An Altered Thread

by Katie Bell

What happens to a tapestry if a single thread is disturbed? What happens to a world where Tom Riddle is a force for good?

1. A Tangled Skein

"Pureblood Supremacists strike family in Godric's Hollow, No Injuries"

"In the past year, the Pureblood Movement, a shadowy band of wizards, have been terrorizing muggle-born and mixed-blood families. Last night they struck again, against James Potter, head of the Department for Muggle Liaisons, and his wife Lily. Neither was injured, and the couple's four children were away for the weekend. Apparently the Ministry had been warned of the attempt before hand and several Hit Wizards were on hand; unfortunately all of the attackers escaped, although several may have been injured. Anyone who has any information about the Pureblood Movement is asked to report it to the Ministry of Magic.

"Minister Riddle assures us that the Ministry is taking all possible actions, and urges the public not to panic. 'We have made great strides in improving wizard-Muggle relations in the past fifty years. The actions of these misguided few must not be emphasized; they simply want to take us back to the days of Muggle-baiting and witch-burnings. We cannot allow them to succeed.'"

- The Daily Prophet, August 7, 1993

Somewhere in England, August 7

"This camp is a wonderful idea!" Hermione enthused to Harry, Ron and Neville. "I can't believe you three didn't want to come!"

"I wouldn't have if my dad hadn't made me," Ron grumbled. "Spending the whole summer with Muggles – and no magic! No fun. And," he grimaced, "Draco Malfoy is coming."

"Malfoy? How come?" Neville looked surprised. "My dad said that his dad would never let him come."

"Well, he was wrong, I'm afraid. Try not to get into a fistfight with him, though, Neville," Hermione suggested. "Is your sister coming?"

"Yeah, but she'll be off with Ginny and Colin, no doubt." Neville sighed. "You're lucky not having any sisters, Hermione."

"I'd like one, though," she insisted. "You like Cara, don't you, Harry?"

"Yeah, but she's a lot younger than I am, and I don't see her that much since I started Hogwarts," Harry said, speaking at last. "My brothers are fun though."

"See?" Hermione said triumphantly. "Anyway, let's find your cabin. I've already put my trunk in mine, and met my roommates."

"Who've you got?" Neville looked interested.

"Padma, and her Hufflepuff sister Parvati," Hermione said. "And three Muggle girls, Laura, Eve, and Sue."

"Well, at least we all know each other," Ron said gloomily. "I'm betting we get some Muggle who's afraid of wizards."

"No," said Harry. "Sirius is in charge of this whole thing, remember? He screened all the applicants." The foursome was moving off in search of Cabin Hippogriff-7.

"Right. I can just see your godfather interview Muggles. He got his staff to do it, right?" Ron rolled his eyes. "He'd probably hex a couple just to see how they'd take it."

"Well," Harry began, and the other three laughed. "Yeah, he did have his staff do the work. But he set the guidelines. Besides, he was told not to hex anyone."

"Right. Who told him that? Your dad, Dumbledore, and Minister Riddle are the only people he listens to. And his wife. I know, my dad told me." Neville grinned widely. Frank Longbottom had a high level position in the Office of Magical Law Enforcement, and Sirius Black was well known to that department.

"If it weren't for his not-inconsiderable charm, not to mention his position with the Ministry, he'd have been arrested years ago."

"Hermione, stop talking like you swallowed a book," Ron said, swinging his wand around and watching a few Muggles duck nervously.

"Ron, you shouldn't. And I don't," Hermione scolded and defended herself at the same time. "Ah, here you three are. I'll leave you for now. See you at dinner!"

London, August 7.

"I cannot believe those idiots had the audacity to attack you and Lily, James!" Sirius slammed a hand down on the long wooden table. James and Remus were seated, an empty chair between them. The three men were waiting for others to assemble, and Sirius was taking the opportunity to vent. "Riddle really ought to do something about that Malfoy."

"We have no proof," Remus interjected. Sirius threw up his hands. James looked as if he were about to say something but Sirius plowed on.

"He speaks against wizard-Muggle relations every time a new proposal comes up. He's against everything progressive - you ought to know, Remus, he was fighting against the Wolfsbane Project hard enough – he's spoken of the 'superiority of pureblood wizards' – what more proof do we need?"

"I'm afraid, Sirius, that while I share your opinions, many of our colleagues do not, and the wizarding community at large will demand more substantial proof." The warm, powerful voice came from the door; Sirius spun around to face it.

"Minister Riddle!" he said. "I didn't know you were there."

"It doesn't matter, Sirius, but try to keep your passion down just a little, please. There are people I can't afford to alienate at this point."

"I'm sorry, sir." Sirius looked it, and sat down between his friends, who had both turned to see Riddle. The tall man, handsome and looking far younger than his nearly seventy years, addressed James.

"I heard that you and Lily were all right; do you need anything that I can provide?"

"No, thank you, Minister." James smiled. "The warning was more than enough; I had these two on hand," he gestured at Sirius and Remus, "and between the four of us we sent the enemy running." His easy words did not match the worried expression on his face. There was not yet any explanation of why the Potters had been attacked.

"Tail between their legs," Sirius added, his former spirits seemingly regained.

"Yes." James glared briefly at his friend, and continued. "Harry and the twins were already heading off for this camp of yours, and we sent Cara to see her grandparents. They love all our children dearly, even if they aren't always prepared for their slippers turning into cats."

"Oh, I'd forgotten your wife was Muggle-born." Riddle smiled. "That is the kind of thing I'm talking about in all my speeches about co-operation and co-existence."

"No offense, Minister, but you're preaching to the choir here." James smiled back. "Who else will be at this meeting, incidentally?"

"Dumbledore, of course, and Longbottom. Rookwood – Department of Mysteries, do you three know him?" They nodded their assent. "And Arthur Weasley, naturally. That's all; I needed men I could trust."

"Weasley's a good man," Remus remarked. "One who could easily be overlooked, though."

"I know." Riddle sat down at the head of the table. As if it was a signal, the door opened again and the four remaining men appeared. Arthur Weasley, his hand on the door, gestured for Dumbledore to go first. The old man took his place next to Riddle. Frank Longbottom sat on James' left side; Rookwood and Arthur Weasley seated themselves on the other side of the table.

"Thank you all for coming," Riddle said when they'd all settled. "I'm sure you all know why I called you here." He took a sip of the glass of water in front of him as the others nodded. "Rookwood, have you any information for us?"

"I'm afraid not, Minister. My informant has identified a few low-level members of the Pureblood Movement, but I'm leaving them alone for fear of revealing him. He's also sure that Lucius Malfoy is leading the movement but can't get me any proof, even a look at Malfoy's face."

Riddle sighed. "I was afraid of that. Rely our thanks to him, however, especially for the warning about last night."

"Lily and I second that thanks," James interjected. Rookwood smiled and nodded.

"Frank?" Riddle turned to him.

"I'm afraid we've turned up nothing through our channels. All the usual suspects have been toeing the line perfectly the last few weeks; we've conducted a few raids and haven't even turned up shrinking doorkeys." Frank looked disgusted.

"Professor Dumbledore, have you any suggestions?"

"Thank you, Tom. I'm afraid I do not, at this point, have anything to add which you are not more than capable of thinking of yourself. I have every confidence in all of you." Dumbledore's smiling gaze swept the table, focusing on each man in turn. "I have personally know each of you since you were students at Hogwarts, and I do believe what I say."

"That brings up something I've been thinking about," Sirius said abruptly. "Have you noticed that the few Pureblood supporters we have nabbed are all Slytherin graduates? It could be coincidence, but I know they talked about that nonsense back in school all the time."

"As none of us were Slytherins," Riddle said dryly, "It would be a bit prejudiced of us to make any sort of judgment along those lines. I know that we Ravenclaws never got along with them particularly well, and I'm sure you Gryffindors didn't either."

"Ah, they wouldn't like you anyway," Rookwood put in. "Your father was a Muggle, after all."

"And I am quite proud of that fact; he never treated my mother badly for it, even though she didn't tell him until I was born." Riddle smiled. "I remember – anyway, that doesn't matter. Sirius, can we have a report about your camp?"

Sirius frowned for the first time that evening. It was well known that he had not wanted the camp project at all. "The campers arrived today. Apparently they've settled in fairly well, but I had to come down here for this meeting. Jenny's running the place right now, along with all the other leaders, of course." He shook his head. "I'm just not sure about some of the kids, Minister. There were a few who I had to take – family influence – who are certain to cause trouble. Frankly, I was surprised at some of the names."

"Oh? How so?" Riddle now copied Sirius' frown.

"They're not from Muggle-friendly families, for one thing. Draco Malfoy, Lucius' son, is one of them."

"You're right; that is odd." Riddle rubbed his chin. "All right, Sirius. I think perhaps you should take some extra help."

"Excellent." Sirius' grin was restored. "I'll just tap my friends here, shall I?" He nodded at Remus, James, and Frank and Arthur as well. "Frank, Arthur, you've both got kids there, so does James. Why don't you come help? And Remus, too."

"I've already used up all my time off this year," Frank began, but Riddle cut in.

"For the next month, all five of you are on assignment – at Camp Morningstar." He frowned. "Who came up with the name, anyway?"

"Remember we had that contest in the Muggle papers? For kids? Name the camp, win a trip?" Sirius groaned suddenly. "We got over a thousand suggestions." Frank laughed. "From one kid," Sirius finished, and James and Remus joined in the laughter.

"All right," said Riddle when the laughter had died away. "Unless someone has something else to bring up, this meeting is adjourned." No one did.

As they left the meeting room, James asked his friends to come with him. He led the way to his office, in another part of the building, and shut the door.

"Are you worried about something happening?" he asked Sirius. "Why'd you want back up, anyway?"

"Oh, like I said…" Sirius shrugged. "Besides, three of the people who were supposed to help canceled at the last minute, so we're short handed. You two are responsible for me getting this stupid job,"

"No, we aren't," Remus contradicted him. "All James did was suggest that you might be capable of –"

"Yeah, I know. That's what I meant." Sirius glanced at the clock on the wall. "Anyway, it's time to go. You two had better pack. You know where we are." And he Disapparated.

There will be more soon, I promise. This story is the result of trying to rearrange a tapestry when a single thread has been altered. Look at the shifting ripples, the patterns, the designs taken up and replaced in different, yet familiar, ways….