A/N: from now on, my update rate will be significantly slower, since my break is almost over and I go back to university in a couple of days. I've had a few people ask for Harry/Amanda pairing and like I've said, I refuse to whore for reviews with a poll, but I am leaving the option open, so if you squint real hard you might see something that could be used in later chapters.

Note 1: I have decided against using the idea of soul-gazing from the Dresden Files. It would needlessly complicate things

Approximately thirty minutes later, just on the outskirts of the small, all-magical town of Hogsmeade, there was a brief, flash of dim blue light and two figures appeared from out of nowhere, falling to the ground in a rough, tangled heap as the international portkey deposited them from the United States of America and into Scotland. Normally, professionally-made international portkeys were much smoother and less disorientating, but Harry wasn't a professional and his crude, basic mimic was barely able to transport people, let alone offer a comfortable ride.

For a moment, the two people lay strewn over the grass, limbs entangled together as they tried to shake off their disorientation. Harry was the first to recover, probably due to the influence of Meciel, and sat up, rubbing his head with a wince.

“That could have gone a little better,” He muttered to himself as he carefully untangled himself from Amanda's legs, his deft fingers quickly unravelling the strands of blonde hair caught on his arm,.

'I agree, beloved.' Meciel said in amusement. 'Still, it was a reasonable attempt for somebody of your skill level. From what I can understand, the creation of such items is complex. You did rather well for a beginner.'

“Ow,” Amanda muttered painfully, wincing and touching her head as Harry stood up, his eyes flickering with amusement. He loomed above her, watching her struggles to stand with a small smile on his face, before he reached down and clasped a strong hand around her wrist, yanking her up.

Amanda let out a startled yelp but managed to keep her balance when Harry let go, his eyes scanning the darkened surroundings warily, pulling out his wand and performing a wordless lumos charm. The tip of his wand glowed with a powerful light, which drove away the darkness in a small area surrounding the duo, revealing soft, green grass and the edge of a dark forest.

“Whoa,” Harry heard Amanda mutter with awe and frowned, glancing over at her and seeing that her gaze was fixated on something behind him. He turned around and saw what she was looking at as he struggled not to gape. A large castle loomed up ahead, glowing with hundreds, if not thousands of twinkling lights, which glittered on the large lake that surrounded it. In the distance, visible because of the brilliant light that the castle was emitting, there was a set of large stands and odd objects protruding out of the ground. The castle, surrounded by looming mountains, radiated a sense of homeliness and majesty, its splendour visible to even one such as Meciel as she spoke softly into his mind.

'That must be Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, one of the mast prized magical institutions in all of Europe. It certainly is an awe-inspiring sight, is it not?'

Harry couldn't disagree with her there but he remembered the reason for his visit and tore his eyes away from the magnificent sight, and turned around. Amanda was still staring at the castle when Harry poked her in the arm with his finger, and she let out a startled squeak of surprise as she was snapped out of her stupor, whipping around with her blonde hair flying around her shoulders, her eyes wide.

“That hurt,” She growled out, the shock fading from her face as she remembered where she was and who she was with.

“Did you just squeak?” Harry asked, eyeing her with amusement and Amanda's cheek flushed as she looked away form him. But the boy didn't seem to be interested in annoying her any further as he gestured towards the castle with his wand, which was still glowing as it illuminated the area.

“That's Hogwarts,” He said. “That's where your sister is. So, let's go and get her.”

Amanda nodded and withdrew her own wand, a slimmer piece of oak wood to Harry's holly, and gave it a short wave.

“Lumos!” She chanted softly, and smiled in satisfaction as the tip of her wand flared in a powerful, soft light, blending in with Harry's so that it seemed as if the sun was beaming down on a small circle around the pair.

Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes at Amanda's exuberance and started the walk up the soft, grassy hill, heading towards the giant, looming castle ahead. Amanda walked by his side, oblivious to Harry's tense expression and poised body as his eyes darted around him, searching for any potential assassins that Nicodemus might have sent.

“So,” Amanda said after a minute of silence. “What have you been up to since I last saw you?”

Harry turned an irritated glare towards her, but she barely seemed to notice it as she continued staring at the twinkling castle ahead.

“Why do you care?” He asked in annoyance.

“I don't know,” Amanda admitted. “I've been told all my life that you people were evil and not to be trusted but you just saved my life, and my family's. I guess I'm just interested.”

“I'm clearing a debt before your father has the chance to call me up on it,” Harry said flatly. “Nothing more.”

“Right,” Amanda said slowly, a small smile curving her lips. “Well, I don't believe you.”

Harry halted, ceasing his vigilant watch over the surroundings and turning to her with a dangerous look in his eyes as he scowled at her.

“Excuse me?” He asked incredulously.

“I don't believe you,” Amanda said, but her smile faltered under his powerful glare and her grey eyes flickered nervously. “I think that underneath, you're a good person.”

“And just when I thought you couldn't get any worse,” Harry muttered, rubbing his hand through his hair in irritation.

“You could have let us die,” Amanda said, almost in triumph, but she licked her lips uncertainly. “Today, and three years ago, you could have killed us all. My daddy was very surprised when he heard about what had happened. He said that you were different, that a normal Fallen would have killed us.”

“Well, apparently your 'daddy' doesn't know jack-shit about me,” Harry grumbled as he started walking again. “And either do you.”

“Still,” Amanda pressed on. “There's gotta be some good in you or else you wouldn't have done this.”

“Amanda, do me a favour,” Harry said, gritting his teeth in annoyance. “Shut up.”

“Why?” Amanda said, a smile curving her lips as she stared at him, her grey eyes sparkling. “Am I hitting to close to home?”

“No,” Harry said coldly. “The more you talk, the less likely I'm going to hear any assassins creeping up behind us.”

Amanda's smile faltered and she shivered, moving in closer with Harry as she picked up her pace, her eyes worried. She glanced around the darkness with a touch of fear as the reality of her situation struck her, while Harry kept walking forward, a smile of satisfaction on his face.

A few minutes later, Harry and Amanda approached a set of large, creaky iron gates, built into a thick wall of stone that seemingly surrounded the half the castle, stopping a the edge of the large forest and at the edge of the glimmering lake. Harry frowned as he halted, barely noticing Amanda stopping next to him as he reached out with his senses. There was a powerful, low-pitched hum in front of him, barley noticeable even with Meciel's influence, but when he investigated it further, power flooded into his senses. It bore the signature mark of the same, cool power that all wand-wizards drew on, except it was far more powerful that he had ever felt before, a web of interwoven magic that seemed to be as strong as steel.

“Harry?” Amanda asked quietly, staring at him with traces of concern on her features. “What's wrong?”

“The wards start here,” Harry said, eyeing the gates with a careful look. “And I have no idea if they're going to turn me into a puddle of goo if I cross them.”

Amanda frowned, suddenly eyeing the gates with a little more caution as she raised her wand, shining the bright light flaring from the tip as if she were trying to see the wards. Harry stared at her and shook his head in despair, turning back to the wards and examining them closely.

“Meciel, what do you think?” He murmured out loud, and Amanda started as she stared at him, her eyes a little wide as if she had just remembered that he had a demon in his mind.

'The wards are very powerful, beloved, and very comprehensive, 'Meciel said, her voice contemplative as he analysed what Harry was feeling with a degree of mastery that the teenager would never obtain. 'I cannot be certain that they will not harm you should you enter.'

“Does the…Fallen…have any ideas?” Amanda asked hesitantly.” Can you get rid of them or something?”

“A Faerie queen would have trouble ripping down these wards,” Harry said, frowning as he withdrew his senses. “Besides, we just want to grab your sister and leave. We're not looking to invade the place.”

“Oh.”

“And her name is Meciel,” Harry added as he pursed his lips thoughtfully.

Amanda blinked.

“What?”

“It's not 'Fallen',” Harry said absently. “Her name is Meciel.”

Amanda was saved from responding as somebody's voice boomed out from beyond the gates, probably attracted by the bright lights emanating from Harry and Amanda's wands.

“Who goes there?” The voice called out in a thick accent, loud and deep as an enormous figure stamped its way out of the darkness, peering at the gates as he held a small, glowing lantern in his giant hand.

Amanda let out a little gasp and even Harry raised an eyebrow as the man appeared, towering at least twice as tall as the average man and nearly five times as wide. He had an enormously thick, bushy black beard, which was scattered with grey hair, and long, wild dark hair. A warm face stared at them, laugh-lines crinkling around the emotional black eyes, and a friendly smile on his face.

Harry nudged Amanda with his elbow as he lowered his wand, the light dimming and disappearing from the tip of it as he slightly drew back into the shadows. He knew that the wand-wizards considered him to be some kind of hero for his defeat in the dark lord who had murdered his parents, and in turn had been murdered by Harry. He also knew that his scar was rather famous, which was why he his it behind his bangs, and that if he were recognised, his little plan of running incognito would fail.

“Er…Hello?” Amanda said hesitantly, flicking her gaze towards Harry, who motioned for her to continue. “My name is Amanda Carpenter. I'm looking for sister; she arrived with the Salem students.”

“You came all this way?” The man asked with an atrocious accent, frowning underneath his beard. “Why?”

“Family emergency?” Amanda replied quickly, although the statement seemed more like a question, but the man seemed to accept that as he idly scratched his thick beard with his meaty hand, eying Harry's shadowed figure, squinting as he tried to pierce through the darkness. Amanda saw his gaze. “That's a family friend. He's really…involved…with what's happening.”

“Okay,” The man grunted after a moment's hesitation, wrenching at the gates with one, powerful tug. The iron gates swung open with a loud creaking noise, making Amanda and Harry wince as it drove into their skulls, but Harry could feel the wards temporarily dispersing at the entrance of the school as the man gestured them forward. “I'll take you to the school entrance, but I'll leave you there. That beautiful Maxime brought some real nice pegasi with her and I gotta go feed the beauts.”

“Pegasi?” Amanda echoed as she and Harry stepped through the gates. “Like, horses with wings?”

“Yeah,” the man grunted as he began to walk towards the castle.

“That's so cool,” Amanda said with a beam her face, her eyes glazing over as a wistful smile curved her lips, and in the shadows, Harry rolled his eyes.

Amanda and the man, who identified himself as Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper and keeper of keys of Hogwarts, continued chatting as they walked up the cobbled pathway towards the castle that lay ahead. Voices, one high-pitched with excitement and eagerness and the other low, gruff with amusement, echoed into the night. Trailing after the two, Harry winced every time a particularly loud word struck him, exasperation on his face as he kept scanning the darkness.

“Way to go, idiots,” He muttered darkly, his wand clasped tightly in his hands. “Why don't you let off a few fireworks instead? It'd be a lot quieter.”

'You are in a foul mood tonight, beloved.' Meciel said within him.

“Can you blame me?” Harry asked softly, his voice barely a whisper.

'No, not particularly,' Meciel said in amusement.

After a few minutes of walking, Hagrid had led them up the path and through a large, stone archway. Beyond the archway lay a relatively large courtyard, trees shooting up from small, grassy patches and lights twinkling from the windows in the stone, buildings above. Warmth and a soft whisper of chatter escaped at the end of the courtyard, flowing out through the open doors. It was here that Hagrid left them, giving Amanda a cheery wave goodbye as he turned around and disappeared into the darkness again.

“Finally,” Harry muttered as he stalked down the courtyard, and Amanda had to jog to catch up with him as she took in irritated stance and wisely remained silent as the two of them entered the door.

Amanda let out a quiet sigh of appreciation as warmth struck her bones, rubbing her arms together as she glanced at Harry, noticing that the boy looked totally unaffected by the chilly weather. She frowned but followed him as the two of them walked forward, passing gleaming suits of armour and moving portraits until they had reached a pair of closed doors. Beyond the doors, Harry could hear the talking and laughing of hundreds of students and the clinking of glasses and cutlery.

“This is the Great Hall,” Harry said as he spun around, his eyes gazing at Amanda. “I need you to go and get your sister”

“Why don't you go and get her?” Amanda asked, her brows furrowing as she regarded the Denarian renegade with puzzlement.

“I could do that,” Harry said slowly, frowning as if he were thinking seriously about the question. “Or I could stay here and make sure nobody slips into the Great Hall and stabs you in the back. Besides, if I go in there, somebody might recognise me for what I am.”

Amanda nodded thoughtfully, accepting his reasons at face value, while Harry kept a straight face as he motioned for her to go and swung around as if he were on guard duty, his wand clasped tightly in his right hand while he reached into his overcoat and gripped the sword of his hilt, his shoulders back as he waited for Amanda to move.

Amanda took a deep breath, rubbing her tired grey-eyes and then slowly opened the door. An overpowering smell of hot food and warm air struck her face as she blinked, the almost blinding light from the thousands of floating candles striking her eyes. Dozens of heads turned her way, boys and girls from ages of eleven to seventeen watching with curiosity as she quickly walked up towards the head table, ducking her head as she blushed with embarrassment. Her eyes flickered forward as she saw an old and kindly looking wizard eye her approach with twinkling blue eyes, murmuring something to the ancient wizard on his left, Headmaster Smith.

Her eyes found the person she was looking for and she quickly hurried over, trying to ignore the hundreds of stares and whispers as she approached her sister, Molly, who was looking at her in a startled manner, the food on her fork totally forgotten at the sight of her younger sister.

“Hi,” Amanda said weakly, giving a small wave with her hand.

“Amanda?” Molly said in disbelief as she dropped her fork on her plate. “What are you doing here?”

“There's been an, um, family emergency,” Amanda said quickly, glancing meaningfully at Molly as she leaned in closer, her voice lowering. “It's about daddy's night job. You have to come with me, right now!”

Molly paled and stood up, quickly making her way around the table towards Amanda, her eyes blazing with emotion as she grabbed her younger sister's arm and dragged her down the Great Hall, her pace quick as she opened the doors, slipped out and closed them again with a soft click. A moment later, the murmuring and mutterings began as students and Professors alike started chatting softly with each other. At the Head table, Albus Dumbledore frowned softly and eyed the Great Hall doors speculatively.

“Tell me what happened,” Molly demanded as soon as the doors were closed, her blue eyes sparkling with worry as she rounded on her younger sister. “Is everybody alright? Where's Dad? How did you get here?”

Amanda shook her head silently and gestured over her sister's shoulder. Molly frowned and turned around, her beautiful face scrunched up in confusion as Harry stepped forward, his eyes raking over the beautiful girl for a brief instant before they met her blue orbs fearlessly.

“Who is this, Amanda?” Molly asked slowly, frowning as she watched Harry closely. “What's going on?”

“My name is Harry,” Harry introduced himself quietly, and a cocky grin washed over his face. “I'm your friendly neighbourhood hellspawn and I'm here to save your life.”

Molly didn't move and Harry could see that behind her eyes, her mind was working furiously. Suddenly comprehension dawned on her face as she stared at Harry with a look of abject horror, her eyes glinting and suddenly Harry could feel power warping around her, a golden nimbus of untainted true-magic, so similar yet so different to his hellfire.

“You're that boy…” hissed out Molly, anger appearing on her face as she took a step backwards, raising her hands at him. A spark of golden power flared in her hands, the light quickly growing brighter and brighter as she prepared to strike out at Harry, who had taken a step backwards, his face devoid of his cocky grin as he embraced his hellfire, a searing and cascading wave of power roaring into him.

“Wait!” Amanda shouted and darted forward, diving in between the two powerful magic-users, her hands separating them apart, and her eyes wide with panic as she pleaded with her older sister. “Molly, he's alright! He saved me, he saved Mom!”

Molly hesitated, eyeing Harry with a dangerous look on her face as power throbbed in her hands, but her gaze flickered from Harry's blazing eyes, the dark aura around him quite noticeable for one with her talents, towards her sister, who eyed her with a pleading expression on her face, and she slowly and reluctantly let the spell die half-formed. She eyed Amanda with a severe expression on her face and narrowed her eyes.

“Tell me what happened,” She ordered quietly.

Amanda opened her mouth but Harry broke in, his voice rich with both amusement and apprehension as he lowered his wand, the curling smoke rising from the engraved runes fading away as he let go of his hellfire, almost smiling at Meciel's approval over his control and discipline.

“Long story short,” he said quickly. “Nicodemus; Do you know of him?

“He's one of the Order of the Blackened Denarius,” Molly answered quietly, staring at him with a hard expression on her face. “He's just like you.”

“In a way, yeah,” Harry said, glossing over the exact differences between Nicodemus and himself. “He has sworn to kill your family after daddy killed his daughter. I have a life-debt to said family; therefore, I have to make sure you don't die,” and here he gestured at Molly, and then Amanda. “And that she doesn't die, and that you get to a safe place, so I can call of the debt.”

“I see,” Molly said slowly, eying Harry carefully

“Besides, I don't like Nicodemus, so in this case it's like sacrificing one person and getting two rewards,” Harry added, almost as an afterthought, and Molly blinked at his metaphor, eyeing him with a mixture of wariness and confusion.

Harry noticed her stare and rolled his eyes in irritation, running his hand through his hair as he tapped his foot impatiently.

“We have to go,” said Harry in a clear, loud tone, as if he were speaking to a slightly deaf person. “Soon would be good, now would be better.”

“Where would you take us?” Molly asked suspiciously.

“Well, I'd take you to the church your brother and sister went to,” Harry said. “Your Mum said the priest could take them to the safe place where she was going. I figure he can do the same for you.”

“And then what?”

Harry growled in annoyance, a scowl appearing on his face.

“Then I will go, you can go and we'll never have to see each other again!” He snapped. “Are you done with the stupid questions?”

“I can't leave,” Molly answered abruptly, turning away and looking at her sister, who blinked in shock.

“Um….why not?” asked Harry, puzzlement on his features. “Because there are people coming to kill you. It might take them a while to get past the wards, but they'll get in. Once Nicodemus sets his mind to something, Meciel tells me that he'll do whatever it takes to see it through, and I get the feeling that the man really isn't thinking rationally anymore.”

“I'm bound by magical contract,” Molly told him curtly, looking annoyed at his tone. “I had to sign it so I could supervise the tournament. I know a lot about the tournament now, I can't leave.”

“Well, get out of it then!” Harry snapped in annoyance.

“I can't!” Molly snapped back just as fiercely.

“What happens if you break it?” Harry asked quickly. “Is it worse than an agonising and torturous period of time under Nicodemus' care?

“If I break it, bad things will happen to me,” Molly said stiffly. “The whole thing seems to be somewhat based on the Old World rules. My magic might be permanently damaged.”

“You'll get over it,” Harry said quickly.

“No I won't,” Molly growled angrily. “And I won't leave if my magic is threatened!”

Harry wordlessly growled back, a terrible scowl on his face as he turned away from Molly, while Amanda was watching the exchange with wide eyes, biting her lip nervously as her gaze flickered between Harry and Molly.

“Look, little girl,” Harry whispered darkly, watching Molly's face cloud over with anger as she clenched her fists. “Daddy and his little knights of the round table aren't here to save you, so you've only got me and…”

Suddenly the Great Hall doors opened and Harry's eyes flickered over as a tall, thin elderly man with a long, white beard, twinkling blue eyes and a rather spectacular purple and green wizards hat appeared, watching the group in front of his with a pensieve frown.

“And what looks like a very ugly Merlin here to save you,” Harry continued, his eyes glittering as he glared at Molly. “What's it going to be?”

“I won't sacrifice my magic,” Molly growled, venom dripping off her voice as she glared at the insolent teenage boy in front of her. “Besides, I can protect myself. You'll just have to find another way to get rid of your stupid debt!”

The blonde woman suddenly realised that somebody was standing behind her and whirled around, power quickly flaring around her body, but it died away as she realised who it was and despite herself, she managed to blush as she stammered out an apology.

“Sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore.”

Dumbledore didn't answer her as he gazed unblinkingly at Harry, who eyed the elderly man back with an expression of annoyance and perhaps a little bit of a challenge in his gaze. The man's eyebrows rose up into his hairline as he exhaled softly, sounding truly surprised.

“Harry Potter,” He murmured softly, his blue eyes staring at the boy as if he couldn't what he was seeing.

Molly frowned in puzzlement, staring at the elder man and the younger boy alternately but Amanda let out a soft gasp, her eyes widening as she pointed a shaky hand towards Harry, her face absolutely dumbstruck.

“You're the boy-who-lived?” She exclaimed loudly.

Harry didn't even answer her as he stared at Dumbledore, a speculative smile coming over his face as he pondered something. Within his mind, Meciel sent a pulse of approval at his plan and he plastered a small, secretive smile on his face.

“Well, if you can't leave,” He muttered, before his raised his voice and directed it at the elderly man in front of him. “Say Headmaster, can I become a student here?”

Dumbledore blinked, his blue eyes starting to twinkle brightly as a smile spread over his face, his gnarled hands rubbing together in thought, while both Amanda and Molly gaped at him in surprise, shock on their faces.

“We need to talk in any case,” Harry said and his eyes flickered to the partially open Great Hall doors. “Somewhere private.”

“Very well, “Dumbledore said softly, smoothing his long beard with one hand as his eyes ran over Harry, Amanda and Molly with barely hidden curiosity. “Shall we take this to my office? I presume that both Professor Carpenter and Miss Carpenter here are essential to your story?”

Harry nodded and took a step backwards, giving a short, mock-bow of his head as he gestured with his hand.

“Lead the way.”

Harry blinked as he climbed the last of the stairs to the Headmaster's office, staring at the small, silvery trinkets and devices on the shelves, especially the few that moved in strange and odd patterns. His eyes took in the bookshelf of faded, aged texts, an empty bird stand in the corner and a thick, luxurious mahogany desk. The man, Dumbledore, stepped past him, walking briskly as he strode around the desk and eased himself into the armchair behind it, a twinkle in his eye as he regarded his guests.

“Please,” He said pleasantly. “Have a seat.”

Harry frowned, and then tensed as the man casually pulled out his wand from long, blue robe and gave it a graceful swish. From out of nowhere appeared three, comfortable-looking recliners and Amanda, Harry and Molly looked suitably impressed as they slowly sat down.

'This man has great power and skill,' Meciel whispered into his mind. 'Be very wary of him.'

“Let me start by saying that it is good to see you alive,” Dumbledore said, fixing his periwinkle gaze on Harry, who kept a blank face as he stared at the man. “We were all very worried when the house burned down.”

“I survived,” Harry said flatly. He didn't like talking about that day to anybody, not even Meciel, because the things he had done remained branded into his mind courtesy of the Third Sight, the terror, hatred and sheer violence of what he had done still making him a little queasy, even to this day.

“Alas, your family did not,” Dumbledore said softly, looking very sympathetic. “I am deeply sorry for the loss of your Aunt, Uncle and cousin. I'm sure you must miss them very much.”

“No, not really,” scoffed Harry, shrugging his shoulders and looking decidedly unconcerned as Dumbledore's eyes flashed with something like shock. “I didn't care about them. Besides, I have a new family now.”

“Indeed?” Dumbledore said lightly, but his eyes had narrowed ever so slightly as he gazed at Harry, while Amanda shifted in her seat, remembering what Harry had told her about his family long ago. Molly remained silent, watching the conversation between the two with narrowed eyes, absorbing every word that was said.

“All of our attempts to find you over the years have failed,” Dumbledore continued and true curiosity and puzzlement flickered over his face. “From what I could gather, it seemed as if you were being protected by something ancient and undoubtedly powerful, blocking our every attempt to find you.”

“Oh, she's all that and much more,” Harry murmured secretively, something akin to affection appearing on his face, and Dumbledore noted the emotion carefully as he continued.

“Would you care to elaborate on that?” He asked evenly, his crystal blue eyes noting Harry's every emotion and stance, but the boy was already shaking his head, an unconcerned and lazy smile on his face.

“Nope,” Harry responded cheerfully, slightly shaking his head.

“Well then, may I ask what brings you to Hogwarts?” Dumbledore questioned, not deterred by Harry's short reply. The teenage boy didn't say a word but merely gestured at the two girls on his right. Dumbledore turned his head, eying them with a questioning look in his eyes and Amanda spoke up, her voice quiet and nervous.

“Somebody is trying to kill us and our entire family,” She answered quietly. “Harry wants to stop it.”

“I see, “Dumbledore murmured, leaning back in his chair as he stroked his beard. His demeanour didn't change for an instant, but Harry could have sworn he saw a flicker of something hard in the man's eyes. “May I ask who would do such a thing?”

“An evil man,” Amanda answered hesitantly, her gaze flickering to both Harry and Molly for support.

“I'm here because I just want to pay off my life-debt,” Harry broke in loudly, casting a defiant gaze at Molly from the corner of his eye. “But somebody is refusing to let me save their life.”

“I can't leave Hogwarts, Headmaster Dumbledore,” Molly said, her voice tight with anger as she threw a glare at Harry. “I've signed the tournament contract, to allow me to stand in Headmaster Smith's place. If I back out…” She trailed off, but Dumbledore understood as he nodded sagely.

“Molly can't leave because of that contract,” Harry said in annoyance. “So I want to stay close to her and fulfil my debt. Her family is at a safe location at the moment, so Amanda can leave and stay with them, while I…”

“No, I'm staying,” Amanda interrupted quickly. Harry rolled his eyes and shot her an annoyed scowl, but although she bit her lip nervously under his gaze and looked away, she didn't budge down and folded her arms across her chest stubbornly. “I'm not missing out on a year of school.”

“I can make the arrangements if you wish to stay here,” Dumbledore said quietly, interrupting Harry before he could snarl a response at Amanda. “You will be protected here. However, I must know how dangerous the threat to your life is and I must know the identity of this evil man.”

“His name is Nicodemus,” Harry answered, almost in a bored tone. “Have you heard of him?”

“I have not.”

“Well, he's powerful,” Harry said grudgingly, frowning as his eyes seemed to stare off into the distance. “Very powerful. He has a number of extremely potent magical weapons and abilities at his disposal, as well as assassins that he can send.”

“Assassins?” Dumbledore said, frowning as he pressed the tips of his fingers together in contemplation. “Do you know what kind of assassins he has?”

“Well, he sent some armed men for Charity, that's Amanda's mum, and the rest of the family,” Harry answered honestly, giving a little shrug. “They were all armed with some pretty heavy guns, but they didn't have any magic in them. Apart from that, I have no idea what he has.”

“Wait,” Molly broke in, her face paling and shocked as she stared at Harry with wide eyes. “Mom was attacked?”

“I managed to get there in the nick of time,” answered Harry, a touch of cockiness as he smiled at Molly. “I saved your mother's life and stopped the assassins from attacking her again.”

“You stopped the assassins?” Dumbledore asked in a mild voice, but Harry thought that he was peering at him even more closely than he had been before. “How did you do that?”

Harry didn't say anything but the vicious smile that curved his lips was answer enough and Dumbledore exhaled noisily, sinking into his chair, although his face remained as emotionless as it had before. He stepped his fingers together and eyed Harry and Amanda carefully as he considered his options.

“I cannot reject a child who is seeking refuge,” He said at last, and Amanda beamed at him. This brought a small twinkle to Dumbledore's eye. “Let me see. You have come here because of…personal family reasons, yes, which is essentially true. You have also come here to support your older sister and your school.”

“Good idea, Headmaster,” Molly praised, giving her younger sister a fond look.

“Idiot,” Harry muttered but when Amanda looked his way, he had already redirected his gaze at Dumbledore.

“I'd like to join up, just for the year,” Harry remarked, meeting the older wizards gaze evenly. The blue eyes twinkled, but it was a dim look as the man stared gravely at him.

“Of course you can join, Harry,” Dumbledore murmured. “You name has been in the books ever since you were born. However, you do realise that I have a great many questions for you. Still, let us put that aside for now and sort you into the school houses.”

Harry watched as the aged wizard gave a short flick with his wand, noting the movements of the summoning charm, and a ratty, dirty wizard's hat soared off its shelf and into the man's hand. He stood up, his eyes twinkling at Amanda's look of confusion and Harry's look of disgust as he walked over and placed the hat on Amanda's blonde head.

Harry eyed the debacle with grudging curiosity and almost jumped out of his seat when the hat suddenly moved, its dirty folds moving as if they were lip, and it shouted out something in a loud, clear and male voice.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

Dumbledore took the hat from Amanda, who eyed the piece of ragged cloth in amazement.

“It talks,” She breathed softly, her eyes wide.

“It does indeed,” Dumbledore said warmly as he moved across the room, his long legs covering the distance in several paces. “I believe it is your turn, Mr Potter?”

Harry hesitated, eying the strange hat carefully, but he allowed the silver-haired wizard to place it on his head. The hat much was too big and almost fell over his eyes as Harry sat there, a puzzled frown on his face as nothing happened. Suddenly, he felt something slide into his mind, bypassing his natural mental defences and his eyes widened, his throat choking out a strangled yell. But Meciel came to the rescues and hellfire blazed in his mind, searing power flowing into Harry as Meciel threw her might against the invader, her fiery presence rushing forward, almost overwhelming Harry's mind with her sheer force.

'BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE!'She screamed and Harry shivered in fright at the sound of her voice, majestic and terrifying all at once, rent with vicious hatred and rage. 'GET OUT! NOW!'

To the others in the room, it seemed as if the hat gave a twitch of pain on Harry's head, before it opened its rim and let out a loud, agonising scream as the same force that threw it from Harry's mind hurled it across the room. It landed in a crumpled heap, shivering and twitching under the astonished gazes of the others as Harry jumped to his feet, hellfire burning within him as he glared at it hatred.

“Demon!” The hat croaked out weakly, as if it had been hurt when Meciel had expelled it. Still, its voice was loud and clear as it continued, almost babbling with fear. “Exiled one! Accursed host! Unholy beast! I shall not sort thee! I banish thee to the furthest reaches of hell! Depart from here and never return!”

Dumbledore silenced it with a flick of his wand and under the watchful glances of the moving portraits on the walls, he turned to Harry with an expression of something akin to alarm on his face, his wand remaining clasped in his hand.

“What are you, Harry Potter?” He asked quietly, his words echoing through his silent office.

“He's a member of the Order of Blackened Denarius,” Molly answered, watching Harry carefully with narrowed eyes, her fingers unconsciously flexing in and out.

Harry shook of the shock of the past happenings and regained his poise, a small smile coming over his face as he sat back down in the comfortable chair, watching Dumbledore frown and stride to one of the bookshelves. The Headmaster withdrew a small tome under Harry, Amanda and Molly's watchful gaze and flicked it open. Pages rustled against each other as Dumbledore scanned the index and flipped to the right chapter. As soon as he read the first sentence, his face pale and he suddenly seemed to age a hundred years, his eyes losing any twinkle of sparkle as he turned to Harry.

“Oh Harry, what have you done to yourself?” He murmured with shock and a deep, unmovable sadness, his blue eyes scanning Harry closely, as if he were searching for any trace of the Fallen within him.

“Shut up,” Harry snarled and Dumbledore blinked at his vehemence. “Don't give me that fucking look of pity! I'm happy with what I am, I'm comfortable where I live and I have a woman that cares for me more than anybody else in this world has.”

Dumbledore stared at him, his face suddenly wary and his stance changing in subtle ways, as if he were readying himself to either attack - or defend himself against - Harry. Harry, however, made no aggressive moves as he leaned back in his chair, watching Dumbledore intently.

“Now what?” He asked roughly. “Am I still allowed to become a student, or should I say goodbye to Amanda and Molly here and wish them the very best in the afterlife.”

“Mr Potter. How could I, in good conscience, allow you to join the student body here,” Dumbledore breathed out softly. “You, being what you are, could do a considerable amount of harm to the students, physically, emotionally and morally.”

Harry leaned forward, his eyes intent and serious.

“I promise you, thrice bound, that I am not here to harm you or your students physically, emotionally and morally,” He said quietly and seriously, gesturing at Molly and Amanda, who watched the proceedings silently. “I only want to make sure that they don't die.”

Dumbledore stared at him for a second and then, strangely, relaxed, as if understood the seriousness and solemness of a thrice-bound promise coming from a being of the Old World. The old wizard walked over to his chair again and sunk in, his face pensieve as he regarded Harry thoughtfully. After a minute or two of deliberation, Dumbledore exhaled softly and leaned forward, his eye regaining a small twinkle.

“Very well, Harry,” He murmured softly. “Since the hat is unable to sort you, we shall place you in Gryffindor. It was the house that your parents occupied in their school days.”

“Cool,” Harry said flatly and stood up, rubbing a crick in his neck. “Now, I'm tired from running around the world all day and trying to keep this lot alive. Where can I sleep?”

“For now, I will find you both individual quarters, as to not startle your housemates with your unexpected arrival,” Dumbledore answered and snapped his fingers.

There was a small crack as a small, green and decidedly ugly creature appeared in the room, wearing a faded by well-looked after pillowcase around his chest. Harry blinked in shock, eying the creature in front of him carefully, but he just shook his head in resignation as Dumbledore spoke up.

“Liffy, please take these two new students to the spare rooms on the third floor.”

“Yes master,” The small creature squeaked and turned to Harry and Amanda, it's bulbous eyes lowered submissively. “This way, young masters.”

Harry exchanged a look with Amanda as the two of them followed the small creature out of the Headmaster's office and down the stairs. Back in the office, Molly moved to go but Dumbledore halted her as he spoke up, his voice weary and suddenly sounding very old.

“Not just yet, Professor Carpenter. May we speak?”

Molly frowned but sat back down as Dumbledore rubbed his somnolent eyes, suddenly looking very old and tired as he gazed at the woman in front of him, his expression serious and foreboding as he straightened in his chair, pushing the half-moon glasses up his crooked nose.

“I need you to tell me everything you know about the Order of Blackened Denarius and what you know of Harry Potter.”

Molly nodded and began talking and as she did so, Albus Dumbledore's face shrunk in on itself as the horror of the knowledge he had acquired worsened. What had Harry Potter become, and what could he do about it?