Defiance and surprises

Harry's first year at Hogwarts confirmed that adults in the magical world couldn't be trusted either, and that he had to shoulder his burdens mostly by himself too (or share them with other children). He also learned that the headmaster of his school had blithely sent an eleven year old boy -and his friends- directly in the path of a dark lord.It hadn't gotten better from there.Now, Voldemort was back, and a magical war had come to the British isles once again. Sirius was dead. And Harry didn't even have a basic Hogwarts education under his belt.He had no knowledge, no skills, no resources, and his only allies were his friends.So, what could he do? Who could he trust?

Part of Evil Author Day 2025I am posting my November 2023 rough trade story as my EAD offering. I will post the first 14 chapters in the course of the day. There is more of this story written waiting in the wings, but I don't write linearly and I'm missing some key linking scenes. I might return to this story and finish it or I might not.This has not been edited, so it is still in its rough trade shape.