-Previously

The three marauders followed after the young teen.

The four of them ascended the stairs and arrived upon the third floor.

There were very few Aurors on the third level, maybe a handful and only half yet still drew breath. Scattered desperately in the fray were people dressed as Ministry workers who were all anxiously casting spells in a desperate attempt to push back all the Death Eaters in the room. They had built barricades of sorts, using fallen rubble, upturned desks and sideways filing cabinets to shelter them. The ministry workers braced their walls, tossing spells over the top every chance they could get before they ducked back down letting the enemies' curses crash into their enforced barricades.

Around one-hundred Death Eaters were swarming the visible part of the floor, and Voldemort was amongst them causing more havoc then all the others combined. He blasted, he killed, and he caused pain all without slowing. He was in his element. The screams, the fire, the pain, and the anger fueled him to do more damage, take more lives and cause more suffering.

Harry blinked and beheaded a Death Eater from behind; annoyed that they were cocky enough not to watch their backs; assuming Greyback would stop any advancement of enemy forces. With a flick of his wrist he knocked several enemies skidding across the once clean floor.

"Voldemort!" Harry shouted causing everyone in the room to glance over at the voice. Voldemort turned, his crimson eyes narrowed as he eyed the teen that he had thought to be dead. "You know!" Harry stated above the deafening silence that over took the room as all focused on Harry. "You really shouldn't leave your pets to finish your job for you, as you can see they failed. Your Chimeras were weak, your vampires disloyal and your werewolf an idiot." He summed up, grinning coldly though no humor was in his deadly emerald eyes.

Chapter IV –A Hero's Death

"Insolent brat!" A female voice hissed with angered malice as a dark robed Death Eater took a menacing step forward. "How dare you speak to my great Lord like that?" She screeched in fury as she brought her wand up towards the enemy even though he stood very far away. "Who do you think you are?" She demanded.

Harry tensed; he knew that voice well even though he had only known it for a short time. It was the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange, the woman who had tortured him in the dungeons of one of Voldemort's fallen bases. "I'm hurt." Harry began as he emotionlessly placed a bloodied hand to his chest. "I thought you of all people would recognize me." He stated as his father placed his hand reassuringly on his shoulder and gently squeezed.

"Well…" Harry paused thoughtfully, "I suppose you do not recognize me at the moment." He concluded with a slight nod. He flicked his wrist, and there upon him fell the illusion of his former life. "I was Lucis Vinco." He stated in his icy voice, causing many of the Death Eaters present to gasp in horror. "Now I am Harry Potter." He concluded, making his father feel very proud as his disguise vanished.

"Traitor!" Voices yelled through the room, as Bellatrix howled her fury.

"Traitor?" Harry started as he conjured forth his beloved blade that was somehow clean even though he had not cleaned it since the slaying of Greyback. "I am no traitor; it was I who was betrayed." Harry stated lightly as he nudged his father to the side and ducked under a sudden Reducto curse fired at him. "See how ready you all are to turn your backs?" He questioned as he shot a shock wave spell, knocking down ten Death Eaters. Chaos ensued.

The three Marauders raised their wands and jumped into the fray, stunning, cutting, disarming where they could. Harry on the other hand plowed through killing and dodging where necessary. Using more spells then physical attacks to attest to his exhaustion. He brought up his silver shield, shot out a vicious slashing hex and beheaded his foe standing before him. With a spray of blood and gore, he exploded another just as a hot-blooded gash tore through his heavily scarred and bandaged back.

He hissed under his breath and stumbled forwards. He was far too drastically weakened to battle in these conditions for much longer. His vision, still hazy, barely saw the people before him, and yet, despite being unable to see, he knew Voldemort was approaching him. He turned to the right, deflected a bright and sickly yellow curse before he shot out a fireball to the left, igniting some foolish idiot.

He stumbled to the left, evading another curse, just as he felt the pain of the familiar

Cruciatus curse ravage his nerve endings. He crumbled, writhing in agony. He felt as though he were being torn asunder, all his cuts, half healed or not, ripped open, while he felt his ribs puncture his lungs. It was hell. He screamed. He shouted his pain out for the whole room in an agonizing shriek.

It pierced the hearts of the Light side. Almost as soon as it started, it had stopped. The pain relinquishing its hold on Harry as the curse was brought to an end. "Bella said you do not scream." Voldemort stated bluntly, as he stood over the teen's trebling, broken and bleeding form. "I guess it takes more then her tender care to break you." He added with a smirk, as dazed emerald eyes lifted to meeting unsteadily with crimson. "But your eyes are still defiant!" He ragged, as he brought his foot heavily down upon the teen's side, stealing his former weapon's breath away.

With a gasp, Harry used to impact to roll over and he scrabbled tottering to his feet. He stared at his enemy. Though his eyes unfocused as he tried to focus on all three versions of the man swarming in his sight. "Good bye, Harry Potter." Voldemort muttered as he raised his wand and aimed it at Harry's heart.

"Avad-"

"No!" James Potter shouted as he launched himself forward and tackled the Dark Lord to the ground, effectively stopping the curse, just as Harry collapsed unconscious, a trail of blood on his chin, into the arms of Sirius Black who was as pale as snow. "You will not take him from me again!" James roared as he landed a heavy fist firmly on the wizard's nose, cleanly breaking it.

Voldemort howled his fury as James jumped off the Dark Lord, somewhat stunned at what he had done. Expelliarmus!" James shouted and smiled as the wand was wrenched from the man's hand, only to be summoned back wandlessly half way. "Potter!" Voldemort hissed as he regained his footing, his face bloody.

"No!" The powerful voice of Albus Dumbledore echoed through the room as he hastily moved between his young Order member and the boy he had failed. "Tom, you will leave them out of this." Albus ordered sharply, his light blue eyes like the glinting steel of a blade.

"You!" Voldemort hissed, his eyes narrowed through his bloody face just as the three Marauders portkeyed out, the unconscious form of Harry in their arms. "You let them escape!" The Dark Lord ragged angrily, a sneer upon his jagged lips.

"You can not win Tom, give it up." Dumbledore advised firmly as he blocked Tom's curse.

"Old fool!" Voldemort hissed in his serpentine way as the two wizards clashed blinding spell after one another, wands whipping back and forth so fast that no one could see it. Colors and elements flared out all around them as they dueled their age-old duel. All people fighting gave the two of them a large breadth to avoid being hit by one of their spells. Fires roared, wind whipped, water crashed and the very ground shook.

Within minutes of their duel, the floor was flooded by white robes and red robes, all clambering up the stairs to the level. Reinforcements had come at long last. They pushed the forces of Darkness into being surrounded by foes. Voldemort, despite being occupied with the duel snarled his rage at having his plan thwarted. "Retreat!" He hissed venomously before his force pulled out their illegal portkeys and fled leaving the room suddenly quiet…

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He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Thwarted in Ministry Takeover!

Yesterday was a stunning day at the Ministry of Magic, where the Super Death Eater was caught and brought in for trial. Due to this process, security throughout the Ministry was lessened in key areas as the majority of Aurors were positioned to ensure that the prisoner would not escape. This lack of security however was taken advantage of. You-Know-Who invaded the Ministry shortly after the commencement of Lucis Vinco's trial.

HE made an appearance to claim the captive, and Harry Potter (Lucis), declined, swearing no oath to HIM. In a fury, the Ministry was placed under heavy siege.

Astoundingly, accorded to Amelia Bones, Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Harry Potter led the jury and Aurors from the courtroom, single handedly slaying two chimeras, a hallway of Inferi and an Atrium full of Dementors. None died in their journey to the Atrium, and though he had been heavily injured upon capture, Harry Potter stayed to help the Ministry and Order fight off the remainder of assailants.

An anonymous witness states that he fought a flurry of Death Eaters, a horde of Vampires and even the notorious Greyback himself, who was killed in their confrontation. Through all of this he managed to continue on until he faced Voldemort, distracting him from his rampage, buying Albus Dumbledore enough time to arrive and drive out the forces of Evil.

It was an amazing victory, and hopes yet still remain.

Harry Potter was pardoned his crimes after his deeds at the Ministry; though he is presently in critical condition in the Bulgarian Hospital. He was also gifted with an Order of Merlin Second class for saving so many lives.

Through this whole incident, the death toll was a tragic one-thousand three-hundred and nine. Currently eighty-nine people are recovering from various injures in the Bulgarian Hospital. Our Sympathy here at the Daily Prophet goes out to the families of the victims.

-Trixy L. R. Nightbane

Weeks Later

Harry lay unmoving, his eyes closed. He had been awake for the last ten minutes, but he had decided to pretend he was still unconscious. He was in a strange place, and he didn't understand the thick language spoken around him. Despite not having opened his eyes and not being able to understand, he could easily guess he was in a Hospital, and a foreign one at that.

The last thing he could remember was standing unsteadily before the Dark Lord, about to be killed with the notorious Avada Kedavra curse. However, something had stopped Voldemort. Through his fuzzy memory, he could make out someone tackling the Dark wizard. However, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out who it had been as his vision blacked out and he crumbled into sweet oblivion.

Presently he still wished he was unconscious. He ached everywhere and he could feel many layers of bandages wrapped around his person. He had sustained plenty of damage between being tortured and then fighting at the Ministry. He needed rest and a little relaxation.

He heard the room to his door open quietly, and several people shuffled inside and shut the door behind him. "He's still out cold." James commented sadly, as he plopped down into one of the four chairs along the teen's bedside, Lily beside him and his two best friends across from him and his wife. "I told you Lily-love." The Potter patriarch sated softly.

"I know… But what if he had woken when we were away?" She asked quietly as she regarded her heavily bruised and bandaged son, a sob in her throat. Her baby should never look so utterly broken.

"He would have probably snuck out." Sirius suggested, earning a smack on the backside of his head from Remus and a sharp look from Lily.

"Don't you even joke about that Sirius Black!" Lily growled angrily as she tenderly took her son's hand into her own.

"Sorry Lily." Sirius muttered and looked down looking somewhat shame-faced for upsetting the red head.

"No need to be so hard on him." Harry croaked, his voice raspy, causing his four visitors to jump, startled. Harry slowly cracked his emerald eyes opened, and blinked to clear his vision.

"Harry!" They all exclaimed as Lily began to fuss over him.

"Oh Harry-baby, are you feeling okay? Sore? Do I need to grab the Healer?" Lily began to rapid fire as her baby slowly sat up and leaned against his headboard.

"I feel like I was just eaten by a dragon." Harry commented thoughtfully as he looked at the four of them. "It's not a fun experience…" He added thoughtfully, causing Remus to blank as though he was uncertain of something.

"I didn't wake you did I?" Lily asked softly as James rose and left the room.

"No I was awake long before you got here." Harry admitted with a shrug that he immediately regretted. "Aren't Healers supposed to swish their wands and make all my broken bones go away?" He commented dryly.

"You still have a broken bone?" Lily demanded worriedly. "Where?" She eyed his bandaged frame in a panic just as James returned with a dainty female Healer in tow. "He says he still has a broken bone." Lily informed the Healer who frowned.

"Strange…" She commented in a thick accent as she whipped her wand out and approached the teen. "Hurting where?" She asked and Harry motioned to his collarbone. The woman frowned and tapped it, mending it instantly, looking confused as to how his Healer had missed it. "Better?" She questioned softly earning a nod.

"Other hurts?" She asked as she regarded the small teenager.

Harry shook his head. "Everything else will be fine once I get up and about." He added softly earning a nod.

"You no move." The Healer ordered as she helped him lay back down. "Hurt bad." She added as means of explanation in her very limited English.

"How long must I stay here?" Harry questioned with a frown.

The woman frowned, trying to understand what he said before she gave a sudden look of comprehension. "October." She stated with a nod before she reached into her pocket, withdrew a sleeping potion, and handed it to her charge. "Drink. Sleep." She ordered in a firm voice.

Harry glanced wearily at the bottle before he took it and downed the potion. Within seconds, he began to feel drowsy and within a minute, he fell back to sleep and the Healer left the room, leaving the family to silence and whispered conversations once more.

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Several weeks had passed since Harry had awoken from his unconscious state, and finally the Healers had given him the all clear to go. He was glad to be rid of the ever-boring white walls, the scent of death and potions and the stupid noise at all hours of the day and night. It had been a long few weeks for the teen, and the moment he had his release papers signed, Harry almost ran from the Hospital, several amused Marauders on his tail.

As soon as they stepped into the floo room of the Bulgarian Hospital, Harry had to stop and wait for the others. He was unsure of where they intended to take him. With amusement, James grabbed a fistful of green powder, and told his son to follow. Gently, the elder Potter wrapped his arm around his son and they stepped into the grate and tossed the powder in. Great green flames shot up gently around them. "Potter Manor." He stated and the two of them whirled away in a swirl of colors and sensations.

Within seconds, which felt like hours to Harry, they were deposited in an entrance hall, James though, had to catch Harry before he tumbled dizzily to the floor. "Not a person for Floo?" James asked teasingly as Remus, Sirius and Lily all came through.

"Alright there cub?" Sirius asked as he noticed his Godson's pasty complexion.

"Peachy…" Harry muttered as he glared at the fireplace. "I'm never doing that again." He vowed softly, earning several amused looks.

"Well." Lily stated firmly. "Let's get you to the sitting room." She concluded before guiding her baby boy form the marble entrance foyer into a richly decorated living room with many portraits and photographs lining the walls.

"Welcome home, son." James said from behind Harry.

Harry couldn't speak. He had never had a home before. Curious emerald eyes surveyed the room, glancing towards all the happy photographs and merry looking portraits that were waving enthusiastically at him. It felt warm and inviting. It was a strange new sensation to him. "Home." He whispered to himself as e walked over to a family portrait that had his Mother and Father standing behind two grinning twins; behind his parents stood Sirius and Remus. Everyone was grinning, looking quite happy.

Harry couldn't help feeling somewhat out of place. He had never smiled like that. H could never remember having been as carefree as they all looked. He glanced to his right and looked up at his mother who was softly regarding the same thing he was. "Looks like a new one is in order." She stated before looking down at her son proudly. "One with the whole family in it." She added softly.

"Those two are familiar." Harry stated, changing the subject as he motioned towards the identical boys in the photo.

"Well…" Lily began with a frown. "They should, seeing as you rescued your brothers from the Ministry." She stated, sounding quite annoyed. "I gave them a good lecture for sneaking in. Though they did try to argue that they just wanted to meet their older brother." She added softly.

"Would you like to meet them?" Lily asked as she led her son to the couch and let him sit.

Harry shrugged. He honestly was not sure what he was supposed to say so he nodded slowly. James took this as his cue and he stood from his seat. "I'll go grab them from school." He stated and began to walk towards the foyer.

"Don't forget to inform Minerva." Lily called after him just as he left the room, earning a wave of his hand from the doorframe.

"Your brothers are twins as you can tell." Lily explained thoughtfully. "They are thirteen and their birthday is March the third." She added with a soft smile.

"Birthday… When is my birthday?" Harry quietly questioned; his eyes curious.

Sirius stared slack-jawed at him, his mouth moving in pitiful attempts. Remus on the other was eying Harry with a sad expression, while Lily looked to the point of tears. "Oh my poor son!" Lily whispered somberly as she moved to kneel before her seated son and took his hands into her own. "You were born on July thirty-first, almost near midnight." Lily began softly. "You were born a beautiful, albeit small baby, with messy hair and eyes just like my own." She explained with a smile. "Your father, Remus, Sirius and I were all very proud and happy to call you ours." She concluded tearfully her eyes locked on her sons.

"How old am I?" Harry asked, stiff at the contact his mother was giving him.

"Fifteen." She whispered softly as noise in the hall announced the arrival of the twins and their father.

From the doorway came James, and behind him were the twins. They were tall for age thirteen, standing a mere head span shorter then their father who was by no means short. Their hair was short and messy of an auburn color; though more brown then red. Their eyes however were their most intriguing feature. Both twins had one green eye (the right) and one brown eye (the left). It was strange but deeply enthralling.

These two gazed curiously at their elder brother, their black robes the same, making Harry feel as though he was staring at someone in a mirror, though he knew it not to be so. "I'm Lucas." The one on the right said.

"And I'm Jason." The twin on the left said before they both inclined their heads in greeting and slowly, almost cautiously approached the black haired teen that was their brother.

Harry regarded them as they plopped themselves down on the couch across from him and stared at him with their intelligent eyes. "You are Harry." They said after a moment's study, causing Harry to feel slightly unnerved. "Thank you." They both said, causing Harry to blink in confusion. "For saving us at the Ministry." They added after spotting his lack of understanding.

"You are welcome…" Harry said slowly as his gaze flickered between the two. He wondered whether they were leglimens and could reach each other's mind. It would explain their sync speech, but then again he had heard that magical twins, if identical, had a strange bond. Perhaps this was a unique version of this bond?

Silence ensued, and James, who had sat on the left of Harry, gave Remus a pleading look to make things seem less awkward. "Harry, they are both students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Remus stated, causing emerald eyes to clash with honeyed ones. "They, as you may or may not be able to tell, are in Ravenclaw." He concluded as he motioned towards the emblems clear upon the twins' robes.

"Ravenclaw?" Harry questioned thoughtfully. He had heard of Hogwarts in the terms that it was a Wizarding school, and that Albus Dumbledore resided there as Headmaster; though beyond that he was uncertain of facts.

"Yes, Ravenclaw." Remus said with a soft smile. "Hogwarts is composed of four houses for the students. "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. These four houses were named after the founders: Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. The four houses take the qualities that each founder thought best in people." He paused to allow all this information to sink in. "To Gryffindor the brave, Ravenclaw the studious, Slytherin the sly and Hufflepuff takes the rest." He explained.

"I see." Harry commented offhandedly as he removed his gaze from his younger brothers and focus instead upon the mahogany coffee table. He honestly thought it was wrong to separate all the students depending on their qualities, but then again, it wasn't he who had developed that method, and it is only his opinion.

Lily looked carefully at her son. "Harry." She began, catching his attention. "I was… well hoping, that since you are still underage, that you would permit us to enroll you in Hogwarts?" She asked, feeling unsure. She didn't know how he would take this request.

Harry regarded the occupants of the room who were all staring intently at him, all with batted breath. Harry, as though to make them squirm, tilted his head to the side with a thoughtful frown as his gaze fell to the floor. He had never been to school. Sure he could read and write, and knew more spells then most people, but he had never been to school. The idea of going to a place swarming with immature people, noise, and well…. He didn't find the idea very appealing.

Slowly he raised his head and his gaze and met with eyes that matched his own. He had been ready to open his mouth but one look from the hopeful eyes of his mother; he knew he could not refuse. Slowly, hesitantly he nodded, gaining a squeal of delight from the red headed woman and a warm hug showing him just how pleased she was.

Though he dreaded what he had just agreed to, a part of him was glad that he could make this woman, his mother, so happy. It was a unique feeling, one that was indeed foreign to him, and yet it had a nice appeal.

"Ten galleons says Gryffindor." Sirius suddenly spoke up breaking the mood with his feral grin.

"Ten to Ravenclaw." Remus added with a grin leaving James to pout.

"You two stole my bet!" He pouted earning a glare from his wife.

"Ten," The twins stated with a grin, "says to Slytherin." The two stated with smug looks causing James to sulk even further,

"I'm not betting on Hufflepuff." James stated crossly. "But," He began with a grin. "I'll piggy-back Sirius' bet." He concluded earning another glare from his wife, which promised a long chat later.

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The two Potter twins sat on the edge of their seats in the Great Hall, their dinner untouched upon their golden plates as they stared at the head table with rapt attention. Many of their fellow Ravenclaws were curious at the actions of the two, and they snuck suspicious glances between the two in an attempt to discover just what was so interesting.

As the meal was almost at its end and deserts had arrived, Dumbledore stood and instant silence fell upon the great hall. The twins smirked.

"Such an excellent feast." Dumbledore announced joyously as he regarded the hall with kind twinkling eyes. "And dessert is still to come. Now, I am certain you are all curious as to what my newest announcement is: Tonight we have a new student who will be joining us this year."

Murmurings broke out; excitement and curiosity clear in the room. Dumbledore had to wave a little to regain their attention. "Now, I'm sure all of you who read the Newspapers will recognize him." He added with a light smile before motion the doors to the side of the staff table open.

Some students stood, other craned their necks up, as all tried to see into the doorway. From the shadowed room, emerged Professor McGonagall, the familiar stool and Sorting Hat in her grasp. Swiftly, she moved to the front of the teacher's table, and set the stool down before looking at the doorway impassively.

From the shadows emerged a small and pale individual, sporting the customary black robe uniform of Hogwarts. His jet-black hair was elegantly messy, and his astonishing emerald eyes were focused on the stool.

Harry ambled gracefully into the room, feeling distinct discomfort at all the eyes staring intently at his person. He could hear the sharp, almost angry sound of buzzing as the students whispered many things, both good and bad amongst themselves. He could practically feel the insults sliding over him as he sat gracefully down upon the sorting stool while the old and frayed hat was set upon his unruly hair.

Harry's view of hundreds of faces peering at his vanished as the large hat slipped over his eyes to rest lightly on the bridge of his nose. "What do we have here?" A soft, masculine voice whispered into his ear, causing the teen to tense up warily. "No need to fret, everything I see within your mind will remain a secret. I have never and will never expose any secrets I may find within any of the millions of minds I have peered into." The voice said in kindly.

"You've had quite a life…" The voice said softly, almost sadly. "So much pain… so much hardship. I see great power within you… very great!" The hat exclaimed quietly to him, sounding deeply impressed. "You have the potential and thirst to become stronger and greater. You want to prove yourself." He added.

"I see much intelligence, much like your brothers, though it is a darker and deeper understanding of terrifying things that linger in your mind. I see a desire to learn much more, to know enough to hold your own in this world." The hat paused.

"I see a loyalty, though directed at very few, it is there and strong. You are very protective of a few people, and would do much to make sure they are unharmed." The hat continued on, sounding quite frustrated.

"I see bravery; you will face any challenge thrown at you. Hmm… Very noble. But were to put you…?" The Hat asked itself before latching onto his earlier words. "You are very powerful, the strongest I have seen in many years. You wish to become stronger." He added. "You wish more then anything to prove yourself in this world." The hat stated before shifting in conclusion. "It was a pleasure and a privilege."

The hall was filled with muttered words, as people debated what it was that was taking so long. The students were all shifting with annoyance at the wait, while the staff stayed still, eyes watching the teen with intrigue.

"Slytherin!" The hat announced loudly.

Lily looked stunned, the twins looked smug, and the student body's whispers increased in volume as words of an evil monster that had joined their school rose up from many.

Harry blinked before he reached up and slid the hat gently from his head before handing it with care to the Transfiguration Professor with a kind nod. "Which one is Slytherin?" He murmured quietly as scattered applause echoed rather weakly throughout the hall, the loudest supporters the teachers, and the Weasley and Potter twins Most of the Slytherins regarded him coolly.

"The table at the far end is Slytherin." The elderly woman stated as she motioned towards the aforementioned table, and with a slight nod, the teen turned, the emblem on his robes transforming into the emblem of the serpent house as Harry walked towards his housemates.

Emerald eyes eyed the table as he approached it, looking carefully for a place to sit. Mercury grey eyes met his, before the owner of the yes beckoned the teen over. Without a second thought, Harry sat down beside a platinum haired boy who had made room for him to sit. Gracefully, Harry plopped down on the seat, before he turned and emerald clashed with silver.

The two teens stared blankly at one another, eyes unblinking as though locked in some silent debate with one another. All the fifth year Slytherins around them were staring between the two silently, not wanting to interrupt. After a few minutes passed a light smirk appeared on the blonde's handsome features as he brought his hand forth. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He said by introduction.

Harry, never breaking his gaze with the blonde brought his hand up and shook the teen's hand. "Potter, Harry Potter." Harry said as the two clasped hands in greeting.

"Welcome to the House of Slytherin." The blond said with an elegant nod of his head, as he pulled his gaze away from Harry while dropping the dark haired teen's hands.

Harry merely nodded his thanks. "This," Draco began as he motioned to his right, "is Blaise Zambini." He stated as an olive-skinned teen with long silky black hair nodded his head in greeting. "To his left is Gregory Goyle." A thick, muscled teen grunted a greeting as he plunged some sugary concoction into his mouth, causing Draco to sneer in disgust.

"To your left is Vincent Crabbe." He continued on, earning Harry a nod from the other muscled teen that, like the other, was devouring a pastry. Draco also sneered at his other friend, wondering who in the seven hells had taught them their table manners before motioning across the table towards the fifth year girls.

"Pansy Parkinson." Draco motioned to the pretty, yet hard-faced Slytherin before motioning towards the black haired girl to Pansy's right. "Millicent Bulstrode." He motioned to Pansy's left. "And finally Daphne Greengrass." The platinum blonde finished the introductions before looking back at Harry with an elegant smirk.

"We are the Slytherin fifth years, and I will be so bold as to assume you are a fifth year as well..." Draco stated confidently as he scanned the smaller teen at his side before helping himself to a rich looking pastry.

"Correct." Harry answered as Draco charmingly nibbled at his desert with polished grace. Harry, seeing the rest of his year mates eating sweet things, hesitantly took a pastry of his own and eyed it critically. He had never been allowed sweets while back with his master. After staring blankly for several moments, Draco cocked a brown at him, an amused glint in his eyes.

Graciously swallowing his bite of pastry, Draco spoke, "Have you never had a pastry before?" He questioned; laughter audible in his tone as he met emerald eyes again.

"No." Harry answered simply, before promptly ignoring the shocked looks that were hastily veiled, though he did notice that Draco frowned slightly at his proclamation. With a light shrug, Harry bit into his treat much like Draco had, though his eyes widened in shock as he rolled the food over in his mouth before chewing and swallowing. "Delicious." He whispered softly before licking his lips, oblivious to the molten eyes that followed the trail of his tongue.

The Fifth Year Slytherins finished their deserts in silence, before Draco stood and held a hand out to Harry. The raven-haired teen blinked before accepting the hand that gently pulled him to his feet. "I'll show you to our dorms." Draco whispered quietly as the two of them left the Great Hall ignoring the many eyes upon their retreating backs.

The two walked in silence, the taller blonde leading the much shorter raven haired new student from the noisy Great Hall, down through a stone corridor that descended. As they moved deeper into the dungeons, Harry could feel a chill move up his spine. The dungeons were cool, too cool for his liking but he was used to colder.

Draco led his new housemate down the winding dungeon corridors before stopping in front of a cold grey stonewall. "This is the entrance to our common rooms and our dorms." Draco informed as he waved a hand absently at the wall, letting the teen blink at it thoughtfully.

"I'll presume there is a password to open it?" Harry asked quietly as he looked up at Draco with a curious expression, earning a smirk and a nod.

"You have presumed correctly. The password is Aperire. It means to uncover." Draco explained as the stones slide to the side creating an entranceway into a warm yet dark common room, decorated in blacks and silver. "I'll show you where you will be sleeping." He stated as he led Harry down a couple of stairs, across the grand common room, with all is black leather furniture, and dark wooded tables, and through a dimly lit corridor on the right.

"Slytherin dorms are set up so that males and females are separate; this hallway leads to the male side." Draco began as he led Harry past several doors with platinum plates identifying who slept within. "Since the dungeons are quite spacious, and we practically have it to ourselves, we only have three to a room. Since Vincent, Gregory and Theodor share one room, and Blaise and I share another, I do believe you will be located with the two of us."

He stopped before his dorm and nodded as he noted Harry Potter's name added to the plaque. With a smirk, the mercury eyed teen pushed the door open silently and nudged his new roommate into the dark room.

Harry stumbled slightly in the doorway as Draco waved his wand to light up the room. It was spacious, had three beds –all of which were four-poster beds with deep green canopies and sidings that allotted some form of privacy—three dark wood desks, three dark wood armors and at the far side of the room was a door that led to the bathroom they shared.

It was elegant yet simple, dark yet cozy. Harry instantly knew he would love staying in this room. "Your things have already been brought down." Draco stated as he motioned at the new trunk that sat at the foot of the second farthest bed. "This is my bed." He said as he plopped down on his own bed, which was on the right side of Harry's. "The other bed is of course Blaise's."

"It's nice." Harry commented softly as he moved over to his bed and gently sat himself down.

Draco grinned softly as he regarded the small teen appraise their room. Draco was quite fascinated by the new comer. According to the papers, he was quite powerful and dangerous, a former weapon to the Dark Lord himself, and yet he looked so gentle and frail. The blonde teen wondered exactly how one so small and seemingly delicate looking could cause so much damage. But then again, looks are often times deceiving, and obviously, Harry was no exception to that. He was put in Slytherin after all, so he could not be all innocent.

Draco stared at the scar that traveled down Harry's left cheek and frowned. He really wanted to know how the teen had gotten that, but he knew that would be rude to ask, so he bit his tongue and inwardly sulked. "Are you looking forward to classes?" He asked, questioning from neutral ground.

"I'm not sure." Harry said as he pulled his gaze from the canopy of his bed and meet mercury in an honest clash. "I have never been to school before." Harry admitted causing the blonde's eyes to widen a fraction.

"You haven't?" Draco asked intrigued. "But then how do you know so much?" He asked referring to what the papers and his father had said about the spells this teen knew.

"Never. My master taught me." He said quietly before looking away and standing. Draco inwardly cringed as he noticed the cold shoulder directed at him. Asking personal questions were probably not the best thing. With a silent sigh, he watched as Harry flicked his wrist and was dressed in black silk pajama pants and a matching long-sleeve button up top. Draco's jaw dropped.

"You can use wandless magic." Draco breathed in shock causing Harry to look back at the teen in confusion. "That is amazing." Draco added, looking quite impressed.

"It comes in handy." Harry said with a soft smile at the teen, showing Draco that he was forgiven for asking a personal question.

"I'm sure it would." Draco added with a thoughtful expression as Harry retrieved his toiletries and slipped into the adjoined bathroom, leaving Draco alone. Draco moved over to his trunk and withdrew his pajamas before slipping into them, retrieving his toiletries just as their room door opened, and Blaise slipped in, closing and locking the door behind him.

Blaise nodded a greeting before pulling on his own pajamas, before the two slipped in the bathroom and joined their new roommate at the sink to contend with their nightly rituals of face washing, hair brushing, teeth cleaning, and relieving bladders. Quietly the three slipped back into their room, slid beneath their covers and drew their hangings around their beds.

Harry, once alone in the dark of his bed, shifted to stare up at the canopy. This had been a surreal experience, and he knew tomorrow would be far stranger then today. With a stifled yawn, he rolled onto his belly and dug his face into his soft comfortable pillow, and slipped off into the black chasm of dreams.

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The next day dawned brightly, though the dungeons, windowless, stayed dark as night. Harry rolled over, his ears hearing the morning rising of his new roommates. With a quiet sigh, he sat up and stretched, cracking his back as he moved. Silently he rolled out of the bed, not bothering to open the curtains before he walked tiredly into the bathroom. Inside, Draco and Blaise were in their own private stalls, showering quietly, the scent of soaps strong in the room.

Harry took the remaining stall, which, like his bed, was situated between the others' stalls. With a shrug, he slipped the curtain closed and discarded his pajamas onto the floor, waving his hand to start the warm water flow. Quietly he stepped under the steaming flow of water, and closed his eyes as he allowed the water to cascade down his form.

He showered slowly, and was the last to leave the washroom, and enter, fully dressed and prepared to face the school. His new roommates were seated on their beds awaiting him. "Morning." Draco greeted with a nod.

"Morning." Harry mumbled back, the three of them left the dorm, bags over their shoulders, and they ascended to the Great Hall for breakfast, where the vast majority of the students were already stuffing their faces.

They took their seats amongst their housemates and, helped themselves to mounds of sizzling bacon, towers of buttered toast, bowls of eggs, and stacks of multi-flavored pancakes.

Harry waited for Draco and Blaise to serve themselves, before he helped himself to the crispiest stripes of bacon he could find. He nibbled absently as he surveyed the room, noting the many dark glares locked onto him. He could see people whispering to each other while looking at him as though he would suddenly stand and kill them all in one swift move. With a sigh, he sipped at his goblet of milk, before devouring more and crunchier, nearly petrified bacon.

Draco regarded Harry through the corner of his eyes, before he too looked around the room at all the pitiful death glares directed at his newest housemate. "They look as though they expect you to slit their throats at any given moment." The blonde Malfoy heir commented absently before biting into his lightly buttered piece of toast.

"If I had wanted them dead, they would already be so." Harry commented as he took several more pieces of crunchy bacon and promptly ate them, much to the amused look of his roommates.

"Over-confidence?" Blaise questioned in amusement.

"No." Harry said before sipping at his milk and snagging a piece of toast. "They wouldn't stand a chance in real combat." Harry explained absently before eating his toast just as Snape stood up from his own breakfast and swooped down to stand behind the black haired teen.

"Mr. Potter." The Dark featured potions master stated causing Harry to turn around, a slice of petrified bacon in hand as he absently nibbled on it. "This is your new class schedule." He stated clearly, as he eyed his new student thoughtfully. Harry accepted the paper with a polite nod of his head as he finished yet another piece of bacon.

"Thank you." He said softly as emerald eyes scanned the timetable, while Draco peered discreetly over his shoulder and read it to.

"I trust Mr. Malfoy will ensure you arrive to all your classes on time, as you two share the same schedule." He stated more then questioned before whirling around and sweeping out of the dinning hall with a flourish of his robes.

Harry's emerald gaze followed the older, darker man out thoughtfully. He swallowed a mouthful of bacon just as Snape exited the Hall. "I want to do that!" Harry admitted with a grin as he plopped another piece of bacon in his mouth. He liked bacon.

"Do what?" Pansy asked as she glanced at where Harry had been staring.

"The magical cape of doom effect." Harry stated with a shrug, earning a few elegant snorts from several of the students beside him and a low, quiet chuckle from Draco. "What?" Harry asked curious as to why his housemates seemed amused. "It's an excellent intimidation factor." He defended his interest with a sulky look as he finished the rest of his milk. "I'm going to master it." He added it before he stood up and swung his bag on his back, Draco, who had also just finished his breakfast, followed suite.

The two of them joined the trickle of students exiting the hall for their first class, though Harry found it amusing that the rest of the students gave him a wide breathe. It was almost like they thought he had a devastatingly contagious disease that would kill them instantly… or that he believed he would murder them all in his sleep.

"Morning Harry." Two familiar voices greeted just as Harry and Draco slipped out of the hall. Harry blinked a turned towards two identical twins that stood smiling at him. "How was your first night?" The twins asked curiously as two very tall identical red heads appeared curiously behind the slightly shorter twins.

"Ah!" The one red head said.

"This must be your infamous-"

"—elder brother." They concluded before striding forward and clasping the tiny black haired teen's hands and fought to shake his hand, continuously bumping each other out of the way before they settled on shaking his hand at the same time, much to the amusement of Harry.

"I am Gred—"

"—and I'm Forge." They both introduced themselves while releasing Harry's well shaken hand.

"We," They began in unison, "Are the Weasley Twins."

"Harry smiled lightly, finding them to be quite amusing, though he noticed Draco's firm scowl directed at the two red heads.

"Er.." Harry began awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you." He greeted politely. "I guess I have no need to introduce myself." Harry added offhandedly.

"Of course not!" The twins exclaimed dramatically.

"You see—"

"—We know all about your—"

"—Amazingly nefarious deeds."

"Your reputation—"

"—well proceeds you." The twins concluded with matching grins before they both took Harry's hand and shook it farewell, before racing up the marble staircase to their class. Harry's twin brothers also said their goodbyes before they retreated down the hall.

"Twins are intriguing." Harry stated to Draco as Blaise joined them in the hall, and the three then proceeded down the stone steps into the dungeons. They had Potion Class.

The potions lab was dimly lit, and had an almost oily air. It was quite depressing to look and walk into the room, where the early arrivers of the class sat, whispering quietly, even though the potion master was nowhere in sight. The three Slytherin fifth entered into the lab, and took seats on the Slytherin half of the room, ignoring the glares from the few that were present on the Gryffindor half.

Draco helped Harry set up his cauldron, just as the remainder of the class wandered in and took their seats, filling up the classroom. Exactly as the hand struck the hour, the classroom door slammed opened, and Snape stalked in, robes flaring and the door slamming loudly behind him, causing silence to befall the room.

Snape swooped to the front of the room, his dark, cold onyx eyes surveying the room with distaste. "Today," He began in an icy drawl, "We will be brewing the Polyjuice Potion." He announced before sweeping towards his black board, oblivious to interested eyes watching his flaring robe with fascination.

"Though this is a NEWT level potion, you will be attempting it in pairs as practice for your OWLS at the end of term." He explained as he faced the class. "You will pair yourselves off." He ordered, much to the relief of many students, before he waved his wand and the directions appeared upon the black board in gothic white chalk writing. "This potion, takes a very long time to complete, and much attention. I expect you to copy these instructions down, and care to these potions in the secondary lab in your free periods with your partners." He ordered as he surveyed the room, frowning as he saw emerald eyes staring curiously at his robes.

"You may begin." Snape instructed before swooping over to his desk and sitting down gracefully, noting Potter's eyes follow his robes until he sat down. With a slight sigh, Snape noticed, that Potter shook his head as though snapping from a daze before copying his long instructions down.

Harry neatly scribbled onto his parchment, not copying the instructions from the board. He knew this potion; he had been trained to brew it in his youth. With a flourish of his quill, he was the first to finish writing down his instructions before he stood, much to the confusion of the other students, and walked over to the room he presumed was the storeroom.

Severus Snape frowned as he stood and moved over to Potter's vacated desk and he peered down upon the parchment of instructions. He frowned when he noticed that the written words were not his instruction, but the teen's own. He scanned the page and was quite shocked to note, that though different the instructions were from the traditional ones, they were still correct and would permit the potion to be made far quicker.

Severus Snape was rarely surprised. But he could tell, from these modified instructions, that this teen was well educated in potions, their properties, and their effects. The Potter heir was turning out to be quite entertaining, and Snape was feeling hard pressed to put his childhood hatred on the eldest of his nemesis' children.

Harry bounded back into the room, arms laden with jars of various disturbing looking ingredients before walking over to his desk and neatly setting them all down, undaunted by his potion professor's presence. "Mr. Potter." Snape whispered in a voice barely above a whisper, which went unnoticed by all but the dark haired teen.

Harry looked up slightly, from where he and Draco were separating their ingredients by measurement needed and extra amounts. "Yes?" Harry whispered as he glanced at his professor from the corner of his eye.

"Have you brewed this potion before?" Severus inquired.

"Yes." Harry responded as he put extra ingredients back into their jars and sealing them, leaving what they needed out on their heavily gouged desktop.

"Are the adjustments you made your own?" Snape questioned curiously.

"Yes." Harry said with a nod. "I couldn't spend such a lengthy time brewing it… so I had to find a quicker, less necessary to babysit method." Harry explained softly.

Snape nodded his head in understanding, though he was curious as to why he was so hard pressed for time in regards to brewing the potions. "Follow your own instructions then." He ordered, waiting for Harry's nod of understanding before he swept back to his desk to observe the students work.

Harry Potter was an enigma indeed, and one that Severus wanted to solve.

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The days went on with the majority of the student body avoiding Harry, and teachers being thoroughly impressed by either his knowledge or his vast reservoir of spells. It was an interesting experience for Harry, and he grew closer to Draco and Blaise – Draco more so. Also, he learnt more of his brothers and their 7th year friends, the Weasley twins.

October slipped by quickly, and Harry found himself having more fun then he had ever had in his life, even with all the insane loads of homework. He was not regretting his decision to go to school, even though he sorely missed his solitude. Though naturally a lone wolf, he fit in quite well with his roommates, and his siblings and his siblings' closest friends: Fred and George. It was quite humorous the pranks and jokes that the two Gryffindors dished out, especially when tagged teamed with the two Ravenclaw pranksters that just so happened to be his brothers.

Though so few accepted him, only a handful outwardly opposed him. Ron Weasley was one of those few. He seemed to be set against Harry, much to the chagrin of his elder twin brothers, Fred and George. The youngest male Weasley took any opportunities he could to bait and insult Harry for being a Dark Lord in the making, but Harry always shrugged it off and let Draco deal with the red head.

"Must you eat the most petrified thing you find?" Draco asked with an amused voice as he watched his newest friend once again devour an astonishing amount of super crispy bacon for breakfast as he himself delicately nibbled at a freshly baked croissant.

Harry blinked at him, oblivious to a pair of dark eyes down the table eyeing him thoughtfully. "Well…" Harry commenced as he lifted his golden goblet and swished its contents much to the interest of one of his housemates, as he swallowed his bacon. "Things that are pleasantly crunchy are quite enjoyable."

"By crunchy do you mean cooked to the point of being able to be brandished as a Muggle weapon?" Draco questioned as he sipped his morning juice with a slight smirk.

Harry returned the grin. "But of course." Harry responded good naturedly as he sipped his drink before pulling back with a frown as he swished the contents of his drink thoughtfully, causing his housemate to tense lightly, though the gaze intensified.

"You my dear Slytherin are a unique individual." Draco said with flourish as he stole one of the petrified bacons from Harry's plate and inspected it curiously as Harry shrugged and downed his drink thoughtfully, causing the person who had been watching him to look away with a smirk.

Emerald eyes glanced to the side briefly, as he dabbed the corner of his tie into his goblet unnoticed before he regarded his blond housemate nibble the corner of his delicious bacon.

As the two of them finish their morning meal, they stood and left, heading from the bustling Great Hall and down the steps to the potions lab. "Draco." Harry began thoughtfully as he tucked some wayward hairs behind his ears. "Do you trust Professor Snape?" Harry asked thoughtfully, earning him a curious glance.

"Of course." Draco said at once, a frown upon his brow as they entered the empty classroom, having arrived very early. "Why?" Draco questioned as he regarded the small and frail looking teen place his bags upon his workbench.

"Where would I find him at this hour?" Harry buffered the question off as he brought emerald eyes to meet silver.

"In his personal rooms, but why—" Draco began only to be cut off as Harry bolted from the room in a blink of an eye, leaving Draco blinking stupidly at the place his friend had been standing at a mere heart beat ago. With a huff of annoyance, he plopped onto his chilled stool and set his bag down on the bench top next to Harry's.

Harry meanwhile hastily ran down the dungeon corridors, turning around corners before he came to a halt in front of the Potion Master's personal rooms. With a sigh, he glanced cautiously up and down the silent and deserted corridors before he brought his hand up to knock. A quiet rapping echoed down the empty stone hall, before the door swung open revealing a frowning Severus.

"What is it Potter?" He questioned with a curious look at the small teen.

"May I come in?" Harry questioned as he cast a suspicious glance over his shoulder, before the dark haired professor hesitantly nodded and stepped to the side. With out a word, Harry quickly slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind him with a shard snap before locking it. "I apologize for intruding." Harry stated as he hastily removed his tie and held it out to the befuddled Potion Master.

"And why, pray-tell, are you handing me your tie?" Severus asked in his cold drawl but inside he was baffled.

Harry nodded. "As the Potion Master of this institution, I thought you would be able to indentify the potion soaked into the tip of the tie." Harry stated with a shrug. "This morning, my drink tasted… off… and I am curious as to what had been slipped into my drink." Harry explained thoughtfully as he thought back.

Severus frowned thoughtfully as he took the tie. "It may have been a Love Potion." The man suggested thoughtfully as he regarded the slightly discolored end of the tie. "But, none the less, I shall look into it later today. That is of course if you don't feel anything strange?" He questioned as he moved to set the tie down upon the desk in his room.

"At present I feel normal, so I'm not overly worried, more so curious." Harry explained with a grin.

"Might I question why you are not looking into this strange drink with your own Potion skills, you have, after all, proven yourself to be quite adept with them?" He questioned as he regarded the teen that had proven to be quite the enigma.

"I trust your skills." Harry said with an honest smile before he nodded his thanks and swept from the room to return to Draco, leaving a curious Severus standing there. The man shook his head. He honestly didn't know what to make of his newest Slytherin. He had been fully prepared to hate him as he did the teen's father, and yet, once he saw the teen in person, he could barely see James in him. Sure, the first time he had saw the boy, he only saw the face of his nemesis, but now, he saw more of Lily. Also, the boy, though his did have his superiority streak here and there, was anything but the arrogant man the teen had for a father. Snape was left quite uncertain as to how he should treat the boy.

With a sigh, he glanced at his clock and swept from the room, giving one last glance at the lonely tie upon his desk before he left and locked his personal rooms and headed towards his classroom where the fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors were awaiting him.

Potions class went as normal that morning. The double period slowly ticked on from the red and gold half, as Snape hovered like a bat over their shoulders, berating and taking points with every breath. Only one Gryffindor was spared his harsh words, and that was Hermione Granger, the ace student of the lion house.

The silver and green side of the room seemed to be enjoying themselves far more then their brave counterparts, as the whole class silently brewed the potion. Harry was stirring his Potion counterclockwise, his green eyes staring into the depth of the Potion before he reached over to grab the jar of beetle eyes. With a start, he jumped, as the jar fell from his hand to shatter on the ground. Draco looked over at him, before holding out his personal jar of beetles, and Harry nimbly plucked one from the rest and plopped it from his cauldron as he waved his hand at the broken mess at his feet, banishing it.

With a sigh, he a reached for the next ingredient as his arm suddenly fell numb. With a frown, he used magic to pick up his next ingredient and plop it into his potion, though his eyes were regarding his right hand thoughtfully. As the first hour ticked into the next, Harry could feel chills race up and down his back, as though a Ghost had decided to walk through him.

"Harry?" Draco questioned in a whisper. "Are you alright?" He asked as he ladled his finished potion into a glass vial. "You are awfully pale." He continued as he corked his assignment and labeled it.

"Just cold." Harry commented offhandedly as he switched off the flame under his cauldron and likewise filled, corked and labeled his vial, all the time using magic as to not show the fact that his one arm wasn't responding. Draco nodded, unsatisfied as he took both his and Harry's potions to the front to place them on his Godfathers desk.

Both Harry and he grabbed their bags and left the room silently. Harry and Draco walked from the dungeons, up into the main hall and out into the sunny grounds. They had just over an hour until their Care of Magical Creatures lesson would take place.

The two of them waited at the lake side; both lying absently on the grass. A slightly cool breeze blew over them. Despite it being so late in the year, it was still uncharacteristically warm out, and many of the Hogwarts students and staff took full advantage of it.

They sat in silence until they noticed the first years trickle away from the Groundskeepers cabin and back up to the school, indicating that their own class would likely begin in a few minutes time. Draco stood, and stretched and offered a hand up to Harry who smiled softly before getting up on his own with a grin.

The grin vanished the moment Draco turned his back and led the way to Hagrid's hut, leaving Harry a chance to glance at his arms, both of which were now unresponsive.

Classes passed, and through them all Harry had to use magic instead of his unresponsive hands, though fortunately no one noticed. Harry was highly curious as to his hands sudden lack of use, but he merely ignored it, excited as he was to be in the queue to join the students heading down to Hogsmead. This would be his first journey there, and he was quite curious. With a grin, he and Draco, wandered through the many stores. Laughing, joking, talking, just having a good time. Something Harry enjoyed immensely.

But all good things had to come to and end, and this day was no exception. Screams tore through the air, causing both teen to pale and run out of the crowded candy shop. The sight before them was a startling one.

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Severus Snape leaned over his cauldron thoughtfully, glad that the school was very silent, what with all the children with permission at the village. He was glad for the quiet that permitted him to brew the revealer potion that Potter had requested. With a sigh he stirred the concoction before he plucked the green and silver tie of his House from the bench and dropped it into the cauldron.

Bubbles rose up, spurting, while the potion changed to a gold hue announcing its completion. With a wave of his wand, the potion flew into the air and landed on the parchment. The gold potion twirled and swam, forming words and what not.

It took several moments for the words and letters to settle and Severus hurriedly grabbed it before scanning. He grew pale. He did not expect to find something of the nature the potion revealed on the parchment. With a glance at the clock, he tore from his room, the results in hand before racing the length of the school and barging into the Headmaster's office.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked as he took in his pale and panted potion master. "What is it?" He questioned, his eyes worried as the man brandished the paper to him.

With steady hands the old wizard took it and scanned it, his eyes sharp as he regarded his still panting professor. "This is the list of ingredients for a very rare poison if I am not mistaken." Dumbledore stated, earning a nod from Severus. "The gold of the letters state that this is a result of a revealing potion." He added. "But where did you find this?"

"Potter." Severus said as he struggled to catch his breath. "Harry." He clarified. "He said his morning drink tasted off." He explained causing the headmaster to pale. "He dipped his tie in it and then asked me to test it."

"We have to go to him." Dumbledore stated as he moved towards the fireplace. "He is in Hogsmead." Dumbledore was about to reach for the floor powder when his office door clashed open violently.

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Harry whipped around and saw a sight that left him wide eyed. "Draco, go hide." Harry muttered as he began rushing in the opposite direction of the fleeing and screaming children, all of whom pushed Draco further and further from sight. Harry easily moved through the crowd and only stopped as he watched what would be described as many to be horrifying.

The teen stood off, his arms unmoving at his side as he eyed his foes devouring its prey, knowing that he was at a severe disadvantage without the use of both his arms.

A fanged creature looked up, dark blood painting its face a horrid color contrasting its victims lifeless visage that stared blankly up frozen in horror. Emerald met gold and a hiss was all he got before the lifeless corpse was tossed like a rag doll to the side and the creature lunged at him.

Harry had never before met the creatures that were terrorizing the wizard village, but he had been taught of them. Gorgons and Lamia. The Gorgons were quite similar to the muggle depiction of them as they were women of the snake sort. With scaled greenish leather skin that shone as though painted with oil, great fangs and dark claws that stood long an ominous, while jagged wings and snakes adorned their backs and heads respectively, leaving this creatures a horrifying sight.

The Lamia though were no less terrifying. Half women, half snake they slithered with speed as great as their winged sisters, and they, much like the vampires loved the blood of mortals. Harry tossed himself to the left and rolled out of the way of a vicious slash. His attacker, one of the Gorgons, hissed her rage and bared her stained needle-like fangs at him.

Harry, still on the ground from his dodge, raised his left leg up in a sharp kick, clipped the creature on the underside of her jaw, sending her reeling back in surprised pain. Taking this as his chance, he scrambled to his feet using magic seeing as his arms were unresponsive. Looking up to his winged foe, he noticed it regarding him sharply, both her and her snakes, hissing at him dark curses and promises of death.

She lunged forwards, claws outstretched faster then Harry thought possible, and she slashed a deep gash across his chest in a crimson ark of blood. Both Harry and the Gorgon looked equally surprised before Harry leapt up and delivered a solid kick to the creature's head, snapping it to the side with a deep crack. In morbid fascination, the raven haired teen watched the Gorgon fall lifelessly to the ground, her snakes as silent and unmoving as her.

A child scream behind him caused the teen to whip around, emerald eyes taking in a shocking sight. In front of the building not too far off stood a huddle of quivering and sobbing children. A Lamia was the source of their fear, but between the children and the Lamia stood a brave looking young man dressed with the emblem of Gryffindor upon his dusty black robes. The truly shocking part of the sight though was the stillness of the beast and the young man. The sandy haired young man stood, his wand limp in his right hand and unmoving, while the creature stood so very close, its fangs deep into his throat, slurping up all the blood with relish.

Harry darted forwards after a moment's hesitation and tackled the beast to the ground, allowing the Gryffindor to fall to his knees his heavily bleeding throat pumping a weakened spurt into the air. Harry turned, and looked at the teen and knelt before him, placing his forehead against a cool and clammy one. "You are great." Harry whispered with soft truth echoing in his voice. "Rest in peace." Harry murmured quietly before kissing the teen's forehead and rising to face the Lamia as she lunged at him.

Eyes flashing darkly, Harry moved fast and leapt over a lung, only to receive the tail to the back, knocking him to the ground. 'Today is not my day…' He thought to himself before he wandlessly severed the creature's head while he regained his footing. Harry, seeing the beast dead turned to look at the teen on the ground, laying in a pool of his own blood, his honest yet lifeless eyes frozen open to the world unseeingly.

Hesitant students approached with tears and snot running rampant down their faces. They were sad and weeping for the boy that had saved them. "He stopped it from hurting us." A girl whispered tearfully, her bottom lip quivering with anguish. "He stopped it from reaching us and distracted it." She added as she kneeled before their fallen hero. "He's dead…"

Harry stood, uncertain as to what he should say. He was not experienced with matters like these and with a frown; he opened his mouth to say something. "Then live for him." The dark haired teen advised as they all looked at him. "Close his eyes to this warring world and do all that it takes to grow strong so that his… sacrifice for you all will not be in vain." Harry mumbled as he blasted a curse at the Lamia some distance off.

With trembling hands, the little girl, a Hufflepuff Harry now realized, shakily reached up and closed those once proud and brave eyes for the very last time, taking the older teen's words to heart. Harry looked on, his face blank while the children wept. A sharp pain through his arm and the screams from the children roused him from his morbid thoughts and the teen looked to the Gorgon beside him with her fangs deep in his arm.

"Shit!" The Slytherin muttered before head butting the creature, sending it back, the fangs tearing long gouges in his arm as it fell. Before he could do anything, a red curse blew the creature's head from its body in a spray of gore that had the first years retching violently.

Green eyes met onyx as Severus Snape rushed over to them with his wand out and at the ready. "Potter, get these students up to the castle!" Snape ordered sharply before his eyes fell to the lifeless Gryffindor, making him pale slightly. "Take his body as well." He added more quietly before he rushed off to help the other students and villagers that still remained.

"Stand." Harry said sharply, his voice leaving no room for arguments as he regarded coolly the seven little students before him. Wordlessly he levitated the fallen hero, and with haste, he ushered the students ahead of him and up the gravel path towards the school, his eyes darting each way for any indication of impeding attacks, yet none cam their way.

In silence only broken by sobs, they arrived at the doors to the great castle of Hogwarts, and were hurried inside by several anxious teachers and told to sit in the Great Hall. Without a fuss, Harry led the young students into the hall where many pale and shaken students stood, sat, or lay.

Instead of the tables there were many white linen beds lining the walls with students and villagers alike lying in them, while the non-injured students sat or stood on the floor. Harry moved the body of the fifth year student onto an empty bed just as the school's matron bustled over to look at the boy. "He's dead!" She gasped, her voice rang out, encouraging many students to peer over at the bed, whispering.

Quickly she regarded the new arrivals, and handed them all a calming potion before shooing them out of her way. She then turned to Harry and pushed him to the free bed beside the corpse and with a wave of her wand she mended his arm and chest wounds. "How does that feel?" she asked before summoning a blood replenishing potion to her.

"I don't know, I can neither move nor feel either of my arms." Harry stated as he glanced blankly at his previously bitten arm. Just as he was about to add something, his eyes widened and he cursed venomously.

"Language!" The healer reprimanded sharply.

"Look at my hand. I'm sure this is a valid reason to curse quite colourfully." Harry muttered coldly, causing the woman to bristle and then look at both his hands. She paled dramatically at the sight.

"You were bitten by a Gorgon!" She stated before conjuring screens around both Harry's and the fallen student's beds to hide them both from curious glances. "You are turning to stone." She muttered worriedly. "Wait, you mentioned you are unable to move your arms. How long has that been for?"

"Prior to Hogsmead and presumably caused by whatever it was that had been slipped into my morning drink." He stated dryly as he leaned against the head of his make-shift bed thoughtfully.

"That means you have at least two dangerous toxins in your blood." She muttered crossly before prodding his unresponsive arms with her wand. "You will have to wait for professor Snape to make you an antidote for the first toxin, but the second… -well… If I do recall correctly, you have nine days until you become a statue, and the cure for Gorgon venom is … unknown." She whispered sadly as she regarded the boy she had only met so shortly ago. She felt torn over the thought that the boy could easily be dead in just over a week. Life was ever cruel.

It was many hours and sandwiches later that the Headmaster made an appearance in the Great Hall. With his arrival among the students and villagers, silence fell like a blanket upon all those present as they all looked expectantly towards him grim face. "Today has been a horrible affair. A day of suffering and worse." The man admitted softly as he glanced around the room. "Gorgons and Lamia, as many of you know, invaded Hogsmead today, and with them came the deaths of twelve people." Murmurs broke out at this proclamation, and many turned to look at the screened bed that held one corpse of a student.

"Five villagers fell and seven students." He said gravely. "First year, Delia Nightly from Hufflepuff, third years, Jason Millay from Gryffindor and Seraph Kiringstone from Ravenclaw, fourth year Damien Shields from Hufflepuff, fifth year Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor, and sixth years Katie Bell from Gryffindor and Cyrus Maxwell from Ravenclaw. These students will be honored the day after tomorrow and will be buried here at Hogwarts so that all may witness their funerals." Dumbledore concluded softly and a first year Hufflepuff student hesitantly approached him.

Dumbledore bent down so that the girl could whisper in his ear, and after a moment the old headmaster stood and nodded at the girl. "Miss Anderson has just asked me to inform you all to regard Neville Longbottom as a great Hero!" He announced with sad pride in his voice. He defended six first years, sacrificing himself for them, a true Gryffindor of great bravery!" He stated loudly earning much words of agreement from many students and staff alike.

Harry, upon his bed with his mother fussing tearfully over him, looked up at the indoor sky of the Great Hall. "He died a Hero's Death." He murmured softly to himself. Though he ultimately died, Neville Longbottom had earned Harry's respect. He would honor this dead Hero.

It had been three days since the tragic attack, two days since the bodies' of seven students were lowered tearfully into the earth on the far side of the Hogwart's lake, and yet, Severus Snape had not yet had a chance to rest. Though three days ago he administered the antidote to Potter's poison, he was still brewing away tiredly in his labs with his star pupil, Draco Malfoy, helping him in his free time.

He had six days left to find a cure for the Gorgon's poison, and thus far, all his attempts had been failures. Already the poison in the young teen's system had spread quite radically. Harry's left arm was frozen solid in the pale grey of stone, and the zone raced downwards, barely missing his heart well to his hips. His right thigh had a patch of stone, whiles his right foot and up to mid calf was stone.

Time was growing short for the teen. With a sneer, he vanished the contents of yet another failed potion just as the door to his private labs had opened. Onyx eyes met mercury ones, and Snape nodding a greeting to his godson and temporary assistant. "Have you been to see Potter?" Snape questioned as Draco rolled up his sleeves and regarded Severus' notes on his potion attempts.

"I have." Draco admitted quietly. "He seems… uncaring." He concluded thoughtfully. "Though his parents and brother and fawning over his every whim." The Malfoy heir stated as he went to retrieve several ingredients from the store room.

"That is to be expected when they doubt the boy will live through the week." Snape stated.

"Well… I don't know about you, but I intend to find the cure and rub it in their faces." Draco said smugly, earning a slightly amused looked from Severus that was quickly gone.

"Then hurry and place the Belledonna root into that brew…" Snape said, and soon they were absorbed in the world of potion making and creating.

It was on the dawn of the fifth day since the attack that the two have managed to procure a cure, and when they raced to administer it… they discovered that something was wrong…

Sometime, late in the night, someone had snuck into the Hospital wing, and Potter was missing. They knew Harry hadn't wandered off on his own as the Dark Lord's symbol was burned into the sheets of Potter makeshift bed.

After much investigation, the Order learned nothing of Harry's capture, and Snape, exhausted from his efforts of brewing the cure was sent in to Voldemort's strongholds to search. There he found word of Potter capture.

On the sixth, seventh and eighth day, the Order debated and planned a rescue, and on the night before the ninth plans were set into motion…