Summary: A prolonged war. When Voldemort goes to the Potters on Halloween he starts to duel a surprisingly skilled James Potter when his opponents features start to change and Albus Dumbledore is revealed. Being caught by surprise, Voldemort knows he doesn't stand a chance so after overcoming Dumbledores magic that keeps him from escaping, flees from the Potters unharmed.

This story would be about an adult Harry Potter just starting to mature into a man when the war that had been prolonged ever since the night Voldemort attacked is suddenly returned full force, with the Death Eaters and Order of Phoenix at full strength. At the beginning of the story anyway.

Voldemort still focuses on Harry Potter, for the prophecy, and in recognition of his potential, even though his at a young age for a wizard...

Rules (Oneshot):
*Pettigrew has a backbone and comes to Dumbledore and Potters with the idea of luring Voldemort to Godric's Hollow to defeat him once and for all.
*Voldemort must escape without losing his body.
(^Nothing new really, but would be nice to see done well.)

(Extended):
*Potters must be in the house for the duel, for some reason or the other, to lure Voldemort in, and all three of them witness the duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore
*Harry, while young, is traumatized and has nightmares of the high level duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore, and seeing what they are capable of, uses this to push himself in magic and knowledge to grow stronger, knowing the potential wizards and witches have.
*Dumbledore uses the order to capture the Death Eaters with inside knowledge from Pettigrew (and Snape?) while Voldemort is lured to Godric's Hollow. When Voldemort escapes, all of his Death Eaters are in Azkaban, with Dumbledores new protections in place on the prison, effectively prolonging the war until Voldemort can break them out.
*Main story is post-Hogwarts and Harry-centric. Maybe start it at the graduation ceremony?
*A while after Harry graduates, in his new profession, (or maybe his traveling and learning magic), Voldemort finally succeeds in breaking all of his Death Eaters out of prison. (Dumbledore stopped Crouch Snr. from executing any Death Eaters.)
*Must show Harrys progression as a wizard and in the war.
*Harrys growth of skill and involvement in the war leads him to becoming too cocky, he does/attacks something he shouldn't. Because of this James or Lily die for him in a battle. (Harry can't be perfect, must make mistakes.)
*Character deaths, no lovey dovey shit.
*Romantic pairings can be whatever, must be a minor point in the story. If it can't be done, it can't be done.
*Rest is open.

Nothing truly unique even though it mightn't of been done that way specificly before. Its the author the makes a story truly great, and there needs to be more war stories where Harry is an adult.

 

Sounds like it could lead to a very interesting fic. However, I do wonder why Voldemort let the war die down after the failed attack on Harry. Ok, he got beaten off by Dumbledore, but so what? Why would he not try again, come up with a different plan, try to take back the initiative?

 

This. In the canon he was inactive for ten years, because there wasn't much he could do without a body. Sixteen years with body is more than enough time to gather a new Death Eaters army or two. I suppose this could be done if Albus somehow cursed Voldemort making him waste his time looking for a cure, instead of recruiting young pure-bloods.

 

I don't think many people are going to be looking to join after every Death Eater was captured and sent to an Azkaban that had been made even more secure than it was before. Voldemort is going to have to wait a few years before the stigma starts to go away. Plus most of his new Death Eaters were the children of his past or current Death Eaters so he's waiting for them to get to an age to be useful. He could wait 16 years because he wants his forces to be at their best. Him attacking at graduation could be his quick plan to try and kill both Harry and Dumbledore. With the children of his followers graduating and he can find ways to get his new recruits there then suddenly he could have caugh Dumbledore off guard. Another assumption could be he faked his death and had been in other countries gaining followers. I'll expand on the theories when I get off my phone.

 

Sorry was away for a couple days pigging. Well, the main reason I was thinking that Voldemort would be inactive is because the Death Eaters are in prison. It's not as simple as collecting new followers, because I like the idea of Inner Circle Death Eaters and Order of the Pheonix members being a cut above the rest in terms of their magical prowess/political power etc etc. Not just have Voldemort recruit more Death Eaters for cannon fodder.

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I was hoping the world would know his still out their for a change, which would justify changes to the wizarding world after Voldemorts defeat which could make the story more interesting. People know his still alive, even if he has no support, but they also know that one day he will be back, this time probably even more cunning and powerful then before.

Maybe Voldemort could use his time off to grow even more powerful? Without having to run the Death Eaters, he could devote more time to himself, and his plans for world domination. Dumbledore obviously got the upper hand on him this time, imagine his thirst for revenge to humiliate Dumbledore like he was humiliated by being defeated, and having all his followers taken from him.

 

I'm not sure how you can explain keeping Death Eaters alive and unkissed. The only real reason for that in canon was that the "war" was already over and they didn't pose a real danger.

 

A few of the richer ones could have paid to avoid it for them ad a select few that Voldemort told them to save for later. The common foot soldier though got the kiss.

 

Mainly because Dumbledore had them captured, he would have a lot of sway into how they are punished. He could bargain the capture of the Death Eaters to make sure they do not receive the kiss. Not that he wouldn't capture them anyway, but I'm pretty sure a man like Dumbledore could have the ministry agreeing in no time flat. If Albus Dumbledore says he can bring you all the Death Eaters, which would effectively stop a war, and all you have to do is put them in a prison which (at this time) has never been escaped from, and Dumbledore himself is going to add extra protections, would you argue? Hell no.

As to why they wouldn't be kissed, that would be because of Dumbledores belief in second chances. He doesn't like killing unless absolutely necessary.

 

Not really a second chance if they spend the rest of their lives in Azkaban...

 

100% true, but canon proves Dumbledore would prefer to send someone to Azkaban then the kiss. It would always come back to bite him in the ass, which is half the plan.