Come Back to Us

************CHAPTER FOUR************

When Harry found consciousness, he was in a bright white place. Everything that he looked at was fuzzy and there was a distinct smell of cleanliness.

'Only here for three days and I'm already in the hospital wing. Must be a new record!'

Feeling around on the nearby nightstand, he found his glasses and put them on. When the room came into focus, he found a familiar black dog at his feet.

"Padfoot? What are you doing here?"

The dog jumped off the bed and then with *pop*, turned human.

"Harry! How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling good. A little worn out, but other than that I feel perfect."

"That's good to hear. We've been worried about you."

"Why have you been worried? I feel fine"

"You may feel fine, but you've been out for five days."

"FIVE DAYS??? I guess I won't being trying that little exercise again."

"Exercise? What exercise would you be talking about Mr. Potter?"

"Headmaster? What are you doing here? I'm really quite fine. There's no reason for everyone to be here."

The old man chuckled. "You may think your perfectly well, Harry, but you were out for close to a week. Now please, what exercise are you talking about?"

"Well, while I was away, I read in a book that you feel the magic around you. I thought that If I could feel the magic, I could 'feel' whether a person was on the dark or the light side. I guess it all just took a little more out of me than I thought it would."

The headmaster had an excitement and twinkle in his eye that Harry hadn't seen since he returned. "Well Mr. Potter, don't keep me in suspense, did it work?"

"Besides the fact that I've been in the hospital for five days, I think so."

"What do you mean you think so?" This coming from the middle aged escaped convict.

Harry took this opportunity to find out if maybe he wasn't going crazy during the end of his experiment.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, do you know anything about magical auras and their colors?"

The headmaster had a thoughtful look on his face. It was one of those looks that he would see when he knew that the old man was keeping something from him.

"Why do you ask Mr. Potter?"

"Well, when I opened my eyes, I could see everyone's magical auras. I could see their color and their size. I have a theory, but I've been wrong in the past, I wanted to see what you knew about it."

"First of all Harry, it takes a very powerful wizard to be able to see any part of a person's aura. I myself have only done it twice, when I thought it was very necessary. The first time I did it successfully, I ended up passed out for 2 full weeks, and then had one bad headache for another week after that. I must say I'm impressed that your already up."

"You're stalling sir."

"Yes, yes, magical auras. Well, not very many people know anything. I can tell you that the thicker the aura the more powerful the wizard."

"I thought as much. And the colors? What about them?"

"Well, for most people, the brighter or darker the aura the more dedicated they are to that side. If you were to see a person with an cream or gray color, however, that would mean that the person is undecided."

"So that explains it. Neville and Professor Snape were the brightest, and Crabbe and Goyle were the darkest. That still doesn't explain.... hmmm... Professor, you said most people. What about the other people."

"I always forget how observant you are Mr. Potter. In fact, not everyone has just a white or black. Many, many years ago there were four people who had an immense magical power. They all got together and tried to decide how to use the power to best benefit the wizarding world. So, they decided to build a school, Hogwarts in fact. They each had very colorful auras. That is where each house gets their colors from. The true heirs of founders will both have colorful auras, just like their anscestors."

"Both? So that means Voldemort and one other person."

"No Harry, Voldemort is not a true heir. He only claims to be one."

Harry was almost afraid to ask, but he knew it had to be done.

"Do you know who the two heirs are, professor?"

"Yes, I do."

"And?"

"And I must say it is time for me to get back to my office. Fawkes is going through burning day and he always does better when I am near. I'll see you soon Mr. Potter, Mr. Black."

But, before the headmaster could make it out the door, "I know who they are Professor."

"I know you do Harry, I know. But I'd rather only go through the conversation once, and I'm not sure that they are both ready yet. Good Day, and I hope you are at 100% soon."

And with billowing robes, the old man headed out of the hospital wing.

"Harry, who are they?"

"Draco Malfoy is Ravenclaw's heir."

"Malfoy?!? You can't be serious! Who is the other one Harry?"

"Gryffindor's heir is... is... me."

*~^~*

Early the next morning, Madame Pomfrey released Harry from the hospital wing. He was had had a headache for a couple of hours now, but Harry thought it was probably from thinking way too much and not from his aura reading. Harry didn't really know what to do. Since it was Saturday he didn't have classes. Feeling a little hungry he decided to make his way to breakfast.

When he entered the Great Hall, he saw way more students than he expected. 'Must be a Hogsmeade weekend.'

His suspicions were confirmed when he went over and sat down to eat.

"Harry! Are you feeling better? I was so worried but they wouldn't let me in the hospital wing! I even tried to sneak in, but Sirius caught me and threw me out!"

"I'm sorry, love. I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. :

"Are you going to Hogsmeade today, Harry?"

" I guess I am now!" he said with a chuckle. "Got in plans for the day?"

"Not really."

"Do you feel like going out on a date with a hot guy?"

"I sure do, but do you know any?"

"Ha ha Hermione. I take back my offer. You can just scrounge around the town on your own."

"Come on, love, I was only joking. Besides, there's no one I'd rather scrounge around with more than you."

"Fine. Got on and eat up then so we can hop on the carriages."

"Hop? I'd rather just get in one!"

"Very funny. Just eat."

*~^~*

When the Harry arrived at Hogsmeade, the town looked just as peaceful as the first time he sneaked in.

"How about a butterbeer, Hermione? I haven't had one in quite a while."

"Sounds good. Let's go!"

After a long welcome back from Madame Rosmerta, Harry and Hermione found themselves at a booth drinking their butterbeers.

"Hermione, do you think Ron will ever talk to me again?"

"Of course he will, Harry. Just give it time. He changed a lot after you left. I don't even really talk to him that much any more. He took your place as prefect and Quidditch captain. He actually become quite a jerk. Hopefully, now that your back, he will calm back down."

"Ron? A jerk? Are you sure? I wonder what happened?"

"I don't know I guess he just took the opportunity to come out from behind your shadow."

"Behind my shadow? I didn't know I was that bad. Maybe I was better when I was away."

"No Harry. It is definitely better with you here. You never were a jerk and you always took your jobs with modesty. I know that people complained whileyou were here, but after you left, people started to appreciate you more. You know I bet-"

BOOM! There was a loud explosion outside that rocked the entire village. Almost immediately a forth year that Harry didn't recognize ran into the bar.

"There are Death Eaters outside! Dozens of them!"

After a few moments of silence, then and "Oh shit" from Harry, the entire pub turned into a scene of absolute chaos.

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Ronald Weasley had not been having a very good week and a half. One would have thought that with his best friend back in town after a mysterious disappearance, he would have been ecstatic. However, after his real best came back from visiting the infamous Harry Potter, Ron had not been too happy. He had always held out hope that his near brother was not a coward. But, after Harry resurfaced after one and a half years, his suspicions had sadly been confirmed. Ron remembered the day that Harry had gone missing. His entire family had been distraught for week, and his poor mother, who had been through too much for any one person, had fainted on the spot. So, after the raven-haired adolescent had disgraced the people who had thought of him as family, as their own son and brother, Ron wanted nothing to do with him.

Ron had seen Harry try to talk to him several times since his return, but the flame haired-boy had always found a way out of talking to him. He was glad when his longtime girlfriend and love of his life, Lavender Brown, mentioned the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. This gave him an opportunity of freedom away from the person he so desperately avoid the person whom caused him so much distress.

The couple's first stop in the lovely village of Hogsmeade was a local favorite of the people. Ron loved the chocolate at Honeydukes. In his opinion, nothing could compare with it. So, after emptying his entire sack of money, he and his girlfriend walked out the door with the full intent of heading to Zonko's Joke Shop. However, the second his foot crossed the threshold, his eyes saw a scene that he was not expecting. Not at all.

Death Eaters. Not just four or five either. From first glance, Ron estimated 50, all of which were throwing hexes and curses right and left. He was scared. Damn all that Gryffindoric courage he was supposed to have, he was to scared to be brave. Thinking of his options he found three. He could stay in the shop, take the tunnel back to Hogwarts, stay in the shop and wait it all out, or go out there and help the defenseless citizens and students. He really didn't have to mull over the situation long. He knew what he had to do. Scared or not, he had to go out and assist.

Walking back into the store, he found chaos. 'No wonder the Death Eaters always win. They cause confusion, and confusion kills.'

"Everyone! SHUT UP!" he yelled.

'That did the trick.' The room was silent, waiting for a person to take lead while the racket from the conflict outside still went on.

"I want anyone who is willing to help fight come up here. Those who are not, go over there."

Immediately, the group of people split in two. Only four of the students were willing to help fight. 'Pathetic'

He told the valiant four to stay put while he walked over to the other group.

"I need three volunteers."

Half the group of 20 people raised their hands.

"Let me try again. I need three volunteers that are willing to risk their life."

Without delay all but four hands went down.

"Okay... four will do. There's a secret tunnel that goes to Hogwarts in the basement. I want everyone to get there as fast as you can. Lavender, warn the teachers about the situation. I want you four to stand inside the entranceway to the passage. If you see any death eaters try to get in, stun them immediately. Please don't stun anyone trying to get safe though..."

Within seconds, the entire group was gone.

"Let's go," he said to the remaining four, all of which he noticed were Gryffindors. "Stay safe... I don't want to lose any house mates. We have as much trouble winning the house cup as it is," he said with a grin.

Immediately they were out the door and shooting curses at the death eaters. Taking a quick glance around, Ron only saw a couple trying to help out. Surprisingly the 'Savior of the Wizarding World' was not one of them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Neville take out a death eater with a stunning curse, and McGonagal do the same with a binding one. He was wrong. There weren't a mere 50. There had to be at least 100, if not more. Where was that damn golden boy?

Then he saw it. He finally understood what caused Harry to run away all that time ago. If he had seen it then, when he thought the would was innocent and care-free he would have ran too. To his right there was a sound of those horrid two words and a green flash of light and a child, not more than five slumped to the ground, lifeless. And again, the young child's presumably brother crashed down with another flash. 'Damn you death eaters.' Only revenge was on his mind now, and he wanted nothing more. They had deprived those children of life, he had a family out of this world.

Before he got a chance to react however, he heard a voice across the crowd. It was the most powerful voice he had ever had. So filled with disgust, authority, and command not a person, not even a death eater would dare argue with it. He would wager that not even You-know-who himself could disobey him.

"SILENCE!"

And everyone was silent. Ron turned around expecting to see his Headmaster there. 'He must be the only one who could be the source of such strength.' But as he looked, he saw him. Harry Potter. And he had never seen anyone so pissed in his life. He couldn't help but watch as the scene in front of him unraveled.

"You will leave this place. You have no supremacy her. You are not welcome."

It was then that a lone death eater stepped forward out of the ranks with no terror in his eyes.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here? Has the annoying brat returned?"

"Why yes I have, Malfoy. Disappointed? Thought you could finally win for once? Where's your great master Tommy Boy? Was he too much of a coward to fightt his own battles?"

"That's it Potter. Your dead."

Then, before Harry could react a wand was pointed at him. Harry had to admit. He was a little scared. However, before he even had a chance to think about his next move, he heard a voice that he never in a million years thought that he would be glad to hear.

"Father, put the wand down. NOW. Before I do something... harsh..."

"Draco, what do you think you're doing? Put away your wand and perhaps I might convince our Lord that you were under the influence of something. You know you want to be on the right side of this skirmish."

"I am on the right side father. It is you who is mistaken." Stupefy!

And with a stagger, Lucius Malfoy, with all his dignity and class, fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.

"Er... Thanks, Malfoy."

"No problem, Potter."

And with those words, the battle started again, with even more force than before. Both sides were determined to come out the winner.

Harry and Draco fought together for several minutes. Both watched each other's backs and saved each other's lives several times. They were a fighting team that no one could have imagined.

"I guess we're on the same side now, Potter."

"Yes, Malfoy, I guess we are."

And If one thought that things could not have gotten more strange in this day, then they would have definitely been wrong.

Ron watched the light haired and dark haired teenagers fight. 'So opposites do attract...'

After several minutes, a strange light filled the entire of Hogsmeade. The light, which seemed like it originated from the duo, seemed to be filled with a power he had never felt before. When the radiance finally dissipated, Ron saw the two wavering adolescents and could only look at them in awe.

Both students looked like they had been punched in the stomach one too many times. They were trying to steady themselves, but their efforts seemed fruitless. The two looked like had gone through a growth spurt with in that short five minutes. Harry was the taller of the two, but he swore that they were each a good half a foot taller. Both of them also looked a great deal more mature. Ron himself had to say that there were both quite handsome. Hermione would definitely like this change. The sudden change in appearance was not the only thing that caught Ron's eye though. They were each were dressed in majestic battle robes. Draco's were royal blue with black trim and silver buttons, and Harry's were a dark crimson red with gold trim. Both were velvet, with a top that went to mid-thigh and long pants underneath. On their backs were regal capes, each with a crest on them. When Ron looked close, he could have sworn that one was the Ravenclaw symbol and the other Gryffindor.

Around their waists were a belt that had a sheath attached to them. He could see the hilts of both swords Draco's were decorated with brilliant sapphires and Harry's with rubies. The hilt of Harry's sword looked so familiar, yet he just couldn't place it...

In both of their right hands were the objects that they were trying to steady themselves with. They looked like canes- no- could they be? They looked like staffs... But no one had seen a staff in hundreds of years.... And if all this weren't enough, beside Harry laid another sword... One that looked like it was glowing of it own accord and another staff, which seemed to radiate with its own power.

It was then that both boys collapsed, whether it was the shock of the transformation or the stress of the battle he knew not.

The battle! Ron hadn't completely forgot about it! But, he was in for another shocked when turned around to look for sign of struggle. Every death eater was lying unconscious on the ground, and those who were fortunate as he to be still standing were gawking like had only a few seconds ago. There were only a few he could see lying on the ground, counting those two innocent children who had been murdered just simply because they were there.

Ron began to make his way to his best friend, the one he had forgiven for running away, when he was stopped by the voice of his headmaster. 'He finally got here... took him long enough...'

"Everyone go back to the castle, now. There are carriages waiting to take you. When you get there, go to the Great Hall. You will find people who can take care of you injuries there. Mr. Weasley, I wish to see you before you leave."

'What did I do this time?' he thought as he made his way to the old man, who looked like he had aged considerably since the last time he saw him.

"Yes, headmaster?"

"Could you please tell me what when on here?"

Ron proceeded to describe the event he had seen take place before his very eyes that day.

"Thank you Mr. Weasley. Please go make your way up to the castle, through the tunnel. I think you have several students there who are waiting for their dismissal from their post."

"Thank you Professor." As Ron turned to head back, he heard Dumbledore's voice once again.

"And Mr. Weasley, one hundred points to Gryffindor for some of the finest leadership I have ever seen in my many years at Hogwarts."

And with that Ron walked away with one thought on his mind. This, his first battle in the war against good and evil, would be one that he would never forget.

To be continued....

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