A/N: Let us get the usuals out of the way:

1) This is AU, set during Voldie's resurrection.
2) This is 'canon compliant' up to the first word in the story. After that, everything goes out the window. Note I intend to explore some Dark themes. I like the Dark (we have cookies btw).
3) I have no idea who Harry will end up with. It's a tossup: Hermione, Luna or both. Right now, my gut says Hermione (hence the tags), but I want it to be Luna. I will not, however, force the issue. The story will write itself and we'll see what comes of it.
4) Voldie and friends are not stupid. In fact, he might be a smidgen too perceptive.
5) Expect some OOCness and by all means, point me out on it. I'll try to stay in character except with those I intentionally aim to change.
6) I really shouldn't be doing this, writing multiple stories that is, but I feel good about this one, so we shall see what happens. As a result, expect updates to be sporadic.
7) I swear to Merlin, this is the longest AN you're getting.
8) Addendum to #7: Unless I deem it absolutely necessary to do otherwise.
9) This chapter is short. I know; Others shall be longer.
10) Enough ppl complained so I'm adding this warning: Draco plays a very important role. If you can't stand Draco for some reason, you might not like this story.
11) I do not own Harry Potter.

With that said, let us begin…

XX

Prologue: What Should Have Never Been

"Lily! Take Harry and go! It's him!"

"James!"

"I'll try to hold him off…"

"James, come with me!"

"Just GO!"

Frantic footsteps. Sobs.

"Oh, James… my James…"

Shouts and screams, a loud explosion.

"A..d. ...avra!"

Cries now, open cries but warm, such warm arms.

A faint sound now, quiet words, and so full of Love.

"Hush my little wizard, don't say a word."

Silence in the background, life no more.

"Mummy's gonna buy you a golden bird."

Steps. Heavy steps, menacing and ascending.

"And if… if that golden bird… don't fly…"

Shaking. Shaking and fear, but warm. So much Love.

"Mummy's gonna… M-Mummy's gonna…"

A door opens. The hinges are screaming.

Chuckle. A dark, melodious chuckle.

Whisper, faint but there, "… Mummy's gonna save you…"

"Step aside… I am not here for you."

"Please! Please not Harry!"

Fear. So much fear.

"Foolish woman, do you wish to die?"

"Please. Please, have mercy!"

Cold, there's cold. Where did the warmth go?

Cries, a baby cries. My cries…

"You are not supposed to die Lily Potter, but I will have what I came for."

"Please, no!"

"Step aside."

"Take me! Take me, instead!"

"As you wish."

Flash of green, overwhelming Love but then no more.

Cold now. So very cold, but the Love, it lingers.

"Hello, Harry Potter."

Pain, stabbing pain; it hurts! It hurts!

"Anima Tenetur Anchoram…"

Evil, Dark Evil. So cold, no more warmth, but the Love, it still lingers.

"Goodbye, child."

So cold, but Love! No. No, the Love! The Love, it's fading! Where's it going? Come back Come back!

"Avada Kedavra"

XX

Peter Pettigrew knew he had done wrong and that his life was now forfeit. Despite his Master's every command, despite following it to the letter, he had failed. The ritual was taking far too long and Peter was certain that whatever that black thing coming out of Potter's scar was, it couldn't possibly be any good.

"I don't understand…" he mumbled, cowering in fear against a tombstone behind the bubbling cauldron. The very same he had dumped the homunculus of his Master into, the bone of the father, his own hand and the blood of Harry Potter.

"Where… why?"

That black wisp was also diving into the liquid, turning it from a crimson red to tar black. Potter's eyes had rolled up into his head, as the scar continued to bleed red and black. All Peter had done was traced it, made it weep blood to give to his Master's Rebirth. It was fitting, wasn't it?

What his Master had done before death would now be the very thing that gave him life.

"How can this be? How could it go wrong?"

Potter screamed, his body twitching and convulsing before his scar split open, a squelching sound as a small orb was ripped from it. Harry promptly fainted and this orb started pulsing, along with the liquid in the cauldron. It hovered for only a few seconds before diving into the mixture and then there was light, black light.

A body twitched as it rose, forming legs and arms, then hands, a head, and eyes. The liquid drained and when the light ceased, Voldemort stood in the empty cauldron. He flexed his fingers, grazing the iron with them, and his crucible of Life vanished.

"Robe me, Wormtail."

The servant did as his Master commanded and then produced a wand made of Yew, containing the tail of a Phoenix. Wormtail could not help but look on in wonder as sparks came from it like a raging river. His Master had really returned and looked nearly the same as he did before he died. There was… something different about him, something that wasn't quite human but he still looked it. Was this… was this what it felt like to be in the presence of a god?

"Come, Peter. You shall be rewarded for this."

He stepped forward, his knees shaking and knelt to the ground, "I am not worthy, my Lord."

"No. No you are not. You are a coward, serving out of fear instead of Loyalty."

Peter flinched.

"But… Out of fear or not, you did serve, which is something that I cannot say the same for others. In this, you have earned your reward. Hold out your arm, Peter."

Words of such praise coming from his Master surprised him and it struck Peter in a way unlike ever before. Confidence grew within him and for perhaps the first time, without fear, he did as instructed. Voldemort flicked his wand in a careless fashion, conjuring a hand, a real hand; not of metal or wood but flesh and bone. Peter was stunned, even more so that it worked as a hand should and there was no pain at all.

He fell to the ground prostrate, "My Lord, I am in your debt."

"Stand Peter, fetch your wand from the supplies. Call forth my circle while I examine Potter."

The servant bowed and scurried along to do his bidding and Voldemort wasted no time in getting up close and looking at the Boy Who Lived. The flesh where the scar once was continued to bleed, the skin peeled back, exposing white bone underneath. The Dark Lord examined it carefully before he cautious lifted the chin of his enemy and looked into the rolled back eyes. He smiled at the painless touch but then frowned at the aftermath of his planning. Not wanting to risk his only link to an explanation, Voldemort sealed the wound, not out of choice but necessity. He started pacing, slowly.

'I am alive again… Not whole, but I feel... not since before I…'

His eyes widened and he stared at the young man.

'So it worked… You were a horcrux…'

Several popping sounds echoed in the graveyard and now six of his followers were assembled. They bowed and he immediately walked over to them, his wand humming.

"Explain yourselves!" he growled, everyone shrinking back in fear. "Why did none of you seek me? Why I was I left to feast on the blood of beasts and survive only as a shade? Where were you!"

They all fell to the ground, but Voldemort stopped Peter from doing so, "Not you, Peter. Stand."

The other Death Eaters looked up in shock.

"My life has been restored due to one of my servant's efforts. One." Sparks flew from the tip of his wand. "Yet before my absence, I had many. Many I could count on, many I could trust. Tell me, Lucius. Where were you?"

"M-my Lord! I was deep into the Ministry's workings! My desire to find you could not be overrun by the need to continue your plans! Had I devoted any time to seek you, my Lord, then all our efforts would have been for naught!"

The Dark Lord conceded, "Crucio!" and Lucius cried out in agony, withering on the ground. "Do not play coy with me, Malfoy. Your reasoning is valid but it would have taken me days to come back, not years had you been the wizard I thought you were!" Voldemort cursed him again, holding it longer this time until the man lost his voice, which didn't take very long.

He turned his gaze and his wand to the others, "Avery, what is your excuse?"

He started to speak but Voldemort cursed him anyway, quickly followed by Macnair, Crabbe and Goyle. Only Peter remained unharmed and he was just as surprised as the others.

"Your lack of Loyalty is disturbing, my servants. I am highly disappointed in all of you but you have been spared, only because you came at my summons. The others will receive their due in time."

He turned from them, their bodies still shaking on the ground and looked at Peter.

"Are you prepared for another task?"

The man nodded vigorously, now keen and wanting to please his Master.

"Take these sods to Malfoy Manor. I shall meet you there, after I think more on the boy."

"Master… may I speak freely?"

Voldemort nodded with interest.

"What good is he, my Lord? You have returned! Why not just kill him and be done with it?"

The Dark Lord looked back at Harry's unconscious form, "That is wise counsel Peter and I most certainly would if the circumstances where any different." A stray thought came to him. "Hmm... No, wait. Take Potter with you and place him in the dungeons. Do not let anyone know he is there, understand?"

The rat bowed, "As you command my Lord. It shall be done."

"I am pleased with you, Peter. Do not disappoint me."

The servant then scurried off and as he did, Voldemort turned on the spot and disappeared only to reappear in a dark room, filled with spheres. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for, after all, it was calling to him. He picked it up from its resting place and dropped the ball immediately, watching in earnest as an image of Trelawney formed and the other half of the puzzle was given to him.

Voldemort frowned, 'As I feared. The horcrux is gone but the ritual may have tied Potter's life to mine. No proof as of yet admittedly, but this prophecy gives it plenty of merit. I should have come here first, instead of chasing after the Potters… Curse your family boy, why must you be such a thorn in my side?'

And he was gone again, now to stand at the bottom of a large black tower. Ironic he realized, making his way inside. This was to be his final stop on that fateful night, a night that blasted witch intervened and cast such a subtle spell that he was only half angry at himself for not realizing it.

'Please. Please have mercy!'

"Damn you to hell, Lily Potter. You have set me back by years."

She had begged, the wench, begged for his mercy while shrouding the boy in her Love. That had been the trick, the moment she needed in order to do what was done. Sacrifice was a powerful thing, Voldemort knew this. It was half the reason he wielded such power and it was the reason he came back from the dead. If things went his way, it would also be the reason he never died again.

After a small journey to the highest peak, of the highest point in the tower, he came upon a locked door.

"Who goes there?" growled a voice from behind.

Voldemort blew open the cell door and walked calmly inside, amused at the shocked look on Gellert Grindelwald's face.

"Merlin's balls, you actually did it!"

"Of course I did. I told you I would, didn't I?"

Gellert laughed, "Tom, you bastard. I am impressed but surely you didn't come here to gloat? I can think of several people you'd want to visit before me."

Tom Riddle bowed, "You know me better than most, my friend." The two wizards sat down and Tom got right to business, "As you are probably aware, the intent was to visit you many years ago and ask more on the Deathly Hallows."

"Of course. I was so looking forward to watching your memories of Albus dying. You can't imagine my disappointment to hear you were done in by a child."

Tom frowned, "A reminder is not necessary, Gellert. Let us pick up where we left off."

"Yes, yes. Let me tell you about the Wand."

The Dark wizards talked long into the night and didn't break for rest until the sun had long since come up the next day.

"Thank you, Gellert. Your wisdom shall be most useful."

He chuckled, "Please, you are doing me the service," and his eyes went dark with rage. "Kill him, Tom. Do whatever it takes."

Voldemort's gaze ran along the cell's security, powered by the life force of Albus Dumbledore himself.

"I pride myself on my skills Gellert but as such, I am not below admiring the work of a master. He truly had you beat."

The chained wizard growled, "I admit, he did. But thanks to your tampering, my life will no longer end when his does. At that, I'll be free."

Tom made way for the door, "And what, pray tell, will you do when you are?"

Gellert's smile was sinister, "You don't happen to be in the market for a leftenant are you?"

Voldemort chuckled, "Find me then and we shall see."

XX

Peter was having a field day and bloody enjoying it. Wherever it was that his new found courage and dedication was coming from, he sure as hell didn't want it to go away.

Lucius and the others had been taken to separate chambers to recover from the effects of his Master's rage. Even though nearly a day had passed, they were still shaking horribly.

"Serves them right," he said to no one.

Harry Potter on the other hand…

Peter discovered, quite to his surprise, a hidden passage from the right most cell of the dungeon. It traveled a long distance into the depths of the Manor but what he found on the other end of that tunnel made his heart leap. A torture chamber, but not the run-of-the-mill kind, oh no; Lucius Malfoy would only have the best. Runes covered the walls like paint, etchings on every surface imaginable. Peter didn't know off hand what they did, but it was probably most enjoyable for those who commanded them. In the center was a stone altar, with chains and blood stains already on it. There were no actual torture devices to use, which was disappointing to the Death Eater, but he knew that physical torture could be easily done with other methods.

He secured Harry to the altar and left without a second thought.

Just as his Master commanded, so Peter Pettigrew had done. No one was home when he arrived, the servants out doing whatever necessities they had been commanded to do and the Lady of the Manor, along with its Prince, were at the Tournament. Why they had not yet returned was curious to him but he thought little of it. Probably had something to do with their enormous success at kidnapping Potter and even though it was over, the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts was likely a nasty place to be right about now.

Peter shuddered in ecstasy at the thought. No one would know what had happened and the only evidence he left was the body of young Diggory. In a moment of inspiration, he also took some of the boy's blood and spattered it all over the statue that had held the Potter brat. A hair on the ground from his struggles, a spell later, and the blood would read as Potter's.

He had to thank Bella for that one.

To top everything off, he found the exquisite torture chamber that did Merlin knows what, but he was sure his Master would be pleased.

Voldemort appeared silently in front of his servant and was surprised to find him bowing immediately with a shit eating grin.

"My Lord, I found something I think you would be very interested in."

Voldemort grew curious, "Your enthusiasm is sparking my own, Peter. Lead me to where you wish and tell me, how is the Manor?"

"Deserted my Lord. I would wager that the servants are tending to Mrs. Malfoy and her son. Why they are not back yet is something I haven't bothered with investigating. There are… far more interesting things here to see."

The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow at Peter's candid remarks. "They are still at Hogwarts, my servant. I stopped by on my way here. Dumbledore has the place on lock down and is slowly letting people go. He must think it was an inside job."

"Oh, but it was, Master."

For the first time in a long time outside of Gellert's company, Voldemort found it within himself to laugh. Whatever in the seven hells had gotten into his pet rat had done wonders. Once Wormtail showed him the secret passage however,

"Peter, if this is what I think it is…"

No longer was Voldemort being lead and instead, Peter had trouble just keeping up. The rat nearly ran into him when the Dark Lord stopped abruptly at the opening into the chamber.

"What do you think, my Lord? Does it suit your needs?"

There was silence and it lasted too long for the rat to stay calm.

"My… my Lord?"

Voldemort turned to face him and his blazing eyes said it all, "Peter, I have another task for you."

"Yes my Lord?"

"I shall give you an honor... Go to Hogwarts but be discrete, you must not be found. I have a message I want you to give to those who are still there. How you do this, I leave to you."

Peter bowed, "Thank you for trusting me, my Lord. What message do you want me to carry?"