Unbent, Unbound and Unbroken

Disclaimer: Don't Own Harry Potter

A/N: Don't give me too much grief about the way I treat Hermione at first in this story. She may have been one of Harry's best friends, but her overall personality irks me. She's the type of character that I loved to hate ( teacher's pet/rule stickler) when I was in school and still do, even in college, so forgive me a little. You can be smart, but you don't have to be obnoxious about it. And there is an expression " Rules are meant to be broken" that Canon Hermione just doesn't seem to understand unless absolutely forced to acknowledge. Even though Harry/Hermione is my favorite pairing to read ( hypocrite yes?).

Prologue: Frozen Heart

"Everything grows cold

Stillness like a frozen lake

There will be no thaw"

Japanese Death Poem

Harry Potter sat uneasily on his bed, with his trunk packed. He was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Albus Dumbledore to pick him up, and preferably take him to the Burrow to be with his friends. It hadn't been an easy few weeks to say the least. The death of his godfather, Sirius Black was fresh on his mind everywhere he went. Every time he went to sleep.

Harry ran his fingers through his raven black hair. I wonder how Ron and Hermione are doing? Especially Hermione, that curse was pretty evil looking. Harry thought with a grimace. His friends hadn't written to him since the end of school. Harry imagined that Hermione had a pass, but Ron had been cleared just before school had let out. This bugged him.

Just then, he saw a streetlight flicker out. His mind soared, Dumbledore! Harry hurriedly ran out, getting a nice yell from his Uncle, " I thought that freaky old guy was supposed to pick you up by now, boy!"

Harry ignored him, and sat down in the living room. Shortly, Aunt Petunia shouted, " The streetlights outside are all out!"

Then came a soft knock on the door. Harry made sure that he was the one to answer. In the doorway, wearing truly cosmic robes that had dancing stars on them, was Albus Dumbledore. His soft blue eyes alight with twinkling light. He smiled softly, " Good evening, Harry, Mr. Dursley, Mrs. Dursley. I have come to…ah… alleviate the stress of your cousin from you. I am also here to discuss Harry's future. May I come in please?"

Vernon Dursley didn't look pleased, understatement, but didn't dare to defy Dumbledore. He'd heard Harry spout off enough drivel about the old man to know this was a man who truly exemplified the saying, " Meddle not in the Affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."

Dumbledore surveyed the living room for a few minutes, before taking a seat in Uncle Vernon's favorite recliner. He looked at Harry, " Is your trunk packed?"

Harry nodded. Dumbledore pulled out his wand, and gave it a whirl. Harry heard the wood creak as the trunk upstairs lifted off the wood and disappeared. Harry asked, " Where is it?"

Dumbledore frowned, " I'm sorry Harry, but I cannot tell you that right now. We must wait until after the unsavory business with your aunt and uncle is concluded."

The tone in his voice told Harry that something was wrong. That he probably wasn't going to the Burrow. He began to worry that it had been attacked…

Like he was reading his mind, probably via Legillimency, Dumbledore spoke up, " You are correct, Harry. You will not be returning to the Burrow this year. No, there has not been an attack. If anything, this is worse, and I almost would have preferred they had died in noble battle than what has actually happened…"

Harry was about to ask, but Dumbledore suddenly changed the subject, " Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, sixteen years ago, I left Harry on your doorstep with the hope that you would raise him as one of your own. Instead, he was not. He has suffered more by your hands than by the hands of the Dark Lord. This will one day be atoned for. But it is not the bearing of mortal men to levy judgment on the wicked. Instead, I am here to inform you that come this day, July 31st, of next year, Harry Potter will come of age in the Wizarding world, and will no longer be required to live in this house."

Petunia muttered, " No."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, " No what?"

" Dudley will be eighteen in two years. He's older than Harry."

Dumbledore sighed, " Alas, in the Wizarding World, we come of age at seventeen, not eighteen. Though I do think that the extra year might do some wizards and witches some good, that isn't the point. The main point is, is that I am gravely disappointed in your treatment of Harry over the years. They are the absolute opposite of what I had hoped. I should have listened to my Deputy Headmistress, and simply burned this place to the ground."

The venom in Dumbledore's words surprised Harry. Normally, Dumbledore angry was enough to scare the hell out of anyone, but Harry felt an odd satisfaction at the Headmaster's words. Dumbledore continued, " Nonetheless, I am giving you the chance to continue your life without the worry of ever seeing Harry again. It has come to my attention that the blood wards that Harry was sent here to charge for both his and your protection, have failed. I have no choice but to remove him now. If you want, I can put you all under intense obliviation, so that you may never remember having Harry here."

Harry wasn't surprised at all that his Aunt and Uncle nodded their consent to being Obliviated. But Dudley surprised him, " I will not be obliviated, whatever that is. While I've never been nice to Harry, I owe him my life, and apparently my soul. To that end, I would offer to repay this debt."

Dumbledore explained, " It appears, that you are a very weak wizard in your own right, Dudley. Weak enough to be a squib. Just enough of a trace to set off Ministry alarms at your birth, but nothing more. I'm guessing you figured out what Dementors were?"

" I stole one of Harry's books and looked them up."

Harry's face flushed in anger, but held himself in check. Dumbledore smiled, " So this isn't a complete din of buffoonery. I am slightly pleased at that. I will see what I can do about your offer. A muggle by himself may not do much, but with the proper equipment, he may go far in the Wizarding world."

Dumbledore turned to Harry, " Are we ready?"

" Yes."

Dumbledore smiled, " Now, just give me a few moments to obliterate your aunt and uncle's memories, and we can get this show on the road."

Several moments later, they left. Dumbledore grabbed Harry's arm, " Have you ever Apparated before?"

Harry shook his head. Dumbledore smiled, " Steel yourself. It can be….riveting…the first time."

Riveting was not how Harry would have described it. Downright awful, like he was being squeezed through a tiny tube is more like it. Harry fell to his knees, gasping for air. Dumbledore smiled, " I warned you."

Harry coughed, and stood up. They were in front of what looked like a large Muggle Mansion. He asked, " Sir? Why are we here?"

Dumbledore smiled serenely, " You will find out in a moment, Harry."

Dumbledore knocked, and then gently opened the door. The inside was a mess. But a strangely cushy looking chair caught Harry's attention. He asked, " Seems like this place was attacked, but something doesn't seem right. Like this was staged. We looking for someone?"

Dumbledore saw Harry looking at the chair, " Very astute Harry. I think, we may have already found him."

Dumbledore bent over, and started poking the chair with his wand. Eventually, a walrus of a man melted out, choking, " Lord Albus! Watch where you're poking that thing would you?"

The man laid eyes on Harry, " Oh, so this is your master plan eh? Well, the answer is still no. I won't come back."

Dumbledore ignored the man, " Harry, this is an old associate of mine named Horace Slughorn. He used to teach at Hogwarts for several years, until he felt that the situation was becoming too hot for him, as it said in his letter of resignation."

Slughorn scowled, " And I stand by what I said! What is this, the twentieth straight year of a different DADA teacher? How many have died now under your watch?"

Dumbledore frowned, " Frankly, I don't count Crouch, Quirrel, and Umbridge. So actually none. Your point is?"

Slughorn was flustered, " My point is, is that that school of yours is too dangerous!"

Harry spoke up, " You speak as though you would know from experience? It can't be any more dangerous than trying to pretend to be a chair. If I almost figured it out within minutes of walking through the door, than what makes you think it would work on Death Eaters?"

Slughorn chuckled, " Well, the academic stories I've heard of you aren't exactly flattering, but I've heard that you do possess some cunning. More than the average Death Eater, I might say."

Harry scowled, " That isn't saying much. The Death Eater Intelligence Quotient is in negative numbers."

Dumbledore laughed softly. Slughorn glared, " I taught most of those Death Eaters you know."

" Then I don't know why we are here interviewing you for whatever job the Headmaster wants you for. You clearly don't look like a DADA teacher, and that's the only opening I can think of unless he finally fired Snape after all these years."

Dumbledore dispelled such a notion, " Professor Snape, Harry."

Harry scowled, his lifelong dream thwarted again. Slughorn seemed frustrated, " I'm a little surprised that Lily's son would speak so ill of me. I was her teacher you know. "

Harry's scowl deepened, " Then you would also know that the only thing I have to remember about my parents are Dementor nightmares and a small collection of pictures. I think the man has made up his mind, Professor."

Slughorn relented, " Fine, fine. I'll do it. Just, give me a little time to put some affairs in order. I expect my old office to be ready to go?"

" As soon as we can get its current occupant out, yes."

Dumbledore smiled, " Glad we could hammer that out. Come now Harry, there is much ado about nothing right now, and we must see to it."

Dumbledore led Harry out, and then Side-Apparated him out to a massive house he had never seen before. Dumbledore noticed Harry looking at it with awe, " Welcome to Potter Manor, Lord Potter. Let us enter shall we?"

Harry pressed his hand onto the door of manor. There was a large flash of light, and Harry heard Dumbledore muttering, " Hmm, I seem to recall coming here, but where exactly is here?"

Harry recognized the Fidelus Charm, and wrote, " Potter Manor is located ten miles north of Godric's Hollow,", based off a small road sign he saw not far away from the Manor. He handed it to Dumbledore, who smiled, " Now I remember. Let us go in shall we?"

With that, Harry entered into the home that his father should have been living in at the time of his death. The interior of the house was decorated with the Gryffindor colors, as could be expected of House Potter. But oddly, the Potter family crest was a large emerald P surrounded by silver lightning bolts. A house elf appeared, " Master Potter! How mays we serves you?"

" We? How many are here?"

The elf jumped up and down excitedly, " Roughly fifty, milord! My name is Atari, and my family has served yours for generations!"

Harry laughed, " Hermione's going to flip out when she finds out I have fifty house elves."

Dumbledore looked rather nervous and grim at the same time, " Ah, umm, about that Harry. Ms. Granger will not be finding out about your house elves. Like I have said, there is much ado about nothing here, though a hurt heart can destroy many things…."

Harry felt a sense of foreboding, " Atari, is there something to drink here?"

The house elf beamed, " Why yes! We has fifty year old, aged to perfection, red wine if Lord Potter be wanting that?"

Dumbledore nodded, so Harry answered, " Bring a bottle of the best and two glasses. I fear we may be needing them."

Dumbledore frowned, " Yes, we should continue this inside I think. That way, the wards will go back up."

They walked inside. Harry was lost at first, but he found a small study on the first floor that was comfortably furnished. Dumbledore sat down on the sofa, and, to Harry's surprise, stretched his legs out and laid down on the sofa. That was when Harry noticed the shriveled black hand. He made note to ask of it later.

Dumbledore sighed heavily, " It appears that your actions at the DOM have had a lasting, rather negative effect, on those who you would call your friends."

Harry's lip quivered slightly. He knew this wasn't going be nice. Dumbledore continued, " Well, the wards around your house, outside of the bloodwards that is, redirected your friends' mail to me. It is good that they did. All ten letters sent from Hermione Granger or any of the Weasleys, contained some sort of booby trap."

Harry clenched his fist in anger, but held on to some hope, " Is it possible that the letters were just intercepted?"

Dumbledore's frown grew sorrowful, " I am afraid not. My new instruments record the complete paths of the Owls going to your old house. It was a straight and true path. By the way, thank you for destroying my instruments at the end of last year. Gave me the opportunity to buy some new, improved ones."

Harry contemplated Dumbledore's words. The angrier he got, the colder the temperature in the room got. In fact, one of the House Elves started a fire in the fireplace. The fire began to turn blue. Dumbledore shivered, " Calm down Harry. I know this is a lot to put on you, but you must face the music, as they say. Your friends have betrayed you. This is irrefutable, and I believe that you should be receiving a Gringotts letter shortly about a restraining order being filed."

" RESTRAINING ORDER?"

" Please lower your voice Harry. I am an old man you know. "

Harry glared at Dumbledore, " I'm sorry, Professor, but this is the last in a multitude of straws! I won't stand for this! Ingrates! Ungrateful bastards! Filthy mud…."

Dumbledore pulled his wand on Harry, and cast a small calming spell on him. Dumbledore smiled, " Like to try again?"

Harry breathed in heavily, " Y-Yes. Thank you, Professor. Had I been here by myself, I probably would have done something stupid like Floo over to see what the heck is going on here!"

Dumbledore smiled softly, " I know what anger feels like, and given the loss of Sirius, this cannot be good on your mind. For that very purpose, I shall be staying here to teach you Occlumency up until a few days before school starts. Minerva can handle everything else. Trust me, Severus and I had some words about what happened last year."

" Good."

The discussion was interrupted by two letters appearing. Both were from Gringotts. He opened the largest one first.

" Dear Mr. Potter,

We at Gringotts have received word of a restraining order filed by a series of person with whom you have been associated with. We regret to inform you, that until you appear in person to argue your position on the matter, we have been forced to grant the order. From this day forth, unless repealed, you may not travel within one hundred feet of the following persons with knowledge of their positions and the intent to speak with them:

1 Ronald Billius Weasley

2 Ginevra Molly Weasley

3. Hermione Jane Granger

4. Neville Hadrada Longbottom

5. Luna Selene Lovegood

6. Bill Weasley

7 Fleur Delacour ( soon to be Weasley nee Delacour)

8. Molly Weasley nee Prewitt

9. Charles Weasley

10. Frederick Weasley

11 George Weasley.

As a result you are also banned from the following premises until further notice:

1 Weasley Wizarding Wheezes

2 The Burrow

3 Number 21 Steel Magnolia Drive

We warn that if you should violate these terms, you shall be treated to extreme pain, and an arrest warrant shall immediately be written. A percentage (20%) of your vaults shall also be seized. As such, we ask that you not act upon any desire for vengeance until after the Reading of the Will of Sirius Black, which is in three days. On that day, these Orders shall be granted a Grace period to allow for your travel.

Good day to you, and May your Gold ever grow!

Exemplar, Gringotts Director of Judicial Matters"

Harry was now seething with anger. Dumbledore smiled, " Don't worry Harry. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and I think that the Weasleys just made a big set of enemies. I assure you, when I broke this to the other teachers, they were quite….feisty in their attempts to get after the Weasleys and the others mentioned on this."

Harry sighed heavily. He re-read the list, and Dumbledore notice a tear falling down the cheek of the boy. It turned to ice as soon as it fell from his face. Harry whispered, " Even Luna and Neville! What were they thinking?"

Dumbledore quickly intervened, " We have reason to believe that Augusta Longbottom is under the Imperious Curse, so I've taken steps to remove Neville from her care. As for Ms. Lovegood, her family has always been a strange one. And you know that's saying something coming from a nutcase like me. But bear in mind, that this may or may not be their fault."

Harry spat out, " Guilty until proven innocent."

Dumbledore frowned. He was worried this might happen. Harry was not exactly known for his level temper ( as Dumbledore found out), and this might force him to recede into the cold shell that Tom Riddle had been when he had arrived at Hogwarts. This might not end well.

Harry chuckled softly, " Well, I'm guessing I should go to be soon shouldn't I ?"

Dumbledore glittered a little, " Yes you should. Might give yourself some time to calm down prior to having to face your fears in a couple of days."

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( Three Days Later…)

Since the goblins hadn't provided him a Portkey, which according to Dumbledore, they should have, Harry ended up having to make gratuitous use of his Grace Period. Considering that WWW was placed at the absolute most inopportune place ( directly in the middle of Main Street), he was pretty much guaranteed to have to waltz by.

He noticed a tingling sensation as he walked by. He also noticed that he had to struggle to look at the building, and that if he tried to stop, than his legs would get wobbly. He did hear a couple of his old classmates whispering some antagonistic remarks at him, but public opinion is so overrated these days.

When he entered Gringotts, several guards immediately walked up, and grabbed his arms. They practically carried him into the Director's office, as notated by a sign outside of his door. Harry found himself looking at the most fearsome goblin he had ever seen.

Director Ragnok was the tallest, burliest, and most intelligent of all the goblins in Gringotts. He was almost as tall as the average human at age twelve, and he carried four longswords on his back. His piercing eyes seemed to look right into Harry's soul. Ragnok sneered, " So, Lord Potter. Do you know why we are here?"

Harry nodded his head, " I believe your letter said this was about the restraining orders my former friends filed on me?"

Ragnok narrowed his eyes in scrutiny, " A smart human who actually reads our letters. Such a nice change. Yes, that is why we are here. As you know, the penalty for violating such an order is quite steep. Mr. Ronald Weasley stated that he didn't feel safe in your presence, that you were prone to hallucinations. Explanation?"

" I have never suffered from hallucinations. For the most part, I see the truth. My ability to see what Voldemort is planning has save lives. Including Mr. Weasley's father's."

Ragnok scratched a name off the list, " Good. Ms. Lovegood says that your sight is false, and that you should not be allowed to lead men to battle. Answer?"

" Luna never gave me any indication that she thought this way. After all, she did VOLUNTEER for the operation."

Ragnok nodded, scratching another name off, " It has been determined that Mr. Longbottom's request is invalid, due to his grandmother being under the Imperious. Now, Ms. Weasley states that she feels uncomfortable in your presence, because of your connection to the Dark Lord. Answer?"

" The truth will always set you free. But it is up to you to see the truth."

Ragnok smiled slightly, " Wise. Ms. Weasley is refuted. Ms. Granger says that she is insecure in your presence, because of reasons she would not state. We believe though, that it is because of the after effects of that curse she took. Response?"

" I can't answer for that which I don't know, now can I ? But I feel this may call for a proper introduction I might say."

Ragnok scratched the remaining names off, " The others were simply tagalongs, so we will not overview their statements. The orders are rescinded. Lord Potter has done nothing wrong. Now, onto another matter. You are Lord Potter, but that does not mean that everything is as it seems. It appears you have a cousin?"

" Dudley?"

Ragnok sneered, " Not the Muggle. We don't care about him. Seems that your father had a younger brother who once challenged him to a duel over the lordship of House Potter. He won, but never filed the paperwork for the transition. Thus, you are still Lord Potter. He has a daughter named Annalisa Potter. She is slightly older than you by about a month. She was attending Durmstrang, but will be attending Hogwarts for the rest of her schooling career."

Something's fishy about that. Harry thought as he narrowed his eyes. Ragnok appeared to know what he was thinking, " Her side of the family is known for its slightly darker tones than yours. The Potter Main Line is well known for being as pure as windblown snow, but the off lines aren't so pure."

Harry said, " I just hope she isn't a Death Eater."

Ragnok frowned, " It is certainly possible, but we don't think that side has fallen so far. Plus, the Dark Lord would be hard pressed to trust someone with the last name Potter."

" Good points. But I also thought that my best friends were Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger up until a few days ago when I received the letter. Anything is possible in this senseless Wizard World we live in."

Ragnok chuckled, " Someone who shares Goblin opinion! Anyway, let us continue on to the Black Will reading. Let us proceed to the Inheritance Room shall we?"

Harry nodded. Ragnok ordered some guards to guide Harry to the Room. No sooner did Harry walk in, did he see a collection the people he DIDN'T want to see right now. Ron and his family sat near the back. Malfoy and his mother sat at the front. Just about the only people he was happy to see were Lupin, Dumbledore, and Tonks.

Harry took a seat near the front, away from Malfoy, but still near the Will Reader. An ancient goblin walked in. He stepped up to the podium, and cleared his throat.

" My name is Silverspear. I will read the Will of Sirius Black, as dictated on July 5th, 1994."

Harry anticipated a rather anti-climatic Will, with everyone getting what they came for. The first surprise was with Narcissa Malfoy. With her marriage annulled, she was now a Black again. Thus, Malfoy was removed from contention for Lord Black's title. Then came Lupin. As was predictable, he received a large sum and a house from Sirius. Sirius ended up playing some jokes on the Weasleys, like leaving them fake houses and leprechaun gold.

Harry received the most out of everyone. The goblins performed an inheritance test to determine whether or not he was eligible to become Lord Black, and with his descent from Dorea Black from his father, he was determined to be eligible. Malfoy was not able to make a challenge, because that part of his family became worthless after Sirius ordered his mother's marriage annulled.

Given the structure of the Will, Harry suddenly had a new respect for Sirius. He had made his will to set up for Harry to be the last man standing amongst those who would try to claim House Black. Thus, Harry became Lord Black. This drew an angry comment from Ron, " Git receives everything."

Harry just chuckled at Ron's remark. After the Will reading, a three hour affair, Harry and Dumbledore were called to a different part of Gringotts, where they were met once again, by Director Ragnok. " Lord Potter, I apologize for my actions earlier, as well as my brusque tone. But given the circumstances, we had to make sure we put on a good face. After all, several Weasley family members work here at Gringotts or are here on frequent occasions, so we had to be careful to mask our suspicions. We believe that Lord Potter's Uncle, Henry Potter, may have bribed his friends. We are currently performing an investigation into the claims that were put forth by Mr. Longbottom. But we haven't come up with anything yet."

Dumbledore asked, " That cannot be all you have found. If so, then why am I here?"

Ragnok immediately replied, " You were Lord Potter's guardian. Normally, we would seek financial restitution in his name for the abuse he suffered whilst at the hands of his Aunt and Uncle. But since House Dumbledore is a vassal of House Potter, this cannot be done."

Harry asked, " Vassal?"

" Basically means that they are an independent house, but have to act according to the actions of House Potter. They have to pay a small tribute every year to House Potter as well. I think Alessandro Dumbledore lost a duel to Byron Potter is how this came to be. Either way, this one time it will slide. Lord Dumbledore, are you aware of Lord Potter's abilities as an Ice Mage?"

Dumbledore shook his head, " No I am not. I am, however, aware of a modified formula of the Elements, stating there to be ten elements."

Ragnok nodded, "Yes, then you would know that Ice falls under the Dark Cycle correct?"

Dumbledore nodded. Ragnok continued, " Thus, the practice of elemental magic in general was outlawed by the Ministry, because it cannot be tracked."

Harry scowled, " They outlawed it, because of the Restriction of Underage Sorcery. They didn't want muggleborns to be able to practice any type of magic."

" Well observed. If you practice in secret, this magic will become a powerful weapon for you to use against the Dark Lord. Now, the final matter we must attend to is Narcissa Black. She is now, by all intents and purposes, your legal advisor, servant and politics expert. Until you allow her to remarry, she will not be able to defy your orders, or try to harm you in any way."

Harry smirked, " Good, because I believe her to be a Death Eater."

Dumbledore praised Harry, " Taking after Mad-Eye now are we?"

Harry looked a tad smug, " Did a little research after I received the letters. Potter Library has all kinds of family trees, and they are about as accurate as it gets for Pureblood Trees. As you know, people change them all the time, so it's hard to get a good reading."

Ragnok nodded, " He, is unfortunately right. The only way to ascertain completely accurate results is a blood challenge, which we are only allowed to administer under certain circumstances."

Ragnok bowed, " Well, good day milords. The bank must go ever on. May your fortunes grow larger, the both of you."

With that, Harry and Dumbledore left the bank of Gringotts.

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( Potter Manor Ten days later…)

" Harry, I don't know if it's a good idea for you to put Narcissa in the same house as you. After all, you do have three other houses."

Harry glared, " As safe as waking up in the morning to Def Leopard blaring on the radio. Ever heard the expression, ' Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?' Since I don't really have any friends left, what better way of keeping an eye on Death Eater activity? Either way, she can't hurt me because of her bond to me as a servant. Such that Sirius stated in his Will."

Dumbledore sighed, " Hey I like Def Leopard ok? Anyway, Harry, there are ways around things like that you know. I received a letter today, I have to return to Hogwarts to resolve an altercation of some sort, so I want you to keep practicing your Occlumency while I'm gone, alright?"

Harry shrugged, " Sure thing. Professor? You aren't going to like formally announce me as your apprentice or anything like that are you? You know how much I hate the public eye."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brighter briefly, " What in the world makes you think I would do something like that?"

" Hmm, I don't know…."

Dumbledore smiled slyly as he grabbed some Floo Powder, and zoomed away. Harry let out another sigh. He'd gathered some books about elementalism, and quickly found out that the Dark Cycle elements of Darkness, Lightning, Ice, Shadow, and Pestilence were a lot harder to find than the Light Cycle of Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Light. Thus far, the only things he had found out were how to freeze water ( of which there was just a simple ordinary spell already for), chill the air ( again ordinary spell already), form an ice spear, and how to cause it to snow.

Harry chuckled at the last spell. Looking out the window, it was snowing at Potter Manor, despite the fact that it was the middle of August and it was supposed to be in the upper eighties. It was a kind of global AOE spell that he could cast over long distances. Kind of like Apparation, all he had to do was know and envision what the place would look like. So theoretically he could make it snow in Egypt. That doesn't mean it would actually work.

Being in Potter Manor also meant that he could practice his ordinary spells with impunity from the annoying bitch that was Mafalda Hopkirk. Dumbledore explained that the Restriction on Underage Sorcery was older than he was, and had been enacted because a Muggleborn had gone on a killing spree with magic. So while it certainly had good purpose, that didn't make it any less annoying. Or any less prejudiced, because up until about one hundred years ago, Muggle Hunting was a Legal sport in most countries. Now it was only legal in Romania, specifically, Transylvania, but that was because of all the Vampires. If you were stupid enough to go up there during the night, than you probably deserved to fall victim to the hundreds of Vampires that reside there.

Harry brought his mind back on topic. He frowned endlessly over how he had received a letter from the Ministry threatening his expulsion for a simple levitation charm, that he hadn't even cast. It was insulting that people who might actually need the practice, like Harry, couldn't. But people who could care less, like Ron, could. Based on what Harry knew of the Weasleys though, Molly didn't let them practice during the summer. Only Fred and George took active advantage of it, and performed in the seclusion of their room.

Harry noticed that a Barn Owl was sitting on his windowsill, with a letter in its beak. Harry got up, scratched the owl's wing, and took the letter. Given that it remained on the window, he guessed the sender wanted a reply. He slit the letter open with a small knife on his desk.

"Dear Harry,

Harry, I'm sorry over what happened with Gringotts. My grandmother got a little paranoid when I got back from school, and she makes some rash decisions when she gets emotional. Thus she ended up in a bad situation, but it is fixed now. Anyway, I would like to know if you'd want to come over for a day or two. My grandmother's hosting the Ministry's Summer Ball. Strange I know, but I got a feeling you'd like to come to it. So how about it? I know you don't like the public eye, but think about it. No Weasleys are going to be here. Guaranteed, unless someone forces them to come. The Ball's is on the last weekend before school starts, so it'll be the 30th of August.

Neville Hadrada Longbottom

P.S Do try to treat the girls you meet here better than Parvati. She's still a little sore about how you treated her at the Yule Ball. I know the whole ' I didn't get to come with the girl I wanted to' routine, but still. You were a royal ass to her. You may as well have not even come."

P.S.S]: The Owl's name is Ymir. She likes to be scratched on the wings, and doesn't like Owl treats. She prefers red meat, raw if you have it.

Harry chuckled softly, and decided he needed a little bit of fun. So he penned an acceptance letter. He gave the owl a small cut of steak from his storage, and then gave her his letter. He watched as the owl flew off into the moonlight.

Just then, Dumbledore came bustling in through the Floo, " Harry! Catch!"

Harry caught the wand that was thrown at him. He looked at it. It was made of cedar, and was roughly twelve inches. Dumbledore yelled, " That wand doesn't have a Trace on it, so you can use it on this mission. Ready for your first Order Mission?"

Harry smirked, " What makes you think otherwise?"

Dumbledore smiled, " Good, now. With me, we shall be meeting at Grimmauld Place, which I must thank you for letting us continue to use as a HQ. Then we shall deploy. Severus gave us a small heads up on a DE raid on the Greengrass Manor. Apparently, the Death Eaters don't appreciate the fact that Damian considers himself neutral."

Harry frowned, " Yeah, Voldemort doesn't take kindly to those who don't take sides. We should move."

Harry stepped into the Floo, and with a shout of Grimmauld Place Number 12, he ended up skipping to a stop on the couch in front of the fireplace. He heard Tonks mutter, " I swear Harry, I never thought someone could be worse than I am in the Floo, but you just took the cake."

Harry glared at the Auror. She was going with purple hair today. Moody growled, " Get Potter into the Kitchen now. We are about to get debriefed."

Dumbledore nodded, and guided Harry into the Kitchen. It had been magically enlarged to contain the large amount of people within. Snape had the dance floor. Sneering at Harry, he began his briefing.

" The Dark Lord just announced that he's sending his Death Eaters out in force to Greengrass Manor. It is of my knowledge, that today, Damien is having a dinner party with the Davis', and the families of several of Daphne's potential suitors. The death toll could be catastrophic if we don't hurry Albus."

Dumbledore nodded, " Do we have an exact time?"

" Exactly midnight."

Harry looked at his watch, " That gives us three minutes. Let's hope they aren't early."

Snape curled his lips, " Who said you were coming, Potter?"

Dumbledore intervened, " Harry will be acting as my apprentice, and is coming for his first Trial By Fire. Plus, with Kingsley and some others occupied at the Ministry, we will need all the hands we can get."

Tonks nodded, " I could barely get off in time for this mission. I think Scrimgeour's just pissed that Harry won't endorse him."

Lupin came in, " Sorry I'm late. Albus, we ready?"

Snape sneered at Lupin, " You don't even know where we are going and you're ready to go? Stupid werewolf."

Lupin glared back at Snape, " I don't think I quite heard you there Snivellus. Could you repeat that?"

Snape's sneer turned to an angry glare, but he kept silent as Dumbledore ordered them to move out. Harry clutched the wand Dumbledore had given him. He hoped he was ready for this.

A/N: So here we go. Unlike some of my other stories, this story won't feature extensive Dumbledore bashing. Rather, he's going to be different. No manipulative Dumbledore. More action ready, " Let's Go!" kind of Dumbledore. Also, unlike most of my other stories, Daphne's being introduced to Harry early rather than later. Like I have planned for Goblin Champion, this is mostly a Harry/Daphne story with some One Night stands and infidelity on both sides. I might add a second later.

Harry as an Ice Mage: When you read Elemental Stories here on FanFic, you mostly see Shadow Harry's and Lightning Harry's. Every now and then, you get a Fire or maybe Earth Harry. So I decided to use a different element this time.

Element System: It may seem strange, but I'm using a less broad, more concise elemental system that actually defines what each Elemental is capable of using just by looking at the element. I came across it while reading on FictionPress. However, that doesn't mean that Harry's completely restricted to just Ice. Like in the game Golden Sun, Harry will be able to dabble in other elements, he's just a lot more powerful with Ice than the others.

Steel Magnolia Drive: Yeah I just made that up, but the name comes from the play Steel Magnolias.