<BR>
<P align=center><B>You are viewing a story from harrypotterfanfiction.com</B></P><BR>
Let Your Darker Side Give In by Kelly_the_muggle
View Online<BR><BR><B>Format:</B> Novel<BR><B>Chapters:</B> 34<BR><B>Word Count:</B> 134,763<BR><B>Status:</B> COMPLETED<BR><BR><B>Rating:</B> 15+<BR><B>Warnings:</B> Strong Language, Strong Violence <BR><BR><B>Genres:</B> Horror/Dark, Action/Adventure, Angst <BR><B>Characters:</B> Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Lupin, Snape, Voldemort, Draco, Fred, OC <BR><B>Pairings:</B> Harry/OC, Ron/Hermione <BR><BR><B>First Published:</B> 08/28/2004<BR><B>Last Chapter:</B> 11/18/2004<BR><B>Last Updated:</B> 09/24/2010<BR><BR><B>Summary:</B><BR>
It's the beginning of Harry's 6th year. Sirius is gone, and Harry is more depressed than ever. One evening, as Harry and Remus return from hearing Sirius' will at the Ministry, Harry goes off on his own, and is attacked by someone very unexpected. Even Voldemort didn't see it coming...<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>banner by me :)<BR><BR>
<B>Chapter 1: The News</B><BR>[View Online] [Printer Friendly Version of This Chapter]
Nov. 21, 2009 -- It has been over 5 years since I wrote this story. I'm still quite proud of it and grateful to everyone who has read and commented on it. When I was in high school, writing this story brought me so much joy. Looking back on it now for the first time in years, it still makes me very happy. Thank you so much to fans of this story, and for everyone else, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.<BR><BR><BR>There was nothing memorable about Grimmauld Place.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Quite the contrary. It had a sickening, dull aura about it. It was like there was a spirit there, haunting its occupants and luring them into a depressed state, especially in the current times, when all the members of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black were finally gone.<BR><BR>Harry Potter hated the place more than anyone. He hated it for what it represented...what it used to be. It was the childhood home of his recently-deceased godfather, and the thought of Sirius Black growing up in such a dreadful place made his blood boil. Everyone knew how much Harry hated the place, but there was nothing else for them to do.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>He had an uneventful stay at the Dursley's the first part of the summer. Mostly, he stayed in his room, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. When the letter arrived from Mrs Weasley saying that it was alright for him to come to Grimmauld Place for the rest of the summer, he wasted no time in preparing for the journey, uneager as he was to see his godfather's old house.<BR><BR>He laid on his old, shabby bed, under the watchful eyes of Phineus. He had been sent there by Dumbledore to keep watch over Harry. That was another thing he was so sick of - everyone treating him like he was still a year old, when he emerged from the destroyed house in the arms of Hagrid, the keeper of the keys of Hogwarts, and his friend..<BR><BR>There was nothing to describe how Harry felt. It was a mixture - of sadness mostly, but also hate, rage, pity, anger. He hated himself for being such a fool. If he had only listened to Hermione, when she had been talking about his love of playing the hero. If only he had practiced his occlumency. If only he had stayed out of Snape's Pensieve. If only he had opened the package that contained the mirror. If only. <BR><BR>If only.<BR><BR>Minutes later, an official looking owl entered his window, carrying a small letter. He wondered how anyone would know the address of the Order of the Pheonix, but soon discovered that the owl was from The Ministry, and Dumbledore had explained everything to fudge last year.<BR><BR>He ripped it open and read-<BR><BR><EM><BR>Dear Mr. Potter,<BR><BR>It has come to our attention that after the passing of one, Sirius Black, that you are entitled to some of Mr. Black's possesions through his will.<BR><BR>Your presence is requested at the Ministry of Magic on Thursday, August 23, for a reading of the will, and to collect what is entitled to you. The meeting will commence at 3:00 pm.<BR>Upon arrival through the Visitors entrance, please report to office of Magical Law Enforcement.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR>Paul Chatkins,<BR>Department of Magical Law Enforcement<BR>Ministry of Magic</EM><BR><BR>'Great' Harry thought. Something else to remind him of his lost godfather. And plus, he would have to sit in the company of several Witches and wizards who believed Sirius to be a mass murderer and madman.<BR><BR>'If he were a murderer out to kill me, why would he leave me something in his will.' Harry thought angrily. 'And the 23rd is tomorrow, too!'<BR><BR>He slipped the parchment back into its envelope, and trotted out his room, down to dinner.<BR><BR>He clambered down the stairs to the basement kitchen, where Hermione, the Weasleys (minus Percy), Dumbledore, Remus, Moody, Tonks and Snape sat, awaiting him. Remus was looking over a letter as well. He looked very tired. Harry noticed it was the same letter he had clutched in his hand. Everyone looked up as he walked in.<BR><BR>"Oh, Harry, I was wondering if you happened to receive-" Remus started, but Harry held up the letter clutched in his hand to silence him.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>"I got it." He replied.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>"Oh...I see, well, I received one as well...shall we go together then?" Remus asked.<BR><BR>"Sure Remus, that would be great." It was the truth. Remus was Harry's last connection to his parents and Sirius, and he was like a brother to Harry. Remus smiled.<BR><BR>Harry sat down next to Ron. Most of the table was looking at him. Snape gave him his usual scowl, Dumbledore's twinkling eyes observed him happily, Mrs. Weasley looked concerned, but still smiled.<BR><BR>Harry finished his dinner, mostly in silence, and listened to the conversations around him. There was a lot of talk about Voldemort and death eaters. There had been more muggle killings that week, and the muggles were starting to suspect something was not right. Eyes continuously flashed at Harry as the conversation continued. He knew they were all thinking about him. He was first on Voldemort's 'To Kill' list, and every witch and wizard in the world knew it, but only he and Dumbledore knew the significance.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Harry still hadn't told his friends about the prophecy, and he didn't know how he would ever be able to. He knew that Dumbledore hadn't revealed it's contents to the rest of the Order, either.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Ron, Hermione and Ginny eyed him as they listened to the conversations. Sometimes he wondered what they really thought of him.<BR><BR>Hermione was worried for her friend...her best friend, along with Ron. She remembered how she sat in awe, reading about the famous Harry Potter in all those books before she came to Hogwarts. He sounded like such a hero when she read of him; he sounded brave and wonderful, and he was, but he was so much more as well. He was her beautiful friend. She was so worried over his safety - she couldn't live without him.<BR><BR>Harry finished his dinner and returned to the living room. He pulled his firebolt and his broom servicing kit out of the corner from where he had left it a few hours ago, and began polishing the handle.<BR><BR>A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione entered the room. Ron groaned as he sat down on the sofa.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>"I'm so full..." He moaned, holding his stomach.<BR><BR>"Well, Ronald, if you didn't eat like a horse..." Hermione commented, rolling her eyes.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>They sat in silence for a few moments and Harry continued to polish his broom until Hermione asked - <BR><BR>"What are you thinking about, Harry?"<BR><BR>"Hmm...oh...nothing really.." He trailed off.<BR><BR>"Oh, go on," She encourage, "tell us, we know you are thinking about something. And none of this humble stuff, you can tell us."<BR><BR>Harry smiled at her. "I'm just a little apprehensive at going off to the Ministry when everyone thinks Sirius is still guilty. I'll probably just lose my temper over something." He glanced at the back of his right hand, where the words 'I must not tell lies' were still lightly etched there from last year's encounter with Umbridge. Those scars were only there because he lost his temper. He didn't even knew he had such a terrible temper until after 4th year.<BR><BR>"Oh, don't worry mate," Ron said, "most people at the ministry are ignorant gits anyway, you don't need to let them get to you." Harry smiled at his best friend.<BR><BR>"You're right."<BR><BR>"I know I am." He said with a smirk, and Harry threw his polishing rag at him.<BR>"Ew! Gross!" Ron shouted after the rag hit him in the face. He grabbed a pillow off the couch at threw it back at Harry, which started a pillow fight between the three of them.<BR><BR>Harry was being bombarded by both of them. Their shouts carried throughout the entire house. Harry grabbed another pillow from the couch at threw it at Ron in his defense. Ron ducked and it sailed over his head toward the top of the staircase...where professor Snape now stood. The pillow hit him square in the face.<BR><BR>"Potter!" He yelled as it fell to the floor. The three of them stopped immediately and stared into the angry face of their potions master, terrified at what he might do.<BR><BR>"Stop...this...immature racket at once!" He spat angrily. "If you didn't realize, there is an Order meeting taking place at the moment and your childish games are quite distracting!"<BR><BR>"Y-Yes Sir, sorry Professor." Harry stuttered as he, Ron and Hermione climbed the stairs to go back to their room.<BR><BR>When Harry opened the door, he collapsed onto the floor, laughing. Ron soon followed suit. Even Hermione joined them for a moment.<BR><BR>"Oh man, Harry! That was bloody hilarious!" Ron coughed through his laughter. "Did you see the look on Snivellus' face?"<BR><BR>"Yeah!" Harry shouted through the laugh. "Right in his face!" His stomach was beginning to hurt. Hermione stifled a yawn.<BR><BR>"Well, I'm getting pretty tired, I'll see you both in the morning." She said moving to the door.<BR><BR>"Night Hermione." Harry said.<BR><BR>Ron and Harry straightened up some things in their room after their laughing fit. It was almost an awkward silence.<BR><BR>"I think I'm going to sleep too." Harry said glancing at his clock. It was 11:30.<BR><BR>"Yeah, ok." said Ron. Harry changed and climbed into his bed, dreading the next days events.<BR>
