Harry Potter

"From Top to Bottom"

StoriesofDarkness

Summary: Set after Second Year. AU fic. Augusta Longbottom spots Harry at the train station, takes one look, and realizes that things aren't right at all. Acting on impulse, she takes Harry from the Dursley's, and starts to train him as the future Lord Potter.

Rated: G

Category: Adventure/Fantasy

Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter.

Notes: Spoilers for all the books. This first chapter will be in Mrs. Longbottom's POV, but after that, it'll all be Harry's.

Chapter One: A Seemingly Simple Matter

"Gran, I've lost my toad again," Neville muttered, as he came up to his Grandmother, who was paying more attention to that Potter boy. Her nephew seemed dis-interested in his toad, which was a great improvement, but still not quite up to speed. Toads had gone out of fashion years ago, and while they helped gardens-they were hell in keeping up with.

Neville remained quiet at her side, while the young Potter boy was making his way towards the exit of Platform 9 and ¾, feeling that something was very wrong indeed. The Potter boy appeared dejected, instead of happy. He appeared far too thin. His clothes were utterly horrendous, for a wellbred boy of his standing-

"Neville, would you be a dear and bring Mr. Potter over to me immediately?" She asked, though it wasn't an actual request, but more of an order. Neville apparently sensed this, for he quickly did as he was told, stopping the Potter boy right before he was about to leave. She saw the Potter boy appear to stop, listen to Neville-and then frown in confusion as he did so.

Finally, he came back to where she was standing, and he looked at her with utter bewilderment-something that she didn't blame him for, of course, though she hoped that she could school him better in what has been occurring.

"Mr. Potter," She began, sounding stern. "Do you realize how much of a social influence you have been for my nephew? He is growing, Mr. Potter, and he is growing at quite a rapid rate, especially from all that he has told me of his interactions with you!" The two boys both looked startled, nervous, and surprised by the statements. She resisted the urge to smile, even as she thought Severus, dear, you would have enjoyed this moment, I'm sure-before turning back to the discussion. "Therefore, explain to me please why you go to live with those muggles. You cannot practice magic with them, and that is essential. Do you truly enjoy staying with them, Mr. Potter?"

"No," He answered almost immediately, and then flinched and hurriedly tried to correct himself, but he had already revealed far too much than she had anticipated. Her eyes narrowed as he tried to cover his answer.

"Mr. Potter, I must insist that you do not lie to me. I may be beyond my eighty years, but I am still to be respected, as I am a witch of good social standing-much as you are a wizard of high social standing. Therefore, seeing as you do not like to live with those muggles, we shall pay them a visit, and I will kindly ask that I take you in for the summer to teach you some much needed wizarding manners. Your muggle manners are all very fine, I'm sure, but its high time you learned how to act like a Lord," She said, primely.

The Potter boy-really, why could she not remember his name? Neville must've told her countless times before-seemed to frown.

"Ma'am, the Headmaster-"

"Should have no issue with you staying with family, after all your father was a relation of mine, a third cousin or some such, I am unsure as it's hard to keep track of the many, many people in our relation. I believe that you and Neville are something like first cousins, if I remember correctly, though as I have said, my memory is old, and it is hard keeping up with which family members are what," She said, shaking her head in irritation as she began to move towards the exit of the Platform. "Now then, I believe that-from what I've heard and read-that your muggle family is the…Dirtleys?"

She saw the Potter boy actually try to hold back a smirk at that, though failed miserably. She resisted the urge to smile herself, as it rather was an amusing name.

"Dursley's, ma'am." Harry-she had finally remembered his name, though she didn't understand why it was so hard to remember to begin with-corrected absently, acting much like that Granger girl that Neville had been going on about.

"The Dursley's. And you shall point them out, introduce us, and we shall go from there," She said, firmly grasping Neville's hand and pulling him through the Barrier.

She waited patiently for Harry to join her, and as soon as the three of them had crossed, the noise of the train stopped, to be replaced by the more mundane ones. She scanned the crowd, until Harry said uneasily,

"There they are, ma'am."

"And you must stop calling me ma'am. My name is Augusta Longbottom, but simply Mrs. Longbottom will do," She said absently, and he nodded. She withheld a sigh-she must really teach the boy better manners. A bow, and a proper introduction would have been much better.

As she was thinking, she stopped short once she realized that Harry had pointed out his relatives-and stared in horror, for they were the three ungliest muggles she had ever seen in her life. The big fat one was obviously the uncle, while the short horselike woman was obviously the aunt, and the small fat whale of a boy…well, she could only hope that was a cousin of Harry's.

She approached with firmness, feeling that it was best to deal with the muggles in a sense of manners as a lady ought to act.

"Good afternoon. I am Lady Augusta Longbottom, a relation to young Mr. Potter. I seek-"

"You're a witch?" The man who was more of a whale asked, his tone suspicious and his face darkening to an ugly red. She noted that Harry seemed to be half hiding behind her, and Neville was looking at Harry with an odd expression on his face.

She suddenly knew what she had to do, and with a sense of reluctance (while she knew she had to do it, that didn't mean she was going to approve what she'd been about to do) looked the man square in the eyes, and started to read into his thoughts.

And almost as quickly yanked herself back out.

The vileness positively reeked off of him, his dark thoughts of hate of all things magical was so strong as to make her stomach churn. She even nearly stumbled backwards a bit, and would have if Neville and Harry hadn't been right behind her.

She must not show weakness.

She must act quickly.

Straightening up, she glared at the whale angrily, and said darkly,

"Mr. Dursley, I fear that young Mr. Potter is no longer safe at your home. I also feel that it is my strong duty to report you to the proper authorities for all that you have done, not only to your nephew but to your own son as well. I cannot believe that Dumbledore placed the hero of the wizarding world in your pudgy hands, you utter…bastard," She swore for the first time in several years, feeling great satisfaction at seeing him shaking with fear as she had pulled out her wand. She glanced at the woman, who looked astonished at her reaction.

"You dare to threaten me?" Mr. Dursley demanded, gaining startled looks from passerbys.

"I am not threatening you, Mr. Dursley." She said, with a calmness she didn't feel at all. Her hands, were one not clenched in a fist and the other around her wand-would have been shaking at the sheer rage that was pouring through her. She noticed some of the lights flickering, and tried to control her anger. "And, if I have my way of things-you will never see your nephew again." She said, coldly.

Turning, she saw Harry and Neville staring at her with wide eyes.

"Come, children. I believe it is time for us to leave this place behind. Harry, there are no other things at their house that you require?" She asked, realizing he might have left some things behind. If so, she would apparate there, and then snag whatever he needed before returning to the Manor.

He shook his head, and her fury grew. A child should have more than their effects for a school, she thought.

"Very well. Let us be off."

And without looking back, Harry finally left the Dursley's with his new charge, and back into the wizarding world.

End Chapter One

Notes: I have no idea of pairings yet. I also am unsure of where exactly this story is going, though I'm aiming for it to be an eventual Intelligent/Powerful!Harry. Also an Intelligent/Powerful!Neville, too. Fair thee warning, this story isn't even finished, as I'm working out the chapters now, so updates may be iffy at best. I thank all of you for your time in reading this first chapter, and any reviews/favs. Thank you.