Author's Note:

Just to go over a little bit on the Folio. I started this fic last year after reading OoTP. HPN was the first forum, where I dared to post this fic and to my jubilant delight; I even got some good reviews. Then, it was nothing but choppy writing and (ahem!) squishy grammar. Later on, as I became more involved in the fandom, I started to appreciate the art of writing and wanted to better myself. It was then when I decided to go over this mammoth fic with a beta and re-edit it. And it's still not finished…. Yikes!

But, I'm over the edit and happily writing new material. My beta, Elizabeth (who I'm very lucky to have) did a wonderful job beta-ing it, making the whole experience a lot better.

I want to thank all my old readers who stuck by this fic and patiently waited for the updates. I hope you like the edited version with the new look and speedy updates. I'll start with something new. A Prologue—which is new of course—and will set the mood for the fic.

Hope you enjoy SotW as much as I did in writing it.

-Tania

Details:

DISCLAIMER: Characters written by JKR are all hers and her publishers and I'm simply using them for tickling my imagination and the fic is purely written for the enjoyment of others. Other than HP characters, all others are created by me… So they are my kiddies. Don't copy them or ask before doing so.

Title: Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate

Category: Mystery

Sub Category: Action/Adventure

Rating: PG PG-13 for selected chapters, 'cause of violence.

Summary: A sprawling tale revolving around Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. He inherits Sirius's Diary and discovers new dark secrets about his parents and Godfather's past. He travels to a different world, overcomes new challenges and face up to the enemy he was prophesized to kill...

I've tried my best to incorporate all the Book6 theories in it along with all the available canon and my predictions that till now haven't really faced a brick wall. This fic is not an AU but obviously it's something in between one's prediction and what JKR would finally come out in the HBP.

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- Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate -

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Prologue

Darkness surrounded him, engulfing him in its clutches. The soft tap of footsteps told him that he was being pursued. He increased his pace, plunging headlong into the deep blackness, but the pursuer followed him like his own shadow. He kept on running, but however he tried to lose it, the shadow never left his heels. He went through the length of a thick forest but still the shadow followed suit.

He finally saw a clearing at the end of the forest and something told him that if he reached it, everything would be all right. However, he was shocked to find thousands of eyes blinking at him sinisterly, following his progress. A hoard of gaping snake statues loomed over his path, reminding him of one of his previous escapades.

The shadowy figure inched nearer without even missing a beat. Harry Potter felt the first signs of impending doom with the tightening of his stomach as he saw the figure wearing a grotesque metal mask. He tried to get out of its way but faltered when he saw the figure takeoff the deathly mask.

It was the face of his Godfather, Sirius Black, contorted in severe pain.

"Harry! No!"

The scene dissolved to a familiar place—the voice still echoing—to a dilapidated graveyard.

"Avada Kedavra!" a voice reverberated, and Harry was hit with a green bolt of lightening, making him sink to the ground in a heap, darkening his world.

-x.X.x-