Thank you SOOOOO much, all you awesome reviewers! Keep after me!

Sorry this took so long, I had major writer's block. But here it is, finally, Chapter Four!

Just wait until the next chapter ;) It's going to rock, promise. It'll be quite interesting and funny.

Enjoy and please review! That's what keeps me going!

Within the Folds of Darkness

Ghosts of the Past

Harry stared, feeling very much like he had just eaten a Ton-Tounge Toffee. He couldn't speak and his heart was beating so fast it sounded like a steady drum. Sirius… The last time he had seen his godfather…the horrible memory flashed before his eyes. Seeing his godfather fall backwards, as if in slow-motion…through the veil…gone…forever…until now. This is just a dream…a horrible tease…it can't…it can't…he…It was almost worse than seeing his parents. He had never actually seen his parents die and hadn't grown up with them. But Sirius…after spending the better part of the past two years with him, he had grown to know his godfather better. And then, all because he had been so stupid! Stupid stupid! I shouldn't have stopped those occlumancy courses! That was my own stupid stupid fault! If I hadn't stopped, I would have known Sirius wasn't at the Department of Mysteries…he would have been safe!

Tears fell and he couldn't even move to wipe them away. He didn't know what to do…whether to run and hug his godfather, to just break down right then or there or run. Sirius looked just as shocked to see Harry and he wondered if this Sirius hated him …if he had left Sirius…as Draco had told him.

Finally regaining his sense of mobility, he stepped backwards, blinking back tears, and ran. Running until he found the back door, bolting from it and then just stopping, standing in foot deep snow, flakes falling around him. His knees gave out and he fell to his knees into the snow. He shut his eyes tight, sobbing. "Sirius…I'm so sorry…It's my fault you died…all my fault…"

Back inside, Sirius stared after his godson. That had not been the reaction he was expecting; certainly not the tears. The Harry he knew never cried. He swallowed, moistening his throat and looked at James, extremely confused. "What just happened?"

James looked at him. "Honestly? I have no idea. He came here last night, saying how much he missed us. He wasn't acting at all like what would be expected."

"James,"

Both men turned to see Lily standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "What?" James asked.

"He's not Harry."

"What?" they both said, staring at her.

"I mean, he's Harry…but he's not our Harry."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked. "Of course he's Harry…" Though he was acting odd…

"How do you know this?" James questioned.

"I don't know, James. It's just a…feeling I have. It just doesn't seem right."

"Let's say, for one millisecond, that I believe you," James said. "Who would he be?"

"I don't know," Lily said, looking at a complete loss. "I'm going to talk to Dumbledore. Maybe he'll know." They were silent for a few moments.

"I'm going to go find Harry," Sirius said suddenly. They looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"I thought you didn't want to be around him," James asked.

"People change," was his answer as Sirius left the room. In all honesty, he didn't know why he was pursuing Harry. Just to get hurt again? To get a violent backlash and add another scar to his many? But when Sirius finally found Harry and saw him sitting there, hunched in the snow, sobbing, Sirius couldn't find it in himself to just walk away. He stood there for a few moments, looking at his godson, who at the moment looked completely and utterly defeated.

I don't know how this couldn't be Harry, though he's not acting like the Harry we know. But a small voice played in the back of Sirius' mind. But what if this is really Harry and he's just playing with you…tearing at your heart to make you weak. Then he'll strike and hurt you. You really want that?

Sirius bit his lip, ignoring the fact that he didn't have a coat on and was starting to lose feeling in his fingertips. But he's still my godson. I love him.

He doesn't love you. He told you that himself.

But what if he's changed?

You're just going to get hurt. Leave now.

Sirius reached out to touch Harry's shoulder but then pulled back. His heart ached, scarred from Harry's past words and actions. He just couldn't bring himself to speak. He moved to walk away but just at that moment, Harry lifted his head and looked at Sirius. Tears stained his face, his green eyes dulled from pain, very much defeated.

"I'm so sorry, Sirius…" he whispered, but it was like he was talking to someone that wasn't there. His voice was distant, as if he were in a dream.

Sirius didn't move or speak.

"It's all my fault," Harry continued, looking down at his hands which were red from the cold. "I should have listened. I should have listened to Dumbledore…Remus…if I had…you wouldn't have gone…you wouldn't have left…" Suddenly Harry stood, a fire in his eyes. "You left me!" he cried. "Why did you leave me? Didn't you care?" He was yelling and pounding his fists on Sirius' chest. But they didn't hurt as Harry was obviously too weak to do much. Sirius stood there, looking at his godson, too shocked to speak. "You shouldn't have gone! You knew what would happen! You just had to fight her! Didn't you? DIDN"T YOU! Why? You were all I had left! You LEFT ME!" Harry sobbed, continuing to hit Sirius on the chest, but they were growing weaker and farther between. "You were like my father! You left! You left!" His words became strangled in his sobs and he collapsed against Sirius, sobbing into his chest.

Sirius swallowed and hesitantly put his arms around Harry. "It's alright," he whispered after a moment, resting his chin upon Harry's head, just holding him in the falling snow. His eyes gazed out over the white world, confused. What is going on?

Draco stood in the newly rebuilt Quality Quidditch Supplies shop. In an attack on Diagon alley a few months ago, many of the shops had been destroyed. Draco was glad that at least this one had come back fast. During his lunch breaks, he liked to Apparate here, checking out the latest supplies. He always did have to have the best. But even looking at the new Windspeed 100, he couldn't stop thinking about that morning. Harry had acted awfully strange. At first, Draco brushed it off as Harry being hungover, but the more he thought about it, the less it made sense.

"Ron, do we honestly have to come in here? You know how much I hate this Quid stuff," a protesting voice said.

Draco looked between two broomsticks hanging in front of him to see none other than Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Of course, in his book, it was just another pair of Weasleys. They had married a few years ago, right after they had graduated Hogwarts.

I'm surprised there aren't more little Weasley brats hanging off their clothes, Draco thought with a sneer. At least Harry came to his senses in fifth year, getting rid of those pathetic dolts and becoming friends with the right sort. Draco moved around the broomstick rack and made his way to the door. The last thing he wanted to do was get too close to Weasley and Granger. So I'm 23. I still think they're worthless.

But fate wouldn't have it and something barreled into him, knocking him to the floor, flat on his back. Actually, it had been two somethings, with bright red curly hair.

"Oh sorry!" Hermione said, rushing over and pulling the two squirming kids. Then she saw who it was and she frowned. "Oh, its you."

"Hermione, what happened – Trace and Karl you two need to learn to stay with your aunt Ginny," Ron scolded the two children.

"But Daddy!" one of them protested.

Draco just rolled his eyes and stood, brushing off his rich black robes. "Keep your little Weasel brats under control, Weasley," he said coolly, glaring at Ron.

"Don't you even start this, Draco Malfoy," Hermione said, moving between Draco and Ron. Ron shifted the two squirming monsters in his arms, finally giving up and letting them run around the store. He chased after them, not really in the mood to put up with Malfoy.

"Start what? Those two little monsters ran into me first."

"They're children, Draco."

"Since when were we on a first name basis, Granger,"

Hermione let out a cry of frustration. "You just can't get over yourself, can you Malfoy? No matter how many years pass since graduation, no matter how much you keep Harry locked away in that awful mansion of yours, you just won't stop!" Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"No need to get emotional," Draco smirked.

"You're horrid!"

"So I've been told." Draco turned and with a swish of his black cloak, he was out the door.

Hermione stood there a few moments, staring after Draco. Then she wiped away her tears and went to find Ron. She spotted Trace and Karl sitting on the floor, sucking on candy. Then she saw Ron leaning against a wall, looking exhausted.

She smiled softly and walked over to him. "You kept them from tearing apart the store, that's a new record," she teased.

Ron looked at her and smiled. "I try." Then he frowned. "What was all that ruckus with Malfoy?"

"He just doesn't know when to leave well enough alone. Now why are we talking about him? This is supposed to be a family trip. We don't get enough of those with being in the Order."

"Gin's probably ecstatic that Trace and Karl came to us. She never did like watching the twins."

Hermione laughed. "They're not that bad, just young."

Ron chuckled. "We were once."

"Were we? I could never remember." Hermione smiled as Ron put his arm around her shoulders.

"We were." Ron kissed her lightly. "Now let's go see what Aunt Ginny and Uncle Neville have cooked up today." Taking the twins in their arms, Ron and Hermione left the shop.

Draco was sitting in a large leather chair by the fireplace reading a book when he heard the door open. He stood, setting down the book and walked out into the foyer, his eyes falling on Harry.

Harry stood there, his back against the door, just staring at the floor

"Harry?" Draco walked over to stand in front of his friend, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"They're alive…" Harry whispered, still staring at the floor.

Draco frowned. "Who?"

"My parents…I saw them…I saw Sirius…"

Draco arched an eyebrow. "You saw your parents? Since when do you want to see them?"

Harry looked up at Draco, finally. "They're alive, M- Draco."

"Of course they are, why wouldn't they be? Now come on, you're talking nonsense. Let's get you some hot tea; you're freezing." Draco slid his arm around Harry, leading him towards the kitchen. Harry was silent as he took a seat at the table.

Using his wand, Draco conjured up some hot tea and set it in front of Harry, taking his seat across the table. He sipped his tea. "How did your interview go?" Draco asked, trying to get Harry onto a more comfortable topic.

"I didn't go."

Now Draco was pissed. "Harry, damn you, you were supposed to go to that interview! You are not going to be lazing about here anymore. I've taken care of you for the past five years. The least you can do is help me a little."

Harry was looking into his tea. "How old am I?"

Draco just stared at Harry like he had grown three heads. "Have you completely gone nutters?"

"Just answer the question." Harry looked at Draco.

Draco sighed, sitting back in his chair. Maybe if I just play along with his little charade, he'll get out of it fast. "You're 23. You'll be 24 in July."

Harry looked at Draco, unblinking. "Blimey," he whispered and in a hurry, he was up, moving towards the door

"Where are you going?" Draco asked, standing.

"Out."

"It's the middle of the night, you're not going anywhere."

"You're not my mother."

Draco moved fast, blocking Harry's exit. "You stop right there." He grabbed Harry's chin in an iron grip, forcing him to look at Draco. "I may not be your mum but I'm the closest thing to family you have. Or have you forgotten that you walked out on them? No matter what you saw today, they're not going to forgive you for that," he said, purposely being cold. "You're nothing to them. They don't love you. They don't want you around. This is the only place for you. I've been there for you for years now."

Harry tried to look away but Draco's grip wouldn't budge. "Let me go."

"Not until you swear you'll just stay put for tonight. Wait until you're thinking rationally."

Harry was silent for a few moments and then sighed. "Fine, now let go of my face."

Draco let go of him and watched as Harry turned, walking up the stairs. At least there he sounded a little more normal. I don't know what's got into him. I'll talk to James tomorrow and see what's going on. Draco turned and went back to his study.