Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor any of the characters that you have heard of

AN: Here is chapter 1 and I hope you all enjoy it. I should be able to update another chapter at least every few days or even every day. Next Chapter: the Hogwarts express and the sorting. Drop me a review and let me know what you think so far.

Chapter 1: Life Goes on

Harry Potter sat in his cupboard trying not to cry, as he usually did on days when he was home. On good days he would be sent to the babysitter across the street. She wasn't exactly kind to him but she didn't hit him like his "family" did. He was allowed a break from his chores today because his uncle had broken his arm and cracked three of his ribs this morning, but at least he got one day off from the neverending chores. He fell asleep while wishing his life was different.

"Get up Freak!" His Aunt Petunia banged on his door in the morning, "We're all hungry."

'Yeah well so am I not that I'm ever allowed to eat' thought Harry bitterly as he dragged himself out of bed to go cook the abnormally large breakfast that his whale of an uncle and pig of a cousin required. "Yes Aunt Petunia" he sighed wondering if today he might be able to sneak a little breakfast from the trash. What appeared to be a small four year old emerged from the cupboard underneath the stairs. Harry hated his size. He looked so much younger than his seven years and felt so much older. He just wished that somehow he could be taken away from here someday.

In a small dark and well hidden cottage where Tom Riddle was hiding, a visitor strode up the walk.

"Severus, I'm so glad you're here. I know you have trouble getting away from that bastard of a headmaster. Do you have any news?" Tom Riddle asked.

"Unfortunately no. He is remarkable tight lipped about where he stashed the Potter brat" the younger man said with a sneer.

"Come now Severus. I know you hated his father, but that doesn't mean the child is anything like him. Besides. I know you. You wouldn't wish for any child the type of home that he has surely been put in by high and mighty Albus Dumbledore." Riddle admonished his friend.

Severus looked abashed. "You're right Tom. He probably doesn't even remember his father. It will be hard for me to like him though."

"Well Severus. If all goes according to plan he will be living here with me soon enough so you better at least be prepared to be kind and civil to him. If the prophecy is true he's the only one that can save our world and we can't let him fall into the wrong hands. Keep trying to find out where he has been sent and then we can see about getting him out of there. I prefer to do it before he enters Hogwarts and has his head filled with the same lies that the rest of the world has. I would imagine that he has been sent to the muggle world so that only Albus has access to him. That seems like something he would do."

"I will keep trying but I think Albus is getting suspicious. Have you seen the latest papers?"

"You know full well that I am in complete seclusion here. Even Lucius hasn't been to see me for weeks, though I imagine that little hellion of his is keeping him pretty busy" Tom chuckled remembering Lucius' descriptions of his son Draco's mischeif.

"The attacks are getting worse and happening more often. The name of Lord Voldemort is more feared than ever and in fact has been forbidden to even be spoken." Severus looked at his feet as he relayed this sad information. "I hate to see you reduced to this Tom. Why don't you just leave the country. You wouldn't have to hide and you could just live a quiet normal life like you like."

"I can't do that. If I leave then who will save the boy? No one but you and my closest friends even know who 'Lord Voldemort' really is and you need my help to fight against him. We need more people to help us and we all know that I'm the best person for at least that job. You are not a people person at all and Lucius doesn't relate so well to the 'common masses' and the rest of my friends while I love them dearly, are not the brightest wand in the bunch." Both men gave a knowing snicker at that.

"You are the strongest wizard I've ever known. If anyone can save the world you can. I don't understand why you would bother trying though. The way they vilify you and make you out to be so horrible. That doesn't make you bitter?"

"Ah but Severus, then I would be what they try to make of me. We have to rise above pettiness. Most people only believe what they are told. It is the ones starting the lies that are my enemies. Not only mine but the rest of the world as well."

Four Years Later:

Harry Potter was woken up with the dawn by obsenities from his family and orders to make breakfast just like every other day of his miserable life. He assumed that he wasn't cooking and cleaning when he was a little baby but he couldn't be positive. He wouldn't put it past his horrible relatives. After they had finished eating breakfast Uncle Vernon headed to work and Dudley headed to his friends house and Aunt Petunia propped herself in front of the telly while Harry was cleaning. First though he went through the trash looking for any scraps of food that escaped into the trash. He found a half eaten pancake with coffee grounds covering it but he didn't care. Just as he started stuffing it in his mouth the doorbell rang.

"Get in your cupboard! I don't want anyone to see what a worthless freak lives here!" His aunt hissed as she ran to the door. She opened the door to see the oddest looking man. He was very tall and thin with white hair and a white beard both reaching down to his waist. He was wearing what looked like a cross between a dress and a trenchcoat that was a weird violet color and a tall pointy hat on his head. Petunia couldn't catch her breath at the sight of him. 'What if one of the neighbors sees' she though in a panic. She rushed him inside the house and locked the door behind him then looked out the windows to make sure that no one noticed him. "I assume you've come to take him away now have you?" she said with a smirk.

"That's right" the old man said with a twinkle in his eye. "If you could just fetch him for me and we'll be off. We have some shopping to do before we catch the train in a few hours."

"Boy! Come out now. This man has come to take you away from here"

Harry slowly climbed out of his cupboard. 'so they're finally sending me to the orphanage. Oh well. It can't be worse than here' He walked up to the man with his head down hoping that the man wouldn't grab his arm as hard as his uncle when they left.

"Hello there Harry. My name is Albus Dumbledore and I'll be your headmaster at school this year. You'll be going to a special school for..." He was cut off by Petunia screeching "Not in this house! There will be no mention of that awful freakish place in this house! Just leave!"

"Very well Harry. We'll talk more on the way. Let's be off" He said happy that his plan was coming together perfectly. As they were walking Albus told Harry all about the wizarding world and the evil wizard named Tom Riddle also known as Lord Voldemort that killed his parents and tried to kill him when he was a baby and how that wizard had also been looking for Harry for years to finish what he started. Albus couldn't help but think that he scared the boy and was happy for that. If the boy was frightened of Tom Riddle then he would never consider joining Riddle and his band of friends that were so busy plotting his downfall. He had the boy right where he wanted him.

"Harry will be starting Hogwarts this year" Tom remarked to his friends. "Dumbledore has no doubt already told him all of the stories about me. It will be more difficult than ever to secure his help"

"What can we do Tom?" asked Lucius hoping his friend had a plan.

"Severus do you think you can bribe the hat?"

"The sorting hat is unhappy at having such a headmaster but is unable to go against his express wishes. As long as Dumbledore hasn't specifically told the hat what house to put Mr. Potter in the hat should be open to suggestion. I'm assuming that you wish for him to be in my house?"

Tom nodded. "It will make things much easier. And do try to befriend him as much as possible. Be understanding and know that he has most likely been abused at home all these years"

"I will do my best. Of course you know better than most that I'm not very good with people. Children in particular"

"If it will help I will encourage my son to befriend Mr. Potter as well" Lucius added.

"That would be very helpful. In fact I think many of you have children starting school this year. It would be best if Harry had as many friends as possible. He could even spend holidays at your homes and get to know me more. I think that is the best plan. Make sure you don't tell him about me in advance though. He would surely go to Dumbledore after all of the thoughts the old man has put in his head and could make things very difficult for us."

Every head in the room nodded their understanding and they all turned to leave to have a conversation with their children.

In the Malfoy home, more of a castle really, Lucius sat with his son explaining the importance of a friendship with Harry Potter. "He will hopefully be in Slytherin with you, but even if he is in another house, even if it is Gryffindor, I need you to strike up a friendship with him. I need you to become his best friend and look out for him. Dumbledore will surely be trying to manipulate him. You can't tell him the truth of course. At least not until he meets Uncle Tom for himself and accepts that he is being lied to. Just look out for him as best you can."

"Of course Father. I am actually rather anxious to meet him myself."

Severus Snape slipped quietly into the Headmaster's office knowing that he was most likely retrieving the boy himself and therefore would not be returning for at least an hour. He found the sorting hat laying in the corner ready for the night's ceremony. He picked it up and placed it on his head. "Ah, Severus Snape, I didn't think I would be seeing you again. What can I do for you?" The hat spoke softly in his ear.

"Harry Potter will be starting school today. The headmaster is trying to manipulate him. I need to help him. I understand that you can't go against the headmaster's direct wishes but if he hasn't directed you otherwise I need you to put Mr. Potter in Slytherin so that I may keep an eye on him."

"The headmaster in fact has not given me any orders on Mr. Potter's placement. Perhaps he believes that since both of his parents were in Gryffindor there is little chance that young Potter will not be. I would be happy to place him in Slytherin for you provided the headmaster does not give me that order at any point between now and the ceremony"

Severus muttered his thanks and set the hat back on the stool and slipped out of the office without being seen by anyone.