Chapter 6

Once the Potters came home from shopping Harry tried to escape to his room to think, but before he could leave the room he was grabbed by the shoulders and steered to the dinning room.

"I don't think so Harry, have your late lunch first and then a nap. You look too peaky for my liking." Mary pulled the young boy to the table and began to load his plate from dishes on the table being set out by the house elves.

Harry couldn't help but to imagine Hermione's indignation at the fact that his family had house elves, smiling slightly he looked down at his plate.

James immediately grabbed any food in his general area and began eating as if he hadn't done so in months.

Harry was sure that James would be able to give Ron a run for his money any day of the week.

"Eat Harry." Marry said staring pointedly at the boy until he picked up his fork in defeat. Seeing the action Mary sent him an award winning smile and then started in on her own meal.

After Harry could literally not eat another thing, he quietly followed James through the hallways and to his new room.

He honestly was very tired, even with going to bed early the previous night his eye lids were barely staying opened. Harry knew that his magic wasn't even halfway full yet, and until it was he would most likely be very fatigued.

Slipping off his sweater and shoes he slipped in between the covers. Sighing he closed his eyes hoping that some rest would help with his building headache.

Albus read over the file very carefully, grimacing at the various injuries that the boy had endured. Harold was sitting opposite of the revered older man in a plush arm chair, shifting in a bit of discomfort.

Once Albus finished the file he closed his eyes trying to commit all information read to memory.

"Albus will you allow Harry to attend Hogwarts?"

At the question Dumbledore opened his eyes and peered over his glasses at the much younger man, a man that was once his student.

"Of course Harold, I see no reason as to keep him from receiving an education, after all he has not done anything wrong."

Harold nodded his head in silent relief.

"I will inform Minerva to send young Harry a letter of acceptance, and his supplies list."

"Why didn't he already receive his letter?"

"Well as the report said he was born in France, and I suspect that he was listed for school there."

"Thanks you Albus."

Dumbledore nodded his head in acceptance of the gratitude.

"And how are you holding up Harold? I know this must all come as a shock to you."

"I am fine, still trying to cope that Cassandra was alive all these years." Harold finally muttered with a slight edge to his voice.

"Yes quite shocking indeed. I would have never guessed that your aunt was alive. I was very unsure of the rumors concerning your aunt. She was always such a role model student during her time at Hogwarts, and quiet gifted in transfiguration."

"Albus do you have any idea who she ran off with?" Harold asked curiously, for his father never figured out who dared to court his younger sister without their parent's approval, but then again Cassandra was always a bit strong willed.

Dumbledore slowly shook his head looking thoughtful, "No, I never knew of Miss Potter's attachments. I am however, just as curious as you are as to the boy's heritage."

Harold leaned further back in his chair and placed his chin in his hands.

"It is remarkable at how much Harry looks like a Potter though. He could easily pass as my son."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at the comment.

"Indeed?"

"Yes…he resembles James greatly. If he was a few years older they may even pass for twins. He has messy black hair, with Cassandra's eyes. He's small, wry, a bit malnourished and pale, but that is to be expected considering the last month he's lived."

"Black hair?" Albus asked curiously, for most of the older part of the Potter family either had blond or brown hair. That included Cassandra and her brother. Harold and James received their trade mark black hair from Harold's mother, and her side of the family.

"Yes…oddly enough." Harold responded thinking along the same lines as Dumbledore.

"Do you think the attack on him had something to do with his heritage?"

Dumbledore sat back into his chair with a thoughtful expression invading his face.

"An interesting question…one which I cannot answer at the present. It is very likely though. Harry did state that both his father and grandfather died presumably murdered. Then his mother dies, leaving the boy to be brought up by his godparents who were later hunted down and brutally killed. Instead of being killed himself, he was tortured for nearly a month and then left for dead." Dumbledore paused frowning in concentration.

"Has he said anything about his ordeal?"

Harold paled dramatically.

"No, and I don't think that I should bring painful memories back up by asking him."

"I agree, we should not question him on specifics until he is ready. He may be able to help solve the mystery surrounding who his grandfather is."

Harold nodded his head in agreement.

"Until then I think it would be wise for me to meet the newest edition to your family." Dumbledore said with a small smile.

"Of course, I would be surprised if you had requested otherwise." Harold acknowledged before glancing off to where Fawkes sat grooming his brilliantly colored feathers.

"Are you free for dinner tonight Albus?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily in amusement as he answered, "I would be delighted to dine with you and your family tonight Harold, I do hope that James hasn't any surprises for me though."

Harry looked down on the young man who was bowed before him. The blonde pureblood was his best spy within the ministry, and was a very reliable source of information.

"So tell me what information have you gathered?"

The death eater did not dare to look up as he replied, "My lord…the ministry is in an uproar about a young boy found a few days back. He was found tortured and barely clinging to life when they rushed him to St. Mungos."

Harry looked down on the bowed head with some confusion playing through his thoughts. A boy? Why would a mere boy interest him?

His long white fingers reached out and grabbed the man by the hair pulling his face up to stare into the dark lord's.

"What does he have to do with my plans?" Harry hissed menacingly down at the now shivering death eater.

"He's a Potter milord."

Harry released his grip slightly, "A Potter you say?"

"Yes…supposedly the grandson of Cassandra Potter."

He's grip on the man's hair intensified ten fold.

"Who?" The question almost came out as an angry hiss.

"Cassandra Potter, Aunt of Harold Potter." Came the yelped response.

Suddenly he released his grip totally and the man's head fell back down, lowering his eyes in fear.

"Crucio!"

The young man withered around on the floor in pain as a scream tore at his throat.

Suddenly Harry's head split open with pain.

Harold planned on making a quick fire call to his wife to inform her that they would have company, before he returned to finish his conversation with the headmaster.

That was the plan, however as with all plans they go awry.

Harold stuck his head in the roaring green fire and called out his destination, for a minute everything spun around dizzying until his sitting room came into view.

He looked around for a minute but not spotting his wife or son called out, "Sparky!"

Immediately a small female house elf appeared in front of him in a deep red pillow case with a gold P in the middle of it.

"Master Harold called?" The small creature enquired with its' head tilted to the side.

"Yes, Sparky would you please fetch Mary for me, I need to inform her of something." Harold said politely to the young elf, she hadn't been in their services for long and was opt to breaking down at the kindness shown to her.

Bowing the elf disappeared with a small 'pop'.

A few minutes later Harold distantly caught soft quick footsteps heading to the sitting room.

Mary Potter soon entered the room and hurried to the fire place to see what her husband wanted.

"Well hello dear. How is the meeting going?"

"Excellent, Albus will be joining us for dinner in about two hours time, I should be home a few minutes before then." By now Harold's knees were beginning to tire with kneeling on them.

"How did the shopping go today?"

"Fine…Harry seemed a bit peaky so I ordered him to nap until din…"

Before she could finish the sentence an ear piercing shriek of pure terror ripped through the air.

Mary didn't have any time to move before Harold fell through the fireplace, jumping to his feet followed closely by Albus Dumbledore.

The three took of running in the direction of the screaming; the closer they ran to the boys' rooms the louder and more heart wrenching the screaming became.

Harold had only heard screaming like that under one type of circumstance and he redoubled his efforts, sure that his son was being tortured in the next hallway.

Rounding the corner the adults pulled out their wands and rushed towards the open door of the room that belonged to Harry.

Mary tripped over a small table trying to keep up, and cursed angrily as she fell behind the others. Once she regained her feet she noticed that both Dumbledore and Harold were standing in the doorway staring in shock.

James was laying on his bed thinking about the up coming school year when a blood curdling scream pierced the air.

The scream sounded extremely close, almost as if the person was sitting beside of him.

He quickly pulled open his door and ran to the next room over. As he pushed the door open he paused as he saw his young cousin thrashing around violently in his bed scratching at his forehead. The screaming by far was the worst of it…the sound that came from the boy was one of pure agonizing pain.

James froze in shock. What was he suppose to do? Should he hold Harry down, or should he just go find help?

Glancing back between the door and Harry he finally shakily made his way over to the bed and began to shake the boy in an attempt to wake him.

At the contact Harry began to twist more wildly trying to get away from the hands, kicking out in the process, he caught James in the stomach making the boy double over in pain.

Gasping for air, James heard a small exclamation from the doorway and looked up in time to see the shocked faces of his father and Albus Dumbledore.

James and Harold locked eyes for a moment as James held his midriff, before Dumbledore finally seemed to come to his senses and rushed to the bed to subdue the still screaming boy.

Soon both Harold and Mary rushed to Dumbledore's side in an attempt to wake the thrashing child, but to no avail. Finally after several more minutes of screaming Harry fell deathly still, his breathing coming in gasps and every once in awhile a muscle would twitch.

"What in the hell was that?" Harold demanded in a shocked voice as he pulled his son to his feet.

All of the Potters looked extremely scared and looked at Dumbledore for an answer. Before the headmaster could respond a soft moan came from the bed drawing all eyes to the pale and sweating boy. For the first time they noticed a trail of blood slowly making its way down the right side of the boy's face.

Weary dull emerald eyes fluttered opened and slowly looked around.

When his eyes landed on Dumbledore and the Potters confusion shone on his face as he attempted to jump out of bed in apparent fright. Grabbing his wand in the process he pointed it at the group looking wildly around as if trying to figure out where he was.

Dumbledore placed his hands up in a comforting gesture as to not scare the child and slowly walked forward.

"It's ok Harry no one is going to hurt you. My name is Professor Dumbledore, and…"

Before he could finish the black haired child's eyes rolled up in the back of his head and he fell forward hitting the nightstand with a sickening thud.

Albus softly levitated the young boy back onto the bed a worried frown marring his usual cheerful face.

Harold quickly pulled James out of the room as Mary walked forward and began to perform diagnostic charms on her cousin.

Dumbledore studied the young boy intently as Mary started healing various injuries. Harry truly did look like a Potter, unnaturally so. He was clearly underfed, and from the bruising still visible on his neck and arms he had taken a real beating if they hadn't cleared up magically after a few days. However, the one thing that stood out the most about the boy was the unusual scar resting on his forehead.

Albus slowly walked forward and gently pulled out the bloody locks away from the scar. The freshly opened wound seemed to pulse with anger as it took the shape of a lightning bolt. The scar clearly was acquired by magical means if the healers were not able to heal it completely. The question now, was if it was a cursed scar, and if so what was its' effect on the boy.

Mary left the room for some medical supplies.

Taking his wand back out, Dumbledore waved it at the scar's direction muttering a little known spell under his breath.

Immediately the area over the scar turned the deepest shade of black imaginable.

Albus' face immediately darkened further. He had suspected that the scar was caused by dark magic, but being proven right still didn't take away the disgust at the fact. Who would subject a child to the darkest of magic was totally beyond him.

He was about to lower his wand when suddenly the black shadow began to take on a red tint around the edges, until the whole shadow was the shade of a ruby. This time the look on the headmaster's face was one of total shock. Blood magic! There were only a select few that knew the secrets of blood magic since it was a mostly forgotten art. Still it didn't make any sense. While some blood magic was classed as the dark arts, there was none known ritual that would leave both dark and blood magic residue.

As he continued to study the boy's face in confusion the lightning bolt slowly began to stitch itself back together, until none wound have been able to tell that it had recently been open.

Harry turned restlessly in his sleep bringing his left hand up to cover the odd scar, and as he did so a glittering light reflected off his ring finger.

Albus carefully study the ring without touching the sleeping boy. As far as he could tell the ring was a simple silver band with something engraved on it. Leaning forward his frown deepened when he saw that the 'something' was a very delicate snake. That alone would not have bothered the headmaster, but the power he felt coming off the ring did.

Reaching out carefully Albus picked up the boy's hand with the intention of removing the ring for a closer look. However, as soon as he touched the boy Harry stiffened up, his eyes started to twitch as if he was in the middle of an intense dream. The headmaster placed his fingers around the band, when he received the shock of a life time…literally.

Albus jumped back and dropped the boy's hand in surprise as a jolt of electricity ran through his body. For a moment afterwards the ring glowed a light gold before returning to its natural silver color. Pulling his hand up to his face he was surprised to see a ring shaped burn on the fingers that had attempted to remove the ring.

Frowning slightly Dumbledore turned back to face the mystery that was Harry Potter as Mary walked back in the room carrying various potions.