Harry Potter and the Mysteries of Love by Hermiones Twin

SPOILERS: Books 1 - 5
Contents: PG13
Description: NOTICE: As of 16 July, 2005 is fic is AU! This is my first fanfic. The Second War has begun as Harry Potter returns for his sixth year at Hogwarts. More danger and a new mystery awaits Harry and his friends as they discover the past and work to stop a possible future.
Published: 10/03/04
Updated: 15/07/05
Status: Completed
Genre: Mystery / Romance
Words: 237823
Chapters: 40

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter. Everything belongs to that wonderful genius, J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction. Special thanks go out to Pen for getting me my author's account, Whitney and Jessica for being my betas, and Nitya just because. This goes out to all of them.



Harry Potter and the Mysteries of Love

CHAPTER ONE

COPING WITH THE LOSS

Summer was the worst time of year, especially if you had to spend it at number four, Privet Drive. For fifteen year old Harry Potter, life couldn't get much worse than spending his summer holiday with his terrible relatives, the Dursleys.

They had always treated him badly ever since he had arrived on their doorstep at the age of one. But when he discovered the secret six years ago that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon kept, they treated him even worse. For you see, Harry was a wizard. And every summer he'd return from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to whittle away the hours until the next term started.

All was quiet around Privet Drive as most people were still in their beds asleep as the sun kissed the horizon. And in the smallest bedroom in number four, Privet Drive, Harry Potter thrashed in his bed as powerful images played in his mind.

"Come on, you can do better than that!"

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch, a look of fear and surprise on his wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil.

"SIRIUS!" he screamed as he jerked awake. His whole body was covered in a cold sweat and a chill ran down his spine.

Yes, life could get worse than spending the summer with the Dursleys. Much worse.

Harry took in a shaky breath as he laid back down in his bed, the memories of his godfather's end still echoing in his mind. The shock that he'd never see Sirius Black's face ever again haunted him wherever he went and whatever he did. And he, Harry, felt he'd never be whole again.

The next thing he heard was a sharp rap on his door and the shrill voice of his Aunt Petunia yelling at him to get up. Harry swung his legs over the side of his bed and then rested his head in his hands, trying to control the surge of emotions that wanted to pour from him.

When he felt ready, he stood up and searched around for a clean set of clothes. He had let his room fall into disarray after returning and didn't care at all to clean it up. All he wanted was for Sirius to come back and to tell him everything was okay and nothing was going to happen. But he knew that would never come.

He pulled on his clothes, ran a hand through his unruly black hair, adjusted his round glasses over his once bright emerald eyes, and headed downstairs to the kitchen, where Aunt Petunia was waiting.

"Well it's about time," she snapped. "Now get breakfast started."

He didn't argue; he did not feel like it. He simply got out a skillet and some eggs and started to fry them. The only thing he felt was slightly lucky that the Dursleys had finally given up on his cousin Dudley's diet. It meant that he could eat real food again.

By the time he had finished cooking the eggs and plenty of bacon, his Uncle Vernon, a big man with a huge mustache and very little neck, and Dudley, who was big enough to occupy one whole seat on a school bus, had arrived and were sitting down, waiting to be fed. Vernon looked up from his newspaper scathingly at Harry when his plate was delivered.

"I suppose I'll have to take you in for another haircut before Marge arrives," he muttered as Harry gave Dudley his plate.