Deep in the darkness my heart

My heart still sees

Everything I'll never be

Behind these eyes I go everywhere

There's no need for sympathy

Song: I Stand Alone, From Quest For Camelot

Prologue

"I don't think I can lie to them," Remus sighed as he rubbed his temple over and over again.

"We don't have a choice," grumbled Sirius pushing a glass of fire whiskey into his hand. "You heard Dumbledore."

"He's never going to forgive us for it," Remus said taking the glass from Sirius and drinking it in a single gulp.

"Hey!" Whined Sirius as Remus wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "That's mine!"

Remus pulled out a picture of the Mauraders and sighed. "You think they'll like each other?"

Sirius stood and put his hand on Remus's shoulder. In the picture the four of them stood smiling, laughing without a care in the world.

"The fate of the wizarding world depends on it."

Chapter 1

Sirius Freed

Harry Potter was not a stranger to waiting. Every year for the past 5 summers he had spent at number four, Private Drive, waiting for September 1 and his chance to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

It used to anger him, to wait every summer. Every day felt like a lifetime when spent next to the Dursleys whose favorite hobby consisted of pretending that Harry did not exist. What made the summer even longer was not just longing for the chance to escape
from the Muggle world, but also news regarding Voldemort, who had made his debut at the ministry fighting him for the prophecy that had claimed so many lives.

News of Voldemort was thrown about Harry's very room at this moment. Articles from the Daily Prophet were everywhere with enticing titles of Sirius Black Save Fudge's Life?, Voldemort's Return, What Will the Ministry Do?, Hogwarts Accepting Transfer Students In Light of Dark Times, What This Means for the World.

Harry collapsed in his bed, exhausted from reading and rereading these scraps of news. In his left fist he clutched the article containing details about Sirius Black's escapades saving Fudge, in his write a letter from Remus Lupin. The article did not
contain any new information to Harry. He had been there in June when it had happened:

Fudge laid on the ground, his mouth gaping like a fish at the sight of Voldemort. Dumbledore was pushing Harry, trying to get him to leave with Ginny and Hermione.

"Harry - GO!" Dumbledore roared.

Harry couldn't move, he watched Voldemort smirk as he slithered towards Fudge's crouched body like a snake slithering towards a mouse.

"Y-you're back!"Fudge sputtered. "Exp-"

With barely a flick of his wrist, Voldemort pushed Fudge's wand away. Dumbledore wasn't paying attention, his full energy was spent pushing Harry towards the Portkey back to Hogwarts.

"There's a price to pay for today's events Fudge," Voldemort said, raising his wand. "Today, it is your life. Avada K-"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" roared a voice from the shadows. It was Sirius.

Voldemort's wand dropped to the floor in a thunderous thud as Sirius through himself between the pair.

"You killed my friends, my brother - the price you'll pay today is yours!" Sirius roared.

For a moment Voldemort looked afraid.

"Sectumsempra!" screamed Bellatrix .

Sirius feel to the ground in a puddle of his own blood, gasping for air immediately.

"Sirius!" called Harry. He pushed passed Dumbledore and towards the group.

"ACCIO PORTKEY!" yelled Bellatrix, reaching for what looked like a silver locket.

Voldemort watched it soar towards them and threw Harry a satisfied smile. Harry knew he wouldn't make it in time.

"We'll see each other soon...Harry," he said watching Harry fall to his knees next to Sirius. And in the blink of an eye, Voldemort and Bellatrix were gone.

"SCREEEEEECH!"

The noise from Hedwig woke Harry from his daze.

"THAT BLOODY OWL! BOY!" Howled a voice from down the stairs.

Harry yawned and glared at Hedwig. "Why'd you have to go and do that? You know we're leaving soon."

Hedwig picked at her feathers as Harry got up to scratch her head. He reread Lupin's letter now from earlier this week:

Harry,

I am working with Dumbledore to escort you from Private Drive on July 31st to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. Please be ready at precisely 11 o'clock sharp. We have much to discuss.

Remus

Harry glanced back up at the calendar across the room then glared back at the wall. There were still 3 days to go and he had yet to start packing. He was beginning to feel like Hedwig, cooped up and unable to leave...

"Screech!"

"THAT BLOODY -"

DING-DONG!

Harry sighed in relief that the door had rung to break Uncle Vernon from cursing one more time. Silently, he crossed back to his bed and picked up his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages.

There was a knock at his door.

Harry paused. There was never a knock at his door. He quickly drew his wand. The Dursleys, whose television never stopped playing was silent.

"Harry? Harry it's me, Remus."

Harry bolted for the door, but as he twisted the knob he found himself slamming it shut.

"How do I know it's really you?" he asked, his wand pointed directly at the door handle.

"Is it possible that I actually taught you something that actually stuck Harry?" said Remus chuckling. "Very well, fine. Ask your question."

Harry thought for a moment before he spoke, still straining to hear any sound that could be the Dursleys downstairs. "Um...What was the last story you told me of my parents?"

"I told you about the time your father showed up in his animagus to his bachelor party and refused to change back and admit he didn't know what a 'stag party' meant."

Harry smiled remembering him and Remus laughing at this with Sirius at St Mungo's in June. It was a good memory. He pulled to open the door but felt Remus keep it tightly shut.

"My turn Harry," Remus said calmly. "What form does a boggart change in your presence?"

Harry shuttered, it was a memory of his third year that he'd rather not remember. "A dementor."

The door swung open. Harry pounced to hug Remus openly.

"Easy there Harry, I'm still recovering from the last moon," Remus said wincing slightly.

He pulled Harry back and tossed his hair with his hand. Harry looked his former professor once then twice over. His once tattered robes were replaced with a fine brown suit and cloak. Other than the speckled grey hairs in his young mane Harry barely recognized
the man who stood before him. "You've grown at least 3 inches this summer."

Harry blushed and looked away. "What are you doing here Remus? Your letter said you weren't coming until the 31st -"

Remus held up his hand to silence him. "I'll explain once we get to headquarters. In the mean time, we should probably get going -" He stepped into Harry's room and laughed. "I suppose I should give you a moment to collect your things. I'll go tell Sirius
that we'll be a few more moments."

"Sirius is here?" Harry gaped at Remus's smiling face.

Harry immediately swept pass him and down the stairs. He was greeted by a tall thin man dressed in a long black coat and suit.

"Sirius! It's you!" Harry pulled his godfather in closer still. Sirius laughed and wrapped his arms around Harry with equal enthusiasm.

"I couldn't let Remus have all the fun to pick you up now, could I Harry?"

Harry opened his mouth to reply when he turned to see the Dursley's, sitting in a row on the couch in the living room, gaping at the pair as if hell had frozen over.

"Ehm, I guess you've met the Dursley's then."

Sirius glared at them with a look so ice Harry could feel the coldness on his breath. "We've been acquainted."

He turned back to Harry and smiled. "So, all packed, ready to go?"

"Here, take his trunk to the car Sirius," called Remus from the staircase. "Stop tormenting these poor muggles and wait there."

Sirius took the suitcase, not breaking eye contact from the Dursley's. Harry was suddenly worried about what Sirius might try to do. "Sirius -"

"We're taking the boy with us," barked Sirius. "I've heard from Dumbledore what you did to this boy. UNDER THE STAIRS? WHY I OUTTA -"

"Sirius PLEASE," plead Harry as Remus and him attempted to keep him held back. "Let's just go."

Sirius nodded and wordlessly pushed passed the entry and down the driveway.

Remus attempted a half smile. "That's Sirius - always good for a laugh. Harry, why don't you take another look upstairs and see if we've forgotten any thing."

"Erm, right." Harry said as he headed up the stairs.

He swung open the door and was immediately knocked off his feet by a woman with long blonde hair.

"Hey watch where you're going!" She yelled while finding her way to her feet, brushing her skirt straight.

Harry just stared. Before him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She came up to his shoulders. Her waist long hair was a platinum blonde and matched her fair skin. She was wearing a purple floor length skirt and a silver top over her well
defined breasts. On her neck was a crescent moon pendant. As he continued to look upwards he saw her small pale lips and eyes a perfect sea blue.

"S-sorry, who are you?" He sputtered out. Smooth, he groaned inward.

The mysterious girl smiled and looked up, extending a small delicate hand forward. "Caitlin, you must be Harry."

"Yeah."

She gave him a polite smile before looking around back around his room. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was like a painting.

There is a beautiful girl in my room. Harry grinned stupidly to himself until he saw what she was walking towards, a pile of dirty underwear stuffed next to a copy of the latest Chuddly Cannons magazine.There's a beautiful girl in my room and she's seen my dirty underwear.

Expecting her to look disgusted she turned to him and laughed. "I guess Remus didn't get all your belongings in the bag?"

Harry opened his mouth before a figure came bursting through the door. It was Remus.

"THERE you are Caitlin. I told you to wait in the car." He looked out of breath, almost panicked.

Caitlin shrugged her shoulders. "It was boring."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Harry I can see you've met my goddaughter."

Remus looked over at him and gave an amused smirk. Harry had taken the moment to continue to stare at Caitlin. "Goddaughter?" He mumbled as Caitlin picked up the magazine and flipped through it uninterestingly.

"Yes," he sighed, running his hands through his graying hair. "Caitlin, please, car? Today?"

Caitlin put down the magazine and sighed. Together, the three headed down the stairs, past the Dursleys who sat still unmoving on the couch.

"Give me just a sec," Harry whispered as he pushed passed Remus towards the living room. Remus modded and wordlessly walked out the door, Caitlin in tow.

"Well, I'll see you next summer." He said, plainly. Then, he turned his back and headed out the door.

Remus was holding the door for Caitlin to climb in. In a hushed voice Harry heard her whisper "You were right Remus, he IS cute."

Harry felt as if his whole body was lighter than a feather.