Prince of Darkness

~*~*~ ~*~*~

A dull 'ring' echoed throughout the halls of the largest manor in Wizarding Britain. It was large enough to rival Hogwarts. The Malfoy Manor paled in comparison to this manor. This was the Riddle Manor. The overgrown gardens were a jumble of thorny roots and weeds. Sharp enough to pierce through a person's leg. The brown, crackle grass was rough to the touch, scratching the hands of those brave (or stupid) enough to touch it. Gnarled trees formed twisted shapes, sending a bolt of fear through the viewer. And that was during the day.. It had been around since before the building of Hogwarts. Salazar Slytherin himself lived in this house. There was only one human being in this huge and desolate manor and that was Thomas Riddle Jr.

Thomas Riddle had black hair, sometimes unmanageable but with the use of Magic, he controlled it. His eyes were a dark, foreboding green and his skin was olive brown. He was fairly tall and lean and did not look at all like the sixty-three year old man that he was. In fact, he looked in his mid-twenties. The ladies swooned for him. And he rejected them, he knew they were only after his looks and money. If they really got to know him, they would not dare go near him.

Tom took a sip of his Scotch as he heard the soft footsteps of his cousin from his mother's side. James Potter. He stood up, ready to meet his young cousin. He painted a pleasant smile on his face as James entered the room.

He grinned, "Hello, Tom. How are you?" he said pleasantly, shifting the young boy in his arms.

"I'm splendid, James. How about yourself?" Tom said, setting his Scotch down and moving forward.

"Oh, you know. Stressed would be the right word. Lily just doesn't want to go to America and leave Harry, here, behind," James said as he looked at his four-year-old son who was his carbon copy aside from the emerald eyes.

"She can be assured that I will take excellent care of my second cousin," Tom assured with a smile.

"Oh, I know that. She just doesn't want to be a whole ocean away, and in all truths, neither do I. There's no telling how long we'll be gone. Could be a week, a month, a year or even more. I hate the Ministry for putting us in this situation," James said bitterly.

Tom nodded in understanding, "Those American Wizards just don't know how to handle their dark wizards. Not like us Brits."

James nodded in agreement, "I know. How could they let someone like that run wild?"

"I don't know," Tom said, also shaking his head. "It's ludicrous."

James nodded and then glanced at his watch, "Oh dear, I've got to get a move on." He set Harry on the ground and rested his hands on his son's tiny shoulders. "Harry, Daddy's going now, all right? I've got to go away and help some wizards in America. You've got to stay here with your Uncle Tom, all right?"

"Why can' I go wif you?" Harry asked sadly.

"Because the Ministry is mean and they won't let me take you. Plus, you might get hurt. But, I promise that mum and I will be back as soon as we can with lots of presents. You'll have a good time with your Uncle Tom, I'm sure," James said with a small smile.

"I wiww miss you, Daddy," Harry said, his eyes watering.

James pulled his son close to him, "Hey, I know buddy. I'll miss you too, but, I'll send you an owl when we get there and every day after that, okay?"

"'Kay." Harry sniffled.

James smiled and pulled away, "Hey, you be a good boy, okay? I want good reports about you."

Harry nodded and hugged his father tightly for the last time for a long while, James kissed his son's head and then stood up and looked at Tom, "His things are on the foyer, some clothes, some toys and other things. Lily made a list for you," he said and handed Tom a rather long parchment.

"Ah, yes," Tom said, glancing at the parchment and shoving it into his robes. "I'm sure we'll be just fine."

James nodded and ruffled his son's hair again, "You be a good boy, all right?"

Harry nodded mutely and shoved his thumb into his mouth.

"Now, now," James chided as he bent down and grabbed Harry's wrist. "Don't suck your thumb."

"'Kay," Harry said softly.

James smiled and stood up. He held out his hand for Tom to shake, "Thanks again, Tom. I really appreciate this. I wouldn't ask, but you were the only one available."

Tom waved him off and gave him a winning smile, "It's fine. I'm sure Harry and I will have a smashing time."

James grinned, "I hope so."

"He'll enjoy his stay here," Tom said.

"I'm sure he will. Well, I must be off," James said, with that he waved to both Tom and Harry and hurried out of the room.

Harry looked up at Tom, apprehension etched on his young face. Tom smiled, it wasn't a friendly smile, but it wasn't one that intended harm. It was a frozen smile.

"Come, Harry. Let me show you to your room," he said as he extended his hand. Harry cautiously put his small hand in Tom's much larger one. The long, dark fingers curled around the tiny hand and pulled the child up into his arms.

"You'll enjoy your stay here, Harry," Tom purred. "I can teach you many, many things."

Harry nodded mutely as Tom ascended a staircase that seemed to be in it's own room. They walked in silence down a long, dark corridor that had paintings of the Slytherin line. Finally, they came to the end of the hallway. There were only two doors. Tom pushed open the door on the right.

The room was gigantic. It was the biggest bedroom Harry had ever seen. The walls were very dark blue, almost black. The carpet was the same, though it did look rather thick and soft. There was a giant four poster bed in the middle of the room. The sheets were deep, emerald green with silver trimming. There was a desk in the far corner, a giant wardrobe, there were black candles floating in the air, there were doors that led out to a balcony and at the foot of the bed was a chest that was full of toys.

Harry looked around in awe, as Tom set him on the bed, "You should get some respectable robes on. You are living with me and you need to look to impress and the Malfoys just so happen to be hosting a very, very important party, I am expected to attend, as are you."

"Okay, U-uncwe Tom," Harry said hesitantly.

Tom smiled, "That's a good lad. Now," he said as he opened the wardrobe and sifted through the robes. "There, a nice deep, green will do the trick." He pulled out a small, dark green, high collared robe.

"When is the Party, Uncwe Tom?" Harry asked.

"In an hour. That will give me enough time to teach you proper etiquette," Tom said as he made the robe float next to the wardrobe.

"What's etee-quit?" Harry asked curiously.

"The proper way to walk, sit, talk, eat, drink, greet and so on," Tom said as he walked towards Harry.

~ ** ~ ** ~

A half an hour later, Harry was standing with his back straight, his robes mere millimeters from the ground. It seemed that it would take Harry a long while to learn all the rules of etiquette, so Tom just used a charm to make Harry remember and perform properly.

Tom exited his room wearing a flowing, high collared black robe. He noticed Harry standing in front of him. He smiled, the child who was only four, and he had excellent posture.

"Ah, you'll show those Malfoys who's who, won't you, little one?" Tom said as he kneeled down to straighten the robe.

"Yes, sir, Uncwe Tom," Harry said mechanically.

"While you are there, you are to call me 'Uncle Thomas' not 'Uncle Tom'. Is that clear?" Tom said as he stood up.

"Aww right, Uncwe Tom," Harry said, offering a small, timid smile.

Tom smiled back at him and extended his hand, "Stay by my side."

Harry nodded and took the olive skinned hand. Tom led him down the grand staircase. Harry had a rough time getting down the stairs and moving at the same pace as his uncle, so Tom just scooped him up.

"I will continue to hold you as long as you sit up straight," Tom instructed.

"Thank you, Uncwe Tom," Harry said with a smile and straightened his back.

He exited the grounds and Disapperated to the gates of Malfoy Manor.

~ ** ~ ** ~

The night went off without a hitch. Everyone had been interested in the small, well-behaved child that was with Mr. Thomas Riddle. But some for many different reasons. This wasn't any ordinary party. Sure, many wealthy, pureblooded families were there, as well as wealthy half-bloods. But this wasn't 'The Party of the Season' Party. Oh no. This party served a bigger, better, more important purpose than that.

Thomas approached the podium and gave everyone in the room a cold, yet triumphant smile. His eyes briefly went to Harry who was standing next Lucius' son, Draco. They were around the same age, give or take a few months.

"Hello, my companions," Tom started. "As you all should now, America is in a spot of trouble with a Dark Lord they can't see or even find." At this point, Tom's smile became down right nasty. "That Dark Lord is me."

There were collective gasps all around the room.

"You may be wondering how I am doing it. Well, it is simple really. With my immense magical power, I am able to Apperate to my followers in America, give them their orders and come back, being honorable, respectable Thomas Riddle. And now, I am going to slowly, ever so slowly move my reign to Europe. I am enlisting each and every one you."

Slowly, people started to clap and cheer. They were taking the news in stride.

"If you choose not to join me, your memory will be altered. I will not tolerate betrayal," Riddle said coldly.

No one spoke out against the man on the podium.

Riddle smiled a cold smile, "Excellent. Your children, if they are fourteen and under, are not eligible to be amongst our ranks. They will not be Death Eaters until they are fifteen."

Many people murmured and agreed with the Dark Lord.

"Come forward to receive your mark. This mark will be burned into your skin, it will burn when I call you."

~ ** ~ ** ~

Tom grinned as he entered his Manor with his sleeping cousin in his arms. The meeting was a success. He had many, many Death Eaters. Most were very influential politically. He looked down to the child in his arms. James has no idea what gifted child he has. And how stupid he was to trust his cousin with his only child.

Ah, he would wait awhile to call off his forces in America. When he was sure he had made some change on Harry, then, then he would set off forces here, James and Lily would come back. But to a son they don't know.

~** Six Years Later **~

It had been six years and Harry was still living with his Uncle Tom, or his Father. They had gotten word from the Ministry that James and Lily Potter had been killed and that Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were both missing. Harry was sad, but not really because he couldn't really remember them all that well. So, Tom adopted him. He was now Harry James Riddle and proud of it.

"Harry? Are you ready to go? We've got to get those Potions Supplies!" Tom called up the stairs.

Harry, small, quite thin and porcelain white, came down the stairs swiftly and gracefully, his black robes swirling about him. Harry smiled at his father, The Dark Lord, as he stood next to him. Tom smiled back, Harry turned out perfectly; his Dark Prince.

"Are we going to Knockturn Alley, Father?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Of course, then we do have to go to the Apothecary in Diagon Alley," Tom said as they made their way out of the manor and down the walk. Tom was going to Apperate them.

They arrived in the dark alley and dismal alley and Tom quickly took Harry's hand; though many knew of his true identity, he did catch some of his more ignorant Death Eaters staring at his son in an unnatural and unhealthy way. He made his way towards Miasma's Apothecary.

The store was dark with only a few candles lit. The smell was rancid but a few well chosen words and a bubble was around Tom and Harry, protecting them from the stench. Tom walked up to the front counter and waited.

Finally, a tall, thin, grungy looking man appeared. His hair was long, black and tangled, his skin was pale and covered in grime and when he grinned, he had few and discoloured teeth.

"Hello, Milton," Tom said and handed the grimy man a list. "These are what I need."

"Yes, sir," Milton said and went from behind the desk and started to putter around the store. Minutes later the two were leaving the store and heading into Diagon Alley.

Soon they had exited the Apothecary and were on the their way home when they saw Lucius and Draco Malfoy. Harry smiled as Draco and his father came over to them.

"Hello, Draco," Harry greeted. "Are you coming to spend my birthday with me? Father says that we can pick where to go this year. How about Japan? Or China? Or Tibet?"

"Japan sounds good," Draco agreed. "If it's too sunny, we can just have them put spells on us, we wouldn't want to go to Hogwarts with a tan."

Harry snorted, "I know, how embarrassing."

"Have you two decided where we are going to be headed this holiday?" Tom asked, interrupting them.

"Japan," they said in unison.

Tom nodded, "All right."

~* September first *~

Harry was standing at Platform 9 3/4 and watched as a few servants loaded his and Draco's trunks on the Hogwarts Express. He was wearing the silk black robes he had gotten in Japan, these were to be his school robes. The list only said black robes, they didn't say what style. Draco was standing next to him in the same style robes.

Once their luggage was loaded, they bid their fathers good bye with promises to get into Slytherin. They took their owls (Harry had a snowy owl named Hedwig while Draco had a Eagle owl named Lucifer.)

They found an empty compartment and settled down. Harry pulled out his Potions book and the two began to look over it. Lucius had told them that Severus Snape, their Potions teacher, was very hard on students so they had to be prepared. Though, they had been studying magic and potions all their lives, Hogwarts would be a breeze.

~*~*~ ~*~*~

Finally, after a few hours, they started to slow down as they approached the school. Draco stood up and straightened his robes and Harry did the same. Crabbe and Goyle came into the room (they had been, more or less, assigned their body guards by the Dark Lord himself). The four stepped off the train and looked around.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years this way!" Shouted an oafishly tall and shaggy man.

Draco sneered, "Ugh, Father says that's Hagrid, a half-giant! How degrading. What was Dumbledore thinking?"

Harry looked at the tall man in disdain, "I don't have the foggiest but I sure hope we don't have to be anywhere near him."

"Too true," Draco said as they followed the oafish man.

"On'y four ter a boa'!" He said loudly.

Harry and Draco gracefully boarded a boat and were joined by Crabbe and Goyle, their 'body guards' and somewhat 'friends'.

"FORWARD!" Hagrid shouted. The boats lurched and steadily, but at a good pace, made their way across the massive lake. Then they saw it. Hogwarts. Even Harry and Draco were impressed. Even their own manors, as large and grand as they were, were outclassed by the majestic castle.

"Incredible," Harry breathed as the stared at the castle.

"Extraordinary," Draco whispered as he too, along with all the other first years, gazed at the mighty castle.

After a few silent moments, only filled with 'ooos' and 'ahhs', they finally came to a stop on a gravel beach. Draco got out of first and helped Harry out, they were then followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

They followed Hagrid up to the grand doors. The children whispered to one another. Harry heard a boy sniffling about his lost frog and a girl explaining something or other. Hagrid then knocked on the doors firmly. Almost instantly, a women with square glasses and black hair pulled tightly into a but opened the door. She looked around and then her eyes fell to Hagrid.

"Got the new firs' years, Pr'fessor McGonagall," he said cheerfully.

"Good." She then turned to them. "Come this way, please."

The whispering had long since ceased as they followed Professor McGonagall down a massive corridor, that, when you looked up, you couldn't make out the ceiling.

"Impressive," Draco commented, his voice neutral.

"Indeed," Harry agreed with a small smile.

McGonagall led them to a small room that branched off of the Great Hall.

"Now, when I tell you, you will go out that door in a straight line in front of the school. The Sorting Hat will sort you. There are four houses; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and, " She gazed at Harry and Draco, "Slytherin."

With that said, she excited the room and the soon-to-be students were left alone. They were silent for about a fraction of a second before they burst into excited whispers.

Harry saw a red headed boy conversing with a blonde boy, he was talking about how his brothers had tricked him into believing they had to battle a troll. Harry shook his head at the ignorance of such a thought, but if they did have to battle a troll, he wouldn't have any real problems.

Draco nudged Harry, "Oh look, a Weasley. I can't believe their letting that filth in here."

Harry nodded, "It just goes to show that pureblood is accounting for less and less these days."

Draco nodded, but just before he replied, McGonagall came back, "All right, it's time."

They followed her out and into the Hall. Their eyes were instantly drawn to the ceiling and it was like the night sky. Harry heard Hermione whisper that it was bewitched to look that way.

'Well, duh,'

Harry thought cynically.

The stopped and stared at the hat. If Harry hadn't read Hogwarts: A History he'd be wondering what was going to happen, but he knew. And just as he predicted, the hat burst into song.

Harry tuned it out, not really caring who or what it sang about. He knew it was just about the four houses and Hogwarts. He busied himself by looking at all the people that would soon be his peers. He then looked at McGonagall who had started giving instructions.

"When I call your name, come sit on the stool and put on the hat, then go to your house table," she said and began.

"Abbot, Hannah."

A short, slightly chubby girl with blonde hair stepped nervously forward and put the hat on her head. After about five seconds, it shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

She grinned and hurried over to the table full of cheering Hufflepuffs.

"A bunch of duffers," Draco whispered cynically.

Harry nodded as some more people were called, Harry and Draco laughed quietly as a boy, Neville Longbottom, ran towards the Gryffindor table with the hat still on his head.

Finally, Draco was called up. Harry smiled at him and he walked up to the chair confidently. Before the hat even touched his head, it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

Draco smirked and headed towards the cheering Slytherin table. Harry clapped as Draco stared at him, secretly praying to Merlin that Harry got in the same house as he did.

Finally, his name came.

"Riddle, Harry."

Harry stepped forward just as Draco did, full of confidence. He sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on his head. He soon heard a little voice in his head, but then quickly realized it was the hat talking to him.

"Hmmm, you are quite a challenge, Mr. Riddle, or should I say Potter?"

The hat murmured.

"No you shouldn't," Harry said. "I am no longer a Potter."

"I see, I see. Well, let's take a look around…hmm, plenty of courage, oh! Brains, quite the thinker you are. Loyal to those you trust, especially your 'father' and Draco. Oh, but you have quite the cunning streak. Yes you do. Where I shall I put you. Which house would help you grow to great potential?"

"Slytherin would," Harry said, his voice barely tinged with hope.

"You know, you're right. I'll put you in

SLYTHERIN!"

Harry grinned, took off the hat and quickly made his way towards the Slytherin table. They were clapping loudly and Harry gratefully sat down next to Draco. The blonde grinned and squeezed his hand gently, "Glad to have you, Harry."

"Glad to be here. Father will be so proud," Harry said with a grin. "I'm can't wait to send him an owl."

Draco nodded clapped with everyone else as Blaise Zabini sat down across from them. Then the hall went quiet as the Headmaster stood up and smiled at all of them.

"Hello, hello. Welcome to a new year. I hope that you all had pleasant summers in light of the situation."

Harry and Draco grinned at each other.

"Not to worry, you will be perfectly safe here at Hogwarts. I have a few rules to lay out; as always, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden, hence its name. There is no magic in the corridors and curfew is at eight o'clock unless with at teacher. You must be inside the castle before dark. Now, with that out of the way, let's eat!"

He clapped his hands and the tables were filled with food and drinks.

All through dinner, the new students introduced and were introduced to one another. Harry and Draco met many whose parents worked for Harry's father. The Prefect, Reggie Smythe, pointed out their Head of House, Professor Snape. Harry recognized him from the meetings that his father let him watch from a hiding place. He wasn't allowed to be viewed by his father's Death Eaters because some of them had a habit of being to 'friendly' with him, so he stayed hidden.

When dinner was finally over, and Harry couldn't eat another bite, the Headmaster stood up, "Now that you are all pleasantly drowsy, I think it is time for you to be off to bed. Chop, chop! There are classes tomorrow!"

With that the Prefects stood up and began leading their housemates to the dorms and common rooms. Harry and Draco, along with the rest of the Slytherins, were led deep into the bowls of the Dungeons. After a few minutes, they reached a stone wall.

Reggie turned around, "This is the entrance to the Slytherin Common rooms. The password is 'Pureblood', remember that, all right?"

The first years nodded, seeing that they understood what was said to them, Reggie turned around and snapped, "Pureblood." The wall shuddered and moved aside. The prefect stepped aside and allowed the first years to entere. He came in after them and stood in front of them, he gestured to the staircases on the left, "Those are the stairs to the boys dormitories while the stairs on the right lead to the girls. Your things are already up there so I suggest you get up there and get to bed."

With that he turned on his heel and stalked up the stairs. The first years mulled around about, taking in the vast common room. It was large with black walls and a stone floor. There were green chairs and sofas scattered about the room, portraits of Salazar Slytherin and other notable Slytherins on the walls, an enormous fireplace by the far wall and tables in selected places along with large throw rugs on the floor.

Draco, feeling tired, but wanting to write his father the letter he promised to, grabbed Harry's hand and tugged gently, "Come on, let's get upstairs. We can have first dibs on beds, write our father's and get some sleep."

"All right, I am a bit tired," Harry agreed as he let Draco lead him up the stairs. They came to a door that said 'First Years' in silver lettering, the blonde pushed it open. The room was large and had five large, four poster beds with green hangings. Harry and Draco went to the beds that had their trunks at the end of the bed. They were, much to Harry's satisfaction, next to each other.

Draco walked over to his trunk and threw it open, he rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a piece of parchment, some ink and a quill charmed to avoid damage.

He sat down at the desk and began to write a letter to his father. Harry, deciding that he too, should write his father a letter, got out the needed supplies and began to write at another desk.

Dear Father,

The ride to Hogwarts was rather dull. Draco and I played chess and went over our potions.

I got into your old house, Father! I'm so excited! Draco is here too. I hope you are proud of me. I will do my best to get perfect grades.

Well, I am rather tired and am ready for bed. We do have classes tomorrow.

Love,

Your son.

Harry didn't sign his name, his father told him not to. Never defied his father. Ever. He never planned to either. He folded the letter the way he was taught, put it in an envelope and went over to the window. Harry was too tired to contemplate the fact that they were in the dungeons and yet they still have windows. He pushed the window open, took out the golden owl whistle his father bought him and blew. In a matter of seconds, Hedwig landed on the sill.

"Take this to Father, Hedwig," Harry said softly as he stroked her feathers. She nodded and once the letter was secure, took off.

That task done, Harry went back over to his trunk and changed into his night clothes. When he turned back, Draco had also changed into night clothes. Just then, the three other boys came in. Harry and Draco shrugged and went into their own beds, closing the hangings.

They were going to need their rest.

~*~*~ ~*~*~