I am so excited to be posting Chapter One of the rewrite! Very excited and also very nervous for how it will be received. It is so completely different from the original that I'm worried to disappoint some. Quick notes. My writing is somewhat flighty. This seems to be the style I have adopted for some reason and try as I may I can't seem to change that fact. Sorry if this bothers some. Note two is that this is an A/U sixth year story. I am trying to stick close to The Half-Blood Prince novel in some aspects but with my own spin on the sequence of events and obviously Harry and Draco's relationship. This is eventual slash. If you don't like slash then please don't read. I also realise that this chapter is boring. Of course because it is boring that means it is also necessary. It had to be written in order to have some sort of background for my story. Trust me, it was hard to write and if I'm honest I'm not 100% satisfied with it but if I didn't post it now I would just keep writing and rewriting it as I have been. Alright I think that's it. Hope this new spin will please anybody here from the original story and newcomers as well and as always, please leave a review.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and profit nothing, this is purely for fun.


Chapter One: The Gates

"He's not a cruel boy. He's competitive, and he's a fighter. He doesn't just lie down and take abuse. But he does have native integrity, which makes him a hero to me. He's a normal boy but with those qualities most of us admire. "

JK Rowling regarding the characterization of Harry Potter

"Come on, ladies, 3 more!"

Harry Potter spared a glance at his best friend Ronald Weasley who was next to him on the ground, arms tensed as they held up his body. The redhead met his eyes and they shared a look. Harry grinned. Their quidditch captain, a man by the name of Aaron Hadwin, had been especially hard on them this afternoon. Although he was particularly hard on them every afternoon today he seemed to have a bit of extra bark in his bite. Harry assumed it was because it was their last day. Hadwin, a stern and retired quidditch player Harry had come to both respect and loathe over the past two months, was head of the All Boys Snitches and Pitches Quidditch camp that Ron had been so eager to join this summer. The pair of them had no idea what to expect when they'd signed up but looking back on their first day, sit-ups and push-ups hadn't even made the list. They'd entered the camp two scrawny teenagers and were going to be leaving, as Ron liked to put it "ripped men"

Their newly developed muscles were just one of the many benefits they'd reaped from attending the quidditch camp. Harry had mastered skills on a broomstick he hadn't even dreamed of, The Wronski Feint among them. He'd had the immense pleasure of learning about the history of quidditch, a subject that truly fascinated him. Then there were also the trust exercises. Ron, whom Harry could already boast he trusted with his life, had proven himself worthy of that trust time and time again this summer. Hadwins trust exercises had consisted of flying up in the air as high as the broomstick could take you and pitching yourself of the broom, literally free-falling through the air, and having your partner catch you on their own broomstick from several feet below. Though the pair of them had their fair share of close calls they'd always managed to catch each other in the end. For the partners that weren't so lucky, Hadwin was always there with a levitating charm to ensure they safely made it to the ground.

Snapping back to the present, Harry began his slow descent on tired muscles back to the dirt below him before using his arms to heft himself back up again. What number was this anyways?

"198! 2 more" came Hadwins brisk shout.

Well that answered his question then.

.

"Ah Harry, so nice to see you dear" Mrs. Weasley said pulling him in for one of her brief but affectionate hugs, "you as well Ron" she rushed to embrace her youngest son as well. "I see the camps done the two of you well" she looked Harry and Ron over approvingly. Ron, ever eager to display his newly developed muscles, stuck his chest out proudly. "Yes mum I suppose it did" he replied offhandly but was still puffed out like a peacock.

Harry watched with amusement and thanked Molly humbly. He too was quite proud of his slightly broader build. He'd grown roughly two inches this summer as well as gained an impressive amount of muscle on both his arms and legs. Hadwin hadn't went easy on them, that was for sure but the hard work had most definitely paid off in the end.

The three of them stood in Hadwins office, handfuls of silvery floo powder at the ready to travel to The Burrow. Harry gazed around the office somewhat sadly. He'd had an amazing summer here, one of his best to date. The camp had been a getaway of sorts, a haven if you will. Here, amongst the broomsticks and cabins, alongside his best mate, it had almost been enough to make him forget about the outside world and the very real approaching war. Voldemort was still out there and very much a threat.

Harry sighed feeling the weight of the world literally resettle itself upon his shoulders. This had been a temporary escape. Tearing his eyes away from the many trophies and quidditch posters lining the walls he threw his handful of dust into the fireplace and stepped into the green flames, careful to tuck his arms neatly at his sides. "The Burrow!" He cried clearly. As the flames engulfed him and he felt the effects of the floo whisking him away he said a silent goodbye to the Snitches and Pitches grounds, it was time to return to the real world.

Harry had finished off his remaining week of summer at The Burrow in as a relaxed state as he could manage. His birthday had come and gone, the Weasleys had prepared a cake and a few presents.

He and Ron had visited Diagon Alley for their school supplies earlier in the week and Harry had felt somewhat like an animal on display. Madam Malkin had spent his entire robe fitting shaking her head and muttering "poor boy" under her breath. Witches and Wizards alike stopped to stare at him in the streets, several approaching him, sorrow filled eyes and mumbled apologies on their breaths.

The feverishly gasped words "The Chosen One" followed him everywhere he went, into every shop he entered and every doorway he exited. Harry turned restlessly to his other side unable to fall asleep. Tomorrow he'd be off to Hogwarts, a place that had once offered solace, had been the only home he'd ever known... what would it bring tomorrow? The usual comfort? Sadly, Harry doubted it.

.

"Come on, mate! We"re going to be late for the bloody train!" Ron yelled running through the Kings Cross Station Platform. Harry, just behind his ginger haired friend quickened his light jog alongside the parked train to catch up.

"Harry, Ron!" The pair paused glancing up at the Hogwarts Express to catch a glimpse of excited brown eyes and bushy brunette locks. Hermione Granger had her head poked out of one of the train windows and was beaming brightly.

"Alright Hermione?" Harry asked a genuine smile gracing his features.

"Alright" she answered. "Ron?"

"Never better" the redhead replied grinning back.

.

"Ronald! Do you ever stop eating?" Hermione exclaimed staring at Ron munching on his eighth chocolate frog.

"No." Ron stated simply around a mouthful of chocolate.

Rolling her eyes Hermione raised a hand to hide her smile. Harry chuckled. "So what have you been up to all summer then, Hermione?"

Hermione turned her attentions to Harry "Well Harry, I've been studying ahead, I found Flesh-Eating Trees of the World to be a quite fascinating read, did you know that a Snargaluff only appears to be a gnarled old stump? It's actually completely covered in thorny vines...very misleading plant, quite dangerous really..."

Harry listened while she spoke of O.W.L. scores and the like, slightly lulled at the familiar tone of Hermione's voice and Ron's chewing. Outside their compartment he could hear the other students shuffling about the train trying to find comfort in the familiarity. He couldn't.

"Excuse me a moment, Hermione, I need to use the loo" the brunette said apologetically rising from his seat.

"Yes Harry of course. I can finish telling you about Apparition lessons when you get back. Ron! Is six pumpkin pasties really necessary?"

Harry closed the compartment door on the conversation quietly and gazed up and down through the trains narrow passageway. It was full and crowded, students lined up at the trolley for sweets and buzzing with excited chatter. Catching a glimpse of gleaming red hair he made his way toward the front of train where Ginny Weasley was exiting a compartment of her own. She'd grown a lot over the summer and Harry had noticed the moment he'd stepped out of the fireplace at the Burrow his first day back from camp. Ginny had been there to greet them and gone was the gangly, lanky girl that had always been known as 'Rons sister'. In her place was a beautiful young woman with silky auburn hair and sparkling brown eyes. She was slim and fair and Harry thought her rather lovely though he was loathe to admit it.

Ginny's young face brightened when her eyes made contact with Harry's.

"Settling in alright then, Harry?" She asked, light brown eyes dancing with the hint of the warm smile upon her lips when he reached her.

A flush Harry had grown accustomed to sporting in the youngest Weasley's presence returned at once as he gazed down into her round upturned face. Try as he might to control the embarrassing display he hadn't quite mastered containing his reaction to her just yet. He'd opened his mouth to respond when there was a snicker behind him.

"So Potter you've finally decided to give the little Weaselette a chance have you? I'm not surprised what with You-Know-Who's return. You best take it where you can get it while you still can. Though I hadn't pegged you as the desperate type. Surely you could do better? That mudblood Granger perhaps?"

The new gentle flare of heat that Harry had began to attribute to the effect Ginny had on him became something much more familiar in an instant. This raw, unadulterated dislike was something he was very accustomed too. A seldom few made the raven haired teen feel such hatred but present company never ceased to disappoint.

Composing himself, Harry turned around and faced the voice that had spoke. The voice that undoubtedly belonged to Draco Malfoy.

To say that Harry was surprised by what he saw would be a fairly accurate description, although for the most part, Malfoy looked as Harry had always remembered him. Sneer twisting his lips, blonde hair plastered harshly to his head accenting the pointy, snarling facial features. His cold gray eyes were surveying Harry and his red haired companion with the utmost contempt. That is where the similarities between the Malfoy he had seen at the end of the school year and the one he seen standing before him now ended. Dark circles surrounded sunken eyes. His high cheekbones were defined as ever, his cheeks were gaunt and his skin shades paler then usual. His body was frail, thin and bony...almost delicate looking. Flanked by his regular cronies, Crabbe and Goyle , both of a husky build, Malfoy looked positively sickly. Any retort Harry had died on his lips as he surveyed his enemy in bewilderment. Luckily Draco's sickly appearance didn't seem to deter Ginny any.

"When will you grow up, Malfoy? A war is approaching. Surely you have more important things to worry about other than Harry's social life."

Malfoy cheeks pinked slightly and Harry was relieved for the brief moment of colour on the otherwise colourless face.

"I'd watch my mouth if I were you, Weasley. Mudbloods and muggle sympathizers will be the first to go. Save for Potter, of course" he spat fiercely. Crabbe and Goyle, ever the faithful lapdogs, nodded eagerly in agreement. Harry's voice chose that moment to return.

"What happened to you?" he blurted out.

He'd meant to tell the arrogant Slytherin to shove off but apparently his mouth had a mind of it's own. While he hadn't meant to say what he had the Gryffindor found himself desperate for the answer. Harry had to know, what had happened to his school rival over the summer?

.

"No I won't lose hope, no, I won't lose sight but heaven is a place I just can't find.

Run from the shadows and run to the light, running from the past I left behind.

Haunted by a memory that I just can't set free, searching for the man that I used to be.

Now I'm standing at the gates and I just can't escape, heaven is a place that I can't find"

THE GATES by Young Empires