Chapter X

A Threat at the Graveyard

The blackness within Harry's eyes began to dissapate. He no longer found himself on the ground. On the contrary, he was was now standing. The environment around him began to cool, and a bluish, night-like lighting began to flood his vision. His vision began to reveal, small, headstones, and white snow that was falling from the sky. His vision didn't need to clear up to reveal that he was at the Graveyard in Godric Hollow.

He looked around, disbelieving that he was here. He must have been dreaming, but was unable to wake himself up. He walked the graveyard, but only needed to step a few feet before he was directly in front of the headstone that mattered most to, his parents. Harry was always able to tell his parent's gravestone apart, not because of his many visits, but because of it's inscription.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

However, something was very irregular about the headstone as it sat now. While the headstone itself was exactly how it appeared as always, the item in front of him was unusual. Sitting in front of the headstone was a wreath of redroses. While this would not be unusual for anyone leave, this particular wreath Harry had not seen for over twenty-years.

It was the same wreath that Hermione had materialized through magic when they both first came to Godric Hollow to find Bethilda Bagshot, a legendary woman who they tried to meet on their mission to find horcruxes. Before Harry could further investigate, the environment froze. All of the snow that was falling onto the ground stopped in mid-air. Harry might have been impressed by the sight of it, if he hadn't known that this was not a normal situation.

"You remember this moment, don't you Harry," the voice of Tom Riddle sounded off, appearing just behind Harry and walking closer.

Harry didn't speak, he actually found himself speechless.

"It hurts you to see this doesn't it," Riddle said. "But it especially hurt when you saw the first time."

Harry than looked at Riddle in surprise.

"Oh yes Harry, I know how you felt," Riddle continued. "That same feeling you have now, don't you? That feeling of failure, and shame. You think to yourself, that if you had only not existed, the two wizards who rest beneath this grave, and the many who rest elsewhere that died for you, would all still be here."

Harry shook his head, clearing out whatever emotions he felt. "Where are you playing at Tom? The same could be said about you."

"True, very true," Riddle acknowledged. "But those are people I wished to die, can you same the same Harry?"

"Really, would you say the same about your mother?" Harry asked.

Voldemort's cold smile slowly went away and was replaced by a look of anger.

"What's the matter Tom? Weren't expecting me to bring that up were you? You've always wanted to know your mother haven't you Tom? It's sad when a family member is stripped away from you before you even get to know them, isn't it? Just think Tom, if you had a mother, where would you be? Or better yet, where you be if you hadn't followed the prophecy the first time and killed my mother and father? Maybe you wouldn't have had to go searching for your body for fourteen years."

These words struck Riddle hard as his red eyes flared, staring directly into Harry's. Suddenly, just as quickly as his anger burst, it quickly disappeared, revealing the calm Riddle once more. In fact, he began to laugh.

"Oh Harry, you've gotten quite brave as you've gotten older. No longer the fourteen year-old I met during the Tri-Wizard Tournament are you?" Riddle asked. "I see you have become quite an expert at playing games as well, but let me make something perfectly clear Harry. I see your fear, and see your uncertainty. I know the questions you asked Dumbledore, and to answer them for you...in only a matter of time. In fact, view this as your final warning. The games stop here, goodbye Harry."

At that very moment, the world slowly became dark again.

"Harry," a distance voice began to say, it's echo getting closer to him as he felt his body entering back into the real world. He felt himself wake up and he began to move his body. He opened his eyes, which slid into focus, revealing him to be back in the Weasley's living room. Everyone, including the Malfoys and Weasleys, with Ginny and Molly closest, staring directly at him with concern.

Ginny immediately wrapped Harry into a tight hug, breathing in distess. "I'm so glad you're okay," she said.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"You passed out, you've been out for a couple hours now," Ginny explained.

Once Harry felt fully aware of where he was, he got up quickly.

"I need to speak to Snape," he stated.

Everyone looked at him with concern. "You'll have to go back to the school for that."

"I know, I'll use the Floo Network to get into the Headmaster's office," he explained.

"Can't it wait until tomorrow," Ginny asked desperately. "You need to eat something."

Harry grabbed onto her hand before entering into the fireplace, grabbing floo powder in the process. "I'll be back right after, I promise, but this is important...trust me."

She took a breath and nodded in agreement. "Come back safe," she said.

Harry nodded and walked into the fire place, holding the powder up. "Hogwart's Headmaster's Office," he said aloud and through the powder down, becoming covered in a cool clear flame, which surround him. When the flame disappeared, he found himself within the first place of the Headmaster's office, just below Dumbledore's portrait.

"Good evening, Harry," Dumbledore said before Harry even stepped out.

"I need to speak with Snape," Harry said urgently.

Dumbledore nodded and within a matter of seconds the entrance to Snapes portrait opened, revealing the long hallway. Harry walked down the length of it and turned to Snapes photo, where Snape was waiting for him.

"Another nightmare, Potter?" Snape asked, already knowing the reason's for Harry's visit, and looking concerned. "Arthur sent an emergency message to Lungdren, whom informed Albus.

"He said it was a final warning," Harry explained. "What does he mean?"

"He means exactly that," Snape explained. "That means that the Dark Lord is fully aware of what is going on and knows what he has to do to complete the spell. How much time we have until he takes action, I don't know. According to author, you passed out, which could mean that might have been the moment where he learned how to control you, but only time will tell if that is indeed what happened. Was there anything important you could take away from the experience you had with the Dark Lord."

Harry thought back quickly to the nightmare and remember only one thing. "The only thing that I recall is that he doesn't like being reminded of his own past."

Snape actually appeared to think about this answer seriously, sitting down in his chair. "That actually might be a very important weapon Potter."

"How?" Harry asked.

"You and Albus are the only two that I know of that have used Tom's past as a lethal weapon on him," Snape explained. "Being reminded of his past is a reminder that he himself is no different than the wizards he use to hunt and kill. The blood traitors as he would call them. In many ways that was one of the reasons why he hated you. It wasn't just that you were the chosen one, it was the fact that you were very much the mirror image of him. Unfortunately, by his own accord, in killing your parents, he turned you into what he was as a child...an orphan to be raised by muggles.

"In many ways, that's why he wanted you dead. If he could kill you, he would be killing that image, that reflection of himself. Maybe continuing to be that reflection is the answer."

"It's made him even angrier. He's usually more dangerous in that state," Harry said reasonably.

"Dangerous, yes. But maybe we can get him angry enough to slip over his own feet." Snape replied.