So, this is a new story idea I've been thinking about. It's set in an AU where Voldemort won the first wizarding war and is ruler of magical Britain. I haven't really got in a specific time in mind, and I will pull characters from different times as I see fit to put them in the story. The general premise is that Harry is a squib, but at 16 his powers manifest in a very different way. I don't want to say much more and give the story away. There will be mention of MPREG later on in the story just so you are aware.
There will be a Harry m/m pairing but haven't decided on who yet, if you have a suggestion, please let me know
Anyway, hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1
Harry made his way around the ballroom, simultaneously mingling as well as ignoring everyone in the room. It was his third ball since he had turned 16 and he had not liked any of them so far. Normally he would've been forced to attend these things since his near infancy but due to the fact that he was a squib, a wizard born with next to no tangible magic he had thankfully been exempt from such maudlin affairs. Apparently, the idea of such a strong magical family as the Potters birthing a squib made people uncomfortable, go figures. However, since his last birthday the invitations for events such as these had started rolling in. It seemed that some were still open to the idea of marrying a Potter squib, figuring it was at least a step up from marrying a muggle. His parents had tried to refuse but when the leader of the wizarding world Marvolo Slytherin commands you to do something, well… you do it.
So that is how Harry found himself, dressed in his very best robes, bought new only two days before, slowly sipping a glass of punch. He thanked Merlin for cooling charms for keeping the room at a comfortable temperature even on this warm August night.
Even though he found the noise and the crowds a bit much he couldn't deny the beauty of the balls and party themselves. It was all so beautiful. Candles floated high in the air, illuminating everything in a soft glow, while a large apple tree had been brought in and magicked to look like it was growing out of the marble floor. Its green leaves swayed in time to the music and fireflies flew amongst the branches. There were flowers hanging from the windows while a swarm of pixies floated around like little glittering balls of light. The walls themselves were a soft green with vines painted on them that Harry would swear were real, while all the cornices were edged in gold. The whole affect was stunning, and he took a moment just to enjoy the sight. It seemed these Malfoy's really knew how to throw a party.
The Potter manor was beautiful, but more in a homey way then the opulence that some of the older wizarding families seemed to favour.
The Potters had not hosted a ball in a very long time, not since Harry's affliction became apparent. His parents were too concerned for his safety, they were worried that someone would say or do something to Harry, so they preferred to keep him safe at home. Harry knew they weren't ashamed of him, told him every day how much they loved him and how proud they are of him. They just knew how cruel the wizarding world could be sometimes.
He had private tutors at home, learning all about the wizarding world, the history and the politics, potion making and spell crafting. Just because he couldn't actually cast anything of significance didn't mean that he was stupid or had no value. He was most of the most accomplished brewers of his age and he knew this for a fact as his mother's best friend Severus Snape regularly told him so. He knew everything there was to know about every family in the wizarding world and their political affiliations if they had any. He could tell you the cause of every goblin rebellion and speak to you in gobbledegook, mermish and most surprisingly parseltongue. Apparently, a throwback to their distant Peverell relations. He could read runes and was an expert in arithmancy, he had a green thumb and hadn't, met an animal he couldn't charm so Harry tried to never let it bother him that he was unable to do magic.
It wasn't like he didn't have any magic at all, he could do very minor spells like lumos but even that could be quite draining. Sometimes he felt as though he had more magic just swirling around inside of him, but it couldn't find the right outlet. His parents had tried everything known to wizard kind to try to help him, but nothing had worked and at 16 Harry accepted that, even if it had been a hard pill to swallow when he was younger.
Harry spotted a tall, brown-haired teen headed his way and a small smile broke out on his face.
"Neville" Harry said happily as Neville pulled him in for a warm hug.
Neville Longbottom was Harry's best friend and had been for as long as both of them could remember. Their parents were good friends and Harry and Neville were so close together in age that it was only naturally that they had spent a lot of time together growing up. Lucky for them, a close friendship had formed, one that had only grown stronger over the years.
"Hiya Harry, how are you doing?" Neville said with his usually cheerful smile.
"Not bad, not bad" Harry replied. "Just been admiring the room."
Neville looked around as though only just realising how nice everything was.
"It's always like this" Neville said with a shrug. He hadn't missed out on going to balls for his whole life.
They strolled towards the food table, Harry ignoring the whispers and snickers that followed his every step.
"Ignore them, Harry" Neville said with a frown. "They just aren't used to seeing you at these things, they'll get over it."
Harry snorted; he didn't really care if they got over it or not.
"Are they in your year at school?"
"Some of them, some are the year above."
Harry nodded and decided a change of topic was in order.
"So how has your winter break been going?"
"It's been good, mum and dad took me skiing for the first few days so that was fun."
"Are you any better than the last time we went?" Harry laughed and Neville rolled his eyes good naturedly, "you know I'm not."
"Neville, how you doing mate?"
"Gideon, great to see you" Neville said warmly. "Do you know Harry?"
Gideon stuck his hand out and Harry reached forward to shake it.
"Nice to meet you, Harry."
"Have you seen any of the others?" Gideon asked Neville as Harry was immediately shunted to the side. He sometimes forgot that Neville had a whole other life outside their friendship.
He wandered away a little bit, feeling awkward and not wanting to intrude.
Someone bumped into him from behind but before he could turn to see who it was his whole body froze up, his heart jumped frantically in his chest and his vision went blank. He panicked for a moment but then something else started to happen, a vision began to form, not of the room around him but of something else. Harry concentrated hard to make it out. A woman, a blond woman tripping down the stairs and hurting herself, badly. There were people behind her, but Harry couldn't make out their faces.
With a shuddering gasp his vision cleared and he could move again. He found himself standing in the exact same spot, a bunch of curious onlookers staring at him strangely. He shook his head to clear it and tried to move but found his arms and legs weak and refusing to cooperate fully.
What in Merlin's name was that?
His heart was still pounding in his chest, and he slowly ran a hand over his face as he tried to compose himself.
Music started playing and a hush fell over the ball, Harry turned to where everyone was looking to find Lord Slytherin and the Malfoy family, the host of this ball, striding elegantly down the grand staircase.
Harry gasped it was the exact scene he had just seen.
He forced his legs to move, pushing through the crowd and rushing up the stairs just as Mrs Malfoy's shoe caught on her gown and she stumbled. Harry saw it as if in slow motion as she began to fall, her mouth twisting in fright. Even though she was taller and larger than he was he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to him as he twisted and grabbed hold of the handrail with his other arm. Harry fell painfully, taking the full impact as they hit the handrail. They thumped down a few steps, Harry's arse taking the brunt of it before he was able to pull them to a stop.
He let out a quiet groan as he released his tight grip on the handrail, his overworked muscles complaining at the strain.
"Narcissa!" a voice called out and suddenly the woman sitting in his lap was pulled away.
Harry blinked blearily, Lucius and Draco Malfoy coming into focus.
"Are you okay?" Lucius asked urgently running his hands over Narcissa, checking her for injury.
"I'm completely fine" she gasped. "Mostly just in shock, it all happened so quickly. I thought I was going to fall and then this young man came out of nowhere and saved me."
"And just who might you be?" Lucius asked as all three Malfoy's turned to stare at him.
"Er… Harry, Harry Potter."
"Ah yes, the squib."
Harry frowned at that.
"Thank you for saving my wife" Lucius said. "That could have been a very nasty fall if you hadn't stepped in to save her."
Harry was saved the need to answer by someone calling his name.
"Harry!" He turned to see his parents hurrying up the stairs towards them. He only now realised that every eye in the ball was fixed on them, including that of Lorn Slytherin who was watching the whole thing with calculating eyes.
"Are you okay?" his father asked, helping him to his feet and pulling Harry's much smaller frame into his chest.
Harry couldn't stifle the groan that slipped out as he righted himself.
"Oh, we best get you home and let the healers check you over" his mother fretted, running a hand through her beautiful red hair.
"We would be delighted if you would join us for afternoon tea, tomorrow afternoon, as a thank you" he said imperiously.
"Oh" Harry said, surprised. "Thank you, that sounds nice."
"Lord Slytherin, Lord Malfoy" His parents murmured with a bow as they helped Harry down the stairs, through the assembled witches and wizards to the sitting room to floo home.
