The Twist In Azkaban
By The-honest-aludras
Summary: AU What would happen if the infamous Shrieking Shack scene didn't go quite the way it did in HP3? What if something interfered with the usual HP timeline – in a way that no-one could have predicted? And what repercussions could then resound through all the books? Join Harry on a journey which JK Rowling certainly never intended!
Disclaimer: We own zilch. Nada. Nothing. In fact, we would shout from the rooftops that JK Rowling (and all her associated multi-million pound companies) own everything. If a computer had a rooftop that is. We're just borrowing!
Notes: Warning! OC alert! Yes, yes, we know the drill – but we have tried to resist making her a Mary Sue. Oh please Merlin, let her not be a Mary Sue! Also, as we say in our author notes, we don't update regularly. In fact, this fic has been lodged in Glinda's laptop for over a year, and has somehow survived hard-drive removal, a swap into another laptop, back into the old laptop and yet has still kept its formatting. If it managed that, it's determined to be posted. Our apologies for inflicting what must seem like another one to add to the millions of other 'what-if' fics!
Prologue – Summer before Third Year
Voices. Shouting. Crying. They were so worried, but why? He wanted to play – she always played with him. He remembered when the tears finally stopped, yet they were so quiet. Nobody came anymore afterwards either…. Until the light, that bright green light which always….
Harry shot up in bed, gasping – finally remembering that he was at the Leaky Cauldron.
He could never remember what that dream was about, but there was one feeling that always stuck with him after he woke up.
This changes everything.
Harry sighed as he glared at the pile of letters sitting in front of him. They needed replies and fast, or else he would be dealing with some very concerned and overprotective friends.
Honestly, he had only taken a trip into the bowels of the school, fought a basilisk and Voldemort's 16 year old self, saved Ginny Weasley's life and almost died when said basilisk drove a fang into his arm before Fawkes healed it….
Okay, he had to admit, maybe they did have reason to worry.
Harry glared at the parchment sitting before him as he thought about the letters he had to write: Ron (who would laugh about Aunt Marge), Hermione (who would scold) and Aludra Wedgewood. The last was one of Fred and George's Gryffindor friends in fifth year, who actually lived in the castle since Dumbledore was her guardian.
Harry leaned back in his chair and grinned as he thought about her reaction to the rumours that he was the Heir of Slytherin. He had developed a tentative friendship with the girl over the past two years, and had half worried that she would be scared of him as well. When Allie joined in Fred and George's antics, he had been relieved; when he asked her why she hadn't believed the rumours, he realised that dodging Dudley's swings was nothing like trying to escape the whack she gave him around the head. Smiling at him while he rubbed his head, Allie had told him that firstly, everyone was an idiot to think that such a stereotypical Gryffindor was Heir to Salazar Slytherin, secondly, he in no way had the temperament to set some monster on the school, and thirdly she was hurt that he thought so little of her. After that, he'd come to rely on her opinion, and often spent nights in the common room talking with her, enjoying the fact that she treated him so normally compared to everyone else – even Hermione fussed over him, and Ron wasn't exactly the sort of person to discuss feelings with. When he had left for the holidays, she had made him promise to write to her – and now he was faced with telling her exactly what he had done.
At the thought, Harry shut his eyes and hit his head off the table. Maybe if he was very, very lucky she would find it funny, and not send a howler…
AN: This is just an introduction to the AU which is going to appear, and a test to make sure we can actually upload things in a decent format! Hope everyone understood what's going on! 20 points goes to the house of whoever gets the origin of Allie's name. Next: the Shrieking Shack scene! (Edited 04/04/2006 to add dividing line in)