DISCLAIMER:
Some kind reviews have pointed out how "racist" this story is. I don't necessarily disagree, though the term probably isn't correct. Have you guys never read a dystopian future novel? A novel which the setting starts out in a terrible place? What exactly did you think when the summary said "a much more brutal wizarding world?" There have been two chapters, less than 10k words total, if you cannot stomach something you disagree with for less than two chapters then I am not sorry to see you go.
...
"Remember what I told you about this year, Harry. It could help make or break you. The Potters have many enemies and they will jump on us if given the chance. You'd be fine, like always. It would be your sister, Euphemia, who suffers the most. I doubt you want a repeat of Flora's first year any more than I do" James told his son as he held him in his strong gaze.
"Oh leave the poor boy be. He's heard it enough from you James. Now say goodbye to your daughters." Andromeda said before pulling Harry away.
"Please be careful, Harry. I know we've shoveled a lot of responsibility onto you..." Andromeda said as she looked at her eldest son sadly.
"It's okay mum, I don't mind. I would want to protect them regardless." Harry replied honestly.
Andromeda swooned as she embraced her son. "Oh Harry..." she whispered.
"Don't forget about yourself though. Perhaps there's a girl or two who will make you a happy man?" Andromeda teased with a smirk as she pulled away to look at her son.
"Like Angelina?" Harry asked with a smirk of his own.
The smile dropped from Andromeda's face and her lips pursed in displeasure. "Oh don't remind me of that... girl... She's smart to be sure. But us Potters know what we're worth. That's why your father married me." Andromeda said before casting a glance back towards her husband.
Andromeda sighed as she watched her husband lecture her second son who seemed all too eager to listen.
"Please watch out for Jack as well. He won't like it but I'm still asking you. He's getting a little headstrong and arrogant under his father's tutelage." Andromeda said before stepping away from Harry.
Harry nodded simply, he already had plans for his brother.
"Thank you, Harry, we'll see each other for Christmas at the latest. Now I better go save your brother before his father puts any foolish ideas in his head." Andromeda said before returning to her family.
Harry watched his family from a distance for a few moments before realizing something. Where was Flora?
The question didn't take long to be answered.
"Can we leave, brother?" Flora asked.
"You don't wish to say goodbye to mum and dad?" Harry asked his sister with a questioning gaze.
Flora sighed in boredom before responding. "We'll see each other again, won't we?" She asked in response, not bothering to return his gaze.
"I suppose. Very well," Harry relented.
Harry kept his eyes on his mother to get her attention as the pair walked off. Andromeda nodded before smiling a strained smile to show she had seen them leaving.
"So are you sitting with your loving, dear, older brother... or with your smelly little boy friends?" Harry asked, attempting a joke.
Flora didn't look back at him. "Just because they're boys doesn't mean they smell. And with them, I think." She answered calmly.
Harry tried not to let his disappointment show. He had hoped she might be a little abashed at her brother's teasing. But no, not so much as a blush.
A pang of guilt stopped Harry from feeling annoyed at his younger sister.
"Well… I think they smell." Harry defended demurely.
He couldn't even get a response out of Flora that time.
Flora stopped in the train's aisle before turning to stare at her brother. "Well, here I am." She said, glancing at a compartment filled with her usual acquaintances.
"Okay I'll leave you be. Please help Euphemia if you can or tell me if you can't. You'll hear things Jack and I won't." Harry asked his sister with a serious tone.
Flora nodded, clearly still bored.
"Okay well… The same goes for you, Flora. I'll always help you." Harry told her awkwardly.
There was a spark of something in Flora's eyes and she opened her mouth to speak. No words came out as she clearly thought better of it. She nodded once more before pushing into the compartment.
Harry sighed quietly before walking further into the train. Harry had hoped, for a moment there, that she might scream at him. But the moment was gone as quick as it came.
Harry pushed down his feelings as he made his way to the prefect's compartments.
...
Harry gazed up at Headmaster Dumbledore in mild interest. The opening feast was always the most boring. School didn't really begin until the day after so nothing ever happened.
"As always, we are blessed by new faces. Some of you were born into our world... some of you were born outside of it. Hogwarts, of course, welcomes all of you. To our older students, I ask you to please be courteous and helpful to this year's class of first years. Now let the feast begin!" Dumbledore exclaimed loudly before clapping his hands.
Almost like magic, food appeared across every table.
Harry eagerly began eating. He was hungry and would have a long night.
He gazed down the table to his youngest sister who of course ended up in Gryffindor. Potters had been Gryffindors for as long as the house had been around.
"Oh don't worry, Potter. No one will mess with your sister, not after last time." Hector Fawley said absentmindedly while he eyed a juicy looking chicken breast.
It only took a moment before Hector's eyes to go dazed. He looked up at Harry guiltily. "Sorry... I-"
"Don't worry about it, Hector. But I'm not worried. Euphemia knows how to take care of herself." Harry said calmly despite his clenched hands hidden below the table.
"If anything, Hector, you should be more worried about me stealing your food." Lyra Black said, relieving any leftover tension.
Like a hawk she swooped in and stole the chicken breast that Hector had been so entranced by.
Harry sent a thankful glance in her direction which she pretended not to notice.
"Alright. Tonight, I'll take my sister's group. Angelina, you're in charge of the rest." Harry ordered his prefects after they had eaten.
"Hector and Percy, you're on patrol tonight, sorry guys but until the rest of the prefects are chosen it's just us. We can only hope it doesn't drag on too long like last year." Harry continued a little bitterly. He really hoped it wouldn't be like last year.
A disappointed Hector and Percy nodded their heads slowly.
"And me?" Lyra asked with a wide smile when Harry made no move to continue.
"I'm so glad you asked," Harry said looking up at her with an even larger smile.
Lyra's smile started to fade. "No..." she whined.
Harry nodded his head. "Yes," he said.
Lyra's smile was gone at that point. "No..." she whined even more passionately.
"You were so eager to help just now, Lyra. I thought you wanted to help me out." Harry reminded her before shooting a confused glance around the table.
The rest of the prefects were chuckling at Lyra's suffering.
Lyra glanced around at her supposed "friends." None of them moved to help her so she slumped in her spot and whispered her assent.
"What was that?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Okay! I'll do it! Happy?!" Lyra erupted, furious.
"Thank you, Lyra," Harry said sincerely.
The feast was dismissed soon after leaving Harry and his prefects to lead the first years to Gryffindor tower.
Harry let the first years look around in amazement for a few moments after they had entered the Gryffindor common room.
Only a few moments though, there was class the following day.
"Pure-bloods, follow me. Half-bloods with Angelina Johnson right here." Harry said before pointing to the dark skinned witch standing behind him.
Harry made to leave but was stopped by a particularly ugly first year. "Excuse me, but what about us… Muggle-borns?" The girl asked awkwardly. He had clearly never used the term before.
Harry smirked at the young witch, this was always his favorite part. "Yes? What about you?" He asked patiently. There were some snickers from around him.
The young witch's face reddened at the attention. "Where... where do you want us to go?" She continued.
Harry's brows furrowed in confusion before he tilted his head. "Go? I don't understand..." he asked innocently.
"Oh just explain it already, Harry. You've had your fun." Angelina said, taking pity on the mud-bloods.
Harry looked back at Angelina in confusion before his face morphed into recognition. He looked back at the brave first year with a friendly smile. "Right! I always forget that you Muggle-Borns simply don't know." He said mockingly.
"In Gryffindor house, only those with pure blood have a dorm. Half-bloods have beds lent to them from the school. Muggle Borns don't have either." Harry explained, his friendly smile never slipping.
Another first year spoke up, this time a boy. "But... but that's not fair! We're wizards just like you!" He exclaimed.
"You're Wizards. But you're not like us." A first year student spoke up from the group now surrounding Harry. The First years had already sorted themselves.
The pure-bloods had grouped behind Harry and the half-bloods behind Angelina. Now they were obviously getting in on the action.
"So where are we supposed to sleep? Our stuff?!" The boy exclaimed, his face bright red from both embarrassment and anger.
"Sleep on the floor... in the hallway... anywhere you can find, I don't care. Except of course the couches and other furniture. There will be punishment if you're caught using them to sleep." Harry said, his smile having slipped off as he looked into each first year's eyes.
"As for your… stuff? It's been confiscated by the school. As Muggle-Borns you're not entitled to have… stuff." Harry explained, his friendly smile having returned.
There were shocked gasps from many of the muggle-born first years. No one else in the room reacted.
"You... you can't do that! That's our stuff!" A furious boy with blonde hair shrieked.
"It's not me doing it. It's just how it is" Harry replied with a smirk.
"Give me my stuff! I want to go home! The lady who came to my house mentioned none of this!" A girl with puffy cheeks and dirty blonde hair ordered furiously.
"Home? This is your home now. You will live here for the next seven years of your life. You should feel grateful for the opportunity that has been so generously granted to you! Don't be angry, rejoice! For you're joining our supreme magical society!" Harry exclaimed, excited.
"Fear not! Those of you who truly wish to join us, the strongest and most intelligent of you, will be recognized!" Harry explained happily.
"What?! No! I-" many of the first year Muggle-Borns began chattering and complaining but were easily quieted by a simple silencing spell.
"Now! Where were we? Oh right. I apologize for holding up the tour. Angelina, please take your group to their beds." Harry ordered.
"Keep up, please!" Harry exclaimed as he saw some of his first years making animal faces at the still silently screaming Muggle-Borns.
"There will be plenty of time for that, I assure you, dear little firsties." Harry conceded as he saw some of the forlorn looking pure-bloods.
Harry's excited smile slipped as he started marching towards the pure-blood first year dorms. He had seen it happen every year and it no longer excited him.
"Now, of course being the pure-bloods we all are, we have the best rooms in Gryffindor at our disposal. Our rooms are the closest to the entrance and common area. Each dorm has its own shower. They are of course not co-ed like the half-bloods dorms. You have 24/7 access to the best training rooms. If they are in use by someone of a lower station you may, of course, kick them out." Harry started explaining the rundown of Gryffindor house to the pure-bloods.
It was more of a formality, Harry was certain they all already knew what he was telling them. He had known it all when he was a first year.
"You'll attend class with all your fellow wizards and witches tomorrow. There are eight classes per day. Three after breakfast and five after lunch. You're expected to attend each class though there are more available for the more ambitious of you." Harry said before pushing the door open to the first year pure-blood's rooms.
Harry watched the first year's stream into the room, each looking around amazed yet doing their best to hide it.
"Half-bloods are limited to eight classes a day. Muggle-Borns can take no more than four. What they choose is up to them, so long as it's approved for them. Of course they'll also have their mandatory Muggle-born safety classes. However, you all have access to Hogwarts full course catalog." Harry explained as he too looked around and reminisced about his first year.
"Breakfast is served from 5:30 to 9:00am. Your first class starts at 8:00am. Please be conscientious of your fellow first years. Remember that they cannot eat until you do. First year half-bloods cannot begin eating until two first year pure-bloods begin eating. Once that happens all half-bloods are free to eat. Once eight half-bloods have begun eating, one Muggle-born can eat." Harry explained the system with a smirk.
It was easy to understand and even easier to abuse.
The system, like every other one in the school, had already been explained to the now attentive kids. That was evident by the looks on all their faces. They were just waiting to try it out...
"Now I don't want to receive any complaint about this system being abused. I will be forced to assign punishment if I do." Harry threatened once again as a matter of formality.
The only ones in the school allowed to present complaints to prefects or the Headboy were pure-bloods or other prefects. A pure-blood could be bribed into presenting a complaint. But obviously, that would not work in such a case.
No one would tell on themself.
If a Muggle-born or half-blood somehow managed to become a prefect they would know making such a complaint would not end well. If Angelina presented such a complaint to him, regardless of their relationship, she would suffer.
Hogwarts houses normally had very little direct influence on each other which left only one other option. Another year pure-blood could submit a complaint. But that, not surprisingly, had never happened for one simple reason.
They didn't care.
"Now, I'll leave you all to get settled in. You may converse, if you wish, but remember a prefect will be back. He or she will be tired so I wouldn't upset him If I were you." Harry said, leaning away from the doorway he had been watching the firsties from.
With a meaningful look at his sister, who nodded her head in understanding, he left.
Friendships, groups, and enemies were often drawn as early as the first night. During Harry's first year, he had made an enemy as soon as the train set off. By the time Harry arrived at Gryffindor tower, he had already been challenged.
Of course, he had been well prepared and groomed. Just as his youngest sibling had been.
She would do fine, Harry told himself. But his heart still beat with worry as he thought of his youngest sister. She was the goofiest of all the Potter children. Probably a result from being the youngest and most spoiled.
"How'd it go?" Angelina asked as he entered the prefect's room.
"Wonderful. All of them are foaming from the mouth already." Harry replied sarcastically.
"Even your sister?" She returned with a smirk.
"Of course not her," Harry snapped.
"What about you? Anyone we should be worried about?" He quickly followed up and asked.
Angelina sighed as she flicked her hair. "Always business, Harry... You've alone with a beautiful girl and you won't so much as blush." She said annoyed.
Harry smirked as he came closer to her and took her hand. "It takes more than that to make me blush. You know that, Angelina," Harry said with a suggestive tone.
Angelina's face flushed bright red and she began sputtering out nonsense. Harry easily let go of her hand and took a step back.
"So? Anyone we should be worried about?" He once again pressed.
Being head boy had more responsibility than simply handing out detentions and managing the prefects...
"Uh... no I- no I uh don't think so. It's too soon to tell." Angelina stuttered out, her face still bright red.
Harry sighed inwardly, the first day and especially the night was the easiest to tell. It only got harder with every day that passed by.
"Perhaps... there is ample time to watch them I suppose," Harry relented all the same.
"I can't believe you stuck me with the mud-bloods, Potter! Angelina would've been much more suited for the job." Lyra Black exclaimed, completely furious, as she entered the room.
"The correct term is Muggle-Borns I believe" Harry replied simply, dismissing his cousin's complaints.
"Oh who cares. What they're called doesn't change what they are! You're still mad at me, that's why you stuck me with them, right?" Lyra accused.
Harry smirked. "You think I would stick you with the Muggle-Borns because I was mad over a silly summer prank?" Harry asked calmly.
Angelina and Lyra looked at each other for a moment. In complete synchronization they looked back at Harry and nodded their heads. "Yes, that's exactly what you would do," Angelina said with complete certainty.
Harry scoffed, looking offended back and forth between his cousin and girlfriend.
Harry thought for a moment before smiling. "Perhaps you're right. I may still be a little irritated at you for putting magically enraged bees in my bed. Just a bit." Harry admitted.
Lyra smiled in satisfaction and opened her mouth to gloat. Angelina just looked a little worried. "On that note, thanks for reminding me, dear cousin. You shall be managing the first year Muggle-Borns. Can't have them embarrassing us in front of the other houses." Harry said, his smirk turning into an evil grin as he watched his cousin.
"What?! No please! I already apologized! I'm sorry Harry!" Lyra begged. Angelina felt a ghost of a smile form at the other girl's misfortune. A smile that did not go unnoticed.
"Of course since you two already seem to be in such agreement Angelina will manage them with you. It is a big job. Thank you for being so willing." Harry ordered while trying to hold back his laugh.
The smile on Angelina's face seemed to slowly transfer to Lyra. "Yes! Thank you Harry!"
Harry had assigned both of them the task rather than just Lyra out of pity. If it were only her she would have to do it alone. But with Johnson, Lyra could easily push most of the work and the headache off into the half-blood.
"I'm going to bed before this night gets even worse." Angelina said grumpily before heading to the door.
"Don't forget to check in on the first years, Angie!" Lyra shouted just before the door closed.
Lyra fell back on the couch in a heap of giggles.
"Thank you Harry. I knew you still cared," Lyra said once she had calmed down.
Harry nodded his head once, keeping his eyes closed. He couldn't go to bed yet, nor did he want to, so he was just relaxing, as was his right.
"So when are you breaking up with her?" Lyra asked after a moment.
Harry shrugged as he opened his eyes to look at Lyra. No time to relax…
"Who says I am?" He returned.
Lyra snorted as she sat up on the couch. "Your parents would love to hear you say that, no doubt." She said as she briefly looked around the room.
"She's beautiful and is a good lay, besides it's not like I have to marry her," Harry ignored Lyra's comment.
"If that's all you need, you could simply come to me. Just like when we were children, remember?" Lyra asked with a smirk.
"I wish I didn't," Harry grumbled, embarrassed.
Lyra let out a short chuckle before standing up.
"I'm going to bed too. Don't stay up too long, Harry. You need your rest." Lyra said, coming over to stand beside Harry.
She looked at Harry seriously and put her hand on his shoulder, "besides, the offer is always open." She said, squeezing his shoulder as she walked by.
Harry waited patiently as the minutes slowly passed by. He waited for the other year's prefects to be chosen and present themselves to him. The sixth years took the longest… just like last year. Damn them. At least they hadn't taken as long as last year. Clearly they learned their lesson. The fifth years usually took the longest to select their prefects. But this year, they had been rather quick. At 11:00pm Harry's brother along with three of his friends walked in confidently. Usually the fifth years took until at least midnight. Though with Harry's own brother being a fifth year it was to be expected.
A disheveled looking Fred and George Weasley made their way into the Gryffindor Prefect room at just past midnight.
"Where's the other two?" Harry asked as the twins made to leave.
"Still being decided, we're sorry it's taking so long." The twins apologized before leaving.
Harry sighed as he leaned back in his chair. They're sorry it's taking so long? Harry snorted at the possibility of that being true. Last year, Fred and George's year had taken two whole days to come to him with their prefects. Of course they themselves hadn't been prefects last year.
It would be a unique year, Harry had no doubt if that.
The twins as prefects? He had not seen that coming. Though he really should have, he supposed.
Usually, once someone became a prefect they were secure until graduation. Unless the Headboyship or Headgirlship was transferred to another house. But Gryffindor had managed to hold the Headboyship secure since his father's time.
However, not only one but two, perhaps even four prefects had been overthrown in the sixth year. Sixth year was definitely one Harry had to keep his eyes on. This year especially.
Harry graduated this year and everyone knew it. He had been Headboy since his fourth year and in his absence, a power vacuum would be left. If Harry didn't want his siblings' lives to be miserable he had to make sure it was his brother who became Headboy after him. He had to make sure his youngest sister could get her year under control.
Not only that, he had to make sure his brother could keep the headboyship in Gryffindor at all.
Where being prefect was relatively secure, being Headboy was not.
Prefects only real job was to help keep the Headboy or Headgirl in their respective house. Their only real direct threat was internal and from their own year.
A Headboy, however, had everyone to fear. Theoretically anyone, in any year, in any house, with any status, could become headboy. Headboy, theoretically, always had at least two houses united in their desire of taking the job. The third House usually shared that ambition but hid it in an equal desire for peace and status quo.
Headboy staying in Gryffindor was more important than his brother being Headboy. So if Harry wasn't convinced his brother could do it, he would find someone else. Harry knew he had no problem doing that. Jack undoubtedly knew that as well
His siblings would be fine, Jack with or without being Headboy would still be a prefect. His sisters had the skills to become prefects on their own. It would simply be... harder.
Of course, Harry's successor wasn't the only important thing to watch for this year.
The Triwizard tournament…
It was being hosted at Hogwarts this year. It would bring chaos and chaos would bring change. The last time it had been held was five years ago at Beauxbatons.
Five years ago was when the Headgirlship had been transferred from Ravenclaw to Slytherin. Slytherin had managed to hold onto it ever since.
Much to Harry's great displeasure.
Perhaps the Triwizard tournament wasn't a bad thing for Harry. Perhaps it was exactly what he needed.
If he managed to take the Headgirlship from Slytherin, Gryffindor would have an iron grip on the school. Not only that but his sisters could, if not this year, when they were older, become Headgirl.
The last time a house managed to take both Headgirl and Headboy was Slytherin in 1899. Slytherin, under the lead of Dumbledore took the Headgirlship from Hufflepuff during the Triwizard tournament.
The circumstances were almost the same perfectly and if Harry didn't succeed then it would never happen. At least not for Gryffindor and not for decades.
After Dumbledore graduated that same year, Slytherin went on to dominate the school for another four decades. With two Head-students and 24 prefects no one could do anything against them.
Of course, when there are no external threats, internal ones form. Slytherin managed to keep their cracks hidden for as long as they could but in the mid forties they exploded.
It was another decade before Slytherin managed to take a head-student job back.
Harry swore to himself as he tiredly walked through the halls. He swore that he would follow in Dumbledore's footsteps. He would create a grip so strong, so powerful, that it would never break.
It was nearing 1:30am. Those bastards in sixth year sure took their time. Though at least they hadn't taken days… They had learned from their punishment it seemed.
Harry's mind desperately wanted to sleep. But his heart and... other areas, had a different idea.
Finally, Harry stopped outside one of the prefect dorm rooms.
Harry knocked twice. "Hello?" He asked quietly.
Harry waited for many moments in silence. He sighed and turned around preparing to leave.
The door clicked open. "Harry? What time is it? You sure took your time." The voice said before pulling Harry into the room.