Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket

by Red Phoenix Dragon

A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. As they approach the Leaky Cauldron to leave Diagon Alley, Hagrid decides to present Harry with his gold ticket to the Hogwarts Express, while Harry was really expecting to go directly to Hogwarts with Hagrid now. Harry asks a different question. And that changes everything. HHr NLLL T for Characters deaths.

19. The Greatest Sorting ever!

Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket.

A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid.

Chapter 19: The Greatest Sorting ever!

The Sorting of 1991 continues! Part 2.

The Sorting of Harry J. Potter!

I don't own the Harry Potter verse. Just playing.

Summary: A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. As they approach the Leaky Cauldron to leave Diagon Alley, Hagrid decides to present Harry with his gold ticket to the Hogwarts Express, while Harry was really expecting to go directly to Hogwarts with Hagrid now. Harry asks a different question.

And that changes everything. HHr NLLL T for Characters deaths.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Chapter 19: The Greatest Sorting ever!

AN: A bold claim for the title of this chapter, but my muse pulled out all the stops, put the pedal to the metal, and poured in all of her Love to bring everything together for this one!

Enjoy!

Always!

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

- Layout of the Great Hall. -

- B o G, Guests and Professors -

- R, N, D, E, A, F, G, C, S, S, Q, H, S, F, _ D, MB, CWM, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, H, -

- Head Table -

- Sorting Hat -

- Professor McGonagall -

- HP and the Remaining Unsorted First Year Students -

- Slytherin Table ––– Hufflepuff Table ––– Ravenclaw Table ––– Gryffindor Table -

- RS and K –––

- Great Hall Entrance Door -

––– GL –––

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Professor McGonagall had been dreading this moment, and hesitated to say the next name. The burden of what happened on that cold November night weighted heavily on her. She steeled herself and tried to speak.

"Potter, Ha….."

Her voice died as her emotions overwhelmed her.

An extraordinary silence filled the Great Hall, while the old witch gently weeps.

The headmaster shifted on his throne. After a century of life, he still had no idea how to comfort a crying witch, and he was afraid of the new Minister of Magic, whom he had insisted that she sit next to him, would confront him as to the whereabouts of his famous ward.

While Minister Bones felt for her weeping friend, her ire was directed at the manipulative old wizard next to her. She coughed to clear her throat and smirked as she took pleasure to watch the headmaster squirm.

"Well, headmaster, we seem to be missing a Boy-Who-Lived?"

The headmaster humphed as he ignored the Minister and added her to his list.

"Or maybe he has gone to a better School of Magic!"

The Minister twisted her barb, while the headmaster paled at the horrible thought. Fortunately he had put down his favourite gold goblet of his special Firewhisky and Mandrake juice as this sorting was proving to be full of surprises and the risk of choking was too great.

Chief Witch Marchbanks helpfully and disapprovingly added her two Knuts worth. "Probably a better School of Magic that doesn't have a Merlin lookalike fan boy for a headmaster."

The older Chief Witch had been eternally disappointed in the headmaster and the way he interfered in everything.

While the headmaster ground his teeth as he tried to ignore her, as well, and added her to his growing list.

While in the far corner of the Great Hall next to the end of the Slytherin Table, Rita Skeeter and her new favourite photographer, Krusty, were gleefully recording, in full high definition magical moving photography with surround sound, the Great Sorting of 1991 for posterity and headlines for the Daily Prophet. Rita was amused by Miss Luna Lovegood's surprise sorting and the Great Victory of the Longbottoms. If the Boy-Who-Lived was a no show, she would still have a good positive story for tomorrow's headlines as the headmaster had certainly burnt some bridges with the Longbottoms, and his famous infallible intransigence had caused him to make a blunder of epic proportions and loose far more than he ever hoped to gain. She was cheerfully looking forward to dissecting the headmaster's defeat for her dear readers. For now, Rita was eagerly waiting to see if the fabled Boy-Who-Lived would appear. The suspense was killing her. She looked over to Krusty to make sure everything was working. Krusty felt her steely glare and nervously gave her a thumbs up.

While there was another opportunist waiting in the shadows of the corridor just outside the Great Hall. Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award, was waiting to make his grand entrance through the open doors of the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The no show of the famous Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and then missing the Hogwarts Express, had given Gilderoy a brilliant idea for his new book, 'Gilderoy Lockhart and Where's Harry?' He had come to Hogwarts to offer his services, free of charge, to the headmaster, the Great Albus Dumbledore, to track down and find the missing Boy-Who-Lived and return him safely to Hogwarts. To pay for his time and expenses, he would make a deal with the Daily Prophet to send them daily updates and reports of his travels with a full colour magical vlog.

As silence filled the Great Hall, Gilderoy Lockhart pranced past the waiting Aurors and stood in the open doorway, his turquoise robes swirling behind him and his large brilliantly white teeth gleaming in the candle light as he waited for everyone to notice him.

Krusty snapped a photo and the flash caused them to turn the doorway and saw Gilderoy Lockhart standing there, in his full glory, winking as his teeth gleamed.

Now was his moment and he stepped proudly into the Great Hall.

BANG!

THUD!

The Castle smirked as at the right moment she slammed shut the heavy ancient oak doors like flippers in a giant pin ball machine and rammed them into the gleaming teeth of Gilderoy Lockhart as he was whacked hard into the soft stone wall of the corridor. The Great Hall was at a critical nexus moment that could change the Magical World and she didn't want the prancing idiot to interfere.

The noise caused the headmaster to jump in his Golden Throne. He had seen the flash and looked at the doorway to see the Castle slam the doors in Gilderoy's face. He feared that the Castle was going Dark without his guiding control.

While others were happy that the pompous idiot had been dealt with. They didn't have time for his shenanigans.

While in front of the Head Table, and waiting with the remaining First Years to be sorted, James aka Harry, felt the old hat was staring directly at him as silence again filled the Great Hall, save for the continue gentle weeping of the old witch. He could see the sadness on the faces of many other witches who were almost in tears.

After a long moment of silence showed that the weeping Professor McGonagall couldn't continued, the Sorting Hat, who had been recently free of the headmaster's manipulation and control, knew what to say as he cleared his throat and in a loud cheerful raspy voice.

"Lord Harry James Potter!"

"Heir of Gryffindor!"

"Heir of Slytherin by Right of Conquest!"

"Heir of the Marauders!"

"Please come forward and be sorted!"

The Great Hall gasped at the announcement, as twin redheads pricked up their ears and looked around as Sev, Sirius and Remus chuckled. While Rita had a wicked smile at that juicy bit of information. But the shocked headmaster dry choked as the Sorting Hat cheerfully revealed some of his most closely guarded secrets. Chief Witch Marchbanks showed surprising agility for her great age as she gleefully whacked him hard on the back to help the headmaster to breathe.

Shere Khan gave a low growl of encouragement as Hermione and Harry shared a glance to send her love to him. Empowered, Harry turned and was moved by the tears in the eyes of the silent Professor and stepped over to hug her. It was what Hermione would do to comfort someone's grief.

Professor McGonagall felt a child wrap their arms around her, but that had not happened since she sadly farewelled James, Lily and little Harry ten long years before. She opened her eyes to see but whoever it was, was hidden by her tears and magic.

Hedwig barked. 'Young one, you still are hidden by the mobile Notice-Me-Not charm.'

"Oh, sorry." Harry whispered as he snapped his fingers to cancel the charm.

The Great Hall gasped as Professor McGonagall suddenly saw Lily's emerald green eyes looking up at her and she wrapped her arms around the boy.

"Sweet Merlin! You came! I would recognise Lily's emerald green eyes anywhere!" She whispered. "I am so sorry! So sorry for what I did! The headmaster..."

Harry felt the love of the hug as he whispered. "I forgive you, Professor. Just, don't trust the headmaster ever again!"

"No I won't trust the headmaster ever again!" She whispered as tears ran down her face. Then she said something in her Scottish brogue accent that Harry didn't understand but sounded extremely painful for a certain busybody who rightly deserved it.

She continued to hug him as she whispered. "You came! You came!"

After a long heartfelt moment, Professor McGonagall released Harry and gently guided him towards the Sorting Hat with her hand, as she wiped away the tears in her eyes.

You could hear a pin drop in the silent Great Hall as everyone looked at the real Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry let the moment hang in the air as he prepared his mind and then slowly made his way towards the four-legged stool.

While the rude redhead boy couldn't contain his disapproval and had to open his big loud mouth.

"Oi!"

"He's not Potter!"

Shere Khan moved to protect his Mistress and stood between her and the rude redhead boy while trying to get his attention. While the headmaster silently thanked the redhead idiot for the distraction that gave him time to recover from the shock and rethink his plans.

"He doesn't have a scar or glasses!"

The rude redhead boy loudly protested with his hands akimbo like a bossy know-it-all, and daring anyone to say otherwise. While a fifth year redhead prefect sitting next to the first year Gryffindors, desperately tried to get his attention and stage whispered to him to shut up, but was deliberately ignored.

"My mother has shown me the latest picture of the Boy-Who-Lived!"

He held up the front cover of his baby sister's Teen Witch magazine that was covered in dirty finger prints and chocolate smudges. While two identical redheads further up the Gryffindor table were desperately trying to hide.

"And instructed me how to identify MY! New! Best! Mate!"

Harry turned to look at the loud pompous boy and screwed up his face at the thought of this rude arrogant redhead ever being his best whatever.

"And that ain't him!"

The rude redhead boy pointed as he ignored the stern looks he was getting from the Professor, Harry and Shere Khan.

"His clothes are too new!"

"And his hair is not completely black!"

Dan pointed out to Emma that his friend Shere Khan had moved to protect their favourite daughter from danger.

"He doesn't even look like him!"

Even Gran and Sev were now glaring at the redhead idiot.

"So he can't be the Boy-Who-Li….!"

Finally, the stern disapproving eye from Professor McGonagall had silenced him, while the angry glare from Shere Khan was burning holes in the idiot's brain and causing smoke to come out of his ears.

Harry saw the smoke and thought like many others, 'What an idiot!'

Then Professor McGonagall turned to smile and have a good look at the boy with the red highlights in his black hair. Without the infamous round glasses, she recognised those unmistakable tell-tale emerald green eyes that she had not seen for ten long bitter years. She beamed and waved her hand to encourage Harry to continue to walk towards the Sorting Hat, as she whispered and confirmed.

"Sweet Merlin, that really is Harry Potter! Those emerald green eyes! That's Lily's son!"

While Sev and Sirius smirked as they had both bet on Harry. This was going to be awesome prank on the old fool as the headmaster just stared in disbelief.

"Oh, Harry, my Boy. What have you done?"

The headmaster whispered, as he reached for his spare wand while looking very seriously over the top of his charmed half-moon glasses. He could see that the famous scar was gone along with all of the magic that he had used to curse, er, charm, er, control, er, influence, er, guide the Boy-Who-Lived. That should have been impossible as he had used the all powerful Elder Wand. Now all of his schemes, manipulations and plans crumbled before his very eyes.

Minister Bones carefully watched the headmaster's reaction, and in particularly the strange wand in his hand, while the three hidden Unspeakables drew their wands and prepared for action.

But Hogwarts Castle smirked; she had made sure to drain the headmaster's magical core to an inch of his life when he dared to cast the Fidelius Charm over the Corridor of Painful Death that morning. She was very confident that the headmaster would be too weak to cast even a Wingardium Leviosa.

The Sorting Hat didn't need to be a seer to know that this Harry Potter was going to be the headmaster's worst nightmare. Even the castle was happy that a very powerful mage and heir was there. As Harry approached the four-legged stool, the Sorting Hat spoke with a mischievous tone.

"Welcome back, Lord Potter!"

Professor Flitwick gasped as he heard the Hat confirm the identity, and saw those emerald green eyes that removed any doubt!

"Sweet Merlin, it is! That is Lily's son! Welcome back Lord Potter!" He said as he stood up on his seat and lean forward.

Distracted by the voice and movement in front of him, Harry changed directions and approached the Head Table.

"Professor Flitwick, Lord Potter, I am the Charms professor, and the Head of Ravenclaw House, welcome back!" The diminutive Professor said as he reached over the Head Table.

Harry nodded and gave a wicked smirk that was all Lily, and reached out to shake his hand.

The friendly pleasantly plump witch next to Flitwick recognised Lily's wicked smirk and emerald green eyes. She grinned as she stood up and reached over the Head Table.

"Professor Sprout, Lord Potter, I am the Herbology professor, and Head of Hufflepuff House, welcome back!"

Harry's wicked smirk grew mischievous as he stepped to the left to shake her hand as he monitored the reaction of the colourful headmaster on the far right, in his periphery vision. A trick he had learnt from watching his uncle and avoiding a blind attack. Outwardly the old wizard was the picture of a dignified headmaster, while his blue eyes flashed in rage. Harry was happy to be moving away from the old fuddy-duddy Merlin lookalike bane of his existence.

The next witch with unusual eyes, smiled as she stood up and reached over the Head Table while the headmaster started to grumble that his famous ward had not acknowledge him and grovel at his feet as he should. He really didn't appreciated being totally ignored while someone else was hogging the spot light and being the center of attention.

While Minister Bones started to enjoy the developing situation. Any day the headmaster didn't get his way was a great day.

While Shere Khan sensing danger moved to protect his mistress and stood on the Ravenclaw table between her and the Head Table as Hermione felt the concern from her familiar, and feared that something was about to go down. While Luna snuggled with Moonlight into the protection of Neville's arms and alerted him to the developing danger.

"Madam Hooch, Lord Potter, I am the flying instructor, your father was a brilliant flyer. Welcome back!"

Harry's mischievous wicked smirk grew as he shook her hand while Hermione saw that mischievous wicked grin and realised that Harry was enjoying himself.

Harry cheerfully stepped to the left to the next wizard that he recognised from the Leaky Cauldron.

A sickly looking Professor Quirrell slowly raised his head as Harry reached over the shake his hand. Gingerly the exhausted wizard reached out.

While Minister Bones notice that the headmaster was intensely focused on the meeting of Harry Potter and the possessed Professor Quirrell. Removing any doubt that he knew exactly who was hiding under that turban. She growled inwardly and prepared.

But as soon as Harry grasped the hand of Professor Quirrell, the exhausted wizard screamed as his hand started to smoke and turn to ash.

"What magic is this?"

Quirrell shrieked and accidentally dislodged the turban from his head revealing the snarling face of You-Know-Who.

Sev who sat next to Quirrell, moved to stand up to do something but he froze when he saw that snarling face with the dead red eyes on the back of Quirrell's head.

While the sick wizard stopped screaming as he quickly turned to ash. The turban and robe collapsed on to the Head Table in a cloud of dust as a black wraith rose up to face the boy.

The three hidden Unspeakables watching Quirrellmort never expected the Boy-Who-Lived to trash the Quirrellmort chimera with a touch of his hand and were not prepared for this situation. They quietly moved to the other side of the Head Table to try and protect the students, and hoped their boss could do something.

The headmaster smirked as he thought of a way to turn this unexpected opportunity to his advantage and create chaos. He whispered cheerfully.

"Yes! Oh! Sweet Merlin! Yes! The Boy has gone dark without my guidance!"

Minister Bones had heard enough, as she had seen it all before. The headmaster was setting Harry up to take the blame for all of the old fool's manipulations, and then create chaos to control the situation to his advantage and His Greater Good. She hated those innocent sounding words, 'The Greater Good.' She knew from bitter experience that 'The Greater Good.' gave the Manipulative Old Fool the Power to decide what was good and what was evil. Deep down she knew she had to do something to distract the headmaster and protect Harry.

But what? She was so angry that she dare not use magic in case she blew up the Manipulative Old Fool.

Harry jumped back as he watched in repugnance as the wizard painfully turned to ash. While Hermione felt her heart crash to the floor, as Shere Khan moved closer to her to offer his furry comfort and low growl that said, 'just watch this!'

While the smug but exhausted headmaster used the back of his throne chair for support as he stood up to get a better look at what the Boy had just done to Quirrellmort. Yes, of course he knew exactly who was hiding under that turban. He had practically sent Quirrell to the deepest darkest forests of Albania to invite Tom to the school with an offer he couldn't refuse. The lure of the Philosopher's Stone and the chance of a new immortal body, and a rematch against the Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry witnessed Wraithmort slowly rise up from the ashes, and courageously stepped forward to confront the black wraith to protect his family.

While Shere Khan moved closer to his Mistress, as Hermione took courage from Harry's words.

"NOT YOU AGAIN! WHY WON'T YOU JUST STAY DEAD?"

The black wraith formed a human shape as it floated above the Head Table and in a slow high pitched evil voice said.

"Harry Potter! We meet again!"

The older witches and wizards screamed as they recognised that evil voice.

As the Leader of the Light raised his second spare wand against the Boy, while he thanked Tom for distracting everyone.

Wraithmort sneered while he rose up higher so everyone could see him.

While a determined Harry quickly climbed up on top of the Head Table and stood up to reach the black wraith. He didn't want to position himself between Wraithmort and the headmaster but he hoped Aunty Amelia had his back.

Harry's fearlessness gave Hermione hope as Shere Khan shared his furry comfort.

The Great Albus Dumbledore saw the dark Wraithmort form rise up from the ashes of Quirrellmort, and instantly devised a cunning plan, as he attempted to take charge of this unexpected opportunity and turn this chaos to his advantage. Given the terrible month of August that he has just had, he needed a quick victory that would finish what he had started ten long years ago and eliminate both Tom and the super powerful Boy from His Magical World. So, he quickly calculated that if he could get Tom to possess the Boy in front of all of these witnesses, then he could trap him inside the Boy. Then lamentably claim that Tom had used the Forbidden Dark Soul Magic, and sadly he was too late and Tom has taken over the Boy's mind and body. Then the Boy-Who-Lived would have to be sacrificed and thrown through the Veil in the Death Chamber to end He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Reign of Terror once and for all. Sacrificing the Boy would destroy Minister Bones because the Wizengamot had declared the Forbidden Ancient Soul Magic, Dark, and thereby tying his hands. So sadly, the Great Albus Dumbledore wouldn't be allowed to save the Boy. Leaving him, the Last Great Wizard standing with two and one half defeated dark lords to his name and no one left to stand in his way. It was a brilliant plan even if he said so himself. And He knew just the curse to do it, as he had used it before to seal a shard of Tom inside that famous Lightening Bolt Scar.

Minster Bones looked for something to distract the headmaster. She was not going to fail Harry NOW!

While the ancient Chief Witch next to the Minister saw what was going down with headmaster and decided that she wasn't going to fail Harry either. She sagely whispered in the Minister's ear.

"Use the gold serving tray, Amelia!"

Minister Bones looked down and smirked as she noticed the heavy solid gold serving tray in front of her and imagined a new use for it.

"Trust me. Let all your anger go. That it will force the old fool's attention!" Continued Chief Witch Marchbanks.

While Professor Flitwick's sixth sense was warning him that there was danger directly behind his back, and he turned to see the evil grinning headmaster, but his wand was pointing at the wrong wizard.

Finally, the Great Albus Dumbledore was so close to victory that he could hear the cheers and praises! He paused as the Boy got closer to Wraithmort and readied his wand. He ignored everything else as he totally focused his mind for he only had one chance to make this shot that would seal his legacy forever.

But Leader of the Light didn't notice the golden threat right next to him until the very last possible moment. Only to turn to face the heavy solid gold serving tray and get his crooked nose broken again as everything went dark as Minister Amelia Bones forcefully swung into action and released thirty years of anger, frustration and bitter disappointment in a single moment.

BOOONNNNGGG!

CRUNCH!

FLIP-A-DIP!

CRASH!

THUD!

Minister Bones had discovered how effective the heavy solid gold serving tray could be in close quarters, and how it felt so good to swing it with all her might into the insane headmaster's face, braking his crooked nose and knocking him head over heel over his golden throne to land in a crumpled heap on the soft stone floor. She had hit him so hard that the gold serving tray had deformed into a good impression of the headmaster's flattened face as it wrapped around from ear to ear.

While the Castle almost jumped for joy to see the old fool put down so hard. She could see that the headmaster would not be able to interfere for the rest of the night.

While the three hidden Unspeakables were ready to cast their secret Unspeakable reverse shield charms to surround the headmaster and reflect any non-unforgivable curse he cast back at himself and thereby protect Harry Potter and the students. But they had paused as they saw the Minister pick up the heavy solid gold serving tray and swung into action. They didn't want to interfere in her fun, and fist-pumped a yes, as the Manipulative Old Fool crashed to the floor. Then stood clear as one used his wand to dump a phial of the Draught of Living Death into the headmaster's stomach to make sure the headmaster stayed down for the count. They didn't want any surprises while Wraithmort was floating around. They stepped back to allow Poppy deal with the fallen professor.

While Minerva's Kitty senses were tingling that more than one thing was happening at once. She was the only professor on this side of the Head Table between black shadow of Wraithmort and the students. She listened to that slow high pitched evil voice greet Lily's son and then saw that flash of gold in her periphery vision and heard the headmaster being knocked over his golden throne and crash onto the floor. Her first thought was, 'Great! The Manipulative Old Fool can't interfere to create chaos.' She continued to focus on Wraithmort as she watched Lily's son courageous determination to advance without fear. Then she heard her friend Amelia scream at the fallen old fool.

"YOU DAMN INSANE FOOL! YOU KNEW QUIRRELL WAS POSSESSED BY THAT EVIL MONSTER AND YET YOU STILL GAVE HIM A JOB TEACHING THE DARK ARTS TO THE BOY-WHO-LIVED!"

Minister Bones screamed at the fallen colourful headmaster.

"CONSIDER THIS YOUR LETTER OF TERMINATION FOR CAUSE FROM HOGWARTS!"

"EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!"

Gran would have instantly seconded the Letter of Termination For Cause, by Amelia, but she and the others next to her were a little distracted by the floating Wraithmort right above them.

While Professor Flitwick fist-pumped a YES! He has always wanted to do that to the smug old fool. With the danger behind him dealt with, he turned back to watch the Boy-Who-Lived in action. He was a little annoyed with himself as he knew Gringotts had taught him about Soul Magic, but somehow he had forgotten.

While the admiration of the Unspeakables for the new Minister of Magic grew as they saw how effective she was. Then they also silently moved to the other side of the Head Table to try to protect the students from Wraithmort.

While Minerva echoed the same thoughts as Amelia as she focus on the David verses Goliathmort showdown in front of her. Wondering what she could possibly do to protect the Lily's son and the students.

Harry courageously kept an eye on Wraithmort while he tried to see what had happened behind him in his periphery vision, and was ever so thankful Aunty Amelia had his back and dealt with the foolish headmaster. Now he could focus on Wraithmort.

Wraithmort sneered at the fallen former headmaster, and gave an evil giggle that sent chills down the spines of the adults. He had always wanted to do that to the old fool headmaster. While he rose up higher so everyone could see him as he attacked and destroyed his supposedly terrified arch-nemesis.

While a determined Harry advanced to reach the black wraith. His fearlessness continued to give Hermione hope.

Sev was frozen to the spot with fear. Harry had told him what had happened on his birthday but hearing that dreaded evil voice again still made his blood run cold. But then he saw the Fire of Lily in those glowing emerald green eyes of Harry, and knew the Dark Lord was in for a world of pain he couldn't even begin to imagine.

Wraithmort looked down to see the boy moving closer and not running away in terror like he was suppose to.

"What are you doing, BOY?"

Harry grinned as he reached up with his hand.

"I am going to kick your as.. bum again!"

"Stupid Boy! Your mother is not here to save you!"

Wraithmort sneered and pointed his wraith hand at the foolish boy.

"AVADA.."

"OH! NO! YOU DON'T!"

Harry yelled cutting off Wraithmort as he jumped up and swept his hands through the bottom of the wraith form and there was a shower of bright sparks. His magical family was here and his magic was emotionally supercharged to infinity. While Hermione's heart bounced off the floor and then, as she saw the shower of bright sparks, she fist-pumped a Yes!

"ARGH! NO!"

"WHAT THE HELL!"

"WHAT DARK ANCIENT MAGIC IS THIS!"

The terrified Wraithmort shrieked.

"Stardust!" Yelled Harry.

Wraithmort stopped screaming and looked at Harry. "What? Stardust?"

"Yeah, I have discovered that I have this cool power to vanquish dark lords, that will turn you into stardust when I touch you." Harry replied. "It also appears to turn your neophyte into ash if you possess them."

"And you didn't know you had this power?" Wraithmort inquired.

"I didn't know I was a wizard until my last birthday."

"Dumbledore?"

"Yeah! Dumbledore!" Harry dejectedly replied. "What are you doing here at Hogwarts? Aren't you supposed to be afraid of Dumbledore?"

Wraithmort realised that the Boy already knew of the prophecy, and noticed the resentment towards Dumbledore. He smirked as he saw an opportunity to mess with the Boy's mind. Having the power to Stardust dark lords placed Wraithmort at a distinct disadvantage and all he had was his charm and wits to bring the Boy over to his way of thinking. Having a common enemy in the Manipulative Old Fool might just save him. That was all he had left after that moron Slippery Lucy Malfoy had gotten all of his marked Death Eaters crispy fried with Fiendfyre in the Battle of Crouch Manor. He prepared himself.

"What? Me afraid of that Manipulative Old Fool?" Wraithmort gestured to himself. "Perish the thought! Everyone just hates it when he hits you with those sad old grandpa eyes and he tells you how disappointed he is in you, and how he is afraid that you might turn to the dark side! It just makes you want to go and AK yourself, er, everyone!"

Surprisingly there were some groans of agreement from the adults and senior students.

"Besides, Dumbledore invited me." Wraithmort smirked. "Yes! He sent that fool of a DADA professor all the way to the deepest darkest forests of Albania to study Dark Lords. I showed him how powerful a Dark Lord I am, and generously came back to teach the Dark Arts to you."

"He gave you a job?" Harry snorted. "Why am I not surprised. He interferes in everything."

Wraithmort chuckled as he floated just out of range of those lethal hands. "Did you know the Manipulative Old Fool is storing a powerful magical artefact in a castle full of children? A powerful magical artefact that can make the Elixir of Life? Which can make the drinker immortal? That would be irresistible to the Greatest Dark Lord?"

Harry took a red stone out of his pocket. "Oh, you mean this? The Philosopher's Stone?"

Wraithmort started to reached out his dark smoky wraith hand towards Harry.

"Yeah, it is a fake. Just a nice looking red stone." Harry said. "Nicolas Flamel didn't trust the headmaster. Go figure!"

A disappointed heartbroken Wraithmort spoke in a little small voice as he pulled back his wraith hand.

"Dumbledore lied to me?"

"Yeah! But don't feel so bad, Dumbledore lies to everyone." Harry said sadly. "He is always working with the half empty glass!"

"That son of a half-troll, rat-eating, munge-bucket!"

A heartbroken Wraithmort released his frustration and took a moment to gather his thoughts and try a different tact.

"You are a very brave boy, Harry. Can I call you Harry?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, sure, er, Voldemort?"

"I prefer the Dark Lord, to my friends, thank you." Wraithmort chuckled as he turned on the charm. "Say, you don't seem to be afraid to say my most fearful name?"

"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." Harry replied. "You used 'Mort' at the end and 'Mort' means death, and you had Death Eaters slaves. So Hermione and I gather that Voldemort is just a made up name to frighten the sheeple."

"You worked that out? It is French for 'Flight of death'. As in, I am so evil that even Death flees before me!" Wraithmort chuckled evilly. "Actually, it is an anagram of my real name, 'Tom Marvolo Riddle'. With a surname of 'Riddle', one is encouraged to turn your name into a conundrum."

Croaker, Sirius, Severus, and Hermione quickly wrote down, 'Tom Marvolo Riddle'. Extracted the letters for 'Voldemort', and rearranged the remaining letters.

Hermione worked it out first and said. "I am Lord Voldemort?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle" Wraithmort smiled as some gasped as they remembered Tom had been Head Boy at Hogwarts in his day. "I am Lord Voldemort!"

"Clever, very clever." Harry smiled as his Hermione had worked it out first and was brave enough to say the name.

"Thank you. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you and me, that's saying something." Wraithmort smiled as he had heard the old fool say that to manipulate others. "Say, would you happen to know anything about a humongous stack of returned Hogwarts Acceptance Letters that were originally addressed to you, and were crammed into the Grand Office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Would you?"

"Err?" Harry blushed red. "I needed to get rid of all those Acceptance Letters from my relative's home, and I couldn't throw them into the Muggle recycling bin. There were just too many of them, and I could feel the magic on them. So I asked my owl, Hedwig and she got Louis and all the other Magical Mail Owls to help."

"That was you? Sweet Merlin! Did you know that the old fool headmaster used a lot of magic to open the ancient oak door and the Acceptance Letters blew up in his face and blasted him down the revolving staircase? He painfully landed across the top of the impressive stone Gargoyle breaking every bone in his body. Then the off white avalanche buried the arrogant fool under a mountain of Hogwarts Acceptance Letters as the revolving staircase kept churning all letters up on top of him."

"OH? Well? I didn't mean to?"

"Don't worry, Harry, your secret is safe with me. I won't tell a soul!" Wraithmort smirked.

While the Great Hall was absolutely silent. Rita picked up her jaw off the floor. She knew Dumbledore had been injured for the last month but Hogwarts had kept the details hidden. She had no idea that the Boy-Who-Lived had outwitted the headmaster at his own game and put him down.

"I was just trying to do the right thing!" Harry tried to explain.

"But that was the best part. The Manipulative Old Fool did it to himself! It put him into a magical coma for two weeks? Two weeks! No other Dark Lord has ever put the Great Albus Dumbledore down for that long! Not me! And definitely not his lover Grindelwald! Though that redhead Amelia Bones might just give you a run for your money. I have always wanted to put Dumbledore down like that." Wraithmort praised as he carefully watched for weakness. "I am impressed!"

"Well, actually it happened twice." The embarrassed Harry scratched his head as he explained as he glanced at the fallen Dumbledore while watching Wraithmort in his periphery vision. "The headmaster blew up my old cupboard bedroom under the stairs."

"Sweet Merlin! Twice! Now, I am just jealous!" Wraithmort charmed.

"Well?" The embarrassed Harry shyly scratched his hair as he realised the game Wraithmort was playing. "You know that you are very good at being very Bad!"

"Manipulation 101, Harry, I was taught by the very best!" Wraithmort chuckled as he waved a wraith hand towards the fallen headmaster. "Stick with me, Harry, and I will teach you everything I know!"

"I'll pass." Harry said as he didn't fall for that manipulation. He glanced at the witches fussing over an unconscious Dumbledore and noticed an old wand on the Head Table nearby.

Wraithmort patiently tried a different tact.

"You really are a very brave boy, Harry!" Wraithmort charmed the embarrassed Harry. He saw an opening and went for it!

"Bravery. Your parents had it too. Tell me, Harry, would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back."

Harry thought for a moment. "I would love to see my parents, but why would you share that sort of knowledge and power?"

"Er?" Wraithmort wisely said. He never intended to share anything. It was all his! He was beginning to understand just how brilliant Lily Potter was, as he whispered. "Damn, he saw straight through me!"

"And if you did have that sort of knowledge and power, you wouldn't be all wraith like and spooky." Harry pointed to the pile of ash on the table. "And possessing flunkies. You didn't do him any good!"

"Harry, Harry, Harry. There is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it like Quirrell. But you and me? Together, we'll do extraordinary things." Wraithmort smooth talked and turned the charm up to eleven. Hey, it had worked on Quirrell.

"You sound just like my uncle; he could smooth talk too, promise the world and deliver nothing but disappointment, pain and sorrow."

Harry mimicked his uncle's voice. "I'm smart; you're dumb. I'm big; you're little. And there's nothing you can do about it." But left off the 'F' word at the end.

He continued in his normal voice. "But actually he really was vicious bully and would say anything to get his way. He is the personification of Natural Selection. Survival of the Fittest and the non-survival of the unfittest. He exploited every opportunity to his advantage to take and get what he wanted. But he was never happy and always wanted more even if he didn't need it." Harry replied.

"I am very good at dealing with bullies, Harry." Wraithmort offered. "Just say the word."

"I am too!" Harry chuckled. "But there is a power greater than that!"

"Oh?" Wraithmort said as he wondered why his power to charm and control had no effect on the Boy.

"Yeah, the power of the Greater Good." Harry explained.

"Oh? Do you know who else preaches the Greater Good?" Wraithmort prodded. "The headmaster!"

"So I have heard." Harry replied. "I don't know whose Greater Good? But it certainly hasn't been for my Greater Good!"

"I suppose not." Wraithmort replied. This was the longest conversation he had ever had with someone, before he killed them.

Harry continued. "And if Dumbledore invited you to teach the Dark Arts to the Boy-Who-Lived. Well that just proves that Dumbledore has his own agenda and he is playing both sides against each other, and that doesn't bode well for either of us and anyone else caught in the crossfire."

"No! That's not very good, is it?" Wraithmort wondered if this was all an elaborate trap.

Harry continued. "The Greater Good is insidious as it gives you the power to decide what is good and what is evil. To call good, evil, and evil, good! It allows you to do very evil things and justify it for some nefarious good. There is no love in the Greater Good, only hatred for it takes away our ability to think for ourselves. It is just an intellectual way of psychological bullying for power and control."

Harry paused to gather his thoughts as Hermione fist-pump a yes! They had this conversation before.

"My aunt followed that philosophy. She was more sophisticated and was always right because she said so, and therefore I must be wrong, and had to do what she said. She used that to ruin my cousin and turn him into an obese spoilt brat. She applied it to her garden. She wanted to have the best garden in the street and she had the financial resources of my uncle to make it happened. She did whatever looked good and never considered the needs of the plants. Which plants needed sunny or partially sunny or shady positions? The soil types or water needs. She just dumped it all together and made me water and weed it. But it was never good enough, and when she got bored, it all just died. Such a waste!"

Wraithmort looked thoughtful as he processed that information. Then spoke.

"I have never seen that before, Harry. To just call evil, good and good, evil, would be a lot easier than being a Dark Lord and having to decide who to kill next, and who lives to die another day, and dealing with those idiot Death Eaters."

"What did you do to a death eater who thought for himself?" Harry asked.

Wraithmort cheerfully replied. "Why, I would Crucio them until they changed their mind."

"So you limited their thinking?"

"They weren't really all that bright to start with if they believed those lies about the Pure-blood Agenda. The idiots never worked it out that, like you and Dumbledore, I am a half-blood, and way more powerful than any Pure-blood wizard alive to day." Wraithmort chuckled as he replied. "But this idea of MY Greater Good has merit. I was a very popular Head Boy with a big future until the headmaster encouraged me to become the Dark Lord."

"The headmaster encouraged you to become a Dark Lord?" Harry asked.

Wraithmort nodded. "The Great Albus Dumbledore was my Magical Guardian, and he always said that he feared that I was going dark with my friends in Slytherin."

A gasp filled the Great Hall.

Wraithmort chuckled. "For Career Advice, Old Sluggy Slughorn encouraged me to go into politics. I could have just kissed a couple of babies and charmed the fan witches to vote for me to become the Minister of Magic."

Wraithmort struck a ministerial pose as he continued.

"Once the sheeple were charmed to stop thinking for themselves and trust me, then I could have just made little changes to laws that were duplicitous, insidious and hypocritical, and full of loopholes to advanced my Pure-blood Agenda and the opportunities of my dear friends."

Wraithmort thought for a moment, then continued.

"Like Dumbledore's Reasonable Restriction amendment to the Decree for Underage Sorcery, that was so totally unreasonable and actually stripped the rights of Mud, er, Muggle-borns to think for themselves and made them fearful to use their magic even to show their parents. With totally no restrictions whatsoever for Pure-bloods because, hey, no Muggles! Brilliant!"

Then he thought about the possibilities.

"I could have been restricting and destroying all the rights and futures of everyone else not me. Taboo everything that was hateful to me. Outlaw the freedom to think and leaving them too fearful to speak their mind! And just say that they would hurt my feeling and I was doing it all for the Greater Good! That's so Brilliant! All that power and control but with absolutely no responsibility and complete plausible deniability as there would always be some so called idiot experts to blame. Wow! That is next-level Evilness! No wonder the Manipulative Old Fool would never share that sort of Power! I find myself shamefaced! He made me a fool!"

Wraithmort said as he tried to manipulate and gain Harry's sympathy, all the while he sized up the Boy to try and discover another weakness, any weakness to exploit.

While Harry realised. "Dumbledore's Greater Good was a whole lot worse for Muggle-borns."

"Dumbledore's Greater Good was the greatest asset for the Pure-blood Agenda! It is all about Power and Control, Harry!"

Wraithmort let that sink in and then continued on another tact.

"You seem to be older and wiser than you look, Harry?"

Harry snorted. "My childhood ended when I was big enough to cook and work in the garden, but I learnt how to avoid bullies and their power of fear. Then how to outsmart them."

Wraithmort snorted. "In the orphanage, one grew up very quickly and I discovered I was special. I had the power to control bullies. Then when I turned eleven, I met Dumbledore and he introduced me to the magical world and told me that I was a wizard, and could come to Hogwarts to learn how to control magic." He snorted. "The Sorting Hat even announced me, a Muggle raised wizard, as the Heir of Slytherin. Some older bullies tried to hurt me but I dealt with them. It was obvious that Dumbledore knew exactly who I was and my heritage. But it didn't take long for me to work out Dumbledore's secret of how he ruled Hogwarts and Magical Britain, divide and control! I learnt well and then use that to my advantage."

"Dumbledore introduced you to the magical world?" Harry sighed as Wraithmort nodded. "You were lucky! Dumbledore bound my magical core and dumped me on the doorstep of my Muggle relatives in the middle of a cold November night with just a thin blanket and a letter. They hated magic because you murdered my mother."

Wraithmort felt sorry for Harry for a moment. Dumbledore had given the Boy a very excruciating childhood far worse than his own painful time at the orphanage. But he was fighting for his very survival and blocked those feelings as he matched Harry's sigh.

"I truly regret killing your mother, Harry. She was a beautiful brilliant powerful witch. She outsmarted me! Destroyed my power and body! And even took my title and inheritance from me to give to you." Wraithmort waved his black wraith hands to demonstrate Lily's handiwork.

"My mother loved me more than life!"

"Oh? Love?" Wraithmort said sadly as he thought of his own mother who died after giving birth to him. Only lived long enough to give him that hated name of his Muggle father.

But Harry wasn't finished.

"But Love is the power that is far greater than all the bullying and the Greater Good combined."

"Oh?"

"Yes! The Greatest Power in the Universe is Love!" Harry explained. "I learnt that from old Mrs MacDonald. She lived in what my uncle called the worst house in the street. Which was true only because of her limited financial resources. But she had lived there since forever and over time she had created the most beautiful amazing garden. It was full of wonder, hope, life and Love. It was cool and shady in summer, and warm and inviting in winter. Most the birds in Surrey lived in her garden along with all of the wildlife. She grew her own fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices. She loved her garden and it loved her back a hundredfold. I spent many hours there avoiding my cousin."

"Love?" Wraithmort said with a hint of sadness, exploring another angle for weakness.

Meanwhile, the Castle had finished gathering the windblown Love Lights that Harry, Hermione and friends had cast to light the path down to the boats and across the Black Lake, and released them into the Great Hall. The little balls of light slowly floated down to Harry as the students and adults looked in awe and wonder.

"What are those?" Wraithmort asked as he felt a strange emotion.

"Love Lights!" Harry said as he raised the palm of his hand, and said. "You think of someone special that you love, Lumos!"

A little ball of light appeared over his palm and floated up between himself and Wraithmort.

Finally, Hermione saw an opportunity to help Harry, and held out her palm, thought of someone special that she loved, and said. "Lumos!"

A bright ball of light appeared over her palm and floated up towards Harry. While perch on the rafters of the Great Hall, Princess, Dobby and Winky thought of the one they loved and snapped their fingers. They sent their Love Lights down to young master as the Castle gathered the Love Lights to surround the two arch-nemeses.

Neville and Luna followed Hermione's example. As did Tonks, Susan and Hannah on the Hufflepuff table. Draco held out his palm, thought of someone he loved, and cast the Lumos charm at the Slytherin table. Then he helped Daphne Greengrass and the other first years to cast their own Love Lights.

And little balls of light appeared over their palms and floated up towards Harry as the Castle gathered them.

Gran led the example at the Head Table and the other witches and wizards wandlessly cast their Lumos charm.

Emma held out her palm and thought of someone she loved and said, "Lumos!"

And a little ball of light illuminated the joy in her face.

Then she held Dan's hand with both of her palms underneath, and together they thought of their love for Harry and Hermione as they said together, "Lumos!"

Dan felt the tingling of magic pass through his hand as a small ball of light appeared above his palm to light up the joy and wonder in their faces.

Narcissa held out her hand and thought of her love for her Little Dragon and said. "Lumos!"

And the little ball of light illuminated the joy in her face. The Hogwarts she ruled over as Queen with her sister Queens had never felt like this.

Severus, Sirius, and Remus felt the same as the little balls of light lit the joy in their faces. It even worked for Hagrid and his Love Light was the size of a basket ball. He cast the charm three more times just because he could, and he had a bigger face full of joy to illuminate. It was magic that was wandless and you didn't have to be an official wizard to do it.

The others followed their example to share the joy of Love and Magic.

More and more little balls of light appeared over their palms and floated up towards Harry as the Castle gathered the Love Lights to surround the two arch-nemeses and protect the children.

The first years sitting next to Hermione gave her a questioned hopeful look, and she explained.

"Hold out the palm of your hand and think of someone you love and say, Lumos!"

Padma Patil held out her palm and thought of her twin sister and said. "Lumos!"

A small ball of light appeared over her palm that lit up the surprise, joy, and wonder in her face as she looked over to her sister on the Gryffindor table.

Mandy Brocklehurst tried next and held out her palm and thought of her parents, and said. "Lumos!"

A small ball of light appeared over her palm that lit up the awe, joy, and wonder in her face.

Michael Corner tried next and held out his palm and thought of his beloved dog, and said. "Lumos!"

A small ball of light appeared over his palm that lit up the awe, joy, and wonder in his face. But then it popped out.

"Oh, no?" Michael cried. "I thought of my dog but he died last year."

Luna reacted with a sigh while Neville spoke. "Michael, think of your most favourite moment with your dog, keep that in your heart and try again!"

Michael nodded and closed his eyes as he held out his palm and thought of his most favourite moment with his beloved dog, and said. "Lumos!"

"Wow! That is so bright!" Mandy said as Michael opened his eyes full of joy and love.

The remaining eight First Year students that were waiting to be sorted were standing near the Ravenclaw table, and the three witches looked hopefully at Hermione and she and Luna waved them over while wizards hesitated. Hermione and Luna began to show Sophie Roper, Sally Smith, and Lisa Turpin.

Hermione explained.

"Hold out the palm of your hand and think of someone you love and say, Lumos!"

A small ball of light appeared over her palm.

Sophie, Sally and Lisa held out the palm of their hand and thought of someone they loved as they said. "Lumos!"

A small ball of light appeared over their palm that lit up the surprise, joy, and wonder in their faces. It was their first magic in the castle and it was wandless.

Neville waved over to the remaining first year wizards to be sorted, Oliver Rivers, Alfred Runcorn, Dean Thomas, and Blaise Zabini, while the rude redhead was reluctant to move because he sweating like he was having a hot flush and his ears felt burnt, and he was so hungry, and this was wasting time that he could be using to eat.

Soon four more little balls of light floated over their palms and showed the surprise, joy, and wonder in their faces.

Then they encouraged the rest of the students. Ravenclaw helped Gryffindor while Hufflepuff helped Slytherin. Soon they held out their palms of their hands and thought of someone they loved, and said. "Lumos!"

They were amazed as the little balls of light appeared over their palms and showed the surprise, joy, and wonder in their faces. Hundreds of Love Lights were gathered by the Castle to surround the two arch-nemeses, Harry and Wraithmort. Carefully they were arranged to prevent Wraithmort's escape and to protect the children.

The little balls of light really made the dark black smoky wraith form translucent as if the light was consuming the darkness while they waited for Harry to speak.

"We are all unique and different but we can be all one with Love."

Harry said slowly as he saw the Love Lights affect Wraithmort as the fear that powered his control over others, failed.

The Love Lights contained the evilness as hatred dissipated from the Great Hall to be replaced with hope and Love.

"For the bullies and dark lords to win, they just need to get you to hate your neighbour!"

"What bullies and dark lords fear is Love! They are terrified to lose their Power and Control! So they use fear and hatred to divide and crush love and hope and goodwill, to stop the sheeple from thinking for themselves and silence their voice. Their control limits everyone to their dark miserable evil imagination. Could you have imagined the sight of all of these Love Lights?" Harry reasoned.

As Wraithmort slowly shook his wraith head in wonder. He had never seen nor felt such magic.

"Man was never meant to live in fear of the sky falling on his head or some other world ending event!"

Harry paused to let that sink in.

"God created a garden to illuminate the infinite possibilities of Love!"

"God created man in His Image and Likeness so he could learn to love. To love God and to love His Creation, starting by loving our neighbour."

"God created this Universe full of Love and Light and Hope and Wonder so man could have a taste of what life could be. So he could lift up his head and reach for the Stars!"

Harry let that sink in, as he left unsaid the next bit about of grovelling in fear and dread at the feet of the next Dark Lord.

While Hermione's heart soared with Love and Hope along with Luna, Neville and many other kindred spirits.

Then Harry continued.

"Mrs MacDonald used her garden to teach me how to love. How to look for the needs of others and fill those needs with Love to bring them together. She would always say,"

Harry changed his voice to a Scottish accent, "that contrary to popular mythology, God's Creation didn't run on Natural Selection. Survival of the Fittest and to hell with the rest! No! God's Creation runs on Love and self-sacrifice! Every loving parent knows that! Love links everything together!"

Harry changed his voice back. "And she proved that by showing how everything is unique and different but works together in love. Uses only what it needs to give of itself for the benefit of others. She considered the needs of each plant in her garden. Which plants grow well together in sunny or partially sunny or shady positions? The water and nutrient needs, and soil types, sandy or clay, well-draining or not? Whether the plants were perennial, biennials or annuals? And then planted them in the optimum positions that would give them the freedom to do their best to love and grow."

Wraithmort looked at Harry in silence. This was all new to him as he had only known Power and control with fear and hatred. But he still desperately hoped to find some weakness to exploit despite the Love Lights that surrounded them.

"Her garden taught me the importance of forgiveness. Gardens don't live in the past nor play the victim, but live for today. After the pruning, after the storm, after the wind and rain, the sun comes out. Gardens forgive the damage and begin to love and grow again to the very best of their ability."

The Great Hall was silent as they listen to this extraordinary conversation and saw the incredible sight and felt the love of the little balls of light.

"I wish to look for solutions and not exploit problems as opportunities to my advantage. For I can't change the past, nor do I want to waste the future, and I don't want to be the victim or be the Boy-Who-Lived. But the Boy-Who-Loves. That was my mother's example. She loved me and I try to live up to that every moment of every day."

Harry paused.

"I follow my mother and father's example of Love and Self-Sacrifice."

"I have to try to do something to show Love to dissolve all the hatred, otherwise it will fester and grow until the killing starts again, and the next dark lord will destroy everything! Then the sacrifice of my mother and father would truly be in vain!"

Harry paused to let that sink in as those in the Great Hall realised what the hatred has cost him. Then he put in practice what he had learnt of Love.

"After I saved my aunt from the other you, she regretted how she treated me, and said she was wrong and how sorry she was, and asked that one day I could forgive her. And so I forgave her there and then, and that changed everything and opened a new door of opportunity into the Magical World, and she could finally shared her love for my mother with me. And that was worth so much more to me than all the pain and suffering that I had forgiven. Then I forgave my bully of an uncle in front of my aunt and his son. From the look my aunt gave him, he knew he would sleeping on the couch for the rest of his miserable life. I could see in his eyes that he felt this small and utterly worthless."

Harry gestured with his hand to show a small inch between his thumb and fore finger.

"I forgave others on the condition that they make good and forgive someone else to remove the barriers of hatred between them, and that paid forward to help others in need. It was so sad that they had been told who to like and who to hate since they came under the care and control of Dumbledore. It was very difficult for them to stop hating, and to start loving. Bullying had given them entitlement and privilege and power and fear and everything except the Love that made it all worthwhile. So many have fallen into that trap and in the end lost everything!"

Harry let that sink in and he could feel the eyes of Severus and Sirius and Narcissa as they nodded in agreement of their own experiences of what they had lost and what they had gained.

"For hatred makes you selfish and greedy and irrational and irresponsible, and destroys everything!"

"And blind obedience is not love!"

Harry paused to let that sink in.

"For Love makes you responsible and gives you the real power to change yourself."

"Forgiveness is not easy, Love is not easy, and it is so important to have the God given freedom to use your God given mind to think for yourself, and to make the wisest choice on how to Love another."

Harry paused.

"And Love lifted the great burden of Hatred off their shoulders, and for the first time they could think, Love, live and be happy."

Harry paused to let that sink in.

"I don't want to be a victim nor live in the past! But live for today!"

"For that I need to Love! I need to live and be happy, and to have the God Given Freedom to Think, to Love for the best future."

Harry paused.

"So I am prepared to forgive you, Dark Lord Voldemort! BUT! You will have to give up being a dark lord and show remorse, and start to love and make good all the evil you have done."

Wraithmort was silent as he followed everything Harry had said up until the part where Harry would forgive him if he would give up being a dark lord.

And something triggered as his rage exploded for He enjoyed being evil!

"Never! I am the greatest Dark Lord and I will always be the greatest Dark lord!"

Harry calmly reached up and ran his fingers through the lower part of Wraithmort's black mist tail, and Stardust sparks flew.

"ARRRGH! NO! Will you STOP! DOING! THAT!"

Wraithmort shrieked.

Severus and Sirius both had separate previous experience of being this close to an angry dark lord, and they didn't like that feeling. Then Sirius saw James' mischievous smirk, while Severus saw Lily's wicked smile as Harry slowly reached up again with his fore finger to tickle the very wide awake and very angry dragon.

Wraithmort notice his servant Severus Snape standing behind the table and ordered him.

"Snape, kill the Boy!"

Severus smirked as he shook his head, no! Then he took the black leather glove off his left arm and showed that he no long had a dark mark on his shiny new gold arm and hand.

"You betrayed your Lord?"

"You didn't spare his mother! Or his father!"

Severus sneered.

"But! You betrayed them!"

"That was the rat, and Harry knows the truth! And he has forgiven me! And gave me a reason to change my ways and have a real second chance of Love!"

Severus explained as he pointed to Harry to show who was his lord now.

Wraithmort floated frozen in anger, staring at Snape with furious red eyes trying to burn a hole in his head but failed.

Then the enraged dark Wraithmort growl as he lunged towards Harry, but Harry just calmly raised his finger and a ferocious Wraithmort stopped dead suddenly, just out of range and fumed as his eyes glowed a violent shade of angry evil red.

Sirius and Severus didn't know what they could do to help or protect Harry as he face down the enraged dark lord right in front of them. But when they saw Harry's act of defiance to raise that finger to stop dead a charging furious Wraithmort, they each saw their favourite part of James and Lily. That courage and defiance against impossible odds that they each loved. They whispered together.

"Sweet Merlin, James / Lily!"

A thought that was echoed in the minds of the surrounding adults as they remembered James and Lily. Sirius and Severus heard the other's whisper, and so did Harry, and it meant everything to him. That others could see his mother and father in him!

While an enraged Wraithmort boiled over and screamed.

"You've lost me my servant, BOY!"

"I don't need your FORGIVENESS!"

"I am IMMORTAL!"

"I'll be BACK!"

"And I will PAINFULLY KILL YOU!"

"You and all of your little friends!"

"Especially HIM!"

Wraithmort screamed as he pointed to Severus, then he turned to flee to get away from his arch-nemesis but he was surrounded by little balls of light that he dare not touch.

"HEY! COME BACK HERE! YOU! CHICKEN!"

Harry yelled as he moved to chase Wraithmort while a loud gasp was heard as everyone reacted.

Wraithmort hesitated as he heard that. He turned to face the Boy.

"YOU ARE SO DEAD POTTER! NO ONE CALLS ME CHICeeeeeee!"

Tinkle!

The darkest Dark Lord was cut off by a flash of light as a wand waved and flicked, and the evil wraith was sucked into a gold teaspoon as it bounced on the table. While everyone in the Great Hall gasped and released the breath they had been holding as the black hooded robe Unspeakable put his wand away.

"Aw, not fair uncle!"

Harry protested with his hands on his hips as he stood on the Head Table.

Head Unspeakable Croaker saw that Harry wasn't a bit afraid of Wraithmort and chuckled at the antics. Wraithmort hesitation had given him, who was sitting two spots further down the Head Table, the moment to think of what to do. He remembered the right Ancient Soul Magic and had stood up to wave his wand at the wraith and then flicked towards a gold teaspoon on the table and trapped the darkest dark lord's wraith where he couldn't escape while two little angry red glowing eyes appeared in the gold head of the teaspoon. Fortunately, all the negative hatred and anger of Wraithmort was well within the emotional range of a teaspoon.

Croaker replied. "While we applaud your example of love and forgiveness, Harry. And you have given everyone a lot to think about as you have destroyed the power of both Dumbledore and Voldemort, and shown that the one true power is the Power of Love. And your courage and example of Love gave everyone here tonight an opportunity to stand with you and show their love to share in a great victory. They may not fully understand that, but they will in time, and they will never forget what happened here tonight!"

Croaker continued. "Sadly some have been so full hatred for so long that they are already dead inside. It was their choice and you can't save everyone but at least you tried and that was a chance they didn't deserve and far more than they gave their victims. Now it is our turn and we want to make sure Voldemort never comes back to hate and kill again!"

"Oh, okay."

Harry agreed with a nod and then he saw all of the hundreds of little balls of light surrounding him. There must have been a thousand!

"Oh, wow!"

Harry was so moved that he placed his hand over his heart as he turned to the Great Hall.

"Thank you for all of your Love Lights. You saw a need and filled it with your love. That is what Love is, to give of yourself to fill needs with Love. That meant everything to me that you had my back and stood together with me to show the Power of Love."

"Fear and hatred limits us to thinking that the glass will ever be half empty. Love and hope makes us always unlimitable! That's why God created a garden to illuminate the infinite possibilities of Love. Together, we just did an extraordinary thing to win this great victory! For evil and hatred can not hide nor exist in the Light of Love! Thank you. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!"

Harry bow as the applause and cheering started. Then Harry turned to look for Hermione on the Ravenclaw table and saw her big bright beautiful cheerful smile beaming as she was cheering with Shere Khan, Neville and Luna. He gave her his most charming smile as he blew her a kiss that she caught and held her hand close to her heart as he looked deep into her eyes to send his love. Then he turned to make eye contact with Neville and Luna as they smiled back their love. Then he looked for G T, Susan and Hannah on the Hufflepuff table and made eye contact to see that they were okay and they smiled back their love.

Then Harry looked for Draco on the Slytherin table but Draco was distracted by a cute blonde witch. He chuckled at the thought of Smooth Draco.

With his friends safe and okay, Harry raised his open hands in victory as pandemonium slowly filled the Great Hall as they realised that the dark lord had been capture and contained where he couldn't hurt anyone. The relief showed in the smiles on everyone's faces. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might truly be gone forever!

Harry had shown them that they all had the Power of Love to be a part of a Great Victory.

Rita was speechless, she just hoped that Krusty had caught it all in full high definition magical moving photography with surround sound.

While Chief Witch Marchbanks whispered to Minister Bones. "Wow, he has all the charm of his father, Amelia."

"Yes, and the brilliance of his mother. He has already started to bring everyone together and change our world for a better and brighter future!" Minister Bones agreed.

Chief Witch Marchbanks whispered. "Dumbledore and the dark monster divided and separated us with fear and hatred, and blamed someone else to steal our future! Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Loved, brought us together and showed us the Love that is in each and every one of us, and gave us the hope of a bright future! Together! Which would you chose?"

"Silly question. Love of course! I choose Harry!" Minister Bones whispered. "He has charmed and tamed Minerva already!"

Chief Witch Marchbanks chuckled as she continued. "It is a pity that Dumbledore missed all of that as that is what a real true Good that is Greater feels like!"

"Yes, we will never forget what happened here tonight and the Love we felt!" Minister Bones agreed as she looked to share a smile of love with Susan and Hannah.

With the danger contained, the little balls of light floated up into the velvety black ceiling of the Great Hall and looked like real stars as the Castle cheerfully arranged them into constellations and spun them into galaxies far far away as everyone watched in awe and wonder. The Castle is alive!

Luna's smile lit up her face as she saw the glorious stars twinkling above her, while Neville spoke to boy who had lost his dog.

"Michael, when you look up, you can see your love for your dog!"

Michael looked up and thought of his most favourite moment with his beloved dog, and the bright star in the constellation, Canis Major, flashed.

"Oh? Wow!" He said.

Luna gave a wicked grin and thought how much she loved her mother and the star cluster called Pleiades, flashed three times.

"Oh, Wow!" Neville said. "That cluster of stars flashed three times."

"Yes!" Luna fist-pumped. "I Love You!"

"I love you too, Luna." Neville replied.

"I know, Neville, but I was thinking how much I love my mother." And Pleiades flashed again. "And there, Pleiades flashed three times. That's my mother saying that she loves me!"

"Oh, wow!" Hermione said as she thought how much she loved Harry, and the constellation of Orion flashed three times.

"Yes!" Hermione fist-pumped. "I love this Hogwarts Castle. It is full of love and magic!"

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Meanwhile.

Then Harry saw he was standing on the Head Table next to Sev and Padfoot, and couldn't resist the urge as he reached out his hand and spoke in his most posh voice with his most wicked smile.

"Let me see, greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin. Professor Snape, I presume?"

Severus felt the love of the Love Lights that Harry had spoken of, and looked at the pile of ash and robes next to him and then noticed further along that the headmaster was a crumpled heap on the stone floor with Poppy fussing over him. He knew that to choose Love was a life or death decision. He gave a nervous chuckle. When Sirius and he had thought that the sorting of Harry would be awesome, they had only thought that it would an awesome prank on the headmaster. But, of course, Harry, just like his father, had to go one better and prank both the headmaster and the dark lord together. And the roasting of Quirrellmort was such a Lily thing to do to anyone who threatens her family and friends. He smirked as he presented his hand to shake Harry's hand. He was so glad he had the courage to choose love, and had been forgiven, and not vanquished, as he said in his deep dry tone.

"Welcome back, Lord Potter, our new luminary!"

A dead pan Severus said then whispered. 'I will get you for that!'

Harry whispered back. 'In your dreams.'

'An over-actor just like your father!'

'Under-overachiever!'

'Dunderhead!'

'Dungeon Bat!'

'Touché! Lily would be so proud!'

'Thank you, I try!'

Severus' face was straight but his eyes were smiling, he so missed Lily's quick wit and their sparring. While Harry grinned his wicked smile as he reached over to Padfoot who couldn't believe the interplay between the two.

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter! Who the hell are you?"

Sirius snorted that sounded like a large dog bark as he stood up to make a great show of shaking Harry's hand with both of his.

"Lord Sirius Black, your dashing favourite Godfather and former guest of Azkaban. Lord Harry Potter! Welcome back old chum! And jolly good show there. Never did like that old Voldemort chap! He should have stayed dead, I say wot!"

There were still some gasps at the 'V' word, but Harry ignored them as he smiled at Padfoot's pomposity.

"Ah," Harry waved an elegant hand, "I gave him his chance to love, but he rather be a dark lord and choose death."

"James and Lily would be so proud you!" Sirius replied.

As Harry grinned at the knowledge that his parents would be proud of him. He looked down the rest of the Head Table and noticed Gran with Frank, Alice, Dan and Emma, with Remus and Narcissa sitting on the end of the Head Table. (Remus had come on the Hogwarts Express to watch over Harry, and Narcissa decided she didn't want to return home alone, and joined him on the express.)

Harry loved and respected Gran as she loved him, but she was strict and could still be very intimidating and absolutely was way more scary than any dumb stupid dark lord tosser. And here was Harry standing on the spotless and polished ancient oak Head Table in the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his shoes on. After all of Gran's lessons on Magical Traditions and Etiquette. Such a faux pas would be absolutely against every the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, and would never do.

"Oh, crap!" Harry whispered as he waved a shy hello to the rest of the end of the Head Table.

Gran chuckled as she waved back as she was amused at Harry's antics. To be loved and respected more than a scary the black wraith of the darkest dark lord was the best complement she had ever received.

As Harry looked sheepish.

"Sorry, Gran, but he started that!"

Harry apologised as he pointed to the gold teaspoon with the blood red eyes.

"But you finished it, Harry. You can deal with dark lords while wearing your boots." Gran smiled. "But, you still need to be sorted, Harry."

"Oh, right!"

Harry saw he was about twenty feet from the Sorting Hat and jumped off the Head Table and transformed into his snowy owl Animagus form as he glided with wings outstretched toward the four-legged stool. Then as he came into land he reached out with his snowy owl razor sharp talons to grab the old Sorting Hat.

While Gran turned to her brother and they both shook their heads and laughed at Harry's antics. Then they heard Alice, Emma and Narcissa, with the rest of the Great Hall, gasps and oohs and aws. They turned to see what Harry has done now, and saw that he had transformed into his snowy owl persona, and was about to scare the crap out of an ancient primordial magical artefact.

"SWEET MERLIN!"

The Sorting Hat screamed as he took one look at those razor sharp talons and jumped up off the stool as the snowy owl landed. Then the hat fell back down over the snowy owl Harry and almost covered him until the out stretch wings caught the rim of the hat.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Lord Potter." The Sorting Hat spoke in the mind of Snowy Owl Harry. "Now, the former headmaster had big extra-curricular plans that demanded that you, Lord Potter, be sorted into Gryffindor. But those plans were for the defeat of Tom Marvolo Riddle aka the dark lord Voldemort and were to run over the next seven years. If you survived that long."

"Seven years?" Harry thought back. "And what would the headmaster be doing to help?"

"Help? Absolutely nothing! And everything to hinder you!" Said a small voice in his ear. "But as you are the son of James and Lily Potter, and a very powerful mage with very powerful friends, you have completed the defeat of Tom Marvolo Riddle in a little over seven minutes. So, well done!"

"Thank you, but I had a lot of help."

"Yes, and you brought out the Love so many never knew that they had inside themselves."

"So, we can forget about the headmaster's insane extra-curricular activities?"

"Absolutely! And the Castle wishes to thank you for exposing the Manipulative Old Fool and getting him sacked from the school!" The Sorting Hat replied.

"Oh, okay but it was Minister Bones who took him out."

"Yes, and that was a long time coming, and so beautifully done." The Sorting Hat replied. "And with the removal of the cursed Artefacts, the Castle will feel brand new with all the Love shown tonight."

"Yeah that was really beautiful."

"And the magic of the powerful Muggle-born witch and the part Kneazle tiger cat has broken the ancient runes and compulsion hexes that the headmaster had cursed me with, and freed me, an ancient primordial magical artefact, to do my job as the Founders of Hogwarts had intended."

"That's my Hermione!"

"Yes, please thank her for me." The Sorting Hat continued. "Now, Miss Granger has made an interesting counter offer for me to sort herself, Mr Longbottom, Miss Lovegood and you into Ravenclaw and her nice tiger cat won't rip me to shreds. She didn't need to encourage as all four of you are worthy Ravenclaws with you an heir to two others Houses."

"Oh? What does being an heir mean?" Harry thought.

"Glad you asked as the Heirs of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are also present in the castle, and we will need to talk about that later. But now that I can finally read your mind, let's see what is really inside, shall we?"

"Ravenclaw please." Snowy owl Harry requested nicely.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear, ignoring the request. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes — and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"

Snowy Owl Harry gripped the edges of the stool with his talons and thought, Ravenclaw please! Not Gryffindor! Definitely! Not Slytherin!

"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no?"

"Ravenclaw! If you please! I have to be with my Hermione!" Snowy Owl Harry requested.

But the Sorting Hat was taking too long for the snowy owl Harry, and he was getting impatient. So he decide to encourage the hat by using his owl beak to tickle the Sorting Hat on the inside.

The Sorting Hat started to squirm, and shake, and giggle, and laugh as he tried to yell. While the Great Hall giggled at the antics of The Boy-Who-Loved!

"Ha! Ha! Okay, ha, ha okay. Stop that! Ha! Better Ha! Be Ha! RAVENCLAW! Ha! Ha!"

Then Great Hall gasped at the surprised sorting as everyone expected Gryffindor.

Snowy owl Harry flicked the laughing Sorting Hat up off his head for Professor McGonagall to catch as he launched himself off the stool and flew over to Hermione on the Ravenclaw table. He circled her, Luna and Neville as she moved into Shere Khan to make room for Harry between herself and Luna. Then the snowy owl circled Hermione and flared his wings to land as he transformed back into Harry to make a perfectly gentle one point bum landing on the soft oak bench seat.

Hermione hugged Harry to congratulate him for getting into Ravenclaw as Luna and Neville joined in the group hug. Then she kissed him on the cheek for dealing with the unforgiven monster that was Voldemort. While Luna hugged and kissed him on the other cheek as she finally understood the Pandemonium that she saw in her vision.

"The Sorting Hat told me of the conversation it had with you. You were brilliant, Hermione!"

Harry said as he kissed Hermione on the cheek. Then he released an arm to give Shere Khan a high-five, palm to paw.

"Well done Shere Khan, you protected our Hermione!"

Shere Khan had a wicked smiled and gave a low growl.

Hermione snorted and said. "I am not going to translate nor repeat that!"

Harry chuckled as Shere Khan winked at him. Then he turned to Neville and Luna. "You two were absolutely brilliant!"

"You were absolutely amazing, Harry! Luna said we would all be sitting together on the Ravenclaw Table." Neville said as he hugged Luna.

Hermione went on to introduce Harry to the other Ravenclaw First Years so far.

The rest of the Great Hall watched the amazing display of Wisdom, Love and Magic Harry had just demonstrated.

To everyone he had just confirmed everything the Boy-Who-Lived storybooks had ever written and even then they had left out the best part of the story of the Boy-Who-Loved.

He is so cute and totally awesome.

And he still kicks He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's Bum!

But what will happen when all those witches discover that Harry Potter has a girlfriend who has an overprotective pocket Tiger?

While the Sorting Hat from its advantage point in Professor McGonagall's hand, surveyed the pandemonium in the Great Hall and the absolute carnage caused by Harry Potter to the silly old foolhardy former headmaster and what was left of the ashes of Quirrellmort.

The Sorting Hat chuckled as it said.

"Greatest Sorting Ever! WOO-HOO!"

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

- Layout of the Great Hall. -

- B o G, Guests and Professors -

- R, N, D, E, A, F, G, C, S, S, Q, H, S, F, _ D, MB, CWM, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, H, -

- Head Table -

- Sorting Hat -

- Professor McGonagall -

- Remaining Unsorted First Year Students -

- Slytherin Table ––– Hufflepuff Table ––– Ravenclaw Table ––– Gryffindor Table -

- Great Hall Entrance Door -

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

Thank you for reading.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -

….The Sorting Hat chuckled as it said.

"Greatest Sorting Ever! WOO-HOO!"

AN: A bold claim, but my muse pulled out all the stops, put the pedal to the metal, and poured in all of her Love to bring everything together for this one!

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Always.

- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -