Chapter I: Reflection

A/N- Well, I hope you all enjoy. I have some chapters here and there written and I'll attempt to update as soon as possible but I do have other things I should do. But for now, let's stick to the story.

Disclaimer- No, I don't own Harry Potter or affiliated characters, places or plot. They belong to the great JKR so please, don't sue. Just a warning for all you tedious readers. I'll attempt to stay true to the characters as much as I can and I'm going to go ahead and apologize for and OoC, AU, or anything of the sort and I'll try to avoid it. Unfortunately, this might happen for plot purposes. Thanks and now on with the show!

Harry looked at his reflection. Examining his every feature. After all, he was soon to start his seventh, and final year of Hogwarts.

His hair was still as messy and uncontrollable as ever but over the course of his life, Harry had learned not to give much thought to it. He was wearing Dudley's clothes which were also still incredibly baggy. Since his birthday had not yet come, he hadn't had a chance to alter the clothes. Yet.

He was in no particular rush anywhere this hot, muggy July morning but didn't quite feel like "admiring" himself all day. He quickly jumped over to his eyes. They were as green as ever, since he doubted they could get any greener. However, it wasn't that which caught his eye. It was the way his eyes were looking. 'I'm going mental,' he thought to himself but continued his train of thought. 'My eyes don't look different but I guess if you look close enough,, it's as if someone has taken a marker and etched something in there, but what is it?' 'Worry? Nah, even though I have enough of that. Fear? No, not quite.' He knew what it was but was sure it couldn't be described in one word. 'Disrupted innocence,' he thought to himself.

Harry had never been a fan of self-pity, or pity from anyone else for that matter, but he was sure that's what it was. It wasn't a commonly used term, but it was now his term, nonetheless. It was the look of a person who had been robbed of a childhood and was dropped from infancy into an adult reality. He hadn't really had much of a childhood with the Dursleys and Voldemort wasn't adding much to help either.

As if sensing he was thinking too much, Hedwig began to hoot. "I know, Hedwig. I've been thinking. I think Hermione's starting to wear off on me," he said jokingly. Hedwig continued to hoot.

"I know girl, I've stopped. I swear, no more mirrors for me."

Hedwig began to hoot incredibly loud. Harry was sure it was only a matter of time before Vernon appeared, purple-faced and furious, at his door.

"Fine, I'll let you go out." he said, unlatching the gate and watching as the snowy white owl flew, blending in splendidly with the white clouds overhead.

Harry sighed and turned to his desk. As much as he missed being able to use magic, he was in no mood to return to his Potions essay, 'After all, it's only July 16th. I've got loads of time," thought Harry as he took his Potions essay and book and shoved it into a trunk.

A few seconds later, Harry was opening the trunk, looking for his Potions things. That was all he had to do for today. Petunia, Vernon and Dudley were going to some awards ceremony soon, which meant Harry had nothing to do and Vernon had locked Harry's door from the outside.

This was something to laugh at for Harry. The Dursleys knew as well as anyone that Harry could easily break that lock if he wanted to, but they continued to try, day after day, to make Harry disappear by keeping him locked in one room or another.

There was a peck at the window a few minutes later and Harry was surprised to see Hedwig, not carrying a letter or anything of the sort, but a slice of bologna. Harry chuckled softly and let her in and sat down to do his Potions essay.

Or rather, he sat down at the desk with a Potions essay in front of him but his thoughts were elsewhere and not even Harry knew where 'elsewhere' was.

So, how was it? Please review! Next chapter coming as soon as I can get it typed.

Allison