A Twist of Fate

A Twist Of Fate

Chapter One: A Different House, A Different Life

"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure?" the sorting hat said. "You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin would help you on the way to greatness. So you've changed your mind and have decided to go to Slytherin? This is completely your choice; I'm just here to help. If your sure then I wish you luck in SLYTHERIN!"

As Harry took a seat at the Slytherin table Draco came up to him and said "So you've decided to reconsider my offer, and let me be your friend?"

"Sure, who needs Weasleys for friends anyway?"

"I'm glad you see it my way."



* * * * *



Harry thinks over his decision last September. In the confusion and tension that Harry had felt at that moment, he decided to listen to the Sorting Hat and enter Slytherin. With Draco Malfoy as his best friend, Harry had had an interesting first year at Hogwarts, which ended with him giving Voldemort the Sorcerer's Stone, so that Voldemort could get his body back. Now Harry is in the Malfoys' home, where he will stay for the remainder of the summer vacation. It ends tommorow, and at that time he and Draco will have to go to platform 9 3/4 and catch the Hogwarts Express in order to return to school. Obviously, he and Draco have packed beforehand, and they are prepared to go. "Draco?" he says quietly. After he had realized that Draco is asleep, Harry lets out a deep sigh. He lies in bed thinking, and after replaying his first year a few more times, Harry finally falls asleep.



* * * * *



"Why did I ever trust that slime ball Potter? He drains You-Know-Who of his power, then says I'm sorry and gives it back before we can stop him!" Ron complains to his best friend Hermione and to his family.

"How many times have we heard this before, Ron?" his brother, Fred says, while creating a huge fake yawn.

"Exactly three-hundred and seventy-nine." Fred's twin, George, says with a grin. "I've been counting."

"Really, Ron", says Hermione. "I don't see how complaining helps the situation. If you really want to help then why don't you read books on You-Know-Who with me, and maybe we can plan his defeat."

"Your overly obsessed with books."

"Your overly obsessed with Harry's betrayal."

"Fine, I'll help you do some research. But wait until on get my hands on Potter."

"Come on. I'm sure that if it means that much to you Fred and George will play some practical jokes to completely humiliate Harry."

"Of course we will," says one of the twins.

"But on one condition," the other one says.

"If you promise that for all of next summer you'll de-gnome the garden and we don't have to, then we'll promise to do whatever you want us to do to Harry."

"You've got yourselves a deal," Ron agrees.

"Make your promise," Fred and George say simultaneously.

"O.K., I promise that next summer I'll de-gnome the garden and you two don't have to. Now make yours."

"We solemnly swear we will play all the pranks on Harry as you request."

"Potter is going to wish he never came to Hogwarts," Ron remarks with a smirk on his face.

"Now can we return to reading, please?" Hermione says impatiently. "O.K., I'm coming."

After about an hour, Ron says he hears something tapping. "Maybe if you had looked out the window you would've noticed Errol's back, and he's got a package that probably has more books," Hermione says as she goes to the window and lets Errol in. Errol is the Weasley family's owl, and is in bad shape, like everything the Weasleys own.

"Looks like he won't be able to mail something for another week. Oi! Hermione! Get over here and take the package which, mind you, is extremely heavy. I have to go take care of Errol."

Hermione takes the package and opens the letter sent to her by Dumbledore. "Listen to this, Ron!" she yells. "Dumbledore sent us a letter saying the following:

Dear Hermione and Ron,

I'm glad to know that some people actually make good use of their summer vacations. I hope you have completed your homework, as by the time you receive this there won't be much time to complete it. I have sent you a book I have written, and this is the second copy ever made, the other is located in the restricted section of the school library. I would highly recommend that you do not lend it out, for this book is now yours and contains highly secretive information on both Harry and Voldemort. This book is called Great Secrets of the Endless War between Good and Evil. Surely you will understand from the title why if you dare to lend it out I shall have to confiscate it, never to be returned. My other gift to you is a special short sword, that I will speak to you about in person. This sword is called Sting, and you MUST NOT tell anyone about it. KEEP IT HIDDEN AT ALL COSTS. I expect to see you two soon. Good day, and study well.

Your Headmaster,

Albus Dumbledore

So, what do you think, Ron?"

"That you should open the package, and I'll examine the sword while you examine the book."

And that is exactly what they do, and they concentrate hard with complete silence until "The sword is sharp, Hermione, but it doesn't cut. Look," Ron says as he stabs his bed and nothing happens.

"I've read about magical swords, Ron, and-"

"You've read about everything."

"Seriously, listen to me! Every sword that doesn't work properly has been hit by some spell, and it's a magical one. No two magical swords work the same, even if the same person did the same spell with the same wand on two swords that were as similar as can be. This one, even though it

can't harm anything, must have some extraordinary power, or else I doubt Professor Dumbledore would have sent it to us. He probably didn't want any chance of someone discovering its power, and that's why he said he needs to speak to us about it when we return to Hogwarts."

"So basically you're saying what? If it isn't too hard, I'd like you to translate that into English for me." Hermione rolls her eyes and responds, "Basically what I'm saying is that until we return to Hogwarts and speak with Dumbledore, we won't know why he gave us this sword, or what it does." Suddenly, they hear knocking on the door. Ron and Hermione nod, meaning Ron will hide the sword while Hermione gets the door.

"Who is it?" Hermione asks.

"It's Ginny. I'm just letting you know it's dinner time."

"Thank you, Ginny, we'll be down in a minute." Hermione pauses to make sure Ginny has left. "Ron, we better hide both of these and get to dinner."

After dinner, Ron and Hermione go upstairs. They do some more research, but end up going to bed without finding anything of great importance.



* * * * *



"Draco, the room ahead of us contains the Sorcerer's Stone. I should be able to get it by myself. There's only enough potion here for one person anyway. Take the potion that'll push you through the fire behind us. Do me a favor and stall Granger and Weasley, so that I can have some time to think while I'm in here."

"Sure thing, Harry," Draco said evily with a smirk on his face. "I'll take care of them and have a little fun."

'Wake up!' Harry was thinking to himself. 'You know that you don't want to have a recollection of what happened next.' But his subconscious self wouldn't listen, and on his dream went.

Harry took a drink and with a swish he was sent through the fire. In the room was the special Mirror of Erised he and Draco had discovered and had come to learn what it does on one of their midnight strolls. They had also encountered Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, and together they had discovered the Sorcerer's Stone, and who wanted to steal it.

"Professor Quirrell, you aren't going to get the Stone by standing and staring at the mirror that way."

"What? Who's there?" Quirrell said as he spun around. "Potter, I might've expected you."

"Yes, its me. Now I would step aside if I were you, for I plan to be the who leaves here with the Stone tonight."

"You're not going to obtain it. I tried as best I could with all my Dark Magic, you can't get it. However, if you want to go mad trying, be my guest."

"Trust me, Quirrell, I can get the Stone. People smarter than you, namely everybody, could figure out how to get it. No more chitchat. Move aside before I make you, because you know I am more powerful than you'll ever be."

"By myself, yes, you would be greater. But I have my master with me, and he gives me the power I need to destroy you."

"Let's think, who might your master be? The so-called Lord Voldemort? Clearly, otherwise you wouldn't have cringed that way upon hearing the name. Now, who saved the world from Voldemort, you just cringed again, as I was saying who got rid of him in the first place? That's what I thought. I rid the world of him before and I can do it again."

"Let me speak to Potter, face to face." another voice said.

"Master, you are not strong enough." Quirrell responded.

"I have strength enough for this."

Suddenly Quirrell started to unravel his turban to reveal the hideous face resting on the back of his head.

"Look what you've done to me," the face said. "Look what I must do to survive. Live off another, I've become a parasite, now you know why I need the Stone and its Elixir of Life. Go up to the mirror and GET ME THAT STONE!"

"Voldemort," Harry said in a tutting way and yawned. "You should realize that I don't have to listen to you, but you're in luck. Before I go get the Stone I'd like to ask you a few questions. First of all, why do you think you can force me to go get you the Stone? Second, even if I do go and get it, how do you suppose you will be able to take it from me? And third, why don't you have any useful servants? Ones that are smart enough to be able to do what you want from them. "I will answer the last one first. I use incompetent men so that they won't be able to form a revolt of any kind. The other two questions I choose not to answer. Now, since that is what you came to do anyway, go up to the mirror and do what you can." Harry shook his head, sighed, and obediently walked up to the mirror and thought 'Right now what I desire most is to find the Stone. So, if I look in the mirror I should see myself getting it from where ever it is, and then I'll go get it.' Harry looked into the mirror, and saw himself, exactly how and where he was. Suddenly, the image stuck its hand into its pocket, pulled out the Stone, winked, and put it back in. At that moment, Harry felt the something drop into his pocket, and he knew he had the stone.

"Now that I have the Stone, Volemort, tell me why I should give it to you. If I like what I hear I will give it to you, and if not I'll keep it. Speak, and speak wisely."

"Well, you would become second in command of my Death Eaters. And, if I somehow die, you would also be my successor."

"Name something worth it for me to give you the Stone."

"Hmm. You are smart, Potter. Most of my Death Eaters would do anything for that. You know that together we would be so powerful that nobody would even think of challenging us. Also, with both our powers combined, we would be able to bring your parents back to life. If you give me what's in that pocket, you would be my sidekick, and I would swear to help you bring back your parents."

"I agree with the terms, as long as you swear on your body to abide by them before I give you the stone."

"I swear on the body I am about to obtain that I will do as I have said, and never break these terms. Now give me the Stone."

"My pleasure. Take it, and drink to your heart's desire."

Quirrell took the stone and stirred the Elixir of Life. Quirrell raised it to Voldemort's lips, and as he drank it, they heard footsteps rushing in and the screams of Hermione as she sees that Voldemort has gotten the Sorcerer's Stone and is about to get his body back, which will enable him to come back to power.



* * * * *



At the Weasley house, they all wake up very early in order to pack up and drive their Ford Angela to the train station. "Ron," Hermione says. "Do you reckon we have any time to look at the book once more?"

"No, but you packed it, right?"

"Of course I did, along with Sting."

"Good, because I have absolutely no room in my suitcase."

"Try folding your clothes instead of squeezing them in and then sitting on your suitcase in order to close it."

"Why? That way works just fine."

Hermione shakes her head and says, "I'm going to go down and eat breakfast. I assume you'll meet us down there when you're ready?"

Ron nods in response as Hermione makes her to the staircase. As she gets downstairs she notices Ron's dad packing the trunk of the car so

she volunteers to help. "No thank you, Hermione." Mr. Weasley answers. "I can handle it alone."

"Well I'm at least packing my own trunk."

As she's packing her trunk, Mr. Weasley whispers in her ear "Don't tell my wife, but I jinxed the car to have extra room so we could fit everyone comfortably. She doesn't approve of my hexing Muggle items, because she says I'm breaking my own law."

After breakfast everyone packs into the car, and as Mrs. Weasley gets inside, she says "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for,

don't they? I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"

Mr. Weasley turns around with a broad grin on his face and winks at Hermione. Ron sits back in his seat and thinks 'I can finally return to Hogwarts for an exciting and adventure filled year.' Yes, Ron, this year will definitely be filled with excitement and adventure.

* * * * *



Harry wakes up from hearing Hermione's screams in his flashback dream. 'I'm glad I didn't stay asleep to watch Voldemort get his body back. Watching the morphing of Voldemort back into his body and then killing Quirrelll was monstrous.'

He thinks to himself. 'I better start to get ready to go, who knows how we're getting to the train. I want to be prepared. Plus, if I keep my mind on returning to Hogwarts, then I won't be thinking about that dreadful day.'

About an hour later Lucius Malfoy walks in to wake the boys up only to discover Harry already dressed and ready, so he says "Excited about going back? I was the same way. Every year I would wake up two hours before I needed to."

"Yeah, I can't wait to go back. How are we getting to the station, anyway?"

"I have set up a Portkey for 10:45 right outside the house."

"Er, Mr. Malfoy? What's a Portkey?"

"Oh, I take that you don't know?"

Harry shakes his head in response.

"A Portkey is an object magicked to transport anyone and everyone touching it to a specific place at a specific time. Most Wizards Apparate, which would be instantly transporting oneself to another location, but you and Draco are too young. Speaking of Draco, I think I should wake him up now, don't you? If you want, you can go downstairs and I'm sure my house-elf, Dobby, will serve you breakfast."

"Thank you, sure, I think I will." As Harry walks into the kitchen, Dobby notices him and bursts out crying. Harry asks what was wrong, but the house-elf only relpied bluntly "A house-elf shouldn't talk about anything but his duties, unless Master allows him to." Harry gives up and just asks Dobby to get him some cereal for breakfast.

"Hey, its about time you woke up. Get a good night sleep?" Harry says as Draco walks in.

"Yeah, whatever, I'm really tired. Dobby, get me some breakfast." Harry and Draco don't talk very their 'good morning' greeting. At 10:43 the three Malfoys and Harry are all standing outside and holding onto the newspaper, which was the Portkey. At 10:45, Harry closes his eyes and feels a strange swooshing sensation, and when it stops, he realizes that he is now at the station, ready to go through the barrier and onto the train to make his trip to Hogwarts.