10

Departure

Harry stepped out of the fireplace into the lair of his father's worst enemy. The Floo trip left him slightly dazed, as he was still regaining his strength. His eyes scanned the circular room with all its arched windows. Harry's eyes finally rested on the Headmaster's desk, where Dumbledore waited serenely. His blue eyes watched Harry with interest. The youth, however, refused to meet his gaze. His eyes instead scanned the portraits of the former Headmasters and mistresses. Behind him, he heard James Potter exiting the fireplace.

"Please have a seat," Dumbledore said sagely.

'He is clearly in his atmosphere.' Harry smirked. Instead of sitting, he walked over to a table that contained a group of silver instruments.

"Harry, please, have a seat. We have much to discuss." The Headmaster asked again.

"I have nothing to 'discuss' with blood traitors." Harry eyes caught the way both men paled.

James was watching his son with a hard gaze, while Dumbledore keep his features indecipherable. The Headmaster leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. His shrewd eyes did not miss any of Harry's movements.

"It is a discussion that will occur." Dumbledore paused. "Better to get our talk out of the way, instead of prolonging it."

Harry sighed loudly, tempted to fling the silver instruments on to the floor.

"They are just possessions."

Harry's head jerked up. He looked at Dumbledore with distrust, but he chose not to say anything. Instead, he moved to sit beside Potter. In his mind, however, he was building walls to prevent further free access on the Headmaster's part. Dumbledore smiled at Harry's compliance.

"The teacher's are aware of your past. The students will remain uninformed for the most part. They will only be told that you have just recently been returned to your parents. To the students, the sole reason for your father's presence will be to reacquaint you to the Wizarding world. The only students, who will know your real past, will be certain children of members of the Order and of course those who you knew when you were with Voldemort."

Harry frowned. "One thing, he is not my father. He will never be. Secondly, you are actually going to place me among your students?"

The Headmaster's mouth twitched. "You will only be attending a few classes… to keep up appearances. The remainder of your time will be spent in your room, or in this office. You and I will converse on various items." Dumbledore straightened himself. "Hogwarts will be housing many Aurors, along with added protections. There is no escape."

Harry's face remained empty. "How can you be so convinced, Dumbledore? I believe that you could not stop me from leaving."

"With the help of a group of our former students, we have protected all passageways."

"Numerous Aurors per exit?" Harry asked mockingly.

Dumbledore nodded.

"I can still get past them, even without my wand." His eyes flickered dangerously. "I have it made past the Ministry's top agents before. Unfortunately here, some of your students might get in the way. What would their guardians say? Especially, when they find that you knowingly placed their children in danger."

Harry stopped in disbelief when the Headmaster's eyes twinkled.

"I do not think you are capable of doing such a crime."

"I have killed people before. It is not a hard task to do."

Harry despised the Headmaster's calm exterior, as he answered. "You only kill when ordered. You have never killed for pleasure."

The seat Harry had been sitting in fell backward, as he left it. His hand grasping a letter opener that lay on the desk, he arrived with it at Dumbledore's throat before either the Headmaster or James could react.

"You won't kill me, Harry." Dumbledore stated serenely.

Harry stared into the blue eyes that he had come to loathe. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw James Potter with his wand pointed at him. Turning his attention back to the Professor, he brought the knife closer.

Dumbledore, however, still seemed unconcerned. "I can see it in your eyes, Harry. You do not delight in what you do for Voldemort." The old man motioned for James to lower his wand, which the he did with great reluctance. "Put down the letter opener, Harry."

Harry glared at the Headmaster, before throwing the letter opener across the room sticking it in the wall. He felt Potter's hand grab his one arm pulling him back to his seat. Grudgingly he returned to sitting.

"Albus, I don't think this is a good idea." James's eyes straying to the letter opener, which remained firm in the wall. "He is too dangerous."

"I ask you to trust me in this matter, James." The headmaster rose from his chair. "You will technically be placed Gryffindor, though you will remain in a separate room with James."

James's eyes widened. "I am going to be sleeping in the same room as him!"

"I do not see a problem with this arrangement. I think that it would be the best for the two of you." Dumbledore smiled. "Harry, you will be joining the student body at the opening feast tonight, but after that James will take you to your quarters."

"What if I, or someone else, were to tell your secret, Dumbledore? There is no way they would allow you to keep me here."

"I have a feeling you will enjoy Hogwarts more then you would Azkaban." Dumbledore looked intently at the adolescent. "This is your last chance for redemption, Harry."

"The act of atonement made for a crime or offence. Before I can atone, I have to know my crime."

"Before the end, you will… if you don't already." Dumbledore said soberly.

Harry's eyes burned in rage. "The only 'sin' I have ever committed is being a good son."

Dumbledore looked, as if he were going to comment on Harry's statement, however, he chose not to. "The majority of your classes will not require the use of a wand. However, I have decided you will also take Defense against the Dark Arts. You will be given your wand for this class only."

Harry nodded his head, no longer caring.

"If there are no other questions, I believe we shall retreat to the Great Hall." Dumbledore rose. "You will be sitting with us at the staff table, James."

"What about Harry?"

"He will get acquainted with his fellow Gryffindors."

Harry found himself being led into the filling Great Hall. Dumbledore showed him to a seat and left him without a word. Now Harry nervously shifted, as he watched various members of Gryffindor sit down at the table. This place was Hell. Never before had he been around people of his own age, but compared to him they were little more than children.

He bowed his head, allowing his bangs to obstruct his face. Blocking out the sounds around him, Harry concentrated on his situation. There had to be some way to contact Draco, who would be sitting only a few tables away. However, Harry knew Dumbledore would make that feat almost impossible.

Movement to his right caused his curiosity to peak. Someone was actually going to sit by him. His emerald eyes met hazel.

"So you're the infamous Harry Potter?" The boy with auburn hair stated more then asked. "I'm Dorian Potter."

"My last name is Marvolo." Harry received no reaction.

"You look like a Potter."

"Shouldn't you be afraid of me?"

"Why?" Dorian asked. "It's hard to fear you, especially when you look just like dad."

Harry's brow furrowed. "You are annoying."

Dorian grinned. "Lots of people think so."

"Ickle Dorey-." One red-head twin began.

"Been staying out of trouble?" His twin finished.

Harry noticed the younger Potter cringe.

"You know I hate it when you call me that." Dorian said contorting his face in disgust.

One of the red-heads, eyes met those of Harry. Harry was not too surprised to see his face suddenly pale. His lips compressed into an exceedingly thin line. His eyes hardened as well.

"You could have killed our brother."

By this time his twin, who had finally noticed Harry, wore the same expression of disgust.

Harry knew them to be the twins that Draco had complained about so often.

"Dorian, you are not going to seriously be seen with him?" One said incredulously.

"He's my brother, George." Dorian said quietly.

"He's not safe." Fred Weasley pressed his twin's point.

"I did not almost kill your brother," Harry whispered calmly. He instantly hated his words. He had nothing to prove to them.

The twins looked dubiously at him.

"Those, who I choose to kill, end up dead. A few are destined to survive." Harry said indifferently.

The twins face expression had not changed, as they sat beside Dorian. On the other side of the table, a bushy brown haired girl followed closely by the youngest Weasley male and his sister arrived. There reaction mirrored those of the Weasley twins. Ron Weasley looked repulsed to even be in the same room.

Harry took a distinct pleasure in their response to him. As his father would tell him, he was their better.

"What is Dumbledore thinking?" Ron exclaimed glaring at Harry.

Heads turned toward him, causing Dorian to flinch. "Ron, sit down and shut-up." Dorian continued when the stunned prefect obeyed. "Dumbledore is keeping him here to prevent Voldemort-." Dorian sighed, as the majority of the group recoiled at the mere mention of the Dark Lord's name. "To prevent Voldemort from reclaiming his prize. Our esteemed Headmaster would not be pleased, if we made all his planning fail."

Their section of the table fell quiet, though Harry still felt himself the object of many glares.

"Potter and the Weasels… oh, I seem to have forgotten the mudblood. Sorry, Granger-." Draco stopped, when his eyes landed on his childhood friend. His face broke into a calculating smile. "Marvolo." He said, nodding his head.

"Malfoy," Harry replied.

"You look like crap."

The corners of Harry's mouth twitch threatening to turn into a smile. "I had an incident."

"I wouldn't doubt it." Malfoy stated with contempt, as his eyes scanned the group with disgust. "Being stuck with such filthy-."

Draco stopped suddenly when he felt a presence behind him. He slowly turned to find James Potter standing behind him.

"Mr. Malfoy, I would take a seat at your House's table." James said coolly.

Malfoy shot Potter a defiant look, before walking briskly toward the Slytherin table. Harry watched him depart, as he did so, he used Legilimency to place a message in his friend's mind.

'Be sure my father knows that I am here, but be careful Dumbledore will be watching.' At the last moment he added to his first message. 'Don't spread my true identity… I would rather not end-up in Azkaban.'

His concentration broke. Harry had always found both Legilimency and Occlumency to be wearing. Harry noticed that the senior Potter had returned to his place at the head table. As he had previously known, Harry was reminded once again that it would be hard to talk with Draco.

The first years were led into the room and the Sorting began. Harry did not pay close attention to the words the hat sung, instead he considered the jittery eleven year olds. He had been different at that age. By this time, he had already been doing his father's bidding. His behavior had already been similar to an adult. A particular emotion rose in his chest, one that he had never felt before. He felt his face scrunch as he tried to identify the feeling. Harry frowned and then completely brushed it aside. He was not envious of their childhoods.

When the Sorting was completed, the Headmaster rose and spoke. The impression Harry gained, from the bored expressions on the faces of the older students, was that Dumbledore said the same speech every year.

"Let the feast begin." Dumbledore said cheerfully, and food magically appeared on the tables.

Harry only nibbled at what he took. His appetite had yet to return to normal. Silently, he cursed being surrounded my children.

There was a crash beside Harry, as Dorian Potter suddenly turned into a large canary. Then, suddenly, he returned to his normal form.

"That is getting old." Dorian said frowning.

"But it still works." Fred said.

"Quite efficiently too." George added.

"A thing of beauty." The two concluded together.

Dorian snorted. "Now I don't have a knife." He noticed Harry's untouched knife. "Are you going to use that?"

Wordlessly, Harry grasped the knife's handle, flipping so the handle was pointing toward Dorian.

"Thanks," Dorian said slowly, still astounded by Harry's swift move.

Harry shrugged and returned to staring at his scarcely eaten food. He was glad when the dinner finally ended. He instantly rose when James came to stand behind him.

"Well, we're going to call it a night." James told his younger son. "Your mother wanted me to remind you to behave."

Dorian smiled. "She never gives up hope."

James looked toward Harry, and simply stated. "No, she doesn't."

"Can I come with you two?"

James shook his head. "Perhaps, later." He, then, placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and began to lead him from the Great Hall.

Their quarters were not far from Dumbledore's office, and were out of the way from the student corridors. The quarters were actually composed into three different sections… a bedroom, living area, and a mini-bath. The quarters were furnished with a very Gryffindor feel.

Harry entered to the bedroom and prepared for sleep. Crawling under the sheets, Harry laid, waiting for sleep to come. Eventually, James entered and sat on the bed opposite of Harry, staring at him.

"If I promise not to kill you, will you stop staring at me?" Harry asked. "I can't sleep with you doing that."

James lay back in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I suppose that is a deal."

Harry grinned. "I suppose so."

Silence filled the room. Harry rolled onto his other side, trying to find a comfortable position. Pressing his head into the pillow, he found himself dreading the coming day.