Title: The Next Target

Extended Summary:

Harry, depressed about losing Sirius, curses Fate for making his life so miserable and is accidentally heard by Fate who was bored with her job, had decided to pay the mortal realm a visit for something fun to do. After hearing Harry, she decides she's offended, but also interested, for Harry Potter's life has never been boring and therefore goes to him, seeking an an atempt to prove to him she, unlike her predecessors, is not a cruel woman, Fate, also known as Katelyn Dalton, decides to give Harry a chance at happiness, help him with anything he wishes.

When Harry agrees, he is whisked away to 1935 and de-aged into an eight year old before being taken to an orphanage. An orphanage with a certain Tom Riddle in it. What Harry doesn't know though, is that Katelyn Dalton is and has always been a teenager obsessed with matchmaking. And She has found her next targets.

Pairing(s): Tom/Harry

Genre(s): Romance, angst.

Warnings: Powerful!Grey!Harry, Matchmaker!Fate, SLASH, het, Time Travel.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, I just have fun in the playground of J.K. Rowling!

A Bored 'Fate'

A pen tapped lightly against the desk in a slow rhythm as She sat, slumped, in her study. She was, for some reason or another, bored. So extremely bored that She would rather go through her death and that… ceremony thing again. And that was probably the epitome of boredom. She could remember the day She ascended quite clearly and standing in the middle of a ritual circle for six hours straight was not Her idea of fun. Or, at least, it was six hours if we went by Earth's way of calculating time. That was the day She went from normal mortal, to all-powerful immortal being. Okay, well, not all-powerful, but still pretty damn awesome.

She could go and read about all the misfortunes of everyone who'd ever lived, but even that got boring. Plus, being 'Fate' meant that pretty much instinctively knew pretty much everything.

And that meant life (Or, rather, death) was boring.

Being an immortal generally meant you didn't have much to do with mortals and kept to other immortals. There wasn't really a reason for it, but immortals didn't get involved. Unless it really did get boring enough to make up some silly reason for visiting the mortals, like Death did when trying to collect the souls of the Peverell brothers.

Sure, She sent prophecies to help people and guide them, changing what Destiny had written – not that much was actually decided by Destiny; the immortals usually let the mortals' choices govern their fates or it'd mean a lot of work for them – to make sure things kept moving. Destiny was always the one to write out the possibilities of what would happen without Their direct interference, the decisions most likely to be made, the ones least likely to be made and if the situation was big enough for Them to interfere or not. Fate, on the other hand, was the one who decided how they should interfere and did the actual interfering. She was the one who had direct contact with the mortals and She was the one with the actual power to change things. Of course, there were things that couldn't be changed, like one's will, soul, personality, et cetera. But She had quite a bit of power over everything else.

Still, that didn't change the fact that being Fate was boring.

Her life as a mortal, as Katelyn Dalton, was so much more fun! But she just had to die and get picked as the previous Fate's successor, didn't she?

It was fun to stay in the inmortal realm and all, but…

Actually, she was getting bored enough to go to leave for the mortal realm… again.

With that thought in mind, Katelyn stood and left for Earth.

Hopefully, this would be fun.

Harry Potter woke with a jolt. He sat up in bed, sweat beading his head and gasping for breath as he tried to calm down. Feeling his pounding heart slow to a reasonable pace, he took a deep, shaky breath and put his head in his palms.

That had been a horrible nightmare. It was a horrible nightmare that plagued him again and time again, ruling his dreams while he's asleep.

Sirius, eyes wide and shocked, was thrown back by the spell and falling… falling…

Harry shook his head fiercely; he had to stop thinking about it!

"Do you really hate me this much, fate? Why am I subjected to such things…? Was I evil in another life or something and now you've decided to punish me? Why did you have to take Sirius from me? Why are you so cruel? I hate you…" he whispered into his hands, giving a shaky laugh. All he wanted was to be normal, to be 'just Harry', to be-

A snort. "No, of course not. I'm not cruel; I didn't do anything." The indignant-sounding voice startled the boy and he jolted up, grabbing for his wand and glasses as he squinted into the darkness. There was no one there. His breath came out in short gasps due to his panic and something told him he wasn't as alone as it seemed. He quickly put his glasses on and looked around, realizing he was screwed if the presence in his room was an enemy since he didn't have his wand. "I'm no enemy of yours, boy."

Harry tensed at the voice, eyes narrowed. This… presence could read his mind. Gathering his Gryffindor courage, he decided to speak. "Who's there? Show yourself," he hissed.

At his demand, two pinpricks of light shone from the darkness, one an eerie gold glow and, to its left, a similar deep blue glow. The lights slowly got closer and, as the moonlight shone through the window, they were revealed to be eyes. The glowing eyes were framed by long, silvery lashes that matched the colour of the person – the woman's – hair. As more of the woman came into view, Harry realized this wasn't any ordinary woman and could only gape as he stared. The goddess – for that was all that she could be – was stunningly beautiful, ethereal in every sense, but didn't look much older than him.

She seemed to be bored yet her eyes glimmered with amusement. "I was the one you were just accusing of making your life miserable," She responded. Harry shook himself out of his shock and glared, baffled, but before he could ask anything, the girl spoke again. "I'm Katelyn Dalton, though you know me as Fate, many others call me Fortuna or some other names, though I'm not actually 'luck'. You're probably wondering why I'm here," She looked to her nails and studied them, her other hand cradling her elbow, "Well, I was bored and I just so happened to hear you accusing me of making your life horrible and not normal. You also accused me of being cruel, which, I assure you, I am not. In fact, I, contrary to common belief, barely have any control over your future at all."

Harry, coming out of his shock of being told the woman was Fate herself, was warring with himself about believing or not believing the woman. He didn't really think it was possible, but his instinct was telling him that the woman was telling the truth. Then again, this was a world of magic, anything was possible. Fate had grown silent as he pondered over her words. Finally he decided to just hear what the other had to say before coming to a conclusion. Fate grinned at him as he settled his gaze on her, wary. "Why are you here?"

"I was bored." Fate shrugged, "I heard you insulting me. So, I came here to prove what you said wrong… and to give you a chance. I chose you." Her eyes became sad, "You're always forced into situations you don't like. In fact, your current situation is entirely due to the choices made by others, so I hope you no longer blame me in the future. Your future… is very interesting, though I doubt you'll like it very much. In fact, I admire you." Harry blinked in shock at the confession and Fate smirked at him. "I've decided that I very much want to help you get the happiness you deserve, actually. So let's make a deal, human. I'm bored, and you're miserable, so I'll give you a chance at happiness if you let me accompany you. I'll give you the chance to accomplish whatever you desire most as long as it is reasonable and within my power. You see, we immortals can't actually stay in the mortal realm without bonding to a mortal. Most immortals don't do this to save them the heartbreak if their mortal dies. Plus, being bonded is rather arduous for us and we have to follow rules." Fate said 'rules' as if the very concept was disgusting. "So, how's about it?"

Harry's jaw floundered for a moment, completely dumbstruck. This was too good to be true. "Any desire?"

"Whatever you want. It doesn't matter if it's to be able to defeat Voldemort or to save your godfather, but I can't say for sure you'll be able to do it, I'm only giving a good chance at it. As I said before, I don't control anyone's fate. I can influence it, I can undo the future if that is my mortal's wish, and I instinctively know what choices people are going to make as long as I do not do any influencing, but I cannot write it. It depends solely on the decisions of others."

Harry's eyes widened. "Really?" He could save everyone if he did this. No one would have to die.

Fate nodded and smiled. "Really. So, will you take my offer?"

Harry hesitated a brief moment before looking into Fate's eyes, determination shining in his own. He nodded. Fate's smile grew. "Great…" Suddenly, Fate started glowing slightly and a bright flash lit up the room before giving into darkness…

He could smell the freshly cut grass beneath him and hear the birds chirping. The sunlight was resting heavily on his eyelids and the wind was cooling him pleasantly. He felt so free, so relaxed at that point that he just wanted to drift off to sleep…

§Human!§

He groaned at the voice next to his ear and rolled over, curling up. He just wanted to go to sleep.

§Still alive in there? Yeesh. I didn't take you sixty-one years into the past to watch you sleep, no matter how endearing you may look as an eight year old. There's someone coming! Wake up, human, now!§

His eyes snapped open as the words registered in his mind and he quickly sat up. His emerald gaze landed on the nondescript garden snake next to him. He blinked in surprise.

§Fate?§ Harry asked in Parseltongue, bewildered at why Fate was a common garden snake. §Why are you a garden snake?§

Fate gave him a look that was asking him if he was stupid or not. §Who else would it be? I did want to accompany you. Also, do call me Fortuna or Katelyn for when I am in my human form so that people would not think you weird for calling me Fate. As for why I'm a garden snake, we can commune this way without most listening in. Now that we are bonded and I am anchored to the mortal realm, I have lost quite a few of my… abilities, so this is the best way to communicate. It's quiet and there are only very few that can understand. I also prefer to not be as noticeable as a human.§

§Okay… But why are you a garden snake not, I dunno, a black mamba or something?§

Fortuna graced him with another look that had him cringing. §Human. I, like you, prefer to be normal. Plus, how do you think people would react to you having a black mamba around your shoulders twenty four seven?§ Harry smiled sheepishly and Fortuna continued. §Anyways, on to what really matters. I have transported you to the year 1935 and you are now in an eight year old body. Your surname is now Selwyn and you come from a fairly rich, but isolated pureblood wizarding family. There's someone coming and he will find you and take you to an orphanage. I've already pretty much exhausted my energy and I had to use your bond with Tom Riddle to be able to transport you and have enough energy to make the desired changes. That is why you are currently eight, the same age as Riddle. I've made you proof of your existence, altered your magical signature and made sure that you have the blood of the Selwyns. You are their heir. You will fake amnesia as to cover up your lack of memory. Your journey, human, begins in the orphanage. I wish you luck, for I cannot actually do much until I've recovered enough energy.§ With that, Fortuna slithered up his sleeve, leaving Harry to contemplate on what happened.

He suddenly realized that there was no going back. This was the road he had chosen and he couldn't go back to his time. This was his life now. But everyone important to him was still alive. They hadn't died yet and Harry would make sure they lived happy lives in the future. He would succeed.

A faint rustling from a nearby bush had Harry quickly standing and facing the source of the noise, automatically reaching for his wand, only to remember it wasn't there. The next moment, a man stumbled into view, cursing mildly. The man was short and had a large moustache, his blond hair flat on his head. He seemed to be a policeman. He reminded Harry of a thin version of Vernon and the boy eyed the man warily.

The man didn't notice him for a while, but blinked in surprise when his eyes caught sight of Harry. The eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You, boy, what are you doing here?" the policeman barked, startling Harry.

"Er… I-I don't, um, know… sir…" he stuttered, thinking about how intimidating the policeman looked from his eight year old point of view.

§How eloquent…§ came a quiet and amused hiss from around his neck. Harry internally scowled at the immortal-turned-snake, but gave no outward reaction. Then, he suddenly realized something felt… off. It felt right… but… different. He just felt much lighter, much more powerful. There was this odd, simmering power beneath his skin and, though it was familiar, it wasn't there before. He felt the power and almost gasped as it flared out. He felt invincible. His mind also felt much clearer and-

"Where are your parents?"

Harry snapped back to reality and he realized that the policeman had been scrutinizing him for a while now.

"I… don't know…" Harry replied, doing his best to look lost and confused. Judging by how the policeman's gaze softened, it had worked. The man sighed and gaze Harry a pitying look.

"You must be an orphan. Come on, I'll take you to the orphanage…" The man held his hand out to Harry, bowing slightly to get eye-level. Harry bit his lip and hesitantly took the policeman's hand. The man then began leading him the way he came and to a road where a police car was waiting for them. The man began talking to another policeman before he left and the other policeman turned to smile at Harry.

"Hello there, little one, what's your name?" the officer asked. Harry stared up at the man with wide, innocent eyes as he answered with a quiet and hesitant 'Harry Selwyn' as if he weren't sure about his own name, then he added an 'I'm eight, sir… I think'. "Now, come with me, we're going to get someone to take care of you, alright?" Harry just nodded and followed the officer.

Soon, they were inside the car and driving towards the nearest orphanage. The officer continued to question Harry and Harry gave vague, hesitant and shy answers, mainly 'I don't know'. After a while, an awkward silence fell inside the car and Harry was relieved when they finally parked outside of a shabby, gloomy looking building.

He silently trailed after the officer, through the gates and to the front door, slightly intimidated by the sight of the orphanage. It was really… grey and dull here, he noticed, and a grim place to grow up in. On his way over, he spied a few children playing in the yard who stared at him as he walked by, but what really caught his attention was a frighteningly familiar boy who sat alone under a tree, reading a book.

Tom Riddle.

There was no mistaking it.

The boy's gaze suddenly shot up to meet Harry's eyes causing him inhale quickly, holding his breath. Panic and fear suddenly gripped him and his heart began to beat wildly. The young boy resembled the memory Harry had met in his second year, just younger.

This was Voldemort.

The other, older boy's gaze quickly went back to the book, dismissing Harry quickly.

§Child! Calm yourself!§ the hiss had him releasing a startled breath and jumping slightly. §Take a deep breath, human! Your magic is going wild!§ Harry closed his eyes and inhaled before expelling the breath quite forcefully. He hoped his outward reaction wasn't as obvious as his inner turmoil. It was then that he realized that the wild, enthralling power that was simmering beneath his skin before was now swirling about, licking at his surroundings, lashing out in an attempt to protect.

He looked down and could see small cracks running through the stone path and quickly tried to restrain his magic. It slowly receded along with his panic, hiding just beneath his skin, waiting to be called on once more to protect its master. He thought he could feel something else though, spreading curiously around him, but the feeling was gone as Fortuna hissed irritably and shifted so that she was wrapped more firmly around his arm, her head on his shoulder.

"So you must be Harry," a voice said near to him. Harry didn't startle this time, merely looking up at the unknown woman who was smiling in a reassuring manner at him. He looked to the officer who had brought him here and then back to the woman before lowering his gaze and nodding shyly. "I'm Mrs. Cole, the matron of this orphanage. You will be living here now, Harry, alright?" Harry nodded again.

The officer bid them farewell before leaving and Harry followed Mrs. Cole inside. The inside of the orphanage was just as shabby and dull as the outside, but it was very clean. It wasn't bad by any standards, though it did look rather… grey. Mrs. Cole was talking about something, but Harry wasn't paying attention. Instead, his mind wondered to the reaction his magic had just now.

He had never felt anything like that before. His magic had never been so… active. Well, when he had destroyed Dumbledore's office, it was active, but it felt different, weaker, less sentient, and it had been slightly tiring, drawing it out like that. But, just now, he had felt a rush of power, abundant power. It had flooded his body and the air around him, too. He wondered where that power had come from. Maybe… Fortuna did something…? He would ask her later.

"… be sharing a room with Tom Riddle; it's the only free room with a bed at the moment," Harry snapped back to attention at the future dark lord's name, "Your room is room 27, right over here." Harry looked into the room and then at Mrs. Cole, seeing a sympathetic and apologetic light in her eyes. "If you feel the need to change rooms, we shall do our best to make accommodations." Absently, Harry noted how she spoke to him as if he were an adult as he nodded and stepped inside the room. "The bed on the right is yours. Don't be late for dinner."

Harry blinked as she shut the door, leaving the room. He didn't even know when dinner was. In fact, he wasn't even paying attention when she showed him the dinner hall, which he was positive that she did because why else would she be acting as if Harry should know where it was?

§Mind letting me down, mortal?§ the hissed question was laced with annoyance and Harry grinned, quickly moving to the bed so that Fortuna could safely slither from his sleeve. He was shocked, though, when instead of the common garden snake he had been expecting, a black mamba lowered itself onto his new bed. When the snake caught Harry's expression, Harry had the vague impression she was raising an eyebrow at him inquisitively.

Harry quickly stopped gaping. §Why are you a black mamba?§ was the first thing that came form his mouth.

§It was your suggestion.§

§Right…§

§Anyhow, dinner is at six, in case you weren't paying attention, and the dining hall is on the first floor. You can't miss it.§

§Okay, thanks…§ Then Harry remembered what he had been complementing. §Fortuna? Did you do something to my magic? It seems to have… changed.§

§Ah, yes…§ Fortuna bobbed her head as if expecting the question and curled into a more comfortable position. §Before, your magic seemed to always be occupied with something in your mind and magical core which made you weaker and less able to call upon your magic. I released it from that duty, so that you could have full access your magic. It was also tampering with your mental capability.§

§Oh…§ Harry muttered, sitting down and delving into his thoughts once more.

He had felt it. Oh, he had felt it. As soon as he had locked gazes with the other boy, he had felt the unbridled power flooding the air. At first it had been a mere tingle when the boy had first walked in, but then he felt the power that was so alike to his own when he had looked up. So alike, but it wasn't as… intense as his own. And, though he didn't show it on his face, Tom Riddle was intrigued.

It was the first time he had felt power like that which wasn't his own. That new boy was special, just like Tom and Tom could feel the possessive feelings already starting to rise within him. It was pull that drew him to the other boy and he couldn't help but feel as if the boy should belong to him. It was a strange, almost illogical sense of ownership, but what Tom wanted, he got, no buts about it.

Calmly standing up, Tom closed his book and brushed invisible dirt from his clothes before heading indoors to find the new kid that had caught his curiosity so. As he was climbing the stairs to his room, the voice of the matron suddenly held him back.

"Tom?" Tom looked back blankly at the woman. "The new boy, Harry, is going to be sharing a room with you," she informed him curtly before leaving.

As Tom watched her leave, he felt a slow smirk spread across his face. This was going to be easier than he thought. He went back to climbing the stairs, expressions hidden under a perfect mask, but excitement bubbling within him. He opened the door to his room and saw the other boy, who was sitting on the free bed, jump and turn to him with wide eyes. Tom studied the boy carefully.

The boy – Harry – looked quite similar to him. They both had dark hair, though Harry's was longer and a little wild while Tom's was shorter, in neat waves. They both had aristocratic features, Harry's being more soft though, almost feminine. They both had green eyes. Harry's was a bright emerald green, while Tom's was darker. Harry had a petite and thin stature and was shorter than Tom. Tom could see a trace of panic and curiosity in his eyes before the other boy turned away, fiddling with his shirt sleeve.

Tom, having not decided on how to approach the boy yet, decided to ignore him for the moment. He walked to his bed and sat down, reopening his book as he stretched his legs. However, his mind was not focused on reading, but, instead, focused on studying the other boy.

This was going to be interesting.

NA: For those who don't know, I recently adopted this story from the author MagnaVictoria. The first eight chapters will be the same ... perhaps with little changes and for that I mean a word or add something more, maybe new sentence.

I don't feel the need to change something else in the chapters already written, I love the story. But if I will to change anything important I'm warning you in the beginning of the chapters.

Please be patient with me. Currently I'm homeschooled and contrary to what you can imagine ... I do not have many free hours even in holidays (cause i don't have), in fact I spend four hours just to mathematics and then I have to study other subjects, under supervision of my mother. Also I take dancing lessons.

Buuut Do not worry! If I taken this story is because I have all my determination to finish it ... just it will take me a time to update. One more thing, if you find any misspelling or grammar please let me know. I will be very grateful.I do not have a beta so I checked all myself :) But maybe I missing something.

Happy New Year to all! I hope you get many blessings to your lives and a star light your way.

Sincerely, Carly.