Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That enviable right belongs to J.K. Rowling. I also do not own any references made to Lord of the Rings or Anne McCaffery's Pern novels. The things in this story that are mine are the non-HP and non-LOTR events you'll hear about, most of the minor (and some of the not-so-minor) characters, and maybe the plot (but I could be wrong). As a final warning in case you didn't read the summary, this story will eventually have slash of the HD and GS variety and maybe some others, I don't know what my muse might have in store for me so we'll see. It will also be heavily AU so don't expect to understand everything you read right off and don't get mad if I do something you don't agree with. Now enough of the boring stuff and on to the story before my muse bites me again!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Alright... here's the intro. Just so you guys know this is my first Harry Potter fic, and my first fic that I have ever posted. K now that you know what to expect I'll tell you there won't be any slash for a while. I build up to this stuff and try and provide a likely scenario so please bear with me. That's all the boring stuff... enjoy!

A Balanced World

Introduction

In the darkness of midnight, a young boy woke. There was nothing in his room, no sounds from outside and even his owl was away. He stared at the ceiling for a while and tried to figure out what had woken him up this time.

These nighttime awakenings had been occurring more often recently, and Harry Potter had a good idea why. After all, it had been just over two years since Lord Voldemort had regained his body. Harry waking in the middle of the night due to events miles away was nothing unusual. This time though, Harry couldn't find anything wrong. His scar didn't prick, itch, or tingle like it would if Voldemort had been up to something and he felt perfectly normal, only he was awake.

Just to be sure there was nothing wrong, Harry stood up and moved to the window. There was nothing moving on the street outside and, more importantly in Harry's mind, all the street lamps were still lit. There was in fact nothing on the street that was not as it should have been. Feeling a little silly with his reaction, Harry went back to his bed and, with nothing to occupy his mind with, drifted back off to sleep.

The figure sitting on his horse continued to look at the window where the boy had been standing. He continued contemplating the window for another hour as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be waiting on a suburban street. The horse turned its head and snorted at its rider, who grinned to himself and nodded as if answering an unspoken question. Tugging sharply at the reigns, the horseman trotted off down the street.

Up in his room Harry woke once more and again looked out his window. He was sure this time that he had heard something that didn't belong in Little Whinging or anywhere near Privet Drive. When he checked the street though, there was still nothing to be seen.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And since I know how annoying it is to receive such a short installment right off, I posted the first chapter at the same time...