A/N: I find it MOST unfortunate that I am REQUIRED to notify you that I DO NOT in fact own Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Sirius Black, Severus Snape, or any other character documented in the pages of any book written by J.K. Rowling. I do however own this plot bunny AND Kaelyn Snape who is my own original character, and who I only wish to live vicariously through (and let me tell you, she is one lucky little lady. Though Draco keeps insisting that it is he, who is in fact, the lucky one. Such a gentleman!)
I should probably ALSO take the time to note that my stories will ALWAYS be a little AU, and will NEVER be 100% true to canon. Sorry. For this particular one, I AM switching the order of the books up (because the age ranges dont work right for canon), so GOF will come AFTER OOTP but Sirius still dies in OOTP. (I am so mad at myself right now.)
Summary: I have to change the world. I had to come back in time. The Harry Potter of my world, who watched everyone he loved, his entire family, and all of his friends, die, is not someone the world will long survive. He's just a boy…a boy who left alone, became a true horror to behold.
The Prophecy
Chapter One: Neither Can Live...
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..." -Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
"Don't fool yourself Harry! Dumbledore never cared for you. At least, not where I came from. You are nothing more than a pig being raised for slaughter. He fights so hard to keep you safe and in the dark so that when the right time comes you can die as predicted. 'Neither can live while the other survives.' Did he even tell you what that means? It doesn't mean you can't both be alive at the same time. Hell, Voldemort isn't even alive, not really. He simply exists…he survives based on measures he took years ago, but he doesn't truly live."
"How so?"
"Think about it Harry! What have you been hunting all this time?"
"Horcruxes?"
"Horcruxes! Yes! Pieces of Voldemort's soul! He isn't whole and therefore isn't truly alive! And Dumbledore told you there were 7 Horcruxes because that's what was in the memory, but he failed to mention the one that Tom made by mistake. 'Neither can live while the other survives.' The prophecy was a farce Harry! They heard what they wanted to and not what was actually said! There were two boys born at the end of July! You, a half-blood, and Neville, a pure-blood. Don't you find it curious that Voldemort, for all he preaches about pure-blooded superiority, chose you? And the power the Dark Lord knows not? Rubbish. Your great 'hidden' power is nothing more than love. Tom has never been capable of that particular emotion, and you, you give away so freely. It's why he couldn't stand to be around you."
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
"I'm telling you all of this because no one else will! You are not a child Harry! You haven't been one in quite a while, if ever. You may be young, but you are neither stupid, nor immature. A war is coming Harry. Death is upon us. And I will give you every weapon I can so that as few as possible die. In my world, when Voldemort killed our parents he never thought to check the other room for me because no one knew that I existed. So when he killed our mum it wasn't because he wanted her dead. As much as it pains me to tell you this, if James and Lily had stood aside and let Him have you, more likely than not, they would still be alive. James died protecting you. NOT because he was the man who helped create you, but because he made an oath to two of his closest friends to protect you until death took him or lack of said protection released him. And even though mum was a muggle-born, she was a strong and extremely talented witch, and Voldemort treasured her talents. He begged her stand aside while he rid the world of you, but she sacrificed herself so that we could live. That sacrifice of love rebounded the spell onto Voldemort, and as his body lay dying, a piece of his soul latched itself onto the only living thing in that room. You."
"So what does that mean?"
"You are a Horcruxes Harry! The one Tom never meant to make and the one that he is undoubtedly unaware of. 'Neither can live while the other survives.' You have never been able to just live life and enjoy it. Because Voldemort survives, your life is tainted. You must let Voldemort kill you, and it must be on His terms! You will know when the time is right, but you must trust me Harry. You will come back to us more whole than you have ever been, and Voldemort will die, and life will go on, better than it has. Don't just survive Harry. LIVE!"
