Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything Harry Potter related. They are all owned by J.K. Rowling. I just like to take them out to play.

Prologue

The Dark Lord pulled his hood a little lower over his face. It wasn't so much that he wanted anonymity; in fact, his whole life had been rather geared toward the opposite - power and fame beyond his wildest dreams. He'd never been the type to hide in the background. No, he did this to protect himself from his numerous enemies. It wasn't time to face them just yet. Then again, he was about to make a rather large scene. Still, it was all about timing.

He glanced up and down the dark street and shivered, then cast a warming charm on himself. It was late October - in fact, Halloween night for the Muggles - and it was bitter cold. Fitting for the death of his greatest obstacle.

He actually liked Halloween, though he viewed it more as a Muggle holiday than a wizarding one. But he enjoyed the idea of moving in disguise. After all, his Death Eaters all wore masks. Anonymity was key in his world - at least until all of his plans came to fruition.

He smirked to himself as he approached the front door of the Potter's. His enemies would be scattered tonight. He had dozens of operatives in place to attack the right people; and he himself had the greatest task of all - to destroy the one person who could stand in his way. Though it rather amazed him that a child, an infant, could be his downfall.

The house before him was large and elegant. The Potter's had certainly done well for themselves. Not that it would help them in the slightest. Though he would pass their money on to one of his people - perhaps Lucius? He chuckled softly to himself as he thought that it would be more fitting to give it all to Severus. After all, Lily was "the one who got away".

He waved his wand and removed the laughably feeble wards the Potter's had placed on their home. Really, how stupid were they? They knew he was out there and hunting for all of the Order, yet they protected themselves so pathetically?

Voldemort blasted his way through the front door and was immediately attacked by a hex. He deflected it easily and turned to face James Potter. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of the red-haired Lily racing up the stairs, presumably to her infant. Good, at least he knew where the little brat was located.

James attacked with spell after spell, yet Voldemort merely blocked each one. He didn't even bother with a real curse of his own, limiting himself to ones he knew would be rather easily defended. He smiled broadly. He was having too much fun playing with his prey.

"Oh James, the things I will do to your wife and son." He blocked another curse as James dove into the kitchen. "I can keep your lovely Lily alive for weeks as she begs for death."

He had no intention of keeping the woman alive beyond tonight, of course, but James didn't know that. And while Riddle enjoyed physically torturing others, he preferred there to be a point behind that. No, his real joy came from the mental torture that came from perfectly chosen words to play on the weaknesses and fears of those opposed to him.

The deflected hexes exploded the couch and pounded holes in the walls, ceiling and floor.

Voldemort heard James swear loudly at his words and as the Dark Lord entered the kitchen he was surprised to have to dodge the killing curse. "An Unforgiveable from one of Albus' finest? I'm shocked, James!" Riddle shouted as he picked himself up off the floor and brushed himself off.

He laughed coldly and shouted, "Crucio!"

James fell to the ground, writhing in pain. "While I admire your bravery, little Gryffindor, I'm afraid that it won't stop me from killing you." Voldemort took James' wand, which had fallen from his hand as he twitched in pain, and snapped the stick in half.

He lifted the curse and knelt down beside James as the man breathed heavily and he fought back tears. "You are strong, James Potter, so I will give you one chance at life. Give me your son and I will let you join my Death Eaters. You will receive power, fame and fortune beyond your wildest dreams. What say you?"

James spat in his face. "I will never join you! And you leave my wife and son alone!"

Riddle quickly stood. "You are a fool, James. And I will still take your son."

Though he was rather impressed with the Gryffindor, he was bored now. "Avada Kedavra!" he shouted and watched the light leave James' eyes.

Voldemort stared down at his dead opponent dispassionately and then kicked him to the side of the room and out of his way. He walked down the hallway and to the stairs, taking his time. He wanted Lily to be trembling in fear when he found her.

Before he ascended the stairs he cast a spell and began a slow fire to consume the downstairs. By the time he was done with Lily and the boy, the entire first floor would be ablaze.

When he reached the second floor he found several doors and he blasted each one open, destroying the interior of each, until finally only one remained. He left a trail of fire behind him, though he was careful to keep in under control. It wouldn't do to burn himself with their home.

He smirked to himself as he approached the final door. His time of power had nearly come. Only Lily stood in his way and then he could kill the boy and be done with it.

He reached the last door and blasted it open to find Lily standing in front of her son's crib. Her wand was pointed at him and she immediately hit him with a hex, which made him duck back into the hallway.

"Lily, my dear," he called from the darkness as the fire began to blaze through the hallway, "give me your son and you need not die. Severus would be glad of your company. In fact, I promised you to him."

He entered the room, this time ready for the waiting hex. He dodged it and disarmed her. He snapped her wand and threw it at her feet. Yet even without a weapon, she stared at him with fight and fury in her eyes. He admired her for it and he could understand what Severus saw in her.

"I would rather die than live for you," she hissed in disgust. He noted that she didn't mention Severus, only him.

He smirked and motioned to the fire behind him. "Well, I would play with you as I did your husband, but I am quickly running out of time. So goodbye my dear." And he killed her with a quick curse. The light left her eyes and she hit the ground, revealing her son.

The black-haired, green-eyed boy was standing in his crib and watching the entire scene play out before him.

He watched Lily fall and his eyes welled with tears. Voldemort raised his wand, ready to kill the child, when the boy suddenly looked at him. Harry reached out his pudgy arms towards Riddle, indicating that he wanted to be picked up.

The Dark Lord gazed at the infant in surprise. He wasn't afraid. Why wasn't the boy afraid?

With the fire raging behind him, and he was beginning to feel the heat from it, Voldemort stared at the boy and wondered if killing him was the right thing to do. Not right as in right and wrong; he didn't believe in such things. There was only power and those strong enough to take it. No, he wondered if it was the right decision for him. Would killing the child really destroy the prophecy? Or could Voldemort use the boy instead?

Harry Potter would die, Voldemort knew it. The prophecy had stated it and one couldn't run from the future. But did he need to die today? The child was strong and he came from a strong line, despite Lily's Mudblood background. Riddle kicked Lily away from the crib and picked up Harry. "Well boy, I suppose you have changed my plans. You are mine now. You will forget your parents and remember only me."

He cast a memory charm on the child, removing all traces of the parents he once knew. Then he Apparated as the fire began to spread into the nursery. His work was done.

He appeared just outside of the Death Eater headquarters and strolled inside, easily removing the wards he'd placed on the building to protect himself and his followers.

The headquarters were empty because all of his people were obeying his orders. Severus, Bellatrix and Lucius were all at the Ministry, where the majority of his people were, to take out the Minister. Voldemort would replace him.

Riddle put the boy in a crib that had once belonged to another wizard and cast protective charms over him. He would have to be left alone for the evening. If he was still alive when Voldemort returned, he would be worthy of adoption.

Then Voldemort joined his followers at the Ministry and just in time. Dumbledore and the Order were fighting back in droves. Yet Voldemort had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Giants and werewolves came flooding out at his command and soon the Order had to fall back. Dumbledore and Voldemort did not fight this time - but one day they would meet again and the Dark Lord was certain he would destroy his greatest foe.

Once the Ministry was secured by his Death Eaters, Voldemort ordered the task of cleanup while he entered his new office.

A few hours passed when Severus and Lucius finally entered the room. "Report," Voldemort commanded.

Severus began, "The former Minister is dead. All the bodies have been destroyed. The damage has been repaired. We merely await your assignment to new positions."

Lucius added, "The Order members who survived the attack have gone missing. That includes Dumbledore and Sirius Black. Do you wish for us to search for them?"

Voldemort waved his hand dismissively. "No, they are scattered and powerful for now. And Dumbledore is too smart to be found. We'll deal with him when he returns. I'm certain they will strike again in time. Until then, we need to build our power."

He then handed them a parchment with the list of new positions and which Death Eater would get which position. He gave them a few new orders and then dismissed Lucius. Once the door had closed behind him, he met Severus' dark gaze.

"Lily and James Potter are dead," he informed the man coldly.

Severus didn't flinch, which Voldemort gave him credit for. He had always been a strong man and very guarded. It was why Voldemort had allowed him to get into his inner circle.

"And the boy?" Severus replied though his tone was flat, not curious.

The Dark Lord tilted his head slightly to the side, his dark eyes narrowing. "Is still alive and at headquarters. Or I left him alive; whether he still is or not is beyond my knowledge."

Severus couldn't hide his emotion this time - his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Pardon, my lord, but why would you let the boy live?"

Voldemort sneered and returned to writing on his parchment. "When I wish to be questioned, Severus, I will let you know. For now, your assignment is to take the boy and place him in a secure home - a home the three of us will share. You will help me raise the boy, especially as you will be the Headmaster of Hogwarts so you might as well get used to children. And I certainly don't have time to raise him. Now go."

Severus gave a brief nod and turned to leave. "Oh, and Severus, find the child a nurse or something. You don't know much about children either."

"Yes, my lord," Severus replied and left the room. Though his expression was masked, inside he was reeling. Why had Voldemort not killed Harry Potter as he'd planned? And why did Lily have to die?

But Severus knew now was not the time nor the place to grieve. He needed to complete his mission first. Then, when he was truly alone, he would allow his heart to die inside of him - to die just as she had.

He returned to headquarters and after a quick search found the boy in a warded room. He lowered the wards and entered.

Harry Potter was fast asleep in an old-fashioned crib that Severus recognized with a jolt as his own. They were using his family home as a temporary headquarters, as they never stayed in one place for too long - until now, of course. Now they had all of the Ministry and even Hogwarts.

Severus slowly approached the crib and gazed down at the sleeping toddler. His hand itched at his side and twitched toward his wand. It would be so easy to kill the child right now. He would have to face the Dark Lord's wrath, but he felt it would be worth it. The whole point of the Potter's death was to kill the child. Now Lily had died for nothing. Besides, Harry was James' son. The child Severus should have had with Lily himself.

He pulled his wand out and pointed it down at the boy. If Voldemort had been too weak to do it, Severus would do it himself!

Harry's eyes opened and Severus felt his breath leave him, as though he'd been punched in the stomach. Lily's eyes. The child had Lily's eyes.

Severus slid to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably at the foot of the crib. Oh Merlin, his precious and beautiful Lily was gone. Forever gone. He hadn't protected her. In fact, he'd been the cause of her destruction. It was all his fault.

He felt his heart break inside him. He felt so much pain. More pain then he'd ever felt in his life - even more than the Cruciatus curse could ever inflict. Lily, his Lily, was gone.

His sobs finally faded and he heard a cooing sound above him. He glanced up and saw Harry leaning over the crib, reaching for him. He sighed and stood back up, then took the boy in his arms. It was time to complete his mission. He needed to find a house for himself, the boy and the Dark Lord - though he wasn't sure how he felt about that living arrangement. And then he needed a nanny for the boy because he certainly wasn't going to raise him - especially now that he was going to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

He sighed and Disapparated to a home he had in mind, in the middle of nowhere. It was a very old English cottage with four bedrooms and made of stone. It was covered with vines and roses, something more out of a fairytale than the nightmare they really lived in. But they could worry about redecorating later.

Once he had placed Harry safely in one of the rooms, barricading the child inside, he began setting up as many protection spells and wards that he could. Then he left to find a nanny and marveled out how quickly his life had changed.

In fact, all of the wizarding world had just been changed drastically forever. Nothing would ever be the same.

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you guys like my new fanfic! I would really appreciate comments, but please keep all criticism to constructive. Thanks so much for reading!