Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Harry Potter series created by J.K. Rowling or any other book that I might use reference from (names, places etc) or music that might/will appear in this fic.

Summary: A new girl moves into the neighborhood, but there is more then meets the eye. What does she have to do with the wizarding world and how can she help.

Occurs the summer before 4th year, so a little AU and darker.

Mentions abuse, swearing, drugs, drinking.

Independent Harry, Own Character (not a Mary-sue! She's only wearing my clothes!)

Pairings: undecided.

Chocolate Roses

Chapter One

"BOY! Get down here now!"

"Coming Uncle Vernon, I just need to finish my letter to Sirius."

"Hurry it up boy!"

"Ok Uncle Vernon!" Harry answered while smirking. Harry Potter soon to be 14 years old was currently in his bedroom, the smallest one in the house, however he did not care because it was at least bigger then his cupboard. Harry had unruly dark brown hair, which came just past his ears and striking emerald green eyes that held a hidden intelligence, there was also a mischievous gleam, but his eyes also held a haunted quality; having someone trying to kill you every year could do that to someone. Harry stood at about 5 foot 5 inches, he should have been taller, yet living in the cupboard under the stairs, and having little food throughout your growing years could do that to you. Harry had a small build, yet he had a bit of muscle from chores done during the holidays and Quidditch during the school year. His hand-me-down clothes were mended and shrunk to fit his frame while at Hogwarts, when this was done the clothes looked much better, considering the Dursley's wanted nothing but the best clothes for Dudders, so the clothes were of higher quality.

Harry's summer so far was the best he ever had, not only did Harry find out that he had a godfather but said godfather was a wanted criminal in both the muggle and wizarding worlds. Yet Harry was happy, Sirius was of course innocent but that information was on a need to know basis and Uncle Vernon did not need to know. So for the first two weeks of break Harry's relatives were very wary of Harry and his criminal godfather.

The summer also brought along a new face to Privet Drive, the neighbors across the road had their niece living with them, Harry met her the day she arrived, two days ago.

Flashback

It was late afternoon and Privet Drive was deserted except for Harry, who was walking back towards his relative's house, when he noticed the Miller's car returning from the airport. His Aunt Petunia had informed Uncle Vernon of this last night, Harry just happened to over hear, he also heard the reason why the Miller's needed to go tot he airport. Apparently, the Miller's niece was coming back to England after being in Canada for the last 13 years.

The car had stopped and the Miller's, John and Alice if Harry remembered correctly, had already gone into the house leaving their niece standing beside the car. She shook her head and had gone round the car to the boot of the car and opened it. The girl looked about Harry's age, and was wearing a band T-shirt 'The Doors', faded blue jeans that hung off her hips, they were snug against her thighs, and hung loose around her feet, a studded belt held the pants up. She was wearing black converse shoes that were well worn, she was wearing black eyeliner, and nail polish on her short nails, that looked bitten. She had a variety of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings (two in each lower lobe, and one in each upper ear).

She was just under 5 foot 3 inches, and had darker brown and slightly curly hair that reached just pasted her shoulders and a fringe that was swept to her right side. Her face was still slightly round and she had dark blue eyes, her lips were a light pink and she had a slender yet curvy body. But it was her dark blue eyes that held Harry's interests, they looked old beyond her years, they held a haunted quality, and yet there was immense intelligence and they were extremely intense. She would definitely win staring contests; it was unnerving how intense they are.

By the time she had opened the boot of the car, Harry had reached her and decided to make himself known, "Hey, I'm Harry, do you need any help?"

"Hi Harry, I'm Nicole, I don't think I need any help I only have a couple of bags." Nicole answered pulling out two duffel bags and shutting the boot. "Thanks for asking though, I should really get inside, I'll see you around, right?"

"Of course, I live right across the street at number four." Answered Harry pointing across the street at the Dursley's house. "I should really get going to, so ya, I'll see you around." Nicole gave Harry a small smile as she turned around and went to the front door and went inside. Harry watched her go, and once she was inside Harry also turned to go back to number four, once inside he was herded into the kitchen where he started on the Dursley's supper.

End of Flashback

Harry soon finished his letter to Sirius and sent it off with Hedwig, since he could no longer stall Harry went down to see what his Uncle Vernon had wanted. "Yes, Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked as he arrived in the sanitarily clean kitchen, said uncle was sitting at the table reading the morning mail and eating breakfast.

"We need to talk boy. Just because you have that criminal for a godfather doesn't mean that you can laze about the house. You will do the chores given to you by Petunia, and you will do them correctly. Got it boy!" At this the man looked up at his nephew for the first time since he started his rant, expecting an answer from the boy.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry intoned from the doorway to the kitchen. Harry grabbed the list of chores from his aunt and quickly scanned the list, it was entirely made up of outside chores; mowing the lawn, watering and weeding the plants, and putting new soil in, and organizing the shed. Harry returned to his room to change into more 'garden worthy' clothes. Harry was extremely grateful to have a criminal of a godfather to hold over the Dursley's because this list is extremely short compared with what he had to do during previous summers, and even then that was nothing compared to before he went to Hogwarts.

Harry did all of his chores without complaint, the weather was relatively nice, and there were clouds in the sky, giving Harry a brake from the sun every so often. Harry only had a couple of minute's rest between each chore set out on the list, and yet the list of chores lasted most of the day. Harry blamed his slowness on the fact that he hardly ever did chores anymore, and was in fact a bit out of shape compared with his younger self. Harry had finished his tasks an hour before he was due to start supper for the Dursley's, and so he decided that a shower and a changed of clothes were needed. Going back into the empty Dursley's house Harry had a quick shower and put on a set of clean clothes.

Once he was cleaned up Harry went back outside hoping to get a chance to talk to Nicole again before he needed to start supper. Harry saw Nicole not a minute later coming back from the direction of the local corner store a couple blocks away. She was carrying a few bags of groceries, Harry rushed over to talk to her, they met at the end of their block. "Hey Nicole, I haven't seen you in a while, how have you been?"

"Oh, hey Harry, I've been good you?" Nicole answered, changing her previous demeanor from dark to happy as soon as she noticed Harry coming towards her.

"I've been good to. So what have you been up to?"

"Well I've been a bit busy, you know getting used to life here in Little Whinging with my aunt and uncle," here Nicole looked quickly between Harry, her relatives house and her watch. "I have to get back but would you like to hang out sometime?"

"Oh ok, uh ya, sure when would be a good time for you?" Harry turned slightly pink at the way he was fumbling over his words; Nicole was a touch more direct then he first thought.

"Tomorrow after supper is a good time, you?" Nicole stopped to see if it was good for Harry also, Harry nodded his assent, and Nicole continued, "hopefully my chores won't take too long tomorrow, so I'll see you then I guess." Nicole smiled a bit at the pink adorning Harry's cheeks.

"Right I'll see you then." When they were done making plans they arrived at the Miller's house, Nicole turned back to say goodbye to Harry, and then went inside the house. Before Harry took a step off the stoop he heard a high pitched screech coming from within the house, curious, Harry pressed an ear up against the front door and listened.

"Where have you been, what took you so long in getting back?"

"I'm sorry Aunt Alice but there were long line ups and-"

"Don't you interrupt you inconsiderate little abnormality, John will be home soon and you have yet to start supper for him."

"But it was out of my hands Aunt Alice-"

"WHAT did I just tell you about interrupting me! How could you do this to us, you're lucky we took you in, if it weren't for us you would be in an orphanage or on the streets. Be lucky that we were kind enough to give you shelter when no one else wanted you. Now get back to the kitchen and make sure supper is not late getting on the table. And remember this, you will not go unpunished." The woman, Mrs. Miller finished, and Harry heard Nicole going back to the kitchen.

Harry went back to the Dursley's and started supper, he wasn't paying attention to what he was doing, all he could concentrate on was what Mrs. Miller said to Nicole, and could not help but wonder if he helped Nicole get into trouble with her aunt. Nicole had stopped to talk to him for a few minutes, could Harry have caused her to be late and thus get punished, and if the Miller's were anything like the Dursley's, Harry was really worried for Nicole. This really bothered Harry and he didn't even realize that he had finished the supper and the Dursley's were already eating. Harry went up to his bedroom and sat at his window looking out onto the front street, it was then that Harry realized that he could see into Nicole's bedroom across the street. She too was looking out and saw Harry looking at her, she smiled sadly and waved to him, Harry smiled and waved back to her. She then closed her curtains and turned off her light.

Harry continued watching the Miller's house looking for anything that might give away what was going on at that moment, but soon the lights were turned off and the rest of the street was shrouded in darkness, only the lights from the moon, street lamps and Harry's room was all that was left. Harry got up and turned off his light and went back to sitting on his window ledge, he sat there looking out for a while before he to went to bed. It was a while before he could fall asleep, but before he did he promised to himself and Nicole that if he saw any marks on Nicole that he would confront her and maybe he could help her. However, if there were no marks on her then he would stay quiet about what he had heard for now, there was no reason for Nicole to know that he was eavesdropping on her.

Harry's dreams that night were filled with memories from when he was younger and the Dursley's were not worried about some criminal coming after them. The chores were endless, and the smacks across his head and body that left bruises that coloured his tiny body, gave him phantom pains in his sleep. Memories of his cupboard, Dudley's gang and Aunt Marge and her dogs, and all the hateful words directed at his person. All the adults that would never listen nor notice his bruises, too scared to upset the Dursley's. And finally the hope that died, knowing that no one would come to save him, and take him away from this hell on earth, and knowing that no one wanted or loved him made Harry cry in his sleep. When Harry woke the next morning, he did not feel the least bit rested and for the life of him could not figure out what he had dreamed to make him feel this way.

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I think this is much better, what do you think?

Thanks,

Echo87