Two years had now passed since that fateful day at hogwarts, that day when Harry's whole world had been wrongly torn from his grasp, the day he was forced to leave the child he was behind, and become something else…something he never wanted to be. Something had possessed Harry that day, he had killed without a second thought to it, he had used the cruciatus curse, and enjoyed it. He still couldn't find anything to justify it, not even the fact that it had been Wormtail. To this day though, the one thing that still caused Harry to wake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, from a terrible nightmare, was Dumbledore, grabbing him and taking him away, with the fading image of Hermione on the ground, still screaming in pain. Harry had never found out what happened to her, he never got any new from the outside world, indeed the only conversation he ever got was from Dumbledore and Sirius.
Dumbledore had taken Harry to place that was specially hidden with an advanced form of the Fedelius Charm that hid the entire mountain valley from any chance of being found. This gloomy, secluded valley had been his home now for two years, everyday spent in exhausting, agonizing training. And every night filled with terrible nightmares that forced him to relive the battle. Harry rose from his chair and walked out of the cabin, stepping down onto the slightly damp earth as he thought back to the first day he had arrived here with Dumbledore.
flashback
Harry's feet slammed into the ground and he toppled over, all his strength gone from his body, his mind reeling. He looked up at the blurry figure of Dumbledore and suddenly felt a great anger coursing through his body as he thought of what Dumbledore had just done, he'd practically sentenced Hermione to death. "DAMNIT DUMBLEDORE, WHY'D YOU MAKE ME LEAVE HER, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN TO HER" though Harry was still on the ground he seemed a little intimidating to Dumbledore.
"I am truly sorry Harry, but if we had stayed, myself and you would be lost. I sustained a rather……critical injury, and you expended all your powers with that bit of wandless magic. And a very powerful bit of wandless magic at that, im surprised it didn't kill you. As for miss Granger……………" he sighed and sat down on a large rock and looked down at Harry with such pity in his gaze. He shook his head as if trying to communicate Hermiones almost certain fate without actually saying it.
This was simply to much for Harry, he'd lost his parents, Ron, and now Hermione to voldemort. The indescribable emotion that he felt before flooded his mind once more, all he wanted to do was unleash his anger, it didn't matter at who, anybody would do…even Dumbledore, because in Harry's eyes it was really Dumbledores fault that Hermione had been lost. Harry forgot how tired and weak he felt as he launched himself from the ground at Dumbledore, tears streaking down his face as he knocked Dumbledore of the rock and landed on top of him, his fists flying down at Dumbledore, not caring where he hit him just so long as he could cause him pain and give him a tiny clue as to how much pain he was in right now.
"ITS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU OLD FOOL!!!" Harry raged as continued to physically beat Dumbledore all thoughts of jinx's or curses forgotten, "SHE'S DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU, ITS YOUR FAULT I LOST HER, SHE WAS MINE DUMBLEDORE, MINE!!!". It was lucky that all of Harry's magical power had been exhausted or he might has blasted Dumbledore into a million tiny pieces. He didn't know how long he was on top of the old man, but suddenly he felt a pair of strong hands grasp him around his middle and pulling him off Dumbledore. He kicked and flailed like little child having a tantrum, he looked up and found himself starring into the eyes of his godfather Sirius. Remembering that he still had one person left forced Harry into a subdued manner, his kicked and yelling ceased. He simply allowed to unbelievable exhaustion to overtake his mind as he passed out in his godfathers arms.
Sirius starred at Dumbledore, who was already back up on his feet, no apparent damage from Harry fierce attack. Dumbledore looked disapprovingly at Sirius, "you shouldn't be here Sirius, regardless how much you think Harry needs you".
"I'm sorry Dumbledore, but I didn't make it to the battle to protect him, and look what happened. The battles been over for about a half hour now, I caught up with Snape when he was running through hogsmead. He told me about that battle, Hagrid and Minerva are gone Dumbledore, the school's lost. When I asked him about Harry and his two friends he said he'd seen Mcgonagall pushing Hermione and another girl onto a broom and sending them off just before she was attacked, he saw them shooting at the broom after they finished with Minerva, he saw one of the spells connect. And he told me he'd seen you disapparate with harry, and Ron's body on the ground. They got Hagrid while he was sneaking students into the forest and off with the centaurs, through himself in the way of curse meant for a group of second years, according to Snape". Sirius starred at Dumbledore for a moment before he continued, "I am all Harry has left Dumbledore, he needs me, especially for what your planning for him next".
Dumbledore surveyed Sirius over his half moon spectacles for a moment before asking, "And did the potions master, tell you where he was headed?" he acted as though he hadnt heard the last comment by Sirius.
Black jut shook his head, "didn't have time to say, told me he was being chased and he'd waisted to much time telling me what he did. Im sure he'll be find though, old Severus can is such a slimy, grease ball that he can slip through anything. When are you going to start with Harry?"
Dumbledore sighed and motioned for Sirius to follow him, as he turned and started walking, a small cabin coming into view on the other side of the valley. "I must start his training immediately, the earlier events of tonight have left me with little doubt to Harry's true potential. His anger seems to unlock hidden abilities from deep within, and also seems to strengthen his magical power. He used wandless magic to block voldemorts killing curse, and even send it back at him at half strength, the use that tactic, however, drained Harry of almost all his energy. It's a wonder that the move didn't drain so much power it killed him". Dumbledore stopped, having arrived at the cabin, and opened the door stepping inside as Sirius followed, he closed the door before he continued. "I have only a short while to train him Sirius, there's no telling how long I will have to teach him, though it shouldn't take him long to catch on to the spells I will be teaching him, he'll need to be able to use the dark arts to defeat voldemort for good, and I will have to teach him as much black magic as I can".
Dumbledore bowed his head, realizing as he spoke that Harry would indeed have to be trained in use of the dark arts rather than defense. It sent a shiver through the old mans body as he pictured what Harry might possible be like after learning the same techniques that voldemort knew. It would be Harry's choice what path to take after he had learned black magic, he would have to chose to defeat voldemort in the name of good, or allow his heart and mind to be corrupted by the evil powers that would grow with him as he learned the dark arts. Dumbledore knew what he would have to do if Harry chose to use the dark arts for evil purposes. Dumbledore couldn't allow a second dark lord to rise, if he had to, he would kill Harry.
Dumbledore looked up and saw Sirius laying Harry in a bed, he grinned and said a silent thank you to Sirius, perhaps the presence of Harry's godfather would keep Harry's heart and mind from becoming sick and twisted like voldemorts. "The training will begin tomorrow Sirius, I don't know how long I will have, I can only wait so long, now that voldemort as set in motion his plan for domination of the wizarding and muggle world. Im afraid that I will have to ask you to help in the……" he was cut off, however, by Sirius's angry voice
"I cant Albus, I cant. I refuse to help teach Harry the spells that were once used to try to destroy Lily and James". Dumbledore starred at him with a slightly softened gaze upon hearing this.
"You must help me Sirius, you must help Harry. The dark arts are the only way Harry can reach his true potential, the magical power boost he received from his anger proves just that. I am fully aware that it will be dangerous, but as long as you are here to help Harry, his powers will grow dark, but his heart will remain on the side of good". Dumbledore gave Sirius a pleading look as he finished. Sirius sighed and sat down on the moth eaten couch, holding his head in his hands for a moment before finally looking up, starring into the back room where Harry slept.
"Perhaps he isn't as much like James as I first thought" Sirius said more to himself than to Dumbledore. He looked up at Dumbledore and nodded, "Very well Albus, I'll help train Harry, but we must be careful with him, I wont allow my best friends son to turn...ever". Dumbledore nodded to this and thanked him, as he turned and opened the door, walking outside to think.
present
From the moment Harry had woken up he had been in training, he had been constantly pushed and pushed to perfect his spells faster and faster, to push past his limits and create new ones. During the daylight he was out in the valley, learning and practicing spells, performing long, involved incantation ceremonies that were meant to allow him to focus his power directly through his body instead of his wand, brewing potions that were meant to give him extreme self-healing powers so he could remain standing longer in a fight. As soon as the sun would disappear behind the mountain tops he would be pushed inside and sat down at the table, a massive stack of books about the dark arts set infront of him. Books on how to further the effectiveness of spells, how different spells required a certain force of mind, how his rather unpredictable anger could work greatly to his advantage when using black magic.
Harry's favorite thing to do was to sit down and open the book, Dark Arts of The Ancients: A Look Back Upon the Greatest Dark Powers, it was an incredibly thick book, filled with the most power black magic spells ever created, some of which hadnt been used in centuries because of the side effect of not performing the curse right. If you didn't move your wand in the exact motion, speak the words in the perfect way, and use the correct emotions the most common side effect was a reversal of the spell and instant death. His mind was full to bursting with dark spells.
Harry sighed as he looked up at the now pale red sky, sunrise was coming in the next few minutes, and at that moment he wished he would be going through another demanding, impossibly exhausting day of training, but he wouldn't be. Harry had overheard Dumbledore talking to Sirius the day before, and Harry was fairly certain that Dumbledore had known Harry was listening, perhaps it was easier for Dumbledore to allow Harry to know by accidently over hearing him talking about it.
The sun rose over the peak of the mountain and suddenly bathed the foggy valley in brilliant white light, Harry sighed and turned, heading back inside to get dressed for his journey. He walked into his bedroom and found a surprise, on his bed lay a set of robes and a cloak that he instantly recognized as that of an auror's. Harry turned and looked behind him, and there stood Dumbledore, a merry twinkle in his eyes that Harry hadnt seen in a long time, Harry too, couldn't help but grin at the gesture.
Sirius would often venture out of the valley in his dog form to get new of the outside world, whenever he would return there would be a morbid air about him, as though returning from visiting a graveyard. The news that Harry managed to get out of him allowed him to know that auror's were still be trained, but only a handful, and with the greatest secrecy. Auror's were not much more than bounty hunters anymore, out casts to the world that was now run by and full of dark wizards. According to Sirius, there was a reward, on the head of any auror, for two hundred galleons. Though most people didn't bother trying to take down the few aurors that were left, aurors nowadays were trained for power and brutality.
Dumbledore nodded to Harry and turned away, closing the door behind him as he left Harry alone in his room to change. He quickly pulled on the black and violet auror robe and fastened the trench coat like cloak over it, he opened the door and stepped out, standing infront of Dumbledore and Sirius too. Sirius surveyed him with a proud gleam in his eyes, Dumbledore, however, had never looked more worried.
"I suppose its time Harry, come along then". Dumbledore turned and walked out the front door, Harry turned to go with him but stopped as he felt Sirius slip something into his robe pocket.
"Just in case" he whispered as he gave Harry a push toward the door. They stepped out onto the ground and he looked at Dumbledore with a slightly confused expression. He knew he was leaving, but he didn't know how he was supposed to leave, he didn't even know where the mountain valley was.
"What am I supposed to do when I get back" Harry asked in a bewildered tone, he wasn't even sure why he asked, he had no idea where he was going back to. Dumbledore simply pulled his wand from within his robes and pointed it at Harry, muttering quickly, and Harry began to feel a sensation like delayed reaction to portkey transport.
"What you do when from this moment on, Harry, is your choice. Good luck". And with that Dumbledore flicked his wand and Harry felt a jerk behind his naval as he was whisked away from the valley, Dumbledores last words ringing in his ears.
* * *
Harry felt his feet slam hard into the ground, his knees shook violently but he remained standing, waving his arms slightly as he tried to keep his balance. He took a step back and steadied himself as he looked around to see where Dumbledore had dropped him this time. The ground beneath his feet was charred soil, and it felt slightly warm, as if it had been burned recently. He looked around and gasped, he was back on the Hogwarts grounds, the ruins of the mighty castle standing gravely over the once innocent grounds. He wasn't sure what he should do, searching the castle seemed like a waste of time, he wouldn't find anything of interest there, if anything there were probably dark wizards inside. Harry simply stood and thought for a moment, Dumbledore had said it was up to him to decide what to do. Though he repeated Dumbledores last words in his head for sometime all it did was give him a head ache.
He remembered vaguely about Sirius mentioning Hermione's possible escape from the battle on a broom. He turned and set off down the trail that led to hogsmead, he needed a place to start, and since he didn't know where else to go, the village seemed to be a good choice. He stopped at the battered old gate and turned, looking up once more at the ruins of the only place he had ever really considered his home.
"I'll be back, I have the sneaky suspicion that your use isn't yet over" he grinned and turned away from the castle, pulling his cloak tightly around him, in the chilly, December air. Though the gesture was more so to hide the black and violet auror's robes he wore beneath. He trudged along the still familiar path for several minutes, wondering vaguely if the secret passage way into the honeydukes cellar was still there, or if it had been found at all. He shrugged and allowed the thought to fade from his mind as he slowly came upon the village. It had changed somewhat, though all the building still stood, some with broken windows, others with doors that were hanging off the hinges, it reminded Harry a little about a scene from an old western movie he had once seen with Dudley. The three broomsticks still stood but it too had changed, it was no longer the merry place it once was. It had grown dark and taken on a sense or forbidding, Harry could see through the open door, many wizards and witch's running around inside and sitting at the bar and tables.
He sighed and looked around once more, unsure of what he should do he shook his head and decided to go in, if anything he could at least get a drink. He walked into the tavern and took a seat at the bar, nobody seemed to have noticed his entrance, either that or they just didn't care. Harry looked at the new bartender, Madame Rosmerta no where to be seen, the new bartender was a large, burly man with a scar going over his left eye.
"Wha d'ya wan" He asked thickly, he was rubbing a glass with an old rag that only seemed to smear the dirt inside the glass. He starred down at Harry as if he were some sort of odd bug that he couldn't identify.
Harry pulled several pieces of silver from his pocket and dropped them on the counter, "Dragon's eye" he said, starring determinedly up at the freakish bartender. The tender blinked dully for a second, not many people ordered a dragon's eye, it was a very strong drink, he shrugged however and scooped the silver off the counter, dropping it in his pocket and grabbing a clean glass and a very old and dusty bottle, filling the glass with a smoking, acid green liquid. The large man walked to the other end of the bar but continued to glance down at Harry, as if to see whether he would really drink it.
Indeed Harry did, he grabbed the glass and took a long drink, draining over half the glass before setting it back down on the counter, looking around the bar to see he could recognize anybody, though he doubted he would. He did recognize somebody, however, two people in fact. The first was Parvati Patil, she was standing toward the back of the tavern, dressed very poorly, almost like a house elf. The second person he recognized was Draco Malfoy, he too was at the back of the tavern and he had just grabbed Parvati by the arm and was saying something to her, obviously it was something she didn't like because she was trying desperately to get away, her futile attempts were laughed at by Draco and many of the other men in the tavern.
Harry's eyes blazed with hatred at the disgusting, older Draco, who had not seemed to change much since Harry had last seen him. Harry's grip tightened on his glass as he watched Draco pull Parvati down onto his lap, the glass cracking under the pressure of his grip. The bartender saw this and looked to the back of the tavern to see what was getting Harry so angry, he chuckled as he saw Draco, his best customer, playing with Parvati.
He turned once more to Harry and said, "If you've got a problem with that I think you better leave, you don't want to go messing with him, that's Draco Malfoy" he said proudly as if talking about his own sun, "he's the number one lieutenant in master voldemorts army". His grin faded however when Harry rose from his chair, draining the rest of his drink and dropping the glass to the counter, reaching into his robes for his wand.
Harry glared into the back at Draco, who now had Parvati on her back on the table, kicking and screaming, though the only reaction to the surrounding people was laughter and jeers. Harry wouldn't allow this, this, at least, would be an excuse to take care of Draco for good. He marched toward the back as Draco was tearing at the pathetic clothing Parvati was wearing, he looked up just in time to see Harry angry face before his fist send him stumbling back, crashing through the window and out onto the now snow covered grounds. He starred at the window, waiting for Draco to reappear, not caring about the stunned and angry looks on the surrounding men's faces.
Draco stood and jumped back through the window, a few drops of blood coming from his nose, "You'll pay for that, who ever the fuck you are". He started to advance on Harry, raising his fist and swinging as hard as he could, unfortunately for Draco, Harry had been trained in martial arts as well as magic. He raised his hand, grabbing Draco's wrist and twisting slightly, causing Draco to give a small cry of pain as Harry reached up with his other hand, grabbing a fistful of his ivory blonde hair and slamming his head against the wall.
Still holding both his wrist and his hair Harry stirred the stunned Draco to the front of the bar and tossed through the door, out into the snow, quickly following him outside, most of the tavern rose eagerly from their seats, wanting to get a good view of the fight.
Draco quickly stumbled to his feet and took a few steps back from Harry, somewhat afraid of him, though he still didn't recognize him. "You are so FUCKIND DEAD. Who the hell do you think you are to try to humiliate like this" he plunged his hand into his robes and pulled his wand, Harry, who still had his wand out pointed his at Draco just as Draco pointed his and Harry.
Harry grinned and lowered his wand, a grin spreading across Draco's face as he raised his, "Big mistake" he snarled as he whirled his wand, but Harry was to fast for him.
Harry swung his arm as if shooing away a swarm of fly's, and sent a very confused Draco flying off his feet and landing, hard on his back, his wand laying on the ground several feet away. Harry grinned and walked up to Draco, starring down at him as he raised his wand, aiming at Draco's heart, the blonde boy now shaking with fear.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked angrily as he starred at the wand now trained on his heart. Harry gave a heavy shrug of his shoulders, allowing his cloak to fall off, revealing the black and violet auror's uniform to him.
"I am the auror……Harry Potter" he grinned broadly at the look of horror on Draco's face, "And I have a message for you master. Tell him for me Draco, I'm back". And with that he flicked his wand and knocked Draco out with a stupefy curse. He muttered as he tucked his wand inside his robes once more, grabbing cloak that had fallen to the ground and fastening it around himself once more.
He turned away from Draco and walked back into the tavern, the occupants all scrambling out of his way as he entered, he walked up to Parvati, was still shaking in fear from what Draco had almost done to her.
"H-h-harry?!" she asked, slightly disbelieving. She threw her arms around him and cried into his shoulder as Harry removed his cloak once more, wrapping it around Parvati and glancing around the tavern once more before leading her outside with him. "Oh my god Harry its really you, your back" her voice growing more and more elated, he could practically feel her happiness.
"Parvati I need to ask you a few questions about the day I disappeared, Dumbledore and I were gone before the end of the battle and I haven't had much news about the whats been going on for the past two years". Parvati nodded and said she'd be glad to answer any questions she could. The walked up the slope leading to the shrieking shack and walked up to the door, Harry delivering one kick to the boarded front door and slamming it wide open. They walked inside and sat down on the old dusty couch.
"Well, first, I guess…..er, what are you doing here. Back at the three broomsticks I mean?". Parvati lowered her gaze to the floor as she spoke.
"After the battle two years ago I was captured by a couple death eaters. they didn't want to kill me though, they thought I could provide them with some entertainment" tears began to run down her cheeks, falling onto Harry's cloak, which was still wrapped securely around her. "I almost got away to, professor Mcgonagall was helping me and Hermione onto a broom but……" she had to stop there because Harry had suddenly grasped her shoulders, a look of desperation in his eyes and voice when he spoke.
"Hermione! Please Parvati, you've got to tell me what happened to Hermione, did she get away or……..did she?". Parvati had a look of pity in her gaze as she starred at Harry, she, like Ron had worked out a long time ago that Harry had feelings for Hermione, and it pained her to tell him.
"I fell off the broom just after we got off the ground, death eater had been firing spells at us. Hermione managed to stay on but……..she'd been hit with a spell a few minutes before". She looked up at the terrified look on Harry's face. "She managed to get away but……she was blinded Harry".
Harry's mouth hung open in shock, he had no idea what he was feeling at the moment, he was so elated that Hermione had actually gotten away from the battle, but it tore at his heart to hear that she had been blinded. It killed him inside to think of Hermione after her loss of sight, she must be so helpless without being able to see. He remained lost in thought for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you know where she is Parvati, where she was headed?". Parvati looked up at him and smiled slightly, she'd be able to be of some help to him at least.
"Yes Harry, I know where she is. Mcgonagall but a spell on the broom before we took off, a transporter spell so it would follow a fixed course. Before she died Mcgonagall told us the broom would take us to St. Mungo's, it's the only place voldemort hasn't been able to take over, special stealth and covering spells so he cant even find it. I don't know whether she's still there, or if she even made it for that matter. That's all I know, sorry if I didn't help as much as you wanted".
Harry slowly rose to his feet and started for the door but stopped, turning back to look at Parvati, "Do you have anywhere to go?". Parvati nodded and stood as well, unwrapping Harry's cloak from around her and handing it back to him.
"There's a resistance that stands against voldemort, I know where the headquarters are, I can get there pretty fast. Go find Hermione Harry, I'll be alright". Parvati smiled and opened the door, walking outside, standing for a moment before grinning at Harry and disapparating. Harry walked outside aswell, fastening his cloak around him once more and raising the hood of the cloak as he felt the bitter cold wind blow hard against him. He thought hard for a moment about what Dumbledore had told him about St. Mungo's, you needed a special potion to be able to apparate, and Harry, luckily, had just that potion.
He reached inside his robe pocket and pulled a dark blue vial, uncorking it and quickly swallowing down the contents he dropped the vial back I his pocket and focused his mind, vanishing from the shrieking shacks lawn and appearing inside the front office of St. Mungo's. His spirits high at the thought of seeing Hermione, surely if she were blind she would have to be here, Harry was due for a major disappointment