Searching for Desire

By Vertically Challenged Poncho

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Harry Potter books in anyway, shape, or form.

Summary - The heir of a legend is searching for adventure. The youngest brother of seven is searching for his moment to shine. The mischievous orphan is searching for her parents.

Author's notes: The only notes I have are ones that I do not fancy stating and that is because they happen to be potential weaknesses to my story. The first being that this first chapter is fairly short, particularly in comparison to the second chapter and hopefully the rest of the chapters to come. Second, there is indeed an original character in this story. Hopefully you accept the character. Third, this is an alternate universe fic. It's not completely sugar-coated, but I will admit that it is meant to be more of a fun fic more than anything else. Oh! And I am also in the market for a beta if anyone is interested.

Harry Potter was sleeping contentedly on his four-poster bed in his scarlet clad bedroom. Being a near teenager, his body had no plans to make a conscious appearance for several more hours.

His father, on the other hand, had different ideas. James Potter was sneaking into his son's room, carrying a feather, a glass of water, and a handful of Filibuster's Wet-Start No-Heat Fireworks.

Suppressing laughter, he tickled his son's nose with the feather. Harry's nose wiggled irritably and then Harry awoke with a sneeze. Before he had time to register his surroundings, his dad had poured an entire glass of ice-cold water on his head.

While Harry was beginning to shout about waking him and soaking him with water, James set off the fireworks, which emitted very loud bangs that hurt Harry's still sensitive from sleeping ears.

"DAD!" Harry yelled, leaping from his four-poster. "I'll hex you!" James bounded down the stairs by Harry's bedroom in two leaps, but his son was right behind him –soaking wet and enraged with fury at being awoken too early.

"You can't you don't know magic and you haven't a wand!" James teased his son as the pair ran into the kitchen, where Harry's mom, Lily was cooking breakfast. Lily sighed at the spectacle of a grown man mocking his own son, and continued preparing the meal, ignoring James and Harry.

Harry groaned at his dad's comment.

"But that's all about to change." James grinned and pulled a yellow envelope from his back pocket. "Your Hogwarts letter arrived this morning."

"Give it to me!" Harry had forgotten that he was mad at his dad for waking him up, had forgotten that he was soaked from head to foot and that his ears were sore from the fireworks. Who cared about that when Harry had just received the letter he had been waiting for, for nearly eleven years?

"Now, that's not a very nice way to ask for something." James said, "Lily didn't we teach our son better?"

"I did, but you diluted him." Lily retaliated without taking her eyes off the bacon she was frying.

"Fine, fine." Harry groaned. "May I please have my Hogwarts letter oh great father?"

"There that's more like it." James smiled and handed over the letter.

Harry could literally feel the magic of the school bursting from inside the envelope. He felt excited goose pimples grow all over his body as he carefully tore open the ornate wax seal that bore a lion, a serpent, a badger, and an eagle.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"So, what's it say?" James asked his son,

"What do you think it says?" Harry responded.

"That you've been given a Ministry order not to set foot on Hogwarts grounds now or ever because you are an ugly troll," James said sarcastically, "I don't know, maybe they've changed the words since I got my letter."

"Is it just me or does Dad seem more excited about this than me?" Harry asked his mother as she set a plate of toast in front of Harry at the breakfast table.

"He's just can't wait to see somebody with the name Potter succeed at Hogwarts." Lily said coolly.

"Hey wait one minute." James exclaimed, "I was a top student, on the quidditch team, knew everyway passageway on the grounds, was sought after by every girl, and ended up with the fittest one in the place. How is that not succeeding?"

"Because," Lily said, "You announce that to everyone you meet."

James mumbled something about "not every person" as Harry and Lily hid their chuckles behind their toast.