Ripples
How much of the future would change, if one small detail is changed? Ariana is saved from being attacked, little near a century later her great-great grandson enters Hogwarts at the start of his first year. Ariana never actually thought Harry would be in danger though.
Chapter 1: In Summary
Ariana swung her feet back and forth as she listened to her parents argue. Her dad wanted to hunt the muggle boys down and punish them, her mother argued that since nothing actually happened, his attack would be seen as unprovoked.
Albus and Aberforth would always keep a close eye on her, at least until she received her letter for Hogwarts. Ariana looked at her new wand, Maple, 10 ½ inches with a Dragon-Heartstring as the core, she gave it a wave, dully watching as sparks flew from the end. Ariana hoped to get into the same house as her brothers, although Albus was absent at times, Ariana had a feeling that he was spending time with that Gellert boy he'd met.
Ariana grinned as the Sorting Hat put her in Gryffindor, she sat down next to a boy who was absent-mindedly chewing on the end of his wand, at least until he accidentally singed his eyebrows, earning a few laughs. Ariana's grin slowly fell, suddenly she felt that she was surrounded by idiots.
The boy, Hadrian Potter, sent a stool into the ceiling during charms, and tricked another student into using a size enlarging charm on themselves, until they had to go to the Hospital Wing, granted that other student had been making a second year do their homework, but Ariana doubted tricking them into enlarging their own privates would count as an acceptable punishment.
After their Fourth year, Potter actually looked for her, having heard about how a fight broke out between Gellert and Albus, which left her parents dead.
Ariana scowled, she had known Potter for five years and he still acted like an arse, although she couldn't help by laugh when he intimidated Professor Binns or when he woke up with ink stained on his cheek after falling asleep on his essay.
In their Seventh year Hadrian and Ariana started courting, before getting Married in the summer after they Graduated, a couple of years later Charlus was born and then came the time for him to go to Hogwarts and then he graduated, he Married Dorea Black and had Arthur, who went to Hogwarts, graduated, got married to Josephina Fleamont and had Henry, who went to Hogwarts, graduated, got married to Athena Bones, had Fleamont, who went to Hogwarts, graduated, got Married to Euphemia Prewett. Due to the various wars, both Muggle and Wizard, Ariana had seen many members of her family die long before their time, Hadrian and Charlus died in the fields of Belgium and France walking out of their trenches, Arthur and Henry would help fight Grindlewald, both being killed for it, but Ariana, as well as the other widows in the Potter family felt the pain of Fleamont and Euphemia as they struggled to have a child, the pair seemingly giving up, up until the late 1950's when the pair arrived at the Manor and proudly announced that a baby was on the way.
James Potter was born in the early hours of the 27th of March 1960, red faced and screaming, at least until he was wrapped up in a blanket. James went to Hogwarts, befriended one of Dorea's great-nephews Sirius Black, a small watery eyed boy Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin, who looked worse for wear at times.
The group were as thick as thieves throughout their time at school, although Ariana made sure to pull James aside to get him to fix his attitude, after Albus contacted her and informed her of James' antics, the following summer James came back with a boy with a hooked nose, Ariana could tell that Severus Snape was wary of James and the other four. Ariana was talking with Dorea when they rounded the corner and found the group, minus James holding a cupboard door shut. They later found out that they had locked James and a girl he liked, Lily Evans, in the cupboard and they were trying to keep them in there.
After they graduated, they all joined the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation set up by Albus to combat the Dark Lord Voldemort. James and Lily got married, Severus joined the Death Eaters as a spy for the Order, Remus went to speak with the were-wolves and James and Lily went into hiding shortly after their son Harry had been born.
Josephina died before Fleamont had been born and Athena had been on her last legs before James was born and died a month after from a heart attack and Fleamont and Euphemia contracted Dragonpox and died shortly before Harry's birth. Sirius had told Dorea and Ariana about the plan to prevent Voldemort finding the Potters, with himself as a decoy secret keeper and Peter being their actual secret keeper.
On the 31st of October 1981, Ariana convinced Albus to allow James and Lily to sit in on an Order meeting, while Dorea watched over Harry. A little while into the meeting, a small device that Dumbledore had on the table set off, screaming. James and Lily paled before rushing outside and disapperating to Godric's Hollow, where they found Dorea dead and Harry screaming with a red lightning bolt scar etched onto his forehead. James ran into Sirius, who gave James his motorcycle and took off looking for Peter.
Peter blew up a muggle street, killing thirteen muggles, before turning into a rat and running away. Sirius as arrested and placed in Azkaban without receiving a trial.
For the past four years the Potters, as well as the rest of the Order kept protesting Sirius's innocence, while taking care of Harry and Neville, whose parents had been driven insane by Bellatrix LeStrange and three other Death Eaters. In the immediate aftermath of Voldemort's disappearance, several of his former followers claimed to be under the imperious curse, while paying the new Minister to ensure their pardon.
Harry watched as the water in his cup poured into the sink, before he refilled it and repeated the process, giggling as he did it.
"Harry's discovered physics." Said Lily, as James walked into the room.
James gave a small smile, before walking out the back door and throwing a blasting curse into the sky, a bright flash appearing, making Harry look up from the water and at the unintentional fireworks display.
A crack behind her told Lily that the others arrived.
"I take it you've heard the news?" Said Remus, his hair greyer that it had been the last time she saw him.
"Well, James didn't say anything, except go outside and give Harry a new form of entertainment." Said Lily, as Severus walked into Harry's field of vision and boop him on the nose.
"The Minister has said 'Since there is no evidence to prove Black's innocence, the case is going to be closed.'" Said Remus, making Lily scowl, before Rose and Violet ran into the room, screaming.
Lily sighed, before picking Harry up and moving him away from the sink, so that she could finish the washing up, "Any other news?"
"Charles Steven has been sent to Azkaban, after he killed his brother for branding Mercutio with the Dark Mark." Said Remus, picking Violet up, "Fenrir Greyback has attacked another child and a delightful toad has gone on a warpath against anything that isn't human."
Lily rolled her eyes, as James came back in, "You left out the part where a healer decided to amputate Mercutio's arm."
Lily stopped, before she turned and looked at James, "They what now?"
"Amputated the left arm of a five-year-old." Said James, scooping Harry up, "I also got a snotty letter from Croaker, asking how your charms are coming along."
"The sleeping charm works perfectly, the mental restoration charm is a bit foggy, since we don't have anyone to test it on." Said Lily, as she looked at Neville, who was looking at the pictures in a Herbology book.
James followed her gaze, "And since the one's the spell is being made to help are off the table, you practically have no way of knowing if it works or not."
The room was silent, with the exception of the two four-year-old girls who seemed to speak their own language.
"What if we found someone whose mind was broken, but not to the extent that they are not aware of their surroundings." Said Severus, looking at Lily.
Lily was silent, before her arms went slack and dangled at her sides as she stared aimlessly into nothing.
"Like victims of a traumatic experience, like a car crash." Said Lily, suddenly starting to pace, "And St. Mungo's is full of people who has undergone at least one form of trauma, several of which should be able to give their consent to be tested on."
Lily suddenly walked out of the room and grabbed her wand and prepared to disapperate.
"Um, Lily," Called James, "aren't you forgetting something?"
Lily quickly walked over and kissed James and each of her children on the cheek.
"Lily, you're still in your pyjamas." Said James, making Lily look down at herself.
"Ah." Said Lily, before she rushed upstairs and got dressed.
James smiled and shook his head, looking down at Harry, "If we're lucky, you might get her brains and my good looks."
Harry giggled, "Can we have more fireworks, daddy? Please?"
James smiled, before leading Harry and the others outside, Neville pressing himself against Remus, as James conjured a blanket for the children, before pointing his wand in the air and letting a stream of bight flashes from the tip of his wand. The children laughed and clapped; James vaguely heard the phone ring. Lily had insisted that they install it, so she could speak to her Muggle relatives. The phone stopped ringing and James finished off his show by settling some of the sparks into the shape of a dragon.
Lily arrived at the back door, a sour look on her face.
"That was my sister." Said Lily, "Apparently she invited her family to our house for dinner."
James felt his stomach drop.
'Well,' Thought James, 'this is going to be fun.'
The dinner was not fun, Petunia had not aged well, in Lily's opinion. It didn't help that her son, even though he more resembled a mix between and pig and a beach ball, wanted more food and started to throw a tantrum. It certainly didn't help that Vernon was feeding into Dudley's tantrum. It absolutely didn't help that Petunia 'forgot' to mention that Vernon's sister was joining them.
Harry, Neville and the girls ate quietly, watching Dudley make himself look like an idiot, while Marge was going on about dog breeding, trying to subtly insult James and Lily.
Lily struggled to keep her face neutral as Marge continued to insult them. Vernon then reached across the table and snatched Harry's food away and giving it to Dudley.
"Give that back." Said Harry, glaring at Vernon, while Dudley ate Harry's food.
"Dudley needed it more." Said Vernon, a sneer on his face.
"What he needs is a diet and exercise," Said Harry, "although, I think your entire family needs it, then you might stop looking like a pig."
Vernon's hand connected with the side of Harry's head. Marge's dog would've gone for Harry, were it not for the black Wolf Hound suddenly snapping and snarling at him.
"Address me like that again, Freak," Bellowed Vernon, while the other Dursley's looked amused, "and I'll whip you with my belt."
"Get out."
James was already half-way out of his seat when Lily spoke.
"What?" Snarled Vernon, glaring at Lily.
"I said get out," Said Lily, cold rage on her eyes, "you're not welcome here, and I want you to leave."
Marge scoffed, before leaning forwards and put her face in Lily's, "Now you listen here…" Said Marge, before her finger started to inflate.
Marge continued to inflate until she looked like a massive beach ball that was floating around. The Dursley's all started to rush out, Petunia being the last out the door.
"We never should've come here," Sneered Petunia, "The Freaks are too dangerous."
"You're right, Mrs Dursley," Said Lily, from the door, "I don't even know why I let a stranger into my home."
Petunia stopped dead, before she turned and looked at Lily. Lily glared at Petunia, until Petunia got into the car, with Marge strapped to the roof so they didn't lose her.
Lily looked at James, "I take it, inflating her was you're doing?"
James shook his head, before a sniffle caught their attention, making the pair look at Harry, who was struggling, and failing, not to cry. Lily rushed over and looked at the red mark on Harry's face, his glasses broken in his hand.
"I'm- I'm sorry, mummy," Harry hiccupped, "I-I didn't mean to ruin tea."
"Harry," Said Lily, while James fixed Harry's glasses, "You didn't ruin everything."
The dams burst and Harry was crying into his mother's chest, Lily carried Harry into the kitchen and set him on the counter, before locating a bad of frozen peas, wrapping it in a tea towel and gently pressing it against Harry's face. Harry whimpered, before falling silent. Suddenly feeling sleepy, Harry started to doze off.
Lily looked at the clock and decided that it was time for the children to go to bed.
The next day, Severus arrived at the Potter's home with a jumpy, jittery five-year-old who looked like he'd been attacked by a Dementor.
***Seven Years Later***
Harry groaned and rolled over onto his front, his arm covering his eyes. A small black orb on his desk rattled, making Harry sneer at it and stalk over to it. Harry picked the orb up and shook it, the orb went from black to a light blue, after dismissing the alarm, Harry went back to bed.
Rose and Violet burst into Harry's room.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They screamed, making Harry jump and tumble out of bed.
"I really wish you didn't do that." Said Harry, as he lay face down on the floor.
"But why deprive us of the entertainment?" Came an amused voice from Harry's doorway.
A dark-haired boy stood in the doorway, Harry then spotted Neville and Ron behind him.
"Very funny." Said Harry, getting to his feet, "I take it the alarm was your idea?"
"Ginny's actually." Said the boy, standing up straight, the sleeve on his left arm shifting up as he moved, revealing the silver bones of a human arm, "After all, what girl doesn't want to wake their boyfriend up?"
Harry threw his shoe at him, "Bones, Ginny and I are just friends."
"Keep telling yourself that," Said Bones, a smirk on his face, "one day you might believe it."
Bones gave a short whistle, getting the girls attention, "Go tell them that he's awake."
"Why can't you do it?" Violet demanded, crossing her arms.
"Because the moment I turn my back, he'll throw his other shoe at me." Said Bones, causing Rose to look at Violet and pull a 'fair enough' face.
The girls shot past the boys, before Bones, Ron and Neville entered Harry's room.
"That was easier than I expected," Said Bones, casually strolling into the room, "Your parents already know you're awake, but they'll be roped into setting the table. Which give us time to talk about the date."
"My birthday?" Said Harry, tired.
"Precisely," Said Bones, "Today is the day you get your Hogwarts letter and the day your family steps out of the shadows."
There was a bang, making everyone look at the window, just in time to see a grey owl falling to the ground.
"Was that Errol?" Said Neville, as Harry pulled his clothes on.
"Probably." Said Ron, looking back at Harry, "Hurry up, the food's getting cold."
"Of course, you'd think with your stomach." Neville muttered, before walking out of the room.
Harry was quiet, before looking at the others, "I take it the spell still needs refining."
"Yeah, they showed awareness of their surroundings for about an hour, before they relapsed." Said Bones, walking to the doorway with Ron and Harry following.
The morning was a small affair, before Harry's letter arrived, then it was off to Diagon Alley.
A/N: first chapter of a new Harry Potter Story, I've been rediscovering my love for the series recently.