Chapter 62

The end of winter and the early spring came and went. It had been three months since Harry had told his training group the truth and things had changed. Most notably had been the disappearance of Peter Pettigrew.

It had happened the day after Harry had told everyone the truth. It had taken one full day before Peter had realized that he wasn't going to be brave enough to stand with his friends. The rat animagus had not even shown up to the training that first morning. Instead when they all woke the day after there was a note left for the Marauders that James had given to Harry.

Padfoot, Prongs, and Mooney,

I am sorry to leave the way that I am. I am sure after I have left Harry will tell you the truth about my future. I wish I had the strength to tell you myself. I wish I was as brave as the rest of you to stand up to the Dark Lord, and for each other, but I am not. I fear the only way that I can never betray any of you is to leave.

I am going to go into hiding until the end of war with the promise that if you win I will return. Please do not show this letter to anyone else for I do not wish to be followed or found by the Aurors. The Dark Lord has connections everywhere and I freely admit that some of the Slytherins I had grown up with tried to recruit me. I have turned them down thus far, but they only grow more persistent. Knowing what I know about my future now I know at some point they get to me, and I do not wish to betray my friends. It is for the best that they think I am just missing and don't learn about our abilities that we use to help Remus.

This is goodbye for now my friends, and please allow me to remain in hiding until the end of the war. It is the only way I can protect all of you and myself.

Your friend,

Wormtail

Harry would freely admit he never expected Peter to do such a thing. In a roundabout way it was the bravest thing he thought the rat animagus was capable of. Of course the Aurors went hunting for the boy, and extensively questioned all those involved. Harry knew the Marauders wanted to tell Law Enforcement everything, but also knew the letter could potentially jeopardize Harry's safety. In the end the teens had attempted to locate the boy on their own, but were unsuccessful.

It was hard, but Harry did tell everyone the truth of Peter's deceit in the future. There was hardly any avoiding it after the rat animagus had practically sold himself out in his goodbye letter. The group was horrified and angry over the reveal, but Harry tried to assure the group that as long he didn't end up with the Death Eaters this was the preferable outcome, Would you rather have to kill him on the battlefield?

It was a question he had posed to the group and naturally none wanted to answer the question truthfully. Regardless, for the first month Peter was missing, every weekend the Marauders went searching for the boy from sunup to sun down. They wanted to convince him to come back and that they would protect him, but Harry knew such promises would be impossible to keep. Peter had made the best choice out of the circumstances he had been given.

Despite the three month time period that had passed, Voldemort had remained silent. Dorea had predicted this, but Harry could still hardly believe it. The man was laying silent and still in the undergrounds of the Wizarding World, likely trying to piece together his last two horcruxes and suitably find ways to defend his remaining three. Harry had no doubt that with the loss of Bellatrix, the other Lestranges, and countless other Death Eaters the man was also trying to do some heavy recruiting. It would only be a matter of time before they emerged, and death would follow in their wake.

The Marauders and the rest of Harry's training group would be ready for that day. During the week the group trained relentlessly ever since Hogsmeade. It had started the morning after the truth had come out and hardly let up since.

Elaina and Harry had been on their usual morning rise as they walked in companionable silence to the grounds of Hogwarts the days following their return. The corridors were as empty as they were accustomed too, but the surprise of the morning was the group standing in the courtyard waiting for them, eight strong. The group from the previous night minus Peter were all standing silently. None looked like they had a wink of sleep, and Harry looked at each of them in surprise, "What's this?"

James offered him a forced smile, "We all knew you and Elaina trained at some ungodly hour."

"By a happy mistake we all made it here an hour earlier than you two." Pandora said with a more genuine smile, but the look in her eyes remained haunted from the previous evening.

Elaina shook her head at the assembled group, and looked to her boyfriend who seemed to be analyzing each of them. Before Harry could say anything Frank spoke, "Everything changed last night when we saw those memories, Harry. I wish we had more time, but we have to work with what we have."

Swallowing hard, Harry sighed, "I never wanted it to come to this."

"We have a right to fight for our futures, Harry." Lily said softly, "You wouldn't deny us the best possible training available, would you?"

Harry exchanged glances with Elaina and the dark haired girl shrugged looking at her boyfriend, "It's their funeral."

With that she patted Harry on the shoulder and began walking towards the stairs that would lead to Hogwarts grounds, "I should warn you all, he is an arsehole in the mornings."

Three months had passed since that day and early June had arrived, which meant the arrival of NEWTs. Harry had little doubt in his ability to ace all his NEWTs, and could confidently say his group had no reason to fret either. It didn't seem any of them had studied very hard, but with how much time they were spending on practical magic Harry believed Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts would be a cake walk.

When the exams came and went this tended to be the truth of the matter. Harry did not struggle with a single one of his exams, and did not believe any of his friends did either. The amount of time they all spent discussing and actively practicing magic made it all seem second nature by the time exams arrived. With a competent Professor like Slughorn in Potions, Harry knew his group would have no trouble with receiving that NEWT as well.

The castle had seemed on the verge of an erupting point however since the end of the school year was coming. The Purebloods were being as loud as ever and despite the fact that the Dark Lord had remained quiet, his future sycophants were anything but. There had not been as many attacks around the school, but the blatant discrimination against half bloods and muggleborns had never been so apparent.

Harry was surprised the Pureblood students remained so bold. Despite Frank and James not going on trial it was a common fact around the castle that they had both been seen killing Death Eaters. Andi had even heard whispers that their housemates knew that James had been the one to kill Rabastan who was well liked in Slytherin House. Harry did not believe for one moment that the year would end quietly, and when Elaina was summoned to Dumbledore's office with a week left of term he knew it couldn't be good when she said Harry had been invited as well.

The two had trudged off to the Headmasters office hand in hand, their countenances devoid of any expression. The comfort they pulled from each other was enough to keep the two steady. They had spent everyday together in the passing months, and even chanced two romantic getaways. Elaina's eighteenth birthday had been in April and Harry had whisked her away to London for a romantic dinner cruise down the River Thames. Prior to that the two had taken an evening in Edinburgh for a quick getaway. Their relationship had flourished in their alone time, and in the time they spent training together magically. Their trust in one another was implicit, and Harry had taken much of his time introducing her to the defining moments of his childhood. There were no secrets between the two now, only hope for a brighter future than the one Harry had left behind.

When they arrived the griffin sprang to life in an instant and the two were granted easy access to Dumbledore's front door. Before Harry could even lift his hand to knock, the door came sliding open and they were greeted by a familiar old man who looked tired, but still held the same twinkle in his eyes as always, "Miss Essex, Mr Potter, please come in."

The two students moved steadily towards the two offered chairs, and Harry took a moment to observe his former mentor. The man may have appeared tired, but his white beard, which was shorter than what Harry was used to, was still neatly groomed. The purple robes were reminiscent however of something Harry had seen the man wear before, and figured Dumbledore enjoyed his eccentric looks and that wouldn't change over the next twenty years.

Before either student could question why they had been summoned Dumbledore folded his hands on his desk looking back and forth between the pair, "I would be remiss as an educator if I did not first ask how each of you did on your NEWTs?"

Harry shrugged while Elaina offered the man a cautious look. Elaina was fully aware of the machinations of what the old Headmaster had been up to in Harry's time by this point and spoke plainly, "I think they went splendidly. The practicals of the core subjects were honestly a little dull."

Dumbledore chuckled at the girl's words, "Ah yes, I am sure after all the training you have done with the Potters the practical portions of your NEWTs were rather simple. My colleagues rave about your charms demonstrations in particular. Never in all the years of Hogwarts has there been so many NEWT students that could produce a corporeal patroni, and that was not even the most impressive thing demonstrated during the exams this year. The complexity of the charms you manipulated Miss Essex was second to none by any student in recent history."

Elaina nodded and couldn't help but smile at the man's compliment, "I do love charms, sir."

The Headmaster had a sad look across his features as he said, "Your grandfather caught my attention with his charms ability many years ago. While I was attempting new and creative things with transfiguration, Gellert was doing the same with Charms. It was the foundation of our friendship that we taught each other our area of expertise and then expounded on them together."

Elaina's smile fell from her countenance as she thought about her grandfather and the connection she had to the dark past of the Wizarding World. Dumbledore sighed, "Do not be downcast, my dear. Despite all that happened, despite everything Gellert went on to do, he was a brilliant wizard. One of the greatest minds of the 20th Century and undoubtedly one of the most powerful in history."

Offering the girl a squeeze of her hand Elaina seemed to snap out of her trance and took a breath, "You're right, Headmaster, my apologies. I just…I want to understand my family."

It was clear that Dumbledore was downcast by her words, but he carried on, "I understand. It is also for that reason that I have asked you to my office before the rest of our company joins us."

Harry and Elaina exchanged looks, before Harry asked, "The rest of our company, sir?"

Dumbledore ignored the question and flicked his hand at a piece of parchment on his desk that rose on its own and began speaking in a deep man's voice, "Chief Warlock Dumbledore, this is a most unusual request. Other than the guards in Nurmengard, your prisoner has not been granted rights to visitors in three decades. If anyone else were to ask I would vehemently protest, but due to your status and History with the prisoner, I will accept. I don't know what you are up to, old friend, but I will grant this visitation on the condition that all entering parties will do so unarmed. This must also be done strictly off the books. If the Press were to find out your intentions there would be many unwanted eyes on the ICW and the prison itself. Your party will need to present themselves to the Austrian ICW embassy on July 1st if you wish to go forward with this visit. Sincerely, Leon Weber, Austrian Minister of Magic."

Dumbledore watched for the reactions of Harry and Elaina, but neither showed anything outwardly. Harry knew Elaina had been dreading the possibility that the visit would be impossible, but it seems that Charlus and Dumbledore had come through. By the way the Austrian Minister phrased his letter, Harry had no trouble believing a fair sum of gold had changed hands to make this possible. Elaina broke the silence following the Minister's voice, "I am grateful for your help with this, Headmaster."

"Of course, Miss Essex. It was the least I could do after all these years." Dumbledore replied with a slight bow of his head.

Harry knew his father was not looking forward to the visit, but they had to help Elaina conquer her past. She needed answers, and they could help her. The Potter family had taken the granddaughter of Grindelwald under their wing, and would do everything they could to help her uncover the secrets of her family. Harry hoped some good would come from the trip, but everytime he thought of it a feeling of dread seemed to sit in his stomach.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and observed the couple before him carefully. His eyes flitted between the pair and a question seemed to be forming in his mind,"I hope this trip will create some trust between us. All of us. There are many pieces to the puzzle that is my former student that I feel I am missing. Pieces that I believe the two of you could fill me in on."

Elaina seemed to fidget at the man's words, while Harry just stared at the older wizard in contemplation. It was true that he had often considered telling the Headmaster the truth of his origins. There was no genuine reason to keep the man in the dark with so many already in on the secret, but in some ways Harry felt like he was getting back at the old man for all the secrets he kept from Harry. An entire year, Hermione and Ron spent with Harry on the run trying to glue together fragments of the truth that Dumbledore had left them with. It had been an infuriating experience, but Harry knew his pettiness could end up costing their side innocent lives. Leaving Dumbledore in the dark would not help anyone.

Before Harry could begin to speak the man smiled as he motioned his hand towards the door, "A thought for another time. I believe the rest of our guests have arrived."

The door opened at the motion of the man's hand and in came Harry's friends. The Marauders, Frank, Alice, Lily, Andi, and Pandora, all looked puzzled by the summonings, and even more so by the presence of Harry and Elaina. Dumbledore greeted the group, "Ah I believe this is everyone, please come in."

With a casual display of magic Dumbledore flicked the Elder wand a few times creating a plethora of chairs on the lower level of his office as he stood to his feet and came around the desk. Harry and Elaina stood at the arrival of their friends and were gently guided by Dumbledore to the lower level and were prompted to take different seats among their friends by the Headmaster.

The man smiled benignly at the group, "This is one of the brightest groups to pass through the hall of Hogwarts in living memory. As an educator it makes this old heart warm to see the dedication each of you has put into your magic this year, and I believe your hard work will show in the results of your NEWTs."

The group seemed to exchange puzzled looks, and most of them seemed to eye Harry as if he had answers to why they had all been summoned. With the slightest shake of his head he attempted to indicate to Lily and James that he was not aware of why they were all summoned and that gave the red-head the initiative to answer the Headmasters praise, "Thank you, Headmaster."

The older wizard gave his student an approving nod before moving his arms to indicate he was speaking to the whole group, "Of course it was not your exam results that brought me to invite each of you into my office today."

The group seemed to stir at his comment, and he left them hanging for a long moment before he continued, "It came to my attention after the battle that took place in Hogsmeade a group of students took to leaving the castle early in the morning to practice magic in the Forbidden Forest. Under normal circumstances this is something I would have interfered in, especially after my compatriots in the Centaur herd informed me of the brutality of the magic being trained on, but I stilled my hand, while receiving continuous reports on what was being practiced."

Looks of nervousness flitted across the faces of each of Harry's friends, while the time-traveler refused to blink, "Well it is obviously too late to punish us, and you should know as well as anyone what we were all training for."

Dumbledore turned to Harry with a surprised look, but then his face seemed to tighten slightly and the twinkle in his eyes seemed to dampened in an instant when he said, "War."

Nodding Harry stood speaking directly at the man, "Everyone in this room has been affected by Voldemort and his followers. Some, in ways you can't even imagine."

The surprise on Dumbledore's face seemed to remain as he moved his eyes across his pupils, "You are all so young. Each of you is as talented as the next. You must all know by now however that Tom is out of your reach. Even together."

Frank spoke after Harry stared defiantly at the Headmaster for an extended period of silence, "We will fight him with everything we have. We all have a lot to lose, but if we do, then we will do it together."

Murmurs of agreement from the group followed, and Harry folded his arms looking at the Headmaster expectantly, unsure what his rebuttal might be. The man looked sad for a moment, but then a look of pride crossed his countenance as he beamed at the group, "I should have taken a more forward role in each of your training. Any group that is going to stand against Tom will need to be well trained in defensive magic, but perhaps I can still be of some assistance."

This stance floored Harry with surprise. In fact he was certain his jaw was hanging slightly open when he heard James ask, "You are going to train us to fight Voldemort, Professor?"

"I am not a fighter like your Uncle Charlus, Mr. Potter. I have not been trained in the ways of war." Dumbledore confessed, "What I can do however is impart crucial knowledge to any student of mine that is willing to take up a noble cause outside in the real world. That knowledge may be defensive magic, that I myself have mastered, or knowledge of what is going on in the Wizarding World."

The man paused dramatically for a long moment, and Harry had an idea now of what this meeting was about, "I would like to put a network of people together that will do what they can to protect Wizarding Britain at large. Across my various positions, and time spent as Headmaster I have a large group of connections that I think could serve this group well. As an order we will spy on Tom and his followers, and attempt to minimize innocent casualties."

Everyone in the room was aware of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry had explained their role in the first Wizarding War, and that most of them had previously been in it. Regardless of that there was excitement of Dumbledore's invitation into the group, and even Harry was slightly awed by getting to witness the creation of such a group.

Harry as the leader of the group nodded his head offering the Headmaster a slight smile as he glanced at Fawkes in the back of the room who was cleaning himself quietly, "The Order of the Phoenix."

Dumbledore followed Harry's eyes to his familiar and had a puzzled look on his face, "How did you know?"

Instead of answering his question Harry just winked at the man before turning to face his friends, "I can't speak for everyone, but I think something like this could be exactly what our country needs."

"We are in." James said, indicating to himself and the other Marauders.

"I am as well." Lily answered with a smile.

Pandora asked, "Will my husband be welcomed as well, Headmaster?"

"Of course, my dear. Mr. Lovegood was a trustworthy student, and I trust the judgment of those selected to quietly bring in others that can be trusted to help grow our Order." Dumbledore answered with a boy.

With that endorsement each of Harry's other friends accepted their position in the Order until Dumbledore came to Elaina, and she merely nodded her head in acceptance. Dumbledore looked very pleased by the culmination of events and clapped his hands together, "Excellent! Each of you is a credit to this school. I have never been prouder of a group of students than I am right now. Despite the odds you face, you all fight for the innocent, and those not strong enough to fight for themselves. I bow my head to each of you.

After the Headmaster dipped his head to them Harry spoke directly to the man, "Well Headmaster, it seems if we are going to share information, then there is a secret everyone in this room is privy to that I think you have a right to know. It is something that Voldemort is now aware of and keeping it from you any longer serves no purpose."

The man looked at the youngest Potter in trepidation, but Harry shook his head in amusement as he drew his wand slowly and conjured the man a chair at the top of the steps, "You are going to want to take a seat Headmaster. The truth first, and then I will provide proof of my history, beyond everyone in this room being able to confirm it as fact."

Dumbledore looked very surprised as his eyes glanced towards each of his students. Before he took his seat the older man asked, "It sounds as if you have quite the story, Mr. Potter. May I ask how you intend to prove your claims?"

"Through memories." Harry advised, "Many of which have been shared with the people in this room."

"Memories could be forged." Dumbledore said almost as an afterthought as he took a seat in the chair Harry conjured him.

"A wizard of your caliber would easily see through fabricated memories, sir." Harry countered with a delighted tone.

Never had Harry been able to stump his former magical mentor and took no small amount of glee in unsettling the man before giving him the truth. It was something he had discussed with Elaina before, but by the way the rest of the group was reacting. Harry seemed to think they were surprised by his admission to the Headmaster. It was Harry's floor however, and he intended to enjoy making the man squirm, "When we first met sir, I told you that you wronged me in a way that I was unsure whether I could trust or forgive you. Do you remember?"

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, "I do. It was a most puzzling conversation. I am certain we had never met before, and while your grandfather and I were once friends, I have never moved against the Potter family before to earn such a blemish on my character."

Taking a deep breath Harry shook his head, "It's not something you did to my family, but to me personally."

The Headmaster frowned at the declaration, but Harry did not leave him in suspense, "There is more to my knowledge of Tom as you may have already guessed. I know things about him that no one else alive could possibly know. Just as I know things about you, Headmaster, things that you have never told anyone."

The old wizard frowned at his words and Harry didn't leave him in suspense, "I know just how special your wand is, Dumbledore. I know that you hold my birth right in your possession."

The Master of the Elder Wand froze, and Harry just shook his head, "I know it's not my time to possess it, but I suspect I have your attention now."

"How did you know?" Dumbledore asked quietly, looking almost fearful now.

"I'll show you." Harry said, flicking his wand to his right where he knew Dumbledore kept his pensieve. The cabinet opened and Dumbledore no longer seemed to be able to contain his surprise as his jaw dropped slightly.

Standing to his feet at once he followed as Harry moved towards the bowl with everyone else staying rooted in their seats, watching history unfold. Harry put his wand to his head and pulled a memory strand out, "Two memories sir, but this one first."

Dumbledore looked behind him to gauge the reactions of his students, but they all just watched with anxious expressions. Turning back to the bowl the two entered and as soon as the fog cleared an older Dumbledore and slightly younger Harry were standing on a small island.

"KILL ME!"

Dumbledore whirled around with his wand in hand, and nearly dropped it at the sight of himself twenty years in the future looking worse for wear. Harry stood beside the man with his arms crossed, "We are in a cave searching for one of Tom's Horcruxes. There was a potion that had to be drunk, a nightmare draft, you insisted that you ingest it instead of me."

"You're from the future." Dumbledore whispered, and Harry confirmed it with a nod.

The two watched as future Dumbledore begged for his life and neither said a word as the potion was finished and Harry was forced to fill the pail with water bringing to life the inferi. Harry stayed in the memory for a long while as he allowed Dumbledore to sink in the fact that they would escape the cave after a miraculous show of strength only to be brought back to the castle with the Dark Mark in the sky.

Harry allowed the man to watch as he was disarmed by Draco Malfoy, and the teen did nothing as Snape showed up and killed the headmaster. Dumbledore seemed shocked by the turn of events, and when he looked like he was ready to start asking questions Harry shook his head, "One more."

The next memory was a little fuzzier than Harry wanted it to be. Immediately he went about explaining what they were about to see, "This is my memory of seeing a memory. I have never attempted anything like this, but I suspect it is why it appears different."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding while an image of Severus Snape appeared, "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter."

The old man watched in horror as his plan was explained in detail and looked to Harry with tears in his eyes, "You are a Horcrux?"

"I was." Harry admitted, "It didn't survive my jump back in time, thankfully."

With that Harry waved his wand, ended the memory, and the two found themselves back in the headmasters office. Dumbledore didn't even bother wiping at the tears as they continued to fall, the room was now dead silent as they watched the exchange with bated breath.

Harry spoke calmly, but everyone could sense the fury in his undertone, "You kept so much from me, sir. Only for us to lose in the end. I was killed hours after seeing that final memory. I didn't do it your way. I tried and successfully managed to kill him, but his Death Eaters took vengeance. I didn't stand a chance."

Dumbledore moved to the steps and took a heavy seat down on them, and Harry felt his heart beating against his chest as anger surged through him. The man now knew why he trusted him so little. He now knew only a fraction of the wrongs that the older man had committed against him, "I trusted you. I chose you over everything. You were like family to me by the end. Look where it led me."

Dumbledore pressed his face into his hands, unable to look the angry teen in the eyes, and Harry put the final nail in his attack, "All for the Greater Good, right sir?"

When Dumbledore looked up he choked out, "Do they all know?"

"No one knows the full extent. I suspect my father in this time would have tried to kill you if he did." Harry admitted.

Dumbledore choked out a chuckle, "It's hard to say I wouldn't have deserved it. What I did was-"

"You did what you thought was right in an impossible situation, sir." Harry cut off, "I didn't show you these memories to make you feel horrible, I showed you them to make you understand. I need you to understand that what you did the first time was not enough. You judged me harshly for my actions against Rodolphus Lestrange, and how I reacted in Godric's Hollow in defense of my family, do you understand now?"

Dumbledore merely nodded dumbly, "I feel quite foolish after only a brief glimpse in the future. This is how you knew of Tom's items. How you knew about which of his followers you could target."

"Not all of them." Harry admitted, "But Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Bellatrix did horrible things in my time. The Wizarding World is certainly better off without them."

Dumbledore then looked to the rest of his students, "What happens to all of you? The Order of the Phoenix?"

None of them seemed to know how to answer the question, but Sirius managed to gruff one out, "We were all dead by the time Harry came back. All of us except Andi."

Harry nodded in confirmation and Dumbledore visibly deflated, "Perhaps I am not as cut out to lead this group as I previously believed."

"Do better this time." Harry said sharply, making the man's eyes go to his, "We must do better. We must win this time. We won't be as lucky for another do over. We must fight them in the streets, in the Wizengamot, and any battlefield we can find them on. We can never surrender."

Lily stood to move to Harry's side and spoke gently to the man she once looked up to, "We are all brave enough to stand against him, Professor. Will you be brave enough to help my son beat him?"

Dumbledore looked sharply to Lily and looked back and forth between the two before a soft smile crossed his features, "The mystery of your parents seems to be solved at last. It appears Mr. Potter was fortunate enough in his long-attempted pursuits in one life."

The group chuckled at this while James turned beet red. James and Lily had been spending a lot of time together recently, but they had yet to have time to even go on a proper date with everything happening. Instead of remaining embarrassed James said, "It's that Potter determination. We are all sorts of stubborn."

Dumbledore openly laughed at this merrily with the twinkle returning through his tear-soaked eyes, "It appears that there is some good still to come then. With stubborn people like your family Mr. Potter there is hope for us yet. Enough hope to make me want to do everything in my power to give our side the best chance possible."

"There is a lot of information I need to catch you up on," Harry admitted, "But this time, no secrets, Professor. There is a prophecy out there saying it is supposed to be me that beats him. I was even sent back in time by forces unknown to ensure I got a second chance. I need you to be the man I believed you to be, because that is the man that was my hero."

With that Harry offered his hand to the old man and Dumbledore took it after a long moment of looking at it, "I don't know if I deserve such a title, but I will do everything I can to earn it. You all have given me a lot to think about. I ask for some time to digest it all before I approach you with questions."

Harry bowed his head in understanding and the group began to rise to their feet. Elaina came to Harry's side taking his hand, and the teen said, "You know where to find us, when you are ready."

"I shall not wait long. It seems we have a lot of work to do." Dumbledore said shamelessly, wiping at his own tears.

(A/N) Everyone knows now and the secret is out. Join me on Discord and read through Chapter 81 for free. Just find "The Hunters Lounge" or add me on Discord OrionB15. You can also read through the end of the story for just 1$ on Pat(reon).