Chapter Text
An Interesting Childhood
Harry always knew someone was watching. When he was a young child he was often told it was God, when he mentioned it. His teachers said that if he felt a presence hanging around him then it must be God, and that he should pray.
Harry did not do this. The presence was threatening when Harry first felt it. A menacing shudder, a cold wisp in his face, a harsh flinch. But as he grew, he preferred it to the bullying he received from the Dursleys. He welcomed the tickle in his spine after Petunia's harsh words. He sighed at the cold wind in his face after Harry Hunting. He embraced the spasm in his sore muscles after Vernon had a little too much to drink.
It wasn't until he was seven that Harry first spoke to the presence. It all started with a snake.
'Hello small one, it's warm today isn't it?' He'd said conversationally.
'It's a very nice day, Speaker.' The snake agreed. Harry was surprised and thrilled he received a response, and beamed at the little garden snake.
'I didn't know snakes could talk! But I'm glad you can, you see, I'm very lonely here.' He admitted to the small snake.
'You shouldn't be lonely. There is a mist wrapped around you.' The snake told him thoughtfully.
'I know, but it never talks to me.' Harry replied sadly. 'It's always there, I've felt it since I was small. I hope one day it speaks to me, but until then I'm letting it just watch.' The snake nodded seriously.
'I must hunt now, Speaker. May we speak again.' With a parting wave to the snake, Harry turned back to his work with a smile. Humming, he completed his work before tucking himself back into his dark cupboard.
Playing with a piece of string, he felt the presence stir the air in his cupboard and smiled faintly. A moment later, he heard a soft yet stern voice.
Harry Potter.
"That's me." Harry said, not looking away from the string he held. "You heard my conversation with the snake, then?" He prompted. Harry figured the presence hadn't ever thought to speak to Harry, which was fine.
Yes child. I have to admit, I did not know you were aware of me.
"I've always been aware of you." Harry admitted. "My teachers say you're God, you know."
I am not God, child. I am Lord Voldemort.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Voldemort." Harry paused in his fidgeting, "That's awfully strange, haven't you got a real name?"
Voldemort made an indignant noise. I am usually called 'My Lord' or just 'Voldemort.'
"Okay. I probably won't be calling you either of those. They sound strange." Harry confided in him. "Isn't there anything else?" He'd often been told he was a rude child, but Harry preferred to be called 'brutally honest.'
Foolish child. I was once Tom Marvolo Riddle.
"So can I call you Tom?" Harry asked. The presence hissed.
I forbid you from calling me that.
"How about Riddle? Or Marvolo. Those sound like normal names." Harry pointed out.
If you must. The voices sounded annoyed. I'll leave you now.
Harry smiled. "No you won't. You just mean you're done with the conversation." He laughed at the growl he received, but was denied a response. Smile on his face, Harry played with his string in silence.
.
.
The next time Marvolo talked to him was to answer his questions.
"Why can I feel you, and everyone else can't?" He asked the darkness, "You feel cold, and I can even see you sometimes. A dark sort of mist that no one else sees."
Have you ever questioned why you make certain things happen that your cousin can't do?
"Sometimes." He admitted. "But it's useless dwelling on it. I get punished for it anyway."
It's called magic. Witches and wizards are born with the innate ability to wield it. Most witches and wizards need wands to channel their magic, but children often do magic accidentally: calling their magic to heal themselves, to get away from danger, during times of extreme emotion. You can see me because we are connected, in a way, through magic.
"So I'm a wizard then? Figures." He pouted. "Maybe Petunia wouldn't hate me so much if I was normal." Marvolo laughed.
You were never meant to be normal. Harry cocked his head to the side.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I'll explain in a few years. You're not at all as I expected you to be. The voice diverted.
"What did you expect?" Harry prompted, accepting the subject change.
Well, I definitely expected you to look more like your father. Marvolo sounded thoughtful. I believe your mother had hair like that.
Harry touched his red curls self-consciously. They weren't full curls, as Petunia told him often, more wavy with ringlets at the ends. It wasn't an orangey red like gingers, no, Petunia would've come at it with scissors if that was the case. It was a deep red, like overripe cherries. In the sun it shone like a beacon, glowing an impossible crimson.
"She did?" Harry whispered, brushing it with his fingers.
I believe so. Another thing, I expected you to be living like a prince somewhere. Don't ask why, I'll explain when you're older.
"C'mon, another 'when you're older' topic?" He complained. The voice laughed, and never answered.
.
.
As the years went by, Marvolo spoke to Harry a handful of times. He started going away for long periods, but he always came back. As Harry's tenth birthday passed, Marvolo seemed to talk more and more about many different things. He stayed longer and longer, answering the vast amounts of questions Harry had with unending patience. One day, Harry thought to ask why.
Harry sat, cross-legged one night while eating food he'd stolen from the fridge, squinting at his homework in the darkness he'd only barely abated with a small ball of magically conjured light. "My teacher doesn't agree with you." He said stubbornly.
Maths can be done numerous ways, child. The voice sounded exasperated. Just because your teacher uses multiplication doesn't mean you can't use division to check the answer after you're done.
"Why would I need to check my answer? I already found it."
To make sure it's correct, obviously. What if you multiply wrong, and when you plug it in and divide it backwards you don't get the starting number? Harry frowned.
"That can happen?"
Of course it can. Marvolo huffed. Maths is only reliable when making no mistakes. Double checking never hurts.
"Oh. I didn't know that." He fell silent as he chewed, but Marvolo didn't leave. His mist hung in the air around Harry's head, observing without leaving. "Why do you stick around more nowadays?" He asked, "Is something going to happen?"
Yes child. Your letter will be arriving in less than a year.
"What letter?" Harry asked before taking another bite.
To Hogwarts, of course.
"What's Hogwarts?" Harry questioned.
Hogwarts is a magical school for children like you. They teach the wixen to safely use their magic as they grow up.
"Wixen?"
Gender neutral term for witches and wizards. Much easier, less of a mouthful. Harry nodded.
"That's useful." The voice huffed a laugh.
Yes child. I've noticed your relatives don't like magic at all.
"You've observed correctly." Harry said. "They'll try to prevent me from learning it for sure."
When your letter arrives, hide it. You can give your response once you have a free moment.
"Response?"
Yes, the letter will be your acceptance letter. It will have a note from a Professor, and a list of everything you'll need for the school year. Marvolo explained. You'll have to send a response so they know you've received it. From there you'll need to go and buy everything on the list. You'll need to go to Diagon Alley, and visit Gringotts bank where your parents' vaults are. Harry listened carefully, absorbing the information.
"You'll help me?" Harry checked.
Of course, child. Riddle assured. However, there is something you have to know, and the time has come for me to tell you.
"If you'd not kept refusing to tell me stuff, maybe you'd not have so much to explain."
Cut the sass. Harry laughed. You are Harry Potter. Harry resisted saying that was obvious. In the Wizarding world, you are famous. As am I. Lord Voldemort is feared because there was a war that lasted 11 years, but ended 10 years ago. I was on one side, Albus Dumbledore on the other. You follow?
"There was a war. You versus another guy. I'm important for some reason." Harry recited.
Dumbledore had a prophecy. It stated that my downfall would be a child born at the end of July, and would be as powerful as I was. I panicked, not being able to hear the full prophecy. I feared Dumbledore was trying to raise a soldier to kill me. Harry nodded.
"That does sound worrying."
You were the baby. Marvolo told him bluntly. Harry blinked. I went to your house, and I killed everyone blocking me from you. Including your parents. Harry nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, I see. You killed my parents, that's how you knew my mom had red hair." He said, remembering. Marvolo made an odd noise. "I never knew them, so don't feel bad."
You really aren't anything I expected. Marvolo repeated in amusement. When I found you, you were watching me as I cast the Killing Curse. I tried to kill you, but your mother had used same kind of sacrificial magic to protect you. It rebounded, and destroyed my body instead. My soul is attached to several objects, so I didn't die. These are my Horcruxes.
"Your soul was ejected." Harry summarized. "You're a wraith now, or something?" The voice laughed.
You're taking this better than I thought. Harry shrugged.
"I grew up with you as my only friend. I never knew my parents, and I couldn't care less about a war from 10 years ago." He paused. "So what's your point in all this?"
Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He's also the one who placed you in your relatives care after your parents died.
"Wait wait, you mean he's the reason I'm being bullied like this?" Harry exclaimed. The voice sighed.
It's more than bullying, child. He snapped. But unfortunately, yes. That's why I believed you'd be well taken care of. Surely Dumbledore's pet Potter must be spoiled, right? Marvolo admitted.
"Not a chance." Harry muttered, and Marvolo laughed.
I have no doubt he'll explain his version of things, without explaining mine. I'll explain both for you. Harry nodded. Getting both seemed fair.
"I'd like you to explain after you finish your point." Harry reminded. "You told me this for a reason."
Yes child, I did. As I said, you are Harry Potter. They call you The-Boy-Who-Lived. They say you vanquished me, and you're in several books about it. Harry blinked. Everyone will know you. They will recognize your name immediately, and you will have to be either very chivalrous, or very firm with them. They'll swarm you, and expect many things from you.
"I don't really care what they expect from me." Harry shrugged at Marvolo's rough laugh. "Seriously, why should I care? I just want to learn some magic and get away from my relatives."
And so you shall. The voice said, amused.
"So, tell me more about the war."
Over the next few hours, Voldemort mapped out as much as he could. Tom Riddle had grown up similarly to Harry. Harry had taken a solid hour to admit maybe he wasn't just being bullied by his relatives. Being treated badly left marks no one could see on people, apparently, and it left marks on Tom Riddle.
Tom Riddle was a half-blood, and a Slytherin. Dumbledore had hated him immediately, and disapproved of his beliefs. The feeling was mutual.
Marvolo believed wixen were inherently better than Muggles, and that wixen should rule over them undisputed. He also believed that wixen born from Muggles, called Muggleborns, weren't even really magic and they should die with the Muggles. Harry didn't particularly agree with that assessment, but Marvolo was very firm in his beliefs.
Dumbledore believed the opposite. Muggles may be different, but he believed they weren't dangerous. He found them and their inventions interesting. He also believed the Magical world should cater more towards Muggleborn wixen and welcome them.
When Marvolo started collecting followers with similar views to his own, Dumbledore did the same for his side and a war broke out. Marvolo started attacking politically and violently to try to get his way, and Dumbledore retaliated. His Order of the Phoenix was relentless in tracking down the Death Eaters, and Marvolo apparently relished in destroying them.
Marvolo explained that torture and death were a part of his side of the war. People who disagreed were killed, and those who disobeyed were punished. Harry didn't particularly approve, but he didn't care as long as Marvolo promised he wouldn't kill or torture him. Apparently that surprised Marvolo, but Harry just shrugged it off. He didn't care what Marvolo did as long as Harry wasn't affected by it.
More so, Marvolo told Harry that Dumbledore always seemed to be one step ahead, and he suspected a spy in his ranks was leaking information. He hadn't had time to investigate before his demise via Harry Potter, apparently, which was still weird to think about.
So there you have it. Harry yawned, and realized they'd been talking all night.
"If I'm being honest, I find this whole war dumb." Harry told him. "You and Dumbledore are two powerful people who disagree and made it a game to destroy each other." Marvolo laughed.
Dumbledore is in for a shock when he meets you, that's for sure.
"Why's that?" Harry tilted his head in confusion.
He most likely left you here at the Dursleys expecting them to treat you badly to leave you in naive need for him and his guidance. He won't expect you, a child who spent the majority of his childhood with Lord Voldemort. Marvolo paused. Honestly, he'll probably expect you to join the second war he's planning and directly oppose me.
"I'm a ten year old." Harry stated, indignant. "He can't expect me to join a war."
He probably does though. You shouldn't be too surprised if he drops hints and tries to catch your eye. Harry nodded seriously.
"I'm assuming you have your own plans?"
Yes. I will tell you if you ask. Harry considered it.
"You go other places, when you're not with me." Not a question.
Yes, child. I'm searching the world for a solution to my problems, and a way to further my goals.
"First, I want to know why you've hung around all these years. I mean, you thought I was your enemy at first." Harry pointed out.
In truth, I first visited in anger. I'd hoped to find a way to kill you even without a body or form. However, the longer I stayed, the better I felt. A pause. Remember I mentioned objects that held a piece of my soul?
"Yes, they kept you alive without a body. Horcruxes." Harry recalled.
Exactly, my Horcruxes. I used a ritual to split my soul with a sacrifice to place a piece of my soul inside a vessel. Harry nodded, ignoring the sacrifice bit. In my time here, and knowing your abilities, I realized you are a Horcrux.
"You mean I house a piece of your soul?" Harry clarified.
Yes child, it's why you can feel my presence, even in this wraith-like form, and communicate with me when others are unable to sense me at all. It's also why you can speak to snakes. Parseltongue is a rare ability, and I passed it to you when my soul latched onto yours. It's centered in your curse scar. A wisp of cold air ruffled Harry's bangs, and he pressed his fingers to the lightning bolt scar spread down the upper right side of his face in no small amount of awe.
"Fascinating." He whispered into the dark. "This means you can't kill me?"
I could. Marvolo admitted. But I won't. It would only be leading to my own demise. Ideally, you would join me in the war instead of siding with Dumbledore.
"I'm not joining anyone." Harry said firmly. "Anyone who tries to make me join a war will regret it. That includes you, Marvolo." A laugh faded into nothing, and he knew the conversation was over.
Sighing, Harry turned the information in his head over and over, until he heard Petunia getting up for the day. He groaned, regretting skipping the sleep, but not the new information. Oh well. Time to greet a new day.