Don't own it. Not sure I would if I could. This is more an experiment in writing styles for me...

Mine- Chapter 1

By Sheila Moon

July 21

It was late when Harry finally set out back to Private drive- too late. He would have to cut through the park and risk being caught by Duddly and his gang. Not that it much mattered; they had left him alone since he had been using part of his salary from the grocery store to invest in strict martial arts lessons when he wasn't working. Still, a fight wasn't something to blindly rush into. The only reason the Dursly's even let him outside this summer was because of the threats from the Order members ensuring Harry could 'live a normal life.' Uncle Vernon's definition of a normal life, therefore, was to have Harry out of the house- after cooking them breakfast (without eating, naturally)- but back by six at night so he could cook them supper (he couldn't eat that either) so that he could promptly be locked away in his room. Harry had quickly discovered that he needed a source of income (so that his inheritance wasn't discovered), so he picked up the job at the grocery store five days a week. On weekends he would go to the library and read. Once he got back to his room at Private Drive he would unearth his precious school books and do his homework. It all seemed kind of mundane for the potential-savior-of-the-wizarding-world. But, hey, who was he to complain?

Unfortunately, he was complaining. His muscles were getting sore from his training in martial arts from the Muggles. His mind was racing with battle tactics from historical accounts he read and checked out of the library. While they might have been Muggle strategy, Harry knew that Voldermort would never try and use some of their tactics-purely because they were Muggle- and every little bit of help helped. But the big part was the Daily Prophet that came in every day. That's what made Harry really upset, because every second the only thing present was Voldermort. There was no one stopping him now. And Snape, that wretched, filthy traitor, was still at large. Therefore Harry put a lot of his complaining efforts into writing down creative ways to kill Voldermort and that traitor Snape. Oh, and while he was at it- the one who let those disgusting creatures into his Hogwarts… Draco Malfoy.

Harry was finally approaching the park that had been vandalized throughout the years by the occupants of Little Winding. The children, when they found the park had outgrown its usefulness, decided it was a nice place to gather away from their parents and any other 'unwanted' eyes. Walking past the swing set showed that the chains had long since fallen to the ground leaving behind only bars. The Merry-go-Round no longer went round, a fact Harry was quite happy for as he remembered Duddly sticking him on it after a pummeling and having his friends twirl him till he hurled. The shrubs were old and grew up in a twisted fashion by now; all the gardeners that had been hired quickly ran away once Duddly's gang got a hand on them.

The park seemed deserted. Good, maybe Duddly went home early. Then again, maybe I'm really that late. It was in passing the Merry-go-Round that Harry heard the voices to his right- in a tall patch of bushes.

"Allright! Hit it hard!" Harry froze on the spot. Anton. One of Duddly's flunkies. Whatever 'it' was would soon be forgotten if they caught wind of him.

Smack! "Stop moving you Freak!" Harry couldn't help but flinch- he had been called a freak as long as he could remember by Duddly and he still could say it with venom. "Just stay still so I can kill you."

Ssstupid Muddblood. My cchilldren ssshall hunt you for all eternity!

'What? Parsaltonge? Mudblood? Damn,' Harry had to think quickly. No way that was Voldermort; Duddly would already be dead. And, somewhat unfortunately, he was definitely alive. No wizards were allowed to live in this area since it was a protection grounds for him. 'But, that is defiantly a wizard… one who speaks Parseltongue!'

"Common Dudders, man. What's a snake got aginst us? Hit him again!" Perres.

'Another one of Duddley's---- wait, a snake? A snake that called people Muddblood? Shit- Nagini! Voldermort must have sent her out here since he couldn't send a wizard! Leave it Duddly his stupid, idiotic cousin and his flunkies to try and kill one of the Horocuxes with (if he was lucky) a baseball bat.'

You ssshall tassste myy vennomm! Harry quickly snuck up behind the bushes to where he assumed the boys were, withdrawing his wand. While he wasn't supposed to use magic, he wasn't about to let Nagini get away either. Rounding behind the boys he raised his wand. Taking them out with stunning spells would ensure that they didn't get hurt.

"Stupify! Stupify! Stupify!" Harry's crisp movements hit their mark each and every time and the boys fell to the ground in succession. It was time to turn to Nagini. The would-be-savior stepped into the brush looking for the deadly snake. He remembered what she could do from her encounter with Mr. Weasley almost two years ago.

A shimmer of black scales retreated into the bushes. "Stupify!" The curse missed, but the red sparks it emitted illuminated the snake's skin giving it a purple tinge. Wait, was Nagini purple?Ssstupid wizzard. Not only do the Muggullss want to killl mee, but the wizzard tooo… this is noot yoour night Ssassha. Ohhh no, not youurrs.

"Sasha? Oh…," Harry opened his mouth and formed his tongue into the shapes Parseltongue, Helloo? Ssassha you ssaid? I thought you were another ssnake. I am ssory for attaking you, and ssorry for myy cousionss behavvior. He… well.

The snake slithered out of the bushes. Now that she shown in the moonlight there was a definite purple sheen to her scales. She turned straight to Harry, I doo not sssee how you could havve gots me conffuzzed. I have been Ssassha ssince I wass born. There are noo others llike me. Not anymmore. Sasha's head droped.

I'm ssorry. The adrenaline he had just felt started to fade, and, as an afterthought, he added, my parrentss are dead tooo. The ssnake I tthought you were hellped too kill them. My name iss Harry.

Sasha looked up into the green eyes that showed so much youth and so much pain. Yoou aree innocent. Tooo innocent forr the burdens you carry, yyoung one. Would you allow mee too hellp you?

To say that Harry was shocked was an understatement. First, Sasha was a snake- the very creatures everyone associated with Voldermort. Second, she was offering him help. Hhow?

Yoou aarre a vvery powwerfull wizzard. Thiss much I can ssee. You usse a wand before your birthday. Morre power will ccome to you on your birthday. Ssso much it will overwhelm you without helpp. Wizzards oftenn have familliars to hellp themm chhannllss their power. I coulld do ssuch and hellp you with your life. Howw doess that ssound? Sasha came ever closer and Harry pointed his wand at her. Doo you nott trust mee, young oone?

It wasn't that Harry didn't trust her. However, trusting anyone you just meet to bond with you permanently wasn't a good idea, he knew that much. First off, Voldermort may have sent this crazed thing to him just waiting for the second when he felt safe with her to strike. Second, he didn't know the first thing about familiars. Noot qquitte yett. Follow mme homme; there wwe will deccide.

Harry turned to leave the clearing; Sasha followed who she knew would soon be her master even if he refused to believe it. She knew some wizards took time to realize their familiar bond and it was best to let them accept it on their own. As an afterthought Harry turned around to Dudley and his gang, waking them up and wiping their memories.

Another quick strike and Sasha caught back up with him. She was surprisingly quick for a snake. In the end, Harry found himself having to walk a little faster then normal on the way home. All in all she measured a healthy two and a half feet for a snake and seemed quite happy to move along beside Harry.

When they approached 4 Privet Drive Harry turned towards her.Ssassha. Ssee that winddow upp therre? Thatt iss mine. Go upp there.

Ccould I nott just go insside? She piped up, tilting her head up and looking at the young one. While wizards didn't particularly like snakes, if he told his parents she had offered to be his familiar… then surely. Sticking out her tongue Sasha got her answer before her master could reply and darted up one of the gutters towards the room. This was no wizard house. Why did her master live here? She would have to ask him.

Harry sighed, Sasha may have been an unaccepted find but at least she had been company. Now he had to make the last trek up to the house alone. And, boy, was he ever late. This was going to be interesting.

Harry tried to sneak in only to have the door skweek his arrival. One thing he missed about his chores was the door never used to do that. Uncle Vernon was on him in a second. His cheeks looked redder then red and his words were whispered like acid in Harry's ear, "Potter! There you are! Get upstairs and get your freak friends out of my house now! No questions!" Harry headed upstairs. At least he had gotten away with being home late, and Vernon had been quite. Probably because he was afraid of whomever it was hearing him.

But that was just odd. Who would be visiting him? The Order had even gone so far as to tell Harry he couldn't have any post this year so that no information would get out to Voldermort. It really hurt to be alone. So that really formed a question. Pulling out his wand, Harry approached his room.

These people who had come to visit him… shouldn't be Death Eaters. But Dumbodolre's life would have been a waste if he threw caution to the wind now. So Harry flung open his door, thought about being at number 12 Grimwald place with Lupin and the other order member members, "Expectro Patronoum." The light was enough to blind his opponents but not him. Realizing that they were Tonks, Fred, and Kingsly, Harry quickly called off his Patronous.

"Bleimy Harry, You got to go and blind us all?" Fred piped up once they all gained their footing again.

"I agree. Must say, even with all my experience, I wasn't expecting that one. And that's saying something." Kingsly smiled. But it seemed something serious was still going on. . . "Now, Harry, you know this pains me, but you are wanted for the use of 10 instances of magic in the presence of Muggles, and – make that 11 - instances of underage magic. Care to explain yourself?"

Harry groaned, 'Great, just what I needed tonight. More trouble.'

Though it was faint, he could just make out the sound of Sasha outside. Iss massther in trrouble for the magiccss? Tell them you werre proteccting your ffammillar. A wizzzard may allways do that.

Protecting his familiar? But, that meant he would be claiming Sasha as his; well, it wasn't like he had much choice now did he? So a familiar he had. Ah, that's better. The voice of a girl came unexpected in his head. Therefore he did what any sensible person would do, he jumped.

"Is something a matter mate? I mean, besides the charges." Fred and the others were looking at him suspiciously.

You will become accustomed to me speaking to you this way, Master. Best explain to your friends now. So that must have been Sasha in his head, interesting. Not as interesting as it will be for me to think of a plan to get you out of Azkaban!

Harry couldn't help it he laughed- hard. Realizing everyone was staring at him like he was mental he decided to explain. "Sorry I haven't gotten used to talking to my familiar yet…"

"Your familiar?" Tonks burst in. "But Harry, you aren't even 17 yet! People don't just stum-"

"That's enough Tonks. I suppose you were trying to protect your familiar then?" Harry nodded at the older Arour. "In that case the ministry will be sending you registration papers within the week. Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Potter." With that he apparted away, followed by Tonks.

Fred pulled a small package out of his pocket. "An early birthday present to our favorite investor." Then smiling, he left.

Harry, curious, walked up to the package and opened it up. Inside was a cheep plastic ring with instructions. 'Place me on and imagine yourself. Product has a total duration of 48 hours. WWW.' Intrigued, Harry stowed away the ring to be tried on later.

How long do we have to wait out here? Harry looked out the window to see Hedwig, his Snowy Owl, with Sassha wrapped around her. 'At least they like each other.' It was either curl up with this dratted Owl or I freeze to death, which would you prefer? Harry laughed as he opened the window and they settled in for the night.

July 26

He had had the feeling of being followed around for a few days now, and he couldn't understand why. It was Saturday, he was in the library reading an assortment of books. All of a sudden a book fell off of the top shelf and hit him. "Ouch."

Harry just stared at Magical Creatures Unveiled as he took it home. He was early leaving the library, but with the bump on his head and the book staring back (for he was sure it was) he had to get out of there. As far as he knew, books with the name 'Magical' didn't belong in Muggle libraries- especially not ones that could stare at you.

In fact, it was still so early that the Dementors were still out hunting; Voldermort had given them free reign. Somewhere above him a plane staled and began to crash, followed by a stunning green skull and snake. Even the Muggles had learned to fear that 'firework' by now.

Arriving 'home' early he hurried inside and ran up the stairs before he could fully comprehend what the enraged Vernon was saying. Having nothing better to do, he decided he would get out of his day clothes and read the book. Sasha, while apparently his familiar, stayed away a lot. Maybe she didn't like his Muggle relatives.

Sitting down on his bead, Harry picked up the copy of Magical Heritage Unveiled. No, that's not right, it used to say 'creatures' he was sure of it. A book that changed its title? Definitely didn't belong in a Muggle library.

Hello Masster, did you have a good day? Sasha was coming in through the cracked window. She slowly raised her head and looked at him, her neck seeming to widen. Ahh, did you find the book on your inheritance today? Good. It starts then.

"I'm sorry, but what starts? I'm not 17 yet, and I already got my inheritance from my parents-"

Her hissing could be interpreted as a laugh. No, silly. Purebloods pass on a family book of inheritance. All pureblood children are required to read it on their 16th birthday in hopes that they will inherit on their 17th. It has been known for wizards outside of the family- ones with Muggle blood- to end up with their family book when there blood requires it.

Harry just looked at her as if she had bit him and the poison hadn't settled in. Looking back at the book in front of him, the book again held forth the word 'creature.' Did this mean he was some kind of creature? Did someone way back in his family marry a Veela, Werewolf, or worse a Vampire? The laughing-hiss started again, Vampires aren't all that bad, Master. Apart from having to feed every few weeks. Plus, hosts can take care of that.

"Are you saying I'm a Vampire?" The book was trembling in his hands now, he didn't want this.

I do not know, Master. Though, that book only comes right before the owner inherits. You would be wise to read it tonight.

"Later." Harry said as he got up and went over to the desk. He needed to talk to someone else about this.

In the process of clearing off the desk, he saw the small package Fred had gave him. Curious, he picked it up and took out the ring. The instructions had simply said 'imagine yourself.' That couldn't be too hard.

Carefully, Harry put on the ring, closed his eyes, and pictured himself. He started to think of himself; of all the things he wished he could change. All those times Aunt Petunia had cut his hair he had wondered what it would look like if she hadn't. The kids at school would laugh at him and call him names because of the scar; what it would mean to be without such a small thing on his forehead. In truth, that was all he would change. He liked himself, but maybe he wanted to be a little taller. No sooner had he thought it than felt it. Harry quickly opened his eyes.

Going over to the small shard of mirror he had kept for years now, he noticed he looked like he had pictured himself. Curious, Harry imagined perfect vision. Immediately his eyes had become blurry. Taking off his glasses he looked at the new him- such subtle changes, yet such a big difference.

Remembering that he had been in the middle of clearing off his desk, Harry silently swore. Soon the Dursleys would be upstairs and then it would be too late. First, though, the ring had given him an idea. He asked it to show him what he would look like in a week, well after his birthday. When he opened his eyes he was almost struck windless. His eyes were in cat slits in their bright green glory, ears pointed, and his hair was half way down his back. But it was his mouth and the two eyeteeh that surprised him the most, or maybe it was the feathers outlining raven black wings.

Time elapsed in a different universe. He wasn't sure why he was staring at himself anymore. His jaw was more defined, the face a little more elongated. Other than noticing this nothing changed. 'I am a Vampire… with wings! Or at least I'm going to be.'

Master, if you will pardon me. The Dursleys will be up in an hour. And the wings are caused by the split animungus blood running from your Gryffondor-Ravenclaw Heritage, as are the eyes. In a week's time, I'm sure you will find that transforming into your chosen animal no problem.

'Split Blood?' Harry threw the ring off and into a corner of the room; hurriedly finishing cleaning off the desk. Finding his glasses, he placed them back on his nose. Climbing atop the desk he pulled down the ladder to the attic. Careful not to make any noise, he climbed in and went over to the part of the attic over the Garage.

There, sitting as it usually did, was a picture with a old cloth over it. At the bottom could be seen a gold trim with the words- Albus Dumbledore. Harry pulled off the cloth and started to bang the picture against the wall, "Albus, come here right now!"

After what seemed like ages the old man came out, "Ah, Harry, care for a Lemon Drop?"

"No." Harry said curtly. He then proceeded to tell the old coot about Sasha and the Inheritance. His patience had worn thin with the old man in life; his picture, however, was the one who did the listening most of the time. He even procured information from all of the other portraits at Hogwarts. Harry knew the Order inside out. He wondered quietly if any of them ever wondered if Albus had made a second portrait and whose loyalty the old man's picture lied in. As soon as the Albus- portrait had been inherited, Harry asked him to make an unbreakable vow- pledging his allegiance- and tested it. He had Albus bring in every portrait from Hogwarts to him and swear a vow. He then proceeded to do the same for the Ministry and St. Mongo's, thus taking up much of June. If uninterested in helping it just took Harry reminding them that Voldormort could destroy them easily in a raid. The portraits were his eyes.

Once done eating the Lemon Drop, sure Harry had completed, Albus smiled gently, "Rough week, ehh? Ahh! This must be Sasha." The snake must have come up behind him at some point. "A beautiful Alzartian Cobra. And I had thought Nagni to be the last. Apart from their powerful venom, they have the power to become invisible, if I'm not mistaken. As for your inheritance, be happy, few wizards ever receive three. You will learn to cope. I believe Tom only has one."

July 31

It was late when he woke up. Or early. He wasn't sure. His brain was throbbing and his back felt as if it had been riped. Riped out and sideways at the same time.

Good Morning, Master. How are you feeling? Your inheritance seems to have come as expected.

'Inheritance?' Harry reached out for his glasses, only to watch a black wing dart for the intable. Getting up, he noted his perfect vision, and headed over to the mirror fragment to see the transformation. Sure enough, what he had seen with the ring was now reality. 'Except the fangs... they must have been-' as if thinking on them had brought about a reaction, his canines began to extend.

That's when he smelt it for the first time- the most delicious smelling thing in the world. And it was close, nothing would keep him from it. Reaching out for the door handle, Harry riped it and all the locks out from the wall to encounter a startled Duddly. Looking for the source of the smell, it took him only minutes to pinpoint it. By then, all rational thought was gone.