Title: Human

Author: Metis' mischief

Summary: Harry Potter's life changed drastically, turning around 160 degrees completely. In an accident, he turned into a creature of the dark, feared by all. When the temptation for the call of the blood and flesh becomes too much for Harry. He becomes desperate and seeks help but many of his friends and colleagues, turned away from terror and disgust. True bonds are revealed. Friendships are tested. Draco Malfoy, an old enemy, unexpectedly, becomes the light of Harry's dark world.

Disclaimer: This scripture was based from the characters and scenes from the astonishing novels: Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling, and as an aspiring writer, I have no rights and claims to these fantastic novels but I dare say, what I only own are the ideas in this tale: HUMAN

Author's notes: This tale focus in the darker aspect of life, such as blood, flesh, temptation, betrayal, hatred and revenge along with it is hope and love. You have been warned!

Author's message: Its's been awhile since my last update. I sincerely apologize for being late. I've been busy with my schedule - working 12 hours a day for the pass 2 months. The only time I could work on this tale is on my day off, which is every after 4 to 5 days of duty. That is why I am asking for your patience and I am grateful for your support regarding my story.

P.S: I would like to extend my thanks to the following for following my story : 20eKuRaN17, AKTF-0729, Athrun434, Drarry's Home, HookisHot, Ira Nix, Kirachan2, Kyla InuMaru, Linda Wchter, Loveanyway123, Mashkai30, emthereble, forswear4687, gothicking12, Lune the Twilight Fox, PharaohAnubis, PrincessTwilight2351, angelademona, horsecharmer93, isa-kagamine, DCullen07

05. Alice's Domain

There's definitely something wrong about me.

I sat, unnerving, as my thoughts run wild - my first class with the Slytherins, this morning took a different twisted turn in my life. I, desperately, am trying to find a way to rearrange my ideas inside my confused mind as I, with the rest of the Gryffindors have entered charms, our second class.

I leaned back against my chair, letting the noise of the whole class and the drone-like voice of Professor Flitwick drown my head. The discussion was interesting and exciting. It would have been, if I'd been able to really hear it. Instead, I was preoccupied of the early events. My hands gripped under the edge of the table as I tried to hold myself in my chair. Its a good thing, Charms is with Ravenclaw. If it would have been with the Slytherins, I shuddered and shivered - fearing of what could may have happen if it were. I could still feel it - my hunger and my lust for blood - for his blood. It wasn't getting any better. My stomach is still twisting in hunger.

Sweat poured out profusely, soaking my skin. I could hear my heart beats loudly in my rib cage. As my nerves wreak havoc within me.

'What's happening to me?'

"Harry?" Hermoine spoke gently beside me.

I heard her. Her voice had a tinge of concern as her eyes wandered over my face. Then my mind raced.

Should I tell her or should I hide it? Hermoine is a friend of mine, someone I could trust with all of my life. But I felt a strong guilt within me. I have been giving both of my best friends troubles ever since we have all met. Will I bring yet again another problem?

I hated that. When did I become a coward? Have I become a hindrance to them?

Hermoine's hand gently laid on my trembling hand, patting it slowly. I stiffened, but did not flinch from her touch. She meant to comfort me. "It's alright, Harry. I am here."

The choking feeling in my throat and stabbing pain in my chest slowly disappear as I saw clearly in her eyes - the concern and the determination to help me. I am truly lucky to have a friend like Hermoine.

"I am..." I whispered. "...not sure."

Her eyes searched within my eyes, she understood as she slowly nodded. She knows that I will tell her when there are no people around us. In private. With relief, I brought back my attention to the lecture as the burden in my heart lighten.

'Thank you, Hermoine.' I thought as relaxed in my sit, facing Professor Flitwick.

As the day progress, afternoon classes is to start - so is Divination. Both of us, I and Ron went back to are dormitory to fetch our books and charts - with an exception of Hermoine since she has Ancient Runes instead of Divination. With copies of Unfogging the Future in both of our hands, we went down to the common room and thru the portrait. Walking towards the tower, climbing the long winding stairs - reaching the top level, Ron halted as he was trying to catch his breath.

"Do we have to climb those damn stairs every time we have Divination class?" Ron grumbled breathlessly.

I shrugged as I was unaffected by the climb.

"Hey, how come you're not tried?" He ask as we stroll towards our usual sits. I froze as he sat across me. Indeed, why? Then, I remember my predicament this morning and again I felt a cold dread invade my chest. I smiled at Ron, masking my discomfort with his question.

"Maybe, because I have been exercising a lot during summer." I lied thru my teeth.

"Really?" Ron asked as his blue eyes grew wide. "Blimey...I think I should also start working-out. That's why you got buff this year."

"Buff?" I muttered as I raised one of my eyebrow, puzzled by his claim.

"Yeah! Even Ginny and the other girls are conscious about it. They have giggled around you. Didn't you notice?" He asked, amused by my reaction.

I smiled at Ron and let it be my answer to his question.

"Good afternoon to all of you, young minds" A wishy-washy voice came about. Professor Trelawney had arrived with her huge eyeglasses, threatening to fall from her face. "Today, we are to unfold and clear the paths of our future, take a glimpse of whatever lies within our souls."

Ron and I groaned, quietly. So these are the days that we will be bored ourselves with searching about our true selves through what? Ugh! Tea leaves, apparently. Yup! The joy... Bollocks!

"Bring out your teacups and sprinkle your grind tea leaves then put two drops of spring water. Concentrate your mind. Use your inner eye." She said as she took out her teacup. We followed the instructions she relayed.

Ron and I tried to come up of different meaning to the wobble and disfigured shapes of our own tea leaves - interpreting it with the doom and gloom depictions. As boring as Divination is - loads of gibberish - at least, it wasn't as heavy as Ancient Runes that could make our heads bleed from thinking. That's why even Divination is my second least favorite subject - is a passable versus potion.

After an hour, Professor Trelawney slowly walk table to table to checked on the activity that she instructed to us. Commenting on the results and the figures in each teacup of each of her students. I felt a sudden burst of irritation as she reached for us. I'm sure she is going to say something about my untimely death. Again! Just get on with.

"Mr. Weasley, please do pick the cup of Mr. Potter and tell us what do you see?" she said in faked high misty voice.

"Hmm..." Ron took my tea cup and stared at it. With his blue eyes, he observe the shape formed by the tea leaves trying to make up something of it.

"It looks like a huge cloud. So, its... its either Harry will have bad luck on his Quidditch games this year for maybe... hmmm... thunderstorms or its just bad weather?" Ron shrugged at me. We really don't suit for Divination.

"Let me see." Professor Trelawney said she took the cup from from Ron's hand. She turned the cup and push her slipping eyeglasses towards her eyes fro better vision but as she moved the cup closer to her face, her eyes larger. It even double in size in appearance because of his magnified eyeglasses.

"That's odd" She spoke. Her voice was laced by surprise and confusion.

"What's odd?" I asked. "My death?"

Everyone's attention turn to us as soon as I spoke. The whole class has gone quiet and been looking over our table as Professor Trelawney speculate my tea cup in wonder, turning it over and over - trying to decipher the image in the cup.

"No." She answered after a long time. "It don't speak of death as I always see. It tells a different aspect of your future."

"That's new." Someone sneered at the back of room. I glanced at the speaker, expecting it to be Malfoy but then I remember we were having class with the Ravenclaw. The one who spoke was Michael Corner. Confused, I raised my eyebrow at him as I couldn't remember offending him for me to be treated in such manner.

"Prick!" Ron muttered as he was looking at Corner, glowering and glaring.

"It seems to be a Jade..." Professor Trelawney said in awe. "Well, that's is something!"

Professor Trelawney was smiling at me as she look at my cup in a lovingly manner, which was extremely disturbing. Whatever Jade means, it seems to be something Professor Trelawney regards as precious - by the way how her face glow with the prospect of it. Lavender suddenly giggled and then whispered something at seatmate, Padma Patil. Then they both burst into feminine giggles.

"What?" Annoyed, I snarled at them.

Lavander smiled at me, blushing. "Jade, according to the book, means eternal love, Harry."

With that, all the girls within the room burst into fit of giggles and were swooning with the mere idea of romance. My jaw slacked open in disbelief then I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Because my death predictions were getting old so it moved on to my love life. Really!

Ron beside me, thought that my predicament was totally hilarious as his face was red as a tomato and he was shaking from trying to stop his laughter. I scowled in irritation. I'm starting to think that Hermoine was right about Divination. Should I shift course before its too late - before I got smolder by annoyance?

After all the classes ended that day, Ron and I walked back to our dormitory. Changing into a more comfortable attire and out from our uniforms. Both of us, went down to the common rooms to do our due assignments. We found ourselves a table near the fireplace and started our divination assignment coming up of different predictions for upcoming month. After an hour, we made a small progress although our table are full of scraps of paper full with symbols and bearing symbols.

"I can't understand any of this." I admitted as I slumped back on my chair.

"We should do must we could do." Ron said as he yawned then stretch both of his arms then slightly curved his back backward.

"What do you mean? Make something up?" I said suspiciously as I also stretch up and leaned towards the chair then pull my muscles from my shoulder.

"Yep!" He answered with hype as he gather all the scraps of paper and walked towards the trash can and throw it all out. He took a fresh parchment and his feather, dipping it in the ink and began writing again with his make-up predictions. Shrugging, I followed his example cause I am fed up with trying to make a decent Divinatiuon assignment. We continued predicting our doom days this whole month for another hour while the other people around slowly left for bed and emptied the common rooms - leaving me and Ron having the whole room for ourselves. After finishing my Divination assignment, I move up to my Charms assignment, which were about movement of wands when conjuring a spell - when the portrait hole opened and Hermoine entered the common rooms. She was carry a stacked of books in both her arms as she made her way to us, placing the books with a loud thud as she laid down on out table.

"Hello" She said. "Just done a bit of reading"

Ron peek from his assignment to Hermoine's books and made a face. "This is a bit?"

Hermoine raised one of her eyebrows and send Ron a nasty look then she turn to me. "So Harry... about this morning?..." She halted waiting for me if I would like to open up regarding this morning's incident.

I set aside my feather from scribbling my charms answers and straighten up from my sit - looking around if there were still people around. The common rooms was empty except for us- sitting by the fire. Hermoine took her wand and perform a private bubble spell. I look back at Hermoine, who just smile at me and Ron, who was confuse but was waiting.

I took a moment to rearrange my thoughts and inhale air and slowly release my breath as I also try to release my nerves with it.

"You remember when the time we tried to rescue Sirius around when he went missing for three months and stumbled upon the runes in that...cave? Where I and Hermoine got...?" I mumbled and stop as I didn't want to reminisce that particular scene again.

Both Ron and Hermoine's faces had gone pale as they indeed recall it. They slowly both nodded, knowing that I am to say something very serious and terrifying. Specially, Hermoine. Since both I and Hermoine were the most affected ones in that accident.

"Ever since that incident, both of us." I pointed at Hermoine and then myself. "We were having nightmares. Am I right, Hermoine?"

"Yes." Hermoine answered, slowly. "It's fine now. I been having a few but it gradually decreasing. How about you, Harry?"

I sighed again. Hermoine really thus knows it all.

"I..." I started but I couldn't find words to continue. "I..."

"Harry, Mate?" Ron said in questioning tone. "Are you alright?"

"My nightmares..." I grunted out. Trying to calm my fear inside of me. Fear of being rejected and fear of accepting my current situation as true. "My nightmares had been getting worse."

Hermoine suddenly sat up straight then lean forward the table as she try to reach my fidgeting hands. "What do you mean 'getting worse', Harry? You said that they have been subsiding? How worse? What kind of nightmares?"

If the situation wasn't too dire, I would have laugh at Hermoine's panicking - her facial expression and her worrying like mom. I almost crack a smile.

'Ugly, Mudblood'

My demon spoke in my mind then like a electric zap in my head and booming pain spread through me. I clutch both my hands over my head as I gasp in pain.

"Harry!" Hermoine and Ron spoke in unison and rush beside me. After awhile, the pain slowly fade. I raise my hand to them, silently telling that 'I'm fine.'

"What happen, Harry?" Ron nearly shouted on my face as his spit came flying.

'Disgusting! Pig!'

She spoke again but no pain erupted. Just slight nausea.

"I'm fine, Ron." I said as I leaned away from him. To avoid from being spit on. "She just spoke that's why the pain came."

"She spoke?" Hermoine repeated. "What do you mean 'She spoke', Harry?"

Realizing what I have said, a sudden burst of fear erupted inside my chest. I look up to see her face - it was filled confusion and worry. I sighed a relief of what I saw. Hah! I have been doing that a lot - sighing.

"Are going mental, Harry-mate?" Ron said with a slacked jaw as he stared at me, making his blue eyes larger than it's original size.

Both me and Hermoine stared at him, then laughter came as I couldn't stop - the relief that flood me. As frighting my situation is, Ron always find ways to make comic about my dire situation. The ridiculous and hilarious situation that I am in. Beside me, Hermoine also giggled at Ron.

"What?!" Ron bellowed as he stood up and stared at us in disbelief. It had been awhile before both Hermoine and I could stop our laughter. As I took a breathe, Hermoine was also wiping a tear from her eye from too much giggling. Ron was still standing with a red and pouting face.

"Thank you, Ron." I said as smiled at him. "That felt better."

Ron sat heavily, rolling his eyes to us. "Your welcome. Glad to be a comic relief to the both of you." He grumbled. "So as you were saying 'she spoke'?"

"Yes, Harry. I also want to hear about that?" Hermoine took a serious tone again as she also sat down beside me this time.

"I guess I have start all over?" I asked them as I also took a serious stance and then leaned back on my sit, trying to relax as much as it could possible allow.

Hermoine nodded as she look at me, intensely while Ron just leaned back in his sit - imitating me.

"As I was saying it all started when Sirius went missing and we stumbled upon runes inside a cave." I said and started to reminisce that particular event.

"What do you mean that Sirius have been missing for three months already?" I shouted as I stood up abruptly that my chair slumped to the floor from the force of me standing up.

"Calm down, Harry!" Ron said as he went to me trying to put both of his hands on both my shoulders and guide me to sit on the lounge.

"Your telling me to calm down when Sirius have been missing for THREE MONTHS! THREE MONTHS!" I snapped at the Adults, who were under the Order of the Phoenix. "And they did not even tell me once!"

"Stop this Mr. Potter. This is immaturity!" Alastor Moody bellowed as he marched up to me with wooden leg.

"Immaturity?!" I roared at him. "That's my Godfather. That is missing!"

"Its for your own good, Harry." Bill said. He was leaning against the door frame as he was looking over at us with guilt in his eyes.

'He knows about it'

My blood boiled in anger, like magma churning deep within me. I want to punch somebody but I know I shouldn't. My anger is hungry for release - to do destruction or pain. The pressure was too much to handle as the raging sea drives me crazy and numb. I could feel my breath as it came fast and heavy. My whole face was hot and my eyes, which I took a glimpse from the reflection of the mirror in one corner - showed glaring red with rage. I want to let it out - curse at them, be violent and just...

So I run! I scrambled to the second floor and got my broomstick. Somebody called my name I think it was Hermoine but I could not care the less. I climbed out the window and ride away on my firebolt as fast as I can. I didn't care where I was going. I just flew - fast and hard. All the different techniques in the broom, I just did it all. My knuckles turn white as I gripped my broom too hard and gritted my teeth. I allowed the wind blow past my face, the whistle of the harsh wind deafened my ear and the pain in my muscles erupted from the strained of being abused - swallow me whole - calming me from my head to my toes.

As I emerged from my rage and I slowed down my fly. Having the anger dissipate from me, It felt nice and free. I was calm.

I know that my actions were childish but they should have known better than to hide it from me. No person that wouldn't be fire up if one of their love ones are in danger.

I don't really know if they are really treating me as an adult - only in times that I have to face the Dark Lord and always as a child with any other decisions in my life?

This is confusing and frustrating.

As I have cool down from my rage, I let myself walk for awhile as I return to the Burrow. I wanted time to think before I would make my decision. I going to find Sirius whether the Order would agree or not.

As I reached the Burrows' door and knocked, the door opened immediately as Mrs. Weasley came out and as she saw me. She rushed to enclose me in to her arms.

"Harry, dear." She sobbed as her grips tighten. "Where have you been? Are you hurt? Are you hungry? We were worried about you!"

"Mom! Stop smothering Harry." George said as he stood at the door frame.

"He can't breath if you suffocate him in your bosom, Mom." Fred teased as he too appear next to his brother.

"Oh, Dad would be jealous." George snickered as he made an eye contact with Fred.

"Not only that! even Ginny." Fred guffawed at his own joke along with his twin.

I could feel that I was blushing as the heat was all over my face. Mrs. Wealsey released me from her embrace then faced the twins.

"You two! Stop teasing Harry. All the two of you do is fool around." Mrs. Weasley gritted her teeth as she marched towards them. "If THE BOTH OF YOU put your time to study more than do those pranks and those... stuff then I would been more happy."

"Mom, Its summer. Let them relax a little bit." Ginny came out as she walk towards me. "Are alright now, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm fine now." I smiled at her, feeling bashful.

Then a chortle of laughter sounded out - Fred and George. They immediately started acting.

Fred imitated Ginny's walk, exaggerating his version of Ginny's hip swaying. "Are alright now, Harry?" Fred said in a fake feminine voice then he fluttered his lashes towards his twin.

George started to look bashful as he put both of his hands in his pant's pocket. "Yeah, I'm fine now." He said with a goofy smile and swoon voice. Then they started to laughing again.

I could feel it again the heat all over my face and my body as embarrassed as I am. I am grateful that the both of them are making the effort to cheer me up.

"Yeah, I remember that day." Ron interrupted. "You and Ginny were blushing as red as a tomato."

"It was also the day, we all decided to find your Godfather, Harry." Hermoine said.

"Yeah." I answered. "We plan to find and trace his tracks of where he might be."

"It was by the use the twins' pranks, right?" Ron smiled as he remember that. "Mom got to compliment them for that."

"If only they will use those stuff for other things that isn't pranks." Hermoine rolled her eyes. "I admit the extendable ears were useful as well as the peeking eye."

"So, we were able to find the suggested areas of where we could find Sirius from the file in the Order of Pheonix's headquarters and we went to those places, one by one. Searched those places but ended up as a dead end until..." I halted unsure if I could continue.

"Until Alice's Domain, right? Our final place to check in our list." Hermoine whispered as she bowed her head, like having a deep thought.

"Yes. Alice's Domain." I repeated. "That's the place."

I remember the entrance to the place was really creepy not because of the features but because of the aura around.

"Is this it?" Ron muttered as the three of us were standing in front of the said place.

The cave was enormous and intimidating - with impenetrable darkness at its entrance. No plants grew near it but what surround it is a jungle. The black and gray rocks formed the mouth of the cave and stalagmites at the ceiling and at the floor made the cave look-like a sleeping beast with its toothed-mouth open, waiting for its prey to willing walk inside to be devoured.

As I stepped in I watched my shadow submerged with the surrounding darkness. Total darkness and the absent of light made me trip over the loose small stones that littered around the cave's floor. Hermoine cast Lumos beside me with her wand then me and Ron followed her as also cast the spell Lumos. As our light lighted the inside the cave with bright light, we noticed that at one side the wall was a statue made of the cave's stone - it wa being that I couldn't recognized.

"That's a Gulon" Hermoine said as her eyes' enlarge with disbelief as she continue to stare at it.

"Ah, what?" Ron said as he eyed the statue with disgust. "Whatever it is, it does look a bit like Crookshanks."

"That's not true." Hermoine defended her cat. "Crookshanks is not a demon nor is he ugly!"

"Yeah, right!" Ron muttered sarcastically.

"So, what's a Gulon, Hermoine?" I asked, trying to hinder a escalating fight.

We continue wander inside the cave as Hermoine explained. "According to Scandinavian legend, its a hodgepodge of various creatures, usually described as a being with the size and shape of a large dog, with some cat like features such as the head, ears and claws. It is also shagging and it has a tail of a fox or of a dragon."

"So, its a funny looking creature. Not a big deal." Ron snorted. "It is really sad to look so ugly."

"Hmp...that's not the reason, why I am worried about it." Hermoine gave a nasty glare at Ron, that made her almost lose her footing.

"Then what, Hermoine?" I asked as I climbed over a rock.

"Gulon is notorious not for its features but for its symbol." Hermoine grumbled as she also tried to climbed over the rock after Ron.

"Symbol?" Ron mouthed looking over the two tunnels ahead of us.

"Yes, It is a symbol of Gluttony. It is vicious, and is said to kill prey larger than itself and gorge until it can't possibly eat anymore. It feast on meat be it from a corpse or being ripped from a living." Hermoine said in a monotone voice like recited from a book. "It is said that no left over of the victims once it is feast upon by the Gulon."

Ron gulped loudly as he back away from the tunnels that he courageous almost marched on the earlier minute. "That's just statue, right? It can be that there's one here?"

"Maybe. It is said that it lives in Sweden." Hermoine said as she send a small ball of light towards the two tunnels.

It been an hour, since we had started our exploration in the cave. The cave was like maze - full of tunnels with stalagmites,dripping water and rocks but nothing noticeable except for the guard stone from the entrance.

"This is becoming pointless." Hermoine said after awhile. "Should we turn back?"

"I agree." Ron said as he also was tired and bored.

"But this is our last clue to where Sirius is." I argue at them.

"I know Harry. But maybe we missed a turn. That is why we need to turn back." Hermoine muttered.

"I guess." I sighed as I almost made an U-turn.

'The grim is here.'

The three of us abruptly halted in our walk, as the voice whispered through the walls. The voice echoed and the temperature in the cave dropped suddenly into a freezing point.

"Who are you?" I shouted as my voice also echoed through out the cave. "What do you mean Grim? Is Sirius is here?"

"Harry." Hermoine whispered. "Stop."

"What?" I asked her.

"You should never answer back." Ron said in frighten expression.

"Why?" I faced Ron as he also hinder me from calling out again.

'Let me show you the way.'

The voice replied at last. After a minute, the cave shook as a pounding of something came from the direction of where we came from. The dust and the drips of water from stalagmites started to fall over us.

"Bloody hell! What is that?" Ron stumbled as the cave gave another shook.

Then a loud roar was heard - like a lion with a bark of a vicious wolf. Whatever creature made, it was definitely a large one. And as I saw it when it had reached us at last. From the tunnel that we came from was a head of a dog with the cat's ears and eyes, along with three horns on the top its head was peeking - as hideous it was and frightening but it was nothing against the expression it showed when it finally saw us. Its face turn into a gleeful look - eyes that held hunger and absolute maddening happiness as its mouth warp into a human-like smile and inside its mouth was three rows at the upper and another two rows of razor sharp teeth at the bottom part. I held my breath as chills run up and down my body.

I couldn't move from my spot along with Ron and Hermoine. We had frozen in place.

Then it spoke in a sing-song voice that send fear in all of us.

'Found you...Welcome to Alice's Domain'

Author's note:

Hope you like it. Please leave comments or advice. Thank you.

P.S:

1. Gulon is a dark creature of Gluttony that believe to have hunted the forest of the Sweden and Norway. For addition information regarding the GULON, try finding more thru Goggle along with its pictures.

2. For the Gulon's voice try imagining it with Alice in wonderland's cat.