Cold green eyes looked at him dispassionately and Albus Dumbledore decided right then and there that Lily and Harry Potter would never have any reason to ever be angry with him as he couldn't stand the eyes that were looking at him. Dumbledore was in desperate need of help this year as the Ministry was trying to interfere with Hogwarts due to their blind refusal that young Harry could have been telling the truth about the Dark Lord's return. If they had been willing to supply a competent teacher that would have tried to push the ministry's beliefs onto his students, he would have been easier with it. However, his spies, and spies was really such a strong word, had discovered that Cornelius was going to push Madam Umbridge onto them and that was one of the worst that the ministry had to offer. "Please Alan," Dumbledore said, "I need your help."
"Why Dumbledore? Why would I help you? I have always made my displeasure for Britain known despite the fact that my family lives here and I rarely even set foot in this country. It is only because of the respect that my family holds for you that I even agreed to come see you. So convince me why I would want to be here?"
Dumbledore sighed, it was so refreshing to actually be questioned, but right now it was just a pain. "You know what your brother saw at the end of last year and I hope that you believe him. Even if you don't have an opinion, the ministry does and they believe him and me to be a raving lunatic. They also plan on sticking one of their own into the defense position and I am terrified at the damage they would do to the students' education just to try and discredit myself and your brother. I am simply asking you to teach for a year at the most to prevent sabotage of the student's education, especially your sister."
Green eyes flashed in anger at the mention of his sister, "That was a low blow Albus and you know it." While the old man did look a little repentant, the young man knew he wouldn't care if he agreed to teach. Truthfully, it wasn't a bad idea as he hadn't found his calling just yet. He had his defense mastery, but what to do with it was the posed question. He had considered teaching and since he was going to be given almost free reign, it wouldn't be a bad idea. But, he wouldn't give in so easily.
"Fine, I'll take the stupid position that apparently is cursed. But, I want a few things first." The Headmaster grew a little nervous at what the young man would want since he knew the young man wasn't a material person. "Oh please old man, I'm not going to ask for everyone's first born, but I do want complete control in what goes on in my classroom. I'm teaching to international standards, not your ignorant British lesson plans. I also have a teaching assistant that I need you to sign off on and for you to ignore the last name associated with her as it will be Potter by the end of the year if I have it my way."
"Yet I need her last name for the school's budget. After all, if she's going to be your teaching assistant, she will need to be paid. I congratulate you by the way."
"Carrow, her name is Alyss Carrow," The newly revealed Potter said with a bit of a sigh, knowing what was coming next and dreading it all the same. He knew his parents were going to give him the same speech, but honestly he couldn't care.
"Are you sure about her Alan? Voldemort is back and she would be prime recruiting material for the dark lord."
"And what do you base that fact of life on?" Alan asked. "Is it that she ran away when she was ten because she was sick and tired of being tortured for her parent's amusement? Is it that she's a renowned Hit Wizard for the States and Australia? How about the fact that if it wasn't for me, she would be the youngest ever to have her mastery in Defense Against the Dark Arts? Maybe it has to do with the fact that they tried to recruit her a little over two weeks ago and thanks to me and her there are five less Death Eater bigots in the world and her parents need a few new limbs? So yes Albus, I am sure about my fiancé," The young man snorted in derision.
"You killed? What about second chances Alan? Where is your compassion?"
Alan Potter looked at the elderly gentleman that had been over at the Potter house quite often when he was younger and had his parents singing Dumbledore's praises constantly, like he was absolutely mental. "They were on their second chance Albus, or did you forget the first time Voldemort rose? No, if they rejoined their master and put on the mask once again, they deserve no mercy or quarter. Now, does my fiancé go on the books, or do you get your ministry stooge? I can easily teach my sister outside this drafty castle and maybe get it through my brother's head that he actually has to try if he has a self-proclaimed Dark Lord after him."
Albus Dumbledore sighed as he nodded his head in resignation. There was really no choice if he wanted his students to learn this year and if they were in the castle, he could at least have them watched and perhaps guide the eldest Potter child back to the light. Perhaps he could interest the Delacour girl in the Arithmancy position. Those two would make a powerful couple and have the French in support. "Yes, she will be allowed into the castle as your teacher's assistant."
"Very well then Albus, I will see you September 1st. Now I have a party to attend and have to go pick up Alyss before anything else."
-Potter-
Harry pressed against his Firebolt, quaffle safely tucked into his arm and rolled as Sirius tried to obtain the red ball. Passing it to his dad, who had been just a few feet behind him, his team shot past the opposition and scored another goal. With a loud whoop of excitement, Harry celebrated with his dad in their monthly Quidditch game, although this time there was almost enough for an actual team as he and Neville had plenty of friends over for their joint birthday party. "Dinner's ready!" Lily Potter called from the back porch as she and Molly had spent the last hour and a half preparing the versatile feast that now resided on the outdoor table.
With a cheer, Harry once again pushed forward on his broom, this time far outstripping his opponents and landed just in front of his mother, ready to dig in. He was a growing boy after all and food was food. Everyone gathered around and the two birthday boys and god-brothers sat at the table just next to each other in honor of their birthdays. Just as everyone was about to dig in, the flare of green light attracted everybody's attention from the corner of their eyes.
"That's strange, there is two people coming through, but one of them didn't even register with the wards." Discretely, everybody palmed their wands and prepared for the unknown individuals to come through the doors, no one willing to take a chance after the events just under two months ago. Well, all but Caladium, Lily and James' youngest child and only daughter, who had used her brain to connect the dots and squealed in excitement as she leapt out of her chair and ran inside to greet the guests.
"Cala, get back here," Lily called after her daughter, but did not move to intercept the young girl, perhaps not thinking about it. The next thing that everyone heard was a thud and a sharp intake of breath that made everyone clench their wands tighter, but still no one moved.
"Well hello their little flower, did you miss me?" One of the new individuals asked and now confusion was evident on everyone's face. Caladium's answer was muffled, but apparently a little funny as the male laughed. "Well Cala, I'd like you to meet my fiancé Alyss."
"Oh my gosh!" Cala's brown eyes, the only one who had inherited James' coloring, widened and she turned to look at the beautiful red haired woman next to her brother. "I always wanted a big sister and you are so gorgeous!"
Alyss Carrow laughed, glad that at least Alan's younger sister and his favorite family member liked her for now. "And you my dear," She said as she accepted the hug from the eleven year old red head, "Are much cuter than Alan ever told me. I have a feeling we are going to get along swimmingly."
Lily had heard the name that the woman had said and gasped. "It seems mum finally realized who I was." Lily rushed into the reception room and didn't pause before she wrapped her eldest in a tight hug, glad that he had come home for a visit and on his brother's birthday as well. Usually Alan simply sent a gift and returned two weeks before Hogwarts started to visit with the family. Occasionally he would come home for a major holiday, but it was always up in the air for when he came home.
Alan and his parents had a good relationship, all three of them agreed it could be better and was not as good as his younger siblings, but the arguments between them were legendary to those that knew the Potters well. While the set of parents were firmly of the mindset that Albus Dumbledore could do no wrong and Britain was the epitome of what society had to offer. Alan however, disagreed at an early age and somehow got into contact with foreign schools from around the world. When he was eight, just a few months before Caladium was born, Alan received an invite from a school in the U.S. and after many arguments, somehow Lily and James were convinced by the eight year old to let him go. Both parents wrongly assuming that when he was eleven the boy would beg them to allow him to transfer into Hogwarts. Alan began constantly pointing out the flaws of Britain's magical community and how they were basically the laughing stock and the what not to do examples of the rest of the world. When Alan turned sixteen, just a year before he would earn his Defense Mastery, he stopped coming home for every holiday and instead started his yearly visits right before school started.
"Oh," Lily said, squeezing the life out of her eldest, "It is so good to see you home. And for an actual party!"
Alan simply shrugged as his mother let go of her death grip, "I had a bit of business in the country and I couldn't purposefully miss my brother's party, especially not with everything that's happening." By now the rest of the party was trickling into the room and many were confused by the appearance of the new couple.
"Alan!" James cried with a wide grin on his face and crushed his boy with a hug similar to Lily's, "It's so good to see you."
"Hey dad," Alan replied, hugging his old man back. When they separated, Alan caught sight of Harry and raised an eyebrow, "What, to cool to give your favorite brother a hug?"
Harry grinned ruefully before launching himself at Alan. They weren't as close as the Weasley brothers were, many arguments had been traded between him with his parents and honorary uncles against Alan, but there's a bond between siblings that always connects even if they want to tear each other's throats out.
"Alan," The two other Marauders greeted the oldest son of their best friend. The relationship between the two gentlemen and the Potter heir were tense to say the least and the effort was made only for James and Lily on both sides.
"Sirius, Remus," Alan nodded to the two. "I see you still haven't taken my advice and met with the tribes in Australia, have you Remus?" On his travels, Alan had met some of the aborigine tribes in the Land Down Under who had come up with a ritual to combine the man's and beast's mind of any were creature and make them harmless when they were forced to change. The British Ministry of course declared it dark and Remus was loathed to go against an organization that had already made his life hell multiple times.
"No," Remus sighed.
Alan snorted, "Well you should have, otherwise I wouldn't have been begged to take the position for the upcoming year."
Silence descended on the family before Cala was once again the first to react as she squealed in excitement while hugging her brother. "Oh this is so exciting! My big brother is teaching this year!"
"As is my fiancé," He smiled at his little sister. This reminded everyone that there was another in the room and Harry could admit his older brother had good tastes. It seemed that Potter men were attracted to red heads and her petite frame was simply stunning to behold.
"Oh, I am so sorry," Lily said as she gently hugged Alyss, "It's just we don't get to see Alan much and well…"
"It's fine Mrs. Potter, Alan warned me about this and I can't blame you at all. I tried to get this silly man to come back a few times last year, but he didn't want to and is very good at distracting me." Her grin got a bit perverted and Sirius grinned widely at that.
"Oh well thank you for trying," Lily said with James nodding behind her.
"So Alyss, what's your last name?" Remus asked trying to make conversation. However, from the way Alyss tensed and Alan moved to cover her in a protective manner, they all knew something was up. Alan spoke to his fiancé quietly before she nodded.
"Carrow. My name is Alyss Susan Carrow." Bedlam erupted as Sirius, James, and most of the Weasley males gripped their wands and pointed them at the two of them.
Alan had already pulled his wand as well and was shaking his head at everyone in front of him. Only Cala seemed to be unaffected, but she had gripped her oldest brother's arm in fear and confusion. "And just why, are you threating me and Alyss."
"Step away from her, Alan. She's a death eater!" James shouted.
"And just where did you get that idea from?" He asked calmly, though his wand was still held in a ready position.
"Her parents are Death Eaters that means she's a Death Eater as well!" Sirius answered.
Alan didn't shift, but there was a fury in his eyes that made everyone take a step back in fear. They sometimes forgot that Alan was a Defense Mastery and probably could take them all on easily. "I didn't know you all and Lucius Malfoy were so close."
This brought everyone up short and Remus was the first to venture a question, "Why would you say that Alan? You know that everyone in this room would stay well away from anybody names Malfoy."
"Oh, but why? Obviously you all judge someone based on their parents as does Lucius and his friends and attack to get your views across. Tell me, where is your mark?"
"Now listen here…" James started, but he was cut off.
"No, I don't think so. I think me and Alyss will be leaving now since I will see my siblings all this year at Hogwarts, where I expect them to blow out the competition. I will not speak to any of you, besides the idiot students that have their wand out at the moment, until I receive an apology both in writing and in person." He drew out a package and tossed it to Harry who looked as confused as his sister at the moment, "Happy Birthday Harry!" With that, Alyss and Alan exited through the fireplace leaving a stunned audience behind them.
The party was a subdued affair after Alan left and the younger brood, which included Bill and Charlie, had all congregated in the living room. "So what was all that about Harry?" Hermione asked. Unlike the rest of them she hadn't even known Harry had an older brother since he had never brought it up or seen a picture of him.
"I don't even know," Harry shook his head, "I know that Alan hasn't seen eye to eye with my parents since before Cala was born, but I guess their reaction to his fiancé wasn't great. I don't know why though."
"The Carrow's, or at least the parents, were and are in You-Know-Who's inner circle Harry," Bill Weasley said, answering the unasked question from Harry. "They're known for their depravity much like Bellatrix and Voldemort themselves."
"Oh," Harry's eyes went wide.
"I wouldn't get to close to him Harry, obviously he's evil if he's dating a Carrow. Those slimy Slytherin's can't be trusted."
A loud sound of fist meeting flesh shocked the occupants of the room as no one had even seen Caladium move, but they could see the anger in her eyes. "Don't you dare speak about my big brother like that Ron Weasley," And then she burst into tears and fled up the stairs. No one really knew what to do after that.
A/N: First chapter rewritten! For those of you who read it before, I think you'll agree this is a bit better and about twice as long as the original chapter. I don't know where I'm actually going with the story, but we'll see. I'll be picking on Ron and Hermione this story because I don't like Ron and I can relate to Hermione.
As always, reviews and suggestions are welcome and I receive many of my ideas from you guys. Until next time!