Disclaimer: - I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. Anything you recognise is hers; everything else is purely my imagination-running wild…..

Setting He's Own Destiny.

Harry settled down at the kitchen table, Hedwig had returned and had dropped off all the books that Harry had ordered. He'd laid them out on the table and was contemplating where to start, would he start with transfiguration, charms, conjuring, DADA or Dark Arts?

Being a sixteen year old Harry really didn't want to start studying, as he'd only just found freedom. Freedom from the Dursley's, freedom from Voldemort and his minions, freedom from The Order, life was looking too good to want to pick up a book and start studying. He didn't have Hermione to nag him to do work, he didn't have Ron to distract him, Hell! he didn't even have a girlfriend to distract him from working.

Hedwig flew from the back of the chair opposite him and landed on his shoulder, Harry turned and looked at her "Well girl? Where should I start?"

Hedwig looked at her master, then nipped him hard on his earlobe

"Oww! Not again Hedwig. What did I do this time?" Harry huffed, rubbing his ear slightly, trying to bring the pain down to an acceptable level where it only hurt and wasn't throbbing.

"I know, I know…. I get all of these books and now I don't want to do anything" Harry paused looking at his owl, "I know what I have to do, it's just difficult to get started….okay" he said, lying his hand on the table.

Hedwig, not really bothered by Harry whining decided to nip him again on his already red earlobe. "Ouch! OKAY! I'm going, I'm going", Harry stood up and moved into the sitting room, taking a few of the books with him.

Harry sat down in the sitting room with a few of the dark arts books and started to read, he was fascinated by the easy way that the dark arts could be used and what was considered dark arts. If his was going to be fighting dark arts, for what could be considered the remainder of his life, however long or short that would be, then he should know what to expect and how to counter them. What good was defence against the dark arts if you couldn't get to practice casting them in the first place.

Early on during his reading, Harry soon discovered that the dark arts weren't really dark at all, sure there were something's in there that really shouldn't be available to anybody. Why would you want to turn anyone inside out, what was the point of burning your eye's out, 'who made these spells and what purpose did they have in mind when trying them out'.

Harry soon discovered, whilst reading, that nearly all of the spells that were considered dark or borderline dark, was it because of the complexity of the spells and relied on the power of the caster to perform them. Therefore, the Ministry wanted them restricted and not available to the general wizarding population. If the ministry couldn't perform them then they were banned and considered dark, thus leading to extended stays in Azkaban.

Harry continued to read the book and slowly it dawned on him, it was the intent of the caster that should be considered dark and not the spell. Sure if you cast 'Wingardium Leviosa' on someone and then dropped them off a cliff, then should that be considered dark or should the caster be considered dark – it was all down to the intent of the caster and their use of the spell. There should be no use for the terms like 'light' and 'dark' magic, they were just spells.

Once Harry started to understand the concept that spells themselves were neither light or dark, Harry started to enjoy reading the dark arts book, even if the title was incorrect and with trepidation started to practice them.

This settled into a routine for Harry, getting up, shower, breakfast, read books and practice

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Order of the Phoenix – Hogwarts.

Mrs. Weasley had just exited the floo and attracted the attention of all of the members of the Order of the Phoenix, by shouting that Ron and Hermione had received letters from Harry

Once calm had descended on the order, brought about by Albus Dumbledore sending sparks from his wand into the air, "Can you tell us what they say Molly?" Dumbledore questioned.

The order members managed to take their seats and arrange themselves, as if waiting for a children's story.

"Well, he says that he is sorry for not being able to come to the Burrow this summer and that he will not be neglecting his studies" she paused and looked about the room. "He also says that we will not be able to contact him and that he will be back at Hogwarts on the 1st of September, arriving by the Hogwarts Express"

"Is that all he says Molly?" Albus Dumbledore held out his hands to review the letters, after reading them he looked up "It appears that Molly is correct. He apologises for not being able to go the Burrow this summer but there is no apology for turning his relatives into animals, nor for the amount of work that it took to clean up that mess, nor for the attack on the deatheaters"

"Typical Potter, always wanting someone else to clean up after him" came the snippy comment from Snape.

Professor Dumbledore ignored his potions professor and continued, "We must find him before Voldemort does, Does anyone know where he could be?" He looked around the room "Remus?"

Remus Lupin looked up, his eyes tired, "No, Harry hasn't been in contact with me at all. I can't think where he could be Albus"

"Bill, have the goblins said anything more about Harry, we know that he went to them before he disappeared?"

Bill Weasley sat near the back of the room "No professor, the goblins refuse to talk about any of their clients and keep any information related to them to themselves".

Albus Dumbledore stood up and walked around to the front of his desk, he paused as he sat of the front of his desk facing the assembled members of the order.

"I received a note from Gringotts informing me that I have been removed from the Potter Vaults and that Harry has inherited everything from Sirius's will" he paused whilst the members within the room listened.

"I know that William informed us of these events some time ago, but the goblins have now confirmed it. I also took the liberty of checking the records at the Ministry and Harry has been emancipated, the records clearly indicate this" Dumbledore seemed to age to his considerable 160 years, "It does appear that Harry has found something's out that maybe he doesn't fully understand"

"What do you mean by that?" screeched Mrs. Weasley, she was already frantic about not knowing where Harry was, now what had he found out?

"It would appear that Harry may not have known about his parents vaults, or the fact that I have been responsible for them since his parents deaths" Dumbledore moved back round to his seat, the desk between him and the order members, "I thought it may be best for Harry not to know about the considerable wealth that he has"

"He has money Albus?" questioned Remus, "But he walks around in clothes only fit for burning, why didn't you inform him of this?"

"Remus, I thought it would be best if he concentrated on being a child, I appear to have been mistaken"

'Oh Merlin, he must think that we have all known about his wealth, he must despise us all for it' thought Remus.

"I must admit, that my keeping secrets from Harry may have upset him a little, I didn't think that it would drive him away from us" Dumbledore continued.

The Order of the Phoenix members started to talk about the latest news that had just occurred.

"Please, please" Dumbledore said trying to silence the crowd, "We must find Harry and bring him back to where he can be protected, I suggest you all continue to look for him" he paused in his speech "however we must remember that Harry is now classed as an adult and therefore can do magic away from Hogwarts"

Soon after this last speech the order members left via floo, all going to their separate destinations.

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Black Cottage – The Lake District.

Harry had been practicing various spells, reading his books and having no interruptions, apart from Hedwig trying to get him to do more, and had gained an insight to his ability to do spells. He had read up on his previous school notes first through to fifth year and found that he could perform moderately well in all of his chosen subjects.

Harry had concentrated on all of the spells in his school years and could perform them all with little to no problem, however when trying to do the advanced spells, NEWT level or above he seemed to hit a physical block, it seemed that his body wouldn't allow him to progress any further. The more he tried the more frustrated he became, only when he seemed to lose his temper did anything go moderately right.

Harry paused in his studies to and went to the kitchen to make some diner and to get Hedwig something to eat.

"You do know that you could fly and get yourself a nice fat mouse," Harry said, looking at Hedwig, "there are plenty of fields around here"

Hedwig just looked at him, her bright yellow eyes blinking at him, from the chair next to the table. Harry continued to look at her "Well?" he finally asked.

Hedwig sniffed, 'can owls sniff' thought Harry, as Hedwig flew out of the kitchen window and over to the nearby fields.

Harry quickly made his sandwich and sat down in the sitting room, while eating his sandwich of ham and cheese, he read his dark arts book, 'Rituals and Their Powers'. Harry read various rituals where you had to make sacrifices both human and animal, which would bring greater powers to the individuals, 'Blood rituals' where the person gained insight into various abilities, including greater speed, strength, sight, hearing, visions, there seemed to be an endless parade of different things that could be performed.

'Do I want to go through any of these?' thought Harry 'what would the benefits be?', Harry tried to think who said 'is the benefit greater than the risk'.

Finishing off his sandwich and standing up Harry walked to the kitchen window, could he see Hedwig flying, looking for her fat mouse?

'Well, there does seem to be some benefit in doing some of these rituals, it would give me an edge over Voldemort' Harry paused, 'who am I kidding, Voldemort has probably carried out all of these rituals, including child sacrifice, although it would make the odds a little better in my favour'

Harry walked back into the sitting room and sat back down, picking up his book he continued to scan through it looking for exactly what rituals he could perform without having to 'kill a goat' or 'strangle a child' in order to make himself more powerful.

One caught his eye, it was one where the mind and the body could function as one, no delay in reactions, no second guessing, more importantly one that did not demand the 'killing of anything' just a little blood on his part.

Harry read what had to be done for this ritual. It had to be performed at the apex of the full moon, within a heptagon, in the open air, candles at each of the seven corners, with runic symbols placed inside each of the seven points, the caster had to be facing North. This didn't seem so bad, the full moon was only four days away, if Harry's calculations were correct.

Hedwig flew back into the cottage, dinner having already been eaten. Harry proceeded to inform her of what he was going to do, she didn't look to impressed.

"Hedwig, I know that I can do this, it isn't too bad and the benefits far out way the risks." He looked at her "It's much better than having to sacrifice anything", she seemed to shudder as she flew up to the dresser to rest after her meal.

The night of the full moon was a few hours away and Harry was preparing the ground for the ritual, the heptagon had been drawn and the runic symbols placed around the seven-sided shape. Harry had been careful to get the symbols correct, he didn't want to make a mistake with this, his first ritual.

Hedwig, looked on from a nearby tree, small 'hoots' emanating from her beak as she watched her master getting ready for the ritual.

Harry placed a small dagger on the ground inside the heptagon and waited for the moon to appear at its zenith. He had read everything about the ritual he was about to perform, although not knowing the full outcome, he was filled with a small amount of dread.

As the time was nearing, Harry entered the heptagon and sat in the middle facing North, his body glistening in the cooling midnight air, the small dagger by his side. Harry had to be naked for this and was thankful that no one was around to see him perform this, although being naked would probably have been the easiest part of the ritual.

Harry slowly looked at the sky, watching the moon, he heard Hedwig 'hoot' from the nearby tree and slowly raised the dagger to his chest. Drawing a small triangle above his heart with a line dropping downwards Harry intoned the words of the ritual

"cruor of meus somes , cruor of meus mens enscroll is ritus facio unus".

Harry could feel a slight wind whip around his body, small tingles all over his body, drawing the dagger over the palm of his hand Harry, he then placed his cut hand upon the symbol, already drawn on his chest,

"somes quod mens ut unus" 'Body and mind as one'

The symbol drawn into his chest flared, Harry tensed as pain surrounded his body and Harry slumped to the ground. Hedwig flew and landed on the ground next to her master.

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The Burrow.

"I wonder what Harry is doing now?" Ron asked to everyone gathered at the Burrow.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny had been at the Burrow for the past few week, Hermione's parents had taken the opportunity to go a dental conference in Spain and would be away for the last few weeks of the summer. It had been decided that Hermione could stay with the Weasley's until they got back.

"Oh Ron!, it's the full moon tonight and he is probably worried about Professor Lupin" Hermione replied, "I just wish I knew where he was… he could be doing anything"

"Well, according to mum, we were the only one's that he wrote to when he left his relatives," stated Ginny "I knew that they were awful to him, but I don't think that they deserved to be turned into animals"

"What do you mean? they probably deserved it" snarled Ron.

Between the three of them they knew all about Harry's relatives, but only what Harry had told them, they didn't know how badly he had been treated, starved, abused, picked on and humiliated, they didn't know that according to his relatives that Harry attended a criminal boys school.

"Well he could be doing anything?" Hermione stated once more, "Knowing Harry he won't be doing his homework or studying, even though he said he would"

"Would you Hermione?" asked Ron, "Actually don't answer that, you probably would" smiling Ron left the room and entered the kitchen before Hermione could berate him for being uncaring.

"What do you think that he's doing Hermione?" Ginny asked in a quite voice, she was worried for Harry even though he hadn't written to her.

"I just don't know" replied Hermione, "He's just lost Sirius, then he runs away, he could be doing anything, He could have fallen in with the wrong crowd"

"What do you mean?"

"He could be doing anything, to just disappear and not be found, he could have even been captured by Voldemort"

"I don't think that Voldemort would have kept that a secret, I think that if that had happened it would be all over the papers by now" Ginny responded. "and Snape would have taken a huge amount of delight in informing everyone"

"Are you two coming?, Dinners nearly ready" shouted Ron from the kitchen. The two girls, sighed looking at each other and left for the kitchen.

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Black Cottage – The Lake District.

Harry felt like his was floating, the pain in his chest had stopped and had become a dull throbbing pain instead of someone prodding and poking him with red hot skewers. He could feel his entire body and sensed everything around him from the beetle crawling in the grass to the side of him to Hedwig sitting on his shoulder with her head in the crook of his neck. He could feel his blood flowing through his heart and the feeling of the wind on his body and face, he felt alive and in touch with every living thing.

Harry could see, 'in his minds eye' his magic flowing around his body, touching everything around him, his mind capturing and memorising every feeling, taste, sound, smell and noise. As he carefully looked inside himself, he saw blocks against his mental pathways. 'What the hell are those?' he thought to himself, they looked like dams placed in the way of his magic, he couldn't see past them, he couldn't go around, up, down or through them 'What the hell are they?'

Harry body started to shiver in the cold of the morning air. He rose from his slumped position, dislodging Hedwig as he lifted his body off the ground. "Sorry girl" he mumbled as he made his way slowly back into the cottage.

Sitting down, after wrapping a blanket around himself, he quickly grabbed a drink from the cool cabinet, he didn't have a fridge at the cottage, placing the cool bottle against his forehead he felt the cooling effect the bottle had.

"Well, that didn't go too badly" Harry stuttered, "Did it girl?"

Hedwig just looked at him reproachfully, as if to say 'it was not something you should have tried in the first place'

"I think that I need to have a sleep" and with that Harry stumbled his way up to his bedroom.

The next day Harry was looking at his books on Occlumency, trying to discover what the 'blocks' that he had found were. His only answer was from an obscure paragraph in one of the books that mentioned 'blocks of the mind'

The passage read.

Mental blocks can be place on the mind of a young child to prevent them from performing accidental magic and injuring themselves or others around them. They should be removed once the child has reached an age where they can distinguish the difference between accidental magic and knowingly performed magic, i.e. with a wand.

The blocks should always be removed once the child has reached the age of twelve, as a minimum, removal of the blocks can cause some pain as the block removal causes the excess magic that was blocked to become active.

By removing the blocks the full potential of the witch or wizard can be reached.

Harry sat back in his chair, 'why would I have blocks placed on me and why weren't they removed?'

Harry only thought that Dumbledore could have placed these on him before delivering him to the Dursley's. The Ministry would have picked up any accidental magic performed and that could have lead to Voldemort finding out where Harry lived.

The more Harry thought about it the more he became annoyed,

'Why had Dumbledore not removed the blocks when he entered Hogwarts, he had been attending Hogwarts for the past five years, he had performed his first 'Patronus' spell at the age of thirteen.

To say that Harry was livid would be an understatement, if air could spontaneously combust then it would have, flowing lava would have diverted itself back into the mouth of volcano's and 'Nundu's' would have fled at the sight of the young man that now sat in a small wooden chair in a cottage in the Lake District.

Grabbing hold of his magic and looking through his own mind, Harry entered his mind and looked at the offending 'blocks' that prevented his full magical potential. He tried to careful remove them from his mind, he carefully tried to lift them out of the way, nothing was working.

Frustrated that this was approach was not working Harry decided on another approach, using the full force of his magic he threw his magical might directly against the blocks, forcefully obliterating the them from his mind, this was neither gentle nor controlled, only sheer brute force.

The blocks were smashed apart, even the imaginary particles being destroyed into nothing, there was now nothing to prevent his full potential now.

Harry returned from his mind, he could feel his power flowing into his body, his centre becoming charged with magic of undeniable proportions, sparks were jumping off the ends of his fingers, his hair, as messy as it was, was standing upright and blowing in an imaginary wind.

There was 'Power' and then there was 'Harry'

With all the power that was cascading through his body he started to shut down. His heart was pounding harder than his thought was possible, trying to maintain a balance, his mind was becoming overloaded and the energy spitting from his body was too much, in the end Harry slumped unconscious in the sitting room, his last thoughts

'Dumbledore when I get my hands on you, you will know what real power is!'

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Back at Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk contemplating what to do about Harry Potter, it would only be a few weeks before everyone returned to school, how would he begin to reconcile his relationship with Harry. He could not ignore him any longer, he needed him to defeat Voldemort and his deatheaters.

He would have to tell him the truth, the prophecy was one thing that he had kept from Harry for far to long, that had been a mistake. The responsibility for his vaults would probably be another, however the mental blocks he had placed on him as a child, when he had placed him with the Dursley's would probably be the breaking point.

At that moment Dumbledore felt something in the air, there was a charged feeling, a feeling of dread, a feeling of hopefulness. It felt like………..,

"Harry, what have you done?"

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Let me know what you think…………

Sheeps