Disclaimer: Alas, HP is not for sale so I do not own it. That right remains with J.K.R. Although I hold claim to the plot, and any different character traits.

"Harry!" He jolted up in his bed, eyes wide, hands set ready to defend. Wild green eyes fell on red hair that loomed over him. He sighed and grabbed his glasses, shoving them roughly on his face.

"What, Ron?" Harry asked, trying to keep the exasperation he felt out of his voice.

"It's time for breakfast. If you hurry we won't be late."

"I'm not hungry. Why don't you head on down and I'll catch up with you and 'Mione at class. He caught the look on Ron's face and cut him off before he could protest. "I'll grab something from the kitchens, OK?"

Again he opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut at the look the dark-haired boy shot him. With a sigh he left the room and Harry collapsed back on his pillow. He hadn't gotten any sleep. No nightmares plagued his mind, but doubts had begun seeping in. It made him too scared to sleep, because in the dreams his fears could be realized.

Tapping on the window snapped him out of his thoughts. He stood slowly, stretching out tense muscles. A regal looking brown owl blinked at him through the glass. Harry slid the window open and the owl swooped in, landing on the nearest bedpost. He held out his leg and Harry took the letter, petting his head as a reward. The owl hooted and flew back out the still open window, leaving Harry alone once more.

He looked at the parchment in his hand. Who would be writing to him? Everyone he could think of was at the school and could easily just come see him. There was writing on the front of the folded parchment. Written in bold flowing lettering it said, 'Little Emerald'. It was from Shadow! Harry eagerly opened it and started reading.

My little emerald, I miss you already. It has scare been a few

hours that I have been without your presence. My heart aches

to have you by side once more. I hatched a plan to keep you

distracted from any bad thoughts you might have while I am away

from you. Solve the riddles that I have put together for you. Each

answer will yield a new question that will lead you closer to me.

Here is the first:

I am an object

Yes, this is true

And I hold for you

The next clue

I give you these hints

To aid in your quest

But only if you agree

To try your best

I shrink as time passes

I'm alight with life

You will find me somewhere

Of frightening height

Quickly seek me out

For if I die

I take with me your clue

This I swear, is no lie.

Good luck my lovely.

-Your dear Shadow

Harry looked around, confused. How was he supposed to solve that, he wasn't smart. Hermione was the one who was good at things like that. Sighing, he tucked the riddle in his pocket and got dressed. He would worry about it later, he needed to get a move on before Ron showed up and starteed pestering him again.

Out in the corridor he shivered as the feeling of being watched washed over him. Before he could locate who it was Hermione ran up to him.

"Harry! Are you OK? Ron said you weren't hungry, but you can't keep skipping meals like this! You're thin enough as it is and if you don't eat you'll be nothing but skin and bones!'

" 'Mione!" he yelled, cutting her off mid-rant. "I'll be fine, I was just heading to the kitchens to grab something." She eyed him in disbelief, but backed down.

"Fine, but I'm coming with you and I'm gonna watch you eat." Harry rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm. Why couldn't anyone ever just let him be. They were always breathing down his neck about something. Shaking his head to get rid of those thoughts, he realized that someone was still watching him. A smile curved his lips when he thought of Shadow. Harry scanned the shadowed areas around him, but couldn't see anything.

It was discerning and comforting at the same time. He didn't like knowing that someone was watching his every move, but it was Shadow. The only person who understood him. It was nice to think that he was there if Harry suddenly needed him. Hermione jerked him to a stop and he shook off his thoughts once more. She had a weird look on her face and was studying him. He shrugged and turned away, reaching up to scratch the pear on the entrance to the kitchens.

They entered the kitchens and were immediately mobbed by house elves. Harry told them what he wanted and they all dashed off. He flinched slightly at the disapproving look 'Mione was sending his way. She opened her mouth to reprimand him, but he held up a hand.

"Don't. Just please, don't." He surprised himself with the emotion that was in those five words. She sent him another look, but one that he couldn't decipher. Harry contented himself to just stare off into space. Shadow's riddle kept flowing through his mind.

He was just about to ask Hermione about it when a glint of silver caught his eye. There in the corner was a short, aged candle on a shiny candlestick. Suddenly the answer the the first clue was obvious. A candle! They shrink as the flame, the most basic form of life, burns. If he didn't find it before the candle burnt out, the next riddle would burn too. But where is the candle? Somewhere of frightening height, but that could be any of the towers. Or the Quidditch pitch.

Harry jumped to his feet, that was it! The Quidditch pitch. It had to be there, if only for the reason that Shadow knew that Harry would go there to think, like he always did. What better place to hide it than right under his nose while he wondered what the riddle meant. He rushed out of the kitchens and dashed to the pitch, summoning his broom as he went. He could faintly hear Hermione yelling at him to come back, but he didn't care. When he reached the field, his green eyes scanned it. He almost laughed when he spotted it, floating above one of the goal-posts. He flew up quickly and untied the parchment, slipping it in his pocket.

He saw Hermione making her way towards him and dived back to the ground. He felt a moment of bliss, thinking about the set up Shadow had put together. No one had ever loved him enough to even think about putting something like this together for him. Yet, instead of that thought making him sad, his heart soared. When Shadow had stepped into his life everything changed.

His feet touched the ground and he almost stumbled when his Firebolt was ripped out of his hands. Barely catching himself, he whirled around. An angry Hermione stood, hands on her hips, and a glare leveled at him.

"Why did you just take off like that? You still haven't eaten and you just run off and start flying around like nothing is going on. You, are going to march back to the kitchens and eat something. If I have to shove it down your throat." She didn't seem to have noticed the parchment that bulged in his pocket.

Honestly 'Mione was a smart girl, but sometimes she could be so dumb. She didn't even question why he ran to the pitch for a 2 minute flight before landing. Harry rolled his eyes, shouldered his broom, and started back to the castle. She followed, still ranting. He had a feeling that the day was just going to keep going downhill from there.

Sorry about the long wait guys. Between practice, school, and games I haven't had any time to type this up. Luck for you readers I write most of my stuff while in school and just have to type it up when I have time, so this was just waiting to be posted. The next chapter will be up pretty soon. And yes I know this one was rather short, but you will understand when I post number 5.

I haven't checked the poll lately, but from what I gather it is still the same, because I haven't gotten anymore reviews that I know of. Anyway, I will stop rambling on. Read and Review and I will get to work on the next chapter.