarts doors, snarling at the dementors who came to close. Hogwart's wards were the only thing keeping them out and even Hogwarts couldn't always focus on them. Her wards should extend to the forest, but having to change them just enough for the dementors to come up to the doors was hard. Harry let his patronum stay by the door until all the dementors shied away. Then he let his spell vanish, adding to the magic of the wards. He smirked again as he saw the dementors stay clear of the door.

.--.

Harry gave a tittering laugh as the spider appeared in front of Ron Weasely. They were facing the boggart. Harry paused a moment in his amusement. What was he afraid of? He noticed he was quite close to the front. When stepped forwards to face the boggart he noticed as it started to change that Lupin was hurrying forwards. 'He thinks it'll change to Voldemort.' Harry thought idly, wandlessly casting a tripping charm. The man stumbled and the boggart had time to change.

Harry was only mildly surprised as the boggart changed to D. everyone seemed confused as D gave a smirk. It was cruel. Few could tell though. D was devious enough to hide such obvious emotion. D moved forwards and rested a hand on his cheek, long nails gently brushing his cheek. He couldn't think of anything to make it funny.

Then it changed. Noir was grinning manically down at him sword raised. Was he afraid of betrayal? It changed to fast for him to wonder. Maen looked down at him a feral snarl on his lips as he stalked away. Was he afraid of them leaving him? Once again it changed before he could tell. It seemed he was so unsure himself the boggart couldn't stay as one thing. Next was Hermione, lying on the floor her heart carved out. It vanished replaced by Blaise with his throat slit. Was he afraid of his wards dieing?

Blaise vanished and there was Tom smirking at him as he brought a dagger for Harry's throat. Was he afraid of Tom? The boy and dagger vanished replaced by D again. D looked furious as he seemed to tower over them, fire in his eyes. He was sneering in fury and disgust his nails raised like claws a look of pure loathing on his face. He heard a few kids stumbled back. D stepped forwards looking intent on trying to kill Harry.

"I hate you humans." He spat as he raised a hand and slashed.

Harry stood still, just leaning back slightly as the nails went for his throat. He still got scratched along his throat. He held a hand to his neck to keep the blood from pouring down his robes and watched D curiously.

"Are you what I fear?" He asked.

D gave a furious cry of frustration and spun on his heels, flying back to the wardrobe and slamming the door behind him. There was absolute silence. Lupin stood shakily and tried to give a reassuring smile as he bit his lip.

"Could you please help Mr. Potter to the infirmary Professor Snape?"

Harry had noted he had stayed behind to watch the show. He motioned Harry to follow him and swept into the halls. When they were away from the staff room Snape glanced at him.

"What was that Mr. Potter?"

Harry thought a moment.

"I do believe the boggart could not figure out what I feared, as I do not know myself."

Snape narrowed his eyes in suspicion and thought.

"Who was that man though, the one who appeared twice?"

"His name is D."

"You are afraid of his smile?"

Harry thought of the first image of D.

"A bit. It's too cruel."

Snape seemed to agree.

"And you are afraid of him when he's mad?"

"Yes. I've never seen him mad, but I never wish to either if the boggart is any taste of that."

Snape gave a brief nod and glanced to his neck. Harry had paused and raised his wand. Bandages slid from it, wrapping comfortably around his neck.

"I'm going to wash off." He said simply and headed off.

Snape just watched him walk away.

.--.

End Of Chapter 20.