Title:
The Trouble with Shoulder Angels
Author
Name: Sarah Jo
Date: January 26, 2006
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKRowling, not me.
Author's Note: Somehow I ended up re-writing this chapter... once again. I'm sorry for anyone who was expecting an actual update (although I'm not arrogant enough to think anyone is even reading this). Anyway, sorry for my lack of updates and I hope you enjoy The Trouble with Shoulder Angels version 1,236,579.0
Prologue
The Wishing Star
There was, however, a downside to running... you eventually ran out of energy. Those were the moments the boy-who-lived dreaded - which he tried to put off for as long as possible. When the skies grew darker and he could no longer push himself without fear of collapsing. When he inevitably had to return to the Dursleys house to nourish and replenish himself. When he had finished his awkward meal with the Dursleys and returned to his room... alone. When he no longer had anything to concentrate on and keep his thoughts at bay.
More than anything the boy-who-lived dreaded the time right before sleep when he could no longer keep himself from thinking. Those were the times when he was filled with grief from his recent loss, the only person who had ever felt like family, and his previous ones, his real family. He felt guilt for being stupid enough to fall into Voldemort's trap and leading Sirius to his death, and regret for his inability to stop it. He was plagued by worries about whatever his arch-nemesis was planning for him next, and fear that his friends would be hurt in the crossfire.
It was in such a state Harry Potter could be found on the night of July 30th - the day before his birthday. Physically worn out from over-exerting himself, but mentally... restless. He had already given up trying to force himself to sleep and had positioned himself at his window in hopes of spotting Hedwig. His owl, who was his only companion during the miserable days of summer and was currently en route to the Burrow, could not be found in the night sky.
Desperate to ward off dangerous thoughts, he dropped his gaze to focus on Privet Drive itself. None of the identical and pristine houses that lined the street gave off any light. Everyone was asleep.
'Must be late.' he thought idly, as if it hadn't occurred to him before, and checked the clock on his desk.
11:53. In seven minutes he would be turning sixteen. He wasn't sure how to feel about that. He had never had a reason to be excited about his birthday before, although admittedly, he had started receiving more (and better) birthday presents after he started Hogwarts, and this year would be no different. After all, this year there would be one present missing. And that made all the difference in the world.
Not liking the direction his thoughts were heading, he scanned the well-kept green lawns for any sign of movement. He was half-sure he would spot a dementor lurking in one of his neighbor's yards. His thoughts certainly resembled those procured by a dementor's presence. Dead depressing. But everything was still, and the street quiet.
As always when he completed this nightly ritual, he found his eyes drawn unerringly to the brightest star in the sky. Sirius. He didn't do it on purpose, he wasn't masochistic (at least he liked to think so), but every night without fail he found himself standing here feeling the pain of his godfather's death over again. He could prevent himself from thinking about it during the day, but as he found himself at his windowsill each night, his legs still aching from the day's run, the reality crashed down on him. His heart would bleed once again, as if the wound was still fresh.
This particular night was different. The pain was still there, but before it truly had a chance to get a grip on him, a slight movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention (he wasn't the youngest seeker in a century for nothing). Rather than on the ground, however, this movement was in the sky.
A shooting star.
He had never seen one before. Harry was suddenly overcome with the childish desire to make a wish. He closed his eyes and thought of the Mirror of Erised... what did he want? Family. Warmth. Happiness. Laughter. Hope. Love.
Green eyes opened and watched the star streak across the sky. He didn't allow himself to believe anything would come of his wish, and was slightly embarrassed he had given in to the desire in the first place (Thank Merlin no one was there to witness it!).
As the flash of light faded into the distance he was suddenly hit with exhaustion. Guessing the full weight of his strenuous new hobby combined with an endless string of insomniac nights had finally hit him, he stumbled tiredly to bed without complaint, hoping for once, his dreams would be nightmare-free.
At exactly midnight on the day of his birthday, Harry James Potter consulted a wishing star. Little did he know, that miles away in a
crooked house outside the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, someone was making the exact same wish on the exact same star.
Author's Note: So what'd you think? Personally, I prefer this version to the old one, but there's still room for improvement. Please (if anyone's even reading this) review so I know whether to continue or not. I love the feedback and feel free to correct any mistakes you see. Constructive criticism is welcome!
Also, for those of you who are new readers (yeah right), I'd like to note that this story was inspired by Emperor's New Groove and it's supposed to be a comedy... it just... hasn't gotten to that point yet.