Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Summary- Harry's 6th year is full of surprises, romance, fear, and friendship.

Chapter one- Control

As the sun slowly crept out of the sky, it lit up all sixteen houses on Privet drive, turning the normally dark brick a lush orange. Everywhere flowers could be seen reaching up to the morning sun. Perfectly normal families could be heard waking up. The smell of dew was all over the completely ordinary street. Life for all the families on Privet drive seemed well, perfect. Every family that is, except for the occupants of number four.

Of course with a quick glimpse nothing seemed to be wrong. An extremely respected family, with a normal house, a normal car, and as one would think, a normal life. Now this would be true if it weren't for the secret they bore, one that they dared not tell anyone for fear of being, abnormal. You see all the Dursley's wanted was a life of peace and harmony, to not have anything to do with anyone "different".

The secret was that apart from Vernon the father, Petunia the mother, and Dudley the son, there lived another. One that hardly anyone knew or noticed lived there. Harry Potter, a fifteen-year-old boy, with wild jet-black hair, emerald green eyes, and a lightning shaped scar. Harry Potter was a wizard. ~~

A/N: I'm sure you all know the story about his "scar" so I'll just jump into the interesting part.

Harry awoke to a vivid orange and scalding hot bedroom. He rolled over and squinted at the clock that stood on his bedside table. It read 7:30.

'7:30? Damnit!' Harry lunged out of bed. He ran to his dresser pulled out a ripped navy blue t-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans. He never wore any of his real clothes around the Dursley's, they would insist to know where he got the money to afford them.

After dressing and putting on his glasses he practically ran downstairs. He quickly glanced out the window to see that all the cars were still parked in the driveway.

'I'm done for!' When he entered the kitchen he found the family of three sitting at the table reading the newspaper and eating breakfast.

"Sleep well boy?" Vernon shot at him.

"Sir, I'm sorry my alarm, it must be broke,"

"So that's my fault! I think not! If it's broke then fix it!"

"Yes sir," Harry walked over to the refrigerator to scrounge for some food.

"What, now you think you're getting breakfast?"

"Well, It's just"

"Don't talk back to me boy! I'm sick of you always lounging around this house! You're going to start working for you're food!" by now Vernon was on his feet. Petunia and Dudley just watched lazily.

"I don't see him working for his food," by now Harry had had enough. He could feel the anger building up inside him. Vernon's face turned an ugly shade of purple.

"Why should he? He's normal! You have some nerve boy! You walk into this house every bloody summer expecting to be treated like a bloody king! Well I've got news for you, it's going to be changing around here!"

Before Harry knew what was happening Vernon's huge fist connected with his jaw. Harry swayed on the spot. 'He hit me.he hit me' he couldn't believe it. Vernon had threatened to hit him before, but he never really did. After he regained his balance, there was another swing and this one landing right on his nose. He fell over, and pulled away his blood stained hands. When he looked up at his uncle he could see a spray of blood on his uncle's shirt.

"Look what you've done! I need to wear this to work!" Vernon shouted. His large foot caught Harry's ribs. He felt dizzy; he started coughing trying to get some air back into his lungs. Vernon stepped over him and left the kitchen. He turned to his aunt and cousin, only to find them smiling.

"Enjoy that? Daddy's got worse, that was nothing," Dudley said, he sounded as if the circus had come to town.

"I think I'll just be going to my room then," Harry implied hoping that they would at least have the heart to let him stop the blood flowing from his nose.

"Ha, I think not boy! You've got work to do!" Petunia looked shocked at the fact that he thought he could be let off. Harry couldn't believe it. ~~

Around 7:00 at night Harry dragged himself into the house. His face and clothing a mixture of blood, dirt, and sweat. He was exhausted, sore, and starving. He went into the kitchen and was lucky to find it empty.

'I'm sure I can have food, he did say I needed to work and that's what I've been doing all day,' with that thought he opened up the bread drawer and pulled out two slices of bread. He was just about to leave the kitchen when Vernon walked in.

"What do you think you're doing boy? Stealing perhaps? We'll see about that!" his deadly whisper turned into a shout.

"No. No! I wasn't stealing, I worked all day!" Harry fought back he needed food.

"Don't argue with me boy! Now.bend over," He was talking quietly but Harry caught what he said.

"Why? Look if you touch me-"

"If I touch you what? You'll hit me back?"

"Yes Vernon I will!" Harry's words sounded braver than he felt.

"You've done it now!"

He grabbed Harry and flung him on the table face down, one arm holding down both of Harry's. With his other hand he pulled out his belt and rolled up Harry's shirt. Harry knew what was coming before he was struck. One, two, three, four.ten, eleven. Harry was about to pass out when it stopped. His back felt as though it was on fire, but suddenly something hard struck him on the back of the head and he could no longer think of the pain in his back. He felt a trickle of blood run down the back of his head. He was now being rolled over onto his back; he winced as all of his weight went onto his already injured back. Vernon then started pummeling him on every inch of his body. One last hit to his ribs when he heard the crack and passed out. ~~

He woke up in pitch darkness. The moment he opened his eyes he realized that his body was screaming in pain. Every inch of him seemed to be throbbing, stinging, or aching. Memories of that night started flowing back into his mind; he shuddered and then shook himself back to reality. He fumbled in the dark for the light and his glasses. Once he had found both of them he walked over to the mirror. He studied himself. He had never seen a sight quite like it, it looked to him as bad as it felt. Everywhere was a bruise, cut, or welt. The back of his head had developed a large swollen bump the size of a chicken egg.

The first thing he did was change into fresh clean clothes. This took longer than he thought, because of all the injuries he hadn't found yet. After that was done he slowly lay on his bed and looked at the clock. It read 3:34, it was too early to go into the bathroom and clean off the dry blood. He slowly closed his eyes when he heard tap, tap, and tap. On the window, he jumped up and another dose of pain shot through him. After getting over that he walked over to open the window. Hedwig his snowy owl flew in.

"Shh, Be quiet," she seemed to understand because she flew silently into her cage after she gave him three letters. One had a Hogwarts seal; the other was unmistakably Hermione's perfect cursive writing, and the other Ron's untidy scrawl. He looked back at the window to find three more owls at it. He opened it and each one dropped off a package and flew off into the sky. That's when it hit him. It was his birthday!

He excitedly looked at the three new packages. One from Hermione, the other from Ron, and the other one from Sirius Harry's godfather. He decided to open The Hogwarts letter first, it read in a deep emerald green print:
Dear Mr. Potter,

I am pleased to inform you that you have been made Prefect for your sixth year at Hogwarts. You and Hermione Granger are the two chosen from the Gryffindor house. I would also like to inform you that you will be continuing your position as quidditch caption. Please note that the start of term begins on September 1st. The Hogwarts express leaves King's Cross Station on Platform 9 ¾ at 11:00. I have included your supplies for 5th year along with this letter.

Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress

Harry already knew what his supplies were and didn't feel like checking over them when he was this excited. He threw the letter onto the bed with the rest of the presents and sat down. He then turned to Sirius's Package.

It wasn't wrapped it was just a small brown box. Harry opened it to find a watch. It was a bright shiny gold with the numbers spinning around. He stared at it for a few minutes and then shook himself. He had never gotten anything this expensive before. A note fell out of the box and he opened it up.

Harry- Happy birthday! Are you doing ok? Are they treating you all right? I know that your normal watch broke in 4th year I hope this will do. It was you fathers. Sorry this is so short, I have to go. Sirius

Harry wondered if Sirius was all right. Then he put that thought aside. Something else jumped out at him. Harry wondered if he should tell him about Vernon. Then he came to the conclusion that he didn't need Sirius worrying about him, he had other things he needed to worry about. Not some stupid muggle. Yes, he was fine.

He turned to the next wrinkled present. It was a bright orange paper that was ripping in many places. He easily opened it to find the book "The other side of Quidditch" He smiled, and then opened the note from Ron.

Harry- Hey mate! Happy birthday! Sweet sixteen eh? Not bad. I hope you like the book. I read it over the summer and it's all about violent and gross quidditch stories. It's really neat. I just got back from Romania. I already went to Diagon Alley over the summer sorry I couldn't invite you. Dumbledore owled my mum telling her it would be safer to just buy your stuff for you. Don't worry we used your money. How about we pick you up September 1st at 8:30 and give you a ride to King's Cross Station? Ginny says "hi." Well I hope the muggles are treating you all right. Ron

Harry smiled and then tossed it back on the bed. He then turned to the last present. It was neatly wrapped in lush maroon paper with a golden bow. He opened it to find leather bound book. When he flipped through it, it was blank. Puzzled he grabbed Hermione's letter.

Harry- Happy birthday! Congratulations, sixteen! Seems like only yesterday we were in our first year. Time really does fly. I've already finished all my homework for the summer and I'm working on some extra credit. I can't wait till the start of term. The present is a Journal, so your can write down all your thoughts and feelings. I thought you might like it. See you soon! Love from, Hermione

Harry Smiled and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. And started to write.

Ron- Yes! That would be great if you gave me a ride! See you then. Thanks for the book! The muggles are treating me fine. Harry

He tied the note to Hedwig's leg as she nipped his finger affectionately and flew off. Then he slowing plopped onto the bed and thought one simple thought before falling into a restless sleep. How long can I control my feelings for her?