The Other Potter Child
Prologue
Hagrid looked around at the debris. The house at Godric's Hollow was all but destroyed. Little Harry was tucked snugly in his arms. Hagrid had tried to mop the blood that was pouring from the cut on Harry's head, but it continued to weep.
Hagrid nudged a fallen chair with his foot. He was in the children's room, where he had pulled Harry from under the overturned cot. The small bed on the other wall was still upright, but the mattress was shredded. Hagrid moved the bed away from the wall, and looked underneath. There was nothing there. He couldn't find the second child that Dumbledore had charged him to find. Lilly-Anne, Harry's older sister, was missing.
Baby Harry started coughing.
"Shh, shh, it's ok little tyke, I'll take you to Dumbledore. He's the best wizard you'll ever meet…" Hagrid took one last look around the room, before leaving the destroyed house.
Chapter One
When Karkaroff and the students of Durmstrang had disappeared through Hogwarts' doors, Dumbledore and the other teachers turned their attention back to the grassed area. Durmstrang's ship bobbed eerily on the lake, and the Beauxbaton horses were starting to get restless.
"When do you suppose the other school will come?" Ron asked as he peered around Harry's shoulder, "what do you think they'll travel in?"
"Dunno." Harry said.
"Well they do have a longer trip than Beauxbaton and Durmstrang." Hermione said smugly, "I mean they are coming all the way from Australia."
"It would be a fare distance to fly." Harry admitted.
As he said this, he noticed that the tree-tops of the Forbidden forest were shivering, as if something was passing by. All the students and the teachers were silent as they watched the shivering trees. Suddenly the Beauxbaton horses were disturbed, and they pranced a bit and strained at the carriage straps that bound them. One neighed loudly and reared on his hind legs.
"What's happened?" A student asked. There was no need for an answer as something extraordinary happened. Beside the Beauxbaton carriage, another carriage shimmered into view, as though an invisibility cloak had fallen off it. The carriage was painted red and was pulled by seven large, red, two-legged animals that had long tales and pointed ears.
"I read that they painted the school red as well." Hermione said.
"Why would they do that?" Ron asked, "Red's not such a special colour." And he patted his hair.
"It's to blend into the landscape," Hermione said, "see, the school's in the middle of the desert…it used be held in Eyer's Rock, but that became such a tourist destination with the muggles that they had to move the school."
"And what are those?" Ron asked pointing to the animals.
"Kangaroos," Hermione snapped, "honestly Ron haven't you been to the zoo."
"We can't afford to." Ron said.
Hermione and Harry shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I'm sure that you know how to read, at least." Hermione said somewhat hesitant.
"Yeah, well I'm not a walking library like you." Ron snapped.
The doors of the carriage opened and a tall figure jumped out. He wasn't wearing a robe or even long pants. He was wearing a white singlet and colourful, flowery shorts. And on his feet were flip-flops.
More figures jumped out after him. They were wearing various summer clothing; the girls were wearing knee-length dresses and thin straps. And the boys were dressed much like the first figure.
"What are they wearing?" McGonagall muttered.
"I guess in Australia, there's no point in wearing robes, it's too hot." Hermione said.
"Yeah, but here they'll freeze." Harry responded. And he was right; many of the girls were rubbing their arms and shivering as they hurriedly made their way towards the front door.
"My dear Ned, it's so good to see you." Dumbledore cried heartily. The first figure that had jumped out of the carriage extended his hand to Dumbledore. The man had blond curly hair and blue eyes.
"Dumbledore, good to see you mate, and this must be Hogwarts." He looked up and around at the castle, "I have never seen anything so bleak." Before Dumbledore could create an answer, Ned gestured to his students. They had clustered in groups on the grass, trying to keep each other warm with fire that they had ignited with their wands.
Only one girl was not standing in a group. Harry glanced over her as his eyes roamed over the students and then he did a double take. The girl had red hair and green eyes, and she was staring intently at him. The cold didn't seem to affect her and she had not lit her wand. Harry tried to look away, but his gaze kept returning to her. There was something about her that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"…we've travelled far," Ned was saying, "perhaps your good cooks could rustle up some grub."
"Of course Ned." Dumbledore laughed, "allow me to lead you to the dining hall."
Dumbledore and Ned walked through Hogwarts' doors. Ned's student's followed quickly as they all wanted to reach the warmth of a fire. Only the girl with green eyes lingered. She walked slowly, not taking her eyes off Harry as she passed.
"Do you think she know who you are?" Ron laughed.
"I don't get it," Harry mumbled, "she doesn't have to keep staring."
"Maybe she's in love with you." Ron laughed.
"Oh don't be ridiculous, Ron." Hermione said as the students and teachers of Hogwarts returned inside.
Chapter Two
The next day Harry, Ron and Hermione were leaving the Great Hall, with the intention of visiting Hagrid, when there was a great commotion near the Goblet of Fire. Principle Ned, from the Australian school, was shouting at his students.
"What's going on?" Ron asked.
"Dunno." Harry said.
"Let's find out." Ron said. They went closer to the Aussie students who had formed a semicircle around their teacher. As they drew closer, Harry could see that Ned was shouting only at one student, who was standing stiffly with her chin in the air. She eyed her teacher with a steely green gaze; her red hair was like a cascade of golden sun underneath the candelabra that was above her.
"I brought you here, to enter." Ned was shouting. "And you will enter the Cup."
"I will not." The girl said.
"You will do as I say Lilly-Anne." Ned pointed.
Harry gasped as white hot pain passed over his scar.
"Harry?" Hermione hissed. Harry rubbed his forehead, and the pain just as quickly left.
"Is it your scar?" Hermione whispered, "You must go tell Dumbledore."
"It's fine, now." Harry mumbled.
"No." the girl called Lilly-Anne said defiantly, "I will not enter. I told you that before we left Australia."
"You are my best student, I demand you enter." Ned said.
"No." Lilly-Anne said. "I will…"
"What's going on?" The voice of Dumbledore cried as he came running down the stairs. "What's all this commotion?"
"Dumbledore I beg you, don't make me enter." Lilly-Anne's voice broke as she threw herself at Dumbledore's feet. "Please don't make me enter."
Hermione glanced at Harry.
"Ned…"
"She will enter, Dumbledore." Ned said, "I want our school to have as much of a chance at winning this bloody cup as anyone else."
"Ned, do you remember what I told you…"
"Lilly-Anne is my student." Ned said, "she will do as I say."
"I told you not to bring her." Dumbledore thundered. Ned stepped back. In the silence that ensued, Harry could hear Lilly-Anne sobbing.
"I won't, I won't," she whimpered after awhile.
"Why not, Lilly, why are you afraid," Ned said, "you shouldn't be, you will win."
Lilly-Anne spun onto her feet, faced Ned and shouted at the top of her lungs: "I am not afraid." She seemed to grow taller as she moved towards Ned, with her wand pointed at him. For the first time, Harry saw a flicker of fear in Ned's eyes.
"You don't know what you are asking." Lilly said, "all you can see is the glory for your school…"
"Our much needed glory." Ned snapped, "Lilly, you know our school has been isolated for over two hundred years, ever since convicts first landed on Australian shores. Well its high time we showed our Mother Country that we are just as good as them. It's the only reason why I took up Mr Crouch's invitation."
"You don't know what you're doing." Lilly said. And with that she walked out of the room.
"Lilly-Anne, you put your name in this goblet right now!" Ned cried after her, but she stuck her rude finger in the air and kept walking.
"Ned, I told you not to bring her." Dumbledore said quietly. For some reason Dumbledore glanced over at Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"When you put her in my school, all those years ago, you forfeited your responsibility." Ned said. "You can't tell me how to raise my own students." Then he too walked out, followed by the rest of his students.
"Carry on," Dumbledore said to the Hogwarts students that had gathered around to watch.
"Come on, let's go to Hagrids." Hermione said. As they passed outside, the Beauxbaton students went in carrying bits of parchment to put into the goblet.
"What do you suppose that was all about?" Ron asked.
"It seemed serious," Hermione said, "it seems as though Dumbledore knows that girl, what was her name?"
"Lilly-Anne." Harry said quietly. As he said the name, his heart gave a little jolt. He rubbed his scar as the memory of the pain came back.
"Harry are you sure you're ok?" Hermione asked biting her lip.
"I'm fine, really." He lied.
After Hagrid met up with Madame Maxime, and forgot about Harry, Ron and Hermione, the three let themselves out of Hagrid's hut and hurried towards the castle. As they rounded a bend, and the castle steps came into view, Harry suddenly stopped.
"What?' Ron asked.
"Do you hear that?" Harry said. They listened for a while. They could hear sobbing, being carried on the breeze. Harry glanced at Hermione and then followed the sound. They came to crevice in the wall, where they found Lilly-Anne squashed inside, with her head in her lap.
"Are you ok?" Hermione asked. Lilly looked up, glanced at Ron and Hermione, and then stared intently at Harry. Harry shifted uncomfortably.
"Are you ok?" Hermione asked again.
"I've been better." Lilly said. She stood up and wiped her eyes.
"So why don't you want to enter the Triwizard Cup?" Harry blurted out.
"Harry!" Hermione hissed.
"It's ok." Lilly said, not in the least surprised.
"Your teacher thinks you are his best student." Harry persisted.
"Yes," Lilly nodded, "I am at the top of every class."
"But you don't want to enter?" Ron asked.
"It's complicated."
"You remind me of someone." Harry finally said. There was a pause as Lilly-Anne studied her feet.
"We better get going." Hermione said, "they'll be calling out the champions soon."
There was an awkward moment as no one wanted to move first. Finally Lilly moved and followed the trail to the front steps. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed behind.
Cedric Diggory's name was called out of the Goblet of Fire. The students and teachers waited for the Goblet to spit out the fourth name, for the Champion of the Australian school. Lilly-Anne fidgeted in her seat. When she had sat down to eat, Ned had told her that he had put her name in the cup. She was furious, but there was nothing she could do, but pray that her name would not come out.
The goblet changed colour and spat out the burnt parchment. The students watched as Dumbledore took it and brought it to his eyes. They waited. And waited. And waited. A murmur began to ripple through the students as Dumbledore still did not call out the name. Dumbledore was staring at the parchment with a somewhat shocked look.
"Well, tell us who it is." Ned cried impatiently, "tell me who my Champion is."
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Harry Potter."
There was stunned silence. Lilly craned her neck to look over at Harry. His jaw was hanging open and his face had paled.
"Harry Potter…" Dumbledore called again. Harry stood and stiffly walked up the front. Every eye was on him. Lilly stopped fidgeting and stood up. She shook her head at Dumbledore. But Dumbledore didn't say anything. He gestured to the door, and Harry went through.
The ripple of outrage and shock didn't start until Harry had closed the door firmly behind him. The students began talking.
"All of you, to bed." Dumbledore shouted over the noise. The students piled out of the Great hall.
"Dumbledore, what the hell happened?" Ned shouted, "what about my Champion?"
"I'm afraid it is Harry Potter." Dumbledore said hoarsely.
"That is a lie; I demand you choose a champion from my school." Ned shouted.
"The goblet is over now." Dumbledore said. And he was right. The Goblet was dead and cold; the fire was out.
"But Harry can't be my school's champion, he is Hogwarts' student." Ned reasoned.
"I'm afraid he was put under your school." Dumbledore said.
"That is an outrage."
"Come, we will talk to him." Dumbledore lead the way into the back room. McGonagall, Snape, Mad-eye Moody, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime and Ned all hurried in after him. Lilly-Anne remained sitting at the table, watching the door, she was the only one left in the hall.