A Rash Mistake

Harry Potter just a ordinary teenage male, struggling through the effects of puberty, the downright unfair and harsh dictatorship of his parents and lastly being constantly overshadowed by the brother who was the saviour of everyone.

Harry was absolutely distraught, he shuffled into the house which had been his safe place for ever, but never again would it be, not for him anyway. He tried to sneak back to his room without arousing suspicion, but the careful footsteps he took betrayed him with loud creaks underfoot.

A shuffling of muffled footfalls from above alerted him to his mother, she was gazing down the stairs at him, she was still young looking despite having two children. Her hair was still as vibrant a red as ever and her eyes still had a glint in them that struck fear in the hearts of her boy's.

"Harry James Potter, where on earth have you been?" she hissed in a small voice being cautious of the early hour. An audible gulp was heard from the young man in question. He gathered his senses and pathetically shrugged and brushed past his mother quickly darting into his room, slamming the door, locking it with the magical lock he was given from his father.

His father… an embarrassing emotion welled up inside of him, was it remorse or shame, it was both because as he looked down at his branded arm, looking into the holes in the skull where the eyes should be, the dark mark seemingly taunted him. He shook his head hoping to rid his mind of everything, maybe that would make it easier, his eyes rested on his desk where he knew THE letter was from.

That letter had to come today of all days. When Harry had awoke that morning he was as cheerful as ever, rather grumpy and sullen. When he noticed what had woke him from dreams of the most unattainable witches known to men, his mother calling him. don't get me wrong he loved his mother dearly just first thing in the morning was too much. After dressing he shuffled downstairs to the kitchen, his mother stood in the doorway with an almost amused look on her face. Never a good omen.

"What did you promise to do last night?" at her son's sigh she brightened "Well then get washing." she said pointing at a pile of dishes, pots, pans, glasses and thing Harry had never seen in his life. why do I have to do this, she can just wave her wand and *poof* buuuut no, bloody, stupid, fu… he grumbled in his head. About half way though the small mountain he was disturbed by his torturer, or better known as mother. "Your brothers home, come say hello, he has been with Dumbledore all summer."

"OH for god's sake, you ask me to come down and clean these bloody plates and then you stop me, just to say my whelp of a brother came home, I don't care." He said as he stormed out of the kitchen cleaning forgotten.

"If I didn't know better I would say it was someone's time of the month." came a helpful comment from James Potter's mouth, earning a manly giggle from the son at his elbow and a sigh from his wife. After a simple wave of his wand all the plates and other items were clean and finding their way to their places.

The day got worse from then on all day his darling brother had tried to make him angry enough to curse him, just so he could show off some of his new moves. He was so tempted to just give in and zap right between the eyes, but after four years of training with Dumbledore his brother was more than capable of damaging him. More and more small things escalated throughout the day until he tore his favourite set of robes when they got caught on a splinter on the door of his wardrobe.

With a yell he punched his bed, he kept on punching it until he felt a spring break, oh no, oh my god, why? Why the hell is everything out to get me.it was then a letter came thought the window, no owl, huh, probably didn't want to catch any of my bad luck. he tore it open without caution as his families wards would have blocked it if it wasn't trusted. That was a mistake, the moments his eyes landed on the neat letters in neat lines with a neat fold in the middle of the parchment, he instantly trusted the paper.

Dear Harry

I would greatly enjoy a meeting you as I have been informed by my… associates you seem to have many of the qualities I desire in an ally. The many achievements have reached my ears, and unlike others I see your potential, and together we could harness it and turn it to greatness. As you would have noticed by now your brother cant hope to hold a candle to your abilities and with my help you can make your way to the top. If you wish to take me up on my generous offer, I suggest that you press your wand on the large yes below, if not I must say it's a shame to waste such talent but you can press the no.

YES NO

Yours most sincerely Tom Riddle

Without even a doubt he knew he should press the yes, and he wasn't waiting for anything. So he did. Nothing much happened except for a tug on his naval that was familiar, the sudden feeling of dread and despair in the back of his mind didn't matter, and he didn't know why it didn't.

His feet hit the floor and he lost his footing and stumbled about before pulling him self up, then he realised the room, it was dark, good in not wearing anything impressive, glancing around the whole room was dark, almost completely black except for a small section of what appear to be a platform. There was a throne there, he couldn't see what it was made of, but that didn't matter as Harry saw the face of the owner of the chair.

He sat there with a smirk on his face, it distorted his features so much that this must be a rare occurrence, the mans eyes were mere slits in the dark but they were red like fires in the dark. His nose was gone there was just two nostrils seemingly carved into his face. His skin was so pale it seemed to glow with an unnatural grace, but it did little to soothe Harry, as the man seemed to fit the one he had heard from his brother about a certain dark lord.

"how nice of you to drop by mister Potter. Sit down." he said in a hiss with a whimper Harry obeyed. As a man Harry had fantasised about meeting a threat head on and over coming it with out a trickle of fear, but Harry would admit he had failed, failed quite miserably. He found the floor quite comfortable after his legs went numb from shock, not enough to relax but a sense of peace soothed him, like a mother cradling her baby, it was very welcome.

Lord Voldemort chuckled, very little resistance in the child's mind made him very happy, but he didn't show it. He looked into the scared emerald eyes even without legilimency he could tell the boy feared him, but then again who didn't. It would be easy wouldn't it bending a child's will to his own, "Show me your arm… now!" he said

Harry's arm seemed to move detached of his body, he gave no conscious thought or attempt to do so, and yet an arm was being extended. He flinched as a white hot pain tore though him, it started on his wrist but it sped through him, seemingly attacking him, but it was quick, after a few moments he looked to his arm. A wand was touching the flesh of his wrist, it was exuding a deadly black mist, or so it seemed. It took a few seconds before anything came from it, but from it came a shape, a skull… with an open mouth… a snake… the mark Harry had feared from his youth, it could only destroy and decay.

Is that what would become of him, just become another victim of this cruel agenda, no he wouldn't let it. He fought with all of his magic and will, to force this infection out of him, to be rid of it. Effortlessly Lord Voldemort broke the boys resistance, he almost sighed he had great thing plan for this boy, he cant lose so easily.

And so Harry found himself out side of his house. Many things worried him, how did he know where he lived? why was he back here? Would he dare go to Dumbledore? Confess to a meeting with The Dark Lord. And lastly since when was he The Dark Lord?