Harry Potter and the Defiance of the Hero

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEFIANCE OF THE HERO

Chapter 3 - You Can Never Run Fast Enough

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but
the things that cannot be torn, so that we see
ourselves as we really are.

---~~ Arthur Golden

"I don't trust him," Melissa stated flatly.

"Why not?" asked Michael.

It had been three days since Harry had arrived, and Lily, Michael and Melissa were sitting at their table in the staff quarters, still reeling from the blow of what had happened.

"He's given us no reason to," Melissa replied.

"But also no reason not to," Lily pointed out quietly.

Melissa frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "The fact that he is here at all is a reason not to trust him. Harry is dead."

Lily cringed and for a long moment fell silent, thinking of the devastating event six years ago that had taken Harry from them. "It's complicated, dear," she began. "He is Harry. My son, Lily Potter's son."

Melissa sighed as Michael transfigured a paperclip into a goblet. "I did it," he smiled happily.

"Where is he now anyway?" asked Melissa. "I've not seen him today."

Lily stood up and began slowly pacing the room. "Your father and the headmaster are talking to him now, about the need for secrecy."

"Secrecy?" asked Michael, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Lily walked over to her son and sat down next to him, looking at both her children before speaking. "Listen to me carefully," she said strictly. "No one, absolutely no one, can know the truth about Harry."

"But the school is already talking about it," Melissa argued. "What difference does it make now?"

Lily looked deep into her daughter's eyes. "It's only rumours at this point," she began, "and it has to stay that way. Voldemort will come if he learns that Harry Potter is alive."

Both Michael and Melissa shivered with justified fright. "Why would You-Know-Who want Harry?" whispered Michael.

Lily bit her bottom lip, and stared out of the open window and into the clear spring sky. She could see hundreds of Hogwarts students playing out on the grounds, dozing by the lake or under trees on this lazy Sunday afternoon. "He doesn't need a reason anymore," Lily answered sadly. "Our Harry is dead, and this Harry isn't. We need to keep that from him for as long as we can."

"You're not telling us something," Melissa frowned and took a sip of juice from the glass in front of her. "You never told us why You-Know-Who killed our Harry."

A shadow of fear and pain crossed painfully over Lily's face and she pressed her hand against the cool glass of the castle window. "It's safer for you not to know," she eventually said.

****

"Don't push me," Harry said angrily under his breath. "I don't need protection, Dumbledore."

"I beg to differ, Harry. If Voldemort discovers you are alive, he will use all his available resources to see that you cease to be."

James opened his mouth to speak but Harry beat him to it. "How long have you been fighting this war?" he asked.

Dumbledore blinked. "Decades..." he answered quietly.

"And how powerful is Voldemort?"

"I think you should know," stated Dumbledore, but continued when he saw the persistent look on Harry's face. "He has, at our best estimate, five hundred Death Eaters under his command, many in high places of power."

"Infested in the Ministry like rats," spat James.

Harry glanced at him but then turned back to Dumbledore, as Fawkes sang softly on his perch and the dozens of previous headmaster's in their portraits watched with interest. "Who is the Minister of Magic?" he asked.

"Bartemius Crouch," the wizened headmaster replied. "Has been for the past fourteen years."

"Senior or junior?" Harry asked quickly.

"Senior," answered James. "Why would it matter?"

Harry smiled grimly. "Because in my world, Bartemius Crouch Junior was a Death Eater."

Dumbledore's face darkened and he glanced quickly at James. "We had suspected him," Dumbledore began slowly. "But how did you discover it, Harry?"

Harry laced his hands together and rotated his shoulder slowly, wincing at the now familiar pain. "Old Barty kind of gave it away when he tried to kill me back in fourth year," he shrugged carelessly. "Feel's like that happened in another lifetime now..."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the study and Harry rubbed his tired eyes. He didn't miss the worried glance that Dumbledore and James shared, but he chose to ignore it. "Getting back to the blood protection, Harry-" James began.

"NO!" Harry shouted quickly, looking at Dumbledore. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. "But I will never trust any protection you claim you can give me again."

"Harry..." whispered James as Dumbledore opened his mouth to protest.

"In my world," Harry continued, "people died because your blood magic failed. I can't and won't accept your protection, Dumbledore."

Dumbledore paled considerably and James inwardly gasped. "Harry, this is not open for discussion. Voldemort will kill you without it."

James expected Harry to shiver, or even pale at that statement. What he didn't expect was that Harry would merely laugh. "Voldemort will try to kill me," Harry corrected. "He won't succeed."

Dumbledore sat up straighter in his chair. "What makes you so confident?" he asked.

Harry sighed. "Voice of experience..." he whispered. "Anyway, do you know where Voldemort is in this world?"

Dumbledore surveyed Harry with a critical eye for a moment, before finally looking away. "His location is unknown to us. We believe him to be based in one of the lost castles that belonged to Salazar Slytherin."

"How come you don't know for sure?"

Dumbledore shook his head with regret. "These castles can only be accessed by the heir of Slytherin," he began. "And Voldemort acts as a secret keeper for his main castle. It is truly hidden and invisible to us."

"But he has the ability to attack you anywhere, Harry!" stressed James. "Even Hogwarts... you need Albus's protection."

Harry looked at his father sharply. "Never..." he whispered dangerously, "never!"

And with that said, Harry jumped up out of his chair and fled from the headmaster's study. He had only one destination in mind, and set off in the direction of the Astronomy tower.

****

The Fortress of Salazar Slytherin

In the north of Scotland, up past Edinburgh and Glasgow, lies a quiet and fairly unnoticed range of mountains and valleys that is known as Glencoe. Also known as Gleann Comhann in Gaelic, it is one of the largest ranges in the United Kingdom.

Glencoe is home to some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet. It is responsible for a few of the many great poets, songwriters, and artists of our time. It is truly a beautiful place, and few other places could claim to contain such a large variety of landforms and flora.

But Glencoe holds a secret that would terrify most people to their very soul.

Infested, imbedded like a tick, buried in one of the many hidden valleys at Glencoe lies the largest and most ancient castle of the Dark Lord Salazar Slytherin. For centuries it lay undisturbed in its darkness, hidden in plain sight but only visible to the true heir. Light bends away from this castle and it is, in fact, the most evil and deadly structure ever built upon the Earth.

Thousands of Muggle repelling charms, ancient magic's, wards and Fidelius charms keep this castle hidden to all, save one. If you were able to see it though, you wouldn't want to. The castle itself was nothing more than a long, tall spike that was only one hundred metres wide and that rose to a height of a half a kilometre. It was a simple, cylindrical structure that was completely black right down to the spurs that jutted out on the top of the castle, forming a platform that was complete with hideous, deformed gargoyles that inspired fear on their own.

But this spike on the earth was only the tip of the fortress Slytherin had created. Buried deep underneath the valley, reaching up into the sides of the nearby mountains and under one of the lochs, stretched miles upon miles of tunnels and secret halls. Rooms and supply stores that could hide and house an army indefinitely. It was the greatest strategic system of tunnels on the planet, and it was in the control of a madman.

Unspeakable evil resides in this underground fortress that is a veritable maze of destruction and hate. Down in one of its deepest caverns, is rumoured to be dozens if not hundreds of Basilisks, thriving in their own community, just waiting for their Master's call. Dementors roam the caverns and halls, surviving off of the despair the very walls seem to hold, gathered from years of torture and death of the innocent. Chimaeras lay magically dormant in another deep cavern, again just waiting for the true heir to revive them.

Also, the largest colony of Erumpent's reside deep within the mountain. This huge magical beast, native to Africa, resembles a rhinoceros. Its horn, which can pierce almost anything, contains a fluid which explodes, destroying whatever it hits. And finally, the last magical creature that poses any real threat in this fortress is the Lethifold. A creature that resembles a half inch thick black cloak, which can move along any dark surface. The pitch black walls underneath the serenity of Glencoe are the perfect hiding place for this beast, whose very name means death.

And every one of these dangerous magical beasts, the worst on the planet, the proof that the universe we live in is without question a cruel place, is under the control of the Heir of Slytherin. Magic almost beyond comprehension binds these creatures to the Dark Lord Voldemort, so that they are at his command. And, if left unchallenged, are simply waiting for the order to strike.

Voldemort himself lives in this castle; he had done for the past decade. He and his five hundred or so marked servants were protected against its evil, its monsters, and its magical traps so long as they swore unwavering loyalty, and received the Dark Mark as rightful passage through the miles upon miles of treacherous halls.

Voldemort hardly ever descended into the lower levels of his fortress anymore, having long since discovered most of its secrets. No, he ruled this place from a dark throne situated in the spike that was the only part of the castle above ground. And even with all of the monsters and magical horror that the earth under Glencoe held, this made the spherical point the evilest part of the land.

Those who called Azkaban Hell on Earth did not know of the nightmares the Fortress of Slytherin could unleash.

"Lucius..." hissed a cold voice in the darkness of the throne room, on the highest floor in the spike. "The summons is not scheduled until midnight. This had better be important..."

Lucius Malfoy, despite his years of loyal service, shivered at the threat in his master's voice. He knew without a doubt that he would be punished if his information was inaccurate. "It is of great importance, my Lord," he said quickly, not once looking up at the Dark Lord from his position on the cold marble floor.

Voldemort waited a moment, lightly fingering his wand, tossing it lazily from hand to hand. "Well?" he said impatiently.

Lucius shivered. "My son sent me an owl two hours ago, Master. It seems that Hogwarts is playing host to a strange boy."

Voldemort's red eyes blazed with fury. "And why would this interest me, Lucius?" The Cruciatus curse was already on the tip of his tongue.

Lucius took a deep breath before continuing. "My Lord, the boy is rumoured to be Harry Potter."

The very fortress and the surrounding land shook as the evil in the magic sensed the Dark Lord's awesome fury.

****

Harry climbed the familiar stairs of the Astronomy Tower slowly, conflicting emotions surging through his mind. The most prominent one was loss. He had lost his world and, unless he was wrong, would not be able to return to it for one year.

A lot can happen in a year he thought. And Voldemort took some of my pure magic when I survived Avada Kedavra again. He'll be stronger than even Dumbledore now.

Harry ran a frustrated hand through his already dishevelled hair. Although it did nearly kill him. He could be out of it for several months... or maybe... Harry sighed; there were just too many possibilities.

Warm, spring sunlight greeted him up on the top of the Astronomy Tower, and Harry rose with a purpose. He was going to see if he could return to his world. To Hell with secrecy!

Walking out onto the large viewing balcony, Harry saw that he wasn't alone. Padma Patil and Luna Lovegood sat on the familiar bench that was in the same place in his world. Harry inwardly smiled. He had kissed Padma Patil in that very place last year.

"Don't mind me," he said, as their shocked gazes met his own. Without another word, Harry stepped up onto the raised wall and looked out at the vastness of the world around him. He felt no fear as he looked down to the vast drop beneath him, and his eyes swept up and over to the village of Hogsmeade, the forbidden forest, and the familiar mountain in the distance that guarded over the wizard cemetery.

Harry took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together, as the wind blew his hair and clothes around him. Okay he thought. This is it...

Harry raised both his palms to the sky, his right one a little lower as he still didn't have full manoeuvrability in that shoulder. Closing his eyes, Harry said the three words that had changed his life forever.

"TEMPUS AC CAPACITAS!"

It was a spell capable of tearing a hole into the Stream that separated universes. A spell that held consequences beyond Harry's understanding. It was a spell that... didn't work.

Harry felt the power surge through his arms and his eyes flew open as untamed magic shot out of his palms. White hot light streamed away into the air and exploded like fireworks, raining down harmless drops of white light like snowflakes. Harry himself was thrown back off the wall and landed hard on the ground, wincing in pain as his shoulder and leg protested to this event.

"GOD DAMN IT!" he cried, standing up and glaring murderously at the falling white light. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Luna and Padma were looking at him fearfully, and Harry took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Sorry..." he whispered, looking briefly at the two people he knew well, but they didn't even recognise him.

Even though Harry was doing his best to keep his anger in check, he could not stop the cold and unforgiving feeling of despair that grasped his heart in its icy grip. He was not going home.

The magic he barely understood was useless. The Vernal Equinox was the key to it all, and that was a year away. Harry collapsed to his knees as the hopelessness of the situation threatened to engulf him in its entirety. But he was not through yet. Sighing heavily at the unfairness of the world, Harry calmed himself and reached deep inside for the strength to carry on.

He knew he possessed a will to live stronger that most, but he just needed to remind himself how far he had come since his eleventh birthday. Learning about the Wizarding world, attending Hogwarts, destroying enemies, re-writing the rule books countless times, losing loved ones... fighting, for a better future.

Harry stood up.

****

"What do you mean he's gone?" Lily whispered.

"Just that, Lily," James said just as quietly. "He ran, and we can't find him."

"Is anybody looking for him?" Melissa asked.

Dumbledore strode forward and joined the small family at the table in their quarters. The siren had just gone that signalled the end of the morning lessons, and the beginning of lunch. He would be needed in the Great Hall for a few minutes soon. "No," he answered Melissa. "I do not think it best we push this boy to hard. He may not bounce back."

"What?" Lily said quickly, holding Michael close to her.

James sighed. "You must have seen it," he said sadly. "That look in his eyes... the black rings underneath them. His eyes radiate pain when certain topics are discussed. I don't think he has had an easy life..."

"It's true," Michael said surprisingly. "I couldn't meet his gaze for long. It just... hurt so much. I felt sorry for him, and I didn't even know why."

Everyone in the room fell silent for a moment at Michael's words. Reflecting on what they already knew of Harry, which wasn't much. "He hasn't been totally honest," James said after a time, "but I don't think he has lied to us."

"That remains to be seen," Dumbledore replied. "Whatever he is hiding, and I do believe he is hiding something, it is not a happy memory. He may not want us to know."

Lily, who had remained silent the last few minutes, spoke. "I've... I've seen our Harry in him," she said slowly. "He is older than the Harry we knew, but a part of him is the same. I just want to know how he survived Voldemort! What mistakes did we make that his parents in his world didn't?"

James moved around the table and placed his hands softly on Lily's shoulders. "I'll say it again," he whispered. "He has not had an easy life. All the scars he has are enough of a claim to that! We should just let him tell us in his own time..."

"But what if he never tells us?" Lily argued.

"It is his right not to," Dumbledore said. "But I do not think he will keep his past hidden. We must remember though, our world may be vastly different from his own. He has already seen someone who died in his world."

"Who?" Lily and James asked quickly, their eyes widening.

Dumbledore sighed. "Sirius," he whispered.

James' jaw dropped and just hung there for a moment in shock. "But... but Sirius is one of the strongest fighters on our side. It would have had to have been Voldemort who killed him."

Dumbledore shrugged. "Harry did not go into any details. Sirius ran into my study as I was talking to Harry. The look on his face said all it needed to. Sirius did not die fairly."

"He would have still had us," Lily whispered. "The James and Lily Potter in his world would have done everything they could have to make sure he was safe."

"But do we know that?" asked James. "How do we know that we-"

"-Are not dead in my world," a voice across the room said.

Lily, James, Dumbledore, Michael and Melissa all looked up sharply, in surprise, to see Harry leaning in the doorway against the frame. His eyes were radiating that look of pain, as they swept across everyone in the room.

"Harry..." Lily managed.

Harry looked down and took a deep breath, then he took three quick steps into the room, and over to the table. He met his mother's gaze. "You are dead," he said quietly and Lily gasped, raising a hand to her mouth. "Before I came here, I only knew Dumbledore,' he nodded to the ancient headmaster. "You died," he managed, looking once again at James and Lily, "the night I received this." Harry lifted his fringe partially to reveal his scar.

Before Harry even realised what had happened, Lily had stood up and enveloped him in a deep hug that he didn't know how to respond to. He just stood there in surprise as she cried into his shoulder once again. It was all foreign to him, Harry didn't really understand it. He looked to his father for help.

James understood instantly and carefully pulled Lily off of Harry, and sat her back down in her chair. She was still crying quietly as her gaze pierced Harry's again. Harry sighed; he knew this wouldn't be easy. "This scar," he continued.

"Is a curse scar," said Dumbledore, as Melissa and Michael stared at his forehead.

Harry nodded. "I received it Halloween night, 1981, if that date has any significance to you?"

"It does," James nodded. "Voldemort came to our home in Godric's Hollow."

"Yes..." Harry urged.

"And Peter, rest his soul," continued Lily with a shake to her voice. "Warned us he'd told Voldemort, giving us a chance to escape. It cost him his life."

It took Harry a moment to process that one. "Pettigrew... warned you?" he gasped.

Lily and James nodded, but Harry's eyes darkened further. "I wonder why?" he eventually said quietly.

"He didn't in your world," James stated. "And we died that night."

Harry nodded. "I survived because of your sacrifice," he turned to Lily. "Voldemort killed you, as you were trying to protect me," he whispered.

"How did I die?" asked James.

"You duelled him until death," Harry replied. "Trying to give my mother and me a chance to escape. We didn't..."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the small group, until, "How did you survive?" asked Michael, voicing what they were all thinking.

Harry turned to him. He's quick he thought, looking at what could have been his brother. "As I said, sacrifice. When you died," he turned back to Lily. "You offered yourself in my place. It was all for that damn prophecy though," Harry spat and his eyes sparkled dangerously. "And Voldemort killed you to reach me..."

"And?" pressed Dumbledore anxiously.

"And that was his first mistake," Harry smiled. "Because of the sacrifice, I was protected against his magic. He tried to kill me, Avada Kedavra, but when the curse hit me," All of them gasped. "It bounced right back at Voldemort, and tore him from his body."

"You survived the Killing Curse..." whispered James. "That is impossible."

Harry shrugged. "It wasn't through choice, and some good did come of it. Voldemort was partially destroyed. He was weakened for thirteen years, and the world knew peace."

"You fulfilled the prophecy," Lily said silently.

Harry smiled sadly and shook his head, leaning against the table. "Not quite. Voldemort was resurrected during my fourth year. He used my blood... the blood of an equal. It wasn't pretty... I- I won't say more than that."

"Where did you grow up, Harry?" asked Dumbledore. "With Sirius?"

Harry laughed harshly. "Oh no, Dumbledore," he said, angrier than he had originally intended. "You sent me to live with my mother's sister, Petunia."

Lily gasped again and James paled. He knew what those people thought of magic. James frowned though. "But why didn't..."

"Sirius take me?" Harry raised his eyebrows and James nodded. "He was in Azkaban, believed guilty of killing Pettigrew and half a dozen Muggles."

"He would never-" began James hotly.

"He didn't," Harry stressed. "It was Pettigrew... again. Sirius went after him once he found out you were dead. He cornered him and Pettigrew panicked, destroyed half the street and escaped as a rat. Sirius was found there, partially insane, and dragged off to Azkaban without a trial, courtesy of the Wizengamot."

"Without a trial?" Dumbledore echoed.

Harry nodded. "Voldemort had just been defeated. Death Eaters were being rounded up and sent to Azkaban. Mistakes were made.... and everyone thought Sirius was the secret keeper."

"Didn't Sirius put up any sort of fight?" asked James.

"He escaped Azkaban after spending twelve years with the Dementors, and was on the run for two years. I spoke with him from time to time, learnt the truth. But he died... at the end of my fifth year."

James was afraid to ask, but Lily wasn't. "How?" she asked.

"He was duelling Bellatrix Lestrange in the Department of Mysteries, she knocked him back through a veil that..."

"The Veil..." whispered Dumbledore. "He fell through the Veil..."

Harry nodded. "Would have died instantly."

Silence fell on the group once again, and Harry pulled a chair out from under the table and sat down, looking to each of the faces in the room as he did. "So... apart from a few scrapes here and there," he said. "That's my life up to this point."

"And we have to hide you from Voldemort," Dumbledore said quickly. "There can be no arguments, Harry, you need protecting."

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. A thousand thoughts swirled in the storm that his mind had become. What to do? he wondered. Where can I go? I'm stuck here for now. I won't hide, no... I'll fight again. For however long I'm here I'll do what I can!

"I'm not hiding," he said calmly, talking to none of them in particular. He was just trying to reassure himself.

"Our world is a lot different to yours, Harry," Lily said and James nodded in agreement. "Death Eaters are everywhere."

Harry shook his head. "Then our worlds aren't so different."

"Take the protection, Harry," James urged. "Run, hide from Voldemort."

"From him..." Harry shrugged carelessly. "I could never run fast enough. No, I have to fight."

"Fight V-Voldemort," whispered Melissa. "You'll die."

Harry sighed again, for what felt like the hundredth time that day. He looked to all the faces in his room, to Dumbledore and through what could have been his family if the fates had allowed. His gaze finally fell on the soft wood of the table in front of him. When he spoke, he did so softly;

"For a brief moment yesterday," he began, "I thought I could rest here for awhile. But that doesn't look like its going to happen. From what I've seen and assumed, would I be right to say that Voldemort is slowly beating you down?"

Dumbledore stared deep into Harry's eyes for a moment before answering. "We are losing hope," he managed after a moment. "He has beaten us back into a corner. The Ministry is barely functioning, many are joining him out of fear, and other nations are refusing to help. We are not winning this war."

Harry nodded. "Well I like to think I ended up in this world for a reason," he said. "I'm going to fight. I'm going to openly challenge Voldemort, show this world that it can be done. That he is not as untouchable as he appears."

"No you're not," Lily said quickly. "You're just a boy, Harry. He will kill you. I don't think you understand just how powerful he is."

Harry's face turned dark. "I know how powerful he is. I know Voldemort better than anyone, in either of our worlds. I know the risks, and I know the odds. I'm a shining example that they can be beat. Whatever he'd have you believe, he isn't immortal."

Pure pain and wisdom shone from Harry's eyes like a beacon, and all in the room couldn't help but be heartened by this boy's words. It was what they wanted to hear. Despite the danger, they found themselves wishing that what Harry had said could be realised, but it was an impossible goal.

"There is no reason for you to die," James argued. "Go home, Harry. Return to your own world."

Harry shrugged. "Can't," he answered. "Already tried. I think I'm stuck here for at least a year, maybe six months."

"That is why you must be protected. You're too young to fight in a war, Harry," Dumbledore persisted.

Harry shook his head. "No," he said, "I'm not. I've been fighting all my life. I don't know how to do anything else. Give me a fight and I'll do my best."

"You shouldn't have to fight, Harry," James whispered. "But I suppose it makes sense."

"James!" cried Lily.

James walked around the table and looked Harry straight in the eye. "Promise us you won't die, Harry," he said.

"I can't," Harry replied instantly. "I can't promise that."

James had expected that. "Then... promise us you'll never give up."

Harry stood as well now. "That I can promise," he whispered.

Dumbledore watched this interaction gravely. For once, he was unsure of what to do. "Do you fully understand the path you are about to walk, Harry. No one can defy Voldemort openly and expect to live. That is the sad truth, he has grown more powerful than we ever could have imagined."

"He is in for a bit of a surprise then," smiled Harry. "I am quite powerful myself."

"You don't even have a wand," Melissa stated. "How can you fight if you don't have a weapon?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak but Lily beat him to it. "We have a wand," she said quietly, standing and walking through a door and into another room. It took her a minute to find what she was looking for, and then she returned. "This belonged to our Harry. He never got to use it though."

Harry watched as Lily opened a small black, dusty box and removed a long, familiar piece of wood. "Eleven inches," Lily began. "Holly..."

"and Phoenix feather," Harry finished. "That used to be my wand."

Lily bit her bottom lip as James, Dumbledore, Michael and Melissa watched carefully. With a nod to reassure herself, Lily walked over to Harry and handed him the wand.

Harry felt it instantly. The familiar, warm tingling sensation at the tips of his fingers that was his wand. He hadn't felt it in months, ever since the power of two dozen blasting curses had destroyed his original wand. But, he realised, this was his original wand. It was Voldemort's brother, a sign of his awesome link to the Dark Lord. He had his wand back.

"Thank you," he whispered, twirling the wand between his fingers.

"We hope it brings you more luck than it did our Harry," Lily said.

Harry nodded and then, with a final look at it, pocketed the wand. It was then that he asked a question that had been bothering him. "How did I die?" he asked.

The silence in the room was deafening, and the look on each and every face was heartbreaking. Eventually, Melissa spoke. "Our Harry," she began, "wasn't as lucky at surviving the killing curse as you were."

****

Later that night

Severus Snape collapsed in a heap on the bed in his quarters. He cast aside his black Death Eater robes and breathed in deeply, pushing the after effects of the Cruciatus curse to the back of his mind. It had been a hard summons he thought, drinking a potion that numbed the pain.

"Tell me Severus," hissed the Dark Lord. "Are the rumours true? Has Harry Potter returned?"

"He has, my Lord," answered Snape instantly, doing exactly as Dumbledore had told him to do. "Harry Potter is alive and at Hogwarts."

Voldemort shook with fury, but he hid it well. "Interesting..." he muttered. "I killed that boy, Severus. What do you know of this?"

"Nothing, my Lord," Snape answered. "I believed the boy to be dead as well. If Dumbledore knows what is happening, he has not confided in me."

"Are you sure, Severus?" hissed Voldemort.

"Of course, my Lord. I would never-"

"Lie, Severus? I believe you are."

"NO! I-"

"Crucio!"

Snape snapped out of his memories and drank the rest of his potion. Voldemort knew the truth though, Harry Potter was alive, and had become a priority target.

****

The next morning

"It created a link between us," said Harry, rubbing his scar.

They were once again in Dumbledore's office, the calm soft song of the phoenix alleviating some of their pains and personal demons.

"I am not sure I understand," Dumbledore frowned.

"A link," Harry repeated. "I didn't feel anything in my scar until I started to attend Hogwarts. But whenever Voldemort was close, I could feel it in my scar. It burnt viciously."

"And after he was resurrected?"

"He used my blood," Harry whispered painfully. "It forged a greater link between us. I could sometimes see through his eyes, he could possess me and I could feel his emotions."

"Interesting," mused Dumbledore. "And how did you deal with this?"

Harry shrugged. "As well as I could. Just carried on I guess. Hoping for a better tomorrow...."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. "Do you feel the connection in our world?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I haven't felt anything. He isn't the Voldemort I know though. We haven't had the same history, so I doubt we would be connected."

"I agree," Dumbledore nodded. "Now, onto lighter topics," he continued with a small smile. "Your magical education, Harry. I believe you should be in sixth year, is that correct?"

"It is."

"Would you like to continue it here at our Hogwarts?" asked Dumbledore. "You are, of course, more than welcome."

Harry frowned. "Return to Hogwarts?" he said warily. "I... suppose I could. I did want to find out how my friends are doing in this world."

"And since you are against the blood magic protection," the headmaster continued. "The Hogwarts wards will be the best protection for you."

Harry nodded and looked out of the open window and into the clear sky. "But if I stay, it will bring Voldemort here. I don't want to be responsible for anymore deaths."

Dumbledore sighed and his eyes darkened. "I fear Tom will attack this castle soon, whether or not you are here. It is a continued defiance to his power, and to remove us will shatter the world."

"Then I will stay," Harry said quickly. "If he is coming then I'll be here."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "Then how would you like to go get sorted over breakfast. If you really want to challenge Voldemort, to show him you exist. Then I can think of no better way than announcing it in the morning notices."

Harry stood up and fingered the wand in his pocket. "I was already sorted into Gryffindor," he said.

"Perhaps you've changed since then," Dumbledore pondered. "Perhaps you're more of a Slytherin, or a Hufflepuff."

Harry shrugged. "We'll see," he said as Dumbledore removed the sorting hat from one of the shelves lining his study, and the two of them headed down to the Great Hall in silence.

****

Eight hundred students were eating breakfast in the Great Hall as Dumbledore and a mysterious boy entered. Eight hundred students and a dozen or so professors. The number of students had been steadily declining for ten years, what with families being cut down on a weekly basis. Hogwarts was not as full as it could have been.

There may not be as many people as there should be thought Harry, as he and Dumbledore walked down and in between two of the four house tables. But the whispers are still the same! As he walked, Harry heard the familiar whispers about him as they reached his ears.

They reached the end of the tables and Dumbledore motioned for Harry to sit down, before walking up in front of the school, and conjuring a small chair to place the sorting hat on. Harry sat down on the end of the Ravenclaw table, next to a small first year girl who stared at him in confusion. Harry ignored her, and scanned the Hall for any familiar faces.

He saw hundreds of them. People he had past dozens of times at Hogwarts, others he had barely known, and a few people he had known a lot better. Over at the Gryffindor table he saw Neville staring back at him, as were Seamus and Dean. Further down that table he saw his best friends. Ron was sitting with Hermione, and to Hermione's left sat... Ginny. Harry caught his breath but eventually turned away, Ginny didn't know him anymore.

"Good morning everyone," began Dumbledore from his position up in front of the staff table. "A few announcements before the day's lessons commence. The first, all Hogsmeade visits are still cancelled until further notice," There were many groans at this. "But on a lighter note, the Quidditch math between Ravenclaw and Slytherin has been given the go ahead for this weekend. That promises to be fun."

Harry stared at Dumbledore and was determined to ignore the whispers being passed around the Hall. Only a moment ago he had chanced a glance at the Slytherin table, and had seen Draco Malfoy's pointed face smirking back at him. Harry suppressed his urge to attack the blonde Slytherin, as he had almost killed Ginny, Ron and Hermione back in his world only ten days ago now.

"And I'm sure all of you have noticed the arrival of this young man," Dumbledore continued, waving his hand in Harry's direction. "As I am sure you have all noticed his remarkable resemblance to Professor Potter."

There were several nods of agreement around the Hall and Harry made ready for the renewed whispers.

"This is Professor Potter's eldest child, Harry Potter," Dumbledore said.

There go the whispers thought Harry.

Dumbledore carried on. "He has been in hiding for nearly six years, after an attempt on his life was made by Lord Voldemort." He paused here to allow the gasps and shrieks of terror to subside. "But now, we can finally welcome him to our school. Harry, if you will," the headmaster finished and picked up the sorting hat off the small stool. Harry stood and headed for it.

"I wonder why he so suddenly came out of hiding?" questioned Hermione, staring quizzically at this boy as he headed over to Dumbledore, and the sorting hat.

"I thought Professor Potter's eldest son was dead," Ron said. "I mean, mum told us about it, didn't she, Gin."

Ginny nodded. "I remember," she began. "But perhaps that was a lie so You-Know-Who would stop trying to kill him."

Ron shrugged. "I bet he'll be in Gryffindor though. Like the other Potters," he said, casting a glance at Michael and Melissa Potter, who were seated up near the head of the table.

"He does look a lot like Professor Potter though," Ginny said.

"Tall, dark and handsome," Hermione smiled appreciatively.

"Hey!" Ron cried. "You're not supposed to be looking at anyone else like that."

Hermione and Ginny laughed, and Hermione patted her boyfriends arm. "Be quiet, Ron," she whispered. "He's about to be sorted."

Harry sat down on the stool and nodded to Dumbledore. The hat was dropped on his head, and despite his growth over the last few years, the hat was so stretched and patched in places that it still fell down over his eyes. He couldn't see a thing, nor could he hear anything.

It was a full half a minute before the hat finally spoke, and when it did it wasn't happy. "You do not belong here," the voice of the hat said in his ear.

Harry was surprised at first to hear it speak, but he recovered. "I know," he said. "But if you could just sort me, that would be great."

The hat grumbled and shifted itself on Harry's head. "Very well. Let's see here..." it said. "Well this is very interesting. A traveller from another world... duelled with Dark Lords, friends, and monsters... heir of a founder... slain a basilisk... destroyed Dementors... survived and overcame all three Unforgivable curses... and all before your seventeenth birthday. But where should I put you?"

"Gryffindor would be convenient," Harry told it.

"Gryffindor... hmm... You possess qualities that would suit all four houses. Bravery and courage... loyalty and understanding... intelligence and a thirst for knowledge... cunning and ambitious. I'll have to delve deeper for this one."

Harry felt a tingling sensation inside his skull, but before he could speak, the hat beat him to it. "Now this will be the decider," it began. "You're an expert in loss and death... a tireless fighter against the Darkness... you would willingly sacrifice yourself for an innocent life... you possess the ability to open a path that leads to another universe... Hmph! I believe you are the strongest wizard I have ever known."

"Thanks," Harry whispered. "But I'm still not sorted."

The hat shrugged... or folded itself in a way that resembled a shrug. "I hate to say it, but I believe I'm stumped. You could go anywhere, the choice is yours."

"Gryffindor," Harry said without any hesitation, immediately thinking of his friends.

"Ah! There it is," said the hat. "Friendship. I should have seen it earlier, I must be getting old. GRYFFINDOR!

The hat was pulled from Harry's head and he was greeted with small applause and a few cheers from around the room. He smiled slightly, as his first sorting surfaced in his mind, and then walked slowly over to the Gryffindor table. He sat down at the end of the table, and for the first time since arriving in this strange world he felt at home.

****

Slytherin Fortress

"It has been confirmed, my Lord. This boy is Harry Potter."

"I killed Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed. "No one survives the killing curse. He is dead."

"Perhaps this is some trickery devised by Dumbledore?" offered Bellatrix Lestrange.

"No..." Voldemort whispered. "Dumbledore is a fool, but he is an honourable fool. He would not play games with me. This is something else."

"My Lord?" questioned Lucius Malfoy.

"I think the time has come," began Voldemort. "To remove the unworthy from Hogwarts. Bring me Salazar's texts on the destruction of his school's wards!"

****