Author's Note: As promised...the revisions. Enjoy!

Warning: Rated T for now, but eventually it will become rated M for sexual content. Expect language and violence. Also, this is a slash fiction so if you don't like two guys together, move along.

Pairings: Harrymort for now. I haven't planned much for the others.

Summary: "Do not blame yourself." "I don't. They only have themselves to blame." Harry foregoes his wand and turns away from a destined battle and a glorified life to redo everything from the start. As time fades and becomes a world anew, and he alone will undo all the damage caused by the one person responsible for the devastation...Dumbledore. Time-travel, HP/LV (TR), and other pairings.

Disclaimer: In the Harry Potter universe, I own nothing. All characters, spells, and other canonized information provided within this fan-fiction belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros Inc. Any thing else, such as plot devices, original characters, and the need to kill, destroy, or sexually fantasize are properties of my imagination, my creativity, and myself. So, you cannot sue.

Not beta'd. I will go over the mistakes over time. Bare with me. Dyslexia is a bitch.

Reworking the Paradigm

Prologue

"They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing-these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight. They carried the shameful memories. They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hid, and in many respects this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could never be put down, it required perfect balance and perfect posture. They carried the soldier's greatest fear…"

"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

Everything erupts into absolute chaos. From a high vantage point, Harry Potter observes the phenomenon of a war he did not ask to participate. His wand gone. His will to fight gone. He turns his back on them and left them to their damned fate. Surviving this war is increasingly slim.

His ears burn with the dying screams of his friends. He cringes at the sight of bodies crumbling to the earth; lifeless eyes staring up into the heavens. Blood coated hands continue to take out anything and everyone as they push through the wreckage and myriad of flying lights. No mercy would be given upon this day.

From afar, a wretched yell drew his attention in time for him to see the body of his long time friend fall to the earth. Red hair and freckles, another Weasley lost to the end of the killing curse. His murderer dances with glee at another victory around his dead body and disappears in a swirl of black smoke. Harry felt his heart clench at the thought of Molly standing over the remains of her youngest son. He fought bravely, and he will be remembered for his courage. Ron will be missed.

Another scream meant a new scene for him to observe. This time, an enemy met his demise. To the chest, Draco Malfoy took a severing curse. His body split as pieces of him crumble to the earth. Lady Malfoy, held by two men wails at the lost of her only child. She struggles to get to him, but a blade slices her throat. The light fades from her ocean blue eyes as the two men deposit her body beside her son. Harry shut his eyes from the slaughter. May the Gods have mercy upon their souls. Deflection is not an easy act to accomplish.

"The Gods won't care." A deep voice spoke, the words echoing in the enclosure. "It's futile to continue to care for a group of people who rather see us dead instead of seeing the lies in front of them."

Harry's answer is silence, and his companion continues, "I know what you are thinking. Do not blame yourself for their incompetence."

Harry snorts, already feeling his inner Snake rising to the surface. "I don't." He says tersely. "They only have themselves to blame." He tries to sound convincing on the last part, but he heard the falter.

Moving to stand beside him, crimson orbs catches a glimpse of sorrow before it disappeared behind a well constructed mask. "You do." The other states bluntly, leaning against the crumble wall. "You have the tendency to take blame and hold it." He glances up at the ceiling, gazing gazing at the damage. The similarities are uncanny. "You have this unhealthy obsession with saving people."

Harry shifts his gaze to where his companion stood beside him; green eyes darken behind his square glasses. "An affliction I am willing to lose." Came his sullen reply. "I never wanted to be the hero."

The truth behind those words made the older man hum in agreement. "I never wanted to be the villain," The other says with a shrug. "Yet, here we are playing the roles society has given us."

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

"Ah Shakespeare. Did not know you were familiar with such literature."

"Only when it suits me." replies Harry, suddenly becoming weary of the display below. He takes a step back. "I find his work extraordinary...for a muggle."

"I have to disagree, but we are not here to have a debate on such matters."

Harry agrees, arms crossing in front of his chest. "Yes, you're right." He sighs, cutting his gaze to his friend. "We have other things to focus on."

"You make it sound like you're about to die." The other jokes, causing the young man to frown.

"I am about to die, however I'm not afraid of death." He counters. "It's something we all will have to endure one day...even you Tom."

Crimson eyes narrow at the mention of death. All humor is removed, and the seriousness of his tone caused Harry to shiver. "Death is something that cannot touch me, despite all my Horcruxes being destroyed." The snappish tone is directed at the young man, who struggles. He continues, "Besides, we agreed that you must go back and right the wrong he made."

"I know." Harry mumbles, fully aware of the plan they concocted. "I just wish we could have found another way to do this without me physically dying."

"We searched for years, and the only answer we found involves death and a potion." Tom retorts, and steps closer until the space between them is barely an inch. He stares down into sad green eyes and couldn't stop the sincerity from dripping into his words or reaching his eyes. "I'm sorry you are always stuck in these situations, but-" Tom released a sharp hiss as his words are silenced by soft lips. He responds instantly to the desperation, holding the teen close by his hips.

Swollen lips part as shallow breaths even out. Harry buries his face into the soft material of Tom`s shirt, inhaling the musty scent. "Don't apologize for something that is inevitable. We are wasting time, and it won't be long until he find me."

"You're right." The husky voice tightens. "I'm ready."

Harry gives him a grin, and steps out of his embrace. He watches as Tom draws his wand and aims. "I guess this is goodbye." He chuckles, finding a moment to allow his dark humor to show.

Crimson eyes stares incredulously at him before they rolled. "Not goodbye, but hello to a new beginning."

"A better future."

"Exactly." Tom ends the conversation on that finality. Leveling his wand, he takes in his young lover one last time, even though nothing will be the same. Without stalling, the dark lord flicks his wand forward, and the ghastly green flash flew. No words for the spell are spoken, but the intention behind the curse stays true. The body fell with a heavy thud.

Harry Potter is dead.

"Good luck, love."