Chapter 2
In this universe, Harry Potter awoke to banging on his door, but this time he didn't cower. He didn't obey. He righted himself as much as an eleven year-old could in a dusty cupboard, and pushed open the door. He emerged changed, different. Godlike. He could feel Death's power under his veins, feel Magick herself surrounding him as he leveled a glare at his aunt. She gasped, reminded of a past that once was. A sister made of clovers and fire.
(A pair of green eyes, framed with tears, glaring at her.
A wisp of red hair in the frames of her vision. Waiting. Watching. Hunting.
A sister by blood, by choice, until she was no more)
In this universe, Harry Potter did not bow down to mortals. He quirked a brow, and without a second thought, disapparated. A crack filled the air and Petunia Dursley mourned what once was.
(A pair of green eyes, framed by glasses, staring up at her.
A wisp of raven hair in the frames of her vision. Waiting. Watching. Pleading.
A nephew by blood, but never by choice, until he was no more.)
In this universe, Harry Potter went to gringotts. He set up an account under the name "Hadrian Peverell", bowing to the goblins as he swept out of the bank, his shirt two-sizes too big. He could feel Death nudging him towards Knockturn alley, and who was he to disobey Death? So Hadrian Peverell, in this universe, bought piles of clothes with his inheritance, robes made for kings and shirts spun from the finest silk. He kept his head held high and his eyes open wide as he darted through alley after alley, fending off the occasional creature who deemed it a good idea to try to mess with him. It wasn't.
(A child, grinning like a god, as he wiped blood from his lips.)
In this universe, Harry Potter did not run into Draco Malfoy. He did not decide not to go to Slytherin. He knew better, this time around. He planned, and schemed. He'd bear that burden, that heavy crown, upon his head until Dumbledore had fallen and his people were safe. He'd bow to no man, mortal or not, and he would make them pay. He smirked, before whispering the name of the being who so many mortals cowered before.
(A god, disguised as a child, split the heavens and the earth below.
A titan, disguised as slave, answered the calling.
A creature crawled from the depths.)
In this universe, Death called Harry Potter master. That unshakeable being, that fearsome heretic, bowed to the boy with killing-curse eyes. He grinned, mouth full of sharp, uneven teeth as he heard his master's command. Oh how their kingdom would fall when they realized their savior was their doom.
(A plan formed of malice and revenge.
A whispered command.
A deal made in shadows and of vengeance.)
In this universe, Harry Potter erased himself from existence. As he crept through the forever dreary alleys of Knockturn, he stumbled into a shop full of contraband potions and elixirs. A plan formed in his matured brain, and he slipped galleons into a shop-keepers hand.
(A potion sipped down carefully, eyes conveniently averted.
A gasp and a vial shattered as bones grew to what they once were.
A child seemingly disappearing in thin air.)
In this universe, Harry Potter didn't board the train with his peers, for Harry Potter was no more. Instead, Hadrian Peverell apparated to the gates of Hogwarts, waved his hand as he walked leisurely up to the front of the school, and summoned the deathstick. He grinned at the feeling of its weight in his hands, twirling it absentmindedly before sighing and pocketing it, strutting up to the doors of the great hall.
(Doors slamming against an ancient stone wall, power throwing them open.
Magic crackling through the air as a mysterious man slunk into the hall.
Whispers of confusion growing.)
In this universe, Hadrian Peverell revealed Quirrel for what he truly was in the beginning, and graciously offered to become the defense teacher in his place. Dumbledore was suspicious at first, but begrudgingly accepted. Hadrian's smirk grew as he sat down next to a certain potions professor, and heard the whispers coming from the students. They would never know what hit them.