I was inspired to make this after being asked by a friend how different the series would be if Harry had been born with red hair like his mother's.

I hope you enjoy it.

Prologue:

Harry James Potter was born early in the morning on July 31st, 1980. His parent's loved him with all their hearts. For a year, Harry lived under the wonderful care of his loving parents. But the Dark Lord Voldemort was at the height of his power. Word of the boy's birth reached the Dark Lord quickly. A prophecy, which foretold his defeat, made the innocent boy a new and important target for the Dark Lord.

One quiet Halloween night, Harry was upstairs with his parents, getting ready to go to sleep. Suddenly, the silence was shattered as an explosion came from the front door of their home. Harry's father ran out of the room to face the intruder, but only a flash of green light and a thud followed. The boy began to whimper, scared by all of the loud, unfamiliar noises. His mother told him about how much she and his father loved him, before the door to the boy's nursery was blown off its hinges. A tall man in a cloak and hood entered the room. He told the boy's mother to move out of the way, only to be refused. The Dark Lord responded in kind, and killed the woman. Tears began to fall from the boy's eyes as he looked up at the frightening, shadowy figure. He simply pointed his wand at the defenseless infant's head and shouted an incantation. But the spell rebounded, turning against its caster, who shrieked as his physical form was obliterated.

The boy survived, with only a scar. A new legend forged underneath a head of red hair.

01/31/17 Author's Note

I want to warn those of you who may be more sensitive to topics like abuse that there will be some mention of allusion to Uncle Vernon's particular treatment of Harry. Aunt Petunia is much more bearable for Harry, as he looks so much like the little sister that she tried so hard to hate. This will have some affect on Harry, but this story will be near-canon for the most part until the end of the Prisoner of Azkaban. I don't want to say too much about what's coming, but I felt that I should warn you about this particular detail. This story is rated T for a reason.