A/N: Hi everyone. This chapter is a very exciting one, and I can't wait to hear what you think about it! Before we begin, though, I want to let everyone know that I will not allow any foul comments on any of my stories. This week I received a comment which was absolutely unacceptable. I want to make it clear that I will not have any of that, and I will be removing and reporting anyone who uses foul language of any kind.
With that being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Harry stood up very suddenly, a dangerous look shining in his bright green eyes. Everyone jumped at the same time, including Fawkes.

"What are you doing?" Lupin asked, concerned.

He seemed to recognize the look in Harry's eyes. It was almost identical to the one James would get right before he did something completely stupid and reckless.

"I want my wand," Harry demanded, approaching them.

"Why?" Sirius asked. He had also spotted the look in Harry's eyes.

"I need to do something. Can you just give it to me?" Harry said, trying to keep frustration out of his tone.

"What do you need to do?" Lupin asked suspiciously.

Harry turned away from them and started to pace, his hands behind his back, forming a plan.

"Now that I think about it, I really don't need my wand, though it would make the whole thing easier. I could go without one until I find another, that is. I doubt I would be able to fight for an extended period of time without one, but I could make it work. It won't be very hard to find another one after all. I might even be able to have someone make one custom… though I would need money for that.

"I might be able to go to Slytherin's vault in Gringotts, but I doubt they would let me in, unless I'm still counted as Voldemort's heir, which I suppose is a possibility. In which case, they would have to let me in, regardless of what Voldemort says to them. I would hate to do it, but I might be able to use the mark to get what I need. People are very easy to persuade… Yes, I don't need it right now." Harry stopped pacing and faced the room again.

He saw Dumbledore, Lupin, and Sirius all staring at him, trying to follow what he had just said. He hadn't really been talking to them, though.

"Forget about it." Harry said, "I know what I'll do. I don't need anything from you." Harry started towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Sirius asked, getting quickly to his feet.

"Let's just say I have a debt to repay," Harry said, pausing.

"What does that mean?" Dumbledore asked.

"It means I want revenge," Harry said, a hand on the doorknob.

Dumbledore took out his wand and, with lightning-quick speed, locked it.

"Let me out," Harry said, his voice a dangerous whisper. He was reminded forcibly of earlier when Lupin had tried to trap him in the yard. He could still get out, just like he had before.

As though he were reading Harry's thoughts, Dumbledore said, "You can not get out of here until I let you out. You will sit down and tell me what exactly your plan is."

"And if I refuse?"

"You will be stuck in this office for a very long time." Harry glanced at Lupin and Sirius and saw both of them looked relieved. This made Harry's blood boil.

He had to find a way to escape all of the prisons everyone kept placing him in. How could he escape this one, though? He thought about what he could do with wandless magic.

He knew he could get out of here easily. He knew that if he chose, they would not be able to keep him in. But he had to think of Draco. He needed to be able to stay with them.

They had not kicked him out yet, so he had to keep his emotions under control. He needed to keep his power in check. Harry was irritated that he had to do this.

Why couldn't they just let him go? It was clear they didn't care about him in the slightest; why would they care if he died? It might even be better for them… then, they wouldn't have to deal with Voldemort's child anymore.

"What exactly is your plan?" Dumbledore asked in a calm and slightly infuriating voice.

"Revenge," Harry said simply, not focusing on the conversation but on keeping his power under control.

"On who?"

"Voldemort, of course, who else?"

"Why now? Why didn't you want to go after him before you arrived at the Burrow?"

"What makes you say I didn't?" Harry asked with a sneer. "I had things I needed to tell you. I needed to ensure you knew about them before I left. I also wanted to make sure Draco would be fine. Both of those things have been accomplished, so now it is time for revenge."

"A wise move on the whole," Dumbledore agreed, "But would you not rather wait till you have an army by your side?" At his words, Harry jumped out of his chair once again.

"What do you think?" Harry practically shouted at Dumbledore, forgetting to keep his emotions under control. "Would you wait? Would you cower behind an army when the person who killed your family and lied to you about it for 18 years became more powerful every day we wait? More murders occur, more controlling, more torturing, and still we wait, wait for what? Him to come to us! His power only grows while we wait, while he kills and deceives.

"Do you know why I am so good at throwing off the Cruciatus curse? It is because they tortured me and Draco for eighteen years. For eighteen years, we had to deal with that; eighteen years, and what were you doing during that time? Gathering an army? Fighting back in small ways? Rallying forces? FIGHT BACK! For once in your life, don't wait for an army; fight back. If you don't, then Voldemort will win, I guarantee it."

Harry's heart was pumping like it was trying to escape his chest, and his face was slightly colored. Everyone was looking at him, stunned. Harry was so tired of people looking at him in this way.

Frustrated and angry, he walked over to the door again and tried the handle. He found it was still locked tightly.

"Let me out." He said again, whipping around to face Dumbledore.

He wanted to leave this awful office and never come back. He wanted Dumbledore to comply with his words willingly, just like the Death Eaters would have.

"Harry, I will let you out when you calm down and return to rational thinking," Dumbledore said rather bravely, considering how much Harry wanted to break down the door with his bare hands.

"Why do you even care what happens to me?" Harry asked, frustrated. "Just let me go. What's the worst that happens: I die? Then you wouldn't have to deal with Voldemort's child anymore! That's what you want, isn't it? Let me go."

"What are you talking about?" Dumbledore asked.

"Stop getting distracted." Harry said, "Let me out now! If you don't, I will let myself out; I swear that I will."

The threat was made believable because of the murderous look flashing in Harry's eyes.

"Harry," Dumbledore said with a slight smile, "Do you really think you can get out of here without a wand?"

"Yes," Harry replied. He was positive he could, and he knew that Lupin and Sirius knew he could, too.

"Harry, sit down, and we can talk," Sirius said.

"No." Harry said, with a deadly note in his voice, spinning to face Sirius. "I will not sit, and I will not do anything you say. You are not the boss of me. You decided we wouldn't get along when you formed an opinion about me without getting to know me first. You both are scum, and I wish we had never met. You deserve nothing from me. I owe you nothing."

"I know!" Sirius yelled, taking Harry by surprise. "I know you hate me and Remus and want nothing to do with us. I have never wanted to go back in time and change things more than I do right now! The last thing I wanted was for James' only son to hate us! You don't have to forgive us, and I highly doubt you will, but we are sorry. We are sorry your parents died. We are sorry you were raised by Voldemort. And most of all, I am so, so sorry I didn't trust you because now I see I would trust you with my life."

Lupin was nodding along as Sirius talked, "Same goes for me, Harry. I am so sorry you think we are your enemies because that was the last thing we wanted. I am sorry you can't trust us because we didn't trust you, but I trust you now. As Sirius said, I would trust you with my life, and I am not just saying that."

Their sudden exclamations took Harry by surprise. Their words touched him, and he wanted to believe them, but…

"Prove it." Harry challenged, his face stone cold.

"What do you mean?" Lupin asked.

"Prove you really would trust me with your lives," Harry smirked as they tried to think of a way out of this one.

"How do you want them to do that?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes curious.

"Give me your wands, both of you, right now," Harry demanded.

Sirius walked over to Harry and handed him the wand with no hesitation. Lupin did the same and then sat back down.

Harry looked at the wands in his hand and briefly imagined stunning them both. However, he fought the urge. He knew he shouldn't do it, not in front of Dumbledore.

He pointed the wands at them, and red sparks burst out of the ends, but neither of them moved, not even a flinch.

"You aren't just saying that?" Harry asked, his anger deflating slightly.

"No," Lupin said with a look of deep seriousness on his face.

"Never," Sirius said, his eyes fixed on Harry's.

Harry pointed their wands at them and performed a silent spell.

They both jumped as the dark green light hit them and before they knew what had happened, Harry was inside of their minds. He was flipping through their thoughts with ease.

He watched as he escaped their prison earlier, seeing the slightly mad look in his eyes, feeling their fear. Watched as they sat at the table as he talked animatedly with the others. He could feel their desperateness. He saw as they apparated to the small house where the Horcrux had evidently been. He saw them blast apart the walls, finally able to find the small ring. He saw them start a green fire in the middle of a field, stepping into it and reappearing in Hogwarts.

He watched as he stayed purposefully facing away from them, refusing to meet their eyes. He could feel their sorrow, their need to apologize, even if the words would not be the complete truth. He watched himself lose his temper briefly, impressed that he had hidden it so well in the start. He felt their fear and anticipation.

And as he yelled at Dumbledore about how he would wait to fight no longer, he could feel a shift in their emotions. They realized he was trustworthy. They realized that he had actually switched sides. They realized that he could not be lying to them. No one could fake that kind of passion.

Suddenly, Harry was forced backward against a wall, and he pulled out of their minds. Dumbledore had used magic to tie up his hands behind his back. Sirius and Lupin staggered backward as the spell broke.

"What did you do to them?" Dumbledore asked, and Harry could tell that he was once again trying to keep anger from his voice.

"Legilimency," Harry said, "I apologize for scaring you, but it was the only way to prove their trustworthiness."

"Drop the wands." Dumbledore commanded. Harry let go of each wand, and they clattered to the ground.

"Are the two of you okay?" Dumbledore asked, turning to Sirius and Lupin.

"Yes," Sirius said, looking at Harry. "How much did you see?"

Harry looked at the three other men for a moment before deciding to answer.

"I saw from this afternoon to a few moments ago."

"And what is your conclusion?" Lupin asked.

Instead of answering, Harry turned the ropes binding his hands into snakes. The snake slide down his legs before vanishing. No one seemed to know how to react, though Harry noticed Dumbledore's grip on his wand tighten.

Harry considered them for a moment longer, and then he walked over to them and offered his hand. He shook both of their hands firmly, asserting dominance. His handshake was a sign of peace and a warning.

They both looked equally shocked and thrilled as Harry turned away from them again. Dumbledore had been watching this exchange quietly, but now he spoke again.

"Harry, please sit, and I will explain why we can not simply charge into war."

Harry's anger was bubbling just at the surface, waiting to spill over, but he kept control. He had lost it for a moment, but now his face returned to a cold mask, which portrayed none of what he was feeling. He walked over to his seat and sat down without arguing. He still had to pass the test.

"You are right, Harry," Dumbledore began once Harry had sat down. "Voldemort grows more powerful the longer we wait, but it is the same for us. We are still fighting, even if it doesn't seem like we are. Today, you did fight against him. Because of you, we have two of the things we need to defeat Voldemort. Which is why I ask if you want to be the one to destroy the ring?"

Harry was shocked that Dumbledore had offered to let him do it. He was pleased but still hesitant. Did he really want to hold a piece of Voldemort's soul? Then he thought of his parents and Draco.

"Yes," he agreed, and Dumbledore stood.

He walked over to a drawer and pulled out a large fang. He placed it in front of Harry as though a fang was a normal thing to pull out of one's desk. Harry picked it up and stood. Dumbledore moved the Horcrux so that it was directly in front of him.

"All you have to do is stab it, and you will destroy it." Dumbledore directed, standing a few feet behind Harry.

Sirius and Lupin had also stood. They were watching from the corner, rather confused. Harry looked at the Horcrux, contemplating it for a moment.

Slowly, he raised the fang, but just as it started to come down, the Horcrux exploded in a whirlwind of sound, completely engulfing Harry and blocking him from the others. A high, cold voice spoke from within the stone.

"Harrrry Potttter…." it hissed, "You have broken our agreement, now pay the price… You shall become what you sought to destroy… You will now bear the curse. Neither can live while the other survives… You will die. I will never die. You will never succeed; you will die!"

Then, suddenly, a bright light flashed around Harry, and he felt a searing pain on his forehead. It was like his head was being split open. It was as if he was being branded with hot metal. His body was on fire, every part of him burning. It was worse than any torture he had received recently.

But he fought. He had to fight. He had to win; there was no other choice. He thought of Dumbledore's words moments before. Stab it; he must stab it. So, with all of his remaining strength, he reached out and felt for the Horcrux.

His hands seemed to lose feeling as he touched it, but he held on to it tightly, making sure that he kept a firm grip on it, even as he began to lose feeling in his arms.Slowly, he raised his other arm and, with all of his remaining willpower, sank the fang into the ring.

Immediately, the whirlwind stopped. The pain in his head lessened, too, but it pulsed there, never quite ceasing.

He was on his side, to tired to move or do anything. He was panting like he had run a race, and his head was still pounding, pounding like someone was banging a hammer on the inside.

The fang was clutched in one hand, and the ring was held tight in the other, a black tar-like substance leaking out of where Harry had stabbed it. He heard hurried footsteps, and two pairs of hands flipped him onto his back.

The faces of Albus Dumbledore and Sirius loomed over him. He could also see Lupin standing slightly behind them.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes deeply concerned.

Harry didn't say anything for a moment, and then he sat up quickly, rolled over, and vomited. He whipped his mouth quickly and waved his hand, making the vomit disappear without thinking.

"What happened?" Sirius asked, moving to face Harry.

"I-I don't-t know," Harry stuttered, his head pounding, his stomach reeling. He had to get himself under control.

"It was like it was alive. Did it do that when you destroyed the other?" He asked Dumbledore, whose face was a mask of concern.

"No, it did nothing like that. It put up a fight and tried to convince me not to destroy it, but it did nothing to such an extent."

"Are you okay, Harry?" Lupin asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," Harry said, even though he still felt very sick. He held his head in his hands, hoping to put an end to the pounding. When that did nothing to help, he raised his head again. He saw them all looking at him with great concern.

"I think we should bring you to the hospital wing. No offense, but you look dreadful." Sirius said, his eyebrows knitted together.

"No," Harry said, rubbing his temples and then pushing his hair back with his hands. "I'm fine; my head just hurts, that's all."

Suddenly, Dumbledore grabbed Harry's hands and pulled them away from his forehead.

"What is that?" Lupin asked, his eyes widening. Dumbledore reached out a hand and slowly touched a spot on Harry's forehead.

Instantly, his head burst open with a new spurt of pain. Harry flinched and suppressed a yell, pulling away from Dumbledore. The pain spiked, and he had to keep his mouth shut to prevent himself from vomiting again. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"What," Harry gasped, "did you do?"

"I have never seen anything like it," Dumbledore said, still focusing on Harry's forehead. Lupin and Sirius exchanged a worried glance.

"What does it mean?" Sirius asked quietly.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, very worried by the looks on their faces.

He reached up and felt his forehead. He made contact with the same point Dumbledore had and flinched again, pulling his hand sharply away.

Harry quickly grabbed the closest reflective surface he could, one of the delicate spinning contraptions from Dumbledore's desk. He lowered it to his eye level and looked at his forehead in its reflection.

Graphed into his forehead, like it had been burned permanently into his skin, was a mark.

It was in the shape of a lightning bolt.