Ch. 01- Beginnings
This is something that I've been working on in my spare time. I have not stopped my other stories; I've just been busy and sick. I figured that I would give you something to read while I work on them.
Summary: Harry has driven Voldemort away for good, giving the people a respite. Called the new Dark Lord, Harry decides to take a vacation. Anti-Ron, Anti-Hermione, Good-but-misguided Dumbledore. Demons. Harry/Fleur.
A/N: The Deathly Hallows never happened. Sirius was still cast through the veil. Dumbledore is still alive. Harry killed Voldemort in the summer before seventh year.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, though the plot is mine.
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September 1, 1998
Hogwarts Express
"Harry, you look like you could use some pudding," Luna said as she sat down. "It's been proven that pudding can keep away the…"
Looking up at Luna and then over at the door of the compartment he was in, he gave up attempting to figure out how she got in. It had been locked but that's never stopped Luna when she wanted something.
"Luna, please," Harry begged as he got up from the nap he had been taking. "I'm not in the mood for any of your creatures. Nor am I in the mood for company. I locked the door for a reason…well, a few reason. But that's not important."
"Okay," she suddenly said. All traces of her usual airiness were gone. "Talk."
"What," he blurted out in confusion.
'I said for you to talk about it," she said politely. "You're apparently in denial about the Wrackspurts that have invaded your head…"
"I said that I don't want to hear it," he said as he dug around his trunk for a book to read.
Continuing on as if he hadn't spoke, "Is this about…"
"Don't mention her name," he hissed. "I never want to see that slag again."
"I see that I've obviously touched a nerve there," she said. "If you don't want to talk about, how about forgetting it."
"What," he said as he scratched his head. Any conversation with Luna usually ended up with him being confused.
"That's okay," she said brightly as she exited the car. "When you are ready to talk, I'll help you remove the Wrackspurts from your head."
"Okay," he said more to himself. Even though she didn't do much, the mere fact that there was someone not afraid of him was comforting.
After failing in his search for a book to read, he decided on the travel book he'd bought from the muggle book store near the station.
Before he could settle down, the door opened to reveal several faces he definitely didn't want to see at the moment. As it seemed, his luck had ran out when he killed Voldemort.
"Well, if it isn't the traitor," Ron sneered. It amazed him that Ron could look so like Draco. "How's it feel to be all alone. Everyone is afraid that you'll kill them and their families."
"Ron, you don't want to be here at this moment," Harry sighed as he tried to restrain himself. The boy really didn't know what he was dealing with. While Harry grew up, Ron was still the same annoying child that he's always been.
"What are you going to do," Ron mocked. "Make me disappear? Turn me into a frog? I know, you'll going to blast me through the veil. Oops, I forgot. You don't have a wand anymore. I still don't see why they are letting you return this year."
"Believe me, it wasn't my idea," Harry muttered as he thought back to the previous months. After capturing him, Voldemort had snapped his wand to gloat his power over him. Sometimes it amazed him that the other side always gloated when they should be fighting. There must be a handbook somewhere that all dark lords receive when the join the club.
To add salt to the wound, the Ministry had his accounts frozen because they believed he was a dark wizard now. On top of it all, the goblins went along with the Ministry because they were afraid of being shut down. The only good thing that came out of it was that they couldn't give his vaults away. While the goblins might run the banks, the old vaults have their own protections.
The only thing worse was the fact that Dumbledore is forcing him to return to Hogwarts for his last year, even though his last year was supposed to be last year. It's not my fault that they had to close the school for a year. It was Dumbledore's idea to use the school as a command outpost. I mean, I'm of age now. I don't see how they can force me to do anything.
"The Headmaster wants to keep him where he can do the least damage," Hermione said smugly. Seeing his look, she said, "Don't look at me like that. It was your own fault that you chose to study the Arts. They were forbidden for a reason."
"Can you even hear yourself," Harry scoffed. "You gave me the titles to look at…"
"Don't try and turn this on me," she fumed. "It's all on you."
"Okay, next time that there's some dark lord trying to kill muggles and muggleborns, I'll sit back and watch. Let's see how long you all survive on your high pedestal."
As Hermione fumed, Ron said, "Don't worry. He's lower than a squib in social standing. No one will sell him a wand. The only reason he hasn't been cast out is Dumbledore."
"He better have a good reason for keeping him here," Ginny said haughtily. "I don't want him around me anymore than necessary. He's probably still upset that he'll never see what's below these robes."
Looking at Ginny in disgust, he said, "I'd sooner kiss a Dementor than look at what's under there. Who knows what I might catch if I was to even touch it. And I don't want some girl who has been around the block as many times as you have."
"Why you," she screamed as she drew her wand. "I'll teach you some manners."
Gasping in alarm, Hermione pulled Ginny's arm down. "You can't attack him on the train. Dumbledore has warded it so that there will be consequences if magic is performed. The Head Boy and Girl are the only students able to cast magic."
"Let's go," Ron said. "He's no fun to harass if we can't curse him. Let's go and see Malfoy. I'm sure that we can get a rise out of him."
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Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
"Albus, are you sure this is a good idea," McGonagall asked as she thought about what they were doing. "He's sure to retaliate against us for forcing him back."
"Alas, it's for the greater good," he said. "We need a chance to convert him back to the Light. If we fail, the Ministry will step in and exterminate the problem."
"I say good riddance," Snape growled. "We don't need him anymore. The Dark Lord is dead."
"Severus, we need him to keep the school open," Dumbledore said. "If he does not set foot into the school for a seventh time as a student, it will be turned over to the Ministry. The Potters are all that's left of the Ravenclaw family. George Potter created the contract that gave the Board its powers. At the time, there were members on the Board that disliked George. He created that provision to ensure his descendents a place at the school."
"I still don't see why we have to allow him to return for the entire year," Snape snapped. "As soon as he leaves his first class, we kick him out. He has no wand. He won't survive."
"I gave you a second chance," Dumbledore reminded. "Everyone deserves one. Plus, we won't get a chance to convert him if he leaves the school. The Minister, in all his wisdom, has ordered a squad of Hit Wizards to surround the school. If he attempts to leave the grounds without proof of him being converted, they will kill him."
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Great Hall
"To all those who are returning, welcome back," Dumbledore smiled. "To those who are just joining us, welcome to the next stage of your life. I know many of you were held back due to the war but I must ask that you take this year seriously. Please enjoy your meal."
As soon as Dumbledore finished his speech, Harry could hear the others whispering about him. Worrying that he was going to kill them in their sleep.
"I heard that he killed twenty Aurors."
"Twenty? I heard it was forty."
"Did you hear about the vampire army he has?"
"How about the werewolf clan he has enslaved."
"I heard that he enslaved all of the veela when they refused to serve him."
Throwing his food down in disgust, "May I remind you all that while I killed Voldemort, his followers are still alive and free. And they have his body."
"Dark Wizard."
"Go back where you belong."
"Throw him in Azkaban."
"Give him the Dementor's kiss."
Shaking his head, "I'm out of here. If anyone bothers me while I'm asleep, I'll forcefully remove their tongue from their mouth."
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September 2
Headmaster's Office
"Albus, if you don't do anything about that boy…" Snape started as soon as he entered the room.
"I will not jeopardize Harry's redemption. I failed him once…" Dumbledore sighed as he wiped his glasses.
"Redemption," Snape yelled. "What he did was beyond the darkest magic I've ever performed. Not even the Dark Lord touched the Arts."
"At least we don't have to worry about the school falling to the Ministry.
"It was because he couldn't use them," Flitwick said as he sat up straighter. "He was unable to even call forth the smallest imp, let alone a seventh tier daemon."
"What would you know about it," Snape snapped back. "You couldn't possibly know anything about the Arts."
"The Arts do not consist of just Demonology. They also encompass Chaos Magic." Flitwick said."
"Is there something that you want to tell us," Dumbledore asked as he eyed his Charms Master.
"Filius, what are they talking about," McGonagall asked worriedly.
"I only discovered it by accident," Flitwick admitted. "I was patrolling the hallways one night when I came across a door that I've never seen before. That wasn't too uncommon but when I tried to open it, I couldn't."
"What do you mean you couldn't open it?" McGonagall asked in disbelief. "You could've taken a job as a curse breaker or warder for Gringotts."
"It was because I had never run across the type of magic being used to lock it."
"The Arts," Snape breathed.
"They were practiced here and you never told me," Dumbledore stated in alarm.
"Yes, I found a student practicing the Arts," he said nervously. "It was…"
"Well, get on with it man," Snape snapped. "Who was it?"
After shooting him a glare, he continued, "It was Lily Evans."
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End Chapter 01
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