HP is all J.K. Rowlings brilliant idea, characters you don't recognize are my own, other than that I'm just putting my twist to J.K.'s magical world.

A Different Harry Potter

Chapter 1

The sound of the children playing outside on the street of Privet Drive hit me; it almost seemed like a nice place to grow up. It was July. Living in the south should have made this easier, yet the sun beating down on my black wings eventually got to me, so I flew to a lower branch with more shade. From here I could see much better inside the kitchen. I had been watching the house for an hour already, still unsure if what I'm about to do is what's best. I watch as a skinny, horse-faced woman comes into view, spraying the table with a bottle of some liquid and wiping it down as if her life depended on it. As I watched her, I thought back to when I first was introduced to her – Petunia, I thought her name was. But that was back when things were good, back when he was still here, when I still had a family, when I wasn't so alone...

Summer '78 - 6 years ago

"May I now introduce, Mr. and Mrs. James Potter!"

Cheers and applause filled the air as the bride and groom walked into the massive tent to greet their guests. With the war against Voldemort growing, families of the light gathered to celebrate the happiness that was still going on around them. Guests ate their fill, danced, laughed, and put the horrors of Britain aside for the night to have a good time. Well, almost everyone...

"Hey, Prongs, did you happen to see Snivellus' twin over in the back?" Sirius laughed. "I didn't think he was going to show. The two of you still haven't spoken since the Christmas Hols, huh?"

"Leave him alone, Padfoot, and no, we haven't spoken," James said, looking to the tables in the back of the tent where a dark haired man sat alone, looking into the crowd of dancing guest.

"You two are brothers," said Remus. "You disagree about things it happens, but with everything going on, the two of you should really try to put all this nonsense behind you. At least you know he cares."

"You're right, Moony; I think I'll go talk to him," replied James as he got up, heading across the dance floor.

Emmett Potter was the older of the two brothers. While James was a miniature of his father in personality and looks, Emmett was different. He had jet black hair like his father and brother but wasn't cursed with the "untamable Potter hair" like them. He had filled out since Hogwarts and had sharp facial features with dark blue eyes that seemed to take in everything around him. As children, the two Potter boys were as thick as thieves, always getting in trouble with their parents for pranks they pulled. James came up with the pranks, and Emmett was sneaky and smart enough to carry them out perfectly, that was until Emmett left for Hogwarts. James wasn't too sure what to think of his brother being sorted into Slytherin house, leading to his being uncomfortable around Emmett and putting a strain on their relationship. It was two years before James was able to join Emmett at Hogwarts, but by then, both had a new circle of friends. For the remaining four years of schooling, Emmett watched his younger brother become the ever loving prankster and Quidditch star, breaking rules and causing mayhem with best friend Sirius Black. Yet no matter what James got into, Emmett was never far behind, always watching over him, always caring. He knew that was why he came here today: no other reason except he still cared.

"Firewhiskey?"

Emmett looked up to see his little brother wearing that dumb lopsided grin of his, holding out a glass of the amber liquid. Emmett took the drink, mumbling a thanks as James pulls out a chair to sit down.

"I almost didn't think you would show up," James commented.

The two sat in silence, watching Lily getting twirled around the dance floor by their father, while her sister Petunia was slow dancing with her head rested on her father's shoulder.

"I almost didn't," Emmett finally replied. "I came in hope you had reconsidered my offer?"

James inwardly sighed. "Em, we've been over this. Yes, things have been getting bad, but we can't leave. Our friends are here, our family. We just joined the Order; we're going to fight back-"

"The Order!" barked Emmett. "Come on, James, the Order is nothing more than a bunch of mindless gits who blindly follow their so called leader of the light. Really, what progress has the Order made since we last talked?"

"We've been recruiting, and we stopped that Death Eater attack in Manchester last week... At least we're doing something!"

"Something, yes, but are you really telling me the great leader of the light Albus Dumbledore can't come up with anything besides recruiting and stopping the occasional Death Eater raid? He himself doesn't even show up; he lets his Order do all his dirty work for him! Think about it, James. You, me, Lily, Mum, and Dad, we can all leave, start over! Before He comes after us," Emmett pleaded.

"I can't. I'm sorry, Em; our lives are here-"

"Merlin, James, you won't have a life if you stay. Why can't you understand that! What about your wife? Your future children?"

"That's why I'm doing this, Emmett; that's why I must stay and fight. So my children can have a future without this damned war to worry about!" James huffed.

Emmett stood up, turning to James with a sad look in his eyes. "I guess we have nothing more to discuss. I still hope you reconsider before it is too late. Give Lily, Mum, and Dad my love." With that, Emmett turn and briskly walked out of the tent.

Present

That was the last we spoke face to face. The countless nights I spent wishing I had pushed the subject more… but it was too late for all that. I was roused out of my thoughts by the sound of the back door sliding open. Blending myself into the shade of the leaves, I watched as Petunia walked out of the house with what I thought was the fattest baby in the British Isles. At least he seemed to be well taken care of, though a bit too fat and spoiled for my tastes. Just as I was about to conclude this was all for nothing, I spotted something peering out from the kitchen door. Or rather, a someone!

As I moved to get a better view of the child, he slowly walked out, almost unsure if he was allowed to be outside. He was far too skinny, and his clothes looked like they belonged to a baby whale. He sat alone playing with a tiny truck while Petunia let what I was assuming was her fat lard of a son sit on blanket filled with toys to play with.

I heard a telephone ring coming from inside the house, and Petunia stood to give the little whale a kiss on the forehead before walking inside, completely ignoring the other child. Checking they were alone, I watched as the fat toddler waddled over the younger boy only to snatch up the toy truck and hit him over the head with it. The little boy started to cry, holding the bump on his head, trying to stop the pain. Seeing his mother running out of the house, the fat toddler started crying too.

"Dudley, my sweet, what's wrong? What did that horrid little boy do to you now?" said Petunia, trying to calm the screaming infant now in her arms. "Oh, my Ickle Diddykins, there, there."

"Hush boy!" shushed Petunia as she grabbed the sobbing young lad by his arm, dragging him up and moving inside. "I don't know what you did now, but until you learn to mind your betters, you'll stay in your cupboard..." CAW! "...Stupid birds..."

"WHAT!"

Mind his betters? He was three, for the love of Merlin! And what was this about a cupboard? Quickly, I flew down, landing on the clothes line to see what was going on inside. I could see Petunia in the hallway, where, to my horror, she was locking a little door to what I presumed was the cupboard, with little Harry nowhere to be seen. I had seen enough! I flew to the shed the Dursleys had in their backyard so the Muggles wouldn't be able to see me when I transformed. As my feet hit the spot, a car pulled in the drive. I watched as the enormous man waddled/ran into the house. Now I understood where the son got his figure. As I walked to the front, I heard Petunia's husband.

"Where is the freak?"

"Locked him up dear," said Petunia. "We were outside having such a lovely day. I stepped away for a moment, and the Freak made Diddykins cry! Oh, Vernon, the poor dear was bawling his eyes out."

"I'll give him a good smacking," said Vernon getting up. "The brat needs to learn he can't get away this crap!"

DING-DONG!

"Who could that be?" asked a bewildered Petunia.

"Probably one of those stupid neighborhood kids selling something. I'll deal with it," said Vernon, heading towards the front door.

This is my first fan fic so please feel free to comment and Review, maybe give some insight on where you would like to see this story go. Its still early on, there will be pairings but Im unsure of with who. I am a fan of Harry/Daphne, Harry/Ginny, and Harry/Hermione but we will see. I'm not sure how often I can update but I will try at least once a week.