Torn Asunder

Prologue/Chapter One- Black Rain

By- IceWind

A/N:

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything in its franchise is owned by J.K Rowling and whoever else has rights to the books. I have no claim whatsoever to the characters; the plot is entirely mine though, as is any new characters that I might introduce into the story. Rating is PG-13; though it may turn to R later, no it will not become an NC-17 fic.

Warnings: People, I assure you that I'm only put on warnings once and only once. So you better read this one. First of all, there is slash, my first slash piece of writing in fact. That means boy/boy get it? In fact this is going to be a Tom Riddle/Harry Potter fic, and if you read my story you'll find out how that happens. If you don't like that sort of thing, I suggest that you don't read. I suppose you can think of this as AU, being what I'm going to do with several characters. (No I'm not going to tell you) I do accept constructive criticism; flames are fine as well, though I shall warn you only once that I'll most probably write a reply to it in my authors' notes. Do it at your own risk. *smirks* There would probably be some angst, maybe some character deaths, heck, not everything can be all nice and rosy right? Oh yeah, I curse sometimes in my fics, so be on the lookout for that. Another thing, there will be spoilers from all four books, so… yeah, nuff said about that.

*chuckles* Long warning hmmm? Well what I said was true, you're only going to see it in this chapter. I had this idea stuck in my head for a bit about a story with Tom and Harry; they would make a great couple lol. ^^;; But while that is part of the story, there IS a plot *gasps come from the non-existent audience* How could I have Tom be with Harry with no explanation at all? *smiles evilly* Though I won't tell you how it came about, you'll just have to read yourself. This story takes place in Harry's 5th year, mainly because I wanted George and Fred around. *chuckles*

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It was a dark and stormy night… how cliché, Harry breathed out a soft sigh as he gazed up at the ceiling of the great hall, noting the dark heavy clouds, the streaks of silent lightening, and the pelting rain that streak across the artificial sky. Outside, real thunder boomed, and bright streaks of lightening flashed just outside the windows, the steady drumming of rain audible even over the loud chatter inside the hall. His dinner remained nearly untouched, only picked over half-heartily.

"What's wrong Harry?" Hermoine looked at him with worried brown eyes, hitting Ron in the side with her elbow and motioning with him with her eyes to go look at Harry.

"Aw Hermoine, I'm sure that Harry's fine… aren't you mate?" Ron gave the famous Boy-Who-Lived a bright smile and tossed Hermoine a knowing look, "He has no reason for being depressed…"

"Even though You-Know-Who attacked early?" She fixed Ron a mild glare and amended, "Well, he usually attacks us at the end of the school year, not the beginning." Hermoine reached up a hand a flicked a strand of her bushy brown hair away from her eyes.

Harry looked over at both of his best friends with a fond expression, though he couldn't seem to drudge up a sufficient smile to satisfy Hermoine. He ran a hand through his tousled black hair, his usually bright green eyes seemed a little dull this year… though Hermoine couldn't really blame him with Cedric's death last year and Voldemort's strange attack. Finally she asked him softly, "Harry… I know that we're kind of prying, but you never did tell us what happened with Cedric last year and You-Know-Who this year."

The dark haired boy bit his bottom lip slightly, looking indecisive as he opened his mouth, "Well--"

"Look at Potter, Weasel, and Mudblood, what's wrong? Does Potter feel a little queasy now?" Draco Malfoy smirked at the trio, not having changed in the slightest during the summer. He still looked coolly elegant, had the same silver eyes and light blond hair. Crabbe and Goyle -as always- flanked his sides, sneering at the Gryffindors, while chortling at Malfoy's joke, though they did not seem to understand it. "Wouldn't want you to get a cold Potter, especially with the entire wizarding world's fate resting on your shoulders," with that last remark he walked away casually, ignoring the way Harry and Hermoine had to restrain Ron from attacking him.

"Ron! Calm down!" Hermoine was hissing into Ron's ear furiously, keeping an eye out towards the staff's table while doing so, "You just can't attack him!"

"I bloody well can!" though after that remark, Ron seemed to calm down slightly, sitting back at the table though his hands were clenched and he was glaring murderously at Draco's back, "Didn't you hear what he said Hermoine? We just can't let him get away with that!"

Harry glanced around cautiously at the rest of his house mates, noting with relief that most of them didn't seem to pay any attention to what Draco had said. Relief over that? Your just relieved that you didn't have to tell Hermoine anything… this time. He gave a mental sigh over his thoughts and placed a friendly hand on Ron's arm, "Ron, we can't, not in front of the teachers."

"Hey, what's wrong with Ron?" Neville looked across the table into Ron's tight face, looking slightly nervous as he asked Harry, "Did Malfoy do something to him again? I couldn't quite catch his words while he was here."

"Want us to do something to him?" George leaned over and gave a playful smirk towards the trio, Fred nodding along with the suggestion. He and Fred were in their seventh year, yet showed no signs of stopping their tricks or jokes, "We could always slip in a canary cream… or maybe a tongue toffee, that'll show Malfoy his place!"

For a moment Harry was severely tempted with the idea, but he regretfully shook his head, "No, you'll two will get into trouble, all of Hogwarts now knows about your creations… usually because they were at the receiving end." He gave the best version -and he has been practicing- of a smile he could, but he seemed to be too depressed to hold it for longer then a few seconds. He dropped his head into his hands and sighed lightly.

Ron and Hermoine cast each other worried looks over the top of Harry's head, and each stood up, grabbing his arms. Ron smiled cheerfully at the people in the table and spoke to Neville, "Don't worry, Malfoy will get his due… We just have to find out what's with Harry lately," and with those words, he and Hermoine dragged Harry away towards the Gryffindor common room.

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"Now talk," Hermoine pushed Harry down on a squashy armchair and hovered around him like a mother hen, worried for her chicks. Before he could even open his mouth, she spoke once more, "and don't tell us that everything is all right! You've been acting moody and depressed, even before the start of the year and You-Know-Who's attack.

Ron nodded along with what Hermoine was saying, obviously agreeing with her ever word.

Of course he'd agree with her… you'd think that they were snogging considering how chummy they are acting this year… Harry almost immediately felt guilty, here was his friends trying to find out what was wrong with him, and all he could think about were how nosy they were being. He just expelled a sigh and looked away from them, not saying a word.

"Come on Harry! We're your best friends, who else do you have to trust except for us?" Ron seemed bent on trying to get Harry to admit something, anything, that would help them unravel the mystery he has been since the start of the school year.

"Look you two!" Harry suddenly shot up from the chair and gave them a glare, "I don't want to talk about it! I know your trying to help me and all, but I'm fine! I've been fine! And I will always be fine!" His green eyes were shielded by some unnamed emotion, his fists clenched as he glared at them both. "You're my best friends and all, but I don't have to tell you two everything that happens in my life!"

Immediately a guilty expression stole over Hermoine's face and she winced at Harry's expression and his words. "But…" she began softly, trying to calm Harry down while wringing the front of her black robe nervously.

"But nothing Hermoine! Prefect or not, you have no right to butt into every aspect of my life! No right to examine it like I'm some insect under a microscope!" Harry was clearly enraged by now, the stress and nights of no sleep finally getting to him, though Ron and Hermoine wouldn't know about that.

"I wasn't… we weren't…" for once Hermoine seemed to be fumbling for words to say to Harry, her brown eyes growing desperate. Neither she nor Ron had any idea were an outburst like this had originated from.

Suddenly Ron reached out a hand and placed it on Hermoine's shoulder, saying quietly, "'Moine, I don't think we can do anything right now…" As Hermoine stopped her attempts of saying something that would dissuade Harry's accusations, he turned to Harry, his eyes troubled, "We'll leave you alone then Harry."

Suddenly Harry brushed them both aside and opened the portrait door, muttering over his shoulder, "Don't bother, I'll go outside," his strides were long and quick in his want to get away from everything.

"But Harry! It's raining out there!" The only thing that answered Hermoine was the closing portrait's door.

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As Harry walked quickly down the corridor, black thoughts churned in his head, mixed with guilty ones. I… shouldn't be taking my troubles out on them… but they shouldn't keep pressing me for information! I don't have to tell them everything that goes on in my so-called life. He groaned and turned the corner, suddenly running into another person. Oh, shi-

"5 points from Gryffindor for not looking where you are going Mr. Potter!" Snape glared down his nose towards Harry, his dark eyes holding frustration in them, "Just because you are famous for a scar on your forehead, doesn't mean you own the halls." Before Harry had a chance to retort, he strode down the halls powerfully, pausing now and again to glare at several students.

Great, just great, a week into the school year and not only does Voldemort try an attack, but I lose some points as well, he scowled and stalked down the halls, going out the door to outside, while ignoring the strange looks that were tossed his way. Harry walked through the rain, nearing the forbidden forest, too caught up in his thoughts to notice that he was soaked entirely through.

He stopped and stared at a large puddle in the middle of the ground, examining himself critically, he saw the same old green eyes, same untamable black hair… he breathed a soft sigh and glared at his reflection, noticing the dark bags under his eyes and his thin frame. In his fifth year and he still did not have a lot of bulk and muscle, not that he wanted to be like Crabbe and Goyle of course, but it would be better then looking as if he could barely defend himself, nonetheless others.

Harry was more of a subtle strength, fated to not have the huge biceps and muscles like some men may have. Instead, he was leaner, though having highly toned muscles from all of the quidditch he has played, so he was strong, but it didn't show up in a mass of muscle. Though at this moment, he was leaner then he was supposed to be, a little gaunt, slightly paler then normal.

He paused next to a tree, looking at the forbidden forest in contemplation, wondering whether or not he should walk in there. He knew that he would get in trouble, but right now… he really didn't care. He sighed and leaned heavily against a tree, head hanging down as trickles of water made it's way around his hair. Sometimes… sometimes I wish I could tell Ron and Hermoine everything that has happened to me… Cedric… the summer… Voldemort. But why should I burden them with my problems?

A curse filled the air as Harry's fist slammed into the tree and he slid to the ground as if his legs couldn't carry any weight. His mind cried out frantically, it's not fair! I didn't ask to be the boy-who-lived! I just wanted to be normal, not have to face Voldemort every damn year, be strong for others… when can I have time to myself? When can people like me, love me, for who I am and not for some public farce I'm made out to be?!

He curled up under the tree, arms going around his knees as he buried his head into them, whispering softly, "But I can't can I? I'm bloody Harry Potter, who knows how many people wish to be in my shoes… and how much I wish I could switch with them." A single droplet of salt water slipped down his face, unseen, unheeded as it mixed in with the rain.

Something warm emanated from his chest and he lifted his head slightly, feeling as if it was ten time heavier then it usual was. His right hand came up slowly and he gripped his necklace that he obtained over the summer. A single dark silver cusith pendant dangled from a thin silver chain that was around his neck. He glared at it frostily for a moment before his expression softened and he lightly stroked it before returning it under his robes, away from sight.

Funny really, a cusith was supposed to be an enormous dark green hound the size of a young bull. It had a long thin tail and in olden times muggles were afraid of it. Every time they bayed, the muggle farmers would lock up their women in fear of them getting stolen by the cusith. They believed that the hound's mission was to round up women and drive them to a fairy mound so they might supply milk for fairy children, they also believed that the hound's had long braided tails. Nothing else could be farther from the truth in fact, the cusith were guard dogs and bayed every time they found an interloper or someone of that kind, they were proud and noble creatures. They also ran messages and errands for their masters, ever faithful.

The false claims about the women came from a muggle who observed the cusith running into a house after some strange baying had been heard, and pulling out a woman, who was in fact a witch. The muggle spooked and ran off, telling others about his experience. With the way muggles were, the truth became crushed and the tale got more and more expanded upon, until it became a myth. Nobody knows where the idea of the cusith having a braided tail came from, as humorous as it sounds.

Harry sighed and jerked out of his musings, knowing very well were they would lead up to, and he didn't feel up to analyzing it. He shivered slightly and hugged his knees tighter, feeling the damp and the cold for perhaps the first time. His gaze went down to his right hand and he clenched it softly, before turning to one of the problems that had plagued him for as long as he lived… Voldemort.

"God I hate you," he hissed out softly to the weeping sky, green eyes churning with different emotion, "All of this happened because of you… and They won't give me anymore information in fear of ruining everything." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the tree, feeling the cold water dribble down his back.

I'm not really sure what happened with Voldemort a couple of days ago… but it played out exactly like They wanted it to… me all alone facing him, casting that spell… I don't even know what it did! I feel like I'm a puppet They just jerk around! Harry cursed softly and laid a hand on the ground, clenching the mud between his fingers and letting it dribble through. I don't get enough sleep with Them occupying my thoughts and dreams, I never get a break, my friends worry too much… it's falling apart all around me.

With a surge of emotion, Harry lurched up from his position, ignoring the mud that was liberally splattered on his black robes. His clenched fists slackened as he began to once again walk through the rain towards the forbidden forest, uncaring for the creatures that might lurk within. His rain streaked glasses made it hard to see through, even with the water repelling charm on it, and he was freezing… but he didn't care. I'm not enough of a coward to end it all… or I'm too much of a coward to go through with it, I wonder which is correct…

He entered the dark forest, the rain letting up slightly as he wandered inside due to the broad, leafy plants that towered over head. Harry didn't really know where he was going, his feet took him wherever they felt he needed to be. Suddenly he tripped and sprawled over, damn log… wait a minute… He sat up and squinted at the thing he tripped over, feeling his insides clench as he recognized a human body, "Oh no…"

Harry reached out a shaky hand and carefully turned the person over, and gaped, his eyes wide and shocked, "Someone is playing a cruel joke on me…"

There lay a tall person with messy black hair, young, around 16, with a pale visage. He was distinctly familiar to Harry, because this was the one person who had been plaguing him his entire life, the one person who has been trying to kill him more times then he could count… Voldemort… or at least in this form… Tom Riddle.

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The glorious end of chapter one *sweatdrops* Actually, I meant for this to only be a prologue, but it went on longer then I expected… and it's not even long enough for me to call a real chapter… (I usually do 7 page chapters, this is only about 4 pages and 50% of the 5th page lol) Have I piqued anyone's interest yet? And I do assure you, I WILL include a plot… ^^;; and an explanation on how Tom got there. There are a lot of unanswered questions in this chapter, but I'll get around to answering them… eventually. Please remember that Harry acted the way he did before because of everything that has happened to him. So far you guys only know about Cedric (duh), but you don't know about the attack Voldemort made (at least only a little bit), or about the They or Them that Harry keeps thinking about. Or about the significance of his necklace, and YES there IS a significance to it. *sweatdrop*

Haha, you don't even know how Tom got in the forbidden forest! Or if he's what he appears… maybe he isn't Tom at all or maybe some sort of clone… *evil laugh* God I love tying everything together to make one kick ass fic. ^^; I will assure you all that you haven't read a fic like this before, totally original… or it BETTER be anyway.

The people in this fic may seem slightly ooc… *large sweatdrop* Which would be my fault entirely for not sticking to their character, but I'll try the best that I can okay? Unless of course, I change their character on purpose *smirks* I just know that I'm going to have a great time writing this fic! It'll be nice to have a break form my other fanfic, Aether Winds (Tamora Pierce), once in a while and write this one.

One last thing (long note o.o;), I don't live in Britain, I live in the US… so some of the words I will use most probably not be British ones… But me try okay? Nobody start yelling at me because I wrote ice pops, instead of ice lollies… *large sweatdrop* In fact, if anyone has a site or knows one that would help me with words like that, I'd greatly appreciate it! ^_^ *prods people with a stick* Stop reading what I write and review! NEED REVIEWS TO KEEP ME GOING! O.o;

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My e-mail address is flyby311@hotmail.com and put Torn Asunder, so I know what the e-mail is about. Anything you want to add/criticize/comment/whatever you guys just review it… please?