Full Summary: Harry's summer before sixth year had a huge effect on him. When he returns to Hogwarts, he is totally changed. Harry is no longer the Goldenboy, but independent kid with a new perspective of his life and Dumbledore. He no longer trusts Dumbledore and most of the Weasley's due to their deceit. With his new friend, Emily Alarice (an American transfer student), he comes into his true self. SLASH!!! H/D. Ron,Hermione, and Dumbledore will be bashed. OOC-ness on many accounts. Emily (an OC, obliviously) will have a HUGE part in this story!!

A/N: READ IT! I'm redoing this story. Again. I seem to have a problem with keeping up with this story. I really like this plotline, though, and I don't intend to abandon it. I don't have a beta and I don't want a beta. I'll look out for mistakes as best I can, but when I miss one, feel free to tell me what it is. I'm making adjustments on Emily and her part in the story. Mostly, though, it's going to be the same as it was the second posting of it. I'll probably change the title of it, I'll give you a heads up, so watch out for that. Please review, I had quite a lot before and it was very hard parting with them. Well, anyway, enjoy.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter One: Going Back AKA Prologue

Harry looked at himself in the mirror. It was now September 1st and time to return to Hogwarts for his sixth year. Normally he'd be dying to get back to the place that he called home, but so many things had changed and these changes made him sad to say goodbye.

He looked over as his friend Emily skidded to a stop in the bathroom doorway and leaned against the doorjamb. "Harrister, let's go! If you don't stop fantasizing about yourself, we'll be late." She was a tall blonde and was clad in a dark pair of jeans and a plain, black hoodie.

Harry looked over at her and smirked. "Well, can you blame me?"

"No, you are one sexy piece of ass," She reached over and slapped said ass. "But, seriously, why did you have that faraway look on your face?"

Harry shrugged. "I was just thinking of everything that's happened this summer. I actually don't want to go back to Hogwarts this year. You don't how big that is for me, Emily. Hogwarts has been my home since I was eleven."

"Why is it that you don't want to go back?" Emily had quickly chucked the smart-ass act that she always put on, concerned for her friend. Things had changed drastically for Harry lately. She had hoped that he wanted to go back to Hogwarts, to go back to something familiar and be happy he'd done it. It had taken tons of convincing from Emily to even get him to agree to return.

"This is my home now," was Harry's simple reply. What he said was true, too. He no longer lived at the Dursley's. He had moved in with Emily about a month into summer break.

"Well, we'll only be there a few months and then we can come back here and see everyone." She gave him a small smile and then left to go make sure she had everything packed.

Harry turned back to the mirror and looked at the person staring back. No one would have ever guessed it was Harry if he didn't have his scar.

Now, instead of the I-just-got-out-of-bed hairdo, his hair was sexy-messy, thanks to some gel. His right ear was pierced as well as his tongue. Harry had also gotten rid of his horrid glasses for contacts. Around his right bicep was a silver snake that was biting its tail. Harry had also traded in his bum look for clothes that actually fit. Today he was wearing loose, black jeans and a Slipknot hoodie. He was so different from when he had last seen his 'friends', they probably wouldn't even recognize him, all the better.

That was another huge change that had happened.

One day, a couple days after he moved in with Emily, he had decided to surprise Ron and Hermione. He took the Knight Bus to about five minutes away from the Burrow and put on his Invisibility Cloak. He quickly walked to the Burrow and found the kitchen door open. He slipped inside to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny eating dinner. Their dinner conversation topic: him.

He had stayed and listened to what they were saying in disbelief.

"Ron, dear, Professor Dumbledore thinks it would be best if we invited Potter to stay here for the rest of the summer." Mrs. Weasley said to her son from across the table.

A look of distain crossed Ron's face. "Do we have to, mum? I don't really feel like putting up with his 'complaints' about his scar yet."

Molly gave him an understanding look. "I know, dear, but Albus thinks that it's for the best that we keep up appearances for a little while later.. Potter sees us as family and who knew how he would react if we only put up with his attention seeking antics because Albus asks us to. The Headmaster keeps waiting for the 'right moment' to tell Potter, whenever that is."

"I, for one, hope it's soon. If I have to help him after another one of his 'nightmares' I'll scream." Hermione spoke up.

Harry didn't wait to hear what Ginny was about to say. He ran from the door and summoned the Knight Bus.

Harry tore himself out of the painful memory and walked out of the bathroom.

A/N: Please review. Tell me if you like the changes, or if this is your first time reading it, if you liked it.