The Other
What if James Potter had a brother? Would things have been different?
Watch the rise of one of the most dangerous and powerful wizards of all time:
Hadrian Potter
Potter Manor, Unplottable
The wind howled over the forest, like a pack of long dead spirits wailing in their damnation. Past the forest the gust travelled, whistling though the trees and hills and over the streams. The clouds gathered in dark, condensed groups, rumbling and releasing lightening that flashed and illuminating the sky. The cold northern wind finally came to rest outside a large, ornate manor with heavy oak doors. From the outside, joyous laughter and the squeals of children could be heard.
Charles Potter threw back his blond, untameable hair and laughed as his sons attacked the presents under the Christmas tree with an almost animal ferocity. He sat down heavily in the exquisite red armchair near the window, exhausted from his work as a curse-breaker from the night before, and examined his sons while sipping from a red vintage. James was an almost carbon copy of his father were it not for his light, chocolate brown hair. Apart from that, with the mischievous hazel eyes and the messy aspect of his hair, they looked very similar. The boy was obsessed with Quidditch, to the extent that he said that he wanted a snitch every year since he first heard of them. He was also very intelligent, but didn't really apply himself and preferred to play on his broomstick. He abhorred any book that was not on Quidditch.
Speaking of books.., thought Charles, his eyes wandering to where his other son was sitting: cross-legged on the floor. Hadrian had always been a little odd he reflected. When James and he had been younger, Hadrian had hardly ever cried which was a relief for Charles and Dorea as James would wake up shrieking in the middle of the night when he was younger. Whereas James would have been content to fly outside for hours, Hadrian normally stayed indoors reading. He devoured all books he got like a man dying of thirst. He was even doing it now, his eyebrows frowning adorably as he read Magical Theory by Albert Waffling. In looks he took after his mother Dorea , with wavy hair the colour of coal and eyes a deep, rich midnight blue. His cheekbones and face held the aristocratic features of the Black family that his mother came from. Both boys had the signs of being magically powerful, as accidental magic had started in both of them when they were young and it was quite impressive magic. James had apparated to the roof of the Manor once and Hadrian had once conjured a spoon when he had dropped his from the baby chair. They were both very different in looks and personality, but got on very well with each other despite their differences. They were practically inseparable.
Charles was interrupted from his musings when a loud bang erupted from the middle of the room. He was on his feet in an instant, grasping for his wand only to find it was gone. He looked to the carpet and saw James waving Charles' wand around with a happy grin. Charles stoic features melted into a smile as he walked over to his son.
"Don't you remember what I told you?" he said, trying and failing to look stern.
James turned towards him, putting on a pensive expression.
"Erm...don't touch dad's wand?" he replied, wearing an innocent expression.
Charles laughed and ruffled his hair.
"You'll be using your wand soon enough: when you're going to Hogwarts!" he said, chuckling.
"When will that be?" James asked, frowning.
A voice responded from the middle of the room, stating "When we turn eleven, which will be in 2 months."
Charles and James both turned around to see Hadrian looking back, with a grin like a Cheshire cat.
"Correct!" said Charles, smiling at his son./p
"And I guarantee that it will be the best years of your life."
The next day, Hadrian was sitting in his room reading a book on common spells that had many uses in everyday life. Holding a small stick he had found in his few ventures outside, he was about to practise the Levitation Charm. Focusing on the instructions in the book, he moved his stick. Swish and flick he intoned in his head as he mimicked the wand movement shown in the book. Ok, let's try it for real now, Hadrian thought, putting on a determined face as he pointed his stick at the piece of parchment. Swish and fl- The door to his room burst open suddenly, hitting the wall so hard that his alphabetically, meticulously organised bookshelf broke free of its hanging and crashed into the floor.
Hadrian swore and pointed his stick at the source of this problem; a very embarrassed and anxious James Potter.
"What do you want?" Hadrian asked, dropping the stick and slumping on his chair in an irritated way.
James eyed the stick with barely concealed amusement and asked, "Can I borrow your copy of Hogwarts: A History?"
Hadrian's eyebrows rose until the point that it looked like they would climb of his head. James just shuffled his feet and looked away embarrassedly.
"Why the sudden interest? You never ask to look at my books before, so why now." Hadrian asked, honestly curious.
James looked around towards the doorway before answering,"I want to know about it. Dad always talks about all the adventures at Hogwarts, and I want to know about it. It just sounds so…so…magical! "He burst out.
Hadrian grinned, thinking back to all the times that he had seen his father talking to James about the wonders of Hogwarts. James had just stared open mouthed with his eyes wide, probably thinking of all the great adventures he was going to have.
"Sure," Hadrian replied, giving a knowing smirk as he handed over the book.
Well, that was…interesting he thought as James wandered out. After re-arranging his bookshelf, he returned to practising the wand movement and incantation of the Levitation charm. Interesting indeed…
Six Weeks Later
Hadrian stepped into the living room, wearing plain black robes and black boots. He had to look presentable for his first visit to Diagon Alley. He had read about the street in the book Great Wizarding Events in the 20th Century. Apparently it had been almost been completely destroyed during the Second Muggle World War and had to be rebuilt. He couldn't wait to explore it. He was particularly excited about Flourish and Blots.
He made his way over to his father who was standing next to the fireplace, wearing traditional pureblood robes, with the ring of House Potter on his left index finger. Charles glanced at him and opened his mouth but was interrupted by noise of James sliding down the banister. Both father and son looked at him, their faces mirrored in scowling disapproval. James shrugged casually and stood next to Hadrian. Charles grabbed both his sons arms and apparated.
Hadrian felt as though he was toothpaste being squeezed through a particularly narrow tube, while being whisked around on one of those muggle roller-coasters. It was not a pleasant sensation. Just before he thought he was going to be violently sick, the squeezing feeling stopped and he was on solid ground once again. He looked over to see his brother face first in the ground and his father dusting himself off. He snickered, receiving glares from both of them, before looking out at the street in all its glory. Diagon Alley.
Hadrian looked around curiously, trying to take in everything about his surroundings. Witches and wizards went around their own business, shuffling past each other and practically shouting apogees when they bumped into someone. The shops were sandwiched right next to each other, like little houses and there was all sorts of different goods in each of them, everything from Quidditch supplies to magical creatures. He found his eyes wandering to the two shops that interested him the most: Ollivanders and Flourish and Blots. He looked around at James to find him staring at the Quidditch store. Hadrian shook his head exasperatedly.
"Alright then boys," Charles said with a grin on his face," I'll be going to Gringotts. I've got some business with the goblins. In the meanwhile, wander around the Alley and buy some stuff."
With his last words, he took out two bags of galleons and gave them to Hadrian and James. When he was walking away he called back, "Remember, Knockturn is off limits."
Hadrian and James groaned as he walked off. Crushing the feeling of disappointment, turned round to James.
James looked back, his eyes sparkling with mischievousness. "Where do you want to go?" he asked Hadrian, his eyes dating towards the Quidditch shop. Hadrian rolled his eyes. "To Flourish and Blots, obviously," Hadrian drawled. James snorted and lightly punched him on the shoulder before drifting towards the Quidditch shop, like a moth drawn to a flame.
Hadrian walked down the street, moving to avoid the countless streams of people before finding himself before Flourish and Blots. He walked in and looked around. There was a nervous looking secretary biting her lip at the desk and a ginger girl about his age and two older boys, probably her brothers judging from the similarities.
He walked over to the plain bookcase and traced his finger along the rows of books, looking for any that interested him. He decided to buy Transfiguration: The Power of Change by Albus Dumbledore and Advanced Duelling Techniques and Spells by Arcturus Black. Satisfied, he was about to leave when something caught his eye. Reaching out, he picked up a lone book on shelf. He looked at the book. It was titled An Introduction to the Dark Arts by Arcturus Black.
Hadrian was conflicted. On one hand, he came from a light family that abhorred the Dark Arts. Even their normally cheerful father got a hard glint in his eye when talking about them and their mother would rant for hours about how evil and dark the Black family is. On the other hand though, he knew very little about the dark arts apart from they were dangerous and 'evil'. Just to check, he flipped through the first of Arcturus' books. There didn't seem to be anything bad in it, just duelling spells and tips when duelling. Hadrian decided to buy it, just to find out what the Dark arts were.
He bought the books along with his school books and exited the shop, just to run into Charles and James. "What did you buy?" James said inquisitively, trying to peek into his bag when his father led them away from the shop. "Just some books," Hadrian replied vaguely. James gave him an annoyed look but shrugged and continued on.
"Where are we going now?" Hadrian asked his father.
Charles looked down and smiled. "Ollivanders" he said, a huge smile appearing on his face. He knew how desperate his sons were to get their wands.
Hadrian and James looked at each other grinning. Hadrian felt a rush of excitement. Finally he would be getting his wand! All he could think about since that moment was what his wand was going to be like. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that it came as a big surprise when they stopped outside a shop which had a sign that read, Ollivanders, makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
They stepped into the gloomy shop and looked around. There was huge shelves holding boxes that Hadrian assumed were containing wands.
"Good evening mister Potter."
All three Potters spun around to face an old man with white hair, whose blue eyes seemed to shine in the darkness of the shop. Hadrian and the other Potters relaxed when they realised who the man was. Ollivander stepped past them and stood behind the counter.
"You still keep good care of it I see," said Ollivander softly as Charles pocketed his wand.
"It has served me well : 9 Inches, Oak, Unicorn Hair as a Core and good for curses if I remember correctly."
"Indeed you do Mister Potter," he confirmed looking pleased. "Now, what boy will be first?"
James answered first. "That would be me sir," he said with a cocky grin as he stepped forward. Ollivander raised an eyebrow before taking strange measurements of James. Even the length of his ears was deemed important! After a few minutes of measuring, he disappeared into the back of a shop, coming out a few minutes later clutching a stack of boxes.
"Try this Mister Potter," Ollivander said, handing him a wand. "13 inches, Willow, Unicorn hair and good for charms. Give it a wave!"
James waved it and one of the Vases on the table shattered.
"No, no, definitely not..." After what seemed like an hour, James finally got his wand : 11 Inches, Mahogany, Dragon Heartstring, good for transfiguration and duelling.
"Now you, Hadrian" said James, admiring his wand while his father patted him on the shoulder, looking proud.
Hadrian stepped forward to get measured. After a minute of ridiculous measuring, he finally got to test for his wand…
"Cherry, Phoenix Feather..No, No terrible match.."
Hadrian was taking even longer than James. He was beginning to get worried and impatient. What if I can't get a wand? He thought, looking at Ollivanders determined expression. What if I'm told that I can't go to Hogwarts? Another failed wand. What if they obviate me and send me to live with muggles? What if dad decides to disown me? What if-
"Try this Hadrian: 11" Holly, Phoenix Feather," said Ollivander, looking at him curiously.
Hadrian waved it. Nothing happened. Not even a spark. Nothing!
He was beginning to get angry. Damn these stupid wands! Damn them! He was so angry that he didn't even listen to what Ollivander said when he handed him the next wand. When he waved it, a stream of blue flames erupted from the tip, lighting the carpet on fire. Charles yelled and tried to put it out, but the water from the charm he cast just evaporated the moment it touched it. Ollivander grabbed the wand and waved it. The flames snuffed out instantly as if they had vanished.
Everyone in the room was staring at Hadrian and at the wand.
"S-sir," Hadrian asked shakily, breaking the silence. "Can you tell me what the wand is made of."
Ollivander looked at him strangely before replying, "14", Blackthorn wood and a feather from a rare blue Phoenix. An incredible wand for transfiguration and fire related spells. A very powerful wand and dangerous in the wrong hands. You will do great things one day Mister Potter. That will be 14 Galleons please."
Charles paid for the two wands and they left the shop, walking down the now almost deserted Alley, both boys staring at their wands I awe. Hadrian made a vow to himself as they looked at the Alley before the apperating away. I will become great one day he promised himself as the alley disappeared. I will be great.
