The Butterfly effect.
Harry is not Boy who lived, Neville is. Harry's Parents are in St. Mungo's, having been tortured by Lestrange. Harry escapes aged 7 to France, where he attends Beauxbatons. He is 3 years older than in canon. G.D x H.P
If anyone wonders what Harry looks like, then imagine Josh Hartnett, gorgeous 'nuff said.
June 1993
"Harry, Harry where are you?" called a weary voice from downstairs, A young boy, around six or seven poked his head around the door, a grin on his face,
"Yes Remus?" He asked,
"I need to go and collect some things, and you need to stay here. Understand?" Harry nodded the affirmative. "I'll only be 20 minutes, so be careful. Don't let anyone in the House, and don't try cooking. God only knows how I survived the last time you tried!" Harry grinned again and nodded.
Harry loved his guardian. Remus Lupin was always tired, but then again being a werewolf did that to you. He had grown to see Lupin as an Uncle, and they had become good friends. Ever since his parents had been sent to St. Mungo's Harry had stayed with his uncle.
Harry Potter was reading one of Lupin's old newspapers, and was scanning the headlines, shaking his head dejectedly; he had been looking for an article on his hero, Neville Longbottom. He had saved the world as a baby, and Harry often fantasized about what his life would be like if he were the boy-who-lived, and had decided that it would be thoroughly exciting.
When Remus returned, laden with vegetables, Harry took the smallest bag he could, before helping Lupin with Supper. They worked in silence for several minutes, Remus preparing a hunk of beef, whilst Harry peeled some Carrots. Lupin refused to do magic on this sort of task, saying to Harry that it was a life skill. Finally Harry asked "Remus... why are you upset?" the older man looked up,
"Well Harry, you should know the truth. Being a werewolf will soon mean that I am supposedly a dangerous creature, and as such you will be taken away from me. You understand?" Harry nodded, "Good, if you get taken away, it will go directly against what your parents wanted, and if that happens then I want you to go to away, out of the country, preferably France Ok, but just as far away as possible."
"France, ok, and what do I do there?" Remus looked up, and then shook his head, clearly meaning the conversation was over. Harry Shrugged, not really understanding what was meant of him.
xoXox
Two weeks after that conversation there came a knock on the door. When Remus answered it, he allowed two men, both average height and slim, into the room. Without speaking, one of them handed Remus a file, and when he read it, he seemed to shake, He called for Harry and smiled when he entered "Harry, remember the time when I told you what to do, if someone came to take you away from me?" Harry nodded and Remus looked relieved. "I need you to do that now, will you?" Harry nodded again "then go and get your stuff, and do it." Harry hastened up the stairs, and picked up the rucksack that was filled with clothes, some food and some books.
Harry silently made his way downstairs and snuck out through the front door. Outside, it was still warm, the moon was up on the cloudless night and as Harry ran off towards the underground station, his pocket filled with Muggle Money, he allowed himself a brief smile, before taking out a small piece of paper and unfolding it. Remus had insisted he pack it and read it when he was away. On it was a name and an Address. Professor Olympe Maxine, Beauxbatons academy of Magic, Marseilles, France. Harry turned it over, On the other side were the words Good Luck. Harry sniffed, afraid for his future, but determined, he looked up from where he sat. Resolutely looked ahead and made his way into the unknown.
Madame Maxine was asleep on the 13th September when she received a message from Pascal Blanche, the caretaker for the school. The patronus was short, simply saying "A boy is by the gates, asking for you, he says he was sent from England to find you." Olympe sighed, but put on her dressing gown, and made her way towards the front doors. She was met by the sharp faced caretaker, and a little boy, perhaps 7 years old, with raven black hair and startling green eyes, he was dirty, covered in dust and his hair was unkempt. He glanced at a small piece of paper in his hands,
"Olympe Maxine?" he said, his voice wavering slightly, she nodded, and he visibly sighed with relief
"Are you related to lily Potter?" she asked, her accent coming across strongly, he nodded,
"Yes, she is my mum."
"She taught 'ere for a year, now could you explain why you are 'ere at 2 in ze morning?" he stepped nervously, before launching into a story about how he had managed to get from London to here in a month. He explained how he had snuck on board a cargo ship to Toulouse, and hidden away, before hitch hiking to Marseille, where he had asked people for directions for Beauxbatons, after 3 days of asking, he had been told the direction with the point me charm and two days later, had arrived.
Olympe looked at him in awe, before ushering him inside. "You can 'ave a room in the infirmary for tonight, and tomorrow we shall decide what to do wiz you." He grinned cheekily and she laughed, before escorting him to an empty hospital bed. She alerted the matron, before turning off the lights and leaving him to sleep.
The next morning, when Olympe went to the ward, she found it deserted, slightly annoyed, she began a quick search of the school, only to quickly find him sitting on the north lawn, surrounded by about a dozen girls, who were fawning over him and laughing, as they chatted and laughed, Maxine made her way over, and the students fell silent, "Mr. Potter, 'ze headmistress would like to see you, come wiz me please." Harry stood and waved, which was followed by a round of ahs.
"Who is the Headmistress?" Harry asked quietly
"An old witch called professor Toulamouche, she eez a great woman." Harry nodded quickly before asking
"Madam, can I stay at this school, and learn here?" Maxine was quiet for a while before she looked down at the hopeful expression on the face of the boy
"eet eez an all girl school; Bellevue in Switzerland eez the boy's school." Harry looked crestfallen, "but maybe something can change." Harry smiled slightly.
They knocked on the door which read Headmistress. Harry looked in awe as the door opened and revealed a small room, with a rug so deep, he almost lost his feet in it, the walls were covered in rich tapestries, and there was a small little witch, who looked ancient, she looked up and smiled. "Harry, Harry, Bienvenue a France, I hear you were sent here by your guardian?" Harry nodded the affirmative. "Good, do you want to stay here?" Harry nodded again. "Good, wonderful, do you want to go to school here?" Harry looked up, before giving a tentative nod.
"Yes please Madame, very much!" She smiled again.
"Good, we will give you the guest's room, and you can stay here. When, aged 11, you can join the school, we shall see what happens, I was very fond of your mother, if you turn out like her even to a degree, you will be a wonderful person in this school." Harry grimaced, thinking of his mother now, not even recognising her own son, and in a special ward, for the permanently insane.
"Olympe, could you show our new student to his rooms for me?" Maxine nodded, before taking Harry down to where the guest rooms were. "When you join the school, we will move you to a room closer to the dorms, so you feel more part of the school, OK?" Harry nodded. "Excellent, now tomorrow we are going to go shopping, we really need to get you some new clothes!"
9 years later
Harry is fluent in English and French
Harry Potter was seventeen years old. Since he had been the only boy at Beaubatons for the last 9 years, he received a lot of attention from the girls; they liked to dress him up and had basically styled his fashion life since he was 8 years old. He was what would be considered classically handsome; his dark hair cut medium length, slightly gelled and brushed off to one side, it was decided that he needed the "Young Farmer" look, which involved having about two days growth of stubble. His skin was flawless and a good golden brown and his body well proportioned, toned, but not overly stacked.
It was currently September the second and Harry was sat in the seventh year dorm, Marie Ducrest sat behind him, running her hands through his hair, to make sure it was in the correct position. Gabrielle sat across from him, ignoring him, with her nose in a book. He wasn't uncomfortable with the girls dressing him up, as he was used to it, and he was packing for the Tri-wizard tournament.
As duelling champion, unarmed combat champion, Head of school and quidditch champion, Harry had been at the top of the list of the 15 students picked to go to Hogwarts in Scotland. He was excited, but, as a by product of growing up with girls most of his life, was most interested in how he would look for the duration of his stay. "Do you think that you'll wear the cardigan, or will you be going for the superior look with your suits all the time?" asked Alice Voneau, who seemed to be leading the packing effort.
"Suits Alice, nothing suits me like a suit." She giggled, and flicked her hair at him, he smiled, in the last two years, Harry reckoned he had slept with almost everyone in his year, he wasn't a man whore, just 60 girls and one guy, he felt it was his duty. It had helped, not so much his image, but more his relationships with everyone around him, everyone at the school liked him, and he didn't dislike any of them. He could have dated anyone in his year, except one, who obviously, was the only girl he liked enough to want to date properly. Gabrielle Delacour was the smartest, prettiest witch in the school, and resolutely ignored Harry.
The next day, the fourteen girls and Harry said goodbye to the teachers and staff. There were many tearful farewells to harry, and he heard some saying "9 months, how can we survive nine months without him?" Harry just laughed as he waved, and put his trunk onto the carriage, He waved at everyone, before the carriage took off, and he was away. The carriage itself was quite small, although magically enlarged, there was one dorm, a duelling room, a kitchen and a dining room, as well as the living room they were all currently in.
After about an hour in flight, Harry had chosen his bed, in the corner, next to him was Gabrielle, who looked slightly annoyed about being next to Harry. He smiled at her, as she put her trunk under her bed. She gave him the finger. He laughed and lay down, reading Hogwarts: A history. It was possibly the dullest book he had ever read, whoever Regulus Binns was, he was not an interesting man. Harry closed his eyes, trying to get some sleep.
"Oy, Numb nuts, were nearly there" Harry awoke slowly, to see Gabrielle staring at him with annoyance.
"Seriously, Delacour, what have I done?" Harry was genuinely confused, she generally just ignored him, but now, she was seemingly actively against him.
"What have you done? Let me think, erm, been a conceited little wanker since we first joined the school, felt that you're like a sex god or something, and well your just... Urgh. just get ready to go, okay?" Harry slid off of the bed, and walked over to her, he slowly placed his hands on her shoulders.
"What's the real reason?" he whispered into her ear, his breath tickling her hair, she shivered. "Don't give me the conceited bastard argument, because we both know that something has changed, don't we?" she shivered again and he pulled back, looking into her eyes.
"I... I just..." She paused and Harry didn't move "I just have to go." And she ran out of the door, Harry sighed, before changing into a grey diesel suit. Instead of a school uniform, Harry wore muggle suits, which apparently would do. He moved out into the foyer, everyone had assembled, and Harry sat on one of the sofas. With a gentle jolt, the carriage hit the ground, and slowed down to a stop, the door, opened and with it, an icy breath of fresh air.
As one everyone board shivered, but Madam Maxine bravely stepped out, and they could hear a conversation between Maxine and a man from just outside. Maxine called into the carriage, "Girls, come on out please." Harry sniffed,
"To me, that's just sexist." He whispered into Alice's ear, but walked out with the rest. They all stood there in the cold, until Maxine ushered them up towards the castle. As Harry looked over the imposing network of Turrets and battlements, He couldn't help but think how much it looked like a prison or Fortress, especially when compared to the light sandstone of the Palace of Beauxbatons. They entered a large entrance hall, and were shown into a warm side room, with chairs, and sofa's.
After ten minutes, they were escorted back into the entrance hall, where they were met with the Fur clad Durmstrang students, the girls shyly greeted each of them, and they, looking more like a military regiment, bowed back. Through the doors, they heard the Headmaster introduce Durmstrang, and they marched in, their perfect marches kept in time, they were just getting ready to start their opening routine, when the doors closed again.
"Okay Girls, and Harry, just like we practiced, are you ready?" they all nodded. And then the doors opened again, and the students all walked in. Harry stood at the back, he waved his wand, and the lights all went out, he waved his wand again, and whispered "meretrices ingeri" and the girls of Beauxbatons were suddenly illuminated.
The light from each of them wasn't bright, but instead, just seemed to make them glow, and accentuate their features. About halfway down the tables, spotlights began to shine, and the girls performed a complicated routine, with a mixture of gymnastics, dancing and magic, they made their way to the end of the tables, before Harry relit the main lights.
Rather self-consciously, Harry was forced to make the walk to the end of the room on his own, and he confidently walked to the rest of his classmates, there was a good deal of Muttering, before Harry joined the others. The Headmaster stood up and applauded, and the rest of the school followed suit, after it had died down, He said "My dear Madame Maxine, I was under the impression that yours was an all girl school, but you do have a male pupil, I thoroughly look forward to hearing that story... but at another time" He peered down at Harry, who coolly gazed back.
"Let us eat, before we are introduced to our impartial judge!" cried Dumbledore, to cheers from the rest of the school. Harry led the school over to a table where everyone was in bronze and blue.
"Bonjour, my name is Harry Potter; would we be allowed to impose ourselves on your table?" Harry asked, the girl he was looking at, a pretty Asian, nodded, and the students gratefully sat.
"Hello, I'm Cho Chang, erm...Why is there a male student at an all girl's school? I thought Bellevue was the French boy's school?"
"It is, I just was picked up in France when I was 7, and well, Maxine looked after me, and I never really left."
"I don't know how we would live if he were to leave, he is the soul of our school!" Alice giggled from the other side of him and Harry smirked, "I guess that's that then. I don't want to leave. I love it, and I think I'm kind of popular there." Cho blushed and they ate in silence, until eventually the lights dimmed and Dumbledore stood up.
"This is it, I beg you welcome our impartial judge, all students over 17 by July, may enter. The results shall be told tomorrow night, where the champions will be picked and chosen. I wish you all good luck, may the best of you win. Now, I give you The Goblet of Fire." There was a murmur and everyone turned around to see an incredibly grumpy looking man wheel a table covered by a sheet into the centre of the room, right in front of Dumbledore, he stepped forward and grasped the edge and pulled, and a gasp went up around the room.