Shiro Tsubasa here with a new fanfic! That's right! I wrote something else! *cue fanfare* ANYWAY, this idea struck me while I was writing Secrets Unleashed so I thought, why not? It wasn't like it was just going to go away because I ignored it (Secrets Unleashed was in my head for 3 months before I wrote it.) I hope this story turns out well as I'm letting it write itself and I don't have the best track record of finishing anything that's not a one-shot. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to leave plenty of reviews (no flames though, I'll cry.)

Disclaimer: Is Harry dark and did Ginny die in the Chamber? No? Then I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it (though I did buy a copy of each book, if that counts for anything.)

Legend:
"Speech"
'Thought'
§Parseltongue§

*The Burrow, night before the departure to Hogwarts*

"Sweet, sweet silence. Oh how I missed you." A messy haired youth stated from his position under an apple tree in the Weasley family orchard. "I swear, I don't know what part of this summer was worse, staying with the muggles or staying with these idiotic Weasels." Anyone who heard this would not have believed who the words came from, for the youth was none other than Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, Gryffindor Golden Boy, and many other names that would probably wind up in the death of whomever spoke them depending on his mood. What many, including his so called "friends", didn't know was that it was an act. For almost four years the one whom many viewed as their savior had been plotting their downfall, using their own image of him to hide his true nature.

In his first year he began his plans, after discovering the Wizarding World and the rampant stupidity of the common citizen he had decided that they would be better off with a leader who would rebuild them into a prestigious race ruling over the filthy muggles. With his decision having been made, Harry proceeded to learn. At first it was merely learning all of his school works and the workings of Wizarding politics, a rather stupid institution if you asked him but one he could work with. Before long he had exhausted all of his books and proceeded to systematically go through the school library. After facing Voldemort for Flamel's stone, currently stashed in his school trunk after having replaced it with a convincing fake, he decided to delve into the Dark Arts.

His second year involved quite a bit of research into his new topic of study. Following a trip to Knockturne Alley, Harry had a small library of Dark Arts books, Grey Arts books, and Occlumency books as well as an untraceable wand to practice with. When he returned to Hogwarts he had mastered most of the basic curses, taking a particular liking to the bowl liquefying curse, and was working on some obscure ones. His mind, while not fully occluded, was strong enough to resist most basic Legilimens and give warning should someone attempt in the first place. With the discovery of his Parseltongue abilities during that idiotic duel with Malfoy, he proceeded to test using Parseltongue to fuel his spells. Upon discovering they amplified the strength of most spells he made sure to set aside time to master each spell regularly and in Parsel to the point of being able to use them on a whim. By the end of his second year Harry had spell knowledge far beyond his years but not the dueling skill to use it effectively, as shown when he was beaten by the shard of Voldemort and an overgrown snake.

After his humiliating defeat and having to be saved by Dumbledore's phoenix, Harry racked his brain trying to determine a way to advance his dueling skill while keeping his abilities hidden. The answer came to him in the form of the ex-Malfoy house elf, Dobby, who told him of a rumor among the elves of a room in Hogwarts that caters to the will of the user. After learning the location from the kitchen elves, again with the help of Dobby, he used the room to duel dummies spelled to act as Wizards for the short time until his leave for the year. Upon returning to the Dursley hellhole, Harry decided rather quickly to leave. Marge's arrival proved to be opportune as he inflated her with his spare wand and altered the Dursley's minds to make it seem as if it was nothing but a burst of accidental magic. When he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron to see the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, awaiting him he had thought he was found out only to skate through on his fame.

During his time in Diagon he made several more trips to Knockturne and even a few to Gringotts, where he quietly took his role as head of the Potter family due to his orphan status. During one of the trips to Knockturne he came across an "exotic" (read illegal) pet shop and, on a whim, bought a rather large black egg. Shortly before his meeting with the Weasels and Granger, whom he had learned were helping themselves to the gold in his vaults, the egg hatched into a beautiful black phoenix with white tips on her wings and tail feathers and eyes the color of rubies. Upon her hatching she bonded with Harry, giving him his very own dark phoenix. Nyx, having been named after a goddess of the Night, proved to be a valuable asset in moving around without arousing suspicion.

Upon returning to Hogwarts, Harry redoubled his efforts to become an effective dueler despite the fact he was watched constantly for fear of Sirius Black coming after him. What most of the Wizarding World didn't know was that Black was innocent, Gringotts having records of every death and his parents leaving him a letter informing him of Pettigrew's role as the real secret keeper helping prove it to him rather easily. Though Black was supposedly his godfather, he had chosen revenge over his godson and so Harry was quite content to let him rot, especially as his freedom would not work well in his plans if he had truly forsaken his Black roots. Even with the Patronus training with Lupin, Harry still found time to learn new spells and further his knowledge, which was becoming much harder to hide in class. A few slip-ups, which he played off as luck, were too many in the grand scheme so, around Christmas, he took some time off from learning and spent it planning and adapting his existing ones to the changes that had occurred.

One of the biggest changes in his plans was the addition of his girlfriend, Daphne Greengrass, whom he had met in second year. He was training one afternoon when she decided to be curious.

*Flashback*

"Damnit, still not good enough!" Harry practically hissed as the conjured rat he was training on twitched but just wouldn't die.

"I don't know Potter, it was a pretty good blood boiler for a four year old," came the sarcastic reply from the doorway. Harry turned rapidly with his wand ready and a bowl liquefier on his lips only to stop when he saw his intruder. Though a second year, she was already well on her way to being one of the most gorgeous women in the school and Harry had to stop himself from openly staring. Her wavy black hair glinted in the torchlight as she scrutinized him. Her eyes, though seemingly cold and unpleasant, held a glint of amusement within their violet depths. Her face, aristocratic and beautiful, held a small smirk. While slightly taller than the average girl, she held herself with a grace and poise showing her pureblood upbringing.

"Well, if it isn't Slytherin's Ice Queen, to what do I owe this pleasure Miss Greengrass?" He stated with a slight smirk of his own, though he never lowered his wand. "I heard spells and admit myself curious, why would Gryffindor's Golden Boy be practicing Dark Arts in the middle of the night?" She gave a start as a spell crashed into the wall beside her head. "NEVER call me that, and to answer your question, it's none of your business." Harry hissed darkly, his emerald eyes flashing with anger. "My apologies, though if you tell me why you're here, I might be inclined to aid you in your endeavors." She could see his eyes calculating the pros and cons of such a deal and knew she had him.

*End Flashback*

After that initial meeting they continued to train together and she became his first follower as well as his closest friend. By third year he had fallen in love with her and asked her out shortly after their return to Hogwarts. On top of training with Harry and eventually dating him, her other job was to slowly convert people to his side. By the end of third year almost every Slytherin under fourth year was with him and were working on converting their parents as well, along with some Ravenclaws and a handful of Hufflepuffs. Harry knew better than to try to convert the Lion's Den, as that could easily backfire on him and his entire cover would be blown.

Near the end of third year Harry had started researching the Animagus transformation. After taking the potion, he discovered his form was that of a black panther and had just completed the transformation last week with the Marauder's shortcut he gleaned from Lupin before he left. As it stood he was well on his way to conquest and just needed the right opportunity to begin his plans.

Harry was broken out of his reverie by a warm sensation on his chest. Pulling out the heart shaped locket he kept under his shirt he let a small smile grace his lips. "Hello love," he whispered as he opened the locket to see his girlfriend's face in the communication mirror kept within. He raised an eyebrow at her appearance. "I like the streaks, when did you get them done?" Sure enough, her hair had blood red streaks going through her front bangs. "Today, I'm glad you like them." She answered, smiling at his sincerity in his compliment, a rare thing from her Black King. "My hair isn't the reason I called though, I just heard from Malfoy about the stunt at the World Cup." Harry grimaced at the reminder of those stupid Death Eaters; they had almost gotten him stunned by incompetent Ministry officials. Daphne let a small chuckle escape before regaining her composure and continuing her report. "As I was saying, apparently the attack was ordered by Voldemort through Barty Crouch Jr. It would seem his father slipped him out of Azkaban and he just recently escaped before joining back up with Voldy."

"Oh really? That's interesting, but what is so important that you couldn't wait until the train ride tomorrow to tell me?" The dark haired young man questioned with a raised eyebrow, while intriguing he couldn't see the importance of the information aside from a possible return of Voldemort. Daphne huffed in annoyance, sometimes he could be so impatient. "I was getting to that. According to Malfoy's dad, with my own verifying the information, Voldy is planning a resurrection ritual and is going to use the Tri-Wizard tournament as a cover to get you there for it." The rising Lord grinned in a manner befitting a shark, this would do perfectly. "Remind me to reward the Malfoys, that kind of information is well worth it." Daphne had to suppress a grin, if he liked that, he would absolutely drool over what she still had for him. "Well, if you are happy now, wait until I finish. Apparently Crouch Jr. is going to be in Hogwarts, probably as the new DADA teacher given the trend, and is tasked with ensuring you get into, and survive, the tournament." Harry's grin got wider and a dark chuckle escaped before he could stop it, this night just kept getting better. Not only would he get to remove Voldy once and for all, he'd have a Death Eater help him do it!

"This is perfect, I was wondering when he was going to attempt something and this will work beautifully. Tell the Malfoys to keep an eye on any Death Eaters who might not align with me and to try to get anything they can on the resurrection ritual, I want to make my move then and if I can find a way to screw with the ritual it will give me a huge advantage." Before Harry could continue with his ideas a screeching harpy interrupted him, calling him in for bed. With a growl he turned his attention back to Daphne. "Sorry dear, the harpy is calling for me. I can't wait until I take over; my first order is going to be putting her under permanent silencing charms. I shall see you tomorrow my Queen, goodnight." "Goodnight my King, I look forward to it." She finished by blowing a kiss before he shut his locket, hid it, and retreated back to the Burrow. 'Soon my plans shall take shape and this world shall be mine.'