Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling.
The Potter family arrived in a room the size of their house, where wizards were milling around. The second Voldemort arrived, the wizards, who James assumed are Death Eaters, fell to their knees before him. Voldemort cleared his throat.
"As I'm sure you all can see, we have some new recruits. You may be doubting my sanity at the moment, but none of you will harm them in any way, or insult them verbally. They fit into our plans. Dismissed!" Voldemort shouted, waving his hand in a motion to get everyone up. James couldn't help but admire the way Voldemort easily controlled the crowd. He turned toward them and beckoned a close Death Eater to come closer. James stepped back as Lucius Malfoy came over to them with a contemplative look on his face.
"Lucius, I'm sure you know the Potters. Will you escort them to the master bedroom in the West Wing, beside the portrait of the lake?" Lucius nodded, and Voldemort started to walk away, before turning back around for a second. "Oh, and Lucius? Please do try to be civil. They are our guests." Voldemort escaped to the shadows quickly, leaving Lucius alone with the Potters. James cleaned his glasses as Lucius began walking them toward their room.
"I know we don't exactly have the best track record, but my son, Draco, is the same age as your son, and I was hoping they might be able to be friends. It can get lonely around the manor, and I was worried Draco might not have any children his age within the building." Lucius navigated the complicated corridors with ease. James nodded, seeing the sense in that.
"Despite our differences, I can see you care for your son, and I care for mine. We can at least be kind to one another, and maybe become friends. Note that I say that with a very strong MAYBE." Lily nodded, smiling. So far, this decision didn't seem to be all that bad. They reached the master bedroom, which was around the same size as the hall they had apparated to. In the corner was a very fancy crib for Harry, along with a play area containing toys of all shapes and sizes for him to play with. The floor was covered in a lavish white carpet, while the bed was big enough for four grown men to all sleep in easily. Lily explored the room to find a walk-in closet and a huge bathroom with self-cleaning charms already cast on it. She smiled. She could get used to this.
-oOoOo-
November 22, 1981
James took a deep breath and knocked on Sirius's door. He'd been dreading having to do this, but it'd been three weeks since they disappeared. He had to tell Sirius what was going on. Sirius opened the door a crack and peered outside. When he saw it was James, he threw open the door and wrapped him up in a hug.
"Prongs, where have you been? I've been worried sick! Are Lily and Harry ok? Why did you disappear?" Sirius asked in quick succession. James felt a pang of guilt course through him but he pushed it down.
"We needed to disappear. And we couldn't let anyone, not even Dumbledore, know what was going on. Lily and Harry are good." James started hesitantly. He knew this would be a difficult conversation. He ran a hand through his hair and stepped inside.
"Why couldn't you tell Dumbledore? He would've helped you!" Sirius closed the door behind James as they spoke and led him to the kitchen, where they sat down. James knew this would be the most difficult part. Dumbledore had helped Sirius while they were in Hogwarts when he told Snape about Moony.
"Dumbledore isn't who you think he is. He wanted the prophecy to come true, so Voldemort would be destroyed. He knew when Voldemort would be places and sent us to "defy" him twice. Then, he put a compulsion charm on Peter to join Voldemort." James could already see doubt in Sirius's eyes. Sirius shook his head.
"Dumbledore would never do that! He's a good man. He wouldn't do that," Sirius repeated. "Did someone use magic to convince you of your story?" James sighed. He needed Sirius to believe him. He didn't want to lose his closest friend.
"No, Padfoot. Lily and I reached that conclusion and checked Peter for a compulsion spell. We found one! Dumbledore is a lying psychopath. You have to believe me!" James got up and started pacing, as he tended to do when he was agitated. Sirius looked at him with concern and anger written on his face. He got up and stormed over to James.
"Dumbledore is a good man! He helped me with my family problems, he helped clear up the whole Moony situation! He's helped all of us in so many ways, and if you're not going to accept that, I can't accept you!" Sirius shouted. The infamous Black anger was showing. James sighed.
"Padfoot, please. I don't know how to convince you. Staying with Dumbledore will only get you hurt!" James glanced at the time. Lily would be wondering where he was. Sirius growled.
"You're going to get hurt if you don't stop badmouthing Dumbledore! Honestly, Siri, I don't think it's safe for you to be around him! Please listen to me!"
"You're going to get hurt if you're still in this house in 20 seconds. Dumbledore is a good man, and no friend of mine is going to say anything otherwise!" Sirius shouted. James felt his eyes tear up but blinked the tears back. He cleared his throat.
"Then I guess I'm not a friend of yours." James walked out of the house, not looking back. His eyes teared up and he let a few tears fall before pulling himself together. He hoped the other Order conversations would go better than that. He doubted they would, and he was right.
-oOoOo-
October 14, 1983
Harry was jabbering to himself while playing with a practice wand when Lily and James came up to him, dressed in big, black robes and masks in their hands. Lily reached down and kissed his forehead.
"Mummy? Daddy? Where are you going dressed like that?" Harry asked with a small lisp, his big green eyes staring up at his parents. Lily chuckled.
"We're playing a game, and we're gonna go stop the bad guys, and these robes are our fighting robes," James explained, grinning. Harry immediately hopped up.
"I wanna come! I wanna come!" he chanted, jumping up and down. James laughed and scooped Harry into his arms, tickling his belly. Harry's giggles filled the room.
"Harry, can I tell you a secret?" James asked, pretending to be secretive. Harry nodded as serenely as a three-year-old can. "If you came, the bad guys would run away because you're so strong you would scare them! But if you stay here, you can practice with your practice wand, and help Daddy and Mummy stop the bad guys once you're not too scary," James whispered. He knew that Harry would immediately agree. The little guy was very into stopping bad guys, but he also knew James and Lily needed to do things on their own sometimes. Harry picked up his practice wand and waved it around, shooting some sparks out. Lily cheered and James clapped. They each gave Harry a kiss on the forehead.
"I love you, Harry! Have fun!" Lily smiled at him before grabbing James's hand and dragging him out of the room. They would be content just watching Harry all day, but Voldemort, or Riddle, as most of his trusted followers called him, had different plans. Once they were out of earshot of their innocent son, James stopped walking and pulled Lily to the side.
"I want to make sure you're prepared. We're going against our former friends and mentors in this fight. Our first fight for Riddle. Any hesitance could get you killed." James grabbed Lily's hand, staring into her eyes. "I can't lose you."
"I'm prepared. Dumbledore used us, lied to us, and when we went to our friends about it, they sent us away. They chose him over us. They won't know it's us due to these masks. They haven't been our friends for a long time, and they never will be. We have better friends now." Lily gave James a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand. "Speaking of friends," Lily nodded toward the approaching couple. James grinned.
"Lucius, Narcissa, ready for today? Who's taking care of Draco?" James asked amiably. The two families had grown quite a connection in the last two years. Who would've thought? The Potters and the Malfoys, working together. Lucius smiled.
"More than ready. And I cast some spells on Draco's room to prevent him from going on one of his little adventures," Lucius chuckled, "and to protect him. I assume you did the same with Harry?" Lily nodded, nerves stopping her ability to speak. Narcissa noticed.
"Hey, it'll be okay. You get too nervous, just apparate away. You'll do great." Narcissa smiled warmly. With that, the two couples joined the veritable army of Death Eaters and they flooded out of the manor and into the arms of an upcoming battle.
-oOoOo-
July 31, 1986
Harry grinned as everyone finished singing "Happy Birthday". He was sitting in one of the ballrooms with his friends and the Death Eaters surrounding him. The big cake in front of him looked delicious. It was decorated as if a wand fight was happening. Spells of different flavor frosting moved and shot across the cake. The six candles on top were miniature wands made of wax. James patted Harry's back.
"Make a wish!" James said excitedly. James seemed as excited as Harry for Harry's birthday. Harry closed his eyes. He had spent all night thinking about what he wanted his wish to be, until he decided on one. I wish for me to become the best help to Riddle as I can. I wish to get vengeance on Dumbledore for what he did to my family. I wish my family stays safe. Harry finished his wish and opened his eyes. He blew out all six candles at once, and everyone clapped. Draco, who was sitting to the left of Harry, cheered.
"Wicked cake, Harry!" Draco's eyes were wide at the sight of the cake that was almost as tall as him.
"Can we start?" Harry pleaded Lily. She laughed and magically sliced him a piece. Harry licked his lips and dove in. Draco got a piece next, and they finished around the same time. Once they were done, there was only one thing on their mind. "Can I open my presents?" Harry asked, at the same time Draco asked, "Can we open Harry's presents?" James chuckled, nodding.
An hour later, gift wrap littered the floor, which the house elves soon cleaned up. The guests started filing out, when Harry realized he didn't get a gift from his parents or from Riddle. Harry looked at his parents expectantly. Lily grinned and picked up Harry.
"We can't give you your present here. We're going to Knockturn Alley." Lily ruffled Harry's messy hair, which never wanted to lay flat. Six years ago, Lily would never have stepped foot in Knockturn Alley. How times have changed. Riddle stepped into the room. Harry got out of Lily's arms and ran over to him excitedly, hugging him. Riddle didn't hug back, he never did, but he smiled. He leaned down to Harry's level.
"I'm gonna come with you to Knockturn Alley! I'm very excited for you to get your present." Riddle scooped Harry into his arms. "We'll apparate there." With four pops, the Potters and Riddle appeared in Knockturn Alley. They walked down the alley, into a shop. Harry got out of Riddle's arms and looked around in awe.
"What is this place?" Harry questioned excitedly, running around. A man stepped out of the shadows.
"This is Ferinom's Wand Shop. I am Ferinom. Are you here for a wand?" Ferinom questioned, confused at the excited six-year-old boy. Harry looked over at his parents in shock.
"Yes, we would like a wand for our son." James pointed over at Harry. Harry broke into a wide grin. Ferinom shook his head.
"I sell wands before the child reaches the appropriate age, but that usually means ten-year-olds! I cannot sell to a child of your son's age." Ferinom insisted. Riddle stepped forward and removed his glamour. Ferinom stepped back as Riddle pulled up his sleeve to show the Dark Mark.
"I think you will change your mind." Riddle grinned as Ferinom nodded. Ferinom grabbed a wand and handed it to Harry. Harry eagerly grabbed it, but nothing happened. He tried again. And again. It took around an hour to find the perfect wand. When Harry grabbed it, light surrounded him and sparks ran through his arm.
"12" long, birch wood, dragon heartstring core." The wandmaker quickly took his payment and fled to the back room.
"Harry, most wizards get their wands when they're 11. Don't tell anyone you have this wand unless we say it's ok. Not even Draco." Lily explained. Riddle stepped forward.
"Your mum and dad gave you the wand as their present. For my gift to you, you will get to train with me on how to use your wand, and on many other things." Riddle smiled as Harry's eyes widened.
"I get to train with you? This is the best birthday ever! Thank you!" Harry hugged his parents and Riddle, grinning ear to ear. Riddle was determined for Harry to be the best wizard to enter Hogwarts in years. Harry would train hard. It would be grueling, but in the end, it would pay off.
A/N: I realize in the books, Harry's wand is different, but he'll most likely get that wand when he turns 11. The next chapter will also be about Harry's childhood.
