Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and Love's Triumvirate

Chapter One The Boy Who Needed a Reason to Live

"Life at number 4 Privet Drive was the same as always," thought Harry as

he sat dejectedly on his bed. "No, actually, it was even worse than that." Truth be told , Harry was in a miserable mood; and why shouldn't he be. It had only been two months since Sirius Black, his Godfather, and only link to his parents had been killed defending him in the Department of Mysteries. It was as depressing a holiday as he had ever had.

Oh, the Dursleys had treated him well enough, if you considered ignoring him completely decent treatment. Apparently they had taken Mad-Eye Moody's warning to heart. They hadn't treated him badly, they simply hadn't treated him at all. Consequently he had all together too much time on his hands. Time to think. Time to brood. Given his temperament, this was not a good thing. He tended to dwell upon Sirius's death more and more. It was not a good time at all.

The problem was that he couldn't help himself. He kept coming back to the fact that he had forgotten about the present that Sirius had given him. If he had been thinking, he would have opened it. Then he would have had a different way to contact Sirius instead of Umbridge's fireplace. He would never have been lied to by Kreacher, and then he and his friends would not have gone to the Department of Mysteries, necessitating Sirius and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix to come to the rescue. If that hadn't happened then Sirius never would have come, and been murdered by his cousin, Bellatrix LeStrange. All because Harry screwed up.

"If only I had someone who understood what its like to be in my situation," thought Harry, "then at least I wouldn't feel so alone." His mind kept wandering back to his time in Professor Dumbledore's office last month. How he had lost complete control and basically trashed it, all the while having to deal with Dumbledore's calm, yet saddened demeanor. Then to find out about the prophesy. That maddening, damnable prophesy. The words just kept going over and over in his head:

"THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES…BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES… AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT…AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES…THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…"

Why him? What did he do to deserve this fate? All he had ever done is live, and because of that he was "The boy who lived." Well he didn't want to be the boy that lived, all he wanted was to be a normal boy, but no, he had to be doomed to fight the biggest, baddest, most horrific wizard the world had ever known. Every day it became an effort just to get out of bed. Every day it became harder and harder to see just why he should continue in this pointless effort. Why not just put an end to it and not have to live with the worry, the pain, and the heartache of it all. Sometimes it just seemed that oblivion would be preferred to this.

"Love," thought Harry, "Dumbledore said that the secret to this power that Voldemort couldn't comprehend was love. What did he, Harry, know about love? He had never, ever been loved in his memory. He didn't know the first thing about love. How could he harness the power of something that he didn't even have a clue how to feel. The only person that he had felt the first glimmerings of the possibility of love for up and died on him. Life was so unfair."

It was at that moment that there was a fluttering at the window. Looking up he saw his white snow owl, Hedwig, sitting on the sill, sticking his leg out, with what appeared to be several notes attached. He quickly got up and looked at them. There must have been five notes on Hedwig's leg. He had sent her off for a quick flight, and now she returned laden with messages for Harry. Something had to be up. He quickly took the letters off of Hedwig's leg and gave her a treat. She nipped affectionately at his fingers, and then flew over to the head of his bed frame and settled down to relax.

Harry looked at the first letter. It was officially addressed to him. That was odd. He ripped it open and looked at the contents:

Dear Mr. H. Potter,

Here are the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations.

Charms: E

Transfigurations: E

Divinations: A

Potions: A

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O

Care of Magical Creatures: O

Astronomy: A

History of Magic: D

Herbology: E

Congratulations on your successfully completing our examination process, we hope that you continue to use Ministry of Magic Testing in the future.

Sincerely your,

Cheyenne Littlebrook,

Undersecretary to the Department of Underage Wizarding

Ministry of Magic.

Harry looked again and again at the letter. He couldn't believe it. He had figured that he would do poorly in History of Magic, but he had managed to scrape an acceptable score in Potions, and, he had gotten the five O.W.L.s that he needed at exceeds expectations or better to get into auror training after Hogwarts. He even didn't have to put up with Snape's potions class anymore. Maybe he could get Professor McGonagall to help him at least understand potions a little better during the next two years. Then it might not be that bad in auror training.

This, unfortunately, brought him back to the thought of his destiny, thoroughly destroying any pleasure that he might have gotten out of his O.W.L scores. "This is no way to live," he mused. Unfortunately he didn't have a clue as to how to snap out of this funk that he was in.

The next letter was from Ron:

'Oye mate,

How is your summer going: Can't wait to see you. Mum and Dad say that they are getting it cleared for you to come to the Burrow shortly. They figure that you need to be with us after… well… you know what happened. I told them that they were 'nutters, you were the strongest person that I knew, and you would be all right. You just needed some time. Anyway, I figure I'll see you soon.

Ron

Harry smiled at the thought of seeing Ron soon. It was really too bad that his best bud didn't really understand him. He tried, but he just didn't comprehend what Harry was going through. He had never been through it before. Still, it would be good to see him.

The next letter was from Hermione:

Harry,

Just received word that we might be going to the Burrow for the rest of the summer. This has been a hard time for everyone, Harry, and you need to be aware that people have feelings too. So please don't jump down our throats this time, OK? You are my BEST friend, Harry, and it hurts when you yell at Ron and I. I know that you are hurting, but think of us once in a while. Anyway, I'm sure that it will get better as time goes along.

Love,

Hermione

Harry couldn't believe it. His best friend had just chewed him out in advance for something he hadn't even done yet. Could it get any worse? He did miss her though. He supposed that he would have to try not to yell, but after that she really did deserve a piece of his mind. He shook his head and chalked it up to Hermione being Hermione. She had always been his conscience, and she always would be. Life just wouldn't be the same without her doing that.

The next one was from, of all people, Ginny:

Dear Harry,

I just wanted you to know that I understand what you are going through. When I was possessed by Tom Riddle in my first year, he made me do things that I didn't want to do (once I figured out what was happening). I thought that I had killed my friends. I hurt so badly that I wanted to curl up and die. I can't help but think that you must be feeling this way now. I want you to know that I will always be there if you need to talk, or anything else. We have to help each other in this life, Harry. We friends are all we have in this world. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you didn't have to go through this alone if you didn't want to. I'm here, and Mum says that you will probably be here in the next couple of days.

Always your friend,

Gin

Harry smiled. She was right, he really did need an understanding friend right now. "Come to think of it, she has become a pretty good friend over the last two years. Maybe I should take her up on her offer. I really could use someone besides Ron and Hermione to talk to."

The last letter was from Professor Dumbledore:

Hello Harry,

I am arranging for you to come and spend some time with your friends for the rest of the summer holidays. There have been happenings that you and they must be made aware of. Lets just say that hopefully I will not be withholding any information from you anymore. You and the others have earned the right to know what is going on. I will be sending and auror to your Uncle's house tomorrow night to bring you to your friends. Please be ready, and make sure to let Vernon and Petunia know so that there are no unpleasant surprises.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

(Sometimes its fun to write it)

Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Wow, that was a strange letter to get. Better get packing." And with that Harry got right to it.