What Once Was Lost

by Beulaithris

Something is wrong with Harry. Or, more accurately, her magic- it's not normal to wake up drenched in ice well after accidental magic should have resolved, is it? Then again, nothing much about the magic world is as it was, according to the mysterious Tom Riddle, and if she follows the dark path he's beckoning her down, that might not be the only thing she loses... SlowBurn TR/HP

1. Prologue

Prologue

To many wizards, the concept of the butterfly effect would be considered ridiculous.

How, they ask, can a butterfly flapping its wings in Diagon Alley cause a hurricane in MACUSA headquarters? Surely the butterfly could just be transformed into an elephant to prevent the hurricane. Or it could be arrested, since causing hurricanes seems rather illegal, even if the laws governing butterflies are rather lacking.

It is, therefore, rather a good thing that wizards do not in fact make the laws of the universe, even if they routinely break them three times before breakfast.

Picture this scene, for example- Deep in the bowels of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there stands a young man with dark hair and blue eyes. Handsome enough, the effect is spoiled somewhat by the blossoming purple bruise around one eye and the sickly pallor to his skin visible even in the gloom.

(It's 1942, after all, and whilst purebloods can ignore the war on European soil, an orphan from London is losing sleep over the thought of going back to a summer of wailing sirens and screaming doodlebugs. He doesn't want to die- not yet, not like that, not ever.)

He raises his hand, light blooming from the end of his pale wand as he squints to look around the chamber. It's dark and damp; slime covering the floors and the scattered skeletal remains of various rodents.

In one universe, the next thing he sees is a giant snake, easily seventy feet in length, with a scarlet comb on its head and death in its stare. It tells him about the glory of Slytherins past, and about how sacrifice in this life could prevent ever needing to pass on. You know what happens next.

In this universe, however, the butterfly has flapped its wings.

(Or, more accurately, the rat has found its way into the other end of the chamber and squealed, and so the snake is busy. Once again, you know what happens next.)

In this universe, wand light reveals a vast wall carving, spiralling up into the darkness. He recognises some of the symbols within it- Elder Futhark melds with Hieroglyphics, which merge with Merlin only knows what. He squints again, then bends forwards, frowning at a bit of the wall which glints gold.

He mouths for a second, then reaches out a long, spindly finger to touch it.

The wall sparks.

There is a hurricane in MACUSA.