Breaking Free

It was a rainy day, followed by a stormy night. Harry was lying on his small bed in the cupboard under the stairs, in number 4 Privet Drive.

He could hear the raindrops hammering against the windows of the kitchen, the small rivers of water overflowing the gutter. The occasional lightning illuminating the living room, kitchen and corridor could only be seen as a bright stripe between the wooden floor and the closed door of the cupboard.

Many children his age are afraid of the dark and loud thunderstorms but not Harry. Oh no, not him. He likes these forces of nature, the uncontrollable power behind the storms. Just like the unspeakable power that lies under his skin, a power he must not speak of if he wishes to spend his days relatively unharmed in the Dursley household. The forbidden M-word must not be spoken, or his Uncle will be driven in an inexplicable rage. His aunt will get a far away look and sometimes she would mention her sister, Harry’s mother, and rants about „freaks” and how much of an unnatural child the young boy is.

Harry hates it.

He hates being beaten, being called a freak. So he stays quiet. He does not talk about magic, because it undoubtedly is magic, what his relatives hate and fear.

Harry has magic. He knew for a long time. And his relatives disdain does not dampen his ambition to train and lean about his magic. He just has to do it in secret.

But back to tonight.

While the storms raged outside, Harry wished he could go outside and stand in the rain, to feel the power in the air, to see the lightning tear apart the darkness and hear the deafening thunder as close as possible. But he can’t. Because, like nearly every night, the young boy is looked inside his „room“, the small cupboard under the stairs. Every evening he hoped his aunt would forget about it, but he had no luck today when Petunia shoot the bolt on the door after Harry was done with his chores after dinner.

Lightning flashed again and Harry involuntary put his hand over his forehead. The lightening always reminded him of his scar. There, on his forehead beneath his fringe of dark locks and a little bit of his magic to hide it, a web of bright silver scars snaked over his skin, beginning at his hairline and going down close to his right eye. When he was younger he often admired it in the bathroom mirror. He would follow the pattern with his fingers and trace the outline which reminded him so much of a lightning bolt on a dark stormy night.

There was an incident when he was about five years old. He was in the bathroom and after brushing his teeth he was inspecting his scar. He had it as long as he could remember. He was so immersed in his reflection he didn’t notice aunt Petunia coming in. She stood there for a moment, shocked and unmoving. Mere seconds later she grabbed Harry by the hair and dragged him away from the sink, screaming something about „unnatural” and „stupid boy” and her „bitch of a sister“. Harry didn’t really pay attention to what she said. Her painfully tight grip in his hair brought tears to his eyes and when she pushed him inside the cupboard he stumbled and fell to his knees. He was looked in for the next three days. And that was the moment that lead little Harry to the realisation that his relatives would never accept him, no matter how hard he works, how much effort he puts in preparing meals or cleaning the house. No matter how lovely the garden looks, thanks to his hard work.

No. The Dursleys just hated him. Him and magic. Simple as that.

It was a painful experience for Harry. But he wasn’t discouraged. He learned he just has to work harder to hide his magic, to get by and survive. It wasn’t ideal. Harry suffered gravely from his relatives abuse and his bully of a cousin would even rope Harry’s classmates into it (Harry-hunting became a fun pastime for them).

Right now he was all about surviving and becoming stronger. When the time is right he will take his life in his own hands.

The next time he entered the bathroom and looked into the mirror he noticed something different. His scar was gone!

It’s disappearance shook him. He loved the scar! It was his and the one thing he loved about himself, even though everyone around him seemed to hate it. He stepped closer to the mirror and then, like a wish come true, his scar reappeared. He was stunned for a moment, scared to move and hardly breathing. Once he dared to touch it (after checking the bathroom door was actually locked) he felt the slight elevation of the lightning bolt scar and he breathed a relieved sigh.

It was his magic, protecting him from his relatives.

Again.

Harry shook his head, dispelling the unpleasant thoughts about his family and concentrated on his magic. It felt a bit like the thunderstorm.

He could nearly feel the static in the air, coming from the storm or from within himself he couldn’t tell.

He took out an old watch from his pocket. The band was broken but the watch itself still worked.

It was time.

He counted down the seconds.

Eleven

Ten

Nine

Eight

Seven

Six

Five

Four

Three

Two…

Lightening.

„Happy birthday, Harry," he whispered to himself.

The next day was much like any other day. Harry was woken by his aunt. He made breakfast, went to school, cleaned several rooms in the Dursleys home and tended to the garden. The soil was still wet and the now 11 year old struggled to keep his pants clean.

The days passed and the weekend arrived.

This Saturday was like any Saturday, the weekend will be just the same. Time would go by and things would hardly change. Or so Harry thought.

He was in the kitchen, thinking about how he wanted to try change his appearance again (like he managed when he discovered how he could hide his scar - he changed his hair colour from raven black to a strawberry blond and nearly panicked when it took him over an hour of struggling to change it back to normal) when suddenly the doorbell rang.

Uncle Vernon was in the living room, watching TV. Harry could nearly feel his irritation. His uncle didn’t like surprises and this includes visitors.

„Boy, get the door!“ he bellowed and Harry stepped away from the sink. He dried his hands on a kitchen towel and went to the entrance.

When he opened the door there was a man in front of him. He was tall, his hair an untidy mess of dark locks, similar to Harry’s own birds nest, before he managed to tame his mop of hair with a little help of Aunt Petunias conditioner and a little bit of magic. The man wore thick glasses and was clad in a dark outfit, black trousers and a red sweater with a dark grey jacket on top.

His clothes didn’t fit him very well and despite his confident appearance at the beginning, as soon as his eyes fell on Harry he faltered. He opened and closed his mouth a few times without speaking and Harry was reminded of a stranded fish.

As the seconds passed and the man couldn’t get a word out Harry got a little irritated. Why wasn’t he saying anything? He was the one who came and rang the doorbell.

Deciding not to be impolite about it Harry spoke first.

„How can I help you, sir?“

„Harry?” the man asked. It seemed he gained back control of his ability to speak.

„…yes?” Harry answered carefully. How did the stranger know who he was? He hated to admit it, though the interaction made him a bit nervous.

„I’m sorry,” the man said, scratching the back of his head with one hand and cramming the other into his pocket. He also seemed quite nervous.

„You know, it’s quite late and I’m really sorry about it and I can’t even imagine how it must feel for you and, you know, you don’t have to worry about it, we already sent the acceptance letter to Hogwarts and there’s nothing that will keep you from attending. We were just so caught up in the past days events and…“

Before he could continue his rambling Harry interrupted the man.

„I’m sorry, but who are you?“

Harry’s Irritation grew with every word out of the strangers mouth. He was quite impolite, his words made little sense to Harry. It seems like the man expected Harry to know him. But Harry has no idea who he was, he never introduced himself and as far as Harry knew, it was the first time this man visited the Dursleys. Harry contemplated closing the door, but he didn’t want to anger his Uncle in case the stranger was an acquaintance of him.

A sharp intake of breath brought the young boy out of his musings and he snapped his attention back to the man in front of him, who suddenly looked quite sad and a little bit… hurt? Even though he tried to hide it.

And what he said made Harry wish he had slammed the door shut, consequences be damned.

„I’m your father.“

What.

No, that can’t be.

No!

Harry froze, his indifferent mask slipping and his eyes wide open. Yes, he thought as he took in the man’s appearance again. It’s… possible.

But no, it can’t be, his parents are dead, they died in a car crash because his father was a useless drunkard and his mother was always fighting with him. He got distracted and he lost control over the car and they crashed and…

…and now he was standing right in front of Harry, waiting for a reaction beyond his eyes wide as saucers.

Harry realised after a moment the man was waiting for him to respond.

„Oh.” Harry mentally facepalmed, though he couldn’t get anything else out. The man - his father! - looked a bit like a kicked puppy after that.

Harry’s mind was still racing, he desperately tried to get himself to calm down again without his father realising how much he was affected by this revelation. His father was alive.

He was alive and well and he was here right in front of him and Harry couldn’t think of a reason how this could be. Why would the Dursleys lie about this? It’s not like they enjoyed his presence at their home. Why was he even living with them when his own father is alive and well apparently?

Slowly Harry felt his blood pump hot through his veins as his shock made place for rapidly growing anger.

His father looked quite fine. Even though his clothes didn’t fit him all too well he didn’t seem to struggle getting along. So why is it, Harry was living with his relatives, who hate him and abuse him daily, who force him to do all the chores and are unwilling to do a single thing on their own, when his own father was alive and well.

Harry managed to school his features after a few moments. He didn’t want to give the man any more insight in his inner turmoil.

He was still a stranger after all.

The man scratched at his neck again. He seemed to do it quite often when he’s uncomfortable.

„This is weird“, he mumbled quietly. „I expected Vernon and Petunia tell you about what happened,” he continued a bit louder. „It’s wasn’t easy letting you go, but it was only to keep you safe. That’s all we ever wanted.“

'We' Harry thought… so he has more family? Before he could get lost in his thoughts again, the man continued.

„Well, anyway, my names James, and I’m here to bring you home. You’re eleven now and you will start school soon, so we have to go shopping to get all your school supplies and then we can get to know each other again.“

The man sighed and stepped closer, Harry had to restrain himself from taking a step back.

„We’re really sorry Harry. We love you, we do. But this was the only way to keep you safe.“

He was looking so desperate, Harry nearly pitied him. But his anger was still burning hot.

Apparently they were standing too long in the doorway, because Harry could hear Uncle Vernon getting up from the sofa and coming up behind him

Harry was still fuming. His father - because yes, he couldn’t deny it after his Aunt and Uncle confirmed the man’s declaration - was sitting beside him in a cab. After Uncle Vernon interrupted them they sat down in the living room, his relatives basically fleeing the house after a short shouting match. So Harry wasn’t the only one his relatives didn’t like. Apparently this also included his parents (which he already assumed and had now confirmed) and older twin brother (he had a brother!).

They sat on the sofa and Harry listened to James explaining what happened. Harry barely said a word, content in letting his father talk.

It was quite the tale and Harry was sceptical at first. What according to James happened was nearly unbelievable, but then again, magic exists, so it might be true as well.

Apparently Harry is not the only one with magic. His family was full of witches and wizards, his own parents rather talented and strong and his brother a prodigy. James talked about himself and Lily, Harry’s mother, and he told him about Charlie, Harry’s twin brother. Charlie was more like his mother Lily in appearance, whereas Harry came more after James but still had his mothers eyes, while both were wearing glasses like their father. He told stories about his own school time, his friends Sirius, Remus and Peter, and how he met Lily. How they fell in love and married right after they graduated.

James mentioned many people, friends, professors, acquaintances and how the magical community in general was different from the „muggle” world.

When he mentioned a war he became sorta quiet. Harry’s interest was piqued when James told him about the different types of magic, but he quickly noticed how his fathers mood darkened when he talked about how evil and dangerous dark wizards are.

„Dark magic is disgusting,” he said. „You need to be careful and stay away from dark wizards, they just want to hurt you and our family.“

He didn’t explain the difference between dark and light magic though and Harry made a mental note to research it as soon as he got the chance.

The darkest and most evil wizard had many followers and James proudly declared he and Lily and their friends were the strongest opponents of the Dark. This was also the reason the small family was targeted by the dark wizards followers. After the twins were born they were afraid for their safety so they went into hiding.

It was in vain though as the evil wizard whose name shall not be spoken found them and attacked their safe house on Halloween ten years ago.

The story became a bit rushed, James avoided Harry’s gaze when he told him how his brother defeated the dark wizard who attacked them. He somehow managed the deflect the deadliest curse known to wizard-kind. This resulted in the death of He Who Must Not Be Named and Charlie was hailed as the Boy Who Lived.

Charlie was the only one who ever survived the deadly curse that was thrown at him, mostly unharmed except for a small scar over his heart.

The magical world celebrated him, since he was the reason the war ended.

The dark sides followers disappeared, many of them managed to keep their identities a secret from the public.

And that was the reason Harry was cast away.

Not because his parents died in a car crash or because the dark wizards openly attacked them after their leader was gone. No, it was simply because there was the possibility he would be in his brothers way.

James didn’t outright say it, of course not, but Harry could read between his words He took in his fathers nervous ticks and how he avoided eye contact and he just knew. If it was only because he feared they would be targeted by their enemies then they would have chosen another home to hide, they would have taken measures to protect themselves and their kids. After all, wouldn’t it make more sense to hide Charlie, who was more likely to be attacked by dark wizards? And how was Harry safe with his relatives who were muggles? If they decided to attack them, they would be helpless against wizards.

They didn’t want him because he wasn’t as strong as his brother. Because he was not the boy hero who defeated the dark Lord. Because he might get in his brothers way, take away his fame and distract him from his studies. Because they believed he would be jealous of his brother and the attention he got. Because they thought he was a liability.

Harry went through a roller coaster of emotions. He was hurt, he never really enjoyed his life, always had to hide his true self from those around him or he would get beaten or locked in his cupboard for days. And all of it because of this? Disappointment made place to anger again, as he calmly sat beside James and contemplated what he just learned.

After more than an hour, when he was finished with his story, James said they needed to leave now or it would get too late.

And now they are sitting in a cab, driving through London to get to the magical shopping district to buy Harry’s school supplies. Harry’s magical school supplies.

Even though he was still upset, Harry was also a bit excited.

Well, okay, not just a bit, the young boy was very excited.

Diagon Alley was everything Harry expected it to be and more. It was colourful and loud and bustling with life. There were many people, most of them wearing robes. This would explain James' own ill-fitting clothes. Wizarding fashion was quite different from what Harry was used to.

There were all sorts of shops and James produced a piece of parchment from his pocket. He showed it to Harry and it was the list sent by his new school ('Hogwarts', Harry reminded himself) with his required school supplies.

There were plenty of items on the list and as the afternoon went by, father and son were getting tired as they ran from shop to shop, getting cauldrons and potion ingredients, parchment, quills and other tools.

They spent quite a lot of their time in a bookshop called Flourish and Blotts. Besides his school books James told Harry to chose a few books that seemed interesting to him. Harry didn’t need to be told twice and soon his pile of books grew twice as big.

James just smiled at him and after he paid he took the bag and shrunk it to the size of a penny and put it in his pocket.

Harry was thrilled by every display of magic and he couldn’t wait to learn the spells himself.

According to James, Madam Malkin's robes for all occasions were the best ones on the market, so they made their way over to the shop. Many people seem to recognise James as he was regularly approached and greeted. They sent curious looks Harry’s way but didn’t engage him in their conversation.

While Harry got his measurements taken for his school robes and the casual robes James wanted to buy him, his father was quite preoccupied with another man who roped him into a conversation as soon as they entered the shop.

Harry waited for James to finish his conversation, though it seemed it wouldn’t be too soon. Apparently, the man was a colleague of James' and he had quite a lot to tell.

After a few minutes Harry grew bored and restless. There were many people in the store, most of them kids with their parents who bought their school robes. Harry wasn’t used to so many people, he always preferred to be alone or in places with few people. He considered his options and after a few moments he walked up to James and the other man.

„Can I go get my wand? I saw the wand makers shop around the corner, we can meet up there when you are finished,” Harry unceremoniously interrupted James mid sentence.

For a split second James looked down at him with an irritated look on his face, though he changed his expression to a fake smile immediately.

'He’s annoyed… good', Harry thought smugly at his reaction.

Harry was still rather riled up after what he had learned a few hours before. He wouldn’t make it easy for his family, that’s for sure. After all, they also didn’t make his life any easier.

„Yes, of course. I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Harry“, James replied. He pulled out a money pouch and the shopping list, handing both to his son.

„Here, go to Ollivanders and buy your wand. I’ll meet you there when I’m done.”

Harry took the items and left without another word.

Harry entered Ollivander's wand shop and breathed sigh of relief. The shop was empty and most of all quiet.

Standing at the entrance he took a few breaths and looked around the shop. It was rather messy with piles of small boxes everywhere. Slowly he walked further inside. Once he got close enough he could read the inscription on the boxes, which probably contained wands. Though he couldn’t exactly catch the meaning of the inscriptions, he guessed they described the components of the wands inside. However, how feathers and heartstrings and hair of different animal (even unicorns?) would work in a wand was beyond Harry’s knowledge.

After walking around in the shops silent but somehow still crowded atmosphere Harry was longing to try one of the wands.

„Hello?” he asked loudly. „Is someone there?”

He received no answer. Who leaves a shop like this unattended for so long? Anyone could just walk in and take the valuable goods and leave without anyone noticing.

Or is there something like a magical alarm system?

Harry contemplated his options, he didn’t want to wait anymore but after another five minutes he was still alone in the shop.

'Screw it', he thought to himself and reached for a dark red box which was closest to him.

„Oh hello!”

A man suddenly appeared right behind Harry. He jerked around with a start, taking a few steps back. Unfortunately he knocked some of the boxes over which toppled to the ground.

Harry looked down and went to apologise but the man didn’t let him get a word in. He grabbed the boy by the shoulder and steered him towards the counter. This must be Mr. Ollivander.

„Ah well, Mr. Potter I was wondering when I would meet you, your brother already received his wand a few days ago, a quite curious choice I must say.”

He disappeared for a second and came back with a few different boxes. He put them down in the counter and opened the first one.

As Harry took the offered wand he felt… nothing.

Not even a second later Mr. Ollivander yanked the wand out of Harry’s grip.

„No, not this one, no, no,” he mumbled. „Maybe this will work?”

He handed another wand over. As soon as he closed his fingers around the smooth wood a vase standing on the counter exploded into hundreds of little pieces. Harry’s hand tingled.

„And definitely not this one…” Ollivander said as he took the wand back.

And so it went on.

Wand after wand was tried and discarded, the pile of rejected wands grew bigger and Ollivander was more excited with every new wand they tried.

„Oh what an interesting customer you are, Mr. Potter! You see, the wand chooses the wizard, always. I use a variety of different woods and magical cores for my wands. But it seems the usual cores of dragon heartstring and unicorn tail hair don’t fit you. Hmm let me see… yes, maybe a Phoenix feather will do?“

He handed Harry another wand and looked at him with a strange expression.

Harry took it. He felt a slight breeze blow through his hair, but it soon died down again. It wasn’t his wand either.

But Ollivander wasn’t discouraged.

„This is interesting… you see, when your brother came in he claimed a quite powerful wand, with a Phoenix feather core. While you are twins it seems you are rather different from each other. So no Phoenix feather, how curious.“

The search for the perfect wand continued. The wand maker mumbled to himself about kelpie hair and kneazle whiskers and dragon scales.

But when he handed Harry a wand of a darker wood with an intricate pattern on the handle it felt like butterflies in his stomach. He knew before he even touched the wood that this one was different.

As soon as he held the wand in his hand a golden light erupted from its tip, immersing his surroundings in a warm and gentle atmosphere.

Harry felt safe and… happy.

Ollivander grinned at his young customer.

„Eleven inches rosewood and a thestral hair core. Quite a rare wand, it was sitting in my shelve for quite some time, just waiting for you.“

He leaned closer and Harry gripped the handle tighter, fighting the urge to take a few steps back. What is it with people always getting so close to him? Don’t they know the concept of personal space?

„A powerful wand for a powerful wizard. I expect great things from you, Mr. Potter.“

Harry simply nodded.

After choosing a wand holster and paying for both his items he left the shop, wand securely attached to the holster he fastened on his forearm.

Harry stepped outside and paused for a moment. He looked over the busy street and the people roaming about. Even without touching it he felt the wand attached to his forearm and hidden by his sweater. It was a strange feeling, for it was so familiar, but Harry knew he only had the wand for a few moments. How could it be so comforting and calming?

His anger melted away as he thought about his day.

He never would have believed his parents were alive. The lies his aunt and uncle told him seemed true to him, he had no reason to question them. But as it turns out, life has more in store for him that he ever thought possible.

Maybe things will change for the better now.

Opposite the street was a small shop with big windows, ‚Magical Menagerie‘ was announced in big letters over the entrance.

As he waited for James Harry kept an eye on the shop, something about it made him restless. It didn’t help that James was taking his time. It took Harry some time to find his wand and still, after several minutes of waiting James didn’t show up.

So Harry gave in to the curiosity.

He crossed the busy street and stepped into the shop Once again the racket from the street was dimmed. It wasn’t as vacant as the wand makers shop but still rather quiet compared to the noise and clamour from all the people outside. The only sounds were low rustling noises, quacks and hisses, meowing and chirping.

Harry walked through the shop, looking at all the different animals.

But something still seemed to call him, he couldn’t explain this feeling otherwise. Walking down the isle he noticed he was getting closer to a section full of different birds.

And there she was, a beautiful snow white owl scowling at him. The looks she threw at him appeared as if she were scolding him of being late.

„Hello beautiful“, Harry crooned, as he carefully walked up to her and began to stroke her feathers with his right hand.

The owl hooted softly and after a few moments she flapped her wings and leaped onto Harry’s shoulder, nibbling softly at his hair.

Smiling, Harry went up to the counter. The clerk was surprised and he tried to sway Harry from his decision. He told him how difficult this bird is specifically. As if to emphasise his words, the snowy owl flew over to him and pecked him on the head. It was like she understood exactly what was said about her and she didn’t like it one bit. The young boy had to hold back a grin at the scene. No, he was sure this owl was the perfect choice for a companion.

The evening was finally quieting down. Harry sat on his bed in his room (his own room with a real bed, not just a small mattress lying on the floor) in Potter manor. He was exhausted, mentally and physically.

After Harry stepped outside the shop, owl perched on his shoulder, James was already waiting for him in front of Ollivanders shop. It was a strange atmosphere between those two as they walked down the road. Neither knew what to say to the other.

Harry and James arrived at the manor after experiencing a strange kind of magical teleportation which left Harry dizzy and nauseous. It would take him some time to get used to all the magic around him. The manor was big, much bigger than the Dursleys home. It left Harry with an uneasy feeling. He was nervous to meet his mother and brother, though he wouldn’t admit it.

Lily, his mother, was close to tears when she saw him. She hugged him as soon as he walked through the front door. She didn’t seem to notice Harry’s slight flinch. What followed was much like his first conversation with James, apologising and explaining and excusing everything that happened and their actions. Everything they did was to keep their sons save.

His brother Charlie was simply standing besides them, waiting for Lily to release him. His brother really looked more like their mother, with his dark red locks and the general shape of his face, though his eyes, much like Harry’s, were obscured by a pair of glasses.

After Lily let go of her youngest son, Charlie grabbed Harry’s wrist and pulled him towards the stairs.

„Come on, I’ll show you our rooms!”

Charlie excitedly dragged his brother along until he burst through a door at the end of the corridor on the first floor.

„That’s my room, yours is right next to mine.“

The room was big. There were two windows and a four poster bed was on the far end of the room. Several things were scattered around, mostly clothes and toys. A small bookcase was standing beside a desk. The floor was covered by a deep red carpet, the same colour like the bedsheets.

While Harry looked around Charlie talked. He told him the story about how he defeated the evil wizard. Again. Harry tuned him out.

He quietly made his way over to the desk and sat in the chair in front of it. He was getting hungry but he didn’t know if he could just ask for food. He didn’t know how it worked in this house yet. Maybe he has to complete his chores first, like it was with the Dursleys.

„And then mum fought off the remaining death eaters and when Professor Dumbledore came, he immediately recognised the scar over my heart is a curse scar. Wicked, isn’t it? Want to see it?“

Without waiting for an answer he pulled his shirt over his head and proudly presented a small zigzagged scar on his chest.

„My magic is so strong, this is the only mark left by the death curse,” he announced excitedly.

„Wow. That’s… great,” Harry mumbled.

His brother grinned.

„I’m so glad we can start Hogwarts together. It will be so great! But don’t worry, I can help you with your school stuff, I know you haven’t learned anything about magic yet.”

This made Harry pause. He didn’t consider it but it made sense that Charlie already learned about magic and probably even some spells.

„That would be nice,” was all he could get out.

While the other boy happily continued talking, now about Hogwarts and not just himself, Harry was struggling to keep his anger in check. How can this world be so unfair, he wondered. Not even did he suffer under his relatives ‚care‘, no, he will also be the dumb brother at his new school, not just the unwanted and useless one.

He can nearly imagine it. Charlie, the teacher’s and everyone’s favourite, on top of his classes and Harry struggling to keep up.

No.

That won’t do.

Harry will do everything he can so this won’t happen. And if it means he has to study through the summer and read every book he bought before he started his first year, so be it.

He will show them.

„And of course, the best house in Gryffindor!” Charlie exclaimed loudly, shaking Harry out of his thoughts. „There are also Ravenclaw, but there are only bookworms and know it alls, and all the naive and boring ones will go to Hufflepuff. There’s also Slytherin,” Charlie made a face „but that’s the house of the dark wizards. It’s full of slimy snakes and they are all evil. You-know-who was in Slytherin, so that says it all, I think.”

Harry frowned at that. Why would people judge a whole group of students, just because of one person?

He was about to say something, but Lily interrupted them to announce dinner time.

„Thank Merlin, I’m starving!” the older boy exclaimed. „Come on, Harry!”

Dinner was filled with Charlie’s excited chatter and Lily’s and James' input. Harry was content to just listen.

After dinner Harry excused himself, stating it was a long day and he wants to go to sleep.

Lily smiled at him and gave him another hug. Harry’s not sure if he likes hugging.

Sitting on his bed in the dark he made himself a promise. He would work hard and Charlie won’t get the chance to leave him behind again.

He will take his life back.

True to his promise, Harry diligently started studying his school books. He read them from cover to cover and then he started on the books he chose for his own. After a few days he discovered the library within the manor and he spent most of his time there.

Lily proudly called him her little Ravenclaw, whereas Charlie just complained that he didn’t want to play with him. Harry only told him he didn’t want to embarrass his brother upon arriving at Hogwarts, so he learns about wizards customs and etiquette. It was enough to placate him and he went to fly on his broom with James following closely behind.

It was astoundingly easy to sway Charlie’s plans. As long as Harry assured him it was to his brothers benefit, he doesn’t think twice.

He was indeed studying customs and etiquette, but also beginner books about the fundamental ways magic works, the differences between the magic branches like light and dark and even grey magic, and several theories on what was actually possible when casting spells and charms and so on. He also read up on the subjects on his curriculum which interested him.

All in one, he spent his last weeks before school reading and avoiding his family. It was quite peaceful.

Time went by rather quickly and soon the day came to board the train to Hogwarts.

Harry was standing on platform 9 3/4 with his family, both his parents fretting over Charlie. They were worried to let him out of their sight. Many dark witches and wizards are still fighting against the light. And Charlie was the lights poster child and hero, he would be a target. They also worried about the other children at school. Certainly, some of them are the kids of dark wizards. What if they hurts their boy? Thankfully, the headmaster and one of the Professors were good friends of the Potters, so Charlie had someone to go to, should something happen.

Harry let his eyes wander, watching the families saying their goodbyes and taking note of the kids who will be his future classmates.

After some time Lily grabbed him in a tight hug and they said goodbye. Harry was glad when she let go again and took a small step back while putting a smile on his face. After saying goodbye as well he picked up his trunk and started walking towards the train with his brother at his side.

„I think I will take a compartment on my own, so you can go sit with your friends and I can also meet new people, okay?” he said to his older brother.

Charlie looked surprised for a moment but agreed readily. He already spotted his friends Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom and made his way over to them. Harry boarded the train and sat down in an empty compartment.

Harry spent most of the train ride with his nose buried in a book. At some point other kids came inside his compartment and sat beside him. They were about two years older than him. They chatted for some time but then the others also pulled out their books.

‚Ravenclaws, probably‘ Harry thought, thinking about the stories he heard from his family. But on the other hand, they might as well be in Slytherin. Educating oneself and gaining knowledge would be partly characteristic of the House of Snakes as well.

He read up on the different traits of the houses, about how their respective common rooms look like to accommodate the students, what they value and what they despise. It’s difficult to divide a group of children according to their personalities and skills and Harry wondered how the teachers would do it. None of the books he read went into detail how the sorting ceremony worked exactly.

He also reflected on what his family told him about the houses. Apparently they were all in Gryffindor and it was the „absolute best house” in their opinion. Harry wasn’t so sure though. They seemed rather biased in that matter and everything connected to darker magic or people who they assume are dark was vehemently dismissed, like the entirety of house Slytherin. He would just have to see for himself.

After he exited the train he found himself among other first year students. They followed a giant man to the lake where they boarded small boats. Harry sat beside a girl with bushy hair, who seemed to have read every book available on Hogwarts. She kept talking and didn’t seem to mind it that Harry barely answered, so the boy simply listened to her retell him the story about the creation of the castle by the four founders.

After the boat ride, a minor fight between Charlie and a blond boy, some time waiting and meeting a group of ghosts, it was time for the sorting ceremony.

And it was quite interesting. The sorting wasn’t done by the teachers. The students were instructed to sit on a chair and an old sentient hat was put on their head by a stern looking Professor McGonnagall. The hat would then proceed to determine in which house the student would go.

As the students were called up and sorted Harry got a bit nervous. He had a good idea which houses would suit him and he wondered how that would effect him because one thing was sure: unlike the rest of his family he wasn’t a Gryffindor.

The girl he met on the boat, Hermione Granger, and Longbottom already sorted into the house of the lions.

„Charlie Potter“

The hall grew quiet for a split second and then it erupted into chatter and cheers.

Charlie grinned and walked up to the chair. The hat was placed on his head and a few moments later it exclaimed loudly,

„Gryffindor!“

The Gryffindor students were cheering and some even jumped up and shouted. It took some time for the commotion to die down.

But it certainly became deathly quiet again when the professor read the next name.

„Harry Potter“

Unlike before the students didn’t start cheering. They were confused and Harry could hear them whisper about him, who he was and where he had been the last decade, why no one knew about the hero’s younger brother.

Harry hated this attention. He quickly walked to the chair and sat down, trying to ignore the students and their chattering. He kept a neutral facial expression but he was glad when the hat was placed on his head and the noise was suddenly blocked out.

‚Hmm what do we have here, another Mr Potter. And such an interesting mind!‘

Harry just barely kept from flinching when he heard the voice in his head.

‚I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you‘ it continued. Harry could feel the hat’s presence in his mind. So that’s how the sorting worked, he mused.

‚You are a tough one, Mr Potter. You surely have attributes that worked well in every house. Though I believe, Gryffindor will suit you the least. You are patient and loyal to those you deem worthy of it. You long for companionship. And I can see your thirst for knowledge, and you have great ambition, once you decide on a course you will do everything to reach your goal. I would suggest, Slytherin would be a good choice, now what would you say?‘

‚I can decide where I go?‘ Harry thought.

‚Well, I won’t put you where you don’t want to be. And as I said, you would do well in either house.‘

Harry was surprised by that, he didn’t expect that his own wishes would have a big weight in the sorting.

‚Not in every case, but I try to keep the students best interest in mind‘ The hat chuckled.

‚What would my parents do, though, if I was sorted into Slytherin? You were in their heads too, you should know.‘

‚I surly was and I do, but I can’t reveal anything I learn about people to others as I please. It would be irresponsible and not to say a misdeed towards those whose trust I broke. You wouldn’t want me to talk about you to other as well, now do you?‘

Harry sighed.

‚I spent most of my life with abusive guardians, I simply wish to make the right choice so I won’t lose the home and I just gained.‘

The hat was quietly for a few moments. As he spoke again his voice lost his cheerful tone.

‚Very well. If I remember them correctly they wouldn’t appreciate it, should you decide for Slytherin. You are their son and they want you to be happy, that is true, but they are also convinced that the world can be easily divided in black and with, in dark and light,‘ he said carefully. ‚But you already assumed that.‘

‚Then you know my decision. You already know where I don’t want to be and also where I can’t be.‘

‚That I do. Considering this there is only one place I assume you will find your way. Better be… Hufflepuff!“

The great hall was quite silent after the hat announced Harry’s house. Maybe they all expected him to go to Gryffindor as well. But they don’t know Harry. And Harry doesn’t care. He was not Charlie and had no interest in following the footsteps of his older twin.

Ignoring the stares of his schoolmates he walked away from Professor McGonnagall towards the Hufflepuff table. This apparently shook the other kids from their stupor and they also began to applaud and cheer for him, like they did for their other housemates.

The evening was quite boring after that. Harry was sitting beside two girls from his year and only halfway followed the proceedings in front of him. The sorting continued and the headmaster gave a little speech afterwards. Mentioning a restricted floor and the forbidden forest caught Harry’s interest. He heard about the forest. Dark and dangerous it stretches around the school ground and is home to many creatures, most of them quite harmful to anyone who approaches them. At least those who don’t know how to behave or defend themselves.

After the meal the first of the students started to leave the hall. The first years also finished eating and were escorted to their common room by the prefects. The kids were pretty tired after everything and decided to go straight to their dorm room.

The next few days were quite exiting for Harry, even though he tried not to show it too much. In his experience good things always lasted longer when he wasn’t so obviously enjoying them. Though he tried not to think too much about the Dursleys he still couldn’t help but compare his life to how it was before.

He never had much time for himself. He was going to school, walking home and then he had his chores until it was night time. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, laundry and not a single moment for himself until he was back in his cupboard. If he was lucky he could do his homework in the morning while his relatives ate their breakfast. He would have preferred to finish it in the evening but rarely had time to do so before he was sent to his cupboard where he didn’t have light.

Even at the Potters house he was making himself busy, helping Lily and catching up on all the things he missed growing up about magic and the world he now lived in. It was difficult at first, since he didn’t know his parents and brother, and even though he was generally not overly fond of people, he wanted to make this work. This was his home now after all. And it was better than everything he knew before.

After a short time already he crafted a mask for his family. He was uncertain how to be himself around them, so he made sure to show them a side of himself they could like. Though still rather calm and guarded he was more outgoing with James and Charlie, asking them about Quidditch and Hogwarts and letting them talk. They were good at talking and Harry was good at letting them talk, not really engaging in the conversation but making enough comments to keep them chatting about random subjects.

Lily was always fond of his studious side. Talking to him about the subjects at school and recommending books. Ultimately he liked talking to his mother more. He didn’t have to hide as much, for he really liked the subjects they were talking about. As it was, his family was sometimes joking about the kids‘ housing at Hogwarts, saying he would to well in Ravenclaw, but surely he would be in Gryffindor with his brother. Even his mother, one of the most clever witches of her year, was in the house of lions as well.

He was still glad for every chance to be by himself and was wondering if his choice of house was the right one. His classmates were nice and even the older students helped them where they could. It seems they considered each other friends from the moment they were sorted into Hufflepuff.

Harry was quieter then them, keeping more to himself. At first he was worried he would end up being an outcast due to his own behaviour in a house full of outgoing and friendly students. But after the first week passed he realised he was worrying for nothing. Wearing the yellow and black uniform made him part of a rather loyal community and despite his worries, he believed, someday he can call some of his housemates friends and really mean it.

The first day after the sorting he noticed that his brother Charlie was quite subdued and was avoiding him. He looked over to him from his place at the Gryffindor table but every time Harry turned to look in his direction or meet him in the halls Charlie turned away and avoided his eyes.

At the end of the first week though, he ran into Charlie on his way to breakfast. He didn’t seem happy meeting Harry. He didn’t even talk to him, just scoffed when his gaze fell on his yellow tie and walked the other way.

„Don’t mind him,” said a voice from behind him. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott were walking behind him on their way the great hall for breakfast. „He’s probably just annoyed because you aren’t in Gryffindor and it’s interfering with his plan.“

„His plan?“

Susan considered her answer.

„I know him for some time now. Our families are both active in the ministry and therefore we were sometimes invited to the same events. He’s quite fixated on his saviour image.“

Hannah rolled her eyes at her friends words.

„That’s one way to put it. He’s not following any conversation where he can’t talk about himself.“

Harry didn’t really know what to say to that. Well, it was true, but still… Charlie is his brother, even though his behaviour is rather annoying to the younger boy.

„So what’s his plan?“

Susan grinned, „Well I guess the two of you were supposed to be Gryffindors and getting mixed up in all kinds of nonsense and adventures. His loyal brother amongst his infatuated friends. The golden boy with his strongest supporters.“

The girls chuckled at that.

„It’s just the way he is“, Susan continued. „If someone isn’t completely and devotedly on his side he feels like he’s not the centre of attention and gets annoyed.“

Harry considered her words. Her observations seem accurate, Susan apparently knew his brother better then him, after all the years they spent apart. He told her as much and she continued to tell him a few stories about gatherings and birthday parties where she met his family. It was a bit weird to hear her talking about his family and she meticulously avoided to mention anything concerning him.

That’s another thing he noticed. No one from his house has ever mentioned his absence from his home and family. No one bugged him about his connection to the saviour of the wizard community. He was kinda waiting for the pin to drop, for someone to mention it or find out about his childhood. It makes him anxious.

Susan must have noticed his mood, she drifted of after retelling what happened at Charlie’s 9th birthday party, when he threw a tantrum about a gift he received from a younger girl.

How she told the stories, Harry was reminded of his cousin. Maybe Charlie was also like him but wearing a mask for other people. Showing a face he thinks is representing an appropriate amount of pride and candour, being boisterous and giddy. When in the company of adults like his parents or even with Harry, Charlie is less wild and concentrates more in his confidence and his place in the community and their family, his fame and his skills with a broom. When with James he also engaged in political talks (though it was mostly making fun of people they don’t like).

Thinking back on their interactions Harry slowly got angry that he didn’t notice it sooner, that he needed someone else to point out the obvious.

Angry at himself, that he was blinded by his own desires to finally be part of a loving family, something he longed for a rather long time now.

But also angry at his parents. At his brother.

Charlie was just another Dudley. Another boy too full of himself. Another boy being doted on by his parents and most people around him, no matter how he behaves towards his peers. Another bully.

And Harry will never be like him, and ultimately he will never receive the same love from his parents, since he is so fundamentally different from their golden child.

Not knowing what to say he walked silently beside the girls as they entered the hall and walked towards the Hufflepuff table.

„And that dumb scar,” Hanna said after a short silence when they sat down at their table. „I mean, alright, he got it from you-know-who but still. It’s not like he actually fought against him, he was a toddler.“

Yeah… thinking about his own scar on his forehead, still hidden by his magic, Harry couldn’t help but grin.

„Did he also take of his shirt in front of you to show you that zigzag scratch?“

Both girls burst into laughter. Of course he had.

Classes started the day after the sorting. Hufflepuffs Head of House, Professor Sprout, handed out the timetables for her students, and Harry was curious at the lessons.

All his anxiety about his lack of knowledge was in vain though. The first few weeks showed that he was rather well prepared for his first year. He read most of his schoolbooks after all and he also read quite a few books he found in the Potter manors library. He knew much about the theory behind the subjects, even though he had little chance to actually train with his wand.

After a short time he already found his favourite subjects, namely Charms, Defence against the Dark Arts, Potions and Transfiguration.

Whereas the subjects were quite enjoyable, though some of the teachers were rather weird. Fortunately, most of the classes he had with the Ravenclaw students, meaning he didn’t see his brother so often.

One of the first weird occurrences happening was his first potions class near the end of the first week. Harry was looking forward to it, no matter what his brother said about his teacher. He opted to believe his mothers opinion on this matter over his twin's, Professor Snape was a prodigy of potioneering and they could be lucky he decided to teach rather than commit his time to research.

The first lesson he seemed to be rather displeased though. After checking attendance he slammed his book closed and yelled the first question.

„Potter, what potion would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”

Caught unaware Harry was hesitated for a moment.

„I’m not quite sure, Sir, but I believe it would be some sort of sleeping draught.”

Not commenting on the answer the Professor considered him for a few seconds.

„Where would I find a bezoar?” was the next question to follow, still aimed at Harry.

More confident in his answer Harry said, „In a goats stomach. It’s a stone-like mass which can act as an antidote to most poisons. They are quite rare and therefore antidotes are more commonly used than a bezoar.“

Again, Professor Snape didn’t respond.

„And what would be the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?“

Harry had to suppress a frown at the trick question.

„There is no difference, they are the same plant.”

Staring at each other, teacher and student created a rather uneasy atmosphere in the classroom until the professor broke the silence.

„It is also known as aconite. And asphodel and wormwood do indeed make a sleeping potion. It’s rather powerful though, which is the reason it is also called Draught of Living Death. Your answers were correct, unlike your brothers. Write it down.”

'So this is what this was about' Harry thought. Apparently his brother got the same questions and failed. Which wouldn’t be surprising, since it was not mentioned in the first years potion book. Harry read another beginners book about potions and potion ingredients and he was glad he picked up the rather heavy tome. He still wondered why Snape would ask such questions.

While he and his classmates rushed to write the questions and answers down on their parchment Professor Snape continued to talk about the art of potion making, how there is little use for wand waving but in the end you still receive a result in form of a magical solution that, regarding the makers skill, will be reason for glory and fame and can even put a stopper to death. Afterwards, he instructed his students to follow the steps of a recipe to a simple potion from their books which Harry already tried with his mother at home during the summer. The lesson ended without another incident or bombardment of questions to any student.

Another class he enjoyed was DADA. And again, his teacher was kind of strange. Harry couldn’t really point it out what it was, but every time he was close to the strange lisping and stuttering teacher he got a strong headache.

But at least he wasn’t pulling him into the spotlight and asking him all sorts of questions as if he thought Harry didn’t deserve to be in his classroom.

Classes went by and so did weeks and months. Winter break was fast approaching. The raven haired boy became good friends with Susan and Hannah. His relationship with his brother on the other hand, as tentative and careful as it was at the beginning, worsened over this short time.

After all the things his new friends (his only friends, really) told him, Harry was hesitant.

Charlie’s behaviour spoke for itself. He was proud and brash, didn’t care much about others when it would turn attention away from him, but did when it benefits him. He always made sure to be seen and liked.

Well, liked by those who he saw as valuable. Like the Weasleys, Longbottom or the Parvati girls. All children from influential families. At first he also kept the muggleborn girl, Granger, around. But apparently they had a falling out over Halloween. Charlie and Weasley insulted the young girl and she ran away crying and wasn’t seen the whole evening. After that, she kept to herself and tried to make friends with others though she struggled with that until she bonded with two Ravenclaw girls from her year.

Others, like Malfoy, Nott and Zabini, also heirs from powerful and pureblood families and all in Slytherin, were mostly insulted. Ravenclaws were laughed at and Hufflepuffs ignored. Unless he could gain anything out of an interaction, of course. And if it’s just to ridicule someone and make others laugh.

This caused many to be either completely enamoured or simply indifferent or, in most Slytherins case, even hating the other boy.

Harry himself didn’t quite know what to do. His friends told him about their encounters with his brother and the few times he interacted with him between classes or at meals were enough. He really didn’t want to have Charlie in his life. He didn’t want to have someone like his cousin in his everyday life. He already has to hide so much, he couldn’t imagine how his life would be if he had to pretend every day to be someone he is not just for his brother to like him. He didn’t even want the other boy to like him. Truly, he couldn’t care less what his brother thinks about him.

And he already pretends so much, shows others a mask he created for them, just to avoid being in a similar situation he had with his relatives. It was exhausting. Harry didn’t want to continue like this.

In less than half a year Harry turned his life upside down again. When he was still living with the Dursleys he had little hope. Though when he met the Potters that changed. He thought, now he had a chance. Finally. A chance to have a family, to be rewarded for hard work and find his place in a society of people who were like him.

But now…

Even though they told him they loved him and he’s part of the family despite him not living with them for the better part of his life, Harry didn’t really believe they were genuine.

From his place at the table he could often see Charlie receiving mail and packages, most likely from their parents. But it took them over three weeks into the school year to send a letter to him, and it was written only by Lily, James didn’t even sign it. From what she wrote it seemed they were surprised he was made it into Hufflepuff instead of Gryffindor. They were happy for him and told him to take his studies serious and that was it. No personal stuff just, that.

Harry was disappointed.

It was the same as always. He hoped and got disappointed.

It was around Christmas time he was feeling especially down. He missed meals and avoided his housemates for a few days. He decided to stay at Hogwarts over the break, he wasn’t ready to face his family.

And that hurt.

On Christmas Day he received a few gifts from his parents, mostly clothes and some books as well. Most of the books he already bought during summer or took from the library, so it didn’t even make him feel guilty for not sending them any presents of his own.

Susan found him after breakfast, which he had skipped again. She took one look at him sitting in a couch in the corner in the common room. He tried to make himself small, not wanting to interact with anyone but unable to stay in his dorm room any longer. He didn’t know if he could retain his indifferent mask when interacting with the others who were so clearly happy and in a festive mood. He didn’t want to destroy their cheer. He just knew he would be getting angry if someone were to comment on his bad mood.

Susan came through the door to the common room, her eyes scanning the room before finding him in the corner. He watched her from the corner of his eyes, saw how she paused when she found him. After a few moments she turned around and left again.

Great… Harry contemplated what to do. He could go to the library. He would probably be mostly alone since it was unlikely that the other students would go there during the holidays.

After a few minutes passed he made up his mind and was about to stand up and leave when the door opened again. In came Susan but this time Hannah was with her as well. Both girls walked straight towards him.

„Come on, scoot over.“

Hannah plopped down besides him, barely giving him time to make room for her. Susan immediately sat down on his other side.

„We didn’t see you at breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?” Susan asked, leaning against the armrest and putting her feet on Harry’s lap.

Suddenly a fluffy blanket was thrown over them. The boy looked to Hannah at his left side again, he didn’t even notice the blanket when the two of them walked in. She looked at him expectantly.

Remembering the question he turned back to Susan. Both of them were looking at him, worry barely concealed in their eyes.

„Not really…” Harry mumbled, looking down. He played with the blanket over his lap to occupy his hands. He didn’t notice the look the girls exchanged.

„Well… we can always go to the kitchens should you get hungry before lunch.”

Hannah lightly leaned against his shoulder. Both girls quickly learned that Harry wasn’t overly fond of being touched or hugged, so they always tried not to overwhelm him after they saw his suppressed flinches at sudden gestures. But also noticed that he liked small and slow actions like this. „We missed you, we barely hang out. How about we walk down to the lake after lunch? It’s probably already frozen solid, we can go ice skating!“

And there was a flicker of something in Harry’s chest. Something small, but still, it made him feel warm.

He still had that hope. But he realised he didn’t need the Potters to give him a chance. It’s his life after all.

He will make that chance for himself. And he will succeed.

He will work hard and get rewarded, just not by his family and relatives like he aimed to achieve before.

It doesn’t matter. He can find family outside his blood relations. His friendship to the two girls was already stronger than any bond he had to his actual family and relatives.

He didn’t have to pretend, didn’t have to act or be someone else. He didn’t have hide his thoughts and feelings. Because Susan and Hannah actually like him. They listened to him. They talk to him, helped him with studying and homework and finding his way around in a world he didn’t even know of before he met James.

He was feeling unwell and they noticed that he was sad. And they didn’t avoid him, didn’t get angry.

They came to him. They cared about him. They truly did.

He doesn’t actually need the Potters to take his life in his own hands, he can see this now. It was like a dream come true. He didn’t need them to be happy.

Because he was.

He was happy.

„I would like that," he said, smiling.

Life got easier after Christmas. Harry finally admitted to himself that he was wrong about his family. It was wrong, he shouldn’t have to disguise himself around his family for them to like him. And they should make an effort regardless, they were the ones to wrong him after all. They were the ones who sent him away and ignored him for nearly a decade.

He deserved better. Hannah and Susan taught him that.

So when school started again, he didn’t try to gain his brothers attention or to please him, make him like him.

It was like he could finally take off a too tight sweater that was choking him since he started to live with the Potters.

School went well, Harry overcame his struggles with all the new subjects and the practical lessons with the help of his friends and other housemates.

It was alleviating. At first he thought his Hufflepuff housemates were just friendly and likeable like he expected them to be after all the things he heard about his house before he came to Hogwarts.

He didn’t realise how far they would go in their House unity though.

Charlie soon noticed that Harry wasn’t trying to get in his good graces anymore. And he didn’t like it.

Which resulted in him showing more of his true face to his younger brother.

Snide remarks and humiliating comments started pretty soon. Thinly veiled insults followed some time later.

At first Harry was getting worried. He didn’t regret his choice but still, the wounds from previous bullying and neglect were still too fresh.

Therefore it took him a while until he noticed how his housemates reacted. Because of course, they noticed how one of their youngest badgers was suddenly targeted by the most popular boy at school.

They steered him away when Charlie and his friends tried to get in his way. They talked back while still being friendly and having a sunny smile on their face. No one can say a bad word about the Hufflepuffs, they are manners personified after all, always happy and a bit naive. No teacher would look twice their way.

Which allowed one of the older Hufflepuffs to trip Charlie with a spell and send him face first into a door. Only a few of his housemates noticed what actually happened. Harry can still hear his brothers screams, the crack of his nose breaking, the steady drip-drip of his blood running down his face and dripping at the floor.

That was when Harry learned something new about his house. Others might call them soft and naive. But what they failed to realise is, Hufflepuffs are quite scary if they want to be. They are nice. They are kind and helpful. But foremost, they are loyal. So when one of their own got picked on the whole house started to act and stick together. They wouldn’t allow anyone of their own to get hurt.

The day Harry found out about that was the day Charlie unfortunately broke his nose against a hard wooden door after a nasty comment towards his younger brother and had to be carried to the infirmary while he couldn’t stop screaming and crying.

Professor McGonnagall was called, she was only a few corridors away and arrived shortly after it happened. She didn’t even give the students surrounding Charlie a second glance, zeroing in on the crying and bleeding child on the floor.

Oh my, the poor boy, tripping over his own feet.

She had to make sure he was brought to the infirmary, so she took him there herself.

Harry cringed and turned away from the scene.

A hand landed on his shoulder.

„Are you okay?” a friendly voice asked.

The younger boy turned to look at his older housemate. It was the one who tripped his brother, his name was Cedric if Harry remembered it correctly. They sat together at lunch sometimes, but didn’t really have anything else connecting them. They barely even talked.

„Yeah, I’m fine.“

Cedric sighed.

„What a prick. Someday he’ll get what he deserves.“

„Harry!“

Said boy turned towards the voice calling out for him and saw how Hannah came rushing towards them.

„What happened? Are you alright?“

„Yes, don’t worry. It’s nothing.” Harry shifted to get Cedric’s hand off his shoulder. It was slowly getting uncomfortable.

The older Hufflepuff boy only frowned. Hannah didn’t seem to believe him either.

„It’s alright, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to“, Cedric said, taking a few steps away. „But you don’t have to worry about it, we take care of it. He will regret ever even thinking about hurting you.“

With a grim face the older boy turns around and walked towards his friends waiting at the corner of the corridor.

That’s not what Harry expected. He didn’t think someone he barely spoke to would defend him like that.

Knowing that her friend was a rather private person Hannah grabbed his hand and led the raven haired boy away from the quickly formed group of students who came to witness the golden boys bloody nose before she asked him again.

„Are you really okay?“

He sighed, knowing that he probably couldn’t get out of this conversation.

„He’s just been an idiot.“

„About?“

„My childhood, essentially. He said I’m lucky they took me in and I should be careful not to lose that again. And that his parents won’t be happy when they hear about my behaviour towards him,” he said, rolling his eyes.

„Wait, what?” Hannah stopped walking and looked at Harry incredulously, „his parents?“

Seeing the irony, Harry grinned, „Yeah, his parents.“

Now it was Harry who started walking again and he dragged Hannah along.

„Really, it’s okay. Thinking about it now, I don’t really care about it anymore.“

„But they are your parents too, how can you say that?“

„Because he’s right. I’m lucky not to live with my relatives anymore. No matter what the Potters would do, it can’t be worse than with the Dursleys.“

„But this is where he’s wrong,” Harry continued, face grim and piercing green eyes finding his friends worried blue ones. „He thinks he can hold this over my head. He still thinks I didn’t figure out what he really plays at. And he still thinks I care about what my parents think about me. I haven’t heard from them in months and I couldn’t care less.

No… he can’t intimidate me or blackmail me with that, he sounds exactly like Malfoy when he threatens to tell his father about something. He will learn that I am more then just this helpless little boy he sees in me, who’s afraid of what his parents would say. That’s just what he thinks, but I will show him. I’m not letting him walk all over me and if he tries he’s gonna regret it.“

For a little moment Hannah was silent. Harry still looked at her, anger and determination clear in his eyes. Her hand started to tingle where she touched her friend, his magic bubbling barely restrained under his skin. She didn’t really want to admit it but she’s certain in this moment. If she wasn’t friends with Harry she would be afraid of him.

But they are friends.

And there is only one answer to Harry’s concealed question for her assistance in making his „brothers” life as miserable as possible.

„He better watch his back then,” she said with a smirk.

It was kinda funny, watching the golden boy struggle. He never really had to worry about his life in general. How others perceived him. He never had to worry about his fame, even though it seems that was just all he did.

But when he started to come late to classes because he got lost on the ever moving staircases (even though that helpful student he met in the hallway told him the best way to get to the Charms classroom when he and Ron were already running late because they overslept) or when he kept tripping over his feet (even though there was literally nothing in his way, except a few annoying Hufflepuffs) he was getting pretty irritated.

People were laughing at him. At him!

How dare they!

He couldn’t really point his finger at a cause, but Professor Trelawney, their Professor in Divination, was certain he was pursued by misfortune because evil people wished him harm. Unfortunately for the boy, the talisman she gave him didn’t really help to keep the bad luck away.

Harry was a bit sad that he missed Charlie’s Potions class but it wasn’t even an issue since it was all the Slytherins would talk about for days.

Charlie was having a bad few weeks now. So when his potions assay, that he spent hours on writing, miraculously vanished from his backpack (Harry grinned to himself as he enjoyed his breakfast that day) and the Professor docked house points from Gryffindor with a grin he simply lost his shit.

His general distaste for potions and especially his teacher, Professor Snape, made him careless, so he apparently got fed up with the Professors snide remarks at Charlie’s intelligence, which followed the point taking. He got up from his chair and threw junks of Wiggentree bark, that he was supposed to cut in thin slices, at his table. His chair toppled over and the boy was yelling at his teacher, that he would not rewrite that damn assay again.

So naturally, Snape yelled back that he would see Potter in detention.

What both of them failed to notice was that some of the bark didn’t land on the table itself but rather in the boiling cauldron in front of the boy. What followed was an explosion that burned off Charlie’s eyebrows and filled the classroom with a thick and foul smelling fog.

Naturally, Snape took even more points at this and issued another detention before sending the still fuming boy to the infirmary and the other students to their common rooms since the classroom was unusable for the remainder of the class period.

In the meantime the younger Potter boy was having the time of his life. Hanging out with his friends and getting to know his other housemates was fun. Classes were also going pretty well. He was currently the top student of his year, surprising all his teachers and some of his classmates.

Professor McGonnagall especially was quite unconvinced about Harry’s skill and knowledge and couldn’t help herself and double checked all his work. Though in the end she had to admit that he was rather capable.

Professor Snape seemed to savour Harry’s talent at potions. He didn’t waste a chance to rub this in Charlie’s face, considering the older boy was struggling with that subject especially.

Professors Sprout and Flitwick were also pleased with his progress throughout the year.

Only his DADA Professor ignored him completely, which irritated Harry since every moment he spent in the presence of the stuttering and unfortunately smelly teacher he got a terrible headache. Madame Pomfrey couldn’t tell what the cause was and in the end she gave him some potions to cure migraines. They helped somewhat, though the pressure and stinging pain didn’t subside completely.

Most of the teachers were praising Charlie because he was already a rather powerful wizard before he started at Hogwarts and the headmaster was praising him from the very beginning. His power helped him achieve mostly good grades in practical lessons. But in the end it had little to do with skill. Maybe he’s lucky and was born magically powerful but that’s just it, it’s only luck. It takes skill to become more powerful than that. It doesn’t matter how powerful one is if he doesn’t know the right spells or fails to use them accurately. It takes dedication and work.

But currently he’s on his way to become more lazy than anything else. Once the curriculum got a bit more specific his power alone didn’t really help him much without refinement.

Maybe he can make the feather float in Charms but be failed to give it direction. When he cut of the charm the feather simply fell down on his desk again. Maybe he was able to transfigure his needle into a match but if one looked closely it was still the same needle, now simply in another shape but still made of metal and not wood.

He was powerful but his entitlement made him only average. And he was too full of pride to even notice.

And most teachers entertained him. There was no reason to give their saviour a bad or even average grade if he succeeded in performing a spell after all. His written assignments and tests were a whole other story though…

Harry on the other hand was looking towards the end of a quite successful school year. And funnily, in some way he had to thank his idiot brother for that. Because without him Harry wouldn’t have nearly spent so much time with his nose buried in several books about curses, jinxes and charms to find ways to further irritate the other boy.

He spent so much time in the library that he kinda befriended the librarian, Madam Pince. If you could call what they have „being friends“. But the older witch was letting him take more books from the library than strictly allowed, she helped him find what he needed and even came to him to give him books she thought he would enjoy.

When she noticed Charlie and his friends bothering Harry she shushed them once and if they didn’t listen they would be banned from the library for a few days. This was extremely satisfying for the younger boy, since the other boys had trouble finishing their assignments and assays in time or even at all without the books from the library.

Needless to say Harry subtly provoked the Gryffindors at some days to get them banned. He really enjoyed the following days having his peace with his reading.

Another kinda-friend he made at the library was Hermione Granger. After Halloween she tried to stay away from Charlie, Ron and Neville, since the other boys kept laughing at her because of her bushy hair and her teeth. When she answered questions in class they would call her a know it all, just loud enough so she would hear but too quiet for the teachers to notice.

While the girls in her house were friendly to her they still preferred to latch themselves to the golden boy so the muggleborn was getting lonely. Her thirst for knowledge led her to the library most days where she met some Ravenclaws and went to study with them. But because she had many classes with Slytherin and not Ravenclaw many of their free periods didn’t align and sometimes their current subjects were also a bit different, considering which class was getting faster through the curriculum.

So sometimes she didn’t sit with her Ravenclaw friends and wandered around the library. That was when she saw Harry sitting alone and studying a think tome about transfiguration. Interested in the rather old looking book she approached him and asked him about it.

What followed was a discussion about transfiguration and their Professor, who was a Animagus, and how it would work to transfigure one’s body.

An admittedly weird topic for two first years to talk about but it was the start of a tentative friendship.

A few weeks later Harry found himself rather happy with this development.

He was sitting at his usual place writing his Charms assay, when a thick leather bound book was placed on the table by an excited Hermione.

„Harry, look what I found!” she grinned from ear to ear. „So you remember our conversation about bodily transfiguration? I found a book about it!“

She was nearly jumping in place and Harry quickly pulled her down on the bench he was sitting at before Madame Pince noticed them. She probably wouldn’t say anything but he didn’t want to risk it.

Locking at the title he had some difficulties deciphering it. The leather was getting brittle and a few letters were already faded.

„Medical Transfiguration, Aesthetic Transfiguration inspired by Metamorphmagi,” he read out.

„Yes!” Hermione leaned into him and dragged the book a bit closer to her to opened it.

„I already read a few pages, it’s really interesting. It’s mostly about healing magic combined with transfiguration. So if someone for example suffered a nasty burn that wasn’t healed right and resulted in scarring” - she opened that specific page with drawn pictures of different limbs with and without burn scars and precise instructions, spells and potions to combine - „one can use a special potion to strengthen a specific transfiguration spell that will turn the scar back to normal and intact skin.”

„That’s awesome!” Harry’s eyes grew big when he read over the text.

„Usually this spells are quite exhausting and it’s hard to keep them up for a long time but that’s what the potion is for, it basically makes the spell stick for a longer period of time without the caster having to constantly channel their magic into it.“

„So this book is basically plastic surgery for wizards?“

„Yes, basically,” the girl answered grinning. „Most of it is to cover injuries or scars but some of this spell are just to make someone more beautiful, like making your nose smaller or change eye colour or something like that.“

„But I thought there are other spells to achieve that. Though I guess transfiguration is more exact and precise for this purpose.“

Flipping through the pages Harry remembered the title of the book and frowned.

„Do you know what Metamorphmagi means?” he asked Hermione.

„Yes, I’ve heard about it. A Metamorphmagus is a witch or a wizard who can change his appearance without using a spell. It’s a skill you have to be born with, it’s impossible to learn it. The only thing that comes close to it is being an animagus, but then you can only change into an animal and not change your looks at will.“

Harry nearly had go grab his own hand to keep himself from touching his forehead where his lightening bolt scar is hidden under his magic. What if it isn’t just hidden…? He had to know.

„So it’s not possible for a wizard to change something about his skin without using a specific spell?“

The bushy haired girl laughed quietly. „No it’s not. You need a specific spell to change something, let’s say freckles or hair colour. You need an intend and a charm or spell to channel you magic in that very specific way. Otherwise it wouldn’t work or simple has a wrong result. Only an Metamorphmagus can change their physical appearance with only a thought.“

Well, that’s… something.

Something Harry definitely had to look into.

„That’s a rather rare skill though. I think nowadays only members of the Black family are said to carry that ability. And there’s currently only one witch who actually inherited it.“

The girl frowned and started to turn the pages again. She started talking about the different subjects in the book again but Harry was getting lost in his thoughts. The Potter Family had a relationship to the black family after all. Thinking about a family tree tapestry he found at the potter manor, he remembered his great grandmother was a Black. So if what Hermione told him was true then this could be an explanation why it was so easy for Harry to hide his scar.

Thinking back to his time with the Dursleys he recalled some instances where he used his magic to alter his appearance. When his cousin decided to beat him up for example. Or when his aunt slapped him across the face and her ring would split open his skin. Or when she took the scissors and cut his hair rather short. He hid his bruises and cuts and while they still hurt, no one could see them anymore and he would act as if everything was normal. His hair would also just look the same as it did the day before.

It was mostly unintentional. No real thought behind it, simply just the wish to make it go away. Few times he actively noticed what he did, or simply that he did anything at all. One of this occasions was when he hid his scar. He was scared at first and couldn’t really control it, he had some trouble to make it reappear. But he learned how to hide it at will. After some time practising he could also change his hair colour, even though he made sure no one else saw him with a different colour. Maybe he can do even more?

Unbeknownst to the still eagerly talking Hermione Harry had long stopped listening. He couldn’t wait to be alone and experiment with his possible shapeshifting ability. Maybe Madame Pince can help him find a book about Metamorphmagi.

Time flew by and suddenly it was the end of the first school year. Everyone was excited and nervous to pass their exams and many were desperate to spend every last minute with their new and old friends. Most of them would barely see each other over the summer.

Charlie and his friends were even more obnoxious the closer the last day of school came. They continued to harass their potions teacher and were running around as if they were searching for something. So when the headmaster announced his departure shortly after the last exam took place and the chaotic trio also disappeared it was too suspicious for Harry, Susan and Hannah not to notice.

Naturally, they did the only sensible thing.

„Point me Charlie Potter,” Harry spoke, watching his wand spin in his palm before stopping and pointing in a direction like a compass pointing north.

„So,” Hannah said. „What now? We gonna follow the idiots?“

„Of course!” Susan threw her arms over Hannah’s and Harry’s shoulders.

„The year is over, we need to take the last chance we get to embarrass the golden idiot and his lackeys!“

„So,” Hannah repeated, getting her own wand out of her pocket and repeating Harry’s spell. Once the tip pointed in the direction of Charlie as well, she started smirking.

„First one to find them wins?“

Not even waiting for a response she started running down the hallway.

„What… wait!!” Harry was quick to follow.

„Hey!” Poor Susan fell behind, fumbling to get her wand out and also performing the spell

„You’re gonna regret this!“

But the only answer she got was laughter.

They were running through the castle like mad, making other students jump out of the way and shout at them, fortunately they didn’t encounter any of the Professors.

Harry soon caught up to Hannah and Susan wasn’t too far behind. So when the first two ran through a door and were suddenly faced with a gigantic sleeping dog they were startled to a stop.

„Got you-!“

Just moments later Susan came through the door and Hannah was barely fast enough to slap her hand over her friends mouth to keep her from waking the dog.

Still, it stirred. That was when the kids noticed something different about the dog, besides the enormous size. It was the head. Or more like, heads.

Because there were three of them.

„Oh what a big puppy,” Harry muttered, keeping his voice low. „Shhh… sleep little big puppy, we ain’t even here.“

He kept muttering and trying to calm the dog but it seemed like it wasn’t working. The dog was waking up.

„Harry, look,” Susan whisper shouted at him, pointing at a trapdoor close to one of the dogs still sleeping heads.

They exchanged a glance, all three of them thinking the same thing and getting to the same conclusion. As if on command, all three of them ran towards the trapdoor and jumped down.

Harry was going last and he saw as one of the heads opened its eyes, looking directly at him. He jumped. The dog barked. He couldn’t tell if the bark was echoing or if it was really all three of them now fully awake and charging at him.

But it didn’t really matter anymore as the boy fell down into a pitch black hole, the sounds from above him quickly breaking off.

When he landed it was on something warm and slimy. And moving.

„What is this?” he heard Hannah shouting.

„Oh no, it’s dragging me down!“

„Lumos“

Light erupted from Hannah’s wand.

„Devils snare” they said simultaneously. That’s not good. Susan was already all tangled up in the tendrils, Harry was struggling to keep his legs free and with her free hand Hannah grabbed at the plant that was moving closer to her throat, trying to strangle her.

They needed to get out, fast.

„Calm down, don’t move!“

Breaking through their panic the girls fought to follow Harry’s advice. Keeping completely still the devil’s snare also slowed its movements down. It was still moving. But with it’s victims now all relaxed it also loosened it’s grip on them but still holding them in place.

Carefully breathing through his nose and trying to keep himself from reacting to the tendrils still shifting and bound around his body Harry tried to remember what he learned about this plant.

He looked over to Hannah who still held her wand with the little ball of light at it’s tip in an iron grip.

Yes, that’s it.

„Hannah… use lumos solem.” He barely got it out as another tendril slowly snaked around his neck.

She nodded and Harry closed his eyes. Even through closed eyelids the light was nearly blinding. Suddenly the tendrils of the plant let go and he felt himself fall, letting out a surprised shout when he hit the hard floor.

„Ouch, what the hell…” Susan landed to his right and he heard Hannah groan from somewhere to his left. Thank Merlin, they were free.

Opening his eyes and looking up he saw the roots of the murderous plant move back in place.

„Are you guys okay?” Hannah called out. Her voice was a bit rough but as she walked over to them they could see that she was alright otherwise.

„Yeah, we’re fine. Who in Merlins name had the great idea to put a Cerberus and devils snare in a school full of children?!“

Susan was slightly hysterical. But Harry understood the sentiment.

„Idiots” was his only answer. He stood up and helped Susan to her feet.

They started walking down a corridor and suddenly heard the fluttering of hundreds of little wings. Arriving in an open cave like room and looking up they expected bats or something similar only to be greeted by the sight of countless colourful feathered keys fluttering around.

Eyeing the door at the end of the cave, Harry couldn’t help but sigh. There were a few brooms lying around. Of course. A locked door and flying keys. Wonderful.

„Seriously?” Susan groaned. „Okay, that one is on you, Harry, you’re the best flyer out of the three of us.“

Sending her a glare didn’t really change anything. Even Hannah just looked at him expectantly, raising one eyebrow.

„Fine,” he grumbled, walking towards the brooms. „But you take the next one.“

„Yeah, yeah of course!“

Even though Harry was a natural when it came to flying on a broom it was still kinda creepy flying through a dark cave chasing after enchanted keys. It took him a while to find the right one but in the end he decided to go for the oldest looking silver key, one of the bigger ones that would probably fit the keyhole of the doors silver lock. Hopefully. He decided he’s not gonna do this again after he nearly flew into a wall during his chase.

When he finally landed, struggling key firm in his hand, he walked to the door and put the key in the hole and turned it. It fit.

Before he opened the door he took a step back.

„We should take the brooms with us. Maybe we’ll need them later.”He turned around and watched as Hannah shrunk three brooms and put them in a pocket of her robes. Susan stepped forward, wand in hand. She positioned herself besides Harry.

„Ready?“

„Ready.“

Slowly and silently opening the door Harry followed closely after Susan, Hannah right behind him.

The first thing they noticed was a horrible smell. The few torches on the wall were barely enough to illuminate the narrow room.

Still, they could clearly see a big creature hunched over something smaller at the other end of the room. As if scenting them the creature lifted it’s head and turned in their direction while taking deep sniffing breaths.

It was a troll.

This was getting better and better.

With a loud roar it fully turned towards them, picking up a large club that lay on the ground at it’s side and started charging at them.

„Susan, I really don’t want to rush you-“

„I’ve got this!“

„Do something!“

„Shut up! Conjunctivitis! Confundus!“

The spells hit the troll right in the face and made it scream in anger at its disorientation. It tripped and let the club fall to the ground.

„Wingardium Leviosa!” Harry picked up the troll’s club and used the charms momentum to hurl the weapon at the creatures head. It was knocked unconscious immediately, falling down and making the ground shake. The wall on the creatures right side was splattered with blood.

„Wingardium Leviosa…” Susan huffed. „Seriously? You couldn’t come up with something better?“

„Hey, it worked!” Harry shoved her away. „I didn’t realise you had a better plan.“

„You finished off a dangerous, human eating beast with a charm we learned at the beginning of our first school year.” Hannah look incredulously at her friend.

„Looks like it…” Harry started laughing. Despite how dire the situation seemed only seconds earlier the girls couldn’t help themselves and soon the room was filled with giggles and laughter.

They had tears in their eyes when they finally managed to calm down.

„Yeah this is fun. We should do this more often.” Susan hit Harry in the back of his head.

„Hey guys, I think there’s someone else there!” Hannah was slowly walking across the room towards the place where the troll was originally cowering on the ground. The others followed her and soon enough they could make out the small frames of two other people lying on the stone floor.

Once they were only a few steps away they stopped.

It was Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom.

Both of them were unconscious but clearly breathing. They had various injuries, bruises around their limbs and necks most likely from the devils snare, and several cuts and lacerations. Apparently they had bigger difficulties with the troll.

It seemed like the troll caught them with it’s club against the chest and tossed them into the wall, causing bleeding head wounds and knocking them out.

„Where’s Charlie?” Harry looked around, casting a lumos to illuminate the dim room. But there was no one else there. He should have known.

What an absolute prick.

„He left them here on their own against the troll and escaped,” Susan stated with contempt. „He just left them. What if we didn’t follow them? The troll would have killed those two!“

„Come on,” disgust lacing Hannah’s voice. „The troll won’t wake up anytime soon, if at all, so it can’t hurt them anymore. Let’s get out of here and when we find that bastard he will pay for this.“

It was totally incomprehensible to the three Hufflepuffs how someone can leave their friends behind in such a dire situation.

Narrowing his eyes at the other boys Harry contemplated his choices. He didn’t like those two but on the other hand, they clearly needed help. If someone found out they were here and didn’t alert the Professors to their state they would be in major trouble. But Hannah was right, the creature won’t hurt them anymore. And he has no idea how to get out of this underground chambers anyway, the only way is forward. And there was also another thing.

„No one knows we’re here,” he said slowly. „Let’s keep it this way. We should make sure Charlie doesn’t notice us either when we continue. For all the others know, he came back and defeated the troll. That’s what he will tell anyone who is willing to listen one way or another. No need for us to get into the spotlight, alright?“

„Yeah, right” the girls slowly nodded.

Happy to escape the odour they opened the next door. As they walked through it became clear that I won’t be too difficult for them to sneak past Charlie without him noticing.

Because there he lay, the golden boy, the saviour of the wizard world, unconscious on a big chessboard among chunks of a broken marble chess piece.

It seemed like one of the other pieces destroyed another one and the unfortunate boy was standing way too close to it. He got hit and was knocked out.

„Aren’t we lucky,” Harry huffed out a laugh. „Our saviour’s here, now we’re safe!“

Chuckling Hannah went closer to the board.

„That’s probably McGonnagall’s doing… Ha, if she knew what happened here!” She started laughing, the idea was hilarious. The older Professor was rather smitten with the boy after all, it seemed like she was a big fan as well as being friends with the older Potters. And now her enchanted chess pieces beat the older Potter boy down.

„Oh you’re right!” Susan exclaimed. „I wasn’t even thinking about that. But now that you mentio it, it’s quite obvious. The devils snare was Professor Sprouts, the charmed keys Professor Flitwicks, the troll probably Professor Quirrells. The dog must have been Hagrids.“

„Which means after this there’s only Professor Snape and the headmaster left.” Harry was kinda looking forward to that. The other tasks, beside the troll, were a bit easy. As if they expected a certain group of first years to pass them.

„What is he playing at…” Harry mumbled while approaching the chess board as well.

„Who’s good at chess?” he asked louder.

„Urgh, no, not me. I’ll always lose when I’m playing against my aunt.” Susan turned to Hannah with a frown. „But you’re pretty decent at chess, right?“

„Yeah I guess,” the other girl sighed. „Though I never liked the game.“

She walked around the chess board, observing the pieces and their positions. Charlie didn’t leave her in a good position. He shouldn’t have left Weasley behind. The redhead is rather good at chess after all.

„Knight to B4“

And so the game continued.

„What an idiot. I mean, yeah sure, maybe he’s not good at chess but even a complete imbecile wouldn’t have manoeuvred himself in such an unfavourable situation.“

„And here I thought you knew my brother.“

„I clearly overestimated him…“

Hannah kept grumbling to herself as the other two chuckled about her ranting. She barely won the match. Charlie had left her at a disadvantage when he got knocked out of the game. Literally.

But in the end they managed to cross the board and exit the room at the other side. Charlie was still lying between the debris.

The next room was quite unspectacular compared to the others. The small room was bright and relatively clean. Though once they walked into the room the entrance was engulfed in purple flames, blocking their way back. The rooms other exit was blocked by black flames. They were trapped.

There was a table with seven different potion bottles and a piece of parchment.

Reading the instructions written down the three Hufflepuffs were faced with a riddle. Three of the potions were poison, two are nettle wine, one allows them to walk through the black flames and the last one gets them back through the purple flames. It took them a while to figure out the answer. But in the end they could identify the different bottles with certainty.

Harry grabbed the smallest vial and looked at it. The liquid doesn’t look any different than the content of the other bottles.

Without waiting any longer he put the vial to his lips and tipped his head back, swallowing the content. He couldn’t help but shiver from the cold feeling spreading in his body.

„Be careful,” Hannah whispered as he walked up to the black flames. He could only nod at her.

Stepping through the fire was a strange feeling. The cold from the potion was burned away by the flames and when he stepped out on the other side, he felt warmer again.

This room was the biggest so far. It was like a big dark cave. There was nothing but stones and pillars and there, in a pit in the middle of it all, was a big old fashioned mirror. This must be the last task. Dumbledore’s obstacle.

Harry took a step forward but was startled when the fire behind him shifted. Turning around he saw Susan appearing in the flames.

„Guess what, the vial refilled itself after you walked through the fire.” The girl grinned at him. „Hannah will be here in a moment.“

„That’s great!“

After a minute the other girl also came through the black flames.

„Profession Snape is a genius. Really, developing a potion that lets you walk through fire is awesome. But why taste all his potions so disgusting?“

Susan patted at her friend on the shoulder. „I heard from Cedric that Snape once said it doesn’t matter how a potion tastes as long as it works. So he’s not gonna put anything unnecessary in his potions and possibly dampen its purpose.“

„Now lets get going. We shouldn’t waste our time. I wonder what’s that mirror for.” Susan grabbed her friends hands and dragged them down towards the object.

There was an inscription on the mirror, Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

„Look!” Hannah gasped and grabbed Harry’s arm, pointing at her reflection.

When Harry turned his eyes from the mirror’s frame towards the mirror itself he was greeted with a rather different setting. He could still see the three of them. But they were dressed differently and they also looked a bit older. Smiling and grinning they were joking around. After some time observing the happy and carefree scene between the friends Harry noticed something in the background. There were his parents and his brother. But they didn’t look happy at all, no… they look downright miserable. They had a haunted look on their faces, jealousy clear in their stare towards a happy Harry and his friends. Then their features were slowly getting blurry and soon after that they turned away.

Movement caught his eye and he looked back at his own reflection. Unlike before mirror-Harry was now looking directly at him, smirking. He lifted his hand and showed a stone before putting it in his pocket.

And Harry could feel how something weighted down his own pocket now.

Putting his hand in his pocket he grasped the smooth surface of the stone. He pulled it out and turned it around in his hands. It was red and had some sort of aura around it, Harry’s fingers were tingling. It was most likely a powerful magical artefact. Why else would they hide it behind all these obstacles.

So this is what Dumbledore was hiding. And considering how they got here, he probably orchestrated this whole mess. This was a test for his little golden boy.

Throughout the year Harry noticed the headmasters interest in his older brother. He always indulged him, overlooked this trespasses and convinced some of the Professors like McGonnagall to cater to the boys whims. Charlie once even bragged about secret lessons with the professor and the headmaster. Apparently they taught him spells and charms he would need should the dark wizards arise again and should the war between light and dark start anew.

Considering Charlie’s performance today it looked bad for the light side though, Harry thought.

So Dumbledore wants Charlie to find the stone. But his brother failed the obstacles that were set up for him, basically failing the headmasters expectations.

He thought about throwing the stone away.

He looked up at the mirror and was suddenly faced with a completely different picture. Susan and Hannah were in the background now, his family gone. And besides Harry stood a young man he had never seen before. He was tall and lean and had dark wavy hair. The most noticeable thing about him were his eyes.

They were deep red and looked directly at Harry.

When he noticed he had the boys attention he smiled, looked down at the stone still in his grasp and extended his hand.

Harry didn’t know the man, but there was a reason he was here. The first scenes the mirror showed him made him happy. It showed him a future he longed for, his friends at his side and his parents no longer influencing his life. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the inscription again but this time he noticed something about it. It wasn’t a foreign language like he had thought at first, no. The words were in English but written backwards.

I show not your face but your heart’s desire.

So that’s it.

This man was someone he wants to have on his side in the future. An ally, a friend, maybe even a distant relative or simply someone he wishes to use to achieve his goals. He doesn’t know yet.

But what he knows is that this man will be important. And he needs the stone.

So Harry extended his hand while keeping his piercing green eyes on the strangers red ones.

The others smile grew and he took the stone out of Harry’s hand, the weight lifted and looking down Harry saw the artefact was once again gone, hidden in the mirror.

Suddenly he heard a choked sob besides him.

„Susan?“

Shaking his head he tried to shake the captivating feeling the mirror induced in him.

„How can my parents be with us in the mirror, they are dead!” Her voice was breaking and tears streamed down her face.

Hannah blinked confused. Her eyes cleared and when she focused on her friend again she didn’t hesitate anymore and engulfed her in a hug. Harry also put his arms around her shoulders after a few moments, trying to comfort her.

But they didn’t have long before they suddenly heard voices from the entrance. The flames shifted again.

Without wasting a second longer Harry grabbed his friends and pulled them away from the mirror. He had no idea how long they spent in front of it, it felt surreal.

They had just enough time to hide behind a column when a small figure came stumbling through. It was Charlie. He tripped and fell but he immediately jumped to his feet again and began running towards them. Had he seen them?!

The flames shifted again.

Harry expected Ron or Neville to appear but upon seeing the person entering the cave it was clear it was neither of them.

„Immobulus!“

Professor Quirrell whipped out his wand in an upwards gesture and Charlie fell to the ground unmoving. Harry could see that his eyes were still open and he was breathing desperately. Blood was still dripping down his face from his previous encounter with the enchanted chess pieces.

He was awake but couldn’t move.

The Professor stalked closer to the boy. Neither of the newcomers had noticed the three hiding Hufflepuffs.

„So we meet again, Potter.“

Harry froze. The rasping voice was coming from Quirrell but he was sure the professor hadn’t said a word.

„Let me see him!“

The man was now standing right in front of Charlie. He turned around and began to unwrap his turban.

He revealed another face at the back of his head.

Harry barely suppressed a pained hiss when the before hardly noticeable headache evolved into a stinging pain shooting through his scar. He clasped his hand over his forehead and struggled to keep his breathing even.

Charlie was basically hyperventilating now, tears streaming down his face and mixing with the blood and dirt on his face.

„Ahh.. he recognises me. Yes, fear me, child, you won’t vanquish me again.” The face sneered and stretched in a sick parody of a smirk.

Harrys thoughts were racing. Could it be… there is only one person Charlie prided himself with „vanquishing” them.

Could this really be the Dark Lord himself?

He didn’t dare to move, he hardly breathed. The girls cowering beside him didn’t act any different.

„Bring him to the mirror, servant, he will get me the stone.“

„Y-yes, my lord.“

Quirrell turned around again and started to drag the unmoving boy towards the mirror.

„Now, give me the stone.” Turning around again, he grabbed the boy by his hair to keep him upright.

„What is it? Give it to me!“

Nothing happened.

Lord Voldemort kept staring at the mirror for a few moments before he shoved Charlie away from himself with an enraged scream. The unfortunate boy fell to the ground and hit his head on the stone floor. He was out cold.

„NO! How..- HOw can this be?!” The trapped lord kept screaming and swearing, unable to do anything else in his state.

„Wh-what n-now, m-m-my lord?” Quirrell was stuttering miserably. His whole frame was shaking and his hands barely held onto his wand.

„SILENCE!“

The yell echoed through the cave.

„What is this, who…” suddenly Voldemorts voice was quiet, the kids could barley hear him. „Who are you?“

After a few seconds or minutes, Harry really couldn’t tell anymore, the enraged and furious expression shifted to confused and than he started to grin again. It was different than before, more triumphant than bloodthirsty but no less scary.

Suddenly Quirrell gasped and slid his had in his pocket only to pull out the same red stone Harry held only moments before. He held it up for his master to see.

„Hmm I have to thank you, boy.” His laughter filled the cave, it was a haunting sound and Harry shivered.

„Now lets get out of here before the old idiot arrives to save his little pawn. How can the fool believe that this child would be capable of defeating me.”

„Y-you want t-to leave him a-alive, m-my lord?“

The dark wizard turned his gaze back to he unconscious boy on the ground.

„Yes. For now, at least. Whatever it was when he evaded death all those years ago, I can’t feel it on him anymore. He’s nothing special. But Dumbledore believes he is. So I will take my time breaking him apart and show him exactly how useless his little saviour is.“

And with that, the Professor stepped away from the mirror and towards another part of the cave. Harry could barely see the tear in the cave’s wall before the man was swallowed by the shadows.

The suffocating atmosphere Harry didn’t even notice before suddenly disappeared and he sucked in a shaky breath. Susan’s knees gave out and she collapsed to the floor, pulling the other two down with her.

„What the fuck,” she whispered, which caused Hannah to chuckle desperately. It ended in a choked off sob though and Harry drew a shaky hand over his face.

„We should leave,” Harry said after a few minutes, still trying to control the slight tremor that wouldn’t leave him. „They are probably gone by now, maybe that way is another exit. We’d probably run into the headmaster if we leave the way we came here, he’s most likely already on his way.“

It still took them some time to get to their feet and cross the cave towards the other exit. When they walked past Charlie and the mirror Harry risked a quick glance at the reflection. The man from before was waving at him with a happy smile on his face.

Harry had given a powerful stone Dumbledore was hiding from the dark wizards to the darkest wizard of them all. Because a cursed mirror told him said dark wizard would be important in his future.

If someone had told Harry this at the beginning of the school year he would have declared them insane.

„Wait!” Hannah suddenly broke away from them and walked back to Charlie. They could see her legs were trembling and she still sniffled from holding back tears threatening to spill after this rather stressful encounter. But that didn’t stop her from kicking Harry’s unconscious twin brother in the ribs.

„That’s for what you said to my friend, you piece of shit.“

Harry flinched at that. And since Susan was leaning against his side she of course noticed his reaction.

„Are you okay, Harry?“

At that was it. It was too much. All of what happened came crashing down on Harry and he couldn’t hold back anymore. He broke down.

Sobbing he clutched at Hannah when she hurried back to them, dragging Susan with him in a desperate hug. It was messy and filled with tears and crying and choked sobs. The boy clung to his friends and it took him some time to calm down enough to whisper a soft „thank you” to his friends. This was probably the first time Harry didn’t feel pressured or uncomfortable or uncertain when hugging someone.

The girls only hugged him tighter.

Maybe he does like hugs after all.

They managed to get out just in time. They heard footsteps but decided not to hang around to witness what would happen. This was enough. They found a small opening in the wall which connected the cave to a system of dark and damp corridors. Walking towards to other end they were accompanied by the sound of dripping water and distant hissing noises they couldn’t accurately place. It was like the sounds came from every direction.

They were glad when they finally found a tunnel leading upwards. Exhaustion was already slowing them down a great deal. Mounting the brooms they fortunately bagged from the room with the flying keys they took off and flew out of the underground maze.

The tunnel ended at a shutter that luckily simply slides away when the kids approached it on their brooms. It gave way to a sink in an abandoned lavatory. The ghost of a young girl shrieked when they tumbled out of the tunnel and to the ground. The startled ghost disappeared immediately in one of the stalls.

Looking at themselves in the mirror they realised how lucky this place actually is. They were covered in soot and dust, their tear stained faces looking haunted and exhausted.

They washed their faces and cleaned their clothes with some simple spells before leaving the lavatory carefully. Looking around the corridor they noticed it was truly deserted.

„I think I know where we are.” Susan stepped out of the door and started walking down the hallway. „This is the girls’ lavatory on the second floor. No one uses it because of that ghost. She is also the reason it’s so run down and dirty.“

Soon they reached the stairs and they continued their way to their common room. Catching a glance out of the window they realised it was already getting dark.

Some time later they were sitting at dinner after a hot shower and a change of clothes.

The headmaster, McGonnagall and the three Gryffindor boys were suspiciously absent at the meal.

Harry, Susan and Hannah shared a compartment at the Hogwarts Express. It was the day after the End of the Year Feast and what happened still angered them.

The Idiot Trio had apparently managed to convince the headmaster that they had heroically saved the school from an evil wizard and they were awarded a ridiculous amount of points at the last minute. It was already announced that Slytherin won the house cup but Dumbledore cut their celebrations short.

It was truly disgusting how biased some Professors at Hogwarts are.

The Slytherins were furious. Rightfully so, but it changed nothing. The golden boy received his points and the Gryffindors celebrated.

The missing DADA Professor wasn’t even mentioned.

Harry wondered how Dumbledore explained the disappearance of the stone.

But in the end it didn’t really matter. No one knew they were down there, no one had any suspicions except maybe one certain dark lord but even he had no reason to look closer in their direction. Maybe it will be an issue should Harry ever meet him face to face. Since he wasn’t living with his parents and brother when he grew up, most of the people don’t even know he existed. Even after the initial surprise at the sorting ceremony when his name was called only a few people were associating him with his brother. So the dark lord didn’t recognise him when his mirror-self handed the stone over.

Ah yes, the perks of being an introverted Hufflepuff.

Chatting with his friends and making plans for meeting them over the summer, Harry looked forward to the new school year.

He’s only at the beginning after all.