Avian Anarchy
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling or Disney, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, magically powerful Harry. Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.
Harry stepped through the portal with Hedwig perched on his shoulder. His eyes widened in shock, as he took in the completely altered landscape, just when he felt a small tingle and noticed how his clothes were magically adjusted to the changed climate.
He found himself in a completely snowy area.
#Welcome to the North Pole.#
He looked at the owl in disbelief, when she instructed him, #Look to the right, son. The building over there is Santa's Workshop.#
'Am I stuck in a dream?' Harry wondered, as he looked around in disbelief. 'It's in the middle of summer, just a few days before my birthday in fact. Whatever Santa's Workshop is, the building is decorated as if it was Christmas,' he thought in bewilderment, just when two older people stepped out of the building.
"Welcome to Santa's Workshop on the North Pole," the man said, before he introduced them as Santa and his wife Claire.
#Santa, Claire, I brought my son. Are we welcome to stay here together?#
"Of course." The two people smiled broadly at Harry.
#Have you ever heard of Santa?# Hedwig gave him a questioning look.
"No." Harry's response came out as a whisper.
"People in Britain also call me Father Christmas."
Harry's face paled. "Father Christmas never brought me a Christmas present, because I'm not a good boy," he blurted out, readying himself to run away from the man and his wife.
"Nonsense."
#Rubbish.#
Santa seemed as angry as his mother, and Harry slowly relaxed.
"It seems your mother already took revenge on your relatives by burning down their house."
#I am sorry for doing something bad, but sorry, I am really not sorry for doing it to my horrible sister, who has abused my son for almost ten years.#
To Harry's relief, Santa and Claire informed her that it was not a problem and the Dursleys certainly deserved it.
#Santa and Claire can understand all the animals," Hedwig said to Harry. "He is something like a father to all the white animals here. I wished I was something better than an owl though.#
"You have a temper that is not fitting for an owl," Santa said, sounding slightly reproachful.
#I'd rather be a white tiger than an owl, especially when someone abuses my baby.#
'She rather sounds like a wild animal,' Harry thought in amusement, once again feeling very happy, as his mother stood up for him.
"You're a beautiful owl though." He gently caressed her head feathers, having noticed earlier that she seemed to like it.
#As a white tiger, I would be more efficient.#
"I'll help you to become a phoenix, before you go to Hogwarts with Harry," Santa promised. "Now, do you want Claire and me to become Harry's official guardians?"
#Yes please.# Hedwig nodded in apparent eagerness.
"Yes please, sir." 'He and Claire really seem nice,' Harry thought as he looked at the couple in delight, 'and they called me Harry, not Freak, just like Buckbean did earlier.'
"As we are going to be his guardian, I will assign Harry one of the guest rooms in our private quarters," Claire said, turning to the owl. "Will that be adequate?"
#Of course. Thank you very much.#
"Thank you so much," Harry echoed.
HP
Claire and Santa explained to Harry that they were not very busy during the summer months and took their time to show him to the workshop and introduce him to the elves, the reindeer and the puppies. There were many groups of animals, however, while the number of reindeer outnumbered the other animals, the number of puppies running around was overwhelming.
"They are so cute," Harry said, as he gently caressed one of the puppies' ears.
#They seem to like you, too.#
HP
Two days later was Harry's birthday. To his surprise, everyone – Santa and Claire, Hedwig, the elves and even the puppies – came around to congratulate him. 'I am eleven,' Harry thought, smiling, as he experienced his first real birthday, since he could remember.
After breakfast, Claire led him to a table, on which several colourful boxes were sitting, waiting for him to unwrap them. He received clothes, books and even a broomstick like the one he had seen children admire in a show window at Diagon Alley.
Fingering the finely crafted wood of the broomstick, he cast Hedwig a questioning look, which did not go unnoticed by Santa and his wife.
"The broom is for flying," Santa said and promised to take him out onto the grounds to fly later on.
However, the present that Harry loved most was a white puppy. He was called Paws and was as cute as any being could be. Just like all the other puppies on the North Pole, he was wearing a golden collar that was decorated with a red and green Christmas pattern.
"Paws, will you bond with Harry?" Santa asked, and the dog waggled his tail in apparent eagerness.
#I am already Harry's familiar though. Please ask the puppy if I may bond with him as well.#
'My mum is the best,' Harry thought, feeling very happy to have her as his familiar.
An instant later, he sensed a small tingle followed by the same happiness that he had felt when Hedwig bonded with him.
#Hello Paws, I am Hedwig.#
=Nice to meet you and Harry.=
"Are you both my familiars now? That's too cool." Harry looked from the owl to the puppy and back, feeling happier than he could recall having felt ever before.
"The question is," Santa said, "if you'll be allowed to bring two familiars to Hogwarts."
#He hasn't even received his Hogwarts letter.# Hedwig fluffed her feathers in apparent annoyance. #Perhaps, he should consider attending a different magical school.#
Santa remained thoughtful for a moment. "I would not recommend that. You probably know about the prophecy that makes Harry the only person able to save the magical world from Voldemort." Harry stared at the older wizard, wide-eyed, as he continued, "I believe that he is not really gone, and while the magical world needs Harry, he in turn will need to have friends in Britain's magical world, too. Therefore, he should attend Hogwarts of all schools."
After a longer conversation about Hogwarts and its headmaster, the adults agreed that Harry should pen a letter to Professor McGonagall, the deputy headmistress.
He eagerly set to work using parchment and a quill that Claire provided for him.
'Dear Professor McGonagall,
I have not received my Hogwarts letter; however, I wish to attend Hogwarts, provided that I am allowed to bring my two familiars, an owl and a dog.
Yours sincerely
Harry Potter'
"This looks horrible," he said, staring at his writing in dismay. The parchment was covered with ink blotches. "I just can't write with that thing."
"Show me." With a flick of her hand, Claire cleaned up his letter, before she exchanged the word owl with phoenix.
Harry gave Hedwig a questioning look; however, the owl merely fluffed her feathers.
"You'll see later on. Tonight, we'll head out onto the grounds and see to it," Santa said. "I still have a last birthday present for you."
'I already got more than ever before,' Harry thought in disbelief, when Santa handed him a flat, thin box.
"A wand!" Harry realised in excitement, as he stared at the light grey stick that was inside, embedded into red plush.
"Our elves made it using a feather from Hedwig, a piece of fir cone from the large, white North Fir Tree and two drops of blood each from Hedwig and Paws."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, which even intensified, when he reached for the wand and immediately felt his magic activate. The wand felt warm and comforting in his hand.
"It is an extremely powerful wand, probably even more so than the Elder Wand, and it won't work for anyone but you," Santa said. "I will show you the North Fir Tree tonight, when we go there to help your mother transform."
=His mother?=
Harry smiled. "Paws, in her former life, Hedwig was my mother," he admitted to his second familiar.
=Oh, that's cool. I don't remember anything of possibly having been alive before.= Paws gave him a puppy-dog look, causing Harry's heart to melt at the puppy's cuteness.
#You must have been alive. According to Santa, only people who sacrificed their human lives for others have the honour to be reborn as the white animals of the North Pole.#
=Still, I don't know. Most of the other puppies don't know either. There is only one, Alicia. She was a witch in the middle ages and founded a school for magical people. Does it matter who I was though?=
#No, it doesn't. It might have been hundreds of years ago after all. Too bad that I'm not able to speak with this Alicia. She might have been Helga Hufflepuff or Rovena Ravenclaw after all. If so, I'd have many questions for her.#
'It doesn't matter, but I am very happy to know that Hedwig was my mother before. She completely changed my life for the better.'
HP
At the same time, a redheaded witch stepped out of the fireplace in Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Molly." The old wizard looked at his visitor wearing a hopeful expression. "Do you perhaps know where Harry is?"
The witch's eyes narrowed in apparent anger, causing Albus to cast her a questioning look.
"He must have somehow gone to Gringotts," Molly said. "The goblins have revoked all the money that you sent us from his account over the years, even the school fees for Ronald that were paid from that account. You should see to it that you set him straight; otherwise, we won't be able to send our children to Hogwarts anymore."
Albus listened in shock, when he recalled that he had also received a letter from Gringotts, however, had merely put it aside for later reading. 'Oh no,' he thought, as he imagined all the money from his private account and that of the Order of the Phoenix being drawn back as well. Shaking his head in annoyance, he carefully tried to calm down the angry witch.
"I am sorry, Molly, but I have no idea what happened and how Harry was able to find out about Gringotts and his account there. He doesn't even have the key to his vault."
"Well, please speak with the goblins and have them remedy this situation. What does an eleven-year-old, who has been raised by muggles, know about the magical world? You're his guardian after all."
"That's true. I'll speak with the goblins later today." It was not that Albus believed that he would even have a chance to convince the goblins otherwise. However, it would at least give the redhead some time to cool down, before he would speak with her again. In the meantime, he would be able to ponder the matter in peace and quiet. 'And above all, check my own letter from the bank.'
HP
Harry thoroughly enjoyed his birthday. When he was finished unwrapping his presents and trying out his wand, which felt extremely comforting to him, Santa and Claire took him out onto the grounds flying.
As soon as he sat on his broom, he automatically took into the air and thoroughly enjoyed himself. Hedwig was flying next to him, and Santa and Claire swiftly followed.
Suddenly, a small voice penetrated his mind. 'You should at least take me with you on your broom.'
Harry looked down only to realise that Paws was sitting in the snow just by himself.
'Oh, I'm so sorry,' he told the puppy and quickly brought his broom to a landing. Taking the dog into his arms, he took into the air again.
=Just let me sit in front of you. I have paws to grip the broom, you know.=
"Oh right. Sorry Paws." Harry hesitantly allowed the puppy to slide out of his embrace and sit in front of him. To his relief, Paws seemed to love flying just as much as himself.
#You're a natural flyer,# Hedwig said, when they landed back on the ground on time for lunch.
HP
Minerva entered the headmaster's office in anger. 'Bad enough that he missed lunch, but how dare he miss the staff meeting this afternoon?' she thought. 'He should know better than to skip that, especially today, when all teachers have returned from their summer holidays.'
"Albus, where were you during the staff meeting?"
Apparently, her anger had been evident from the tone of her question, and the headmaster gave her an apologetic look.
"I am sorry, my dear. Here," he handed her a letter, "read this."
She glared at the old wizard, however, accepted the parchment and began to read.
'Professor Dumbledore,
this is to inform you that all your vaults at Gringotts have been placed in a temporary lock-down. All the money, which you have taken from Harry Potter's account in favour of your own, the Weasleys', the Dursleys' and the Order of the Phoenix's accounts has been revoked and added back to the Potter account.
You will most likely face a trial in front of the Wizengamot for unrightfully making yourself the guardian of Harry Potter among other accusations. The extent of the trial will be decided by Santa Clause, Harry Potter's new guardian.
Regards
Buckbean
Account manager of the Noble and Ancient House of Potter'
Minerva cast her old friend an incredulous look. "Is this a joke?"
"Why would that be a joke?"
Minerva let out a scoff at his incredulous expression. "Do you know who Santa Clause is?"
"No? He must somehow be related to Merlin, as his surname was Clause as well, if I remember correctly. I have no idea how Harry got to know him let alone where Harry currently is."
Minerva snorted, uncharacteristically. "Santa Clause is the equivalent to Father Christmas in the muggle world. Are you sure that this letter is authentic at all? It rather sounds like something the Weasley twins might send to you."
Albus cast her a look that expressed pure hope, before he shook his head. "No dear, they couldn't have known about the reasons for the goblins to lock my accounts."
"They what?" Minerva stared at the old wizard in shock. "It's true then? You stole money from Harry's account? Lily and James did not instruct you to become his guardian but you just decided that it was you of all people who'd know best? What in the world does 'other accusations' mean then?"
Albus mumbled something that sounded like "Greater Good", causing Minerva to snort again. Seeing him slump in his seat in apparent defeat, she swiftly crossed the room slamming the door as she left in a temper worth of the Scottish lioness she was.
'It's his own fault that I'm not going to inform him about Harry's letter,' she thought, as she transformed into her feline form and dashed away to write a response to the boy who had once been like a grandson to her.
tbc...
Thank you so much for the overwhelming reviews for the previous chapter! Please let me know what you expect from this story. As to the pairings - thank you so much for telling me your opinions. At this point, I have only decided to not pair Harry with Ginny (of course not) and probably not with Hermione either. Everything is still possible.
Next chapter: "The North Fir Tree".