DESTINY BEYOND THE DARK MARK

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and any of its characters. It is the property of JK Rowling.

A/N: Hey guys it's my first story ever. English is not my first language and I'm not very proficient in it so expect few mistakes.

The British Wizarding World was at war for more than a decade. Many wizards and witches had died and many turned to the dark side, but one group called The Order of the Phoenix was always there to stop those who were against the light. But they were losing hope too, their numbers were decreasing every day. Everyone was losing hope the force of the dark Lord Voldemort was increasing day by day. They were waiting for some miracle to happen.

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, He was the one who founded and is still leading the secret organization by the name Order of the Phoenix. He was sitting in his office lost in his thoughts. His blue eyes staring ahead of him, a grim expression on his wrinkled old face.

'Why Tom?' He thought.

That question had been in his mind for many years. He still can't believe that a child he had seen in an orphanage many years ago would turn into a dark lord. A child who had been born with so much talent and skills, but Albus don't know what happened that turned a man like Tom into Lord Voldemort

'Maybe more power or maybe he was lost in the dark in the first place.'

'Hope, we only have hope now nothing else.'

He is the greatest wizard of his time, defeater of Grindelwald and many people had died in front of him because he was unable to save them. But not now, now he would do anything to as many lives as he can, to save Wizarding World.

'FOR THE GREATER GOOD.'

He was so lost in his thoughts that didn't even noticed when his magical fireplace came to life and roared.

"Albus"...no response

"Albus"...this time the voice was louder.

"Albus?"

Dumbledore stood up from his seat and went to the fireplace. He bent down.

"Aberforth what a surprise...? What I can do for you...?"

Aberforth ignored Albus questions and spoke with an edge in his voice.

"Sybill Trelawney is here...waiting for you."

"Oh...tell her I will be there momentarily."

Aberforth without giving any response left. The green flames died down died down. After putting his elder wand in his silvery robes he disappeared with a crack.

The night was cold and scary, the stars were twinkling in the dark sky and a beautiful moon was shining When Albus appeared in Hogsmeade Village the shops were still open and people were sitting, talking and doing their own business...but there was no happiness, no laughter. There was only fear, dread, and the smell of darkness. Albus started walking towards his brother's shop, Hogshead. Upon entering the shop, he saw his brother working on the shelf. He looked around the tables spotting the people sitting there eating and drinking unaware of his presence. His brother spotted him and nodded. Albus glanced towards his brother and went upstairs. There on his left side was a door slightly opened. The hallway was light with torches and he could see everything clearly.

Albus entered the room and addressed the figure sitting on the chair.

"Hello, Sybill. I hope you are well?"

Dumbledore sat down in the chair and glanced at the women who were staring him down.

"Hello Professor Dumbledore, yes I am well enough to join Hogwarts teaching staff."

Her voice was dreamy and her gaze was unfocused. She was wearing ordinary witches' robes and some type of necklace around her neck. Her light brown hairs were looking wild. She had round spectacles in her eyes.

"So you are here for the job interview. Are you sure you are capable of teaching in Hogwarts as a Divination teacher?"

Albus wanted to hear what she has to say. He knew that she is more than capable of teaching Divination after all she is from the line of sheer. According to him, it was one of the most imprecise branches of magic.

And before she says anything there was a sudden change in her body language that didn't go unnoticed by Dumbledore. Her body becomes tense; her gaze becomes more unfocused. Her mouth opened and she starts speaking in the trance. When Albus saw this he becomes more serious and stood up from his seat and Trelawney spoke.

The one with the power vanquishes the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh months dies...

Dumbledore looked at him when he heard the sound of the door creaking...he saw a young man standing there staring at him, his mouth slightly opened, a fearful look on his face.

Dumbledore instantly recognizes the man and called him.

"Severus." But he turns around hastily and left. Albus knew who he is, one of his students who has joined the dark Lord Voldemort. He wanted to go after him to stop him but he looked behind and listens to the whole prophecy.

'Severus will be going to tell the dark lord about this whole incident.' Albus thought grimly.

and the Dark Lord will mark as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...

Albus stood there staring at Trelawney, whose gaze becomes more focused.

"What happened?" She said looking at Dumbledore.

'She didn't even know. So this is a true prophecy about the Dark Lord and the child that will be born at the end of the July.'

"Don't you know what happened." Dumbledore inquired.

"No." She replied weakly...Albus nodded.

'It's a good thing she doesn't know; the fewer people know about this the better but what to do with Severus only time will tell.'

July 31st1980

Saint Mungo's hospital

A man in his early twenties could be seen wandering around the corridor up and down. He had messy black hair and brown eyes covered with round spectacles. He was wearing a dark shirt and black pants. He had his hands clapped behind his back. He flinched and stopped walking for a while when he heard a womanly scream...the scream died down but he stood there.

'Please be safe Lily.' He thought as a sigh escaped from his lips.

"Prongs!" A voice met his ears that he knew very well. He looked towards the source of the voice and a small smile appeared on his face.

"Padfoot", James starts walking towards the man who was walking towards him. He was wearing black wizarding robes, shoulder length hair, gray eyes.

"Thanks, Merlin you are here. She is still in there and I don't know when they are going to let me in. I am worried about her Sirius."

"Hey don't worry. She will be fine. She is a strong woman after all." James looked relieved slightly. He turned around, Sirius on his right side when he spoke again.

"By the way, where are Remus and Peter?"

"Peter's mother was ill and he was taking care of her, according to him and Remus was still away on order business."

The door of the operation wing opened and a nurse came outside. She looked tired but was smiling. She looked around and when saw them coming to her smile grew bigger.

"Congratulations! Lord Potter. You can see your wife and children now."

James looked at her and nodded. He opened the door and saw a woman sitting in a hospital gown lying on a bed with two bundles in her arms. She had red hair green eyes that looked tired. She looked up when the door opened and when spotted her husband she grinned and mentioned him to come over here.

James looked down staring at the two small infants in his wife's arms. He bent down to examine more, a look of awe on his face.

"So beautiful!" Lily giggled and handed James one of the bundle.

"He is so small."

"Of course silly, he is only a few minutes old after all." The child opened his eyes, brown eyes met brown and James breath out.

"He is just like me. Black hair, brown eyes, everything..."

He looked at Lily who was looking at their second child. The child opened his eyes and this time Lily breathed in. The brightest green eyes she had ever seen looked at her. He stared for more than five seconds and then his right hand rose and touched lily's cheek and then he giggled. Lily's eyes softened and she kissed her son's cheeks, forehead several times...

"Looks like he is momma's boy..."Sirius commented grinning slightly.

Lily looked at Sirius and then said. "Of course he is momma's boy. After all, I'm his mother and you are his godfather." Lily looked at Sirius who was grinning.

"So what are we going to call these younglings hmmm?" James said. He looked at his wife smiling he bent down and kissed lily's forehead lovingly.

"Thank you, Lily, for bringing these wonderful children in our lives and completing our family." Lily looked at her husband and smiled tiredly. She was about to say something when Sirius cleared his throat. "So have you decided any names for them?"

Lily looked down, the child lying in her arms, sleeping peacefully, she opened her mouth and paused and the glanced at her husband who was standing at her left side and then said.

"Harry!" "Harry James Potter."

"Harry James Potter? it's a good name. I like it."

James smiled and looked at Sirius who was smiling too and nodded approvingly. Sirius looked at Lily who was barely conscious, he took Harry from her." Don't worry I will keep him safe." She nodded and then took her other child from her husband's arms. This one looked so much like James, his eyes, his hair, his face everything. While Harry looked slightly different, he has his mother's eyes and his facial structure was also different from both Lily and James.

"Almond!" "Almond Orion Potter and he is the older one and Harry is the younger one."

"Almond Orion Potter?" Yes it's a good name too. Lily smiled and then sigh, a tired sigh escaped from her lips." I am feeling so tired, I need some rest now". James nodded his head and covered lily with blankets and then kissed her forehead again. "Sleep well, you don't have to worry about anything, we are here...we will take care of everything."

1 week later

Severus Snape was a very shrewd person. He was in his school years when took a dark mark, He was young then, immature and a fool but at that time he was angry at Potters and Black. According to him, they were bullies and he was always at their mercy. He wanted to harm them he wanted to quench the thirst of revenge and then after gaining dark mark he become darker and lost himself in the darkness and in doing so he did the biggest mistake of his life, he had called Lily a foul word, the shock and betrayal on lily's face was unimaginable and he still regret it because after that she never talked to him like they used to be. He loved her and still loves her but he loved Lily Evans, not Lily Potter. He reminded himself, and now he heard from Pettigrew that she had given birth to twins, Harry and Almond Potter and he knew that the Potter twins, as well as the Longbottom, are the possible candidates for the prophecy, one of them are destined to vanquish the dark lord.

There are only three children that born at the end of July 'born as the seventh dies' he knows that if he told the dark lord about this prophecy then he will reward him, but the only thing that is stopping him is Lily because the Potter twins are lily's children too, it doesn't matter if they are James Potter's brats but they are Lily Potter's sons, not Lily Evans's sons and he love Lily Evans.

"Why you are here Severus?" A cold and hissing like voice that he knew very well echoed, He shuddered.

The Dark Lord was sitting on his throne like chair. He was wearing black robes, his red snake-like eyes staring up ahead.

Severus Snape who was on his knee, head bowed looked up and immediately felt the Dark Lord presence in his mind, he cleared his mind and strengthen his mind shields. I took a lot of effort but he was able to repel the Dark Lord attack.

He sighed when he saw a smirk appeared on his Lord's face. He knew the Dark Lord was not even trying otherwise he don't think he will be able to repel his attack. The Dark Lord is very good in Legilimency and that is the reason a person with a weak mind is vulnerable to the dark lord's attacks.

"Impressive very impressive indeed." the Dark Lord barely praise his servants.

Severus bowed his head in gratitude and then spoke: "My Lord there is something I wish to inform you about."

Voldemort waved his hand and mentioned his to continue. And Snape told the Dark Lord everything he knew about the prophecy. After a brief silence, the dark Lord spoke. "You have done well, you will be rewarded, and from now on you are a member of the inner circle. I want you to keep an eye on our enemies, collect information about them."

Severus hesitated but spoke "My Lord you want me to spy on them?"

"Yes Severus, you are more than capable for this job...you can go now."

Snape stood up bowed and left.

It was not unexpected. He was intending to destroy the wizarding world and then build it the way he wants it to be and along the way he knew someone will come to stop him, to destroy him. A child that was born as the seventh dies and born to those who have thrice defied him much to his long lasting irritation and there were only three candidates.

Born first, two weeks ago Neville Longbottom, a pureblood, and son of the two of the most skill Aurors-Frank and Alice Longbottom.

Born second was Almond Orion Potter, son of Lily and James Potter and the older pair of the twin. He was born a few minutes before midnight. He was a better candidate for the prophecy then Longbottom because he was born a few minutes before seventh months dies. The third and last candidate was the youngest Potter twin Harry James Potter; he was born exactly one minute before the clock announced midnight. The Potters twins were born much closer to the time frame the prophecy had mentioned and like him, they are half-blood's themselves. It had to be one of the two. The Dark Lord stood up from his throne and called his useless spy and Potters family 'friend' Peter Pettigrew.

October 31st 1981

Albus Dumbledore was in his office when he was informed by Minerva McGonagall entered in his office and accompanied by the Potters, the Longbottoms and Sirius Black. When everyone took their seats and greeted each other, Albus stood up from his chair and placed a privacy ward around the room. He took a silver sphere from his robes pockets and put it on the table in front of him then he waved his wand on the sphere and a voice belong to Sybill Trelawney recited the prophecy.

No one spoke; a deathly silence filled the room. Everyone was looking at each other asking questions with their eyes.

"Are you sure this is a true prophecy that was given by a true seer?" McGonagall said.

Dumbledore nodded, "This prophecy was given by none other than Trelawney herself and everyone knew she is a true seer and I myself was there when prophecy came into existence. By the way where are young Harry and Almond?" Albus questioned when he realizes the absence of the Potters twins.

"They are at the Manor; Peter is there babysitting them." Lily replied, her voice was shaky and after a pause, she asked the question that was bothering everyone.

"The one to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies; this means that Harry, Almond, and Neville are the possible candidates for the prophecy."

"Yes, I am afraid they are."

Godric's Hollow

With a loud crack the Dark Lord appeared. He walked with his wand in his right hand his face was covered with the dark hood; upon reaching his destination he found a large double story Manor that was looking luxurious even in the dark night. The Manor was protected with not only strong words and rituals but it was protected with a Fidelius charm too. Voldemort stood there waiting for something to happen when a door appeared out of nowhere and Peter Pettigrew came outside.

"My Lord they are on the second floor in their room." Voldemort nodded, he made a mental note to kill this filthy rat in the near future after all he feel aversion towards traitors and this no more than a squib had betrayed his own friends.

"Is there anyone else in there?" He sneered, his red eyes glaring at the coward.

The rat whimpered and bowed more deeply, "No my Lord there is no one."

Passing Pettigrew like he was not even there he strode to the stairs. What a waste of time a Dark Lord of his caliber murdering children himself, he should have asked Bella to complete this task but he has a feeling that a possibility of becoming a force to be reckoned with in the future had to be prevented now that there was still time. The door to their bedroom was opened. Voldemort walked in and stood to face the two cribs both of them had unruly thick black hair but Voldemort which was which. With a wave of his wand, he placed a silencing spell on both of them; he detested wailing babies while he was at the orphanage because according to him crying is a weakness, with another wave of his wand he levitated both of the boys in the air and shaken out of their sleep.

Two pairs of eyes, one hazel on his left side and one brightest green on his right side, shining like gems was staring at him. He never bothered to ask which one is Harry Potter and which is Almond Potter after all the both of them are going to die anyway. Voldemort observed both of the boys closely the one with the hazel eyes was not even crying he was just staring wide-eyed and the one with the green eyes was crying and wailing. He touched the skin of the hazel eyed boys with his wand his wand vibrated, indicating how much magically powerful that boy would be. The result was surprising.

'He is quite powerful magically.'

The Dark Lord then did the same to the green eyed boy on his right side and touched his skin with the tip of his wand; the wand vibrated and heated up instantaneously. The Dark Lord looked at the green eyed boy who had stopped crying with shock.

'So much magic, I have never seen a child born so powerful', coming out of his shock, Voldemort waved his wand and muttered some incantation softly, a dark brown light erupted from his wand and engulf child's body. The Dark Lord frowned when he saw the condition of the child's magical core; it was so small yet it contained magic so dense that it was making the child's core unstable not only that, there was another core or something that he had never seen before it was like a flame with different colors and was so small. The Dark Lord stood there thinking what to do next. The child has a problem with his core that can be cured with little to no difficulty and he knew that if he treated and trained properly he will become a very good and powerful wizard.

'A very powerful wizard or rather a powerful weapon.' A thought suddenly came into his mind, he mused a nasty smirk appeared on his face. And without another hand he grabbed child's left forearm and poked it with his wand, he started muttering a long incantation, his wand glowed with purple color. It took nearly five minutes to complete the spell and the Dark Lord stood there looking at his handy work.

There on Harry Potter's left forearm was a dark mark a skull with glowing green eyes and a serpent coming out of its mouth, it was three inches long glowing and slowly moving. The Dark Lord smiled, a hollow laugh escaped from his mouth and the rat standing behind him shuddered.

"Now you are mine...you will obey my commands and orders...I am your master and you are my servant, from now one you are a death eater who will become my personal weapon of destruction in the near future..."Voldemort looked into green gems who were staring at him without any fear, the Dark Lord smiled, "I think I will enjoy seeing you grow into a young invincible weapon."

With that, the Dark Lord turned to the hazel eyed boy and according to the child of prophecy, a child who was born to destroy him to give him death.

'Fools' the Dark Lord thought, 'Don't they know that I can't die. I am immortal and I have conquered death. The word 'death' detested him, despised him because there was only one thing that he feared and that was death. It was his only weakness his only weak point.

"Goodbye, the so-called child of prophecy." The Dark Lord said sarcastically as he pointed his wand at the haze eyed child. The green light belongs to a spell that had claimed so many lives before headed towards the child. And there just a moment before the light hit the hazel eyed boy a wave of powerful magic erupted from a green eyed boy that surrounded both of the children. When the spell hit the wave of magic it bounced back and hit the Dark Lord, his wide crimson eyes filled with shock and terror and then the Dark Lord saw a glimpse of death coming and claiming his soul...but a piece of soul belonging to the Dark Lord struck the hazel eyed boy and a scar resembling an arrow formed on his left side of the forehead.

The boy with the green eyes fell in unconsciousness and a lightning bolt scar formed on his right side of the forehead.

The man who once called himself Tom Marvolo Riddle, could only watched as his own magic turned against him and destroyed him and the soul of the Dark Lord fled shrieking and screaming and due to an immense whiplash of raw magic and house the traitor transformed into a rat his animagus form and fled the scene trying to save himself.

The roof of the house from one side fell due to magical backlash but the babies remained safe, one crying and one unconscious.

Hogwarts

Dumbledore's office

They were still discussing the content of prophecy when James who was sitting there talking to Frank tensed, his face become pale and stopped breathing.

"It can't be, Almond, Harry?"

"What happened to our children." Lily looked at her husband with concern.

James licked his dry lips and blinked his eyes several times. As Sirius came forward and placed his hands on James's shoulders he tensed and turned abruptly towards Sirius who frowned.

"James what happened. Please say something." Sirius requested, squeezing his shoulders slightly.

"Peter betrayed us." James whispered but he was heard by everyone.

"What?" a loud many times 'what' echoed?

Dumbledore was on his feet in an instant, "Everybody let's go...and James calm your wife I'm sure they will be fine."

James was connected to the powerful words that were protecting the Potter Manor and in other words, if an intruder tries to enter the house or try to break the wards, he will be informed instantly by a magical signal. When he felt someone tried to enter his house and after some time when he felt the wards that were around the Potter Manor disappeared he knew that this is the work of the Dark Lord and Peter Pettigrew their best friend and Potter family's secret keeper. And to think that one of their own, one of the Marauders would betray them it was quite shocking.

'No matter, you have chosen your side Pettigrew from no own we are enemies and one day I will kill you myself.'

James took his trembling in his arms and tried to calm her down while they apparated outside of Hogwarts with the Longbottom, Dumbledore, and Sirius.

Out of nowhere, six figures appeared. They took their wands and cast some protective wards around the sight. James and Lily followed by Sirius entered the Manor through the main gate while Frank and Alice stayed outside Dumbledore was detecting any magical signatures that were some moments ago.

"Almond...Harry...oh god! Please be safe!" Lily cried as she looked around the house that was covered in smoke and smell of dust. James and Sirius waved their wands cleaning the air and strode forward following the loud cries of the children, at least now they know one of them is alive. Upon reaching upstairs the first thing they saw was a window on the left side of the nursery shattered, wood splinters and pieces of glass were everywhere. There, not far away from the window Almond was sitting in his crib with a bleeding forehead crying. Lily rushed towards the son and took him in her arms feeling his hot breath on the mouth.

"Where is Harry?" she asked scared as she looked everywhere for her youngest son.

"He is here." James replied, he turned around facing Lily and her breath hitched. She saw a limping body covered in blood in James's arms.

"Is he...?"

"Alive!" James completed her sentence and she sighed in relief. She stood up when she noticed Sirius staring at the floor his hands trembling. Lily and her husband shared a look. James was about to speak when Dumbledore made his presence known. He looked around and his eyes fell on the dark black robes covered in ashes and his eyes widened. He looked at the Potters and said,

"How are they?"

"They are fine." James replied. Dumbledore nodded and levitated the black robes in the air and examined it. Sirius who was silent until now spoke.

"Headmaster is that?" Dumbledore nodded and the adult's eyes widened.

"So he was here?" Lily questioned, and Dumbledore nodded, he knew what they were talking about he looked around his eyes capturing everything anything that seems important when his eyes traveled and stopped on Harry Potter's bleeding forearm. Dumbledore cleaned the blood from his forearm and when he looked closer his eyes widened.

"It can't be...it's not possible..." he took several steps backward and stared at Harry with shock.

"What is it Albus, what did you see?" James asked as he examined his son's forearm himself...and he got his answer.

"No... NONONONO, it's not possible!" James covered face with his hands, breathing deeply and then he heard Lily's scream and there is nothing he can do Sirius who had a grim expression on his face turned to Dumbledore and said, "Isn't there anything you can do Headmaster?" He pleaded.

Dumbledore looked apologetic, "I'm sorry I don't think I know something that can remove the dark mark from his skin. There was a purpose behind it; he gave a dark mark to a one-year-old child is quite surprising and in simple words, he made Harry Potter the youngest child who received a dark mark."

"Maybe he wanted to use him against us in the future that's why he marked Almond his equal and gave Harry a dark mark." James reasoned.

"And how do you know that Almond is the boy who vanquished the Dark Lord." Dumbledore questioned.

"Because he doesn't have any injury except the mark on his forehead and Harry has many injuries as well as magical exhaustion too, that's why he is still unconscious."

Dumbledore nodded "you have a good point James and I think you are right. But I'm worried about Harry."

"And what about him?" Lily's spoke, her voice was shaky and teary.

"The dark mark was given to those who willingly submit themselves to the dark side. Harry here accepted the dark mark means that his soul and his body accepted it. And you know what this means, this means that there is a chance Harry might turn evil or another Dark Lord or Voldemort right-hand man in the future." Dumbledore was interpreted by Lily.

"But he is only one-year-old how you can say such thing about him!" and Lily was interpreted by Dumbledore "Voldemort was a one-year-old child too and no one knew that he will become the Dark Lord."

"So what do you suggest?" Sirius said.

"Keep Harry Potter away as much as we can."

And with those words, the faith of Harry Potter was sealed. He will be neglected, ignored and frowned upon not only by his own parents and family members but the whole wizarding world.

But that was the unknown mistake that Albus Dumbledore did and because of this mistake Harry Potter will become a wizard no one ever thought he would become and then a time will come and it will be up to him to him to decide whether he want to become the savior of the wizarding world or destroyer of the wizarding world...