Harry Potter and the Defiance of the Hero

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEFIANCE OF THE HERO

Chapter 4 - Choices and Assertion

Anyone can give up; it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

~~Unknown

"See," smiled Ron. "I knew he would be a Gryffindor."

Hermione, Ron, and Ginny applauded and cheered with the rest of their house as Harry Potter took a seat at the end of their table. It took a moment for the school to quiet down, and then Dumbledore spoke a final time.

"Excellent," he smiled. "Harry, if we could please have a few words after breakfast..." Harry nodded. "Good. Now," continued Dumbledore. "The safety alarm is still in place, but the location has changed to this Great Hall. All students, if the alarm is sounded, are not to return to their common room, but to come here. Thank you."

Harry frowned. They had an alarm if anything happened. Fifteen years of fighting a war could make a difference he thought, grabbing a bacon roll and chewing it thoughtfully. As he ate, Harry listened to the sounds of the school around him and sighed. It was the same, but then again it was so different. He realised, after looking down the table, that Ron and Hermione were friends. That's good, he thought, but I wonder how it happened.

Ten minutes later and breakfast had ended and the day's lessons had begun. Harry hung back as the crowds filtered out through the doors and remained seated at the table, waiting for Dumbledore. Soon everyone had left, bar a few professors and Dumbledore himself.

"Hello," said Harry, as James Potter sat down next to him.

"Hi, Harry," his father responded, patting him on the back. "You decided to attend Hogwarts then."

Harry nodded. "If Voldemort's coming here, then here is where I need to be," he replied simply.

James sighed and rapped his knuckles on the table nervously. "How can you be so calm, Harry?" he asked. "Voldemort is so powerful."

Harry shrugged and took a sip of juice from his goblet. "I don't fear him," he said, placing the goblet back down. "Not anymore..."

"What changed you?" asked James.

Harry turned to look at his father, and sighed. "I realised..." he began slowly, "that I'm as powerful as he is, more so if I really try, and that I'm willing to use that power... for the greater good."

"Destroying him..." James whispered.

"Without doubt," Harry replied, laughing harshly as Dumbledore arrived from the staff table.

"Hello, James, Harry," he said. "I wonder if I could please speak to Harry alone," he asked, looking at James.

James nodded. "I have to get to my third years anyway," he said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder briefly before leaving.

"Now, Harry," began Dumbledore, taking a seat at the Gryffindor table opposite him. "We need to discuss a few things."

Harry drained his goblet and sat patiently, waiting for the wizened headmaster to speak. "First, Harry," Dumbledore continued. "I believe it would be best if you kept your true past hidden."

"If I can, I will," Harry replied.

Dumbledore surveyed him over his familiar half moon spectacles. "Do try, Harry," he said and then continued. "I also wish to know how powerful you are," he asked. "I wish to know what makes you so confident in your abilities, that you feel you can challenge Voldemort."

Harry had known this question was coming, and he answered it with a thought. Using his rudimentary skills in thought magic, Harry levitated his plate and goblet, never once breaking his eye contact with Dumbledore, who looked mildly surprised at this display of power.

"Impressive," he said. "But Voldemort is capable of much more."

Harry shrugged and then nodded. With another thought, he transfigured the goblet into a statue of a long, dark snake. A second thought transfigured the floating plate into another statue, this one of a red and gold griffin. Smiling slightly, Harry had the griffin and snake attack each other.

Ten seconds later and the snake statue had been reduced to dust, as the griffin flew across the table above its kill. "Enough?" Harry asked lazily.

"More than enough," Dumbledore replied quietly, in a voice filled with concern. "That magic should be beyond you, Harry. It should be beyond anyone of only sixteen years..."

Harry laughed harshly. "Circumstances in my world... forced me to learn fast."

"Very well," nodded Dumbledore. "You will need some school supplies for today. Can you transfigure this," he said, placing a small piece of cloth on the table. "Into a useable black bag?"

Harry nodded and drew his wand. It felt strange using it again, but he wanted to keep his abilities with wandless magic a secret. And that meant he could tell no one. Secrets travelled fast at Hogwarts. "Insura! Harry said, and a faint beam of yellow light shot from the end of his wand, and the small piece of cloth became a black bag that he could carry his supplies in.

"Excellent," smiled Dumbledore. "Now can you create some quills and ink?"

Harry frowned and raised his wand. He wasn't exactly sure how to do this. For ink he would need a liquid, and then he would have to change its elements and consistency. Quills would require... hair maybe... or better yet a feather.

"Is something the matter?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry smiled and shook his head. "You know," he said quietly. "I've learnt a lot of magic over these last few months... and none of it would be much good in a time of peace." He stopped there for a minute and stared at the table before him. "I don't know how to work these normal charms."

"Understandable," replied Dumbledore, retrieving his own wand and transfiguring several objects around the table into school supplies. He levitated them into the bag Harry had made and handed it to him. "May I ask how you studied back in your world?" he asked as Harry reflected on his magical education.

"Hmm..?" Harry frowned as he snapped out of his memories. "Oh! I had a group of special trainers that taught me how to... fight. Taught me how to control magic and learn to fight hand to hand. I was at Hogwarts, but I wasn't taught the regular curriculum."

Dumbledore nodded. "Did I make that decision?" he asked.

"Sort of..." Harry shrugged. "You didn't really have a choice after Ethan was killed.... Oh... Oh dear."

"What is it?" the headmaster asked quickly.

Harry took a deep breath. "Does Voldemort have a son?" he asked quietly.

Dumbledore nodded. "He is rarely seen, and he is extremely powerful for a boy his age. His name is unknown, but Voldemort has taught him the Dark Arts since birth. He has killed at least a dozen Aurors. Why do you ask? Was this Ethan killed by Voldemort's son?"

Harry swallowed and laughed sadly. "Depends on how you look at it," he managed. "But Ethan... Ethan was killed by Voldemort."

"Another reason to defy him," whispered Dumbledore, and they both fell silent for a moment. "Here," said Dumbledore eventually, passing his school bag to him. "Perhaps your education here will teach you some of the more peaceful spells of the world."

"I doubt it," Harry said sadly. "This world is still at war, I'm going to have to continue studying curses and hexes. The Dark Arts..."

Dumbledore stood and reached across the table to place a comforting hand on this strange boy's shoulder. "Think of it this way," he whispered. "You study war and the Dark Arts, so that your brother and sister can study Charms and Transfiguration."

Harry stood as well and slung his new bag over his shoulder. "Yeah..." he managed. "Well, where do I go from here?"

Dumbledore blinked and seemed to forget himself for a moment. "Oh my," he said. "We have yet to sort out your timetable."

"Just stick me in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration."

"Very well," nodded Dumbledore and pointed his wand at a simple blank piece of parchment. "You need a fifth," he said.

"Care of Magical Creatures," Harry replied.

With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore sent quick lines of black ink swirling all across the parchment and after a few seconds Harry's timetable had formed. "It appears you are late for Charms, Mr. Potter," smiled Dumbledore.

Harry nodded tiredly. "Yeah..." he said. "I better get going."

Five minutes later and Harry was walking up through the castle absent mindedly. His thoughts were predominantly on the series of events that had led him to this point in his life. How could this happen? he thought. Why am I here?

He turned onto the corridor he knew held the Charms room and stopped for a minute at the end of it. He walked over to the nearest window and looked out of it tiredly. "What am I doing?" he asked himself.

As he had expected, he did not receive an answer.

Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead, brushing his fingers over the dead scar that now only served as a reminder that he was a world away from the place he should be. He also realised that, for once, he was powerless to do anything about it. The Equinox was the key, and that was a year away.

Looking out of the window, Harry saw a Thestral fly high above the forest before sinking back under its canopy majestically. He looked over to Hagrid's cabin and saw him tethering a large horse-like creature to a fence post. Familiar, yet different.

Over at the castle gates he could just make out a group of white robed figures and Harry assumed they were Aurors. I can't do this he thought. I shouldn't be here. With a sigh, he turned away from the window and leaned remorsefully against the wall.

"What am I doing?" he asked himself again, closing his eyes.

"Heading to Charms?" asked a familiar voice.

Harry opened his eyes quickly and raised his palm in defence. He relaxed slightly when he saw who it was.

"Hi," smiled the familiar figure, "I'm Hermione Granger."

"Hello, Hermione," Harry said quietly. "I'm... Harry Potter."

"I know," replied Hermione. "Are you heading to Charms?"

Harry looked down the corridor to the double doors of the Charms room. He nodded and fell in step next to Hermione as she began to walk to the room. "We expected you'd be a Gryffindor," she said. "After all, your brother and sister are."

Harry nodded and couldn't help but stare at his best friend, who, in his world, was like the sister he never had. Here she didn't even know him. "How come you're not wearing any robes?" she asked.

Harry jumped out his memories and frowned. He looked down to see his white polo shirt and blue jeans, complete with the dragon hide boots he had brought with him from his universe. "I... forgot," he said, which wasn't really a lie as he had forgotten. "Hang on," he continued, pulling his wand out of his jeans pocket.

Hermione frowned and stopped walking as Harry removed his wand. "Frorobus!" Harry whispered, and his polo shirt was stretched and transfigured into a long, flowing pair of black robes that covered his jeans right down to his boots. He examined Hermione's and saw that his were missing the Gryffindor patch on the left side. "Close enough," he smiled.

"That was a nice piece of magic," Hermione commented as they reached the double doors of the Charms department. "How long will it last?"

Harry gave her a lopsided smile. "For as long as I want it to," he answered cryptically, as they entered the room.

Hermione smiled but she was confused. Didn't matter now though. "Sorry we're late, Professor," Hermione apologised to tiny Professor Flitwick as they entered. "I was just speaking with Professor Black about the new warning system."

Forty or so faces turned to look at them as they entered, and Harry saw many people he knew to be friends looking at him with a cold and calculating glance. "Harry here," continued Hermione. "Was..."

"Talking to Professor Dumbledore," he admitted.

"Welcome, Mr. Potter," Flitwick said slowly. "How nice to finally have you with us. Please take a seat you two."

"It's good to be here," Harry replied and took a seat near the back, next to Dean Thomas. Hermione took the last seat next to him.

Professor Flitwick continued his lesson on advanced summoning charms as Harry pulled out a clean piece of parchment and a quill. Hermione did the same.

"So, Harry," she asked. "Where've you been hiding the past six years?" Harry turned to face her and she saw an infinite sadness reflected in his eyes. "I'm sorry..." she began. "I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's okay," Harry jumped in quickly. "I've been... a world away," he answered, without lying.

"Oh," replied Hermione. "Would that be Australia?" she asked.

Harry shrugged and smiled slightly. "Something like that," he replied.

****

"I believe the best we can manage is to create a hole in the wards for a few minutes, which should allow a large portion of my Death Eaters to enter the castle grounds."

"When do we strike, my Lord?" asked Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Soon, Bella," hissed Voldemort. "Soon..."

Voldemort returned to the ancient texts, written one thousand years ago by Salazar Slytherin himself. They detailed a key he had placed in the wards that would still be active today. All it needed was a drop of blood from the rightful heir. A hole in the wards would open, allowing brief access for one hundred of the most loyal Death Eaters.

"It will be close," Voldemort whispered. "But Hogwarts will fall. No one can protect them now."

****

"That's a cool earring," commented Ron, as he walked down the corridor towards Defence Against the Dark Arts with Hermione, who had befriended the new Potter.

Harry smiled. "Yeah I got it a few months ago. It's supposed to have some magical properties, but nothing's happened yet." Harry raised his hand and flicked the small golden griffin that hung from his ear.

"I bet it's going to be weird for you, Harry," said Ron. "To have your Dad teaching you DADA now."

Harry laughed hollowly and looked at Ron. "You have no idea," he said, as the three of them entered the classroom.

"You play Quidditch?" asked Ron, as the three of them took a seat up the front of the large room. It was just like the room Harry knew from his own world. A large chamber that had several rows of desks arranged against two of the walls and the back of the room. Up the front was the Professor's desk and a large area, fit for duelling. On the walls were hung various pictures of dark creatures, texts on the subject lined the shelves, as did Dark detectors.

"He's been in hiding for nearly six years, Ron," stated Hermione. "I doubt he had time to play Quidditch."

"Actually," said Harry. "I play Seeker."

Ron smiled. "Well we'll have to get you out on a broom this weekend. I'm captain of the Gryffindor team, by the way. I play Keeper."

"How you doing in the cup this year?" asked Harry as James Potter appeared from the anteroom connected to the classroom.

"We made the final," said Ron. "The game this weekend will decide our opponent. I hope it's Slytherin, just so I can wipe the smirk of Malfoy's face."

"Bit of a git this Malfoy?" asked Harry.

Hermione kept her mouth shut but Ron didn't. "Son of a Death Eater. Wouldn't be surprised if he's already marked himself. That's him," pointed Ron.

Harry looked back and saw Malfoy, surrounded by his usual Slytherin crowd, seated at the back of the room on the far left. "Some things never change..." he said under his breath, turning back around as his father spoke.

"Good morning," began James. "Did everyone do their homework? No, doesn't matter then. Never helped me back when I was here."

Harry watched with a small smile as the entire class, bar a few of the Slytherins, listened to every word his father said. They laughed along with him at the small jokes he made, and they respected him because he treated them as equals. He wasn't like Snape or the arrogant version he had seen in Snape's memories. His father was a good man, and Snape was the bitter one.

"Now," continued James. "We were going to finish our little duelling competition today, with the two top duellers in the class going at it. Is that right?" He was answered with several nods. "But we have a new duellist in the class today," he continued, staring at Harry. "My son, Harry. I think we should still have our original duel, and Harry can verse the winner. Any arguments?"

There were none, and Harry found himself wondering who the top two duellists in the class were. He looked around the room and saw a few likely candidates, but he was using the knowledge of these people that he had gained from the experiences in his world. It could be any of them thought Harry. Even Neville....

"Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy," said James. "The floor is yours."

Now Harry hadn't been expecting that. He knew the Hermione in his world was an excellent dueller when it came to sheer knowledge, but he didn't think she could have made it to the top of the class, unless everyone else hadn't had much experience. Malfoy on the other hand, from what Harry had seen of him, was probably a fairly competent dueller. His father would have taught him some dirty tricks.

Hermione and Malfoy moved into the centre of the room and James cast a few quick protection charms around the other students. They bowed every so slightly to each other, and then Hermione stuck first.

"Expelliarmus!" she cried, a long arc of red light shot from her wand but Malfoy side stepped it easily.

"Incendio!" Malfoy whispered, almost lazily, and white hot flames tore through the air in three small balls of fire.

Hermione managed to dodge them all and raised a small protego shield charm. Good thought Harry. That should-

Hermione's shield charm was shattered and exploded into dozen's of blue sparks as it came under a barrage of spells from Malfoy's wand. The majority of them were blasting curses, and after only four of them the shield was gone. Hermione staggered back under the force of the spells and from the surprise, but she hadn't made it this far for nothing.

"Impedimenta!" she cried, causing Malfoy to cease his barrage of curses and dodge the Impediment jinx. "Stupefy!" Hermione said, wasting no time before striking again.

Malfoy remained low on the ground and the curse flew over him again, dissipating harmlessly on the protection spells just before the desks. Malfoy sneered and brought his wand down in a long sweeping motion. He uttered something Hermione didn't catch but suddenly it was hard to breathe.

Harry frowned and almost jumped out of his seat as he realised what curse Malfoy had used. It was a Freezing curse and fell just short of being a full blown Dark Arts spell. It sucked all the heat out of the air all around the caster. It kept Malfoy warm, but it froze the air Hermione was trying to breathe.

Malfoy smirked and raised his wand again. "Stupefy!" he drawled, pointing his wand effortlessly at Hermione.

No... thought Harry as the red stream of light soared towards his once best friend. But Hermione hadn't been idle. It had taken her a few more seconds than Harry, but she had figured out what curse Malfoy had used and was now countering it with heating charms, making the air easier to breathe. In the process, she also raised a counter shield and it was that that Malfoy's stunning spell hit, causing it to return upon its caster.

Malfoy's cold grey eyes widened in surprise for just a minute, but his father had taught him well. He used his own shield charm to deflect the curse and then took an aggressive step forward. "Siarthus!" he hissed and Harry almost had to be physically restrained from attacking the slimy git then and there.

That curse was, again, almost classified as a Dark one. It caused a painful, but short feeling in the bones that was the equivalent of being hit with a sledgehammer. Hermione side stepped it gracefully though, and Harry relaxed. "Stupefy," said Hermione, and Malfoy's shield shattered under the second stunning spell.

Enough is enough thought Malfoy, and fired a quick stunning spell of his own towards the Mudblood. Not wasting a second he fired another curse, this one designed to make any skin it touches erupt in sore boils.

Hermione successfully dodged the first and second curse, but she did not have time to return fire with one of her own. Malfoy used this to his advantage, and fired four quick stunning spells. Two directly at her, and two to where he thought she was going to be.

Hermione did not react fast enough as she beheld the four identical beams of light screaming towards her. She managed to dodge the first two, but she realised too late that the other two were fired not at her, but a few steps to her right. This meant that she stepped right into the third stunning spell, which knocked her out instantly. The fourth one caught Hermione in the chest as she was falling, and threw her back harshly onto the floor.

Ron jumped up in outrage and unleashed a bitter string of curse words at the blonde Slytherin. Harry glared at Malfoy nastily, he knew that he would be duelling him soon, and it was going to be painful.

"What's the matter, Weasley?" sneered Malfoy. "Was there ever any doubt I would win?"

"You didn't have to be so rough!" spat Ron, who had reached Hermione and drawn his wand.

"If I remember correctly," Malfoy began, "she stupidly walked right into my curses."

"It was a dirty move," Ron retaliated. "Exactly something I'd expect of a De-"

"That's quite enough, boys," Professor Potter said loudly, clearing his throat as he went.

Ron looked like he wanted to say more, but he just glared at the Slytherin and turned back to Hermione. "Enervate," he whispered, and couldn't help but smile as Hermione's eyes fluttered open in confusion. "You okay?" he asked.

Hermione frowned and stood up slowly. 'Hmm...? Oh... I lost. Yes, yes I'm fine, Ron."

Slowly Ron led Hermione back to her seat, and as he sat her down he whispered into Harry's ear. "I hope you know how to duel, Potter," Ron said. "Because no one has managed to wipe the smirk of that git's face yet."

Harry turned to look at Ron as Hermione held her head in her hands. "I think I can manage this," he said quietly.

"Well done, Malfoy," James said, a little hesitantly as he knew Malfoy had used an underhanded trick to win. "Are you up to duelling Harry now? Or would you like to rest for a bit?"

Malfoy's eyes narrowed as he gazed from James and then to Harry. He smirked and then twirled his wand lazily from hand to hand. "This won't take long," he drawled. "Let's just get it over with." All the Slytherins laughed, as did some Ravenclaws, but it did sound a bit forced.

James frowned, but nodded. From what he knew of Harry so far, he suspected that Malfoy was about to be brought down a few pegs. Harry claims he can hold his own against Voldemort James thought. I guess we'll see how competent he really is.

"Harry," James said, ignoring Malfoy's insult at his son's capabilities. "Ready?"

Harry nodded and stood up, winking to Ron and smiling slightly, he walked over to the centre of the room, and turned to face his opponent. James replaced his protection spells with some new ones and then: "Whenever you're ready, boys," he said.

Harry and Malfoy bowed no more than an inch to each other, and took five steps back. Harry had yet to draw his wand, a fact that hadn't escaped Malfoy's attention. So when they turned back around to face each other, Malfoy frowned in arrogance and pointed his wand at Harry.

The entire class watched in confusion as Harry stood there, seemingly defenceless with his wand lying uselessly in his pocket. James also became worried, unsure as to what Harry was doing.

"What is he doing?" Ron whispered incredulously to Hermione.

Muttered whispers broke out all across the room and Malfoy sighed with boredom. "Very well," he said. "Stupefy!"

Harry reacted faster than anyone had ever seen before. This strange boy, who many had thought was dead, moved so fast he was like a blur. It took a full five seconds for Malfoy's curse to pass by where he now stood, and there were many gasps as no one had really seen him move.

James' jaw dropped but it slowly turned into a smile that he tried to keep hidden. He was supposed to remain impartial after all, but he couldn't help but think that this was going to be interesting.

Is that it? thought Harry, as the curse slowly shot past him. He hadn't even exerted himself doing that. There was a reason he hadn't raised his wand yet, and it wasn't because he could disarm Malfoy with a thought, no, he wanted to embarrass the Slytherin, and that meant making this look easy. After what he had just done to Hermione, Harry wanted to hurt him, but he thought a psychological victory would be a lot more fitting.

Malfoy's eyes widened in surprise for a moment and he raised the strongest shield charm he could. Nothing's getting through he thought. This Potter is fast, but he's a fool, he continued to think. I'll get him this time.

"Impedimenta," Malfoy cried. "Stupefy."

Again, Harry sidestepped these curses as soon as they had been spoken. To the class it seemed that he had anticipated where the beams of light would strike before they had even been fired, which was amazing. However he was doing it, the two beams missed him by at least a metre and Harry just smiled at a furious looking Malfoy.

Harry had seen enough duels and fights in his life to anticipate where a curse would fly, and it had been only too easy to anticipate those two. He yawned theatrically just to see the enraged look on the Slytherin's face and then dodged another stream of blue light that would have locked his feet to the floor.

"I thought you were supposed to be the best duellist here," Harry sighed, making sure he checked his watch to see what time it was. The Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws laughed and this only served to enrage Malfoy further.

"Keep smiling, Potter," he spat. "What are you a squib? Do you even have a wand?"

Harry shrugged and smiled as he saw the look on his father's face. But he was only just getting started. Harry stood in one of the beams of sunlight that filtered in through the high window and finally drew his wand.

Malfoy went on the defensive instantly, raising another shield and implementing all the protective magic he could think of. Harry let him have his protection; he knew he could destroy it with a thought if he tried really hard. Malfoy put another layer of protection between himself and this enigmatic Gryffindor. That should do it he thought. Nothing short of the killing curse can get through that!

Harry twirled his wand around lazily and took a few steps to his left. Malfoy shot a pain curse at him but he just simply walked out of its way. The class was still staring in amazement as this new arrival, this Harry Potter, shrugged away these curses as if they were nothing. They had all versed Malfoy in a duel at one point, and none of them could have bested him at all.

"Do you mind if I take a shot at you now?" asked Harry.

Malfoy sneered and fell into a mock bow, just to safe face. Harry thanked him and then whispered a spell quietly under his breath, and pointed his wand at Malfoy's head.

This was not a curse though, and as such it could bypass all of Malfoy's protection easily. Silently, the thin, invisible beam of magic shot form Harry's wand and before anybody had realised what had happened, Malfoy's sleek blonde hair had turned the most violent shade of pink.

The Gryffindors clapped and cheered in laughter and the Slytherin's whispered insults at Harry. Malfoy looked ready to kill though, but Harry never gave him a chance to fire another curse. "Insura rosa," he said loud enough for everyone to hear, and again this spell passed harmlessly through Malfoy's layers of magical protection as it wasn't a curse of any kind.

The transfiguration charm hit Malfoy in the chest, and instantly transformed his expensive black silk robes into a very tight and revealing summer dress. This time the entire class lost it, included James, and Malfoy turned red with embarrassment as Harry merely smiled.

With a quick spell and a flick of his wand, Malfoy's clothes reverted to their original form. "HOW DARE YOU!" he bellowed. "DUEL ME LIKE A MAN OR NOT AT ALL!"

Everyone in the room stopped laughing as Harry's face turned dark. "Duel you like a man, you say?" he repeated slowly. "From what I've seen of your duelling today, I'd say its you who needs to learn how to fight like a man. Or at least fairly."

"And from what you've shown me, I doubt you could fight at all!" Malfoy shot back.

Harry shrugged and stared deep into Malfoy's eyes, unblinking. "You want me to take a shot at you?" he asked quietly. Everyone heard him.

"If you know how," Malfoy replied. "Though nothing is getting through my shields."

Harry smiled dangerously. "Very well," he said. "A small stunning spell shouldn't do much harm."

Malfoy's face twisted into its familiar sneer. He knew it was an empty threat. The magic he had set up would return the curse twice as powerful. He had won.

Harry twirled his wand expertly between his fingers and after a brief moment he stopped and pointed it at Malfoy. He felt the power of his anger throbbing in his veins and he felt his magic respond to that emotion. He knew this stunning spell would end the duel. "Last chance to surrender," he offered, if only to further annoy the Slytherin.

Malfoy didn't reply, and the entire class held its breath as they waited for Harry to fire his curse.

With a sigh and a shrug, Harry called on a small portion of the strength he had used in some of his more powerful duels and made ready to release his stunner. Three seconds later, and he simply said "Stupefy!"

It was as silent as the night, but faster than most had ever seen a curse fly. Harry's stunning spell rocketed through the air and before Malfoy could react, it slammed into his shield charms with an incredible force and shattered them into nothing. His mouth opened in shock for a brief moment before the spell, now as loud as an explosion, ripped through his protections as if they were nothing. In only half a second, his entire protective magic had been completely obliterated and he took the stunner full in the chest.

He was knocked out instantly, and thrown backwards and high through the air. James' protective charms caught him only just, and he dropped to the stone floor hard, completely unconscious.

It took everyone a moment to process what had happened, as it had happened so fast. Harry calmly pocketed his wand and was returning to his seat when the Gryffindors finally broke out in cheers and applause. They were soon followed by the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, but the Slytherins glared at Harry venomously as a few of them rushed over to revive the unconscious Malfoy.

"Well it seems Mr. Malfoy did not remain the top dueller in this class for long," stated James as Malfoy staggered slowly to his feet. He fixed him with a calculating gaze before continuing. "Well done, Harry," he said quietly.

Half an hour later and Harry was walking down to the Great Hall for lunch with Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Neville, Dean, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown all competing for his attention. Harry walked slowly, striving to listen to everyone as he re-made friends with all these familiar people.

"That was some pretty impressive magic, Harry," commented Ron, slapping him on the back. "Where'd you learn to duel like that?"

Harry shrugged. "Picked up a few skills along the way," he said.

"It would have taken a huge amount of power to destroy all of those shields though," Hermione said. "How did you manage it?"

Harry shrugged again as the small group of Gryffindor's waited for his answer. "Well I-"

"POTTER!" cried a furious voice from behind Harry, and he turned around in confusion.

He turned and saw Malfoy heading for him, wand in hand and his group of Slytherins behind him. Harry inwardly smiled. "Hello," he said.

Draco Malfoy was furious. Never had anyone bested him at duelling, nor in such a way as to cause real embarrassment. This Harry Potter would regret duelling him. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the Gryffindors gather behind him, but he felt that they were there for protection more than anything else.

"Did you think I could just allow you to get away with that?" spat Malfoy, his eyes shooting daggers at Harry as his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, cracked their knuckles menacingly.

Harry opened his mouth to speak but he felt someone pulling on his arm, as a crowd of younger and older students began to gather and watch the growing confrontation. Harry turned and winced as Hermione grasped his shoulder a bit too hard and disturbed his healing wound.

"Be careful, Harry," whispered Hermione. "You don't want to cross him. Just apologise...."

Now Harry was really confused. The Hermione he knew would never apologise if she wasn't in the wrong. It seemed as if she was slightly afraid of the blonde Slytherin.

"Your father is not here to lay down any rules this time, Potter," Malfoy continued and Harry turned back around. "You're going to regret coming to Hogwarts."

Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He feigned ignorance. "Who are you?" he asked the Slytherin in front of him.

Malfoy frowned and for a moment lost his composure. "I'm Draco Malfoy," he hissed. "Son of Lucius Malfoy. One of the highest pureblood families in the world."

"Ah," said Harry. "You're no one."

Everyone within hearing distance gasped audibly, except Ron who couldn't help but laugh, and Harry joined him. Malfoy's face turned red with anger and he raised his wand. "I don't know who you think you are-"

"I'm Harry."

"Enough!" spat Malfoy. "Vilasucus!"

Harry had been expecting that, and he waved his hand ever so slightly and whispered a countering shield charm. Malfoy only stood ten feet away, so the purple beam of curse light travelled fast between the two of them. It hit Harry's shield to the surprise of all and was shot back at Malfoy twice as powerful.

Before anyone had even realised what had happened, Malfoy was hit by his own curse and pushed back into Goyle, who staggered slightly under his weight but didn't fall. Malfoy was out cold though, and probably wouldn't awake for a few hours.

With Goyle busy holding him up, Crabbe turned to see his fallen friend and for a moment didn't know what to do. He decided to physically attack Harry and turned back around-

To see the tip of Harry's wand pointed right between his eyes, only a few inches away. Damn he's fast... Crabbe growled.

Harry's face turned dark, but he was glad to see that this Crabbe had some sense about him. He didn't make another attempt to attack. "Just walk away," Harry said coldly. "Take your moronic friend over there and leave."

In the end there was really no choice. Crabbe nodded dumbly and, between him and Goyle, the two of them carried Malfoy down the corridor towards the Entrance Hall, from there they could head to their common room. The stunned crowds parted to allow them to pass through as they went, and most turned back to stare at Harry a little fearfully.

Harry pocketed his wand and turned back to the group of Gryffindor's. "Some people never learn," he shrugged. "Weren't we heading to the Great Hall?"

Slowly the crowds began to move again, and most gave Harry a wide berth as he walked next to Ron and Hermione, who looked slightly worried. Five minutes later and most of the school were seated in the Great Hall for lunch. Whispers were already spreading of the impromptu duel in the corridor between the new stranger, Harry Potter, and the one person at Hogwarts who you shouldn't anger, Draco Malfoy.

Harry was calmly sipping some pumpkin juice from his goblet and pointedly ignoring the stares and worried glances his fellow Gryffindors were giving him. The first few minutes of lunch passed in an uncomfortable silence, and Harry was growing tired of the looks of pity upon their faces. What had he done? He'd won the little duel in DADA and the corridor.

Finally they became too much, and he put his goblet down. "All right," he said forcefully. "What is it?"

Hermione, who was sitting opposite him next to Ron, bit her bottom lip as the other Gryffindors turned away, wanting nothing to do with this rebel amongst them. Ron nudged his girlfriend and best friend of six years and Hermione finally spoke.

"I don't think you should have attacked Malfoy, Harry," she whispered, looking around nervously for listening ears.

"I didn't," Harry said, not bothering to lower his voice. "He attacked me. I only used magic for defence."

"But you embarrassed him," Ron whispered. "And you know who his father is."

Harry frowned. "Okay," he began, "first, I couldn't care less that I embarrassed that greasy Slytherin. From what I've seen today he had it coming for a long time. And two, his father is Lucius Malfoy, Voldemort's lapdog."

Ron paled instantly and everyone around Harry dropped whatever form of cutlery they had been holding. Harry took a deep breath and counted backwards from ten. "Don't tell me that was because I said his name?"

Hermione nodded and started biting her nails. "Malfoy will tell his father," she continued to whisper. "This could make it as far as You-Know-Who's list..."

"List?" echoed Harry. "Voldemort has a list?"

"Stop saying his name," Ron urged and Hermione nodded.

Harry ignored him. "What is this list? Is it like a To Do List or something? One: murder innocent children. Two: Wash evil robes. Three: Burn mark into some new morons. Things like that?"

Ron was staring at him in disbelief and Hermione shook her head fiercely. "No..." she continued desperately. "It's a list of people he's going to kill. You make the list," she said. "You don't get off it alive."

Harry blinked and noticed the two Gryffindors to his left and right shudder involuntarily. "Who's on this list?"

Hermione glanced quickly up at the staff table and saw the headmaster's twinkling eyes staring back at her. "Dumbledore of course," she said sadly. "Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and... and your father, Harry. I thought you would know that?"

Harry nodded absent mindedly. "Remus Lupin is...." he began.

"Head of the Auror Division," finished Ron. "What's left of it anyway...."

"There are at least a dozen other people on the list," said Hermione. "But those four are the best known, as they are the most tireless fighters against You-Know-Who."

"Things certainly are different..." Harry whispered to himself under his breath. "So... because of this list," he said a lot louder. "I should just allow Draco Malfoy to walk all over me because it might get back to Voldemort that I-"

"Stop saying his name," Ron said fiercely.

"Why?" asked Harry theatrically, waving his arms. "It's just a name."

Ron looked worried. "Yeah... but it's his name. You-Know-Who is... is-"

"Nothing more than a cold-hearted murderer," Harry ended, and began to peel an orange. "And I don't fear him."

"Then you're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid," Hermione said, rather coldly. "What makes you so confident?"

Harry winked and smiled slightly. "Experience..." he whispered.

Hermione looked sceptical. "Experience fighting You-Know-Who! You must be lying."

Harry shrugged and then pulled his timetable out of his pocket. "What have we got next?" he asked, scanning the list.

"All the sixth year Gryffindors have Transfiguration," Ron stated, reaching over and linking his hand with Hermione's. "You any good at that?" he asked.

"We'll let McGonagall decide that one," Harry replied and was met with confused gazes from both Ron and Hermione. "What is it?"

"Harry..." began Hermione slowly. "We haven't been taught by McGonagall for four years... ever since she died, back in second year. Professor Black has taken the class since then."

Harry froze and grasped his fork hard. "Sirius Black...?" he managed quietly. Hermione nodded the affirmative. "He teaches Transfiguration?"

"Yeah," nodded Ron. "Good friend of your fathers, isn't he? Always telling us stories about how he and your dad used to run an underground smuggler's run from Hogsmeade."

Harry blinked and looked up to the staff table from where he sat along his house table. Sure enough, he hadn't noticed it before, but Sirius was seated next to his father, and both were glancing at him surreptitiously. He swallowed slowly. "Is he a good teacher...?" Harry asked.

"Oh yes," Hermione nodded. "An Animagus himself, he can transform into a-"

"Black dog," finished Harry. "A big black dog that could be mistaken for the Grim."

Ron snorted into his pumpkin juice. "You wouldn't believe how many times he's scared Trelawney by lying in wait in the halls. Bloody brilliant if you ever see that!"

"I'll bet," Harry said quickly and then stood up. "I have to go," he whispered. "I'll- I'll see you later."

Without waiting for a reply, Harry jumped up over his seat and headed for the double doors of the Great Hall. His thoughts a mess and his emotions awash, he practically ran out of the Hall and headed up the stairs of the Entrance Hall, towards the tower of moving staircases.

Harry didn't make it that far.

After rounding the first corner, he fell against a wall and wiped the tears roughly from his eyes. Tears that belonged to another man, in another world, who had died long before his time was due. They don't belong here Harry thought. I don't belong here....

Harry had mourned for Sirius, he had grieved and, after months of strive and turmoil, he had personally accepted that fact that Sirius was gone, that he was dead. It was a cruel twist of fate that he had to see him alive again, laughing with his friends. His face wasn't even hollowed from spending twelve years in Azkaban. It wasn't fair, on anyone.

Harry took a deep breath and tried desperately to fight back the tears. He wasn't going to cry... no, he was stronger than that. He had to be. For a moment Harry was lost in the irony of the situation. He wasn't entirely sure why seeing Sirius had effected him so much. Having seen his parents hadn't had the same effect.

"I don't belong here..." he whispered. "It's all wrong. Why...?"

Harry sniffed and stared out of the nearby window, out once more onto the grounds. Not for the first time, he felt that life had finally given him too much to deal with. Another world! People were alive who should be dead. He'd met family that he would never have known otherwise. He shouldn't be here.

But Harry knew he was here for a good few months yet. However much he wanted it to be different it never could be. And there was also the constant threat of Voldemort, who seemed to have Hogwarts grasped in his icy grip. I'll change that he thought viciously. Just give me the fight!

As the sounds of the school from down below reached his ears, Harry realised that lunch must have finished and he began to move on. Transfiguration... I'll have to face it sooner or later.

Walking slowly, but with a surprising burst of confidence, Harry headed up to the Transfiguration department. It only took him five minutes to reach the classroom, and he entered with some trepidation. Again, this room looked exactly as it had done in his world. Desks and chairs lined three of the four walls and, on a raised platform up the front, stood the Professor's table. It was piled high with loose parchments and was just what Harry would expect of Sirius.

Smiling sadly, he took a seat up the far back corner and counted the seconds down until the class started. Groups of other sixth years came in a few at a time, and Harry noticed most of them avoided sitting near him. Is Malfoy's influence really that bad? No one wanted to be associated with him, less they be deemed his friend, and therefore an enemy of Malfoy. Harry could care less what they thought.

They were all familiar to him though, someone he had known or known of back in his own world. Even the few Gryffindors that had arrived, most notable Parvati and Lavender, had steered clear of him. Fairly soon the class was as full as it was going to get, and Ron had sat down next to Harry, with Hermione next to him. Harry inwardly smiled at this, some things never change.

When Sirius strolled into the room, Harry followed him with sad, dark eyes that Ron and Hermione couldn't help but notice. Sirius was smiling though, and as he turned to view the class, his eyes connected with Harry's for just a moment, but it was a moment that caused Harry to look away in pain.

"You all right?" asked Ron.

Harry began to shake his head absent mindedly but then nodded quickly. "I'm fine," he replied. "I'm fine...."

"Good afternoon," began Sirius. "I see we're missing a few students today. I hear Mr. Malfoy was on the receiving end of a particularly nasty curse. Now I believe it was one of my Gryffindors," he continued strictly. "I would like you to own up now." He then offered Harry a lopsided smile. "So I can congratulate you."

Harry couldn't help but laugh, and the rest of the class did so nervously as well. "Harry Potter," continued Sirius. "Everywhere I go around this old castle I hear your name. It didn't take you long to make an enemy."

Harry breathed in deeply as his eyes locked again with Sirius'. This time Harry held his own. "It never does," he replied cryptically. "Never does...."

Sirius looked shaken for a moment but he still nodded. "Right," he said. "Right... where were we last lesson?" he turned to address the whole class.

"Chapter thirteen, Professor," Hermione answered instantly. "The Animagus transfiguration."

"Ah yes," smiled Sirius. "Not many magical folk have this capability. In fact, there have only been a handful of them in the last century."

"A handful of registered ones," Harry said rather loudly.

Sirius let out a rough bark of laughter. "I'm going to give you five points for that one, Harry," he said. "There are, of course, many unregistered Animagi out there. Always be mindful of a suspicious looking creature. It could be anyone."

****

"That's it, Albus," Arthur Weasley sighed, shaking his head.

Dumbledore nodded and thanked Arthur, whose head shone in the flames of the fire. "Inform the other Order members," he said. "Start with Remus."

"Can do," Arthur said, and his head disappeared from the flames.

Dumbledore turned from the fire, walked back over to his desk and sat down slowly. He sighed and conjured a cup of tea.

"You're getting to old for this!" a voice from above him said, and Dumbledore smiled ever so slightly.

"You think so, Phineas?" he asked. "Tell me, when should I have slipped away quietly into retirement?"

"Half a century ago," the portrait of Phineas Nigellus responded. "After you toppled the first madman."

Dumbledore laughed quietly. "There will always be one more to assume the mantle of Dark Lord. I should have stopped Tom when he was a child."

"You didn't create him, Dumbledore," Phineas replied. "Monsters such as him are... born that way. Pass this fight on to the next generation."

Dumbledore shook his head. "You heard what Arthur said," he began, "Death Eater activity has been next to nothing. He is coming for Hogwarts. I am needed here."

"I fear you're correct," admitted Phineas. "You should inform the staff."

"I will," nodded Dumbledore, but then paused for a moment. "Do you think young Harry can really do what he has promised?"

"Destroy Voldemort?" asked Phineas. "Hmm... That boy is an enigma. I'd say no, though. He has shown nothing beyond arriving in our world to prove his worth."

Dumbledore's face did not betray his feelings. "When Tom comes I will fight him," he finally said. "I don't think Harry is ready."

"Perhaps," Phineas replied. "But does he know that?"

****

"Three days," hissed the Dark Lord atop his throne in the spike of Slytherin Fortress. "Prepare the attack for three days time."

"Yes, my Lord," replied Lucius Malfoy. "Should I inform the entire army, or just those selected few chosen to battle by your side?"

"Inform everyone, Lucius," Voldemort responded. "I want the old man to worry."

"Very well, my Lord," Malfoy said, bowing low. "Your will shall be done."

Lucius walked quickly out of the room to complete his task, as Voldemort continued his study of Salazar's ancient texts. I will meet this Harry Potter he thought. I will destroy him for daring to exist!

****