Chapter1 - Family

Author's Note:

Hey... It is my first try at Harry Potter Fanfic...

I have posted this story on Quotev and have got a great respnse from the readers there. So here I am, trying my luck on the most famous website for fanfics. Hope you like it!

Summary - The story is about Aaeriel Potter, the daughter of James and Lily. James is very harsh towards her, but not his son - Harry. Why ? Does she not deserve her father's love ? It is HP Alternate Universe!

There are reasonings for each and every change from the real HP universe, so please don't decline it for being an Alternate Universe fic... Please, give it a try!

"Wake up, mistress Aaeriel, get up," called the house-elf, Honey while knocking on the door.

"What is it, Honey?" asked Aaeriel from inside the room. Her voice was sweet but it sounded quite annoyed.

"Its your father, Master James wants you down immediately," said the elf.

The door was opened immediately. A very pretty little girl with waist-length black hair and beautiful sapphire blue eyes stood there. She looked scared, tired and anxious.

"Why does he wanna see me so early in the morning?" she asked the elf. "Have I done something wrong again ? Is mom there with him?"

"Yes, mistress Lily is there too. I think you should hurry up or he will get angry..." said the elf politely.

"When is he not angry at me ?" said Aaeriel sarcastically.

"One should not speak of one's father like that, little mistress," said the elf.

"As if you don't know anything ..." said Aaeriel in annoyance and went down the stairs.

A man with messy black hair and round spectacles was standing in the hall with an exquisite woman with red hair and emerald green eyes.

"You called me, Dad ?" Aaeriel asked in a low and scared voice.

"Was that a question ?" said James Potter harshly. "Say, 'Did you call me, Father'. Learn to speak properly."

"Did you call me, Father ?" Aaeriel repeated in a low voice.

"Don't you have any manners ?" sais James angrily. "Who will wish us a 'Good Morning' ?"

"Oh, I am sorry, Dad" she said in a scared voice. "Good morning, Mom and Dad."

"When will you learn ?" he said angrily.

"James, it's alright...let it be..." said Lily politely to her husband gripping his arm softly. "Sweetie, your Dad called you to ask if your packing is finished or not," said Lily softly.

"Yeah, it's almost done, Mom," she replied.

"Almost ? ALMOST DONE, what do you mean ?" shouted James furiously. "You have to board the Hogwarts Express tomorrow in the morning. When are you planning to finish your packing ?"

"But, Dad, even Harry's is left. We will do it today,"' she dared replying her father.

"Don't you argue with me," yelled James. "And don't you drag Harry in between. Honey will finish his packing as he wakes up. But you will get no help at all. Do you understand me ?"

"Yes, I know, Dad," she said, tears trickling in her eyes.

"Then go and finish it," he said. "You will not have breakfast before finishing it."

"James, one whole day is left, she will-" said Lily but was interrupted by her husband.

"Don't defend her, Lily," he said firmly.

Aaeriel ran up the stairs to her bedroom. She banged the door as hard as she could. She was exasperated.

Her father was extremely rude and harsh to her. Never in her living memory had he talked to her politely. He loved her brother, Harry so much. He was also not a very well-mannered boy too but James didn't seem to care.

Harry can get up late but she could not ; Harry can mess up his room but she could not ; Honey always cleans up Harry's room but Aaeriel had to do it all by herself.

All the hard rules were for her ; all the rules were set up by James and she was not allowed to ask the reason behind the discrimination.

She was badly scared of her father. From her very childhood, the fear existed. She can't utter a thing in front of James. This fear had been there since she was just three.

*****FLASHBACK*****

Aaeriel and Harry were playing in the corridor outside their rooms. Harry was running behind Aaeriel to catch her.

At that time too, James was not very soft or loving towards his daughter.

"Catch me if you can, Harry," shouted Aaeriel.

She was running towards thr stairs. Harry was just about to catch her but then suddenly, they went with the flow and ran towards the stairs without noticing them. They tripped down the staircases and shrieked in pain.

James rushed to the hall where they were lying on the floor, whimpering softly.

Blood was oozing out from Harry's arm and Aaeriel's forehead was bleeding as well. James came, lifted Harry up and took him in. He left Aaerial lying there only - in pain and tears.

Lily was not at home that day. Honey took Aaeriel inside her room, upstairs. About ten minutes later, James came to her room.

The little girl thought that she would get coddled and tucked in by her father after her injury but she was wrong.

"How dare you play with Harry near the stairs," yelled James pointing his wand towards her. "If I see Harry getting hurt again because of you, I will make your condition such that you will regret every moment of your life."

His words were bitter and felt like a dagger to the three year old girl. How could a father point his wand at his daughter ? That incident was enough for little Aaeriel to get frightened to the soul. But the worst thing was that she had to face such partiality at such a tender age.

He left the room. She was left alone, terrified. Some fears that develop in childhood don't fade away with time.

*****FLASHBACK ENDS*****

Though, Lily loved her a lot but still it was James who affected her the most. Harry was so pampered by all but she was not.

But finally, she was going out of that living hell. She was going to Hogwarts. That was going to be their first year there.

She was packing her trunk with tears constantly running down her cheeks.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it ?" she asked in a brittle voice.

"It's I, Harry," came a soft voice.

"Come," she said tersely. "What do you want ?"

"I thought now it's in your habit to get a shout from Dad," said Harry in an amusing tone.

"Yeah, it is in my habit," she said bitterly.

"Then why are you crying and wasting water," he asked with a smile.

Aaeriel chuckled, not because of the lame joke but because of her brother's little gesture to brighten up her mood. "Packing done ?" she asked softly.

"Yeah, Honey is too quick," he said. "I have asked her to finish yours as well. Dad is off to the Ministry. He will never come to know."

She smiled. "And Mom ?" she asked.

"Mom will not complain about it to Dad, for sure," he grinned. "Come on, let's go down for breakfast."

They went down together while Honey busied herself with Aaeriel's packing.

Aaeriel loved Harry despite the fact that he was much more loved and pampered by James. The bitterness in James could never draw a line between the twins. Harry was the only one who could cheer Aaeriel up in any circumstances.

"Sirius has sent you both good wishes," said Lily while having breakfast.

"He has also sent me a new broomstick. Blimey, first years can't use their own broomsticks so I can't take it along with me," said Harry.

"Mom, you are mistaken, Sirius has sent Harry his good wishes, not me," said Aaeriel.

"It's not like that, sweetie." said Lily. "He had sent a gift for Harry and not for you because he had no clue about your likes and dislikes..."

"As if broomsticks are only made for boys," said Aaeriel sarcastically. "Also, he has two daughters. So, for Merlin's sake, please don't defend him. And I don't want a gift, Mom, I just meant that he is no better than Dad. He doesn't love me, just like Dad,"

"Aril, your Dad loves you-" said Lily calmly.

"Remus has sent you an 'Appearance changing Tiara'. It will change your appearance slightly if you wear it," said Harry, interrupting Lily. "I mean the name says it all..."

"He is the only person who treats me with some love and respect after you, Mom and Honey," she said.

"Aril, sweetie, we all love you," said Lily.

"I don't care, Mom," she said softly. "I am never gonna return now..."

"Shut up, Aaeriel," said Lily in a higher voice. "Don't say that."

"Mom, I will not be returning home before the next summer vacation," stated Aaeriel. "I will not come for Christmas or Easter."

"No, sweetie, don't say that. I will miss you, Aril," said Lily tearfully.

"I will see, Mom..." she said and left the table.

I have written many chapters till now, and will be updating them son - based on the responses I get...

Please, review.