Disclaimer

See the first chapter, nothings changed.

This story is being written for the Vigilante Harry Challenge issued by DZ2.

A/N: Mental conversations will be denoted by '*'.

Thanks to all those who pointed out mistakes in earlier chapters. They have been corrected.

Harry Potter and the Avenging Angel

by Dng

Chapter Seventeen

After appearing back in France, Harry and Hermione spent the afternoon frolicking in the surf and enjoying their time together. They joined Hermione's parents for an early dinner on the terrace of their rented villa that overlooked the water. The dinner was a pleasant affair and Harry and Hermione took pleasure in explaining the tactics that they used to foil the attack on Diagon Alley and how all of the Death Eaters were taken into custody. From there, the couple traveled back to Gryffindor's suites and enjoyed an enthusiastic bout of lovemaking before entering the shower and cleaning up. Hermione then returned to France and her parents, they were supposed to be on vacation after all.

After her departure, Harry made his way into the sitting room where Godric's portrait was looming over the fireplace. After getting comfortable, he sank into his mindscape once more and joined Severus in the Gryffindor common room where he found the potions master trembling in the armchair by the fire.

"Professor Snape, are you alright?" asked a concerned Harry after seeing the state that the potions master was in.

"Potter," greeted the potions master in his usual lip curled snarl.

Not willing to take any crap from professor Snape any further, Harry retorted in as powerful of a voice that he could, "What the fuck is your problem Snape. You have treated me almost as bad as my relatives from day one. Ever since I walked into your potions class on that first day, you have done nothing but belittle me, insult my father and vent some unknown anger upon me. Were you in love with my mother or something? You never seem to have anything nasty to say about her?"

The power of the voice and the off-handed comment about Lily knocked the wind out of Severus' sails and he hung his head down as the truth of what Harry had said in his tirade sunk in. After a moment or two of trying to pull himself together, he raised his head back up and looked into Harry's eyes.

"Mr. Potter...I must apologize for the way that I have treated you for the past four years...it was not proper of me to place my hatred upon you because of my jealousy regarding your father...Your mother and I were best friends at one point," replied the potions master amidst breaks where he had to compose himself. It was evident that he had been crying and that Harry had caught him off guard with his little outburst.

"So you want me to forgive you for hating me because you had a crush on my mother? You want me to forgive you for hating me because I look like my father? Can't you see that I am neither of them, I am my own person. Sure I may look like my father and my eyes look like my mother's, but they died when I was barely one year old. I was placed in hell on earth by one of your puppet masters and treated like a fucking house elf. Actually, I was treated worse than Dobby was when he was still in the employ of the Malfoys. What have you to say about yourself."

Severus sat there momentarily stunned at the ferocity of the young man standing in front of him. Had he been that terrible towards the child? If he had been, why couldn't he see it until now? Had Albus done something to him? Lord Voldemort was gone when he made that oath, so why was he treating Lily's son so badly. And never realized it. He remembered the oath that he swore over Lily's dead body to look after and protect her only child if everyone else that she had chosen to weren't able to. What happened to him? He was brought out of his musings when Harry started up his tirade again.

"...And you have hated my father ever since, because she chose him over you and you have held me as a target for your rage because I look like him, but my eyes remind you of her. Pathetic really, I hope that you at least had the decency to view the memories that I left for you?"

"I managed to, yes."

"I take it then, that you have had a chance to see my childhood and discovered for yourself that I am not the spoiled, arrogant, pompous, fame seeking celebrity that you have made me out to be. Did you enjoy the memory where my aunt bashed me over the head and cracked my skull, before my uncle grabbed me by the arm and twisted it so hard that the bones between my elbow and wrist splintered? And that was all before he tossed me into the cupboard under the stairs where I slept. But it didn't stop there, did it. Did you watch how he slammed the door repeatedly on my leg until he broke it causing the bone in my lower leg to protrude through my skin and then left me in the cupboard for days, unfed and wanting to die?

I have another memory now to add to that one. It's where the headmaster came in because his little trinkets in his office must have told him that my life was in danger. Anyways, he appeared in my relative's front hallway and proceeded to lecture my uncle on not causing too much bodily harm before congratulating him on a job well done. Then he proceeded to my small prison and healed the compound fracture in my leg and the skull fracture that my head had suffered. He left the arm alone though, letting my small amount of magic heal it. And then the bastard obliviated me of the knowledge!

There are countless others, but that one tends to stick out because of the callousness of the headmaster and his overall treatment of me. I am nothing but a puppet to him it seems and I have come to see him in a very new, and not so brilliant light over the past two weeks. You have been in here for almost a week now and you will need to return to your body soon, I'm sure, before any permanent damage comes to your body."

I have learned some rather interesting things about you while you have been in here. Like the fact that you are responsible for setting Lord Voldemort on the path that led to my parents death. But I am also aware that you took steps to try and stop him after finding out who he was really after, and that is where I am currently at trying to figure out where you fit into all of this. I realize that you are just another puppet in this game, controlled by two different masters. So my question to you is this: if you had a chance to be free of both of your master's control, would you be amenable? Would you be willing to put your differences aside and work with me to rid the magical world of not one, but two dark lords?"

"Mr. Potter, I do not deserve your forgiveness, I have not been very kind to you since your return to the magical world and your first appearance in my class. I made an oath to your mother after her death to watch over you and protect you. My attempts to fulfill that oath have been feeble at best, with your only true friend doing a better job than I in that instance."

"Which instance is that, professor?"

"Where Professor Quirrell tried to throw you off your broom during that Quidditch match during your first year. I was only able to stop Professor Quirrell's curse from throwing you off, but it took Miss Granger setting my robes on fire that caused the loss of eye contact and the eventual breaking of the curse that saved your life."

"Yeah, that may be true, but it was your efforts that kept me on my broom long enough to give Hermione that chance, so don't sell yourself short."

"Thank you. Now, can you tell me how you could possibly put me out of the control of the headmaster?"

"Simple. I have access to several different rooms within the castle that the headmaster doesn't and I am willing to move you into one of those areas provided you are willing to help me out."

"How do you know about these rooms and the headmaster doesn't?"

"I have my ways that aren't important at this time."

"Very well then. Can you tell me how I will escape the clutches of Lord Voldemort then?"

"Sure. I have access to the knowledge of how the dark mark was created and I also have access to the knowledge on how to remove it."

The potion master's eyebrows shot straight up at this news before he stated rather calmly, "Really?"

"Yes I can, but are you willing to help me out in return?"

"The dark mark is like a death sentence to me and I would be forever in your debt if you could remove it. I would be agreeable to help you out any way that I can, if you really wanted my help that is."

"I would be a fool to not accept your help Professor Snape."

"Please call me Severus then, from now on."

"Only if you call me Harry."

"Alright then Mr. ...Harry. What is it that I can do for you?"

"First off, you have first hand knowledge on the dark arts. I need to know how to fight against them and possibly hand to hand combat."

"Why hand to hand combat?"

"Because I had the element of surprise against Fenrir Grayback and I still got pretty banged up against him. I don't think that he will be walking anytime soon though."

"You mean to say that you fought one on one against that animal and you're still alive," a disbelieving tone in Severus' voice.

"Yup, and I managed to rip his front wide open before severing his Achilles tendon."

"Pray tell how you managed that."

"Only after you agree to help me and leave those two bastards in the dust."

"Very well. I agree to help you out and maybe, just maybe I might be able to tolerate you Mr. Potter," said the potions master with the first ever grin that Harry had ever seen splitting his face.

"Alright! I am going to retrieve your body and take you to one of the secret rooms within the castle where I can return your conscience to your body. Then we can further this discussion. I warn you though, that I have a meeting with another person at ten PM tonight that is very important, but I might leave you in the company of another famous person if you can put up with her."

"And who might this famous female be?"

"You will have to wait and see, but I assure you, that you will be over the moon when you meet her. Now, I have to go and I will return when its time to put your mind back in your own body."

Then Harry faded from the Gryffindor common room and left Severus Snape with a sense of warmth and happiness, two feelings that he had not felt in a very long, long time.

Once Harry opened his eyes to the room that housed the portrait of Godric, he asked his ancestor to check with Helga to make sure that the infirmary was empty. While Godric's mind was vacant, Harry contemplated the meeting that he just had with the potions master and thought that things could have went a lot worse than they did. He realized that both he and Severus had a long way to go before a friendship was born, but at least they respected each other now. Godric returned shortly and said that the coast was clear, that Albus wasn't in the building and that Poppy was having a snifter of brandy with the deputy headmistress and would be late in returning to the infirmary.

Harry felt a twinge of guilt towards Madam Pomfrey for what he was about to do, but at this point in the game, Severus' well-being and potential support was worth it. He appeared silently in the hospital by Severus' bedside and immediately took hold of his right arm and then disappeared with Severus in tow. He reappeared within Rowena Ravenclaw's private suites where he placed the potions master on the bed. Then he focused on his mindscape and joined Severus in the Gryffindor common room once more. He found Severus looking through another photo album upon his return and this one turned out to be the one that contained all of the obliviated memories that had been restored after his magical core was unbound.

"Hard to believe just how much of a bastard that he's been towards me, huh."

"Makes me wonder how many times I've been obliviated myself."

"Well, the person that you're going to meet later on might be able to help you retrieve any lost memories if you can be civil when I introduce you to her. Now, are you ready to leave this place."

"Yes, but if I ever end up in here again, could you put me in the Slytherin common room instead."

"If that's what you want. Now grab my arm and let's get out of here."

Harry returned Severus' mind to his body, but it was going to take several hours for his mind and body to sync up again. Then there was the magical healing that his body would undergo while his mind regained control of his magic once more. Harry knew from his vast amounts of knowledge what Severus was about to go through and that it would take a couple of hours before his new ally would be stirring. In the meantime, an epiphany had struck him earlier and he called out for Fawkes. He was pretty sure that his new familiar would know how to take him to the portrait of Salazar so that he could wake him, and afterwards, hopefully Fawkes would be able to show him where the long forgotten suites of Helga Hufflepuff were. Then he had a letter and a portkey to create before sending them off to the head of the DMLE.

He disappeared from the private bedchambers of Rowena in a burst of flame and returned in his and Hermione's new quarters while calling out to Fawkes. With any luck, Fawkes would be able to help out and with the portraits of the founders all-active finally, perhaps they would all be able to aid in their upcoming training. Then his mind wandered to Sirius and Remus and wondered for the first time if the remaining marauders would be able to bury the hatchet with their old rival and help with their training as well when he approached them. All he had to do now, was get in contact with them somehow, another task that he hoped that either Fawkes or Hedwig could perform for him.

HP HG HP HG

Amelia Bones wasn't taking any chances this time around. She had twenty-one Death Eaters contained in the ministry holding cells at the moment and there was no way that any of them were going to be leaving anytime soon, not if she had anything to do with it, especially Lucius Malfoy. He was caught in full death eater attire today and after checking his wand for the last five curses that it had cast, three had been the killing curse itself, and a fourth was in the process of being cast.

"Let's see him talk his way out of this one," she thought to herself. Everyone knows that casting an unforgivable while under the Imperious is impossible.

Of the other twenty remaining Diagon Alley attackers, only one was marked. His name was Michael Fox and he was the leader of this band of werewolves that had attacked. This left Amelia wondering where Fenrir Grayback was and if there was another wolf pack running around Britain now? Would they come to blows with Fenrir's pack? She was pretty sure that the rumours of Lord Voldemort's return were becoming more substantiated by the day if the fully exposed dark mark on Lucius Malfoy's left forearm was any indication. Cornelius Fudge was a damn idiot to deny what was happening right under his nose unless Lucius was paying him off handsomely, or God forbid, that Fudge was an actual Death Eater. The thought horrified her. If it were true, just how bad off was the ministry? How far had the Death Eaters infiltrated the ministry?

Fearing the worse now, Amelia went to her private filing cabinet where she kept her own files on the suspected Death Eaters who had pled to being under the influence of the Imperious curse after Lord Voldemort's downfall on Halloween of nineteen eighty-one. Her complexion paled as she went over the list that had been hidden away months after that night long ago. But as she perused the list in front of her, she realized that all of the marked supporters on her list now held some major positions within the ministry. There were department heads, deputy heads and other high-ranking managerial positions here and all of a sudden, a cold hard truth invaded her very being. The very ministry that she worked hard for, to uphold the laws for, was one step away from being under the control of the dark lord.

She was brought out of her musings however, by a burst of flames above the mahogany desk that adorned the private study at her home. Left in its wake was another scroll that was bound with the usual red ribbon used for keeping the scrolls tightly wrapped while being delivered, but this time there was an extra length of green ribbon dangling out of both ends of the scroll. Using extreme caution, Amelia pulled out her wand and magically tilted the scroll until the piece of green ribbon slid out and fell to the surface of her desk. Then she cast a series of detection spells on the scroll and they all came back clean. Opening the scroll she found the following message.

Dear Madam Amelia Bones,

The green ribbon is the promised portkey to bring you to my private and secure location. It is designed to activate at exactly ten PM, so if you wish to meet with the Avenging Angel and get some answers, I suggest that you touch it at the proper time. I will be patiently waiting for your arrival. Please do not be alarmed of my appearance, I mean you and any other warriors of the light no harm.

I will be showing you some memories in a pensive before I give you copies of those memories. We will speak more afterwards.

Sincerely,

AA

When she was done reading the letter, Amelia quickly glanced at the old clock that hung on the wall of her office. It was five minutes to ten and she had a choice to make, whether to take the portkey and go into an unknown situation, or let the time pass and continue investigating the new scenario that she had just uncovered. Then she thought about Macnair and the memories that had been left with that bastard. Her instincts were telling her that this Avenging Angel was someone that she could trust, maybe even confide in if her intuition was anything to go by. She glanced up at the clock once more and it read ten o'clock. Making a quick decision, she grabbed the folder with all of her own information from the first war and then she reached out her hand and touched the green ribbon that lay on her desk. Seconds later, the familiar hook behind her navel whisked her away into the unknown.

When she reappeared, she found herself in a sitting room with a window that overlooked a forest. As she surveyed the comfortable room, she noticed a fireplace with an empty portrait hung above it. As she continued to scan her surroundings, she came across the only way in or out of the room and spied the tall, dark cloaked figure that stood just beyond the doorway in what looked like an entrance hall. Thinking to herself, "In for a nut, in for a galleon," she peered at where the man's face was hidden under the cloak.

"I came as you requested. I assume that you want to share your identity with me and more than likely, what your appearance might mean as the face of magical Britain is once again on the verge of change."

"Very astute Madam Bones," replied the man with a deep guttural voice.

"Call me Amelia please. I have this notion that you are trustworthy enough and that you mean me no harm."

"Very well...Amelia. I trust that you viewed the contents of the memory that I left you about the attack on Mr. Talbot?"

"Yes I did."

"Good, then you understand that I am here to represent justice in its purest form. I have been chosen by magic to fulfill certain ...duties, shall we say."

"What do you mean by certain duties?"

"I have been tasked by the very essence of magic to do something that the rest of the magical world is either unwilling to do, or is incapable of. I know that neither scenario describes you however, hence my offer of alliance to you. I am able to...do things that the ministry would otherwise frown upon in its current state. We are on the verge of another war with Lord Voldemort at the reigns of one faction and I have been made aware of another who has thus far, been able to assuage any notice of his plans and intent towards the general populous."

"What do you mean that you can do things that the ministry would otherwise frown upon?"

"Let's say that I can operate outside the confines of the ministry. As I am not sworn to the oaths that you are, I am able to bypass the red tape so to speak. Like the Death Eaters, I can attack from the shadows, but only to stop an attack, or possibly to visit the wrath of the innocent upon those that walked free of their crimes. I noticed that you brought a file with you. Perhaps they contain some information that you wish for me to look into."

Amelia was taken aback momentarily by the presumptuousness of the man that was standing in front of her, but as she thought on it for a time, a stark realization came to her. This person was correct when he said that her hands were tied behind the red tape known as protocol and usually by the time that the hand of justice was allowed to fall, the guilty always seemed to walk free by some flimsy alibi, or some newly created legislation that protected them. Maybe this person would be able to dig deeper and find out truths that she would never have access to. Maybe this person would find out who killed her brother and sister-in-law and left Susan without any parents to raise her. Maybe this person was what the world needed.

Bringing her focus back to the man in front of her, she said, "Do you have anyone who can verify what you have told me about your charge, or are you just a vigilante hell-bent on taking the law into your own hands."

The man's deep voiced boomed with laughter for a few moments before speaking.

"That Madam, is exactly what I am, a vigilante for justice. As for proof, please direct your focus to the portrait above the fireplace, I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised with who you see there."

Amelia did just that, but as soon as she viewed the occupants of the portrait, two things happened almost simultaneously. She managed to squeak out "Oh my", before fainting.

HP HG HP HG

Sven Yaxley chewed on his tongue absent-mindedly as he thought about the position that he currently found himself in. The raid on Diagon Alley had not gone the way it was supposed to. Lucius Malfoy was captured along with all of the werewolves that Lucius had gathered for this attack. Several thoughts were still swirling around in his mind as he came closer to his master's throne room, the former grand ball room of the late Tom Riddle Sr.'s house, like where was Fenrir Grayback who was supposed to have led the werewolves in the attack. He was pretty sure that the Carrows had been compromised too, but he wasn't one hundred percent sure and that meant failure in his master's eyes. He shuddered from the thought of the pain that he would suffer for that if his master were displeased. The one thing that he did know for sure was that he had walked away unharmed, as had his partner. He finally stood outside the ornately crafted doors to his master's throne room and knocked on the door.

"Enter", came the snake-like voice from the other side.

As he pushed open the door, he quickly glanced around to try and take in the enormity of his master's court. There on the opposite side of the room on a raised dais sat his lord, on a throne of bones and skulls, finally crafted from the skeletons of his dead enemies. He could see his master's pet snake, Nagini, curled up around his master's throne and her head rested comfortably on his feet. Her head had raised and looked in his direction when he had entered the chamber, with her tongue flicking out to test the air, probably to determine whether the intruder was friend or foe. The walls were absent of any finely drawn paintings and portraits, but there were several skeletons placed on display, each with a placard telling the identity of the fallen foe. Oddly enough, there were four empty pedestals that were unadorned. They looked exactly the way they had that fateful night so long ago, when his master had said that he would take care of the Potters personally. The placards displayed the names of Albus Dumbledore, James Potter, Lily Potter and finally, Harry James Potter.

He was brought out of his musings when his master spoke, "What news do you bring me Yaxley?"

He quickly approached his lord and dropped to one knee while dropping his head in submission, not wishing to come any further because of Nagini's gaze.

"Milord, the attack did not go the way that Lucius had envisioned it would."

"What happened then," demanded the dark lord.

"Well milord, I'm not exactly sure. Lucius led the werewolves into Diagon Alley where they all started firing curses and hexes into the crowd. Then Lucius hung back to observe the carnage that was being tossed about while killing the muggles like you had commanded. Alecto and Amycus were stationed at either end of the Daily Prophet, but I think that they were compromised, while I was standing watch by Fortescues. I have no explanation either milord, which could describe what happened in the midst of our attack. It was just like they all froze in place, unable to move. While this was happening, the goblins marched out of the main doors of Gringotts and lined themselves up, with armour glinting in the sun and axes at the ready, at the bottom of the steps to the bank. It was then that I observed Lucius about to cast another killing curse when he was flung violently forward, stunned into unconsciousness and bound up in ropes from head to toe before he finally landed on the ground. There was no sign of an attacker either, as I cast several detection spells in Lucius' general direction and they all came up empty.

It was then that I signaled to my partner to withdraw into the shadows. I was able to observe Alecto and Amycus as they seemed to come under attack and were frozen in place, just like the rest of them were. Then the aurors started showing up and started stunning and binding all of them milord, even Lucius. It was then that I felt a wave of pure magic burst through the area and the next thing that I knew, everyone that was stunned, bound and gagged appeared to sag in their bindings, as though the magic that had frozen them in place was reversed. Then I watched as Alecto and Amycus snapped out of it and faded back into the shadows where they continued watching from. I believe that myself and my partner were the only two from today's attack that went unobserved, nor were we compromised."

"Yaxley."

"Yes milord."

"Raise your head and look at me."

Knowing what was about to happen, Yaxley lowered his occlumency shields so that his master would have access to his mind so that he could see the events firsthand as they transpired. He was glad of the two headache and pain reliever potions that he had pilfered from the apothecary before attending his lord. Then his eyes came in contact with the red slits of Lord Voldemort and the assault was swift and painful, very painful. It would take him the better part of two days to reassemble his mind after his master's probing.

"Very well," began the dark lord. "It appears that you have told me everything that you saw. I have to think about this for a while. You did well in avoiding whatever happened. Please tell Alecto and Amycus that I wish to speak with them and tell your friend to remain hidden for now, I don't want to chance any further exposure as it would be detrimental to my plans."

Bowing deeply once again, Yaxley said, "Yes milord, I will pass on your orders milord."

"Very well, dismissed."

Sven then rose and turned to exit the chambers when Lord Voldemort's voice made his blood run chill.

"Oh, by the way. Since Lucius isn't here to tell me of this defeat, I must vent my frustrations on someone else...Crucio."

HP HG HP HG

Albus Dumbledore popped another lemon drop into his mouth as he sat back in the lounge chair and stared out over the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was one of the little perks that he had purchased with the money that he had stolen away from the Potters and he chuckled softly to himself as he remembered the reason that he had bought this little getaway in the first place. This was where he had managed to track them down while they were on vacation and used some extremely powerful confounding and memory altering spells on them. How else could he have managed to get James and Lily to see things his way, that his vision of the future involved their son as a sacrificial lamb that would set his plans for the Greater Good in their final steps of completion. Once Harry was married to the little Weasley slut and Tom was defeated, could he step forward and kill the Potter spawn and take his rightful place atop the wizarding world as grand emperor. With the vast Potter wealth finally under his control, there would be none to stand in his way as all of the non-believers would no longer be alive and everyone else revered him as a god-like personality.

As he was lost in his illusions of greatness, he never knew that the Fidelius charm that he had cast on the Potters had weakened the charms that he had cast on them. Nor did he know that the will that he had had them create and sign were invalid. Nor did he know that the marriage contract that was drawn up and signed by both the Potter head of house and the Weasley head of house was no longer worth the parchment that it was written on. The compulsion and memory altering charms had been completely removed days before Lord Voldemort had attacked and killed the Potters. And they had managed to send another set of wills to Gringotts in private, denouncing any previous wills and to nullify the marriage contract with the Weasleys. But this would all come to a head on the first of August, the next gathering of the full Wizengamot where the bi-annual swearing in of the heads of houses would take place.

Another problem presented itself then, an extremely colourful parrot had just perched itself on the arm of the chair that he was sitting on and extended its leg exposing the roll of parchment that it was carrying. Retrieving the letter from the bird, he shooed the bird off and reclined once more and began reading the letter.

Dear Albus Dumbledore,

To further our conversation on the night of the third task, both Remus and I must decline your request. The Black ancestral home is sealed up tight for now and I have no plans for returning anytime soon. After the harrowing year that my godson was once again subjected to while under your wonderful care and supervision, I am taking great strides in preparing to provide him a future free of your manipulative control. Word has made its way to me about what the Weasley child did. I have heard that you have tried to cover up the attack even though the child was guilty as sin. I have seen a pensive memory of the event and I am appalled at what you have done.

I spent twelve years in a shithole because of your silence and manipulations. I also know what you did to James and Lily now, and I will die first before you do the same thing to young Harry. I am gathering information old man, and sooner or later, the truth is going to come out and you will be exposed for the lying, cunning and deceitful Slytherin bastard that you are. Yes, the carefully hidden heritage that you have locked away all of these years is about to come to light. It's too bad that your son didn't see eye to eye with your version of utopia. I guess that he wanted to be around long enough to enjoy it. It's a pity that he didn't kill you that night though; it would have been much better for all involved. Then you would have been able to step forward and assume your true title, Lord Slytherin.

Sincerely,

Lord Sirius Orion Black

Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Black

PS. Good luck trying to find me before its too late. I'm in a place that's unplottable and is hidden under wards stronger than Hogwarts ever thought of being.

HP HG HP HG

A/N: Bet you didn't see that one coming. Dumbledore has been very busy indeed, hiding his true identity from the wizarding world all of these years. How did he do it?

Kindly leave a review. Thanks. Up next, the Ruling Seven are contacted and plans are set in motion.