Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So I've gotten a few questions and comments about what's going on in the world and I would like to address and clarify what's what.
8/11/25 update: I am changing a few things to rewrite the story as my brain sees fit. 

Firstly, Petunia and Vernon aren't Dudley's parents, due to Vernon stepping out on Petunia and then when Harry came along, it gave her the extra push to fight for her nephew. She and Lily loved one another dearly and the main reason for her lost of contact was the fact she married Vernon and he made it clear she(Lily) and her "freakishness" was to stay out of their lives. Dudley is however Marge's son, father is never discussed, but for plot reasons it will be mentioned briefly.

Second, Molly and Arthur are divorced before Harry's 1st year. The reason will be revealed in a later update, so I won't say now. I've decided that in this universe the Malfoy/ Weasley feud doesn't exist due to their ancestors upholding the contract for both families. There will be a bit of out of character dialog due to this, however, that does not change Ron's feelings about Draco because of Dumbledore and Molly.

Third, Narcissa and Lucius are not married, but bother and sister-in-law. This is due to Lucius having a older brother (in this fic) and that's who the marriage contract went to. He will appear later in the fic, but he is an OC, so expect him to be a bit of an oddball when it comes to Malfoy men and their normal attitudes. Other than this and the other changes I've made (Harry's house, Snape's feeling towards him, and some other things) everything will stay as cannon as I can stand.

Fourth, but most certainly not least, thank everyone whose read, commented and left kudos on this little side project of mine. I'm very grateful and will trying my best to get a schedule for this work and some of the others that I've been working on for the past few years. Sorry for the delay, and I hope this helps as much as possible.

Chapter Text

October 31st, 1980

"Albus, are you sure we should leave him here? They're muggles!"

"We have no other choice Minerva, it's for the greater good." The old man with a grandfatherly look on his face looked down at the baby in the basket and nodded slowly. The other person that stood with him did little to hide her displeasure with the situation, but didn't wish to question the man older than herself. After the note had been placed, the old man placed his wand on the door and cause a knock to sound with rapid urgency followed by the disappearance of the two people on the porch of Number 4 Privet Drive.

A thin woman came to the door, looking around and almost turning back into the house before noticing the basket at her doorstep. When she picked it up, she gasped seeing a baby inside, soundly asleep, and took the basket into the house, seeing the note as well. As she read it, she felt tears come to her eyes realizing her baby sister was no longer on this earth and her nephew was now in her care.

"Well, what was it th-. Pet, what's wrong?" Vernon Dursley was a large man, and when he married Petunia, he knew little of her sister's connection with the magical world, but forbid them having interaction to keep his home 'clean'. Petunia showed her husband the letter and he let out a noise that boarded on annoyance and sympathy.

"No worries, Pet, we'll take care of him."

May 1986

Petunia sighed as she watched the police take her ex-husband away and quickly turned to her nephew as he sat on the floor with levitating color pencils next to him. She called out his name and broke his concentration, making the pencils fall around him. She knew it would eventually happen, she just didn't expect Vernon to lash out and try to beat the boy. Thankfully, she'd already been in the process of divorcing him after she caught him coming home one morning with some woman she'd never met.

"Harry, you know how I've told you about your parents?" The mop of black hair nodded, causing the woman to smile before continuing, "Well, there are some things that I never told you." It took a while to get through everything, with Harry having questions and occasional bursts of emotions so strong they shook the house, but Harry, age 5 came to know that he was a wizard.

Present Day, September 1st, 1991

"Aunt Petunia, I didn't think there was a such thing as Platform 9 & 3/4." An eleven year old Harry said as he and his aunt made their way to take Harry to the Hogwarts Express. When his letter came in July, Petunia thankfully remembered enough from when Lily and Severus were in school about where to go to get Harry's school things and money. She had almost had a fit when she learned that Dumbledore still had his hand in Harry's accounts and quickly made a change in removing him as Harry's magical guardian so that he wouldn't be able to do anything. It came as a shock that she also had magic, and could therefore take over as Harry's magical guardian made the whole process a lot easier. 

"Harry, if you always doubt things, you'll never know what could happen." Petunia said fondly, before grabbing her nephew's hand and walking into a column landing on the King's Cross platform in front of the Hogwarts Express. Harry was nervous, the same way he was when he first started grade school and realized that he'd be away from Aunt Petunia for longer than a few minutes and then his feeling grew worst as he realized, it'd be months before he would be home again. 

"Hey!" A voice brought him out of his thoughts about being away from home for so long and brought him face-to-face with a set of grey eyes and a smirk that showed signs of being well-practiced.

"Hello," Harry spoke after his aunt ruffled his hair, saying that the proper response was a hello back.

"Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you." Harry looked at the outstretched hand before taking it and introducing himself as well.

"Harry Potter, nice to meet you as well." Draco kept his surprise under the Malfoy Mask, and simply nodded, letting go and turning to Petunia, greeting her as well. Petunia smiled at the blonde and asked if he would be willing to stay with Harry after they got on the train. Harry was about to speak and tell his aunt that he'd be fine but was cut off by Draco speaking first.

"I'd be happy to. As long as Harry doesn't mind." Four sets of eyes looked to the young raven-haired boy who pursed his lips together before nodding in agreement. In the next few moments, an older blonde man and woman appeared through the crowd, eyes searching before landing on Draco. Upon calling his name, the younger blonde turned and moved to meet the two people. Draco looked back and waved over Harry and his aunt, introducing the other people with him.

"Harry, Miss. Evans, this is my uncle Lucius and my mother Narcissa Malfoy. Mother, Uncle, this is Miss. Petunia Evans and her nephew, Harry Potter." Lucius raised an eyebrow, looking down at the boy his nephew just introduced to him, and had a curious emotion cross his mind as he thought of his lovers and the shared history the young man in front of him. They said their hellos and stood around before the whistle of the train went off and the boys quickly grabbed the others hand and made their way to the train to grab a car and make their way to Scotland. The three adults looked fondly, at least that was the thought of the look on the Lucius' face but one couldn't be certain, on before a loud shrill caught their attention. Narcissa scoffed and rolled her eyes while Lucius openly scowled as one Molly Prewitt, formally Weasley, shouted for her children to get on the train before they missed it. The older three, twins and one that looked at least a year older rolled their eyes and waved their father (whose presence was over-shadowed by his ex-wife's attics) goodbye, and the younger boy coming along with them ensured that his pet rat was on his shoulders. The woman looked like she was two seconds away from matching the shade of her hair when she realized that not only he ex-husband was there, but also the Malfoys. Arthur made his way over and greeted Lucius, asking about his brother and greeting Narcissa and Petunia. Petunia was in the middle of introducing herself when Molly came barreling toward them.

"Molly Weasley, pleased to meet ya." She said, trying to attach herself to Arthur, who quickly moved away.

"Prewitt, is what she meant to say." Both Malfoys look at the woman with distaste as they knew the reason for the separation. The red-haired woman let out something along the lines of a screech before huffing and leaving the platform. Arthur apologized for the behavior of his ex-wife and then invited the others to his home for some tea. The Malfoys looked to Petunia as her answer would determine whether they accepted. The woman in question thought it over for a moment before agreeing and stating that she was a squib so she would need some help getting to and fro. She enjoyed the surprised looks as they came as the blondes and redhead realized that they didn't know everything about the woman in front of them.

Harry was glad he had Draco, especially now more than ever as he was accosted outside the cabin door. He'd walked out ahead of Draco and a dark-skinned boy who came and sat with them named Blaise Zabini.

"Hey! You're Harry Potter! My name is Ronald Weasley, and I'm going to be sorted into Gryffindor. Do you have the scar from You-Know-Who." The boy in front of him had a bowl-cut of red hair and a rather large rat on his shoulders that Harry swore could be a small kitten if any bigger than what it was already. Harry pressed himself as close to the cabin door as he could, one hand behind him trying to find the latch so he could open the door and get someone to help him. Thankfully his prayer was answered as the redhead opened his mouth to speak again, Harry almost fell back onto Draco, who had just opened the door. He pushed Harry upright, asking if he was okay, before looking up and seeing the problem.

"Weasel. Why am I not surprised. It's quite rude to ask someone about things like that."

"Shove it, you slimy little death eater. What are you doing with Harry Potter?"

Harry was okay with Draco taking over, as it troubled him so much that this unknown person was saying his name so much. Draco tore into Ron who tried to give the insults back but knew he was fighting a losing battle when Harry hadn't even stepped in to defend him. He was even more shocked when Harry took Malfoy's side on things and told him not to bully his friend and claim that he wasn't in the wrong. The icing on the cake was when a bushy-haired witch, who happened to hear the disagreement, used nothing more than pure words and logic to shame the youngest Weasley male to the point of him huffing while storming off.

With that interaction behind them and the snacks that they originally left the cabin to get acquired, Harry could tell that it was going to be a very interesting time in the wizarding world.

Chapter Text

Harry was okay with Draco taking over, as it troubled him so much that this unknown person was saying his name so much. Draco tore into Ron who tried to give the insults back but knew he was fighting a losing battle when Harry hadn't even stepped in to defend him. He was even more shocked when Harry took Malfoy's side on things and told him not to bully his friend and claim that he wasn't in the wrong. The icing on the cake was when a bushy-haired witch, who happened to hear the disagreement, used nothing more than pure words and logic to shame the youngest Weasley male to the point of him huffing while storming off.

With that interaction behind them and the snacks that they originally left the cabin to get acquired, Harry could tell that it was going to be a very interesting time in the wizarding world.

As the mass of boats arrived at the gates, something felt off to the headmaster as he sat in his office. He sat back and looked around his space, then to the trinkets that he kept around the room linked to one Harry Potter. He noticed the one that went with his compulsions had not started, yet the others were still active. He rubbed his bread thoughtfully before standing and making his way down to the Great Hall for the Welcome Feast, hoping that it was just an error with the trinket.

Draco helped Harry off the boat and then did the same with Hermione, the bushy haired witch they'd met when having the disagreement with the Weasel (Draco's term for him that was ringing truer every time Harry looked at him). Blaise caught up with the group and the four began to walk with the rest of the students into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A woman in green robes and a man with a stoic face stood at the door announcing for first years line up in alphabetical order so that they could be sorted. The quartet said their good-byes and stood in line, slowly being moved into the magical castle. One they where all inside the great hall, the all looked forward to the head table as Dumbledore stood to give his welcome speech and introduce the Sorting Hat, who began with his song:

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

It took a few moments of processing for everyone there before a soft muttered "what the hell" started the sorting process. Hermione was the first out of the group and Dumbledore gave a grandfatherly smile that soon left his face when the hat called out, "Ravenclaw!" As the witch passed Draco and Harry she gave them both a smile. The woman in the green made a face, before moving on the rest of the list. Draco went up and with no surprise was named Slytherin. There were more named called before the entire great hall heard the name, "Harry Potter". 

A hush fell over the room as the young dark haired wizard came and sat in the chair. Soon the sorting hat was placed on his head and he listened to the voice of the sorting hat. "Well, young Mr. Potter. You are truly different from your parents." Harry gasps and asked the sentient hat if he had known his parents. The hat hummed in reply and then asked the question of where he wanted to be. Harry thought it over, and the rest of the Great Hall waited on a shared breathe.

"Are you sure? One you're there, that's where you'll stay.

"I'm sure." Harry said in response.

"Very well," The sorting hat let the approval ring in his voice as he announced Harry's house.

Chapter Text

"I'm sure." Harry said in response.

"Very well," The sorting hat let the approval ring in his voice as he announced Harry's house.

The entire great hall was silent and then all kinds of chaos broke lose. The Slytherin house cheered with an intense number, the Gryffindors looked at one another in shock while Dumbledore stood and looked at the pre-teen in the chair as he rose, robes changing to the Slytherin green with sliver trim. The dark-haired boy made his way over to the table, sitting next to Draco, who wrapped an arm around him. Dumbledore calmed the chaos while a glance is casted towards the 11 year old. He nodded at the deputy headmistress to continue with the sorting, finally ending with Blaise in the snake pit and Dumbledore standing to say some words to the school.

As the feast continued the headmaster couldn't help but get lost deep in thought on what just occurred. He'd been over the plans time and time again, and Molly assured him that Harry would be getting on the train with Ron, who would then slip him the compulsion potion in his sweets. Yet here sat the Potter heir, with a Malfoy of all people, at the table surrounded by snakes. The old wizard cast a look around the table to look upon Severus Snape, youngest potions master and his would-be spy, if he had been in London the night of the Potters' death. 'Nothing is going to plan, and I need to control it. Quickly!'

Harry had be thankfully for listening to the Hat. He had been sneaking quick looks at the head table and got a twisted feeling in his stomach when he saw the headmasters face. At least here, Harry had Draco (who had become like a brother to him in the short amount of time spent with him) and Blaise. He ate and listened as those around him spoke with one another, tuning in and out until the voice of the headmaster signaled the end of the welcome feast and that their perfects would lead them to their respective houses. He stood with Draco and as they passed, waved at Hermione as she walked with the other Ravenclaws. Once inside the common area, Professor Snape (Severus as Draco had said while explaining that he was his godson) walked in with his robes billowing behind him. He began with welcoming the new snakes into his house and greeting the returners. He went over expectations and the rules that are to be followed, along with when they would get their schedules and things of similar nature before turning it over to the perfects to instruct the newest housemates of rooming assignments, curfew, and hours for the library/ Slytherin hosted study sessions. 

While the perfects were talking Snape found his eyes being drawn to the young dark haired wizard in his house. He knew that the Potter in front of him was nothing like the menace that he had attend school with, as it seemed the boy's first friend was none other than his godson Draco. Severus knew he had to watch how this was going to unfold over the next few months.

Mid-October 1991

The first few weeks pasted in a blur of classes, of which Harry was glad to have his friends in. There had been a few times the headmaster tried to get Harry into his office, but thankfully there was always someone close by to remind the old man of his place and that an adult would need to be present for these conversations. By the time of the first Hogsmeade's weekend, Harry finds himself, along with his head of house in the headmaster's office with the older man looking at the young boy.

"Harry my boy, we haven't had much time to speak to one another and I've been wanting to speak to you. How are you settling with Hogwarts?"

"Fine Headmaster. What is it did you want to speak to me about?" The boy didn't like the old man, he gave him the ick and made him worried about his safety.

"Well, I am your magical guardian and I would like to request a resort for you."

"With all due respect sir, you're not my magical guardian." Harry stated, cutting Snape off before he could tear into the old man. "Furthermore, I don't want to resort. I'm happy where I am, and I will not change that."

Dumbledore stared at the boy in front of him, a mix of anger and disbelief at being told off by an eleven year old, but also being told that he wasn't the young man's magical guardian. Ha, well he'll gladly show him, and then resort him into Gryffindor to set his plans in motion. He hummed and reached into his desk drawer where he keep the file of the Potter accounts, only to find it empty. The old man eyebrows furrowed as he actually looked down and verified what his hand felt as real; there was no file in the drawer. Pushed back in the drawer was a letter that when he pulled it out, choked on his tongue at the Gringotts seal.

"If you open that letter, it's from after my 11th birthday signifying that not only are you no longer my magical guardian, of which you should have never been, and that all the money you took out of my parents' accounts has been recalled. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Good day."

Severus smirked as his charge left the room and looked back to the older man in the room. He rose and made his way to the door calling over his shoulder, "I'm unsure of the version of Mr. Potter you had in your head, but he is everything but. I would try not to get on his bad side, as I fear it would ruin you."

Chapter Text

Severus smirk as his charge left the room and looked back to the older man in the room. He rose and made his way to the door calling over his shoulder, "I'm unsure of the version of Mr. Potter you had in your head, but he is everything but. I would try not to get on his bad side, as I fear it would ruin you."

Malfoy Manor, October 2nd

"Petunia!" The floo roared as the thin woman stepped through into the Malfoy's sitting room where Narcissa was waiting for her. The two had become fast friends, much to the amusement of Lucius. Said Malfoy was in the room and huffed a laugh as his sister-in-law came rushing into the room.

"Cissa! How are you my darling?" Petunia greeted the woman while being led over to sit on the couch. The squib woman then engaged in an exchange of pleasantries with the patriarch while Narcissa summoned tea, and looked to Lucius to asks him if he knew when Arthur was set to arrive. The oldest, male Weasley was supposed to arrive along with Petunia, yet had yet to make it through. Lucius was about to answer no sooner than the man himself came through the fireplace, face ablaze and eyes dark. Narcissa, while standing to led Arthur over to the chair in her sitting room, looked over at her brother-in-law silently telling him to find out.

"Arthur, are you alright?"

"No, I can't say that I am. I was on my way over when Molly called me to yell about something or another, then trying to profess her love for me. Load of poppy-cock that was. Then a get a letter from my son, Ronald, that says that he's not friends with Harry Potter and he wants me to go to Dumbledore about it. I've had it up to my ears with that man and his damned meddling." The other three occupants in the room were speechless as the red-haired man sagged into the couch with a heavy sigh. Lucius was the first to speak, trying his best to be calm, "What do you mean Dumbledore's meddling?"

"Oh, Dumbledore's had this whole plan for Harry to be the "Savior of the World" and wants him to face Voldemort." 

"I beg your pardon?! How dare he, who in the bloody hell does he think he is?" Both ladies in the room roared with such venom and malice that both men gulped as if they were the elder wizard himself. It was only when Lucius reminded everyone that both Draco and Severus were at the school with Harry, as well as Harry being able to hold his own if necessary. The other adults in the room agreed, only right before Petunia made her mind to owl her nephew and inform him to double down on staying away from the headmaster and this Ronald Weasley boy.

After the ladies had calmed down, they let the conversation flow to much lighter topics. Narcissa informed Petunia that her sister was set to return to London soon and would love to introduce the two of them. The other woman agreed and shook her head, reminding her friend to not try and set them up. The former Black huffed and informed her that it was Lucius that meddles in matchmaking, per reason of her marrying his brother and not him. The four chuckled and spent the rest of the afternoon together, before Petunia declared she should be heading home, and Arthur agreeing as he needed to insure Molly was gone from his home and remove her from the wards for good.

Hogwarts, October 17th

Draco was right livid and was storming to get to his Godfather's office. He and Harry just had a run in with the weasel while leaving the great hall and he had the gull to grab Harry with a glue charm on him and refused to undo it unless he went with him to see Dumbledore. Once the young Malfoy got to Severus office, he knocked and waited with very little patience to be told to enter and upon entering exclaimed that Weasley had dragged Harry to the Headmaster's office without warning and without Harry's consent or prior knowledge. Snape sighed and quickly stood, leaving the office with Draco in tow to the Headmaster's space.

"Harry my boy, it's very good to see you again. Mr. Weasley I'm also glad to see you and young Mr. Potter are hanging out together." Dumbledore casted the removal spell upon the boys' entry to his office.

"I would not call kidnapping hanging out, nor am I your boy Headmaster. Must I remind you that you are not my magical guardian." Harry spoke before the red headed boy could go along with the lie Dumbledore wanted to make true. It was before the man could speak again that Snape entered the room with eyes that could melt steel and Draco in tow. Harry stood, calm as ever, and walked towards the door as his head of house held it open, and no sooner than Harry left with his blonde companion, Minerva appeared a few short seconds later looking rightfully ticked off.

"Mr. Weasley, back to the common room now! And that's 20 points from Gryffindor and a week's detention with Finch." The Scottish woman left no words to be argued and as the door closed behind him, both adults turned to the eldest wizard in the room.

"If you cannot understand me maybe you will understand a lawsuit. Leave Harry Potter alone Albus. That boy is not a pawn in your game, nor is he your savior. There is no Dark Lord and if you ever use my students again, I'll bring in the board." The Gryffindor Head of House was over this silly ploy and would raise Cain on the eldest man in the room for him to understand that.

Snape was quick to follow McGonagall's statement with one of his own. "Furthermore, I need not remind you that you cannot keep calling these pointless meetings with students without head of house knowledge. I'm only going to remind you once, he is not the boy you have envisioned in your head. Secondly, he's been assigned as a charge for Narcissa Malfoy," it was here that the twinkle in Dumbledore eye died, "and she has instructed that should Harry ever write about even the slightest issue she has his aunt's permission to pull him from Hogwarts."

With the words heave in the air, both heads of house turned to make their leave, Minerva looked back and told the gray haired man that he was biting off more than he could chew and needed to stop before he chocked.

Early November

It was time for Hogsmeade weekend and Harry was very excited, he'd got written permission from both his aunt Petunia and Lady Malfoy (Cissa she liked to say with a warm smile) that he could go. As he, Draco, Hermione, and Blaise walked to the entrance of the school Dumbledore called to Harry. The young boy huffed under his breath and walked forward to the man.

"Yes Headmaster?"

"Where are you off too?"

"It's Hogsmeade weekend sir. We're off to go." The old man nodded, as if suddenly remembering.

"And I'm assuming you've gotten permission from Lady Malfoy and your Aunt?" The young boy nodded, and said he could confirm this with his head of house. He then side stepped the elder man and wished him a good day. The other three followed along and where later joined by Fred and George Weasley. The third years had become something akin to bothers to the youngest Slytherin and often kept their brother at bay when he became, well himself.

Dumbledore found himself back in his office, ready to floo to Gringotts and then the Ministry to figure out what he was going to do with Harry Potter. He refused to let his carefully crafted plan slip through his hands. With the thoughts fogging his mind he tossed a handful of floo powder into the fire place and headed off to Gringotts to get this matter sorted.