The Danger Zone Diaries

Well, it's day four and we have an idea that could be a response to my 'The Lost Hero' Challenge, but…I don't know; maybe it might be too much. Ah well, that's what the diary's for;

Day Four: Valley of Shadows

Raining.

Lately, ever since things had taken a turn for the worse, it always seemed to be raining, but this time, the rain seemed to be especially heavy.

It drummed against the windows like a shower of bullets fired from a machine gun, often being punctuated with a flash of lightning or a rumble of thunder that lit up the countryside and the grounds of Hogwarts like a Christmas tree. Owls, insects and the beasts that hid in the Forbidden Forest ran for cover while the trees, roots and rocks that decorated the grounds did their best to withstand the maelstrom.

And yet, while many of the staff and students ran for cover, a lone figure stood out in the rain, looking not to the distance and wondering how near or far the storm was. Instead, he looked back to the looming shadows of the citadel, a pair of emerald-green eyes that were as pure as the gems themselves looking at Hogwarts and the surrounding areas with an apathetic air about him.

To many witches and wizards, this was a young man known as the Boy-Who-Lived while, to others, especially over the past several months, he'd been known as a war-mongering, lying little murderer with delusions of grandeur. And yet now, so many of them had flipped sides again and were hailing him the Chosen One that it was almost laughable to think of it, let alone why they called him such a thing, for none of them had any idea who he really was or what he was thinking, feeling or going through.

And yet, as he looked at the citadel and the way that the tempest was unleashed in force upon its walls, the only thing that Harry James Potter could do was smile as he watched the storm do battle with the stone and the wind and rain tear through the corridors and passageways.

While Hogwarts was being buffeted by the storm, Harry watched safely from the hill where the Shrieking Shack was located, his usual Hogwarts robes and Gryffindor colours abandoned for a set of dark clothes and a cloak with a hood, which he wore over his face, an Impervious Charm on the material to keep it, and him, nice and dry. Over his shoulder, Harry carried a sack that, although it looked like a normal overnight bag or the sort of bag where one might store a tent or sleeping bag, he knew really held much more.

And every little bit of the more that filled the bag belonged to him, was for him and could only be used by him.

As he watched, Harry breathed a sigh of relief and freedom before his smile faded as he muttered, "You want me to die? Fuck you…all of you…"

Then, clenching his fists tightly, Harry's green eyes seemed to glow like the curse that had made him famous, or infamous, as he growled under his breath, "Especially you, Dumbledore: you can bleat about doing what's right until the cows come home, but I'm done being your pawn."

For a moment, Harry considered leaving some sort of sign or perhaps even a message about what he was doing or where he was going, but as he didn't yet know himself, he just scoffed before, reaching into his pocket, he withdrew his wand and, holding it in his hands, he snapped the pieces in two and then snapped them again.

With the four pieces of wood and mystic proportions in his hands, Harry threw them as far and as hard as he could, letting them sail through the air in one of the four different points of the compass. Once he was done, he spat heavily on the ground before, for added effect, the young sorcerer kicked his heels, as though he was a cat scraping litter into the box.

Then, while the storm continued to rage on around him, Harry turned and walked away from the Shrieking Shack, his mind focused on one thing and one thing alone.

Finding somewhere he could be free of everything and no longer have to care about the opinions of anyone or anything.

Valley of Shadows

As Harry left the confines of Hogsmeade Village under cover of the wind and rain, back in Hogwarts, things were as wild and frayed as the storm.

In Gryffindor Tower, a trio of redheads sat around the ornate fireplace, one of them nursing a bad wound from where he'd been attacked by the venom and magic of the flying brains while the other two tossed a rubber ball between them. To look at the three of them, you wouldn't think that they were once allies and family, let alone close friends of the wandering hero who'd left them in the lurch.

In fact, to look at them, you'd think they were survivors of war itself, although, as they looked at one another, it was the youngest of the trio, the one nursing the wound, Ronald Weasley, who sighed deeply before he asked, "He's gone, isn't he?"

"Looks that way," replied Fred Weasley, letting out a scoff as he caught the ball from his twin, George, before he asked, "But what did you expect?"

"Losing Sirius hit him hard enough," agreed George, clenching his fists while he added, "But then learning that everything was leading to him being set up to die at the right time? Heck, I'm surprised he hasn't snapped and I certainly wouldn't be surprised to learn he's gone off to join You-Know-Who, even if it means being tortured first before taking the Mark."

"Of course, that's not the worst of it," added Fred, looking from the ball in his hands to his youngest brother as he explained, "The guy wasn't even allowed to mourn before everyone started putting him up on a pedestal: ye gods, it's fourteen years ago all over again. I mean, didn't you say that you and Hermione found him after he left Dumbledore's office?"

"Yup," answered Ron, rubbing the bandage over his left eye where he'd been healed, if only partially, by Madam Pomfrey while he explained, "He was crying and talking about how he wasn't strong enough and then she said he needed to put it behind him. I mean, how would she like it if her perfect Muggle parents were killed instead of Sirius? That still could happen, you know: now that he's come back for real, I mean."

"And what did you say?" asked Fred, earning a look from Ron that seemed to hint at guilt before the elder redhead nodded, "That's what I thought."

"You stood there like a lemon and let her berate him," agreed George, earning a blush from Ron as his ears turned red while George sighed as he said, "Honestly, Ron: when are you going to stand up for yourself and stop thinking that letting her take the lead is the way to get her in the sack? I mean, what do you see in the bint anyway other than her I-Know-Everything delusions and the way she always has to talk you and Harry into being in the thick of it: I mean, didn't you say that Dumbledore's Army was her idea too?"

For a moment, Ron opened his mouth to respond, but he closed it again as he knew his brothers spoke the truth, in their own unique way.

Swinging around in his seat, Fred scoffed as he stared into the flickering flames before he asked, "And why did you think asking us to come back would solve anything? We're perfectly capable of leaving and setting up ourselves and you, little brother, you call us back for help: what about Ginny? Or how about your other friends?"

"I…I didn't think," admitted Ron, earning a chorus of groans from the Twins.

"Now why doesn't that surprise us?" they asked in unison, looking to one another before, sharing a smile and a sigh, they looked to Ron before Fred asked, "You know what you've got to do now, don't you?"

When Ron shook his head, George scoffed as he explained, "Well first, you need to realise that what you feel for Hermione is nothing more than teenage lust. Then you need to find someone else to help you scratch the itch and see what happens."

"But most of all," added Fred, smirking as he saw Ron blush with embarrassment while he explained, "You need to pray to the heavens themselves that Harry comes back in a better mood than when he left. You'd also better try and stand up and realise what his friendship and your brotherhood with him means, Ronnie, otherwise, when he returns, if at all, I'd hate to be in anyone's shoes who stand against him."

As Ron opened his mouth to respond once again, he was cut off by George raising a hand before he explained, "We can't…no…"

"We won't help you because this is a journey you need to take alone, little brother," added Fred, earning a shocked look from Ron as he said, "I get why you think you need help: because you've always had lifelines and, now that things are getting serious, you don't know where to turn, so you hide and you let yourself get knocked down."

"Granger won't help because she's chosen to think of Dumbledore as the Grand Poobah and take his word as gospel…again," drawled George, rolling his eyes as he told Ron, "Ginny's probably going to let this Chosen One thing of Harry's reignite some old feelings she once had and, knowing Mum, she'll probably encourage it because she thinks it'll help Harry, but that leaves you."

"And what do I do?" asked Ron, earning smiles from his brothers as they shrugged.

"That's for you to decide, little brother," said Fred, holding up two fingers before he asked, "But when you do, ask yourself: what do you want to happen to the guy who thinks of you as the brother he never had?"

"I…I don't understand," whispered Ron, earning another sigh from Fred before George picked up the conversation.

"Do you want him to die at the right time?" asked George, holding up one finger before, in typical twin fashion, Fred finished it with another finger.

"Or do you want to help him rise higher than ever before and live life as he wants to?"

So that's the beginning idea and, admittedly, it's strange, but that's part of the challenge as a whole: oh, and speaking of, here are the details of the challenge:

Challenge Information: DZ2's 'The Lost Hero' Challenge: HP/PJO/HOO/KC/MC: Everything that Harry thought he knew has been revealed as nothing but a web of lies: apparently, he's nothing but a pawn meant to die so others can claim the glory.

Now, all he wants to do is escape, get away from the lies and the death threat. All he wants to do is forget he ever learned the truth to begin with. Well, guess what, Harry: here's your chance.

Rules: Dark or Evil Powerful Harry

The story MUST start after Harry learns of the prophecy in 5th year

Harry MUST learn of his inevitable death and how others have used him for their own ends, including turning his friends against him

The ONLY friend who can't be turned against him is Luna (anyone else is up to you)

In response, Harry flees Hogwarts and tries to escape when a mysterious voice tells him of a place in Las Vegas, Nevada called The Lotus Casino

Before entering the casino, Harry learns he is actually a Demigod and his divine parent agrees with his wish to escape

The identity of his divine parent is up to you

Due to his magical heritage and his strong will, Harry is surprisingly unaffected by the lotus flowers, but he chooses to stay in the casino*

At least ONE YEAR must pass outside the casino before Harry leaves, either for Camp or because of Percy and the gang coming to the Casino

What's happened in the magical world in that time is up to you

When Harry leaves, he must still feel the sting of betrayal and choose to take revenge on the magical world

Luke MUST become an ally of Harry's, intent on helping him and make him a ruler rather than a martyr

All pairings are welcome

Guidelines: Twice-Born/Twice-Blessed Godling Harry

Super/OP-Harry

Harry/God or Goddess pairing

Master of Death Harry

Others from the magical world are demigods

Harry and Percy as enemies

Slash

Harems

Harry/Multi

Like Luke in the Lightning Thief movie, Harry seeks to form his own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses loyal to him

For some reason, Tom actually joins Harry

Harry is the source of a second prophecy told by The Oracle

Monsters, Titans and Primordials join Harry

Sirius is still alive

Forbidden: Light or Grey Harry

Harry sticking around after learning of his betrayals

Luna against Harry

Harry NOT as a Demigod

Harry's divine parent abandoning Harry after claiming him as theirs

The Lotus Casino affecting Harry

Harry forgiving ANY of his betrayers (if they were a part of the plot, they STAY his enemies)

Luke against Harry

Less than a year passing before Harry leaves the Casino

Other than that, it's up to you...

So, not much to say on this idea; there are a few directions it can go, but the overall idea would be a much-darker, stronger Harry returning to those who side with him, probably with a Dark Percy thrown in for good measure, but…again…I don't know;

Let's see if inspiration manages to bring more and maybe I'll get the urge to make it a full story, but, for now, here is where the day ends;

Day Four: End of Entry