DISCLAIMER: I make no money off this writing, Harry Potter belongs to J. , as well as other affiliates such as Scholastic Books, etc. I claim no ownership over any characters or plot that I have borrowed from the books and movies for this fanfiction.
Summary: Harry Potter grows up with the Dursleys a girl rather than a boy, Hyacinth Potter. As a girl, how will Potter's life be different? Starts Year 1, goes through entirety of Hogwarts years. Will be Tom Riddle(Voldemort)/Harry Potter, Tom Riddle(Voldemort)/Hyacinth Potter.
Hyacinth Potter had been left on the doorstep of one Number 4 Privet Drive at a tender young age. While her aunt and uncle had been blessed by the birth of their baby boy Dudley, Petunia Dursley had always wanted a little girl to primp and pamper. However, the arrival of her niece on her doorstep was unwelcome. For many reasons. As the baby grew throughout the years she never acted out, but strange things happened all around her. Small things that no one besides the Dursleys seemed to notice.
She would pop away at the last moment before a punishment and end up on the roof! Needless to say she was punished more harshly after that, and that particular freakishness had never happened again. Petunia knew that this girl had inherited her sister's freakishness, and the fact that everything else about the girl otherwise was so perfect, so pristine, it made Petunia's teeth grind.
Many girls grow up playing with Barbies, little dolls to dress up and play with. Some girls simply collect the clothing, building a fashion line for their various blonde playthings. Other girls act out elaborate dramas, creating worlds within their toys, and lives. Other girls still, abuse their toys. They cut chunks out of the Barbie's hair, throw them across rooms, hold their tiny plastic limbs over fire to watch them melt. Petunia enjoyed her neice's presence rather like the last of the girls, and as they saw from Petunia that it was acceptable, Vernon and Dudley quickly caught on and joined as well.
Hyacinth, despite the abuse she faced at the hands of her relatives, grew up quietly. This was her place and she had long since learned to take it with a grain of salt. Her mouth watered at the mere thought. Oh what she would do for some salt, for any sort of food product. She placed a hand on her small, taut stomach and grumbled, "Stop. Don't make any noise. If you wake everyone up we won't eat for days. Just... shut up."
Hyacinth Potter was small, even for someone who had just turned eleven. Her milky brown hair waved down just past her shoulders unevenly. Petunia tried every other week to cut it shorter, the dull silver scissors scraping harshly against Hyacinth's ears and the back of her neck. However it always grew back, messier with each session of scissors.
Today Hyacinth was cooking breakfast. Cooking was her very favorite chore, and she couldn't help but wonder if the Dursleys had remembered her birthday was today, and had told her to cook because they knew she liked it better than her other chores. Hyacinth had a single glaring flaw, though many would say it was a gift. She always saw the best in people, even the very worst of people.
Focused on flipping the bacon and frying the eggs, Hyacinth frowned as she heard the doorbell ring.
Vernon sneered at her, "Hurry up, girl, and get that door! Hyacinth hurried to comply, quickly plating him up his breakfast, along with Dudley's and Petunia's, and went to open the door. She eyed the purple smoothie on the counter on her way out of the kitchen, already half-consumed by Petunia. Each morning her Aunt would buy a smoothie from the local convenience store, determined to drink its healthy contents and lose weight. However, as the taste was quite awful, Hyacinth usually found the remainder thrust her way, her meal for the day. She really couldn't complain. It was more than nothing, and she had lived off of nothing for far too long, far too often over the years of her youth.
Reaching the door, she turned the knob and slowly pulled the door in, ready to greet the guest. When she did she found herself staring at an enormous cloud of black puffy clothing. She looked up, green eyes meeting onyx and she shook herself. Where were her manners? She would be getting it later if Aunt Petunia found out she was just standing there like a dunce. "Hello, sir. Might I ask who you are?"
The man looked irritated and scowled at her, "My name is Professor Snape, master of potions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I am here to speak with Miss Hyacinth Potter."
Hyacinth had to put a hand over her mouth to stop her laughter from bubbling up. Was this man crazy or something? He was here to speak with her? She didn't know anyone! And what was this about a school of wizardry? Clearly insane. Clearing her throat she immediately began to recite in an almost bored tone what she had been forced to rehearse to say, "I'm sorry sir, but no one lives here by that name. Would you now please kindly depart from this doorstep?"
She moved to close the door but a swift hand stopped it and a large black-shoed foot thrust itself into the doorway. The man loomed over her, taking step after step until he was in the house. "S-sir?"
The dour man pushed past her and made his way toward the kitchen and Hyacinth's eyes widened behind her long bangs. No, no, no!
The man had already made it into the next room and was staring at her relatives with something akin to disgust. Aunt Petunia's fork had stopped midair on its way to her mouth and she began to sputter quite ridiculously, "Wh-wh-what are y-you doing here, Snape?"
"Why Tuney," sneered the man, "I'm surprised you recognize me after all these years." He pointed a wooden stick at her, "Where is the girl?"
Her aunt's eyes flickered to her form and back to the man, saying nothing, alarm wide in her eyes. Why was she so afraid of a guy with a branch?
The man, Snape she supposed, looked at her and his mouth set in a firm line. "You? Potter?"
Hyacinth swallowed and nodded. Who was this man?
"As I said, I am Professor Snape of Hogwarts school, and I am here to accompany Miss Potter to pick up her things for the next schoolyear."
She dearly regretted it the moment she opened her mouth but she whispered, "Excuse me, sir. That can't be right. You see, I don't go to school. Let alone go to this Hogwhatsit school. I'm sorry, sir."
Snape's eyes widened for a moment before he straightened his cuffs. "I see. I understand now, completely." His words sounded like ice as he sent a glare toward her aunt and uncle.
Vernon's face had become a deep purple and he shouted out suddenly, "Just take her then. Get her out of our house, you can have her!"
The dark-eyed man's face contorted into a cruel smile, "Yes, yes I will take her." He began to stride out of the kitchen, calling over his shoulder, "School will start on September 1st, and end in late June." He tossed a glare back at her, "You, Potter, come."
Unable to comprehend what was happening but not wanting to disobey an order from anyone, Hyacinth hastened to follow, her tattered flip flops slapping between the hot pavement outside and her feet.
The man stopped abruptly halfway down the street, looking around quickly before turning to her. "Take my arm." He held his arm out slightly and Hyacinth's small fingers wound around it slowly.
"Okay," she responded slowly. "Thank you for coming to get me." She was about to say that she'd only been off the property once before, to take the bus to the library to learn to read. She had been gone all day and when she had returned her Aunt and Uncle had been furious. Her Aunt had backhanded her before her Uncle dragged her off for a more severe punishment. Hyacinth's back straightened slightly, feeling the slight scars flex as she did so. She didn't want anyone to know what those people had done to her. Instead she asked, "Where are we going?"
She heard, "Diagon Alley," before she felt a tugging sensation and suddenly she was being pulled every which way before everything stopped, and she heard the chatter of people and saw large robes and pointy hats everywhere. She felt the abrupt need to vomit but held it in, swallowing it back down, the sludge burning her throat. She gave her professor a strained smile, "Did we just teleport here?"
The man scoffed. "Hardly. We apparated, or rather I apparated and carried you side-along with me. Most people vomit the first time. Come."
She kept hold of his arm as he led her through the bustling alley. His muscles felt tense under her slight touch but she thought little of it. He seemed a stiff man in general. "Are all these people magical? Or are there any that aren't?"
"There are probably some muggle here with their muggle-born children. Otherwise no, they are all witches and wizards." Professor Snape seemed exasperated already so she fought back the urge to ask about muggle and muggle-borns. She assumed muggles were people without magic, considering the context.
Professor Snape led her to the end of the street and they entered a large white building with funny little creatures running around inside. He didn't turn to look to her as he said quietly, "Goblins run Gringotts, the main bank of wizarding England."
She nodded, "I understand. But sir, I haven't got any money for any things. Is there some sort of trust set up for those attending Hog... Hogwhatsit?"
They arrived at the largest desk at the back center of the large atrium and Snape replied quickly, "Hogwarts. You do have money, Potter, and we are here to collect some." Sshe looked up at him doubtfully but he merely handed over a small key to the goblin peering down at them from his high desk. "Miss Potter would like to visit her vault. Here is her key."
The goblin looked over the key and then Hyacinth herself appraisingly before nodding once. "Follow me."
They proceeded past him and through a door, into a large cavern, stepping into a small rusty looking cart. As soon as they had all sat down the cart took off at an alarming speed. Professor Snape and the goblin, Griphook the name on the desk plate had said, looked quite bored, but Hyacinth leaned forward with glee. She had never been allowed to the amusement park that Dudley talked so animatedly about, but she rather imagined this was what a roller coaster was like. As they screeched to a halt before a large vault door, Hyacinth took Professor Snape's hand to get out, and she threw a large smile at Griphook, "That was great, Griphook, sir!"
The goblin sneered in response, but Hyacinth was far too pleased to care. He unlocked her vault and Hyacinth entered, stumbling as she took in the vast wealth that lay before her. She saw gold everywhere. Mostly there were coins, but there was also a variety of jewelry, and some books that looked to be about the Potter family history. "Are these gold coins worth much, sir?" She turned to Professor Snape who explained the monetary system and the transfer between wizarding and muggle currency. Hyacinth took a few handfulls worth of the gold coins and stuck them in the pockets of her too large shorts, an old pair of Dudley's that barely remained on her hips with the weight of the gold filling them. She would look through the rest of her possessions in the vault at another time.
Next they stopped at the trunk store and she picked out a lovely plain grey rucksack that hung over her shoulders weightlessly. It had an extension charm inside, so she would be able to fit all her school things. After that they went to buy potions ingredients and her cauldron. She asked Professor Snape for advice on what would be best, and he seemed pleased that she had asked about the subject he taught. She decided she rather like seeing the dour man pleased. She resolved to do her very best in potions. They shopped for school robes, Hyacinth refusing to be fitted, asking simply for a standard size that would fit a first-year female. Finally they went to get her wand. Her professor steered her towards Olivanders and she felt a cool breeze the moment she stepped inside.
"Ah yes, Miss Potter. I wondered when we would be seeing you," An old, soft voice came from behind the counter.
Hyacinth nodded, "Hello, sir. Mister Olivander I presume?"
The man nodded back, "Yes, yes, that's right. In for a wand are you? I remember your mother and father coming in to buy their first wands like it was yesterday. Yes, very fine wands indeed." He smiled to himself sagely and Hyacinth couldn't help but feel as though he had just paid her parents a great compliment.
"Thank you, sir. Yes, I need a wand. I... I'm starting Hogwarts this fall, you see." Hyacinth's fingers twitched at her side, itching to be doing something, anything.
Olivander began to bring out wands and give them to her. She was unsure at first, giving the wands a little swoosh and feeling nothing at all. Wand after wand began to pile up and Hyacinth began to sweat. Perhaps she wasn't a witch after all. What if she didn't have magic?
Olivander merely smiled wider with every wand that didn't work until he came back with a dark box. He opened it to reveal a plain looking wand delicately placed on black velvet, "This one is holly and phoenix feather, 11". Give it a wave."
Hyacinth took it and did so, feeling a rush of heat that made her toes curl. A small display of fireworks shot out the tip of the wand and she knew that she had finally found her wand. She looked up at Olivander with a smile, only to frown when she saw his fascinated expression.
"Curious. Very curious. I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss Potter. The phoenix that gave his tail feather for your wand gave another. Just one other. The wand in question, gave you that scar." His eyes flickered up to her forehead where the mark could be seen slightly, through her long bangs.
"Er, thank you sir. Here you go." She handed the man his seven galleon fee and hurried out of the store, eager to hit the final stop on their adventure through the alley.
Professor Snape let her take his arm again, stiffening slightly under her touch. "The only stop that remains is the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. It should be quick. I have some brewing to do upon my return to the school soon."
"Excuse me, sir. I know I'm taking up what I'm sure is your very valuable time, but would it be all right if I browsed the shelves for two minutes while I find my books. I promise I won't be a second longer." The girl's fingers toyed with the hem of her too-long shirt. Her voice barely above a whisper, she looked up at the man through long lashes nervously.
"Two minutes, Miss Potter, and not a second longer." The threat was clear in his voice. She didn't want to know what he would do if she took any longer so she didn't.
His eyes followed her as she quickly assembled her school books and began pulling other books off the shelf from various areas, counting in her head. Sure that it had almost been two minutes, she grabbed her stack and met Professor Snape by the register. Both he and the man behind the register, Tilger his name tag said, eyed her stack warily before her purchases were rung up.
Tilger swept a hand over his bald head before he went through her choices and began tallying up her total, "Ah, all the first year books of course, good luck in Howarts. Oh I see you have quite the variety of interests, Miss Potter. Bonham's Healing Basics, Traditional Customs for the Picturesque Pureblood, as well as Household Charms for the Charming Host? Fascinating choices."
She flushed under the attention and paid for her books before placing them inside her new rucksack and thanking him.
Professor Snape stopped her as they left the bookstore. He appeared to hesitate before grinding out, "You will be staying with your relatives again until the start of term. I believe you can find your way back from the end of the drive if we apparate back? Keep in mind that it is exceedingly illegal to use magic outside of school." She nodded and he handed her her train ticket.
"Thank you, sir. I looked forward to learning much under your tutelage." She gave him a small smile.
The man made no outward reaction to her response save a single eyebrow raising as if to say, "We shall see." He let her take his arm once more and with a sharp CRACK they were back at the end of Privet Drive.
Hyacinth waved goodbye to him as she walked away and made her way back down Privet Drive. No doubt her Aunt and Uncle would be furious with her when she returned.
She opened the front door carefully, making sure all of her belongings were securely fastened inside her rucksack before she made a mad dash for her cupboard, furiously shoving the bag under her already lumpy mattress. With any luck, they would have no idea it was there. These things were her proof that the day had been real, that she belonged somewhere other than here, with these people.
She sat and waited for the inevitable.
Vernon returned from work soon after, muttering under his breath to himself before greeting his wife. Petunia whispered quickly to him, though Hyacinth had trouble hearing much, "That girl... back... cupboard... surely..."
It went quiet and Hyacinth let out the shaky breath she'd been holding in. Suddenly, the cupboard door flew open and a large, meaty hand grabbed her wrist roughly, pulling her out of the cramped area.
She was pushed on to the cold, dirt-speckled linoleum floor of the kitchen and felt her hair being pulled back, fingers tangled in her thick brown wavy locks, holding her up.
"That other freak isn't here now, eh? Were you too freaky even for that lot?" She heard her Uncle's gleeful voice as he pulled her head around using her hair. Her scalp felt like it would separate from her skull at any moment and Hyacinth couldn't help the frightened whimper the feeling illicited. Her hair suddenly released, the rest of her body fell to the floor unceremoniously, fingers gripping unsuccessfully at the dirty floor beneath her.
"That's the best place for you, there. On the floor. Beneath the rest of us. You'll clean the floor like you should've done today while you were out. Then you'll go to the cupboard without dinner, where you'll stay until you're told otherwise." Here her Uncle laughed, "You'll be lucky if you get anything at all to eat in the next few days, girl. Now get cleaning!" The floor shook slightly as the beast retreated to the comfort of the living room to engage in "family time" with his wife and son.
Hyacinth pushed herself up, one hand rubbing her tender head. She quickly got to scrubbing the floor, leaving only a clean white in her path, the laughter coming from the TV in the other room a dull roar, determined to not leave a single speck of dirt that could cause a harsher punishment than this. She was surprised this was all she had to deal with. Perhaps now that the Dursleys knew that she had learned she was a witch they were... scared of her? Hyacinth frowned. She didn't think anyone would ever be as scared of her as she was of her Uncle.
The girl-who-lived didn't sleep at all that night. Once her relataives had gone to bed, she had been alone in her cupboard with a small flashlight, burried deep in the knowledge of the books she had bought. Her favorite by far was Bonham's Healing Basics. The book went over the basics of anatomy, and then proceeded to give examples of which charms were used to heal certain ailments and why, as well as the need for potions over spells in some cases, and vice versa in others. She wondered if healing would be a class at Hogwarts. By the look of her required texts, it wasn't likely. She sighed happily nontheless. Magic was real, she would soon be leaving the Dursleys for months on end, that was all that mattered.