The Shadow of the Wizarding World

By: Jamnaz79

Beta: Winged Seer Wolf

-x-x-x-x-x-

Note: I do not own Harry Potter for the book, movies, etc etc etc.

-SotWW-

Harry finally was starting to let go. He was letting out all of the anger, rage, and pain of his young life so far. He was actually opening up to the two girls that were with him in the room. In a way each of them were special and unique to him. It was a strange feeling for the-boy-who-lived to feel loved and feel safe.

When he finished he looked up and smiled to the two girls as he felt each of them uncertain for the response. He didn't have to wait long as they each latched onto him and squeezed him into a hug. A bushy haired mess of hair on his right side and a pink haired vixen on his left, both were squeezing his bones till they creaked. Harry was amazed at these two and did the only thing he could think of to express his wonder. He hugged them back.

The last week of summer before heading back to Hogwarts went by quickly. Hermione's parents actually lived not too far from the flat. So she was over every day after Harry and Tonks completed their work outs. They would spend a few hours a day reading different books that were acquired from Harry's vault. Normally Harry would just further read the journals of his mother to learn more about his parents. Hermione was in heaven at some of the aged books for master's level charms that Harry's mother had stored away.

A few times they went shopping in muggle London and explored London's famous sights and museums. Hermione was a walking Fromer's encyclopedia. She knew dates, facts from different uses of the rooms of the Tower of London to the names of paints found on museum walls. For Harry it was a first time he ever had been shown this type of culture. He had only see the dark side of the muggle world, namely his cupboard. The trio even managed to take in a play. Harry and Tonks loved the guided tours and had a blast exploring London with Hermione.

Finally, the day of the train back to Hogwarts arrived which found Harry, Kingsley, and Tonks at the station early. They were the first to arrive for the day but it didn't bother Harry none. It at least gave him time to say goodbye and relax without the stares that always seemed to follow him. Plus it was nice not to be rushing and late like he was the first two times traveling to Hogwarts.

Harry shook hands with Kingsley with a bright smile, "Thank you Kingsley. I am in your debt for seeing me taken care of over the summer. If there is anything I can ever do to assist you please just let me know."

The bright smile was shined back to the young man from the Auror, "Thank you Harry. It has been a pleasure to guard you this summer. I will remember that favor and someday cash it in."

The boy couldn't help but chuckle warmly, "Indeed, perhaps I can hire you away from the Ministry someday."

Harry slowly turned from the dark skinned man to look at the pink haired girl with a smile, "Going to miss me?"

Harry received a light punch in the arm for the question, followed immediately by a hug. While not a Hermione squeeze till you can't breathe hug. Nymph's hug instead was far squishier at the chest, which Harry enjoyed immensely. Since they were in public Harry resisted the urge to tease the older girl with a wandering pinch and settled for a smile and whisper, "Winter Holiday's Nymph?"

The young woman smiled back to the teenager, "You going to work out and follow the regime that I gave you?"

He offered his best grin towards her, "Everything but Yoga. Tights fit you better."

"I will tell Mom and Dad to expect you. It should be fun and perhaps I will come to visit you on a Hogsmede weekend. Just write to me when you have one." The smile was genuine for Tonks as it reached into her eyes looking at the young man whom confused her. She knew he was far too young, but he looked almost her age and acted it normally. Sometimes she felt like a muggle cartoon she saw once with a little talking duck had with a devil and angel on his shoulder arguing over what to do. For now the angel won out. But, no matter what Harry was to her in the future, there was the simple fact that he was important to her. The young man was a kindred spirit to her, both a metamorphmagus, very few of which were found in England. The young man had found a way to grow into her heart. She gave Harry a single kiss on the cheek and whispered, "Go have some fun with the ladies. I expect some good stories when you get back at winter time."

One last hug to the older teenager was given by Harry where he did give a quick pinch to a pert backside before he turned and quickly entered the train. His luggage had already been delivered by Dobby who arrived and disappeared with a pop after Harry had gotten there. The elf was already at Hogwarts getting ready to look after his master, an added protection for the boy. He would be the only elf to prepare Harry's meals and check his clothing and room over.

An advantage of arriving early was that Harry had the choice of apartments. So he went to his normal compartment at the end of the train. But, when he got there the door was already open and a man was passed out sleeping on the bench. Something about the sight of the man tingle the back of his mind but the youth quickly shook it off. Deciding not to be a bother to the man, Harry turned to the next compartment down and settled down there. He un-shrunk his trunk, quickly removing his runes books, a few records and his shrunken portable record player out of his trunk. Then he slide the trunk away, plopped on a Led Zeppelin record that Tonks had given him then settled down to relax and read.

Harry fired he had a good hour before the earliest of the arrivals would show up. Which gave him about two hours till the platform started to get very busy. And of course it would be around three hours till the Weasley clan would show up minutes before the train started to depart. It was tradition after all; they were always the last to arrive. He wondered briefly if he could tease Ron if that was his families' slogan. But, knowing his best mate it might make the red head boy a bit too upset. He did have to say he was looking forward to hearing stories about Ron and his family's trip to Egypt. The idea of visiting tombs of powerful wizards and Pharaohs sounded amazing. Perhaps someday it would be possible for him, for now he had other concerns, like staying alive.

The book for Runes was extremely interesting. This book was actually not the standard third year Runes book for class but a supplemental book that Harry had found in his family vault for learning to use runes. He had already read the standard book of class and found it intriguing. So he figured he might as well use his new resource and had Dobby acquire multiple other early level books on Runes from the family vault to study over. The ideas and concepts for Runes was amazing, it was truly a unique version of spellcasting.

Harry found it fascinating the idea of making something unique that could survive him, if he didn't make it. After all, he was the last Potter and he needed to make a statement. Hopefully, it would be a statement for the restarting of his family tradition and tree and someday he would die around two to three hundred with many times many great grandchildren. Of course, there was a higher possibility whatever he accomplished could be the last act of greatness of the Potter family.

Runes gave Harry that possibility, they had the amazing ability to help create something that would out survive him and his magic. He could use them to empower his wishes into almost anything. Harry loved the idea of someday taking some of the muggle items and turn them into Wizarding things like Haggard's motorcycle. He was already planning as soon as he picked up enough knowledge to make one of his own. He also was curious about the possibilities of using runes to hold energies, or to allow locomotion to items like his record player. Of course, Harry was aiming higher then just bikes or trinkets to foster a business in the Wizarding World. He wanted to figure out something grand, something special that would change the way the Wizarding World was run. He didn't know what he would do yet, but he felt it in his bones that Runes was the way to get there.

So Harry had read ahead on the Runes textbooks, already memorizing the standard Celtic and Norse runes in the school books and learning the first full year of the subject. He was now working on his mother's third year notes on the subject and starting the fourth year textbooks he picked up to get ahead. He knew he was only beginning a journey that would take years to truly show fruits of his labor but he couldn't help but feel it was worth it. Actually, in the summer with the help of Nymph he had been able to learn most of the concepts from Transfiguration, Charms, DADA, and Runes. It just felt to him almost as if he had studied the knowledge before. He seemed to pick up the subjects faster then before even though he would start a new charm. Instead of it being a task to learn it felt more like a review. Would that have been from the rings? Or from what happened at the end of the school year? Or was it just applying to learn something in a way to actually was fun, and enjoyable as he did with Nymph?

His thoughts of the semester work was interrupted by the door opening. Normally when he saw the bleach blonde hair of the boy walking into the room on the train he would cringe inside with annoyance. But, in this case he had been honestly looking forward to seeing Draco Malfoy. The young man was without his two sidekicks this day, he still had the arrogance written on his face that he was famous for. But, there was a difference lingering in the eyes. The eyes now knew what it was to lose in the Wizarding world, they understood perhaps a little of what so many before him had felt from his father's actions. Perhaps it was a new day for Draco and he would be a different man. Of course, it could have been just gas.

The young man was slid the door closed behind him then turned and looked at Harry. A moment of silence as the two rivals stared at each other than Harry figured it was better to break the ice and motioned to the seat across from him, "Cousin, please come sit with me."

He waited till the blonde haired pureblood took his seat, while offering a polite smile to the boy, "I understand this is not our usual style of meeting. I hope your mother explained to you the details of our working relationship for now and into the future?"

After a nod from the boy Harry continued. "I know you may not believe me but I am sorry for your loss. I also expressed to your mother that I am sorry when we originally met that I did not take your hand as friend. I was not aware of how it is viewed in our society to publically ignore a hand of friendship. For that you have my apologies Draco. I can only plead ignorance due to the environment that I was forced to be raised in."

The young Slytherin studied Harry in silence for a few long moments before speaking, "I accept your apologies. I do not know if I can ever forget your role in my father's death but I can recognize that it was his choices that started the conflict with you. The past can't be forgotten Potter, but perhaps we can change things for the future."

Draco seemed to come out of his shell more as he spoke, "My mother explained to me the situation from first year. I did not know at the time you had been forced to live with a disgusting group of muggles. It only shows how they are truly much of lower level creatures they are then us. It is understandable to not be aware of traditions to our society due to that. But, you have been learning now about the proper etiquette?"

The dark haired boy smiled politely to his counterpart, "Thank you Draco. I have been learning but it will take time to truly understand everything that is different where I was…forced to be raised. Perhaps in the future if I have a question or concern I could call on you to straight out the correct, proper way to look at something?"

Harry watched the nod and smile from the blonde haired boy giving a smile in return, "Now for this year and onwards I don't expect us to suddenly become best of friends. But, perhaps a truce of cursing one another might be best? I do not mind keeping our rivalry if you do not. It would look odd otherwise."

The blonde haired boy studied Harry for a time then offered a forced smile. A part of Harry's mind recalled for a brief moment again the look of loss and defeat in the eyes of his rival. Too much had happened for them to become close, but he was family so shouldn't they at least try? He never had family before, so really he was uncertain.

Harry was drawn from his thoughts as he heard Draco's voice speak up, "That is acceptable Potter."

The boy reached down and slowly drew out his wand holding it aloft before him as he spoke, "I, Draco Malfoy, do swear on my life and magic that I will not seek revenge for the death of my father on House Potter. I agree to accept all of the terms of the alliance that my Head of House agreed to between our two Houses. Furthermore I shall not seek harm to House Potter, so mote it be."

Harry smiled at the other young man, a little mischief leaked into his eyes, "Good now please just tell me when the magic of the contract takes effect to change you into a woman so we can consummate the marriage."

The eyes of Draco popped out of his head as his mouth fell open in shock at the words. Harry pressed on with the same innocent smile, "Didn't your mother tell you that part of the contract? You are to become my bride? I think I have it here somewhere."

Harry stared to reach into his robes and slowly drew out a copy of the contract with the signatures of Narcissa and himself. He unrolled it and held it out for Draco to see clause number ten. It listed that Draco would take magical potions for a change of sex and accept servitude and marriage to House Potter.

The fact that Draco Malfoy was a very pale young man was not lost on the whole of Hogwarts. He was a pureblood and it was a matter of pride to have such unblemished traditional skin tone of nobility. But, the fact that at this moment he was whiter then nearly headless Nick was enjoyable for Harry to see. Still, he could only take this too far before he gave the boy a heart attack.

Feeling that the joke had gone too far Harry smiled and ripped up the fake contract with a chuckle. He after all did have a large breakfast and while the amusement of torture was enjoyable, the idea of being married to Draco was something to lose one's lunch. Add to the fact that Draco looked to be crossed between fleeing and having a stroke and Harry knew it had been enough torture for one day. "Draco, I am kidding."

The fear and shock left the eyes of Draco as he quickly became angry and glared at Harry, "I will get you for that Potter."

Those words brought a sense of rightness to the universe for Harry. He had to fight to keep from laughing but he somehow managed. "I am sorry, but I could not resist. Your mother did suggest a marriage contract but it was more between our future children for political reasons."

The blonde haired boy calmed down but his eyes still lingered with a glare that showed he would find a way to get revenge on Harry for the prank, "She told me. We will cross that road when we get there. Is there any message that needs to be communicated to her?"

The dark haired boy considered for a time as his right hand rose to slide through his long hair. A habit he had been forming over the summer that he did whenever he had to think something over carefully, "Just tell her that I have decided whom will represent me in the Wizengamot and I believe she will enjoy the sight of my choice."

Draco nodded his head in understanding then glanced out at the train station as it was filling up with people, "I must depart, we do not want to be seen like this. I will contact you if anything important comes up."

Harry rose to stand and offered his right hand to the boy, "and I will do the same for you."

The blonde Slytherin stared at the hand offered for a few moments then took it with a shake before he turned to depart the room.

As the door slid open Harry called out, "Draco a favor before you go. Please don't call Hermione that anymore. She is my friend and I consider her my sister."

Draco glanced back over his shoulder at Potter as he studied the boy. He considered the statement earlier of his ignorance and let out a sigh, "If you consider her a sister then make her one Potter. You have that power, but true to have her understand our society better. A mudblood is not just a muggleborn. It is a muggleborn that flaunts her culture and ignores our ways believing us to be wrong. She needs to learn more than just spells to be a witch."

After those words the young heir left the cabin leaving Harry to his quiet thoughts. He plucked up the runes book and tried to flip through it but instead he couldn't get the ending words of Draco out of his mind. Was she just as prejudice of the magical world as the purebloods were of her?

It was just moments before the train left when the door opened and a ginger haired boy and bushy haired girl pushed into the compartment. Both were, of course, fighting together. This time the argument was about them being late and hot was it all Ronald's fault. Harry stood up and helped both put up their trunks. He didn't say a word as he just let them bicker. He had learned a while ago not to get into the middle of these two which fought like an old married couple.

Finally, twenty minutes later Ron turned to look at Harry and blinked. He spoke up right away starting to ramble, "Bloody Hell! You look different! You are telling then I am. Your hair is longer than a pureblood and you even lose your scar! What happened to you Harry? Mom said you were fine after the end of last year before we left. But then I was told you caused the death of Malfoy's dad! Bloody brilliant move to get rid of him Harry. I was told by Mum she wants to adopt you, wouldn't it be great to be brothers?"

The rambling was interrupted only by two brief calls for language by the bushy haired girl. Still, a part of Harry couldn't help but smile. It was good to be back with his two best friends. He gave the other boy a bright smile, "It is good to see you too Ron. I have missed you mate. How was Egypt?"

Any with that question the ginger haired boy was again easily sidetracked from his own questions and started to talk about Egypt. The family had visited Bill, his older brother who worked for Gringotts. He was assigned to Egypt because of all of the tombs there and according to Ron he was part cursebreaker and part Indiana Jones. It seemed the clan had traveled from there to visiting Charlie. Charlie was another of Ron's older brothers whom was in Hungry. Charlie had taken up the career of working with dragons. Ron, it seemed, go to help him at the range some so the next hour was spent just telling about how he had somehow managed to save his brother from being eaten by a nesting mother dragon.

In the meantime, Hermione added bits of information of her own trip over the summer in addition to correcting Ron about facts from Hungry and Egypt. Part of Harry wondered if it was strange that she seemed to know more of the trip and places that Ron had visited then Ron did. Then again she did always seem to know a bit about everything so he shrugged it off.

Eventually Harry did have to talk about his summer. He explained bits and pieces to Ron from what went on. He let him know the basics of his life with his relatives and early years. He tried to keep out most of the information and had to give a few meaningful looks at Hermione when she was going to ask questions that he didn't want her to. It was not that he didn't trust Ron, but whatever he told the boy would find it's way to Ron's mother and eventually Dumbledore. Since the situation was still a possible future blackmail topic for the headmaster, he didn't want wide information about his situation to become known. Else it would be more difficult to someday press charges if he needed to, it wouldn't have the shock value. He had after all already picked out the Prophet headline "Chief Warlock condemns child Boy-who-lived to life of torture." It certainly did have a ring of removal for the old man, but that could wait till there was no other choice.

Hermione broke into a conversation about recent quidditch games with a question, "So Harry who are you going to live with after this year?"

A grimace came over his lips as Harry didn't want to discuss the topic for now, "I am not sure Hermione. I am leaning towards the Tonks family. But, I am hoping that I can prove Sirius is innocent. I just don't know how to go about it."

The ginger frowned at the idea as he fed some cheese from his mother's packed sandwich to his pet rat, Scabbers, "Are you sure he is innocent Harry? Maybe your mother was wrong. Dumbledore is normally correct on these things and my mother told me that he is who got Sirius thrown in Azkaban so quickly without a trial. Him and the old minister Baghold along with Crouch Senior put away Sirius quickly. I overhead them talking about it a few nights ago what took place with your parents before coming to school. He seemed very certain that Sirius wasn't innocent to me. Plus, he did kill Pettigrew."

Harry resisted the urge to growl at the idea of Dumbledore and what he might be planning. He reminded himself that he would need to get word of the situation to Cyrus and Narcissa. Instead of arguing he gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "I am sure Ron. And if he didn't kill Pettigrew, I would do it myself."

The bushy haired girl spoke up with a frown, "Harry James Potter, you should not be saying that. Besides I know you wouldn't take a life."

The dark haired boy raised an eyebrow to answer back but cut off his reply as the train came to sudden full stop. The sounds of luggage rumbling or falling echoed down the hallways. Harry felt the train rock as if something just got onto the train near his compartment. It was then that he noticed the windows, they started to mist up almost as if is they were freezing over. The air rising from under the doorway suddenly acquired a bitter cold, almost as if jumping out of a lake on a cold morning and getting hit by the wind. Harry could feel his breath frosting over as he breathed out slowly and deeply. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Scabbers flee to hide under the bench desperately getting away from the door. The boy slowly stood up and drew his wand at ready, "Get ready something is not right here."

Hermione shivered as she stood up and moved towards the doorway, "I will check what is going on. Perhaps a Prefect will know."

Harry saw her moving and started to step towards her but he couldn't move his feet. It felt like they were jello and would not respond to his will. Instead he yelled out for Hermione, "No, don't go near the doorway!"

But it was too late as she unlocked the door and it slid open. A massive black cloaked form floated towards them from the hallway. The being emanated evil that seeped from it to fill the train and compartments. The cold was more bitter then the harshest Siberian winter and chilled to the bone. But, it was the feelings and emotions that were startling. It felt as if all of the happiness and warmth in the world left his body. It was almost as if the world lost the brightness of the day and faded to dim. His breath escaped is body and his eyes rolled up into his head as Harry started to feel faint.

Distantly Harry registered a scream that belonged to Hermione. The black creature was reaching forward to try to grab hold of her. Before it could reach her Rob jumped towards her grabbing hold of the back of her blouse and flung her back into Harry. But, the dementor grappled hold of Ron's arms with dark boney, clawed fingertips. The creature seemed a mass of black robes and shriveled up skin with eyes burning red as two stars in a deep dark night. Harry felt helpless as his vision faded fully and he slipped into the darkness.

The darkness was fleeting for Harry. Instead he heard a woman's scream echoing through his mind. The first time he couldn't place the words but he knew that voice. He had felt it before when he was attacked. It was the voice of his mother crying out, "Not my Harry! Anything but my Harry! You can't have him!" Then the death scream would echo through his mind as he felt a blast of neon green light before his vision.

AS soon as the sounds would stop it would start again repeatedly tormenting him. "Not my Harry! Anything but my Harry! You can't have him!"

It was the fifth time that he noticed something was different. The voice was replaced by Hermione screaming, "Not Ron! No, you can't have him!"

The dark haired boy willed his eyes open as he awoke from being a crumpled up mass on the ground. He saw a vision that would haunt his dreams for decades to come. Ronald Weasley was held up in the hair by the grasp of the dementor. The creature's head was tilted downwards at an angle with his lips sealed to Ron's. Terror and pain was written over the face of his best mate. He could see it; a blur in his vision of light. The spirit or soul of Ron's life was leaving into the dread creature of darkness.

Harry's body reacted on it's own. He flung himself from the ground, dropping his wand in the process as he sprinted towards the doorway and the creature holding his friend. He didn't feel or notice as he leaped over the terror ridden form of Hermione on the ground. He only felt the anger, righteous anger burning in his heart as he saw the demon drop the lifeless body of his best friend to the ground.

It seemed unconscious or even he was controlled by something else as the boy drew back his right arm reading back almost to stab the dementor. When it was cocked back the ring on is right hand of the House of Golge shattered reforming into a long thin black dagger seen in the vault. Harry felt the shadows in the room stream from the compartment. The filled a stream in the light pulled from every corner of the room to wrap around Harry's right arm rolling from the shoulder down to the glistening blade.

The young man landed before the dementor and thrust his right arm upwards towards the head of the creature. The startled dark monster of nightmares didn't move as it had just dropped it's finished meal. Harry felt the blade pierce the part of the neck which meet the head of the beast tearing through the wrinkled flesh as if it was dry old parchment. The blade slid through the wrinkled mass of dead skin swiftly upward slam through the brain cavity to exit the top of the head of the beast.

A screech of the dead echoed from the cabin down the halls of the train. The pain filled cry sounded like sweet music to Harry even as his ears started to bleed from the pain of the death call. The sound was horrendous as the creature looked down into the eyes of the boy with utter terror at its fate. For a brief second the thought passed through Harry's mind that it wouldn't die, it would consume him with its anger and pain. Then the dementor started to break apart into black flakes of cloth and dusted bones fell to the ground in a pile.

Harry breathed deeply as he looked over the fallen creature he had destroyed. No idea of what he had done or how he had done it. He blinked and then felt the shadows abandoning him as he breathed deeply once, twice, then passed out falling to the ground. For the second time Harry fell unconscious in the compartment, this time no longer in mortal danger. Just before his head hit the ground as he fell he was caught by that strange man that he saw before and felt so familiar. He heard the man whisper, "James..." Then the boy was lost to the darkness again.

The bed was so very soft and warm when he awoke. He didn't remember going to sleep in any bed, actually he didn't remember anything after getting on the train. Perhaps this bed was somehow as part of the train compartment? Did Hermione make a bed with transfiguration? Harry shivered under the warmth of the blanket as he felt a cold hand touch to his forehead. Slowly, painfully aware of the shining light of the room Harry cracked opened his eyes to peer at the woman standing over him.

Truly, it must be a record that Harry Potter somehow managed to end last year in the infirmary and now started this year in the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey was the woman standing over him and he could see her checking his vitals carefully. He cracked open his dried lips and spoke in a whisper, "Hello."

The stern woman pressed her lips together as she looked down in disappointment at Harry. But, he could swear that there was a touch of sadness in her eyes, "Mr. Potter, I didn't expect to see you right away to start the semester. I figured you would at least give me a week. But, fighting Dementor's child? What are you going to do next year, dragons?"

The word dementors was a light switch flicking on in realization for his mind. Those evil, vile creatures that attacked them on the train were dementors! He shivered then looked around in fright, as the memory of his mother's voice screaming for him to be saved crept over his mind. He whispered softly, "The Dementors…"

His mouth felt like it was filled with cotton as he voiced his question, "Is it still alive?"

The voice that answered his question was not Madam Pomfrey but instead the Headmaster as he exited a curtain in the Hospital Wing. "That one that attacked you is not alive anymore Harry."

Harry swiveled his eyes towards the Headmaster, the sound of his voice held sadness. The same sadness was filling his eyes as he looked at Harry. The boy felt his heart jerk as Dumbledore's eyes looked old, dreary at a loss of their shining twinkle.

The man walked over to the side of Harry's bed and sat down. Slowly the Headmaster reached out and gently took hold of the boy's hand as he spoke softly, "Harry, I have some news to tell you."

The boy looked up to meet the gaze of the Headmaster and knew what the news was. He could feel it in his bones as the battle started to play over and over again in his head. His lips parted as he gasped softly, "No."

The grandfatherly man gave a squeeze to the hand of the boy. But, he continued in a soft voice despite the protest spoken by the youth, "I am afraid that Mr. Weasley did not survive the attack on the train."

Author Note: I hope too many people don't dislike the way this chapter went. It was always my plan for this to happen on the train. Not because of a dislike for Ron as a character but because it fit the story properly. I hope any of the folks that enjoy the Weasley's will not be too upset. I also hope you liked a bit of the power-he-knows-not being shown. It wont come up too much for a while but it will eventually play a good sized part in the story. Year three will be different then the books and I expect it to go by rather swiftly. Please let me know your thoughts good and bad. I always welcome them.

AN2: I am also looking for a 2nd Beta. I know that WSW and myself both miss things sometimes. I would love to get further assistance for the story. Thank you all for your support and enjoyment for it so far.

J