A/N: Hello! This is my first attempt at fanfiction so I'd really appreciate some good ole' constructive criticism from you guys. So here we go…

Full Summary: In the dead of the night seven-year-old Harry Potter is left for dead at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere. What occurs next will forever change the path of The-Boy-Who lived; he has turned his back on the path of the light and has chosen the chosen the path of the forsaken. The Wizarding World continues on in blissful ignorance…until now.

Pairing: Okay people, this story will not I repeat will not be focused on romance. This story will be centered on Harry's struggles and eventual metamorphosis into a powerful and capable wizard. But there will be a pairing, as it is important to move forward a key point in the plot. The pairing will be Harry Potter/Daphne Greengrass.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or anything associated with it. The Harry Potter franchise belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am doing this purely for my own amusement and at no profit.


Prologue – Out of the Fire

31st October, 3:45 am

It was unnaturally silent. The waning moon hung suspended in the pitch-black night and the darkness seemed to stretch on for eternity. Not a creature stirred. Even the restless wind seemed to cease its playful banter. Indeed, there was something odd about the normally bland Privet Drive this night. A quiet pop and a rustle of cloth penetrated the eerie silence that blanketed the neighborhood. A soft click clack click clack could be heard echoing on the smooth pavement. It grew steadily louder until the silhouette of a man could be seen.

He was a tall, almost frail looking man, adorned in the most flamboyant clothes imaginable. A long, purple, velvety cloak swished elegantly around his ankles when he walked and high-heeled boots with silver buckles painted a powerful, if not eccentric figure. His long slivery beard was tucked into a soft brown leather belt and bright blue eyes burned with life behind half moon spectacles. The man was most unusual indeed. In fact, had it been daylight the poor man would have surely been subjected to Mrs. Number six and nines' loud whispers and scornful glances. With quiet confidence, he strode down the street until he reached number four Privet Drive.

The house was no different than any other of the houses that lined the street. Bland and disgustingly normal, it seemed unlikely that the odd man would be met with anything similar to welcome. Never the less the old man looked undeterred. A tawny cat was perched rigidly on the lawn of number four with is gaze fixed stubbornly on the house.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall what brings you here?", the man questioned benevolently as he reached into the folds of his robe. He pulled out a silver pocket watch and studied it with apparent interest. A long spindly finger reached up to push his glasses up. He turned his focus to the stern cat and gave it a fond smile.

The cat looked up sharply at the man. In the blink of an eye a severe looking woman stood in the cat's place. She had rectangular spectacles and black hair knotted in a tight bun. After dusting off her emerald robes carelessly, she spun around angrily on her heel to face the man.

"Albus Dumbledore", she intoned quietly, "How could you do this?" her voice quavered slightly with suppressed anger. Her figure radiated suppressed fury.

"You know Lily and James would not have wanted this." Professor McGonagall whispered harshly. "They wouldn't have wanted any of this. Why, they must be rolling in their graves!"

"Professor-", he began wearily as if he had had this conversation many times past. A look of remorse passed over his weathered face but it was quickly masked by the serene calm he wore previously. He straitened his posture slightly and began again.

"It had to be done, my dear, had I not young Mister Potter would be in ever more danger than he already is in." He stared into the darkness seemingly lost in thought; a world-weary aura weighed on his slight frame.

"But surely, surely there must be another way just think of how he'll feel when he finds out!" Minervra exclaimed, her voice quickly growing louder. Her eyes flashed in anger.

" And those muggles ", she spat. Her features became pinched in her anger, "just think of what will happen if he—"

Dumbledore, who had previously been listening to her rant unfazed, quickly cut her off. His gaze sharpened and the earlier twinkle appeared in his eyes again.

"I believe I see Hagrid and it looks as if…yes, he does have young Mister Potter." He observed quietly as he squinted slightly to see in the dark. Professor McGonnagal quickly turned into the direction he was staring at. The anger receded slightly from her face at the youngest Potter's arrival. Together the two stood side by side and waited.

The loud rumbling roar of a motorcycle echoed across the night.

1st November 7:15 am

Petunia Dursley was a miserable woman who delighted in the misfortune of others and prided her self on her family's utter normalcy. She was a woman of routine and today was no exception. Every day at 5:00 in the morning she would rise up out of bed and tend to her precious Duddykins. At 5:15, Mrs. Dursley would take a shower and at 5:30 she began breakfast for her husband. "Such a handsome and strong man nothing like that freaky Potter", she thought derisively. She shoved the memories of a good-looking man with dark hair deep into the recesses of her mind. Vernon was by far the most handsome. She had the better husband there was no doubt about it.

Petunia delighted in thinking of all the ways she was better than her nasty sister. After all, who would ever want to be like that odd Lily Evans. She puttered around the house like the dutiful wife she was. Without all that unnaturalness she severely doubted her sister would be able to survive a day. "I'd serve her right if she did lose those stupid parlor tricks she loves to flaunt." She thought acerbically. She stabbed her knife viciously into a chunk of ham, her thin lips twisted in an ugly sneer. The warm rays of light began to filter through the glass window. With a glance at the pristine grandfather clock in the sitting room Petunia quickly walked to the kitchen to get the empty milk bottles. After all, Petunia was nothing if not punctual. Pushing all thoughts of ungrateful sisters' aside Mrs. Dursley swung open the front door and bent down to set the milk bottle by the door…

And she was promptly met with a pair a luminous emerald eyes watching her inquisitively. A piercing shriek seared through the morning. And as the sun rose majestically, throwing its rays across the quiet street Harry James Potter was cast into his living nightmare.

Unknown Location

A dark figure stumbled furtively down the winding street of Spinner's End. The person darted into the gap between a moldy wooden fence and brick building. It cursed quietly when its cloak caught on a protruding piece of wood. Most of the buildings were old and in various states of destruction. The figure pulled out a slender piece of wood from the folds of the dark cloak. The person thrust it out with a flourish and hissed something unintelligible under it's breath.

"Can't hide from me…" The unknown form cackled as it shifted excitedly from foot to foot. A pudgy hand tucked the wooden stick back into the cloak and set off with a brisk pace. The shadow of an unkempt brick house came into view. Like the other houses that lined the street it looked as if it hadn't been fixed in decades. The figure sniffed in disdain at the house. Slowly the person waddled up the creaky steps and lifted up a meaty fist to bang harshly on the door. After several beats, the doorknob twisted and pulled open a fraction.

The figure shoved its face into the opening and pulled the wooden stick out again.

"Remember me…?" It said with a sing song voice. A high laugh echoed down the quiet street of Spinner's End.


A/N: So this is the revised edition of my story. I read through the original and found a lot of misspellings and grammar mistakes. It was really irking me to I decided to take the story down and revise it and here it is. I tweaked some of the scenes and added a couple to clarify things and to give the readers a better sense of Harry's character.