It's my first fic, so please review. It gives me the strength to go on (and the reminder…). Oh yeah, and I do take well to constructive criticism (I think!). ;)

I'd like to thank my ever-striving conscience for agreeing with the Silver Serpents, since all encouraged me to post this fic. I own nothing. The characters are all the sublime figments of Rowling's imagination. Please don't sue me. I would plead insanity anyway, so no point in it. I would like to warn all that I do incorporate everything I do, listen, read, etc.; so if you recognise something I'm truly sorry for not mentioning you personally. Enough of my blabbering. I present… Deep Within

Chapter 1

Memories Relived

It was a cold day. The autumn had already taken its toll. He sat alone, secluded from the rest, not being a part of the screams and laughter going on a few steps away. He was wrapped up in his coat, sizes too large, sinking deeper and deeper in it, for once grateful for the shelter. He watched intently as leaves dropped lightly from the trees, some sparkling yellow, some scarlet, as they swirled around gracefully with the wind before falling finally to the ground in exquisite swings.

He slowly felt a bruise forming above his left eye, under his glasses. He had once again been the victim of merciless beating from Dudley and his gang, again because of his "abnormalities". He was always being taunted about being different, about being a "freak". He couldn't understand why the strangest things always happened to him, and much less why his aunt and uncle always punished him for them. He knew everyone was always waiting for him to slip, awaiting the moment Potter boy would crack. It seldom happened, but when it did it would be the talk of the playground for weeks. At least now they were leaving him alone.

He shifted his gaze momentarily to the various children laughing and shouting and running, socialising, associating, enjoying their recess-something he had never experienced. Not that it bothered him much; he had gotten used to it. He had found a peace in being alone, a quietness he had grown to enjoy. He fixed his eyes again on the crimson and gold coloured leaves, following their swan-like movements, not bothering to acknowledge the fact that his break would be over in a few minutes.

"Harry Potter?"

He didn't move to look at the bearer of that hypnotising voice. His name had been said mysteriously, and he had heard no trace of the hostility a voice uttering his name usually held, no mocking tone.

"Harry?"

Again, he didn't respond. It might be a prank, and if not, a dream. Things like this usually were, and he had no means to prove otherwise yet. He felt the stranger sit beside him and follow his gaze. He continued to stare at the effects of autumn, but without really seeing any of it, lost in his thoughts, analysing his existence.

Interrupting his train of thoughts, he realised the leaves were heading towards him. He watched in awe as the leaves reached him, and surrounded him and the stranger in a perfect circle, spinning around them before landing lightly on the floor.

"You will find your place in this world, Harry, and when you do, we will hopefully meet again."

***

Harry sighed as he lifted yet another boulder. It already seemed enough that he had to go running with his cousin Dudley every morning, (…to keep precious Dudkeins company… Aunt Petunia had said) but now he had also to work on the landscape and garden with the other hired workers. Not that it didn't have its advantages; he did get paid, even if it was just a measly 5 pounds or so. The work was also shaping his figure, giving him muscles, and the running was refreshing, with the added strength of his legs.

" 'Arry, ye comin' to watch the sunset?"

The question jerked him out of his thoughts, his concentration now free to feel the last remains of the heat of the day, and the gentle gusts of a breeze blowing the new night air.

"Huh? Oh! Coming Dick!"

Harry walked to a corner of the garden still unfinished, facing west. He sat together with the rest of the group, but somewhat secluded. He sat down, deep in thought, enjoying the serene beauty of the pink sky, with its streaks of ruby red and midnight blue, and a converged purple in between.

Why have I changed so much? Harry thought. He had felt himself changing. Not only physically, but also mentally changing. Maybe it was that he was simply maturing, but it seemed more than that. All of a sudden he found himself doing inexplicable things, and a lot of wandless magic, though it was so simple no one ever noticed. He found himself interested in things he hadn't been before, understanding things better. He found himself remembering random memories that he hadn't given a thought to before, things that seemed to have been jerked out of his brain and he had brought it back. He had got at least one letter from each of his friends, but he really hadn't thought about it much, just dismissed it as normal.

Normal. What was normal?

He got up and went inside, running up the stairs gingerly, and slipping into his room. Surprisingly enough, he had already done all his homework, at least all that could be done without buying his new books yet. A random thought slipped into his mind, The O.W.L.s. He felt restless, but couldn't stop thinking. His mind was working non-stop with thoughts he didn't know he could form, and one of them stood out from them all.

And in the mist of all these thoughts racing infinite laps around the track of his brain at absurd speeds, he fell on his bed, and he slept.