Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Harry Potter series created by J.K. Rowling or any other book that I might use reference from (names, places etc) or music that might/will appear in this fic.

Summary: A new girl moves into the neighborhood, but there is more then meets the eye. What does she have to do with the wizarding world and how can she help.

Occurs the summer before 4th year, so a little AU and darker.

Mentions abuse, swearing, drugs, drinking.

Independent Harry, Own Character (not a Mary-sue! She's only wearing my clothes!)

Pairings: undecided.

Chocolate Roses

Chapter Two

Harry had spent the next day doing chores set for him by his aunt, his day went by quickly, however he was a bit sloppy in his chores, but luckily, no one noticed his inattention. Once Harry had finished the final clean up of the kitchen after supper, he went up to his room to change. He put on a plain black hoodie, and changed his pants to a pair of faded blue jeans that were a bit long and dragged on the ground so the hems were frayed, the jeans hung off his hips and were slightly baggy. Harry put on one of Dudley's old belts, that was still to large for him, and finally a pair of old trainers. Harry looked down at his watch and decided that it was time to meet Nicole.

Harry left the Dursley's house, without being noticed and made his way over to the Miller's house. Harry knocked on the door and stepped back a bit, not a minute later Nicole came to the door, "Hey Harry, ready to go?" Nicole asked. She was wearing skintight faded black jeans with a studded belt, and a 'Sex Pistols' hoodie, and her black converse shoes. She also had a canvas backpack, and her hair was tied back with her fringe swept to the right side.

"That's why I'm here." Joked Harry, Nicole smiled and closed the front door behind her. They turned and started walking away from the house and down to the edge of the street.

"Where should we go, do you have any ideas Harry?"

"I found a good place during my many wandering, it's about five minutes from here." Harry led the way to their destination, the walk was silent yet comfortable. They arrived at an enclosed park, inside, the park was filled with many large trees, bushes and flower beds. There was a sand box, swings and a small play structure, everything was covered by the large trees creating a canopy effect. There was only one entrance/exit into to park. Everything was in bloom, there was loads of colour, and the scents from all the flowers filled the air within the park, enveloping Harry and Nicole as they made their way further into the park. The heat of the day was leaving and the cool of the summer night was coming, the sun was almost set and the sky was awash with colour, it was the best time of day to be out.

"This is amazing Harry, absolutely beautiful."

"I know, this is the one reason I always come out here at this time, there is a closer park to Privet Drive, but this one is much better. Dudley and his gang hardly ever come out this way, so it's perfect in every way."

"Now we're going to need a place to sit where no one can see or disturb us, do you have any ideas Harry?"

"There is this one tree in the back corner of the park that I think is the oldest tree here. The branches are thick and sturdy do they would be able to hold our weight. Come on I'll show you."

Harry showed Nicole the tree that he was talking about, it was definitely the oldest tree in the park, and was by far the largest and tallest tree. Nicole and Harry made their way up about a third of the way up the tree. High enough so that no one on the ground could hear them and not too high so they wouldn't be able to get back down. From the branches where they were sitting Harry and Nicole were able to see the whole of the park, and behind them on the other side of the massive trunk of the tree were the houses surrounding the park. By the time they were completely settled on the tree, the sun had set and the first stars were coming out.

"So I brought us some stuff to keep up occupied." Started Nicole, at Harry's inquiring gaze she continued. "I got us some sweets, my ipod, a six pack of beer and a couple of joints."

"Brilliant."

Nicole passed Harry a can that surprisingly still cold, and brought one out for herself. "It's not quite like Canadian beer but it's close enough."

"So, what exactly brings you to Little Whinging Nicole?" Asked Harry, as he opened his can and took a sip.

"Originally my family is from England, but my parents went over to Canada just after I was born, however soon after we were settled in my parents were killed. Luckily my aunt and uncle, on my father's side had also come over to Canada just after we did, so I had lived with them for the last twelve years. I was home schooled until I was eleven, when I was accepted into Ambrosia School, I made a couple of really close friends, and going to Ambrosia was the best time of my life. However something horrible happened and they were killed along with my aunt and uncle, this happened just over a two months ago. Having nowhere else to live in Canada I was sent here to live with my aunt and uncle on my mother's side. Growing up I never had the chance to talk with anyone who wasn't British so I still have my accent." Nicole finished her brief life story.

"Wow, Nicole I'm so sorry." Replied Harry, putting a comforting hand on Nicole's shoulder and giving her a reassuring look. Nicole gave Harry a small smile and nodded her head slightly.

"It's ok, so what about you Harry?" Inquired Nicole.

"Well, my parents were also killed when I was young, that was when I got this scar on my forehead. I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle on my mother's side, my father was on only child. I had no friends growing up because my whale of a cousin Dudley made it so. Him and his gang would go 'Harry Hunting', when they would catch me they would beat me up, but more often then not I would get away. When I got my letter to a private school, my parents signed me up for, did I finally make friends. My time at school is the best time of my life but sometimes it can be a real pain in the arse. Rumors and gossip galore, and I'm usually the object of scorn, but I wouldn't trade my life at school for the world, I love it there. So that's basically my life in a nutshell." Harry finished his short tale while he opened his second can of beer.

"What are your friends like Harry?"

"Well Ron, he is my first best friend, his family is huge; seven boys, one girl and his parents, ten in total. He is a total sport buff, he loves this one team that is absolutely terrible, they never win a game, yet he still loves them. He is a good friend but he does get jealous and embarrassed quite easily. Because his family is so large, and they all at one point in time went to Hogwarts, they don't have that much money. Everything is hand-me-down, clothes, books, pets, everything. Ron is a total slacker, he prefers to do school work last minute, more time for fun."

"Hermione on the other hand loves to learn, her second home is the school library, she is the top of every class and loves to get to the bottom of things, she makes a sport out of nagging. She is an only child and the first in her family to go to this school so I guess she feels like she has something to prove. She isn't really fond of things other than classes and books, she starts study schedules months in advance, and she colour codes everything. It is a total drag, but without her Ron would fail, I would be just fine, I just make it seem as if I need her help with my work. I only do that so I won't end up in the library for the rest of my school career, and leave Ron behind, I want to enjoy life while I can, you know?"

"Those are my best friends, I talk to other people in my dorm and such but I never really hung out with them. What about your friends Nicole?"

Nicole and Harry locked eyes for a moment after Harry asked the question, Harry noticed something hidden behind the happy exterior, it flickered slightly revealing deep pain and sorrow but was quickly covered up again. After a moment of silence Nicole broke away and looked down the tree to the ground below. "I was close friends with three other people, my partners in crime if you will. We helped eachother with our problems, we really understood eachother, and that understanding helped us become extremely close to eachother."

"I had first made friends with Evan, he was the kindest most amazing person ever, he was like my other half we really complimented each other. The two of us were quite the pair; one was not seen without the other, as was commonly said. It was really weird how quickly I opened up to him, I have trouble trusting people, back then I would be wary of everyone and anything. Now though, trusting is much easier. He was the last of the three to die, when I was told he died; I never saw a body, I completely lost it, I was extremely heart broken and I became both a danger to myself and to others. The other's deaths were hard of course, but I always had Evan to help me through it, he kept me sane. However, when he was killed, I couldn't take it anymore, and I snapped, I had nothing more to loose. Remember this Harry, a person with nothing left to loose is the worst person to go against, dying is the least of their worries, it is actually preferred."

"Annabelle, she was my best girlfriend, she was a sweet and caring person, even with her troubles growing up. She had to deal with something that not many people have to live with, and she took it mostly in stride. I would have done anything to relieve her of that pain, anything. But, now in death at least she has some peace from that pain. She was the first death of my friends, I saw it happen, I think that she was the luck one, being the first to die she never got to feel the pain and anguish that comes with the death of loved ones."

"And finally Josh, he was the spiritual one, he had come from an old tribe and he taught us soo much about nature and our surroundings. Listening to the stories of his people was mesmerizing, and their traditions helped us with many things in our life. Him and Annabelle were the other pair of our group, you wouldn't see one without the other. He too could not live without his other half, Annabelle's death was also extremely hard on him but he was willing to move on and keep on fighting. He still saw the illusive silver lining, he never gave up. He was the second to die, he is now with Annabella and Evan."

Nicole finished, he voice was thick with emotion and Harry saw tears slowly fall down her cheeks and drip off her chin and he could hear her sniffiling. "When we were together nothing could bring us down, we did many things together pranks and the like. We were very good at getting away and sneaking around, we were inseparable. And yet here I am alone and the last of us alive, and they never even made it to their fourteenth birthdays. Disgusting isn't it?"

"Yah, it is. Look Nicole I'm sorry for asking such a stupid question you had mentioned earlier that they had died and I just wasn't thinking. I'm really sorry." Harry put a hand on Nicole's shoulder, yet she still didn't look at him, she just nodded her head.

"It's ok Harry, I asked about your friends first and I knew that you would ask about mine next, common courtesy and what not." Nicole started packing up her stuff. "It's getting late Harry, and we really should be getting back... It's ok Harry, I need to talk about them sometime or another, there's nothing to be sorry about. I just...I don't know. Just know that I'm not mad at you or anything, I'm greatful because I feel comfortable enough to trust you, and to open up to you. And now you also have someone to talk to also, and if it would make you feel better you can tell me a 'sob story' too." Nicole gave Harry a small smile at this statement and Harry returned it. "I hope that I can assume that you would be willing to talk to me to share with me... But it really is getting late, or should I say early? Whatever, did you want to meet here again tomorrow, after supper?"

"Definately." Agreed Harry, "to you assuming that I would be willing to talk with you and to meeting again tomorrow."

"Ok then it's settled, lets get going then."

Harry and Nicole descended the tree and made their way out of the park, and back to their street. Nicole had rubbed her face clean with the sleeves of her hoodie and had given Harry reassuring smiles and glances all the way back which Harry returned. Harry and Nicole split up in the middle of their street and went to their respective houses, both the doors were locked and they both picked the locks open. Harry made his way up to his room and sat once again on his window sill looking out onto the street, thinking. 'Was this how friends really were like, did they share these types of stories with eachother?' Was the line of thinking Harry was on. They've only just met but Harry felt closer to Nicole then he did to both Ron and Hermione, they've never told Harry anything like this before, all Harry knew about his friends were superficial things. They had never wanted to tell Harry anything more about themselves and they never wanted to know anything more about Harry.

Harry went to bed once again thinking and he could not fall asleep for the longest time, and when he did fall asleep it was only for a couple of hours. Nicole had caused Harry to think about his life and what was going on within it, and Harry was coming to conclusions about himself and those around him. Those conclusions were startling to say the least, if Harry was this oblivious about his own friends, what else did he not know about and how much of what was said to him was a lie or a farce. Harry realized that he needed to get his priorities straightened out and he needed to figure out what he was going to do about hs current situation with the wizarding world, his friends, and Nicole.

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Thanks,

Echo87