A/N: Please note that this story is the sequel to Rise of the Serpent, and therefore is not meant to be read without at least a rudimentary understanding of its prequel's plot.

Also, this story is considered an Alternate Universe work because there would be no story at all if certain non-canon events hadn't occurred in Rise of the Serpent, so please don't nag me about its inconsistency with canon. I meant it to be this way. That said, on with the show.

Shifting

December 22, 1979

"Do you, Sirius Marius Black, swear on your life and magic fealty to the Dark Lord Voldemort?"

"I do so swear."

"Do you, Sirius Marius Black, swear on your life and magic to never denounce or betray the Dark Lord Voldemort?"

"I do so swear."

"Do you, Sirius Marius Black, swear on your life and magic to uphold all the values of a Death Eater, and do you likewise swear to follow all orders given by the Dark Lord Voldemort without question or complaint?"

"I do so swear."

The horrid stench of burning flesh filled my nostrils as I looked down upon my newest servant. "Rise," I bellowed, "Sirius Marius Black, and join your Dark brethren."

Applause filled the room as the eldest Black Heir rose and took his place among my ranks next to his brother. I smiled in contentment. Everything is going according to plan.

LVLV

October 31, 1981

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Run! I'll hold him off!"

"Hold me off? Me? I'm the greatest wizard of the age!" I laughed, high and cold.

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of the age!" James yelled defiantly.

I seethed. "Albus Dumbledore is nothing but a manipulative old fraud! He's the reason the Grindewauld became as powerful as he was! And you have him to thank for what I am!"

"Liar! Albus is a wizard of the Light!"

"Believe what you want boy! Avada Kedavra!"

I stepped over his lifeless body in disgust. Dumbledore's man to the very end. The fool.

I hear movement above me and hastily made my way upstairs. Just as I reached the top, the words of my future self came to mind.

You will meet with a setback on October 31, 1981.

I laughed, knowing that whatever this setback was, it wouldn't hinder me for long. I threw the door to the nursery open. Silly girl, I mused, she really should have run like her husband told her to…

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" she sobbed, protectively clutching at the infant in question.

"Stand aside you silly girl." I ordered.

She shook her head. "Not Harry, please no… take me! Kill me instead!"

"Stand aside now." I commanded, more forcefully. I had promised Severus I would spare her, and did not want to break my promise if I could avoid it. Why won't you move? I thought angrily. You can always have another; Severus will give you another…

Still she refused. "Not Harry! Please have mercy!"

I am sorry, my son. "Avada Kedavra." I said and watched her body slump over the side of the crib.

"And now for you." I said, turning to the wide-eyed infant. "My supposed downfall. Avada Kedavra!"

The child remained eerily quiet as the green light of the Killing Curse shot toward him. Time seemed to slow as it engulfed him, throwing the red hair of his once-vibrant mother into sharp release. Suddenly, the light was reflected and ricocheted back towards me. Eyes wide in disbelief, I did the only thing that I could think of.

I captured my fading soul shard, a hurried "Propago Vita" leaving my lips just as the rebounded Killing Curse struck me. I watched, enraptured as a piece of my essence hovered in limbo and then found a home in the most magical article in the room: Harry Potter, the very child that I'd sought to kill. How ironic. Of course, karma never has liked me very much, so I really shouldn't be surprised.

A shuffling downstairs drew my attention, and after a few moments an out of breath Wormtail appeared in front of me.

"My Lord!" he rasped, taking in my ghostly form in no small amount of surprise. "But--"

"Not now Wormtail! Put my body in stasis and take it to Lucius. Now!" I barked when he seemed too shocked for action. He hurried to comply, grabbing one of my corpse's arms and making to drag it out of the room.

"Fool!" I bellowed, startling him. "You will injure it further, and then it will be no use to me! Use your wand, you fool! You are a wizard, aren't you?"

Blushing furiously, Wormtail took out his wand and proceeded to levitate my body out of the house. The infant, silent until now, let out an unearthly scream.

"My Lord?"

"Leave him! Black will be here soon enough to take him."

"Yes my Lord."

As long as Wormtail doesn't splinch my body on his way, Lucius should be able to reanimate it using the diary before the week is out. And even if he does manage to botch it somehow, we can always create a new one. I smirked. A 'setback' indeed…