Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor do I make money off this story. I am writing this for my pure enjoyment.
Summery: What would you do if you woke up in the body of an 7 year old Harry Potter in his so called bedroom? Would you train your body to get stronger knowing what you must face? Would you try to do some wandless magic like Tom Riddle was able to do? Why shouldn't you be able to if you are the dark lords equal? Or does the idea of being a hero for the masses that see you as a means to an end or a weapon at worst not appeal to you? If you agree with the last one, this is the story for you. This story will defy Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, the wizarding public, as well as fate herself.
Nicole had just woken up in her college dorm at Columbia University. The young girl of 21 was studying law. She was not in the cozy dorm room that she had for the past three years. She was trapped in some small place. Was she kidnapped? Her family was extremely wealthy and abductions attempts were common occurrences.
Then she had noticed that she was no longer a she. She was in the body of some malnourished boy who looked like he was five at the most. After further inspection, he was in a cupboard.
Could this be Harry Potter? Nicole felt his forehead to see if the infamous scar was there. It was there in its glory almost mocking her. How did she get in this situation? She would need to come up with a plan. A plan that would give Harry Potter a better life than the one he is destined to have.
The fictional series of seven books that she secretly read was going through her mind at breakneck speed. As much as she loved the story, she believed that Harry drew the short end of the stick from birth. Or Albus Dumbledore played god with his life. Really, why would Voldemort be after the kid. This so called seer was widely believed to be a fraud. This supposed genius of a dark lord did not think that it could be a ruse or even worse a trap.
All of the supposed light side annoyed her as well. They claimed to care for Harry, yet they did nothing to help his dreadful home situation. They would only help if their precious Headmaster told them to. Except for Sirius when he was a fugitive, the lot of them could not think for themselves. Those people practically forced him into dangerous situations since no one ever believed him. Harry went and took action himself. He was raised to believe that his life was worth less than others throughout his childhood. Conditioning, seemed like a logical conclusion.
Perhaps Harry tried telling his primary school teachers about his relatives treatment and was not believed. If that happened, poor Harry had to suffer for it when he got home. Nicole did not doubt it for a minute. No one submissively does an unreasonable amount of chores without complaint. Unless, a horrendous beating is the consequence for failure.
That did not mean that she had any fond feelings towards those who were dark. They never tried to lure Harry to their side. After his horrendous life, he would have been ripe for the picking. There must be some goals the dark has that are not crazy. From the beginning, they were hateful to Harry. A Slytherin is supposed to be sly and cunning. The snakes were as transparent as a Hufflepuff in the books. Perhaps the less used characters were better. Draco's offer of friendship was the closest anyone of the dark side came to Harry in a non hostile manor, but the young blonde went about like a Weasley, hot tempered and all.
While she was thinking, Harry's aunt decided to wake her nephew up. "Up!" she screeched.
'The books don't do her voice justice.' Nicole thought with amusement.
Nicole flicked a few spiders and put on the least disgusting clothes that Harry had.
Harry's aunt was back outside the door. "Are you up yet?" she demanded.
"Nearly," said Nicole. That was something Harry would have said in her opinion. It would not do to make the woman suspicious.
"Well, get a move on, I want you to look after the bacon. And don't you dare let it burn, I want everything perfect since we are going to visit Aunt Marge after breakfast. "
Nicole groaned.
"What did you say?" his aunt snapped through the door.
"Nothing, nothing…"Aunt Marge, that would not go well.
As if she read Nicole's mind Harry's aunt continued. "There is no way you are coming with us since Marge hates you. I will leave you a list of chores that will be done when we come back in three days. If not, I will let Vernon deal with your ungratefulness. Now make us our breakfast you freak." Petunia ordered.
Fortunately for Nicole, one of their chefs were British. Chef Aaron taught her how to make a full English Breakfast when she was fourteen. While Nicole cooked for Harry's so called family, she begun some planning. She would not let herself be treated like some common Cinderella.
After the Dursley's finished their meal, Petunia handed a list of chores that would be impossible to complete. Did Harry subconsciously use magic while doing his chores? Or did Dumbledore make sure that they could be done with a spell. Nicole was even more sure that she could trust no one in this life.
Since the Dursley's would be leaving soon, Nicole went to the shed and grabbed a shovel. After an hour of tiresome work, the horrid family left her to her own devices. Nicole waited ten minutes just in case they came back.
Nicole walked into the house and prepared a proper breakfast for Harry's body. He could use all the extra nutrients that he could get.
Next, for her plan to work she needed money. Twenty pounds would be enough to get a bus pass to Charring Cross Road. Then she would find The Leaky Cauldron. The one problem she had is money. Harry has his vault, but she would not use that.
After looking in all of Vernon's and Dudley's trouser pockets, she had thirty pounds. That would be enough for the ticket, as well as a snack if she wanted one.
The one problem is that dratted lightning bolt scar. She did not believe for one moment that it was a horcrux. In her opinion, Harry survived since he was holding the resurrection stone at the time. There had to be a way to remove it. For now, she would borrow one of Dudley's Manchester United caps to cover it up when she arrived in London.
Nicole was walking outside the house when Arabella Figg stopped her from progressing. The young lady of 21 hid her rage at this woman. She knew perfectly well how Harry was treated and she did nothing. Nicole felt nothing but contempt for the squib.
"Harry, what are you doing in this weather. You should go home where it is warm." Arabella scolded.
Nicole was even more incensed than she was previously. "Aunt Petunia told me to check out a book for Dudley. He and his friends are not allowed in there."
Mrs. Figg scowled further. "OK, come back home after you get that book."
"Yes, Mrs. Figg." Nicole said in the meekest voice she could muster.
One hour later, Nicole was on the bus close to her stop. As young as she looked, she pretended to be a part of a big family that were letting their kids pay for their tickets. It was fortunate that the family was heading to London as well. Nicole slipped on her hat.
It would not do to look like a street urchin. An old boyfriend was a pick pocket. He had taught her the basics. The basics for him was still better than anyone else. That was a rebellious stage in her life with a father like hers. Her family had high expectations of her that were not realistic in her opinion. It had just occurred to her that she was free to start a new life.
Nicole was curious where the real Harry was. Knowing the Dursley's, he must have died from lack of medical care. At least he would be with his parents.
If Harry died, then the prophecy must be a fake. She always suspected that. Why she was in his body is a mystery to her. One that she would solve at a better time.
A wealthy man sitting next to her was standing up. This must be his stop. Too quick for anyone else to see, Nicole had his wallet in her overlarge clothing. Many people were getting off on this stop to see the Big Ben. They must all be tourists. Nicole liberated fifteen more wallets before she too exited the bus. It would not do to be caught stealing.
After walking a couple blocks, Harry went into a convenient stores loo. Nicole threw out the credit cards and travelers checks with a towel. It would not do to leave finger prints. She carefully gathered all the money and was impressed with her haul of 6000 pounds. That would suit her for now.
In case someone pointed out a kid with a hat, Nicole bought a bandana that was meant for those physical fitness types. Next, she found Harrods, one of her favorite stores when she had visited the British Isles. Dressed the way she was in this body, she did not think she would receive a warm welcome.
Nicole was correct if the sneers were anything to go by. How dare those wizards allow Harry to dress in rags. They should have seen to it that he had proper clothes after seeing what he had in his first year. That is very damaging to a person's self-esteem.
After explaining that he and his family lost everything in a fire, and he received these rags from a charity bin, they were extremely helpful and sympathetic. Nicole walked out with enough high end clothes to last Harry a week. It would have cost 1500 pounds, but the manager felt sorry for the little boy and sold them for half price. Apparently, that was her discount after 40 years of service. Nicole thanked the lady kindly before going to her next stop.
It was time to confirm her theory that Harry's scar is not a horcrux. After one week of researching, Dr. Gregory was the best in plastic surgery regarding scar removal. At her/his consolation, the Dr. had high hopes that the surgery would be a success. The only way she was able to get the surgery without a guardian was due to her orphan status. Nicole had bribed a dubious orphanage caretaker to plead with the surgeon to do the surgery. It had cost 500 pounds, yet the surgery was free. Nicole thought that she did well in the deal.
Nicole had also bought violet colored contacts during this time. Harry's mother was well known for her eyes. Even after the scar was removed, Harry had looked like a James Potter clone when he wore glasses. Now the resemblance was not so striking. It must be a wizarding thing since Draco looked just like his father.
Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as planned. Harry's heart stopped and it had taken five minutes to resuscitate him. After his near death, the procedure went perfectly. The Dr. and other professionals said that it was a rare reaction to anesthesia. Nicole knew it was the horcrux that had been left in Harry's scar. That was one thing that the old goat was right about. Who would have thought? This was a better way to remove it in her opinion.
If it was anything like the books and movies, a black mist must have come out of Harry's scar. It was fortunate that the medical staff were too busy keeping him alive than seeing a part of a soul of the presumed dead dark lord. The loud sounds of the medical equipment, that had become even louder when he was in trouble, must have drowned out the piercing wail of the fragment. At least she/he was free of the soul and scar now.
The sutures that the Dr. used were flesh colored and it was not noticeable. She was told that the scarring would be minimal. The sutures would dissolve. A healing potion would heal it without a trace in her opinion. The only thing about Harry's appearance that pointed to the fact that he/she was a Potter was the wild hair. That will have to be fixed as soon as possible.
Nicole was standing in front of the Leaky Cauldron for the past two hours. Due to the muggle repellant charms no one noticed her lifting their wallets. Not wanting to get caught by a wizard, she walked into the pub and asked Tom to let her in the alley.
At first he was a responsible adult not wanting to let a little kid out by himself, but she convinced him that she/he was separated from his parents who where in the alley.
That out-of-the-way, Nicole went into the loo in the ice-cream store that she forgot the name of. It would not look odd to see a little kid here. Nicole carefully removed the cash and dumped everything else in the garbage. Nicole was impressed that she had lifted 500,000 pounds in such a short time. It was a good thing that she only targeted the wealthy that had no qualms about carrying a substantial amount of cash. Knowing that she was not noticeable made it easier. If it was 5 pounds per gallon, she was carrying 100,000 Gallons.
From what she understood, that was a small fortune in the wizarding world. Some things that she knew about the future could net her an even greater fortune. It would not do to make her knowledge obvious. The goblins would not take kindly to being cheated. They would not care if her money was stolen though. As long as she didn't cheat them out of anything, they would not care. Nor would they care that she/ he was a child. They cared more for gold than legalities.
Nicole would first exchange 100,000 pounds for approximately 20,000 Gallons. The goblin tried to cheat her by offering her only 15,000 G for it. Nicole was livid. Apparently, she looked like a pampered, rich boy with a muggle background. She put up such a fuss, the offending goblin was demoted and she was offered an additional 5000 for the bad experience. Nicole handled it with grace assuring them that there was no ill will. Walking out with 25,000 G did much to improve her mood.
'I need to think of myself as a boy.' Nicole chastised herself.
The first stop Nicole made was Madam Malkins. When she asked for a black robe that did not show your face, the shop keeper paled. Wanting to kick herself for reminding the lady of the deatheaters, Nicole hurried up with an explanation that would have been true in her old life.
"Madam, there was an attempt on my life the other day. Father will not allow me to walk through the alley unless I have that robe." Nicole informed her in Harry's sweet voice.
"Oh, you poor dear. I'll work on that right away." The shopkeeper simpered.
Nicole did not have any fond feelings for this woman either. Her job was clothes. How could she not notice Harry's rags? How could she not see his malnourishment after measuring him? However, her lack of sense had allowed her the robe with no more questions asked. Before long, Nicole had the cloak on that would help with her next mission. She was going into Knockturn Alley.
A/N: I changed a few things in this chapter. For one, it would be pounds that Nicole stole, not quid. Also, I closed some plot holes that a helpful reviewer pointed out. I am now working on the next chapter. It will be out most likely later today. Due to illness, my other stories are on hold for now. It's My Life is at a point that I would need to do plenty of research. I do not have the time, energy and patience. When I am better that will change. I had this story in my head and I could not let it be unwritten. A few have taken the cupboard challenge, one person took this challenge and he did a great job with it. He also saw the manipulations in Harry's life. As much as I liked that fic, it only had 3 to 4 thousand words. I wanted more. :) My version is completely different. I know that this story is on the controversial side. I hope that the he/she's were not too annoying. It was necessary in this chapter. I am working on that problem. My OC has many great qualities, but she is also very flawed. More will be revealed about her life in upcoming chapters. No this is not based on me. Besides the name and being upset over Harry's treatment, we are nothing alike. IMO Nicole is a fun character to write. There is plenty of room for growth. In canon Harry never found out why so many dark witches and wizards were angry enough to go to war. Nicole (her name for now) will find out. At this time, she does not know what side she would pick. Or is she would even pick a side. At the moment she is neutral. This chapter may seem rushed in some areas, but I did not want to do a bunch of chapters in the muggle world. From now on it will slow down. I believe that most questions were answered in this chapter and note. Not all will be since there needs to be some surprises. Please tell me what you think so far. Your reviews will make me feel better unless it is a flame. Constructive criticism only please.