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This is my first piece. I thought about starting at a point of action or further into the story but I decided not to. I'm practicing my narrative hook and though this is not one of my best works I wanted to see what people thought. The story itself spans about 30,000 words(might extend). Below is a short synopsis and then the story begins...

It's a whole year since Lord Voldemort kidnapped Harry Potter and held him prisoner in the forbidden forest. A whole year since Harry found out the truth; that James Potter was not his father, and that Tom Riddle was. A whole year since the White High Council cleared Harry of all charges and Harry witnessed the truth, that Tom Riddle is still alive within Voldemort. Nasty surprises about his past are about to surface again though, as a boy that looks very familiar to him is about to join Hogwarts, A boy with a very familiar background; Conor A Riddle. This year is going to hard on them both, as the truth about their parentage becomes known to the wizarding world and Voldemort returns to take Conor away, Harry has to stop what happened to him last year repeating on his brother. Even if it means costing him everything he'd worked so hard to achieve.

((Writing style takes a dramatic turn at chapter 6, looking for comments on this))

Harry awoke to the patter of tiny hooves on his face.

"Matrix" he groaned. Harry didn't care how much the little foal jumped on him he wasn't getting up. Suddenly he shot his eyes open. Today was the day he was meeting Ron and Hermoine in Diagon Alley. After her last letter Harry had let it slip that Sirus had told him she'd asked his advice on Harry. She'd been totally embarrassed. Harry missed her and Ron and couldn't wait to see them both again.

Last year at Hogwarts Hermione had admitted feeling for him and he'd realized how much he actually cared for her. After the school had closed for the summer she'd written him a letter and asked him did he want to make something of their relationship, to which he'd replied he did. After that the letters had changed. Harry was amazed to find that things weren't quite so awkward when you know where you are in a relationship.

Harry thoughts were interrupted as Matrix's colorful eyes appeared above his. Matrix was a dwarf unicorn, and a baby at that. She had been given to Harry by Voldemort as a thank you for saving his life last year. The year Harry had also found out that his real farther was alive and well, that Voldemort was his farther. But time had passed since then and he just had to get use to the idea now. Harry couldn't help but laugh at the beady little eyes of the matchbox sized foal as he picked her up off his face and put her onto the bedside cabinet. He checked the time. 10 o' clock, plenty of time. Matrix came in handy if he wanted to wake up at a certain time because he was always folded asleep in the open sock draw by ten and was always up at ten annoying him.

Harry got up and tiptoed into the bathroom careful to lock the door. He had a shower and took out his self-styling hair gel which he'd ordered by mail thanks to Ron's lazy boy thinking of course. As he took his hands away Harry watched as his hair Combed and ruffled itself into a style that could politely be described as 'organized chaos'. Harry quite liked this no effort approach to getting ready . Apparently you could buy different gels for different styles.

He returned to his room in a towel, careful not to wake his aunt and uncle as he passed their door. The Dursleys had been oddly nice to him over the past few weeks.Harry didn't know why, nor did he care why they avoided making eyes contact or conversation with him. He went to his wardrobe and pulled out a green shirt like the Sirus had bought him only a different color. Today was important, he had to look his best. He pulled and his black denim jeans and Supreme wizarding belt. Mail order was fun. All he had to do was send his request on parchment, along with the vault number and a picture of himself to discuss his order with the clerk and the delivery would come the very next day. He had bought a new wardrobe of clothes but was careful how he dressed around the dursleys, not that it mattered with the way things were in the house at the moment.

Harry told Matrix to say hidden. The little unicorn understood English, a useful trait. He snuck downstairs to the kitchen. He put on a slice of toast and a cup of tea and sat down to eat his breakfast. He wasn't particularly hungry, it was more down to routine. He was anxious and he couldn't think of anything else to do but to sit down and wait.

He thought for a moment about Voldemort. He had intended to buy Voldemort a gift, but what? What would he want or need? He could get him a broom but Voldemort could apparate so what was the point in that? He could get him an owl. Yes, that was it. Voldemort didn't have an owl to send letters with. Harry sighed thinking about him. Truth was Harry didn't know Voldemort at all. Didn't know what he liked and didn't like. Even if he got him an owl would Nagini eat it? Nagini being Voldemorts enormous pet python but his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Harry raced out into the hall and opened the door to a bright eyed, red haired Ron. They smiled at each other and hugged briefly. "Ready?" Ron asked. Harry nodded taking note of the big yellow taxi outside. "Just let me grab Matrix ok?"

"Why you bringing him?" asked Ron.

Harry replied "hermione, she asked me to".

Ron laughed. "Yeah fair enough but hurry up".

Harry dashed up the stairs and into his room, he returned down moments later with the struggling little foal hidden under his shirt.

"Best keep him hidden" Ron said and Harry closed the door behind them.

The journey was long and Harry and Ron had to make up code names for just about everything they of. This didn't seem to please the driver who Harry guessed thought they were making fun of him on account of when they finally arrived the driver had snatched the money rudely from Rons hands and left without waiting for a tip.

They entered the pub together, which had protection spells all over it, hidding it from the eyes of any wondering Muggle who would see only a boarded up run down building should they try to enter it.

Inside the pub was carpeted in a thick layer of tobacco smoke which burned Harry's eyes and the noise level was booming from the chattering wizards littered around, but as Harry and Ron passed through Harry noticed that every wizard reading a copy of the Witch Weekly was giving him odd stares. Harry and Ron made it out to the small courtyard out the back of the pub. Harry took out his wand and began to tap the wall.

"What was that about?" asked Ron. Harry shrugged, but he could guess.

Had Rita Skeeter, the nosy reporter for the paper finally found out about Voldemort being his dad? He hoped not but his attention returned to the wall whose bricks began to move and shuffle out of place creating and archway leading straight into Diagon Alley. Harry had only entered this way once in first year, when Hagrid had rescued him from the Dursleys and he'd started his journey to Hogwarts. That was some time ago now and Harry had come a long way since then.

Diagon Alley bustled with activity from people crowding the busy street and Harry and Ron entered.

"Do you mind if we visit Gringotts first?" Harry asked.

"Sure, if we run" Ron replied. "we're meeting Hermoine there at one o'clock so that gives us twenty minutes". After much pushing and shoving they finally made it to the Bank. As they entered Harry shivered. He hated the Goblins that ran it. They were mean spirited and greedy little creatures. Ron and Harry made their way to the withdrawal desk.

"Ah Mr Potter, follow me please" said the clerk jumping down from his high desk stool and opening the small revolving oak door which led to the back.

"Harry" he heard Ron's voice. "I'd better wait outside, it's one O' clock".

"Yeah ok. I shouldn't be too long" Harry replied an watched Ron leave. Harry felt bad. Ron's parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley weren't as well off as most other wizarding families. He'd have gladly shared his fortune with them but he knew they would never accept it. The cart ride down the underground tunnel tracks was uncomfortable and scary and more than once Harry had heard a roar which he knew was coming from one of the many Dragons that guarded the tunnels. As they came to a halt Harry grimaced. The walls seeped with the stink of old vegetables. As the goblin took the key and opened the twenty inch thick metal doors guarding his money harry entered and began to take up fists full of gold, silver and copper coins.Harry had been coming to his vault taking money for five years now and the huge pile never seemed to decrease. A small screech alerted him to the fact that he loaded coins in on top of Matrix. He reached in and took the foal out and put him on his shoulder.

"Sorry buddy" Matrix snorted and nudged the side of his jaw.

The ride back was just as uncomfortable as the ride in and Harry couldn't wait to get outside.

As he exited the Bank he spotted Hermione talking to Ron on the bottom step. She was telling him bad news by the looks of it. Ron's face looked pale and sick with shock. He made his way down and Hermiones eyes darted up to him. "Harry!" she shrieked and ran up the step and encased him in a hug. As they pulled back Matrix leaped onto Hermiones head and Harry laughed and kissed her briefly. She beamed a smile at him.

"What's going on?" he asked as Ron joined them a few step later. Hermiones smile disappeared and she looked to Ron. Ron stared at her disapprovingly.

"Harry" she said "We..."

"Why don't got to the Leaky Cauldron for a Butterbeer?" Ron interrupted her. Harry didn't like this. What could be so bad that they were afraid to tell him? "What's going on guys?" Harry asked.

"Come on" Hermione said taking his hand and smiling wryly leading them down the steps and towards the pub. When they reached the pub Ron went up to get them drinks and Hermione and Harry took seats in the corner by the far wall. "I've missed you" she said smiling.

"Yeah, me too, but what aren't you telling me?" Harry asked. "It can't be that bad can it?" Hermione sighed and pulled her seat closer. "Harry it's" she stopped and smiled as Ron took a seat putting the Butterbeer down in front of them. Matrix slid down her arm and pottered over the Ron who petted him with his index finger. Harry looked the Ron, then to Hermione who both wore worried looks. With that Hermione stood up and returned with a newspaper. "I'm so sorry Harry" she said handing it to him. Harry looked at the headline.

"Dark Lord dead!"