(REWRITE NOTES: Merging of chapters 1 & 2, to reduce redundancy? Hopefully also take out first person to third person jumping. Cutting out 'word padding' when possible for a clearer understanding. reworked again 5-1-19)
(UPDATE 3/9/2021) Moved Omake chapters to Scattering Plots, do not be alarmed. The chapters affected will be "Chapter: Chakra Unlock", "Harley and Notes". The idea behind these chapters were to post author's notes, FFN does not like singular chapters dedicated to author's notes it seems. Keep in mind, these two particular chapters were made before Scattering Plots was a thing. I may go through the chapters and fix them, once again, but that will happen when it happens. I had come back to writing when I started this, and have learned a small bit since.)
Notes: My take on the Gamer Plot, it will also plug some plot holes, and change history as we go. There are fixed moments, not necessarily events, in this story. There is some Dumbledore bashing to start out with.
There will be parts of the original dialogue, both from movies and the books throughout. I will not highlight them, as it may disrupt the story flow. If you are a fan, you will see them. Pairings are undecided for now, we will make this up as we go along. There will be no HP/GinW. Sorry. That is far into the story though, should we get there.
Updates will be sporadic at best, don't expect a chapter every few days. This has been written on a whim, so please enjoy. Feedback is welcome.
'Thoughts'
"Spoken Word"
"Written Word"
Disclaimer: I own no rights to any recognizable things you see here. Such rights belong to rightful owners, i make no monetary claim, or other such stuff in the least. This is just my retelling of a great story.
Chapter Summary: Lily was not satisfied with just ending the Dark Lord, she wanted to give her baby a fighting chance. There is more than what we see.
OoO
In a cottage in the village of Godric's Hollow, there was a house no one noticed. Protected my a force called, Magic. Had anyone noticed, an old man had disappeared, looking like the many stories of wizards. They had just delivered a ray of hope to a distressing mother to be. Or so they thought.
Days later, the hope had festered and faltered to despair, not satisfied with the conditions, the mother-to-be sought out an alternative.
"The Ritual in theory should protect the family member through willing sacrifice. It comes with certain conditions however, the caster must choose three enchantments that will be gifted upon the recipient. Such enchantments can be left to the caster. What good is an explanation like that!"
Lily Potter, sat in the study surrounded by many books, tomes, and journals of times gone by. Married into the Ancient and Noble House of Potter. Despair marred her beautiful looks, the lantern casting a fiery flare to her red hair.
Glancing through a family journal Lily noticed something strange, underlined was 'GAMER'. In plain english, a word that should have been unknown at the time of writing. Lily picked up the journal, translating as she went.
"This particular enchantment had come to me in dire times. The power required to learn it was immense, almost bordering on Legendary level in power! It had been cast upon me by my dying parents, a power of last resort. They claim that it was supposed to give powers known only to the recipient and those they choose. I had such an exciting and worrying life. Doomed to see what others could not. It had taken me years to understand the power, and it's limitations.
Sometimes the world would be still as I learned, something called a Tutorial for some new skill I learned. Sometimes average places would suddenly become something called a Dungeon with rewards and danger in it. Quests had to be completed. And other such fantastical things. My life was full of adventure, and now it comes to an end. I Must put this information in our family Grimoires, if only to aid those that truly need it. Be warned descendant, it is not an enchantment to be taken lightly. The power of The Gamer!"
The woman read through the more detailed description and instructions, it was exactly what was needed! Lily added it to her notes, satisfied with the enchantment. With that Lily went over more journals, grinning savagely as she found another family enchantment.
"Blood Explosion curse, for destroying your enemies completely. Single use though, requiring the use of a runic array. It will shield those outside of the array. Good." Lily Potter went back to work.
Well into the night the woman searched for one last enchantment. Until she came upon the perfect match.
"The only thing left to give you my baby. Power. I shall give you everything I can safely give." Lily's notes were starting to become tear stained as the horror started to overcome her once more. It was better than the alternative though. "Three of a Kind, a willing sacrifice."
OoO
Unnoticed to her, Lily was being watched. James Potter, contrary to what his wife thought, was not totally clueless. James provided many of the books, journals, and scrolls Lily was now looking through. Not that James would let her know. The more he watched however, James frowned.
"So she plans on a willing sacrifice anyway. Oh my sweet Lily Flower, why those rituals." Muting the mirror, James went back to work. "Merlin be damned though if you think you're the only one doing this though."
His project was a baby crib, runes were being carved into it. A project started soon after finding out Lily was researching self sacrifice rituals.
"Diction quill, start now. May Second, Nineteen Eighty. My project is almost complete, a baby crib converted to a blood ward empower ritual. My idea is to slowly drain power into my heir over a period of time. It should make my Heir strong, at the permanent cost of my power. Lily Flower wishes our baby to be strong, then so be it!"
With a furor, James went back to carving the runes out.
"It should take six months of steady draining, requiring seven daily drops of blood to power these runes. Slowly over time, the recipient will gain power from the caster, gifting two-thirds of the caster's power. I intend to add a child lock to my Heir to hide the fact that they are gaining power, set to fade away at the age of five. By then I'll either have taught them how to control the power, or have some form of letter sent to them."
James stopped working for a moment, somberly glancing at the runes. "I hope it doesn't come to that. Maybe a time delayed portkey, sending a expanded briefcase or maybe a rucksack would be better. Filled with instructional books and a letter. I want to be there damn it, but I fear that I won't live to do so. There's still room for two more enchantments. Luck, a flip of a coin, the roll of a dice. We Potters live in the most interesting of times. So too will my heir, Lady Luck please watch over him."
James face slip into a cruel smirk, one that a certain greasy haired git learned to stay far away from. "One more space for enchantment. What shall I put here, something to torment my heir's would be killer. A life force drain should do. Burning them as it does so. They will wish they hadn't laid a finger on my baby."
With a deep chuckle James starts adding that to the crib. "My life and power given to my Heir should I live. Should I die, then a weapon and gift be given freely. Three of a Kind, a willing sacrifice."
He continued on, unaware that he was somewhat copying her ritual. Just a different location and different enchantments.
OoO
"My baby boy, everything I could have hoped for. Strong already, and growing stronger by the day. Of course you are. I've been added seven drops of blood daily for the last five months." Lily Potter was in the nursery, rocking a sleeping baby, she looked like she aged a bit. Something she told anybody was the stress. "I'm so tired Harry… I'm growing weaker by the day. But I do so willingly, all for you My Baby. I've yet to tell James that I'm doing this. I fear that I won't be able to see you grow up." Lily choked back a sob, as she cradled her sleeping baby.
"I shall leave you a expanded trunk, to be delivered on your fifth birthday Harry. It will be simple stuff, books and a letter. With your ability, it should prove handy in the future. I've done what I could for you, there is only so much information on your ability." Lily's ever present notebook was set aside, the runic array nearing completion in theory.
"I'm thankful that James cast the child lock on you instead of me. I couldn't bear the thought of locking your potential away. He promised it would fade away in time. I made him set it to fade on your fifth birthday. He would have noticed your power, growing as fast has it has."
Lily thought back at the fierce arguments they had over the last few months. Of how Voldemort was killing off everyone they knew in hopes of bringing them out in the open. Her parents had died in a car crash, it was later discovered that the other driver was imperioused. Ever since they've gone into hiding, the number of Order members dying climbed.
Lily argued against changing secret keepers, Sirius was Harry's Godfather, sworn in by magic in secret. If there had to be a change, it would be Remus, not Peter.
James argued that no one would suspect Peter if they did change. He also argued that Remus was always missing, suspiciously when there were major attacks. James had talked with Sirius and Dumbledore many times about it.
"Rest now Harry, your Mum has work to do." With that Lily laid Harry back in the crib, she kissed his forehead before starting on the runes around the room. The Blood Explosion curse needed to be mapped out in front of the crib. It couldn't be activated just anywhere, so Lily had made the area near the crib. "He shall regret trying to harm my son."
With renewed determination, Lily went to work on her grim task.
OoO
"It had been the last day of the six months now. Tonight I shall inscribe the final rune of empowerment upon Harry. Sowilo, the rune of the Sun, of success and good fortune. Magic itself will mark Harry once I make the sacrifice, it should activate as the attacker shoots a spell of harm at Harry. That is assuming He even gets close to Harry to do it! It shall take the power, absorbing it completely, recording the magical signature. It should serve as a warning to Harry when they are near." James spoke aloud, his dictation quill working along the floating journal.
"Sowilo is the anchor for the luck enchantment. It serves multiple purposes than that obviously. Why not be efficient with magic. Using the last seven drops of blood to paint on the activation rune. I just hope the mark isn't obvious."
James had searched for a runic brush and bowl. Null to magics, perfect to draw runes with empowered inks. Blood works just as well, if not better than ink. "The rune won't be too big, not with this much blood. A trigger rune has been painted across my heart, ready to be activated at a moments notice."
With the gathered materials, James made sure that Lily was sleeping before continuing to the Nursery, his journal following behind in the air. "The rucksack has been prepared, I have added some pureblood customs books, basic understanding of magical laws, some guide books to controlling magic before your first wand. Multiple other books as well. I know for sure I won't survive this war, I'm growing weaker by the day. I had miscalculated the amount of magic to give."
James set things up for the final rune, ensuring that Harry won't interfere by wrapping the baby's arms in the blanket. Hesitantly James spoke quietly to the quill. "Instead of two-thirds of my magic, I had instead put down three quarters. I have no more magic to even do my animagus transformation. Thankfully I haven't had a reason to do so. It's a surprising price to pay, but one I pay gladly. Thankfully I still have enough magic to power the ritual if I need to."
"I learned to draw this flawlessly as I could, until I realized I had to paint it on. I've been rushing to do this with a brush instead." cutting his finger, James let seven drops fall into the bowl. "Hours of practice that I don't mess this up."
With that he dips the fine tip into the bowl, and swiftly add the first part. "This is nerve wracking."
The second dip went on well, the last tip took the last of the blood. "Sowilo is complete, and the final drops have been applied. Now we wait." The blood rune glowed a crimson red before fading away. "Thank Merlin it isn't noticeable, not even a hint!"
With that James packed up the tools, ensuring that nothing was amiss. Harry slept on peacefully, unaware of the magic coursing through the room.
"I love you Harry." James leaned over and kisses Harry over the rune, before sneaking back to bed. Unknown that in the previous morning, Lily had finished the Blood Explosion curse with her last seven drops as well.
OoO
"Fine Dumbledore! Your incessant nagging has forced the issue! Remus can't be trusted, not after the last attack!" James was becoming cagey, fed up with the outside world, especially Dumbledore's empty platitudes.
"James my boy, you know that people change. Remus is a werewolf, it is inevitable that the curse will affect his mind. Reports are still coming in, and my spy claims that it was Remus who attacked Sirius. He almost died James, it was a miracle he didn't change Sirius in the attack! Sirius is vulnerable now that he is healing. Now would be the time to change secret keepers. Peter would be the best." Somehow Dumbledore made a simple explanation long.
"You don't have to remind me Dumbledore! We shall do so soon. You will explain it to Sirius though old man!" With that James had closed the floo, forcing Dumbledore to back off before the flames burned his hair.
"It's all coming together now. Soon the Prophecy shall be fulfilled Tom. Now to finish the last part." With that the old man took one of his laced lemon drops, infused with a calming draught. Dumbledore made his way to the hospital wing, where Sirius lay chatting up Madam Pomfrey. "Ah, Sirius my boy, how are you doing?"
"It could be better headmaster, that werewolf almost got me, thankfully I managed to portkey out in time. I thought Remus would have been able to take them on." Sirius replied, glancing down at his arm in a sling. Unnoticed Dumbledore, hit Sirius with a minor hysteria curse.
"That's the thing Sirius, it was Remus who might have set you up." Dumbledore watched as he glanced up in shock. "My spy tells me that it is a ploy to weaken you enough to get the secret from."
"Albus, you must protect me! They could be anywhere!" True to form, Sirius was becoming paranoid, agitated, irrational.
"Silence my boy! Perhaps it might be wise to give the secret to someone else. A bluff if you will." explained Dumbledore.
"But who Albus! Alice and Frank went into hiding already, and last I heard Dorcas Meadows was killed by You-Know-Who himself!" Sirius' world had just been wrecked, he was reacting rather than thinking rationally.
"Perhaps the last of your group then. Mister Pettigrew." Dumbledore suggested wandlessly adding a dim twinkle to his eyes
"Peter? Albus, you know as well as I he would tell the secret in a heartbeat!" Sirius said, indignant and incredulous.
"Maybe so, but if he was sent into hiding nearby the Potters, you could keep in touch with him. Sort of ensure that nothing happens. No one would think twice about it, many have gone to ground as well. Just until you are well enough to take back the secret."
"I need to think about it Albus." Sirius stated in deep thought.
"That is all I ask." With that Dumbledore left him to it.
A few days later Sirius agreed, they had changed secret keepers. To ensure that no one knew, Lily cast the spell this time. They were all wary, in that moment Dumbledore obliviated them of my involvement. It would look to the world that Sirius himself suggested it.
Not even a few days later, the day before Halloween that Peter Pettigrew told Tom.
OoO
The rucksack was complete. It had all that a young pureblood would need to be self taught. Along with that was five hundred galleons and that much in muggle money. James didn't count it, trusting his account manager to be honest about it. Inside also was the Potter Heir Ring, locked in a box that would only open on their eleventh birthday. James couldn't remember what happened to the invisibility cloak, which was troubling. Only five others knew about it, and Lily didn't have it. Sirius would never ask for it, and Remus hadn't been seen in ages. Peter might have taken it, or Dumbledore did. Neither one a good thought.
With that James stashed the rucksack in a hidden box, protected by many spells, and timed to be delivered when Harry turned five. He was walking in the front room waiting for Lily, tonight was the night James would tell her what he had done. It was only moments later when it happened.
The wards came crashing down, making James stumble at the sudden snap. A moment later James looked out the window, and the Dark Lord was there, coming up the walkway. With a yell to Lily. "Lily, take Harry and go! It's Him! I'll hold him off!" She took off up the stairs with Harry. ' James slices his palm wiht a spell, smearing blood on the trigger rune. "By my Blood, I complete the Ritual. So Mote It Be!" James could hear Lily slamming a door upstairs. He had convinced her the crib was a portkey to safety. 'Hopefully she bought it, and abandoned her mad ideas.'
The rune flashed taking the last of his magic, James Potter fell to his knees gasping for air, his body failing from the sudden shock. The door burst in, an explosion hex. It sent James to the foot of the stairs. "Avada Kedavra!"
It seems like the world slowed down, the spell coming at him quickly. As it strikes, James felt his life force leave, heading to the crib and Harry. Suddenly darkness.
OoO
Moments earlier
Lily was somewhat content now. Her trunk for Harry was prepared, tonight she would tell James about her preparations. To her last breath Lily would defend Harry. She didn't quite believe the crib was a portkey as James claimed, she checked multiple times. 'If only, we could escape like this forever. To be done with this mess. To be a Family.'
James was up to something sh knew, for the last week Lily knew. She just hoped it won't interfere with the ritual.
Suddenly the wards snapped, the fedelis backlashing in her mind, forcing her to stumble in shock. "No!" Lily grabbed Harry as James yelled for her to run.
Lily ran up the stairs, tears running down her face, she closed the nursery door just as an explosion happened downstairs. Carefully she set Harry down in the crib, she pressed her forehead against his, whispering her love to him. "Harry. Harry, you are loved. You are so loved. Harry, Mama loves you. Dada loves you. Harry, be safe. Be strong."
She pricked her finger to draw blood, smearing it on the curse runes. "By my Blood, I complete the Ritual. So Mote It Be." She whispers, hearing Him at the door. It is blasted open, and he walks in, hood over his face. Only two red eyes glaring out.
At the last sight of him, she threw her arms wide, as if this would help, as if in shielding Harry from sight she hoped to be chosen instead. Lily could already feel the magic fleeing her body, "Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside now." Her heart was clenching painfully.
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead—"
"This is my last warning—" Lily's life force was draining away to the runes just in front of her. Still, she needed a moment more longer, it was getting hard to breath.
"Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy... Not Harry! Not Harry! Please— I'll do anything— "
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"
He could have forced her away from the crib Lily thought suddenly. But it seemed more prudent to finish them all… The green light flashed around the room and she dropped like her husband. No slowing of time, just instant darkness. Lily's last thought was that she succeeded. Unnoticed the runes glowed faintly across the room, and the crib. Every condition nearly met.
The dark lord oblivious to the danger stepped in the middle of the circle. Voldemort pointed his wand, unknowingly at the rune of power. "Avada Kedavra!"
A flash of green absorbed back into the rune, satisfying the first ritual it opened skin signifying its completion. It's enemy in such proximity. A second later the Circle activated, detonating every blood cell in Voldemort's body. Causing an explosion that blew a hole in the wall and trashing the room. Voldemort's body simply vaporizing, his soul sent fleeing in shock and agony.
Only a moment later a popping was heard, a man dressed in full black appeared down the road, hair greasy from his beloved potions and bad genetics. He ran in, fearful of what he'll find. The body of his rival was only a hesitant step, up the stairs he found the first love of his life. Severus Snape cradled Lily's body, crying at the agony of a broken heart. The only survivor was her son. Before Snape could do much, he heard the sound of a roaring motorcycle, the man left in grief before anyone could see him.
The new comer, Sirius Black skidded to a halt, jumping off the bike and rushing inside. Where he collapsed at seeing the body of his best friend James. He howled into the night at the loss. He would have continued if it wasn't for the crying upstairs. With some hope he ran up the stairs, only to come to a stop at the sight of his other friend, her red hair laid like a halo around her head. She looked angelic. Another cry tore his attention to the baby who was trying to get to his mother.
Another pop announced the arrival of someone else. A giant of a man. They had a quick confrontation before Sirius gave him Harry and the bike to use. He had another friend to check on, the reason he had come at all.
OoO
Somewhere in the lands of Scotland, in the Headmaster's tower stood an old wizard. Dumbledore had just sent Minerva McGonagall to investigate a family. The last remaining relatives of Lily Potter, the Dursleys.
Dumbledore turned back to the monitoring wards of Godrics Hollow, perplexed at what they reported. A fleeing 'person' and an infant. 'There shouldn't have been anyone alive! What had happened?'
The man gripped his head suddenly, as a mental voice picked up once more. With considerable effort Dumbledore seemed to quiet it down. "For the last sixty years I've done what I could to finish the job. And yet you still persist!"
He reaches for a lemon drop, laced with specially made potions to calm the mind. "Not now Albus, things are going quite well if I say so myself. Soon there will be a new host for my soul, and you will get your next great adventure, oh yes. Until then, Silence!"
With that, the old man made his way to the site, sure that the giant of a man had left. There was residual dark magic everywhere. More so in the nursery. Ignoring the bodies, Dumbledore uses many diagnostic spells on the area.
To his shock, Dumbledore finds out that the Dark Lord still lives! "The Prophecy was not fulfilled! Damn it all! It seems that it's your lucky day old boy, your next adventure has been put on hold."
With that Dumbledore erases his presence there. It was time to report this.
OoO
London, November 1st, 1981
Sirius paid no mind to passing people, he had tracked down Peter, alive and well. It seemed he had plans of running away, if his hastily packed bag was any indication. Still, it doesn't hurt to check anyway. "Peter Pettigrew, what are you doing out here I wonder."
The man in question freezes on the spot, before yelling in fear, spinning about. "HOW COULD YOU SIRIUS! MURDER JAMES AND LILY POTTER!"
It had stunned Sirius, his thoughts running in circles in his head, 'Was it indeed my fault? Did I lead them to their death?' Before Sirius could reply there was a blinding flash, then another as the world erupted in fire. Peter had blown a hole in the street, hitting a gas line, before igniting it. The blast had killed many that had frozen in confusion, others gathering around to see what was going on. They didn't stand a chance. Peter had a few burns, he cut his finger off in the confusion and panic before turning into a rat, joining the flow of other rats.
Sirius was concussed by the blast, slower to regain his equilibrium. He let out a pained sob, "The bastard! HE tricked me! Oh James what have I DONE!" He soon broke into hysterical laughter. It was only moments before more pops announced the arrival of the Aurors. Sirius wouldn't remember much, thinking that he had indeed caused the death of James and Lily.
Before Sirius knew it he was cuffed and brought in for questioning. It didn't seem to last that long before he had been stunned. When Black awoke it was in the Wizarding Prison Azkaban. Sirius got up and paced, remembering that they were in wartime footing. "I just have to wait for my trial, but something isn't right. This is the High Security wing of the fortress, why am I here?" Soon his nightmares came to haunt him, forcing Sirius into howling in despair with the others. The Dementors had arrived. It would be a long time before Sirius had coherent thought.
OoO
It would be another sleepless night, with one situation looked over, there was another.
Distraught and broken, his spy came to me with accusations. It took some doing, and some quick words before they were dismissed. Dumbledore would need to keep the man close by. Perhaps it was time for Slughorn to retire soon.
Hagrid made it to the hospital wing, and the boy was being tended by Madam Pomfrey. Checking the boy over, Dumbledore discovers black magics around the scar. Perhaps Tom had used the boy to extend his life? Dumbledore prevented her from healing the scar away, citing that scars could be useful. To placate her, Dumbledore allowed her to do the usual inoculations, and check over.
With that done, Dumbledore tells Hagrid to make his way to Private Drive in Surrey the next evening. To bring Harry and not be seen. With that done Dumbledore attended other duties, one such included spreading word of Voldemort's retreat. Too bad though it worked like the whispering chain, where it changed to Voldemort's death and the boy hero. There was also the letter to Petunia he had to write.
With the sudden celebrations, no one would think to look twice about the incarceration of one Sirius Black. That night Dumbledore made his way to Little Whinging to finish off his self appointed tasks. Setting up the second part of his supposed 'blood ward' when he was sure Professor McGonagall and Hagrid had left. Unaware that the first part wasn't even used.
The boy was found in the morning by a screeching aunt who woke up the baby, sending him crying.
OoO
#4 Private Drive, Nov 2nd, 1981
Petunia had a fierce argument with her husband Vernon about their nephew and what it could mean. They were not dropping the boy off at some orphanage. She remembered that there was mad men out there, and that they had moved here to hide away from them. That Dumbledore had put additional protections in place, or so he claimed in the letter.
Vernon was having none of it, already he could tell that the boy would be a problem child, being born as one of Them he did not want him infecting his Dudley with his freakishness!
As they fought Harry was sitting in the play pen with his cousin Dudley, who was watching him. Both curious and wary. Another that might take his Snacks away!
Harry though was confused, and afraid, Da and Mum weren't nearby!
"Fine then! We do things your way, but he steps one toe out of line then we'll do things my way!" With that Vernon stomped upstairs, turning a bit dark red in anger. Petunia on the other hand burst into quiet tears as she finally realized that her sister was dead.
Dudley deciding that Harry wasn't a threat was in a playful sharing mood, so held up a biscuit towards him. "Snak!" The boy looked hungry, and Dudley knew that snacks help everyone!
Harry took the biscuit and quietly munched on it. It was tough and fun to chew on. Still the question remained. "Da? Mum?" He looked at the crying lady, who cried like Mum did sometimes.
Petunia looked over at the boy, her nephew, and seen only a confused toddler, not the freak her husband insisted he was. "Oh Harry!" With that she gathered him into her arms and cried some more. He would never understand for years to come.
OoO
Ministry Archives, Nov. 3rd, 1981
'Damn that Barty! At least it solves some of my problems though.' Dumbledore thinks to himself, running around, hiding evidence and covering any tracks. Sealing the Potter Wills, granting himself 'limited' custody of Harry Potter by Magical Guardian clauses. Many obliviations, different memory manipulations. Made only possible thanks to The Wand, the Stick of Destiny. Already he has in his possession the Cloak of Invisibility, the only thing missing is the Stone.
"For my Greater Good Mr. Black you shall rot away." Dumbledore murmurs to himself, adjusting records and confounding the archivists. No one would think to look into the case, it would be lost in the paperwork.
"Oh don't fret Albus, I'm just ensuring that our loose ends don't come to bite us in the future. We are so close to reuniting the Hollows you know. I can practically feel it. You'll be able to see your long dead sister yet. Yes, it's tormenting knowing that you'll never know who fired the curse that ultimately, mercifully ended her life." With a cackle Dumbledore finishes forging and erasing the records. Being Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock, and Headmaster made things move along smoothly. Far better than going to war, such a waste of resources. "Now to spread propaganda, to put our 'Boy who Lived' on a pedestal. It will be so much easier than building a reputation from scratch. Don't you think?"
The only reply was enraged shouting behind the mind prison.
OoO
Hogwarts Castle, Nov. 5th, 1981
Remus Lupin was tired, he had been sent away on a mission from Dumbledore once more. This time to seek aid of foreign werewolf pacts against Fenrir Greyback. Remus was just now recovering from a recent alpha battle, having lost to another pack. It seems some force was ensuring neutrality from the continents, the leaders would hear nothing of joining Britain's troubles, even if some of the pack members disagreed. There was no hint of any recent death eater activity. Only now did he have some free time thanks to the injuries. The first thing Lupin would do was brief Dumbledore, that there was no change with the rest of Europe's packs.
"Chocolate Biscuits." The guardian statue leapt out of the way, allowing Remus entry.
"Come in Remus." Once more before he could knock. An ongoing game Remus and the rest of the Marauders play with the headmaster, to knock before Albus could call on them.
"One of these days we'll figure out how you do that." Remus says ruefully before noticing the lack of a twinkle. Sighing Lupin slumped his shoulders, another list of the dead no doubt. "Who did we lose this time Dumbledore?"
"Oh Remus, just terrible news. It seems that things have spiraled out of control. Would you like something to drink before I get started." Albus waved over a tray of drinks.
"Just get on with it! I'm a bit tired of such news, on top of that Europe's werewolf packs won't even consider joining our cause to defeat Greyback! So get to it." With a deep breath Remus apologized. "I'm sorry Headmaster, it's just been a trying month for me. Only now am I recovering from wounds sustained from Alpha battles. Please, continue."
"Very well since you insist. We lost Dorcas, Marlene, James and Lily Potter, and Peter. Sirius Black betrayed them all we believe, the only thing left of the Potters was their son Harry Potter. The only thing left of Peter is a finger. Aurors on the scene witnessed Sirius Black laughing hysterically, claiming that he had killed them all. Witnesses claim that Peter blamed Sirius for the death of the Potters before an explosion occurred. The current body count is 12 muggles and Peter himself. Many have been injured. Voldemort himself had visited the Potters, there was nothing left of him, Voldemort has been defeated for now." Dumbledore only stopped upon hearing a wail coming from Remus.
Remus was doubled over, grasping his hair, tears flowing freely. The very picture of a destroyed person.
"I'm sorry Remus, there is nothing that could be done. Harry is in hiding now, there are still Voldemort's supporters out there, we are rounding them up now, but I fear many will still be loose. Harry is in great danger and I can not allow anyone to visit him, even myself for the time being. I forbid any contact until the situation stabilizes. To prevent any problems I've been forced to seal the Potter Wills, we do not want any assets going to death eater accounts. If I were you, I would lay low until things settle down. Many might remember you as a friend of the Potters and will try to use you to get to Harry. Please Remus." The old man stared down the werewolf.
Remus could only whimper as the implications hit him, werewolves were considered beasts. He effectively had no rights to Harry. He croaked out, "Of course Dumbledore I'll take my leave then."
He had missed the brief flicker of triumph before a mask of sympathy replaced it. "Very well Remus, I wish you luck out there. I am very sorry you have to go through this alone now."
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Godric's Hollow, Nov. 5th, 1981
Autopsies were fairly short in the magical world, with diagnostics and forensic spells available to cut down time. Not to mention the various preservation techniques available. No one questioned the black magic found on the site, it was assumed the Dark Lord was attempting some type of ritual. There had been a long funeral for the Potter couple. Many came to pay their respects. Many wept, another senseless murder. But now there was hope, their son lives on in secret. The defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. They were buried close together, sharing a single marker. 'The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death' inscribed, the Peverell family motto.
With the recovery of the Potter couple, it was decided to make their cottage a memorial, forever stuck in a stasis bubble for all to see. Hidden under muggle repelling charms and notice-me-not spells. None could bear the thought of going back in. The house where the Dark Lord met his demise, it's black magic forever a taint upon the property. Still, no weather would affect the inside, any animal would avoid the property.
All except one. A rat scuttled about the house, searching for something other than food. It had found what it was looking for behind the burnt crib, a stick of Yew 13 1/2 inches. The rat spent the better part of two hours trying to move it away from the wards. With it's success the rat changed back to a slightly chubby man with the beginnings of baldness. They took the wand, transforming back, escaping the scene before anyone saw him. His Lord's wand in his possession.
Unnoticed also were the box holding a rucksack, in another room a chest, slowly ticking it's timers down for transportation. Awaiting for the fifth year of a child. Potential knowledge and a means to survive before starting school. Of the many missed anniversaries, the allowances, and the lessons. A pale shadow of love, final gifts from loving parents.
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Longbottom Residence, Nov.5th, 1981
"Where is the Dark Lord! Crucio!" A young man with a goatee screamed at a writhing man, Rodolphus Lestrange. With him was his wife Bellatrix, his brother Rabastan, and the Crouch boy. His current hostage screamed for a few moments, before letting up.
"I don't know what your talking about!" Frank Longbottom was nearing hysteria, he could hear his wife in another room. Frank's mind tormenting him with what could be happening.
"Crucio! You had best remember then Frank!" Rabastan Lestrange, tired of the waiting took his turn.
In a separate room upstairs another death eater with straw colored hair was busy doing the same to the woman of the house, "It will all be over soon, just tell me where the Dark Lord is, Alice Longbottom."
"I should have known you were a traitor! I recognize that voice anywhere now, Barty Crouch Junior!" She spit blood on his robes. She shrieked once more as she was put under the torture curse. Her only solace was that Neville was relatively safe with Bellatrix.
"I will enjoy killing you!" With his identity found out he took off his mask, furious of being found out and his robes being sullied. His tongue flicking out like some lizard.
A woman with wild hair, and a bodice of dragonhide leather was cooing with a frightened baby in a separate room, mostly warded against sound. "Pureblood children are precious, yes they are. Mummy and Daddy are busy having a little... Chat with your uncles and cousin yes they are." Before she cackled lightly, only stopping with the whimper of the baby. "Oh hush now baby. Aunt Bella is only laughing. No need to worry!" She continued in her deadly sweet voice.
The floo had been disconnected, and wards had been erected to prevent help. They had been there about an hour and twenty minutes now. The door to the nursery opened, revealing Barty. "Bellatrix, they aren't talking. They know nothing! Rabastan thinks we can get them talking if we use the boy."
He flinched back at her glare, her insane persona replaced by the Black Glare. "Don't you dare. Gather them to the floo room, I'll bring the boy. Now!" with that she shot a fierce stinging hex at him to get him moving.
The boy, Neville had fallen into a fitful rest. Sometimes she had to renew the silencing ward as their screams would break through it. The boy would be traumatized, such was war though. She gathered the boy, making her way to the Floo. There bound were Frank and Alice Longbottom, nerves firing in phantom pain, not a scratch on them as ordered. They looked up in fear, urging her that they didn't know anything. "You know not where our Lord is, do you?"
At their frantic headshakes, eyes never leaving the bundle in her arms. She waves her wand over the baby, putting them under a deep sleep charm, he should not witness this. They struggled in vein against their bonds. "Oh don't fret, he's just sleeping. Now, tell me, what do you know of the dark lord's demise. Be quick now!" With that she released the gag on their mouths.
Listening for a moment at their hurried confession, they only knew recently this afternoon that the Potter's had died, they were on their way to go claim their Godson Harry from Dumbledore when the Lestranges and Crouch arrived. Cursing under her breath she gagged them once more. 'If only we waited! We could have had them all!'
Turning to her husband and brother-in-law, she quickly put Rabastan under a quick crucio. "Don't you Dare suggest using children as a bargaining chip, Ever again!" She let up after that, pointing her wand at her husband. He had put his hand ups, wand handle up. "And you, I better not have heard any cases of such happening from you dear Husband."
The man nodded in fear, before correcting himself with frantic shaking of his head. "Good. Now we leave." With that Bella placed the boy at Alice's lap, undoing the bindings. Alice wasted no time to grasping Neville to her, cradling him like the most precious of treasure. Bella was quite envious. Frank relaxed as he watched them, Bella aimed her wand at him.
"We're not done yet, Animi Carcerem!" Bella then pointed her wand at Alice, only slightly regretful about doing this, before doing the same spell. "To the others it will seem as if their minds broke. Leave them!" Satisfied the others left, Bella trailing behind. 'Not quite true, it would only take someone of Black Blood to lift the hex, I only hoped that there were still Blacks to undo the hex.'
It was only moments after Bella left the room that they were caught, Madam Longbottom had come with reinforcements and had erected the might of Longbottom Hall. Barty Crouch Jr. would make it out just in time through the open floo. Later to be apprehended on the word of Karkaroff and the veritaserum confession of Bellatrix Lestrange. Bella would never trust Barty, the feeling mutual.
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#4 Private Drive, 1982
Petunia was grateful of one thing, Harry showed no signs obvious magic yet. Having a younger sister who could do it though left it's mark on her. She knew there was power in the boy, there was no doubt magic will show itself in time. Harry got along mostly with her Dudley, so long as it wasn't snack time. With Harry there Dudley seemed to mellow out some. There were less tantrums, and he was more open to sharing things. It was then she realized that she would never come to love him like her own, but she wouldn't hate him. He was too kind, even now.
That wouldn't stop Dudley from loving him as a brother though, and if the so called wards accepted that, then she was pleased. Lily didn't have the self control to keep her powers hidden. Perhaps though her nephew might. Petunia would be vigilant, hoping to train her nephew to be sneaky when he needed to be. There was after all a madman after him. She did not want to lose the last link to her sister, and if it meant instilling secrecy into the boy, then she will do so.
She had started a journal of sorts, writing out her plans to aid him. If she's too busy trying to keep him safe, then she would have no time to think about the anger and hurt that he represented. Sooner than later he wouldn't need her help. She called them over to play a game. Peekaboo may be a bit childish, but if it helps, then so be it!
She always picked Harry to hide when someone was looking for him, and how to hide better. Not that it did much, but he was learning. Dudley too was enthused with the old game. She had survived Lily and that Snape boy, she would be able to handle Harry.
Had only the Love Shield been used, the new blood wards would have twisted them unrecognizable. However since James' sacrifice was done first and correctly, it took precedent, followed by Lily's work. Dumbledore's ward was nearly snuffed to the four corners, taking a weakened grip upon Vernon and a light grip around Petunia. Not loving, but not hateful, merely wary. Black magic does not play nice with other's, unless it was family oriented, cast by family. Dudley was left untouched by Dumbledore's ward, simply slipping off him.
The trinkets that monitored the house were barely functioning, not that Dumbledore noticed, assuming that they were working as intended.
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Some Hidden Bolt hole, 1982
It had taken months to get this far, he had grown weak once he had reached the Channel. He had been forced to possess many creatures, shortening their lifespans. How many had perished as he took on their pitiful lifeforce. Still, it was enough to get here finally. He hadn't the magic to possess a human, not even the weakest of muggles. Disgraceful! The strongest wizard of the century and he couldn't even do a simple task!
Albania, steeped in black magics over the ages, it would be difficult for anyone to track him here. Even that old fool Dumbledore.
Still, he never thought he'd need to use this bolt hole anytime soon. It was assumed he would be barely alive upon arrival, not this half life he was currently in. Blast that Potter woman! He had time to reflect upon that night, there were runes placed about. He had been a fool to let ego overlook such a thing. No doubt upon Dumbledore's orders!
in his rage he had lost his current host, a serpent that had gotten loose from some house. Still, it had served it's purpose. He had settled his being in a minor containment wardstone, slowly and surely building his magic reserves. It would be a slow process, the soul could only convert so much wild magic before it petrified the spirit into a inert rock.
'Soon, I shall return.' was his final thought before slumbering. In the off chance that he did return as a spirit, he had erected minor expelling wards, to awaken him in time before over saturation of wild nature magic.
Tom Riddle was biding his time, dreaming of the return of Lord Voldemort.
Notes: Majority of the two chapters were left alone. Some dialogue changes, some first to third person changes. Majority of changes were centered around the 'first' chapter. Hopefully this leads to a better flow for this one. On to the next one! Expect it soon(ish).