Ripples in the Lake
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter. The way it is now thank goodness I don't.
AU: Thank you witowsmp for letting people use this idea. Instead of Albus Dumbledore interviewing Sybil Trelawney he asked Minerva McGonagall to interview her in his place. She totally rejects her application even when she might have been saying a real prophecy her Scottish temper got the better of her not hearing any of it. When leaving she caught Severus Snape listening, but he heard nothing of any value for his master as he was embarressed by the head of Griffyndor house.
Chapter 1: The First Ripple
Have you ever seen a lake in the early morning on a clear calm summer day. No wind, and the stillness is tangable all around you. The forest and the mountains, even the sky are reflected perfectly as if there was another world just below the surface. Then the perfect picture, the stillness is broken by a large dirty rock breaking the pristine pure water. The waves go out from there disrupting the shore and destroying the world that was once reflected perfectly moments before.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, did it make a sound. Physics says it does. The Universe is said to have been created in a Big Bang. Which is funny since in the vacuum of space sound does not travel. Yet in the case of our story here there was a lot of noise from a babbling Seer with the Sight and a very angry Scottish witch yelling at the top of her lungs for Sybil Trelawney to be quiet.
In the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic in London, England a new crystal orb appeared. The Unspeakable looked at the new prophecy puzzled by what was recorded. He of course knew about the Dark Lord that was terrorizing the Wizarding world. However two couples came to mind at could easily be those that the prophecy mentioned. Alice Longbottom and Lily Potter were pregnant. They were due at the end of July.
James Potter was actively fighting against the campaign of the Dark Lord. He was from an old family and seeking through his influence to stop him from taking over. Frank Longbottom was his partner and next in line to become the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
The Unspeakable pulled himself out of his thoughts looking at the prophecy before him. He filed it away. He hoped that the prophecy would not come true. With a sigh he filed his report that would be seen by no one or reported to anyone.
XxXxXxXxX
Months later Voldemort was very upset and in a towering rage. James Potter had yet again escaped his trap and his spy in their ranks was next to useless. The Order of Pheonix had him on the run and underground, reduced to hit and run tactics. Even then there was no escape. All his information was worthless. The Wizarding World had rallied behind Potter as he independently struck him and used his vast resources to push his forces back.
The Ministry months ago was in disarray, but with Potter, Longbottom, Black, Moody, and Dumbledore they were able to reorganize the Wizarding government. Purebloods were no longer protected and raided at random, or not so random as he suspected. The Lastranges were already in Azkaban, and his forces were like frightened children compared to might of a united front of the Aurors.
Voldemort stopped reflecting on his set backs when his greatest set back, his worthless spy was before him.
"Crucio." he immediately cast the spell before the pathetic man could say a word. The Dark Lord left all his anger and frustration out on the screaming man spasming at his feet.
Taking a moment to breathe he released the curse and the man began to collect himself quickly lest his master curse him again.
"M-ma-ster, please I did not know-"
"SILENCE!" Voldemort hissed dangerously.
The man wimpered and fell silent.
"Tell me Wormtail. Why should I not kill you were you stand for failing me again?" he said looking at his wand lovingly.
"Master," he spoke no longer in agonizing pain pulled a bundle that was tied to his body.
Removing the silenco spell he cast a baby's wail filled the Dark Lord's throne room.
An ever so small smile crept onto his lips as he came in for a closer look. A young one year old child with black hair and green eyes took one look at the snake like face to promptly begin screaming again.
"You brought be a great gift Wormtail. Very good!" he moved back to his throne feeling as if all the failures for the nearly the last year were nothing.
He beckoned Wormtail to stand next to him and taking his arm pressed his wand tip into Wormtail's flesh on a black tattoo of a snake and skull.
A few short minutes later the inner circle of his loyal followers were gathered together. When they were all assembled he stood and he removed the silencing charm he cast to keep the baby quiet.
The men gathered murmurred and whispered as they saw the baby in Wormtails arms. They all became quiet when the Dark Lord stood except for the baby.
"My friends. Tonight we have a special guest." he said graciously and his followers bowed their head to him.
"Our enemy, James Potter, has a weakness. That weakness is here this night."
He pointed for Wormtail to place the baby in the center of the room.
"His mudblood wife who has befouled the blood and name of Wizard has created this thing, this abomination that would be accepted in our world."
All his followers stayed quiet wondering what their Lord would do with their enemy's child.
"We are pureblood, Wizards, the superior beings, masters of magic! This here," he pointed at the baby, "this infection that has infested our world will bring our utter ruin and rob us our very magic if we let this voilation of our traditions continue."
Many heads nodded in the circle at this pronouncement except one.
"Tonight we send a message to the those that oppose us and seek to destroy our purity, and nobility!"
The one that said nothing was muttering and words he said were lost as the others around him voiced their conscent.
"We will purge this stain from our mist and return its lifeless body as a message to all that oppose Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters!"
Pointing his wand at the child he did not see one his dark robed brethern break ranks and dive toward the baby.
"Avada Kadavera!"
The green sickly light from the blast of the curse fired from his wand. As the light faded the shape before him was significantly bigger than a child. The child was still crying. Two Death Eaters stepped forward and removed the man's arms from around the baby turning him over.
Voldemort removed his mask.
"Regulus Black." he hissed. With a wave of his wand he banished the body out of his circle. Stepping closer he again pointed his wand at the child that had become silent. His green eyes had become calm and looked directly into the Dark Lord's red eyes.
"No one can save you now Harry Potter. Avada Kadavera!"
The curse hit the baby covering it in a green glow, but the glow did not fade away along with his life. The curse gathered together and shot back at the Dark Lord hitting him squarly in the chest.
Voldemort howled in pain as his spirit was ripped from his body that was still bound to the world. The black soul that remained appeared twisted and turned as it fled the chamber.
As the Death Eaters looked on as their master was destroyed there was a sudden shout of spells in the chamber. In a matter of seconds all the Death Eaters were on the ground unconscious.
Two people moved to the center of the room. One woman with long red hair and green eyes just like the child picked the baby up and next to her a man with dark hair and glasses stood next to her.
Another man with black hair as well with a handsome face found the body banished to the side of the chamber out of sight.
The the dark haired man with the red headed woman found Wormtail. He reared back his foot and kicked him hard in the side muttering something.
They found Voldemort's body being quiet dead. The elder wizard Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured a stretcher placing the body upon it.
The man who had kicked Wormtail had backed away while the Aurors and Order members where attending to the prisoners. He went back to the red head with the child in her arms.
"What is that?" he asked looking at the forehead of his child.
"I don't know." she answered. The elder wizard along with Auror Alistor Moody approached the couple.
"James, Lily is Harry alright?"
The boy was asleep in his mother's arms.
"He seems to be, but there is a scar on his forehead." she explained brushing his hair back.
Dumbledore frowned. "Harry has been touched by a curse, an evil curse by the look of things. I will have to ponder and research this. In the meantime you both should take him to St. Mungos. While you are there I will interogate these people at the Ministry."
The couple nodded and left the chamber.
A man in black robes came out from the darkness. Dumbledore turned and looked into the man's obsidian eyes. "Thank you Severus. We will speak later."
The man bowed and left as quickly as he came in.
XxXxXxXxXxX
The hospital did not shed any new information on the lightning shaped scar on Harry's head. What Lily and James Potter did notice was that the entire wizarding world was in celebration. Voldemort was dead. His followers were all rounded up. The war was over. A new day had dawned and the Potter family had some choices to make.
The next day Lily and James were in the presence of Albus Dumbledore in his office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"I am afraid that after examining the memories of many Death Eaters it is clear. Voldemort is not dead." he gave a weary sigh.
"How is that possible?" Lily asked in shock.
"There is only one way that I know of and unfortunately Voldemort, or Tom Riddle, would know how to do it." the elder wizard put a hand to his face rubbing his eyes behind his glasses.
The Potters waited for an explaination.
"Tom made inquiries into a forbidden Dark Art. One that has not been attempted in thousands of years. Even before the founders of this school. Even before Merlin."
The answer was a shock to both adults. Sirius Black had agreed to take care of his godson while meeting with the headmaster. Right then Lily wanted to hold her son and never let go.
"How did he find out how to do it?" James asked. As an Auror he knew what Dumbledore was referring to. A legend. A myth. But so was his cloak.
"I do not know. We may never know how exactly. It might have been his visits to Knockturn Alley as a child, or research into the Occult, or any number of ways each as likely as the next." Dumbledore said wearily.
Lily was the foremost researcher in the field of magic and its study. Her partner Artemis Lovegood worked along side her and was just as brillant. Both would know about what the headmaster was talking about: Horocruxes. The most foul and dark magic in their world.
"What will be the effects on Harry?" James asked his voice deathly quiet.
After a prolonged silence Dumbledore spoke. "As hard as it is to hear I am sure you need to know the truth. That rebounded curse may have given Harry some of Tom's powers. What powers we will not know. Time will tell." he nearly whispered the last part of what he said, "The worst case senario that I can image in that a piece of Riddle is inside young Harry."
The look of horror and terror on the young couple's face could hardly be described. Their eyes were wide and mouths hung open at the implication.
James recovered enough to speak. "You mean that Harry, our son, is binding Riddle to this world? That as long as he lives, Riddle lives?"
Sadly the headmaster nodded in reluctance.
"NO!" Lily shouted. "I will not accept that! My son will not die!"
James held her hand tightly and she could see that he was with her.
"Is there any hope? Is there something we can do to save our son?"
With deep regret and utter hopelessness in his voice; their mentor and friend replied.
"I don't know."
XxXxXxXxX
Their faith in the greatest wizard of their world was broken. He did not or would not save their son. One year became two years. Then two years became five years. Five years of nothing. Five years of frustration and failure. Harry grew up loving his parents and Uncles Remus and Sirius. While they tried James and Lily Potter were unable to have any more children. Still they loved their son and he loved them. Harry had turned six years old and the Potters came to a decision.
"You are moving." Sirius asked, surprised. Lily and James nodded. "More like an expedition. You know that Harry needs to be saved." Harry was currently at the Longbottoms playing with Neville, their son.
Lily and James had explained most of the situation with Harry and Voldemort to their close friends. "Where will you go? How will you know you can find anything?" Remus Lupin asked them.
"We don't. That is why we have to try."
"I'll go with you." Sirius said leaning forward in his chair.
"No. We need you here. We will be back before Harry goes to Hogwarts. Besides I don't think your current girlfriend would appreciate you suddenly leaving the country." James smirked and was pleased that his friend would stand by him.
"They have you there Padfoot." Remus said smirking a little. Lily was not fooled.
"You too Moony. You need to stay at Hogwarts. We will come back. Keep an eye on the Headmaster." Lily admonished her friend.
The Warewolf nodded. They all no longer trusted Dumbledore. The headmaster would do what he thought was right for the greater good. If Harry was to die to end Voldemort he would arrange a confrontation.
Later that day James came to pick up Harry from Frank and Alice Longbottom's home. They had already explained to them and Harry and Neville that they would be leaving the country.
"Stay safe James." Frank his partner said. He was there that night that Voldemort was defeated. "We will. By the time we get back I am sure you will be the head of the MDLE."
"Here's to hoping." Frank smiled taking his friends hand in his. "Are you sure you don't want to leave Harry here?" Frank offered again to what sounded like the millionth time.
"No, we want to spend as much time as we can with him. We aren't doing anything dangerous, just a research project." James tried to explain. Frank could see his friend was not telling him everything that was going on, but trusted him.
"Thank you for offering Frank." Lily said giving the man a hug.
"We'll see you before Harry goes to Hogwarts."
Neville looked sad as Harry was picked up into Lily's arms.
James knelt down to the little boy. "Here." he said handing over a brown package.
He also handed one to Harry. Neville found a retangular black mirror. At the boys questioning look after Harry opened his James explained. "Neville, say Harry's name into the mirror."
The boy's image faded and Harry's surprised expression took his place. "Oh wow." He could hear his voice come out of the other mirror. "Cool Dad." Harry said. "Say bye into your mirror Harry."
"Bye Neville."
His friend's face vanished and Harry's own green eyes looked back at himself.
"You can talk to each other anywhere in the world."
"Thanks Dad." "Thank you Uncle James." the boys said together.
With that they were off.
Five years later...
Neville was the first to know the Potters were coming back in August. He as so excited. Neville had friends but none was closer than Harry. They talked to each other every night while Harry told him of his adventures. To Neville it seemed that harry had been everywhere in the world. All over Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He taught him spells he learned, told him of people he met.
The Longbottoms heard a knock on the door and Neville raced downstairs yaking the door open.
"Nev!" Harry shouted and hugged his friend as Lily and James stepped inside.
The boys let go and Neville was excitedly calling to his parents who appeared a moment later.
"James, Lily come in, come in."
The boys took off.
James and Lily Potter followed Frank and Alice to their parlor.
"So was your journey productive?" Alice asked the sensitive question first to get it out of the way.
"Yes, and no." James replied.
The Longbottoms had a curious look and waited for a better explaination.
"What my husband means is that there are curtain conditions that need to happen for our project to be successful." Lily tried to explain better.
"Well, we are glad you are back." Frank said seeing they were not going to know more.
James surprised them. "It is Harry. He, he is a horocrux with a piece of Voldemort's soul in him."
Alice took a sharp intake of breathe. Her eyes full of shock. Her husband was not far behind.
"We have been searching for five years for a way to save our son. We searched everywhere. Looked everywhere talked to everyone for a way to remove Voldemort's soul but let Harry keep his." Lily explained sadly.
"You must have found something?" Alice asked in a hushed voice, lest the children hear them talking.
"We have, it's just complicated." James said. But did not sound happy about it.
"Love. The power to defeat the Dark Lord is the thing he despises. Harry has to love someone so completely, that he is willing to give everything to, then he can be saved." Lily tried to explain.
"How will that save him?" Frank still didn't quiet understand.
"It was when we where in America. We found a woman, very old, who gave us, well guidelines. That was three years ago. We still looked for another way, but she was the best we found." Lily elaborated.
"So who is he to give everything to, and how can he be saved?" Frank asked.
"We don't know. She told us if we push him to the wrong person, or Harry is not true enough, he will be lost to this world." James said what his wife could not.
"Any clues?" Alice asked hopefully.
"Well, yes, sort of. Not a physical discription, but the one he is to give everything to will be fiercely loyal to him. Be willing to follow him anywhere." Lily said.
"Oh my." Alice was surprised.
James nodded. "She assured us, that is was not us. That blood would not save him."
"She also assured us that Harry does not have to be a saint or perfect. All she made clear was that he could not be wrong who he chooses to form a bond with." Lily went on.
"Bond? Like a Marriage Bond?" Frank asked looking between his friends.
Lily shook her head. "No, we asked. A bond that they forge together. The closest she told us was a bond of friendship, but more."
"So even if you suspect Harry finds the one to form the bond with you can not push them together. Did she say it was formed already?" Alice asked thinking of Neville.
James shook his head. "No. It has not been formed yet. That is when she said that it would be forged in battle."
Again the Longbottoms where shocked, but then a little sad.
"I am not sure this is a good time to tell you, but some of the Death Eaters that were captured the night Voldemort fell were released while you were away."
"No." Lily whispered.
"Who?" James almost demanded to know.
"Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy was the first. Then Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, the Carrows, and McNair." Frank nearly spat the names.
"Claimed they were under the Imperious Curse and the Minister of Magic Cornilius Fudge believed them. Full Pardon." Alice said bitterly as her husband.
"Fudge has also been consoldating power. Malfoy is an advisor to the Minister and a big contributor." Frank did not hide his anger at the weak Minister.
James felt like Frank, but right now that could not be helped.
"So what do we do? This was not a prophecy was it?" Alice asked her friends.
"Not exactly. Like I said guidelines, nothing in stone. What I do know is that if Harry has to go into battle he will be ready." Lily said with a fire in her green eyes that matched her husbands determination.
"I take it you started already. Neville has been learning from Harry." Alice smiled a little remembering Harry teaching her son over the mirror.
They all smiled knowing that the boys were well ahead for school.
"Good. They may not have a bond, but they are friends." Lily smiled and the others did as well.
Just then Harry came running in with Neville who had a training broom on his shoulder. "Mum, Dad, you have got to come see Neville, he is a great flier."
"Ok." Lily said letting her son guide herself and her husband outside with their friends in tow.