Disclaimer: I don't own any thing related to Harry Potter, except, a pen, some badges, file dividers, a notepad, a calendar, a mug, oh and the DVD and the books of course. But except all of the merchandise that is about I don't own any thing. By this I mean the characters and the rights, and I'm doing this for mine and yours (I hope) enjoyment and I'm not getting paid in the process.

Adagio For Strings.



Chapter 1------Past and Present

"James!" James didn't move, he was too much in awe of the breath-taking scene before him. The new racing broom was out. It was such an amazing work of art it was unbelievable. How the broom curved in all the right places how the twigs were completely streamline.he wanted one.

"James!" his mother chided again. "Come here! You're not getting one of those brooms; they're too expensive. Besides, first years aren't allowed their own ones." She grabbed her son by the wrist and dragged him away. "Oh for goodness sake, you can come and gawk like a demented fish later, but we have to get your school things first."

And with that she pushed him into another shop. This one was rather depressing compared to the other one he was just in. This one sold robes, lots and lots of robes. Ones for all occasions, school, work, casual and dress. James laughed to himself when he saw that the men's dress robes literally looked like dresses. But soon his smile faded when his mother said when looking at them. "Oh aren't they wonderful. Oh as we're here I might get you some of these." James choked on his own saliva.

"Why don't you stand there son." Said the dressmaker. James nodded and stood on the deep red stool and there was another boy next to him. He looked the same age and had short neatly combed black hair and ice blue eyes. "I'm just going to buy your books sweetie." James gave a small nod pretending not to be with her.

This failed however because the boy next to him asked. "Sweetie?"

"Yeah, pathetic isn't it."

"It is rather. So what's your name?"

"Potter, James Potter."

The other boy began to laugh and James had no idea what was so funny. "Bond James Bond." He said between the sniggers.

"No," James said confused. "Potter."

The boys' head turned sharply and gave James a look of shock. "No, it's a character in a film." James who was still fully confused showed it. "Oh never mind." James concentration had however wavered when another boy came in with light brown hair. He was muttering at great speed to a younger girl in a foreign language.

"French." The boy next to him said. "Must be tourists." The newcomer stood on a stool next to James. And the other one whispered into James' ear. "I speak one phrase in French, watch and learn." He leaned across James and muttered a question to the light haired boy. This boy had obviously understood what the other had said and looked greatly horrified.

"You what?" he said in a perfect northern accent.

James started to laugh. "What did he just say?"

"He said. 'Will you sleep with me tonight?'"

The boy, who obviously was not bilingual, looked deeply embarrassed. "Sorry, so what's your name?"

"Remus Lupin. Yours?" replied the bilingual one

"Black, Sirius Black."

"Bond James Bond." Remus laughed

"No! Potter!"

"Excuse me?"

"James Potter, not Bond." James face fell. "Wait a moment you don't know my name."

"It's a character in a famous book, he always says his name like that."

"Oh." James said looking down at his feet. His eyes went up for a second and walking past he was certain that he saw a black haired man look at him. He looked awfully familiar, but James had only seen him for a small moment, he couldn't put a name to the face.

James however did have his suspicion. He always did when he saw black haired men. Even though he knew that he was being paranoid, he still liked to be prepared, prepared to run. Because if he saw that black haired man who he was on the look out for, ever again. Every thing that James had done so hard to build would be ruined. He would have to move, go to another family, make new friends, even change his name. 'James Potter' would no longer exist. He would have to do it.again.

'James Potter' didn't //really// exist either. James wasn't who he was. He wasn't who anybody thought, except his parents. If any one were to find out his real name. he'd have to run. All his life he had been running away from this man. Tom Riddle. If he were to know where James was, he'd be dead. Just like that boy.

Even though a body of Seabastian Riddle had never been found, the lack of evidence showed that the boy was dead. The father had been arrested for his murder but as there was no body, there was no way the police knew he had been murdered. So Tom Riddle had walked a free man. James had been told this; he was in tears when he found out. Not out of sympathy for the family, although he felt awfully sorry for the mother, but that Tom Riddle was still at large. But there was no way Tom Riddle //could// have killed his son. Seabastian Riddle wasn't dead.

In theory and via politics he was. He had a death certificate and even a grave where flowers were still laid. But really? No Seabastian wasn't dead. He had merely gone away, to a safer place. But not heaven. His mother to escape his father had put him up for adoption. No one knew about it, except a handful and they withheld information from the ministry for Seabastian's safety. How did James know all of this? Simple. Seabastian Riddle, James Potter were as one.

-oo000oo-

"I want to find him." It was just out of the blue, he always was. He didn't see the need to keep things flowing.

"Milord?" Asked somebody, Riddle didn't know who it was, and he didn't care, the person was just worthless scum compared to him.

"I told you, I want to find him. My son."

"But who is //that// Milord?" Riddle sighed and resisted great temptation to kill the bug right in front of him. But alas no, instead he tilted his head to the right and said nothing. "Oh yes, of course. But Sire, he was declared dead."

Riddle released a satisfying breath. "Not quite, not quite. You see, on her death bed, so to speak," He allowed himself a cruel smile at the memory. "She, meaning my wife, revealed a relenting truth. My son, dear Seabastian, wasn't dead after all. In fact he still is alive. She had put him into care. He has been adopted. But by whom I cannot be certain. But." He turned around sharply to face his death eater. "I doubt it will be too hard to find out." It took a while for the stupid git to work it out.

"Oh yes of course Sire, at once."

"Good, good. Away with you now."

-oo000oo-

Wand buying, a personal process James thought. Something he needed to be on his own for. As well as his friends, but with them he was alone. It was without parents that meant supervised.

"Twelve three-quarter inch, beech wood, dragon heartstring." Mr Olivander was saying forcing yet another wand into James' hand. This was the fifth wand he'd tried so far, none of them were right, according to Mr Olivander. Yes of course that was the fifth time something had broken, but James didn't see what that had to do with any thing. He thought he could pick one up and go. This was going to take for hours at this rate. "Oh no, no, no, all wrong. This one, Mahogany, twelve inch, phoenix feather. Give it a try."

But James didn't want to try; all he wanted to try was to try to punch Mr Olivander in between the eyes. Nevertheless James picked up the wand and right then did he feel it. A warmth that was in his fingers so he swooshed it down and out came green and silver sparks.

"Well done!"

James looked at the wand that somehow comfortable fitted in his hand and muttered; "Thanks," though he had no idea what there was to be praised about buying a wand. After Sirius and Remus had brought their ones, neither of them had taken //quite// as long as James had, but Mr Olivander assured him that every one was different and; "The wand chooses the wizard!" which began to annoy James just about the five time he had said it.

So next it was to buy his potions ingredients. It was just a simple potions starter pack but there was only the one left. Just as James touched it another black haired boy had grabbed it off of him. But it wasn't Sirius, this boy was different. With James' rational fear of blacked haired people he jumped around fifty feet in the air.

"You're rather jumpy aren't you." The other boy said.

"You startled me. Um, I, you know, had that first."

The boy gave what he held in his hand a curious look and said. "So? Why do I care?"

"Well it's polite to give it to the person who was there first. I'm sure there's some more in the store room."

The boy gave a weak manic chuckle. "So, why are you worrying then. I'll take this one, and you wait and ask the lady at the desk."

"Severus?" called a voice that James half recognised as though it was from a dream.

James looked up and saw yet another blacked haired person man. (It was getting quite annoying.) This one looked a lot like the boy who stood before him. "Severus? Come on I haven't got all day."

"Coming Father" 'Severus' gave James one last look and went to his father who was at the till. James followed so he could get his starter pack. But the lady was taking to a man; who also had black hair. But James didn't jump this time, he just told him self that it was just another drill so to speak and not to worry about it.

As he walked closer to the desk he could here parts of their convocation. "I need those ingredients, tonight." The man was whispering. James pretended that he couldn't here what they were saying and tapped on the desk quietly humming to him self.

"I'm sorry, but those things that you ask are very hard to get by. I suggest that you go to Knockturn alley, or if they do not have I may be able to order some in for you." she got out piece of parchment and a quill. "What is your name?" The man sighed and said. "Tom Riddle"

James stopped humming and tapping in and instinct. Slowly he raised his head and looked at the man. Saw his eyes. Grey, just like James'. He breathed deeply so that he could prevent himself from screaming and turned his head away from his father. Slowly still he slid of the stool and walked out of the shop where Remus and Sirius stood as they'd got their stuff before hand.

"Success?" Remus asked eyebrows raising. James shook his head.

"No, some slimy kid got the last one. I'll come back tomorrow they may have got more." Both of the boys nodded and they walked to their next destination. Neither of them hardly noticing that James looked as though he had just seen a ghost.

-oo000oo-

"I don't believe I couldn't get them. This place is worthless, and I hate coming into London." Riddle said to himself kicking a stone. A childish ploy but Riddle didn't really care, as he walked down the muggle street wishing that he could assassinate them all. The man who had accompanied him along with his son, (Snape, Riddle seemed to recall) remained calm.

"Milord, you will get what you wish, you only need to be patient, we'll find the boy all the same."

Riddle pondered. "Yes, yes, you are right after all."

"Who are you looking for sir?" The boy asked.

"Severus, don't speak unless you are spoken to." His father chided.

"Your father is right, but in answer to your question, I'm looking for a boy. My son. Must be about your age now."

The Young boy Severus seemed to be pondering. "Does that mean that he'll be starting Hogwarts this year?"

That made Riddle stop in his tracks. The other two were around three steps away from him when they realised Riddle had stopped.

"Milord?" Snape asked.

Riddle smiled to himself. "Yes, he will be. He will. Master Snape, I could use you."