Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling.
November 26, 1986
Sweat cascaded down Harry's face as he shielded spell after spell. He couldn't concentrate on anything except casting and defending. After what felt like an eternity, a spell broke through his shield and knocked him to the floor. Harry took deep breaths as he heard a congratulations.
"That's your new record. You lasted 6 minutes and 47 seconds," Riddle said with delight. Harry grinned.
"What's your record, Tom?" Harry was one of the only people allowed to call him by his first name. Riddle smiled.
"Keep in mind I had a lot more practice than you," he cautioned, not wanting to make Harry think his achievement was any less significant. Harry nodded eagerly, tapping his foot. "Two hours and 38 minutes. I fell asleep the second I sat down after." Harry's jaw dropped.
"How is it possible for you to last that long? Don't you get tired?" Harry tried to imagine a duel of that caliber. Riddle chuckled and ruffled Harry's hair before starting to walk out of the duelling hall with him.
"Yes, I got extremely tired. But I didn't want to lose. They had to keep switching out who was casting at me because my opponent was getting too tired." Riddle snapped his fingers for a house elf. One instantly appeared. "How is Roscy helping Master Riddle and Young Master Harry?" Harry grinned. He loved house elves.
"I'll have a lemonade, please." His parents taught him to respect everyone and everything, because they may eventually end up helping you. Riddle nodded.
"I'll have a water." The house elf popped away. Harry collapsed on the nearest couch, still exhausted.
"Tom, I know you want me to be a great wizard and all that, but why do I train with you and Draco doesn't? Is there something special about me?" Harry was a very observant boy, and couldn't help but notice that something was amiss. Riddle sighed. He had known this day would come eventually. He had just hoped it wouldn't be so soon.
"Your parents have told you about Albus Dumbledore." Harry nodded. The meddlesome, foolish leader of the Light who manipulated his family. "Albus let one of my spies overhear a prophecy. The prophecy said this: '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's mouth opened in shock. He had never heard a prophecy before. He didn't see how that was relevant to him, but kept his mouth shut and let Riddle continue speaking.
"Harry, I'm not sure if you noticed, but that prophecy could have applied to you before your parents joined me. Born in late July, parents defying me. Albus let the spy tell me the prophecy in the foolish hope that I would listen to it. I knew it would be self-fulfilling, so I instead convinced your parents to join me." Harry's mind whirled with the implications of that.
"So, if the prophecy is no longer a threat, why train me?" Riddle noticed that for a six-year-old, Harry asked very astute questions.
"We know the prophecy is now neutralized, but Dumbledore doesn't know your parents joined me. He knows they left the Order, but not that they joined the Death Eaters." Harry caught on immediately.
"So Dumbledore will try to get me to turn against you because he thinks the prophecy could still come true." Riddle nodded, pleased with Harry's deductive reasoning. Harry bit the inside of his lip before blurting something out. "I want to train more."
"Of course. Dumbledore needs to pay for what he did to your family," Riddle said angrily.
"Dumbledore needs to pay," Harry echoed.
-oOoOo-
May 15, 1987
Harry roamed the Manor's corridors, trying to memorize the halls. His goal was to know the Manor as well as Riddle and Lucius knew it. He examined a portrait on the wall of a knight enshrouded in darkness. He was studying it so intently that he bumped straight into someone, who dropped the papers they were holding.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention-" Harry trailed off as he noticed who he bumped into. Bellatrix Lestrange. An Inner Circle Death Eater. Although she liked to chat with Riddle, they had never really spoken.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Lestrange. I should've watched where I was going." He picked up the papers she dropped and handed them back to her.
"It's no problem at all," she replied. "You're Harry, right? Harry Potter?" Harry nodded, smiling. She smiled back. "I haven't spoken with you or your family much. Lots of history between the Lestranges and the Potters." She shoved the papers into a bag she was carrying.
"And between the Blacks and the Potters." Bellatrix looked up in surprise. Harry began to explain. "Riddle has me researching his Inner Circle so I can understand better how he chooses recruits. You're Bellatrix Lestrange, née Black. Sirius Black's cousin." Bellatrix hissed at the mention of Sirius.
"That blood traitor! He doesn't deserve to represent the Ancient and Noble House of Black!" Harry agreed wholeheartedly with Bellatrix's tirade.
"I couldn't agree more, Ms. Lestrange-" Bellatrix interrupted him.
"Call me Bella," she suggested, smiling. Harry grinned.
"I couldn't agree more, Bella. Sirius is a disappointment to the wizarding world." Harry was smiling until his parents rounded the corner. Lily sighed in relief before she noticed who she was talking to.
"Harry, come on over here." James said sternly. They didn't exactly like Bellatrix.
"One second, Dad. Let me finish my conversation." James came over, exasperated, and grabbed Harry's arm.
"You'll have to finish this conversation later." James started to lead Harry away from Bella.
"Bye, Bella! We'll continue later." Harry waved at her before following James and Lily. "What was that all about?" Lily sighed. Sometimes she forgot how young Harry really was.
"Bellatrix is dangerous. She's a blood supremacist who probably hates me and you for not being pureblood." Harry shook his head.
"She knew who I was, and she was super nice to me. She didn't seem to have an issue with blood status. She just hated Sirius Black." James growled at the mention of Sirius, and Lily ruffled Harry's hair.
"Harry, honey, you could be right. But in my experience, Bellatrix is not the right person for you to be spending time with. I don't want you talking with her again." Lily hated being strict but it was necessary for Harry's safety. Harry groaned. Did his parents really think he would just stop talking to someone because they said so? It only intrigued him more. He would just have to meet with Bella in secret.
-oOoOo-
February 3, 1988
Harry giggled as he chased Draco through Diagon Alley. Their parents were in Flourish and Blotts for a book signing, so Draco had asked for permission to go explore. Their parents had agreed as long as they stayed safe. Draco turned a corner and tripped, skinning his knee. Harry ran over in worry.
"Draco, you okay?" Harry would heal it, but he couldn't use his wand in such a public place. Draco winced, but nodded.
"It just stings. I'll be fine." The boys were so preoccupied with Draco's knee that they didn't see the man approaching behind them. Harry started when he heard a man's voice.
"I saw you fall. Are you alright?" Harry and Draco looked at the man at the same time. Harry immediately got up and backed away. Recognition flashed in his eyes.
"I know you. You're Sirius Black!" Harry looked around in worry. Their parents were nowhere to be seen. Black nodded, then narrowed his eyes.
"And you're Harry Potter." Sirius completely ignored Draco's presence. Black was in shock at the mirror image of James in front of him. The messy hair, round nose. Everything was James. Except the eyes. "You have your mother's eyes." Harry scoffed.
"Really? I had no idea!" he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think I don't own a mirror? Leave me alone, Black." Harry helped Draco up and looked around for a place to run in case they had to run away. He ran a hand through his messy hair. Black shook his head.
"Harry, please come with me. Your parents betrayed us. They left the Order and badmouthed Dumbledore. They chose betrayal over friendship. Your parents are not good people. You would be much happier in the Order." Sirius thought he was making a convincing speech, but Harry's next words proved him wrong.
"Really? Because the way I heard it, they went to you, and you told them you couldn't be friends with them because they didn't worship the ground Dumbledore stands on. Not only did you do that, but now you're trying to trick me into joining your little vigilante group." Harry sneered. "This conversation is over. You mean nothing to my parents, and you mean nothing to me." Harry grabbed Draco and dragged him out of the alley. He wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into his and Draco's parents. Relief flooded their faces. Lily sighed.
"Harry, honey, we were worried sick! Where did you two go?" Harry felt a pang of guilt. Narcissa examined Draco.
"What happened to your knee?" She quickly cast Episkey on it before fixing her stern glare on both of them. Harry recounted the story. James drew in a breath, trying to calm his anger. Lily placed her hand on his shoulder.
"He has no right to speak with you! How dare he!" James shouted, drawing some glances from people in the Alley. Lily tried to calm him down.
"James, it's okay. Harry is okay. We can deal with Sirius later." Lily's voice soothed him and he kneeled down to be eye level with Harry and Draco.
"Are you two okay?" James's eyes were filled with worry and anger. Harry and Draco nodded together.
"We're okay, Dad. It was really nothing." James gave a soft smile.
"Don't worry. He'll never talk to you again." At that moment, Harry was extremely glad he wasn't Sirius Black. Black was in for a world of hurt.
-oOoOo-
December 31, 1988
Harry glanced over himself in the mirror one last time. His hair was smoothed down for once, his robes laid perfectly without a speck of dust on them, and his eyes were as green as the killing curse. He was ready. Harry whirled around as someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Harry called. Lily and James came in, looking over his appearance in admiration. Lily chuckled.
"You sure do clean up nicely." She bent over to pick up a toy lying on the floor. "It would be nice if you could clean your room just as nicely." Lily said in a stern voice, but Harry could tell she didn't really care. She never really got mad at him.
"That's what house elves are for!" Harry insisted, and James laughed.
"You nervous?" James patted down a wrinkle on Harry's robes.
"Why would I be nervous? I'm only going in front of the entire army of Death Eaters and
being announced as the Dark Lord's protégé, then being expected to make a speech worthy of my title. What's nerve-wracking about that?" Harry said jokingly, trying to push down the butterflies that were wrecking his stomach. Lily smiled affectionately.
"You'll do great. You've practiced for this moment for so long." Harry nodded, knowing she was right. He walked out of his room with his legs wobbling a little. Lily shook her head and ordered a house elf to bring a Calming Draught. Harry eagerly snatched it once the creature brought it. He drank it in one gulp and instantly felt the effects. Harry stopped outside the ballroom where Riddle was waiting for him. James grinned.
"We're so proud of you. We'll be inside." James and Lily placed their Death Eater masks on and stepped inside the ballroom.
"Are you ready?" Riddle asked. Harry knew there was only one acceptable answer.
"Yes." With that, the two walked inside. Everyone instantly sat down and watched them. Riddle and Harry were the only ones not wearing masks. Whispers filled the arrived at the stage in the front of the room, and Riddle led Harry up. Harry took a deep breath and tried to act confident. Riddle held up a hand and all talking ceased immediately.
"We are gathered here today for an important announcement. The boy standing next to me, Harry Potter, has trained diligently with me for over two years. He has made outstanding progress, and I am quite sure he could be most of you in a duel." Riddle knew if it was anyone else speaking, there would be protests, but the room stayed silent. "Harry will be a leader for the dark, and I expect him to be treated with the same respect you would treat me with! Without further ado, I invite Harry to say a few words." Polite clapping filled the air as Riddle stepped back. Harry felt his heart start pounding as he stepped up to the podium.
"Good evening, everyone. To start this off, I would first like to thank the Dark Lord for training me and putting up with my antics for the past two years." Harry glanced around the audience. He saw his parents, Draco, Bella, and many others. He knew them, with or without a mask. "I want to tell you a story. On October 31, 1981, some secrets came to light. My family was in hiding because Albus Dumbledore told us to hide, like cowards. Dumbledore came up with a plan, but it would involve the deaths of my family. He didn't care! I was a toddler, barely past one year old, and Albus Dumbledore, the so-called leader of the light, tried to have me and my parents sacrificed to stop the Dark Lord! He manipulated my family and friends like pawns in his game of chess. If that is what the light side does, then why are we the dark? Do we sacrifice children? No! Do we manipulate other Death Eaters? No!" Harry could see many people in the audience nodding, and took it as a good sign. "Albus Dumbledore has lived in the limelight for so long he has stopped caring about the effects of his actions! Would the Dark Lord do that? No!" A few other people shouted no with him. "We are the so-called dark side, but all the evidence points to the light side being the criminals. We want a fair society, and we will do what it takes to get it! For the Dark Lord and for magic itself!" At Harry's last words, a chant started, repeated that over and over. He stepped back in pride. Riddle grinned at him.
"You have done well. I'm proud of you." A huge smile spread on Harry's face. "For the Dark Lord and magic itself. I like that." The crowd was still chanting, but it was dying down a little. "Go, meet your family and friends. They'll be proud." Harry walked down the stairs, into the waiting arms of the dark side. The only side that accepted him. The only side that mattered.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reading this story! There is going to be one more chapter about Harry's childhood, then Harry will go to Hogwarts. Please review if you want to say anything!
