I am alone.

I had, of course, realized this a long time ago. Being dependent on any being for what I need to do to cleanse this world is not an option. I had never wanted to share my power in any case. A few of my followers, such as a recently wedded Bellatrix Lestrange, have tried to grow close to me, and while some gained a miniscule amount of privilege over the others, I have never felt for any of them.

This is not mutual. The Death Eaters are loyal to me, though only some have followed out of fear. I know some will be claiming that they were under the Imperius Curse, but I know they will find me. Lucius Malfoy had always been taking every opportunity to grovel and gain over his fellow Death Eaters. The Lestranges, I know will also be searching for me. Severus as well as Dolohov, Rookwood, and Rowle will also attempt to find me.

I have escaped to the forests of Albania, the place where I found the Ravenclaw diadem I made my Horcrux and hid at Hogwarts. This was done by possessing the bodies of small creatures such as rodents and snakes, which seems to be the only magical power I have left. I do not even possess a physical body of my own.

While I wait, I plot and scheme against Harry Potter. As I possess these inferior forms, it shortens their lifespan even further, which only feeds my increasing rage. Years go by and I start to plan ways to punish my Death Eaters upon my return as well. How dare they abandon me. They will regret it.

Occasionally I got to the edges of civilizations to eavesdrop. Everyone is relieved, everyone thinks I am gone. I am just the tiniest bit appeased when I find that even a decade after my so-called "downfall" they are still so afraid to even say my name, referring to myself as "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".

Finally, an inarticulate bumble of a man comes across my hiding place. Extracting the information I need rather easily, his manner rather reminds me of Pettigrew, how easy his will is to bend to mine, but he is not nearly as whiny or incompetent. He is a professor at Hogwarts, and the next term is to begin in the coming month. I have been counting the seasons and I know that this will be Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts. I convince this Quirenus Quirrell to let me be a part of him, as I won't be able to possess him fully thanks to my weakened state. There is no good and evil – only power, and those too weak to seek it, I tell him. He assists me in creating the magic that binds me to his body, and then we are back at Hogwarts, my face on the back of his head hidden by a turban. At the Sorting ceremony, I hear Harry Potter's name called. The Hat takes an interesting amount of time to Sort him before calling out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

I sneer.

Even though I am literally a parasite off of this man's body, and I have never been closer to another being than before, as I listen to the cheers, whoops, and applause around me in reaction to "The Boy Who Lived", I have never before felt more isolated in my purpose than now. It doesn't matter. By myself, I am more powerful and invincible than any other being, and detachment makes me even more so.

I am alone.