Chapter 116 - Ch: 7-14

Ch: 7-14

Chapter Seven

"VERNON!" Lily screamed and tried to cover herself vainly. Vernon ignored her scream and backhanded her to the floor.

"Shut up Freak!" he growled. He bent down and hoisted her up, while ripping off her towel. Lily screamed again and was backhanded again.

"I warned you!" Vernon growled and slobbered over her neck as he started sucking. Lily saw her wand out of the corner of her eye and tried to reach it. Vernon was too busy to notice and Lily managed to get a grip on it and point it at Vernon.

Flashback

Now, onto Crucio." Harry said as he helped Lily up. She was mildly exhausted from the killing curse as it took a lot of energy to get used to at first.

"Crucio is probably the worst curse out of the three. While it doesn't kill someone, it can cause extreme pain. I heard that if you're held under Crucio for too long then your mind would snap like you had been kissed by a Dementor." Harry rubbed his eyes and looked up into hers. They were dark with pain and he was obviously remembering something horrific. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were shining as usual.

"Anyway, to use this curse you have to point your wand and say Crucio. You have to want to see the person in pain and enjoy it. It helps if you imagine the person is someone else that you hate. Righteous anger won't work. If a Death Eater had just killed your best friend and you attacked him with this, it probably wouldn't work because you are pulling up anger that has a reason. Blind anger is the best course but you have to learn how to control your emotions. Now try on the spider.

Lily raised her wand. "Crucio," she said and the spider jerked suddenly then continued to walk around.

"Did you want to see it in pain?" Harry asked. Lily shook her head. "That's the problem. Pretend its Vernon or Potter or someone you hate and imagine them teasing you."

Lily raised her wand again. An image of Vernon flew in her mind and she could see him sneering at her and touching her.

"CRUCIO!" She bellowed out and the spider jerked and fell, withering. Lily kept the curse on and soon the spider's movements stopped and it went limp.

"That's how you snap a mind." Harry said softly. He put a reassuring hand on Lily's shoulder. "Now onto Imperio."

Flashback Over

Lily snarled out. "CRUCIO!" and Vernon screamed in pain. He let go of Lily and fell to the floor, withering under the torture. Above him Lily stood administrating the curse. Her emerald eyes had a slightly insane look to them. Vernon continued screaming and when Lily released the curse. He shakily stood up. With a low growl he grabbed a pair of scissors from the bathroom sink and swung them at Lily. She jumped back and raised her wand again. As Vernon came for a charge she uttered the two words of death.

"Avada Kedavra!" she said simply, her voice devoid of emotion. The green light hit Vernon in a rush of death and he fell over, his face with a look of terror on it. Lily waved her wand and muttered a charm and was about to leave when Petunia opened the door.

"Brat I want you to…AHHHHHHH!" she screeched as she saw Vernon's body. "VERNON! WAKE UP PLEASE!" Petunia had tears running down her face and with a look of panic and loathing at Lily she fled from the bathroom. Lily followed her out and walked into her room, still feeling numb. She had killed a human being. Something capable of intelligence, however low that it was. She was a murderer. Lost in her thoughts she failed to see Petunia walk in her room holding a pistol.

"DIE FREAK!" she shrieked and pulled the trigger. This was what Harry saw as he apparated in from the Milk Bar with a couple of pounds worth of chips.

Harry dropped the chips in alarm and waved his hand. The bedside table flew from its corner into the path of the bullet. As Petunia fired again he whipped out his wand and yelled out. "Stupefy!"

Petunia ducked suddenly as the red beam lanced over her head and turned the gun to Harry. Lily raised her wand to stop her but Harry was quicker.

"Reducto!" he said, and the Reductor curse shattered the gun and hit Petunia in the chest. There was a large crack and Petunia fell to the ground with a hole the size of a basketball where her chest used to be, her eyes dull. Harry glanced at Vernon on the ground.

Harry's eyes widened at the sight and he looked away from the scene and at Lily. Her eyes were blank and Harry reconsigned the signs of shock. Harry waved his wand and her trunk packed with all the items she needed for school flying in. He put an expansion charm on it and took a hold on it and Lily. With a small pop they disappeared, never to return to the house.

They arrived at the small clearing where they had first met. Harry waved his wand in a complex movement and muttered a long spell. The air around the clearing shimmered and some Muggle-repelling wards were put up. Any Muggle who tried to enter would suddenly remember that they have to go to the doctors, or wash their dog and rush off. Harry transfigured the rock that Lily was sitting on into a couch and sat down.

"What happened?" he asked gently, concern etched in his face. Lily just gave him a blank look before speaking in a monotone voice.

"Vernon came in when I was having a shower. He tried to rape me so I put the Crucio on him. When I let it off he attacked with a pair of scissors. I killed him."

Harry's clenched his fist. "With Avada Kedavra?" he asked slowly.

"Yes. I'm a murderer. A no good little freak." Lily said blandly.

"I think you're in shock." Harry observed and put a warming charm on her. Lily hiccupped and began to cry. Harry just hugged her and listened to her wails of anguish.

"I'm no better than Thomas!" she said through her tears. "You should stop hanging around with me. I'm evil. I'll probably kill you too."

"LILY EVANS!" Harry boomed out and Lily looked up. Her face was botchy and her eyes red. "Now listen to me. I will do what I want. If that means hanging around you then there is nothing you can do to stop me. Now, Why did you kill him?"

"I got lost in my hate." She whimpered out.

Harry closed his eyes in regret. "This is my fault." He said softly.

"No it isn't!" Lily protested.

"Yes it is. I didn't think of what would happen if you lost control of your emotions!" Harry snapped. He calmed down at Lily's hurt look. "From tomorrow I will teach you Occlumency. It'll help in controlling your emotions.

Lily sighed. "I wish you would trust me." She said sadly.

Harry stared at her. She had a point. She had been nothing but wonderful to him and he hadn't told her anything about himself. "Once you learn the basics of Occlumency I'll tell you some of my secrets. But until you do, I can't risk the fact that someone who knows Legilimency might find out from your mind. Now, let's make our house."

Soon the clearing had a homey feel to it. Lily would charm rocks to glow as lights, or divert the little river for a bath and Harry would put up Anti-Apparition wards and Protective barriers. After a few hours, it was finished. The shields could be stronger, but it would do for a few days. Harry would take no chances with Lily's life.

Lily flopped down on a newly conjured couch and stretched her legs. Harry was putting up the final ward that he felt was necessary. He had stripped off his shirt and was bare from his stomach up. He had a small, thin figure but quite muscular. Lily was watching him hungrily.

Harry finished his ward with a final blast of magic from his wand and wiped his brow. When he turned around he saw Lily looking at him with a glazed look in her eyes. She was looking at him hungrily. If Harry were a normal boy, he would have noticed what the look meant and been a little excited. However Harry wasn't normal and as much as Harry would like to say that he escaped the Dursleys without harm he couldn't. After 15 years of neglect and abuse Harry did not know what love was. Every time he was given a gesture of affection he would analyze it and soak in the feeling of someone actually caring for him.

"So, what do you want for Dinner?" he asked. Lily shook her head to get out of her daze. "What do you have?" she said and smiled seductively. Harry wasn't looking at her because at that moment a red and gold Phoenix appeared in a burst of flames above the clearing.

Fawkes swooped down and saw two humans staring at him, one with awe and one with a calm yet expectant look. He perched on a rock and stared at the girl in the eyes. She smelt a little of Dark Magic, yet she clearly had the Aura of a witch against evil. After a few seconds deliberation Fawkes decided that she was trustworthy. He turned to the boy and almost staggered off his perch in shock. The boy reeked with Dark Magic and it was present in his Aura, which flickered a sickly black. Fawkes let out a note of anger and started singing. The song on a phoenix is awe-inspiring to those on the side of good and to any on the side of evil; it was as bad as a Crucio. Fawkes kept singing and looked at the two humans. The girl was obviously in a state of bliss as the calm waves of the song washed over her. Fawkes looked at the boy and was shocked for a second time that day. He was smiling as the aged phoenix sang.

"Nice song Fawkes." He said casually. Fawkes looked at him calculatedly. "Don't worry about my Aura, My intentions are pure."

Fawkes gave him a look that seemed to say that the phoenix would save judgment until later and dropped the letter on his lap. Harry stroked the phoenix and Fawkes gave a trill of pleasure.

This boy as against evil as Fawkes had figured it out when Harry had touched him. Whether the boy was aware of it or not, his magic was filled with darkness, but not evilness. His intentions were as pure as he said they were.

Fawkes gave a trill. "Do you have to go now?" Harry asked. The bird nodded and disappeared in a flash of flames.

"I really should finish my Phoenix Animagus form." Harry thought out loud then froze as Lily gasped.

While he had never done an Animagus transformation before Tom had. Tom was a large Basilisk, one of the seven, well with Harry included eight, people in history to have achieved a Magical Transformation and not go insane. People rarely had the control to achieve one and keep their human personas intact. Most people had a few animals that fitted their personalities but most only tried to achieve one. Only a few great wizards of this time had more than one and they include Albus Dumbledore, Nicholas Flamel and Lord Grindelwald. Surprisingly, Lord Voldemort hadn't been bothered to try for his second form, which was a small shrew.

Lily was tapping her foot and her eyes were narrowed. Harry gulped when he saw the stern expression on her face.

'I am in for it bad.'

Chapter Eight

Harry smiled nervously as Lily's face turned red in anger. He took a step backwards as Lily started walking slowly towards him, clenching her fingers. Just before Lily was about to yell Harry hastily started pleading.

"Look, I was going to tell you. It just never crossed my mind." He said. Lily said nothing so he saw it as a sign to continue.

"Don't get so angry. Please, I would like to leave here in one piece!" Still Lily said nothing and walked right up to him.

"I-I'll teach you how to become an Animagus?" Harry offered weakly. He had seen the Weasleys temper before, and if Lily were anything like a normal red head like Ginny and Molly, then he would be stuffed.

Lily broke out in a smile. "There, There." She said and patted his cheek. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" she said in a baby voice. Harry grew rigid. She sounded a bit like Bellatrix.

"Harry?" Lily asked concerned. He had gone totally stiff and was staring off into space. He shook his head as if to clear it and looked into her eyes.

"An old memory, that's all. Speaking of memories…" Harry concentrated and slipped into her mind.

Memory

A 12-year old Lily walked into the great hall. She was small for her age and had glasses on with her red hair in a ponytail, the classic geek look. She sat down at the table and began to read while setting up her dinner plate. As she was eating she failed to hear the whispers of the Slytherin table who were looking at her with barely disguised glee. The Gryffindor table, also clued in on what was about to happen, was staring at her and some were snickering behind their hands. Lily remained oblivious at the Ravenclaw table, unaware that half the school was looking at her. Then the prank happened. From her bowl leapt out a spider the size of a dinner plate.

Lily shrieked in fear as it jumped on her head and shot off her chair, trying to get it off. She was so absorbed that she didn't see the Niffler that was let out after her. With a jump it jumped on her just as soon as she had banished the spider off. It ripped though her sleeve and grabbed a small golden watch. With a cry of alarm Lily tried to snatch it back. It was one of the only things she had left of her mothers, who had died in a car crash a few weeks ago.

With a slap, the Niffler jumped off her and started to poke at the watch. Lily got out her wand and was about to summon it back when it ate it. Lily stared in horror at the Niffler and once again was distracted and didn't hear the curses being fired at her back. Just as Professor McGonagall had reached her, a large and powerful curse hit her. It was made up if several small harmless curses like a color charm, Jelly legs and a Leg locker, but it had blended and was now a huge streak of raw magic, which slammed into her and knocked her halfway across the hall and into the wall. Lily's head slammed into the wall and the last thing she heard before fainting was McGonagall screaming about irresponsible students and the laughs and sneers of the entire hall.

Memory Over

Harry stopped his probing. Lily was on the ground, breathing heavily and with itchy eyes as she recovered. Once she stood up she whirled upon Harry.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" She screamed. Harry was glad that there were silencing charms around as her voice could rival a banshee when she was angry.

"That was Legilimency. Legilimency is the ability to read memories and plant images into somebody's head. Occlumency is what you are going to learn. Occlumency is the shielding of the mind. It stops Legilimency, some truth potions though not the strong ones; it will allow you to be able to control your emotions and can give you a major immunity against Dementors." Harry lectured. Lily gave him a glare, which he brushed aside. "Shall we continue?" he asked. She nodded.

Next Morning

Harry was woken up by a loud yell. He quickly sat up, and in doing so hit his head on Lily's head as she was bending down to shout in his ears again. He groaned and rubbed his head and she rubbed hers.

"You have a thick skull you know." Harry complained as he cast a pain-relieving spell. He cast one on Lily as well who sat up and shot him a bitter look.

"You're the one to talk Riddle…Smith…Whoever you are!" she complained. "I made a nice breakfast for you and you hit my head."

"Oh get over it." Harry muttered and rubbed his eyes. He really wasn't a morning person. He got up and walked over to a table. There were no definite rooms in the clearing. On the table was a plate full of pancakes. Harry piled some on his plate and dug in.

"This is good." He complimented between mouthfuls. Lily beamed.

"Thanks!" she said happily. "I got a lot of practice with Petunia and Vernon," she trailed off as the events of yesterday.

"I don't blame you for killing him. No one will if they ever find out but no one will find out in the first place to judge you." Harry said firmly, all thoughts of breakfast gone.

"I should have restrained myself. He wasn't going to kill me but I still killed him," Lily muttered to herself. Obviously this was not an uncommon train of thought for Lily.

"I'm actually glad that you killed him." Harry said in an offhand manner. Lily looked at him in shock.

"Because if you had spared him and he had raped you, I would have given him a fate worse than death." Harry finished. "Don't try to make excuses for him."

Lily sighed but nodded. "It's easier said then done." She said tiredly. "I had nightmares all last night."

Harry frowned thoughtfully. "Looks like you're experiencing a side affect from Occlumency. Sometime your mind can be more weakened if you didn't do the exercises right. Let's go over them now."

"Occlumency is the shielding of the mind. First blank your mind." Harry instructed.

Lily complied and closed her eyes and worked on meditating. She had taken yoga when she was nine and it had proved beneficial for her Occlumency exercises. Harry figured that a few weeks in school she would be able to have a fully functional mental shield up. It would be able to hold of Albus or Thomas for at least 30 seconds. That should be enough time for Lily to look away from their eyes.

"Listen to my voice. There is nothing else but the voice." Harry said in a soothing soft voice. Lily opened her eyes. They were blank and had no life in them.

"A brick is in the blackness of your mind. See it, feel it. Pick it up. Now, do you see the uncompleted wall? Put the brick there. Keep doing it, one at a time. Always strengthen the wall. Make it one row, then two, then four rows. Continued doing this exercise."

Most Occlumency Masters has about 500,000 'layers' of bricks (or whatever they visualized to represent the barrier. Harry himself used steel blocks and Albus used socks) in width and height. It was unwise to have more than 500,000 as the magic started affecting your brain and soon your mind would snap under the pressure to keep the barriers intact. Occlumency was just as much about will as it was about magic.

An accomplished Legilimens could fly over these walls but the person whose thoughts they are breaking into would know and they could see a trap.

It is possible to set a fine layer of webs above the wall. In these webs are magical energies, which could hold anything from a jelly legs to a Crucio. The killing curse could not be used in these webs because they would harm the Host as well as the Virus, or intruder. Harry had a nasty Dark Curse set up there. No one would be able to slip past; they would have to hammer his walls down with force.

Lily opened her eyes several hours later. Harry was sitting in an armchair reading a newspaper. He noticed her moving from her position.

"Hey," he greeted. Lily nodded tiredly at him.

"Is Occlumency always this hard?" she asked.

"It gets easier. So, how many layers do you have?" he asked.

"About 140,000." She said casually and picked up the paper. She was about to read it when Harry's stunned voice distracted her. "140,000!" he exclaimed. "That's wonderful. You have to be a natural. It took me a month to learn it and get 500,000 and you've done 3/7 of it already! If you do this every night, you should be a master in no time!"

Lily flushed at the praise. "So, what's interesting in here?" she asked, gesturing towards the paper. Harry's expression turned to a brooded look. "Read." Was all he said?

7 Death Eater Attacks foiled by Ministry:

Reported by Mary Sue

The Ministry has just let out information that shows that You-Know-Who might be losing his edge. 2 nights ago several raids took place at Muggle targets. The Dark Lords goal was unclear, but Ministry Aurors foiled him in all 7 locations. Around 23 Death Eaters were captured and 9 killed. The Auror losses were 31 injured and 4 killed. Only in a nightclub in Upper Whinging were there true losses. It has been confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was present at this raid as well as several Commanders of the Death Eater forces. After interviewing an Auror, this reporter found startling information that could mean You-Know-Who's defeat.

The Auror had said that a teenage boy with dark hair had fought the Dark Lord. According to Muggles, the boy and the Dark Lord dueled and were both injured by blasts of light.

In this reporter's opinion, we think that they mean curses. The Muggles said that at the end the boy filled the Dark Lords shield with water and electrocuted him. Electricity is a Muggle power supply and reacts badly with water. The boy then supposedly hit the 'Evil One' with a flash of light but was hit as well. Once again, the boy cursed You-Know-Who and was cursed back. Spectators say that the Dark lord disappeared when a dark robe came in the building and called the Dark Lord Master and said that they had to retreat. We deciphered this as a Death Eater informed You-Know-Who that they were being overwhelmed by the Aurors fighting outside. The Ministry is looking in to the matter. Do we have another ally against You-Know-Who or do we have a 2nd Dark Lord on our hands? Continue to page 2.

On the front page there was a picture of the inside of the nightclub with all the wreckage from the duel.

"This is bad." She said. Harry nodded grimly.

"I was hoping not to be noticed around here. There goes my plan." He said sighing. "Famous again. At least they don't know who I am or where I am. Soon they'll find out."

"What do you mean, 'Famous Again'?' Lily asked suspiciously.

Harry looked awkward. "Well…" he said slowly.

"Trust me Harry, Please!" Lily begged, her green eyes pleading with him.

"Fine." He sighed. He stood up and began pacing while Lily looked on in dread. She was expecting him to say that he was a murderer or a convict. Not that she would care. Her Poldumency skills were still screaming for her to trust him and he did everything in her best interests. She would have to talk to him about that later on.

"You can't tell anyone." Harry said as he paced.

"I won't." Lily promised.

"I am not from this time zone." Harry said finally and turned to observe her reaction.

Lily sat still. "Excuse me?" she said weakly.

"I said I am not from this Time Zone. I haven't even been born yet and with some actions happening now, I'm quite sure that I've fucked up the future."

"When are you born?" Lily asked weakly. She sat down on a chair and collapsed. Of everything she was expecting this wasn't it.

"1980." Harry responded gravely.

"Oh." Was all Lily could say before she fainted dead away. Harry looked up at the afternoon sky.

'She took that better than I thought'

Chapter Nine

Harry waved his wand and muttered. "Enverate,"

Lily opened her eyes and looked at Harry. "I had the funniest dream that you said that you were from the future." She mumbled to herself.

"It wasn't a dream." Harry said dryly and sat down on a chair. Lily blinked at gave a bewildered look at Harry.

"How?" was all she could say in her present state of shock. Harry scratched his head.

"I'm not quite sure though I have a fair idea on how it might have happened. Do you know how Apparition works?" he asked instead.

Lily nodded. "Don't you destabilize your body into particles then open a small portal to where you want to go?

"That's right. In this exact place in about 25 years from now, I was in a battle with some Death Eaters. I was in the process of apparating when I was hit by a curse called Alvei Paocabre. It's a curse that slows down people to a snails pace. I think that I was shoved back in this time because the curse shoved me backwards on the magical energies."

"Oh," Lily said. She looked at him oddly. "So, He is still around then?"

Harry hesitated. "Well…yeah." He finished.

"There's something you're not telling me." Lily accused.

"Maybe I should tell you about my life." Harry suggested. Lily threw her hands up into the air with exasperation. "Finally, you get my drift," she muttered sarcastically.

"I was born in 1980, July 31st. My parents were targets for Voldemort and worked against him. A prophecy was made about Thomas and me so they became even more hunted. On Halloween in 1981, Thomas caught up to them. Their secret keeper had betrayed them. He killed my Dad first, and walked upstairs for my Mum. She pleaded for my life and begged him not to kill me. He killed her and turned his wand on me. When the Avada Kedavra hit me, it rebounded and Thomas's spirit was thrown from his body. I only lived because of the prophecy, which said something about the Dark Lord marking me as his equal. You can't see it anymore but I had a scar on my forehead that I healed by a Parseltongue spell. That's a spell that is used in Parseltongue. I healed it and managed to block off the link that I had to Voldemort."

"You lived through the Killing Curse!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"Yeah, It has a draw back though. He had access to my mind and I had access to his. Luckily, Occlumency kept us out though sometimes it fails. That's how I know so much magic. I stole Thomas's knowledge. So I have 20 years worth of experience more than the Voldemort in this time. He's a lot stronger than me though."

"Wow." Lily uttered. "So what do you mean about fucking up the future?"

Harry grimaced. "Petunia and Vernon were not meant to die. They had a son in the future called Dudley that I knew well. So, my future doesn't exist anymore."

"Hang on! If your future doesn't exist then how come you haven't wiped yourself out yet?" Lily questioned.

"No Idea." Harry explained.

"Nice theory." Lily said sarcastically.

Harry laughed then sobered and said. "I'm also worried about the effects of what Thomas mind could have done to me."

"What do you mean?" Lily inquired.

"Well, I killed your sister. It was the first person I have killed and I didn't even care. I think that because I have some memories of killing people before, I won't know whether I'm going evil."

"You're not." Lily stated. "Like you said they were pieces of shit who deserved to die an agonizing painful death in the depths of hell."

"Err… I didn't say that." Harry said slowly.

"Well, I might have said it then." Lily snapped. "Petunia tried to kill me, did you know?"

"She what!" Harry exclaimed in shock.

"I was 8, and she had always been jealous of me. I think my parents liked me better than they did her. So, she went swimming with me one day and took me out into deep water and left me there. I almost died. Luckily, a lifesaver saw me and I was saved. Petunia got in trouble but they thought she had just forgotten about me. I could tell by the look in her eyes that it was intentional and that she had wanted me dead. So, I really didn't love her and when she died it was a favor for me." Lily finished.

"So, what happened at Hogwarts? You did go there, didn't you?" Lily said, changing the subject.

"Of course I did. I was a Gryffindor though the hat said I would have done well in Slytherin. That's because Thomas transferred me some of his powers on the night he tried to kill me. That's how I'm a Parseltongue. Anyway in my first year…"

"So, let me get this straight. You reflected the killing curse back at You-Kn…Thomas. You were abused by Muggles. You stopped the Philosophers stone from getting in the hands of Thomas in your first year. Drove a car into a tree, fought giant spiders and slew a Basilisk in your second year. Found out that your Godfather was innocent and drove away 100 or so Dementors in your third year, Competed in the Tri-Wizard tournament that included a dragon, mere-people and a giant maze, then dueled with Thomas and lived in your fourth year. Raided the Department of Mysteries in your fifth and defeated a dozen of Death Eaters with 5 friends, then came here?" Lily said in disbelief. "Wow. And here I thought my life was exciting."

"Yeah, I did all that," Harry answered awkwardly.

"Why won't you tell me any names? You only said that your friends were Ron and Hermione. No parent's names or anything." Lily protested.

"I don't want you to know." Harry said.

"So, you're trying to keep secrets from me…. again." Lily said dangerously.

"Err…Yes." Harry said. "You're certainly taking this well."

"No, I'm being very lenient and trying not to kill you for lying to me and giving me half truths. Also, you endangered your life too many times that I fell comfortable with!" Lily said through gritted teeth.

"Come on, if I hadn't been fighting Death Eaters then I wouldn't have been here and met you." Harry protested. Lily huffed.

"Women. Must be her time of the month." Harry muttered to himself out loud. Then he froze in terror. "Please tell me I did not say that out loud."

Lily snarled out and bought out her wand. "Stupefy!"

Harry dodged the red light hastily. "SORRY!" he shouted as he jumped aside as a pale blue bone breaker curse headed his way. Harry had taught it to her yesterday along with some other painful curses. Lily glowered and lowered her wand.

"You're getting good?" Harry offered weakly.

Lily began to laugh at Harry's panicked expression. "You can fight Dark Lords yet you can't face up to me?" she spluttered out.

"Voldemort is no where near as scary as you are when you're mad." Harry said and dusted himself off.

"That's not nice." Lily said sweetly. "I would hate to have to kill you. I'm just starting to get used to your smart arse remarks."

"Okay, Okay!" Harry said. "You win. I lose. I surrender. I wave the white flag. I retreat from this conflict. I give up the city. I…"

"Better shut up or else…" Lily interrupted. Harry stopped speaking and they stood there in silence for a few minutes.

"So, now what?" Lily finally asked.

"I don't know." Harry admitted. "I don't know whether to stay here or go back. I have no obligations here. I can be myself and not how everyone wants me to be. But, I have friends over there."

Lily was silent. Inside she was hoping that Harry would stay. Though she didn't know why.

'You know why, don't delude yourself' Said Lily's inner voice.

Lily ignored it and looked at Harry. "It's your choice." She said neutrally. "You decide what you want to do."

Harry noticed the tension in her voice. "Oh don't worry, Even if I am going to go back I would still stay here for a while."

Lily relaxed a tiny bit. "Anyway." She said. "I believe that you have some curses to teach me." She said impishly.

Harry snorted. "Ever the Ravenclaw." Lily shot him a withering look. Harry rolled his eyes in response.

"Stupefy!" Lily shouted. Harry flicked his wand and the spell reversed back onto Lily. Her eyes widened and she summoned a quick shield. The spell hit it and was deflected back into some trees.

"Incendio!" Lily tried again. A jet of blue flames shot their way at Harry.

"Aquaira," Harry said and a ball of water met the flames in mid air and extinguished the flamed.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily muttered. Harry waved his wand and a rock flew from its position from the ground and met it in mid air. The curse hit the rock and left a scorch mark. Harry waved his wand again and the rock sped down Lily's direction.

Lily muttered a shield charm and the rock smashed into it and crumbled. With a quick flourish she sent of a multitude of curses in Harry's direction. Harry dodged most of them and dispelled the rest.

"Tempus Ostriulla!" Harry shouted. A deep blue beam shattered through her shield and Lily dodged. The curse hit a tree branch swaying in the wind. The tree froze as it became frozen in time.

"Imperio!" Lily called out, and a blissful feeling swept over Harry.

'Drop your wand. Drop your wand.' Came a soothing voice.

"Nice try Lily," Harry chuckled and slashed his wand. A bright flash filled the clearing and when it died down, Lily was lying down on the ground stunned.

Harry walked over and released her from the curse.

"I forgot you could do that." Lily said sheepishly.

"You shouldn't get used to casting the Unforgivable." Harry reprimanded. Lily lowered her gaze.

"Sorry Harry," she said softly, "It's just that the feeling I get when I do…"

"You have DMA!" Harry said in horror and felt a flash of fear run through him. DMA was a powerful condition that could destroy a person's sanity and logical reasoning. It turned the nicest person into a raving maniac.

"Dark Magic Addiction?" Lily said in disbelief. "But I've only been using them for a few days!"

"That's long enough! You should have told me!" Harry said his voice laced with panic. He pulled out his shrunken trunk from his pocket and bought it back to the right size for the first time he had been here. He quickly rummaged through it and pulled out a few potion ingredients.

"I'll make an antidote for you," Harry promised. Lily looked at him gratefully.

"Thanks." She said simply.

"No problem. I think that I would lose if you became addicted to the Dark Arts liked Thomas and decided to duel me." Harry said as he was mixing in some ingredients. He cast a small flame and started heating the cauldron, all the time stirring it.

"Yeah right." Lily snorted. "I may be smart but I'm not that strong."

"Bullshit." Harry said and he added in a vial of a green powdery liquid. "You underestimate yourself. You're a lot stronger than you think. You just stop yourself from reaching your full potential. And I could easily beat you but I wouldn't want to."

"…Really?" Lily asked disbelievingly.

"Really." Harry said firmly and drained the cauldron into a small vial. "You're lucky that I had some already half complete." He passed her the vial.

"Drink." He commanded. Lily took it and gulped it down. It taste like rotten eggs, Horseshit and pig vomit all in one.

"EUGH!" she shrieked. Harry past her a small glass of mouthwashes and she took it gratefully. After she had gurgled it down Harry spoke up.

"Have you been to Diagon Alley yet?" He asked suddenly.

"Crap!" she swore. "I was meant to go yesterday but…" she trailed off.

"Well, let's go now." Harry decided. Lily took his hand and he apparated both of them out of the clearing.

Chapter Ten

Harry popped into existence with Lily near a small side street. He led them both up the Muggle Street and quickly ushered Lily into the Leaky Cauldron. Before he did, he cast a quick glance around and whispered to Lily.

"Look, I don't want anyone knowing about anything about me. No fighting dark lord jokes today." He said softly. Lily gave a faint nod and walked in. The Leaky Cauldron looked the same as it did in the future. It was filled with witches and wizards, some who were partying and some who were just enjoying a nice lunch.

Harry and Lily sat down at the bar and a kindly looking man approached.

"Hello, I'm Tom and I'll be your waiter for today." The man said, smiling happily.

Harry smiled. It appeared that Tom wasn't in charge of the Leaky Cauldron yet.

"Could you please put two specials on? We'll be back to collect them soon," Harry asked politely.

Tom shivered under the boys…or mans green gaze.. "I'm sorry Sir." Tom said. "I'm not allowed to do that until you pay." His eyes widened in shock as the boy produced a small sack bulging with money that only one of the Old Families could have handled so much with such carelessness.

Harry pulled out 4 galleons. "We'll be back soon." He said and got up, Lily following him. Once they got outside Lily pulled out her wand and tapped the brick wall. The walls vibrated before transforming into an arch that showed Diagon Alley, England's largest Wizarding shopping centre.

Lily walked in with Harry behind her. She looked around as she walked to Florish and Botts. The alley was like the last time she had been here last year. There was still a lingering sense of fear but there was something new. A small spark of hope that hadn't been there last time she was here.

Harry had also sensed the hope. He was slightly empathic, not as strong as Lily, who he had inherited the gift from but strong enough to feel emotions of large crowds.

Besides him Lily gave a small noise of curiosity.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, it's just that people are happy or hopeful about something." Lily said then shrugged. "Anyway, we better get some books."

Harry complied and they walked into the bookstore. Lily immediately went into the charms section and Harry browsed the Defence against the Dark Arts section. There was nothing in there that Harry didn't know already except a small, old tattered book

Harry picked it up and read the title. On it was. 'The Dark Arts Guide of Warfare'

"Lily!" Harry called out. Lily walked out of the Charms section carrying a few books. She dumped them in a basket and Harry read the titles. She had all of the schoolbooks as well as a few others.

"A Successful guide of Charm Masters" Harry quoted off the top book in the pile. Lily gave a blush.

"Well, Professor Flitwick said I should get it if I consider trying to get an apprenticeship off someone." She said. "So, what did you want?" she re-directed the subject.

"I'm buying this." He said and showed Lily the book. She took one look at the cover and gasped.

"Cool!" She exclaimed.

He picked up Lily's basket and walked up to the counter. The clerk started pricing the books and soon he reached the Wizarali guide. He almost dropped the book in shock.

"Sir." He said, "It appears that this book was placed in the wrong section. This is a rare book and it should be in a different section. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding I'll put this away and get you something suited for your level.

"No." Harry said firmly. The clerk stopped and looked around for some help. No one was listening so he turned back to Harry.

"Sir, this book cost 200 Galleons." The clerk said snobbishly. Harry reached into his cloak and pulled out a bag.

"Here are 250 for all the books." Harry said and shrunk the books. He placed them in his pocket and walked out with Lily trailing him.

"I could pay for my own books you know." Exclaimed Lily indigently.

"Consider it my treat." Harry said dryly before turning back to Lily. "So, shall we get robes next?"

Lily scowled but nodded.

½ an hour later Harry and Lily were prepared for Hogwarts. They made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron and sat down at a table. Tom came over and took a look at them.

"Oh, your meals are ready. I'll just go get them for you." He said. He returned later with 2 plates of some steaming meat. Harry and Lily dug in while sitting silence. They were both thinking about tomorrow, and what changes it would bring.

After they were finished, Harry tipped Tom and the pair walked out into Muggle London.

"So, now where?" Harry asked Lily who scrunched her face up in thought.

"…How about a clothes shop?" she said finally.

"Okay."

Lily dragged Harry into a nearby clothes shop. After 20 minutes of frantic shopping she had bought herself a lot of outfits for herself, all in dark colors. They all consisted of black pants with black tops. Harry thought they suited her extremely well and contrasted with her hair, eyes and complexion quite well.

"Going for the Goth look, eh?" Harry said lazily as he sat in a corner. Lily turned to him with a glint in her eyes.

"You're getting new clothes as well." She said stubbornly and dragged him over to what most males call a demons bride…a sales lady. After a series of questions ranging from favorite color to his length of his nose he was finally given a black pair of pants and a black shirt.

After a 2-hour hell on earth session in a demons parlor or more commonly referred to as a clothing store Harry walked out dazed carrying a bunch of bags. He was dressed in black pants, a black shirt and a black trench coat. Lily was similarly dressed.

Harry apparated them both back to the clearing and Lily dumped her bags.

"Now wasn't that fun." She said grinning.

Harry just gave her a dirty look before shuffling his packages to his bed.

"Oh, so my company isn't good enough for you? Is that it?" Lily cried out sarcastically.

"I hate shopping." Harry said annoyingly.

"Well be glad that you don't need to shop for another year." Lily smirked.

"Evil bitch." Harry mumbled tiredly. He looked at the sky, which was beginning to darken. "We should get some dinner then go to bed. We leave for Hogwarts tomorrow."

Lily agreed and started conjuring up some dinner. The rest of that night was spent packing for Hogwarts. Once they were done they ate dinner and started talking.

"So what do you think will happen to you?" Lily asked sleepily. She was curled up on the couch sitting next to Harry, who was watching the night sky.

"I don't know." Harry said absently. Lily nodded and yawned. She closed her eyes and soon she was asleep. Harry was in a sleep like state when he felt a warm weight on his shoulder. He looked over to see Lily curling up to him in her sleep. Harry closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Lily woke up to find her pillow moving. She blearily opened her eyes to find herself up against Harry's chest. He was still sleeping and his face was more relaxed. Gone were the constant lines that seemed to be etched into his forehead. For a moment he looked like a normal teenager. She took a quick peek at the sky to see it was still dark. Sighing, she snuggled further and fell asleep.

Harry woke up in the morning to find a warm weight pressed to his chest, Lily was sleeping so he carefully picked her up and put her back on the couch. He waved his wand and the time came out.

"Lily! Wake up!" Harry said and started shaking her.

"…WHAT!" Lily screeched as she opened her bleary eyes.

"Not a morning person then." Harry said amusedly.

"Shut up." She grumbled. "Now what do you want?"

"We have 4 minutes to get to the platform."

Lily was wide-awake after that message and after a few minutes of gathering her gear, she took Harry's hand and let him apparate her to the station. Parents and children were there, waving off their relatives. Lily and Harry quickly boarded the train, both not wanting to stay and be reminded of the people they had lost. They entered a compartment and put down their stuff.

"Finally." Lily said in relief as she sat down. She pulled out her Charms book and started reading. Harry pulled out his Dark Arts book and started reading.

It was useful. Voldemort knew most of this stuff but there was a lot of interesting stuff in it. Harry started reading a section on brain manipulation. It was like Legilimency in how you can cause the person you are using it on to feel anything at all. A truly skilled wielder of this art could make a person fell like that they had a jumper on when they didn't, or manipulate the brain into thinking it was 40 degrees when it wasn't. You could open up the nerve channels for pain and cause pain that rivaled the Crucio curse.

The opening of the door interrupted Harry. In walked 4 boys. They were all very familiar. Harry almost gasped when he realized who it was.

Chapter Eleven

Harry scrutinized the boys closely. One was wearing shabby robes and had greying brown hair. The boy had strangely canine amber eyes and had a look of calm around him. He was reading a book.

Remus Lupin.

Next to him was an energetic boy with shoulder length black hair and startling blue eyes. He wore a mischievous smirk and had very expensive robes on.

Sirius Black.

Next to Sirius was a boy with messy black hair and hazel eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses. He was playing with a snitch and had an air of mischief around him. He wore expensive robes and laughing at something Sirius had said.

James Potter.

Next to his Father was a small boy with beady watery eyes and a mop of sandy hair. He was wearing shabby robes as well and looked like a coward.

Peter Pettigrew.

Harry was absolutely stunned. He just stared at the boys in what he hoped was a neutral expression while he gathered his wits together. The boys hadn't noticed him or Lily and kept talking.

"So I say, 'Want a tissue Sniviellius?" Sirius said to James. James was laughing before he noticed that their compartment wasn't empty. Lily Evans in all her glory was sitting reading a book. She had an air of confidence around her, which was unusual and was absorbed in her book, totally ignoring him. Next to her was a boy about her height looking at them. He had messy black hair and crystal clear green eyes. He looked a bit like James, but not to noticeable.

"Hello Lily...May I call you Lily?" James said in a deep voice. Sirius and Peter stopped talking and swiveled to see the two intruders. Remus looked up from his book and a flash of exasperation passed through his eyes before he lowered himself into his novel again.

"Shut up Potter." Said Lily, not looking up from her book. "And No, you may not. That's reserved for my friends."

Behind James Sirius sniggered quietly. "Friends? She has friends now?"

James elbowed Sirius and kept talking. "But aren't I your friend?" he said in what he thought was a hurt voice.

"No." came the curt reply.

Harry watched the exchange. His father was just as arrogant as Snape said he was. Snape was right. Harry shuddered. He never wanted to say those words again. Sirius noticed the shudder.

"Hey you. Rack off, this is our compartment." Sirius said as he pushed off Harry's things from the seat and sat down. Harry raised an eyebrow. He summoned his stuff from the floor and shrunk it, then put it in his pocket. He, however, remained where he was.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me." Sirius said annoyed. "I said go away. We don't want filth like you in OUR compartment."

Harry's mouth almost dropped in shock. Sirius sounded like a Malfoy. Then again, he was raised as a Black.

"No, I'm quite happy here." Harry responded calmly and started reading again. Pettigrew sneered. "Go away!" he said in a shrill voice that grated Harry's nerves. Harry gave a cold look to Peter that left him withering under the glare.

"I didn't ask your opinion, did I?" Harry sneered.

"Hey, don't mess with Peter!" Sirius growled out in a dog-like way. He whipped out his wand and pointed it at Harry.

"Listen to me. No one messes with the Marauders and gets away with it. "Riscumpetra!"

A pale beam rocketed from Sirius's wand and Harry whipped out his. With a wave the curse smashed into a pale silver shield.

"Now you listen to me. We were here first. If you don't like it go somewhere else." Harry snapped out. He was disappointed to find the people he looked up to were no better than Draco Malfoy. He spared a quick look at James, who had pulled out his wand and was pointing it at Lily. He caught snatches of their conversation.

"If you go out with me Evans, I'll leave pansy boy over here alone."

Harry was furious now. "I'd like to see you try." Harry said coldly while standing up.

James stood up, pulling out of Remus' grasp. Remus shook his head sadly but stayed out of the conflict.

Peter also pulled out his wand and raised his trembling arm at Harry.

Sirius waved his wand and a flash of scarlet smashed into a shield surrounding Harry.

Harry didn't retaliate and Lily stood up. With a flourish of her wand she bound Peter up in a bundle of steel like ropes.

"Piss off Potter!" she snarled. James shot her an annoyed look.

"Stay out of this Evans!" he said. He waved his wand and muttered an incantation. A flash of purple erupted from his wand and Harry slashed the air with his.

The curse was split in half and spiraled in different directions. James muttered another curse and took a step forward. He tripped on his trunk and his aim went off. The curse sped in the direction of Lily, who sidestepped. She didn't see the other curse come her way and it hit her in the shoulder and Lily sprawled back on the wall, hitting her head with a dull thud.

Harry flicked his wand and a wave of magical energy smashed into James and blew him off his feet and into the compartment door. With another flick Sirius was bounced off the roof and floor then blown back into a wall.

Harry was standing there with a fury in his eyes that matched Dumbledore's when he was angry. He waved his wand and Peter was free from his bounds.

"Get out. NOW!" he shouted and the boys scampered out. Remus gave Harry a sympathetic look and dragged out the Marauders trunks. Harry flicked his wand again and the door closed with slam and locked. Harry hurried towards Lily, who was groaning.

"Ow!" she said, groaning and sat up. She put her hand on the bump and when she took it away she noticed that it had blood on it. Harry helped her to her feet and lay her down on the couch. He gently probed the injured area with his hands.

"It should be okay." Harry said. He pulled out a potion bottle from his trench coat. With a pop, he undid the cork and poured some on his hands. He put Lily's head in his lap and started rubbing his hands in her head.

"What's that?" Lily said weakly, enjoying the ministrations.

"A healing potion." Harry said. He poured a few drops on the cut and rubbed it in. Soon, the cut started to heal and there was nothing left of it apart from some specks of blood in her hair. Harry muttered a cleaning charm, and Lily's hair was back to its beautiful scarlet shine.

Lily lay back while Harry healed her wound. She was enjoying the ministrations and almost purred out loud when he touched a sensitive area behind her ear. When he was finished, he sat there with Lily's head in his lap. Lily made no move to get up.

"So, what happened with the Marauders?" she said and gazed at Harry. He looked briefly angry for a second before pooling his features back to the usual expressionless mask.

"I kicked them out. You weren't kidding when you said that they were bad." Harry muttered. Lily rolled her eyes.

"They're a bunch of arrogant pricks." She said. She pulled her feet up and got up from Harry's lap, leaning into his chest.

"But they're also the most popular boys at Hogwarts. You just made an enemy out of them. You might want to reconsider being friends with me because they'll make your life a living hell." Lily said softly.

Harry said nothing at first. Then "I dueled the dark lord. What are they going to do that Tom can't."

"True, True." Lily said and got up. She got her book and started reading again. Harry grabbed his and he started reading as well.

Soon the lunch cart came around. Harry ordered food for the both of them.

"Where did you get the money from?" Lily said as she munched on a chocolate frog.

"I took it out of my vault in the future before I was sent here." Harry said while he sucked on a small toffee.

They were interrupted by a loud screech as the train put its breaks on. Harry was thrown forward and crashed into Lily, their bodies pressed closely together. For a moment they just stared at each other, their faces inches apart. Slowly, Lily's face traveled closer to his and just when the lips were about to meet there was a huge rumble. Harry staggered up and looked out of the window. There were several Dark Cloaked figures leaping on to the train.

"Shit!" he cursed, trying to forget what had almost happened. He couldn't kiss his mother. At the remembrance that Lily was his mum, he felt an icy pit settle in his stomach.

"What is it?" Lily said, her mind still replaying what had almost happened. She couldn't try that again. He hadn't even been born yet. She was 30 years his senior when she got to his time. She couldn't go and fall in lo-. Lily swallowed hard at the 'L' word. She focused on Harry.

"Death Eaters." He said and whipped out his wand. "Coming?" he asked as he opened the door.

"You bet!" Lily said and grabbed her wand. Offering Harry a grin she followed him out.

Harry strode forward, trying to get to the engine. He met several Death Eaters on his way.

"Stupefy!" Harry muttered and a flash of red signified to the other Death Eaters that they had company.

"ADVADA KEDAVRA!" One of them shouted. Harry quickly summoned a Death Eater to intercept the curses path. A scream was heard as the killing curse connected and Harry let go of the spell.

With a quick flick of his wand the Death Eater was smashed into a glass window. Harry ducked another curse and drew back his hand. With a burst of strength he punched a Death Eater right in the nose. A loud crack and a dribble of blood later, the Death Eater fell to the floor, unconscious.

Lily muttered a charm and watched as a Death Eater went down. Harry gave her a look. "Cover me!" he shouted above the din of dueling. Several other students were fighting as well. Lily nodded and brandished her wand. It glowed white and a flow of power left in, arcing towards the robed figures. It hit them and they fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Lily muttered a protection spell as a bright yellow beam hurled towards her.

She waved her wand and shouted. "Flammere Ioblous!"

A large fireball belted out of her wand and hit a Death Eater in the chest. Lily ignored the screams and turned to see what Harry was doing.

Harry ducked a curse and sent back a stunner. He saw several students lying unconscious in the corridor.

"Accio Students!" He called. The students were summoned out of the way, leaving about 20 Death Eaters in the corridor with the Students behind him. As they advanced Harry traced a circle in the air. The outline glowed and Harry thrust his wand in the centre of the circle. A bright flash blinded everyone watching and the intoxicating scent of magical energy filled the air. A huge beam lanced from the circle, filling up the corridor. The Death Eaters recovered their eyes only to be hit by the beam.

As the beam receded, there was no trace left of the Death Eaters save for a single white mask. It took the Death Eaters two days to return from Antarctica where they had been dumped.

Harry looked back, many students were hurt but from what he could tell, they all would live. He turned to Lily who was organizing the Death Eaters that had fallen before the beam. They were bound, gagged and their wands had been snapped.

"Good Work." Harry praised. Lily smiled tiredly at him.

With a jolt, the train began to move again and soon they were speeding off to Hogwarts.

Chapter Twelve

When the train arrived at Hogwarts it was dark. Harry and Lily levitated the Death Eaters out of the train and gathered their stuff. He could see some other students levitate the injured students out. Harry pointed to four 5th Years.

"You four make sure that these Death Eaters go no where." Harry instructed.

The students nodded solemnly and gathered their wands. Harry walked over to Lily who was helping the 1st years.

"Okay, go to the man over there and he will take you to the castle." She said and turned to Harry. "Hey, what's up?" she said lightly.

"The Death Eaters are being guarded by some students." Harry said and rubbed his eyes.

"So what are you going to do now?" Lily questioned as she and Harry got in a carriage. She saw some students levitate the Death Eaters into a carriage.

The carriage began moving and Harry leaned back. "Dumbledore want to talk to me tonight so I'll sit with you at the feast." He explained.

"What will…"? Lily started but never finished as a loud scream pierced the air. Harry whipped around to see 3 Death Eater leap out of the carriage.

"Bloody Hell!" cursed Harry. "I never get one damn chance to rest." He muttered and leapt out of the carriage. Lily was about to follow but Harry stopped her.

"I'll deal with this." He said and Lily bit her lip, nodding. Harry focused on one of his two Animagus transformations, a black wolf with emerald eyes. A wolf was a natural leader and a loner who fought back if its pack was threatened. This was a perfect description of Harry.

Harry ran forward as the Death Eaters ran away. 2 of them went near the Quidditch pitch and the other headed towards the castle. Harry focused on the two running for the Quidditch pitch. With a burst of speed he jumped on one of the backs and sunk his teeth into the neck of another. The Death Eater gave a gurgle and fell limply to the ground. The surviving Death Eater pulled out his wand and Harry's canine eyes opened in surprise. The Death Eater must have stolen it from a student.

"Crucio!" the Death Eater shouted then jumped on a ladder and climbed up to one of the stands obviously excepting that the wolf wouldn't be able to follow him. Harry dodged the curse and transformed back into a human and followed him up.

"Surrender now!" Harry said calmly as the Death Eater backed away in panic.

"G-GO AWAY!" The Death Eater howled in fear and slashed his wand. Harry remained where he was standing as purple flames grated a golden globe that had enveloped Harry.

"So be it." Harry said and disarmed the Death Eater. But, the force of the spell pushed back him from the stands. The Death Eater screamed in fear that was stopped when he hit the ground at 60 kilometers per hour.

Harry looked down and winced. "Oops." He muttered.

He climbed down and transformed back into a wolf and ran back up to the castle after the third escapee.

Lily walked into the hall with the rest of the students levitating the injured Death Eaters. Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the staff were waiting for them. With a quick incantation the Death Eaters disappeared with a portkey to the Auror headquarters.

The students sat down and Lily made her way to the corner of the Ravenclaw table where she sat. She had no friends in Ravenclaw. The only friend she could claim she had was Narcissa Black from Slytherin who she had been partnered to last year in Potions. It had been awkward at first between them but soon they had a decent conversation and it had turned into a tentative friendship.

Lily was shaken out of her musings when Professor Dumbledore stood up. The aged wizard clapped his hands and all chatter ceased as the hall listened in.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. As you can tell, The Dark lord Voldemort has been very active lately. I have bought protective measures up at Hogwarts so rest assured that you are safe here." Here his blue twinkling eyes flickered to Lily and she understood. Harry was the protective measure he was talking about. As Professor Dumbledore was about to continue the doors bust open and a Death Eater walked in. The Death Eater started as he saw the room full of people and whirled around. The doors slammed shut and the Death Eater panicked. With a quick mutter a 6th year Slytherin with pale golden hair and blue eyes flew from her seat with a scream. Lily heart fluttered as she saw Narcissa being held in the hands of a maniac. She hoped that Narcissa would be all right.

"Mr. Burke, it has been a while since you entered these halls, has it not?" Professor Dumbledore said pleasantly. Lily could see the hardness in his eyes however polite he may have sounded.

"Albus, I haven't seen you since 1945 when you taught me Transfiguration." Burke sneered as he held Narcissa tighter.

"That is correct." Dumbledore said as he walked forward, his wand casually by his side. "Do not do this. There is still a chance for redemption."

Burke laughed a cold bitter laugh and Narcissa shivered. "Albus, the Dark Side will win. You cannot comprehend the power that Voldemort is amassing. Soon the world will be ours"

"You'll be dead if you don't drop that student." Came a familiar voice. Lily turned to see Harry standing in the doorway.

Harry fumed as he made his way in Hogwarts. Death Eaters shouldn't be at Hogwarts at all. This was HIS sacred place, HIS home. Harry reached the Great Hall to find it sealed shut. Harry muttered a charm and his body turned transparent. He walked through the door to see the Death Eater holding a 6th year Slytherin. It took a while to remember the name but Harry remembered her from the World Cup in his 4th year. It was Narcissa Malfoy…or Black as it is now.

"…Soon the world will be ours!" ranted the Death Eater. Harry decided to step forward.

"You'll be dead if you don't drop that student." Said Harry coldly. The Death Eater wheeled around in surprise held his wand at Narcissa's head.

"STAY BACK OR SHE DIES!" The Death Eater shouted.

"Don't do this Burke." Said Dumbledore.

Harry grinned. "Next time pick a better hostage. That is Narcissa Black you're holding, the 3rd Heir of the Black Family. If you kill her, you may as well kill yourself since the family will not take it lightly of her death."

Burke paled. "I'll still do it!" he screamed.

"No you won't. Do you want to know why?" Harry asked as he aimed his wand at Burke. "Because she is your leverage and when she dies, I'll kill you myself."

"Bullshit! You're a light wizard! They don't have what it takes to murder!" Burke sneered.

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry intoned and a green beam smashed into the wall just inches from Burke. "Want to bet?" he said as Burke began to sweat. "And who said I was a light wizard?"

That was the final straw for Burke and he dropped Narcissa and muttered an incantation. A flash of lightning swooped to Harry, who raised his wand in response and deflected it.

"Avada Kedavra!" Burke screamed and Harry sidestepped.

"Astempte!" Harry muttered and a bronze colored dome formed around him. The next two curses bounced off it making an echo noise like a gong. Burke had to duck as a bright brown curse filled with power lanced towards him from Dumbledore.

Burke waved the wand and two suits of armor were conjured. With unnatural speed they rushed forward. Dumbledore waved his wand and the suits of armors legs were caught in an invisible line and they tumbled back. With a quick word they were destroyed in a shower of green sparks.

Meanwhile Harry was dueling Burke, who he had discovered was a fair dueler

Burke thrust his wand forward and a storm of grey bolts of magic showered over Harry. Harry flicked his wand and they disappeared. He sent a returning curse back and wove together a protection shield as a ball of dark flames smashed into it.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry said with power. Burke raised as shield and a silver shield formed as a scarlet light buckled from Harry's wand and sped through the air, its magical residue scorching nearby objects. It hit the silver shield and for a minute it strained to get forward, then it broke through the shield and smashed into Burke. Burkes wand came flying out of his hand and Harry caught it and pocketed it. Burke reacted faster than most humans could and ran for the door. Lily, seeing this stepped forward blocking his path.

"Stupefy!" she said and Burke ducked. With an agile movement he slammed into Lily and ripped her wand from her hand. As a curse from Harry sizzled above him he withdrew a knife and shoved in Lily's shoulder. Lily screamed in pain and Burke withdrew his knife and raised his hand ready to prepare the final blow. Then he gasped and dropped his knife. He rolled over and off Lily and slumped to the ground.

Harry's blood boiled in anger as he heard Lily's cry of pain and he raised his wand again. With a quick flick he banished every singe steak knife in the hall right at Burke. They hit him with precise accuracy and Burke dropped his knife with a clatter and slumped to the ground. Harry strode forward angrily and walked to Lily. She raised herself from the ground and gave a nod to indicate she was all right. He turned to Burke, who was breathing shallowly on the ground. He was covered in knives but not enough to kill him outright. He was going to die, but it would be slow and painful from blood loss.

"The…D-Dark Lord…. Will…. Win!" he gasped out. Harry smirked and pointed his wand at him.

"If he does you won't be around to see him." Harry said.

Burke smirked and Harry moved his head just in time as a knife embedded itself inches away from him

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry muttered.

The green magic hit Burke who made a last gurgle before the life fled from his eyes. He turned around to see Professor Dumbledore looking at him.

"Harry, if you could please accompany me to my office." Dumbledore said politely.

Harry nodded and followed Dumbledore out the hall as Madam Pomfrey rushed in.

Chapter Thirteen

Harry followed Professor Dumbledore as they traveled towards his office. The interior of Hogwarts looked the same as it did in the future. However, Harry wasn't really looking. He was in deep thought of what was going to happen to him. He didn't trust Dumbledore not to have his own best interests in mind. Whether Dumbledore agreed or not, he was very good at manipulating people into doing what he wanted.

Harry was drawn out of his thoughts as they reached the Gargoyle the guarded the Headmaster's office.

The Headmaster muttered something illegible and the Gargoyle jumped out of the way, revealing a staircase. Harry followed the Headmaster up and stepped into the office. It has less spinning objects but it was the same. The portraits were snoozing or eyeing Harry curiously and Fawkes was on his stand giving a piercing stare to Harry.

"Sit down Mr.…?" Dumbledore asked as he sat down behind his desk.

Harry sat down. "It's Harry." He said.

Albus led the boy…or man up into his office. Albus sat down and eyed him up. He was wearing a Muggle black trench coat.

"A Lemon drop?" Albus asked jovially as he reached into his drawer and pulled out a small, unmarked bag. They contained a small amount of a minor truth potion and were very useful for getting information out of people. That is if they actually take them.

"No thank you Albus, may I call you Albus?" Harry asked politely.

"Of course Harry." Albus said cheerfully and took an un-tampered Lemon drop for himself. "So, why have you come to this wonderful educational institute?"

"You invited me, remember?" Harry said and raised an eyebrow.

"That's right!" cried out Albus with fake realization. He knew that Harry knew that this was a game. A complex and highly dangerous situation yes, but still a game. But the real question was whether Harry knew that Albus knew that Harry knew it was a game.

"So, why did you invite me?" Harry asked. He did know that Albus knew that he knew that this was game, but he was going to pretend he didn't know that Albus knew that he knew that this was a game. Albus was also pretend he didn't know that Harry knew that he knew that Harry knew that this was a game. But they all knew.

"I am interested in inviting you as a 6th year student to this wonderful school. We have the best standards of magical education in Europe." Albus said as if he was doing Harry a favor. But he also knew that wasn't the real reason. So did Harry. But did Harry know that Albus knew that Harry knew that that wasn't the real reason? Probably yes, but Harry would pretend not to know this and Albus would pretend not to know that Harry was pretending not to know this as well.

Harry gave a mental sigh. Politics was so hard.

Albus started poking in his mind when an icy cold mental hand clamped down on his thoughts. Knowing he had been caught, Albus dropped all pretence.

"So, you are the one who dueled Voldemort." Albus said bluntly. Harry inclined his head slightly, a habit he picked up from Voldemort himself.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked as he made himself comfortable. "I don't think that you invited me up just to offer me a spot as a student."

Albus leaned forward, his twinkling blue eyes serious. "I want to protect this school. You have the power to rival Voldemort and…"

"No I don't." Harry said firmly. "I caught him by surprise that night. He is much more stronger than me in power terms but I have experience."

At Dumbledore's questioning gaze Harry explained a simplified version. "My Great-Grandfather was a powerful wizard under the Dark Lady Xenon. You may recall that she was a powerful dark witch from the late 1800's. He died a few months ago but he transferred his memories to me before he did to continue the family line of power." Harry said, bullshit coming out of his mouth. It had certain aspects of the truth in it, but most of it was a lie. It was mainly an explanation on why Harry had the knowledge if a fully trained wizard.

"Ah," Albus said. "I find that hard to believe. While Xenon was a powerful witch, she matched nowhere near Voldemort's power or yours. The magical residue left behind at the nightclub shows that you are more powerful than you believe unless,"

"Unless I was using Dark Magic." Harry finished. "You saw me at the Great Hall. I killed a man and I don't care. Thanks to my memories I have the knowledge of killing hundreds of people. I use the Unforgivables freely. Do you really want me to attend here?"

Albus sat silently as Harry smirked mentally. Albus would say yes and Harry would be at school. And if Harry got in trouble he could tell Albus that he warned him.

"Perhaps you're right." Albus said slowly. Harry stiffened extremely slightly, but Albus still saw it. "I will let you attend, but you must come to me every 2nd night for a talk on how you are going. Is that acceptable?"

Harry silently congratulated the Headmaster. He had seen through Harry after all.

"Very well." Harry said. "I'm just surprised you want someone of my standings as your schools bodyguard." Harry said the last part sarcastically.

"Just because you use Dark magic doesn't means that you are necessarily evil. Now shall we head down to the feast?" Albus asked cheerfully, all tension from his face the previous minute gone. Harry nodded.

The pair walked to the Great Hall, each contemplating their own thoughts. Harry was thinking about what move he would make next. It was obvious to him that he had stuffed up the timeline. He was curious to see why he was here in the first place. Tom was going to strike next. When news of Harry was got out, Tom would storm Hogwarts with full force and siege the castle. Harry had to be ready.

Albus was thinking of the boy walking next to him. The boy was an enigma. While he was very silent and Albus could see the aura of someone who uses dark magic, he could also see the aura of a pure soul. Albus Dumbledore was an Aura reader and a soul reader, two very rare gifts.

An Aura reader was someone who could read the aura of a person. It showed what type of magic that the person uses and their gifts. Harry had an instinctive aura shield around him, so Albus could only read the basics of it.

A soul reader was something extremely rare. Albus was one of three people who could read the soul of a person. Nicholas Flamel was another as well as his wife, who he had served with both in the rising of Grindelwald. It showed the most common feelings of someone. So, if a person constantly feels hatred, then they would have a black soul. Not necessary evil however. If a person constantly felt love for someone then they would have a pure Aura. This doesn't actually mean they are good either. Lord Voldemort had a dark grey Aura, which meant that he loved occasionally. Tom thought he was doing the world a favor by removing Muggleborns. Of course this was on a small level and the rest of the time he wanted world domination.

The two reached the Great Hall doors and Albus turned to Harry. "Now what name do you wish to use?" he asked, his blue eyes twinkling slightly. Harry eyed the elderly wizard.

"What do you think?" Harry asked. Albus frowned in thought.

"What about one of the names you have used before?" Albus suggested. Harry gave a small smile.

"What about Riddle?" Harry asked innocently. Albus jerked his head towards Harry before composing himself quickly.

"That will do." Albus said coolly and pushed open the doors leading Harry, who was wearing a small, mischievous grin about riling up Albus, up to the sorting hat, which was on a three-legged stool. Albus took his place at the front and began his start of term speech.

"Welcome back to another year of Hogwarts. Now that everyone has had a chance to empty their heads, it's time to refill them. As usual, the forbidden forest is forbidden to all students. Our caretaker Mr. Filch would like to remind all students that using magic in the corridors is forbidden. His list of forbidden objects now includes dung bombs, ever-rolling toilet paper and Exploding Textbooks. Now, I would like to introduce a new student. He has been home tutored but sadly his relatives died in an attack this earlier and he was unable to save them. Please welcome Harry Riddle."

Harry went cold with rage when he heard Dumbledore announce that he was unable to save his relatives. Grief echoed in his heart as he saw the last moments of his parents in his mind, Cedric and his blank eyes and Sirius fall through the Veil.

'How dare he! How dare that man imply that I was too weak to save my own family! That old, manipulative bastard is the reason that Sirius is dead in the first place.'

Harry struggled to control his rage and anger.

'Remember, this Dumbledore is just playing a game with you. He hasn't done anything to you yet.'

"Mr. Riddle?"

"Harry?"

Lily was watching in her seat as the Headmaster said his usual introduction for the year. Harry was wearing a small smirk, which made Lily curious as Harry rarely smiled. As Dumbledore got to the last sentence Lily felt her blood boil as a flash of pain went through Harry's eyes. Harry looked like he was in a trance. It took Dumbledore saying Harry's name twice before Harry shook his head slightly and he walked up to the stool and placed the hat on.

Harry reached up and put the hat on. With his Mental shields at full blast he let himself be drawn into the hats power.

'Relax young wizard. I read auras, and souls and personalities. The founders original charms will not let me divulge any information I get' The sorting hats voice said in Harry's minds. Harry relaxed slightly.

'You're a soul reader!' Harry thought in surprise.

'Now what do we have here? You have great intelligence. The amount of knowledge stored here would make any Ravenclaw jealous. Very loyal as well to those whom you trust and you are hard working. Hufflepuff then? Ooh, a large amount of Bravery to put yourself any in situation to help others. Maybe you would be a Gryffindor then? Yet you are cunning enough to play word games with the Headmaster and a Parselmouth to boot. You are free from most prejudice and are fairly open minded about what is considered wrong and right by the general population and a strong ambition to prove that you can look after yourself. Just one more thing, you will need all of your knowledge, loyalty, bravery and cunning to win this war. So I shall put you in…'

Chapter Fourteen

Harry waited anxiously as the hat shouted out his house. It took a deep breath…if hats can breathe and shouted. "SLYTHERIN!" Harry removed the hat calmly and stood up. He placed the hat on the stool and walked over to the Slytherin table. The school was silent until a pale haired girl started clapping. Soon, the whole Slytherin table was clapping for the new guy.

Harry sat down at the edge of the table. When the food appeared on the table he grabbed a whole plate of it and started eating. The Great Hall was full of murmurs and Harry had a feeling that it was about him. Lily caught his eye at the Ravenclaw table and smiled cheerfully as him. Harry smiled softly back and turned back to his meal. The duel on the train had taken quite a bit out of him and he was starving. Nothing a good meal and a good nights rest couldn't fix. Beside him Narcissa Black was watching him carefully. Her crystal blue eyes never left his form and slowly Harry began to get irritated,

"Can I help you?" he asked politely as he turned to face Narcissa. He really didn't know much about her apart from that she was Sirius's cousin and Bellatrix's sister.

"No." Narcissa said and Harry turned back to his meal. Narcissa was still looking at him and eventually Harry turned again.

"What!" Harry asked impatiently, a frown creasing his forehead.

"I owe you a life debt. As a Black, I acknowledge the service you have done for me and will return it to you." Narcissa recited. Harry felt a tug of magic surround him before a firm mental link bound him in the debt of Narcissa.

Narcissa recited the oath and watched the new boy, Harry Riddle. She was expecting a reaction of a typical Slytherin, the gleam of lust would appear in his eye and he would demand the Black fortune of her inheritance. She would have to give it to him because of the debt and then she could safely call it off.

Harry however did none of these things. "Excuse me?" he asked confusedly.

"A debt." Narcissa said plainly. At Harry's blank expression she growled. "The Life debt when you saved my life."

"I don't want a debt, but thanks anyways." Harry said coolly and turned back to his food.

Narcissa was gaping in shock. "You dare refuse my debt!" she said, outraged.

Harry held up his hands. "Calm down. I just don't want another thing to worry about."

Narcissa was about to retort when a silky voice came from behind him.

"You know you shouldn't piss off Cissa. She can be quite a bitch sometimes."

Harry turned around to face the younger version of Bellatrix LeStrange…or Black.

Harry felt his blood boil with rage as he struggled his urge to obliterate the 7th year Slytherin off the face of the planet. Bellatrix took no notice of this and sat herself the other side of Harry. She was a tall girl with long black hair that shimmered and violet eyes. She looked a lot better at this age and Harry realized that Azkaban must have wasted away her features.

"So, I must admit that I'm impressed that you refused the offer." Bellatrix said cheerfully as she stared at Harry with her violet eyes. Harry felt a small probing in his mind and he carefully raised his mental shields, leaving one thought out in the open in which the probe greedily snatched upon.

'Get out of my head Bellatrix.'

Bellatrix blinked in surprise before a large grin appeared on her face. "Cool!" she said excitedly. "I so gotta learn that." She continued and laughed at Harry's expression of disbelief. "What? You think all Blacks were as frigid as Cissa here!" she said in disbelief and flung an arm over Cissa, who threw it off with a small smirk.

"Oh, I see where I'm not wanted." Bellatrix said in mock hurt. She gave Harry a grin. "Seriously, I'll see you later." She started to walk off when she turned. "By the way, it's Bella."

Harry sighed contentedly as he pasted his bulging stomach. The meals were even better here at this time if that was at all possible. At a clink of glass the mutterings in the hall died down as Dumbledore stood up.

"Well, off to bed now. Tomorrow it will be time to start filling in the heads you tried so hard to empty on the holidays. Prefects, please lead the first years to their dormitories."

Harry stood and followed a burly 7th year out of the hall. The 7th year would point out some of the doorways and the first years would 'Ooh!' or 'Ahh!' softly. Harry smiled softly. The Slytherin students weren't so bad. And here he was having gained the notion of them being evil prats for most of his school life.

The prefect led them to a section of the wall and said clearly for the other students to hear. "Serpent King." The wall grumbled and slid up, revealing a door opening. The students filled in and Harry trailed behind them.

The common room was dark yet warm. It was decked in dark green and silver and had 14 doors lining the walls. On top of the doors was a small sign indicating which year and gender these dorms belonged to. On one side of the room there were 6 fireplaces burning brightly with comfortable looking armchairs around a few tables. There were some students chatting already seated. Harry slunk into a corner seat and began to observe his surroundings and most importantly, his fellow Slytherin's.

There were a small group in a corner talking in low voices. Harry could see at least 2 of them rubbing their forearm softly as they talked with expressions of glee and pride on their face. They must have been the new inductee's of the Death Eater recruits. It made Harry sad to think that one day he might be killing a 3rd year Slytherin boy. In the group were some familiar faces. There was a boy who looked remarkably like Sirius, except he had a pointier nose and a smirk that would look out of place on Sirius's face.

This must be Regulus Black

Harry could recall Sirius mentioning that Regulus died at the hands of Voldemort for wanting to leave the Death Eaters Regulus looked about 15 and a 5th year, There were a set of twins there as well. Both had cold dark eyes and both were big and burly. One of them was the 6th year prefect that led them to the common room. At that moment one of them laughed and Harry could recognize the voice as Rodolphus LeStrange. The other twin must be Rabastan. Harry knew that in 7 years time, they would be serving life sentences in Azkaban for the torture of Alice and Frank Longbottom.

Another pale faced, greasy haired boy started talking quietly and was quickly sneered upon by the group. The boy flushed and dug himself into his chair, a flush on his waxy skin. He had coal black eyes. Severus Snape.

I wonder if he is a spy yet?

Harry could see other people who looked familiar including a big, muscled man that looked like Macnair and a small, petite girl that looked like Blaise Zabini, a girl from Harry's potion class who he never had really talked to. Harry vowed to keep an eye out on the group and try to persuade them from coming Death Eaters. He had already had a plan to stop Narcissa by the ways of his debt and was a bit stumped about Bellatrix. She was nothing like he had expected. He had expected a cold, sneering girl who looked down on him like filth but he had gotten a cheerful, hyper girl who's constant smiles looked out of place yet natural to the future murderer.

He was interrupted out of his thoughts when a shadow loomed over him. Harry looked up into the face of a much younger Nott. He could recall the man from the Graveyard at the end of his 4th year. The irritation on his face was clearly visible.

"You're in my seat." Nott accused. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"And…" Harry drawled out. This wasn't about a seat, this much he knew. This was about power. If Harry submitted then he would have a hard time in Slytherin to become an influence on anybody. If he didn't, then the Slytherin's would have to recognize him as a power threat and life would become even more unpleasant.

"And I want to sit down, so move." Nott growled out. Harry could see that the common room was watching in interest. Bellatrix stepped forward from Narcissa and said loudly, "Give him a break Nott, Merlin! Can't you live a day without fighting?"

"Piss off Bella." Nott said without even looking back. Bella's face twisted in rage and Harry could see the signs of the woman he knew lurking down there. He sent her a quick mental thought to back down and she did, much to the surprise to the common room. Bella was known for her fights when she got angry.

"I'm sitting here." Harry said calmly with an undercurrent of danger in his tone. "There are plenty of other seats in this room, go sit in them."

Nott cracked his knuckles and stepped forward. Harry silently braced himself as Nott looked him straight in the eyes and said with menace. "Listen you little shit! I am a member of the Slytherin hierarchy. You will obey me!" Harry was curious about this so-called hierarchy but let it drop for now.

"I'll put it to you another way. Piss Off!" Harry said and stood. Looking Nott square in the eyes, he invoked his Legilimency. He slammed forward into Nott's mind and began raiding it with incredible speed. It looked like the Nott's had a long history of supporting Dark Lords. He began to scan for humiliating memories when Nott dropped onto his knees, his face contorted in pain.

"Please…Stop…Hurts…No…" Nott gasped out. Harry released his mental hold on him and watched as Nott fell to the ground. Ignoring the stunned faces of his house, he walked into his dorm and went to his king sized bed. Casting some silencing charms and a shielding ward, he sank into his comfortable mattress and was soon asleep, unaware of the commotion and the political strain he had just caused.