Red Flag to a Potter

Rating: K plus for the moment.

Warnings: Occasional bad language, action violence, fluff, spoilers for those who have not read the books & ooc main characters.

Standard Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and do not own any of the copyrights to any borrowed characters or locations used in this work and this is not written for profit. All other known characters and locations borrowed in this work belong to their respective copyright owners.

Authors note: For my next possible AU universe, I thought I'd poke fun at another classic staple of the Harry Potter universe, in this case the ye olde "Potters go nuts for Redheads" scenario. A few others have explored this theme, but I thought I'd throw my own twist on it. As always, any reviews are welcome and if anybody wants to pick this plotline or any of my other miscellanea stories up, just PM me.

Chapter 1: Vernon Gets Impatient

'Err, uncle Vernon?'

Uncle Vernon grunted to show he was listening.

'Err, I need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to, to get to school.'

Uncle Vernon grunted again.

'Would it be all right if you gave me a lift?'

Grunt. Harry hoped that meant yes.

'Thank you.'

She was about to go back upstairs when uncle Vernon actually spoke.

'Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?'

Harry shrugged, 'might be a bit too obvious.'

'Where is this school, anyway?'

'Scotland, up in the highlands I think.' Harry drew out the ticket from his pocket.

'I just take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock,' he read.

His aunt and uncle stared.

'Platform what?' he asked.

'Nine and three-quarters.'

'Don't talk rubbish boy,' said uncle Vernon. 'There is no platform nine and three-quarters.'

'It's hidden from muggles.'

'Barking,' said uncle Vernon, 'howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. All right, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother.'

'Why are you going to London?' Harry asked, trying to keep things friendly.

'Taking Dudley to the hospital,' growled uncle Vernon. 'Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings.'

Early on September the first, Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage were loaded into the boot of uncle Vernon's car and Harry was on his way. Midway through the journey, just as they were entering central London, Vernon noticed road works going on up ahead and a massive traffic jam that was starting to build up.

'Ruddy council workers, can't they find better things to do than dig up the roads for no reason?'

'Quite right dear, is there another way around? Diddykins needs that tail off.' Commented Aunt Petunia.

Vernon turned onto a side street and navigated a slightly different route through London that in the end actually shaved a bit of time and so Harry stepped out of the car with approximately forty five minutes to spare.

Harry thought this was oddly decent until uncle Vernon stopped dead, facing the platforms with a nasty grin on his face.

'Well, there you are, boy. Platform nine, platform ten. Your platform should be somewhere in the middle, but they don't seem to have built it yet, do they?'

The three Dursleys went off laughing and Harry walked alone into the station fuming.

However fate took a strange twist a moment later when he was jostled by a stern looking woman wearing a monocle who was leading a girl of about Harry's own age. The girl had long auburn hair tied in a plait and kind blue eyes, and with a small jolt in his stomach, Harry couldn't help but realize that she was actually quite pretty. She was pushing a trunk which had a cat carrier holding a large tabby. Without warning, she looked across at him and smiled.

She asked a rather strange question, 'are you looking for the eleven o clock train? A recent letter from a school you'd never heard of inviting you to join?'

Harry nodded and said, 'my aunt and uncle wouldn't have it, did all they could to stop me coming but in the end the school sent a great big bloke who looked like a massive grizzly bear who scared them so much they had to give in. Only trouble is, now I can't find the platform.'

The stern looking woman seemed to have been listening, 'what's your name young man?'

'Harry Potter'

Both of his companions reacted, though quite subtly and the stern woman smiled at him before she said.

'Well met, I am Amelia Bones and this is my niece Susan, she'll be starting school alongside you this year. Now if you'll follow me, I'll take you both to the train.'

Amelia led the way towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten before drawing him to a halt and discretely watching the crowds before she said.

'That barrier is an illusion, it conceals the entrance to the platform you need. All you need to do is walk or run right at it and you'll go through, watch Susan and then follow her when I say it's safe.'

'Err, ok.' Said Harry

Harry watched as Susan gave him a cheery wave before she ran forward and suddenly vanished into thin air when she reached the barrier. Blinking in surprise, he almost missed the nudge to his shoulder and the brief nod from Amelia a moment later.

He pushed the trolley around and stared at the barrier before he started to walk toward it. People jostled him on their way to platforms nine and ten. Harry walked faster leaning forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy run and closed his eyes. A moment later he opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it, he smiled and realised that he had done it. Susan was waiting a few metres away and was beaming at him, Harry again feeling his stomach react as he smiled back just as Amelia appeared at his shoulder and laid a hand on his shoulder.

'Well done, now then, let's find you two a compartment, Hannah should be along soon so you can save her a seat.'

Harry looked confused and Susan said, 'she's my best friend, I've known her for ages and we went to Muggle Primary School together.'

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats.

'Oh, Neville,' he heard the old woman sigh A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd.

'Give us a look, Lee, go on.'

The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg.

Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment the train. He put Hedwig inside first as well as the cat carrier and then started to shove and heave his trunk toward the train door before Amelia took her wand and cast a spell which made it float inside and up into the luggage rack before repeating the process with Susan's.

Susan took his hand and the pair of them stood with Amelia as she bade Susan.

'Write, stay safe and remember rule number 1. You don't need to be afraid of the sorting, no matter what anybody else says as I'll be proud of you no matter where you end up.'

Susan nodded while Amelia looked at Harry, 'You should have been told a lot more before today Harry as there is much you need to know about your family and the world you are in. As a start, Susan has a book that I think you ought to read, it explains much of your heritage and about your family. I will see what I can learn about why haven't been taught what you need to know, but if you have any questions you wish to ask, send your owl, she'll know where to find me.'

Harry nodded and thanked her before following Susan into the compartment and sitting on the bench next to her.

Susan asked him, 'you grew up with muggles? What were they like?'

Harry grimaced, 'terrible, well, not all of them. But my aunt, uncle and cousin were. They can't stand magic and they never really accepted me because of what I am.'

Harry saw the sad look on Susan's face, 'that's awful, but I can understand how you feel in a way. I'm an orphan too. I lost my parents a few days before your parents got attacked. Aunt Amelia's always been there for me though, don't know what would have happened to me if not for her, and the Abbot's and McMillians are like family to me as we don't live all that far away from each other.'

The door opened and two girls and a boy entered, Susan obviously knew the first two as she introduced them to Harry.

'Harry, this is Hannah Abbot and Ernie McMillian.' Harry shook hands with the two who'd been named before looking at the other girl, she had lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.

'Mind if I join you? My names Hermione Granger.'

Nobody objected and she sat down, soon gushing about a couple of books that mentioned Harry as well as others she'd read before Susan calmed her down.

'Hermione, I can tell you want to prove yourself but let me give you one piece of advice. Try and act normal and relax, trying to show people up isn't exactly an endearing quality.'

Hermione did seem to calm down, at least a little before Susan got up and rummaged in her trunk and fetched down a book which she passed over to Harry.

Harry looked at the title

The book of Blood

Abraxas Malfoy

'Err, are you sure this is the right book Susan? The book of blood? Sounds like a restaurant menu for vampires.'

Everyone laughed before Ernie chipped in, 'that book was written by a wizard from a family who all buy into that blood superiority crap. You do need to know what's in it if you've been kept away from your history but whatever you do, please don't turn into a bigot. One Malfoy is bad enough.'

Harry shrugged, 'I'll try not to.'

He opened the book and began to look through the contents page searching for the Potters but was interrupted when he heard the door of the compartment slide open and he looked up as a redheaded boy came in.

'Anyone sitting there?' he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry

Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and then looked greeted the others who he already knew before he was introduced to Harry. When he noticed what Harry was reading he asked.

'Got to the legend yet?'

'What legend?' Harry asked.

'The one with Morgana.'

Harry noticed Susan blushing and was intrigued and so flipped through the book until he saw a page marked.

The Legend of "the Potter Curse"

It is said that long ago, the young Arthur Potter espied two young maidens living in a village. One the daughter of a well-known lord who was sought by many men for her dowry, her great beauty and the opportunity to ally with the lords family as he was known to have no living sons, his heirs having perished in battle. The other was the daughter of a local merchant, well known for her fiery locks and equally fiery and passionate nature. Arthur, being of an ambitious nature courted and soon won the hand of the lord's daughter and in time she bore him three sons. However, the pair never truly loved each other, his wife in time abandoning Arthur and their children. While the merchants daughter had married an acquaintance of Arthurs and enjoyed a long and happy marriage. To Arthur's horror, all three of his sons grew to be arrogant men and Arthur, fearing for the future of his family sought out Morgana and begged the legendary witch for help. It is said that the witch cast a spell over the Potter line so that none would ever know true love except in the arms of a maiden of both a pure heart and the fiery nature personified by crimson hair. While no solid evidence had ever come to life to confirm the legend, an examination of the Potter family tree does show that almost all witches who have married into the line have had red hair, and that no marriage has ever broken when the witch marrying into the line has been a red head.

Harry shut the book, deep in thoughtbefore Ron sniggered.

'Oh dear, I'm going to have a disappointed sister. She's been wanting to meet you forever, she's obsessed and now you've already met another red head before her.'

'Could he be any more unsubtle?' Thought Harry.

'No real proof Ron, the book said the curse is just a legend. Besides, can't you be just a little bit kinder to your sister? You're lucky you've got a family, because I don't.'

Harry felt Susan squeeze his hand and he smiled at her as he noticed Ron shut up.

A boy named Neville who was missing a toad showed up looking for his pet and barely a moment after he left.

Three boys entered, and Harry recognized one of the boys at once: it was the snob from Madam Malkin's robe shop.

He was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he had shown back in Diagon Alley.

'Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?'

'Yes, and what does it matter?' said Harry. He was looking at the other boys the two of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

'Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle,' said the blonde boy noticing where Harry was looking. 'And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.'

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.

'Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasley's have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.' Said Draco.

He turned to Harry. 'You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there, this lot are all mudbloods and blood traitors.

Harry ignored Malfoy's outstretched hand,

'I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,' he said coolly.

Draco didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in her pale cheeks.

'I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents.'

Draco continued on and said. 'They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasley's and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you.'

'You think that a Potter would stoop to associating with the cowardly spawn of Death Eaters who bribed their way out of prison Malfoy.' Growled an angry Susan.

Malfoy spun to face Susan, 'stay out of this you miserable blood traitor, otherwise you'll be losing what's left of your family.'

Harry stood up, along with Ron and Ernie as he said, 'How dare you, get out of here right now before I kick your miserable ass right off this train.'

'Oh, you're going to fight us, are you? Malfoy sneered.

'Unless you get out now,' said Harry, more bravely than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than he was.

'But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys?

We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some.'

Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron, and Ron leapt forward but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, and Goyle let out a horrible yell.

Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle.

The three of them ended up leaving before Harry felt Susan reach up to pull him back down.

Ron explained about Malfoy's family and Harry felt his mood darken as he noticed the tears in Susan's eyes. Eventually they all split up to change into their uniforms before an announcement came from the engine.

'We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.'

Harry's stomach lurched with nerves and a few of the other first years he saw looked pale. He joined the throng as the train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air and drew his cloak around his shoulders, staying close to Susan and the others. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Harry heard a familiar voice: 'Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?'

Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me, any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Harry guessed there were thick trees there.

'Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here.'

There was a loud 'Oooooh!'

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

'No more'n four to a boat!' Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Susan were followed into their boat by Ernie and Hannah while Ron and Hermione took the next one with Neville and a cheerful looking boy who'd followed their group.

'Everyone in?' shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. 'Right then, FORWARD!'

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

'Oy, you there! Is this your toad?' said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

'Trevor!' cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.

They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

'Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?'

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.