A/N: Yay I'm back, back again and I have a beta, one that actually works with me yay!!!! On my other page this story was written a bit different so please if you have read the first one tell which one sounds better or if both need improvement. But please do it in a nice way, there's not need to be rude if you find my story lame. Thank you. –CCG or SD ha ok here it is. Thank you Eekfurby

Chapter 1 - Pick Up

He didn't know where his feet were taking him. He only knew that he had to go. His eyes were closed and when his feet stopped he opened them. He stood in a rusty reddish orange room. It was stuffy and hard to breathe in. A tremor flashed through his body and his heart rapidly beat against his ribcage. His eyes glanced up. There, stuck to the wall was the strangest creature he had ever seen. It resembled a dragon, but more eerie and dangerous. He wasn't sure how, but he felt as if he knew this creature as if there was something still alive inside of its dead corpse. He felt that he was it and it was him.

"I'll choose you."

Harry shot up in his bed. His body was drenched in a cold sweat. His hand went to his scar. It wasn't aching like it normally does after a nightmare. He sighed. It was a normal nightmare, not one full of evil bastards or true death. Harry checked the time on his clock that sat on his bedside table. It was six thirty. It was time to start the day. Harry threw the covers off of him and stripped out of his clothes and grabbed a towel off of his floor and made his way to the bathroom. He turned the shower on and stepped inside. The hot water felt good against his naked body. It was almost good enough to make him forget about his nightmare. Almost, he didn't take long in the shower and started making his way back into his room to get dressed.

He wore dark blue jeans and a black short sleeve shirt. He ran a hand through his hair and glanced at his calendar. It was nearing his birthday and hopefully he would be allowed to leave this Hell hole soon. He made his way downstairs to start breakfast. He grabbed a silver frying pan and dropped it when he saw his reflection. Shaking his head he picked the frying pan back up and stared. He could have sworn he had seen the creature! Harry sighed heavily and went back to preparing breakfast.

*******

Breakfast was finished and served by the time the Dursley's arrived into the dining room. While they ate Harry set to work at cleaning up the kitchen. When the Dursley's finished with their breakfast and had left the dining room, Harry helped himself to a bowl of cereal. The phone rang and Dudley reentered the dining room to answer it. Harry sat quietly as he listened to the one sided conversation.

"Hello?" Dudley said.

"Yea this is the Dursley's, and who is this? Our dentist's name is Dr. Brown. Fine. Whatever. Why are you calling?"

Dudley turned and glared at Harry. Harry stared at his cousin, bemused.

"Yeah well he's been at a special school, that's why he hasn't had a check up in awhile." Dudley growled and tossed the phone to Harry.

"You better not lie." He said and stormed into the living room.

"Hello?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Are you alone?" A familiar voice graced his ears.

"Hermione, you're nothing short of a genius."

Despite his bad mood, the fact that Hermione had tricked his cousin put a smile on his face.

"I'm sure. Harry?" Hermione let the question drop off her lips.

"Hermione, why did you call?"

"Why else would I call Harry? You haven't been answering any of my letters."

"Maybe I don't feel like talking to anyone right now."

"Well you're talking to me." Hermione stated.

Harry could hear her sigh through her nose.

"You're right, goodbye Hermione."

"Sirius would be disappointed."

"What did you say?"

"You heard me, Harry."

Harry looked at the phone. Never in all their years of friendship, had Hermione talked to him like that.

"What's the matter, Harry, does the truth hurt?"

"You've no right…"

"I have every right! I've been your friend for...FIVE years now, and I've put up with all yours and Ron's crap and I'm sick of it. All I'm trying to do is help and you bite my head off."

Harry pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it like it had grown a set of eyes. He could still hear her voice, only it was father away. He placed the phone back up to his ear and waited but winced as he received an earful of a yell.

"Ouch! What was that for? I was only trying to help! He's just so irritatingly emo."

The voice was different, but Harry knew he had been talking to this person from the very beginning.

"Fine, take the phone! See if I ever help you again."

"Harry?"

"Hermione?" Harry asked slowly.

"Yeah, um sorry about that, she's a bit protective, although it is partially my fault seeing as how she is my venting buddy."

"Hermione, I have a migraine now."

"Sorry. Look Harry, I can explain everything a lot better in person."

"What do you mean? By floo?"

"No, I mean in person, how would you, like to come and stay with me for the rest of the summer?"

"Really? And is Dumbledore okay with this?"

"Don't worry about it, Harry; it's all taken care of. You just worry about your relatives and I'll worry out the rest."

"Hermione…"

"Please, Harry? Let me help you."

"Fine, I'll guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye."

"Bye."

******

Hermione closed her mobile phone and turned to her friend, who wore a bored expression on her dark face.

"Did you have to speak to him like that? He's hurting. He just lost someone very close to him."

"Doesn't give him the right to act like a dick to everybody." She said.

"How would you feel if you lost…?"

The words died on her lips for Hermione knew what her friend had lost, someone that would stay lost as well.

"Well, you should be nicer to him, after all he is in your charge."

"Please don't remind me."

*******

"I'll choose you."

Harry's eyes snapped opened. He felt closer to the beast. So close. Harry turned to look at his clock. It read 7:13 a.m... He moved to get ready for Hermione's arrival. He didn't remember if Hermione had ever mentioned what time she would be there, perhaps by noon? He quickly showered and dressed for the day. He was late with breakfast but he didn't care. As the Dursley's made their way to the family room, he decided to tell them of his plans.

"Um, Uncle Vernon?" He never really did address his aunt in situations like this. He wondered if she would give in too easily. Does she ignore him because she feels guilty? Harry's thoughts were halted as his uncle responded.

"What is it boy?" His uncle bellowed.

"Um my friend, Hermione, she's coming to take me to her house today." Harry answered.

"I just thought I'd let you know."

"Oh and who says I'd agreed to this?"

"Well I…" Harry started but his aunt cut him off.

"Oh Vernon let him go. Now we don't have to have him in our hair longer than usual."

Harry glanced at his aunt. He usually left after his birthday, which was tomorrow, was one day really that important? Or was she feeling guilty again and this was her way of righting her wrong? Once again the loud voice of his uncle silenced his thoughts.

"When will she be here?"

"I have no idea."

"So the bloody wench is going to show up whenever she damn well pleases? Your freaky little friend better not be doing anything freaky when she arrives."

"Well, she's Muggle born, so I highly doubt that."

Harry rushed upstairs to finish packing and when he was done he brought all of his things downstairs and waited at the door. He occasionally went to the window to check to see if he could spot her coming. As angry and depressed as he was part of him was glad she was coming to save him. He vaguely wondered about her friend from the phone yesterday, but he was sure he'd have his answer soon. Harry went to the window again, a shiny silver minivan stopped in front of the driveway. Harry turned to his relatives.

"Well, she's here! I guess I'll see you next summer."

Harry went to the door and mumbled, "If I'm alive by then."

There was a knock at the door and he opened it.

Hermione's arms flung around Harry's shoulders and he staggered backwards. Harry rubbed her back affectionately. When she pulled back, Harry gave her a once over. She wore dark blue jeans and a white collared buttoned up short sleeved shirt. Beside her was a short dark skinned girl, she had to be at least sixty two inches. She wore faded dark blue jeans and a tight black t-shirt.

"Harry I'm glad you agreed to this. Oh and this is Kar, Karma, but Kar for short."

Harry nodded and shook her hand.

"Well, shall we go then?"

Harry nodded and grabbed his suitcase. Hermione grabbed Hedwig's cage. The two followed Kar to the van. Kar had taken the seat next to the driver.

'Hermione's mother?' Harry thought.

The similarities were bluntly obvious. Harry carefully put his trunk into the back and took Hedwig from Hermione and hopped in the back set with his owl. Hermione sat next to him.

They arrived at the Grangers' home awhile later. Hermione had introduced Harry to her mother and vice versa. The house looked very welcoming for its size. Not too large but not too small either. Jane Granger had dropped them off and set off to return to work. Inside, Harry set his stuff to the side. Hermione turned to him.

"So what do you think?"

"It's lovely."

"We have five bedrooms. One down here and four upstairs, though the one down here was turned into a study library. Upstairs, and to your left, is my parents room, my bedroom is next to theirs, across from mine are the two guest rooms and the bathroom is in-between them. Your room is the first guest room."

Harry nodded and picked up his trunk and walked up the stairs, Kar and Hermione waited behind.

"Are you going to tell him you had the room painted for him?" Kar asked.

Hermione shook her head and followed after Harry. His door was wide open. He turned and smiled at Hermione.

"Gryffindor colors, nice."

"I'm going to make dinner." Kar said and left the room.

"So how long have you known her?" Harry asked.

"Awhile, she was an exchange student when I was still in primary school, and we've kept in touch ever since then."

"Why didn't you ever tell us about her?"

"It never came up."

"So why is she here now?"

"See, you are smarter than you act." Hermione said with a smile.

"She's here for you Harry."

"Why…" Harry started but Hermione cut him off.

"Have you been having strange dreams lately, dreams that have nothing to do with Voldemort?"

Kar reentered the room with three glasses. "Drinks anyone?"

She handed Harry the only red drink.

"So, Harry, have you been having the dreams?"

"What do you know about it?" Harry demanded.

"Oh I know plenty, Dragoon, that is the job of a Shaman."

Harry looked at Hermione. Her face was serious.

"Hermione, what's going on?"

"Your destiny." Kar answered.

"Right, well I already have one of those thanks."

Harry glared at the girl. "What are a dragoon and shaman?"

"Dragoons are the body for the host, a powerful creature which usually resides in Muggle blood." Kar explained.

"What about Shamans?"

"Shamans are neither Muggle nor wizard although in my case I'm half wizard." Kar took a sip of her drink.

"So I have this powerful creature inside of me and what? You're going to help me control it?" Harry asked sitting on the bed. This was too much.

"No, I'm going to help you live through it."

"What?"

"The dragoon feeds on the host's core, its energy, its life, until it's no more than an empty shell."

"Awesome."

"Don't be discouraged Harry. Everything will be fine." Hermione said soothingly.

"Right and how's that?"

"You'll find the answers in there." Kar said pointing to his drink.

"Please take it Harry. Everything will be alright."

Harry gulped down his drink. It tasted fruity. The potion worked fast, his eyes felt heavy and everything around him went black.

A hand brushed through Harry's hair. A woman with auburn hair bent down and placed a light kiss to his forehead and whispered, "Good luck."

She straightened up and joined the two girls at the doorway. Harry was in for a long journey.

A/N: So, that's that and no harm done or at least I don't think there was. Thanks again to my beta Eekfurby