Harry Potter and the Riddle House
Disclaimer: I do not claim any ownership whatsoever of the Harry Potter concept. That honour is bestowed to Joanne Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing.
Timeframe: Beginning directly after Order of the Phoenix therefore it is important that you've read that book first.
Summary: The story of Harry in his sixth year at Hogwarts. Begins in the summer directly after OotP and Harry is trying to find a way to deal with the immense pain he feels inside.
Teasers: Harry will push away two of his closest friends briefly and those two will discover many things about their own relationship. When Harry gets to school he will seek comfort in someone's arms and Harry will discover more painful truths about his future. The story will be dark (as that is the direction the books are taking), however there will be many light moments.
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Chapter 1: A MUGGLE SUMMER! Page 2
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Harry woke late the next morning and did the same thing he had done every other day of the summer, he got up, got dressed and walked to the station to catch the train to London. Harry didn't have to work today, but was recovering from a late night out, which included him drinking alcohol for the first time ever. The girl on the train, Cassie was going to be spending the day with Harry in London showing him around all of her favourite 'haunts'. Harry had told Cassie at the party that he spent the summer only in London and went to a prep school in the London countryside. This prompted Cassie to show Harry around London.
Just as Harry was about to open his bedroom door to leave, a little and familiar owl came flying through the window. It was Pig, Ron Weasley's little owl which was yet another reminder of Sirius his godfather who died less than two months ago protecting Harry. He was about to turn away when suddenly the little owl began attacking his hand.
"Geroff me! You stupid little bird," said Harry, and immediately felt guilty of taking his pain out on a little bird. Harry finally took the letter and found the letter in Ron Weasley's handwriting.
Harry,
Mum spoke to Dumbledore and he said we were all going to stay with Lupin for the rest of the summer. We'll come by tonight to pick you up and have your broomstick ready cause we're flying. Hermione is coming to stay as well, as well as her parents who have been told what's happening and want to keep an eye on her daughter. You should see Dad, he's so excited about staying with muggle's; he's writing a whole list of questions to ask them about being muggles. Anyway I got to go pack my things for the trip.
See you tonight,
Ron
Harry grimaced and then went strait out the door. He didn't want to go back to the wizard world just yet, and especially not Lupin's place which was Sirius old home and headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix. The wizard world was reminders of Sirius and his parents and the biggest thing of all that he would one day be so powerful that he would have to kill Lord Voldemort or die himself at his hand as the lost prophecy stated. Once downstairs he grabbed a piece of toast and ran out the door and then was stopped by an invisible force. The force had hands that grabbed his shoulders and pushed him backward.
"You can't go out today Harry," came the familiar voice of Remus Lupin who was hidden under an invisibility cloak.
"I can do whatever I want," responded Harry, who tried to keep his voice down so not to allow the neighbours to see him talking to no one.
"Harry, I know it's painful and unbearable. I'm feeling it too, we all are and I know it's got to be worse for you but you can't keep acting like this, this recklessness is dangerous and it's up to me to tell you to stop." Remus spoke firmly and quietly as they were well in the daylight of the muggle street.
"So what now, your next in line to take care of me, to sign my permission letters and be the last reminder of my father in my life. I mean, c'mon this is just the way it is. And you'll probably be the next to die cause parental figures generally don't stick around me long and-"
"Harry!" Remus raised his voice and Harry tried to look inconspicuous standing by himself it appeared against a high timber fence.
"Harry, you may be the boy who lived and one powerful wizard but you are still a sixteen year old boy who is taking his problems and avoiding them until he thinks it will be easier to bear. Well I can tell you right now it will never be easier until you allow yourself to grieve and you need people who care about you around while you do that and they may not understand what your going through but they are always there to pick up the pieces. You need that Harry more than ever." Harry put a hand on Harry's shoulder and then to Lupin's surprise Harry shrugged him of.
"You just don't get it! I don't want to be around them because I may be the one picking up their pieces soon. It's better they stay away from me," and on that note, Harry ran off down the street and turned the corner and he didn't stop running until he got on the train at Surrey station. The real reason Harry was ignoring his friends had finally uncovered itself out of Harry's mind and he realised it was true. He didn't want to get close to those he loved so to protect them. He didn't want them to be next of Voldemort's hit list of victims and Harry just couldn't bear the idea of someone else he loved dieing.
Harry sat down and took the Walkman out of his bag and began listening to music until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and found Cassie staring at him with her blue eyes. She then started playing with the hairs at the back of Harry's head and he put his arm around her, pulling her closer and placed a kiss on the top of her head. They sat for half an hour not talking and only moved once they had gotten to the station they needed.
Finally Cassie announced that they were to go to the beach that they would need to take a bus to the beach she wanted to take him which was about half an hours drive from London. They walked to the bus station, got on and found two seats at the back where they could be alone. The day went by quickly and before he knew it he was back home that night. Cassie walked home with Harry from the station and he had to say goodbye.
"So I have to go away tonight," Harry began while holding Cassie's hand.
"Why? I thought you were having fun and the holidays aren't over yet. Why do you have to go so soon?" Cassie asked, grabbing hold of Harry's other hand and swinging them from side to side, almost as if she was testing the strength of their grip.
"I have to! It's hard to explain why and I don't want to go but I have no choice. I'm leaving tonight and I won't be back until next summer!" Harry frowned and then Cassie let go of one of his hands and pulled him into a tight hug. Harry took hold of Cassie and she spoke quickly into his ears.
"I really like you Daniel!" Cassie whispered and then they slowly broke apart a little. Then Harry put his hand under her jaw and pulled her in for a kiss. The kiss was fierce and Harry held onto Cassie, not caring who saw him very tight. Cassie didn't object and increased the intensity of the kiss, her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to stop herself from falling to the ground. Finally after what seemed like a long time, they broke apart and they breathed heavily.
"Don't go!" Cassie said and then Harry regained his train of thought.
"I have to...I'll keep in touch!" Harry finished and then turned and headed inside the Dursleys house, ignoring Uncle Vernon who was sneering at him and went to his room and locked the door. Once in there however he realised he wasn't alone.
Professor Dumbledore stood near the window silhouetted by the night.
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Please review this story and tell me what you think. I'm trying to make the story more older, but not unrealistic to the idea of Harry. Harry has been reasonably good at dealing with his problems but I do believe he has a breaking point and this is my idea of one way he'd rebel and push away from those he loves in order to protect them.