— TR or LV POV —
From the clues in the books, he regained the Slytherin family's legacy and regained his own glory, instead of lingering like Gaunt in a rundown house.
The magical circle rotated, and the ritual of immortality was launched in this independent space.
The flames of war belonging to the Dark Lord burned this kingdom once again. He always knew that war was the best and most controllable reaper of lives.
And life was his sacrifice, death was his nourishment. He would use this to become immortal, to cross the limits of humanity, and to challenge the destiny of all beings.
His research on the immortality magic was down to the final step, but this step had been stumping him for ten years.
In those ten years, every second was boiling with anticipation, and he was so close to achieving the concept of eternity. But, as always, he was just a little bit short, unable to reach his goal.
He kept modifying the ritual and trying over and over again, obsessively integrating all his understanding of magic and the world into it. This ritual was a microcosm of his life.
Still... he failed.
But he knew that success was just within reach, he would soon... very soon be able to achieve it.
The one with the power to complete the Dark Lord approaches…
The Dark Lord will draw him in his side, thus deadly ambition will be achieved…
Follower from family of thrice defiers, born as the seventh month dies...
the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal…
He will fulfill the Dark Lord's ambition, while either must be the downfall of the other, for he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…
The Chosen One and the Dark Lord, neither can live while the other stands…
Fate seemed to be mocking his work.
He didn't need a child to help him accomplish this, he could do it himself. Besides, as the prophecy said, the child would eventually betray him and could bring about his downfall.
Self-interest and betrayal, such is human nature. He was not at all surprised by this script of turning against each other.
He didn't like the possibility of this fate, and he didn't need anyone's help. He decided to nip this threat in the bud.
On a snowy night, a nearly frozen young child with a clear and sad desire to survive looked at him with pleading eyes.
For a moment, it reminded him of his own childhood. The snowstorm was very cold that night.
A killing green light and a scar, at this moment, the fates of two souls began to intertwine.
He quickly understood that the reason why the child hadn't died was due to the protection of his bloodline. Killing the boy now would be as easy as crushing an ant. When a threat no longer posed a threat, other properties of the child became more prominent - he was very curious about the power in the prophecy that he didn't understand. Perhaps this was the key to breaking through his research bottleneck?
He decided to raise the boy, even teach him magic, just to glimpse the true nature of that mysterious power, and then use it for himself to carry out his eternal magic.
As for the threat of the prophecy? The Dark Lord always had a Plan B. He secretly planted a curse on the scar on the boy's forehead. The curse was connected to the primordial energy of life, and could directly absorb life force, ensuring that the boy's life and death were only at his whim. As long as he wanted to, no matter how far away or how many magic protections there were, he could immediately kill the boy.
The Dark Lord, who had done all of this, coldly watched the unsuspecting child and Nagini playing together, thinking, "You better behave yourself."
By sacrificing to the guardian deity, one can open a door leading to the more profound and mysterious parts of magic, with even more powerful and mystical forces.
This is the simplest black magic ritual, requiring very little control and posing no danger at all. However, the boy fell unconscious after the ritual ended, never to stir again.
Made mistake, no matter how foolish it was. What was the point of exploring powers that even the Dark Lord did not understand? If he just die like this? Just like this?
"Trashiness." he said, disappointed.
He has always despised weakness.
The body was carried away by the elf, but later the boy came back, apparently only fainting and being revived by the elf.
"Oh, you're still alive?" The Dark Lord greeted him absentmindedly, busy with his studies.
Harry guessed his purpose, passed his test, so been promoted to became his research assistant.
That was where the dark side had a new figure, the Dark Prince.
Harry was learning how to use magic rituals. He discontinued a magic that he should have persisted with due to fatigue.
The Dark Lord was displeased.
Harry admitted his mistake, and promised he would never made such mistakes again.
Stalactites and stalagmites formed a forest of stone pillars that interconnect the cave. The wand's light was so bright that it illuminated the vastness and complexity ahead.
He held Harry in his arms, flying through the air, leaving the monsters behind in the ancient cave. The wind blew by them at high speed, their hair swaying in the wind. He used a complicated magic to hold the flame in the ancient artifact in his hand, while little Harry used his wand to support a protective shield that did not fall.
Harry gradually became an excellent companion. He persisted in all the tasks assigned to him, never stopping prematurely due to fatigue. One of his good qualities was that he only made mistakes once.
When they successfully retrieved the required items and returned to the castle, he couldn't help but praise the pale-faced boy, "Well done."
Little Harry's green eyes immediately lit up happily.
So easy to please.
They went to the Atlantis ruins to find the seed of the Tree of Life.
Nagini died at the hands of the Phoenix Society.
He angrily killed the murderer, but Nagini would never return.
Death is like this... it was his greatest enemy in this life.
His low pressure frightened the entire Slytherin castle, and even the domestic elves were hesitant to approach him. Yes, after Nagini's death, he only had himself left. He had always been alone. Loneliness? The immortal was destined to be lonely.
"Father, you still have me," the teenager's clear voice was soft by his side.
Tricked by Dumbledore, he was injured and locked himself in his room to heal, not allowing anyone near him.
He essentially didn't trust anyone, especially when he was vulnerable.
Lying on the bed, he felt as if he had returned to his childhood, lying in the orphanage bed, on the brink of death from injury or illness. He felt despair and fear in his heart, and he knew that no one would come to help him. There was no one then, and there was still no one now.
He could only rely on himself.
Until a pair of cool hands covered his feverish forehead.
He suddenly opened his eyes: "What are you doing here? Get out."
For the first time, the boy openly defied his order: "I won't leave! You are injured and you need me here." His bright emerald eyes made him feel dazzled.
"Harry, listen to me, leave and to do your own work." He ordered him to leave again. He was strong, he didn't need anyone to take care of him. Having someone by his side at this moment seemed to tear apart his pride.
Harry shook his head, took his hand, and seemed to read his mind: "This is the most important thing for me right now. I'll be here, and this won't... diminish your strength. You don't have to always push yourself so hard..."
Their hands clasped together, and a faint platinum light shone from the gap between their palms. It was as if they were holding a light ball. A warm current flowed from his palm to his whole body, dispelling his coldness and weakness.
He recognized this as a direct transfer of life-force magic, rarely used because of the severe self-injury involved.
Before he could decide what to say, Harry continued: "It's okay, this is the most useful emergency measure."
"Hmph." He snorted, but didn't have the energy to reprimand this disobedient child too much. Harry's continuous use of magic to fight against the curses on his body did make him feel more comfortable. Fresh life-force was flowing through his body, and he could feel his heart beating.
The eternal ritual was completed by Harry.
In that moment of the ritual, Harry raised the holly wand in his hand, hold tightly, and the green gem on the wand handle emitted a bright light. Harry was surrounded by a pale golden light.
He felt the earth tremble and endless power converge on him from the heavens and earth. Warmth, compassion, enthusiasm, peace, hope, and joy.
He tried countless methods in this final step, struggling for ten years. But with his and Harry's relentless efforts to revise, Harry's magic finally crossed this threshold and placed him on the eternal throne.
The brilliance made his soul tremble as if struck by lightning.
In that moment, he seemed to have a vision, feeling like he was seeing a god.
But he himself was a god, an eternal god, the new god of this world, even the universe. From now on, no one in this world would be able to kill him, no one could stop him. The ritual was successful, and he gained eternity. Conceptual eternity.
He shattered the fate of all beings and opened a new chapter for this universe.
The universe changed. Coming from chaos and going toward annihilation, this was a special moment in the long life of the universe.
This moment of the ritual succeed, it seemed to freeze, like a vast and boundless lake frozen into a clear and grand, indivisible whole. Harry was an indivisible part of this sacred and magnificent process.
He should give his little hero the glory he deserved, like how the Dark Prince forever served by the Dark Lord's side.
But even now, he still couldn't figure out what power Harry possessed that he didn't understand.
Harry is indeed intelligent and has great talent in magic, but what Harry can do, he can do himself. What Harry cannot do, he can also do.
Except for this.
He couldn't help but think of the prophecy again. Half of the prophecy had come true, and the other half...Harry...would start to betray him? Is this the beginning?
Harry has grown up and cannot be easily fooled or manipulated. Because Harry has powers he doesn't understand, perhaps Harry will embark on his own path and become the next Dark Lord? Or even become the downfall of Lord Voldemort?
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if a giant crystal clear ice had just thrust a sharp blade.
The prophecy only said "one will will the downfall of the other", maybe it's him killing Harry. But how many people besides this boy want to kill him? Dumbledore, the Order of the Phoenix, and countless enemies in the endless future. Maybe even from another planet.
He had achieved immortality, and he knew he wouldn't die. But for the weak, immortality can also be eternal torment.
The situation made him have to become even stronger.
His recovery speed was still slow. He could improve his ritual. He had always been a perfectionist.
Pursuing perfection, never stopping; the road to becoming stronger is endless.
Harry asked him to stop the war at the victory celebration dinner.
The victory celebration never had a cheerful ending.
A/N: Please leave some comments if you feel like it~