Preface i

…It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen…
~George MacDonald

Bristol, England April, 1983

Tom Riddle looked at his appearance in the nearby restroom of the Cafe Retreat in the Durdham Down area. Naturally, he altered the tiny room to fit his needs in preparation for the biggest political rally to date. He didn't use contractors, or apply any paint, or add new fixtures. Tom Riddle was an extraordinary wizard with considerable magical talent. He used transfiguration to turn the toilet seat into a plush red velvet chair. Charms to lengthen the mirror and to adjust the lighting and elaborate potions that enhanced his appearance and luck.

He practiced his speech in the mirror and ended each topic point with his charming smile. This had to be perfect. This election was to be his foundation for his eventual control of all of England. Like all good foundations, failure at this point could result in his vision crumbling around him if it isn't strong enough. He had exhausted almost all of his resources in his campaign to become the Prime Minister of the non-magical citizens. Just to be sure, he employed several witches and wizards to cast cheering charms across the crowd as he spoke.

"Why be the Minister for muggles?", they asked Riddle referring to the non-magical people. "Because they are ignorant of magic, they are blind to our tricks... and therefore they will be easier to overcome than the Ministry for Magic. All it takes is money."

"Why merge both worlds? Why not just enslave the muggles"?

"When you oppress people, they have a tendency to revolt against you at some point. But if they love you... they will forever be fanatically loyal", Riddle said with a sinister smile.

The only hurdle right now was one of his opponents, a muggle incumbent named Margaret Thatcher. The polls showed them neck and neck from the start of the campaign. His other opponent, Joseph Evans, didn't have a chance in hell. His following was very small, but significant enough to sway the election. Riddle had a plan in the works that will gain him the advantage. Being the heir of Salazar Slytherin, he inherited the ruthlessness and cunning needed to win.

Suddenly, musical instruments started to play signaling the beginning of the rally. The primary school band that was playing did a decent enough job for his introduction. Riddle gave them a minute to play, drawing out the anticipation; and to give his colleagues time to cast their cheering charms. When the cymbals clashed, Riddle strolled onto the stage smiling and waving. The huge expanse of land that houses seven football fields (with room to spare) was packed with cheering supporters.

When Riddle got to the podium the music played for a minute longer. He could feel the magic permeating the air, filling the muggles with happy emotions. The roar of the crowd shook the ground in approval before he even said a word. "Very good", he thought smiling.

"WELCOME, MY FRIENDS", Riddle hollered into his microphone. The audience roared again for a few minutes before they eventually quieted down to a dull roar as he spoke to them. The current issues were all the same worldwide. Hunger, poverty, abortion, finance, war. He could tell them the exact same solutions as his counterpart, only worded differently while passing blame at the proper government department, and still gain support.

What mattered was image. He was young, charismatic, intelligent and most importantly...magical. His confidence soared as he played to the crowd. There was no denying that he had their votes, but would it be enough? He didn't let that thought intrude his mind though. He had to focus on the task at hand.

And so he did for the next hour and a half. He definitely scored well with the crowd. Later that night, there was a news report about his rally and how the crowd could be heard all the way into downtown Bristol. They reported on how he was received by the massive audience and how they approved of him. Free advertising and ear candy to masses was always a good thing.

...We've come to be consumed by a 24-hour, slash-and-burn, negative ad, bickering, small-minded politics that doesn't move us forward. Sometimes one side is up and the other side is down. But there's no sense that they are coming together in a common-sense, practical, non-ideological way to solve the problems that we face...
~BARACK OBAMA, New York Times, Dec. 11, 2006

Two weeks later...

Even with magic, Riddle was having hard time succeeding incumbent Prime Minister Thatcher. Although his rally in Dundham Down was an amazing success, he was still behind slightly in the polls. He needed a boost, some type of leverage to gain the upper hand. It was time to get a little dirty.

Joseph Evans sat at the desk in the large study of his house late one evening. He was going through paperwork asking for approval for ads that supported him and the financial income for his campaign. He knew that he didn't have any hope of winning. But he would try anyway, he did it for the love of democracy. He truly believed that some of his ideas would better his country.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice a younger woman appear in the wing-backed chair in front of his desk. Evans wrote a few notes as the intruder sifted through his surface thoughts with legilimency; a branch of magic that reads minds. When the intruder cleared her throat, Evans nearly died of a heart attack.

"How the hell did you get in here? Who are you", he screamed as he jumped out of his chair. Luckily for the woman still seated, she had placed a silencing charm around the room.

"My name is Bellatrix Black", the intruder said sweetly. "As to why I am here, well...you should probably sit back down."

Joseph Evans stood transfixed in shock as he studied the woman. Her long dark hair curled around her pale angelic face. Her smile lit up the room and would have invoked Evans' fantasies if the situation was different. She wore a black low cut blouse and a red skirt over fish net stockings. She leaned back crossing her legs at the knees showing off her long toned thighs. The black choker she wore around her neck accentuated the gothic look she was accustomed too.

Her sweet brown eyes instantly hardened when Evans didn't do as she asked. "Sit...down...now", she commanded.

"I'm calling the police" he declared; shaking himself from his stupor and making his way to the phone. Suddenly oblivious to her sweet yet threatening demeanor. When he picked up the receiver, Bellatrix took her wand out of her purse and sent a stinging hex at his hand.

"AHHHH, Son of a bitch", he said dropping the phone to grab his hand. When he looked up at the woman he seen the shiny thin stick pointed at him.

"You...you are one of them" he stuttered. This wasn't the first wand he seen, but it was the first one pointed at him. After all, his oldest daughter Lily is a witch.

Bella didn't say a word, she pointed at the chair behind the desk raising her eyebrows. Getting the hint, Evans slowly sat down never taking his eyes off her.

"Good. Don't let the skirt fool you, I'm very good with this thing", she said waving her wand. "And if you know what's good for you, you will do as I say. Understand that I hold all the cards here."

"What is it you want from me?"

"I want you to drop out of the campaign race and I want you to put your full support behind Tom Riddle."

"Why would I do that, why are the magical folk interested in what happens in the muggle world?"

Bella sent another stinging hex at Evans, hitting him in the shoulder. "Listen here, this is NOT a debate! We are NOT going to talk about the why's and the what. I will speak and you damn well better listen!" She said standing up and leaning over Evans' desk. When she didn't get a response, she sent three more hexes at him.

"Why should I support Riddle? What do you gain?"

Three more hexes were sent his way, the last one being a bone breaker curse on Evans' pinkie finger. He screamed and cursed at the beautiful witch. "Such language Mr. Evans," she said as she sent another hex at him. "I am a lady after all", she said with a seductive smile.

Evans just stared at her trying to catch his breath and choke down on a scream. He didn't want to give this bitch the satisfaction. He had a feeling about Tom Riddle when he first appeared on the political scene. How Tom basically rose from being a poor gutter orphan to become a top candidate to lead his countrymen. He also recalled how Tom had a fake, slimy persona about him when the cameras were turned off. But, he never thought he would resort to theses sort of fear tactics.

"I won't do it", Evans said clenching his teeth. "Torture me all you like; kill me if you must. But I will never support that man."

Bellatrix smiled. "No, I don't want to kill you. Torturing you would be more up my alley. Magic is a wonderful tool for torture. Especially if you know healing spells", she said waving her wand over the broken finger. The bones melted back together and Evans sighed with relief.

"Because I can keep breaking and healing you until you give me what I want", she said with a snarl recasting the bone breaking curse on the same finger. Evans cradled his hand frantically thinking of a way to get out of the situation.

"Or I can get your wife. How about your daughter, Lily Potter." Horror started growing in the pit of Evans' stomach. But he still wasn't convinced, his son-in-law had a lot of magical protections around their home. James had to cast a charm on him and his wife just to see the manor they lived in. No, he thought with conviction, she is bluffing. Evans' eyes went from horror to determined almost instantly.

Bella didn't need legilimency to know that he would refuse her. So she would have to prove it him.

"Oh, I know", her smile extending the reaches of her face. She reached into her purse once again and pulled out a little yellow toy and tossed it him. "How about little Harry. What would poor Lily do if he just...went away?" Evans looked at the object and recognition lit his face. No, it can't be! Harry loves his stuffed quidditch snitch, it was always within two feet of him. Evans looked at one of the wings of the stuffed toy and seen Harry's name written on it.

Bella giggled slightly, "what's really going to blow you mind is when you see Harry with it tomorrow. Lily is coming to visit, right? Do as you are told and never speak a word of this to anyone! Understand?"

Evans was defeated. This woman had gotten so close to his family that the threats had to be real. God help us, he thought. "What do I have to do", he asked morosely.

…We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate…
~Kin Hubbard

May 1983

Lily Potter watched the news conference of her father resigning from the campaign early the next day when she went shopping in muggle London. The window she walked past had several new televisions for sale at decent prices, she thought absentmindedly. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Medical issues? Her father was as healthy as they come, she knew he had to be lying. Then she seen him praise Tom Riddle and ask his supporters to vote for him.

"Tom Riddle…Riddle…Riddle," she thought. She knew that name, it sounded so familiar but all she could think of was Hogwarts. Maybe she heard his name there. She knew he wasn't a professor and he was too old to be a fellow student when she attended there.

But it made no sense, this Tom Riddle was in the running to be the muggle Prime Minister. She had never heard of a wizard gaining office in the muggle world. Unless, maybe he was a squib; someone born to a magical family that has no magical talent in them. It usually happens to the die-hard pureblood families that practice incest, or something very close to it, to keep their magical bloodline 'pure'. But if that was the case, why did she think of Hogwarts when she heard Riddle's name?

I'll ask James, she thought as she watched her father and Tom Riddle shake hands on the telly. All thoughts of shopping left her, she had to see her father. If nothing else, maybe she could help his medical condition magically.

Looking into the stroller, she checked to make sure her son was asleep. Harry was nearing two years old and looked more like his father every day. He had his little hands wrapped around his favorite toy, a yellow stuffed quidditch snitch. Smiling, she pushed the stroller to the nearest fireplace to floo to her father's house. She knew she would be early for their get together, but this sort of news needs explaining.

...In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant...
~Charles de Gaulle

"Resigning for health reasons…" James Potter said reiterating his wife's last phrase. "But we just seen him last week, he never mentioned anything."

"I know" Lily said frustrated. "Harry and I visited him today after the press conference. I even cast some diagnostic spells on him when he wasn't looking. Other than his blood pressure, he was fine."

"Did he say anything?"

"Not really, he just said his doctors told him to settle down. I'm worried though, as soon as he seen Harry and I, he hugged us both real tight. He didn't put Harry down for one second, carried him the whole time we were there."

"That's odd. Maybe he has something the spells couldn't pick up. Maybe he has to come to terms with whatever his doctors told him. Let's not pressure him, I'm sure he will tell us in time" James said with a reassuring smile.

"I guess. It still worries me though." Lily was not convinced. "Hey, does Tom Riddle ring any bells? The name sounds so familiar but I can't place it", she asked.

"Hmm, I don't think so. Why, should I be worried", James asked siding next to his wife. He put on his best smile and hugged her. She swatted his arm playfully intending on pushing him away. But that smile, she could never resist it. "James", she said in a lighthearted attempt to scold him, "I'm serious. Have you ever heard of him?"

"No, but we can ask Dumbledore when we go back to Hogwarts. Maybe he has heard of him. We'll ask him at breakfast", James whispered as he nuzzled her neck. "Harry went to asleep early, so right now…all I'm thinking about is you". He punctuated the last few words with a kiss leading to her lips.

She pushed him away a little to look into his eyes, fully intent on telling him to pay attention. Then, she thought better of it, it has been awhile.

Damn that smile…

The great hall inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry slowly came alive as the students filled their seats for breakfast. The majority of the staff had already arrived and eaten with a few still nursing a cup of tea. Including Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Hogwarts' Headmaster for the past twenty six years.

Being a little over a century old, Albus enjoyed his position as Headmaster. Long meal times, no papers to grade, and plenty of 'hobby time',his predecessor told him years ago. But, I guess that goes out the window when you are considered the most intelligent and powerful wizard of the century. His past achievements had truly bettered the wizarding world; at least he thought so. His free time was always consumed by the needs of others begging for advice.

The light vs dark magic status quo has been maintained, wizards of all levels seem to be prospering, and the number of students are on the couldn't wait until the end of the school year. He had planned a vacation to Northern Italy to study on the magic used during the Ancient Roman Empire. Fascinating topic, he thought to himself.

"Did you hear me Headmaster", Lily said waving her hand in front Dumbledore's face. Snapped back from his musings, he laughed slightly and made eye contact with his Charms professor. "Can't an old man snooze from time to time", he said with a chuckle.

"Ha…old man...and yet you can still run around Hogwarts like a giddy teenager." Lily smiled.

After the small laugh, Albus apologized and asked Lily what she needed. "I was wondering Albus, if you have ever heard the name Tom Riddle. I told James…" Lily stopped as the look of absolute shock adorned the Headmaster's face. "So you do know him."

"Of course! The last I heard… he went to Albania twenty years ago to study 'obscure magic' from what he told me. You should recognize him from the plaques in the trophy room. He was head boy and the last recipient for the special services to the school award. Have you seen him?"

Light bulb. "That's right! I knew I seen his name somewhere! And yes, I have seen him. In fact, he is very popular among the muggles. He is running for Prime Minister. My father dropped out of the race and told his voters to support him."

"Lily, I'm dumbfounded. Forgive an old man, but did you say that he is running to be the muggle Prime Minister? Muggle…as in non-magical?"

"Yes, why? Is there a problem?"

"No, I don't believe so. I'm just more confused now as when we started this conversation." Dumbledore took a breath. "Tom Riddle was an extraordinarily gifted wizard when he attended Hogwarts. He received the highest marks in all of his classes. He was even granted a time turner by his head of house to take additional classes. Very smart and very powerful that one. Which is why I am confused. Tom would've easily been a front runner for the post of Minister for Magic. It was almost expected of him when he left Hogwarts."

"That is odd? I wonder…." Lily started until the bell rang signaling the beginning of class. "We'll talk later Albus, I got to tutor a student in charms before my classes begin."

Albus nodded his head, barely noticing her departure. What he didn't tell Lily, was that Riddle was a true Slytherin in every sense of the word. He had all of his professors eating out of his hand when he attended Hogwarts. All of them except me, of course. Maybe I should pay him a visit, I should also look into wizards dabbling in muggle politics. Such a thing has never been done before.

...Everybody knows politics is a contact sport…
~Barack Obama

June 1, 1983

Albus Dumbledore walked up a flight of stone steps into a crowded muggle building. Normally, he would be wearing his outlandish wizarding robes depicting star and moons. But this trip required him to transfigure it into a stylish muggle suit. As he walked into the lobby of the government building, security guards monitored him as emptied his pockets and walked through a metal detector.

Gathering what little stuff he had, he continued to the receptionist desk. "Good morning young lady, could you tell me where I could find the office of Tom Riddle?"

"Do you have an appointment", she asked barely looking at him.

"Yes, of course."

Eyeing the long haired elderly man critically, she directed him to the elevators and instructed him to go to the fourth floor.

Reaching his destination, he encountered yet another receptionist. But this time, he used a blank sheet of paper and charmed his invitation to it. Seeing nothing wrong with it, she called her employer. When she received approval, she took Dumbledore to Tom Riddle's office.

Opening the large double doors simultaneously, Dumbledore finally found him. It took a few weeks, but he finally found his former student that he thought had died years ago. Riddle had filled out much since he had last seen him. His dark hair now had a hint of gray. Tom looked to be in great shape with his vibrant tanned skin, wide shoulders overlapping his thin waist. His cold blues eyes met Dumbledore's, but if he was looking for a reaction Albus didn't get one.

"It's been a long time, Albus", he said casually as if he expected this visit. Dumbledore was sure that his search for Tom was extremely discrete, even by magical standards. So, it caught him off guard for a that Tom seemed to have expected his visit. As such, his triumph over finding the elusive Tom Riddle was now cheapened. "It has Tom, you are looking well", Dumbledore said while attempting to hide his disappointment.

"As well as expected, what can I do for you? I'm sure you already know that I'm a busy man nowadays."

"Yes, I've heard. Soon to be Prime Minister if the polls are correct."

Riddle continued to look at Dumbledore. It wasn't a question and being the good politician he was, Tom didn't offer any additional comments. He knew Dumbledore would eventually show up. The moment he went through with his plan to remove Evans from the race, he knew he would pop up on the magical's radar again; so to speak.

"Where have you been?"

"Traveling, until recently", Tom said with a smirk.

"I must confess, I thought you were dead, Tom. You just dropped off the face of the Earth. What have you been doing all these years?"

"A little bit of this, a little bit of that", Tom said evasively. "Mostly educational…Headmaster", he said with emphasis on 'mostly'. "And what have you been doing, Albus?"

"Like you said Tom, I'm the Headmaster", Dumbledore said affronted with Riddle's attitude. Here he was generally concerned about one of his former pupils and he gets this 'brick wall' treatment. Well, he was mostly here for that reason. On second thought, that was complete bullshit, they both knew why he sought Tom out. He had to lead up to it though. His attempt to use his grandfatherly demeanor to get answers was obviously not going to work. "What type of education have you received Tom?"

"Well, you know…Charms, Transfiguration, and…Defense. Have you expanded the curriculum at Hogwarts yet, Albus? I find that other magical schools are surpassing Hogwarts in several areas of study. For instance, did you know that Durmstrang has a whole curriculum based purely on wandless magic? Maybe you heard of a school in Thailand that has a course on blood magic. I know in America, there is a very posh university that is very good at teaching…politics", Tom said smiling.

This was getting him nowhere. Dumbledore really didn't expect this from Tom Riddle, yet, he hasn't changed much he thought. Well, might as well come out with it, he thought.

But Riddle beat him to the punch again, "why not just ask the question we both know you want to ask. I do have a lot of work to get done."

"Why the muggles, Tom?"

"Why not?"

"It just seems…unfair to me. I don't think the Ministry would approve."

"I could care less, Dumbledore. There are no laws saying I can't run for muggle office. And speaking of the Ministry, you can tell the Aurors to stop snooping into my office," Tom said. His eyes hardened and he stared at Dumbledore.

"But you may have broken some laws to get here, Tom."

"AND THEY HAVEN'T!", he yelled

Little did Dumbledore know about his previous activities. Joseph Evans was not the first and probably won't be the last person he bullied. Oh, Tom traveled alright, he went to the countries he mentioned, among many others. While he learned many branches of magic not taught in the U.K., his visits were not the sole purpose of education. Executives of major muggle companies had been bribed or killed outright and he received money from investments he 'magically' came to possessing. And of course, the news reporters and politicians he had bribed; all to start his campaign.

At this point, Riddle's phone rang; he ignored it though.

"Who gives them the right to enter my property, go through MY belongings, and then cast listening spells IN MY OFFICE!?" Riddle stood from behind his desk, leering down on Dumbledore.

"You have the Ministry concerned, Tom. They are making sure that you haven't used magic to fix this election. It would be easy to do so."

"Yes, it would. But still, there are NO LAWS against it", he snarled. His magic started to swirl around him giving off a powerful aura.

Not to be cowered, Dumbledore stood straighter as well, his magic flaring in response. He felt the intensity of Riddle's magical power, and to be honest, it concerned him. "IT IS UNETHICAL AND IMMORAL! Not to mention beneath our station as wizards."

The overhead florescent lights started to flicker. Magic played hell with electronic devices for some reason, possibly from an abundance of electrons from the swirling magic. The sound of the ringing phone wavered as if it was dying. Riddle's carefully laid out papers started to rustle from the unseen breeze in the room.

"You sound like a pureblood, Dumbledore", Tom said with venom.

"It is not about the purity of their blood, it is their negligence. They are ignorant to everything that they cannot see with their eyes. You are playing with fire Tom", Dumbledore grunted. He was having a hard time matching his counterpart's power, When did he become this powerful? Almost on instinct, born from constant use on weaker wizards, Dumbledore attempted legilimency on Tom. He had to find answers.

Once again, the Hogwarts Headmaster underestimated Tom Riddle. He felt the mental probe instantly. Riddle's nostrils flared out slightly and his blue eyes turned arctic cold.

Bring...ring, bring...ring. Bring..BOOM!

A tidal wave of magic rushed out from Riddle and slammed into the unsuspecting Dumbledore. The Headmaster was flung back into the closed doors of the office, cracking them slightly. Riddle was about to lose his composure and curse the old fool if it hadn't been for his security detail. They rushed into the room as Dumbledore was picking himself off the floor.

"Is everything alright sir", a gray suit security officer asked.

"Yes Mr. Sikes, Mr. Dumbledore tripped that's all. Damn pigeon hit the window and scared the be-Jesus out of us", Riddle said with a chuckle. His eyes never left his opponent though. Dumbledore was assisted the rest of the way to his feet and asked if he needed medical help. When he declined, he looked back at Riddle, "I guess I'll be going. I'm sure you will be seeing me soon Tom."

Ever the politician, Riddle smiled as if nothing happened. Even though his papers were scattered, the phone was still ringing, and his hardwood double entry doors were cracked. "I look forward to it Mr. Dumbledore and please keep your boys in line, I've heard how rambunctious Mr. Moody is with his work."

Dumbledore knew exactly what Riddle was referring too. Mad-Eye Moody was the top investigator for the Auror Corps and second in command for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Tom had just threatened Dumbledore to keep the Aurors away. What would happen if they didn't, Dumbledore was unsure. "Boys will be boys", Albus said with a small smile. "Good day, Tom".

...The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal — that you can gather votes like box tops — is... the ultimate indignity to the democratic process...
~Adlai Stevenson, speech, Democratic National Convention, 1956 August 18th

October 1983

On June 9th, Riddle won the election with enough votes that wouldn't cause suspicion. While the people loved him, the other politicians were somewhat fearful of him. They knew how much Joseph Evans loved his country. He was probably the only true patriot left in politics. It begged the question, "what the hell happened?" Like Lily, they knew Joseph was healthy, just as they knew that his approval of Tom Riddle was a complete lie.

Within just a few short months after the election, changes were already being made that jumped Riddle's popularity tenfold. He was especially notable for his charitable contributions. There was a news video that had Tom in front of a bunch of children at a hospital in London. The ten million euro check was given to the adults to disperse as they seen fit for the hospital. But what really made headlines, was the 'magic show' that the Prime Minister put on for the children.

Riddle set up a long smooth table in front of the children and had everybody in the room at an angle no greater than forty-five degrees of viewing distance from the middle. In the center of the table, Riddle folded three pieces of loose leaf paper and stood them up, side by side. He went to one end with a pencil and tossed it to the middle of the table, behind the paper. When a rubber ball bounced from the other side of the screen, Riddle received an applause. When he tossed a silver coin behind the screen that turned into five gold coins, Riddle received another applause.

The act that left the country, and most of the muggle illusionists in awe, was when he requested a drawing of a puppy. After a few minutes, a small girl who was being hospitalized for cancer, produced a crude drawing in crayon. Riddle took the picture and admired it for a minute before he brought it behind his paper screen. He held up the picture at the top edges to the crowd and swished it behind the paper screen slowly. When his hands touched the table, he brought them right back up holding a real live puppy that resembled the crayon drawing. The only applause he received was from the children; they still had a sense of imagination. The adults, however, stood slack jawed. There was no way possible for that trick to happen; it wasn't logical.

While the crowd was focused on the watching Riddle, what they didn't see was Bella, dressed as an aide, stow away her wand. Inanimate objects transfigured to live animate objects took too much power to achieve wandlessly, hence the 'hook-up' from Bella. While Tom probably could have achieved the magic, he didn't want to directly piss off the Ministry for breaking the Secrecy Statute.

Normally, an owl from the Ministry for violating the Secrecy Statute would immediately follow since Bella did 'real' magic in front of the muggles. In fact, the hallways leading to the area where Riddle was performing suddenly became crowded with funny dressed people. The only reason why the Ministry didn't send an army of obliviators to adjust the muggle's mind was because the Lestrange brothers stopped the procession before they reached 'the show'. They explained what happened to the arriving supervisor and showed them the recording. Pacified, but not completely satisfied, the supervisor took the matter to the Ministry heads.

The Ministry summoned Tom Riddle to answer for the act shortly afterwards in front of the entire Wizengomot. He was let off with a warning and the Ministry published the entire affair in the Daily Prophet. Riddle, once again, planned for this to happen. He might be the muggle Prime Minister, and a wizard, but nobody usually spoke to the entire Wizengomot unless they were deliberating law or passing judgment on a major crime. Riddle used the session to introduce the muggle world to the 'crusty' old purebloods that sat on the panel.

If the Wizengomot thought that he would look bad in the paper, they were sorely mistaken. Riddle bribed the editor of the Prophet to make him look like a pioneer. 'Poor Tom Riddle entertaining the muggles in the wild', was a general consensus of the affair.

When Tom was planning his next performance, he was greeted by Bella with some distressing news.

"Good evening my dear, I didn't know we were meeting tonight", Tom asked looking up from his desk.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you sir, but I came across some urgent news. I talked to my cousin, Sirius, a few moments ago. He told me that Lily and James Potter have become very suspicious of you. He asked me all sorts of questions about you", Bella stated.

"And...what has you so stressed out?"

"Apparently, Joseph Evans has went off the grid, so to speak. Sirius basically said that the Potters know about the blackmailing. They left their manor in a hurry and are currently hiding at Hogwarts. I believe they are going straight to Dumbledore and you know he will expose you", Bella said hurriedly.

Riddle straightened up in his chair, mind reeling. He had planned on dealing with Evans to keep him quiet, but he didn't think he would move this fast to expose him. 'Damn! They will have to be eliminated, but how? Dumbledore is out of the country right now. He should be returning in a few days', Riddle thought. Should he kill an entire family to keep his secret, or can he bribe the Potters. Dumbledore he knew he could kill, without hesitation, but a whole family? He wouldn't be able to silence Evans until he was found, unless...

"Bella, we need to remove Evans AND the Potters. If we can keep Evans off the grid until he is found, fine. We can use his love for his grandson to keep him quiet, but we can only do that...if we neutralize his daughter and son-in-law. There is a place I came across in passing that has certain...individuals...that can take care of these problems. The price is steep though. I'll leave immediately to find them and employ them. I just hope that we can solve this without killing them, but I'll leave it up to them".

Riddle looked deep into Bella's brown eyes, "what I need you and the others to do is to keep Dumbledore busy when he returns from Rome and keep him away from the Potters. If James and Lily want to hide at Hogwarts that's fine, there are ways to get into the castle without going through the front gate. Keep the Potters on surveillance and make sure they don't spread the story. I'll contact you when I have an agent on the way."

...Politics, n: [Poly "many" + tics "blood-sucking parasites"]...
~Larry Hardiman

After a few hours, Tom found himself in front of Saint Giles church near Bowes castle. This small town was just about centrally located in Britain and it still had an ancient feel to it. If it wasn't for the automobiles and the bay windows on some houses, Tom would have sworn he was back in the dark ages. Surrounding the church were rows upon rows of headstones, some looking extremely old. The night sky definitely enhanced the 'creepy' feel of the little town. The only sound that could be heard was his own breathing. It was as if nothing was around him, the air sounded dead and hollow.

Tom walked to the front door and found it unlocked. Walking inside, he made his way to the confession booths. The dim light of the candles around the church gave and ominous feel to the place. Exuding a holy, yet sinister atmosphere.

He studied the intricate carvings of the booth doors. A crucifix was etched in the raised panels of the cherry wood door. In the center sat a small gem-like stone shaped like a heart. Tom pricked his finger and rubbed it into the stone; following what he remembered from a seedy looking man long ago. The stone was actually a ruby with a blood rune carved into the back of it. Once activated, it alerted the hidden members to a potential customer.

Tom entered the confession booth and waited to be seen. After a moment, he heard the door open and someone walk in. "Confess my child, what need do you have of us", the voice asked.

At first, Tom was unsure of what to say. He had heard what to do up to this point by various people 'in the know'. But they never said anything about what to say to this person. Was this a real confession? Can this person be trusted? What should I say, is there a secret code word or something? Did I just cut my damn finger for nothing?

"This is a private confession, my child, do not fear to speak of what you desire. As long as the payment matches the assignment, we can help you." The deep, raspy voice said through the screen of the booth. Riddle looked through the distorted image to see this person. But all he could see was a brown hood darkening the face of what could be an older caucasian man. The lower jaw was the only thing visible through the shadows.

"I need help in silencing two individuals that could ruin what I am trying to create," Riddle said almost desperately. "I need to know if you can do this silently without causing attention to anyone around me?"

"And just what ARE you trying to create, Prime Minister?" The monk asked curiously.

"How...?" Riddle started to question. Due to the nature of this 'church', 'They probably know all about me', he thought. "Never mind. My ultimate goal is to merge the magical and muggle world. I truly believe that we can do so much more as a species together than apart. Fear of each other is driving us apart, and I want to help us soar", Riddle said with passion.

The monk sat in silence for a moment, then asked, "and how would we be silencing these people?"

"A magical binding oath if possible, but I doubt they would accept it. Death might be the only option."

"You want death, yet you just said you wanted to better the world? Why is that? And why should I believe in your motives?"

Riddle was at a loss, he assumed that he could put out a hit and pay like any normal purchase. He didn't know if he could prove his motives, but he could see no other way out of his situation. He sat thinking of a way to justify himself; then he felt it. Like a light 'breeze' trying to penetrate his occlumency shields. It was like a hearing a whisper during a bar fight free for all. He looked at the monk and nodded; allowing the man into his head.

The monk was surprised that Riddle felt his mental probe; only the remarkable could detect his legilimency. But since he did, the true test was passed when Riddle gave permission. Satisfied, the monk pulled back into his own mind. "Very well Prime Minister, we will assist you. I've seen how quickly you need this accomplished and it will be done within forty-eight hours. Come back, repeat the request process and bring a payment of fifty thousand gold pieces."

When Riddle was about to speak, he noticed that the man had left without a sound. Nodding his head, he did the same and returned home.

Forty-eight hours later, Riddle returned and conducted the same procedure as before. The same raspy voice greeted him and told him the job was done. The monk didn't give any details for the sake of deniability; but told him that it wasn't easy.

"As for the payment", the monk stated, "we are taking the boy. I've seen how you wanted to use him as leverage for Joseph Evans, and you still can. Take this envelope, in it contains a recent picture we took of the boy and a note from us...promising his survival. Do...Not...Open...The...Envelope! Trust in us as we have trusted in you. And tell no one of the boy's survival."

Tom Riddle used an owl the next morning and addressed it to Mr. Evans. He prayed that this would work and Joseph would remain hidden...forever. 'Trust in the church', he thought. Then he carried on with that burden off his shoulders and continued his plan to 'WOW' the muggles.

What the monk did not mention, was how the Potter's were 'taken care' of and why they didn't take the gold pieces. The Daily Prophet reported the incident as a magical accident. Apparently, James and Lily Potter's cause of death was from a magical explosion within the charms office. Their son, Harry, was thought to be completely consumed by the flames. It was the only explanation they could come up with since they couldn't find his body.

What really happened was close enough to the truth that nobody looked into the deaths any deeper. James and Lily were already dead, or dying, before the explosion. Young Harry Potter witnessed a 'demon in the shadows' cut his daddy's throat as he walked across the office floor. Harry saw the emotions leading up to horror in his father's face before his mother started screaming. James' last act on Earth was to point into the darkened corner of the office at his attacker while he laid in his wife's arms.

Lily got the hint and started slinging spells left and right hoping to hit her husband's murderer. The flashes of each spell lighting up Harry's eyes as he watched crying. He tried to reach out to her; he needed her to comfort him. When he got the courage to stand, he started making his way to where she stood. She stopped spinning around, she was standing completely still. Harry reached up and pulled at his mum's hand. He could see that she was crying too when her head turned to him. Harry hugged her thigh and buried his head deep into her leg.

Harry didn't see the four throwing spikes sticking out of his mother's chest; or the blood gushing down to her trainers. He didn't see the sadness and fear in his mother's eyes as her legs finally gave out and she fell away from him.

Three year old Harry became distraught, he knew something bad had happened to his parents. They wouldn't wake up and he was so scared. 'Why wouldn't they answer me? What were those flashing lights? Is the demon gone? What happened? Mummy. Daddy... Mum'.

Accidental magic is common in young children. A floating toy that was taken away zooms back into a child's hand. The cookies that was supposed to be for dessert appear on their bed. Glass picture frames break when they would cry. All common with magical children at the age of eight and above. But Harry Potter was special, he was powerful for his age. His tears fueled his anguish to the point where he became electrically charged. Slowly, static sparks zapped from Harry's fingers and clothes to the floor, escalating his fear. The 'shadow demon' watched as a primal scream ripped out from little Harry's throat as he called out to his mother. Raw magic poured out of Harry in waves resulting in an explosion that vaporized his mum's furniture and upended her office.

The demon was launched into the stone wall and crumbled back to the floor; saved only by a last second shield charm. 'Damn! I've never felt anything like that.' After a few agonizing seconds, the demon hobbled over to the unconscious child and scooped him up. He would be taken to the church and his fate would be decided. It was standard for them to receive orphaned children to be trained in his art. 'This child will make a powerful monk', he thought as he pulled a small bottle from a belt pocket. Using wandless magic, he enlarged it to the size of a liquor bottle and quickly doused the room in a homemade napalm formula. He transfigured his throwing spikes back into tiny sewing needles and looked around one last time.

With the toddler in his arms, the assassin monk jumped to the window sill and tossed a match. He just started his descent to the ground when the castle tower shook from the explosion. When he finished the climb, he yanked his grappling hook free and bolted past the Black Lake and into the Forbidden Forest. Turning back, he noticed that the tower he was just on was no longer in flames. 'Glad that didn't go on for too long', he thought. He looked down at Harry, "Forgive me young one, it was not personal. I will take care of you now."

...Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks...
~Doug Larson