This is my second fanfic that I've ever written. Any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. This story is very much AU, and very little remains the same from canon. There may be some Weasley bashing involved but not a lot. Expect a Daphne/Harry paring but that won't happen magically overnight. This story will be mature in terms of violence and language. Harry will be powerful and come into his power over time. Don't expect a strictly evil or strictly good Dumbledore, he's much more grey, like Harry. Voldemort will also be more grey but definitely evil. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!

It was a cold and dreary day, normal for this area of Scotland. Rain poured from the dark clouds high above, making it difficult to see far. The drops pattered against the trains roof and windows, creating a soothing sound which lulled Harry into a deep peace. He sat alone in his compartment, watching as the countryside passed by with content. It wasn't often he got to be alone like he was now. So rare were these moments that he had forgotten the sound of silence altogether. It was not something he wished to forget again.

Though the dark clouds covered the sun, Harry knew it was still day and he had yet a few more hours before arriving at the castle. He had heard much of this mythical school, but never had seen it for himself. He wondered constantly if the stories of it were true or if they were just exaggerated tales from old men who wished to be youthful once more. An excitement grew within him with each passing moment, but it was an emotion he did well to hide, even when in the company of only himself.

His father taught him to control his emotions, that such things could lead to his demise one day. He was a Potter, a wizard of noble blood, and such men never revealed their true selves to others. Not even his future wife could know what went on under his messy black hair. He looked down and fiddled with the sleek silver ring that rested on his ring finger. A bitter feeling spread through him at its sight. He wished it weren't there, that his father hadn't arranged such a thing for him.

He was alright with the constant training and the need to be kept from the world for the sake of his safety, but a marriage was pushing it. This task was a lot to ask, and he wasn't keen on following through with it. Still, he would do his father's bidding and marry the young girl who was expertly chosen for him. He had never met her, she being of Russian descent and still in school as well. He was to meet her this winter, during the Holiday break and even a few months out he was slightly nervous of the encounter.

He turned his thoughts from the betrothal ring that rested on his finger and towards his goal. This year would be interesting to say the least, one that would change the world for the better. His father had kept him in the shadows for a long time, preparing him for the role he would play in future events. He had been impatient for many years, wishing to announce himself to the world for a long time. And now here he was, on his way to Hogwarts to return from the dead.

Allies were already placed within the castle long in advance in order to aid him in his mission, one which would take time and great care in order to accomplish. It wasn't going to be an easy road ahead for him. There were many things he was going to have to face that he didn't wish, that he never wanted to face when growing up. A lot of hatred waited for him within the castle he had never been to and this would be the ultimate test of his long years of training.

As he sat alone in the compartment, continuously glancing at the door, watching as several students walked by, laughing as they went. It was something he wasn't used to, seeing the way in which students his age interacted. His time had been spent with teachers of all kinds, studying day-in and day-out the ways of the wizarding world. From history to potions to dark arts and so on, he had become quite learned in all subjects. His father demanded him to be knowledgeable in all subjects of magic, telling him that it was the true path to greatness. And so he listened, and studied, and improved to the point he was becoming as knowledgeable in each subject as his teachers who taught him.

As he aged, his power had transformed and become greater as well. He knew he was more powerful than your average wizard. He wasn't at the same level of his father, and most certainly not at the same level of Dumbledore, but he was growing more powerful and maybe one day could rival them, but that day was far away.

The already dark clouds began to darken further as the sun fled the land, disappearing over the western horizon. They were nearing the fabled magical castle and Harry's stomach began to flutter even more. The next twenty-four hours were going to be the most important of his life. He had much to accomplish, many tests to pass. He took some time to change out of his normal clothes and into the school robes he would be wearing for the rest of the year. They were trimmed with grey, the same as a first year before being sorted, yet he was unlike them.

He would be entering into the school year as a sixth year due to his age. He was far beyond the magical schooling of a sixth year, but Harry didn't mind. This just gave him more time to focus on the real reason he was finally attending this school, rather than having to worry about his classes.

As he once more sat down in his seat to wait out the final hour of their approach to the Hogsmeade Train Station, the door to his compartment suddenly opened. Harry sneered at the sight of the pale boy with near-white blonde hair as he walked in. The way the boy avoided Harry's eyes, he was clearly nervous of being in the presence of him.

"What do you want Draco? I never asked you to join me this evening." Harry asked with a cold hiss. The words bounced off the walls creating an echo which sent a shiver down Draco's spine. Draco still didn't dare to look up into Harry's cold, pale green eyes. They resembled too much of the curse that had killed so many people.

"Yes, of course my lord." Draco bowed low, his form slightly shaking. "I just was inclined to ask if your trip was well and if I can do anything to better it?" Harry wanted to curse the boy right out of his compartment but he stayed his tongue. He knew that Draco was just doing his father's bidding. That man was the very definition of a brown nose, always wishing to grovel to be in his father's good graces.

Harry sighed silently to himself, "No Draco. My trip has been fine. Now run off to your friends before anyone wonders why you are gone. We don't know each other, remember?"

Draco kept his head bowed low, "Of course. Please ask if you have need of me my lord. I am happy to serve." With that, Draco walked back out of the compartment, gently shutting the door. It was going to be an interesting year indeed with the likes of Draco. The boy had anger issues and was used to running the school as he saw fit. Now, with his presence, Draco would have to change his ways and Harry was curious to see how well the boy did with such changes. It seemed so far that he was well trained by his sniveling father, but time will tell. It always does.

Once more left to the silence of the compartment, with only the patter of rain to keep him company, Harry settled into his seat and shut his eyes. He knew there was little time left until they reached the station, but a small nap never hurt anyone. As he was soon to fall asleep, the compartment door opened once more. Harry had half a mind to never open his eyes, and instead simply hex the person who walked in, but that wouldn't leave a very good first impression with the school he was soon to attend.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked, his tone somewhat harsh, being annoyed that he was stopped from taking a nap. He looked to a young woman with bushy brown hair and dark brown eyes to match. She had tears flowing down her rosy cheeks which she worked desperately to dry off with her sleeve.

She jumped at the sound of his voice and stared wide-eyed at Harry who looked on with raised eyebrows. "Err, no. Sorry, I thought this compartment was empty." The girl said flustered, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment at her mistake and appearance. Harry noticed that she was of the Gryffindor House based upon the red trim of her school robes. She also had a golden prefect badge that was shined to gleam even in the dimmest of lights.

"Well, by all intents and purposes this apartment is empty. So continue whatever it was you're doing." Harry responded, once again shutting his eyes and relaxing back into his seat. The girl had stopped crying and simply looked at Harry oddly for a while, unsure of how to respond. Eventually she sat down opposite him and stared out the window, keeping perfectly quiet.

Harry wasn't bothered by her presence in the slightest and never did open his eyes until he felt the train begin slow. The girl also never moved from her spot, watching the darkened countryside pass by. Both were content to wait out the remainder of the trip in each other's silent company.

A loud whistle blew which finally shook Harry from his short slumber and he awoke to find the compartment empty once more. He could see from the window that the train had stopped and pulled up to the station. Already students were filing passed his compartment window and exiting the train, eager to start the year again.

Harry waited for most of the other students to leave and then followed in behind. He was content to enjoy the world of anonymity for as long as he could. At the end of the long hall of the scarlet red train he saw the bushy haired girl exit, a tall and slender red headed boy right behind her. Something about the way she walked and glanced at the boy made him realize that her tears had been because of him. He confirmed his thoughts when another girl with long brown hair walked up and planted a kiss on the red-headed boy's lips, and the bushy haired girl abruptly turned away from the image.

Off in the distance he heard the cries for the first years to gather around. His eyes strained to find the voice and found it coming from a large man, surely a half-giant who beckoned for the young ones to join him. Unsure if he was supposed to join the older students or the first years, Harry made up his mind and stalked towards the half-giant.

He approached with some caution, having been warned of who this man was and his connection to his parents. Years had passed since the incident and Harry had changed quite a bit in that time, so he figured the half-giant wouldn't recognize him. "A first year eh?" The half-giant asked with raised bushy eyebrows once he looked at Harry.

"A sixth year, just my first year here." Harry replied, forcing a small smile onto his face.

"Well, yer in the righ' place. Just take a boat with the res' of the firs' years and Professor McGonagall will get yeh sorted." The half-giant said.

"Thank you." Harry replied with a kindly smile.

"It's exciten' isn't it? Coming to 'Ogwarts. I'm sure you know all about it now. Where did you do yer schoolin' before here?" He asked, walking towards the boats that rested in a small stone dock on the edge of a giant lake with water as black as the night sky. The first years followed them, intently listening to their conversation as they went. Hagrid paused for a moment just before stepping into one of the boats. "The name's Hagrid by the way."

"Harry." He replied, stepping into the small boat next to Hagrid's. Due to his size, he took up half the boat and so only two small, shy first years climbed on board hesitantly. Once he made sure the first years were settled in, he continued his talk with Hagrid. "I went to school in Norway, homeschooled, not Durmstrang."

"Well this must be a shock to you, comin' to school all the way out here. Why the sudden change?" He continued to pry.

Harry chuckled at the questions, "Do all professors question as much as you?"

Hagrid offered a small grin for his part and looked slightly embarrassed. "Sorry fer pryin'. It's just we don't get many transfers and I'm always anxious to hear more of the world." Hagrid then called out for the first years to kick off the bank of the shoreline. The boats began to float on their own, guided by some magic across the black waters.

Harry waved off the apology, "It's alright. I don't mind the questions. My father wished to see me attend a proper school my last couple years and he chose this one."

"Well, yer father chose correct. There's no finer school in all of Europe." Hagrid replied with pride. Harry nodded his head and chose to sit in silence for the rest of the boat ride over the Black Lake. He mostly looked to the young first years who gazed around with uncertainty. They didn't dare look at him, too embarrassed or shy to do so.

The boats rounded a small bend and that's when Harry got his first glance at the castle so famed in the stories told to him. With his first look, he easily saw why his professors romanticized the place. The look of it took his breath away. The castle was lit up as golden lights glimmered from a thousand windows. Though dark clouds blocked the moon, rain had ceased before even stepping off the train and so the vision of the castle was crystal clear.

He heard through the silent awes of the other first years one girl talking about its foundation and why this school was built in such a place. He found it rather amusing to listen to her, to hear her recite passages from Hogwarts A History. Those lines he knew well, having read the book himself many times searching for the truth of the castle often described to him. Now he was being given the chance to finally walk her halls and experience the passages for himself. A great swell of happiness surged through him, something that was rare for him to feel. Again he quickly pushed that happiness back, not allowing it to show upon his face.

"Be careful, don' fall in." Hagrid warned as he spotted a young boy leaning over the side of one of the boats. "The giant squid will get ya if you do."

"My brother said that was just a myth!" Another boy answered the half-giant.

"A myth? No indeed it isn't. He's a happy fella most of the time, but mess with him and he will mess with you." Hagrid replied in a grim dark manner. This caused most of the first years to quickly scrunch themselves into balls within their boats, keeping all limbs far away from the sides of the boat. Harry chuckled, immediately recognizing the students who would be placed in Gryffindor since they leaned over the boats even more, daring danger to show itself.

A girl who was in Harry's boat was shaking from the cold, her small arms wrapped around her body as she tried to stay warm. Harry took pity on her and raised his wand. Both the first years looked at him with wide-eyes, the girl more scared while the boy more curious. Harry swished his wand, not uttering a sound as he did so. A warm orange glow surrounded the girl and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Her eyes managed to grow wider if that was even possible. "Woah! How did you do that?" She asked, no longer having to wrap her arms around herself to keep warm. He had performed a warming spell on her. He had a soft spot for children, probably due to the rugged upbringing he had as a child.

Harry simply shrugged, "Magic." He turned back to look upon the castle, ignoring the further questions from both the eager first years. He could feel again the beginning of rain as a few small drops began to fall from the dark sky. Thankfully they were nearing the covered docks of the school and soon would be inside its hallowed halls.

The boats guided them to a dock which was located on the edge of what looked like a steep cliff. Harry could see a torch-lit flight of stairs that made its way up to the castle. They off-loaded onto a small dock which had a covered roof made of wood. Hagrid formed the first years into two lines and marched them up the long staircase. Harry walked side by side with Hagrid as they went.

As they reached the top of the staircase, Harry looked upon the entrance courtyard. It was a wide place with a fountain made of stone in the center. The fountain took the form of a centaur with a bow raised, ready to fire. Instead of an arrow notched on its string, water poured from it and filled a wide basin with clear water. The entire courtyard was made of perfectly inlaid stone that was polished to perfection. The style of the castle was clearly of Gothic era, with its high reaching doorways that formed at a point and the many windows that decorated its halls.

It was clear that this castle was not built for defense, but instead for decoration and intimidation. A school was a perfect fit for this place. Hagrid led them passed the fountain and into the castle itself. They walked into a large hall made of stone, except its floors were a polished white marble. Torches lit the grand hall, and along its sides were old trophies showing long past achievements. Harry noticed several old suits of armor as well and a few paintings which hung where windows were not present.

On either side of the main door were four large hourglasses, filled with colored beans. Red, blue, green, and yellow were in the hourglasses respectively, representing the house points. He knew of the system employed by Hogwarts and thought it rather silly.

"Wait here. Professor McGonagall will be along shortly. She will walk you into the Great Hall where you will be sorted." Hagrid said. The half-giant then turned and looked at Harry. "Best of luck to ya." Harry bowed his head slightly and watched as Hagrid walked into the Great Hall through two large wooden doors that sat on the right side of the hall.

The first years waited patiently and nervously in the entrance hall. Harry walked around, looking at the various trophies that decorated the hall. He found a few belonging to students that had died centuries ago, their participation in the fabled TriWizard Tournament forever immortalized here. There were rumors that Dumbledore had tried to reinstate that deadly tournament again, but it was never to be it seemed.

The first years talked nervously amongst one another in hushed whispers. They already had formed into small cliques and it would be interesting to see if their newly formed friendships would last the night as they are sorted into different houses.

Harry was brought from his wandering of the entrance hall when a stern voice called to him. "Gather here please!" He turned to see an older woman with greying hair and emerald robes beckon to him. She looked slightly surprised at him, but held it well behind her cold dark eyes. Harry walked over to where the other first years sat huddled, looking almost fearful at the professor before them. He knew of her, the stories told to him were that she was one of the stricter teachers in the school, but she was fair and had a kind streak in her.

Her eyes looked over the group, "All of you will file into the Great Hall and wait to be sorted. I will call your name and place the sorting hat upon your head. I don't wish to call your name twice, so listen closely." She paused for a moment and her eyes found Harry, "And you will be called last. A transfer student, yes?" Harry nodded at the question. "Well, I look forward to learning more about you." She turned her attentions back to the younger students before Harry could reply. "There are four houses in Hogwarts, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin."

Harry watched the younger years as they whispered quietly to one another, proclaiming the house they had already chosen for themselves. "You will be sorted into your house by the sorting hat shortly."

"Wait, that's all? My brother said that we had to battle a dragon to be sorted!" The same boy who thought the giant squid was a myth shouted out loud.

"And you are?" McGonagall asked, peering over her spectacles with raised eyebrows.

"Err." The boy stuttered. "Orion Black." Harry stared at the boy for a moment and finally saw the resemblance of his godfather. The boy had messy black hair and distant grey eyes like his father. He had slender features however, something surely acquired from his mother.

"That figures." McGonagall muttered under her breath, only Harry being able to hear it. "You should never believe a thing your brother tells you. I'm sure he would have you believing that a succubus colony lives in the forbidden forest!"

"That doesn't exist?" Orion asked out loud, earning the laughter of several of the students. McGonagall simply rolled her eyes and moved towards the grand doors of the Great Hall.

"Form up, please!" She called. The first years arranged themselves into two columns, Harry taking the rear next to Orion. "Now follow me!" She turned and pushed open the doors to reveal the entire hall. As they filed in, Harry immediately noticed he enjoyed the stares of many of the students. Indeed, it did seem that this school had few transfer students. Such a thing was rare in the wizarding world, with the ability to travel across continents in a matter of minutes and all.

Harry glanced up at the ceiling of the Great Hall, wondering if the stories of it were true. He was left disappointed as he only saw the wooden rafters high above. It was possible that because the sky was only clouds that the hall didn't bother to show the sky above. All around were candles that floated, providing the main source of light for the hall. Four tables were situated length wise, running up and down the hall. Each had a banner above their table that swayed in an unfelt wind.

Sitting upon a raised platform was the staff table where the professors gazed down upon the students. There he saw sitting in a golden throne Dumbledore, peering out over the students behind half-moon spectacles. Even from this distance Harry could spot a small smile upon the old wizards face as he awaited the coming year.

They walked down the center aisle of the Great Hall, Gryffindor to their left and Ravenclaw to their right. Many of the students stared at him as he walked passed, but he ignored such things. He kept his gaze focused upon the staff table where he found his few allies. Snape sat to the far edge of the staff table, not enjoying the small talk of those nearby. Harry knew the man to be a loner, much like himself, and it was because of that they got along.

To the other side of the table was another familiar face, Regulus Black, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He was Orion's uncle and Harry glanced to the young boy who walked beside him. Orion was looking all around in wonder, probably trying to sort through the fantastical tales told to him by his jokester of a father and brother.

McGonagall stopped them near the front of the hall, and she continued up the short steps to the staff table. There she grabbed a small stool and an old hat which Harry knew to be the Sorting Hat. "When I call your name, please step forward and sit upon the stool." She said, throwing her voice so that those in the back of the hall could hear. All of the older students quieted and watched with abated breath.

As she had explained earlier, she then began to call up names in alphabetical order, starting with a young boy by the last name of Abbott. Harry took the time to scan the hall more. His eyes briefly found that bushy haired girl amongst the Gryffindors. She sat next to the gangly red head from earlier and sitting on her other side was a dopey looking boy and another red haired girl who was clearly younger than her. His eyes strayed along the Gryffindor table until he spotted a thick head of black hair. He looked very much like himself save for the brown eyes which were covered by the thin glasses he wore. He felt nothing at the sight of the boy, only a short pang of sadness. Next to him was another boy with equally black hair, his being longer and his grey eyes made it clear which family he was from.

He found Draco with the rest of the junior Death Eaters, as he jokingly called them, sitting in the far back of the Hall at the Slytherin table. They all gazed at him with a hint of trepidation and fear, Draco probably boasting to them about who he is. Things would change in the house of the silver and green, that was a promise he vowed to his father. Tonight would be the beginnings of that change.

Harry turned his gaze to the staff table, ignoring the callings of another student, a girl with the name Granger. He briefly noticed that she had a curly mess of honey-brown hair that threatened to swallow the girl whole if she weren't careful. His eyes settled on Snape who looked on with cold dark eyes. He looked ready to strangle any first year that so much as annoyed him this night. The man wasn't Harry's favorite person, but he had come to respect the Death Eater for the difficult role he played.

His eyes then found Regulus who was engaged in conversation with another professor, the woman being very beautiful and quite young. He didn't blame Regulus for his flirting towards her, even though she was a muggleborn and not worthy to be the wife of a Black heir. Every man had to have their own way of offloading steam he figured.

Eventually his eyes found their way to the center of the long table and focused in on the Headmaster of the school. Dumbledore sat proudly in his golden throne, looking on as the students were sorted slowly with a small smile. His long silver beard flickered in the light of the candles and his bright blue eyes glowed with an understated power. He truly was a sight to behold and the stories of his greatness Harry easily found himself imagining now that he could look upon the man.

He wore odd, colorful robes and his hat was lopsided and patched with needlework. It made him look goofy, but Harry figured it to be a ruse, to lull people into thinking he was just a kindly grandfather figure. He had been raised to think differently of the old man, knowing he was full of schemes to control the world in his own interests. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely was a message often told to him when in discussion of the Headmaster.

Harry was brought from his thoughts when he heard the last name of the younger years get called, an Adrienne Zima. He was placed in Hufflepuff to the chorus of cheers from that table. He watched with a small smile as the young kid took his place with his fellow housemates, being patted on the back and offered words of encouragement from the older students.

"Lastly we have a transfer student from Norway." McGonagall then paused for a long while as she read and re-read the name at the very bottom of her list. The Hogwarts list of new students was never wrong, always being updated by the ancient magic that ran this school. She never read through the list beforehand since it had not once been wrong since the very first histories of this school. Now however she was regretting her laziness when it came to the sorting of the students.

A pregnant pause filled the entire room as everyone waited for McGonagall to read the name, but the normally stoic woman found herself unable to say it. She nervously glanced up at Dumbledore who by now had leaned forward in his chair, his blue eyes piercing Harry with a curious stare. This was the moment Harry had dreaded for a long time. He felt his pulse quicken and his palms begin to sweat as the silence continued to build in the hall.

"Harry Potter." McGonagall choked out at last. Her voice was so quiet that only the first few students at each table heard his name. All of the staff table heard her however and they all looked to him with wide eyes. McGonagall cleared her throat and said the name once more, "Harry Potter!"

Both Regulus and Snape had to hide their grins which fought to take control of their normally stoic faces. Harry stepped forward, and when he did so, pandemonium broke out in the hall. The shouts and cries came mostly from the Gryffindor table. Harry glanced over and found a young man, younger than himself who looked to be in his third year, standing on the bench seat looking at him with dark eyes. He had messy raven black hair much like his own and glasses like their father. Harry knew at once he was looking upon his younger brother, Alex. He had only seen the boy in newspaper clippings and the image was impossible to mistake.

Harry ignored the cries and protests and simply walked up to the stool. Briefly his eyes found Dumbledore's who looked at him strangely. Harry felt a tug in the back of his mind and recognized it at once. He shut down his occlumency shields and chased the Headmasters passive legilimency probe from his mind. This only caused the Headmaster to frown, but he kept quiet, simply choosing to lean forward and study the boy from afar.

"Silence!" McGonagall's voice boomed across the hall. Immediately the students listened to the Deputy Headmistress and watched as Harry took his seat on the stool. It was too small for him, usually only being used by eleven-year-olds. With a shaking hand and an inquisitive look, McGonagall placed the sorting hat upon Harry's head.

"Oh this is interesting indeed." Harry heard a voice talk in his head. "It's not often I get to dive into the mind of an older student. I often have to sift through the prepubescent thoughts of idiots who know so little about themselves and the world. But you are very different and it will be my pleasure to sort you."

Harry then began to feel a probe into his mind, an invisible hand sorting through past memories. He had been warned of this moment and what the sorting hat would do. He also knew that the sorting hat was forbidden from ever revealing what happened during a sorting. Not even Dumbledore was allowed to ask the sorting hat for information on a student. So, Harry let the sorting hat have his way and let down his shields entirely.

Memories of his time with his mentors came flooding to the front. His first lesson at the hands of a man clad in dark robes. He was just seven, having just been given the gift of his first wand by his father and was eager to put it to practice. That lesson was forever ingrained into his mind now, the feeling of pain that resulted from his eagerness. The humility that he quickly learned, that there is always someone else who has your number, someone that can always beat you in battle. It was pain that built him, made him strive to continue, to push himself further than ever and become what he is now.

"I see your anger, and what caused it. Your past is a sad one, yet your future can be a bright one." Continued the sorting hat. "Greatness I see in you Harry Potter. Who you call father has set you up to succeed in our world, to change it for the better. Yes, I see it all. There is only one house you can be in, SLYTHERIN!"

Only silence was met by the name, not even mild clapping or dull applause. Just silence. Harry simply stood up, having expected the house he would be placed in. His eyes first found the boy who looked like a younger version of him, save for the color of the eyes. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before Harry turned away and looked at Orion who watched him with the same awed look he had when gazing at the Hall earlier. He took his place by the junior Death Eaters, Draco having cleared a small space for him and clapped him on the back, offering the smallest of congratulations to make it sound like they had never met before. The others followed suite and quietly introduced themselves, ignoring the looks of everyone else in the castle.

Harry was very well aware that the Great Hall still was completely silent, until that same boy with red hair he had seen earlier shouted, "Potter's don't go into Slytherin!" This broke the dam and shouts and more complaints filled the hall as the students argued over what just took place. Harry Potter being alive was one thing, but for him then to be placed in Slytherin was a whole other matter. He took the time to focus on the students who all looked at him curiously from his own house table. Their cold and curious eyes only met his desolate green ones, causing them all to quickly look away.

One girl, who was in Harry's year by the looks of her and who wasn't a part of the junior Death Eaters, had the courage to ask a question. "I thought you were dead?"

Harry turned his head to look at her. She was short and a little pudgy, with long brown hair and brown eyes to match. Next to her was another girl, this one being taller with midnight-black hair and sharp blue eyes. He found himself glancing at her with some curiosity, not expecting to find someone that looked so coldly at him.

"The tale of my death was greatly exaggerated, Miss Davis." Her eyes widened at her name, not expecting for him to know who she was. "I know your father." He answered her look, then turned back to look at the staff table. Dumbledore was talking quietly with Severus who had been summoned from the far side of the table. He looked rather annoyed with having to hunch over so that the old headmaster could whisper in his ear. Harry allowed a flutter of a smile to surface, knowing this night was only going to get more interesting.

All around him he could hear his name mentioned, and received plenty of odd looks. The most curious look he got was from that Gryffindor girl who continued to stare at him, a frown on her face. The red head next to her glared daggers at him and his face turned purple after offering a small wink to the boy he knew to be a Weasley.

It wasn't for another minute until Dumbledore stood up, sending Snape back down to wallow in his own pity at the far end of the table. The Headmaster took center stage, stepping behind a large wooden podium. "Well, welcome all to another year of Hogwarts!" The students immediately silenced when hearing the headmaster's voice, which carried well across the entire hall.

"As always, I first must start off by saying that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden to all. Next, Filch has kindly reminded me to tell all of you that he has posted a new list of forbidden items, its count now being upwards of 500 I believe." Dumbledore paused for a moment and his eyes strayed to find Harry's. "I wish all of you a great school year. The best of luck to those who will be taking their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s this year. Enjoy the feast!" Dumbledore clapped his hands once and piles of food appeared on all of the tables. All kinds of different dishes from around the world were present. Harry had to admit he was somewhat impressed with the display before him.

As Harry began to eat in silence, none of the other students even attempting to speak with him, Harry gazed back towards the staff table. Dumbledore didn't touch a single thing on his plate, instead their two gazes met once more. Again, Harry felt a small tug on the back of his mind which he quickly shrugged off. He turned back to his food in order to try and hide the small chuckle, knowing the old goat was probably a little more than frustrated with how this year was starting.

"So how are you not dead?" Harry slowly looked to Tracey Davis once more, her elbows propped up on the table and her eyes drilling holes into his.

"Tracey." Draco warned but Harry held up his hand to stop Draco from talking further. It was an odd exchange that was noticed by all of the house. They were all sorted into this house for a reason. None looked more curious than the raven haired friend of Tracey's.

"How are you not in Gryffindor?" Harry asked in response, earning a few chuckles from those who knew Tracey well.

The girl's eyes only narrowed, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're awfully brave to be asking me questions." Harry answered in a cool whisper, his voice low and sinister. His words sent a shiver up everyone's spine who heard them. "I would hold your tongue for a while, less you lose it."

"Why would I fear your threats? You're just some boy pretending to be a dead hero." Draco palmed his face and muttered curse words into it. Harry however simply laughed at the girl. She was braver than he thought, and he liked that.

"Maybe I am." Harry responded simply.

"Potter!" Severus Snape walked up to Harry from behind, his black cloak swishing behind him as if a charm caused it to act that way. His beady eyes were transfixed on the other students. "You're wanted in the Headmaster's office. I will show you the way."

Harry smiled softly at Tracey and stood up, his eyes never leaving hers. "But maybe I'm not." He turned and left with his head of house, missing the shocked reaction from the girl. All of the eyes in the hall followed him and Snape out and as the doors shut, Harry briefly heard talking once more before they were out of earshot.

"You made your impression, happy with it?" Snape asked after a minute of quietly walking. They were ascending the grand staircase and Harry looked all around in wonder. It truly was a sight to behold. Stories of his mentors and father played out before his very eyes, bringing life to the things he cherished while growing up. He could imagine everything that happened in these magical halls, the adventure, love, hate, passion, and friendship. It finally truly sunk in that he was actually here. He was now able to create his own memories.

"It could have been better I suppose, but the true test of the evening is about to occur." They just reached the third floor where the Headmaster's office was located. A stone gargoyle protected the hidden staircase which led up into the office where Dumbledore was waiting for them.

"Try not to be difficult." Snape said, looking at Harry. A rare, warm smile crested his pale lips. It was a look so odd on the normally grim man that Harry almost winced at its sight.

"You know me…." Harry trailed off as they approached the gargoyle.

"Lemon-snout." Snape said, and the gargoyle quickly sprang to the side at hearing the correct password. A winding staircase revealed itself and Harry and Snape walked up it. They came to a wooden door with a brass handle. Somehow already knowing of their presence, Harry heard Dumbledore shout, 'Come in!'.

He turned the brass knob and walked into the circular office. It was cluttered with random trinkets and other odd items. He gazed around with curiosity, ignoring Dumbledore's stare as he did so. "Thank you for bringing him Severus. I'll be sure to send him down as soon as we are finished here."

Snape stepped further into the room, "As his Head of House, I must stay with him I'm afraid."

This took Albus completely by surprise. He was used to Snape abiding by his every order. "Surely that isn't necessary. You have never asked to stay before when talking with one of your students." Harry looked between the two and noticed that a silent conversation had begun to take place. Snape looked determined to stay and Dumbledore eventually relented. "Very well. Please, have a seat."

Harry took his seat right in front of the desk which Albus sat behind. For the first time he noticed Fawkes resting quietly on the perch behind Dumbledore's desk. Albus followed his gaze and smiled softly at the sleeping bird. "I see you have noticed Fawkes. He has been my constant companion for many years." Harry hid his impressed look well. He had heard stories of Dumbledore being in league with a phoenix, but thought it just that, a story. For a phoenix to bind himself to a wizard was almost unheard of.

Snape simply stood off to the side, in the shadows of room. It was lit by candles which created a moody atmosphere and a single gas lamp which hung behind Dumbledore and near a bookcase provided most of the light. "Well, Harry." He paused for a brief moment, "May I call you Harry?"

Harry nodded his head so Dumbledore continued, "I must ask, how?" The headmaster seemed almost at a loss for words. It was probably the first time in his life he had been so baffled by a situation. Harry had to stop himself from grinning and instead looked at Dumbledore confused.

"How what sir?" He wasn't going to go easy on the old man.

"Do you…do you know of your past? Who you are?" Dumbledore asked.

Again Harry nodded his head, "I was born Harry James Potter. My parents are James and Lily Potter. They currently live in Godric's Hollow with a young daughter, Anne, and an elder boy, Alex, a third year who attends Hogwarts as a Gryffindor."

Dumbledore looked saddened by his words, "How? Why did you never go home? Your parents…all this time they thought-they were so worried about you."

Harry almost wanted to laugh at the sincere words now pouring from the Headmasters mouth. They wanted to what? Love him? It was an interesting world he found himself in where parents would willingly sacrifice a child they loved in order to save their own skin. Either the Headmaster didn't have knowledge of the events of that Halloween night, or he was simply stupid. He was banking on the former, at least he hoped it was the former.

"Well I had a happy childhood and was well provided for. I had no reason to go back home." Harry responded.

"Who provided a home for you? Your parents told me you had died." Harry could see the confusion behind the well-masked saddened smile. The headmaster was furiously trying to recall all details of that fateful Halloween night.

Harry nodded his head, "I'm sure they thought I did. I was found abandoned on the street in Diagon Alley by a nice couple. They raised me as their son."

"In Norway?" Dumbledore questioned.

Again Harry nodded his head. "They were just visiting England at the time and happened to come across me. Magic has her ways as they say." Dumbledore smiled softly at this. "I never knew my real name until I was eleven, and by then I had no real care to go in search of my real parents."

"Why now? Why return to England? And I know you were homeschooled. Your teacher must have been very good, I'm sure you noticed a few mental probes from me earlier in the evening."

"I would ask that you refrain from doing such a thing again Headmaster. I would hate to file a formal complaint." Snape spoke up for the first time. Dumbledore barely acknowledged Snape's warning before turning back to Harry.

"They were killed. Masked men attacked our home over the summer and this was the only place I knew to go to. I still had a Hogwarts letter when I was eleven and decided I might be safe here." Dumbledore leaned in at the news of this.

"Masked men?" He asked with raised eyebrows. His blue eyes sparkled over the half-moon glasses he wore. If Harry wasn't mistaken, Dumbledore almost looked excited at the prospect of Death Eaters killing his fake parents.

Harry nodded, forming his face into one of sadness as he relived that 'horrific' night. "These men wore bone white masks and dark robes. I think they were coming after me. At least my father told me that men were always after me, that I was never safe. I was never told why I was in danger, just that I was."

Dumbledore glanced to Severus who put on a show, his face contorted into one of surprise and fear. Another silent conversation ran between the two and eventually Snape spoke up. "I'll take you back to your new quarters now Harry."

"Thank you for your time. If I can, I would love to sit down and talk more with you tomorrow if that's okay?" Dumbledore asked, putting on a warm grandfatherly smile that could sicken the soul.

Harry smiled back and nodded his head as he stood up. "Of course Headmaster. Thank you for allowing me into this school."

"Of course." Harry turned to walk away but Dumbledore's voice rang out once more. "And Harry, about your parents. I would very much like to learn what you know, if anything, about how you ended up in Diagon Alley."

Harry bowed his head in response and walked out with Snape in tow. He left the Headmaster to his thoughts for the evening. A cold smile formed on Harry's lips as the first seeds of his game were planted. It was going to be an interesting year indeed.