Once the teens were back at the house, Hermione lead Harry down to the kitchen and pushed him into his usual chair. Not long after he was seated, a cup of tea was pushed into his hands by the concerned witch. Hermione took a few moments to observe Harry, she could see how badly shaken he was. His shoulders screamed tension, and his gaze was distant. If she hadn't seen his memory of the events in the cave, she might not have ever understood what she guessed had upset her friend so badly.

"Hey, Ron, why don't you go check on Snape? I bet he's in the library nose deep in a book from Riddle's hidey-hole. If so, let him know Harry and I will be there in just a bit. I'll stay here and try to calm Harry down, the last thing he needs is for Snape to burst in here and be all Snape-ish." Hermione said, giving Ron a small smile.

Ron nodded, then put a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder, and quietly said, "Don't worry, mate! We'll figure this out. There has got to be a logical reason for what you saw, and luckily for you, your best friend is the queen of logic." Ron then quickly left to go find Snape. Hermione was right, he didn't need any grief from Snape, Harry had enough demons tormenting him at the moment.

Harry looked over to Hermione, and gave her a soft smile. "Thank you, Hermione. I needed that; I kind of just shut down there. If you don't mind, I'd like to keep this just between the three of us for now. While I enjoy tormenting Snape, this isn't the thing he needs grief over." Harry snorted before continuing, "Plus, we don't need the stress that would bring us."

"Are you sure Harry? I mean, Snape might be a...well, I know he's hard to get along with. But, he might be the best person to help us figure out this latest puzzle." Watching Harry shake his head, she continued with a glint in her eyes, "Well then, let's get to the library. I've been itching to get into all those books since setting eyes on them in the Chamber, and now, Dumbledore's gift box...well Come on let's go."

Harry hadn't seen Hermione this excited in a long time. The Hogwart's library had always captured Hermione's interest, but being there for six years had dulled the excitement, even for her. She then added as an after thought, "Plus, we'll need our own time to figure out the different possibilities for what you saw earlier. I'll need to do my own personal research while Snape isn't around."

They quickly made their way to the library, Harry chuckling as he followed Hermione. She was in her element now. In his attempts to calm himself, Harry didn't notice that Hermione had stopped right inside the door, so he ran right into the back of her. He looked over her shoulder to see why she had stopped, and his jaw dropped at the sight. There, right in front of him, was Ron quietly, and quickly taking directions from Snape on where to put certain books and scrolls.

"If you two are finished wasting time, then I suggest you get in here and start helping. I, for one, would like to be in bed soon, but that will not happen until we have sorted everything we gathered today. I never know when I will need to leave, or for how long I will be gone. As it is, I've been away from my home for entirely too long, and will need to spend some time there soon, less I bring suspicion onto myself. This needs to be sorted now, so that you will be able to continue without me if need be. Miss Granger, since Albus considered you the better person to entrust with the research on Mr. Potter's survival and subsequent link to the Dark Lord, then you should be the one to sort through the material Albus so generously gifted you with." He practically spat the word generously, he was obviously jealous, which puzzled Harry greatly.

While Hermione was taking the box over to a different table to get started, Harry looked over to Snape and asked, "Why should it matter who Dumbledore wanted to continue his research? Why shouldn't Hermione be the one to do it? You actually sound jealous." Harry's voice was incredulous by the time he finished speaking.

Snape sneered at Harry as he angrily hissed, "What does it matter, you ask? It matters greatly, that not only did Albus decide I shouldn't be the one trusted to continue his personal work, he didn't even bother to let me know he has undertaken such an important research project in the first place!" Snape was so livid he didn't realize how much he had given away.

Harry, on the other hand, was even more curious now. "Again, Snape, what does that matter? It's not like it personally has anything to do with you. If anyone should be upset, it should be me. But you don't see me tearing into people that couldn't have changed what happened, on in this case didn't happen." Harry was unconsciously imitating Snape's angry hiss by the time he was finished.

"Jealous?!? You think I'm jealous?" Snape said, trying to salvage the conversation without having to give anything else away. "You're more of a fool than I ever thought. What upsets me, if you really must know, is the fact that Albus didn't trust me enough to let me help him. Now, if you're done, let's get to work." Snape turned back to the pile of parchments he had been going through, showing that his end of the conversation was finished.

A few hours later, and well past midnight, the tables in the library were filled with different piles of texts. Snape had taken the small red book up with him when he went to bed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione just stumbled to their rooms, wanting nothing more than sleep.

*~~*~~*

The next day, Harry entered the kitchen in search of a cup of tea, instead he found a very disgruntled Snape. Harry almost chuckled out loud; Snape was giving the book in his hands, his ‘Longbottom blew up yet another cauldron' glare. Instead, Harry decided to go with a joke. "Do I need to worry about another possessed book? You seem to be glaring at that one as if it has taken it upon itself to be the next Neville."

Snape tossed the book across the table so that it landed in front of Harry. "What do you make of this?" Snape said, with unusual civility.

Harry carefully opened it, keeping in mind what happened the last time he messed with one of Riddle's books, and began to read. He scanned through a few pages, and then he realized that the wording was different in some way. Looking at Snape quickly, Harry didn't even try to hide his curiosity. "What is this? I can read all of it, but some of its different somehow. This isn't another of those crazy ‘link' things is it?" At that point, Harry had a look that was a mixture of horror, fear, and panic, when he realized what this could possibly mean for him.

Seeing the fear there, Snape decided to take pity on the teen standing in front of him. Snape knew firsthand how horrifying it was to be linked to that foul creature; he wouldn't make it worse for the boy. "Well, in a way, yes, but not the way you're thinking. No, this is entirely due to the power transfer you received as a baby, namely, the ability to speak to snakes. I believe that sections of that diary are written in Parseltongue, and by the looks of things, Riddle didn't even realize he was doing it. I have found instances where sentences switched between the two languages indiscriminately. In fact, it's done in such a way, that I believe I might be able to learn to read Parseltongue, if given enough time to study this. Unfortunately, I will not have the time to spare until after the Horcruxes and the Dark Lord are entirely defunct." Harry nodded that he understood so far, no longer looking so panicked. Snape then continued, "As you see, I will now need your help with translation before we can begin to understand why this item is so dark. I had hoped to learn more about Riddle, and his mindset from this, but it looks as if he was going mad even then. Apparently the Horcruxes were not the total cause of his insanity."

Harry shuddered at the thought of delving further into the mind of Tom Riddle, the bits and pieces he'd seen over the years were enough to fuel his nightmares for a few lifetimes. "My guess is that you want this done as quickly as possible then?"

Snape sneered, why did Potter always have to state the obvious? "What do you think you imbecilic cretin? Can you do this, or is the job too taxing for that rarely used brain of yours?"

Harry felt the anger rising in him, but, just as he had to prove at that crazy Order meeting, Harry decided to once again prove that he could be more ‘Adult' than the adult, so he let the comment pass by. "I'll get started on this right away then, I'm sure Hermione knows a good dicta-quill spell I can use to aid me. It will also help you, so you won't have to look at my atrocious handwriting." Harry fixed his cup of tea, grabbed a slice of toast and went off to the library to start on his newly acquired task, not even bothering to even glance Snape's way.

*~~*~~*

The next month went by quickly and quietly. Snape had been called away a few times, and had stayed away several days each time. This fact helped the teens accomplish quiet a bit, it was so much easier to work when you didn't have to worry about Snape's temper getting in the way. Harry had the entire diary translated, waiting for Snape to make sense of. Even as a teen and young adult, Tom Riddle was insane, and his insanity showed in his writing. Harry was glad Snape had taken it upon himself to wade through the different entries, something Ron and Hermione heartily agreed with.

Hermione had read through most of the parchments, and had even made a good dent in the books Dumbledore had given her. Snape still sneered every time he passed them, but he would not elaborate further. Hermione was so intrigued by what she was reading, that she couldn't wait to compare notes with Slytherin.

There were attacks reported daily in the Prophet, some larger than others. There had been enough times the Order had to retreat that Arthur worried about there being a spy in their midst. He wasn't sure how they had gotten around the secrecy charms, but they were now taking even greater measures to keep their information safe. Harry was surprised by the fact that Snape wasn't the top suspect. What surprised him even more, was the fact that he was glad that Snape was trusted. He had kept that fact to himself; he really didn't want Ron questioning his sanity.

So far, Harry's group hadn't been called upon to help in the attacks. Tonks was there, but most of the time, that was part of her role in being an Auror. Hermione had let the twins take over the research the three of them had been working on to improve the DA coins, but it was slow going. There was only so much message space available on the coins, and it was difficult. The twins had recently started looking into other objects to use. Everyone agreed that it needed to be an innocent looking item; something no one would suspect had a different use. That was where the troubles came from. Jewelry could always be stolen, or taken as valuable if captured, even small notebooks were bulky, and could easily be destroyed. Hermione had suggested using the Muggle cell phone as a cover. They didn't have to actually work as cell phones, just look like them. Plus, the screen was perfect to use for messages. The only problem with that was it was obviously a communication device. Even so, it gave the twins the idea to venture out into Muggle items. Fred and George were sure they would find something soon.

It was decided that Hogwarts would, in fact, open for the 1997-1998 school year. McGonagall had finally convinced the Governors that Hogwarts was just as safe as any other place, and that if the next generations were going to be able to defend themselves, they had to go to school to learn how.

*~~*~~*

September first found Harry, Ron, and Hermione already hard at work studying. Instead of going off to King's Cross to start their final year at Hogwarts, each of the Trio had a nose buried in a book. Breakfast was subdued, none of them wanted to bring up anything painful, or start any more arguments. Harry had already spent the last few days trying to convince Ron and Hermione to go back to school. Harry lost himself in replaying the argument trying to find a way to convince his friends that they should continue their education.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting around the table eating lunch on the twenty-ninth of August, when Harry finally got the courage up to encourage his friends to go back to school.

"Hey you two, I think we should talk. I've been thinking and I don't think you should waste your last year of schooling on my mission. When this is all said and done, what are the two of you going to do with the rest of your lives with an incomplete education? It's not like Wizards have a GED system that the two of you could take advantage of." Harry said, trying to keep the trepidation out of his voice.

"Now look at me, Harry James Potter! You are not going to take on all of this on your own! Even with Snape's help, there's entirely too much here to accomplish. You need us, and we will not let you push us away!" Hermione said, doing a very good impression of Mrs. Weasley.

"She's right, mate! We've been right there with you almost every step of the way, every since the troll our first year. We don't plan on leaving your side any time soon. There's nothing you can say that will change our minds, so you might as well give up. You can't push us away!" Ron said, agreeing with Hermione.

"Yes, I figured the two of you would say that. But Ron, do you remember what you told me on that giant chess set? No? You told me that you knew I was the one to go on, that it wouldn't be you or Hermione that was needed at the end. You basically said that in the end it was my job, and you were right. Look at what happened in the MoM, you all followed along and almost died. I think it's time for me to go on alone." Harry finished, almost sounding defeated at the thought.

"You're right, Harry," Hermione agreed, "but that time is not now. Now is the time for you to gather any help you can get, and use it any way possible. I'm sure there are many things you will have to do on your own, research and dealing with Snape are not those things though."

"She's right, mate, you're stuck with us. Deal with it!" Ron finished.

Harry realized there was no talking any sense into them, and he was finally grateful for it. Looking up from the book he should have been reading, Harry realized that it was way past lunchtime. "Hey, let's go see what Dobby's brought us for lunch today. I don't know about you two, but I'm starved." Ron and Hermione nodded and the teens made their way to the kitchen.

As they were cleaning up, Harry turned to his friends, and simply said, "Thank you!" Ron rolled his eyes, and Hermione just gave him a gentle hug. After which, they went back to the library.

They had just settled back down to their reading, when Snape stormed into room, he was angrier than Harry had ever seen him, even after the Pensieve incident.

"The Dark Lord is going to try and take the school tonight during the Opening Feast. You need to alert the Order, and then quickly get there yourselves. There is going to be every Death Eater there possible, and the Order is going to need all the help it can get. Luckily, He does not feel the Order is a threat any longer, so the Dementors will not be there tonight. He also seems to think that Hogsmeade will fall quietly if the school is taken first. It seems the Dark Lord has put a lot of thought into the plan, even if he hasn't shared it with anyone with in the Circle, even Bellatrix was shocked when she heard of the attack. The Dark Lord was livid to find out that the Cabinet had been taken, Poor Draco may not be sa..." Snape said before Harry interrupted him.

"Wait, why didn't you use the mirror to contact me? I have had it with me constantly since the attack on my Aunt's house." Harry asked.

"I didn't contact you via the mirror, because that," Snape pause to calm himself, "because that Rat damaged mine. The stupid oaf wasn't watching what he was doing and he pushed over a cabinet in the potions lab at my home. I had kept the mirror in there to keep it well hidden from Pettigrew, he knows better than to even think of touching my potions equipment. We will worry about a replacement mirror later. I am currently away, replacing some of the damage equipment so that I can finish a potion the Dark Lord wants before tonight."

"What about Draco Malfoy? Sir, is he ok? And what is this potion, should we..."

Snape held up a hand to stop Hermione from questioning him further. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, I have taken care of Draco as much as I can for now, and as for the potion, well, it's a potion for his snake, Nagini. Now, what are you imbeciles waiting for? Get moving!" Snape ended, in his sternest classroom voice.

Harry went to the kitchen to floo to the Burrow, while Ron and Hermione gathered the things they might need into their packs. They were ready and waiting when Harry returned less than fifteen minutes later. Harry ran up to his room to collect his rucksack and quickly made his way to the room were they where keeping the cabinet.

"All set?" Harry asked, looking to his friends, at their nods he turned to Snape and said grudgingly, "Look, there won't be many out there that know the truth, and there will be many more that want you dead. Just stay safe, ok? I might be the ‘Chosen One', but without your information, the world is just as lost." After he said that, Harry quickly made his way through the cabinet, he didn't want to hear what scathing remarks he figured Snape would come out with. Ron followed Harry just as quickly for the same reasons. Hermione, on the other hand, noticed the utterly shocked expression on Snape's face. She smiled and quickly made her way behind her friends.

The teens hurried to the Headmistress' office, and were extremely grateful when they found the Gargoyle already opened. They ran up the stairs and knocked on the door, making quite a lot of noise in the process. McGonagall opened the door in exasperation. Noticing the looks of panic on each of her student's faces she ushered them in quickly without a word about the noise.

"Professor, we were just informed that Voldemort plans on attacking the school tonight during the feast." Harry informed her as he paced around in front of her desk. When she motioned for him to continue, he let her know about all that had happened, from the time Snape had shown up back at the house, to the time they arrived at the school.

She sat there trying to soak up just what was going on, they had figured Voldemort would eventually try and take the school, but no one figured he would want to do it this soon. He hadn't even touched Hogsmeade yet; yes, Voldemort's insanity was showing greatly with this plan of his.

She looked at Harry, who was still pacing, and said, "Mr. Potter, please sit. Now, you say that Arthur has been informed, and he is gathering all of the Order he possibly can, and has also planned on sending word to Shacklebolt, so that he can get as many Aurors ready as possible? Good, I will send Filius and Moody to strengthen the wards on the Great Hall. Now, I suggest the three of you meet up with the rest of your team. I'm sure Arthur will be sending the Twins and Tonks along soon as well." McGonagall finished.

"Professor, why is Moody here?" Hermione inquired.

"He's this years DADA teacher, Miss Granger. And yes, Harry, we are sure he's the real one this time." McGonagall answered before Harry could even open his mouth to form the question.

Albus spoke up then, before they could leave the office, "Harry, please be careful, my boy! You know that now is not the time to confront Tom, do what you can to help, but it is the utmost importance that you keep yourself safe and alive as well!" He then looked crestfallen, "I'm sorry, Harry, I wish I could be there to help you, now more than ever."

Harry, still shaken from his ‘ghostly encounter', couldn't say a thing; Hermione spoke up for him, though. "Don't worry, Professors," including McGonagall in her statement as well, "Ron and I will keep Harry alive, we know what's at stake here."

With strained smiles, the teens left the office and headed out to the Entrance Hall to wait for the rest of their group. The train wasn't due to arrive for a few hours yet, so that gave them plenty of time to get a plan together for what they needed to do. Hermione sent an emergency message via the DA coins, to their three missing members, just in case they hadn't been informed yet. She needn't have bothered, though. Fred, George, and Tonks made it to the door just after she finished the message.

They quickly made their way to an empty classroom and planned out where they each needed to be. Harry took out the Marauder's Map and spread it out onto the table before activating it.

"I think at least three of us should station ourselves at the Whomping Willow. That will be the most likely place for Pettigrew to try and get onto the grounds. Hermione, Ron, and I can easily hide ourselves in Animagus form, and the three of you could be positioned around the grounds, using the Twins gadgets as distractions. What do you think, Tonks?" Harry asked, deferring to the person with the most training.

"It's a sound plan, Harry. I couldn't have come up with anything better; I just want to add one thing. I think the three of you should use the Glamours you've been using when you're out in public. No need to let the Death Eaters know your true identities; all three of you are rather huge targets for them. Now, let's get into position. I want Fred near the Quidditch pitch, and George, I want you here," pointing to the area between the forest and Hagrid's Hut. "That will space out your diversions nicely. I'll set up near the wards where the Death Eater's will have the most people coming onto the grounds. I have my own bag of tricks, and will use them as a last resort from behind them, once they are on the grounds. Let's get out there, now, so we can be sure to be out there before this attack starts." Tonks finished and they all nodded.

Harry deactivated the Map and put it away, and then they all made their way out of the castle and to their designated spots. Once the trio made it to the Willow, Harry started to explain where he wanted each of them to be.

"Hermione, I want you outside the tunnel. With your ability to fly you can easily make it to someone in the Order to let them know if Wormtail makes it past Ron and me. I'll be positioned right inside the tunnel entrance; it will be dark enough that I won't be seen. Ron, I want you on the other end of the tunnel. If I can't stop the rat, then you will be in the perfect position to help me trap him. Agreed? Good let's go." Harry was just about to change when Hermione threw her arms around both men.

"Please, please be safe." She said, as she tried to hold back her tears.

"We will be as safe as possible, Hermione. You do the same. If you have to fly off, make sure to take care and not be seen. We don't want a Death Eater cursing you out of the sky!" Ron said, just before he kissed her.

Ron transformed and made his way to the knob on the Whomping Willow and froze the branches for Harry, who quickly made his way to the entrance. Harry waited while Ron found a hiding spot and got situated before he made his way to the Shrieking Shack. Harry transformed and made his way into the Shack itself, tasting the air as he went to see if any one was there, or had been there recently. Harry was glad that the air tasted stale, and he hoped that meant Pettigrew hadn't slipped onto school grounds any time recently.

After searching the house, Harry made his way back to the tunnel entrance and went through. He found himself an indentation on the wall that he could lay in that gave him a good vantage point to watch the door. Harry sat there, quietly curled up, frequently tasting the air. He wasn't sure how long he sat there before he finally tasted something different.

‘Yes, there is a human in the house.' Harry thought to himself. What he saw soon after shocked him completely. They never thought about Wormtail bringing the entire group of Death Eaters through the tunnel, he was mentally cursing himself for not thinking of this. Everyone, from Arthur to McGonagall, was so sure that the Death Eaters would attack the wards head on and attack the school the same way. Why no one thought about this the more discrete way, Harry didn't understand. ‘We really need to get Snape back in touch with the Order more directly, Harry thought as he watched more and more Death Eaters make their way in to the tunnel. ‘We really need someone that can think like a Slytherin constantly!' And then it hit him, he needed to sneak by the Death Eaters and get word to Hermione so that she could inform the Order about the ambush.

Harry quietly slithered down from his perch, and made his way as quickly as he could up against the wall, trying his hardest to keep to the darkness. Happy to see that the first Death Eaters had stayed in the tunnel, Harry made his way out and headed towards the forest to a spot where he could transform back without being seen, he then pulled out his coin and messaged Hermione. He didn't have to wait very long for a small owl to land next to him and transform.

"What is it, Harry? No one has entered the grounds yet, from either the gate or the tunnel. So, why are you out here?" She sounded very stressed.

"I need you to go warn the Order. It seems the Death Eaters are not going to attack the gate like everyone assumed. Instead, Wormtail is bringing them all through the tunnel. They are all gathered at the entrance under the Willow as we speak, waiting for some sort of signal, I guess. So, you don't have much time, I'm going back to find Ron and wait with him until everyone is out. We'll start attacking from behind. You go get the Order over here so they can attack from the front." Harry gave Hermione's shoulder a quick squeeze then transformed and watched as she flew off, then he quickly made his way back to the tunnel.

Harry was upset to find that the first few Death Eaters had already started to emerge. He hoped Hermione hurried. Harry carefully made his way down to Ron, so that they could wait together until it was safe for them to make their own little ambush. Harry and Ron nodded to each other as they heard hexes and yelling coming from the grounds, it seemed the Order had found the Death Eaters. Even so, they waited until the very last Death Eater had left the tunnel, and then made their way into battle.

Harry and Ron got separated rather quickly, losing each other in the heat of battle. Harry was glad that they had taken Tonks' advice and had used their glamours on themselves. He really did not want to have to worry about his friends simply being targets for who they were. At least this way, the Death Eaters wouldn't be all out ready to kill them on sight; this way they could just be upperclassmen trying to help defend the school.

Harry did his best to stay in the shadows, and only hexing or cursing when he wouldn't be seen. He couldn't see whom he was hexing because of the darkness, so he kept to non-lethal hexes and curses unless he had no other choice. He fought hard and fast, keeping in mind all of the training Snape had given them over the summer. He did his best to keep aware of his surroundings, but he found that he could not block the curses before they were cast with so much going on around him. Harry figured he wasn't proficient enough yet to accomplish that feat.

The battle seemed to go on for hours, neither side losing any ground. They seemed to be at a deadlock, when Harry heard something peculiar, something that transported Harry back to his second year of school. At first, he was scared that Voldemort had found a Basilisk to set it upon the school once again, but then Harry saw her. Nagini, and she was slithering around, speaking about one person in particular. Harry transformed and tried to catch up to her. He was slinking a few feet behind Moody, looking for the great snake, when suddenly, Nagini struck! Unluckily for her, she had struck Moody's wooden leg, and her fangs were stuck. What happened after that was over in a flash, literally. Moody cast the killing curse on the snake, and when it hit, there was a bright white magical backlash. Moody fell over dead, and Harry, having just transformed back to attempt to help the man, was hit as well. He was entirely engulfed in the light, and just as suddenly the light was gone.

A Death Eater that had seen the entire scene play out in front of him ordered the retreat. The Aurors gave chase and captured those that they could, while the Order members were trying to sift through the few fallen, looking for comrades and family members that needed help; as well as any Death Eaters that needed to be confined.

Harry got to his feet as soon as he was able, having been knocked to the ground and dazed by the backlash. Once he was up, Harry started looking for anyone from his team. It seemed luck was still on his side. He found Tonks kneeling next to an unconscious Hermione, with a badly burned Ron gently setting her head in his lap. They had already taken off the Glamours, well; he guessed in Hermione's case, it fell when she was knocked out. He walked up to them to see how badly everyone was hurt. Suddenly, he had George's wand in his face.

"Who are you? Why are you here? We've never seen you before!" Fred said coming from behind Harry, following his twin's example, he held his wand on Harry, as well.

"Wait! Guys...it's me, Harry! You've seen this glamour before, what do you mean, you've never seen me before?" Harry said quickly raising his hands showing they were empty.

Tonks squinted and looked Harry over, recognition finally showing in her face. "Harry? Is that really you? It sounds like you, but what happened to your glamour? It's changed pretty radically."

"Wait, before we believe it's you, Harry, tell us how you helped us in the past." George said cautiously.

"Well, other than giving you ideas on how to pick on Ron, I also gave you my Tri-Wizard winnings so you could start your shop. Is that good enough or do you want more? I'm sure Tonks would love to hear about what all you have in that ba..." Harry was quickly shut up when Fred covered his mouth.

"Yep, that's our Harry, alright." Fred said, ignoring Tonks' and Ron's snickers.

"Well, now that that's out of the way. What's wrong with Hermione, and who else is hurt and how badly?" Harry said, his voice turning quickly to concern.

"Hermione was hit with a modified Stupefy." Ron said, his voice quivering, as he rubbed her hair, "I, on the other hand, ended up on the wrong end of a burning curse that I wasn't quick enough to dodge fully. It caught my leg as I dove."

"I'm fine," Tonks said, "Fred here, knocked me out of the way before a Death Eater could get me from behind." She said smiling at Fred.

"I'm just exhausted," exclaimed George, "I haven't thrown that many hexes since the last time I saw Percy at home bothering Mum."

"Let's get Hermione and Ron to Madam Pomfrey then. I want to make sure she's ok before we Rennervate her, and Ron here can barely walk, he defiantly needs to be looked at." Harry said.

The five of them made their way to the Hospital Wing, Harry casting Mobilicorpus on Hermione. Harry then made sure it was Tonks that took Ron, and not the twins, since he couldn't walk, much less defend himself from their pranks. They never could pass up an opportunity to pick on Ron.

Once Madam Pomfrey spotted them, she rushed over to Hermione's side and started firing off her usual questions, as she started her scans. "Does anyone know what Miss Granger was hit with?"

"I believe it was a modified Stupefy, but as chaotic as it was, when the bright light engulfed half the grounds, I can't be completely sure about what I heard." Ron explained.

Pomfrey tutt‘ed, "Yes, poor Alastor. I need to look him over more thoroughly, but I believe that magical backlash is what killed the poor man. They found that nasty snake stuck to his artificial leg." She shook her head and then cast a few spells over Hermione before turning to Ron. "Yes, looks like you both will be staying here, tonight at least." She said to Ron as she scanned his leg. Now, where is Mr. Potter? I'm sure he was mixed up in that mess just as much, if not worse, than the two of you."

"Um...Madam Pomfrey, I'm...uh...well, I'm right here." Harry said, feeling a bit weird about how his Glamour had gotten changed.

She searched his features, and then the same recognition shown in her face, as it had Tonks' not long ago. "Ah, well, I see, Mr. Potter."

"Yes, I know I look different. I was behind Moody when the backlash hit, and it must have messed with my Glamour. Once I get home, I'll take it down, but I'd rather not have to before then, so I'm not mobbed." Harry explained, cutting off the Medi-witch.

She took her time scanning Harry as well, and once she was approved of the findings she said, "Very well, Mr. Potter, you're free to go home. On the condition you promise me to take it easy for a few days. You've pushed your magic far today, and I want you rested before you pull anymore of your stunts." She finished in a scold.

With a nod, and a promise to get back in touch with Tonks and the twins in a few days for them, to go over what did and didn't work with their original plan of attack, Harry gratefully headed to Snape's old chambers, so he could use the cabinet to head home. Once home, Harry decided he needed a cup of tea to soothe his nerves before he tried to sleep. Harry made his way to the kitchen, after he dropped the glamour.

"Well, it's about time, Seve..." was all the blonde could get out before he felt the wand tip being pushed into his back. Slowly, the man turned to see whom he had mistaken for Severus Snape, and came face to face with a very pissed off, slightly different looking Harry Potter.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing in MY house, Malfoy?!?" Harry said in a deadly quiet voice.