Chosen - a Harry Potter fanfic
By Anton B. Ingibjartsson, AKA dragonwrath7
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling. I am not JK Rowling.
This story was partly influenced and inspired by the fanfic In The Words Of Ginevra Molly Potter, by TheJealousOne.
THIS STORY CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS TO ALL THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THEM AND DON'T WANT THE EXPERIENCE RUINED FOR YOU, REFRAIN FROM READING FURTHER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Chapter Four: The Path To Greatness
Thinking it would look suspicious to other witches and wizards if he just hung around the entrance to the platform, he decided to get a bite to eat. It wasn't until he reached the food stands that he realized he had no way to buy food. He couldn't exactly pay with wizard's money.
"Excuse me," said a girl's voice behind him, "do you know how to get to platform nine and three-quarters?"
Harry turned around and saw a girl with brown eyes and bushy brown hair. She was wearing a robe. Harry smiled and leaned toward her.
"How did you know I'm a wizard? If you'd asked a Muggle that question, they'd think you were touched in the head."
The girl did not bother to whisper.
"Well, it's obvious isn't it?"
When Harry did not reply, she sighed.
"Muggles don't usually keep owls as pets."
Harry looked at Hedwig in her cage. She had fallen asleep. How she managed to do that with all the noise in the station Harry didn't know.
"So do you know how to get to the platform or not?"
"Sure. You just walk straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. But the train won't be leaving for over an hour. I was going to get something to eat, but I don't have any Muggle money."
"Why not? Being alone, I thought you were Muggle-born."
Harry's smile faltered.
"Why does everyone assume that I'm Muggle-born just because I'm alone? My parents died when I was a baby."
The girl's face fell into a frown and she looked like she was about to apologize when a woman behind her spoke.
"Hermione, dear, aren't you going to introduce us to your new friend?"
"Yes, I'm sorry mom."
She turned to the woman, who stood next to a man that appeared to be her husband. Both of them were dressed in Muggle clothing.
"This is my mom, Jean, and my dad, Richard. And I'm Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger."
Harry's smile returned and he bowed politely.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Harry Potter."
Hermione's eyes went wide, though not as wide as Harry had expected.
"The Harry Potter?"
"Yes. I imagine you read about me somewhere."
"Well, yes. You're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century, but how did you know I'd read about you? I mean, I could have just heard about you somewhere."
"You know what a seer is?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well, I'm a seer. I didn't know your name, but I knew I would meet you today and that you loved reading books," Harry lied. It was a little disturbing how good a liar he'd become.
This time, Hermione's eyes went really wide, but before she could say anything, her father interrupted.
"Honey?" he said, looking at his wristwatch. "The boy's right. We still have over an hour until the train leaves. Would you like something to eat before you leave?"
"Oh. Yes, dad."
Hermione looked from her father to Harry.
"Um, dad? Can you buy something for Harry too?"
"Certainly."
Harry smiled at him.
"Really? Thanks, Mr. Granger."
A few minutes later, Harry sat down with the Grangers and took a bite from the sandwich Mr. Granger had bought for him. After only a few seconds of silence, it seemed Hermione could no longer keep her mouth shut. For about ten minutes, she rambled on and on about Hogwarts, the school houses, and professor McGonagall, who had delivered the letter to her and helped the Grangers to do Hermione's shopping.
After the outburst, Hermione excused herself and ran off to the Ladies' Room, leaving Harry alone with her parents. Mr. Granger leaned toward Harry.
"Mr. Potter, there's something I would like to ask you."
"Oh. Go ahead."
"Well, the woman who delivered Hermione's letter tried to explain this, and so did Hermione after she'd read a few of her books, but I still don't understand."
Harry slowly chewed the last of his sandwich, waiting for him to ask the question. Mr. Granger seemed unable to put his thoughts into words. Harry swallowed.
"Yes? What is it?"
"What is magic? How does it work? Is this all real?"
Harry was caught off-guard. He had not expected to find himself explaining the workings of magic to a Muggle, especially since he didn't really know that much about it himself.
"Yes," he said very seriously, "this is all real."
He cleared his throat.
"Magic is a type of energy that exists within nature and inside all living beings. All humans have it, most of them just can't use it. I don't know what decides who becomes a witch or wizard and who doesn't, but it's probably to do with blood. Very few ordinary people have magical children, and even fewer witches and wizards have non-magical children. Being a witch or wizard basically means you can harness the force of nature within you and decide where and how it is distributed."
"But you said all humans have it?" piped in Mrs. Granger.
"Yes. There are some forms of magic that are even available to Muggles. Love, for instance."
"Love?" said Mr. Granger skeptically.
"Love. It's a powerful and very mysterious form of magic. It's what saved me from certain death as a child. My mother, out of love, died to protect me. That means the man who killed her can no longer use magic to cause me any permanent harm."
The Grangers looked at each other, apparently still skeptical.
"Honestly, Mr. Granger. You have a wife and a daughter. You mean to tell me you can't see the power of love? What power drew you together? What power made it possible for Hermione to be born?"
Mr. Granger looked at him, and Harry was sure he was beginning to understand, but then Mrs. Granger spoke.
"So, could I protect Hermione the way your mother protected you?"
"Yes, though I hope you never have to. What matters is choice. My mother was given the choice to move out of the way and live, but she chose to protect me no matter what."
Harry was starting to feel pride welling up inside him, though he wasn't sure why. Lily Potter was, after all, not his real mother.
Hermione came running back and reminded them all that the train was leaving soon. They all got up and quickly made their way towards platforms nine and ten.
As they approached, Harry spotted a sea of red hair. They followed what was obviously the Weasley family toward the barrier.
"Now, what's the platform number?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Nine and three-quarters," said Harry behind her and they all turned around to see who had spoken. "Honestly, hasn't it always been nine and three-quarters?"
"And who are you?" asked one of the twins.
"Pardon me," said Harry and bowed. "Harry James Potter."
Every Weasley eye stared at him.
"The Harry Potter?" asked the other twin.
"That's me."
He indicated the Grangers, who were right behind him.
"This is Richard Granger, his wife Jean, and their daughter Hermione."
The little girl who was holding Mrs. Weasley's hand disappeared behind her.
"Oh don't be like that," said Harry smiling. When she peeked around her mother's plump body, he bowed to her and added, "it's nice to meet you."
"Well," said Mrs. Weasley, "you certainly are a gentleman, Mr. Potter."
"Only with pretty girls," he said boldly, but didn't dare look Mrs. Weasley in the eye after that statement.
The girl blushed so much her face was almost as red as her hair. She really was very pretty. Her brothers all laughed and went to shake Harry's hand and introduce themselves. Harry immediately knew he was going to have trouble remembering which twin was Fred and which was George. He'd always been horrible with names and faces.
"I'm Molly and this is Ginny," said Mrs. Weasley when the boys had finished shaking Harry's hand so much his arm felt like it was coming off.
Harry bowed again to Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley raised an eyebrow.
"Are you hitting on my daughter, Mr. Potter?"
Harry blushed slightly, but before he had the chance to say anything, Hermione interrupted.
"Oh! Oh! Harry! It's almost eleven! Hurry or we'll miss the train!"
"Right."
He looked around, and when he was sure there were no Muggles watching, he told Hermione and her parents to follow his lead. Then, pushing the trolley ahead of him, he ran straight into the barrier between platforms nine and ten, but instead of the impact the Grangers had no doubt been expecting, he simply went right through it and came out right in front of the Hogwarts Express.
Only a few minutes later, Harry, Hermione and the four Weasley boys were all aboard the train. Hermione gave a small giggle when she spotted Harry staring out the window at Ginny, who stared right back, both of them blushing. As the train left the station, he waved at Ginny and she waved back, half-laughing but with tears in her eyes.
By unspoken consent, Harry and Hermione shared a compartment. Staring out the window, he listened to her rambling about this and that regarding the platform and train she had no doubt picked up in one of her books. After a few minutes of this, the compartment door slid open and Hermione stopped talking. The youngest Weasley boy was standing in the doorway.
"Anyone sitting there? Everywhere else is full."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other and Harry could tell she didn't mind.
"Go ahead," he said. "Ronald, right?"
"Err- just Ron."
He sat down. A few seconds later, the twins came along and told them they were going to see a giant tarantula their friend had brought.
"A giant tarantula? Are you sure he's allowed to have that?"
The twins looked at Hermione.
"Who cares? It's cool!"
Hermione did not look happy with this, but the twins took off before she could retort.
"Lighten up," Harry advised her. "They're not going to be able to hide that thing when they get to Hogwarts."
Hermione looked at him.
"Was that a prediction?"
"No, it's common sense."
"Prediction?" asked Ron. "What are you talking about?"
"Harry's a seer."
"Really? A seer? Err... What's that?"
"It's a person who sometimes gets visions of the future," explained Harry.
"Wow? You can see the future?"
"Sometimes."
"Wicked."
Some time later, Ron worked up the courage to ask if Harry remembered anything about the night he got the scar, but Harry said he just remembered a lot of green light and nothing else. Both Ron and Hermione looked a little disappointed at this. At some point during their conversation, Harry mentioned Voldemort, but opted to simply call him Riddle. When the others didn't understand who Riddle was, he told them Lord Voldemort's true name was Tom Marvolo Riddle.
"But how would you know that?" asked Hermione after she and Ron flinched at the sound of Voldemort's name.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"How would you know You-Know-Who's true name? I thought seers could only see the future."
Harry hesitated to answer.
"We can only see the future."
"But then, how-"
Hermione froze.
"Y-you mean he... He isn't..."
"What?" said a very confused Ron.
"Is he... coming back?"
"Sooner or later."
This time, Ron froze too. The atmosphere in the room seemed to have grown considerably colder, and for a second Harry thought a Dementor might be about to glide into the compartment. He knew, however, that he wouldn't have to worry about Dementors until his third year at Hogwarts.
Harry leaned against the window and stared outside, imagining Ginny still running beside the train and waving at him. When he realized what his thoughts meant, he blushed a little but smiled to himself.
Well, that sure ought to make things easier.
When the witch with the lunch trolley came to their compartment, Hermione made do with a few sugar-spun quills, but Harry bought a little of everything. Ron, of course, bought nothing. As soon as the witch departed, Harry tossed a bunch of his new sweets to Ron, who protested that he'd brought sandwiches.
"Corned beef," said Harry.
"Err- what?" asked Ron, confused.
"She forgot you don't like corned beef."
Ron checked his sandwiches and found that his mother had, in fact, put corned beef on all of them. It took a little more persuading, but eventually Ron agreed to 'help' Harry eat his candy. Hermione smiled and couldn't help giggle a little.
Once Hermione had finished her quills, Harry offered her some of his candy, but instead she resumed the rambling speech she had started before Ron arrived.
It didn't take Ron long to get annoyed at her rambling and he looked like he was about to start arguing with her when the compartment door slid open and Neville Longbottom asked if they'd seen a toad. Hermione immediately got up to help him search, but Ron just wished them good luck. Harry considered helping, if only to show compassion, but realized that the news he was on the train would already have spread among the students. He didn't want people staring at him and asking him questions all day, and he told Hermione this. She agreed that Harry should stay but was quite annoyed that Ron didn't want to help. She and Neville left.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."
He indicated his rat, which was fast asleep. As Ron started trying to turn the rat yellow, Harry stared at it, trying his very best not to let his disgust show. He knew Scabbers was actually a disguised wizard; a coward named Peter Pettigrew, who had betrayed Harry's parents to Lord Voldemort. For now, however, he decided to keep this information to himself. He'd need Pettigrew around when Sirius Black, who had been convicted of Pettigrew's crimes, escaped from Azkaban prison. That rat was the only existing proof that Sirius, who happened to be Harry's godfather, was innocent.
When Ron's color-changing spell turned out to be a dud, he put his wand away and led the conversations in other directions, such as Hogwarts houses and Quidditch.
After a while, Harry suggested they change into their school robes. He and Ron each opened their trunks and pulled their robes out. They were about to change when the compartment door slid open and a familiar pale boy came inside, followed by two thickset boys that looked like bodyguards.
"Hello, Potter," said the pale Draco Malfoy. His sneer was back with a vengeance.
"What do you want?"
"I never got to introduce myself last time. These are Crabbe and Goyle, and my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron gave a small cough which hid a snigger.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles and more children than they can afford."
He turned back to Harry.
"I see you're still mixing with the wrong crowd, Potter. If you don't want to permanently scar your reputation I suggest you stick with me. My offer still stands."
"Sorry Malfoy, but I prefer 'blood traitors' and 'mudbloods' over filth like you. Get out."
Ron seemed shocked at Harry's use of words like 'mudblood', but he didn't say anything.
"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys?"
"Get out!" Harry's anger was rising.
"Careful, Potter. Wouldn't want you to go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff-raff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid and it'll rub off on you."
Harry instinctively grabbed his wand and pointed it at Malfoy, but before he could so much as utter a word, another voice sounded in the hallway. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were all thrown out of the compartment and into the one opposite. Harry, Ron, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle all looked in the hallway and saw Hermione with her wand raised. Malfoy and the other two got up and ran away without a word.
"Nice," said an awestruck Ron.
"Was that a Summoning Charm?" asked Harry. Hermione nodded.
"I've never done it before, but I couldn't stand what Malfoy was saying, and- Oh, now I'm in so much trouble!"
"No you're not," said Harry firmly. "If anyone asks, I did that."
She looked at him and Harry wasn't sure what she was feeling. Tears were flowing from her eyes. She ran into the compartment and hugged Harry.
"Oh, you mustn't! You'll get in trouble."
"Harry's right," said Ron, who had also got up. "We were going to curse them anyway. Harry already had his wand pointing at Malfoy."
"Yeah," said Harry, who was gently stroking Hermione's hair. "Let me take the blame for this one. The worst I could get is detention; they can't deduct points if the school year hasn't begun."
Hermione let go of him and Harry smiled at her.
"Now do you mind giving us some privacy to change?"
She gave a sort of chuckle and left the compartment, teary-eyed but definitely feeling better.
"Not that I don't approve," began Ron, "I mean she did get rid of Malfoy when he insulted our families and everything, but why are you doing this? I mean, she'd only get one detention or something."
"I'm doing it," answered Harry, "because she's a Muggle-born. I figure she's going to have a pretty rough time with the Slytherins, and I want to be sure she has at least one friend she can talk to. Besides, I already know she's the best student in our year. Having a friend like that can't possibly hurt."
Once they were both in their robes, the announcement sounded, telling them they were nearly at Hogwarts. Harry opened the compartment door and looked outside. A few girls were fussing over Hermione, asking why she'd been crying. Harry went to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. I overreacted a bit, didn't I?"
"A bit," said Harry and smiled at her.
The train slowed to a stop and Ron joined them as they made their way outside.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"
They followed Hagrid to the boats, which they used to sail across the lake towards Hogwarts. Harry couldn't keep his eyes off the castle. It was far more beautiful and magnificent than he could have imagined. When they got to the harbor beneath the school, Hagrid revealed he had found Neville's toad and gave it back before they ascended the stairs and reached the huge door into the castle. Hagrid knocked thee times.
A stern-looking woman opened the door. Harry immediately knew this was Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, who taught Transfiguration. Hagrid left them with her and she led them into a room next to the Great Hall, where they were to wait until the Sorting began.
So far, most everything was going as expected, but now a thought struck Harry: What if I don't get sorted into Gryffindor? That would change everything.
Don't be silly. Why wouldn't you be sorted into Gryffindor?
I don't know. Why didn't I get chosen by the phoenix wand?
Well, probably because the wand chooses the wizard. Since you aren't the same Harry as the one from the books-
Exactly! I'm not the same Harry as the one from the books! What if I'm not worthy to be put into Gryffindor?
Before he could continue his imaginary conversation, however, McGonagall returned and told them to form a line. Nervously, Harry did what he was told, and as Ron and Hermione took their places on either side of him, the look on Hermione's face told Harry she'd noticed the disappearance of his confidence. She took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. This felt a little odd coming from her, but he appreciated the gesture and returned it.
They followed McGonagall into the Great Hall, where they were closely watched by the older students. McGonagall fetched the Sorting Hat and placed it on a four-legged stool in front of them. Though he knew it would happen, it still seemed weird to Harry when a rip near the brim opened wide and a voice came out of it.
When the hat had finished its song, everyone clapped and the sorting finally began.
As McGonagall called out each name, Harry's apprehension steadily increased. It didn't help that Hermione's surname was ahead of his in the alphabet. Once she left and put the hat on, a large portion of his remaining courage left with her.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Of course she was in Gryffindor, and of course Ron would be in Gryffindor too. The only question was; where would Harry be? As the sorting continued, more and more of his courage left him. By the time he heard 'Potter, Harry', he was absolutely terrified.
With each step he took towards the stool, he felt more and more eyes following him. He sat down, McGonagall placed the hat on his head and it sank down over his eyes.
For a while, he heard nothing.
What's wrong? Why can't I hear the hat talking in my ear?
"Because I'm thinking," answered a small voice in his ear.
Harry sat quietly and tried to be calm.
"You are not who you pretend to be," said the hat at last.
Harry's heart sank and he could feel himself starting to panic. Of course the Sorting Hat would be able to tell. Why had he not thought of that?
"Do not worry. I can see that your intentions are good. You mean no harm and, in fact, are here trying to help. I will not reveal your secret."
Harry calmed down considerably.
"I see you do not want to be in Slytherin, and that you would prefer Gryffindor."
Please, thought Harry, don't put me in Slytherin. Please!
"Slytherin," said the Sorting Hat calmly, "is not the only path to greatness. Putting you in Slytherin would greatly damage your chances of completing your mission. There is, in fact, only one house here that will suit you."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Author's Notes:
This used to be chapter 5, but after combining the first two chapters into one, I had to change the number of every chapter following. I also added a tiny bit to a sentence regarding Harry's conversation with Mrs. Weasley regarding Ginny. Nothing big, though.
Well, this is my longest chapter yet. I did say in earlier notes the chapters would be getting longer the further into the story we got. And to think chapters 4 and 5 were originally only supposed to be one chapter. I hadn't expected to go into so much detail about the train ride, but oh well. Hopefully it made a better chapter.
Now, as far as I know, Hermione's parents have no official names, so I hope you'll forgive me for inventing them. I decided to use Hermione's middle name for her mother and as for her father... well, Richard just sounded right.
Unlike other witches and wizards, Muggle-borns don't just get their first Hogwarts letter in the mail; they'd think it was a joke or something. No, their letters are always delivered personally by a member of the staff (like with Tom Riddle). I looked long and hard for any information regarding who deliverd Hermione's letter, but couldn't find anything, so I settled on McGonagall.
When Harry's explaining to the Grangers how magic works, well that's just how I see it, and since Harry's the one explaining it, it's probably just how he sees it, too. He isn't necessarily right. So, if your views and opinions about magic in the HP world differ from this, please don't give me a hard time about it. If this is simply WRONG (that is, if JK has actually made a better and more accurate description of the workings of magic), please let me know.
You may have noticed that Harry is immediately attracted to Ginny. Well, since this isn't the same person as in the books, and because he already knows he and Ginny are supposed to end up together, I figured something like this would probably happen.
As for the Sorting Hat, well were you really expecting it not to notice that something was wrong? And no, it did not sort Harry into Gryffindor just because it was supposed to. Harry really does have many of the qualities required for Gryffindor.
Finally, I'd like to thank my readers yet again, especially those who have left constructive and/or positive comments. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in your comments. See ya next time.