AN: A lot of you seem concerned as to why chapter one seemed rushed. That is simple... I am not doing a game walkthrough! If you want one, go to GameFAQs. Also, because I was compressing the game events into one chapter, there wasn't much room for emotional content. I'd rather start building that here in chapter two, where Harry starts getting ready for Hogwarts and I can slow events down better.

Chapter Two: Diagon Alley Connected

27th July, 2011

It has been about 3 1/2 years since Harry Potter last stepped on British soil. Not since that fateful night in mid-October 2008 when the Dursleys abandoned him near Penn Station in Manhattan, one week before his whole world changed. The changes brought forth erased his old life, and gave him a new one, with a new family, one that would do anything to protect him, not that he needed it, though he did appreciate the thought.

Due to a genetically altered super-virus called BLACKLIGHT, Harry became a Prototype, but not just any Prototype, for you see, Harry was born with magic. It was that magic that transformed the virus within him and made it symbiotic to his body, giving him all the powers of the virus, but few of the weaknesses. (Harry still can't swim, and now his body won't allow him to learn. A relaxing dip in a hot tub is all he can get.)

With him were all the new family members he had found. Dr. Bradley Ragland, was Harry's grandfather figure. The old man had stayed with the group, seeing as he had no other family and saw Harry as his own grandson. Thankfully, that hasn't stopped him from taking Harry, or the other two Prototypes, over his knee from time to time.

The next member was his father figure, Remus Lupin. The werewolf whose love of chocolate is legendary, even in the mundane world (The man is officially BANNED from the town of Hershey, PA), he always has a story to tell Harry about his parents, as well as Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Remus began having doubts about Sirius' guilt, especially once Harry consumed another Death Eater last year and saw Peter with the Dark Mark on his arm in the Web of Intrigue.

Alex Mercer and Sgt. James Heller are his two older brother figures. True, they were on opposite sides a couple of years ago, but through Harry have joined together in a somewhat peaceful living arraignment, though they still fight somewhat roughly out of some sense of machismo. Thankfully, Harry had the forethought of telling them to show what they can do to some nearby quarry companies. The family has been very financially secure ever since.

In the big sister role is Dana Mercer, Alex's younger sister. She's also the most logical of the group, and the only one without superpowers that can bring the three viroids down a few pegs, usually when their egos get out of hand. Using some of the money that was brought in by Alex and James at the quarries (they had to quit since they were moving to the UK), Dana started a bi-monthly news journal which allowed the everyday people to send in stories about local events, their views on politics, etc., etc.

Harry is the balance point of the group. Gone was the malnourished, abused kid. What stands now is a tall, powerfully built pre-teen who can be the calm center for everyone around him one moment, and playful and very inventive kid the next moment. He usually helps Dana keep Alex and James in line, but when his playful side is out, he's usually on the receiving end with them. Due to the symbiotic integration of the virus, Harry is a lot taller and heavier than your average eleven-year old. Standing at 5' 11", and weighing around 210 lbs. in solid muscle, Harry exuded power and confidence, though he is never a braggart. Harry knew he got what he had through hard work, even with the virus helping him in areas such as gaining knowledge, he still had to put into practice the knowledge he gained, and that hard work kept him level-headed. He is a bit prideful about his fighting skills (what kid wouldn't with what he's been through), but always keeps luck in mind... his opponent's luck, not his own.

Harry never told anyone but Remus, but those 18 days of the initial outbreak pretty much shut down his emotions, leaving just a very basic sense of them and his logic centers in charge. It wasn't until Remus got Harry into Philadelphia that he noticed that his young charge was in emotional shock. It took the whole night, but Remus finally got Harry to release, and release he did. He cried, cried for his lost childhood, his lost innocence. It was then that Remus made a slight change of plans. For the next two months, Remus and Harry did nothing but be tourist, traveling down the coast and seeing all the happier things in life, with the final week ending at Disney World. Harry became more receptive to the love Remus had for him, and it helped to ease the memories he had with the Dursleys, though he will still carry those mental scars for the rest of his life.

Seeing that is was only five P.M., the group decided to go check in at their hotel before finding a quiet restaurant.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was in a sour mood. For over three years, one Harry Potter was missing from his pris... home with the Dursleys, basking in the crul... caring love of his relatives. Within a week of the Dursleys returning from the U.S., the wards fell, and a few drunk Death Eaters stumbled across them and slaughtered them like sheep.

Every device that Dumbledore had tied to wards that monitored Harry, from his health to his location in the U.K., was destroyed. The health monitor was the one that had the most explosive death, destroying his desk and most of his books and the headmaster portraits, cutting down a lot of his spy network within the school, as well as within the ministry and St. Mungo's. The only alarm he had left was the trace on Harry's magical signature. During the time Harry was gone, it let out a chirp once every two hours, but now... it's chirping every FIVE SECONDS?

Dumbledore shot up from his chair behind his new desk and cast spell after spell at the device, trying to get any information he can. Finally, he managed to extract Harry's current location.

"He's at The Leaky Cauldron!" shouted Dumbledore, and grabbing Harry's letter, which he pulled from the mailing pile on the off-chance Harry did show up in the UK, he quickly shot to the floo.

Remus saw that the hotel they had checked into was not too far from The Leaky Cauldron, and he felt that Harry should have his first taste of British wizarding culture, such as it is, now so that it could be spaced out, instead of hitting him with it all at once. Absorbed memories are one thing, reality is a whole other.

Remus told the others that they were close to the entry point of the British wizarding world and everything else he'd thought of, and they all agreed that it was a good idea, and so all six trooped towards the wizards's pub.

Tom the barman was relishing one of the last quiet nights he was going to have for the rest of the summer, what with Hogwarts letters going out. The main rush doesn't start until 31st July, so he had a few days left to relax. He was at the bar, lazily wiping the counter while watching the main room. Wizards, witches, and occasionally, their families, were enjoying their dinners.

It was during his third swipe that a group of six walked in, all were wearing muggle clothes. The old man looked kind and gentle, but had a dark, haunted look in his eyes, as if he had seen things no man ever should. The same look was in the eyes of the young woman, but she also looked like she had a needle-sharp temper, the kind where acupuncture is not needed should you ever face it. Kind of reminds me of Lily Potter, bless her soul, he thought to himself.

Three of the four lads were the most dangerous looking. All three of them gave off an air that said, "If you value your life, approach with extreme caution, especially with the other three." They all had their jacket hoods up, so you could only see their nose and mouth, but the youngest looking had eyes that gave off an eerie green glow, kind of like the Avada Kedavra. Tom shuddered from those eyes, and looked at the last member of the group, whom he recognized right away.

"Well, if it isn't Remus Lupin. Where 'ave you been, lad? We haven't see ye for about three years now," said Tom happily.

"I've been in the U.S., traveling, seeing the sights, things like that," replied Remus with a small smile.

"You haven't been in New York City during that time, have ye?" asked Tom. "I've heard it's been a right war zone." The three young men looked down and coughed.

"Unfortunately, I was there just as it started, but managed to get out before the quarantine went up," lied Remus. "Anyway, can we have a private room. We have a few business ideas to discuss that we don't want overheard."

"Alright, Remus. If you all would follow me, please?" asked Tom as he walked over to the hallway that lead to the private parlors.

"What would everyone like to drink?" asked Tom.

"Just some butterbeers for now, Tom," said Remus. "We'll look over the menu and order when you bring the drinks."

"I'll be right back, then," said Tom, but just as he was about to close the door, Albus Dumbledore barged into the room.

Remus quickly stood up from his seat and said, "Tom, could you go get those drinks, please, as well as Professor Dumbledore's usual? I believe I know exactly what he's here for."

Tom looked from Dumbledore to one of Remus' companions, the one with the shocking green eyes. Now I remember where I've seen those eyes, he thought to himself. He then said to Remus, "I understand," and closed the door.

"Alright, you damn bastard, what are you here for?" growled Remus.

"Remus, I have absolutely no idea what..." started Dumbledore.

"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME!" yelled Remus, his eyes glowing their golden werewolf color before changing back to their soft brown. Taking a steadying breath, he continued. "I know it was you who broke James and Lily's will by placing Harry with the Dursleys against their wishes. I know it was you who ignored Sirius and allowed Barty Crouch to toss him into Azkaban without a trial. I suspect it was you who did the spell switching the secret keeper from Sirius to Peter, but have no proof. I know now that Peter has the mark, and was the spy for Voldemort, and that you allowed him to tell his master, as it made sure that those people and families that were killed would never oppose you, especially concerning whoever turned out to be the Prophecy Child."

Dumbledore was stunned. Years of planning was washed down the drain, how, he didn't know, but what Remus had said was a lot more than lucky guesswork, but still, one thing stuck out. "Concerning Mr. Pettigrew, don't you mean 'had'?" he asked.

"I meant what I said. I believe Peter is still alive. He may have been a right moron, but he always had an escape route, even if it was quickly thought up," replied Remus. Just then, Tom returned with the drinks.

"Thank you, Tom. We'll order supper after Professor Dumbledore leaves," said Remus.

"That's alright, Remus, and I would just like to say, welcome back to the Wizarding World, Mr. Potter," said Tom. "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone else."

Harry pulled down the hood of his jacket, revealing a slightly tan face, shaggy black hair, one faded lightning bolt scar, and a hard-set expression, as if life pushed him harder to grow up than anyone else.

"Thank you, Tom," said Harry simply.

"My pleasure, Mr. Potter," said Tom, who once again left the room.

Dumbledore thought fast to salvage this situation. "Ah, Harry, my boy..." was as far as he'd gotten when Harry dashed at him with blinding fast speed. Dumbledore found himself pinned to the wall by his neck. Looking down, he saw that Harry's hands were now razor-sharp claws. Dumbledore pulled his wand from his pocket, but Harry quickly took it from him. Harry felt a connection from the wand, but ignored it for now.

"First off, I am not, nor will I ever be, your boy," said Harry darkly. "Secondly, I should consume you right now for all the things you've done to me, especially with leaving me with the Dursleys, but I won't seeing as there would be too many questions from too many sources, but that doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to strip you of everything you have, and when it's all gone, the truth revealed, and the people no longer care about you, that will be the day I consume you." Harry then jerked Dumbledore away from the wall and tossed him to the floor in a heap. "Oh, and I'm keeping the wand."

"Wow, is it winter already? I've never felt anything that cold before," joked James as Harry walked back over to them, his claws reforming back into his hands. Dana just smacked him on the back of his head. James sent Dana a glare, but she was unperturbed.

Dumbledore was coughing from the choke hold he was in, and took a couple of minutes to get up from the floor. Standing, Dumbledore brushed the dust off of his robes. He was now royally pissed at losing the Elder Wand to, in his mind, the young upstart, and he doubted that he would be able to win it back, considering what he knew of Harry's linage.

"Yes, very well then Mr. Potter, I believe this is yours," said Dumbledore, holding out Harry's letter. Harry didn't grab it, but instead wandlessly lifted it out of the old man's grasp. Dumbledore gasped as Harry scanned the letter and removed the portkey and paralyzation spells and watched as Harry kept getting more and more pissed.

"You dare... you Dare... Try To ConTROL ME!" yelled Harry, his eyes glowing with a level of power stronger than anything Dumbledore had ever seen. The reason for this is that during Harry and Remus' travels, they've came across masters and grand masters of various magical and martial arts. These masters knew from the news just what Harry was. They sought Harry out for two reasons. One, they were near the end of their lives, and two, upstart dark lords trying to take Riddle's place as the top dog were after their secrets. After meeting and talking to Harry, they came to understand him and knew that he would be the best one to give their knowledge and skills to, so they allowed Harry to consume them, and left their stuff to him to use.

Dumbledore stumbled back from the show of Harry's power, as Alex and James moved to stand on either side of Harry, their arms changing into very large blades sharp enough to slice him in two within seconds.

"Wha... what are you?" asked a shocked Dumbledore. "I thought Harry's claws were just a transfiguration, but I didn't feel any magic from you when you changed your arms."

"We're viroids," said Alex stiffly. After learning what the Templars tried to do to him two years ago, he hated anyone who tried to control others by taking their free will. "Surely you've heard what happened in New York City these past few years."

"That's you three?" gasped Dumbledore, who was starting to feel a great strain on his heart, as it beat faster and faster with every revelation and his thoughts going a thousand miles a minute, trying to calculate a way to get Harry under his control and each plan failing one after the other. Clutching his chest, Dumbledore stumbles into a chair nearby and sat down.

The others looked on worried. They surely didn't need the old man dying on them. Dr. Ragland rushed forward and opened his doctor's bag, thankful that he never goes anywhere without it. Pulling out his stethoscope, he takes Dumbledore's heartbeat and pulse.

"Shit, his heart's going into overdrive, and I don't have anything to slow it down!" yelled Ragland.

Remus rushed to the door. "Tom! Call St. Mungo's emergency cardiac team! Dumbledore's having a heart attack!"

Due to the panic caused by the call, it took the cardiac team ten minutes to arrive, but they were way too late. Dumbledore's heart stopped five minutes after the call. Dr. Ragland and Remus tried both CPR and a mild electrical spell to re-start his heart, but it failed to stay in rhythm.

Fawkes appeared two minutes before Dumbledore's heart stopped. He had a feeling that this would be his companion's last day on earth. Fawkes knew that Albus was walking down a dark path, but he thought he could bring Albus back. He only stayed out of hope. When he arrived, he saw that it was already too late for his tears, as the strain finally tore Albus' heart to shreds. Looking over at Harry, he saw a young man forced into the most awful of situations, but stayed on the path of Light, without being blinded by it like Albus was. Therefore, Fawkes chose Harry as his new companion.

Harry looked over at the handsome red bird, and felt a new connection form, much like the one he felt with the wand.

Is any more weird stuff going to happen to me today? he asked himself.

\Depends. How much longer are you going to stay awake?\ asked a voice in Harry's mind.

Harry looked around. The voice felt different that what he, Alex and James share through the Hive link. He also knows that Remus doesn't know legilimency , and that Dana and Bradley aren't psychic, so that left one other being, besides the healers who were busy examining the dead professor.

The bird.

\I'm a phoenix, you twit. The name's Fawkes,\ said the bird.

Harry sat down hard on his chair in order to keep from passing out. Remus looked over at the two and asked, "Did Fawkes bond with you?" Harry nodded. "That's good, but we'll get an owl anyway, as I know Fawkes doesn't like to be used to carry messages unless it's a real emergency." Fawkes nodded at that and chirped. He always hated that with Dumbledore.

The healers stepped outside the room, and a few moments later, they stepped back in with someone else. Said someone else was a tall witch dressed in red robes, had reddish-blonde hair turning silver, and wore a monocle.

"Amelia? What are you doing here?" asked Remus. "Oh, forgive me. Harry, Dana, Alex, James, Bradley, this is Madame Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Amelia, this is Harry Potter, Alex and Dana Mercer, Sgt. James Heller, and Dr. Bradley Ragland.

Amelia was stunned. She wasn't expecting a near adult-sized Boy-Who-Lived, at least, not until he was fifteen at a minimum. He's going to be beating anything female within a fifty-mile radius of Hogwarts away with anything he has within reach, including said females, she thought to herself. Amelia then held out her hand and said, "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter."

Harry walked up, took her hand and kissed her fingers. "The pleasure is all mine," he replied in a smooth voice and showing a fox-like grin, making Madam Bones blush. Dana walked up and smacked the back of Harry's head.

"Can it, snake charmer," she told him as she dragged him back to the group as the others just shook their heads.

"I take it that's a regular occurrence?" asked Madam Bones.

"Unfortunately," said Remus, who then launched into the tale of what happened to them over the last three years, followed up by what happened tonight with Dumbledore, as well as their suspicions about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

"Well, I don't know about Pettigrew, but I can at least have Sirius questioned if I put it under the guise of testing a theory," said Madam Bones, who got up from the table. Tom had brought in their orders, which they placed before the healers got there to give the barman something to keep busy with to take his mind off of what happened to Dumbledore. Amelia also ordered a meal and had a working supper.

"Well, I wish we could have met under better circumstances," said Harry as he and the others got up to pay Tom and head back to their hotel.

"As do I, lad. Remus, I'll keep in touch about Sirius, but don't get your hopes up." Amelia shook their hands, and after paying Tom, parted ways.

It was a week later, and the funeral of Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was a grand, but somber affair. Everyone in wizarding Britain was there, as well as his friends in the International Confederation of Wizards. Per his wishes, he was buried on the Hogwarts grounds.

Harry decided to have a delayed birthday party, so as not to let people think they were celebrating Dumbledore's death, so on the seventh of August, Harry celebrated his eleventh birthday.

The next day, after the adults had their hangover potions (Alex and James both got down on their knees and outright worshiped Remus the day he first gave them the potion after a long night of trying to drink each other under the table), the group went out into Diagon Alley to shop for Harry's school stuff, but first was a trip to Gringotts, the goblin-run bank.

Having found Harry's trust vault key in Dumbledore's robes still irked both Harry and Remus, but at least they didn't have to dig through his office at Hogwarts for it.

Entering the bank, the group headed towards one of the goblin tellers when they were interrupted by one of the managers.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin. My name is Gobhocker," said the goblin. "I was the account manager for Mr. Dumbledore. He left a will, with his brother, Aberforth, and the two of you the only beneficiaries. The younger Mr. Dumbledore's portion has already been read by him and he has already received his portion. Albus Dumbledore informed us that your portion was to wait until your first visit to this bank, however the reason for this is unknown."

Harry and Remus were stunned. Why would Dumbledore, of all people, leave them something. Even better, how did he know to leave them something.

"The others in your party may come with you, but the two of you must see this now," said Gobhocker. Harry and Remus nodded and the group followed the goblin.

Once they were in Gobhocker's office, the goblin closed the door and sealed the room from outside intrusion. He also scanned them, and removed at least five listening and recording charms.

"Better safe than sorry," said Gobhocker as the last of the spells faded away.

"Something really must be up if security's that tight about this reading," said James dryly.

"Now that we are secured, I can explain a few things in greater detail," said Gobhocker. "Albus Dumbledore was under a very powerful curse, the start of which Mr. Lupin here knows of."

Remus thought for a moment before blurting out, "The DADA curse?"

"Correct, though Mr. Dumbledore will explain more," said Gobhocker as he pulled out a large stone basin. "This is a projector pensieve. Albus Dumbledore's will is a memory will, which makes it absolutely sure that it can't be tampered with. I'll just start it up and leave the talking to the old windbag." Gobhocker tapped a few of the runes along the edge of the bowl, and a projection of Albus Dumbledore appeared above it.

"To Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Remus Lupin,

If you are seeing this, then I am finally free, free of the curse placed on me by one Tom Marvolo Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort. In 1969, a young Tom Riddle came back to Hogwarts trying to apply for the DADA position. I turned him down. He then laid a piece of parchment on my desk and left. I picked up the parchment, thinking it was harmless, but it was not. This is how the curse began. Many people think the curse affected the DADA teachers, but it was worse than that. The curse slowly but surely forced me to dumb down the educational standards of Hogwarts, starting with DADA and spreading out into the other subjects. This slow degradation of the school's educational standards would insure Tom an easy victory over Wizarding Britain.

Luckily, I discovered that the curse was only in effect while I was in the U.K. During this time was the conflicts in Vietnam, as well as the Cold War, so I was called in to the ICW a lot, which slowed down the spread of the curse, unfortunately, I could not stop it. With the help of the ICW, we found that the curse was set in Parseltongue, as well as in Slytherin family magic, ensuring that it could never be broken until my death.

I do not blame you for my death, for I know the two of you, as well as the four currently with you, were there. Sybil Trelawney, yes, I know that you don't like her, for I'm sure that James told you about the Prophesy between Harry and Tom. Anyway, she had a vision last year about those who would be around me when I died, and she described each and every one of you. I was at least glad that Harry came out stronger, despite what I did to him due to the curse.

With the curse now broken, Professor McGonagall can start repairing the damage before it becomes too late, though she will have to start next year, as this year is already set. Harry, there is something I need to tell you. Under the curse, I had asked my friend, Nicholas Flamel to let me hide his Philosopher's Stone at Hogwarts, intending to be a test for you, though I know that Voldemort is still out there, and more than likely it will be a trap for you. The stone is hidden in a special, slightly dark magical object called the Mirror of Erised, or Desire mirrored. Voldemort will try to seek the stone, but since he'll know nothing of the mirror, he or, more likely, his agent will be stymied, thinking only of their greed. Get the stone and get it back to the Flamels as soon as possible.

I thank you for listening to an old man, one who prayed in the silences of his mind that not too much damage was done to his beloved homeland. To help you, I leave you with all my books, my pensieve plus as many memories as I could give you pertaining to Riddle and other important items. I also leave you... with my love, for even though I was under that dratted curse, I loved you like my very own grandson, even though due to me... batting for the home team, as I've heard it called currently, I could never have one outside of adoption, and with my personality, I would never put a child through that.

Waiting for you all on the next great adventure,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore"

Harry and the others left the bank in a somewhat shocked state. First he learned that all the manipulations were all due to Voldemort planning farther than they all thought. Second was learning that Dumbledore was a flag-pole runner, which still sent shivers down his spine at how narrowly he missed finding that out on his own at Hogwarts. Third was that he now had two missions: short-term mission (short being the school year) - protect the stone. Long-term mission - defeat and destroy Voldemort by any means possible. Right now, though, it's time for Dana's favorite hobby and Harry's abject terror - shopping.

First stop was a for a multi-compartment trunk, as they planned to get a lot for his school year. Next stop was for his books, as well as a lot of supplemental reading, which went into compartment one. Compartment two held all his potions supplies. Harry normally would have had clothes in the third compartment, but took care of that real quick at Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions.

"Ma'am, all I need is one robe, and I refuse to pay for the other two," said Harry sternly.

"And how, exactly, are you going to get by with just one robe?" she asked.

"If you hand it over, I'll show you," said Harry. Madam Malkin handed him the robe, which he quickly absorbed and morphed his current clothes into.

"Oh," said the stunned Madam Malkin. "But what about..."

"I'll let the school's magic change what needs to be changed when we get sorted," said Harry. He paid for the robe, and quickly left with the others.

The next stop, Olivander's, was for two reasons. To find out about the wand Harry got from Dumbledore, and to see if there was a regular wand for Harry.

Inside the shop and eerie feeling settled over the group. Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and he quickly threw a backhanded fist, stopping just short of Olivander's nose.

"Oh, my. That's the first time I've ever gotten that reaction from someone, at least, the first time this century," said Olivander.

"Hello, Mr. Olivander," said Remus.

"Ah, hello, Mr. Lupin. I see you brought Mr. Potter here. But why exactly are you here, as I sense another wand on you?" asked Olivander curiously.

"That was one of the things we wanted to talk to you about," said Harry as he pulled out the wand. Olivander gasped at what he saw in Harry's hands.

"Is that what I think it is?" he asked Harry.

"You tell me, for I have no idea what this wand is, only that it connected to me after I pulled it from Dumbledore's hands," replied Harry.

"I believe that is the Elder Wand, one of the three Deathly Hallows," said Olivander mysteriously.

"Oh, that clears up so much," said Alex sarcastically as he changed his hands into claws. "Start talkin' or I start slicin'."

Dana smacked him over the head. "Alex be nice," she said sternly. James stifles his laughter, making sure that Dana doesn't see him.

Olivander starts talking about the Deathly Hallows and how they were connected to Harry's ancestry, what with the Olivander family being close to the Peverell family.

Harry looks down at the wand once Olivander was finished. "You are so getting destroyed. Once Voldy is out of the way, we're finding the nearest volcano, and I am dropping you in."

AN: This almost didn't want to write, but I managed to pull it out in the end. At least the pace is slower, without it being turtle slow, and there's more emotion going on, which is amazing for me, since I don't emote very well. Never have. I know it's a bit of a shock having Dumbledore die now, but I wanted to try him in more of the ghostly mentor role, like Obi-Wan Kenobi, only it will be through the pensieve.