Title: Just Beneath the Skin

Chapter: Prologue

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing! Except the plot.

A/N okay I know this is short but it's the prologue. Next chapter will be longer. It will be up maybe two weeks?

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH FANFICTION! It wouldn't let me post! So...that is why this is late.

Harry measured his stance carefully. He kept his eyes down, shoulders slumped and legs together. The stance of a mourner. Subtly he moved his hand, patting his pocket. He was reassured when he felt the small lump.

"...is a difficult time for Harry, as Sirius was a very important person in his life. I'm sure you'll be most hospitable to his needs," Dumbledore directed towards the Dursleys, then he turned to Harry. "Care to show an old man to the door?"

Harry nodded and led Dumbledore out of the Dursleys' living room and to the foyer. Harry pulled the door open, letting a soft summer breeze enter the house. Albus Dumbledore placed a wrinkled hand on Harry's shoulder before walking out into the night.

Harry held the white door open and watched as his Headmaster made his way to the corner before Dissapparating away. Vernon's heavy steps sounded behind him.

'Time to channel my inner Slytherin.' Harry thought scathingly.

"Boy, if you even think about-"

"About what?" Harry interrupted, slamming the door. Vernon seemed shocked into silence before he turned an unhealthy shade of purple.

"About mentioning that freak godfather or any other ...freaky stuff."

"So I can't mention anything about magic?" Harry asked with fake innocence, a sneer on his face. The next second he was drawing his wand. Petunia gasped and quickly pulled her son behind her.

"How dare you, you filthy little freak!" she shrieked.

"Unless you want problems, you will not call me that again. In addition you will allow me access to my school things and two weeks uninterrupted in the kitchen. How does that sound?" Harry asked.

"You can't use magic boy, you'll get expelled," Vernon snarled.

"You don't think I'll do it? I just lost my godfather and you think I'm afraid to use magic? So again, I ask. Do we have a deal?" Vernon gave a jerky nod when he realised how serious Harry seemed.

Harry smiled, his first since Sirius' death. "Good, have a nice night."

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Harry blinked wearily as the sunlight drifted in through the still barred windows. As soon as Harry realised what he needed to do he jumped out of bed and pulled out a school uniform. He pulled it on and grabbed a small pouch from the small night table before making his way to the kitchen.

"Aunt Petunia," Harry greeted with a nod of his head, as he pulled a cauldron out of the leather pouch.

Petunia looked at him as if he were an unwanted smudge on the floor and opened her mouth to no doubt deliver a scathing remark but promptly shut it as she saw that Harry had his wand. Harry's aunt instead gathered her things and left upstairs.

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As Harry prepared the ingredients necessary for the Cernos Fichra potion, he heard furious whispers from upstairs. Harry was in the middle of slicing the leeches when the Dursleys appeared in the kitchen.

"Can I help you?" Harry asked, the knife still moving.

"We need to eat," Petunia stated.

"Then go out," Harry replied, placing his cauldron on the stove top, his back still to the Dursleys.

"Do you think we have that kind of money, boy?" Vernon growled. Harry groaned loudly in exasperation. He whirled around, his black sneakers squeaking on the white floor. The teen thrust a hand into the pocket of his trousers and pulled out a Galleon.

"Here, this will get you enough pounds to last the month. Now leave, for I don't expect any of you to appreciate the subtle science that is Potions," Harry explained, unwittingly repeating a few words from Professor Snape's first speech.

Petunia snatched the Galleon from Harry's outstretched palm. She motioned for her husband and son to follow her. Vernon, however, was reluctant.

"Where did you get that gold?"

"It is a wizard coin. I have lots of them. No, there is no way you can get your hands on it unless I give it to you," Harry answered, turning on the burner of the stove.

Vernon scowled before following his wife out the door.

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After two gruelling weeks (though the potion could have been finished in four days had he been a good Potions student) the potion was almost finished. The only thing left to do was let it cool and add three drops of blood. Three being a magical number, especially when it came to blood. It was currently 11:46 meaning the Dursleys were due home soon, so he had to work quickly. Harry grabbed the cauldron and heaved it off the stove. It clunked unto the floor heavily.

"Damn." Harry muttered. He was really tempted to cast a Feather-Weight charm on it but thought better of it. He did care if he got expelled. An idea came over him. A very Slytherin idea.

"Uncle Vernon?" Harry called from the kitchen as he heard the front door open.

"What do you want?" His uncle grumbled.

"I have a proposition for you. Bring my cauldron up to my room and I will give you another wizard coin."

Vernon thought about it. The small gold coin had given them plenty of money. Vernon nodded, and lifted the full cauldron.

The cauldron was in Harry's room after five minutes. Harry grinned as he pulled out a Knut and placed it into his uncle's waiting hand. Then he shut the door on him.

Harry walked over to his bed and grabbed the needle that lay on his pillow. He looked over at his potion.

"Hmm...still too early." Harry mused picking up the little black book that had been left to him by his godfather. A book that Dumbledore had withheld from him since 3rd year. A book that would only open to his touch. He quickly flipped to the fifteenth page and started reading.

'If you made the potion right then it will change colour and show you a image of what you would look like in your form after you add three drops of blood. It will be a colour on the grey scale, white is the least dangerous animal, a unicorn. Black is something very dangerous. An image will appear and it seems like something directly from a nightmare. They're usually crossbreeds but you won't have to worry about that will ya Harry!

Now according to Snevillus each drop of blood is important. The first one Measure exactly one eighth of your...'

Harry stooped reading. A page was missing, one that explained each drop of blood's importance. Harry shrugged.

'Who cares, only my pain in the arse Professor!' Harry laughed at his thoughts, before resuming his reading.

'Measure exactly one eighth of your body weight, because this is how much of the potion you have to take, in ounces. But before you drink it you have to know your animal. And I mean KNOW your animal Harry. Know it's body shape, behaviour, and most importantly it's symbolism. Symbolism isn't what you think of the animal when you see it. Mine is an omen of Death but that's not it's symbolism. Hope you can do it!'

Harry pricked his finger and held it over the potion. The first fell, which would take form of physical attributes. The second fell in, for level of innocence. Finally the last drop fell. The one for soul, the most important, landed on the ledge of the cauldron. Not that Harry knew any of this.

Harry watched as his potion turned a pearly white. An image of a black unicorn with a dark green mane, emerald eyes and silver hooves appeared. A unicorn because only innocence rested in the potion.

Harry was only slightly disappointed, figuring he'd be something more manly. He hastily covered his potion before running downstairs to study his books. In his haste Harry had pushed the last drop of blood into the potion.

PS! I have adopted a story!