'You know, Harry, I can teach you more than Dumbledore ever could,' Tom Riddle hissed. The torchlight flickered in the darkness of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry tried to pick himself up off the floor. He ached all over with a fierce, knawing pain.

'Power, Harry. Come to me, and you will have power,' Tom Riddle's face was half-lit in the flames of torch light, his high cheekbones accentuated, his smile twisted and malevolent.

'Never!' Harry gasped. His throat seemed to be clenched tightly, his wind pipe small as a straw. It hurt so much. 'You… you killed my parents! You're a murderer! And…' he paused for breath, 'you are Evil.'

'Come to me, and you will have your parents back,' Tom said softly. Harry froze. 'Yes,' Tom agreed, 'I know what you want. I am an orphan too, you know. There are many similarities between us. I know how much you want them, and I can give them to you. The White side cannot – only using 'good' spells – they cannot bring back what is gone. Their magic is not powerful enough. I can bring them back to you, Harry. Come to me, become a death- eater, and you will live in the lap of luxury. I will give you money, you can have your own house where you will never speak to the Dursleys again. And your parents will live with you.'

Harry's head felt like it was being lashed by a thousand tornados. Everything he'd ever wanted – he could have back his parents. His heart told him he had to, of course he had to. What sort of a fool would he be to turn down such an opportunity. But his head shrieked that he couldn't – he couldn't become one of them. Not one of the death-eaters – not him. He was supposed to help people – help get rid of the death-eaters. They were cruel, evil. They'd kill him if they could.

So, wouldn't it be better to be on their side? Where they wouldn't harm him? And where he had his parents to keep him safe?

'Let me explain the transaction in a little more detail,' Tom said quietly, 'I know how much you want your parents. Alas, nobody could ever perform such a spell for me. But I can do this for you, Harry Potter. Doesn't it make sense? We are the most powerful wizards – shouldn't we be joined as fellow friends, not as enemies? I can give you everything, if you'll only turn to us. Your parents – their souls are in my wand, Harry. I can release them. I can, of course, bring back their bodies which, one their souls have joined, will appear normal. As if nothing has happened. They will, of course, be on our side too. I will teach you everything you need to know to fight the White Wizards. We can take over everything – rule the world! And your parents will be right behind you, in your own house with fifty swimming pools and as many Firebolts as you want. I can see you are tempted, Harry. Come to my side.'

Harry tried to think straight. Of course not – no. He couldn't.

But, everything Tom said made so much sense. And he'd have his parents again.

He struggled to stand up, leaning with his weight on a cold stone pillar. Every part of his body ached so that he could barely breathe. If he didn't join Voldemort's side, Tom could kill him now, and he wouldn't even be able to put up a fight.

'If you agree to join us, I will instantly remove the pain you feel,' Tom said, apparently reading his mind, 'Of course, if you do not consent, I can kill you with one swish and flick of my wand. It's as simple as that.'

Harry felt faint. Yes. Yes – he had no choice, did he? And, he wanted to see his parents so badly. To talk to them, to have them there.

What about Ron? And Hermione?

'Do you love your parents enough to join me?' Tom said, beginning to hiss again, 'Or don't they matter as much as Hogwarts, and Dumbledore, and Ron and Hermione?'

'Yes!' Harry said finally, 'yes, OK. I'll do it. I will become a death eater!'

At once, the room began to spin, faster and faster, like Floo powder only more violently. The flickering colours merged and the air seemed to rush past so fast that it was difficult to breathe. He could see the motionless figure of Tom Riddle about a yard away from him, calm and collected. Harry tried to reach him, but the wind whipped his outstretched fingers like knives.

Then with a sudden flash on luminous pink, everything stopped. The colours cleared. Harry was standing in a large, bright room, filled with expensive furniture and ornaments. The thick carpet was crimson and matched exactly the blood-red velvet of the curtains. A cheerful fire flickered in the well- maintained inglenook fire-place, and Tom settled down on a long velvet couch, and snapped his fingers with lazy authority. At once, a hooded man came running in to the room, bent double and bowing low.

'Weasley,' Tom acknowledged. Harry gave a start. The face under the hood was that of Bill Weasley – Ron's brother.

'Bill?' Harry said softly. Bill appeared not to hear him.

'Get me a drink and some food,' Tom said, 'and some for Mr Potter here. Bring him some robes. And, I want my Lupus Group here.'

'My Lord,' Bill agreed, bowing so low that his hood nearly swept the floor, and retreating backwards out of the room.

'Do you like my house, then, Harry?' Tom asked in an uncharacteristically friendly manner.

'Yes,' Harry agreed guardedly.

'Funny, really, if you think about it. Everyone could have this, if they wanted. All they have to do is join me. But they don't understand. I'm glad you saw sense, Harry. You and I will be partners, I think. I will build you a house like this right next to mine where you can live with your parents. I will teach you everything I know, and we will work together.'

'Yes,' Harry said again, 'when do I get to see my parents?'

'My Wolves – my dear Lupus group – will see to that,' Tom said, 'here they are now.'

Bill Weasley appeared at the head of a group of five identically dressed figures, in long hooded robes. Bill Weasley was floating a large tray, laden with food, which he set down on the coffee table in front of Tom, before bowing and leaving. The Lupus group all leant down on one knee in front of Tom, heads lowered.

'These, Harry, are my most trusted death eaters,' Tom explained, 'my loyal wolves. They carry out my tasks for me – they are my unquestioning army. Malfoy here is the leader. Malfoy?'

'My Lord,' Malfoy – the spitting image of Draco only older – bowed low.

'You will find and restore the bodies of Lily and James Potter. Bring them here. Mr Potter has agreed to join us, and they will be his prize for doing so. Meanwhile, direct the other death-eaters to magic a house on the West side of this, where the Potters will dwell. Make it grand, and comfortable.'

'My Lord, we Lupi marvel at your genius in collecting the most powerful of the White wizards and the tasks are as good as done,' Malfoy said softly. Tom nodded and flapped a hand lazily, at which the instantly apparated away.

'Now for the initiation process,' Tom said, a smile crossing his face briefly, 'Weasley! The robes!'

Bill appeared instantly, bowed low, and deposited black velvet robes on the table. Tom flicked his wand, and instantly flames engulfed Harry – burning away his Hogarts robes. He yelled and tried to put them out, but Tom was louder.

'They will not hurt you, Harry. They're merely for the robes,' he shouted. Harry tried to stand still, his mind working away fearfully, but Tom was right. The flames felt cold on his skin. Tom flicked his wand again, and the black velvet robes immediately enfolded Harry in their darkness. The flames disappeared.

'Show me your wand arm,' Tom hissed. He stood up, powerful and authoritative, as Harry rolled up his sleeve.

'Repeat after me: I Harry Potter do solemnly swear,'

Harry's mouth seemed to work of its own accord, 'I Harry Potter do solemnly swear.'

'To give my soul, my will and my mind to Lord Voldemort for all eternity.'

No, Harry thought, no, I don't solemnly swear that. But it was too late, his mouth was already saying 'to Lord Voldemort, for all eternity.'

'In return for which I will be awarded my parents,'

'In return for which I will be awarded my parents.'

'And I will work for Lord Voldemort for as long as he requires my will.'

'And I will work for Lord Voldemort for as long as he requires my will.'

'For better or for worse,'

'For better or for worse.'

'Lord Voldemort is now my Messiah.'

'Lord Voldemort is now my Messiah.'

Harry glanced up, and Voldemort raised his wand. Harry closed his eyes and felt the spell slice through the flesh on his arm and branch agony across his body. He screamed and his body contorted in the pain until suddenly, everything stopped. He sat up, and looked down at his arm.

On it, the Dark Mark was burnt deeply into his flesh.

'Now,' Voldemort smiled, 'you are mine, Harry Potter.'