Chapter 4 Feedback

Severus Snape remembered what he was like as a young man. He had a cold devotion to his skills, and an unwavering expectation that he would be the best. It was with this mind and the professionalism it created that forced the Potions Master to flinch when he heard… "Oh balls."

The man did not even check to see what the idiot did. He pivoted his foot and was out the door and on the ground. Heated air flew out of the room and burned over his clothes a second before it faded. The Potions Master swore loudly before he stood and looked back inside. His voice barely contained his anger. "What did you do Potter?"

Harry stood in front of his potion unscathed. It was a quick reaction that his wand was in his hand. His casting a shield in time saved him from serious injury. Harry exhaled in relief before lowering his wand. After looking over the steps to the potion, he growled out, "I didn't do anything wrong! The maneater saliva must have been contaminated. Check the supply while I clean this up!" Harry gave a huff while he started several waves of his wand to summon the sawdust from the corner to cover the mess to make the spill inert.

Severus walked over to the cupboards and swore silently while looking for the vials of Maneater blossom Saliva. He cast a spell on each vial and threw out three that were not filtered properly from the suppler. After a moment he exhaled and turned to the boy who was cleaning and swearing at the mess. A few seconds broke him of what ever thoughts were going through his mind as the door was knocked on and the head of a blue haired girl stuck her nose in. Severus scowled as intruder's nose was shaped like his. "What gives us the pleasure of your visit this evening Miss Tonks?"

Tonks smiled widely at the mess which made Harry scowl at her. She tilted her head and nodded when Harry's back was turned. Severus nodded in return. "Nothing Old Snappy. I just wanted to see how my favorite little ball of hair was doing with his free time."

"Tonks, please don't say it like that. I have no dreams of being a potion master. I just need to do this so I won't have to take the potions class this year." Tonks smiled before turning to the old man.

"So is he getting close to passing?" Her voice oozed with smugness.

"To qualify for what passes as school board regulations, he does. It was luck that I am not on that board. Or none of the idiots in the classes I teach would get a passing grade in this science." Professor Snape removed his gloves after washing them in the basin then turned to Tonks while still looking at Harry clean. "The headmaster has encouraged me to accelerate the boys education for potions now that he has chosen potions as his second subject. Even if he fails, it is one less class he will be behind if he is to remain in quarantine all year. I had not expected the brat to cover so much ground when he had days focusing on the art."

Tonks nodded and smiled. Secretly she whispered back to him. "It was you that suggested he take the test wasn't it?"

Severus scowled at Potter's back. He did not bother to turn to Tonks when he started. "If a nomination is all it would take for me to finally remove Potter from my classroom. This is only a little price to pay."

Harry just gave a huff while scrapping up the remains into a pail with a gloved hand. While it was inert to physical contact, he knew better than to cast a spell on the slimy substance. Twice was already enough to not want to try and cast a spell to clean up a potions mess.

When Harry stood, he turned to Tonks. "How are you and Bill? I haven't seen much of you two in the past two days."

Tonks grinned guiltily. "Yeah, about that. Sorry we haven't been visiting. Bill had to go visit Charlie and the family. Oh, Ron says sorry for not sending you something for your birthday. It was funny now that I think about it. Mrs. Weasley is so caught up with Charlie's potential job problem that she forgot about you."

Harry gave her an irritated look. "Thanks." The teen replied flatly. After looking at Tonks and thinking on it, he looked over to his professor. "I think I am going to finish this up and get some air. We can try again tomorrow and then talk to the board tomorrow night so I may be tested for potions and charms."

Severus nodded at the teen and turned away. "Remember to review your Charms work. You have two exams before the first day of schooling." Tonks watched the old man leave and looked back to Harry. He slipped on a new pair of dragon hide gloves and had already set the cauldron on its side over a sink.

"Since when did you both start being civil?" It took Harry several moments to hear what she asked. He pulled his gloved hands out of the cauldron he was cleaning and hmm'ed.

"I don't think we are civil to each other. It's more like we have an understanding. And we both agreed to stop being childish about it." Tonks looked at him before impatiently asking.

"About what?"

"Hating each other."

-o-

The woman's robes billowed from the wind forcing her to hug herself against the cooling air. The open arches that over looked the paddock and the pitch were several floors above ground and allowed an out door lookout to the western side of the castle. Tonks watched Harry fly over the quidditch pitch for twenty minutes before Snape snapped his heels next to her. After another moment of watching Tonks finally asked, "Any idea what he has been doing?"

Severus looked at the boy and felt the twinge to glare at the flying figure. "No."

"Albus doesn't seem too concerned about his lack of trances."

"That doesn't mean we should trust his judgment. After all, he trusted me."

Tonks just looked at him. "He did. And you are still here." Tonks turned away but she could feel Severus' gaze follow her. When she was half way down the corridor she shouted behind her, "Severus. Bill- He trusts you. So I will trust you. Our job is important to us. Just remember that when we go in tonight." With that, Tonks walked down the stairs.

Severus stood at the window still watching the boy fly. He scowled to himself. "This would be easier if you weren't so adamant about involving Potter."

-o-

Harry laughed while he felt the force the blood drain from his face with the change in altitude. His hands felt like they loosened for a moment before they reaffirmed their grip on the broom. Harry spun his broom into tight circles while spinning towards the ground. He pulled up quickly while he lost his breath and lowered the broom grazing the grass of the pitch. Blades of grass flew into the air in his wake.

"Hey Harry!" The transparent body burst out of the ground and grabbed onto Harry neck. Harry was in mid shout before he screamed at the sudden obstacle. Harry pulled his broom into the air and dodged several bludgers before he turned towards the ground and did a feint into the earth where two bludgers embedded themselves with no escape. Harry turned around and noticed the other two bludgers were doing several circles on the other side of the pitch. The wizard heard cackling behind him and glared at Peeves. "That wasn't funny."

Peeves just cackled. "It was great! But the roman and the fairy are done talking."

"Did they say anything?" Harry pulled his broom to the back and landed in front of his door. He triggered the recovery spell placed on these specific bludgers by Dumbledore himself. They flew quietly into their case that promptly locked.

"Just that the pixie still wants you to join them." Harry sighed before scratching his head. "And they are curious about what you are doing." It was beginning to bother him that Tonks was so secretive about what the three of them were doing. It only made him more curious when Snape had joined them. While Peeves was a great observer when he wanted to be, the poltergeist could never be counted on to give all of the details of what he witnessed.

Harry smiled at a thought. He turned to Peeves while thinking about his own little victory. "I am not going to say a word about what I am doing until they can come clean. Tonks and Bill were great for the first few days, but now it's like I am just in a very big closet." Harry scratched his cheek at the thought before walking into his parlor.

"I can hardly wait to see what you can do with it when you finish it!" Peeves crowed.

Harry walked into the hall and through the connecting room. The door closed behind him. Peeves floated through the wall next to the door and looked at Harry. "I have a few ideas on how to have fun. But not until after first Hogsmeade weekend." Peeves chuckled before he zoomed into the quiditch locker in the next room.

An hour later found Harry sitting down in the dinning room. The teen started to count down to one. Harry allowed his mind to wander in attempt to let his mind go back to the state he first held the trance. He saw that the fire began to cover him, he held back his thoughts and kept the fire into a slow flame that was enough to cover his body. Harry stood up slowly and pulled out his wand. Blank unfocused eyes stayed forward when Harry said, "I think it's time to give those tests the good doctors left for me another try."

-o-

"That is my idea my lord." Wormtail knelt in front of his master quivering in fear and sweat rolling down his neck and forehead. Voldemort stood from his chair at the fire and thought for a moment.

"So be it Wormtail. That set back can give us much needed leverage. It would be good to remind the world why I am feared." Voldemort looked at the kneeling Wormtail and smiled at the man's legs shake from not being used to being on his knees. As it should be, the only time a death eater should be on his knees is in front of me. Tom exhaled before going to a small table and poured himself a glass of wine. "Go Wormtail, with the end of your next task tonight, you may start the 'extinction'."

Wormtail nodded gratefully before he left. When he was gone, Tom exhaled the alcohol. It filled his mouth with berries and wood. He set down the glass and left the room. The fire in the fireplace blinked out in a sudden draft. The doors closed behind him and Tom nodded at his guard. "We leave now for our meeting. This night will end well for us, now that our plans are starting."

-o-

As his Lord commanded him, Julius found the small village that was at the foot of some old ruins. He dressed in a sleeveless shirt with his dark mark proudly adorned on his arm. Slacks that looked like they were left from a suit clasped against his legs and brown boots announced his steps. He wanted to make the right impression on his clients.

Several women stood guard to the village. Each wore heavy cloaks and held wands at the ready. Julius stood in front of them. "My Lord has sent me in his stead for these negotiations." Two of the women looked insulted but their leader nodded.

"Then let's not keep Goliath waiting. Most of the clan is agitated as it is." Julius looked at the women in question but they answered before he asked. "We are human. We are just devoted." The teenager nodded before following her into a large hall that was reassembled from the ruins. The young man smirked at the canopy that was over head. He knew they would want assurances, but to go so far made him want to laugh.

It was just as his master said, 'If you are not apart of their clan, you will not be trusted.' The hall was filled with clansmen. Each had long hair and large bodies. Most held no malice. But the teen could feel it come from someone at the main table. He recognized Goliath from his lords' description and noticed that the malice was coming from the leaders' guard. If there was already a dislike for him the better it will be. Julius sat down at the guest chair already planning on how best to anger these men.

-o-

Bill looked at the pictures carefully before he decided which target they would travel to first. Severus Snape and Nymphadora Tonks apparated with sharp cracks into Bill's spacious living room. "Where are we headed Bill?" Tonks said while taking off her jacket before reaching for the closet. Bill saw both Tonks and Snape grab their cloaks. Bill wondered about this excursion. He felt it was going to be different. Bill slid on his cloak and fastened it around his shoulders. He handed the two the picture and pointed to the map. Tonks whistled. "That's cutting it close isn't it? That's going to be aggressive territory."

Bill smiled before he reached for his hood. "Anything to keep this war among the humans."

-o-

Rocks were accosted by the water every few seconds. The night was cold, and the silence was cut from a rasp of a breath. A cloud of hot air puffed out of the jackal's mouth. He grunted before he made his way across the shore. Sand parted for him and water began to fall into the new opening. The sand split to reveal an ancient building. The jackal headed monster entered inside and the sand closed behind him.

The Jackal who used to be known as Anubis traveled through several long halls. Splashes and cracks were ignored as it stepped through the slick sediment filled floors. The small mineral deposits that were slowly creating a coral inside the halls were crushed underfoot. At the end of the hall Anubis found a door that was sealed. The Jackal looked at the door and touched it tenderly. Finally, the god stepped back and pulled out twin knives. With a grunt he forced one into the stone door. The blade penetrated several millimeters before he pulled the second knife and ripped it across the edge of the embedded knife. The edge of each blade gave a vibrant green light and the knife sunk to the hilt into the door. When the green light faded the knives were tucked back under the Jackal's clothing and he entered the open passage.

Anubis looked around the new room. The room had no ceiling, but enchantments blanketing the sky like a domed roof.

Anubis looked over his shoulder to the entrance as it closed behind him. A long black finger traced several hieroglyphs that were lit by moonlight. Anubis traced his fingers over three hieroglyphs and the magic over head disappeared letting the cold air and the sounds of the coast come pouring in. The moonlight seemed to be brighter now that the magic was gone.

In another room Anubis looked at a wall and it crumbled under his touch. He smelled something foul in the air and his mouth sneered baring teeth. Some thing had been living in these tunnels in recent years.

Distant rustling sounds were ignored but Anubis walked more cautiously.

-o-

The boy with brown hair looked at the men circling him with no sense of alarm. He sat on the table with his arms crossed while smiling to himself. The man Goliath backed out as Voldemort knew he would. Julius gave the new list of demands immediately when the man started to reconsider. "Those are the terms Goliath. My master wants your submission and in turn will provide you with prime breeding grounds that you are to share with our second tenants. You will need to submit a piece of flesh as sign of your commitment." Julius said in his pre-memorized speech. The teen uncrossed his arms paying no concern at the man's anger. "Should you not voluntarily submit to my master, and default your pack and your followers, I have been instructed to use force. This is the price and penalty for backing out of our agreement." The boy looked up at the man and the sounds of growls that encircled him.

Goliath was a tall man with a barrel chest. He snarled and foamed at the order. "If Voldemort insults us with sending a mere boy for this meeting, I see no reason why not to send our reply stuffed in your head!" One of the men behind Goliath pulled a rope that attached itself to the canopy covering that operated as the roof and let the full moon hit the group. Within seconds howls filled the small chamber.

Julius sighed slightly disappointed, he had hoped that they would let him tease them longer. The teen pulled his wand. But was stopped when a werewolf ran up and tried to bite his wand arm. There was a sudden clank and the wolf yelped in pain before it let go and moved away. Julius brushed off the blood that sputtered from the wolf's mouth in its attempt to bite him. The skin of his arm returned from a bronze metal back to soft flesh. Julius glanced at the group as they surrounded him. "Looks like I will have to appeal to your animal nature like my lord said and become your pack leader." The werewolves growled at that before they charged.

-o-

Voldemort's crimson eyes stared at the dark creature in front of him. There was a slight hiss and the new partner relented his posturing. "Very well Voldemort. The Northern tribes will help you take control of the Auror stations." Voldemort gave a grim smile. Fanged smiles greeted his. "When can we expect payment?"

"We will begin the collection with in the week, and your grounds will be prepared with in the next two months." The vampire nodded before he hissed at his clansmen. A black shroud enveloped the thirteen vampires before they disappeared with the smell of sulfur.

Rudolfus stood steadfast next to his master before exhaling. "Forgive me my lord. I was uncomfortable the whole time."

Tom gave an amused chuckle before he folded his hands in his lap. "Let us depart. With this business concluded, we still need to have the new ones perform their duties. I sent an envoy to speak with the wolf tribes.

The group of three left the building behind. Voldemort inwardly smiled, already nodding to the future location of the grounds. It would be perfect. Voldemort felt the summer air heat his cold skin. With a flick of his fingers the Voldemort and his escorts were gone.

-o-

Harry let the room well enough alone. He was surprised how easy it was once he understood what he was doing. The air thickened and then thinned at his command. But it was not the air he was concentrating on. Harry let go of the thoughts that held the air still and nodded already knowing the huge difference his body felt. "I can show the Headmaster tomorrow." Harry put away his wand and decided to finish his scroll assignment. It would be the last one he did for care of magical creatures.

The clocked ticked by and rang making midnight. It suddenly occurred to half dozing Harry he could go near Hedwig and probably write to Susan again. But the energy was not there for him to act on his sudden impulse. Seconds later Harry was in a blissful sleep.

-o-

Anubis set down his hands on the floor and lowered his head to the ground. His forehead brushed the stone and he murmured several words. When he stood again, the wall that held a pedestal fell into the ground. The final room was illuminated by the moon and the stone tiles reflected the light. Anubis took the small stone and let it sit in his hand. Satisfied with the completed mission, he growled. Four minutes of meandering through the tunnels allowed him to hear the sounds of yelps and moans near a different exit.

-o-

The teen didn't know when it appeared. The dog head let out a sound that came from the back of its throat. The sound resonated into a large deep growl. Julius turned from the downed werewolves. After a glance at the new comer, the boy looked at Goliath, the old leader. The wolf growled but lowered its tail between its legs and left the room with the rest of the injured pack following behind.

The stare of the monster burned against Julius's back. When the teen looked at it, the dog head guttered out a weird noise that sounded like words. The boy raised his eyebrows.

"I guess a bloke like you don't speak proper English then." The teenager lowered both arms to his sides and felt his wand at his hip itching to go into his hand. "But it's worth a shot to ask who you are."

Another thing appeared next to Julius, this one had an eagle head. The eagle head suddenly screeched getting death eater's attention. The teen felt his body become alarmed at the second presence. He did not feel a presence from either of the two weird beings In what Julius realized was an actual language, he gathered eagle head was giving him a demand. The eagle head moved its hand to its hip grasping a small cylinder. The cylinder extended into a long pole and a large crescent blade appeared at the end.

"Well I supposed I should make my leave then. Hope you er- gentlemen have a grand time here in the slums." The teen raised his wand to apparate. His body flickered for a moment and he heard a guttural laugh from a third figure that appeared behind him. Julius moved quickly away from him as the new monster walked closer to him.

The monster with the long nose sneered around his drooping snout. "Wehr iz tah skool?" The teen pulled his wand.

"Avada Kadava!" the death curse hit the god Seti dead on in the chest. The Muzzled god looked at his chest then a long angry hum came from the monster's chest. The shock of seeing the monster still stand almost killed the death eater as the bird's blade nearly took of his head. Julius jumped back and silently looked around the room realizing how small and narrow it had been. It never felt so small when fighting the werewolves. Julius needed to get out of the room quickly. The dog face was behind him and the bird and weird monster were on his left. Several dodges later the teenager realized they kept reaching for his marked arm. This got his attention and he pulled it close to his body unsure what they might do if they got a hold of it. He had earned that mark, he wasn't going to loose it now.

After another survey of the room, he saw one of the monsters shoving a curtain aside. Julius cursed himself when he realized he had free sky to use as an escape. The teen made a run for the end of the room with the three monsters running after him. Julius brandished his wand in three sweeps and the ground ahead of him cracked. The death eater jumped into the air as the ground rose skyward. Julius watched as the three monsters stopped at the new pillar. The teen knew he had to get high enough to apparate if those things had a field erected around the room. He tried several times as he poured magic into the pillar making it taller.

There was a sudden crack and the boy almost fell off the narrow pillar. He grabbed a hold of the edge and saw that the three monsters taking turns punching his tower to topple it over. Julius inhaled and new he had to apparate. He concentrated for a moment and apparated. Moments later the pillar fell tearing through the old buildings.

At the base of the pillar a single werewolf in his human form had stayed behind to watch the fight. He had remained hidden from sight and moonlight. Anubis disappeared in a whisp of smoke before appearing with its hand around the wolf's neck. "Yowr tribz mahd a deeeel. Speeehk!"

"I don't know what you are talking about!. My clan just lost its leader, that boy is our leader now." Anubis was shadowed and the human werewolf saw the two other monsters surrounded him. "That's all I know! I have no idea who you are!"

Anubis lifted the wolf into the air and snarled at him. "Saqqara promis-ed yur kind wud protect our land in exchange for free-dom."

"I don't know who that is! My clan came from the baltics! I never heard of us dealing with wizards before the first wizard war!"

Seti moaned and spat. "Speak to your ancentz. They will know! Magic learns your language fast." Seti spoke quickening his message. "We will find your clan ready for your trespasses!"

Horace placed a hand on Anubis' hand telling him to release the cursed human. When Anubis released the man, Horace looked at the weakened human. "Be prepared."
The three monsters looked at each other before disappearing into whisps of air.

-o-

Three tall shadows appeared with a soft gust of air on the roof of the apartment building. After a guttural growl, the door unlocked and Bill, Tonks and Severus apparated into the Weasley's apartment. Severus took his mask off and felt his body shift. After a moment of thinking he was alright, he collapsed.

Bill quickly knelt next to the older man to check his pulse. "Tonks! Help me get this armor off." Tonks removed her mask and cowl. Feathers from her cloak pulled themselves into the fabric and the beak of the mask moved into the crest of her hood. When her appearance was normal she quickly helped remove the older man's cloak then the charred vest then the wrappings that encircled Severus' arms and shoulders. The two carried the man to Bill's bed and placed ice over the large bruise that covered half the man's chest.

After a moment to make sure Severus was comfortable Bill looked over to Tonks. "Watch over him. I am getting Poppy."

Tonks nodded. She had spoken to Madame Pomfery before while going over the ingredients to prepare the potion that helped make her cloak. The young woman knew it was a miracle they never had an emergency before now. When Severus was finally sleeping quietly, Tonks paced back and fourth. The unconscious man's breathing was her only company. Twenty long minutes passed before Bill apparated straight into the room with Poppy right after.

"What happened Mr. Weasley." Pomfery leaned over the Potion's master.

"This was Severus' first run. We ran into some kid who wore the death mark. When we confronted him, the kid tried to kill Severus." Tonks looked at Severus' wound. "It was actually kinda scary to watch the kid cast a death curse so fast. Severus was hit hard but his armor held. We fought the kid for a while trying to get his arm."

Pomfery scowled. Her expert hands ran through her bag. "Why on earth did you want to get a hold of his mark." Bill shook his head with a slight amused look on his face. Pomfery scowled again. Bill learned in his time at Hogwarts that if Pomfery could scowl while checking on a patient the patient was not in danger.

"He is going to be alright then?"

Pomfery finally stopped and placed a large amount of salve over the bruise. "He is fine physically. I don't know what kind of armor can stop a forbidden curse, but it must have worked well. But I would like you to talk to him for a while, get him thinking of positive memories. The death curse is soul magic, and will still have negative affects like any other soul magic." After a moment of thought, Pomfery added, "He seems as fine as Harry Potter did when I examined him as a baby."

Bill nodded his thanks and the woman huffed before packing her things. "If you need anything else be sure to inform me. However, please be more discreet. Classes will be starting soon, and I don't think Albus would like it if his nurse goes missing randomly at night."

Bill and Tonks left the room and closed the door behind them to let the man rest. Tonks pulled Severus's armor onto the table and touched it gently with her bare hand. "It looks like its dead. Well, deader than normal." She amended quickly.

Bill cast an Egyptian charm over the armor. "Yeah the armor died. No way we can reanimate it. Looks like I am going to have to go get some more supplies." Tonks shivered before remembering she was still wearing hers. She snapped off the bindings and shrugged out of it before shivering again.

"Yeah that thing gives me the willies."

"I rather you get the willies than die Tonks." The girl blushed slightly.

-o-

A scream was cut off as soon as it started. "Shut up. You want to alert everyone here?" Tenen smirked down to the unconscious wizard at his feet. After a moment he pointed his wand at a door and was satisfied this was the room he was looking for. The Death Eater looked around the room and found the book where he saw it last time. He flexed his hand at the memory. The teen set down the rectangular box he was carrying. It opened with a hiss. Tenen took Voldemorts fore arm and the clutching hand relaxed slightly. The dark haired boy looked at his masters hand truly amazed. When Voldemort's hand successfully removed the book from the shelf the death eater grinned from ear to ear.

Tenen paused not wanting to touch the book even after it was off the shelf. After a moment he conjured a leather bag and slipped the book, then after sealing Voldemort's arm in the box, it too was placed in the bag.

Wormtail waited at the door and noticed the man on the floor. "You let him live?" Tenen smiled before tapping his forehead that had the fake scar. The older man nodded solemnly. Outside, the young death eater noticed the wizards he killed were no longer there. When the boy wasn't' following, Wormtail called. "Tenen, we are just waiting for you." The teen inclined his head towards the leader.

"What happened to the men on the floor?"

Wormtail sweated slightly from his latest job. "Our lord wanted us to send a message. It has been sent. Let's go." A crack shook the air and Tenen raised his eyebrows in confusion but followed as Andrew followed their temporary leader. Tenen noticed the blood on the mans' hands. Tenen gave a final parting look to the ministry. He didn't expect to return anytime soon.

The first shift workers arrived at the Ministry an hour later. Shouts echoed through the Ministry as officers from various departments arrived to work. Where the fountain stood; thirteen pikes embedded themselves into the tiles. Blood covered each pike but there was no sign of bodies. An Auror who arrived at the scene paled before he shouted orders to investigate the employee's homes. The Auror recognized the 'bloody pike' as Voldemort's death sentence. That morning Aurors found each family of the ministry employees dead.

The Aurors had been running on full staff for an hour that morning before anyone thought it was safe enough to allow the Minister out of his secured home. A new Auror was given the privilege of fire calling the man's home. The minister scowled at his lack of information, but disregarded it while reading the morning addition prophet three hours later. The news of the muggle born cleansing will likely trigger a panic. By 10a.m. Minister Fudge was already speaking to reporters and wizarding wireless ensuring the safety of the people. He followed through with his private meeting with Madame Bones and immediately made her suggestions policy.

Fudge noted the small number of reporters, and of the few that were present were scared. The Minister found out after the press conference that several news reporters went into hiding having receiving threats that morning. The minister made a single statement to the likeness of one of the attackers to Harry Potter. "At this time we do not believe Harry Potter was a participant in this attack." The man was not a fool when his head was on straight. He understood the inherent danger of having Harry Potter a possible suspect. He had aurors confirm the students' location that morning. The Headmaster provided him with the direct log from Hogwarts attendance records stating Harry Potter had not left the school grounds in days. With that concern aside his new challenge was the safety of the few brave reporters had already prepared themselves for the worst when they published their articles the day of the attack. Auror guards were silently observing the writers who published their articles and the offices of the press.

-o-

Harry sat under the shade of the fall trees. His legs were pressed to his chest and his wand was already in hand. Harry kept his breath steady as he stood up to face his headmaster. He exhaled quietly to himself. "Thank you for seeing me Headmaster."

Albus Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the title. "I have intended to speak to you sooner but you have been indisposed to see me. The students train arrives tonight. May I ask what has had your attention that you ignored my inquiries on the state of your health?" The elder man noted the wand in Harry's hand and noticed that Harry had chosen their meeting well away from the castle in the back court yard gardens.

"Professor, forgive me for being so forward, but I believe it would be easier to explain if you will duel with me just once." Harry raised his wand and discarded his robes leaving a short sleeve shirt and loose pants. "You will understand before we finish."

Dumbledore stroked his beard before nodding at Harry's determined eyes. His wand floated from his robes to his left hand. "Very well Harry, I will follow your lead. But be aware that if you loose control like you have done in the castle I will knock you unconscious." Harry gave a slightly waning smile.

Harry Potter flicked his wrist. "Expelliarmus" Albus batted away the spell with his wand before completing the arch his wand made. "Infractus Solum" The ground beneath Harry shook and cracked. Harry quickly moved from the quaking ground to the stone slabs of the deck. The teen raised his wand. "Stupefy" Albus watched Harry as the spell sent in his direction seemed stronger than the previous one. The headmaster solidly blocked the spell with a shield. At the downward slash of the shield the old man twisted his wand and pointed it at Harry. Outloud Albus stated "Pulsus." Harry was blown back by a large force of wind before he caught himself and landed on his feet. He fell to the ground from the off balance of the landing. As Harry stood up, the teen did several wand motions. "Velox Unda" Albus took four hasty steps back before water fell like a torrent in the spot he stood. Albus looked levelly at the boy. The headmaster responded with a strong disarming spell.

Harry found his chance. He cast a protego charm on himself. The headmasters spell stopped in front of the boy. Albus only had a moment to see the sudden strength in the shield spell before Harry lashed his wand. "Expelliarmus." Albus cast another shield in time for Harry's spell to crash into it, breaking the shield. Albus raised his hand at the teen to stop.

"I think I understand what you are trying to show me Harry. Your magic is changing its potency."

Harry nodded feeling slightly winded. "It's not just changing potency at random professor. I am directing it to change my magic's ability to focus. One of the major lessons every teacher grinds into our heads is 'magic is dependant on intent and focus'. I think some time during the summer I accidently focused my magic on fighting Voldemort during my numerous dreams. The problem was, I could not act on it."

The discussion was leading to more familiar territory for the headmaster. "I understand a little more clearly of what was happening to you during your break. You were getting magic feed back." Harry did not know it was if that was the specific term but nodded at the approximate definition.

Harry put away his wand and sat back under the shade. The sun was just breaking past afternoon and Harry needed to cool off. "When my magic was focused its like it's a stream, it continues to build until it breaks."

Albus smiled at the boy. "Will you be able to keep yourself focused during the school year to not be a threat to the other students?"

Harry nodded feeling successful in explaining himself. Harry then remembered something else. "Professor may I ask a favor?"

Albus looked at the young man before nodding for Harry to continue. "May I still stay in the room you have assigned me?"

"What of your House Harry?"

"Professor, I think this sickness is a chance for me to break away from some of the responsibilities I have had until now. If I am going to have to find Tom, then I will need to focus on finishing Hogwarts as soon as possible. No quiditch, no DA. I can enjoy flying when I need to relax, but I want to finish my education by the end of this next school year. I can't afford to stay and be as relaxed as I have been. I don't want another death on my hands by the end of this year."

Albus started walking. He motioned with his hand for Harry to follow. "What of your friends? I know you are close to finishing your potions and charms work needed for the requisite to graduate, so I do not question your ability Harry."

Harry smiled before the look saddened. "The way they are… I don't think they can safely follow me. And they would follow me if I let them." Harry placed his hands in his pockets. "Professor Dumbledore, they would die for me. I don't want them to die for me. I would rather they lived for me. I will not have much time for that."

Albus gave a side long glance. "Are you sure you are not just giving up on having a life?"

Harry slowed and finally stopped. Professor Dumbledore turned around to look at the young student. "Professor… you have sheltered me enough. I need to grow." Sad eyes looked back at the headmaster.

Albus Dumbledore sighed before nodding. "Very well. I will allow your request but only on the condition that you see me weekly for us to explore the range of your new ability to refocus your magic.

Harry smiled. A real smile that Albus found was infectious. "Thank you professor."

-o-

Tom read the parchment several more times. The paper held the list of death eaters and their place of employment. Tom smiled slightly. His sphere of influence received a huge blow with the expulsion of the Malfoy from his ranks. He had held the most power thanks to his ear with the minister. Tom shook his head at the memory of Malfoy. The stupid man. Tom thought to himself.

Tom stood with the paper in hand and pushed passed a muggle slave. The woman woodenly fell to the ground before picking herself up and resuming the job she was instructed through the imperio curse. Tom entered the door at the base of a flight of stairs and nodded at Bella. The woman followed her master with a smile and a hum. "Bellatrix I would like you to go to the cottage and inform the boys they will need to become familiar with Hogwarts. I want them to check on a few guests in Dumbledore's protection."

The woman laughed at the list. Tom turned around thinking of his death marks. As Voldemort, he knew that the boys would be the most used among his death eaters. They had neither occupations nor any other skills that would widen his control base, his sphere of influence.

Tom smiled as he thought up of the maps and directions he would give the four youngest death eaters.

-o-

Susan set down her luggage in the train compartment. In the end, she never was able to get any information to contact Harry. Tonks had disappeared off the face of the earth, and her aunt Ami said to leave the boy alone until the school year starts. Susan was assured Harry would be returning to Hogwarts.

Susan would not have been so concerned if it was not for the Prophet. Several conflicting reports were posted in the paper daily. Columnists reported sightings of Harry Potter in the attack against the Ministry. Others stated that former Death Eaters were making a statement and mocked the boy who lived. One opinions author wrote with a practicality stating most children Harry's age would not even know what the message made in the ministry would mean. Susan had to acknowledge that author. Susan had to pry that information from her Aunt.

What concerned Susan the most was the weary looks her house mates gave when she asked if they saw Harry shortly after the train started to move. The looks match many students in the other houses. The only beacon of light among those looks was Harry's closest friends Hermione and Ron. Unfortunately Hermione simply said she trusted Harry would be safe where ever he was. Ron agreed. They had both been reassured by the order Aunt Ami told her about that Harry was safe. Susan was surprised they accepted that explanation with out question but left it be. Hermione seemed very intent on writing in her scroll with a history book open next to her. Ron sat across from her with his house mate Dean.

When Susan closed the door she waited by the entrance and heard Ron and Hermione murmur their curiosity of Susan's own interest in Harry. Susan wondered at that. Had Harry not told anyone of their correspondence?

More thoughts filtered into her mind by the time she entered her own car. Were the letters a joke? Did he care? Was he safe? Why did he not tell anyone of their letters? Was she even writing to Harry the whole time? Susan felt nauseous at that final thought.

Susan felt defeated and sat quietly in her seat. Several hours later the red haired girl sighed ignoring her friend's complaints. The chatter among the girls was of their vacations. Susan's mind immediately went to her letters she had safe in her trunk in a hidden compartment. She responded answers of her vacation with talks her aunt shared with her over the summer. Finally her friends let her off. Susan looked out the window and saw the forest pass by. Pops of the exploding snaps game ran together with the shuffling of the cars as they ran over the railroad. She dozed the rest of the way.

Susan slowly got dressed when she was woken up by her friends. As the Hufflepuff got dressed she was swiftly loosing the courage to even speak to Harry when she see's him. She lagged behind her friends who all rushed to a carriage. She bumped into two people in a row before deciding to move to the least crowded part of the platform to find her friends she lost during the exit of the train.

"Susan." Susan jerked her head up. Harry stood on the platform in the center of empty space. Unsure, Susan said a shy hello. Harry's smile never faltered. He spread his arms. "I was expecting a hug after all those times you said you would jump me."

Susan sighed in relief and was within arms reach in seconds. Harry and Susan gave each other a hug that turned into a squeeze in the middle of their embrace. Both felt the assurance that the other missed them. Susan was the first to release but only when Harry cleared his through to speak. "I am sorry about not writing to you sooner. I had actually written a reply letter to you a few weeks ago but it got burned then a lot of things just seemed to happen at once."

Susan nodded assured he would tell her later. The two walked closely towards the carriages. "Is there something I should know?" Susan looked at him before he gestured to others that looked at him.

"Have you read the Prophet with the attack at the ministry?"

Harry nudged her with his arm. "You mean the one that people thought I was there? I was already interrogated and Hogwarts recorded me not leaving the school for almost a month now. I have been clear of suspicions by the ministry at least. Professor Dumbledore thinks that who ever did the attacks wants the ministry to have doubts about their poster child." Harry pointed to himself with his best Lockhart impersonation.

Susan laughed. "Thanks for making me laugh. I needed that. I was really getting nervous with how long we haven't made contact with each other."

Harry looked at her and let his hand graze hers. "So was I." a seconds pause and he added. "You are right. This is infinitely better than writing to each other."

Susan smiled back and took his hand. "It is."

-o-

Standing five people behind Harry and Susan, Hermione and Ron watched the scene with interest. "That explains a lot." Ron murmured to himself. He watched the pair load into an empty carriage.

Hermione giggled out, "I can't wait to hear how they met." Ron started moving forward to catch up to the couple. He was halted in mid-step. "Let's leave them be Ron." Hermione started walking in the opposite direction. "I am sure your sister has a carriage we can ride in."

"But I thought you said you couldn't wait to hear how they met?"

Hermione smiled sweetly before hooking her arm with his and pulling them away from Harry. "That doesn't mean I that I need to know how they met now. We'll find out soon enough." Ron gave a confused grunt as he was pushed up into the carriage with his sister, Luna and Neville.

- - - End Chapter 4 Feedback - - -

A/N: OK! Its been like 3 years since I have written anything. I am going to start writing again, but I am a different person than the writer I was in 2006. and the writer who started the series in 2004. If you do ever read those train wrecks of a stories that are called Voldemort's Bane, and the Prisoner's Predictions, I am sorry for how the grammar and writing are not up to par that this story will be, I have edited some chapters already, but both are monsters, and trying to edit them now would be an undertaking I am not prepared for in favor of writing something completely new.

I have been told they are good stories, just not well written. For that I am sorry. For people who actually remember any of my stories, welcome back. It's good to be home.