Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I am simply writing this for fun. Enjoy.

Notes: This will be a Dark!Harry (really it's Independent!Harry, and in a big way) story and therefore he will not be friends with many people from the Light side. There will be "bashing" but it won't be unfounded. (I hate unfounded bashing in a story, and I promise you will believably hate them as much as I do too.)

- AU, though there are few changes. Harry will become a...third option in this war, and there will be a war.

- Though this chapter starts off with their first year, the story itself begins when they are 16 and entering 6th Year and onward.

- This story will be long, there will be lots of character development and is told from either Harry or Draco's perspective only. (With brief 'interludes' from other characters perspective occasionally)

- I hate OC's and so you will not see any in my story other than the 'other twin'. But he's just a foil, really, and doesn't feature strongly except for a focal point for hate. I sincerely believe that J.K Rowling has provided us with more than enough characters to play around with.

I believe that covers everything, at least for this introductory chapter. Enjoy and please, review. I love feedback, even criticism.

Chapter One

Happiness Lost, Found & Lost.

-x-x-x-x-x-

When Harry Potter was 5 years old, he came to a very distinct realization about his home life: he was treated very differently than his twin. It started off subtly, a forgotten greeting here, an overlooked hug or kiss there. Then, it gradually progressed until by the time he was 10, there was only one Potter child whose birthday was officially celebrated. Oh, he received presents, mostly clothes to replace his small wardrobe, castoffs that his brother had never liked and never worn so they were almost brand new. One year, he had even lucked out and received a dark emerald cloak that his mother had purchased for his brother William just two months before. William hadn't liked it, it wasn't red, and so it had been thrown into a dangerously large pile of clothes and toys that Harry called the 'castaway pile'.

Harry, for the most part, was not bothered by his parents neglect. Not at least until the age of 8, when William began to realize the distinction too. Being the Boy-Who-Lived, William had always had a bit of a big head, even when he didn't quite understand what it all meant. But, when he realized that it meant that even his parents treated him differently…well, then, Harry really began to hate his life at home.

For a young child of 8, the only concerns one should have involved mud, sunlight and adventure. But for one Harry Potter, life became a horror tale. His parents caved to William's every wish and desire. And what he desired most was that Harry do everything that he say.

Oh sure, James and Lily Potter loved both of their children, but William was special and Harry was quiet, and he didn't seem to mind that William asked so much of him. So, they gently guided Harry into following William's every request.

It wasn't long after that however, that things began to change. It seemed to them, to everyone really, that it was acceptable that Harry was subservient to William. Instead of it simply being that William requested something and Harry acquiesced, life turned to William demanded something and Harry was expected to follow through. Slowly, overtime, Harry became less a son and more a servant and even James and Lily seemed to have forgotten that he was their son and not a house elf.

Things only became worse when William, at the age of 9, began to have uncontrolled magical tantrums. He'd made the mistake, or maybe it was a bit of genius if you were looking at it from the Potter's point of view, of having a tantrum right in the middle of Diagon Alley. He'd blown out the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies and everyone had gawked as if he had just resurrected the dead (with a heavy ritual). He'd received a free broom and more attention than anyone rightly deserved for blowing up private property. Especially since he'd only been upset because Lily didn't think it best that he have ice cream before lunch.

From that point on, the world was once again fixated on William Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. He'd previously enjoyed a monthly, sometimes even bi-weekly article in the Daily Prophet. After his little magical display however, the Daily Prophet took to William Reporting and probably could have changed its name to The Daily William Report and no one would have bat an eye. Never mind that children all over the Wizarding World had magical outbursts every now and then, William was special and therefore his magical outbursts could only be a sign of greatness to come.

So it was that, by the age of 11, William was being heralded as the next Merlin and when his Hogwarts letter arrived, he held no less than 3 press conferences. His Godfather, Albus Dumbledore, greatest Wizard of their age, was more than doting on the eldest Potter boy and even announced that he himself would be giving young William Potter personal training during his Hogwarts education. The Wizarding World was indeed in love with William Potter.

All the while, Harry Potter grew bitter and enraged. He himself had had his own first controlled magical outburst at the age of 4. He and William had been climbing the big oak tree in their backyard when Lily suddenly appeared, calling them in for lunch. Startled, William had slipped and fallen from the uppermost boughs of the tree and Lily, shocked, could only watch in horror as her baby fell. Harry, who had been in the process of climbing down, had merely looked up and, with both hands upraised as if he were going to catch his brother, slowed his descent until he was hovering just an inch above the ground. With nothing more than a smile, he'd let his brother drop and patted his mother on the leg. And his mother had, at the time, kissed him softly on the forehead and claimed him to be the smartest and strongest child in the world.

His magic came to him easily, far easier than it should if any of the books he read were any indication. And so Harry had taken to reading anything and everything he could to learn to master his magic. He was not naïve, he knew that mastering ones magic could take more than a lifetime, but he did wish for control and so, by the time William had his first outburst (he'd burned James' favorite chair to a crisp in a fit of rage), Harry had been able to conjure water for years and did just that to put out the small fire starting at the base of his robes. No one noticed of course, all too wrapped up in the magic that was William, but Harry knew without a doubt that he was more powerful than his special twin.

Still, his family treated him with indifference. When they treated him at all. Sometimes, his mother would look at him in shock, before asking him to prepare breakfast or clean James' room or any other of the thousands of chores that were Harry's and Harry's alone. His father rarely spoke to him, unless it was to repeat an order of William's or request more food.

In the misery that Harry's life had become, the only bright spot in his life was his godfather, Sirius Black. He didn't visit often, his job as a Potions ingredient hunter kept him travelling all around the world. But when he would occasionally visit, he always brought back something rare and exotic for Harry and would regal him with his wild adventures battling creatures and other Wizards for rare and prized ingredients. Harry would listen, delighted, and imagine he were with Sirius, flying on his large motorcycle and defeating an enraged troll with nothing more than his wits and a bit of wandless magic. Then he would fall asleep, only to awake a little later to the sounds of James and Sirius arguing.

It bothered Harry that they would fight over him. He didn't like his parents or his brother much, but Sirius and James were like family, and Harry surely didn't want Sirius to fight with James over him. He could understand the hatred Sirius felt about the differential treatment Lily and James gave William and Harry, he felt it every day, but it was his burden to bare. Not Sirius.

He also didn't like that it caused such tension between Remus Lupin, Sirius' partner and Williams godfather, and Sirius. Harry had stumbled across the couple arguing once and didn't like that he was, once again, the source of the argument. Remus was never mean to Harry, no he treated him just as he treated William (and he treated William like a regular 9 year old boy and not a celebrity, which William absolutely hated), but he never spoke up against the treatment of Harry and it bothered Sirius that Remus never sided with him whenever he confronted James. Remus could only reply that it was not his business, not his family, and he didn't think it right to judge Lily and James on how they raised their children when he had none of his own. Sirius would of course argue that that didn't matter, that a blind kneazle could raise a child better than James and Lily were raising Harry, but Remus would hear nothing of it and Sirius would storm off in a rage, disappearing on another month long adventure to escape the stark reality of home.

Despite Sirius Black, however, Harry had no friends and so when he received his own Hogwarts letter he was more than a little excited to attend the prestigious school of his ancestors and perhaps get out of the shadow of his brother.

It was with a happy heart that young Harry Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express and settled into a lone compartment, pulling out a thick tome titled So You Want to Be a Potions Hunter? Watch Out For the Widdlewort, and Other Helpful Anecdotes, and settled in for a peaceful journey.

Less than halfway through the ride, his compartment had opened and a handsome, dark-skinned young boy entered. He wore expensive robes and a guarded expression. Around his neck was wrapped a snake with skin darker than his young master, except for a steel colored diamond on its head. The two had stared at each other guardedly until Harry casually stuck out his hand and said, "Harry."

The dark-skinned boy had grasped his hand firmly and smiled without baring any teeth. "Blaise." His dark eyes sparkled with intelligence and power and Harry was more than a little happy at the prospect of their being friends.

He was even more ecstatic when Blaise simply sat across from him and took out a book of his own, the title of which Harry could not read. They passed the ride in silence until their compartment opened once more and two boys of immense size and muscle (especially being that they were only 11) entered followed by another, who could only be Draco Malfoy. Haughty, and intelligent, the young Malfoy heir swept in and took the seat next to Blaise, instantly complaining about William Potter and Ron Weasley.

"You honestly tried to befriend them?" Blaise asked incredulously as Draco closed his tale.

"Honestly? No. But even if it wasn't an honest attempt he had no right to turn down my offer. And Weasley! Where does he get off trashing my name? His parents named him Ronald. Boring, plain and inconsequential, just like he is."

The young Malfoy heir had his fists clenched so tightly, he broke the skin of his palm and cursed as they began to bleed.

It was only when Harry moved to heal the wounds with a quick flick of his wand and a muttered episkey that Draco even realized he was in the compartment.

"Thanks," he muttered suspiciously. "Who are you?"

"Harry." Harry replied.

"Harry..?" Draco said slowly with a raised eyebrow.

"Harry...Potter." Harry murmured, trailing off as he confessed his surname like it was a sin.

The two immense boys sucked in a gasp of surprise, both looking at Draco with their mouths open in shock. Draco himself, kept his surprise to only a widening of his eyes while Blaise stared at Harry with an eyebrow raised.

"Didn't know the Potters had another child…well, to be honest we sort of thought you were dead." Draco murmured. He was still eyeing Harry suspiciously, probably thinking back on all the nasty things he'd said about William earlier, and wondering why Harry hadn't said anything in his brother's defense. For his part, Harry was trying to think of the best way to disassociate himself from his family, without it making the front page news.

"I – uh – can understand why…" He eventually said. They lapsed into an awkward silence.

"About what I was saying earlier…" Draco began, his voice a bit defensive. Harry immediately stopped him with both hands raised.

"You don't have to apologize. I hate my brother." He said. He'd never admitted that to anyone and it felt freeing. So freeing in fact, that he sent the other boys a carefree and honest smile, they relaxed and, after looking at each other, smiled back at him. Real smiles, the smiles boys share when they have formed a band of brothers.

The rest of the train ride was spent in the idle conversation of like-minded boys. Books forgotten, Blaise, Harry and Draco talked about everything from Potions to their home lives while Crabbe and Goyle added little and watched much. All and all, by the time the five boys entered the little boats and floated towards Hogwarts they were thick as thieves and had forgotten all about the other Potter.

Unfortunately, things were not to last. Harry's new found happiness, to be more specific, was not to last.

As he sat upon the stole and listened (along with the rest of the highly interested student population) with bated breath to the Sorting Hat's announcement, he knew things were never to be the same.

Because, with a highly excited shout, the Sorting Hat placed him in SLYTHERIN! And it was with a somewhat heavy heart that Harry made his way over the empty seat beside Draco. He knew, without a doubt, that his family was not going to like this. But he was at school now and the sorting was done so, he smiled heartily at his new housemates and avoided looking at his twin who was currently sitting on the stole. Like with Harry, the hat had barely touched Williams head before yelling out GRYFFINDOR! to the exuberant joy of the Gryffindor table. The entire hall erupted into chatter as everyone looked between the two twins. Where William was tall and kind of stocky with brownish-red hair and hazel eyes, Harry was tall and thin with black hair, emerald eyes and spectacles. He didn't look evil, but he didn't look friendly and was sitting very close to a Malfoy.

With the kind of mob mentality that only schools can possess, Harry became known as the Dark Twin, the other Potter, to be whispered about as if he were cursed.

Harry frowned marginally, ignoring the chatter and stared at the head table where two professors were looking him. One, a greasy haired man in dark robes, eyed him critically, though his mouth was twisted in a sour frown. The other, a man wearing a purple turban looked at him with wide eyes that did not at all match the firm line of his mouth. It was when Harry's eyes connected with this strange man that the old scar he'd received as a child, the same scar that showed the world that William had saved his little brother Harry, flared into life. Harry pushed away from the table, a hand clasped to his forehead as he squeezed his eyes in pain. Beside him, Draco slouched a little and placed a hand on his leg.

"Alright, Harry?"

"Yea…yea…" he murmured. Blaise, who had ended the sorting and made his way over to the Slytherin table, glared at a passing Hufflepuff as he slide onto the bench beside Harry.

"Alright?" He murmured.

Harry nodded, sitting up straight once more. "Alright." He said.

That night, Harry and his new friends spent the night swapping stories and eating chocolates that Draco's mother had supplied for him and his friends. It was the first night that Harry felt at home somewhere and it was a wonderful feeling. As he drifted off to sleep, Harry relaxed and smiled into his pillow thinking, I've finally found a home.

The next morning however, found Harry in the Headmaster's office with his parents who coldly and distantly explained that it wouldn't do to have a Potter sorted into House Slytherin and that it would reflect poorly on William so, it was with much regret that they decided it best if Harry no longer bore the Potter name.

It took Harry a moment to realize that he had been disowned.

"Who will pay for my schooling?" He'd asked quietly, still in shock.

His mother and father averted their eyes, both looking to Albus Dumbledore for support and guidance. He sat, behind his grand desk full of wondrous things and flatly explained that it would be best for all if Harry left Hogwarts all together.

Without even a chance to say goodbye to his new friends, Harry was in the Floo and in a room at the Leaky Cauldron before he could blink, without even a goodbye to his parents.

For hours, Harry sat in Room 11 staring blankly at his wall. He was just beginning to stir when the door was blasted open and a slightly drunk Sirius Black stood at his door, eyes full of a black rage that Harry had never seen before.

"C'mon 'Arry…you're – you're – coming with me. We're goin ta Norway. Yer…yer goin to Durmstrang and…screw the Potters!"

After this declaration, Sirius Black grabbed Harry's still packed belongings and gathered Harry under his arm, strolling drunkenly to the door and out of England forever.

He formally adopted Harry that same day and by the next, Harry was fully enrolled in the cold, mountainous school of Durmstrang.

Forever estranged from his family. Or, so he believed.

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Please review and let me know what you think.

This is really just an introduction to Harry's life, the real fun begins next!