Disclaimer by Author: Please note this is a work of fiction. A work of fantasy, and any and all similarities to cannon should be considered Joe's property, not mine. Me, I'm just a tad bitter. Whatever isn't mine, which isn't much, belongs to their proper owners. You know who you are. On with the story!
The Real Harry Potter
Alternate Sorcerer's Stone
By Zodiac Phoenix
(Original Cannon Material by J. K. Rowling)
- - Prologue - -
Sirius Black paced the halls of St. Mugo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, waiting almost feverishly for word of his son's health. It had been nearly a month. One entire month in which Sirius kept expecting the worst. Even Albus's so called 'words of comfort' didn't allay his fears. All this, Sirius thought angerily, for a stupid prophesy. Sirius Black never put much stock into Fate. He believed he was in control of his own life. No force on Earth would tell him what to do. He would do what he wished, when he wished. Damned if you try to stop him.
"Padfoot, you're going to wear a path in that marble, my friend…" James smirked, gently coddling his son to his chest.
"Well, Prongs, I'm sorry…But try and understand why I'm up to my ears with worry…" Sirius snapped, growling as a saw a pair of people walking towards them. He felt his hand itch as he lowered it to his waist, letting his finger curl around the warm wooden handle of his ten and a half inch ebony wand with a dragon's heartstring within. He didn't care what anyone else said, he was itching to curse the hook nosed, greasy haired man who accompanied the pale mauve robed Albus Dumbledore, easily distinguished by his silver hair, sparkling blue eyes, and slightly crooked nose. Sirius almost wished he could break the man's nose a third time, not that he was responsible for the first two. But he really wished he could. It would serve the old goat right to know how he felt, to feel his anger right now.
"And, boys…I see your son has become the picture of health, James…" Albus said, stooping a little to look into the bundle of blankets which James held. He smiled up at Albus, his hazel brown eyes looking down with Albus' sapphire blue into a pair of innocent emerald greens. An unusual shade for a child. Especially for a Potter, but then, Lily Evans Potter was a new addition to the prestigious ancient and noble family of pure blooded witches and wizards who commonly married muggle born and half blood. They didn't have Sirius' mothers' contorted views on blood. To the Potters, if you were good enough for the parents, you were good enough for the family. It wasn't by chance that James had fallen for Lily. His father liked to remind him that the boy had fallen for his wife the moment that they had 'bumped' into each other at Diagon Alley.
Well, James smirked. Bumped isn't the proper term. More like ran right into each other at Flourish and Blotts. Lily still had a slight dent in her head she liked to jokingly show anyone that James had caused. Since they had gotten together at the end of their seventh year, they had been nearly as inseparable as James and Sirius, virtual brothers. Remus, sitting beside the bench, his drawn face smiling up at Albus, was buried in a newspaper. The hook nosed man looked past everyone in the hall to the door that Sirius was practically wearing a path in front of. Albus, seeing his concentrated look, smiled to the man.
"He'll be fine, Severus…You needn't worry."
Severus Snape curled his lip, growling at Sirius.
"I am not worried about the child…Rather his choice in parents…" he said in a waspish voice. Sirius immediately stopped, drawing his wand. Remus was up like a lightning bolt, wrestling Sirius' wand from his grasp.
"This is no dignified way for an Auror to act!" Remus was saying over Sirius' very childish protests. James finally swatted Sirius across the back of his head and shook his own.
"The two of you both stop, you're making Harry cry!" He said loudly. It was true. When they had stopped their childish wrestling match, they could hear Harry screaming and crying, Albus trying to get him to calm down without casting a calming charm on the small child.
"Who made my son cry?" Asked a wearied voice.
"He did!" Remus and Sirius siad, pointing fingers at each other as Lily Evans Potter wearily walked over and took her son, smiling gratefully to Albus as she gently shushed her crying child, who seemed to be exactly where he wanted to be, clinging to Lily's hospital robes.
"You shouldn't be out of bed, dear…" James sighed, hooking an arm about her waist and slowly drawing her back to her room.
"I want to see how Evelyn is doing…" She protested weakly.
"You're in luck…" Albus smiled, looking at the door as it opened. A man with a drawn expression stepped out, closing the door quietly behind himself.
"Auror Black?" he asked, seeing Sirius jump to attention. "Your son should be fine…" he siad. Sirius seemed to relax, falling into Remus' hold a bit too quickly.
"What's the hold up, Healer Dresdner?" Sirius asked.
"There were…" He looked a bit pained. "Complications…with the delivery. We are looking your son and wife over now."
Sirius colored as Snape gave him a look of deep loathing.
"If we can, can we see the child?" Albus asked, turning up his twinkling gaze.
"If you really insist, but I must ask you allow the Medi-witches to do their work properly." He said, stepping back and admitting them in.
Two things were evident. There was some bustling, and the two cots were filled. In one lay a woman with long raven locks, her face drawn in strain as she seemed near death. The other was a small child, his face blue as the Medi-witches were doing something to his chest, were a bleeding flap of skin had been pulled back, and spells were occasionally aimed at a slowly beating heart.
"What are they doing?" Sirius growled, having to be restrained once again by Remus, whose surprisingly strong grasp kept him in check.
"Just let them work, Padfoot!" Remus hissed.
"Let me go, Moony, or you'll be joining my son!" Sirius said, struggling to get free.
"Your son is fine, Sirius…" A man with a thick Scottish accent said, sitting in a chair beside the woman, who slumped and was gently prompted against pillows. The man was holding her hand.
"Hello, Montgomery…" Sirius said, shoving Remus away finally and flushing. "I didn't know you were here."
"I wish to be present for my grand son's birth, Sirius…Don't be so hasty to jump in and fight for him…He has his father's strength." He smiled, nodding to the Medi-witches, who were sowing the flap shut with what looked like needle and string.
"What's wrong with a simple healing spell?" Sirius demanded. It seemed barbaric to him.
"If we used magic on him now, it would still his heart…" One said. She had long burgundy brown hair that nearly swept the floor. She had the same blue eyes as Albus, and she was speaking quietly with the old man who seemed to nod before turning to Snape. He had a quite word, before the man quickly departed, his robes billowing behind him as he moved quickly to leave.
"Where's Snivelly going?" Sirius asked.
"I require a potion only a man like he can make…" The woman said. "He is a potions master, no?" She asked, arching a delicate brown eyebrow.
"Yes…" Lily nodded. "I think he stayed behind to apprentice under Slughorn…" She whispered.
"Precisely…" Albus smiled. "Perhaps a certain red haired woman would care to teach Charms…I am sure Fillius would like to go abroad for a while…" He smiled. Lily blushed.
"I wouldn't mind, but I have Harry to look after…" She said, bouncing her child.
"How is the boy, Miss Potter?" The woman asked, sweeping over, her hair trailing behind her like an ethereal cape of some sort.
"Sirius…" A weak voice whispered. Sirius drew over to Evelyn.
"Yes, Evie…" he whispered. "I'm here…"
"Where…is…Severus?" She whispered, struggling to sit up. "Where is my son?"
"Right here, Miss Prince…" the brown haired witch gestured to the opposite bed, where a very pale child was being closely watched by a pair of young witches.
"How is he?" She whispered.
"He'll be fine…" She smiled. "I was afraid his heart wouldn't restart after it had stopped a few minutes after birth, but…." She glanced at the child. "I believe he shall be fine now…"
Evelyn smiled, nodding and curling against Sirius.
"Where is my cousin?" She whispered. "Has he gone already?"
"Gone to brew some potion in his bat cave, no doubt…" Sirius whispered. Evelyn smiled, shaking her head softly.
"You should leave it be, Sirius. Severus and I have parted from each other…" She whispered.
"Really?" He arched an eyebrow. "Why were you just asking for him just then?" He asked softly.
Her face became paler, and she looked away. He sighed, cupping her cheek and kissing it.
"I still love you, Evelyn…Always remember that…" Sirius whispered. He glanced at the wall, where a clock was positioned just over the doorway. "I have to get going, I'm needed for some work at the Ministry."
She nodded, bidding him goodbye as he and James left, Albus taking the vacant seat as Lily was led back to her room. The boy, who she had yet to name, was now struggling and crying, his large silver eyes looking up into Evelyn's dark ones, smiling down at him as she tickled is face.
"Welcome to the world…Galahad…" She whispered, kissing her son before laying back and holding on to him. She fell asleep, holding her son.
Albus had a quiet conversation with Montgomery. They both knew that within this sanctuary the one whom the prophesy spoke of was resting, asleep for the time being. And sometime, sometime soon, he would make his strike. What they didn't know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was who it might be…
Lily was just tucking in Harry when a loud crash from below startled her.
She held her breathe, fearing the worse, and wasn't disappointed.
"LILY!" James' voice was filled with fear, but determination could also be heard. "LILY! Take Harry! ITS HIM! HE'S HERE!"
She gathered her son into her arms as the sounds of a fierce duel downstairs shook the house. She curled around her son, crying and whimpering as it all became deathly quiet.
She could hear footsteps on the stairs. Her wand shook badly as she pointed it at the door.
"You in there, Lily?" A snake like hiss came. She felt her heart stop as Voldemort's red eye peered at her from the door crack. It narrowed and the door swung open. He smiled as cruelly as possible as he faked knocking.
"Anyone home?" He asked, walking towards her. She set Harry down, shielding him with her body.
"Please…" She whimpered. "Please, not Harry…" She begged. "I'll give you anything. Just please not Harry!"
"Stand aside, Lily…You don't need to die tonight…" Voldemort said, trying to point his wand around Lily, but she was shielding her son to effectively.
"Please…Tom…" She sobbed, tears rolling down her porcelain white cheeks, splotched red with fear. "Please…Have mercy…"
"Stand aside, you silly girl!" Voldemort nearly barked, lowering his wand so that it was level with her chest.
"Please…Not him…Not Harry…Have mercy…" She sobbed.
Voldemort's face twisted into a hideous mask of hatred.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" He hissed, and a jet of brilliant green light struck Lily.
Her scream echoed eerily into the night, her eyes glowing with something that he couldn't identify, nor did he care. He stepped over her inert body, and smiled just as cruelly at the crying baby, who was making feeble gropes to where Lily lay.
"This is the last I shall ever have to hear of you ever again," He hissed. He drew himself up, and leveled his wand out. This will satisfy the Prophesy.
But what if he isn't The One? A nagging voice in the rear of Lord Voldemort's voice spoke up. It was a long bitter road to become the immortal king, and he had never heard that voice. Not since he had left school. He squashed it out as he opened his mouth one last time.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" He screamed, his high pitched laughter turning into on of freight as the bolt of brilliant green that had slammed into little Harry Potter's forehead suddenly came rebounding back, and struck him directly into the chest.
"WHAT IS THIS MAGIC?" He screamed, falling to the ground as a powerful built up in his body caused him extreme pain. It was worse than what he knew he inflicted on his followers. It was so intense, he felt himself sliding out of his body. As he looked down, his body exploded, leaving behind a sort of gaseous form wavering in the sudden burst of intense magic. He noticed a flicker of power surround the baby boy as the house shook. He screamed to himself, but no one could hear him. He rose into the ceiling, appearing in the night sky as he soared upwards, heading ever east…
Peter Pettigrew, known to his once friends as Wormtail, blinked back the tears as he heard a great explosion and screams. Somehow it had turned out wrong. He didn't know why, but he knew that it was somehow wrong. His master was not there. He could feel his mark burning with an intense pain he never thought possible. He could only imagine the way Lucius was reacting to it, since the man was supposed to be hosting a 'social function' at his home. He must be writhing on the ground like everyone else. As he regained his senses, Peter saw something inside the house catch fire. He smiled to himself. Whatever had happened, Potter would die. One way or the other. He fled, holding his arm as it burned with an intense after pain. He needed to escape. He needed protection. He headed for Lucius Malfoy's house…
Sirius felt his knees give out as he arrived at Godric's Hollow. The house was burning. Someone had destroyed the wards. He rushed inside, covering his face as he looked around. He saw James and felt his throat constrict.
"LILY!" He yelled with his mouth covered. He rushed up the burning staircase, casting a quick flame freezing charm. The room was an intense blaze, but for some odd reason, Lily was laying within a zone of complete safety. He spotted Harry and felt his throat constrict again, tighter this time.
"No…" he sobbed, falling to his knees as he scooped Harry out of harms way. "This wasn't supposed to have happened…"
He heard someone shouting outside and he rushed out of the house, batting the flames eating away at his robes.
"Hagrid!" he jumped as he ran into the half giant. The man looked down at him suspiciously.
"What happened?" He demanded.
"No time, Hagrid…I have to get Harry away from here." Sirius explained, heading for his big. A giant, trash can lid sized hand landed on his shoulder and Hagrid dragged him away from his flying motorbike.
"Dumbledore said that the boy comes with me! He's going to go live with his aunt and uncle!" Hagrid growled, dragging up by his collar.
"Fine!" Sirius gasped. "Here…Take him!" He thrust the child at the man's unexpected chest. "Don't you dare let anything happen to him, Hagrid…Or so help me, they'll be another giant massacre…" He growled.
When Hagrid's face darkened, Sirius took out his wand.
"Go!" He yelled. "Take my bike!"
"Where are you going?" He demanded.
"I have to check on someone!" He stammered. Before Hagrid could stop him, he turned in place, vanishing in thin air. Hagrid sighed, glancing behind him at the gathering crowd. The Ministry would take care of them. He got onto the bike, it grew to accommodate his girth. He kicked the bike into life and took off, heading north, than west.
News spread like wild fire. Despite Ministry protest, word had leaked out. He Who Must Not Be Named was gone. Defeated. By a little baby boy. Harry Potter. Lily and James Potter were dead. Another set of names to add to the long list of posthumous Order of Merlin's. But just as that day started off on a high note, it ended with a sad one.
Sirius Black, a long suspected sympathizer to the Dark Wizarding Community, was arrested the day after the murders of Lily and James Potter. He was cornered in a London street by brave little Peter Pettigrew, who shouted for the whole street to hear, accusing Sirius of the Potter's deaths. Sirius then destroyed half the street, killing Pettigrew in the process.
Well. If you wish to believe that, that was the official story, told by senior member of the Magical Law Enforcement squad, Cornelius Fudge. He, with the then head of the Wizengomet, Bartemius Crouch, sentenced Black to a life time cell in the permanent ward of Azkaban Island Prison. Unjust, one might say, but for the supposed deaths of Lily and James Potter, twelve innocence Muggles, and the death of little Peter Pettigrew, no seemed to wish to contest the facts surrounding his imprisonment.
Black was quickly labeled Voldemort's second in command, a title that would not be lightly removed.
But even so, that night, strange and wonderful things occurred all about Britain. Indeed, the entire Wizarding world seemed to celebrate that very day. They each raised their goblets. To Harry Potter. Boy Who Lived.
Half a world away, Evelyn Prince was playing with her son, little Galahad. Light of her life. Her world. Her small universe revolved solely around him. And he was currently chasing a toy griffon Sirius had charmed to be like the real thing. Not that he had ever seen the real thing. She snorted to herself at the thought of how Sirius would react to such a magnificent beast.
Probably cup his manhood and run like a girl instead of standing up and trying to tame the poor thing, she sighed. She didn't like it when her husband had suddenly up and left her. But then she had read the news this morning and she felt tears of pain, anger, remorse, and even guilt run down her face. She didn't know how. How could he? He didn't. Couldn't. He loved them both too much. But he seemed to have. He had betrayed not only her and Galahad, but Lily and James. Even Harry, who had somehow survived the Killing Curse.
"How are you feeling?" A soft voice asked as a red mug appeared before her slowly dissolving vision. She took it, thanking her grand father thickly before drinking down the contents. Galahad was resting too, though one might think it was more comical. He was bent almost double over the squirming toy, smiling in a way that reminded her painfully of Sirius. She felt tears threaten to break through, and she drained the goblet, feeling the potion Monty had mixed within flood her system.
"Thanks…" She sighed, reaching out and dragging her giggling boy to her chest. Her heart bled. And Galahad seemed to only mend for it.
"Do you want some time alone?" Montgomery asked, sitting down beside her, reaching out to mess up the small raven locks that reminded her of a certain bespectacled, hazel eyed young man from her own past.
She sighed, shaking her head.
"I'm fine. Can I get another of your world famous teas?" She asked, smiling as the man chuckled and summoned the teapot from the top of the cupboard. It, and the tray it was set on, landed silently on the coffee table. He refilled her cup.
"To Harry Potter!" He smiled.
She nodded, draining it down as her son soon fell asleep against her, his face only troubled by whatever strange dreams plagued the poor child at night.