Disclaimer: Sadly, I still do not own Harry Potter, or any of the other characters. *pout*

*Sneaks in and leaves this and hopes no one notices that it's a day late and flee's*

Chapter 81

Everyone ran to where he appeared on the ground.

Albus, Severus, and an auror all reached him at the same time.

"Stand back," yelled Albus.

Everyone but Severus moved away.

Albus felt for a pulse. "He's alive."

Everyone let out a collective breath of relief.

Albus then looked up at Harry's friends. "Run and tell Madam Pomphrey that I'm bringing Harry to her and that we will need the private room."

He watched as they took off.

"Severus, come with me." Albus said needlessly as he levitated Harry and headed toward the infirmary.

"Dear Merlin," exclaimed Poppy as soon as she saw Harry.

They took him to the private room in the back of the hospital wing. Minerva stood guard at the door after she closed it, not letting anyone other than Poppy, Severus, and Albus inside.

Poppy quickly removed his clothes. "It looks like he's been hit by many slicing hexes and I count at least two burns!"

"His necklace should have prevented some of the spells from actually harming him," said Albus.

Harry started stirring.

"How is he waking up?" asked Severus as he handed Poppy a potion.

"Back up," said Albus.

"What?"

"Back up," he said again.

Severus and Poppy both backed up.

Harry heard noises. His body was killing him. He hurt in places that he didn't even know was possible. Then he remembered everything that had taken place and he stiffened.

Did he collapse before he made it to the border?

"Harry."

Harry tried to keep his breathing even which was hard to do given how much pain he was in.

"Wake up Harry. You're safe. You're back at Hogwarts."

'Was it a trick?' he wondered.

"Open your eyes Harry," said the voice cautiously.

He heard a noise then a soft crooning song.

Fawkes.

He opened his eyes as soon as he realized what the song meant and took in his surroundings. Everything was blurry.

"Harry, are you with us?"

"Headmaster," choked out Harry. Then he started coughing up blood.

Albus nodded to Poppy and Severus.

"Harry, if you want, I can put you to sleep so we can work on your injuries."

Harry shook his head no. "Need to explain. Voldemort's back. Cedric's dead."

"We know Harry. When you went into the maze, we watched the champions on a sphere like object. Sadly, there was an imposter posing as Alastor Moody and when he broke the viewer, we couldn't get it back."

"Barty Crouch ... Jr." he managed to choke out around another mouth full of blood.

"What?" asked Severus. "Barty Crouch Jr. died in Azkaban years ago."

Harry realized that Snape was standing there for the first time and saw something strange around him. He squinted to try to clear his vision but gave up. He would just have to deal with the blurry vision for now.

"You ... you have the Dark Mark," he said with sudden alarm. Had Sirius been right about him all along? His first reaction was to recoil back into the bed, away from Snape, which was natural given what he had just been through but after a couple of seconds, he relaxed. After all, Snape had actually saved him at various times. He had no reason not to trust him now, especially with Dumbledore in the room.

Severus' hand automatically went to his left forearm.

Harry hissed as Madam Pomphrey poured something on one of the cuts across his chest before turning to fetch something else.

"Drink this. It should ease some of the pain and help you quit coughing the blood up," said the medi-witch as she handed over 3 vials of potions.

"How do you know he has the Dark Mark?" asked Albus.

After Harry downed the potions, he looked Snape over (squinting again), then back to the Headmaster. "He knows that I can see magical signatures?" he accused.

Albus nodded. "I trust him Harry. He's the only one I've told, the only one I plan on telling."

Harry just looked defeated. "It's just something that I can tell."

Albus walked closer to the bed. "Could you tell before today?"

Harry coughed. "No." He then hissed again as Madam Pomphrey done something to his shoulder.

"You can trust Severus, Harry, but if you want him to leave, I can ask him to step out."

Harry shook his head. "One of the things my mom said to me was to trust him."

Severus' head snapped up. "Lily?"

Harry nodded.

"Mr. Potter, I'm going to have to set your leg before I can give you a dose of Skelegrow. It's going to hurt."

Harry nodded and braced for the pain.

Everyone expected him to scream, but he didn't. He thought he saw something like admiration in Snape's eyes but without his glasses, it was really hard to tell.

Madam Pomphrey then put a splint on his leg.

Harry heard the Headmaster sigh so he looked up at him.

"Harry, you have shown so much courage tonight. More courage than grown men twice your age. You've already lived through it once, but I need you to tell me what happened tonight from the time you touched the cup until you woke up here."

Harry nodded as he downed a blood replenisher handed to him by Snape.

"Professor, you can't let Gabriella leave. After we're done, I need to talk to her."

"Severus, can you bring me some clean rags?" asked Poppy.

He nodded.

When he opened the door, he was ambushed.

"Poppy is working on him," he snarled. Severus grabbed the rags and a few other potions from the cupboard. "Minerva, send these buffoons away. (The minister spluttered in outrage.) However, the Headmaster wants to see Miss Nott, Mr. Weasley, Miss. Granger, and Mr. Longbottom tonight after he's done with Potter."

Severus then re-entered the room.

Potter was two shades paler than he should have been.

"He killed Cedric because he was there. It was my fault. I told him to take the cup with me."

"Harry no one could have known this would happen. None of this is your fault."

Harry then turned to look at Madam Pomphrey. "I was caught in the wake of two killing curses again, plus the one that was cast at me when Voldemort and I dueled. Why didn't I pass out for a day like I did last time."

"I'm unsure Mr. Potter. It could be that your body adapted to being in the wake where you were exposed before or simply that your willpower kept you up."

Harry shook his head to clear it. "I tried to talk my way out of Peter's clutches -"

Suddenly the door barged open. "I'm sorry Albus," everyone heard McGonagall say.

"I need to see him with my own eyes," said Remus.

"Harry?"

Harry nodded. "Just not my friends or Gabby yet. Not while I look like this."

Minerva nodded and moved aside while Remus and a dog came into the room.

As the door was shut, everyone heard the Minister exclaim, "I am more important than that dog!"

The Headmaster then shot a spell at the door. "It won't be opened again unless I open it. No one outside can hear us either."

Sirius then resumed his normal form.

"Harry, are you alright?"

"I'm fine Sirius."

Poppy and Severus both snorted. Potter was clearly not fine.

"Why is Snape here?" demanded Sirius.

"He needs to be here Sirius," said Harry before anyone else could say anything.

"Harry, I wrote to you and told you that you couldn't trust him," he whispered.

Harry looked at his godfather. "You also told me to trust my instincts. Please Sirius. I'm tired, dizzy, sore, weak, and in pain. I don't have any strength left to argue."

Sirius looked shocked, but nodded.

Harry began telling the story as Snape applied some type of salve to one of his arms (which caused Sirius to glare ferociously) while Madam Pomphrey fished around for another potion for him to take. "I tried to talk my way out of Peter's clutches. It was working too. If he wouldn't have seen Nagini, I believe he would have let me go."

"Who's Nagini?" interrupted Sirius.

"Voldemort's pet snake," said Harry. "Wormtail then used a ritual to give Voldemort his body back." Harry closed his eyes to remember. "Bone from his father unknowingly given. Flesh from the servant willingly given. Wormtail cut off his own hand for that. And Blood from the enemy, forcibly taken. The cut on my arm came from him.

"Voldemort then rose out of the cauldron. He told me that he wanted my blood because it allowed him to touch me. He can. He touched my scar. It hurt me but not him."

Albus frowned. "Very well. It seems that Tom found his way around that obstacle. What happened after that?"

"He called his followers to him. There were 3 rings, about 40 Death Eaters. He started on the outside and worked his way in. He tortured some and just talked to the others.

"There were 40 Death Eater's that managed to avoid Azkaban?" asked Sirius, shocked.

"It's amazing what money can buy you," sneered Snape as he cast another spell at Harry to see if his blood level's was coming back to normal yet.

"Voldemort eventually came to Gabriella's father. He already knew that I am dating his daughter. Mr. Nott explained how he thought she might get some useful information out of me. Voldemort said that he might want to meet her. I'm sure he will now since I managed to get away."

"How did you get away Harry?" asked Sirius while he glared at Snape some more.

"Hold on," Harry winced as a sharp pain shot through his leg. "Professor Snape. Barty Crouch Jr. was unable to tell which side you are truly on. Voldemort said that one of his most loyal inner circle members would be questioned closely if they showed themself. He didn't mention your name, but now that I know you're Marked, I'm pretty sure he was talking about you."

"Crouch Jr.?" exclaimed Remus.

"He was posing as Moody all year long. Voldemort talks too much. He explained how another one of his most faithful servants had managed to subdue Moody in order to impersonate him. He was proud of the fact that he had been able to fool Dumbledore for so long."

Albus scowled. When the real Alastor woke up, he was going to get an ear full from the paranoid man.

"How did he escape Azkaban?" wondered Sirius out loud.

"His father. It was a request by his mother. If you talk to Winky, I'm sure she'll tell you. It was him that killed Mr. Crouch between me and Krum. I have no idea where the body is though.

"Headmaster Karkaroff is branded an outright traitor. Voldemort said that he'd be hunted and killed." Harry frowned deeper at that.

"He fled when he felt the Dark Mark burn," sneered Snape.

"He's also going to break open Azkaban. He mentioned something about the Lestranges rejoining his ranks."

"Wow, he really does talk a lot."

"To Voldemort's credit, I wasn't supposed to live," said Harry as he grimaced. His left arm was still twitching.

He took a deep breath. He was tired now but suspected Fawkes song was giving him the strength he needed to get through this.

"After he made his rounds, I was given my wand back. He wanted to duel." Harry then glared at the Headmaster. "Evidently I am prophesied to be his downfall so he wanted to prove who was stronger."

Albus sighed. "We'll talk about it when you're better."

"Before the summer sir."

"Very well."

Harry nodded. "I was hit with 2 Cruciatus curses. It would have been 3 but I managed to avoid one." Harry then snorted. "I suppose I owe Barty Jr. a thank you. Had he not put the imperious on me in class and gave me pointers on how to fight it, I might not have been able to fight off the one Voldemort put on me."

"You were under the cruciatus?" huffed Madam Pomphrey.

"You successfully fought off an Imperious cast by the Dark Lord?" asked Snape at the same time.

"You should have told me," said Madam Pomphrey. "I have something for that."

Harry watched as Madam Pomphrey summoned a vial of dark blue liquid. Harry drank it and started feeling much better immediately.

"I was resigned to the fact that I was going to die out there," he continued with his gaze distant, as if he was remembering. "Even if I somehow managed to get in a lucky shot, I'd still have the 40 or so Death Eaters to get through, but I was not going out like a coward.

"So I shot the only spell at him that made sense. While he shot the killing curse at me, I tried to disarm him." Harry then caught the Headmaster's gaze. "Our wands did something, sir. They kind of connected. It formed a golden cage."

"Priori Incatatem. You really did see your mother tonight."

"And my dad."

"Harry, those were just echoes. They were not real. There is no way to bring back the dead."

Harry looked away and nodded.

After re-composing himself, he resumed speaking. "There were 5 people that came from the wand. Cedric, an old man I saw Voldemort kill this summer, a woman, my mom, and my dad. They each gave me advice. My mom was the one that told me my necklace was a port key." Harry looked at Professor Snape. "She then whispered in my ear to trust you and to show you patience when you tell me whatever it is she left for you to tell me."

Harry furrowed his brow at Snape. He thought the man got paler but without his glasses on it was hard to tell.

"What could you possibly have to tell him?" demanded Sirius.

"After you are well again, Potter," Snape said, completely ignoring Sirius.

Harry nodded. "The ... echoes ... managed to distract Voldemort for a few seconds while I ran after I broke the connection. I'm not entirely sure how I escaped. I remember pushing through some people and casting spells over my shoulder. I don't even know how I ran on my broken leg. I just knew that I had to get to the area beyond the trees."

Harry grimaced. "I was hit by several curses. I couldn't dodge them all as I ran. The last thing I remember is Voldemort being so angry that it threw me into his head for half a second. I think I fell which brought me back to my own body. I believe the port key activated then."

"What do you mean it threw you into his head?" asked Snape.

"It's complicated, sir, and I'm not entirely sure I can explain it."

"Do you remember any of the curses thrown at you?"

"No ma'am."

"You're going to be here for a while until I know for sure that I've countered all of them."

Harry groaned.

The Headmaster then walked over to the bed. "I'll say this again Harry. You have shown remarkable courage tonight. I am very, very proud of you. Get some rest. Madam Pomphrey has some dreamless sleep draught. I want you to take it tonight."

"I need to talk to my friends first."

"Very well. Sirius, you need to change back. I need to go calm the minister down and inform him of what all has taken place."

Sirius hugged Harry and then changed back into Padfoot.

"Professor Snape?"

Snape turned towards Harry. "If you go back to him, be careful. He's still angry." Harry rubbed his scar.

Snape nodded and swooped out of the room behind the Headmaster.

Harry looked up to see his friends enter the room.

The Headmaster poked his head back in before he shut the door. "Mr. Potter just had to relive the experience for me. Please don't ask him any unnecessary questions. He needs his rest but I'll give you all a few minutes."

Harry was grateful for that.

He then turned to look at his friends. "Voldemort is back."

All four gasped in horror.

"He summoned his Death Eaters." He caught Gabriella's eyes.

"My father was there," she said flatly.

Harry nodded. "Gabby, listen to me. Before I managed to escape, Voldemort was curious about what all you had learned about me. Now that I managed to get away, he might have your dad bring you to him."

He took her hand. "If that happens, tell him anything he wants to know. Don't lie."

"Oh Harry!" she then reached down to hug him.

Harry caught the eyes of each of his friends. He was tired and it more than likely showed.

Padfoot whined and put a paw near the vial of dreamless sleep.

"Who's dog is that" asked Neville.

"Professor Lupin's. His name is Padfoot."

"Harry, you should take that potion. Anything else can wait until tomorrow," said Hermione quietly.

Harry nodded. He kissed Gabriella's forehead then downed the potion in one gulp.

"Minster, Harry has taken a dreamless sleep draught. I'm sorry to have made you wait. If you will head up to my office, I will tell you everything."

"But I must question the boy!"

"Not tonight. He needs his rest. He was near death when he appeared. Let's go."

"Headmaster, I need you to sign something before you go," called out Madam Pomphrey from her office.

"I'll be right there, Poppy. Cornelius, head on up to my office. I'll be there shortly."

"Very well," he said in agitated tones.

The Headmaster stepped into her office to find Severus waiting on him. Poppy went into the storage area to give the two privacy. He cast a quick spell to where no one outside could hear them speak.

"I'm not going to be able to stop you from answering the summons am I?"

"No. You need someone on the inside."

"Severus, he might kill you on sight. I don't want to take that chance. I need you and I'm not the only one."

Severus turned away. "Harry is strong. He's remarkably strong. I don't know what I'm going to do about him but I ... can't tell him the truth. Not now. It would be like a knife in the heart giving a final twist before death after what he just went through. I shouldn't have waited."

Albus touched Severus' shoulder. "You have paid your debt 10 fold since you first came to me. There is no need to go back to him. You have a family now. I'll find a way to block the pain in your arm from the summons."

Severus rubbed his temples. "No. We need to stay ahead of him. He needs to be destroyed for good. Anything I gather from the inside could help with that."

"I really wish you would reconsider, if not for your sake or mine, then for your son's."

Severus turned around. "I need to prepare to leave."

Albus nodded. "Then good luck, my son."

Severus looked into Albus' eyes briefly then swept out of the room in a flurry of robes.

When Albus looked up, Poppy was looking at him in disbelief. "None of that leaves this room. Harry does not know."

She merely nodded, too shocked for words.

Albus then headed up to his office to inform Cornelius of the events that had transpired.

Madam Pomphrey took some potions to put at Potter's bedside. When she entered the room, she couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of her.

Remus was sitting in a chair. Sirius, in dog form, was lying on the bed at Harry's feet. (She had been told of his innocence last year.)

Hermione was sitting in a chair holding Harry's hand. Gabriella was sitting on the bed with Harry. She had his head in her lap and was stroking his hair. Ron and Neville were sitting in chairs at the foot of his bed.

Harry was still very pale and his face showed that he was still in pain, but not as severely as he had been. She searched for any sign of Severus in the boy, but all she could see was James. It was hard to understand why he and Albus thought the boy belonged to him but neither had a reason to lie, especially since they thought they had been alone in her office.

She would need to question Albus later, though Severus attempting to examine Harry's medical file made more sense. He was worried about him.

"You all can't stay in here the entire night."

"I'll watch them Poppy. I doubt you could force them away."

"Very well," she sighed. "I'll need to work on his wounds in a couple of hours. I'm warning you now so that no one gets upset when I wake you all to move."

They all nodded that they understood.

After she left, Hermione sighed. "He's going to push us all away after this."

"What do you mean?" asked Ron.

"He's going to think that in order to protect us, he'll need to be alone, that we'll be better off without him."

Remus nodded. "She's right. You all are going to have to show him that he needs you as much as you need him."

Gabriella sighed as she carefully repositioned herself on the bed. "He's going to break up with me to protect me isn't he?"

Neville nodded. "Probably."

"What should I do? I don't want him to."

"Then tell him that," said Neville softly.

"It won't be easy. My dad is a Death Eater. I told Harry that at the Yule Ball."

Hermione looked Gabriella over. "If he knew before hand that your father was a Death Eater and you've still dated, then chances are he doesn't care. This will, however, have to be something you work out between the two of you. I do know that Harry cares for you very much."

Padfoot raised his head and nodded.

Gabby smiled. "Is he your familiar, Professor Lupin?"

Remus chuckled. "No. He's more like a pain in the butt. I've had him for a while though so he can understand us like a familiar can."

Everyone chuckled as the dog glared, especially Ron and Hermione, who knew who the dog really was.

Severus looked around the graveyard where he had apparated into. It was where his summons had taken him. The cauldron was still present. There was also fresh blood on the ground.

He then realized that he was no longer alone. He stalked to the gravestone that still had ropes on it.

"Must have been where Potter was tied," he said out loud. "Oh, how I would have loved to have seen it in person."

A hiss of a chuckle made Severus turn around with his wand raised. His eyes widened in surprise. He was expecting another Death Eater, not the Dark Lord himself.

"My Lord!" he said as he knelt to the ground.

"Severus. You missed the fun earlier. Remove your mask. It is just us here."

"I apologize my Lord. I was unable to answer the summons until now," replied Severus as he removed his Death Eater mask.

Voldemort circled Severus. "Potter still lives I take it?"

"He does indeed. He told the Headmaster everything that happened."

Voldemort sent a curse to a tombstone in anger. It exploded as a result. "I was hoping to keep my presence a secret for now. Tell me, why have you returned? You had to know that I would have most likely killed you on sight for not showing up earlier."

"Dumbledore sent me."

Voldemort conjured two chairs. "Did he now? You may rise and take a seat."

Severus rose and sat in the chair. He then saw Voldemort's arm. "My Lord. You're hurt. Let me tend to you."

Voldemort looked at the burn on his arm. The Death Eater that had mis-aimed was now dead. "It's fine. Now. You've walked a thin line of neutrality. I have a vial of veritaserum on me. I need to question you. I'm sure you understand. I can't afford to have any traitors amongst my ranks."

"I do, my Lord."

Voldemort pulled out a vial of clear liquid and placed 3 drops on Severus' tongue.

After 15 minutes had past, the interrogation began.

Remus was nodding in his chair. The kids had fallen asleep about 30 minutes prior. Well, Gabriella looked to be half asleep.

A muffled popping noise made both of them look up.

A piece of paper was floating down from the ceiling.

Gabriella caught it before it hit Harry.

"What is that?" whispered Remus.

"It's a list of curses I think," she whispered as she handed the piece of paper to him.

Remus looked it over. "Merlin. I'll be right back."

Confused, she nodded.

Remus found Poppy tending to Alastor.

"Poppy, this just appeared in Harry's room."

Poppy took it and after one look at it, rushed off to her supply cabinet.

Remus followed her back into the private room.

"What's wrong? Do I need to move?" whispered Gabriella.

"Actually, I'll spell these into his stomach but I do have a task for you Miss Nott, if you don't mind."

"Anything Madam Pomphrey."

"He's going to get a fever. I have a thing to press to his forehead that will tell me his temperature. While you are awake, if you could check his temperature for me sometimes, I would appreciate it. If the reader ever says 'too high' come and get me."

"Alright."

"And Miss Nott, don't stay awake just to do this. I'll be up and down all night. If you fall asleep, it's alright."

"I don't mind. Makes me feel useful," she said smiling weakly.

Madam Pomphrey nodded and spelled the potions into his stomach. "He'll most likely start to feel warm in about an hour."

Remus followed her back out. "What was that list?" he asked once he shut the door.

"Sometimes the magic in the castle helps me when I've missed something during my diagnostic scans."

"Magic in the castle?"

"I don't question it. It's been useful over the years, especially when the upper years get into nonverbal spells and start cursing each other. I like to think of it as the castles way of watching over its students."

"Are you going to tell Albus about the spells on that paper?"

"He said he'd be down after the Minister left. I'll show him then."

"Poppy, did you catch the withering curse in time?"

"I believe so. There is a 4 hour window to catch it and get the potion in his system. If he spikes a fever then he'll be fine. He has to sweat the curse out."

Remus nodded. "I'll keep an eye on him if you need to get some rest."

"I won't sleep tonight. I'm sure Albus will be in to see him once Cornelius leaves."

Remus nodded and headed back to the private room.

"During Potter's 1st year, you mentioned that you knew someone that could use the sorcerer's stone. To whom were you referring?"

"The Dark Lord."

"Who did you think Quirrell was going after the stone for?"

"Himself."

Voldemort got up and circled Severus' chair.

"Why have you stayed at Hogwarts all these years?"

"Hogwarts is where the Dark Lord bid me to go and the Headmaster would not allow me to leave."

"Why wouldn't he let you leave?"

"He told me that he would keep me out of Azkaban if I agreed to keep teaching."

"Does Dumbledore trust you?"

"He trusts me."

Voldemort sat back down. "Did he ever tell you the full prophecy?"

"No."

"Does Potter know it?"

"To my knowledge, no. The Headmaster has told me that he wants to keep Potter's childhood innocence intact for as long as possible."

Voldemort added 3 more drops of veritaserum to Severus' tongue.

"Where do your true loyalties lie?"

"Cornelius, we all saw Pettigrew on the sphere!"

"Then we will hunt him down for this fiasco. I will not disrupt 13 years of peace by claiming that You-Know-Who is back!"

"You won't have to, Voldemort will."

"No. These are peaceful times. They will stay that way. I won't be known as the Minister who let You-Know-Who rise again!"

"Cornelius, listen to me. Send envoys to the giants, replace the dementors with auror's in Azkaban, inform the public of safety precautions. If you do this to get a head of Voldemort, you will be remembered as a Minister of action."

"I will not disrupt the peace and neither will you."

Fudge then stormed out of the office.

Albus looked at the Auror guarding Fudge and gave her a nod. The evidence Madam Pomphrey had collected would be taken to Madam Bones. The nod indicated that the Auror would deliver it.

Albus glanced at the clock. 1:10 am. He sighed. Just as he started to head back down to the hospital room, his floo flared.

It was Madam Bones herself, the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department. Seeing as how the auror had walked out of his office not more than a minute prior, he knew that it wasn't about what was being taken to her.

A/N: Sorry about not getting this up last night but right before I went to post it, I had an epiphany and had to fix something in this chapter. Plus, this was originally two chapter's. I realized they were too short to stand on their own, and since it was all happening in the same night, I decided to combine them.

Now, before anyone proceed's to beat me to death for Severus' little chat w/ Dumbles, let me ask you a question.

Do you really think Severus could have looked at Harry before leaving the room and say, "By the way Harry, what your mother wanted me to tell you was that you're really my son. However, we can't really do anything about this because I'm about to go back to Voldemort since we need a spy and I'm the best person to do so."

...

Okay, so that sounds really plausible coming from Severus, but well, he didn't. Can you just imagine what Sirius would have done if Snape would have said that. They were already glaring each other to death. *cackles gleefully while rubbing hands together*

*casts a shield around myself* Assuming Snape survives the night, I mean, Voldie had veritaserum after all, well, let's just say that it's not going to get any easier from here on out. Not easier in the slightest. Snape really shouldn't have waited!

Although, I do promise that Harry is going to be told the truth soonerisher (TM). ;-) I imagine if he's not, I'm gonna get lynched and offered up to Voldie as a torture subject for his Death Eater's.

Up next, we'll find out what Albus gave the auror's and Fudge has a mental breakdown (which is always fun). Plus, we'll find out if Severus survived Voldy's interrogation. *slinks off before being caught* I should have it up by Tuesday. =)

Oh, and thank you all for the reviews you all have left me so far! They really do encourage me! In fact, they actually got me over a wall of writer's block that I ran head first into. *wander's off to edit the next chapter*