"He was, but like me the darkness rolled off and never stuck." Sirius explained, "James I think you need to let them know about the person who informed us of Peter."
"Right." He stood back up, "Harry was raised with the name Volans Lestrange. However at an early age he realized he was not her child and had possibly been abducted."
"I was thrilled to realize that." Harry interrupted, "She is mean."
Several people chuckled at his understatement but James continued, "On September first a year and a half ago he was able to slip away from Lestrange Manor and catch the Hogwarts express. He showed up and stood with the other first years. He was left standing alone when McGonagall ran out of names on the list."
"I remember that." Ron stated, "We talked a bit during the sorting, but you looked different."
"I was in disguise." Harry shrugged, "I wasn't about to let the kids I knew already know that it was me up there. They would have told her and I might have been caught again."
"Who did you know?" a man across the room asked.
"Death Eater kids, who else do you think Bellatrix Lestrange would introduce me to?" Harry was rather surprised at that question.
"Harry didn't even know who he was at that time." Lily explained, "He did a goblin blood test on the second and we got the results on the third."
"The little boy that came with Andromeda and Ted." Arthur smiled, "I remember you now."
"He told us everything he could think of to help us and that was before he knew who he was." Andromeda smiled at him, "He told us which curse Bellatrix had used and that Peter was a regular visitor at the manor. He also identified a few more death eaters we didn't know about at that time."
"I remember him telling us that he knew that the Potter boy was alive and that Bellatrix and a few others knew where he was. He was sorry that he never found out where he was." Ted chuckled and Harry blushed.
"How could you not know?" Molly looked between the two of them.
"Pictures in the prophet don't really portray people well." Harry said, "I never saw the resemblance until I was shown a picture of us side by side."
"He was in disguise most of the time." Dumbledore offered, "She didn't want the children he played with to boast about knowing where he was to the wrong people. Now if there are no other objections?" No one said anything and they children all got up and followed Harry from the door.
Once in the next room Harry and Ginny were cornered by her brothers, "How do you know him?"
"Remember just after Halloween when I was hurt?" they nodded, "Harry saved me from the monster."
"Why were you at Hogwarts?" "Why didn't we see you?" were a few of the questions that followed her statement.
Harry held up a hand to forestall any more questions, "My Dad was called to the school during Halloween along with Sirius and Remus. You all know the note about the Chamber of Secrets and all that. The three of them figured out what was in the chamber from the clues around and they set a trap. A few from our group were at the school all hours of the day and night after that so someone with be there when the traps were thrown. I just happened to be there when they were and I got to help."
"Dumbledore said there were compulsion charms on a book that I was given and it took me to the chamber." She shuddered, "The charms wouldn't let me tell an adult about the book. It let me tell Harry though."
"I was able to grab the book away from her and throw it to my uncle without really getting any compulsions." Harry explained, "He was able to destroy it quickly and she was freed from the charms. We can't talk about this though. Dad and Sirius are investigating who gave it to her and we don't want them tipped off."
"Do Mum and Dad know about this?" Percy asked starchily.
"If they don't they will find out tonight." Harry said, "I know Dad and Sirius are planning on telling the story. Now, I know Ginny but the rest of you I'm unfamiliar with so if you wouldn't mind introducing yourselves we can get started."
A few hours later Molly and Lily entered the room to find everyone laughing as Fred told a story. Lily smiled widely to see Harry rolling on the floor laughing along with all the others. The story continued for a few minutes ending with Fred joining the others on the floor. The women glanced at each other; both not really wanting to break it up but knowing it was time. They were able to make plans for the group to get together another time during the summer. The summer passed far too quickly for Harry and he found himself very lonely with just his parents and uncles. He was just trying to talk them into going to Hogwarts for the Halloween feast when the fire flared and bad news was passed through the floo again.
"James, you and Sirius need to report. We've had a break out at Azkaban!" Frank Longbottom screamed through the fire.
The two of them returned several hours later along with Moody and Bill Weasley. Bill left after helping to set up several more wards on the house. Sirius and Remus followed Moody out afterwards and James collapsed on the couch. It took several minutes and two cups of tea before James could tell them the story.
"We aren't sure how or when he did it but when the warden checked Pettigrew's cell this morning there was someone else in it. We don't know how long ago the mix up happened." James sighed, "But he's nowhere to be found on that island."
"Not good." Harry sunk onto the couch beside his father.
"We've added several more wards on the house including one set specifically for him." James sneered, "If he so much as puts a toe on this land he'll be little more than flobberworm food."
"Where did Sirius and Remus go?" Lily finally got her voice back.
"That's the one piece of good news." James sighed, "We've finally located the Gaunt… place of residence, really it's not more than a few rotting boards in a pile at the edge of town."
"They're searching it then." Lily stated.
"Yes." James nodded, "I'm under a bit too much stress to help."
"I imagine you are." She sighed, "Any idea where he is?"
"Probably as far away as he can get." Harry muttered, "Stupid, cowardly, smelly, ugly rat."
"I need to call Dumbledore." James stood and went to the floo.
Dumbledore arrived shortly before the trio returned triumphantly. A few drops of venom and he began to reach for the ring. Moody was only able to stop him by tackling him.
"It's cursed. If you touch it you'll die." Moody growled out.
Harry, in an effort to keep Dumbledore from hexing Moody, stepped forward and pulled the wand from Dumbledore's grasp. This action effectively woke the old man from his daze and cold shock took him over. It was quiet for two seconds before the ring jumped off the table and shot towards the boy. Harry tried to get out of the way but ring chased him down. At the same time James' cloak jumped off the table and attached itself to the boy. Harry disappeared into a cloud of smoke. An explosion of yells enveloped the rest of the group and they tried to reach him but were blocked by some kind of shield.
"The curse on the ring is broke." Sirius tried to calm the group a little, "I checked while they were fighting."
"But what's happening?" Lily screamed her question.
"He's becoming the Master of Death." Dumbledore was still on the floor. He sagged a bit as he continued, "I tried to break the cycle. But it was never meant for me."
"So you did have the Death Stick." James commented as he pulled Lily into a hug, "So what does this mean? What's going to happen to him?"
The smoke began to clear away and Harry was seen to be floating in air. As the smoke dissipated he was lowered to the floor. Lily pulled from the hug and ran to help Harry before Dumbledore could answer the question.
"I don't know." He sighed.
"You don't know?" James turned to the aged man.
"It's never been done before." Albus slowly pulled himself from the floor, "We don't know if it will do anything more than end the cycle of the wand."
"What is the cycle of the wand?" Sirius asked.
"Everyone tries to kill the owner to get the wand." He explained and the others gasped, "But he won't lose. No one will be able to disarm him and take that wand."
"We can't let anyone know he has it." James stated emphatically.
"Most don't believe any longer." Albus sighed, "Of those who do I can only think of a few that would try. Only those that don't believe in the hallows will try for the wand. Once the others realize he has all three they'll leave him alone, mostly."
"You aren't very reassuring." Lily grumbled as she ran her fingers through Harry's messy hair. Sirius had helped her move him onto the couch.
"Sorry but I'm not trying to reassure you." Albus patted her shoulder, "I'm being realistic. It's better to be prepared than to be blindsided."
"You're right." James conceded, "Thank you."
"He's coming around." Lily whispered, "Harry can you hear me?"
"Mum?" he mumbled, "What happened?"
"You should just rest for now son." James approached and kneeled at his head, "We'll explain what happened when you recover some more."
"Ok." He rolled onto his side, "I think I'll go back to sleep."
"Should he do that?" Lily asked.
"Probably but it would be best to get Andromeda here." Albus slowly lowered himself into a nearby chair.
"I'll get her." Sirius went to the floo.
"Albus is there any information about this?" Remus finally spoke.
"Tales of Beetle the Bard, wand lore and Potter family history will be your best sources." Albus smiled slightly.
"James can I get your grandfathers work?" Remus asked.
"Yes, it's in my study." He replied without taking his eyes off his son, "Bring a bottle or two of Ogdens or firewhiskey. Unless you would rather have tea Albus?"
"I think tea with a bit of firewhiskey laced into it." Albus nodded.
"I'll get both." Remus slipped from the room and returned a few minutes later to find no one had moved since he had left. He poured tea and laced it with the whiskey handing one to each of them before pouring a glass of straight whiskey for Sirius and then he began to drink his own tea.
Andromeda arrived with Sirius on her heals. She went straight over to Harry and began to wave her wand, "What happened? Sirius only told me that Harry needed my professional attention."
After taking a deep breath James explained what they saw. Albus added a few details here and there until she was fully informed. She continued to run her wand over him muttering as she went.
"Can you tell us anything Andy?" Sirius pleaded.
"He's alive and doesn't look to be any closer to death than the last time I looked him over." She offered, "His magic is fluctuation wildly though."
"That's understandable since he was just attacked by three highly powerful magical artifacts." Sirius guessed.
"I wouldn't say attacked." Albus argued lightly.
"It's what it looked like to me." Sirius shrugged him off.
"Yes it is understandable." Andromeda interrupted the two of them, "Where are these artifacts? I should probably look them over."
The rest of them looked around but no one could see anything. Albus was looking thoughtful for a few minutes before he offered his opinion, "I think only Harry will be able to tell us where they are. They may be out of our reach."
"What do you mean?" Remus asked being the first one to come out of his shock.
"Harry's magic hid them." Albus offered in reply, "He will be able to call them back if they were sent away, however…"
"However what?" James asked when it looked like Albus was going off into thought again.
Albus looked up and sighed, "He may have absorbed them. The only way I can think of to stop him from being disarmed is if the wand is part of him."
The rest of the group found seats and collapsed into them. It took several minutes before anyone spoke. Sirius was the one to break the spell that had fallen over them, "That's it, no more hide and seek with you Harry. If you can turn invisible then it's going to be murder to find you."
Lily and James chuckled mirthlessly but still the mood of despair was lifted somewhat. Andromeda stood back up and went back to waving her wand over Harry.
"This is what I've got." She offered, "Exhaustion, magical power fluctuation, he grew an inch or so, all trace of past injuries are gone and he seems to be sleeping."
"Past injuries?" Albus asked intrigued.
"He broke his arm falling out of that tree on the island." She offered, "There is no trace of it left."
She kept a check on him until he woke up half an hour later, "Andy what's going on?"
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"With my hands." He chuckled hoarsely.
"Sirius has been teaching you his jokes again." She frowned for a moment, "Does anything hurt?"
"No, I'm fine." He replied, "What are you doing here?"
"Fixing you as usual." She grinned, "What have you been doing to get in this shape?"
"I don't remember anything so it must be bad." Harry frowned, "The last thing I remember is Moody tackling Dumbledore to keep him from getting hurt. OH, that ring attacked me."
"See I told you." Sirius mumbled.
"Do you know where it is?" Albus asked lightly.
Harry thought hard for a moment, "I don't know. It jumped on my finger and then in a flash it disappeared."
Over the next few months they worked hard to find out exactly what effects the three items had on him. His magical levels had settled but they settled much higher than they were before. They found out that he couldn't use a wand. He had picked his up and tried to do magic with it but it exploded. He could do any kind of magic he wanted but he had to do it wandlessly or risk blowing up the wand. He could turn invisible at a thought and they were sure he would be able to converse with the dead if he tried. But up to that point none of them wanted him to try. The rest of winter and part of spring was split between friends on the holidays and working on his new skills. It was late spring when Harry had a thought and brought it to his parent's attention.
"How can I hide my wandless magic?" he asked, "I know it's going to freak people out when I don't need a wand."
"We've all been trying to find a way but we just don't know yet." James replied. Sirius coughed and James rolled his eyes before continuing, "Padfoot has an idea though."
"That's scary." Harry whispered to his mother who snickered.
"I suggest we make you a wand without a core." Sirius grinned, "You'll need to make sure you do the right movements and incantations."
"That's not a half bad idea." Harry admitted.
James left to visit with Ollivander to see what requirements would need to be met for the wood. He came back some time later with a holly wand which he handed to Harry, "Holly no core."
Harry spent the summer learning to direct his magic through the holly stick. His only reprieve came when they went with the Weasley's to the World Cup. It was going well right up until the end. Bellatrix had evidentially returned home and was crazier than ever. Harry and Sirius quickly agreed that she must have been tortured a lot for her failure to keep Harry. A group of death eaters led by her terrorized the after party. Tents were set a blaze and people were tortured and killed. That disaster was followed by even more work for Harry. During Albus' visits Harry's group had learned of the tournament that was to be played that year. Harry vocally agreed with Lily when she told the headmaster he was crazy for allowing that tournament to occur.
The Potters tried again to have their traditional Halloween party that year but it was interrupted by Albus shortly after dinner, "Harry's name came out of the cup. He needs to get to Hogwarts now."
"What?" Lily screeched, "How in the name of Merlin did this happen?"
"I'm sorry, I never thought anyone would enter someone else like this." Albus appoligized.
"He can't be the Hogwarts champion, he doesn't go to Hogwarts." James argued.
"He wasn't chosen as the Hogwarts champion." Albus sighed, "Cedric Diggory is Hogwarts champion, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons and Victor Krum from Durmstrang."
"How can you have four champions when it's a tri-wizard tournament?" Sirius asked.
"My best guess is a confundus charm on the challis." Albus sounded tired, "We need Harry here now."
"Can we get out of it?" James asked.
"No, I'm sorry." Albus sighed again, "He has to compete or lose his magic."
"When do we need to be there?" James asked.
"Now." He answered, "But you can return home after this meeting."
"Can we floo into your office?" he asked.
"I'll open the floo in the ante room behind the Great Hall. You know the one?" Albus asked.
"I know it." James turned and changed both his and Harry's clothes into nice robes and the two headed out.
"James I'm sorry." Albus expressed again when they arrived.
"It's not me you need to apologize to." He growled.
"Harry…" he started.
"Let's just do this and then we'll talk." Harry waved him off.