Title: Harry Potter and the Nocturnal Fear
Author: Becca
Rating: PG-13
Category: Suspense/Drama

Author's Note: Please read Harry Potter and the Hand of Midas FIRST! This is a sequel!

Summary: Now in sixth year, the terrible memories of fifth still linger in everyone's mind. Voldemort, the Dark side, is stronger, and the Light side is weaker. Who will win in the end? Everyone used to think Harry would. But now, they have their doubts. And so does he.

^*^*^ '

Chapter One -- Breakfast at Remus'

Cold morning mist covered the flowers, leaves, and grass that was strew across the untamed earth. The first bird to awake was a cardinal, his bright crimson body matching the sweet red roses which had been planted below his nest. He chirped cheerfully, trying to awake the still sleeping sun. Crickets eventually joined in on the tune, creating harmonies and melodies that molded into a beautiful morning song. Robins attacked the ground with their beaks, probing holes in order to find their healthy breakfast: a thick juicy worm. Mother deer woke their fawn, and scampered off to find fresh berries. Lilacs bloomed, and Morning Glories exploded with radiance. And a man, his robes in tears, hair grayer than the days before, appeared from the woods.

There was no spring to his step, or smile to his face. Instead, his walking was weak, and clownish. If a person had met him on the street, they would have thought him seriously drunk. But he was not drunk, or a clown. He was a werewolf.

An old werewolf, he thought to himself. After studying himself in the flowing river, which had been in the forest, he came to the conclusion he was too old to change. Too old to deal with such serious and pestering complications in his life.

No point anymore, he told himself. Not once, but many times. There was no point in continuing the ritual month after month. But, he added happily, I'm not lonely anymore.

He arrived to the ramshackle old house he called home. All shades were still drawn, and there was no smoke seeping out the chimney. He smiled, and assumed that his guests—no, roommates, —must still be asleep. The thought pleased him, generating a healthy color in his cheek, and glint in his eye.

His footsteps were quiet against the hardwood floors, and he closed the oak door quietly. Tiptoeing into the kitchen, he began his traditional breakfast: eggs, bacon, and strong, black coffee. His friends had warned him about how dangerous having that amount of fat and calories every morning could be to his health. He just said, "I'm a werewolf. Work with me."

It was the dog that woke first. An uncombed black canine strutted smartly up to the werewolf. He panted happily, licking the man's hand in a loving fashion. He then proceeded to nip a piece of bacon off the table.

"Sirius..." Remus warned, though he couldn't help but grin. He looked back at his plate of eggs. He sprinkled salt, salt, some pepper...and salt over the yellow scrambled food, and took a large bite. As he turned back to the dog, he almost choked in surprise as he saw a man standing where the canine had been. The bushy haired man beamed.

"You'll have a heart-attack before your fifty," Sirius warned, stealing another piece of pig.

"Quiet, you," Remus laughed, slapping Sirius' hand away. "And stay away from my bacon!"

"Hey!" Sirius exclaimed, little bits of bacon shooting out of his mouth, "I'm only saving your life!"

Remus smirked. "If you call starving someone saving their life."

"Oh," Sirius pouted, wiping the grease from his hand to his friend's shoulder, "just make more."

"He has to anyway," said a sudden voice from the kitchen entrance. "I'm starving."

Sirius beamed and ran over to the raven-haired boy, who stood in the doorway rubbing his sleepy eyes. He slapped him hard on the back. " 'Lllo, Harry! How're the eyes?"

"Coming along," Harry smiled, hastily putting on his glasses. "I can see more color distinctions. Like...your hair...it's grayer!"

Sirius growled, then laughed. He then proceeded to raid the cupboards, searching for anything to eat. He beamed as he pulled out a can of peanuts, and started throwing them into his mouth. When Remus pointed out that peanuts weren't exactly nature's best, Sirius smugly replied, "Protein. I want protein."

Harry laughed and sat at the table, looking down at an empty plate. "Where's my food?"

"Oh, god!" Remus exclaimed dramatically. He scrapped some eggs onto Harry's plate, and Harry proudly told him that the eggs were yellow. "Congratulations," Remus snarled sarcastically. "You can see colors. Would you like a metal?"

"Aw, thanks!" Harry laughed, eating the eggs quickly before Remus changed his mind about feeding him.

Sirius also sat down lazily, his poor posture evident in the way he sat in the chair. While popping peanuts into his mouth, he asked Remus, "How was last night, by the way?"

Remus shrugged. "Didn't kill anything, but I must admit: Severus does make that potion better than I do."

The mention of Snape's name caused Harry to remember Hogwarts, and he suddenly asked, "Has my letter from Hogwarts come yet?"

"I don't know," Remus answered. "I haven't checked any of the mail. Sirius, go check."

"Why me?!" Sirius exclaimed. "Do I look like a servant to you?"

"Yes," said Remus. "Now go get the mail."

Muttering under his breath, Sirius reluctantly stood and shuffled out of the room. When he reappeared, he held three letters, and was still muttering, though quieter than before. He threw the letter at Harry, which landed on the floor next to him. Harry, barely able to see, was able to find it with his hand and pick it up.

"Who wants to read it?" he asked, his eyesight still not good enough to read letters.

Sirius yanked it out of his hands. "Dear Mr. Potter....blah, blah, blah....don't bother coming back....yada, yada, yada...."

"Sirius, be serious," Remus said, slapping his own forehead. "I didn't do that on purpose..."

"Sure you didn't," Sirius smirked, then turned back to Harry. "We'd better go to Diagon Alley soon. I'll write to Hermione and tell her to meet you there, if you'd like."

"Okay," Harry nodded. "But this time, watch your language. I don't think her parents appreciated your last letter."

Sirius playfully hit Harry head, and agreed. "Okay. Tomorrow at one. Is that alright with you, Oh-Mighty-Blind-Man?"

Rolling his poor eyes, Harry nodded.