Author's Note: Hi all. I decided to write this on the spur of the moment, wbhilst recovering from the sudden release of mental strain that comes with completing the end of year exams. It's not a story as such, more of a series of thoughts and ideas, with hopefully a bit of humour thrown in, though I doubtI'm much good at that. Some of you might find this rather philosophical, and hopefully it'll give you food for thought. I honestly didn't set out to try to make a point, but if that's the result than I suppose it's an added bonus. Don't expect this to be long, and it's just co-incidence that it's set in this time period. There are no particular spoilers for this, if you've read any of the Harry Potter books, you're all set. Let me know what you think, if you have a moment, it's nice to know your work is being read.
Chapter 1.
Hello. My name is Tom. Some people call me Voldemort, others the Dark Lord. Yet more call me He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But my real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. However, if you ever use my middle name I'll hex your balls off so completely you'll never be able to reprocriate. Now, if you are a Muggle, that won't be that much of a problem. You see, apparently I'm supposed to hate you all, so the fact that there would never be a next generation won't cause much concern. If you are a wizard on the other hand, well let's just say stabbing myself in the foot isn't my idea of fun. I can't very well have my future army destined for world domination cut down before my eyes, now can I?
Now in case you didn't realise, today is September 1st. For many people this is the day they look forward to, the first day of a new month, the day their pay cheques are cleared and the day they can raid the shops like a swarm of rampaging hippogriffs. For others, today is a milestone on their calenders the first day of Autumn, a day which they can spend watching the leaves falling from the trees, where they can enjoy the wonderful colours produced by this annual event. But for a small minority, this is the dawn of a new year. Yes, my dears, for those between the ages of eleven and seventeen, today is the start of a new session at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the seat of the resistance and prime example of peace and harmony on the Light Side.
They're such simple terms, Light and Dark, don't you think? It makes everything seem so straightforward and clear-cut. But you would honestly have to be blind not to realise that this is not the case, that everything is not just either black or white, that there are countless shades of grey in between. That bumbling idiot Albus Dumbledore, you might have heard of him, he once said that it is our choices that make us who we are. That may very well be true, but the word choice implies that you take the rest of the world into account, which includes the people around you. Loathed as I am to mention it, a Muggle once said that life is short. Okay, so for us witches and wizards it isn't that short, quite long actually, but I digress. Honestly, beating around the bush like this, people will think I've gone soft. Ha! A soft Dark Lord! Who ever heard of such a thing? but where was I? Ah yes, choice. What good does it do us if we take the rest of the world into account but fail to think about ourselves? How will we ever get anywhere if we never pay attention to what we want? No, power is the basis of everything. There are only two types of people, the powerful and the weak. Only with power can one rise to the top of the ladder.
But getting back to the point, today is September 1st, the start of a new year, both for them, and for me.