Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. JK Rowling owns that. But the plot and any OC belong to me.

Prologue

Dumbledore gazed out the foggy window. It was another cold, rainy day, perhaps a forecast of days to come. Tom Riddle had graduated just five years ago and by all accounts, seemed to be drenching himself deeper and deeper in darkness everyday. The few spies that had actually managed to discern the darkness around him were still unable to completely explain the reasoning behind Tom's actions. They were much too scared. Dumbledore sighed and hoped for some miracle. Perhaps then Tom Riddle would correct himself before any correctional action by Dumbledore became necessary. The door to Dumbledore's office burst open suddenly and in hurried a young girl looking completely distraught. She was a curious creature. Small and extremely frail looking but one simply had to look into her eyes for that impression to be destroyed.

"It happened again," she whispered tremulously.

Dumbledore frowned and then his eyes became wet. "Perhaps the old adage is true: the good do indeed leave us young."

The girl started crying uncontrollably and Dumbledore handed her a handkerchief and let her have a moment of privacy.

"How long do you think I have?" she asked without a trace of fear, just a quiet and subdued acceptance.

"I cannot be sure by dear child but do not fear, I will do my best to provide you with the tools to make the most of your time," Dumbledore replied.

She nodded and then said, "Can you please not tell anyone?"

"Of course." Dumbledore looked at her with a deep sadness in his eyes. Here he was having lived a long and fruitful life while this young girl suffered.

She had showed up outside the door to Hogwarts and banged on the doors until Payne had grudgingly opened the doors. Covered in blood with a completely wild and cornered look in her yes, she had been a sight. She had looked extremely familiar to Dumbledore and perhaps that is why he immediately accepted her into his wing. Perhaps he had once passed her on the street and said hello not knowing that they would meet again in such horrible circumstances. At that moment, Dumbledore felt a great deal of anger at the people who had done this to this poor girl. But who was he to judge? After all, if he was capable of killing his sister then those horrible people were surely capable of murdering this young girl.

"I should go. Mimi is waiting for me."

Dumbledore nodded and watched as the young girl left, a slight slump in her shoulders the only indication of her plight.

He turned back to his desk thinking again. Healer Walsh, the best healer in the whole wizarding world was unable to heal her. Dumbledore himself had taken part in creating a treatment that could benefit her. But there was only so much they could do before the toll of countless torture curses took hold. He reached for a quill and then looked around for some parchment with the intention of writing a letter to Healer Walsh. There was a small folded piece of paper sitting underneath the ink bottle. That should do nicely and Dumbledore reached for it. He opened the folded parchment hoping that there would be no words inside of it and it would simply be a folded piece of paper. Alas that was not the case. The parchment was long and full of many words printed neatly. To his surprise, Dumbledore saw that it addressed to him.

Dear Professor,

I wish there was some way I could tell you this in person but I fear my time is short and I will be no longer in the world of the living by the time you receive this letter. This letter contains all the information you will need about Tom Riddle or Lord Voldemort (his preferred name). I hope this letter has reached you safely.

Dumbledore's eyes widened and quickly he sat down on his desk to read the letter. It consisted of five parts. The first part pertained to Voldemort's upbringing and the hatred that burned brightly inside of him. The second part referred to many of his mannerisms such as his need to collect trophies. The third part consisted of the things he had already accomplished in the quest for his ultimate goal. The fourth part consisted of his future plans and the fifth part consisted of possible theories by the writer of how Tom Riddle or Voldemort planned to become immortal.

He has to be stopped Professor. It is much too late for any way to change him. Believe me, I know. This letter was charmed to turn up on your desk on this exact day, November 12, 1951. I am sure you have guessed by now that I am time traveller and I hope you are able to do what is now required of you. Send the girl who was just in your office to the past with the task of collecting as much information as she can about Tom Marvolo Riddle. She will not be mind and will be only too happy to accept. I know because I am her. Give a dying girl a chance to help save the world.

Good luck,

Katherine "Katie" Dubey

A/N be warned that updates will be very erratic although I will not leave you guys hanging for years. Some updates might be only days apart and some could take months. Leave me messages that tell me to update. Hopefully that motivates me :)