DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and related concepts belong to J.K. Rowling. The basic idea for this story belongs to Mars Raven (Phoenix Tears Type 6), though I twisted some of the ideas around to become some of my own.
SUMMARY: The summer before Harry's seventh year (and the impending showdown with Voldemort) there have been some new findings from the night in Godric's Hollow seventeen years ago. What if Harry Potter wasn't who he claimed to be?
"True Identities"
Co-written by Steph (SilentThunder086) and Beth (Reach4thestars19)
Chapter 1: The Year Begins (S)
The red engine of the Hogwarts Express gleamed in the sunlight as lots of students hurried to find a seat on board as the departure time drew closer. Seventh-year Harry Potter came through the barrier to the Muggle world with his snow owl Hedwig and his things on a trolley. This would be his last year at Hogwarts . . . it felt like almost yesterday that he was walking through that exact same barrier with his friend-to-be Ron Weasley. The two had bonded on the trip to Hogwarts and had remained best friends ever since.
"Hey, Harry! Over here!"
He looked up to the train and saw Hermione leaning out the window. She hadn't changed since he had left Platform 9 ¾ last June. He waved back with a smile and she began to motion for him to come aboard.
"Ron and I have gotten us a compartment. Come on - the train's going to be leaving soon!"
Harry handed off his trolley to be loaded onto the train. After bidding farewell to Hedwig, he walked towards the entrance of the train car, which was already beginning to get backed up with those students from Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. "One at a time," the conductor was calling, filing students in as fast as he could. As he began to move forward, he began to get jostled in the process of boarding the train.
The next thing he knew, he bumped into somebody. "Excuse me," he said turning around. He trailed off as he saw whom he bumped in to. It was a boy about his age just wearing plain black robes. He had short brown hair, green eyes, and was about Harry's height also. Transfer student, he thought. Never had any at Hogwarts before. This sorting ceremony should be rather interesting . . . He turned his attention back to the entrance but could feel a pair of eyes watching him intently. Turning his head back to the right, he saw that boy watching him.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
Now that the new student had mentioned it, Harry did get the feeling that he had met him before. The strange part was that he had no idea where he had seen his face before. "Um . . . I don't think so." Before anything else could be said, a spot at the entrance opened up and Harry managed to get aboard before he had to wait in line again.
"Hey, Harry. Where've you been? Ron was getting a bit antsy." "I was not!"
After the train had left the station, he found his friends and their compartment. He climbed in and sat across from the two.
"Sorry," he said. "I had one heck of a time getting in here."
"Its okay, Harry," Hermione said without giving him a chance to continue. "Anyway, how was your summer? Have those Dursleys been nasty to you again?"
"Actually," he began. "This summer was not that bad. I have a feeling Uncle Vernon is afraid of me now so him, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley have been staying out of my way and letting me go about my own business."
"You're kidding," Ron said with his eyes widening. He had heard all of the Dursley Horror Stories.
"No, I'm not. I figure I've learnt enough magic to get them to leave me alone."
"But Harry," Hermione said. "You know we aren't allowed to use magic outside of school . . ."
"Yea," he said with a smile. "But a few threats won't hurt a bit." He and Ron laughed as Hermione rolled her eyes. She quickly changed the subject.
"Anything else exciting happen?"
"Come to think of it," he began, "Oliver Wood got in touch with me a couple weeks ago. He said that the Puddlemere United reserve team is looking for a seeker."
"Wicked," Ron said. "Are you going to try out?"
"I might. They're sending a scout when Quidditch season starts up again."
"That's great, Harry . . ."
Hermione stopped when someone appeared at the doorway of their compartment. It was the same boy whom he had bumped into earlier. "Sorry," he said. "Thought this one was empty." He continued on his way and Hermione continued, lowering her voice.
"Poor boy," she said. "All the compartments must be filled by now." She brought her voice back up to its normal decibels and smiled. "I'm sure you'll do great, Harry, but are you sure you want to play professional Quidditch all your life?"
"I don't know. I'm going to let this happen for Wood . . . he seems to have great faith that I'll get the position and we can play on the same team again."
Further on down the hall, the boy found an empty compartment. He sat down and smiled to himself. So that is the 'infamous Harry Potter.' At least I know he's here . . . He put his feet up on the seats across from him and gazed out the window, watching the English hills go speeding by. This year is going to be interesting, he thought. Just watch . . .