Though number twelve, Grimmauld Place was far from homey and was nothing like the cottage, Harry still felt a sense of being home. Perhaps it was because he was with his family, but whatever the reason, he didn't hate the place nearly as much as he once did.

Summer had begun and while other children (namely Muggles) were out playing with their friends and families and enjoying the sunshine, the wizarding world was in a state of panic and disbelief for Lord Voldemort had risen again. However, not everyone believed it, including the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, despite the eye witness accounts of Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory. Due to his ignorance, half the wizarding world believed the lies in the Daily Prophet that said Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were completely mad and Voldemort had not returned to power.

Out of anger, Remus and Sirius had banned the Daily Prophet from entering number twelve unless absolutely necessary; translated this meant that no Daily Prophet could enter the house unless Voldemort was on the front page saying he was back and ready to start the Second Wizarding War; or if Dumbledore needed it in a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret group fighting against Voldemort.

Harry was getting restless for he had been restricted to bed for the first week of holidays after draining his magic to a dangerously low level. He was still healing from his duel with Voldemort and fight with Barty Crouch Jr., a known Death Eater that had posed as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody for a year. His magic was stable until he went to bed and had the same recurring nightmares. Remus and Sirius were extremely worried about Harry, meaning they were very overprotective as well. One of them slept in Harry's room every night and there were charms around his room to warn them when his magic dropped to a certain level.

Harry sighed and turned a page in his book. He only had two days before he could finally get up again and didn't have to stay in bed anymore. Just as he began reading about a Freezing Charm, he heard voices downstairs and stopped to listen.

"He's doing much better, Molly," he heard Remus say.

"However, he's still healing. It'd be best if he was left alone until he's not restricted to bed," Sirius added.

Using the connection he had with his guardians, Harry said to Sirius, It won't kill me if they come to see me, you know. I'll be out of bed in two days.

Jesus Christ! Harry! Sirius exclaimed.

Don't let Remus hear that. He wouldn't be happy with that language, Harry grinned.

Give some kind of warning the next time. You nearly gave me a heart attack, Sirius said.

Sorry. So, can I at least see Ron and Hermione? Harry asked.

Will you use that visit to tell them about your magic? Sirius asked.

No, Harry said.

Then no. You can see them in a couple days. You need to rest, Sirius told him.

I've been resting for nearly two weeks, Sirius, Harry said.

Madam Pomfrey's orders, kiddo, Sirius said.

Fine, Harry sighed.

Moony's coming up with your lunch. Make sure you eat something. Madam Pomfrey's still complaining about your weight, Sirius said.

Where're you going? Harry asked. Usually both of his guardians ate lunch with him.

I have to help the Weasleys and Hermione settle in then Kingsley's coming over and I have to talk to him, Sirius informed his godson.

About what? Harry asked.

Nice try. Order stuff. I'll talk to you later, kiddo, Sirius said.

Okay, Harry said and felt Sirius put up his barrier just as Remus entered the room.

"Hey, pup," Remus said and sat on the edge of the bed, handing Harry a plate of food. "When Sirius is done with Kingsley, I need to tell him off for his use of language around you."

"You heard him?" Harry asked.

"Of course I heard him. He's as loud in his mind as he is in person," Remus said and Harry laughed in agreement. "I know you want to see your friends but not yet. We have to put your health first."

"Is it that or because if you let me up early Madam Pomfrey will be after you?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"It's both," Remus shrugged and Harry laughed again. "So, how're you feeling, pup?"

"Fine. I've felt fine the past couple days. It's just the issue of having nightmares," Harry said.

"Yes. We wish the potions would help with the dreams," Remus nodded.

"Me too," Harry sighed. They fell silent and Harry's thoughts wandered once again to his time spent in the graveyard. He constantly thought of that night even though he didn't want to. There was just something that stuck in his mind; something that confused him.

"Are you okay, pup?" Remus said, breaking the silence and Harry's thoughts.

"When I was in the graveyard, Voldemort mentioned something," Harry said and Remus raised an eyebrow. Harry usually avoided any mention of the third task if he could help it. "He mentioned the diary."

"The diary?" Remus repeated, slightly confused.

"Yeah. You know, the one from my second year that held Tom Riddle's memory and he used it to possess Ginny?" Harry said.

"Oh, right. That diary. So, what did he say about it?" Remus said, finally understanding.

"He said it was important. He said I had destroyed a part of him when I stabbed the diary. I don't understand though. How could a diary have been so important to him?" Harry said.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that. You have to talk to Dumbledore about this," Remus told him and Harry sighed. "Would you like me to call Dumbledore?"

Harry looked at him. "Yeah. There's something he's not telling me."

"Okay. I'll be right back. Finish eating your lunch, pup," Remus said and left the bedroom. He walked down to the living room and threw Floo Powder into the fireplace, yelling, "Dumbledore's office!" and put his head into the fire.

"Hello, Remus. How may I help you? Is Harry all right?" the headmaster said with a smile.

"Yes, Harry's—well, actually, he wants to talk to you. It's time you told him, sir," Remus said and Dumbledore lost his smile.

"I feared this would happen," Dumbledore sighed. "I'll be there shortly."

"Thank you, sir," Remus said and pulled himself out of the fireplace.

"What's going on, Moony?" Sirius said when he ran into Remus in the hall.

"Dumbledore's coming over to talk to Harry," Remus said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"About?" Sirius looked at him. Remus didn't speak but just stared at his friend, trying to tell him through his eyes. "Really?" he said as he understood the situation.

"Yes. Apparently Voldemort spoke of the diary in the graveyard and said Harry had destroyed a part of him when he destroyed the diary. Now Harry wants to know what it all means. He knows we've been keeping something from him; knows Dumbledore's been keeping something from him," Remus nodded and Sirius ran a hand through his black hair. He was about to speak when Dumbledore stepped into the hallway.

"Hello. I believe Harry wanted to speak with me," the aging man said.

"Yes. He's upstairs, third door on the left," Remus nodded and directed him to Harry's bedroom.

"Thank you," Dumbledore inclined his head before going up the stairs. Remus and Sirius glanced at each other before heading to the kitchen to wade out the long overdue conversation between Dumbledore and Harry. Dumbledore knocked on Harry's bedroom door and entered at Harry's consent.

"Hello, Professor," Harry said, pushing himself into a more comfortable position.

"It has been brought to my attention that you wanted to speak with me," Dumbledore said, sitting in a chair beside Harry's bed.

"Yes, sir. It's about Voldemort," Harry nodded.

"Continue," Dumbledore said.

"When I was in the graveyard, Voldemort talked about the diary I destroyed in my second year. He said it was very important and that I had destroyed a part of him when I destroyed the diary. I don't get it. How was that diary so important? It was just a ratty old diary," Harry explained and looked at his headmaster curiously.

Dumbledore sighed and the absence of a smile and twinkle in his eye worried Harry. "I have not been completely truthful with you, Harry."

"What do you mean?" Harry frowned.

"In order to make you understand, I must go back and tell the story from the beginning," Dumbledore said.

Harry nodded as a way to tell him to go ahead. "Okay."

"Over fifty years ago, Tom Riddle walked the corridors of Hogwarts. He was a bright and talented student. Popular, handsome, and everyone liked him. However, everyone only saw what he wanted them to see. They did not see who he really was; a power-hungry young adult who hoped for nothing but eternal life and glory. I did not know what he was to become when I accepted him into Hogwarts. All I saw was a brilliant and extraordinary young boy that wanted nothing more than to have a home and a place to fit in," Dumbledore said and gazed intently at Harry. "The years passed and he became one of the most popular and talented students Hogwarts had ever seen. However, it was not to last. He was getting further into the Dark Side and further into the Dark Magic of our world. Tom Riddle came across a certain bit of magic sometime during his years at school."

"What was it?" Harry asked, enticed by the intense past of Lord Voldemort.

"It is a bit of magic called a Horcrux," Dumbledore said and Harry frowned.

"What's a Horcrux?" the young Gryffindor asked.

"When a wizard kills another human, they rip their soul. If one so chooses, one can place a piece of their soul into an object and it is then known as a Horcrux," Dumbledore said.

"Why would someone make a Horcrux? What does this have to do with the diary or Voldemort?" Harry asked, becoming increasingly confused.

"Be patient. I'm getting there," Dumbledore said. "Some people do not choose to make a Horcrux; they simply kill because it's what they wanted to do. However, those who do choose to make a Horcrux do it for a reason, for example, Lord Voldemort. When one chooses to make a Horcrux they do it because it will make them immortal, something that they seek. Immortality is something Tom Riddle wanted very much. When he came across this magic, it enticed him."

"You believe he made a Horcrux?" Harry said, finally catching onto the meaning of the story.

"Yes, I do but I had not been sure until you brought me that diary. When you handed me that diary, I knew my worst fears had been realized and that Voldemort had, indeed, succeeded in making himself immortal," Dumbledore said.

"The diary was a Horcrux? If it held a bit of his soul, why was he so careless with it?" Harry said, once again confused.

"Because it is not his only Horcrux. Voldemort was correct when he said you had destroyed a part of him but that's all it was…just a part," Dumbledore said.

"How many did he make?" Harry asked.

"I believe he succeeded in creating seven," Dumbledore told him.

"Seven?" Harry repeated. "He killed seven times to make himself immortal?"

"Yes. However, as dark as this tale may seem now, it only gets worse. I do not know what the Horcruxes are or where they are. I know one thing though. The night Voldemort attacked your home thirteen years ago he had gone there to kill. So he did; he killed your parents but he failed to kill you. As I told you, when you kill you rip your soul and that is what happened when he killed your parents. His soul tore and the piece that came off latched onto the last living thing in the area: you," Dumbledore stared into the bright green eyes that had widened.

"Me? I-I'm a Horcrux? I have some of Voldemort's soul in me?" Harry said, shocked.

"Yes. He never meant it to happen but it did and it created a connection between you. It is because of this that you are a Parselmouth," Dumbledore said.

"What connection?" Harry asked his headmaster.

"I fear it will be stronger now that Voldemort has returned and used your blood to do so. The connection I speak of is that you will be able to see through Voldemort's eyes at times. You will be able to tell what he is feeling. I believe it works both ways. I hope Voldemort does not discover this connection, for if he does I fear he may use it and do something to get you," Dumbledore explained.

"You mean he can see in my head. He can see my thoughts. He may be able to put something in my head to trick me?" Harry said.

Dumbledore looked at the student sadly. "I believe so."

"Why did Voldemort try to kill me?" Harry asked, realizing he had never known why Voldemort had gone after his family thirteen years ago.

Dumbledore sighed again. "Before you were born, a prophecy was made concerning Voldemort and a baby."

"Me," Harry said.

"Yes, but when he went after you he didn't know that for sure," Dumbledore nodded. "It could have been you or another."

"Then why did he go after me?" Harry asked.

"Because he believed you to be the one that would be his downfall, not the other," Dumbledore told him.

"What's the prophecy?" Harry wondered.

Dumbledore took a deep breath and recited: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."

Harry stared at him, his eyes wide and his mouth open slightly. He couldn't believe it. He either had to die or kill Voldemort. He knew he had already known this because Remus and Sirius had told him before the school year but it didn't erase the shock of what his fate was. He didn't have a choice. At some point he would have to face Voldemort alone and defeat him. But what power did he have that Voldemort didn't? He didn't have any special talent. He was just a fourteen year old kid that happened to survive situations that should kill him.

"If that is all," Dumbledore said and Harry looked at him.

"Yes, that's it. Thanks, Professor," Harry said stiffly and watched as Dumbledore left the room. No sooner had Dumbledore disappeared than Remus and Sirius entered. "Hey."

"He told you everything?" Remus asked as they sat on the bed with Harry. They had enlarged it so that one of them could always be sleeping in the bed with Harry.

"Yeah. Told me everything," Harry nodded. "It's things like that that make me hate who I am."

Sirius put a hand on Harry's knee. "Don't worry, kiddo. You will always have people to help you and care about you."

"And for right now, we just have to worry about getting you better," Remus added.

Harry looked at his guardians and knew what they said was true. Sure, he would have to face Voldemort eventually but until then he had people that were willing to do anything to help him and people who cared so much about him.

The End

A/N: Well, that's that. The end of Darkness Rising. Now, I'm sure you all want a sequel and there is one, but I've only written half a chapter. It's going to be a long time before the sequel ever comes around. Sorry. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed Darkness Rising. Thank you so much for reading and for all your reviews. :]