Chapter 34: Time skip

Saturday, October 31. 1981.

"No... No! Please- not my baby- have mercy... Have mercy...! NO-"

He had snapped. She was just so immensely annoying. Did she truly believe that he would spare her or the child- after what they have all done? Certainly not. He has made it so far because of his own brilliance and determination- and they were trying to destroy his future kingdom; him?! Even though they should know that this was for the good of everyone- for the entire magical community! And after committing such a crime- they honestly believe he would give in to their whimpers and pleas?

No one made a fool out of him without consequences.

He ignored her limp wide-mouthed body fall to the floor. They were such ignorant idiots to think that after defying him, he wouldn't come back to slaughter them all. The Potter male had even decided to fight him without a wand- his death was guaranteed at that point on. All of theirs were. He had even given them a warning; a chance for them to redeem themselves and save their own skins if they had accepted the punishment for their crimes. And they had refused; even calling him a bastard and all kinds off insults. But he was a patient man in general; he chose to ignore such words and give them one last warning. He was not a man to be tested though...

But of course, the Potters have crossed the line- the border of a country.

He disliked spilling magical blood in general. Although he was currently known for it in these warring times...but the nation refused to listen, and it seemed violence and torture was the only thing that cleared their brains. Certainly; his deatheaters and followers were all and mostly purebloods- who wished to eradicate the mudbloods that stained this beautiful world. Or force them into submission. But unlike popular belief, he did not bare immense hatred towards muggleborns. He knew by personal experiences that magic was a beautiful gift- an any child of those petty muggles that received it was considered gifted. Why shouldn't they have the right to explore the world, while they themselves were gifted with the power to do so?

He simply wished to create an utopia- where muggles were erased completely out of the magical world and where the muggleborns would permanently stay in their world- not share the knowledge of magic towards those hideous muggles. He also wished for order and law- despite all appearances, the magical world was severely lacking in that department. So why had his obviously fair wishes fallen on deaf ears? Oh, the ministry hated any kind of change that would in no way benefit them. Disgusting as they all were to him at times... And he needed followers- his strength alone could not stand against an entire community. But smart ones were rare to nonexistent these days... So what if he had twisted his changes into a need of a pureblooded community only? In the end he would rule and benefit for all- and his power will become even stronger so no one will dare defy him.

Ah- but if he looked at it, that was just the very beginning to his dream. He didn't wish for just a magical utopia... his dream reached farther than that... An empire... 'Or a nation.'

So if a small ancient wizarding family was the only thing standing in his way...

He sneered at the chaos he himself had mostly caused. Perhaps he had went a bit overboard with the spells; but if this had been a properly built house the damage wouldn't have been so severe. He crossed the giant debris on his way out; there were still thousands of things that needed to be done... The new notifications to his deatheaters- there was still that new employee at the ministry under his imperius... And he needed to keep up his own appearance and business of one handsome and charming Tom Marvolo Riddle; who was certainly not Voldemort no matter how much that old geezer spouted the truth to everyone. How can he, such a charming businessman, be even related to such a cruel man...?

He had remembered right at the door of the room, of what still needed to be done.

He raised his wand and pointed it to the one year old infant baby. The baby was barely standing, his tiny hands gripped around the bars as he wailed till no return. He muttered the incantation lazily, with no mercy or redemption as it successfully hit it's target. In the next moment he was gone; a loud crack signaling his exit.

And the baby had been hit- and it toppled on it's back; her cries stopped, breathless.

But she had... Survived.

Sunday 31. July 1990.

"Wake up." He aimed and kicked; successfully earning a groan from the lump covered with sheets. It squirmed a bit, but still remained unmoving. He sighed and floated upwards; a few meters above it. "Wake up- or I'll fall on you."

The lump squirmed again, moving the sheets slightly and he then heard a tired mutter. "You wouldn't dare." He raised an eyebrow as he heard another yawn. "Oh I think I would. And you do know that I'm heavier, right?" At first the lump was silent and still, and right when he assumed she had fallen asleep again, the sheets moved away fully and revealed a tired messy haired being underneath. "Fine. Fine." She grumbled as she stretched her arms above her head; glancing at him in the air with a glare.

She stumbled her way out the room and in the bathroom. With his current mission now completed he put himself in a more comfortable position; laying down on thin air, his arms serving as his pillow. He opened an eye only when he felt something pass through him; automatically finding the culprit putting on a shirt beneath. "You shouldn't throw pajamas at people." He vaguely commented.

"Well I'm not. Besides, you aren't human."

"Ouch. That hurts my heart."

"How can it? You have no heart."

"Such cruel words you speak. Are you sure I'm the one with no heart?"

His answer was a notebook flying through his face. "No throwing school supplies either." He muttered as he followed her out through the door; earning an amused laugh in return. They treaded their way through the stairs and hallway, her humming along the way while he followed behind like a shadow. Upon entering the kitchen, she grinned. "Good morning!" She chirped happily, strutting her way to the table and siting down, barely holding down her excitement. "Good morning." She was greeted back less enthusiastically; earned with a barely contained yawn. His host frowned upon such a lame greeting; had she perhaps forgotten what today was...? That was her trail of thoughts and, amused, he said nothing to comfort her- wanting to see where this was heading.

She was given a plate of an omelet and bacon; completed with a pair of barren baked toast. The very rare sunday breakfast; his host frowned even more, concern and sadness growing as she stared at the delicious meal. Obviously, she hadn't expected this. She didn't even move her fork, even when she was joined at the table. Neither spoke a word- and silence engulfed the kitchen. He saw his host try opening up a topic; but her intentions failed as she barely opened her mouth and then shut it again, completely ignored. Only was she spared 5 minutes later.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you eating up?" Her aunt inquired across the table; swallowing the last bits of her own food. His host just sighed quietly and poked her fork in the omelet, chewing it with no motivation whatsoever. Her aunt set the newspaper she was reading in her lap and left to put out her dirty plate. "You better hurry up eating..." She stated, her body invisible behind the open refrigerator. "Otherwise the candles will melt the cake." She finished, putting a giant chocolate round cake on the table; the words Happy Birthday Brat! illuminated by 10 colorful candles.

"You remembered!" Of course his host gasped, utterly touched and relieved, digging into her breakfast with vigor as her eyes never left the cake. "I never even forgot." She answered, barely catching the finished plate that his host basically threw at her. "So seeing as I obviously have to make this official: Happy Birthday Brat." She cut out a piece of the cake and handed it to her; it was almost have eaten in the next second. "I'm glad I made a bigger cake- by this rate nothing would have been left for me." She muttered. Thankfully his host hadn't heard her as she focused on gobbling down on her cake. Her aunt smiled at her; a rare, satisfied and happy smile. It was gone in the next second when she continued eating her own piece of the chocolate goodness; but he caught it from the corner of his watchful eyes.

Holly couldn't believe 3 years have already passed.

Many changes happened through that time; things that she now considers ordinary. For example, she herself had grown from a relatively small child into an average sized kid. She was tons taller- well, still only 10 and small to most, but she felt like a giant. Her hair had grown longer- but since her body had grown too, the difference wasn't much. She also began to slouch- something, which her aunt would definitely NOT tolerate. She now finally realized that those woman which you glimpsed on the streets, with their head held high and their shoulders back, weren't doing it to look pompous. "Shoulders back- chest out. Chin up!" Many a times her aunt had given her a good kick or too if she didn't comply. "Ladies do not slouch- otherwise, your breasts will hang in the future." And she hadn't sparred her from embarrassing comments either.

The relationship which she shared with her aunt was strange too. They were roommates; at best, good friends. She did not baby her or kiss her and murmur comforting words- those were things which were too painful for them both to do. But she taught her manners, gave her tips at times and did not hide the cruelty of the world from her eyes, which Holly always knew existed even before completely grasping it's entire horrors. "Why should I hide you from reality?" She stated, convincing herself more than Holly. "To baby you and convince you that the world is wonderful and served to you on a golden plate. That will only do more harm than good for you later on."

Holly knew the importance those words held; despite everything her aunt was an adult and she was experienced with life in general. Holly knew that- but she also found the words she spoke ironic. For hadn't auntie done that exact same thing, once shielding her child from the horrors of the world and painting him rainbows...? She also trained Holly to become a proper lady; but she also signified the importance of work and gaining your own money. "Your uncle could have taken this house and threw us out. Since he had bought it- it was his." She warned, her voice grave and dark. "And where would we be then? Out on the streets. We would surely have died- at best we would be hanging on a life line in some hospital."

That was the only thing she was grateful her uncle didn't do- she usually only talked spunk and bad things about him. It was hard to really see- but if you dug deep there was a tiny chance that she had and still might, love him. The first few months after Uncle left, auntie was grasping at straws not being able to get employed. From then on, an education was a must. But Holly didn't find that a bother- since she herself was desperate at those times. With no money, there was no food and the bills got harder to pay. It was a horrid era, but they managed to pull through. Proper knowledge now became from tedious to a weapon which might ensure survival in the business world.

Her auntie had become an expert cooking chef (which was impressive, since at first she just washed dishes), Holly had gained a proper childhood in a way (The worries weren't there as much; her aunt didn't care what she chose to do or play. It was a bit worrying for Holly if she one day might reach for fame and drugs, but also great to not worry about tomorrow and be a brat) and Robert was slowly becoming older- but his tongue was as sharp as ever.

The person that changed the most was Dudley.

He was also the most puzzling of all. She still had no clue what he was- he floated and passed through walls and solid things, only seen and heard by her and was always nearby. But he wasn't a hallucination. Because he spoke and he didn't disappear- Well, what she meant was it was like he had a mind of his own. But he was also solid to the touch- she touched him and she could feel him underneath. Perhaps her mind was just playing tricks on her- but she knew that he was in a sense, real. Many times she though he was a ghost of the deceased- but now that just seemed impossible.

But the only thing he shared with the real Dudley was his name.

3 years ago he looked like Dudley and sounded like him. But he was anything but that. Just as Holly grew- so did Dudley. He was no longer small and fat- but skinny and lean. His hair grew longer, bangs covering his forehead. She could now clearly see his penetrating eyes- a dull black and dark brown; like a vortex of mystery and infinity. He also now wore different clothes- simple denim jeans and a white shirt with a giant black spot in the center. He was also taller than her for a few inches.

It was strange to see him grow as she did. Upon realizing it, his sudden change of appearance once frightened her so much she asked him why it was like that. "I'm a part of you- the thing that changed is just how you look at me now. My first appearance was of your dead cousin- but it changed over time once your mind realized how different I am. These clothes, this body- this is how you see me."

His answer was giving more questions than answers- but he refused to say anything else. So she accepted it- and the fact he could read her mind like an open book with a huge 22 font. It scared her; her mind and Dudley himself. Was she just plunging into insanity? Or was there more to it?

"Don't forget to buy eggs and flour." She frowned as she put on her shoes, shooting her aunt a pout. "It's my birtday, yet I still have chores?"

"Blame your cake. I almost lost an entire month supply in one night." Her aunt muttered and grumbled. "I was planning to give you this after, but since your being such a baby..." Holly blinked, not understanding until a weight settled on her head. She took it, putting it towards eye level and grinned so much, her face might have gotten stuck like that forever. She began thanking and bowing to her aunt; too ecstatic to mind her slouching and manners. Her aunt waved her off and shooed her away to get a move on. She was literally skipping through the street; Holding a beautiful hat equipped with a red ribbon and a small fake pink gem in the middle. Ahh yes- she also had this strange fascination with hats. Did she forget to mention that?

"You're skipping again." Dudley mentioned somewhere behind her- but she ignored him, taking in the sun and her birthday. Things were finally looking up...

A/N: I couldn't resist- I just had to write another one. But I'll probably lay low after this. So- did anyone get kinda shocked at the flashback?

...

Anyone?

I know that I am obvious- but I'm sure none of you had seen this coming. Looks like the prophecy isn't in play anymore- so it begs to wonder why Voldy murdered the Potter family in the first place, right?

Please leave your shock for the review section- your speculations might even get an answer (probably not though...)