Title: Within the Shadows

Rating: M

Author: Lunar Secrets

Chapter: One

Warnings: Killing, cussing, Ron-bashing, Dumbledore-bashing,

Summary: Harry Potter has gone missing. After being sent away by the Dursleys, who didn't bother to read the letter, they drop him off in the middle of London, caring not if he dies. Fifteen years later, Harry is found. How in the world will Dumbledore be able to convince this independent boy to help them?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Harry Potter and everyone else in the series belong to J. K. Rowling. I'm just using them to fulfill my own sickening plot.

Author's Notes: This is my go at some of the other stories that have Harry being sent to an orphanage, but instead, left on a street and not found until he is like, fourteen or fifteen. The rating is just so I can expand my limits. This is two weeks before what would be Harry's sixth year in Hogwarts

Okay, I'm sorry that this hasn't been updated in like, forever. Hopefully it's up to your standards, and hopefully I'll update sometime next week. Hermione is out of character a little bit, but not much. This story will probably end up slash, with whom, though, I don't know yet. It will NOT be Harry/Ginny. shutters And, do I bash Snape, or not? Opinions would be great. Please review.

Chapter One

A Whole New World?

Like a king without castle


Like a knight without a home


I call your name but there's no answer

And I'm left here on my own

Chris Isaak - King Without A Castle

"Harry Potter; is he really here?" An eager girl asked excitedly.

"Yeah, I heard that Tonks found him."

Inside Number 12 Grimmauld Place, in a barely lit kitchen, four figures sat around a table, talking to themselves. A plump lady was sitting left of a brunette, who had a book in her lap, one hand on it. Across from them sat two siblings, one girl and one boy, both with flaming red hair. While the people themselves weren't very interesting, to any magical person, their conversation was.

"Where is he?" Ginny questioned, her face alight, her smile widening to a grin at the good news.

"I dunno." Ron shrugged, and then bit into one of his mother's homemade brownies, pieces of chocolate falling from his mouth. Hermione giggled, covering her hand over her mouth. Ginny stared in disgust and Mrs. Weasley just lowered her head to hide the smirk she was wearing.

"Mum, can I go see him?" Ginny turned her attention to her mother.

"No, Ginny, darling, wait until Albus gets here. The boy could be dangerous. What if he-" Her mother began to scold her daughter, who was slowly inching away with her chair.

"But mum, this is the Boy-Who-Lived! He can't be evil!" Ginny protested before her mom could say anything else.

"And he lived on the streets his entire life!" Mrs. Weasley continued, "He wouldn't know right from wrong! Ginny, he might hurt you!"

Ginny scowled, "Yeah right. Harry Potter wouldn't hurt me!"

"Have you met him?"

"Well, no…" She trailed off. Molly stood up, her hands on her waist. Ginny followed her mother's actions, her chair moving back a foot form the force.

"EXACTLY! Stay away from him, Ginny!"

"NO!"

"Wonder if he likes to study?"

Hermione's quiet outburst was so random, Ginny stopped in mid-bicker, and Ron, who was on his third brownie, froze in mid bit.

"Hrowt?" Ron muttered, chunks of food flying from his mouth. Hermione shuttered, whipping off her face with her hand.

"Swallow Ron," Hermione told him, muttering something under her breath that Ginny could have sworn sounded like, "Honestly, boys!"

"I said, 'What?'" He replied after swallowing, placing the half eaten brownie on an ever-so-convenient napkin.

"Well…" Hermione hesitated, "I was just thinking that if Harry Potter likes to study, he must be pretty smart. And smart people normally wouldn't go and attack people, even if they were a celebrity. So if he does like to study, then Ginny can hang out with him. And then Mrs. Weasley doesn't have to worry about Ginny getting hurt."

She took a deep breath then smiled widely as Mrs. Weasley began to nod in agreement and Ginny sent her a thankful look. Ron, however, was getting red in the face.

"You think I'm stupid?" He half shouted, pointing one finger at Hermione, who stared at the finger in surprise.

"Um, no Ron. What about Neville? Neville studies for Potions, but he's not exactly smart there," Hermione calmly said, easily understanding what he was mad about, although it took her a moment. She had known him for six years.

Ron opened his mouth to reply, but before he could even whisper a word, a loud crash came from the other side of the kitchen door, followed by a girl's voice, two male voices, and a horrid screech.

"FILTHY MUDBLOODS! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! I WON'T ALOW SCUM LIKE YOU TO PARADE ABOUT LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE!"

"AND YOU, YOU BLOOD TRAITER, YOU HALF BLOOD! YOU OUGHT TO BE A SQUIB WITH YOUR PARENTAGE! OUT! OUT, OUT, OUT! I WON'T STAND FOR IT! COMPLETELY UNDESERVING OF MAGIC! WHY, I OUGHT TO-"

Mrs. Black's yells passed easily through the door, followed by silencing spell, and the door to the kitchen shoved open. In walked Tonks, the green-haired beauty, Remus, in all of his werewolfish might, Severus, a scowl on his pale face, and Dumbledore, the leader of righteousness, carrying (or levitating) a sixteen-year-old boy. Trailing after them was an unusually grim faced dog.

The boy seemed to be stupefied. His eyes were shut, hiding pained emerald eyes. His raven hair wildly moved around his face, like there was a breeze in the room, though there was none. His arms crossed over his body, though they held no real stature, like they had been thrown over his body.

Mrs. Weasley gave a terrified scream as she looked at the five. She ran over, wand in hand. Her eyes widened at the sight.

The boy's face was scarred enough to give even the bravest man the shivers. Every scar seemed to be connected, whether it ran through another, or it was just jagged. The only scar that really stood out was in the middle of his forehead.

It had a lightening bolt shape. The lines were sharp, and not jagged. None of the other scars touched it. Rather, they seemed to fade before they could touch it. Because of that, it seemed to give off a faint glow from far off.

The second shriek Mrs. Weasley was louder, and filled with more fear. Severus groaned, fearing another one of the Mother Weasley tirade.

However, before she could even begin, before Severus could complain, even before Tonks could change her hair color, the teenager moved. Everyone, except Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, who had no clue as to what was going on, drew in a breath.

For a moment, nothing happened. Silence reined the room until a quiet groan broke it. Green eyes blinked, once, then twice. They both closed at once, and everyone let out a quiet sigh, even if they didn't know why.

"Everyone, watch out," Albus Dumbledore whispered, taking a step away from the floating mystery boy. Severus and Remus followed in suit. Another groan filled the room, louder this time. The boy's left arm twitched, and Mrs. Weasley darted back to the table. She wasn't going to ignore Dumbledore's warning!

Suddenly, faster then any broom, the levitation spell was lifted, and by accident, of course.

If anything could wake the cursed boy, that could. And did. The teenager sat up, his green eyes alert. He took a look around. He winced, then it was as if he had super speed, like one of those heroes in the movies, he was standing. He hissed loudly, realizing that his weapons of choice and those that weren't seemed to be missing.

The boy glared darkly at Severus, whose smirk had gotten bigger.

Hermione gasped. Covering her mouth, she gave a hollow whisper, "Harry Potter?"

The boy's head whipped around to the voice. Hermione shivered, reaching over to grab Ron's hand from across the table. Ron almost whined, but then noticed the upset teen and quickly shut his mouth.

"Aye, that'd be meh," The boy, Harry Potter, rasped, his voice too unused and deep to sound normal. It didn't help that he has a street accent. Remus winced, and the black dog just hung his head.

Severus sneered. That turned out to be a mistake though. The boy narrowed his eyes further, and his arm moved so fast, it was hard for the occupants of the room to realize what was happening. Potter's fist collided with Severus' face, throwing Severus into the wall behind him.

On his face was a quickly forming bruise. Severus glared back at the boy. Clearly not thinking, he spat at Potter in distaste.

Dumbledore realized the insult, and jumped in between the two of them. Severus gave a quiet sigh of relief.

"Aye ain't afraid teh hurt yeh too," Potter muttered darkly, snorting in amusement at Dumbledore's protective antics.

Dumbledore blinked. Who would ever attempt to hurt him, the great savior of the light? Why, the very idea was insulting! He gave a slight nod to Remus and Tonks.

And before Harry Potter had any time to react, two stunners hit him instantaneously.

xxx

Sorry it's so short. I'm trying to work on that. Anyways, I swear to God that the next update with me within the next six days. And, may I note, it's longer than this. Yeah, it's a bloody interrigation. Please review, if you enjoyed it. Or if you don't like it. Or you want critique it. cough