The Potter Children's Tale
Chapter 1: The Beginning
The Potter family was no normal family. They were different, even for their world. They were in hiding. The darkest wizard of all time, who went by the name Lord Voldemort, more commonly known as You-Know-Who, was after them. The specific family member he was after had just turned one, Mr. Harry James Potter.
The four Potters were sitting in the den of their little cottage in Godric's Hallow. Harry James Potter, who had black hair that stuck out like his father's, and green eyes like his mother's, was zooming around on a toy broom that rose two feet off of the ground until his mother, a redheaded, green-eyed witch that went by the name Lily Evans Potter, scooped him up, and cradled him against her hip. Her husband, James Harry Potter, a wizard with jet black, messy hair, and hazel eyes, was holding seven month old Scarlet Ann Potter on his lap. Scarlet Ann was laughing at her father, instead of settling down to sleep. None of them knew who was outside their gate. They were getting up, attempting to put the two hyper babies to bed.
That's when the door was flung open. James Potter was the first of the two parents to react. His young daughter had started crying seconds before the door flew open, he got up with her in his arms, and went to close the door. He thought that a particularly strong wind had blown it open. His wand was in his back pocket. When he got close to the door, a cold voice spoke. "Ah, if it isn't the Potters. I decided to drop in for a nice visit." It was Lord Voldemort. James tossed Scarlet across the room to her mother. "Lily! Take the kids and go! He's here! I'll hold him off and meet you at the rendezvous. Tell the others!" James screamed as he watched his wife catch their daughter, then wheeled around, and began dueling Voldemort. It was over quickly, and James lay on the ground, his hazel eyes a cold blue, James Potter was dead. His daughter was screaming as she cried, young Scarlet Ann Potter didn't like the trick she thought her father was playing. She wanted him to get back up, and for the pale creepy guy in black robes to leave them alone. She looked at Voldemort, and an actual bolt of lightening shot from her eyes, striking the man. She was holding onto her brother's hand. Her mother was sprinting up the stairs, two babies in her arms, then she was closing the door. She set Harry down in his crib, and Scarlet's grip on her brother broke. She was crying furiously now. Lily Potter tried calming the baby as she barricaded the door. She cast the Patronus Charm, and a silvery doe appeared. "Go to Padfoot, and Moony. Voldemort's here. Prongs is… Prongs is most likely dead. Tell Dumbledore. Get as many of the Order members as you can. Don't tell anyone about Scarlet. Leave that to me. We're in the nursery, he's after Harry. Hurry." Lily spoke this all very fast, and the doe was gone.
Just then Voldemort blew open the door, Scarlet went flying, and Harry grabbed his sister, and put her behind him. He had not seen his father fall, he thought this was once again a game. They played games all the time. Surely this was just another one. Lily was begging for her children's lives. Voldemort was getting impatient. With a flash of green light, and a scream, the children's mother fell. Harry could see now that this was not one of his father's games. He reached behind him, and Scarlet latched her hand onto his. Another flash of green light, and the man was gone, Harry was now crying. Scarlet looked as mad as a seven month old could.
A little while later, Padfoot and Moony, otherwise known as Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, showed up. They saw their best friend laying in the door way. James Potter, not even thirty years old, was indeed dead. They felt they were going to be sick, they knew their friend had died while fighting Voldemort. The house was a wreck, their immediate thought was that Lily had escaped with the two little ones after James had died, but the Patronus had said they were in the nursery, so the pair went up the stairs, wands drawn. They heard a baby crying, though which one, they were not sure. Sirius and Remus nudged the door open, and the first thing they saw was their best friend's love of his life. Lily Evans Potter, slightly older than their best friend, but still not yet thirty, lay on the floor. A look of horror was captured in those eyes. Lily was also dead. The pair turned to the crib, they had little hope left, and figured the babies were also dead. They were wrong, Harry was sobbing quietly, and had the mood not been so somber they would have laughed at the angry look on Scarlet's face. The last remaining members of the prominent Potter family were two babies. The friends broke, silent tears were shed as they lifted the two kids out of the crib. Some of the tears were for the loss of their friends, while the rest were for the two kids, who would never know the love their parents had for them, and what could have been.
That night, after many protests from Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black, the two kids were sent to their Aunt's to live for ten years, without the knowledge that they would be praised by the whole wizarding world. However, no one knew like the pair did, that Scarlet was more than one of the last two Potters, they along with Scarlet's parents had known she was special since the day she was born.
Chapter 2: Ten Years Later
Harry was worried, Scarlet's disappearing act had been happening a lot more lately, and whenever he asked her about it she acted like she didn't know. He rolled over and looked at his sister, who had just awoken from her sleep. She looked terrorized, and extremely pissed off. Just like she had for the past several weeks when she awoke. It was always the same nightmare. The small girl glanced up at her brother from her sleeping bag under his cot. Harry beckoned to her, and she gladly crawled up next to him, trying to calm down.
Halfway across England Remus Lupin and Sirius Black were awakening. "Sirius?" Lupin asked cautiously. Sirius looked at his last remaining friend from across the table. "Yes Moony?" Lupin swallowed, hard, he kept on thinking about this last night. "Sirius, what if Harry realizes how often Scarlet is disappearing? What if he asks her? What if she actually remembers?" The pair had agreed a long time ago that every time they pulled Scarlet from the Dursley's, where she and Harry were staying, that they would wipe her memory of the time period, and make her think she had been doing her previous tasks the whole time. They both knew that someday she might be able to fight past the charm, but for now they hoped they were safe. "Most likely Harry has noticed, and has asked questions, which Scarlet probably thinks is stupid. Besides, you and I both know we have been as careful as can be. We need to figure out how to hide the traces of th-that thing." It had been the first time all morning that he had tripped over his words. He was extremely worried.
The hatred towards Harry and Scarlet was extra strong that morning. The Dursley's had guests coming over, so after making and cleaning up every bit of breakfast, Harry and Scarlet scrubbed every inch of the kitchen clean. They then proceeded outdoors to do the rest of their outrageous chores. Then, two forms were at the edge of the yard, Scarlet and Harry were working together and sat up. They had noticed the people, and were nervous, Harry especially. He knew he was weird, but he had found that Scarlet was a bit more weird and was more nervous for her. He couldn't let her get taken away from him. The pair walked over to the two men. It shocked Harry how familiar they seemed.
Sirius looked to Lupin. They were nervous, but the professor was on his way. He would explain. They looked back to Harry and Scarlet. Lupin felt his breath hitch. Scarlet was looking at him like she knew him, she was turning extremely pale all too quickly. Harry had stuck his hand out, starting to say something, Lupin couldn't focus on his words. Harry withdrew his hand.
Scarlet felt like she recognized one of the men, and when she had been about to say something she all the sudden felt completely drained. Darkness was closing in on her eyes she open and closed them quickly, hoping that the darkness would go back to where it came from. A fine sheen of sweat was covering her, and she started to stagger. She fell, and the last thing she heard before the darkness claimed her was Harry's exclamation, "Scar!"
Sirius reacted as quickly as Harry. He was at Scarlet's side in seconds, he knew if something bad were to happen to James's daughter he would never forgive himself. That's when he smelled the blood. He turned Scarlet onto her side, and saw that there was a gash on her back, and the blood was spreading quickly. Harry gasped and hung his head. "What is it?" Lupin asked Harry. Harry looked up, looking like he was either going to cry or attack. "Our Aunt, she found out that Scarlet could do even weirder things than me last night. And she sent me out of the house. The next thing I heard was Scar's screams. Our Aunt was trying…" Harry was overwhelmed with emotion, but Lupin had gotten the gist of it. Sirius pressed on, half of his mind in the past, to Scarlet's mother. "She tried to cut the magic out of Scarlet." Sirius said, and knew he was right immediately. Harry nodded, and Professor Dumbledore walked up. Scarlet was losing blood, and fast. Lupin finally kicked in. he took out his wand, and started murmuring, and Scarlet's wounds slowly closed.
Chapter 3: The Truth Comes to Those Who Need It Most
Scarlet came around, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief, as did all of the adults. She awoke, and immediately reached for Harry's hand, the hand that had comforted her as long as she could remember. Sirius and Lupin looked like they were severely upset. Professor Dumbledore, after hearing what had happened to make the wounds on Scarlet's back went into the Dursley's house. Lupin and Sirius started to lift Scarlet by having her wrap her arms around them, but then she was no where near the ground, so Sirius pulled her in front of him, and had her put her legs around his waist, and arms around his neck, he was carrying her baby style. He and Lupin had both forgotten that Scarlet had been born early, not extremely early, but early enough to cause health problems, and she was slow growing. Sirius saw Lupin shudder, and knew what he was thinking, 'Why did Petunia try it again? Because, she hates magic, probably hates Scarlet, and would kill her niece before accepting that she couldn't get rid of the magic.' Then, Sirius knew some other questions rolling around in Lupin's head. 'What if someone other than Sirius, Lupin, and the Potters knew about Scarlet's core? Could they try to take her?' Sirius's throat tightened. Lupin had been thinking the right questions, the answer though, they could not be sure. Sirius, even though he was James's best mate didn't know for the life of him if James had told the traitor about his special daughter.
The next thing Sirius knew, he had laid Scarlet on the cot where she and Harry lived, before helping Harry pack their few possessions. Harry was going over everything Dumbledore had said. "Harry, you and your sister, Scarlet Ann, are a witch and a wizard." At this information Harry interrupted, "But sir, I'm just Harry, I mean, I know Scarlet's special, but we're just ordinary kids." Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "Harry, you are most certainly not a muggle. (Dumbledore sees the look of confusion cross Harry's face.) That's what we call non-magical folk. You will be an amazing wizard, once you have a little bit of training." Once again, Harry interrupted, "Professor, are you sure you have the right kids? We are just two kids who have had a bad break and landed at their Aunt's and Uncle's." Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "You don't remember the night your parents died? You were about a year old, so you couldn't process much, but you probably can remember some of it." Dumbledore had looked at Harry expectantly. "I'm sorry sir, I don't think I remember that. From what the Dursley's have told me, I believe that my parents died in a car crash." Harry said, logically believing the Dursley's explanation. Sirius had growled at that point, "Ha! My best friend die in a car crash? They didn't even have a car!" Sirius had exploded, and was so mad he was shaking, and thinking of how he had been going to go to the Potter's house for tea the day after the attack. He had planned on drinking tea, filling James and Lily in on the news from the Order, chasing Harry on the broom he had given to him for his first birthday, and playing with little Scarlet, whom he had loved dearly from the second she was born. She was a quiet baby, but knew how to get what she wanted, and unlike Harry, she never threw tantrums. She laughed at all he and James's pranks, and always asked for more, she made James and Sirius so happy. A quiet, but firm voice pulled Sirius out of his reminisce. "I don't know how, but I remember. We talked about it several times over the years Harry, though you were generally half asleep, it was always on nights that I couldn't go back to sleep after… after the nightmare." Scarlet shivered, and Sirius held her close to him. "Oh…" was all Harry managed to say. "I can tell you that I don't have the wrong kids. All I would have to do is ask one of the gentlemen here with us to describe how very much you look like your parents, but I don't need them to, seeing as I taught both of them. Scarlet has Lily's flaming hair, and James's piercing hazel eyes, while you, my dear boy, have James's untamable hair, and Lily's electric green eyes." Dumbledore then went on to explain why they were leaving the Dursley's home, and how after ten long years they had fixed Sirius's house to be unpalatable, and many other things. They didn't want anything bad happening to the pair. (specifically to Scarlet after what her Aunt had done to her the previous night.) Dumbledore had explained it to Harry, and even though Sirius knew Harry had questions, especially about the magical world, it could wait. Harry stopped packing abruptly. "You know how special she is. You were around when she was born, you know that we have to keep her safe." Sirius nodded, and they went back to packing, then Harry heard Scarlet murmur something, she had been sucked into a sequel of her nightmare he guessed. Then, she murmured it again, and both he and Sirius stopped. She was triggering a sliver of a memory in Harry. Then, she started freaking out. "Padfoot, what's wrong with Mummy and Daddy? Padfoot? Padfoot, tell me what's wrong with Daddy. Padfoot, why is Daddy like that? Padfoot, take me to Daddy, I can fix him. Padfoot! Padfoot! PADFOOT! I can fix him. I can fix him…" Scarlet's eyes opened when she screamed 'PADFOOT!' there was pain, and fear in her eyes that Harry felt he had only seen once, and he couldn't place when. Tears welled up into her eyes, another thing that rarely ever happened. Scarlet curled into a ball and started to cry. Harry, unsure how he could comfort her continued packing, she would snap out of it soon, or at least he hoped she would. Sirius was frozen in place, he remembered that night like it was yesterday. He knew now that she did too, he hadn't thought of one possibility when they took Scarlet and Harry from the house. 'Had Scarlet seen James die? Did she see his best mate get killed?' He stood still for a few more minutes, then went, sat down on the cot, and gathered the ball of Scarlet to his chest.
After a while, Scarlet looked up at him, "Padfoot." She said softly, looking into his eyes. He knew that she knew it was him. He was Padfoot. He held her close to his chest and whispered softly. "I'm sorry, I figured you had thought it was one of the games James was always cooking up. I know how special you are, and should have let you try to bring him back. I'm so sorry Scarlet." She just snuggled closer to him as he stroked her hair. They had been like that when she was a baby, she loved everything he and James had done, every last move. "I've always loved you Padfoot, and I always will, just… don't leave me again." Scarlet spoke softly. The words carried a lot of meaning to Sirius. It meant she forgave him, loved him, and needed him, and he would be there. Harry finished packing their few possessions, Lupin took the bag, and Scarlet wrapped herself around Sirius, sticking her face in his neck so that no one could see it. All Scarlet needed was an anchor, and she had two for the time being. Harry and Sirius were right there and weren't going to leave her. She was out, and Sirius was carrying her, she had gotten the truth that she needed for now, to put her at ease.
Sirius, without a direct answer, knew. Somehow Scarlet had seen James's duel, and the end result. Sirius wanted to know more, but had a sense that told him she had fallen into a true sleep for now, not a nightmare ridden one. He would get his answer later on. They left, Harry openly happy to have left the place where he, and his sister, had been tortured to no end.
They went to Grimmauld Place, Sirius's house, and even though Harry said that Sirius could set his sister somewhere, and that she would be fine, Sirius kept his god daughter in his lap. He felt that her easy breathing put him at ease. After having Sirius's one house elf feed Harry and Lupin, Lupin himself led Harry up to where he could stay for the night, until they made better sleeping arrangements. Harry, who was getting more tired by the minute changed into his pajamas, and collapsed into his bed. He was floating off into dreamland within minutes.
Chapter 4: The Scare
About a week had passed by, and the kids had come to really like Sirius and Lupin. One day, they went to Diagon Alley, and as they walked into the pub to get there, someone shouted Harry's name and people crowded around him. No one noticed the girl with glasses, hazel eyes, and long auburn hair that Sirius was holding, and the girl was quite glad. She wasn't too sure if her brother liked all the attention, but she sure didn't. She shrunk down and tried to blend in with Sirius's shoulder. Sirius took notice, and put the hand that wasn't supporting her, and placed it against her head. "Act as though you're asleep, they won't bother you." Sirius murmured into her ear. He had turned into a father for her very quickly. Scarlet did as she was told. A little while later, when the crowd around Harry was dispersing, a witch walked up to him. She was rather short and plump, she had short red hair, and kind brown eyes. She was bringing up the rear of a pack of redheads, who Sirius knew to be her kids. "Hullo Sirius, I see you have young Mr. Potter with you, and a girl…" The plump witch's eyes traveled over the girl, then over Sirius, she knew the girl was maybe a year or two away from Hogwarts, but it bugged her with how small she was. "Make sure you are feeding them well." the witch added, and with that she was gone. Lupin walked over to Sirius, and mumbled. "I know you're awake Scarlet." He saw a blush creep into the girl's cheeks, and her glasses flash. They got into Diagon Alley, and Sirius set the girl down, she and Harry walked between himself and Lupin. "Why'd you hide Scarlet?" Lupin tried again. Harry shot a questioning look at his sister. She blushed deeply. "Scarlet, what is he talking about?" Harry demanded. Scarlet slowly started to glow. Then, realizing what was happening she quickly went back to normal. "Damn. Thought I had figured out how to stop that." She mumbled under her breath. Then looked up at everyone else. Sirius was glancing around nervously, Harry seemed to be in shock, only Lupin responded. "What do you mean 'how to stop that'?" Scarlet rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, the other shoved deeply into her pocket. Sirius and Lupin were amazed at how much she was acting like James at that moment. "Never you mind." Scarlet said, trying to blow it off, once again acting like her father. "Scarlet, please tell us what you mean." Sirius said. Scarlet cursed again. "Whenever I get extremely flustered, or unsure, I start to glow. Please tell me that other wizards and witches can do that." Scarlet seemed almost scared of what she could do. Lupin looked like he deeply wanted to lie to the witch and say that they could to put her at ease, but he just couldn't look into those eyes and do it. "I'm sorry Scarlet, but no they don't, although, they aren't like you. (Scarlet looked as if she were going to as questions.) Not here. I'll explain later, well, Sirius and I will." Scarlet looked deeply upset. Sirius picked her up again. "Harry, please save your questions for later." he said, and they were off getting his school things. Lupin bought Harry a snowy owl as a birthday present, and since Sirius already had an owl that Scarlet was allowed to use to write to Harry he bought her a cat. Harry stammered his thanks to Lupin, and even though Scarlet did the same, the look in her eyes as she watched the cat, it plainly told him it was the right thing, she loved it, and had needed it to help her get over the fact that her brother would be leaving her behind. She had actually studied nonstop back at their Aunt's just to be with him at school. She hated the feeling of being left behind, she would almost attack to not be left. Something James had also done. And, sometimes, when James felt as though he was being left behind he would walk out all depressed one morning, which let Sirius know that he was off, because his best mate had loved mornings.
The next day Scarlet and Harry had the worst row that they had had in a long time. It was strong, lengthy and harsh. Harry was seeing red, spouting off every mean thing he could think of, Scarlet was seeing black, and though she said less, each blow she uttered was well placed. Finally, due to stray magic shooting out of the two, and the efforts of screaming they both were panting. Lupin walked into the room, and almost freaked out. One of the medical problems Scarlet had was asthma. He quickly backed out of the room, but stayed where he could hear. "Scarlet? Are you okay?" Harry asked, worried about his little sister. "I'm fine. Just get away from me!" Scarlet yelled, her vision dark, and the flames of the anger still licking her insides. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that there was a perimeter around you. Where should I stand?" Harry's voice was dripping with sarcasm now, the anger back. "You're an arse." Scarlet muttered, still unable to catch her breath. "You're just as at fault as me. You're a prat, a git, a total and complete arse, and worst of all? We're related." Harry's voice was dead serious, and quiet, but Lupin heard it from the next room. Scarlet's breath caught. "Take… that… back…" she panted. "I don't think I will." Harry said. "TAKE IT BACK!" Scarlet screamed. She was positively pissed now. "No, you're jealous that I had more time with mum and dad, and that I didn't watch both of them die, that I'm not a outcast as a wizard, and that I'm now leaving you behind, and you just can't keep up." Harry let the last three words ring out before he said the next one. Scarlet seemed to loose it, she was crying. "Yes, I may be jealous that you had more time with them, and had more time as a normal kid. I would never wish for you to watch them die, it would be too much. I'm glad you aren't an outcast, I'm glad that even though we have no parents, and I'm a freak, and don't start Harry. I'm glad that somebody will accept you, and be a good friend to you. Yes, I am upset that you are leaving me behind. And I know you think I can't keep up, but even as my heart breaks from separating from you, I will always try to keep up. I love you Harry, you're my brother." tears were flowing freely down Scarlet's face. Harry went over to her and wiped the tears off of her face. "I'll try to slow down, I'll write you every time I have news, I will stand beside you, if you will stand beside me. I'm not going to loose you. Not after all we've lost. We're Potters, Scar. We stick together." They had both scared each other severely. And were happy that they had managed to come to terms with each other again quickly. Sometimes, all you need is a scare to show you how close you are to a person, and how much they mean to you.
Chapter 5: The Train
A few days later, Sirius, Lupin, Scarlet, and Harry went to the train station. It was time for Harry to go to Hogwarts. They were standing between platforms 9 and 10 when Harry asked the question that was also on Scarlet's mind. "You guys, if you don't mind my asking, where's the platform?" Lupin smiled, and Sirius got a mysterious look on his face. A look that constantly got him punches from James, and generally got them in trouble. "See that brick column? (Harry and Scarlet nodded.) That's how we get in." Sirius spoke softly. Lupin went through the barrier first, then Harry sprinted towards it, then Sirius and Scarlet went towards it at a leisurely walk. They leaned against the barrier, and fell through. Harry and Lupin were waiting. Harry and Scarlet's jaws dropped, "Whoa…" They echoed silently. Their eyes roved over the red Hogwarts Express, and all the people. Scarlet wanted to reach for Harry's hand, but for fear that it would make him not want to go. Sirius and Lupin sensed a conflict was going on inside Scarlet. Sirius saw her hand twitch, like she wanted to grab Harry's hand, he stuck his hand down, and Scarlet latched onto it. It may not have been the hand she wanted, but at least it was a hand. They loaded Harry's things onto the train, and were saying their goodbyes. Sirius and Lupin promised to look out for Scarlet. Then, it was Scarlet's turn to say goodbye. "Remember to write me, you did promise." Scarlet stopped there, the ball in her throat wouldn't let her say anything else. "I will, and I'll miss you, Scar." Harry felt like he might cry. "I love you little sis." Harry said, he hugged her, and kissed her forehead, then was on the train. The whistle blew, and after a minute, the train started to move. Harry watched his sister sprinting next to the train, and thought of what she had said during their fight, 'I will always try to keep up.' The train turned a corner, and Harry lost sight of his sister. "Take care of her." He muttered under his breath, and went to find a seat.