Rightio, so here it is... my first attempt at a TR/HG fan fic. Please enjoy.

Chapter 1

If there was one moment in life where you could actually taste relief and freedom it was right in this very hour. Harry Potter had just defeated Voldemort. The world was safe. Cheers erupted from across the magical world as news passed around that it was over. Reminiscent of Muggle world wars, people danced in the street, hugging friends and strangers alike.

Two men hadn't had a chance to celebrate yet, well, celebrate in the traditional sense that is. Although, one might say that moving Voldemort's lifeless body was a celebration and reward in itself. O'Keefe and Beretz, two ordinary Aurors, silently travelled through the Ministry levitating a body in front of them. They travelled to the deepest recess of the Ministry – perhaps even deeper than the Department of Mysteries. When they finally reached their destination they met an Unspeakable. The Unspeakable nodded silently at the two and motioned for them to follow him. O'Keefe looked at the almost black hall ways with interest whilst Beretz looked slightly indifferent to his surroundings. They finally reached a small dark room where a glass case sat levitated the middle.

The Unspeakable moved over towards the glass case and waved his wand in a complicated gesture. A sound similar to pressured air being released filled the room and the glass lid lifted off the case, levitating beside it.

The Unspeakable finally spoke. "Bring him over here - carefully please." His voice was gruff from lack of use.

The two Aurors levitated the fallen dark lord over to the glass case and slowly lowered him into it. The Unspeakable – with a look of disdain - carefully arranged Voldemort's body, ensuring everything was in its place.

"What happens now?" O'Keefe suddenly asked the Unspeakable. The Unspeakable paused and turned to look at the two men.

"You will both be obliviated of course." The two Aurors nodded in relief, understanding that it was dangerous for anyone to know where Voldemort's body was held. "Only myself and Shacklebolt – who is sure to get Minister – will know his whereabouts."

"What do you think will happen to him? Surely they don't want to keep his body forever?" Beretz asked.

"Shacklebolt will decide. He's completely dead now anyway; there's no way to bring him back… in my view it is probably best to keep him here or burn him up…" The Unspeakable responded.

"Urgh, this just gives me the creeps, let's get this over with." O'Keefe responded, suddenly feeling uneasy being in such a small room with a dead dark lord.

The Unspeakable finished sealing off the glass case and waved a number of complicated and intricate wards over it before turning towards the other two men and gesturing that is was time to leave. The three men turned and left, without a second glance at man in the glass case, anxious to leave this dark recess of the Ministry.

Perhaps if any of them did turn and give a last glance at the dark wizard they might have noticed his hands. His hands were no longer thin and spidery, but somehow, suddenly, human.

ONE MONTH LATER

Kingsley paced his office and turned to look back at the Unspeakable. Anger flashed in his eyes.

"What do you mean there is a situation in the tomb?" he asked.

"Minister, with all due respect, this is not something that I wish to discuss here. I also believe this is something you need to see for yourself," the Unspeakable replied smoothly, staring back at the Minister.

"Okay, okay." He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "When should we go down there?"

"Now if you can Sir. I believe the situation needs to be handled as quickly as possible."

"Okay. I will go cancel the rest of my afternoon. Please call on Dumbledore's portrait, and bring it with us, I wish to have his advice on the topic and please be discreet." He quickly walked from the room.

The Unspeakable quickly walked over to the portrait and called for Dumbledore. The man in question suddenly appeared, eyes twinkling and beard almost reaching his knees.

"Ahhh! Mr Hannigan! Class of 1984 – Ravenclaw!" Dumbledore smiled from the portrait. "What brings you to Minister Shacklebolts office? Surely not just to speak with me?" the old man asked.

"Actually Headmaster… Minister Shacklebolt has requested that I take your portrait with us – he requires your assistance."

"Oh, dear boy, whatever for?" Dumbledore suddenly had a curious glint in his eye. "I know you are an unspeakable now, so I am assuming it is something rather important?"

"Well Sir, with all due respect, I don't think it is best to discuss here. If you could kindly cooperate with us, I think it would be most worthy of your time."

"I have all the time in the world. Lead the way Unspeakable Hannigan!"

The two men and portrait finally found themselves outside the most secret room in the Ministry. The Unspeakable quickly disabled the complicated wards and stepped into the room. Where the glass case previously levitated was a trolley similarly found in a hospital. Kingsley stepped in holding Dumbledore's portrait and gasped.

Laying on the trolley was a man who looked no older than 20. His eyes were closed, but to those who knew him, recognised him straight away. The Unspeakable seemed slightly indifferent, having already seen the new appearance once already. Kingsley and Dumbledore gasped. The noise awoke the young man in the bed and he turned and looked at the two other men and portrait – immediately looking suspiciously at Dumbledore.

"Where am I?" he suddenly croaked. "Professor Dumbledore?" he looked at the portrait.

Dumbledore quickly masked his shock. "Hello young Master Riddle." Surprisingly, to the other two men, Dumbledore smiled kindly at the young man on the trolley.

"Where am I?" Riddle repeated the question. Kingsley and the Unspeakable stood in shock. Dumbledore knowingly took the lead.

"Why Tom, why don't you tell us how long it has been since you graduated from Hogwarts?"

Riddle looked suspiciously at the much older looking Professor in the portrait. "Why are you asking me this? I finished at Hogwarts last year – you know that."

"Yes Tom, and I do recall you graduated at the top of the class, head boy as well," Dumbledore replied with a twinkle in his eye. "Where are you working these days? I know Slughorn was grooming you for the Ministry."

"The Ministry?" Tom asked almost incredulously. "Why would I want to work with those fools?" he rolled his eyes. Kingsley huffed at the young man in the bed.

"Oh, that's right, aren't you working at Borgin and Burkes at the moment?" Dumbledore feigned innocence in what was obviously a controlled conversation – trying to get as much information as possible.

"Are you dead?" Tom suddenly asked Dumbledore. "When did you die? What happened to me? How long have I been asleep for?"

"Indeed Tom, I have passed on. We are trying to work out what happened to you." Dumbledore gestured at himself and the two men standing around him. "What is your last memory before you came here?"

Tom looked as though he was trying to remember. Something suddenly flashed across his face before he quickly looked away, masking his emotions. Crossing his arms, he looked blankly back at the other three men. Knowing this expression well, Dumbledore took this as a cue to talk to the other men.

"Excuse us, Tom, but I must speak to my two companions alone," Dumbledore stated, carefully leaving Kingsley and Hannigan's names out. The other two men quickly complied and they walked outside the room quickly closing the door. Hannigan cast a silencio and turned to look at the other two.

"This is much graver than I thought." Dumbledore looked solemnly at Kingsley and then Hannigan. "This is very dark magic, something which even I don't really understand myself."

"What do you mean?" Kingsley sounded desperately worried.

"I suspect that Tom did this to himself not long after he graduated from school," Dumbledore replied. "This is magic that I have read about only in the darkest texts. You need to understand his fear of death to understand why he did this to himself. But even I did not suspect he would go this far," he said gravely. Kingsley shuddered slightly, this was the most upset he had ever seen Dumbledore.

"What do you know of this magic Dumbledore?" Kingsley suddenly questioned. "We need to know as much as possible."

Dumbledore looked solemnly at Kingsley and Hannigan and settled himself in the chair in his frame. "Do you both understand Mr Riddle's fear of death?" He asked rather seriously.

"Yes, we are well aware of the Horcruxes and his obsession with Harry," Kingsley answered for the both of them.

"Well, to explain this, I must stress his fear of death. You see, this magic is extremely dark… if it is what I suspect, this magic originated in Bulgaria. I do understand that Riddle spent some time in Eastern Europe whilst fashioning himself into a dark wizard. I believe it originated with the vampires there and ties in with the fact that vampires can live for many years and are almost immortal -"

"You think he is a vampire?" Hannigan interrupted.

"No. Voldemort would never leave any weakness that vampires have…" Dumbledore trailed off.

"What then?" Kinglsey demanded in frustration; forgetting the respect he had of the old wizard.

"There is a theory that the blood of a vampire rejuvenates you. What I mean is… vampire blood, if used in the right way, can renew you, in a way. You've seen how Vampires do not age, and heal quickly and easily."

"So he has basically given himself another chance?" Kingsley asked.

"Well, that is what I am assuming. The spell I believe he used would mean he would have had to have drink the blood of a Vampire…" Dumbledore looked disgusted at what he was talking about. Hannigan blanched slightly and Kingsley looked shocked.

"But vampires are almost impossible to kill…" Kingsley stated.

"I know, Kingsley, but there are ways… Basically, this spell means that the recipient, if killed, is 'renewed' or 'rejuvinated'."

"Well. Can we please turn off life support?" Hannigan asked sarcastically.

"Unfortunately, from what I know about this magic, is that he will keep coming back at this age, over and over again. The downside for Tom is that he will have no memory past the day he cast the magic. Therefore, he won't remember the last fifty years. That's why it's a last resort. I'm not even sure if there is anything that could actually reverse this sort of magic." Dumbledore looked forlorn.

"What? What the hell do we do with him, then?" Kingsley gasped.

"We certainly can't keep him here if he is alive," Hannigan added

"It would just be easier if he didn't exist…" Kingsley sighed.

"With all due respect, Minister, despite what Mr Riddle has done in his time, it appears that he has no recollection of being Lord Voldemort in recent years… we cannot treat him as if he doesn't exist, he has been treated as being unwanted since he was a child. Technically he is only 19 years old again," Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Well maybe we could just pretend he doesn't exist?" Hannigan jokingly added.

"Professor, with all due respect, hadn't Riddle already murdered his father and grandparents as well as causing the death of another student at Hogwarts?" Kingsley then asked.

Dumbledore looked as though he was thinking and Kingsley watched Dumbledore.

"Perhaps we can pretend…?" Dumbledore looked as though he had thought of something.

"What are you talking about Professor?" Kingsley asked.

"Well, Minister… what if Mr Riddle didn't live in the wizarding world? What if he lived as a muggle? We could Obliviate him and he would have no wand."

"That's crazy! And incredibly risky!" Hannigan gasped.

"Yes, it is. But what other choice do we have? If he lived as a muggle with no chance of coming into contact with the world of magic then we would be safe. If he is not exposed to anything magic then under the obliviation he wouldn't be able to link any magical feelings to anything." Dumbledore was thoughtful.

"I think this idea is far-fetched but may be our only hope." Kingsley looked hopeful.

"I don't agree with this at all… how can we guarantee he will never be exposed to magic… or never seek it out?" Hannigan stated.

"I am happy to obliviate you of this responsibility Hannigan." Kingsley stated. "Dumbledore and I will wear this responsibility."

"What if he harnesses his magic?" Hannigan questioned.

"We will put tracks on him. Any magic that is not accidental will be picked up by myself." Kingsley stated solemnly.

"I do not know what else to do… We will convince him he is a young muggle male… he may not lose the coldness that has chased him throughout his life, but at least he won't have magic to add to his personality." Dumbledore looked upset at the idea.

"Dumbledore, why do you look so upset at this idea?" Kingsley asked.

"Because, my dear friend, if Tom Riddle had his mother I suspect he would have been completely different. If someone showed him love he would have been a great wizard. Don't get me wrong, I think he would have always had a fascination with the dark arts, but having love may have turned him away from the path he chose. Tom is an incredible wizard. It saddens me to know of what he path he chose and it also saddens me to know that we can't re-write what he has done. He would never be accepted back into the world of magic…" Dumbledore sighed.

"We could never do it to Harry," Kingsley added.

"Well, I do agree with that, Kingsley," Hannigan said. "Please Obliviate me. I couldn't deal with knowing that he was out there – muggle or not." Hannigan looked ashamed at what he asked.

"Hannigan, we understand why you feel this way." Dumbledore acquiesced the Unspeakable.

"Then it is decided. Tom Riddle will not re-enter this world – whether it is Azkaban or not," Kingsley Shacklebolt stated with some finality.

Tom Riddle stared at his hands whilst the two men and Dumbledore's portrait obviously discussed him outside. Where was he? Or, more accurately, what time period was he in? He knew he must be somewhere in the Ministry. The two men with Dumbledore reeked of 'Ministry employee'. Tom smirked. Dumbledore must be dead to be communicating through a portrait. Well the fool certainly looked old enough, Tom mused. He wondered what caused the death of one of the greatest wizards of all time… More importantly, though, he wondered how he would get out of here and continue his most important work. He was thinking quietly when the door to his room opened again. This time, it was just the dark skinned man and Dumbledore's portrait who re-entered. What happened to the other man?

"Ah, Tom, sorry to keep you waiting!" said Dumbledore, with that ever annoying twinkle in his eye.

"What is going on exactly?" Tom demanded, giving harsh looks to both Dumbledore and the black man.

"Tom, you were such a talented wizard. Please forgive us for this transgression." Dumbledore sighed.

"What do you mean by that?" Tom was scared now.

"Good luck Tom, please use this chance more wisely." Dumbledore said with nothing but kindness in his eyes as the black man held his wand up and stated:

"OBLIVIATE!"

*Comes out from behind Dumbledore's portrait* Soooo, whaddya think? Tom obviously has no recollection of what went on past his time at Hogwarts. That said, he's still a very bad boy ;)

Next Chapter we meet Hermione, Draco and Blaise and there is also a confrontation with Tom.

I'm going to try and bring Tom's personality out more in upcoming chapters. Despite being obliviated and led to believe he is a muggle, I don't believe it would cause his manipulative personality to disappear.