When the little boy opened his eyes, he encountered darkness. This evening in the mysterious forest, where the sun floated to other lands, resembled the twilight of the night. In the starless cloudy sky, there was no trace of the bright full moon of the previous evening. The trees that were sneaking in the wind wrapped their big branches like lovers, and hosted dangerous shadows at every corner that the eyes could take. There was not much trace of the sky behind the trees, which were closed to each other like deadly hands.
The creatures whispering in different languages were giving danger signals through the dreadfull darkness. Death didn't seem that far from that dark forest that night. The magic of a Dark Lord was the only obstacle to creatures who could easily remove a child's innocent and fresh meat from his bones and find a young, delicious dinner.
That magic shouldn't be taken lightly. With a single wrist movement and a few magical words, it could turn an ancient jungle to ashes. Despite this, the forest was kind to its intruders. The dark wizard, once called Tom Marvolo Riddle, once again welcomed by this mysterious and untrodden forest that never left anyone alive as if he embraced an old lover. After all, the friends of darkness knew each other from their auras, and Lord Voldemort was as dark as befitting a noble servant of ancient darkness.
As the little boy listened to the dangerous whispers of the forest, he gently stood up. There was an echo of an old pain in the scar and his head in general. He closed his eyes a few times and opened it again, trying to figure out where he was. It took more than a few seconds to remember what was going on. Although he waited quietly, it took two minutes to make the broken memories in his mind meaningful.
Finally you woke up, little one…
The familiar voice in Marvolo's mind made the child happy. The familiar voice between this uncertainty and confusion reminded him that he was not alone.
- "What happened, Marvolo? Where are we? "
Because of the confusion of the questions in his mind, he was not even aware that he was speaking out loud. However, when the answer came from the forest instead of his mind, the child felt that his blood was frozen.
- "We're in Albania, Harry ..."
He breathed quickly and wobbled backwards. He drifted over hard soil and tree roots. He backed until he hit a large tree. He looked up at the place where the sound came from with fear. It was not reassuring to meet a stranger who knew his name in a dark forest he had just become aware of.
- "It breaks my heart that you think I'm a stranger, little wizard."
The graceful and rich tone, which evokes a gentle reverberation in the forest, reminded him the charming characther in an old aristocratic film he recently heard through the cupboard. This sound, which belongs to a young and tall adult with black hair which in harmony with the darkness of the night, contained a threatening tone for some reason. The boy thought for a moment with a stupid idea that the man in front of him did not need magical words to kill someone. His tone was reminiscent of the same danger.
- "A very smart discovery, my little one… Many worthless wizard and witch ignored the danger and faced the deadly power of my wand. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to be a good observer as you. "
The boy, whose heart fluttered, became pale when he realized that the adult had read his mind. There was no answer from Marvolo. He had to take care of himself. He gathered his courage, paying attention to the distance between the adult and him. He stretched out his hand and pointed his palms at the stranger. The magic power wrapped his body like a steel shield. He was ready to attack the stranger. He gathered his courage and asked the necessary question.
- "Who-Who are you?"
The stranger sitting in a comfortable seat, which could not be found spontaneously in the middle of the forest, remained smiling to Harry's defensive pose. Obviously he was examining the old pile of newspapers he had taken from the little boy's bag without permission. This angered Harry. He did not tolerate the tampering of his belongings by a stranger without even asking him. Even the trivial things he owned were precious for him because he had nothing when he was at the Dursleys.
Nevertheless, the most annoying part of the adult who read his mind and occupied his private thoughts was that he was sitting unaware of the world and not minding to the child, as if he was sitting in front of the fireplace and not in the middle of a dark forest. Harry's anger lowered his fear a little. His heart calmed down with his angry thoughts. He thought that if the stranger wanted so much, he could harm him while he was sleeping. So what did he want from Harry then?
- "Who are you and what are you trying to achieve by kidnapping me? If you wanted money, you chose the wrong person, mister. "
The little boy knew that the stranger did not want money, of course. Even if Harry worked for years, he couldn't afford the rich air in the stranger's posture. It was unlikely that he would have been kidnapped for ransom. Uncle Vernon would sell his nephew instead of giving for him a penny.
Remembering his uncle, the boy trembled as if he was in pain. He did not know how long he was sleeping or kidnapped, but Dursleys who could not find their dinner ready were guaranteed to be angry at him. He had to return to Privet Drive as soon as possible. If he was lucky, he would not be allowed to eat for only a few days. He had to get away from here. But where exactly was here?
The stranger once again ignored Harry's question and answered the complexity in his mind.
- "We are in a magical forest in Albania, Harry. The nearest town is five hours away. "
Harry remembered the words he muttered to the red ring. "Welcome to Albania, Harry Potter," Marvolo said.
* Marvolo? *
* Marvolo? *
* What's going on, Marvolo? *
The boy's voice was more timid than ever. The cold leaking from the openings of his robes and the hunger in his stomach became more and more disturbing. He was just embarking on the fact that he was alone with a dangerous stranger in an mysterious, dark forest. If his supposed family had not been indifferent to him for years, he could have been bursting into tears like a little boy who had lost his mother. He pulled his knees firmly on his stomach. He remembered the brutal truth. He was already a little boy without a mother.
Marvolo wouldn't wait so long to answer him. Harry uploaded the grave crime of the absence of his dear friend to the only person nearby. He asked angrily before he could cover the trembling sadness of his voice.
- "What did you do to Marvolo?!"
He threw his hand threateningly at the stranger. This time he would get the answer he wanted. The angry glow emanating from his emerald eyes supported his threat.
The stranger finally raised his head from the old newspaper. Flames burning softly nearby, the only source of light in the forest, danced in the red eyes of the stranger, resembling the depictions of hell. The little smile put on his lips was not reassuring at all. The boy felt that he trembled with the chill in his body.
I stand right in front of you, Harry Potter…
Realizing that the answer came not from the stranger's lips but from his mind, Harry opened his eyes in surprise again. Was the stranger really his only friend, Marvolo Or was the red-eyed adult playing a painful game for the child, while easily reading his mind?
* This- Is this really you, Marvolo? *
The boy was afraid of the answer he would get. While it was nice that Marvolo had a flesh and bone at last, it hurt that he would be alone again. There was also the possibility that after believing in magic, everything would be a lie. He couldn't trust his own mind.
- "Yeah, it's me, Harry." The stranger said. With the same elegant and rich voice. He put away the newspaper. He placed his hands on the sides of the seat and leaned back comfortably. He resembled a lord on his throne.
The laughter of the stranger encircling the forest pulled the boy out of his sadness. It was a nice, kind laugh. However, his dangerous timbre kept its place even in a pleasant state.
After examining the boy for a long time, the stranger, with a flick of his wand, turned an ordinary stone on the floor into a luxury chair. The luxury armchair did not match the noble air of the stranger's, though. The difference in the seats was perhaps a reflection of the sense of superiority in the man.
- "Come here, Harry."
Although the child did not trust the stranger, he got up softly. The stranger said he was Marvolo. With the probability that his answer was correct, Harry obeyed the polite order. He could question Marvolo, but he would not able to disobey him.
Uneasy, he settled down on the seat after a few slow steps. There was only a meter between him and the stranger. He straightened his back, without taking his eyes off the red ones.
He looked down suddenly, frightened by heavy crawling on his leg. Aphrodite's sneaking around his shoulder made the child smile without realizing it. A familiar face, although it belongs to a snake, was welcomed in this uneasy state of the child. He began to caress the cute reptile unconsciously, while paying attention to the stranger.
He did not notice the unusual silence in Aphrodite. The snake stretched out of his neck, with more genial joy than ever before.
Perhaps the snake greeted the familiar aura in its owner.
The stranger directed one of the sandwiches that the child had previously placed in his bag with a wand movement.
- "Eat."
Harry followed the order, even though he did not trust his food for a few seconds. The taste of the delicious bread had removed the boy's pallor. The meal, which was established with pleasure in its stomach, destroyed the child's insecurity. Filling a hungry stomach was sometimes more effective than the most fancy words. When the sandwich was gone, the boy turned to the stranger. He put his hands together on his lap and asked.
- "Marvolo?"
The stranger, Marvolo, responded with the same monotonous kindness.
- "Yes, Harry?"
The boy swallowed nervously and continued.
- "It's really you, right?"
- "Indeed, Harry."
Harry ignored the monotony of the ordinary response of Marvolo, who somehow managed to make a body for himself, and asked again.
"But how?"
- "I remember telling you that magic has no limits, my little one."
The boy was aware that he was not doing anything wrong, but he blushed with Marvolo's tone. He lowered his head unconsciously,
- "Yes sir." He said. Marvolo's heavy personality and that distinctive, humiliating, not condemning but 'I would have expected better' tone had always created the same sense of shame.
Waiting for the conversation to continue talking, the red-eyed wizard must have been satisfied with the silence and said, "Tempus!" The numbers, suspended in the air by the power of magical words, showed eleven of the night.
- "Gather your belongings, Harry. We need to go back to Surrey. "
The little boy obeyed the order and quickly got up. He placed the newspapers in his bag. H restored the seats without being told. After he straightened his robe, he put the bag on his back. He hid Aphrodite at the warmth of his robe. He quietly approached Marvolo like a good student.
Marvolo grabbed his wand between his long fingers with a blank expression, grabbing the boy's shoulder.
- "Are you ready?"
The child swallowed nervously, nodded. When Marvolo last asked the same question, he lost consciousness and found himself in the middle of a dark forest. Although he hoped not to experience the same unpleasant experience, he was as ready as he could be.
Marvolo whispered to the ruby ring, which the child had previously taken out of the box.
- "Heir of Slytherin!"
The little boy felt that his body was rapidly pulling. Under high pressure, his feet touched the ground before he got used to the idea that he was hurled in the middle of a hurricane. He was lucky. This time he didn't faint. Instead, he was content to empty his stomach in the closest pot he saw. As if he dropped a book on his head, he was slightly shaken by his dizziness. Fortunately Marvolo grabbed the shoulder and prevented the child from falling.
Holding on to his friend for a few seconds, Harry nodded again and cleared his mouth and pot with a simple spell. They had landed in the garden of Privet Drive. The sky was covered with clouds, the empty street, accompanied by a dim street lamp, was vacant and spooky.
If his supposed family noticed that he had entered the house at this time of the night, he could have been thrown out. Where would Marvolo stay? The broom closet under the stairs was not a place where he could invite an adult. The feeling that he would disappoint his friend had left a bitter taste in his throat.
Marvolo, who obviously didn't care about his complicated thoughts, went back a few steps and closed his eyes. Harry knew from his personal experience that his friend focused on his magic. He shivered when he felt that the power was covering the exterior of the house, creating an electrical air like an invisible lightning bolt. With the power of the adult wizard making him addicted to his magnificent magic, he began to feel dizzy again. The closeness in magic, the familiar warmth, reminded the boy his own magic.
What was it that bind Marvolo so deeply to him?
Soon Marvolo opened his red eyes. He turned to Harry with his eyes piercing the night. The boy was not sure whether the flames in his gaze had shined because he could freely throw his magic for the first time in a long time, or if they were shining because they are directed at the child.
- "Harry, do you see the corner where we found Aphrodite?"
- "Yes sir."
- "I want you to go to that corner and dig out a red stone that should be just under the ground. Unfortunately, it is not possible for me to get closer to the house. "
The little boy was obeyed the order, which left no room for questioning. He did not ask why Marvolo could not get closer to the house. He had already learned that the wizard did not like to answer questions that he found unnecessary.
- "Be careful not to do magic near the stone, little one. We don't want to activate the power stone needlessly. "
Harry didn't ask how to dig in the dark. As soon as the thought passed through his mind, a sharp string of light was placed in front of the child from Marvolo's wand. The light was not consciously touching the ground. This spell was a sign that the child's mind was still being read like an open book. While Marvolo's reading his mind a few hours ago frightened Harry, he now relieved his friend's continued intimacy. He put his bag and his beloved Aphrodite aside.
Harry started to dig the soil carefully with a small shovel that he used in sensitive plants. He did not want to harm the red stone. Disappointing Marvolo in this simple task terrified the child. He did not ask why the damn red stone was hidden in the remote corner of the garden for the same sacred reason. He chuckled suddenly. 'I said damn' he thought. After two years with Marvolo, it was natural to speak bad words.
It did not last long, the red stone appeared through the soil. It was obvious that the stone was magical. It was obviously not without reason that Marvolo called it a power stone A red light emitted from the stone and fluctuated softly.
Harry carefully took the stone in his palm and raised it.
- "You shouldn't shake it, little one. Don't make a sudden move. Be careful."
The boy was five steps away from home but stopped with the adult's authoritative voice.
- "Now, slowly put it down. If you go further, we can attract the attention of unwanted eyes. Good. Come here."
The little boy quietly advanced to the powerful wizard. Marvolo took out the familiar knife that the child saw in the box, from the pocket of his robes. After turning a withered leaf on the ground into a deep iron mug, he took the child's hand into his palm. Without warning, he cut the palm with the knife and dropped the blood into the cup.
The child only grimaced during this process, the child was used to the pain. When dealing with gardening and cooking, his hand was often cut and injured. The sharp blade, however, left much more pain than others. Marvolo also cut his own palm, but only added a few drops.
When the cup was half full, Marvolo closed his own and the child's wound, with a silent spell. Only a minor aching remained. Harry joined his palms and pushed the pain deep into his mind.
- "Now I want you to listen carefully, Harry."
The boy stared at the wizard.
- "I I want you to take the mug and place the stone inside without overflowing the blood. After placing it, turn it with one finger so that the blood will spread all over the stone. "
The boy nodded to express his understanding.
- "Then put the stone back in the ground and say the spell. Sanguinem occlusum fuit ordinem! * Repeat after me. "
- "Sanguinem occlusum fuit ordinem."
- "Again."
- "Sanguinem occlusum fuit ordinem."
- "Good. Cover it with soil after doing the spell. And put some dirty stones on it so that it remains unnoticed. "
Child's cheeks blushed with the praise. After saying 'Yes, Sir', the boy put Marvolo's instructions into practice.
After carefully following the orders of Marvolo, he put the dirty stones on top of a newly arranged land. He hoped it wouldn't be noticed.
The mysterious smile spread on his friend's face was enough to make the child stun. This smile meant that the child did not understand, but in fact they achieved something very important.
- "Now we can enter your lovely home together, my little one." Marvolo said with sarcasm. "Don't worry, we won't be long. We're just going to teach a little lesson to a few damn muggles. "
The boy was sure that the little lesson that Marvolo was talking about would be scary. Instead of shuddering, this thought cheered him up. It was a great idea that he and his friends would hex the Dursleys together. He felt the cool hand of Marvolo in his neck, as the idea of hurting someone was a bad thing appeared in his mind. His mind was filled with torments done to him that his supposed family justified. He moved towards the house with his angry little heart filled with hate.
Privet Drive number four seemed more lifeless that night than ever before. The deep breath sounds reverberating inside the house were unaware of the painful torments would be made soon. After eight years of indifference, shouting, condemnation, and slaving, the house, which had never been a home for a little boy, would have witnessed terrible revenge. What a sweet vengeance it would be... The little boy would remember this night until the end of his life.
The Ruby and The Emerald eyes first moved the cute family to the living room, sleeping with a few spells. They paid attention not to wake them up from their beauty sleep. They did not want to miss the pleasant taste of their surprise. Peaceful deep snores came out of the throat of his huge uncle and filled the hall while the long-necked woman grind her teeth. The only son of the family, the baby whale Dudley, was swallowing in sleep. He must have been dreaming that he ate something delicious.
A heavy toss was heard inside the house with a wand movement of Marvolo, not disturbing the neighbors but reverberating on the walls.
Aunt Petunia's hand found her husband, shaked him gently without opening her eyes.
- "Vernon… .Vernon…. Voices come from downstairs. "
Uncle Vernon did not take any action on what he heard. Petunia shaked again.
- "Vernon! Get up! A voice came from inside the house. It may be a thief. "
Vernon muttered sleepily.
- "The freak dropped something, my flower. Never mind-
- "If he comes home at this hour, you have to teach him a lesson." Petunia said in her sleep, condemning.
- "Tomorrow, my flower, tomorrow."
The family quickly rushed out of their way as a tos sound echoed right next to their ears. Vernon opened his eyes and stood up. Petunia held on to her husband and stood, and in fear, hugged her baby, who whispering at her mother whining.
- "What is happening-
- "Vernon -
- "Mommy -
The Dursley family first glared at the handsome stranger. Later, They looked at their beloved nephew with blaming eyes.
- "If you don't tell me what you're doing on my property right now, I'll call the police."
Petunia hisses through her teeth. The only explanation for finding themselves in the hall without noticing could be something 'abnormal'.
- "What did you do again, freak ?!"
Harry was caught between hiding behind Marvolo and attacking his aunt. He was amazed at how that simple word affected him so much. Marvolo must have realized the boy's stress that he did not give Dursley time to insult any more.
He started to talk.
- "You wonder why I'm here, muggle?"
The poison-filled voice and humiliating speech of Marvolo made the whole family shudder.
Petunia understood the term. Her eyes opened with fear. Attacking an unprotected eight-year-old boy who did not know how to do magic was different, attacking an adult wizard was different. He could imagine that the stranger, standing with his dangerous stick in his hand, would mean their end. Unfortunately, Vernon was not so smart, even though she shook her husband. He just felt that he was insulted not knowing what was the insult. The abnormality of the red-eyed stranger made him even more angry.
- "Look here, you crazy freak, you can't enter my house and call me muddle — muggle -"
Flames almost burst from Marvolo's ruby eyes. It seemed unbelivable for a muggle to dare to speak to him, and to worse, insult him. He pointed his wand at the fat Dursley and whispered with all his hate.
- "Crucio!"
Harry watched with pleasure as his uncle fell on the floor and screamed in agony. It was worth seeing his aunt's screams and Dudley's pissing himself.
Marvolo lifted the curse and addressed the family in a dangerous tone.
- "I'll tell you why I'm here. You damned muggles, you treated a magical boy, your nephew like a slave. You dare to defile him with your worthlessness. You have ruined his childhood with insults and as if it was not enough that you did not show him love for a single day. You worked him in chores that you did not find worthy of your own child. And you closed him, your nephew in a dark cupboard. He was just a baby! Today you will see what a capable wizard can do. You are so despicable with your vileness! Congratulations, you've reached the dishonor of being Lord Voldemort's most hated muggles. I damn you."
Harry felt that with the words of Marvolo, his hatred increased and his eyes were full of loathing. How could he let these worthless muggles treat him like a slave?!
He was aware that his friend was calling himself Lord Voldemort. He had never heard of this name. But obviously his aunt knew Lord Voldemort well, despite being a muggle. Spitting saliva from her mouth, she slammed his finger at Marvolo with a tremor and shouted..
- "You! Y-you are that murderer - "
But Marvolo didn't let her finish. With a "Crucio!" He made to Dudley, he left Petunia screaming. The mother hugged her crying baby, trembling in pain with tears. Vernon was still shuddering on the floor after his "Crucio!"
Marvolo lifted the curse, buried his hand in the boy's hair and caressed him.
- "How about you try it too, little one ... Show your love for your so-called family."
Harry swallowed excitedly. The hand stroking his hair was a first after his short, loveless childhood. The close proximity Marvolo showed him made him smile. He raised his hand at the suggestion of his friend. Finally the day he had been waiting for came. That magnificent day, where he would take his revenge and prove his strength, was now in front of him. Marvolo offered him an incredibly beautiful gift.
- "You always treated me like a mud on your shoe, uncle! Crucio! "
While Vernon was shaking in pain with the power of the curse, blood drops crept through his mouth and ears. The boy was not as controlled and experienced as Marvolo. He could not adjust the strength of the curse. Still, Harry continued when there was no appeal from his friend. Petunia and Dudley moved away from Vernon with fear. As if the pain was contagious ...
- "You never loved me, Auntie! How could you raise your sister's child in a cupboard like a dirty secret ?! How could you use me, your nephew like a slave? Where is your humanity? Crucio! "
As Petunia broke into the ground with screams that shattered her throat, the youngster Dursley tried to escape from the hall, away from sight. But Harry wandered around his poorly trembling family on the floor, as if trying not to step into the mud, and stood before his cousin.
- "I hate you Dudley! You're a bully and a spoiled jerk! You know nothing but harming others. How nice is that we are changing our roles today... Crucio! "
The big boy fell to the ground, crying and pleading to his mother. He did not last long, as the pain tolerance was lower than that of an adult, He lost consciousness. If the curse remained for a few more seconds, obviously his heart would stop and die.
- "Enough, little one. Come here."
The little boy thought he was holding the curse more than necessary, he immediately retreated with the fear of disappointing his friend. But there was only admiration and respect for him in Marvolo's face. Like a parent who paid off for his efforts, he grabbed Harry's shoulder and stroked his hair. This small expression of intimacy affected the child so much that if Marvolo wanted him to kill an entire neighborhood at that moment, he would do it without blinking.
Marvolo had obviously read his honest devotion. A satisfying smile has spread to the lips of the mighty wizard. It was as if he was victorious from a great war. The little boy did not know what this meant.
Marvolo once again stroked the child's hair, then applied a few spells to the muggles.
- "They'll remember what happened, but they won't be able to say anything to anyone. This will keep us away from unnecessary ears. "
Harry once again admired and smiled at the beauty of magic.
The last spell of Marvolo was "Enervate!" Muggles were sobered by the effect of magic. They drifted to their sons with fearful eyes and moved away from the abnormals. They did not speak with the fear of the pain that could come again, and they were quietly whimpering with the traces of pain stuck in their muscles.
Marvolo proceeded in the hall like a leader, like a royalty. He turned to Muggles and ordered. There was no room for error and disobedience in his powerful command.
- "If there is someone to ask you about your nephew, you will make excuses. You will say he's asleep at home, sick or at school. You will not tell anyone, I repeat, you will not tell anyone about your nephew's absence. Is that clear ?! "
Muggles nodded their heads quickly. The order was clear. Otherwise, the unspoken death threat would come to them at the speed of light.
- "Say goodbye to your beloved family, my little one ... You will never step into this house again."
Harry grinned with joy. In this journey towards unknown, he was with his one and only friend. He did not care about the rest.
- "Hope to never see you again…" he said in a childlike rhythm. It would be great for him to never see the Dursleys again.
Marvolo turned to the door, knowing that the boy would follow. He stood in front of the cupboard at once and set it on fire. Muggles screamed a high-pitched scream for fear that their home would burn. When the fire completely covered the cabinet, Marvolo put out the flames with a flick. The small cabinet was now just a pile of ash. The boy watched this wonderful moment with amazed eyes.
Marvolo turned to Harry. He was waiting for him to say something. He was satisfied when he met the boy's smiling face. Then he grabbed the boy's shoulder and they stepped into a calm and relaxing night.
When Harry got his backpack and his beloved Aphrodite, the reptile asked.
Where are we going, Little Master? Are you sure there are enough mice where we go?
The little boy looked at Marvolo. Her friend understood the question and instead of the child he answered.
We are going to visit an old friend, Lucius Malfoy, Aphrodite. I'm sure they have delicious rats for you. If not, you can eat house-elves.
Harry didn't know what houseelves were. But The snake was satisfied and nodded.
- "And Harry… I know you have many questions. Don't worry, we'll have a long conversation with you before the night is over. First we need to remind a proud servant his owner. "
The little boy just nodded. Marvolo held him firmly on his shoulder. Once again, when they apparated, this time they did not need magical words. For a moment, they were in the garden of Privet Drive, and the next moment they stood in front of a huge manor.
The little boy did not know what the future would show, but it was certain that it would not even fit in his dreams.
Gold embroidered, huge doors opened and…
Harry Potter unknowingly but decisively stepped into the deadly policies of the magic world.
* Close by command of the blood.