Chapter 2

The Dark Lord sat at his large breakfast table in Gaunt Manor reading the Daily Prophet only a few days after Halloween, he was amazed and disgusted at the same time by the masterful tricks Dumbledore had pulled. Sirius Black was now in prison for killing Peter Pettigrew. It had not taken long for the man to catch up to him, and it seemed the rat animagus luck had run out. The Dark Lord had been making plans to shelter the man from his pursuers, but it seemed it was not meant to be.

When the Dark Lord folded the paper up he was lost in thought. He had received intelligence hours before that Black had arrived in the area of Falmouth the Pettigrew was hiding, but the magical powerhouse assumed the man would be smart enough to hide in the sewers or something for extra precaution.

Needless to say it was quite a shock when Peter came running into the foyer a few hours later heaving for breath with one hell of a story to tell. If the rat was to be believed Peter had snapped out of quite the shock after he had blown up a street in Falmouth with absolutely no recollection of how he came to be there. The only thing he could really remember was Sirius laughing like a maniac saying that he killed them. In a panic the man had fled, but only later discovered that Sirius had been arrested for killing him and fourteen muggles. Everything was going haywire, and his follower was experiencing symptoms of a memory wipe or a very powerful imperius curse.

When the Dark Lord searched the man's mind though he could not come up with anything. It was as if he simply did not exist during the hours the animagus was unaccounted for. It was impossible, and magic that he had rarely seen before. Only a wizard of similar caliber to himself could've possibly done this, and that left his suspect list rather short.

Tom could only shake his head in befuddlement as he pondered exactly why Albus Dumbledore would've done this. He was the only likely suspect, but it didn't make sense. What was his endgame, and why would he have taken control of a potential Death Eater to kill one of his only followers? It didn't make sense. The feeling that settled over the Dark Lord was ominous, and he felt as if he was missing a big part of the play, but forced himself to shake it off. He was on the verge of victory, and nothing would change that.

The next day the paper about Black going to Azkaban was thrown across the front page for a crime he didn't commit, and no one would believe him when the truth came out. Black had gone mad with grief in the aftermath of what had happened on Halloween, and was apparently chanting in a psychotic manner that it was all his fault.

It was these events that led an old follower back to his inner circle. Severus Snape had returned the previous night to inform the Dark Lord of his treachery. Of course he was terrified when his Lord began laughing with madness but turned even paler than usual when he was informed that Voldemort already knew everything. In a show of kindness, the Dark Lord shot one very powerful bout of the cruciatus curse at his follower but then forgave him with a warning of there being no third chances. It was then he secured the man's loyalty, and told him what had become of Lily Potter. It was at that moment that Severus Snape had truly become a believer of the man's cause. There was certainly doubt before, but not anymore. He had been promised a reward by sparing the woman's life, and he had been granted that. To a man who had only ever loved one he could ask for no higher blessing.

The primary reason forgiveness came so easily in this case was the value of his follower. A man with Severus Snape's talents could be very useful, and admittedly he would be blind to the prophecy without his interference. For that he owed the man a certain debt that he now believed was paid. In that process however he believed he had secured a potentially very valuable faithful follower.

Snape had even explained that he no longer held faith that Dumbledore was some great light wizard. Both men now expected that the so-called great leader of the light had somehow set the stage for all these odd things to happen. They weren't quite sure how or why, but they knew it had to be true. It was quite clear to both Tom Riddle and Severus Snape that Dumbledore had instrumented Black going to Azkaban while somehow also pushing Peter to the dark side years before making him give the secret up to the Dark Lord just a few weeks before.

This allowed the Potter boy to stay at his Aunt and Uncles unchallenged until it was his time for Hogwarts. The two like minded men had pondered why the headmaster of Hogwarts would have desired his chosen champion to be raised by muggles, but honestly they came up with nothing. Particularly after Snape had confided to the Dark Lord the kind of people they were. The math was not adding up, and a small part of Tom Riddle that still lived worried that he had sentenced a child to a hell that he himself had endured, and wished upon no other.

The next wonder they had was who the godmother of one Harry James Potter could possibly be. It was not anywhere in the Ministerial records like it usually was, and the Dark Lord would've loved to know how the wisen headmaster had pulled off that particular trick. It was severely unlikely that the Potter's had not done the proper documentation but that was one secret that would likely be lost to time.

To prove Snape's loyalties, he was quickly dispatched to track down the heir to the Potter family, so the Dark Lord could assess the situation he would be left in. When the Dark Lord was questioned about his intentions he tortured his once again faithful servant for his insubordination. It only took a day for Snape to find Petunia Dursley's residence and Voldemort insisted that they keep an eye on the boy in the coming years. If nothing else a possible threat could not be left unchecked.

Time Skip 4 Years

The reports coming out of Privet Drive from Snape were disturbing. It was becoming clear that all of Voldemort's fears of the boy's upbringing had some sort of merit. He knew Dumbledore had been monitoring the house however, and waited for the boy to be taken away from the situation but as time passed the ire and impatience of the Dark Lord increased, and he knew that he could not let the boy's mistreatment go on any longer. Death would've been a crueler fate in the opinion of one orphan boy to another.

Upon arrival he could sense the blood wards, but they were far weaker than what they should have been to challenge his entrance. Blood wards were amongst the most powerful known to wizarding kind, and having been casted by Dumbledore himself they should have been near impenetrable. Something wasn't right here, and the heir of Slytherin had a horrible feeling.

Tom Riddle could easily tell that these wards were a shadow of what they should've been. Blood wards were intent based, and if the child had been well looked after and taken care of it would've taken hours to unravel them. Instead he merely drew his wand, and began deconstructing them in parseltongue making quick work of them inside of five minutes.

When the time came to enter the house the Dark Lord opened the front door with a simple unlocking charm careful to not to set off any traps that may have been left by Dumbledore. After deciding that nothing was behind the blood wards he grinned at the arrogance of the headmaster and quickly walked through the house trying to remain undetected by its occupants. He looked around for signs of the boy who had survived his killing curse all those years ago, but there was nothing. No pictures, no stocking for the holidays. It all made it seem like there was not a fourth occupant in the household at all. It was as if the Dark Lord had walked into an alternate reality where the boy merely didn't exist. Deciding to go have a word with the muggles he moved up the stairs towards the Master Bedroom where he silently opened the door and observed the two. The man was easily pushing three hundred pounds, and wasn't missing any meals, while the woman looked like she may have given all her portions to her husband. Her thin horse-like face seemed troubled in her sleep.

With a quick movement of his wand the man had been stunned, and the woman's eyes shot open. A scream died in her throat as the Dark Lord flicked his wrist taking her ability to speak away as he levitated her off the bed with his wandless magic choking her with an invisible grip around her throat. The look of terror was delightful to the man as he said, "If you wish to live you will not scream when I lift my spell. Your filthy muggle husband is alive, but only for as long as I allow it. If you scream I will kill you both without question, do you understand?"

The frail woman nodded quickly, and Tom Riddle removed his charm, dropping her to the bed as she gasped for breath. Petunia Dursley whimpered, "You're him, aren't you? The one that killed my sister? What do you want?"

The Dark Lord smiled evilly, reveling in her fear, and not answering the false accusation,, "I want to make a fair trade. I understand that you do not wish to have a magical child in your home, and you're in luck because I would love to take him off your hands."

She cried out, "Just take him and go, please don't kill me."

The evil smile on the Dark Lord's face faded, "That's it? You're just going to let me take him? No begging? No pleading? What kind of disgusting breed of muggle are you? I should kill you where you stand."

The woman almost shrieked in fear until the Dark Lord conjured a knife and shot it in the direction of her throat stopping it inches from taking her life, "Scream and die, my patience is running thin. In order for me to take the child you must agree to a few things. I am aware you have begun corresponding with the Headmaster of Hogwarts, the school your sister once attended as a young girl. Now you will inform him that all is well on a regular asked basis. You will also ensure the Arabella Figg does not come sniffing around this house, if she were to discover he was not here, it would cost you your life. Am I perfectly understood?"

The woman shook her head as fast as possible, when the Dark Lord withdrew his wand, "Good, now I will be taking the boy. If you do not follow my instructions to the letter, you will be killed. On July 1st, 1991 you will receive the boys Hogwarts Letter, I will be by to collect it, and it better be here. Trust me you will regret it if it is not. Am I understood?"

She nodded frantically, and the Dark Lord drew the knife back from her throat slowly with wandless magic, "Now tell me where the boy is?"

Without hesitation she cried out, "He is in the cupboard under the stairs."

The man's eye twitched as he felt rage consume him, "You're a filthy muggle, and be lucky I have need of you. This is your one and only reminder of what will happen if you cross me, silencio, CRUCIO!"

The woman opened her mouth to let out an agonizing scream, but it never reached her vocal cords. The Dark Lord then walked away without a second glance. He marched down the stairs with no interest in being quiet anymore and opened the door under the stairs to see the small boy on a very tiny bed. The Dark Lord didn't know much about children, but he was pretty sure they were supposed to be in cradles or something along those lines.

He gently tapped the boy on the shoulder. Familiar curious green eyes stared up into the eyes of the Dark Lord. There was no fear, and Voldemort respected the boy for that as he spoke softly, "Hello, what is your name?"

The boy responded, "Freak, Freak Potter."

Riddle felt a swell of anger roll through him, "Is that what they call you?"

The boy nodded, "That is what everyone calls me."

The Dark Lord sighed, "You will never be called that again. Not in my presence. Your name is Harry James Potter, I swear that to you."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Lord Voldemort. Though I have gone by other names in my life, that is what my enemies and followers refer to me as when they have courage to speak of me at all."

"Why are you here?"

"I have noticed that you and I share some certain similarities." The man admitted in a voice just above a whisper. Staring into the eyes of the green eyed young man he came to an immediate decision, " I have come in order to give you an opportunity that I would've only dreamed of. I am here to offer you my home, my power, my training, and my skills, while all I ask for in return is your friendship, and loyalty."

The green-eyed boy stared at the man in wonder, "I've never had a friend before."

The Dark Lord gave the boy a light smile, "Well if you come with me you can have lots of friends. Maybe even one day you can have followers like me. After I teach you to control these powers that you have."

"You mean you have the special abilities too?" The boy asked in wonder.

The Dark Lord nodded, "I went to school to learn how to control them, you will one day follow in my footsteps if you wish, but I want to bring you in and give you some training. So that way you can become something special."

Harry sighed, "I am not special sir. My Aunt and Uncle tell me quite often, then they don't feed me, from what I can tell I am a problem child..."

The Dark Lord shook his head, "You are very special Harry, if you come with me I will prove it to you."

"Can you show me how you are special?"

The Dark Lord who wasn't used to being tested or questioned first took offense to that, but then he realized he asked Albus Dumbledore to do the same for him years before, "Sure, what is your favorite thing in the whole wide world?"

Harry put a finger on his chin as if he was contemplating something very serious, "I don't have a favorite thing Mr. All my stuff is passed down from my cousin."

Lord Voldemort was becoming more and more disgusted with these people by the second, so instead of cursing someone he waved his hand and the boy started floating. Harry immediately began panicking and threw his hand forward causing a wave of accidental magic wash over the Dark Lord. When Harry hit the bed, he stared at the man with wide eyes, but the Dark Lord was giving him a similar look, "How long have you been able to do tricks like that?"

"Since I can remember sir."

"Alright Harry, now listen. I want to offer you a new home, I can tell you aren't very happy here."

"I don't know sir, if I run away my aunt and uncle will beat me, I have tried before."

"If you come with me I swear to you no one will ever harm you again without paying for it. I can teach you many things Harry Potter, but only if you come with me."

The Green-eyed boy seemed pretty convinced, but then asked, "Will there be food?"

"More than you can imagine. Now is there anything you want to take with you?"

Harry shook his head, "No sir, I am ready. Just promise me one thing."

The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow, "Never make me come back."

Tom Riddle felt his heart go out for the boy, he then placed an arm on his shoulder, "Never will you have to, only if you want to."

With that he stood, and then pressed his mark gently causing the snake to hiss and two pops were instantly heard outside. In a few short moments he was joined by two of his followers, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. I need the services we spoke of a few days ago. I will be the first to admit I am not capable or trained to raise a child, but I will do my best. I only ask that you take the boy out and get him some clothes and food, after which you may bring him to my home at Gaunt Manor. At which point I will take permanent custody of the boy. You will keep him hidden from the public at all cost and may ask help of any other of my death eaters WITH children. Treat him as if you would treat my son, my only heir. I owe this child a great debt, and I intend to pay it."

This conversation had been sorted out in much detail many nights before, but now was the time for the Dark Lord to put a small amount of faith in his followers. "Make haste my slippery friends."

Lucius and Narcissa both bowed respectfully, "Of course my Lord. Will you be by to check on the boy?"

Voldemort growled, "Soon, so you best take care of the boy Lucius."

The head of the Malfoy house visibly flinched at the obvious threat, "Yes my Lord."

The Dark Lord then turned to the boy, "I am going to give you something I have never had before, and it is something I know you have never had before either. But I'd like to give being friends a try if you are willing?"

The boy smiled and gave the man a hopeful smile. The Dark Lord was touched, but he refused to show it, "Good now let us leave, before the wards become fully active once again, our business is done here."

(A/N) I hope that was a different start than what most people are used to. The Dark Lord is still very evil, don't get me wrong, but he is going to be somewhat compassionate, he is still going to kill a lot, but he is going to be more intelligent than blood thirsty. Give me a few chapters, I think fans of the Harry Potter series will like where I take this. There will only be a couple of chapters before entering Hogwarts and from there we will begin to see canon events unfold. Please stick around for the next chapter of a remastered version of the Dark Lords Rising coming next Thursday October 28th!

PS. After next week updates will come every other Thursday. This will simply be jumping in the rotation of my other 3 stories that are update bi-weekly.

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