Girl-Who-Lived, now Girl-Who-Died!
Was Azalea Potter who we believed her to be?
Rita Skeeter.
It is this reporter's solemn duty to inform the Wizarding World that the Azalea Lilith Potter, fourteen-year old Ravenclaw, and the one who rid us all of the nightmare that was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, has been murdered!
Who was the one that dealt the fatal blow to our world's heroine! None other than the Dark Lord himself!
You are reading correctly my loyal fans! You-Know-Who has returned from the beyond to bring chaos and destruction to our world once again!
As many of you all know through my recent reporting, the late Miss Potter was Hogwart's second Tri-Wizard Tournament Champion! Even after Victor Krum of Durmstrang; Fleur Delacour of Beaubaxtons; and Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff of Hogwarts were chosen, another name was ejected from the Goblet of Fire and so our young heroine was thrust into the dangerous world that is the Tri-Wizard Tournament!
Azalea Potter gave quite the showing through the first two tasks of the tournament. She even went as far as giving us an inside look at her love-interests when Neville Longbottom was revealed as her Yule Ball partner. However, any possible future relationship between Houses Potter and Longbottom are no longer feasible due to the events surrounding the Third task.
It has been revealed that Alastor Moody, former Auror and war-veteran, who was this years Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was in actuality a polyjuiced Death Eater! Who was this vile man that led to the death of the Girl-Who-Lived? Bartimus Crouch Junior!
Though believed to have died in Azkaban, Crouch Jr had escaped many years prior thanks to his own mother! Former Head of the DMLE, Bartimus Crouch was in fact living with the very same son that he had condemned to Azkaban nearly a decade prior.
Bartimus Crouch could not be reached at this time for a comment. It is believed that his son might've gotten his final revenge before he, himself, was given the Kiss on the orders of former Minister Cornelius Fudge.
Back to the Third task, however! Miss Potter was reported to have reached the designated cup that would declare one the victor of the tournament. She was not alone however, Hogwart's champion Cedric Diggory had reached the cup at the same time. The two, in a show of Hogwart's unity and sportsmanship, took the cup together. It was then, that the horror began.
The two champions were port-keyed to a graveyard far away. They were then accosted by Lucius Malfoy! Acting on previously given orders, Lucius Malfoy incapacitated Mr. Diggory and forced him to watch the rebirth of the Dark Lord.
Once reborn, the Dark Lord called upon his followers and the graveyard was then filled with dozens of Death Eaters. After threatening them all for their perceived abandonment of their Lord, You-Know-Who then turned on the Girl-Who-Lived. He told his followers that Azalea Lilith Potter was not the one who had defeated that night so long ago.
No! Instead it was her older, by five years, brother; Harry James Potter. Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, the same young man who has been missing from the Wizarding World since he graduated from Hogwarts. Past inquiries into the whereabouts of the Heir-Apparent of House Potter have been rebuffed time and again.
In the graveyard, the Dark Lord challenged young Azalea Potter to a duel. to "Prove he was stronger and how wrong everyone was about that night." According to reports, Miss Potter was subdued in a matter of moments after the duel began. She was then tortured with the cruciatus curse for a lengthy amount of time before the Dark Lord, without hesistation, struck her with the killing curse. The same curse that Harry Potter lived through that fateful night so long ago, ended the life of Azalea Potter.
What is going to happen to our world now? Who will stop the Dark Lord? Where is Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived?
James and Lily Potter's reactions to the death of their only daughter . Pg 5
Cedric Diggory's recount on the Horror of the Graveyard. Pg. 4
Azalea Lilith Potter Remembered. Pg 9
Harry James Potter. our Savior? Pg. 2-3
Amelia Bones, new Minister of Magic! Amos Diggory, new Head of DMLE! Pg. 10
It was several months later that the Order of Phoenix had finally tracked down the missing Heir of House Potter. It was well known to those who personally knew the Potters that there was always tension within their home when it came to the Potter Heir and the Potter parents. A smaller few were actually aware of why that was. Even now, James and Lily maintained that they did everything a parent could to make sure their children were both well taken care of.
Lord Sirius Orion Black could tell you that while it was true that James and Lily provided for both of their children, he would also be able to tell you that it wasn't until Azalea was born and Voldemort attacked due to a prophecy that the Potter parents had begun to show less emotional support to their eldest child and only son. While it could be reasoned that a baby needed more attention, that argument couldn't be applied years later when it was still Azalea who received the most attention while Harry was treated more like a cousin or guest rather than an actual part of the family.
James and Lily had never, truly, mistreated Harry. They didn't leave him wanting for food, clothing, or even money. They never scolded him for things he didn't do or do anything that would purposely make him feel that he wasn't part of the family. To an outsider, the Potters were a truly happy family.
However, despite being at least taken care of and knowing a semblance of love. The lack of attention caused the elder child to turn to another source of company. It just so happens that the company the boy kept was amongst the vast library the Potter family accrued over the generations that they had lived. Before going off to Hogwarts, Harry could usually be found visiting his paternal grandparents home more often than not. His grandfather Charlus Potter was more than happy to guide Harry through the family library. His grandmother Dorea Potter nee Black was also ecstatic to impart her views on the Wizarding World to her adoring grandson. This was also how Sirius had found himself paying more attention to Harry than Azalea or even his own friends. Sirius, through no fault of his own, was not capable of having children and had asked Harry if he would one day take on the title of Lord Black. The motivation was split between Sirius' sincere desire to name Harry his heir and to keep the title from the Malfoy's, specifically Draco Malfoy.
Despite Harry's assurances, Sirius was dismayed when his godson vanished after graduating from Hogwarts. Charlus and Dorea had both passed away before Harry's second year at Hogwarts and that had left a deep impact on the young boy. Sirius had been there for Harry as much as he could but even then the young Ravenclaw was becoming more and more distant from his family and everyone else. By Harry's fourth year, he was unquestionably the brightest and most magically powerful student within Hogwarts. Even older years were wary about antagonizing the silent prodigy. Fifth year had seen to Harry becoming a prefect. He remained at that position till his seventh year when he was made Head Boy.
By this time Harry was a well-respected person amongst the student populace, as well as the staff, of Hogwarts. He was known as being completely impartial when it came to his duties. Though it was also known that, outside his duties, Harry never took sides. He was known for placing Ronald Weasley in detention for an entire year only a month after his first year began due to the near-fatality of one Hermione Granger. Gryffindor Head of House, Minerva McGonagall had been stuck between being appalled at the punishment to being ashamed, yet she did not try to overrule the punishment. However, Dumbledore did. He wanted to let Ron go with a light punishment with the reasoning that the youngest Weasley male was only a child and was prone to mistakes.
The very next morning the entire story and Dumbledore's choice of a light punishment arrived in the form of the Daily Prophet. Letters and howlers poured in that week and finally the Headmaster relented and the punishment was once again put in place. It was a no-brainer that Ron had from then on hated Harry. It was made even worse for the boy when he tried to befriend Azalea, even if they were in opposite houses, but she immediately turned him down. It was then that many started to see the near hero-worship that the "Girl-Who-Lived" had for her brother. She was just as studious and attentive-to-detail as he was, though she struggled a bit in classes.
Sirius chuckled a bit. Azalea might've been a bit arrogant in her younger years but she didn't have a chance when it came to Harry. He had, by being himself, earned her respect and then her full attention. Whether or not she was the "Chosen One", Azalea wasn't an idiot. She wouldn't have been Sorted into Ravenclaw if she had been. She saw the way her brother treated her like anyone he knew. No preferential treatment, no platitudes, not even jealousy. Harry treated her like the little sister she was to him. He praised her when she deserved it and he scolded her when she deserved it, the latter happening more often during those years before Hogwarts.
By the time for Azalea to start her first year, her personality had changed quite a bit. She had taken to studying the books that Harry would bring home and leave laying around during the summers as well as her mother's old school books -her father having thrown his away not twenty-four hours after graduating- and was easily Ravenclaw material when it came to her Sorting. Her mother and father had been proud of her and had even encouraged her to follow in her brother's footsteps.
Sirius frowned at that. They would praise, in a round-about way, their son to their daughter, but wouldn't truly do so to Harry himself. Shaking himself from his thoughts, Sirius looked around. The Order, comprised of himself, the Potters, Remus, McGonagall, Flitwick, Hestia Jones, Alastor Moody, Sirius' cousin Nymphadora "Don't call me that!" Tonks and a few other members. They were being led across a massive field of green, white and yellow by Albus Dumbledore.
"This field is beautiful." Exclaimed Lily as she took in the sight of all the flowers in the field. There was a sort of pattern to them, Sirius thought. It was then he looked across the field to the large dome building near the tree line of the forest behind it. Along the walls on either side of the door were a row of pink.
"Azalea...' He trailed off when a number of gazes turned on him. Nodding towards the building he clarified. 'If there was any doubt that he was here, all those shrubs would put a stop to them. They're all azaleas and I'm pretty sure that's not a coincidence."
James stiffened at this and Lily choked back a sob, both no doubt thinking of how their eldest still loved his sister despite leaving her and their family behind. Albus smiled benignly and was about to, no doubt, say something that Sirius just knew he was going to become irritated about when a small pop was heard. When they realized the cause of the noise, they all looked in front of them and saw the suspicious-looking House-Elf staring back at them, it's body language easily recognizable as hostile.
"Why is yous here? Yous is disturbing Master! He is not liking you trampling his beauties!" The Order all looked about them, at their feet, before turning back to the House-Elf in confusion. Lily was the one who quickly deduced what the elf meant.
"The flowers. Right? He doesn't want us walking on the flowers?" The elf nodded tightly. before raising a hand and, before the group could say a word, snapped it's fingers. An instant later the group found themselves transported out of the field and directly in front of the door. The elf was standing on the porch and was glaring at them now.
"Yous is not making Master unhappy or Snap be forced to take actions." As one, the Order nodded or murmured their agreement, not wanting to test the patience of a defensive House Elf. While they weren't well-treated in most house homes, it was only their masters that could get away with such behavior. However, if you were not the elf's master and you tried to attack them, or their master, you would find yourself regretting your actions faster than a Snitch can fly.
The group entered the building, after Snap opened the door for them, single-file. A long hallway stretched out from the door and they moved down it. There were various types of paintings on the walls of the hall. A few of the quick-witted members instantly realized that the left-side's paintings were all, though beautiful, mundane. The right-side paintings however were all magical. They were also mostly family members of either the Potters or Blacks. Charlus and Dorea were featured near the middle, and they eyed the group silently. James had noticed that his parent's eyes passed over him as if he wasn't even there, Lily found the same reaction to her presence.
Sirius saw many a Black that he had known in the past. His father and grandfather. An uncle or aunt here or there. he had stopped in shock upon seeing his brother.
"Regulus! What are you doing here?" He managed out, which caused the group to stop it's progress.
The young man in the painting stared back before turning away.
"I once asked you a question, a long time ago, Sirius. And you turned me away. I now repay that favor." With that the man walked out of the frame.
Sirius stared wide-eyed at the empty frame, his memory quickly shoving that rainy night in front of his eyes and he felt bile in his throat. It was only a week later from that night that his brother's body turned up in the middle of Diagon Alley. Regulus had been strung up on a conjured thirteen foot metal spike. His belly had been ripped open and intestines hung out from the wound. It was a sight that Sirius had never been able to remove from his memory. The morbid thing was, he didn't truly want to. That was his penance, to always see his brother's dead body so he would never forget that he had done nothing to prevent it.
A slight tugging on his elbow brought his attention to his solemn-faced cousin. He nodded to her and the two moved back to the group as they began moving down the hall again.
It was only a few minutes that they reached the end of the hallway and entered a large circular room. Collectively, their jaws dropped at the sheer amount of books in the room. The circular room had shelves of books from the floor all the way to the ceiling. There was literally, not a single area of the room that was not covered in books. There were even piles on the floor here and there. In the center of the room, sitting upon a high-back chair that was situated atop a raised three-step stairway was none other than Harry James Potter.
He sat there reading a book that was in his lap. Black, straight hair that hung about his face down to his shoulders. Green eyes that moved slightly over the words on the current page he was reading. He was wearing a black cloak that hung over the arms of the chair. He was sitting in the proper gentleman position and, he had yet to look up at the gathered group. Deciding to take the initiative, Albus stepped forward.
"Harry.' He began, a kind smile on his face. 'We've come to visit you, to see how you have been doing since you left Hogwarts. Also, we have come to request that your return with us back to Wizarding Britain." He paused to gauge the young man's reaction and didn't have to wait long before a response came, though Harry still did not look up from his book.
"No. You did not.' He stated in a bored tone. 'You came here to request that I take Azalea's former position as the 'Chosen One'. You came here for no other reason. If that were the case, you would've appeared long before now. Perhaps when my sister was still alive."
Though a few shivered at the words used, the tone had never wavered from bored. Albus frowned as he took in the Potter Heir before him. He had expected an outburt of some kind, he had expected either anger or joy to be brought back into the fold. He did not expect to be rebuffed so casually.
"I assure you that our intentions are pure, though I will admit I hope that you would take up the fight against Lord Voldemort." Many of the Order flinched at the name of the Dark Lord. Now, Harry looked up and his green eyes seemed to flash as his gaze cut deep into Dumbledore.
"Do not call him a 'Lord'. He is not a 'Lord' of any House. He may have once had claim to House Slytherin but that has since passed via the laws of Conquest a long time ago. He is now nothing more than a half-blood playing at being above his station." With that said Harry turned back to his book, not caring to see the reactions to his words. Though a few were able to connect the dots to what Harry had revealed, it was Tonks, of all people, who blurted it out.
"You're Lord Slytherin!" Under the intense looks she got from the others of the Order, Tonks dipped her head in embarassment though she kept her eyes on Harry.
"I am, by Conquest. I am also Heir-Apparent, as you may know, to House Potter. There is also another House of which I may become Lord of." Harry, for whatever reason, did not name which House and Sirius was grateful for that, even if it wasn't necessary.
"They know already Harry. I told them after you left. I had to actually, since Draco Malfoy had been going around claiming that once I stepped down he would become the new Lord Black. Even if you weren't my heir, I'd still be Lord Black for many decades to come."
"If he was so bold as to begin proclaiming his future, supposed, Lordship, then it's not too farfetched that your health would not be guaranteed to make it through the year if Malfoy had any clue whatsoever that Riddle would be coming back. You would've been forced to step down sooner than you would've liked." Sirius paled at this, while he wasn't ignorant to not know that he was a target, he didn't think he would be actively sought out just so an immature blood-purist could take over House Black.
Dumbledore had something else on his mind after Harry's last statement.
"How do you know that name Harry?" He inquired, trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice.
Harry looked up once again and after a moment, sighed. He closed the book and tossed it to the side. A pop revealed Snap catching the book, and another pop had the elf and book vanishing.
"There is a reason I read, Albus.' Harry started, seemingly uncaring for the reproachful looks he received for calling Dumbledore by his given name. 'Since the night Riddle attacked my family, I have been curious. Any question I could think of, any thing I wanted to know. I would find it out. One of the many things I found out is the history of the supposed 'Dark Lord'. I know of his beginnings. The love potions his mother brewed. Her death. The orphanage. You arriving to bring Riddle to Hogwarts. The suspicions you had but did not act on in regards to Riddle. How he gathered a following of blood-purists. How he became Voldemort, and most importantly...how it was that I defeated him that night."
Harry stared at the shocked looks on the Order member's faces. He then turned back to Albus.
"No. I will not tell you how. I found it out myself before I graduated. If a student can do that, then so can the supposed 'greatest wizard since Merlin'. To clear the air. I also know of the prophecy. I do not know how it was that I fulfilled it, since I was obviously not born in the parameters of the prophecy and that is why I began to believe it was something else that happened that caused me to turn back the Avada Kedavra. It was somewhat startling to figure out what happened."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak but closed it again. He was speechless! Him! Albus Dumbledore! This child, for compared to Dumbledore that's what Harry was, had figured out so many of his carefully-kept secrets and then went on to figure out things that Dumbledore couldn't or simply didn't.
"Harry, please! You must tell me how it was you defeated Tom that night!" He pleaded. Harry looked at him with indifference.
"No. You caused my family to nearly fall apart thanks to your so-called prophecy. It was through your actions and Severus Snape's loose lips and hatred of James Potter that brought Riddle to our doorstep. If it was not for you, Azalea and myself would've had a normal childhood. I would still be in Britain with my family, preparing my sister for her fifth year of Hogwarts. Instead. She is dead, and now you come crawling to me to save you all."
Even though they had wished they could've thought of something to say, James and Lily were stunned into silence upon seeing their son. However, when Snape's actions were spoken of, James couldn't help it when he turned to Dumbledore with fury in his eyes.
"Is what he said true Albus! Was it Snape that ran to You-Know-Who with the prophecy? You told us that it must've been Peter, and we believed it since he had already betrayed our home as Secret Keeper! Well?" He roared.
Albus sighed as a secret he had never wanted to get out was just revealed.
"Harry, I sincerely wished you hadn't done that. Severus made a mistake and has been paying for it ever since. He has my utmost..."
"Be silent, old man." The hissed words came from the now standing, towering, Potter heir.
Harry slowly moved down the steps and came to a stop a few feet away from Dumbledore.
"This is what is going to happen Albus. You and I are going to duel outside. You and I. No seconds. No rematch. No complaints afterwards. The loser will give into the demands of the winner, no matter what they are. To the stakes clear apart from that, if you should win I will return and take up the fight against Riddle. If I should win, however, you will make a magical vow to resign from all of your positions. Headmaster, Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump. Do we have an accord?"
Albus stared down at the man that was foot shorter than him and considered what he should do.
"Look at it this way Albus. Should I lose, that just means I am not strong enough to fight Riddle and you'll be able to train me or what-have-you to be able to do so. If I win on the other hand...well you'll see."
Albus knew he was making a deal with a devil but he had no other choice. Finally he reached a hand forward and Harry instantly took it. The two nodded and then Harry turned towards the hallway and began walking out. Albus followed him silently along with everyone else.
How? How could he have so easily beaten me? And the wand...
These were Albus' thoughts while he nursed his bruised ribs with his good hand. His left was a bloody sight to behold.
A few feet in front of him, with a wand in each hand, stood Harry.
"I believe that I have, Albus. For my Conquest, I take the Elder Wand.' Harry quirked a brow at the Headmaster. 'Don't look so surprised. I told you that I am a curios person. I make it my business to know everything."
Harry then turned to the gob-smacked group. He wondered what it was like to watch your hero, the man you believed to be infallible as well as unbeatable, taken down so easily. At least, Harry made it look easy. He had his secrets, and they had no need to know how he had done what he did.
"Now, Albus. I believe it's time to state my demands.' Harry eyed the man who wore an expression of resignation on his face. 'You will resign from your positions as I have said. If Fudge had still been in office I would've allowed you to remain as Chief Warlock, unfortunately for you, he is not and there is no need for your meddling in a new system that works against corruption rather than furthers it. You shall nominate Filius Flitwick as your successor for the Headmaster position. This is no slight against you.' He had turned to Minerva who was simply staring at the preceding in shock. 'You are a fair woman, Mcgonagall. However if Hogwarts has a chance to be turned around for the better then someone of Flitwick's status is the best choice for Headmaster. Not to say he isn't qualified intellectually and magically for the position. Again, no offense is meant." Flitwick had nodded at this, he had instantly understood Harry's explanation and was okay with being a face for a new era.
"When the war is over, Albus, you will publicly announce your failings in keeping Hogwarts safe. You will announce how it was through your machinations that led Riddle to the Potter family's doorstep. You will reveal that you always had a suspicion that Riddle was never truly gone and that you planned on making Azalea some sort of heroine-martyr for the 'Greater Good'. You will apologize for all of your deceits, all of your mind-games, and for the life of Azalea Lilith Potter. You will then retire from the Wizarding World, never to return. Is this in anyway, misunderstood?"
Albus could only stare at the man before him. The words had truly just flew over him. He understood them, but he didn't hear them. Finally, he shakily rose to his feet and nodded his head.
"I understand. I will do as you have declared. So mote it be." With a flash of light, the binding spell took place.
Harry nodded as he pocketed his wands and clapped his hands once. A series of pops later, an veritable small army of House Elves appeared all around the group.
"Well then. I couldn't very well say I truly loved my sister if I didn't avenge her life. As for the rest of you. I don't care what you do as long as you don't get in my way. However, if you wish to help me then know this. I aim to kill. If you can't do the same then I'll stun you every time I see you and portkey you away. No Death Eater will survive this war, that's a promise."
Albus could only watch sadly as the majority of the Order quickly agreed to the declaration. James and Lily were at the forefront. While they kept their distance from their estranged son, knowing that it was too son for forgiveness, they hadn't wasted time in choosing their place in this war; right behind their son. Albus could never condone murder, even mercy killing was still murder in his eyes. Every life was precious, it wasn't for mere men to decide who should have it and who shouldn't. That was up to the Higher Power to decide. Albus wouldn't say anything though, he had no part in this war any longer. Fawkes had been distant for a while since the beginning of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and he believed the legendary bird would soon leave him. The Elder Wand had been championed away from him and had a new master now. Albus was no just an old man with a greater than average skill in magic.
He knew that Harry was referring to him when the man said that those who weren't going to kill were to stay out of the way. Albus supposed he was okay with that. He'd support the Order from the sidelines, doing what he could until Tom was defea...killed. He sighed.
"When did everything change?"
This is my, quickly-written, version of the Wrong Boy-Who-Lived. Not sure what else to say about it. It was just what came to me.
To go in-depth, I believe that Harry would eventually forgive his parents for whatever it is that he held against them. Like it was stated, they didn't mistreat him. They just neglected him emotionally. He was well-fed as any child should be, he was clothed and when he needed money he got it. It's my experience that when one is confronted by unpleasantness, they busy themselves with something to try to forget about it. Harry "forgets" about it in books.
To picture Harry's little hideaway, you'd have to have seen Konjiki no Gash Bell. Professor Riddle once lived in a mansion and the room he kept all his books in is what I pictured for Harry.
I'm sure I probably left a plot-hole here and there, if so, let me know.