Chapter 12

A week later, Severus' dark mark flared to life. He grasped his arm tightly, and fell to his knees. Thankfully, Severus and Harry were the only ones left in the house, the rest had left for evening church service.

"Go get your mask and cloak Severus." Harry stated. Severus nodded, gasping each time the pain radiated through the mark.

Harry quickly found a notepad and scribbled a note saying that Severus and he were doing some last minute shopping and to not wait up for them while Severus stumbled up the stairs and into their room. Fumbling through his trunk, he pulled out the two objects.

Harry ran up the stairs as Severus was about to portkey to the Dark Lord. Before Severus could leave, Harry grasped onto the mark as well, transporting the two of them.

Death Eaters were arriving in groups and were all heading towards the large ballroom. Harry signaled Severus to be silent of his presence before the unmarked man drifted off away from the crowd. The teen headed towards the lounge where he knew that Voldemort would be before the actual time for his meeting. Calmly, Harry opened the door and let himself in.

Voldemort was surprised to see Harry Evans enter. "I wasn't expecting you this evening."

"I know."

"What is it that you want?"

"I want to finalize our plans before May. Because I'm stuck at Hogwarts for the rest of the semester, I won't be able to contact you. The castle itself has my support, and I have two out of the four houses behind me. I just have to make one pesky Gryffindor listen to me, and I will have Dumbledore's prized house backing me up. The Hufflepuff's will follow the rest of the houses leads once I become Headmaster."

Voldemort leaned back in his chair. "I don't understand how you can run a school when you haven't even finished school yourself."

"I just took my NEWTs last week." Voldemort straightened up in his chair. "And the results?"

"I find out in February."

"Thorough." Harry nodded at the older man's comment, pleased.

"Send a message to me through your roommate. He is a servant of mine." Voldemort sighed.

Harry had to smirk. "I knew that from the start. After all, I hitched a ride from him tonight. It just made getting here easier."

Voldemort was not as pleased. "It was so easy for you to see through the young Mr. Snape? He and I will talk then."

"Don't blame Severus that I could detect his mark so easily. I have near constant contact with him. Hiding that level of magic is impossible in so close quarters. I promise, however, the old man is clueless how deep Severus is right now."

"What are you planning on doing?"

"I'm adding eleven new teachers, ten new subjects to the curriculum. Defense Against the Dark Arts will not be called that any longer. It will just be Offensive and Defensive Magic. When you change the definition of Dark Magic that is defined by the Ministry of Magic, the curriculum will change as well. That is why I am changing the name." Voldemort nodded in appreciation.

"How will you be paying for these new teachers?"

"Dumbledore has been siphoning money out of the school trust fund and putting it in to his own pocket. When he is gone, that money will be there for new teachers. Once the time comes, I will need your help on starting up a primary school for muggleborns. This will help minimize the culture shock, and when Muggleborns go to this school, they will be more excepting of the wizarding world. Currently purebloods dislike muggleborns because they do not understand the culture. If we introduce this earlier in life, we will not have this strife when they turn eleven and go to Hogwarts."

Voldemort nodded. "Write me up a memo for this and send it through Severus then. When I become Minister, I will have such done. I am planning for the central raid to happen on the first of that month." Voldemort looked at the clock on the wall. "If you excuse me, I have a meeting to attend."

Harry nodded, and watched as Voldemort left the room before the teen headed to the ballroom himself. Seeing that Voldemort set Severus as his lesion with Harry for security reasons, Harry was satisfied.

Over all, it was an exciting night. Harry sighed before he headed out the door he came through at the start of the evening. Harry then apparated back to the Evans' surprisingly tired after his little meeting with the Dark Lord. Deciding to wait up, Harry accidentally dosed off on the couch.

An hour later, Severus arrived and came back into the house. His return woke Harry right as the Evans' pulled into the garage. Perfect timing.

Harry went and grabbed the note that he had left on the kitchen table crumpling it up and throwing it into the trashcan.

The next couple of days passed by in a blur. Emily was throwing the last minute Christmas decorations together, while the rest of the family was enjoying watching the crazy woman while consuming her cookies. Petunia looked better despite cramping hard. She was feeling deeply relieved because she had not missed her cycle that month. Still Harry did a secret scan and was certain the woman had not become pregnant.

Lily babied her big sister, as did Severus. Petunia was also glad that her hate and anger had not stolen away her sister.

Before Harry knew it, they were in the day before Yule, and Emily wasn't sure on what to do for the celebration.

"Harry!" Emily yelled from the kitchen. Harry was in the middle of a losing game of chess with Severus. Harry moved his rook, capturing the pawn, and then got up to see what Mrs. Evans wanted.

"Yes ma'am?" He asked, walking into the kitchen. Emily had a hot cookie pan in her hands.

She placed the pan down on the stove, and turned to the boy. "You never told me what you do for Yule!" she said furiously motioning with her hands, frustrated that she didn't have anything prepared.

"Don't worry about it Mrs.—Emily. Yule is just our equivalent of Christmas. Most of the time, Yule coincides with the Christmas day, it just so happens that the specific lunar alignment falls a couple of days before the Christian Christmas." Emily nodded, relieved that she hadn't messed anything up.

"Do you want my help with frosting those delicious cookies?" Emily smiled glad she wasn't the only one in the house that enjoyed cooking.

That night, Emily held her daughter back while everyone else headed to bed.

"Lily, I don't know how to ask you this, but is Harry gay?"

The question shocked Lily a little, but then she began to think about it. "He hasn't come outright and told me, if that is what you are asking."

Emily nodded, not sure what to make of her guest. "You're not going out with him, right?"

"No, you remember earlier when you asked me that at the beginning of the break?" Her mother hesitantly nodded. "I'm actually going out with Sev." She said subconsciously holding her breath.

"You two have always been close." Emily stated simply. Lily released her breath.

"Thanks mum." Emily nodded, gave her daughter a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Lily turned and headed up the stairs. She entered her room, and Severus was sitting on her bed.

"What did your mum say?" He asked, unsure on how welcome he would be received after anyone found out.

Lily kissed him. "She seemed fine with it. Do you think Harry is gay?"

"Does it matter?" Severus questioned back. Severus deeply kissed Lily, trying to convey to her how much he cared for her.

Lily responded in kind, and pushed Severus onto the bed. "Lily." Severus said in between kisses.

Yet, Lily began kissing his neck and started to lift the hem of his shirt up. "Lily."

She ignored him as they softly kissed repeatedly while her hands explored his stomach. Severus was enjoying this, but he wanted their first time to be special. "We" kiss "have" kiss "to" kiss "stop".

Severus sat up, jostling his girlfriend off him.

"Sev?" She asked, unsure on why he made her stop.

"We aren't ready Lily." Severus looked deep into her eyes trying to convey his meaning.

"I thought that's what all guys want." She sighed, crawling into his lap.

"I don't need you to express your love that way to me right away." He said, as he ran his fingers through her hair. Severus looked down at her face. "All I want right now is what we are doing now. Having you in my arms is all that I could possibly ask for. The rest I want to save until our wedding night and make that first time special for both of us."

Lily leaned back against his chest, noticing that he was far too skinny, but didn't comment. Rather, nearly engaged to the man made Lily expect that taking care of him was her job. Such a job she intended to see through the rest of her life. Lily enjoyed the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under her ear. Slowly, she closed her eyes in content as her body drifted off to sleep just listening to Severus' heart.

After a while, Severus slowly picked Lily up off his lap and tucked her in her bed. He kissed her forehead, and slowly left her room. His heart belonged to her and he was grateful she did not seem shocked at his hint of marriage in their future.

Softly shutting her door, Severus was startled when he turned around and near literally ran into Mr. Evans. Charles understandably was wary of any male getting near his daughters after Dursley.

"If you do anything to my daughter…" He left the threat open ended on purpose.

The reaction was one Severus expected after Dursley. Standing strong and knowing he did nothing wrong to or with Lily, Severus answered, "I would never do anything to purposefully hurt your daughter Mr. Evans."

Charles nodded, satisfied with the teen's answer. Then he went back for the stairs only to toss over his shoulder. "Do you remember the little Evans boy in the neighborhood not family to mine, the one we gave that early Christmas present to?"

When Severus nodded, Charles smirked evilly. "I have been told he is in need of another pet. The mother found his prized gerbil the kid named Stinky dead from starvation. Guess the boy needs something like a dog to remember to feed and water his pet."

Both men had a good laugh, as did Harry later on when Severus revealed the story's ended a few hours later in private.

At 5am Christmas morning, a redheaded girl came plowing into the guestroom as if she was still a child. Lily jumped onto Severus' bed, startling him from his slumber only to present him with a deep kiss as payment for the interrupted sleep.

"It's Christmas!" she yelled once she sat back up on the man.

Harry grabbed his glasses from the bedside table and put them on. The fuzzy outline of the two people came into a clearer focus. Harry raised his eyebrow at the hyper as a primary school student on a sugar rush sixteen year old.

"Come on Harry, Severus no going back to sleep!" She started to pull Severus out of bed.

Severus groaned and shivered as the cold hair hit his warm body. He wrapped the top blanket around him, trying to fend off the chill as he obediently followed his girlfriend into Christmas morning.

Harry got up out of the bed, slipped on his slippers and headed out the bedroom with his blanket similarly wrapped around him as he headed down the stairs. Sitting on the couch near a drousy Severus, Harry was surprised at all the gifts that were under the tree. Moments later, Severus pulled by Lily appeared in the living room.

"What about the rest of your family Lily?" Harry asked through a yawn.

"They were the first ones I woke up." Lily grinned happily.

Speaking of her family, Petunia and her parents came down together, also yawning. Emily immediately headed to the kitchen to make tea for her and her husband. Petunia sat on the floor, where Charles sat in his chair.

Petunia grumbled. "You luckys got more sleep than me. Lily kept me up with her giggling and then got me up first."

"Well Lily, seeing as you got us all up at this god awful hour, how about you are the distributor." Charles offered before cracking a jaw-breaking yawn.

Lily smiled, and headed over to the tree. She picked a package wrapped in blue wrapping paper and read the tag. "Dad, this one is for you." She handed the package to her father. He began ripping at the wrapping paper and pulled out a box. He opened the box, and inside where three new dress shirts. Emily came in with two mugs in hand, and handed one of them to her husband.

"Thank you honey." He sighed as he kissed her cheek. Emily smiled, and went over to the couch to join Harry and Severus. Lily grabbed the next present and found that it was for her from Severus.

She slowly unwrapped the present, and came upon a small rectangular box. She popped open the box and found a necklace with a lily on a gold chain.

"Severus!" She squealed and threw herself at her boyfriend. "It's gorgeous!" She took it out of the box and unclasped it. "Will you put it on me?"

He took the two sides of the necklace and placed it around her neck, clasping it together again. Lily held the charm in the palm of her hands reverently before hugging and kissing her guy again. "Thank you!"

Severus smiled at her. Yes, he had chosen right this year. He hoped his plan for the next year would be so warmly welcomed too. "You're welcome."

This scene continued on until there were only a couple presents last. Harry had received something from everyone, and had given something to Severus, Lily and Petunia.

"Emily, Charles, I apologize for not getting you something for Christmas." Harry bowed his head guiltily. He had so much on his plate that he forgot the people who made his mum the wonderful young woman he now knew better than he could have ever imagined.

Emily came over to the boy and wrapped her arms around him. "There is nothing to feel guilty about. Besides, not having to cook most mornings is one of the best presents I could have asked for!"

Charles chimed in, "I would have to agree with my wife, the breakfasts you have made for everyone is enough. In fact, it is a better present than anything you could have bought at a store." Harry nodded, a little relieved, but not completely satisfied.

"Harry, will you help me with Christmas dinner?" Harry smiled and nodded. The two cooks headed towards the kitchen to start both breakfast and dinner later that afternoon.

New Year's Eve came around the next Friday, and everyone was sitting around watching the live broadcast of the countdown in London.

As the eleventh second came around, everyone started chanting,

"Ten…Nine…Eight…Seven…Six…Five…Four…Three…Two…One… Happy New Year!"

Emily and Charles kissed, while Severus and Lily did the same. The two couples broke apart at the same time.

"Good luck for the next year." Emily stated as she leaned into her husband.

"I love you." Severus whispered into Lily's ear. He kissed her temple.

"I love you too Sev." Lily replied.

Harry thought about the one who was lost that he hadn't told his feelings to and wondered if they could have a chance if life was set better this time. It was for his love too Harry wanted to end the war by any means necessary, but now there were more barriers to overcome. All harry could do was wish he would have a chance someday.

Two days later, Severus, Harry, and Lily were carrying their already shrunken trunks down the stairs to the car. Harry had remembered the problem at the station and decided to solve it again before leaving. Petunia had already wished everyone well before she headed back to work at the local café. This time, she gave her baby sister a big hug and promised to write with every owl she could find. Yes, her outlook on magic and her family had drastically altered.

Harry climbed in the backseat next to Severus this time. Sev cuddled a happily tearful Lily on his other side. Charles turned on the car, as his wife finished grabbing everything that they would need for the trip to Kings Cross.

"Everyone has everything right?" the three teens nodded.

Charles pressed the button for the garage to open. He pulled out of their house, closed their garage, and headed towards London. The car ride was silent most of the way, everyone pretty much deep into their own thoughts.

Harry took a deep breath, he was glad that he was able to have one normal Christmas with even his former aunt, Petunia. It was nice to get acquainted with the grandparents he never knew of in his childhood. He knew that next Christmas everything would be completely different. Moreover, he knew that he wouldn't be able to come back again next year. As Headmaster, he would have to stay at the school and make sure the students didn't burn the place to the ground.

They arrived at Kings Cross thirty minutes before their train was supposed to leave. Such was a different feeling for Harry. This time he was not running to get on the train last minute as he had since his third ride on the Hogwarts Express. They walked over to the magical entrance to the platform.

"Lily, I want you to have a wonderful rest of the year honey." Emily hugged her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Lily flower, do us proud." Her dad stated, also giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Severus, it was good to see you again, son." Charles shook Severus' hand. Both men knew what the word son really meant. Severus had father approval.

Charles then turned to Harry, "It was good to meet you." He smiled kindly and also shook the teen's hand.

"Thank you for having me Mr. and Mrs. Evans." Harry said formally.

"It was our pleasure Harry. I hope you can come next year." Emily replied.

Harry grinned, but internally knew that he wouldn't be able to. Well, maybe one day of the season … for a couple of hours.

"Thank you as well," Severus said. The three teens turned away from Charles and Emily, and walked through the wall. Emily leaned into her husband's embrace.

"Why is it I feel like I'm sending my babies to war?"

"I'm not sure dear," Charles tried to comfort his wife, as he guided her back to the car. "Why do you feel they all three are our babies?"

"They are ours even if the boys don't see that yet. You were not the only one who approves of Severus, mister."

He did know why his wife felt as she did about the children leaving and knew the truth would only worry his wife. Maybe taking Petunia and Emily on a cruise was a suddenly brilliant idea. Far away from England until the danger was over.

January passed, and February came along. It wasn't until the second week of February when a sealed letter arrived for Harry. The owl landed on the table, and stuck out its leg for Harry to unwrap the letter. He turned the letter around and saw the official Ministry seal. He slowly opened the letter, and pulled out the sheet of paper. Unfolding the results, he noticed gave a genuine smile. The owl grabbed the last piece of bacon off Harry's plate and then flew away.

Severus noticed Harry's excitement. He raised his eyebrow in his usual unspoken language. Harry passed him the sheet of paper. Severus started to read over the paper, and as he read what Harry had received on each exam, he let out a low whistle.

"Congratulations Harry." He said, patting him on the back.

"Six O's and one E that isn't too shabby." Lily commented behind the boys.

The Slytherins were so accustomed to Lily coming to their table by now that she was borderline honorary Slytherin by virtue of Severus and the Dark Lord's accepting her as a valued member of their organization over the holidays. To think her kind came from Muggles of all places! Well, at least she tried to merge into their world better than most lower witches and wizards.

Lily then pointed out the obvious, "if we don't get a move on, we will be late for potions."

Knowing how good Lily was with time, Harry stuffed the sheet of paper into his pants pocket, grabbed his satchel, and headed towards his Potions class. So too did many of the Slytherins who were in the same class.

That afternoon, James, Remus and Peter were sitting by the fire planning their next prank.

"We could do the turning everyone into their respectable house symbols again." Peter suggested.

"No, I don't want to redo a prank." James complained.

"We could make everyone's books sing their contents to them." Remus recommended.

"Sorry Moony, but you're the only one who would think that was funny." James sighed, not sure what to do.

"What about whenever someone passes through a door, the song that describes them best will start to play." The three boys turned around, noticing that Sirius was hanging back over by the stairs that lead up to the boy's dormitory.

James' smile faded. "Black."

Sirius took a deep breath, and avoided James' eyes as their leader admitted, "that's actually not a bad idea."

Sirius gave a sad smile at the group, but no move to rejoin his pack. Just because he had a good idea for once did not mean forgiveness.

Remus got up out of his chair and went over to Sirius. "I don't think our relationship will ever be as strong as it once was, but that doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend Padfoot. I forgive you."

Sirius squeezed Remus as they hugged for the first time in too long.

"Thank you!" Sirius looked up at Remus. "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it!"

"Those are some dangerous words there Padfoot." James replied, thinking of some pretty bad things.

The now reunited group headed over to the couches, ready to think up how they would complete this new prank idea.

February came and went, March and April as well. It was the night of April 30, and Harry was not in any mood to sleep.

Harry was sitting at his desk, making any last minute decisions that he could possibly make. About two in the morning, Severus sat up in bed.

"Harry, what are you still doing up?"

"It is May 1st Severus."

"And your point is?"

"I become Headmaster today, Severus." Severus crinkled his eyebrows together in confusion.

"I don't understand."

"This evening I will challenge Dumbledore to a duel for the Headmastership. I will win, and Hogwarts will be handed over to me."

"But you aren't even seventeen yet! How could you run a school?"

Harry sighed, "Because Hogwarts wants me to."

Severus still didn't understand. "Why doesn't McGonagall become Headmistress? She is the one who is supposed to succeed Dumbledore."

"That is usually the case, but now, Hogwarts has made her decision. Who am I to disagree? As a founder's heir, it is my responsibility to make sure the school is running and producing the most proficient witches and wizards that it could most possibly produce and right now, this school is in the most sorriest of states."

Severus shook his head, not sure on how to counter his argument. "Just promise me that if you cannot handle it, you give it up." Harry nodded and continued scribbling down notes.

Severus sighed and went back to sleep.

Dawn arrived, and with the beginning of the new day, started the beginning of a new age.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Lord Voldemort was sure and tall as he looked out over his loyalist of Death Eaters. He had nearly his entire army before him. The wilder ones he had set aside under the assumption that they were the specialists to be call upon in the darkest heat of battle. Many decided their Lord was holding back the best for last. If only they knew the truth.

"Tonight, we take over the Ministry." Voldemort declared to his Death Eaters who cheered and roared in excitement.

He waited for everyone to quiet down again before going on. "Our world is completely different than the muggle one."

This statement Voldemort received many agreements. He pushed onwards through the chatter. "In the past few decades, our strict laws regarding muggles have become more lax. We cannot have this if we are to survive."

"The muggles have destructive technology. Just as in the Middle Ages, they fear what they don't understand. Only this time they can harm us in ways the hunters of the past could never have dreamed of."

Voldemort's voice started to get stronger with his frustration and anger, "if our world becomes known to them, they could very well use this technology against us! We cannot let this happen!"

"So tonight, my friends, we are fighting for our protection!" The crowd roared, "We are fighting for our freedom!" They roared even louder, "And most importantly, we are fighting for rights!" Every Death Eater was screaming at the top of their lungs. Voldemort smirked. "Who's with me?!"

Of course, none spoke against their Lord. The time had come. Voldemort had the signal from his ally within the school. The distraction was triggering and thus the troops had to leave now.

Moments of peace remained. In the Lobby of the Ministry of Magic, all seemed quiet. It was a Sunday night, and just about every ministry worker who had weekend duty this week left for the evening hours earlier. The only people that were still in the building were those junior Aurors who either were on duty, or were trying to catch up on neglected paperwork. Surprisingly, the Minister of Magic also was still in his office, writing up reports on captured Death Eaters.

Eldritch Diggory was the older brother of Amos Diggory and a devotee of Albus Dumbledore. The Minister for only three years, Eldritch did anything his former Headmaster asked of him. Such was not surprising, seeing as he, just like the rest of his family, was a Hufflepuff and was an avid fighter against Voldemort.

He was a first year when Tom Riddle was a sixth year, so they hadn't luckily crossed paths. Yes, Eldritch had a feeling that the Tom Riddle he knew at Hogwarts was the Dark Lord that everyone feared. Dumbledore's reasoning had to be sound in that. So the old man's reasoning at how evil the Dark lord was too had to be true.

A knock startled the Minister out of his concentration and Eldritch Diggory looked up, to see a tall figure enter his office. When the very man Eldritch was considering entered his office, the Minister knew that he would probably not survive the encounter, but that didn't mean he would go down without a fight.

"Hello Eldritch."

"Riddle."

Voldemort smiled at the Minister, impressed that he had figured it out. A quick scan however revealed the truth. "Dumbledore told you I see."

"What of it? You all but admitted the truth. Have you wised up and decided to turn yourself in at last?"

"Do you know why I am really here Eldritch?" Riddle asked a rhetorical question. Riddle quickly flicked his wand at the minister, tying him to his chair.

"I'm here because I want your job."

Diggory snarled while trying to wiggle out of the ropes. Voldemort approached Diggory from the side of the desk, and half sat half stood on the desk.

"I feel that your time in office is up, and that you need to retire." Voldemort began waving his wand to an unknown song. He leaned in close to Diggory's ear. "Can you do something for me?"

Diggory secretly tried to reach for the wand that was secured up underneath his desk.

"What is it?" Diggory replied, trying to buy him a couple more seconds.

"Say hello to my mother for me," Voldemort cast the killing curse at the Minister. Diggory fell limply against the chair; the wand he had attempted to grab from underneath the desk fell from his hand and clattered to the floor. Riddle smirked before leaving the office.

Voldemort walked down the hall to the elevator. He headed down the main floor. When the elevator started slowing down, he could hear the screaming of spells being traded between the two forces. The elevator dinged and announced that he was on the lobby floor. A spell whizzed by his head, leaving a scorch mark on the marble. He could see Lucius taking on two Aurors, while the Lestrange brothers were back to back, defending each other's weak side while fighting off many personal.

Order of the Phoenix members finally started arriving in groups, in an vain effort of trying to help defend the ministry from attack. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on which side you were rooting for, the Death Eaters were gaining the upper hand. Voldemort transfigured a throne like chair for him to sit on and watch the battle. Ian Bones threw a curse at the Dark Lord, but Voldemort flicked his wand and the curse was bounced back towards the caster. Ian Bones fell to the floor–dead.

It was not but five minutes later when the battle started to slowly end. Those still living on the side of the 'light' bit-by-bit Apparated away from the scene in defeat. In the wake of their retreat, the mostly whole Death Eaters stood in the lobby.

Dolohov approached the Dark Lord and bowed. Voldemort stood up, "take the wounded down to the medical room. Count the dead, and separate those who were on our side and those who were not. If we return the dead to their family, they will have closure instead of demanding revenge. Make sure the former Minister make his way to his family as well."

Avery Senior, and the two Malfoy men approached their Lord and also bowed.

"You four have done well planning this raid. Antonin, Thorfinn, Abraxas, Lucius, you four have proven yourselves. Everyone, we start our changes tonight.

"Really Dumbledore! I expected better from you! One could expect you to be wonky, but this out classes anyone I have ever met in my life!" Harry shouted as he crashed into the Great Hall.

His entrance turned everyone's attention to the voice on him and his friends as the Great Hall became completely silent.

"On what have I surprised you, my dear boy?" Dumbledore questioned as Harry continued his path in between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables.

"I just found out earlier this morning! Can you not keep a lover on your side? Bad enough you refused to fight Grindlewald until nearly too late to make a difference all because the guy was your lover. Then you had to seduce a student! A student no less! You were Riddle's teacher and you can sit there having seduced a boy of only thirteen? It's rather funny that each lover that you take always ends up against you in the end! Grindelward, then Riddle? Amazing rather!" Dumbledore's mouth hung open. The room began to whisper at the prospect.

"My dear boy," Dumbledore started after regaining his shock, "where did you receive this interesting and extremely informing information?" Dumbledore's eyes began to twinkle alerting Harry that he was using Legilimency.

"Oh, no you don't old man." Harry scorned. "You can't use your damn twinkle to get into my head or the heads any of my friends for that matter. That detail is for me to know and for you to never find out."

Harry breathed to reign in his powers as he finally stood in front of the head table. "Now tell me," Harry began to fiddle with his Holy wand, "was it you who put such nonsense as domination and power into Tom's head? You can either tell me now, or we can wait all day. No one can leave this room without my permission anyway." Harry shrugged nonchalantly.

"Really? I truly doubt, my boy, that you can hold everyone in this room hostage. There are just too many of us."

"Try me."

Everyone from the sixth and seventh years other than half of Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin raised his or her wands at him.

"For a demonstration, James, do me a favor by trying to cast a spell at me. " James attempted to cast an Expelliarmus but nothing came out of his wand.

"See! Hogwarts agrees with me. We," Harry drawled, "don't believe that you should be Headmaster any longer. You see, one of her special children is back, and he doesn't want to give his mother up this go around."

Harry stated proudly. A gold glow surrounded Harry and he floated a couple of inches off the ground. Harry closed his eyes basking in the warmth. A couple of minutes later he was levitated down.

"Is this what you felt like every day? Every living thing breathing, every heart beating, every buzz of magic from the darkest of corners to the top of the highest towers? The heavy wards have a large crack in them that needs fixing and there is a small giddylow in the corner behind me. Yep, I officially love Hogwarts." Harry smirked at everyone's gob smacked faces.

The one worn by the shocked Dumbledore was the sweetest of course.

"As new Hogwarts chosen Headmaster, I challenge you, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, to a duel to the death!" The entire hall gasped and Harry's words.

Dumbledore still had their last duel in mind. Too bad the old man had no idea what Harry had held back. "My dear boy, there is no possible way for you to beat me. I just recommend saving your life and retracting this duel."

"I almost beat you once Dumbledore, now it is time to say goodbye." Harry turned to Filius Flitwick. "Professor Flitwick, seeing as you have the most experience with dueling, would you be the one to moderate the match?"

Flitwick gulped before nodding. Flitwick casted a protective bubble around the student body while also transfiguring a platform for the duel.

"There are no limits on what spells we can cast this time." Harry replied, answering the unasked question.

Lily took Harry's robes as their friends gathered around their champion. "Harry, for your mother's sake, be careful. Don't make her go old this soon."

The look in her eyes told Harry that Lily knew at least who she was to him. "I promise I will give this duel my all and I will never let her down."

"Gentlemen," Flitwick stated glancing from Harry to Dumbledore, "Will you please each approach opposite sides of the platform?"

Harry climbed up the few steps smoothly. His motions remarkably like Severus might have done years from now, if life was not changing as Harry planned so hard for since he decided to turn adult rather than submissive child. Dumbledore walked up as if it was their first match all over again. The old man had no idea what was in store.

They both listened to Professor Flitwick. "On the count of three, the duel will begin."

"One," Both Harry and Dumbledore got into their dueling stances. Dumbledore opted for a more fencing stance, while Harry just pointed his wand at Dumbledore.

"Two."

"Last chance, Mr. Evans," Harry smirked at Dumbledore's offer without a word.

After a drawn out second that seemed to last more than a lifetime, the charms Professor finally began the end with the word,"three"

Dumbledore and Harry both cast a curse at the same time. The two spells collided and the spell sky rocketed up and then burst into different color sparks. Harry immediately cast a bone-breaking curse.. Dumbledore, for the old man that he was, was pretty nimble as he dodged the curse. He barely managed to shield himself from another one Harry sent.

Dumbledore reciprocated with a suffocating curse and then a stunner, trying to knock his opponent off guard. Harry realized that Dumbledore was fighting a lot harder than he had with he was fighting against him the first time, so he too had used that duel to size up an opponent. Knowing this, Harry decided to change tactics.

Harry cast a jinx that filled the air completely black similar to the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder set to be imported by two creative and true friends who needed to be born. This move was both an advantage and disadvantage to Harry. While Harry stood hidden from the old man, so too was Dumbledore shielded.

Silencing his movements, for he was sure that Dumbledore had done the same thing. Harry cast a small hearing enhancement charm. Then he stood still,waiting and listening for where everyone was. Neither Dumbledore nor Harry cast another spell at one another for a time.

Now and then, Hogwarts tried to help. Harry refused to accept the assistance because this had to be an honorable battle.

Slightly, Harry noticed a soft pinging. The old bat hadn't decided to go his namesake! Of course, it made sense. Harry heard a small shuffle behind him. Knowing that a student couldn't move onto the platform thanks to Flitwick and a teacher wouldn't interfere, that just left his opponent.

Aiming mid waist, making it almost impossible to avoid, Harry sent a nonverbal killing curse directly behind him. A small thud echoed as something hit the ground. Harry waved his wand, canceling the blackout charm to see if his spell had hit its intended target.

When the darkness cleared, the body of the past Headmaster lay sprawled out on the platform, his eyes open but empty.

Flitwick gulped before announcing, "Headmaster Evans has won."

Many of the students were crying. Harry fought off his need to smirk, glad to see the man who had placed him with his despicable relatives was now dead.

Fawkes flew in with the sorting hat in his talons. Fawkes placed the sorting hat on top of Harry's head before landing on the teen's shoulder.

"Silence!" the sorting hat yelled, silencing everyone. All eyes were on either Harry or the sorting hat.

"Silence." The artifact of Gryffindor stated once more.

"Now," the sorting hat began, "I'm sure many of you are unsure on what completely happened here before you. I have been around since the founding of this school, and I can personally say that I am furious with what this school has become.

"Not only is the rivalry between two of the four houses despicable, shameless, and absolutely horrifying, but because of this childishness, I can barely even look at anyone of you without becoming disgusted." The sorting hat moved from Slytherin Table all the way to Gryffindor and then back again.

"I have seen into every one of your heads. I know what makes you tick and I know what makes you tock. I know your worst fears, and your happiest memories,"

"Everything you are, and everything you are made to be is what Hogwarts is made up of. This hate, this extreme loathing, is poisoning theses halls that wizards and witches for hundreds of years have loved. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has been the core of this poison." The sorting hat paused.

"As the voice of Hogwarts, it is my responsibility to verbalize the wants of this great institute. It has found that one of her own alone could eradicate this poison. The boy that is currently under my brim can do this."

The sorting hat turned to Minerva McGonagall. "Minerva, the reason why you have not been chosen to be Headmistress is not because you are incapable for the job. It is because Hogwarts needs someone who unbiased when it comes to the four houses. Too set in your ways you are. We are not saying that this is a bad thing, your lions love you dearly. Such is just not something Hogwarts as a whole needs if it is to become the higher learning institute that it was meant to be."

The sorting hat paused and Harry could feel its focus shrinking in to only him. "Will you Lord Harry Evans, heir to Gryffindor and yet a member of Slytherin house, take on the full responsibilities that Headmaster of Hogwarts requires?"

"I will."

"Will you protect the castle, and those who reside in it to the best of your abilities?"

"I will."

"Will you bring Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry back to its original glory in which the four founders had planed it to be?"

"I will."

"Repeat after me: I Lord Harry Evans,"

"I Lord Harry Evans." Therefore, Harry continued to repeat his vow. "In sound mind and body do swear that everything that I had agreed to was in full truth. Until the time in which I die, or step down from my post as Headmaster, I will put the needs of the school before my own. So mote it be."

The Great Hall filled with swirling magic sealing the promise that Harry had made. The Sorting Hat was lifted off Harry's head, and immediately disappeared. Harry glanced over at where the body of the famous Albus Dumbledore laid. The body also slowly disappeared, leaving nothing except the infamous Elder Wand. Harry went over and picked up the wand, pocketing this in his robe pocket.

Everyone was looking at Harry to do something. He sighed, and walked in front of the Staff table.

"Good Evening," Harry stated, gulping out of nerves. He took a deep breath to settle his nerves.

Looking at his friends, Harry saw them and their belief in him. The pride in Lily's eyes gave Harry back his Gryffindor courage. He had made his mum proud of him even if now they were only friends.

"I'm sure many of you are wondering why in the world would a 16 year old become Headmaster? I'm sure you are also asking, what kind of credentials does this kid have other than the word of an old smelly hat?" He received a couple of giggles for that one.

"To answer your questions, why would I want to? Because someone has to change the current system. To answer your other question, I took my NEWTs in December, and received my scores back in February. For those of you who are curious about how I did, I took seven exams, and had six outstanding and only one exceeds expectations. I'm sorry Professor Slughorn."

All of the teachers look dumbfounded at this revelation. None of them was aware any student had requested early teaching.

"For those fifth and seventh year students, your testing dates will not change, even though the school has. I still expect you to do your best. It will not be until next year, but I am adding nine new subjects to the curriculum. I am expecting that Professor Headway will remain on staff for another year, seeing as from what Hogwarts told me he is signed for a two-year contract. Am I correct on that?" Harry glanced at the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. After a beat, Headway nodded his head. Obviously, he was hoing for a way out early.

"I will be only making one change to the current teaching staff. Your current History of Magic Professor, Professor Binns, will not be returning to teach next year. Hogwarts has already found him a better home where he can study the goblin wars for the rest of his existance in our world." Many of the students cheered at hearing that. Harry smiled along with them.

Harry's expression turned darker. "For those who have the Dark Mark on your arm, please see me in the Headmaster's office before curfew tonight. You are not in trouble."

"Enjoy your dessert." Harry clasped his hands together, which brought out desserts on all the house tables. Harry started towards Slytherin table. Professor McGonagall purposefully cleared her throat. Harry turned around, and McGonagall motioned towards the Headmaster's chair. Harry shook her off, and continued to head to the Slytherin table. This was his last night at the table, and Harry wanted to enjoy one last hoorah with friends before becoming an adult hit him.

Once everyone had filed out of the Great Hall, Harry headed towards his new office. The gargoyle nodded at him as he passed by immediately allowing him entrance. Not long after Harry arrived, students from all four houses started coming in. Severus stood close to Harry once waved closer. They were friends and adulthood would not change that if Harry had a say. By the way, he did.

Once it seemed that the last of the students came in, Harry locked the door with the swish of his wand. "You all know why you are here." He looked from one side of the room to the other. "Now, I care not whether you are loyal to the Dark Lord, or to your mother. What I care about the safety of the school."

"Tom Riddle, the new Minister of Magic as of a couple hours ago, has marked all of you with a specific brand. You all are students. You are all under my protection, my responsibility. Now, what he doesn't tell you is within the mark there is a specific component that if activated will kill you. I have called every one of you here so that I can remove it. I do not want any more blood on my hands if I can manage that." Many of the kids before him were shocked as they touched their left arms.

"If you do not want this portion of the mark removed, you are free to go. But I ask you to think hard before you decide." Within a few beats, a couple students that left the office while the rest of them stayed.

"The rest of you, please form a line. You will feel a small twinge but, it is not that painful."

A Ravenclaw seventh year he had not formally met yet stepped up to Harry and slid up the sleeve of his robe. Harry took his wand, and began slowly unweaving the strand. It took mere seconds. Harry pulled out the strand, and slowed it to everyone. It was the exact color of the famous killing curse. Harry then put it into a bowl.

Twenty students had their Dark Mark changed that night. When the last student left, Harry slunk and might have hit the floor had Severus not caught the new Headmaster and helped Harry sit down into his chair. Severus leaned against the table worried the situation went too far already.

Harry sat there and rubbed his temples trying to ward off the oncoming headache. "Have I really made the right decision?"

"You made the only decision that could be made, Harry. I take it you know still how bad life would have become without compromise."

Harry looked up at his friend in shock. Severus smirked before giving a sigh. "I got it mostly from Lily, but you know too much to be a mere sixth year like us. Thank you for giving me another chance at my dreams."

Without giving Harry the chance to say a word, Severus stood and left to spend time with Lily. Harry could feel she was at the bottom of the stairs fidgeting. Harry Evans, once Potter, for once managed to save the world without destroying Voldemort.

Harry sighed to himself. "I love magic."

Three weeks later, the students were gone for the summer a week early and Harry was sitting behind the same desk that all of the other Headmasters sat behind up to Dumbledore. He had two stacks of paperwork in front of him, one of them much larger than the other. Because Harry only had three months to come up with eleven new teachers, he was on a tight schedule. Sitting on his desk, he currently had twenty three résumés to go through. During the next few years, he certainly had his work cut out for him.

He was furiously writing down missives when someone knocked on his door.

"Enter," grumbled Harry.

Professor McGonagall let herself in. Harry didn't look up but knew from the castle it was his former Head of House in another life. "What can I do for you, Professor?"

She approached the desk, and sat down in the chair that was situated in front of it.

"We need to have a serious talk Harry."

"Go on." This time, Harry looked up from the paperwork. He placed his quill down on the stack.

"How can we possibly afford eleven new teachers?" Minerva placed a piece of parchment in front of him. Harry glanced at the current year's bank statement created before Dumbledore left this life, and then looked up at the deputy Headmistress.

Harry silently accio'ed another bank statement. The second piece of parchment flew into his hands.

Harry made sure that it was the right one, and then handed it over to her.

"This is what we actually have in our accounts." He said, pointing to the bottom of the page.

Minerva's eyes became wide at the number.

"Where did all of this money come from?"

"Dumbledore was siphoning money out of the Hogwarts account and was placing it into his own."

"He would never do that!" She defended harshly.

The woman was still devoted to the old coot even after death and dishonor. Time had come for a serious reality check. Harry sighed, before picking up another piece of parchment from the inside of his desk. He checked the account name, and then handed it over to her.

"Take a look at the date of the first transaction." Harry pointed to the top row.

"June 1956."

"What year did Dumbledore become Headmaster of Hogwarts?"

"1956." Harry nodded, hoping that obvious correlation was seen by the elderly professor. Her eyes got wide as his hopes came true.

Harry nodded. "Luckily, I've already talked to Aberforth, and he has already agreed that the money belongs to Hogwarts. Yesterday, when we met, he signed off for the money to change accounts this morning. The money regained easily covers the cost of hiring eleven new teachers and then some."

"So with the interest, the new money, and the money that was still in the account, how much are we talking?"

"How does just over 3.78 million galleons sound to you?"

Then Harry was shocked when a fuming Lily Evans, her big sister, and Severus stormed into his office. Both girls took the school Headmaster by an ear before dragging Harry out of his own office! McGonagall was chuckling while Severus muttered the phrase, "I'm not suicidal, thanks."

A blink later, Harry realized he had not eaten in a few days. Stupid move and … wait. How did Petunia get into Hogwarts? Lily and Sev should have been home. Then the obvious smacked Harry in the face … oh, that laughing McGonagall would pay for this stunt!

Harry wasn't able to see much of his friends anymore after that. Lily and Severus would stop by occasionally during their seventh year to check up on him, making sure that he was still alive. The Marauders would prank themselves into his office to lighten the new Headmaster's day now and then.

He had made a promise to himself that he would make it to every meal, not only to show the school his confidence, but also he wouldn't have to endure the wrath of Lily. Once the school year ended, he knew that he would have a lot of work to do to enrich the minds of his students the next year—his first year that Harry would not have his friends with him.

Not only would he have that job, but he also was in charge of building the new primary school for muggleborns. He knew that building on the project wouldn't finish for at least another year. Still Harry had to start working on the charter and everything else that had to go into building an entirely new school.

After the duel, Harry had a long conversation with the school staff and teachers. He had explained what he wanted to get done and when he wanted to get done., In honesty, not many were willing to work with an almost 17 year old they felt killed the rightful Headmaster and helped the Dark Lord win the war. With the support from part of the staff, Harry began brainstorming ideas for fixing the rivalry between the four houses. He would force each house to assimilate during breakfast and lunch by their year, and then at dinner sit at their assigned House tables. He would relax the rule about houses visiting in different common rooms, but would set an earlier curfew time.

Severus and Lily were still going strong. Severus was hoping to propose to her over the summer, and just have a long engagement where he could accumulate enough money to have a small wedding.

Petunia, Lily's sister, had found someone who was a regular at the café that she worked at. They started going out, have been together for five months now.

Tom Marvolo Riddle was thrilled to be in the office that he always wanted to be. He was able to pass four different laws in quick succession, in many cases, changing laws that had been on the books for hundreds of years. History books would soon claim that he was one of the most powerful Ministers of the twentieth century.

The Order of the Phoenix, especially the elder Potters, were not happy with Tom Riddle taking over as Minister anymore than they were about Harry becoming Headmaster. However, when he started enacting all of these reforms for Werewolf rights, they were a little bit more excepting. Riddle also proclaimed that any wizarding child that was currently in a muggle orphanage would be relocated to the new wizarding one. They were not happy however with the new laws about Muggles. But, they would have to get over it.

Those who were Death Eaters the new Minister placed in different jobs all over the country. Voldemort had warned them that if they began breaking the law, he would not support them. So, many of the more extreme Death Eaters, ended up on Azkaban Prison for crimes against witches and wizards. Bellatrix Lestrange was the first of any sex to be given the Kiss when she tried to kill her brother-in-law for rights to raise her niece. The little girl unfortunately died from exposure before harry and Severus could help Lucius find the child.