Tadam! I'm very proud of myself for writing two chapter in the same evening! Anyway, with this Harry's life took an unexpected turn. The next chapters will focus on Draco and the people at Hogwarts or at least I hope to write such chapters in the near future though knowing myself plans might end up changing ^^

The last book of the gigantic pile obediently slipped back onto the shelf it belonged too and Harry sighed. He turned towards Blaise who had already finished putting back the books of his own pile and was standing next to the table they had sat at wearing an aloof expression. The green eyed boy gazed at his Italian friend, noting the slightly tense shoulders and the hardened eyes.

"Shall we go then?" he asked.

Though he felt reluctant at the idea of going to see Umbridge gloat about whichever decree she had manage to produce, they couldn't possibly wait any longer. The assembly would start in ten minutes and they couldn't afford not to go. According to Susan, the toad woman had expressly asked that all students attend and had added that any who would not deign attend would be in detention for the rest of the year. At least that was what Blaise had said Susan said, because quite honestly, Susan Bones had gone completely unnoticed by the young Athrù.

"Yeah, we'd better." sighed Blaise.

They exited the library silently, their pace slower than usual as neither of them actually wanted to go. Unfortunately, no matter how slow you walk you always end up getting to your destination and the two boys were soon sitting in the Great Hall gazing worriedly at the small woman clad in pink who was standing with an ominous smile in front of the Staff table.

Students were still arriving, sending half-curious half-worried glances at the High Inquisitor before going to sit at their tables, all the while whispering frantically to each other. Evan, Nicolas and Lisa came with the last wave and hurried to sit by Harry and Blaise. The green eyed boy tried to smile welcomingly when they arrived, but it came out a little strained, showing his increasing uneasiness. The three first years exchanged concerned glances but didn't comment as they sat on either side of the table.

Soon enough, the entire school was looking apprehensively at the smallish woman. She appeared to like the attention as she straightened herself and gazed at the students before her with mirth. Her apparent joyfulness and satisfaction didn't sit well with Harry. His stomach churned as the green eyes searched the woman's smile for answers. His breath caught in his throat as she opened her mouth to speak, evil mischief radiating from her every pore.

"The Ministry has become concerned with the manner in which this school has been managed." she chirped in her disgustingly sweet voice. "In light of recent events and studies conducted by myself in the school, the Minister of Magic has decided to take action." she paused and her widening smile sent shivers down Harry's spine. "As of today, Albus Dumbledore is no longer Headmaster. I will be taking on his duties as Headmistress and ensure that Hogwarts is reformed and returns to its former glory."

It was then that Harry noticed the empty Headmaster's chair. His eyes seeming brighter against his paling face, travelled over the Staff. They wore grim expression, and Harry could tell even from a distance how tight McGonagall's jaw was.

Umbridge breathed in deeply savouring her victory.

"That is not all however." the whole school held their breath. "Since the year started Hogwarts has been hosting a beast within its walls." her words held such venom as she glared at Harry that the boy felt a sudden wave of sickness wash over him. "BUT THIS CEASES TODAY!"

As her words echoed in the Great Hall, the doors banged open and approximately fifteen Aurors marched in wands in hand. Simultaneously, Harry jumped to his feet. All students were staring in shock, as the two opposing parties faced each other. Minutes passed silently, as both Harry and the Aurors waited for the other to make the first move. Suddenly, a spell of a dark crimson which felt foul enough to be Dark magic escaped from the ranks of dark clad men. In a matter of second, the raven haired boy had transformed in a green eyed wolf. He evaded the crimson jet of light and the many curses that followed. It was a maddening fight as every time the wolf managed to advance towards his enemies he was forced to retreat again by a wave of spells. On the other hand all the spells thrown by the Ministry's men missed as the wolf dodged curse after curse with incredible agility.

As the fight continued that way, Harry's human self started becoming smaller and smaller, letting the wolf impose his presence upon the Athrù's mind. The desire for wildness was fighting against the calm and composed humanity. It was similar to a river competing against an enraged ocean. And the ocean was winning.

As his human consciousness faded progressively, the wolf's raw instincts resurfaced. It was them that guided his steps towards a blond individual with silver eyes, sitting at the Slytherin table. Still dodging the curses that came his way he approached the blond boy, finally landing right next to him. Emerald eyes met silver ones. The pure rejection he saw there shocked the wolf to no end. In fact, the silver fire held such power that he leapt back in horror with a pitiful whine. The silver fire formed an arrow that pierced his heart and left him bleeding internally.

He was rejected. The last tie to humanity broke and he fell in an abyss of anger, pain and betrayal.

With a savage howl he launched at the rows of armed men who immediately started firing curses at him. He skilfully dodged a dozen of them though a few managed to graze him. He ignored the pain as the well as the screams and cries of outrage coming from the students. He crashed against the nearest wizard with all the strength he could muster and viciously bit the shoulder of the man under him. Not wasting any time, he leapt at another man. He missed his throat but settled for nearly tearing his right arm off.

As the wolf fought his enemies with the rage of a demon, some students joined the brawl mostly on the wolf's side. The sloppy hexes thrown by the students were not very helpful if not for the fact that they created a distraction. The Aurors who were on the receiving end of the students' curses weren't eager to hex children and settled with casting protective shields around themselves.

The wolf was thus left with only a few wizards to take care of, whom he swiftly avoided to reach the door. He jumped out of the Great Hall and raced towards the Entrance. His entire body was aching as he had been hit by various spells and curses repeatedly but he couldn't bring himself to care. As he rushed out, his ears caught the sound of footsteps and the voice of a very familiar Italian boy screaming a name he barely recognized. In a corner of his mind, a small voice was telling him to stop, to look back. Unsure as to why, the beast froze in his tracks and turned around. The human boy who had been yelling after him, seemed relieved as he continued shouting words at the dark wolf. Two others, a blonde girl and a brown haired boy joined him. The wolf intrigued by the yelling trio took a step towards them, momentarily forgetting about the pain and the threatening men he had just escaped from.

A shadow appeared behind the three humans and a foul smelling light was shot towards him. Taken aback the wolf didn't have time to dodge and the curse hit him squarely cutting a deep gash in his flank. Yelping in pain, the wolf jumped back. He glared at the humans, anger and betrayal clear in his eyes, and fled towards the forest.

He ran for what seemed an eternity. The sun which had been setting when he had left the castle had disappeared long ago and left its place to the moon. The wolf's breathing was becoming heavier with each step he took and he could feel the blood running freely from the wound on his side. He persevered for a while more before letting himself fall to the ground. He lay on his uninjured side, listening to the familiar sounds of his beloved forest. His eyes were glazed as he was barely conscious. Soon he could hear nothing but his laboured breathing; his eyes had closed letting him see only a night sky without stars.

A droplet of fire fell on his painful flank causing his eyes to jerk open. A deep growl erupted from his throat as tried to lift himself from the ground. A flash of fiery orange caught his attention and he stilled, his eyes fixed upon the bird bending over his wounds. A fat tear dropped from the volatile's eye onto the wolf's wound and he felt once again the droplet of fire spread into his wound. This time however, the dark beast didn't protest. He knew that Phoenix's tears were good for wounds.

Later, when the wolf's wound was completely closed and he had regained enough strength to sit, he gazed at the bird that he recognized as Fawkes. Slowly his mind was taking on a new shape, on that melded human and wolf into one and he was tempted to think that this change was also due to the bird's influence.

"Thank you." he growled wearily.

"Do not thank me Midnight Sun, for I am merely ensuring that our hope lives on." sang the bird.

The words were enigmatic and the wolf's confused brain did not help him in understanding their meaning. Many questions flooded his mind but he was wary and longed to rest so he settled on only one.

"Why do you call me Midnight Sun?" he asked.

"Are you not born at the crossing between past and future? You who shines like the blazing sun." replied the melodious bird.

Born at midnight he understood, though it was news to him as the ones who had raised him had not seemed to care much for such information. But "shines like the blazing sun" was a mystery. Slowly he analysed the words and linked it to his memories. What did it mean? Surely the answer was somewhere inside himself. The image of a tattoo decorating his side appeared in his mind. Of course! He had been marked with a sun on his fifteenth birthday. He didn't know about shining though…

"I see." he answered letting amusement in his voice. "You are quite right. But tell me, why call me your hope?"

"You are the One-Who-Will-Save. Darkness has come. It is such that only the bright sunlight may pierce it." with this the phoenix extended his flame-coloured wings and flew off, singing farewells as he went.

The wolf pondered on the bird's words for a long time. When he got up once more, he had taken his decision. He raised his nose in the air and howled. He told the wind of the pain of betrayal. He sang to the trees of hope and love. He cried to the moon his desire to reach it.

As his tearless eyes returned to gaze at the forest, Midnight took the first step into the darkness. He had a long way to go and he should get as far as he could before dawn. He leapt into the night, and ran, his back firmly turned away from Hogwarts.