Maze in the Garden by Trivium E. Bondrasi
Prologue
Harry ran through the trees of the Forbidden Forest, his legs feeling heavy and his lungs burning for more air. Pressing harder, he jumped over a fallen tree and ducked behind a large boulder. Sitting there he looked back where he had come from in anticipation. He pointed his wand and waited for his target to appear.
"Now this is insulting. Did you really think I was behind you this entire time?"
Startled, Harry yelled and fell back pointing his wand at the top of the boulder. There stood his target as regal and dominating as ever. Lord Voldemort looked down on him with venomous crimson eyes and sneered. Scrambling backwards Harry stood still trying to keep his wand level with Lord Voldemort.
"You are pathetic! Did you forget that we are one? That you have a piece of my soul within your body?" Lord Voldemort smirked and jumped down from the boulder but in reality it looked like he merely glided. "Why won't you just surrender to me?"
Harry stepped back some more and swallowed hard. Surrendering sounded so pleasant. He wanted to but he knew he couldn't.
"You know I can't do that, Tom." Harry panted and stood straighter holding his wand steady and level.
Glaring, Lord Voldemort took his stance. "Why must you be so stubborn. You know you won't win. You are exhausted and your magic is becoming weak."
Harry could feel his magic weaning. He knew he was near the end of all his power but he wouldn't give up till Lord Voldemort was dead...or worse, he himself was dead.
"Then I will die trying to stop you." Harry gripped his wand hard to keep from showing his inner feelings about the whole situation. He didn't want to kill Tom. He didn't want to kill at all. He never wanted it to come this far.
Lord Voldemort's nostrils flared in irritation. He knew Potter's magic was weak now but he also knew that his own was just as weak if not weaker. Somewhere in the back of his head he knew that he wouldn't win this fight and could possibly die.
They stared at each other for what seemed like hours. They both began to sweat and their bodies began to tremble. Suddenly, Lord Voldemort rushed at Harry.
"Avada Kadavra!"
Harry dodged the electric green curse and whirled around quickly.
"Avada Kadavra!"
His own curse flew towards Tom and the world seemed to slow down. He watched as Tom's eyes widened with fear as the curse came closer. Harry's heart squeeze and before he could stop himself he was screaming without words. The green curse turned pure white as it hit its target. Tom caught fire and seemed to just incinerate into nothing but a pile of ashes.
Tears fell down Harry's face as he moved closer to where Tom had been standing. He yelled and fell down when he saw the ashes shake and move as a pale slender body slowly stood from them. As Harry stared in amazement he saw that it was a teenager about the same age as himself. He was tall and pale with very long black hair that reached his lower back. As he looked closer he also saw that he was also very naked making Harry blush and look at the body's face. He jumped again when he saw crimson eyes looking into his own.
"Where...am I?" The boy asked softly.
"The...the Forbidden Forest...Who are you?" Harry asked, standing and clutching his wand behind his back.
"I am...Tom Marvalo Riddle. Who are you?" Tom stepped forward shakily out of the ashes.
"Harry Potter."
Harry was about to extend his hand when he heard shouting and saw lights in the forest coming closer. Tom quickly hid behind Harry as a search party lead by Albus broke into the clearing. Albus stared at Tom as if he had seen a ghost.
"Tom? How..."
"He came from the ashes professor." Harry said, calmly taking Toms hand behind him and trying to stand taller than the boy behind him in a show of protection.
Minister Fudge stepped out from behind Albus with a group of Aurors. He stared at the two boys before making a waving motion with his hand. The Aurors rushed forward and grabbed Tom by his arms and his hair. They dragged him away from Harry violently and yanking their hands apart. Tom yelled loudly and tried to fight the men holding him.
"Hey! Stop it now. What the hell do you think you are doing?" Harry rushed forward and grabbed the man holding Tom by his hair. Harry punched him in the face and he let go of Tom holding his nose. The rest of the Aurors stopped moving bust didn't let go of the teenager in their hands.
"Harry! What's going on? Who are these people? Where are they taking me?" Tom cried trying to grab onto Harry but he was unable to.
"Mr. Potter, did you not just say that this boy came from the ashes? I assume that the ashes were those of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. And Albus, you say this boy is Tom Riddle, yes? Then he is going to Azkaban! I will not have another war! This boy will have the kiss and there will be no more fear!" Fudge yelled, his face turning purple.
"No! You can't do that, you bastard!" Harry yelled and tried to jerk Tom away from the Aurors. One of the Aurors knocked him down and they continued to drag Tom away.
"Fudge, the Dementors are gone now. You know that. What will you do now?" Albus asked as he helped Harry to his feet.
"I will throw him in the deepest darkest hole I can find and leave him to rot!" Fudge stormed away with the Aurors following him.
Tom kicked and screamed as they dragged him.
"Harry! Harry, help me! Please! Harry!"
Harry turned away and started to cry on Albus's robes. Tom's screams continued for a long time and even when they did finally stop Harry knew he would never forget the cry for as long as he lived.
~.~.~
A/N: I believed that the first chapter should have been more dramatic and more detailed so I wrote it thus. Let me know what you think.
