Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

*Chapter 1*

A greyish mist rose just above the hills in the distance of Privet Drive, announcing dawn. Harry Potter stopped in front of the park about a mile away from house Number Four, his hands resting on his knees. He tried to ignore the pain in his head in vain. He knew that running in shorts and a t-shirt in the damp weather wasn't the best thing. But not much seemed to matter to him anymore. Not with Sirius gone.

Pushing his hair back from his forehead, he got into a running position and sprinted off in the same direction he had just come from. It was the second week of vacation. For the first week and a half he just went about doing the chores the Dursleys gave him and not speaking or hardly eating. This was the first morning he had run and he was surprised at how much he liked it.

As he arrived back at Number Four, the morning sun was cutting through the dark clouds and the raining ceased. Inside, the other three occupants of the house were wondering where their breakfast was.

"Mum, I'm hungry," Harry heard Dudley whine. He rolled his eyes.

"Boy, where were you!"

Harry jumped as he realized Uncle Vernon was standing in the doorway separting the kitchen from the foyer, face purple and shaking.

"Running," he muttered and made way to go up the stairs, but Uncle Vernon grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.

A spasm of unbearable pain flew down his back but the defiant look still stood in his eyes.

"What did you say," he hissed, spraying Harry with spit. Harry stayed silent. "Answer me!"

One of the large, chubby hands was backhanded across his face. He whimperedand crumpled onto the ground. His stomach received a few

Kicks. He fought to stifle the screams as he felt a few of his ribs shatter. Finally, he let the peacefulness of the dark embrace him.

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"Professor Lupin, we're worried about Harry."

Remus looked up at Ron and Hermione. He had spent the last month at the Burrow, working with Mr. Weasley on "business for the Order". All the teenagers of the house were completely fed up with the secrets.

"Why? Did he write to you hinting anything?"

"That's just it, Professor," Hermione said. "He hasn't written to us at all. Any letters we send, he obviously isn't getting. It's not like him to not write back. Can't you go and check on him."

"First off, Hermione, please call me Remus. Second of all unless they have leave by Dumbledore, not one witch, wizard, spell, etcetera, can get within a mile of the Dursleys household."

"But...Remus," Ron stuttered over the name, "...we're positive something is wrong. Can't you just talk to Professor Dumbledore?"

Remus groaned. They had a point; it wasn't like Harry not to keep contact with his friends.

"Alright. I'll talk to Dumbledore. I'm not promising antything though, okay?"

They nodded, smiles lighting their faces.

"But Albus," Remus said, pacing the professor's office, "they're right. Someone should check up on him. He could be hurt or-or sick."

"Remus, if there was any attack, I would have known."

"But what if the attack isn't from Death Eaters. I spent a whole summer around Petunia and Vernon when I was fifteen. They wouldn't hesitate to do something to him. I know."

Dumbledore sighed. "If you are positive... I'll take the wards down tomorrow for one hour at six O'clock p.m., alright. And I'll be sending

someone with you."

"Who?"

"I think you'll remember Rosemary."

A young woman no older than thirty came from a concealed room behind Dumbledore's desk. Chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders in large curls and stopped at the middle of her upper arms in small layers. A smile played across her rosy lips and laughter danced in her soft, baby-blue eyes. Her skin was fair with a pinkish tint in her cheeks and her nails were painted a silvery color.

She was clad in a long silver skirt that flowed about her bare feet and a low cut, spaghetti string, white shirt with sparkling silver designs across the front. Resting just above the neckline on her shirt was one of five white amulets in the world, dangling from a gold chain around her neck.

"Remus Lupin, I never thought I'd see you again."

Remus recognized her of course. He had spent three years around her. But that had been when she was just a child. Now she had to be twenty-seven, he figured, and was all grown up.

"Well, for once, Miss Rosy, you thought wrong."

She ran forward, embracing him. "I missed you. A lot."

Dumbledore observed them, smiling. Remus vaguely became aware that they were being watched and blushed.

"Professor, do you mind if we..."

"Not at all," he said. "Rosemary, if you will go tomorrow, it would be greatly appreciated."

"Of course, Albus."

The old friends took off outside where the sun was just setting.

"Where have you been all these years. I haven't seen you since you were...seventeen," asked Remus, linking his arm in her's.

"Well, I received a major in telekiness and telepathy and I'm an official minor medi-witch. I studied for about four years. Then, for the past three years, I've been teaching at Salem Academy for about three years. You know, a transfer student is coming this year."

"No I didn't. But how did you?"

"I'm teaching here. I was looking at the lists."

"You are teaching here?"

"Yes, I am. Does that surprise you? Because, as you well recall, for James and Lily bragged about it all the time, I was top in every one of my classes."

"Good point," he said, stifling a yawn. "Well, I'm proud of you, kid."

"Thanks Dad."

"You're welcome darling," he said through another yawn.

"Remus, dear, go home. Get some rest. Meet me in the Great Hall tomorrow evening at five fifty-five. And be precise."

"Yes mum."

She lightly slapped his arm. "Good night, Remus."

"Good night, Rosy." He kissed her forehead before walking off, waving as he exited the Hogwarts grounds.

Rosemary smiled with a sigh as he left. As a ten, eleven, and twelve-year old she had always been so close with Remus. But Lily and James would always be first in her heart. Nothing could ever take away the three happiest years of her life.

With one last wave to Remus, she gaily skipped back to the castle. For the first time in fifteen and a half years, tomorrow she was going to see her godson.

A/n: Sorry for how cliché that seemed. The next chapter will be much better and the story should turn out good. Hope you enjoyed. Please review!!!