Chapter 2: Potentials

Albus Dumbledore sat quietly in his office with the hums and puffs of his inventions. Setting the pieces in place, he understood that Voldemort's plan was to completely seize his victory by defeating the prophecized child on their 17th age. While he can not be certain about who he will select, he has however made sure that his opinion can be swayed.

The last 9 years has tested his patience by influencing the masses Neville longbottom was the reason why Lord Voldemort stopped his raids. The masses at first were confused but with enough time, they accepted that this suggestion as a fact since there was a rumour about Voldemort being afraid of the boy and his hidden powers (which he himself advertised) which is why his attacks stopped and made sure that the Potters were made into a persona-non-grata since they 'ran away' while the Noble house of Longbottom were fighting the good fight.

Of course, he himself made sure that if ever the prophecy was refering to him,Neville could possibly kill the Dark Lord. Neville received training from numerous people with himself included in that list. However, while Neville was becoming a wonderful pawn to his plan, his pawn did have a tendency to be bigheaded and sometimes acted less of a person befitting the image of Light he himself portrayed. He at least managed to get into his grandmother's graces to at least research on some magicks the Longbottoms had.

He also made sure to slowly influence the Longbottoms to be a bit more arrogant while having some idea to mock the Potters to a point where they felt betrayed since they left them to die. This in turn was heard by the masses and they along with the Blacks has been labeled as 'Traitors to the Ministry'. While this not being an official title as anyone can just leave during times of war,to him it was enough that he can put his next plan into action

Harry Potter's name was down the line for Hogwarts. He smirked inward as James never removed the name and any name registered will be a magical binding contract forcing them to attend the initial sorting. While the populace may feel that his family betrayed them to Voldemort and that the boy himself may feel isolated with his peers due to the influence of their parents, he is planning to be his grandfather figure once he arrives so that with time, the boy may confine to him all his secrets and he may access the Potter vaults.

Of course, he hoped that his plan wouldn't backfire on him as well making them a Dark family but he was assured by Snape that James would at least teach the boy to never go Dark. He was sure that even the boy will try to butter him up to get into his good graces hoping just to be accepted. While he was sorry for the boy already since it does remind him of his own childhood, defeating Voldemort first is for the greater good.

Immersed in his thoughts, he was surprised that his wards picked up a late guest

"Good evening Minerva! Lemon Drop?" he asked her while his guest politely refused.

Minerva McGonagall looked annoyed and Dumbledore decided to just drop the sweet back to its bowl "Please sit down. What brings you this late hour?" Albus asked her while gracefully sat before addressing him

"Albus, it has come to my attention that James' son is about to attend and yet we have yet to gain their whereabouts. As your deputy headmistress, I would need some address to register if at any case anything happens. Owls are too slow for emergency purposes." She sounded polite but your could hear the strict tone that demanded nothing less.

"I understand your concerns but you can just leave that issue to me personally. James has made it clear to not provide any information that can be tracked back to him. Even now, I seem to vague recall a certain castle he and his friends used to play at but I cannot specifically remember the name of it so I can only assume he warded it, placed it under a Fidelius Charm or both."

Minerva frowned as she knew that Fidelius Charms would make anyone regardless whether they have been there or not forget the whereabouts as well as prevent the place to be seen or entered unless the person who keeps the secret of the location. She huffed in annoyance before concluded there wouldn't be any point in pursuing the issue since she trusted Dumbledore's judgement. She might as well just wait for the magic that Hogwarts had to provide the address once letters will be sent.

"May I at least ask about his opinion about his child being enrolled since you were the last one who spoke with him? If he wanted to protect his family, surely keeping less contact to Britain would be the best option." Minerva inquired

"James never really did inquire about it. Harry's name has been there since his birth and James never made any mention to unenroll him. I felt that a child should make his own decisions and not be judged on the actions of his parents as well as have a chance to find out about his heritage." Dumbledore explained while leaving the details about his plans

Minerva pursed her lips "I understand, I just wish I understood as well what exactly happened to the man who would recklessly go through any trial to win his wife's heart. I didn't expect him of all people to become a coward." McGonagall paused while myriad of emotions went through her "Not only him but his friends, there were so crazy, stupid, reckless but loyal and brave to a fault. I mean where can you find a man standing up for his worst enemy in front of a rabid werewolf. Yet that same man not only left but made sure to not even support us in any way. The worst part is that I watched him grow from a boy to becoming an adult as if my own son and he didn't care, I hate his son for living a life away from the fear." Minerva breathed deeply before looking away.

Dumbledore smirked on the inside thinking his plans already showing if this is the reaction of his Deputy "Please understand Minerva that the boy has no faults, we may be able to convince him to redeem his family name in Britain. All I ask is while you may or may not like the boy, be at least professional." Minerva nodded before being asked if she had any other issues.

"Just one last thing Albus and you don't need to actually say it but Neville Longbottom is a scapegoat isn't he? Even with all the training and effort we put, he remains above average at best. While I know the boy is strong for his age, he has no unique abilities, no motivation, arrogant to a fault and worst he thinks people should bow before him because Voldemort fears him." Minerva narrowed her eyes towards the Headmaster seeing if he will deny the accusation

Dumbledore closed his eyes. Sometimes he really hated people who questioned his actions. He decided to tell the truth or at least some of it. "Neville is a gifted child who I believe can make a difference, the only thing that will tell is time. There are circumstances that I cannot yet explain for reasons but for now, let us prepare for this war. For reasons unknown Voldemort may have stopped his attacks but he and his Death Eaters are still out there doing the worst. " Dumbledore stare outside his window and thought as well what horrors Voldemort could be up to.

-Riddle Manor, 1990-

Tom Marvolo Riddle also known as Lord Voldemort has spent the last few years building up a reputation as a sucessful philanthropist and made sure that not only he has servants in the upper echelons of the Ministry but his word had weight on the public view. From there, he can handpick those who can aid his cause while he bid his time and power.

The recent years have been fruitful for him. Rookwood and Jugson managed to get high positions into the Department of Mysteries and manage to even find the record of the prophecy that would end him. Armed with this knowledge, he infiltrated the Ministry and simply grabbed it. It amused him how easy it would be by using just Polyjuice and impersonating Rookwood.

From that point, he understood that he was the one to pick his greatest enemy and mark him as an equal. He found it amusing that Dumbledore would never consider that he could just ignore said prophecy and simply carry on with his regular plans. Granted, he did delay them just to get this information but now that he knew, there was really nothing to stop him. He had not marked any child, he had let go of those who defied him, he even laughed when Dumbledore tried to bait him using Neville Longbottom as the destined one to stop him. He could just send any of his Death Eaters to deal with him in time.

Voldemort even amazed himself on what he planned all those years ago as he was sure it would put a major dent in every plan Dumbledore would ever think of. His last raid those years ago is almost going to bear fruit.

-flashback-

-November 1980,McKinnon Manor-

Voldemort smiled in amusement as one McKinnon died after another, while he had a few losses, those losses were easily replacable. For now watching the man in front of him fight off Lucius,Bellatrix and Barty together and was still standing impressed him.

Lucius fired two stunners in rapid sucession while firing a volley of cutting hexes on the sides to prevent him from side stepping towards the man known as Arcus McKinnon. On his other side, Bellatrix fired a mixture of severing and bone shattering curses and a few blasting hexes in between. Barty Crouch Jr. conjured rocks,transformed them to spearheads and banished them towards his back.

The man they were attacking stood at 6'7 with a similar visage of a viking,strong, muscular with lots of facial hair yet despite his build, the man moved quick enough to dodge all those spells efficiently. Blasting the rubble to dust and sensing the danger he was at, he immediately conjured a swarm of bats that absorbed the volley of spells before sending the remaining bats towards Barty. With a flick of his wand, the bats suddenly turned to globs of water. Barty not expecting being suddenly doused was also unprepared for the follow up Arcus had in mind as a second later, we was unable to move and as the water was suddenly frozen.

"Bella, see to Barty about unfreezing him! I'll cover you" yelled Lucius prepared to fire again a volley of hexes when a snake made entirely of fire wrapped around Barty and melted the ice of instantly without harming him.

"While I enjoy watching you four fight, we have a schedule to keep. Finish the rest. I'll deal with this one" said Voldemort while his followers backed away from Arcus as fast as they could while keeping their guard up and their wands towards him.

"I'm glad I could have this fight, your going to pay what you did to my brother." snarled Arcus as he readied his wand.

"Please, your brother was as pathetic as is the rest of you." Voldemort sneered as he sent his volley of curses at him while the man dodged and blocked to the best of his abilities. Of course, while the man battered away some of his hexes as he intended, he transformed the surrounding rubble into wolves and sent them to attack the man.

Arcus was tiring from his previous battle and here was at least a dozen wolves ready to devour him, but he at least has a few tricks still up his sleeve.

"Aguamenti! Glaceo Impir!" he decided to overpower the first spell to flood the area following it with freezing it suddenly causing multiple ice spikes to impale his targets. Of course, said spell weakened him further but strangely for him, he was having fun. Voldemort summoned cursed flames that split into several small flaming snakes towards him while seeming uncaring for the ice spikes headed his way.

"Fuck! Eat this then and see you handle this, Aqua Saltetio!" yelled Arcus as he sent a volley water bullets towards both Voldemort and the snakes.

Voldemort pointed his wand downwards and levitated avoiding the ice spikes following up with a circular motion, he willed the snakes to catch the volley of water bullets. Smirking, we thrusted his wand in Arcus' direction and the steam made was banished towards his foe.

Arcus dodged as much as he could but his right arm was still scalded by the heat, cursing up a storm,he fired a volley of stunners as a distraction while he prepared his magic for an incantation that would give him some breathing space. He knew it in his heart he would die, but he would die trying to take Voldemort down... and probably as much of his Death Eaters while at it.

"Salvo Glacrepitus!" He yelled as he sent a volley of white light towards Voldemort. Amused at the spell, he tried to block using a shield made of what looked like molten silver only to find said shield to freeze instantly then explode hurling ice spikes in all direction. The glanced at Arcus observing what would to him as some of the shards headed towards him only to find the ice melted before it even reached him.

Thinking that the ice could be melted, he fired a volley of cursed fire to each projectile only to find that each collision exploded causing multiple shards again to fire in all directions. With too many shards flying all over, Voldemort decided to up the ante.

"Feindfyre!" he yelled causing all the ice to melt while the flames shifted to animalistic figures headed his way. Arcus smirked as he saw his incoming death but he refused to give Voldemort the satisfaction that he died by his hands.

"Ipsum Tempestate Deorum!" he yelled pouring all his life and magic into his last spell. His vision was going dim as he felt his life fading but he was satisfied watching Voldemort's face shift from a smirk to an annoyed scowl.

Voldemort saw his opponent blow away all his flames back to him with a strong wind while at the same time the room seemed to flash freeze causing multiple ice spikes to be generated in all directions all headed his way. His fire tried to head towards Arcus but those that managed to get past the incoming wave of wind was turned into a solid statue of ice before it broke apart into shards as it joined the wave.

Voldemort snarled as any spells he sent or any physical shield he put up as he retreated was frozen and turned against him. He thought of immediately casting the Killing Curse and ending it but he would rather not risk it since the spell required him to at least stand still for a few seconds, someting he cannot afford since he noticed that the ice spikes were growing larger by the second as well as the flash freeze that was headed towards him was gaining speed.

Seeing no choice, He yelled "Reducto Maxima!" behind him reducing the wall and everything behind it into fine mist. He quickly flew as fast as he could away from it all the while keeping his fire alive. Managing to get out of the house at last, he immeidately rolled to the side as the wind went past his casting an entire path frozen for at least another meter before it died out.

Voldemort picked himself up as he stared at the direction of his fallen opponent. He narrowed his eyes in annoyance not sensing his magic any longer before he noticed several of his followers still fighting through the windows. Wanting to satisfy his bloodlust for failing to kill the man himself, he flew towards the window and sent a slashing hex towards one the defenders. Entering the hole he just made,he addressed the death eater that was fighting a while ago.

"Rookwood, where is she?" Voldemort asked.

"Upstairs milord." Rookwood bowed to his feet without caring about the fighting happening all over. Voldemort knew that by the end of tonight the McKinnons will be no more but had something else in mind and for that he needed something here.

"End this within 15 minutes or less. Send this order to everyone or I will end it myself and I assure you, you will share the same fate if any of you remain." Rookwood hastily retreated to inform the others while Voldemort himself marched towards the 3rd floor. His followers where trying to get in but he himself can see that the doors that blocked his path were warded heavily.

"MOVE!" he yelled causing his Death Eaters to stop as they all backed away from the door. Doing intricate movements with his wand, he stopped and pointed at every dead McKinnon he could find around him and made their bodies implode. While every Death Eater stiffened at their masters actions, they watched as the blood stayed suspended in the air. Voldemort flicking his wand upward commanded the blood to meld into one giant glob. Voldemort banished the blood towards the doors causing the doors to open. Behind the doors stood a woman protecting her baby holding a up her wand while Voldemort sneered.

"Think a little family magic can stop me? How naive. Now, step aside and I may be merciful." Voldemort addressed the woman. The woman stare defiantly but Voldemort was not to be tested tonight. Deciding to be merciful, one quick flash and the woman lay dead with her last expression of astonishment in her face.

Voldemort looked at the child stirring at the crib and picked him up gently. He had claimed his prize and it was time to leave. He could sense death all over and it pleased him that his Death Eaters fought with renewed vigor. He thought whether he should reward them or not and just decided to let them do as they please for tonight.

"Let's go everyone. I have things to do and want it done now." Voldemort flared his magic and his followers recognized the malice and intent of wanton destruction in it. They immediately apparated away from it. Once Voldemort landed outside,he looked at the ruins that was once McKinnon Manor and wanted to make an example

"Watch child and know you are destined for great things." He whispered before he waved his wand downward causing the entire area to explode then immediately yelling "Morsemorde" casting a mark above them that appears as a glittering green skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. Satisfied with his work, he quietly disapparated back to his base.

Once he arrived to his private chambers, he laid down the child who was amazingly quiet despite the amount of noise it has been subjected to. Gathering his materials for a quick ritual, he pricked his finger to draw blood and added it to one vial and used the same method for the child. He then mixed the contents of the previous vial with his blood to a milk bottle and charmed the bottle to feed the child. He then drank the contents of the one with the child's and waited. Suddenly, a flash of magic occured between him and the child and he decided to test his theory.

"Honora autem est ultimum est incidere" (Honor is the last thing to fall) as he murmured the family motto of the McKinnon's, a book suddenly appeared before him. When he read the contents, he smirked satisfied with its contents. In his hands lay the grimore of the Noble and Most Ancient House of the McKinnons. Making sure the same ritual did not interfere with his family magicks, he decided to chant his family motto "Omnia esse in esse, est fortis"(Strength above all thing) as well and his family grimore appeared. Pleased with his discovery, he now looked on the child and decided to rename him. After all, if he was going to take care of him, he would rather have the child have a name beffiting the image he portrayed. He saw the bib around the child and thought 'Simon' was such a common name.

After some thought, he decided "From now, you shall now be Sylverson Avernicus Riddle."

-flashback end-

He chuckled in amusement staring out his window seeing his child and his friends play Quidditch, he knew Dumbledore would never think of him raising an heir much lest taking the time to teach them the Dark Arts, after all they would eventually replace his Death Eaters. He would never admit it out loud but he had grown to care for the lad and understood the emotion. He finally understood what his enemy always preached that love was the strongest magic and Voldemort will not be denied of any magic. He even noticed his magic stonger and more controlled everytime he thought of Slyverson.

Thinking about his plans, he put his game face on and summoned his Death Eaters. Time to make sure people remembered why he was an evil megalomaniac.

timeskip: July 1990

-Potter Manor- James Potter was at his study going through his paperwork. During this time, he never felt more stupid than ever (except perhaps saving Snape one time during his childhood days.) He was currently looking at an envelop with the crest of his school Hogwarts. Bearing the symbol of each house along with the school motto 'Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus '(Never tickle a sleeping dragon) attached to it is the lastest news from Magical Britain. He opened it and read the newpaper first.

James was thinking of his past actions the last 9 years and while he may not have gotten any news subsciption since he would prefer nothing to be trace back to his current location, he never expected a low blow from his headmaster. Being called a coward by his former friends he could accept since he did offer them the same option, being called a traitor is a whole different concept. He gritted his teeth and sigh in frustration knowing it was too late to undo any damage. He knew Dumbledore may not have called him that directly but left enough messages for the public to make their own opinions.

Looking next at the letter he already knew what lay in it. Hell, every alumni of his school knew that. He wanted to bang his head against the wall and hope that today was just a nightmare. Returning to England was not one of his plans yet he also knew the magic behind Hogwarts as well. Harry will attend at least a year before the magical contract breaks and within that year his fear is that either he will get influenced into staying or worse getting brainwashed. He didn't doubt Voldemort or Dumbledore's skills in mind magics.

Throwing the letter away, he looked outside his office and thought of his options. His wife explained to him about his son being attacked a few months ago and explained about the offer Harry was given as well as a breif explanation about the overall situation. He considered it a small blessing that they have gone too long of not being attacked.

While the offer of training wandless magic sounded appealing, they decided to leave the option to Harry. Of course, Harry decided to hold off the offer of training for his own reason and all he can really do is be supportive. In this case though, he may have to persuade him since he needs to be prepared for the worst.

Rubbing his temple, he prepared himself knowing his wife will chew him out. Perhaps a meeting with a certain blonde can help him with redheads.

"Achoo!" Minato sneezed while working on his lesson plans

"You ok honey?" his wife asked him while cooking him his lunch

"Yes dear" Minato sniffed a bit "Somebody out there must be suffering"

AN: Sorry for the delay, computer decided to die on me :( Just got it repaired recently should be able to update faster