Disclaimer: I'm obviously not talented enough to have written the real Harry Potter.
Full Summary: What if the prophecy about 'the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord' was never heard by Voldemort? What consequences would that have on the future of the Wizarding World? A very different Harry lives in a totalitarian regime segregated according to how pure your blood is and how politically powerful you are. As someone deemed inferior, Harry has been growing up willing to do anything to survive in his harsh environment. Although his aspirations to rise in societal rank seem to be heavily dependent on a future as a Death Eater, personal conscience and fate seem to have other plans for him. DarkHarry.
March 1980
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."
Severus had been staring at the buffy haired, eccentric woman sitting across from them at the Hog's Head. Once the woman had come out of her trance, she looked around as if she obviously had no idea about what had just happened. Severus knew enough to know that this was typical of seers; they rarely if ever had any kind of control over what talent they had, if any.
The only other person to hear the prophecy was Albus Dumbledore. Neither of them had seen eye to eye before. The old man's blue eyes that had been filled with hope and wisdom were now hollow with anticipated defeat. The war was not going to end well. They both knew that.
The woman left the bar and headed into the night, still fuming at Albus' reluctance to employ her - leaving both Albus and Severus alone.
Severus was the first to speak, "You better thank your lucky stars, Dumbledore. Any other Death Eater would bite at the opportunity."
"Well, I personally don't see why you wouldn't," Albus said scornfully, remembering what the boy was like at school.
"I must tell you," Severus shook his head, "That people can change, Albus."
'How true, this is good. Besides, I presume prophecies are only true if they are acted upon.' Dumbledore thought with a rising smile - An expression that had not graced his face in a long time. He raised an empty firewhiskey glass in respect to Severus, something he thought he would never do.
31st July 1996
Today was Harry's sixteenth birthday. Therefore, he decided to treat himself with a few chocolate frogs as well as a stack of books he had managed to 'borrow' from different places. Not that his unlawful birth to a mudblood mother sixteen years ago was a worthy reason to celebrate, but it was a good excuse to just relax on his bed to read books and eat food that was normally forbidden to him.
Harry Evans had dark hair that refused to be tamed and his choice of clothes was just as rebellious. Behind black rimmed glasses were sharp green eyes as cold as they were cunning. He hated his job as a menial factory worker for Honeydukes confectionary to no end but had no other choice. On the days he did not work, he attended magic classes to gain further skills but knew that he most probably wasn't going to get anywhere in life. At night he also had another job as a Death Eater Youth keeping muggles in line. When he wasn't working or in class, he lived in a shoddy housing complex that was designed to accommodate the lowlifes of magical society.
The room he was staying in was barely big enough to fit a single mattress and a tiny wardrobe filled with his clothes. It was dusty and had the tiniest window towards the ceiling that was too high to see out of unless he jumped on his bed. His bed was the kind that almost no amount of charms could repel mould off and creaked every time he moved in it. The walls were nothing but grey decrepit bricks that gave his barely over two meter wide room a greater claustrophobic effect. He was not even allowed Quidditch posters to make the room more cheerful. A pureblood his own age would have complained to the ends of the earth, but for Harry the room was more than he could have ever hoped to have. He and his sister lived here together - that was all that mattered.
The book he was reading was a Hogwarts textbook, A Revised History of Magic grade 5 by Phoebus Nott. Although the book looked rather boring, he was determined to learn beyond the bare essentials that were taught to him by the Riddle School for Lower Half-Bloods. Anything that was going to further his position in life was good. Also motivating him to read was the fact that this book was deemed worthy enough to educate students with privilege of going to Hogwarts. It made him feel rich, even if for just a few moments.
'It was in February 1982 that the glorious Dark Lord had seized control of the remaining sections of the former Ministry of Magic. This was the result of very careful strategic planning on the behalf of the Dark Lord himself as well as several loyal Death Eaters such as Lucius Malfoy and Bartemius Crouch Jr. Those working at the former Ministry of Magic who were loyal to the greater good worked together to assure that control of Wizarding society was not left under the rule of a mediocre bureaucracy whose chief objectives included undermining Wizarding Society's traditional purity… On 15 March 1982, it was made official that the former Ministry of Magic was disbanded and that Wizarding Society was now under the guidance of the Dark Lord with Lucius Malfoy in charge of general operations. It was a day of great rejoice when Wizarding society had finally come under worthy leadership and therefore, 15 March was later announced as Liberation Day.'
Harry rolled his eyes, he had heard the tale of Liberation Day every March for the last four years or so. He had heard the same message at least a thousand times before. The propaganda was too excessively fervid, even for him. He skipped a couple of pages, hoping it would become more interesting.
'Although the Dark Lord's rise to national leadership had been overwhelmingly successful and approved by the public, there remained several problems. A chief one was the decline in the pure Wizarding population and that not all of those who were pureblood or of reasonable purity agreed with the Dark Lord's wisdom. For this, it was decreed that pureblood families must have a minimum of five children and that such dissidents would be magically re-educated. Also of concern was the question of what should be done about true undesirables such as muggles and mudbloods, especially mudbloods who have polluted our society through breeding with those of higher purity. There are still a great deal many of them polluting our nation to this day. Although many are allowed to live as servants and inferior citizens under supervision for practical reasons, the Dark Lord decreed the Eventual Solution for these people at a gradual but steady rate…'
Harry could no longer read. Even though over six years had passed since she was gone, Harry could not help but think of his mother who had two children to men who were definitely above her station. He had a good idea about what 'the Eventual Solution' included. He suppressed a slight surge of emotion. He cast 'evanesco' on the book to make it vanish. He didn't want to see it ever again. He supposed that Hermione wouldn't want to read it either. He tried another book about Magical Theory. It was much more interesting.
Suddenly, there was loud banging on his door.
"Who is it?" Harry called. He expected it to be Hermione with his clean laundry but she rarely knocked very hard.
"It's Josie! Open up Harry, it's an emergency!"
"Harry," Hermione called, "Please open up for us."
"We need your help!" Josie shouted, "We can't do this without you."
He sprung up and got to the door. He was concerned by sister's and Hermione's tone.
He opened it up to see three girls. Two he recognised but the third was a small girl, she couldn't have been older than eight. Her brown dress was tattered and dirty, there were also a few blood stains and her hair had been completely shaved off. She looked like a pitiful creature, so emaciated she could pass as a house elf with chopped ears.
"Josie, who is this?" He asked.
"Harry, I found her hiding in the alleyway when I was coming back after school. She told me that she managed to escape the Labour Camp. She's a poor Mudblood who was taken from her parents. I looked around to see some Death Eaters searching for her. She looked so scared. I had to save her. We need you to help us save her."
Josie was the only family he had in this world that he loved and loved him in return. He had cared for her since their mother was taken away. Her dark eyes reflected compassion. She was too sweet; it was going to get them killed someday. She might only have been twelve but she had to learn some common sense. She should have left that little girl to die and assure their own survival. The world was harsh and nobody could change that.
"Josephine! How could you have been so unbelievably stupid? You are going to get us in serious trouble." He whispered furiously. He could have easily hit her there and then. "We have to put her back on the street or I'll hand her in."
The small girl started to cry. Hermione put her arm around her shoulders.
"No!" Hermione interjected, "She's staying with us. I won't allow her to be killed."
"She's just a filthy mudblood -"
"I'm a filthy mudblood too. Unless you've forgotten." Hermione retorted.
Josie started to become frantic, "Well, we have to do something! I think some Death Eaters are coming. They might have seen me take her. You're the only one that can talk to them."
"The filth can't say here. We don't have enough food for everyone in this apartment, let alone someone else. Besides, how are we going to hide her from everyone else here?"
"We'll find a way." Josie told him, she was still defiant. Hermione nodded.
Harry turned to the young girl, "Well scum, do you have a fucking name?"
"- Don't be so rude!" Hermione interjected again. There were times that she seemed to forget that he was a Death Eater Youth member and that she was nothing but a mudblood.
Between sobs, Harry thought he heard her say, "Celeste."
The girl's eyebrows were brown. He tried not to look into her eyes - that would make him feel uncomfortable. Never-the-less, there was some inner voice saying that he couldn't turn her in.
They could hear knocking at the front door downstairs. It could be Death Eaters so they had to answer quickly unless they wanted to be raided. They were also the only people home – Dean and everyone else had gone to work.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Harry muttered, he could feel his heart thud. He knew what happened to people caught hiding filthy mudbloods.
He turned to his wardrobe and dug through it frantically; searching for something he had not used in a long time, his cloak. The silky, silvery invisibility cloak would hide her. He threw it over her. The small girl took a minute to admire the beautiful pattern on its surface. He doubted she had seen anything so elegant in her short, unfortunate life. Hermione's eyes narrowed in suspicion – she was surprised that he owned something that looked so valuable. When she put it on, he couldn't see or hear her. It was if there was a miracle in which she never came here in the first place.
"Where did you manage to nick that?" Hermione said suspiciously.
"I didn't steal it, believe it or not. It belonged to my sperm donor once upon a time."
"Harry inherited it from his father before he was even born." Josie felt the need to add, for the other girls' sake.
"Quick," Harry whispered, "Hide under this until its safe. I'll get the door."
He bolted down the stairs to get the door. It was a good thing that he did, as there were three of his Death Eater Youth division standing in front of him - Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Evans, I hope you are not busy." Malfoy smirked, "Yaxley can't do it today. Apparently he's got a bit of a tummy bug."
Malfoy had actually cast crucio on Yaxley the other day for no reason other than he wanted to see the thirteen year old suffer in pain. The boy would be ill for weeks. Harry disliked most other people but if it was anybody that Harry genuinely hated it was Malfoy. Even he found Malfoy repulsive.
"That's not my problem. Anyway, I think I told you that I was busy today." Harry retorted. Although, he knew it was futile to argue with someone as powerful as Malfoy.
"Is there something going on upstairs?" Malfoy said with eagerness.
"No, unless you count my sister and her friend hanging out after school as something going on."
"Bullshit, your stupid little sister would never have any friends."
Crabbe and Goyle began to smirk as well. Harry rolled his eyes. Harry was grateful that he had considerable skill in occlumency. The skill had saved his life on numerous occasions. He could sense Malfoy trying to search his mind. Malfoy might not be particularly clever but he was extensively tutored.
'Well, how you have friends is a complete mystery,' he thought bitterly, although he said nothing. Besides, retorting would only result in two scenarios: he being beaten by the trio or them raiding their house. Besides, Harry genuinely didn't care about the opinions of a spoilt brat pureblood boy who had always got his own way.
"Isn't it a shame that you live in this shithole? I mean, you only have that ugly mudblood servant to fuck." Malfoy continued, as if Harry paying attention.
Harry raised his eyebrows and ran back upstairs to put on his uniform. Hermione looked terrified, she obviously had heard Malfoy. Josie and the little girl were almost hiding behind her. He knew Josie was terrified of Malfoy; the blond's infamy spread far beyond his Death Eater Youth division.
"Don't do anything out of the ordinary," Harry whispered frantically as he redressed, "Clean her up and get out some old rags for her to sleep on in the basement. She can be another servant. Just make sure that nobody else in the house sees her. Now don't just stand there in my doorway like an idiot. Go. Same goes for you too, Josie."
"We know, Harry," Hermione seethed, "We're not idiots. She can sleep on the spare mattress."
Neither girl was in the position to argue further with him or take offense to his brash attitude. They looked relieved, surprised almost.
"Harry," Hermione whispered as he was about to leave, "Thanks very much."
A/N: A brief structure of Wizarding Society in Voldemort's power (from highest to lowest obviously):
Elite Purebloods and high society Death Eaters (~2%). Rule the rest of society. Highest in terms of money, power and influence. Enough said.
General Purebloods (~8%). Are pureblood but are sometimes former rebels/blood traitors before "magical re-education". Still share in preferential treatment. Are generally not Death Eaters. Cannot move down in rank.
Higher Half-bloods (~15%). Usually have a high percentage of magical heritage (~75% or over) but are not considered pureblood. Or are originally middle or lower half-bloods who have enough talent, influence and money to move up societal ranks or have Death Eater status. Children of this group are allowed to attend Hogwarts.
Middle Half-bloods (~50%). Most of the Wizarding population fall under this category. Generally have a lower percent of magical heritage than higher half-bloods (~50%) but can include lower half bloods who have improved their societal rank (and higher half-bloods that have lost theirs). Also less in terms of money, power and influence. Children who show strong talent may have to opportunity to attend Hogwarts but not usually the case. Generally attend segregated schools but with adequate education.
Lower Half-bloods (hard to estimate, ~15%). Have restrictions enforced upon them such as mandatory poorer living conditions and limited career opportunities (not allowed Ministry Careers). Consist of people with lower percent of magical heritage or uncertain heritage, chidren born to Muggle-born women shortly before or during the Dark Lord's reign and/or former half-blood rebels and their children. Half-breeds and werewolves also included. Inferior magical education (if allowed to be educated in magic at all) that is tailored towards menial jobs. Individuals can have elevated status and are able to join the Death Eater Youth if display enough talent and intelligence. Harry and Josephine Evans belong to this category.
Mudbloods and Squibs (harder to estimate, ~10% still alive). Very poor living conditions and even further restrictions. Open persecution. Usually have very menial jobs if they are lucky. Otherwise can be sent to labour camps. Can never move up in societal rank. Generally removed from their parents at a young age and are not allowed to have children themselves. They can be lucky enough to live a longer life if they obey laws. No formal magical education. Not allowed wands.
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