Standard disclaimer: I own nothing involved with Harry Potter...I only play here.

It was going to be a very long ride back to Number 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey. Harry somberly stored his trunk in the boot of the car and climbed into the back seat. He was carrying a large cage, nestled inside was a sleeping, beautiful snowy white owl.

Harry Potter was on his way home for the summer holidays. He had just finished his fifth year at his boarding school. But, Harry was no ordinary boy of fifteen, and his was no ordinary boarding school. You see, Harry Potter is a wizard. His school (in his mind his real home) is Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Depending on who you asked, he has the potential for being the most powerful wizard of our time, The-Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry lived during the summer with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and rather large blond cousin, Dudley Dursley. He had come to live with them when he was barely more than one year old. Aunt Petunia found him placed on their doorstep one morning as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles. From that day forward, until he becomes of age at seventeen, Aunt Petunia was given the responsibility of providing a home for her only sister's son. This, of course, was much to the annoyance of her rather loud and obnoxious husband Vernon. The only good purpose Harry ever served in Vernon's mind was that he was a handy target for his own even louder and more obnoxious son Dudley.

Harry had no idea he was a wizard until that fateful eleventh birthday when Hagrid had come to collect Harry himself to take him to his new school. Until then, Harry had believed that his mother and father, Lily and James Potter had died in a car crash. It was then that Harry learned the truth. His parents had been murdered by an evil wizard named Voldemort. Voldemort had tried to kill Harry also, but the curse backfired on him, leaving him a broken shell of what he had been. Lily Potter had died protecting her son, offering him the greatest protection of all...love.

Voldemort spent years in hiding trying to recoup. His faithful followers, the Death-Eaters, were either in prison or denying that they ever followed him willingly. During the first three years of school Harry successfully escaped Voldemort's repeated attempts to regain his body and strength. During his fourth year, at the end of the Triwizard Tournament Harry was kidnapped and his blood used in a horrific spell that allowed Voldemort to return once again. After dueling he managed to barely escape with his life. His friend Cedric Diggory was not so lucky. Harry still carried the burden of guilt over Cedric's death.

Just this past year, Harry was once again faced with Voldemort's wrath and watched his beloved friend and guardian, Sirius Black murdered in front of his eyes. Harry had been tricked by Voldemort into believing that Sirius was in danger in order to lure him to the Ministry of Magic where a prophecy was being kept. Sirius died fighting to save Harry. Harry would never forgive himself for allowing Voldemort to trick him.

It was indeed, a sad and broken-hearted boy that sat in the back-seat of the car. He said nothing as his cousin climbed in next to him and his Aunt and Uncle climbed in the front of the car and pulled away. They had no sooner pulled from the parking lot than Uncle Vernon started.

"It's bad enough that we have to risk being seen with you here, but do you have to carry that great ruddy bird out in the open too?" he bellowed. "It's a good thing that Dudders here is with us...maybe no one will think we are too abnormal." he turned his quickly reddening face to his wife Petunia. "This is all your freak sister's fault! If she would not have gotten herself and her husband blown up we would not be saddled with him today!" Uncle Vernon continued to rant and wave all the way home.

Harry had learned from necessity to tune out Uncle Vernon as much possible from years of practice. He sat in the backseat of car replaying the recent events over and over in his mind. Oh Hermione, you were right...I should have listened to you...Sirius would still be alive today and none of you would been hurt. I could have gotten you all killed. His sadness turned quickly to anger as he thought of his headmaster Professor Dumbledore. I trusted you! And you continued to withhold things from me that I had a right to know! If you had treated me with the same respect I had for you maybe this could have been avoided. I am not just a weapon for you to use in this war! I am a person, with feelings too!

Harry glanced over at Dudley who was being uncharacteristically quiet. Dudley kept sneaking glances at Harry when he thought no one was looking. Aunt Petunia would steal furtive looks at him through the rear view mirror whenever she got the opportunity.

By the time they had pulled into the drive at number 4 Privet Drive, Vernon was worked up into quite a state. Harry was angrier than he can ever remember being in his life. He grabbed his cage and trunk intending to go straight upstairs and hide in his room until he had to go back to school. Uncle Vernon was not going to let him go that easily. As he and Harry stormed into the house, Vernon grabbed Harry by the shirt and shoved him against the wall.

"And just who do those freaks you call friends think they are talking to me at the train station in that tone? If you think I am going to put up with your kind coming and going in MY home all summer you had better think AGAIN!" Uncle Vernon raged. "I suppose that murderous freak you call a godfather thinks he can come and go here as he likes!"

Harry snapped. In one quick move he had drawn his wand and had Uncle Vernon up against the opposite wall.

"Don't you ever speak about Sirius Black again! He is more of a man than you will ever be! " Harry had his wand pressed sharply against Vernon's fat, red neck. "If you don't want MY kind to show up at your doorstep every three days looking for me you had better stay OUT OF MY WAY! If not, I just might forget to drop them a note every three days telling them I am alright here. I am sure that Mad-Eye Moody would love the opportunity to stop by and see you again!"

"Muh-muh-Mad-Eye? Is that the man with that horrible eye that was yelling at me at the train station?" Vernon cowered.

"Yes, the one and the same" said Harry. "He tends to be very protective of me and won't take kindly to your attitude!"

"Put that stick away, boy! I know you aren't allowed to use it away from that...'school' ...of yours anyway!" Vernon tried to regain control of the situation.

Harry just growled. "Don't tempt me. I don't really care what happens to me anymore." He stomped upstairs and slammed the door to his room.

Harry threw his trunk in the corner and put Hedwig's cage on top of the dresser. Hedwig hooted softly and looked at Harry with big sad eyes. "I know, girl. Hopefully it wont be for long this summer. At least you will be able to fly with my messages to the Order every few days." Hedwig nipped affectionately at Harry's finger and closed her eyes. Harry crossed over to the bed and laid down. His exhausted mind overcome, he finally slept.

Early the next morning Harry dragged himself out of bed. The visions that haunted him during the night still turning in his mind...his friends falling during battle...Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna...Bellatrix LeStrange's evil laugh, Voldemort's eyes...Sirius falling back through a misty veil...It was more than he could bear. It was barely light outside as he stood in front of the mirror. Reaching for his round-rimmed glasses and putting them on, Harry stared. Looking back at him was a pale, thin, messy black-haired boy. He had grown taller, he was nearly as tall as Ron now. Harry had always been a little too thin. Years of neglect from his so-called family had been hard to overcome. His eyes skimmed over his skinny chest and came to rest on his pale face. Staring into his red-rimmed green eyes he began to feel even more depressed. He rubbed his hands over his peach-fuzzed face and through his messy black hair. He stared at the lightening shaped scar above his right eye and sighed. I am the one that is supposed to save the world from a monster? I think even Ginny could kick my sorry arse right now!

Thoughts swirled through Harry's mind as he recalled the past few days. Sirius was dead. His friends had been loyal and faithful to him, and nearly died because of it. One person Harry had thought he could trust above all others had admittedly been keeping things from him. And now he knew the truth. He was the one that had to ultimately challenge and defeat Voldemort. He turned the words over slowly in his mind...

THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES...BORN TO THOSE THAT HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES...AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT...AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES...THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES...

Harry thought instantly of Neville. Neville Longbottom could have fit the words of the prophecy also. He was also born in July and his parents had also fought against Voldemort during the war as aurors. Voldemort's spy had only heard the beginning of the prophecy and when he told his master what he had heard, Voldemort picked Harry as the one. When Voldemort tried to kill him marking him forever with the deadly curse scar, he had marked him as his equal. Neville still didn't know about the brush with fate he had just missed. Harry wondered if he didn't secretly wish that this burden could have been placed upon Neville instead of him. But things often worked out the way they were supposed to in the end, and Neville had grown into a more secure and formidable wizard in his desire to help Harry. Neville was a good friend and Harry was resigned to protecting him as well as his other friends.

As Harry continued to stare grimly at himself in the mirror, he thought Thats it! I will not risk the lives of any more because I am cowering in my room! If I have to meet Voldemort head on and kill him so be it! And if I have to die in the process...fine...as long as I can take him and as many of his followers with me..it would be worth it.

Harry felt his scar bristle. I WILL be ready for you next time, you bastard. You WON'T have the upper hand against me again! You will die for all the pain you have caused the world, I swear it!

Harry reached into the older dresser and pulled out an old pair of Dudley's baggy shorts and a t-shirt two sizes too big for him. He got dressed and quietly went downstairs. He opened the front door and walked out into the damp morning air.

"Good morning, Harry!"

Harry turned to see his neighbor Mrs. Figg waving at him from her porch. He had only discovered last year that Mrs. Figg was actually a squib and had been watching him by Dumbledore's request all these years. ...one more thing he neglected to trust me enough to tell me... Harry smiled and waved to her as he set out for a run to the park.

Harry was surprised at how winded he got as his feet pounded against the pavement. At long last he reached the park and turned to head home again. When his lungs were screaming for him to stop, he just imagined how surprised Voldemort was going to be next time they met. Harry bounded up the stairs and headed straight for the shower. Exhausted, but strangely feeling better than he had in weeks, he let the warm water wash over him. He quickly dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.

"Goodbye Pet! See you tonight. Since we have to have Harry here again, put him to good use...don't let him just lie about not earning his keep." Vernon blasted past Harry pushing him to the side on his way out the door for work.

"Good morning Aunt Petunia, Dudley." Harry said as he sat at the table and took a piece of toast. Harry looked over at Dudley as he ate his breakfast. Dudley had been on the boxing team at Smelting's this year. He had grown several inches and even Harry had to admit, although he was still imposingly large, he was definitely more compact and solid.

"So, Dudley, how was your term?" Harry asked in a conversational tone.

Dudley started a bit and looked warily at Harry. "F-fine...our team fared well."

Petunia smiled. "Thats my Dudders, so modest. He was captain of his team this year! We saw every match, he was brilliant!" Petunia hugged her son tightly. She glanced at Harry and sniffed, "You might try and do something worthwhile at that school of yours that you go to."

Dudley actually looked away and blushed while Harry just stared down into his glass of orange juice.

"I told Mrs. Fenwick next door I would do some work for her this month, Mum."

Petunia raised an eyebrow. "What kind of work?"

"She wants someone to dig up a garden next to her garage and put up a fence along the back of the house."

"Really, Dudley, surely she can hire people to do that for her. This is your holiday! Wouldn't you rather be relaxing and spending time with your friends? We give you an allowance, if it isn't enough I am sure we can raise it up. After all, you are almost sixteen now."

"I already asked Dad. He agreed with the arrangements. Besides, I want to be able to buy something nice for Michelle for her birthday...with my own money."

"Well, at least take Harry with you to the heavy work. You don't have to share your hard-earned pay with him, he doesn't need it." Petunia snapped.

Dudley just shook his head and looked at Harry. "If he wants to help, I could use it. I will split the money with him." He stared at his mother almost daring her to argue the point.

Harry thought about it for a minute. He really could use some new clothes before school started, he had grown so much taller. The work would certainly be good exercise. He figured he could even tolerate Dudley's company for that. "Sure, I'll help you, thanks Dudley."

"I told her that I would start tomorrow."

"OK, as soon as I get back from running we can have breakfast and go." Harry cleaned up his plate and went up to his room to finish unpacking. Maybe this summer wouldn't be that bad after all.