Blood Disorder

Things had most likely fallen into chaos for Edward and his family. Tom told me about his set up and with what I knew about the wolves, war was imminent. Someone would notice this; either the vampire court or the wizarding ministry. Everything looked peaceful out of the charmed windows, the sunlight even felt warm on my skin. The problem was there was this little part of me that felt...regret. Edward didn't deserve this. No one in this small town deserved this. I had Tom, we had our son, we could settle down or move somewhere else, raise him, just be normal wizards without a world to run. This could be viewed as a second chance, but Tom would never see it like that. The only second chance he saw was to take over the world more efficiently. Last night had been brutal. He had been so violent and I couldn't help but recall the gentle way Edward had kissed me, the protectiveness in his touch. The boy I had been used to want that in a partner. The boy I had been would have never gone for Tom.

"Are you still brooding?"

Tom slid up behind me and wrapped me in his arms; he kissed a bruise on my neck form where he had bit down seeking blood.

"I'm not brooding."

He caressed me softly most likely trying to make up for going into a jealous rage, he hadn't hurt me, I was more resilient then that, but I still bruised.

"I'm sorry for getting out of control; I don't understand why you're comparing me to him."

"Can you blame me? I have a few things to think on and compare don't I Tom? Like what my own choices would have been if you hadn't manipulated me into falling in love with you!"

Tom backed up with a hiss like a snake. It was tense and both of us stood there feeling a little uncertain.

"I thought you had forgiven me."

"I have forgiven you Tom, but you can't expect me not to think about it, and you go getting mad every time I do!"

Tom took my hand gently and smiled leaning down to brush his lips against mine in a warm kiss.

"You're right, come Damien is waiting for us, if we take too long there won't be a kitchen left."

I laughed to release my tension and followed Tom down the stairs thankfully finding the kitchen in one piece though the fridge was an odd color.

"Papa!"

I smiled at my son and kissed his cheek. I was amazed Tom had gotten him into the high chair. Tom served up breakfast; more sucking up, he rolled his eyes and sat down, cringing a bit at Damien's messy attempts to feed himself.

"Harry darling, I think we should stay home today."

I smirked at Tom who just smiled sweetly. Of course we should stay home, there was an all out war going on outside.

"Of course Tom, heaven forbid we get in the way."`

Tom smirked and dug in. I ate a bit slowly thinking over the situation. The wolves would already be at the Cullen's. Tom had seen to that some time last night. Some time after Edward and I had kissed. I still wasn't sure why I had allowed it, or why I had kissed him back. He was only a demon after all and a subpar one at that, a muggle, a dead muggle. Tom had paused in the action of brining his fork to his mouth. He smiled suddenly looking self satisfied and I smirked. I had been well aware that Tom was listening to my thoughts very closely all morning.

"He is undead Harry, but he will be simply dead, very soon."

I held up my glass of orange juice in a toast and Tom clinked his glass with mine smiling triumphantly. This would draw someone's attention, ultimately it didn't matter who. I knew this time around Tom would have the world at his feet in a matter of years not decades. It was almost going to be too easy.

*** Jasper POV ***

I ran as fast as I could but the wolves were faster then I remembered. Edward was right behind me fighting furiously with what appeared to be Sam. Alice was fierce she had already killed the Clearwater's and was moving with deadly precision onto the rest of the pack. There would be more wolves born as long the Cullen's were near. On this day however all of them would fall. The Volturi would come for this, the fight had already moved into town and two police officers had been killed getting caught in the crossfire's of a supernatural battle they would never understand. Carlisle was wounded for a moment his head nearly bitten clean off; he healed and against every emotion in his body killed his attacker. It was pitiful the wolves were terribly outmatched.

My attention was drawn by a painful howl and I watched as the last of the wolves fell leaving only Jacob and Sam who were surrounded. Sam phased back first, followed by Jacob. It was a clear sign of surrender. Both looked furious and it was clear that we could never again come to Forks. All of us were covered in blood, the blood of the wolves. It occurred to me that the Volturi would not come at all if we did a proper clean up of the town that is; kill every living thing and burn it down. One look at Carlisle was enough to realize we would not be doing that. His face was a mask of a man such as I had never seen. I wasn't sure if Carlisle had ever killed a sentient being. He was protective of his family though and he had acted to protect us.

"Edward, what about him?"

The blood of the wolves was not something a vampire desired but Edward was staring at his hands seemingly transfixed. He gave no indication that he had heard me at all. Tom Riddle had done this and still the reason was unclear. Edward looked about and jumped at a tree attacking it and reducing it to fire wood. He began to pile the logs high and in no time he had erected a pyre. When he grabbed the first dead wolf, little Seth, Sam lunged and Edward moved like lightening throwing him clear across the forest and into a tree. After a moment Alice helped him and the bodies including the cops were thrown into the fire. The funeral pyre burned high and the smell was terrible but after the cops had died we had retreated as far into forest as possible. No one would find this for quite a while.

"We need to leave right now."

No one argued with Edward, he was right. We needed to run; many people had seen the wolves running through the town. Luckily the Cullen's moved faster and was for the most part not spotted. I was sill unsure though, Riddle wanted something and it couldn't have been the death of the wolves. It wasn't even the possible destruction of our coven. Riddle was operating under some unknown grand plan and so was Harry. What was troubling was that I could still feel love from Edward for Harry. For Bella it seemed Edward felt next to nothing.

The wolves would be reported as missing, of course Jacob and Sam would say otherwise but beyond their own tribe no one would believe them. Jacob rose to leave and I turned towards him for a moment wanting to apologize but the words died at the look in his eyes. Words would not work here.

The two left and Carlisle screamed out a sound that was bordering on madness. He was too peaceful; he was too gentle for this. I had seen many wars both supernatural and natural. Humans liked to fight and to kill and it was no different with a vampire. Despite the terrible situation the fight had been thrilling to all of us, even to Carlisle and that was why he had screamed so terribly. He alone held a full and deep rooted revulsion for what we were. Esme took his hand gently and all of us headed home. The funeral pyre would burn well into the night but by the time anyone found this place all that would be left was ashes.

The best course of action would be to leave but once we arrived home everyone headed to their rooms. Showers turned on and I understood the need to wash the revolting blood of the wolves off. I was left alone with Edward who like me was also morbidly thrilled from the deadly battle. We sat in silence neither one of us knowing what to say. Edward had known about Riddle for sometime and he only thought to tell us when it was too late. I couldn't help feeling angry but at the same time I understood that even if Edward had told us nothing would have changed. I had tasted Riddle's blood; it was potent, powerful, like a drug. I wondered briefly if his blood had enslaved me. I knew for a fact that leaving town was what we had to do but I couldn't.

Edward nodded in agreement with my thoughts catching me off guard; I hadn't noticed him get close. Alice was beside me but like Carlisle she was frozen in her grief. Only Sam and Jacob had survived, it was painful to do that to them but we were self-preserving above all else. The silence was complete and each of us sat in the house locked in our own grief unable to move. We were waiting for the Volturi, for Riddle, for the end of this game he was playing. I had no doubt something else would happen now and only because he had planned it that way. As of this moment the Cullen family was no more. I was tempted to thank Riddle. He had freed us we were a coven again.

*** Harry's POV ***

Sirens were the first sound of the chaos being slowly released on the unsuspecting town of Forks. I had yet to look outside but now was the time for it. The town was small and the sound of the sirens would draw the neighbors it was only natural that Tom and I would investigate as well. Tom seemed to exhale one long breath without bothering to breathe in again. Damien was resting in his lap down for a nap. He shifted him gently to the couch and smiled fully at my lingering eyes. He held out his hand as if inviting me to dance and together we walked to the door ready to see the beginning of our new empire.

"Let us see what has happened my love."

I nodded and Tom pushed open the door schooling his expression into one of polite inquiry. My eyes opened wide of their own accord. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting to find, but this was beyond my own imagining. It looked as if the wolves and the vampires had fought all through out the town before retreating deeper into the woods. Far off in the distance I could see I thin spiral of smoke, bodies were being disposed of, how many had died?

Closer to home one house had been run through almost as if it had been plowed by a car but I knew it was vampire or a werewolf that had done it. Trees had been uprooted, cars turned over. A few cars had crashed and here and there was a small fire burning out next to one smoldering wreck of twisted metal and rubber. Bella caught my eyes from across the street tears were running freely down her face. I imagined her eyes looked accusing but she had no idea of what was going on here. Just as Edward had no idea of what I was. He had warmed me a bit, telling me of the boy filled with light. It had been painful and exquisite to be reminded of that lost youth.

The boy who might have looked upon Edward with wonder and all the curiosity of a child, I looked to my left, Tom was surveying the damage with a cruel air of satisfaction. His eyes lingered to the left and as I followed his gaze I was astonished to see two dead students both drained by the basilisk. I felt a sharp sting of rage at the sight of their dead and staring eyes. I wrenched my hand from Tom's had went back into the house.

He found me pacing back and forth in the living room. For a while he did nothing but stare at me as I went back and forth, then he decided to ignore me all together. He pulled out his leather bound tomb of a journal and began to write in it. I stopped my pacing and stared at him feeling the rage spike and balloon until I wanted to strike him across the face. He continued writing in his journal, smiling softly now and then and letting his eyes wash over me for seconds at a time.

"Is this not what you wanted Harry?"

I screamed quietly if such a thing was even possible and threw a curse at him which he blocked with infuriating ease.

"Call off the basilisk! There was no reason for those students to die today. The battle between the wolves and the vampires was enough."

Tom nodded in a way that I knew meant he did not care that I was angry. He had his reasons and as usual would wait for me to catch up and understand his master plan. It had been that way before but it was not going to be that way now. Tom had promised a fresh start a chance to fix the mistakes we had made in the past. It would be the same argument though. I would be uneasy about the deaths and Tom would explain to me in his velvet voice why it was necessary and I would be left to see bitterly that he was right. I sighed tiredly and wondered if I could do it all again with the boy Edward loved somewhere in my conscious weeping. The boy filled with light, the boy who wouldn't have harmed a fly.

"I will call off the basilisk Harry. I know how you hate death even when it is needed. Those were the final two they have been left for either the order or the Volturi to find. The Volturi will be angry the bodies were not properly disposed of and the order will hunt the vampires if they can find them. The vampires will run of course and one of them will display unusual elusive powers. The order will be forced to flee and the Volturi will become placated as the Cullen's show true signs of vampiric behavior. Once they have left feeling victorious or too defeated to return we will start with taking over the American Ministry. Do not doubt my cunning love. I have promised and I will keep my word to you alone, the deaths will be minimal."

I nearly wanted to cry. I hadn't thought for one moment that Tom would understand. He had put away his journal and with a flick of his wrist two trunks came down the stairs and shrunk before him.

"We will leave and return when the order and the Volturi are done here."

"They've both come?"

"There already here."

*** Edward's POV ***

I felt them before I saw them. Wizards seemed to pop out of the ground all around the house. For hours we all sat in silence waiting for something of the sort to happen. Still even with there appearance no one moved. The old one with the white beard came forward first. He opened the door with ease, it wasn't locked. Five others came in right behind him the most notable being another wolf and a pink haired woman. The wolf eyes locked on Carlisle with a slight recognition followed closely by disappointment. Japer's eyes were still a deep red but the pupils had inexplicably become a little white.

"You are under arrest for your crimes."

No one moved as the wizards advanced, it wasn't until the one that smelled like a wolf got close to Alice that Jasper responded. He held up his hands and to my amazement black fire spewed forth. It caught the wolf who howled with agony and then the flames died at once. The old wizard gasped out, 'Tom!' in surprise and Jasper turned to him, clearly his body was no longer under his command.

"What was that wizard?"

"Is this another one of your plots Tom?"

Jasper laughed in a way none of us had heard before. He made a sweeping motion with his hand and the house suddenly vanished from sight. The old one dropped his wand in surprise and the others all seemed to be looking at their wands in horror.

"I do not know who this Tom is. I am Lord Valeel."

I realized finally that Jasper had done something to negate the wizard's magic. He laughed once more and sent them away with another slicing motion of his hand. I couldn't say if he had killed them or not but they had gone most likely unable to return and the nightmare became worse. As if on cue the Volturi began a slow approach from the woods. They had been near the fire the smell of burning flesh was fresh on their robes. Caius laughed softly, as he approached. Once they were close, the house reappeared around them and they all whirled comically.

"Who among you has the power for such an illusion?"

No one spoke and Aro looked slowly around seeming bored but surveying his surroundings all the same. Caius walked up to Jasper and looked deep into his eyes. He laughed heartily and moved quickly to pat Carlisle on the shoulder.

"Ah but your children are seeing the light young one."

Carlisle said nothing he simply stared at the floor.

"You know why we have come but seeing your child has made me merciful. The little display in town was uncalled for, but the death of those mutants is most pleasant. Continue in this way, kill who you will but be sure to dispose of the bodies. If these things are done then we will not trouble you, but prey tell which one of you was responsible for the appearance of this house?"

Jasper stood and walked up to Caius who smiled looking once again delighted to see the red of his eyes, the pupils were still a little white and at once all of the Volturi looked confused. They looked about seeming to forget why they were even there. A few more taunting jabs were thrown at Carlisle and then inexplicably they left just as quickly as they had come. Both the wizards and the Volturi had come as some part of Riddle's plan and still I couldn't see what it was.

That had all been too simple and I realized with a pang that this was just his opening move, worse would come; beyond all common sense we were not leaving Forks just yet, we would have to fight. The next few days were very somber, the town slowly worked on cleaning up the mess left by a war. Wakes were scheduled, bodies were found. Still I could only think of Harry, think of his eyes and the way his lips pressed against mine. In no time at all I had ceased to move and even though I heard my family trying to rouse me I could not react. My body had become stiff and unresponsive. It was useless; I had fallen into a depression. My life was in ruins and it was all his fault; that boy with his green eyes.

*** Max's POV ***

"Darling why don't we go out on a hunt you haven't been in days."

"Not right now Natalie."

She sighed, a sound of purest dissatisfaction. There was no time to please her however. There was a call in my very bones. Every night it became louder. Edward was in danger and my mind could not stop lingering on the boy; Harry Potter. I could not shake the feeling that there was trouble greater then any war between magical and non magical vampires. This was something much darker then that. This was the type of evil another evil could fear. Darkness too dark for even a demon, Edward had somehow ended up in the middle of this new evil and I feared he would not survive very long at all.

Valeel was up to something, and no one was guessing at the truth. I paced the length of my parlor noting the fine draperies which had been the same for years. Creatures of habit we were and creatures of comfort and sin and decadence. Still, we loved one another, we loved until it hurt. I opened my mind in a way I had not done in years, a purely mental exercise. I willed my silent voice to call out to the one who made me. Nathaniel would come to me, I was certain of it. If he would have any answers? I wasn't so sure of that.

He came quickly with all his wondrous magic. It was a sore point with me of course, simply because I had none. I could move quickly, dazzle, kill, but magic...what was beauty and myth worth without the spark? He stood in the shadows with beautiful blue eyes and dazzling white skin, all the charms of a human man without a human soul. It was the eyes that bothered me above all else why must we have the red eyes of the devil, while these beasts much more cunning and much more dangerous could move about like a common man?

"You can do the same; it only takes a bit of cleverness which we both know you posses in abundance."

"Stay out of my head!"

He looked hurt by my harsh tone and I looked away unsatisfied. I wanted to hurt him only because he dazzled me so, and my jealousy of his gifts could not be contained. It would have been the same if we were human, wizard against muggle, only I would have tried to burn him. As it was I could do no such thing. He was there, god like as all the others like him were, and I was here common as the day I had been born. Extraordinarily common and astonishingly jealous and bitter about it, there was no war really between the two vampires. What could a muggle ever hope to do to a magical being even if he was dead?

"There is a problem and I think your Valeel has something to do with it."

He looked as a living statue might look, only a small crease appeared in his brow and his eyes flickered away from mine briefly.

"You know of it!"

It wasn't a question and when he moved too quickly to be seen I knew I was in for a long night. He was not attempting flight however; he had simply miscalculated and not slowed his gestures enough for my too human vampiric eyes to see. The magical ones were superior in every way. He had simply taken a seat at the far end of the room in a red velvet chair. His taste, and mine to. I walked much more slowly then him and took the seat across from him. His eyes roamed over me and I looked away from him, now was not the time for his unwanted passion.

"Valeel does not tell me things as you very well know."

I nodded waiting for him to continue.

"He's seemed very distracted as of late. He watches as you know and he seems almost excited."

"Do you know what it is about?"

He shook his head in the negative and I decided to drop some clues.

"Does the name Harry Potter mean anything to you?"

"Well, I've heard it naturally, the boys a hero although he never did anything."

I nodded not expecting much else; of course the name would be known to any magical being, though none of the vampires had ever feared Voldemort.

"And, Edward Cullen have you heard of him?"

He nodded and my dead heart flopped about, or at least it would have.

"I caught it once from Valeel's mind but I know nothing about any Edward Cullen."

"He is young and very dear to me. I don't know why or how but Valeel and Harry Potter, and even Tom Riddle have something to do with this. I need your help."

Of course he would not deny me anything, but it was interesting that he suddenly became alarmed. He stood up and quite easily forced me to my feet. He wrapped me in his arms and I resisted sighing in pleasure at his heat, but before I could completely do that I was crushed by the surrounding pressure known as apparation.

Berlin. I knew this place well, knew it before it was ever called Berlin. I had fled this place in rage and despair and with all the clumsiness only a muggle vampire could achieve. Nathaniel let me go and we walked up to the palace hidden from muggle eyes but not from me. Nathaniel had never changed the wards even though it had been centuries since I had left. He walked slowly enough for me to follow and I deliberately tried not to soak in the familiar sites.

Some things caught my notice like the scent of fresh blood. The human servants, the vases of flowers, the ornate mirrors, the floating stairs, and of course the magic pulsing about, thickening the air. Still I tried not to let it torment me. Nathaniel walked swiftly through the halls taking corners left and then right but I knew my way through this labyrinth blindfolded. We came to a stop at a high door big as six men stacked one on top of the other. It was a door that I might not have even been able to open but Nathaniel did it easily enough. I gasped at first, looking at the rows and stacks of books piled in such clever disorder that a simpler mind would simply close the door again not daring to go a step further. It seemed for a moment that Nathaniel had caught this very fear he stood completely motionless staring into one corner.

"What is it?"

I tried to keep my voice as void of concern as possible.

"I've just had deja'vu, it seems almost as if I've done this before but I can't remember why?"

"Where are we?"

"Valeel's private chambers."

There was a moment of panic quite similar to that of a child caught stealing from his mother's purse. No one was permitted to enter Valeel's rooms not even his beloved. Though Nathaniel as usual seemed oblivious to Valeel's feelings, perhaps he always would be.

"Do you think that's wise?"

Nathaniel didn't answer he simply began walking in the direction he had been staring in trusting that I would follow him and walking slowly enough so I could. The room seemed to be nothing but scrolls and huge leather bound tombs. Some of them could have been there for centuries but there was no dust. Care of spells or servants, either way the amount of knowledge here threatened to be overwhelming. Nathaniel stopped in front of a pile of neatly stacked note books that seemed newer then the rest by at least a few centuries.

At once the names Harry Potter, Edward Cullen, and Tom Riddle popped out to me almost as if they were infused with light; of course they weren't but my dread for Edward doubled instantly. What was it that Valeel wanted with Edward and what did the two Harry Potters, and possibly Tom Riddle's have to with it? Did they even know they were involved? Nathaniel set to reading and even though he was much faster then me I picked up the first book I could. I was shocked to find a nearly first perspective account of Edward's life. I was still trying to grasp what this meant when the book was torn away from my hands.

"Don't"

I clapped my hands over my ears; the prenatural loudness of Nathaniel's voice was too much for me. Valeel was standing over us green eyes calm and serene. Nathaniel and I knew that he was completely insane and all powerful.

***Forks Harry's POV ***

One could almost believe we were taking a family vacation. Damien certainly did, but he was two and I was no where near that young but I was beginning to suspect that I was still naive. We had been gone a total of three days and Tom had declared that now would be a safe time to return. His diversions for Dumbledore, the Volturi and even his present 'other' self had been set. We were now staged perfectly for taking over the world again. I was almost excited though I couldn't help feeling some dread. Valeel was out there and I was certain things were not going to his liking.

"Forget him, he is deranged and he is old."

"He is more powerful then you!"

Tom's face changed from calm to rage so rapidly that I had to take a step back in fear. He composed himself as was his nature and looked serenely calm within moments but his blue eyes were swirling with rage and his mouth was set in a fine line. He sighed releasing all of his tension, or at the very least appearing to.

"He is an unknown variable and I will concede that he is dangerous, but he will never defeat me."

I nodded simply to appease him and be done with the subject. Tom's nerves had been stretched thin and he was not technically speaking the most rational person when put under distress.

"I am not under distress dear heart, but I am troubled by your lack of faith in me."

I wanted to deny it automatically but I forced myself to stop and think. Had I lost faith in Tom? I always trusted him completely, I helped where and when I could hoping to perfect his always near perfect plans but lately I had only been seeing the gaping holes. He was a Dark Lord, the best there had ever been and the best there ever would be.

"Do try not to forget again beloved."

I left the room and went to collect Damien who was napping peacefully and sucking his thumb a habit we could not seem to break. Stubborn to the very last, just like his father.

"We should only hope so, are you ready?"

I nodded and we aparated home. The windows were charmed with fake sunlight and even fake scenery but one could always see through it if they looked closely enough. At first glance it was obvious the town had cleaned up. It appeared as if nothing extraordinary had taken place and I knew that the muggles would be all too happy to believe that nothing had happened at all. I placed Damien in his room and watched him sleep for a while. Then I felt arms wrap around my waist and lips attach to my neck.

"How long until he's up?"

"Maybe and hour."

I was dragged away into the bedroom and was shortly kicking and screaming but for very good reasons.

"You know I love you Harry, don't you?"

Looking into Tom's eyes was a challenge for me, if you knew what you were looking for they were always very open and honest. I saw the love there as I always did. I nodded and he leaned down for a breath stealing kiss. He rolled off of me soon after and quickly fell asleep. There was no way to do anything in halves with Tom. You couldn't love and hate him it was one or the other, and I loved him no matter what he did. It was too late for grudges or old betrayals to change that.

"Tom!"

He was already out of bed dressed in a robe and wand in hand. A crack in the wards, our wards, my magic was crackling and snapping in the air with the strain of trying to keep the wards in place.

"Go get Damien!"

Tom was looking left and right moving in slow circles when I didn't move at once he offered me a not so gentle push to the door.

"Get him!"

I ran to his room and was surprised to find him awake looking just as alert as his father, but he had no idea what to do or what the threat was so he was simply looking around the room. I picked him up and he remained quiet looking all around him. Tom was in the same position when I returned and the wards were under serious threat of breaking.

"Should we leave?"

"We can't the wards have cracked too much well be splinched and Damien will be killed. Put him to sleep."

"I can't do that to him he's a baby!"

Tom spared me one glance and began advancing on Damien.

"Do you want me to try it? Are you willing to take that risk?"

I put Damien down on the bed and kissed his little cheek. He remained quiet despite the commotion and I realized how similar he was to his father. I eased him down gently letting my magic sink into him and put him into a deep sleep. Tom could not perform this sort of spell; his magic was too tainted to keep the person alive. The moment Damien's eyes closed the wards broke. A man materialized directly behind Tom. No, not a man, a vampire, it looked like Valeel but it wasn't. Something about him was less contained, less composed. For long moments no one spoke or even drew breath.

"What do mean less composed? Why are you here in this time?"

The question was directed to me but it was Tom who answered, he couldn't stand being fearful even if it was called for.

"What is this a new game, you know why Harry is here at the very least, though I hold no illusions that you know why I am here?"

Valeel did not take his eyes from me and I could not shake the feeling that I had not seen this man before, I had met someone who looked and spoke exactly like him; but this was not the same person.

"Fragmented soul. Tell me Tom do you feel very foolish? You've gone through such lengths to obtain immortality and still you haven't quite managed it have you."

If Valeel had taken his eyes off of me for even a moment and taken a glance at Tom he would have perhaps taken a step back. I was very familiar with this expression and I knew that death swiftly followed anyone who garnered such a look from Tom. Valeel laughed softly and walked over to the window and took a seat.

"I think I understand now what's happened. A little rip in time, some confusion perhaps, you are from the future which may as well now be called an alternate universe for all you can do to get back there. So there are other realms and other Valeel's but it would seem that we all have the same plan. You are Harry Potter from some time in the future and you are Tom Riddle and you have never really been part of time have you. The boy I just saw in England, the boy I have been observing he is Harry Potter or more aptly he is the Harry Potter of this realm and you, well who knows with you Tom, you are so aptly named 'riddle' after all. "

He laughed at his little joke and Tom faltered for a split second. He was confused but I knew he would catch up with me in moments. There were two Valeel's just as they were two Harry's and two Tom's. This Valeel had no idea of what his other self had been up to but he had evidentially had the same plan. He was one hundred years behind which meant something had already changed for him to be here now. This of course brought into question the continuity of time, the effect of one choice or the other, the idea of infinite outcomes playing out in infinite universes.

An infinite number of Harry's an infinite number of Tom's and infinite number of Valeel's, all playing a game they were soon to find out they did not understand. It was enough to make one...

"Absolutely mad, I agree, but we are not here to make any guesses at the nature of the universe. Even I can never hope to understand it, one way or the other. What we do know for certain is that there are two of you, two of Tom, one child which may only exist in this universe. We are certain that there are too many Tom's and too many Harry's but as far as I know there is only one of me. Whatever my other self was planning is obviously going wrong."

"And, what was he planning?"

Valeel smiled widely revealing a set of white teeth and two dangerous looking fangs.

"That knowledge was never meant for you. But you prevent from making my point Harry, there are simply too many of you and there was never any room for Tom. I am here to remedy that, flight of death, that's the meaning of your little title isn't it Lord Voldemort?"

Black lightning escaped from Tom's body, the only outward sign of his rage.

"Hmm, you're usually so polite Tom tsk tsk. Well, let us see if you can fly this night oh mighty Lord Voldemort."

Moments that stretch on for eternity, you don't think they really exist, just some expression with little meaning and no care for logic. It's real though one moment can last forever and be over just as quickly. Valeel was out of his seat though he didn't appear to be moving and Tom's eyes widened in such an uncharacteristic expression of fear that he appeared to be almost exactly what he was a young boy afraid of dying. Then they were flames black and red and green and with a howl that matched and differed from my own so greatly, the boy was gone, a pile of ash. Valeel was gone the same way he had come and my scar nearly forgotten exploded with pain.

"I didn't think that body could be destroyed, the soul that's the key, yours is fine your body didn't burn."

"Tom?"

He smiled at me and I realized he wasn't solid, he wasn't see through but somehow he was not all together there.

"Fragmented soul huh? It seems my soul will not allow death, not true death, but my body is gone do you understand. Yours is indestructible as we planned. You always go on and on about my soul not being whole and how reckless I was with it being dangerous. I am beginning to fear you were right."

Now was not the time for me to be right or wrong, I had just watched my beautiful Tom reduced to ashes.

"Body and soul, you can free one or the other but never both, I can obtain another body you must calm down love."

I was crying, how embarrassing, Tom drew me into his arms and let me weep for him. He was calm with this, surprising me and letting me take my time to calm down. Once the tears had stopped he pushed me away from his 'body' gently but kept a light grip on my upper arms.

"This is a set back but we will prevail. You will have headaches and you will become confused at times, I cannot promise I will not become impatient with you and simply posses your body myself but I will keep you safe and I will be with you. You must wake and you must collect Damien and above all else you must explain to Cullen who has moved you to his house what has happened in the proper way. More time has gone by then you think. Stay strong..."

Blue. Not the sky but the ceiling, painted clouds on blue. I shifted and felt the small warm weight of my son on my chest. I knew if I shifted my eyes to the right Edward would be there but I kept staring at the ceiling. I needed just a few more moments. I needed to remember every word Tom had spoken to me. He was there a presence in my mind but in allowing to me to wake up he had relinquished control. It would not be simple for him to take over my mind but if I was doing things in a way he did not approve of he would try he had warned me.

"Thank god you're awake."

'You may want to consider who you thank for things like that Edward.' I nodded and pulled Damien closer to me. He was still under my spell and I ran my fingers through his soft hair brining him around gently. He opened his eyes slowly and smiled when he saw my face.

"Daddy?"

I frowned and Damien blinked and smiled placing his little hand on my forehead right on top of my scar.

"Papa."

Edward stayed politely quiet though it was obvious he was near to bursting with the need to ask what happened.

"Your house looks as if it exploded."

"Does it?"

The momentary panic that my few important possessions were destroyed was short lived. Several shrunken trunks were on my person anything of value would be in them the wards were designed that way.

"Papa, hungy."

I blushed and sat up letting the confusion drift to the back of my mind to be handled later. I looked to Edward but his seat was now empty he returned with a plate of child friendly snacks and I scanned them quickly for poison before handing them to Damien. He began to stuff his mouth in a way that can only be endearing when you are small. I nibbled much more politely then my son and looked up at Edward.

"Thank you for bringing us here."

He simply nodded looking as confused as I felt. He had know idea why he had brought me here and at the moment I could not bring myself to do much more then play with Damien's hair and kiss his soft cheek.

*** Harry's POV England ****

"You are not the same?"

"No, I suppose not."

Voldemort simply stared and Harry shifted his eyes about the room. Not a dungeon by the looks of it. Harry was sure he would not be able to get up and simply walk away though. There was a small boy, somewhere, with eyes of beautiful blue. Voldemort had once possessed those blue eyes. Right now the eyes were red, silted through with pupils of the purest black. Innocence lost, those blue eyes gone forever.

"Potter, I have some things I need to show you."

To Harry's surprise Voldemort pulled out a pensive, filled to bursting with the silvery light of memories. Voldemort said nothing and simply pushed the pensive forward and sat back to observe Harry with his unsettling crimson gaze. Harry sat there for quite some time before moving and touching his face gently to the memories, he was sucked down at once. Harry was treated to a life time of memories, each one more unlikely then the next. He emerged and tuned away from Voldemort at once.

Pity, was one thing he was sure the Dark Lord would not want. The young boy that had every hope crushed until he was nothing but a twisted thing so afraid of death that he would mutilate his own soul, the very thing that was pure and fiery and would never go out. The man he could be, the man that he, Harry supposedly loved. Harry hadn't hit his head however, he had never forgotten the evil of Tom, and he had never been tricked by his seeming innocence. There was no innocence in this man. He had forced Harry, he had wiped his mind, and he had controlled and deceived.

The Harry of the future, the Harry whose life he had been helplessly witnessing had been even more soundly defeated then he had ever dreamed. Voldemort had stolen his heart and his loyalty. There was even the child with the angel face and the demon father. How was that child raised, what sort of perversion was hidden behind his angelic face? Tom Riddle had had an angelic face. He remembered it well from the chamber, and he remembered it well when lit up with an unholy fire.

"You could have manufactured those memories. Who's to say you aren't lying?"

Voldemort nodded seeming to agree quietly. He pressed the tips of his long fingers together and looked far off to the right of Harry.

"An understandable concern Harry. It would be a cunning plan on my part very cunning. But let me tell you one thing. I know you have seen Damien yourself, and you must understand that he is real."

Harry paused for a second to think about that. Damien had seemed real there was a connection to the child that he could not fathom or explain. Then he remembered Sirius being tortured, his eyes pleading for Harry to save him, a dark corridor filled with doors.

"You could have forced me to see Damien; you could have made him up."

"Knowing me as you do Harry, you must realize I could never imagine anything as pure and as bright as Damien. I can't and never could conceive of such perfect innocence."

Harry considered Voldemort words knowing them to be true. He could never have imagined Damien. Harry knew the moment he saw him that the child was real. Pure, created out of love. That love did not exist in Harry though. It never would. If there was a way to save everyone from death, if Voldemort really meant to achieve his utopia in which no one ever wanted for at least the basic necessities of life Harry could see fit to help him. Love, though, Voldemort present, past or future would not be receiving love from Harry.

"I will never love you. He might, but I never will."

"You are not the same."

No he supposed he wasn't, the other Harry was here, the one who did love Tom. Things were certainly about to get complicated, but perhaps Dumbledore had been on to something with all of his talk of love. There was a shadow in Harry's heart a dark shadow that whispered passionate words of a man named Tom.

"So Harry would you like a trip to America?"

The plans went in to the night, and Harry soon learned that a mangled soul did not interrupt Voldemort intelligence though it did seem to tamper with compassion. Harry had to argue for an hour solid before it was agreed that his friends would not be hurt. There was some more skirmishes about Harry's friends attempting to find him if he left England. Harry refused to play dead though. He was sure he could stay out of there reach and if came to it, and he could not convince them he could always have there memories modified.

*** Max's P.O.V ***

I could not see one thing or another, but I was surrounded by Nathaniel's warmth. I pressed closely enough to his chest to only be able to see black. At once I smelt the earth and could feel the cool wetness of fresh soil pressed against my hands. Nathaniel helped me to my feet quickly and I looked about the dark forest. There was the recent smell of death from not far off. Sweetness, the smell of vampires my vampires, the soulless ones, with the eyes of demons. I followed this scent gaining speed. Nathaniel kept up with me easily, the way a mother keeps up with a running toddler. The house was large and strangely peaceful almost human, but for the windows, humans liked the light, but there was no creature under god that liked the light quite like a vampire.

Edward came out to me; he surveyed Nathaniel carefully but dismissed him at once. The arrogance of youth. I hugged him quite more relived than I expected to be at the sight of him. There was no warmth in our embrace just marble embracing marble. It seemed all life was taken from the muggle to be replaced with stone. Nathaniel seemed to be blessed with life and life and life. Blinding, infuriating. While Edward was making all efforts to avoid Nathaniel, Nathaniel himself was busy studying Edward with his blue gaze.

"You have been placed under powerful coercion spells."

A boy appeared behind Edward. He seemed to be pulsing with life and death. His skin glowed with life but appeared hard as my own skin. His eyes sparkled a brilliant green, filled with unnatural light. He surveyed us with a cool eye and remind just slightly behind Edward. To some it may have seemed that he remained behind Edward for protection. His mask of polite disinterest was almost quite perfect but nothing could ever mask the intensity of those eyes. This wasn't Harry Potter, this was Harry Riddle and the distinction between the two, was death and misery.

"You are not yourself Harry Potter."

His eyes flicked to Nathaniel who was standing by my side an odd thing happened they seemed to flash blue and glint red for a second and then return to green.

"Is that so? May I ask who you are?"

"Nathaniel."

"Are you a friend of Valeel's?"

I gasped despite myself and the blood drained from Nathaniel's face. How was it that this Harry knew of Valeel? The answer was close dangling just out of my reach. Something simple if not obvious but of course something that should be utterly impossible. Upon Nathaniel's nod all pretense of meekness left Harry. His face became hard and his sharp gaze focused with laser like precision.

"Why are you here?"

Nathaniel who was much older and much more powerful than Harry was not phased by the sudden change of attitude in the boy. He surveyed him calmly and looked about the house in mild curiosity.

"I have come to find out what Valeel is up to. He had plans for you and Edward Cullen, as well as Tom Riddle. I was hoping you could shed some light on this strange situation."

Harry's face closed off at once. A perfect expression of tranquility appeared and he moved slightly so he was standing a little in front of Edward. This boy was not right; there was something demonic about him and a shadow in his eyes as if someone else was watching. Edward didn't seem to notice any of this. He watched Harry with a light in his eyes that was well and disturbing.

"You're coming to me for light on this situation, what do you think is happening?"

Nathaniel looked to me and I looked away feeling at once that this had nothing to do with me save Edward. Valeel was obsessed with Nathaniel and in his mind Potter, Riddle and my Edward where somehow involved with his path to Nathaniel.

"My maker has some plans that involve you and this vampire here. He feels that you should be together but I do not understand why. You are here seemingly together and you are Edward Cullen, and you appear to be Harry Potter. The trouble with that is there is another Harry Potter right at his moment currently making his way to you. And if I may be so bold you are willingly hosting two fragments of the same soul."

Edward looked to Harry seeming alarmed and Harry continued to look calm. If anything Nathaniel said had been true or caused Harry any alarm he didn't show any outward signs of it.

"That's quite a lot to guess at Nathaniel. How are you so certain?"

Nathaniel was of course at a loss to explain. So was I, the answers we had did not point to multiple Harry's and there was no mention of fragmented souls. Harry surveyed me calmly and I got the distinct impression that he was reading my thoughts.

"You're lover Tom Riddle has taken residence inside your head. He watches and waits to possess you at any moment. You allow this, and your ultimate goal is to create a world where wizards reign supreme. If I am to guess correctly you've already created that world but for some reason only Valeel knows you have been sent back to the past. Does any of that ring a bell?"

"Harry would never do something like that!"

I looked to Edward who had stepped forward placing Harry behind him. The boys gaze was steady and I didn't find it hard to believe that he could have taken over the world. Nathaniel was saying he had in fact done that. Edward did not seem to want to believe that however.

"Like what? Take over the world? Make sure wizards reign supreme? Give in to every whim of Tom Riddle? He's dangerous. Why is he here?"

Confusion settled over me and I felt the strongest urge to leave. I turned no longer sure why I had come to see Edward. Whatever it had been was surely not that important.

"You dare!"

I turned to look at Nathaniel who looked absolutely livid. Harry's expression had not changed and the confusion cleared from my mind.

"It was worth a try."

I looked to Edward and a silent understanding passed between us. It wasn't a happy moment though. Our understanding was this; we are involved in something we will never understand.

*** Harry's POV ***

"You dare!"

"It was worth a try."

The world faded out and I was faced with Tom. He didn't seem pleased.

"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

Harry scowled deeply.

"If you haven't noticed I'm a little out of sorts right now Tom."

"You must use every possible advantage love. That one is against Valeel. Use your common sense and bring them around to your side. Or I will do it for you."

I frowned and looked around my mind. Tom sure had done a number on his mindscape. Everything was black and desolate.

"Did you have to make it like this Tom? It's gloomy."

Tom gave me a look rather like the looks he gave our son when he was misbehaving or demanding cookies at odd hours of the night.

"I'm not in the best of moods right now Harry. If you haven't noticed I don't have a body!"

"Well whose bloody fault is that?"

Tom sighed and pulled me into his arms.

"I'll have a body soon, he's coming."

I tensed and pulled away from Tom. That had not been part of the plan. Voldemort was crazy.

"He'll ruin everything."

"He won't love. He knows I can feel it, he's coming for you."

There was a brief moment of panic very similar to the kind I used to feel at the end of every school year. Voldemort was coming for me.

A/N: it has been an unholy amount of time this chapter has been knocking around my laptop for months! I am so sorry stories will be finished. I have lost some of the original chapters of Awake and have to go back to my hand written chapters for reference so be patient with that. When I do upload Awake it will most likely be at least fifteen chapters at once so look forward to it. Please continue to support me. Stories will not be abandoned.