Disclaimer - As I said before anything you don’t recognise from canon is mine, as is the plot.

It was dark and cold. The man pulled the remnants of his clothes tighter around his body to ward off the chill. He stared at the wall in front of him and used his sharp nail to scratch another line in the stone. If he counted the lines they added up to five thousand eight hundred and forty four.

Sixteen years.

Sixteen years he had been in this hell they had condemned him to. They, being the people he had trusted.

Just over sixteen years ago, he had returned from a day at Hogsmeade. He had spent most of it alone, up by the shrieking shack as he mulled over what had become of his life. If he had been able to see into the future he would never have said his life was bad that day, as, compared to what it was about to become, it was heaven.

One person had spoken with him that day, everyone else skirting him just as they had been for the last year. One had seen him up by the shack and come to talk to him. They had spoken for several hours. Mostly it had been him talking, the other just listening but it had been nice. It had helped slightly

When Sirius had died the previous summer that had been the end. The end of his innocence. After that he decided he was no longer going to be the pawn. The good little saviour was gone, and in it’s place was a dark and brooding young man whose powers were growing in direct relation to the knowledge he was soaking up. The Headmaster had watched the transformation with growing distress. Everything he had planned over the last sixteen years was falling apart. The pliable little boy was gone. No longer could the old wizard send him blindly into situations just to test him. He had tried it several weeks ago less than two months before the end of his sixth year and it had backfired. Instead of him rushing to save his friends and in the process show the Headmaster and the members of the Order just how much he had learnt over the last year, a year spent mostly reading in the library or training inside the forest where none could see, he researched the little clues the old man had left and then alerted the Aurors.

Dumbledore was at a loss. They needed Harry. They needed him to have an almost blind faith in them. A poster child for the light that could think for himself was not good. He worried that Harry may decide he had enough of the horror around him and leave or, god forbid, he joined the Dark Lord. The last scenario was extremely unlikely but it was what the Headmaster told the Minister. When the Dursleys had been attacked that Saturday it had been a godsend and he had began planning. Barely any of the staff or students had seen the young man in Hogsmeade that day and only one had spoken to him up at the shrieking shack. Thankfully, he was someone no one would believe.

The Aurors arrested him the minute he stepped into the great hall. He was half an hour late for dinner and most took just that as a sign of guilt. The Minister was there reading him his rights and just before he was portkeyed away, proclaiming his innocence loudly, he saw the looks of hurt, betrayal or, oddly enough, victory on almost all the faces in the hall. The third emotion had confused him at the time but when he had it explained to him several days later he understood.

He had been held in confinement at the Ministry for three days before a swift, closed trial and a one way ticket to this hell on earth. His musings were interrupted as he felt the cold wash over him. The dementors glided closer and several thoughts flashed at the edge of his mind, but the effects of old, before he had come to this place were muted. He knew why. That had also been explained to him that day in the holding cell at the Ministry. The same day he found out that the people he had trusted most, his mentor and family had betrayed him. Most important of all he had found out why.

He hung his head as the Dementors moved away, listening as the swishing of their cloaks became softer. He huddled further into the corner and fell asleep.

Several hours later he was awoken by a sound he thought he might never hear again. Footsteps. He could also hear talking but it was too soft to make out. The footsteps came to a stop outside his cell. And he finally heard what they were saying.

‘But Albus, what if he doesn’t forgive us?’

‘Arthur, there is nothing for him to forgive. He didn’t know the truth. We will just tell him we made a mistake and that we are sorry. Tell him it wasn’t our fault. It will take some time but he will forgive us for that.’

‘But he has been here for sixteen years. You know how the dementors used to affect him. What if he has gone insane? How will he defeat You-Know-You?’

‘He only has to throw the curse, Arthur. We can do the rest. We can pull him back from the edge enough for that. Afterwards I’m sure St Mungo’s will take him.’

Inside Harry was bristling. He knew who these people were and he knew what they wanted. Obviously they had been unable to kill the Dark Lord over the last sixteen years and were now turning to their only hope. His eyes took on a glazed look as he heard the door open.

‘Harry. Harry, can you hear me?’ came the soft voice of Albus Dumbledore. Harry ignored it.

‘Harry look at me.’ Harry snorted inwardly. If the old man thought he was going to respond to that he had another thing coming.

‘Let’s get him back to Hogwarts.’ Arthur suggested. Harry had to stifle a flinch as Albus nodded and pointed his wand at him.

‘Stupefy.’

‘Albus, was that really necessary?’ Arthur questioned. The Headmaster shrugged and levitated Harry’s body out the door and along the hall. Harry watched through glazed eyes as he was floated up and out of the prison. His eyes burned fiercely when he finally got out into the light and Arthur saw the tears pouring from his eyes. Something seemed to click and Weasley family patriach placed a scarf over his eyes. He felt them move towards the water and climb into a boat. He felt it move across the water and bump into the dock on the other side. He felt him levitated out of the boat before a portkey whisked them away.

‘These are your rooms Harry.’ Dumbledore said kindly. ’You have a bathroom through that door. Feel free to summon a house elf for anything you might need. Someone will come and escort you to dinner at six.’ With that said the headmaster left the room.

Harry looked around him as if in a trance, he noticed several portraits looking at him curiously. He knew that each and every one would be reporting back to the old crone exactly what went on in this room. Without taking the expression off his face he surreptitiously obliviated and then emptied the portraits of their occupants before sealing them. He was sure that Dumbledore would find them eventually but Harry had no intention of being here by then. He then threw off the glazed expression and wandlessly sealed the room. He pulled himself further up the bed from where he had been placed before falling into a light trance.

‘Father.’ he called out in his mind.

‘Son?’ he heard in reply.

‘Yes, it is I.’

‘Oh it is so wonderful to hear from you. It has been too many months.’ This came with a warm feeling Harry could discern as love and joy.

‘I am at Hogwarts.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, we need to decide what we are going to do.’ The conversation in Harry’s head continued for another fifteen minutes before he woke from the trance. Rising slowly he walked towards the bathroom. He had made sure he exercised while he was in prison. He knew he would get out one day. His father had visited him every few months telling him what had been going on. He knew that the old crone would come for him eventually. After an extremely long shower and a shave he felt more normal, putting on the new clothes that had been left in the wardrobe for him. He noticed the tray the house elves had left as he came out but he only managed a small amount of pumpkin juice and half a sandwich before he was full.

Glancing over at the clock he saw it was about six hours until dinner and he decided a nap would help him regain the strength he would need for the night.

He heard the knock what felt like minutes later.

‘Wait.’ He called out. Glancing quickly he saw the six hours had already passed. He swore softly picking his robes up and crossing to the door. When he opened it he saw his old head of house standing before him. It took all of his self control not to tell the woman to sod off, but he wasn’t sure if she had even known what the old man had done.

‘Yes, Professor?’ he asked sullenly.

‘I am here to escort you to dinner, Mr Potter.’ she said softly, her eyes filled with tears.

‘Just a moment.’ Harry said gruffly, crossing the room and closing the bathroom door behind him. He leaned against the sink and took a deep breath.

‘Son, are you okay?’ the concern came flooding through him.

‘Father, yes. Thank you. McGonagall just arrived and it was a shock to see her again.’

‘Looking older, is she?’ Harry could feel the chuckle in his own mind.

‘Just a bit. Sixteen years is a long time.’

‘Are you sure you are ready to do this?’ the concern again.

‘Yes. I just want to get out of here.’

‘I’ll be waiting.’

‘Thanks.’ Harry finished the conversation, splashing water on his face and walked back out of the room.

‘Ready.’ McGonagall asked softly. Harry nodded and they left the room, heading towards the great hall.

‘Do you realise that school is still in session?’ Harry stopped and looked at her.

‘You’re kidding.’ he whispered.

‘I’m sorry Mr Potter. Everyone knows of your innocence. The Daily Prophet has been reporting it for over a week.’ Harry swallowed heavily and nodded as they continued.

Much sooner than Harry had anticipated they reached the huge oak doors and Minerva pushed them open. The entire hall fell silent as Harry and the transfiguration professor walked in. Harry stopped just inside the doors and looked around. The hall hadn’t changed at all except for the faces. New ones filled the student tables and a few of the old student faces now sat up at the head table. Dumbledore was still in the middle, currently standing up, next to him was an empty chair, obviously waiting for the elderly witch next to him. He walked slowly up the centre aisle, hearing the whispers but ignoring them as he took in the new professors sitting in front of him.

To the left of Dumbledore sat a familiar pair. Bushy brown hair sat beside bright red. The looks of sorrow and remorse crossing both faces made Harry smile inwardly.

‘There have been a few changes since you left.’ McGonagall said from his left.

‘Mr Weasley took over from Madame Hooch and Miss Granger-Weasley is now Professor for Ancient Runes.’ Harry nodded and glanced down at the other end of the table. At the far end sat Severus Snape who looked back at him with a slight smirk. Next to him was another familiar face.

‘Mr Malfoy is the assistant potions professor. He is training to be a master under Severus.’ Minerva added. Harry snorted slightly, shocking those in front of him.

‘Harry, we have a seat for you here?’ Dumbledore gestured to the vacant seat next to Hermione. Harry snorted again.

‘You can’t honestly think I am actually going to sit down and eat with you, do you?’ he asked incredulously. ’After what you did?’ Albus swallowed slightly.

‘Harry, he made a mistake. We all did. Please forgive us.’ Hermione pleaded. Harry laughed.

‘You certainly did. But what he did was no mistake. What he did was ruin my life on purpose and if he thinks I will forgive him, be thankful he came and got me out of that hell that he put me in in the first place, then it’s obviously him that has been spending too much time with the dementors. I’m not the insane one in this room.’ Harry spat, pointedly glaring at the man in front of him. He calmed slightly as he heard his father saying soothing words in his head. ‘I only came to collect what’s mine.’ he continued. Harry glanced over to the far end of the table.

‘Are you ready to go, Father?’ he asked softly. Snape nodded and stood, coming around the table to stand beside his son. The looks of complete shock from nearly all at the table was interesting to say the least. The students behind them were hanging on every word.

‘Severus?’ Dumbledore was looking between the two men in front of him in shock. ‘What is going on?’ Severus exchanged an amused glance with the young man beside him.

‘Thank you for returning my son to me Albus but we have somewhere else to be.’ With that Severus wrapped and arm around Harry’s shoulders and they turned and walked towards the doors.

‘I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.’ The headmaster’s voice carried right through the hall and the doors slammed shut in front of them. Harry spun back to face him, only his father’s comforting hand on his shoulder stopping him from stripping the very flesh from the old wizard’s bones.

‘I’m sorry, Professor,’ Harry said sarcastically. ‘But you have no say in the matter.’ Without even looking that them, Harry held up his hand towards the doors and with a bang, they were thrown from their hinges. Several students screamed.

‘Do not test me, old man.’ Harry growled. ‘You have no idea what I can do.’ That said the two men walked swiftly towards the entrance. Just as they reached the doors Harry turned once more and locked eyes with Ron.

‘If you want to know the truth, Weasley. If you want to know what your precious Head of the Order of the Phoenix did, ask your father. Oh, and tell him not to lie this time.’ Harry turned and both men disappeared out the door. It was the last anyone saw of them for almost a year.

‘Well, that didn’t go quite as I had planned.’ Albus muttered. ‘Meeting in the staff room. Ten minutes.’ he said out loud. Rising and walking swiftly from the room.

When the rest of the staff, having left dinner together, walked into the staff room they saw Albus standing in a corner talking with Fudge and Arthur Weasley in urgent tones.

‘Albus, what is going on?’ Minerva asked.

‘Please sit down. I will explain everything.’ The rest of the staff sat and waited. Hermione and Ron together on one sofa. Minerva, Remus and Flitwick on the other. Hagrid leaned up against the wall with Trelawney and Sinistra and Draco sprawled in the armchair near the door.

‘Go on.’ Remus encouraged.

‘Now, what I have to say stays in this room. I want a wizards oath from each and every one of you.’ The headmaster told them. Several glances were exchanged until one by one they nodded and swore out loud.

‘Harry never killed the Dursleys. He was set up.’

‘We know this Albus, It has been in all the papers. The Death Eaters did it.’ Hermione said firmly. Albus shook his head and glanced at Fudge who was standing next to him.

‘Yes the Death Eaters did kill them.’ Albus admitted. ‘But they didn’t set Harry up. We did.’ he said sadly.

‘WHAT?’ Hermione, Ron and several others all screamed at once.

‘It was done so quickly I didn’t really think. One minute I found out the Dursleys were dead and the next Harry was in Azkaban.’

‘Why?’ Ron ground out.

‘He was getting out of control. He was training in secret and know one knew what he was doing. He wouldn’t talk to you, he wouldn’t talk to me.’

‘He was obviously talking to Severus.’ Remus said wryly.

‘You all saw what he did to those doors without even a wand.’ Albus said in his defence. Hermione stood up and glared at the man in front of her.

‘So because you couldn’t control him, couldn’t control your little puppet, you thought it best to lock him away, in Azkaban no less. A sixteen year old boy. WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING?’ she screamed. Ron quickly stood up and placed his arms around his wife, settling her back down beside him.

‘Dad?’ Ron said softly. ‘Was it worth it?’ Tears made there way down his face.

‘No.’ Arthur said equally as softly.

‘What I can’t understand is why Harry was calling Severus his father.’ Minerva queried. ’We know James Potter was his father. He was the spitting image of him.’

‘Or why, after being exposed to dementors for sixteen years he showed no signs of it. He was as sane as you or I.’ Remus added.

‘Yes, that does bear scrutiny.’ Albus pondered. Draco snorted. ’Mr Malfoy, do you have something to add.’

‘You really have no idea?’ he asked, idly inspecting his fingernails. Albus shook his head. Draco snorted again and shook his head. ’Severus was right. You are an idiot. There is only one reason Harry would call Severus, Father, and only one reason the dementors would no longer have an effect on him. And they are both the same reason.’ Draco watched as the Headmaster paled.

‘I see you figured it out.’ he chuckled. ’That’s right. Severus Turned him.’

‘Oh my lord.’ Albus breathed, dropping into the nearest seat. ‘Oh my lord.’ he repeated.

‘Albus? Albus, what on earth is he talking about?’ Fudge hissed, shaking the Headmaster’s shoulder. Albus shook his head and looked up at the Minister.

‘He Turned him. Severus Snape is a Vampire.’ he said softly.

There you have it. The first chapter of my new story. What do you think? I told you it had a twist.

Please review and let me know if you would like more.

Thanks

Mione5