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Tom/Voldemort was reading the parchment that had just been delivered by a very nervous follower, the news that Diagon Alley was under attack by none other than Harry Potter didn't make any sense. His thoughts were cut short as a shudder running through the ministry building and an enormous pulse of energy provided his answer, the fools had probably sent everyone they could after Potter's ghost while he attacked his real target.

Voldemort ranted and raved while Tom quietly congratulated Potter on being a worthwhile adversary and wished for the millionth time he'd never attempted to rejoin his soul.

His reasoning at the time was sound, according to his only source of information, the Weasley girl, Harry was this great hero who had defeated him as a baby and then again at the end of his first year in Hogwarts. It was only the boy marrying another that allowed him to take control of the young witch and his first act had been to destroy that precious jumper, had she actually met and spoken to Potter then he was unsure if he would have managed to absorb her life force such was her devotion to her hero. He badly needed that information but got more than he bargained for, he now knew he couldn't physically touch the boy and later heard the complete prophesy in the department of mysteries stating that Potter could actually kill him. With no news for the last five years he had no idea what power his nemesis might actually possess.

The soul joining had proceeded perfectly except for the fact that Voldemort was unfortunately quite insane, being destroyed for the second time by Potter had pushed him over the edge of what was normal even for a megalomaniac. They were currently in control of magical Britain with their every whim being catered for and most of the population totally unaware who pulled the strings, Voldemort wanted to have the fountain in the foyer replaced with a grand throne constructed from skulls where he would sit every day and be worshiped. Tom had no qualms about killing, he'd murdered his father and grandparents to make the diary but pointless killing just robbed you of a resource you could no longer exploit. Voldemort was so filled with hate he wanted to torture and kill the entire world's population, leaving him to rule over the desolation he'd wrought.

Their continual battles over the same body was taking its toll though as, instead of twenty-two they now looked nearer forty than thirty. Yes he received valuable information from the joining but paid a very high price, Tom had to keep all his emotions clamped down tight or that gave Voldemort the toehold he needed to begin their next battle for dominance.

The next piece of parchment delivered started a battle that Tom knew he had to win, Voldemort would stand and fight but this would only add impetus to their enemy's endeavours and they would be destroyed.

Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were marching towards the ministry at the head of an army after slaughtering the people they sent to the Alley, he had assumed that attack was a feint to allow him access to his actual target but now they faced real danger. The smart thing to do would be to withdraw and regroup but he could already feel Voldemort's response, he would stand at the top of the ministry steps and demand they all kneel before the greatest wizard who ever lived. As red began to creep into his eyes Tom knew he was in a fight for his life before Potter even got here.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5043968/10/