Chapter Text
Prologue
On the fateful night when Lord Voldemort first learned of the dreaded prophecy, the words were etched into his mind.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
A vision painted of this chosen one destined to bring about his downfall. It was then that Voldemort’s path for eternal life was blurred. It became a mission to stamp out the child that would hinder what he had planned for so many decades.
The night Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow to kill the prophesied child, he was confronted with a choice. One Veldemort had not anticipated or been prepared to make - who to kill Harry or Richard? the younger or the older? Time was against him, the decision needed to be made, drawing his wand he yelled out "AVADA KEDAVRA". The spell bounced back and killed Voldemort.
As swift as a phoenix Dumbledore was the first on site. As he gazed into the crib noticing both children crying. Richard was enveloped in a shimmery magical sphere. In this pivotal moment, Dumbledore named Richard ‘the chosen one’. The one who will rise to vanquish Lord Voldemort. Through a twist of fate the Potter’s were spared that night, distracted in their backyard.
That was the night Dumbledore made the second significant mistake of his life. But as fate would have it, the consequences of his actions would only reveal themselves when intervention would prove futile. This is the story of Harry Potter, the forgotten child to both worlds, Muggle and Magical. I give you a life existing in the shadows, only to light up in the eyes of those who hold him dear.
~O_O~
"Richard, have you gotten everything together? Are you ready to leave for the train? If you forget anything like last time your mother and I will not send it to you this year."
James was getting impatient, and Richard had gotten lazy during the holidays.
"Richard, don't make me tell your mother to get up there and help!"
James heard a thud and a quick reply of "No I'm almost done, don't send mum," then footsteps down the stairs.
"I'm here, I'm ready, what about Harry?"
"Harry, oh Harry yes um... he looks ready." James quickly looked over Harry, who seemed dressed and packed.
Richard looked from his father to the door. Had neither of his parents noticed Harry’s presence, standing there with his trunk ready and packed. But Richard knew, he always knew where his brother was, after all he was the big brother. Richard’s heart ached with disappointment towards his parents. They always overlooked Harry. As he grew older, Richard noticed the truth, a pattern almost. His parents had an unwavering focus on him and his needs, but it always ended up with the exclusion of Harry from occasions and experiences.
"Come along then get ready for another year of school, ay."
"And its Harry's first year,"
"What? ... Oh… Yes of course, now don’t forget to be good, don't get up to too much mischief and play nice. Oh yes and stay away from that Malfoy kid, he seemed to have given you a hard time last year. You know his father was a Death Eater so stay away." And on and on went the rules about what you can and can't do, what was expected of him for being 'The chosen one'. Richard had most of the speech memorised.
"Yes, dad I know I know, don't affiliate with the Slytherin's, behave and do what Dumbledore says. Yes, I'll be good, ok dad." He turned to Harry, "Come on Uncle Sirius is probably waiting for us outside seething cause I made him wait. Why didn't you wait outside Harry?"
"I wanted to wait for you Rich," Harry looked down at his feet, who could argue at an adorable blushing younger brother.
"Alright then come on, bye mum, bye dad."
"Bye mum and dad," Harry almost whispered the farewell but they still caught it.
"Bye Richard have a good year, oh and you to Harry," Lilly almost forgot her youngest child for a moment until laying eyes upon the child.
"Ah there you are Harry, Richard what took you so long." Harry was about to say something then Sirius said, "wait no let me guess Richard was lazy and didn't pack until today yes," a nod from both Harry and Richard. Sirius and Remus were the only other people who remembered the sweet, adorable Harry.
"Well before Remus kills me for forgetting, Harry, I have to give you your present for starting school," Sirius pulled out a cage with a beautiful white owl.
"Don't you dare forget to write to us or you're going to get a howler from Remus, I swear he is like a mother wolf ahahahaha, but don't tell him I said that though boys, he'll have my head."
After Harry had the time to admire his gift, he gave Sirius a large warm hug. Sirius dumped the trunks into his car boot, and drove the Potter boys to the busy train station.
Sirius helped the two boys with their trunks, wheeling them to platform 9¾. Once on the platform Richard darted off with Harry trailing behind in search of his friends. Sirius followed slowly behind. Reaching his friend Richard happily introduced Harry to Ron and his brothers. Sirius took note, hidden behind Harry’s smile was fear.
Harry had wave after wave of apprehension. He feared school, what people would think of him, especially since he was 'The chosen one's' brother. He was afraid of tarnishing his brother's name. He had been continuously reminded to never engage in anything that might cast a shadow upon Richard's image - a relentless pressure not to sully the family legacy.
Richard and Harry bid Sirius farewell, each receiving a rib-crushing hug. Richard and Fred assisted Harry in getting his trunk on board, but Fred insisted in helping Harry wheel it in. Following his brother and his friends to find a compartment Harry got separated by the mass of students finding a place on the train. That was when he stumbled straight into a taller boy, a good four inches taller. Looking up he saw a scowl on the pale boy's face, quickly Harry bowed his head and mumbled "Sorry I wasn't looking where I was going, sorry." He tried to push past but the taller boy grabbed his arm pulling him around.
"What's your name?"
"Hey Malfoy, what are you doing scaring new kids, go bully someone you already know," Richard took Harry's other arm.
"Oh, looky here, it's the goody two shoes Potter- why don't you mind your own business while I talk to whomever I like." Malfoy went to pull Harry back from Richard, but Richard didn’t relent.
Pulling Harry quickly to him, Richard looked at his brother seeing if he was hurt in any way. Getting the look from Harry that he was fine.
"Well not with him, you leave him alone," with that said, Richard took Harry to the compartment all his friends were sitting in. They left behind them a slightly dazed and confused Draco. He was wondering who the kid with the large green eyes was. Never had he seen eyes so green. Turning around with his cronies Crab and Goyle they left for the compartment Pansy had found.
The train trip had been exciting for Harry; he made friends with a boy named Neville and Dean, and one girl called Hermione. They were all talking animatedly about what they thought Hogwarts would be like. It was mainly the others talking while Harry just listened in. Until Hermione started quoting the book 'Hogwarts a History', Harry joined in as he had read that book from cover to cover many times. Hermione was happy someone else was just as excited about learning and had a keen interest in reading. If Richard groaned no one said anything.
By the time the train had stopped, everyone had gotten into their school robes. They all tried to file out quickly, although it was more like tripping over anyone and anything. First-years like Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Dean were taken to the boats lead by Hagrid. Harry and his friends got a boat to themselves and watched in awe as the vast castle came into view. Their awe at the castle was quickly turned to disgust at the abrupt appearance of Argus Filch who arrived to take them to the dining room so they could be sorted.
Slowly the names were called, Neville and Hermione, Harry's new friends, went to Ravenclaw. It seemed all too soon when McGonagall called the name "Harry Potter”. Everybody paused at that name, who was this other Potter? None more so than Draco Malfoy, it was then that the boy Draco ran into on the train stepped forwards, the boy with those green eyes. He made his way slowly with every pair of eyes following him. Harry sat on the stool and the sorting hat was placed on his head.
"So, you've finally come to have me on your head, hmmm Harry Potter. Though my question is where should I put you? Where should I put you? hmmmm. We all know your brothers in Gryffindor, should I put you there, or how about Slytherin. You would be safer there from my guesses, no?"
"Don't put me in Slytherin please, I want to be with my brother and friends," Harry begged the hat with his eyes closed.
"Well, I shouldn't put you where you are not needed, well then I think I made my mind up Harry Potter, I shall place you in" the hat paused a bit and shouted out loud to the room "Ravenclaw!" The room was still in dead silence until the table of Ravenclaw exploded with cheers and claps for their newest member.