Author's Note: Hi! This is my first story and I hope it takes to your liking :p
Firstly, I have to say that this is going to be a very non-linear story. I wanted to experiment a little with multiple story breaks. It's a narrative construct called fabula and syuzhet, if you've seen Memento or Pulp Fiction(both amazing movies, btw), you'll know what I'm talking about.
The plot starts after the end of the Order of the Phoenix, and picks up after the Christmas holidays in Harry's sixth year. He knows about the Horcruxes already, Dumbledore hasn't died, and Ron and Hermione are both on speaking terms.
Now that's just where the plot starts, the story starts somewhere different here. I hope you're not too confused (:
Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any material from Harry Potter.
Prologue
Rain was falling thick and fast on the disheveled bricks that made up Hogsmeade Lane. Nobody was staying outside long, the few people that were ran up and down the street with their cloaks over their heads, shielding themselves from the torrential downpour.
Down the lane, leaning against a wall outside the Three Broomsticks was a man, quite unperturbed by the rain, disappearing between clouds of smoke as he took drags from a cigarette. His eyes were fixed on an alleyway, not too far from where he was standing, as though he were expecting something.
The storm swelled in intensity, as though aggravated. Lightning forked across the sky every few moments, followed by the distant rumbling of thunder. The man fidgeted uncomfortably, not taking his eyes off of the dark alleyway.
The door to the Three Broomsticks opened and the man started. Two young men exited and shot him furtive looks before turning on their heel in quick succession and disappearing with a small pop.
The man leaned back against the wall and resumed his thorough inspection of the deserted alleyway.
Another loud crack seared the air, followed by more lightning which illuminated the surrounding area.
The alleyway was completely deserted and the man sighed, then started again as a hand clasped his shoulder.
"No luck?"
The man shook his head, and turned to see who had accompanied him.
The figure towered over him, with a hood draped over his head, and a powerful presence about him. The man shivered and turned back to the alley.
"I didn't expect him to come."
The man made to walk away, but a hand grasped his shoulder again and pushed him back towards the wall.
"I'll need you to stay here a little while longer."
The man shot him a venomous look, but nodded his consent and leaned back upon the wall. A smirk appeared across the second man's face under the hood.
"Good. I expect you to report back to me when the wind has blown out."
There was another small pop, and the pressure on the man's shoulder lifted.
He glanced up and saw that the storm clouds had thinned somewhat, but the rain had not ceased. In the distance, a castle was viewable, with lights flickering up the turrets, and flags whipping about in the wind.
It happened in an instant. As a particularly bright jet of lightning forked it's way through the clouds, it illuminated the alley for a split second, where a large black dog stood, staring intenly at the man. The ensuing thunderclap masked the man's yell as he shoved his hand in his pocket and drew out a thin strip of wood, but it was too late.
The dog had already bounded towards him and clamped its jaws on his wrist, knocking the strip of wood out of his hand. He twisted his arm madly, trying to free his wrist, but as he went to strike the dog holding him, the pair of jaws had turned into a strong hand, and after a sudden turn to the left, all the breath was sucked out of him, and everything went black.