Chapter 12

The tournament was long over and the champions had kept to their word and given the money to charity. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had then departed for their own country, Durmstrang aided by Albus, with everyone promising to keep in touch with their new friends. Though before they left, the twins had spotted Bill and Fleur sharing a private conversation. They were pretty sure it wouldn't take long for their brother to woe the lovely Miss Delacour into his arms. In fact they started up a bet to see how long it would take, which in a year or so's time would be joined by one on Remus and Auror Tonks. Ron tried to get them to bet on Harry and Hermione breaking up. The twins told him if he wasn't going to be serious about making bets, then he shouldn't bother at all.

Viktor had also spoken privately with Luna, who had advised him to watch out for the Whumplebogs on his way home. Personally Viktor thought she was a very cute girl, but he would wait a few more years before doing anything about it. That, and it would take him that much time to get his head round all these new creatures of hers.

Both Severus and Albus wanted the full explanation as to where Julian went and what happened. Julian was quite happy to give that information to them. Albus had predictably gone off his head and protested that Voldemort was truly dead. He seemed quite convinced that Harry would be the one to rid the world of the mad man, and had even let slip about a prophesy. Julian's was not happy with his protest.

'That prophesy was the reason Harry lost his parents, his grandparents and his godfather all within the space of a few days. You stand there saying it's for his own good when you've been leading that boy around on a short leash ever since he walked into this school. You've had him deal with a Cerberus, Trolls, dangerous tasks, a Basilisk, a so called wanted criminal, and now this tournament. Yes I listen to gossip. You have him almost dying every year for your so called "Greater Good". You were the one who failed to allow Sirius the trial he deserved and let him rot in Azkaban. You were the one who hired dangerous and incompetent defense professors. You were the one to allow dangerous creatures and artifacts to come into the school. You did all this because you believed in some god forsaken prophesy that meant either Harry had to die, or Voldemort. You gave that boy no help or training and you expected him to waltz out there and challenge that monster to a fight to the death. Or perhaps you wanted Voldemort to take away that horcrux in Harry's head so you could step in and finish the man off. Yes, I know about them too, and that you knew. Did you do anything about them? No, I did. I hunted each and every one of them down and got rid of them. Did you do anything about the deatheaters who bought their way out of Azkaban? No, I did. That little trick Lucius did with Voldemort's diary, yeah I know about that. I also know that he will pay for that. But you were the one to let it continue within the school.

You listen to me and you listen good, old man. If I see you trying to manipulate any more people, I will ensure you know how it feels to be helpless and weak. You are a Headmaster, not a god. Do your job otherwise I will make sure someone else takes your place'.

'Do you know who you are speaking to?! I could have you in Azkaban for this!' Albus exclaimed.

'You can try. I have my own mistress and she is not happy with the way you have been treating others' Julian replied.

He then smirked.

'In fact, the Lady Nature asked me to retrieve something that belongs to a good friend of hers'.

'And what might that be?' Albus growled.

Julian shot his hand out, and the Elder wand strapped to Albus wrist suddenly broke free of its holster and flew to him. He nimbly plucked it from the air.

'You dare take my wand!' Albus screeched.

'It's not yours Headmaster. The one who created it is its rightful owner. And I believe Death will be happy to have both it and the stone back. I don't think he'd mind if I left the cloak where it is'.

Albus was left gaping as the young man tucked the wand away.

'I don't recommend trying to summon it back. If you play with fire, you're going to get burned' Julian remarked, turning to Severus.

'Thank you for not interfering'.

'I know by now that when you get into that state, that it would be foolish to try and stop you' Severus replied.

He glanced at the fuming Headmaster.

'It would appear that what you've been saying is correct Julian. He is nothing more than a manipulative old man. Something I should have seen a long time ago'.

He lifted his arm, looking once more at the unblemished skin where his dark mark used to be. And finding some amusement in Albus' expression when he saw it.

Some years ago Julian experimented with the translation spell, and discovered that with a bit of tweaking it could be vastly expanded. The original spell allowed translation of different human languages, with a few non human languages thrown in for good measure. The tweaked spell, one Julian called the universal translation spell, allowed someone to speak, understand, and even read and write, the language of any being on the planet, from Flobberworm to Dragon. Using this, his knowledge of science, and his fondness for tweaking spells, Julian was able to completely remove the dark mark. It was something that had been kept secret, for now.

It wasn't considered a life dept, but it was something Severus would never forget, and never be able to repay.

He sighed and shook his head, turning back to the younger man.

'You may be a handful at times, but you get the work done. I'm just glad I'm on your good side'.

'Aww, you softy!' Julian laughed, ducking when the man swiped at his head. Albus watched the two with dread. Severus hadn't told him that his mark was gone. How had it been removed? Only Voldemort could have done so, or passed the secret to someone else.

'You have gone dark! I should have known. All the time I allowed you to be at Hogwarts, knowing your ability was not of the light. I was willing to give you a chance to prove yourself, to ensure you remained on the path of light. This is how you repaid that kindness, by betraying me'.

Julian gave the man a dark look.

'Repay you? Excuse me Albus but I have never turned to you for guidance. I respected you, although that respect is rapidly running out. Why is it that when someone doesn't worship the very ground you walk on, you automatically think they've gone dark?'

Severus sniggered.

'Why does the world have to be black and white? Good and bad? You proclaim yourself the Light Lord, yet you've done nothing to earn that title. And no Albus, I'm not saying I've earned it either. I'm not light, and I'm not dark'.

Nature's magic surged round him, winding round his body like a loving embrace. His hair flickered like fire, and his eyes glowed.

'I am Julian Heartright, Elemental, and Grey Lord'.

He blinked, and the pulsing magic left.

'Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some people to chat to. And as for you Albus, remember what I said'.

And with that the two left, leaving a man trembling in both awe and anger as all his plans crumbled around him.

OOO

Harry and the others were herded into a secluded classroom by a rather joyful Julian.

'Have I got something to show you' the man said gleefully.

The group gaped as out of his trunk came a fried baby and a plush rat.

'Julian what…?!' Hermione started, gagging a little.

The rest weren't any better.

'Yes I know what it looks like. But I guarantee once I explain, you will celebrate seeing this little pot roast' the man replied.

He brought out a pensive on loan from a friend and launched into an explanation, allowing his memories to be the proof of his claims.

'Did you have to mock him? I mean you could have saved yourself getting hit by that curse?' Hermione scolded.

She was shushed as the scene played on.

'Do you mean…?' Remus asked.

'Yep'.

'And that's really…?' Sirius asked.

'Oh yeah'.

'And there's no more…?' Harry asked.

'Gone for good'.

The room went silent. Then Harry let out the first cheer and spun Hermione round to kiss her fully on the lips. A bit dizzily, she kissed him back for all she was worth.

'HE'S GONE! HE'S REALLY GONE!'

Remus and Sirius were too busy staring at the rat plush to cheer with the teen.

'I'm really going to be free?!' Sirius whispered.

Julian patted the man on the shoulder.

'Live it up Lord Black, I didn't do this just so you can sit there like a log'.

Sirius smiled, then started sniggering, and finally collapsed in a heap of laughter.

'I can't…I can't believe I'm going to say this… but you are the best Slytherin, ever!'

Julian brushed his hair over his shoulder.

'Naturally'.