Another Chance by DP

Summary: AU (but with magic). No Voldie! Slash HP/DM. Harry finds life futile and pointless, and works to end it. And he does. The problem - he wakes up, but to a new world. Why?

Warnings: Slash! (No likie - no readie!) um…I'm not too sure about other warnings…

Prologue

Harry stood against the ledge of the highest tower in Hogwarts. It was the Astronomy Tower were every Wednesday the Gryffindors and Slytherins would march up the twelve agonising flights of stairs and stay out for three hours studying the constellations. He looked up into the stars and watched with a small, sad smile glazed his lips. It was beautiful, he thought.

Every night since they arrived in Hogwarts, Harry had come to the Astronomy Tower to relax and think. To get away. Things were happening between the 'Golden Trio', as many had come to call them. They weren't the Golden Trio anymore. Hermione was getting too smart to be considerate and Weasley was too brainwashed with being Quidditch Captain to pay any attention to anything. Harry had quit the team after he and Weasley got into another row.

'Stop being such a git, Weasley,' said Harry as Weasley got on to his sister about her mishaps during the Quidditch Match against Ravenclaw. 'It's just a game. You honestly need to get your priorities straight.'

Weasley stopped and turned to him. 'What?'

'You heard me,' Harry leered.

'Get my priorities straight?'

'I'm quite sure that's what I said.'

'Said he who believes he's mightier than every one else because he makes better marks than anyone else in this bloody school. Even if he doesn't have any friends.'

'Well, if you didn't always have your head stuck in Quidditch clouds-'

'It's better than being a teacher's pet.'

'Grow up, Weasel.'

'Would you rather talk about your seeker skills?'

'I don't see any reason since I quit.'

'What?' cried Weasley.

'You heard me.'

'But you can't.'

'But I already have. Too bad you're too busy being an arse.'

Harry watched as the stars glittered and twinkled beautifully. Things were turning out so terrible wrong. The Gryffindors were upset with him for obvious reasons, and Harry wouldn't even bother reconsidering. Hermione had never been a friend, just Weasley's girlfriend. He was falling deeper and deeper into depression. His marks were dropping, though not low enough for Hermione Granger to pass him.

It was hard to have parents that were too busy for you during childhood. Hard when you grew up being bullied because you had to wear glasses and your hair wouldn't lie flat, and there was no one to turn to. Hard when you couldn't 'come out' in the wizarding world. Hard when Gryffindors were more narrow-minded than the Slytherins.

He wished he had never been in Gryffindor.

And a shooting star flew over. He smiled sadly. 'I wish – I had taken Draco Malfoy's hand in friendship that day on the Hogwarts Express,' he said as he climbed on top of the ledge and, before he changed his mind, which he knew he'd do if he waited another second, dove into the night.

TBC