What Would I Do? Chapter 1: Fleeing to Diagon Alley, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: I've always been the person who read fanfiction and came up with ideas and wrote them down and at this point I've had hundreds of ideas, many far better than this one in terms of appeal to an audience. However, this story resonates with me, and I guess the reason why I am writing it is because it answers the question: What would I do if I woke up as Harry Potter on the day he receives his Hogwarts letter? What changes would I make? What areas of the "Wizarding World" would I explore that the books never showed us? I try to maintain a universe where everything that happened in the books could have still happened completely if I had never woken up in Harry's body, and have tried to not just make stuff up, and when I have it is because I think it could reasonably exist or happen. This is my first ever piece of fanfiction, so reviews are welcome, good and bad. Just know: ultimately this story is for me and I'm just choosing to share it with you. I promise no update schedule, but because I am a student and this is the summer, I may have time on my hands to write quite a bit or I may abandon this after just a while. I might get Gary Stu in the beginning, but once the Butterfly Effects starts taking place, I'll be unable to control this world as I expected. Foreknowledge is only useful if you don't change anything, and I plan on changing a lot.

Chapter Edited: 9/01/2018

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK and Warner Bros. do.

Chapter One: Fleeing to Diagon Alley

Let me start off by saying that I never expected this to happen, and while I loved magic and all things that were supernatural, I never believed in them. When I was a kid I fell in love with the Harry Potter books like seemingly everyone else after the second grade. From then on, I always desired to be special beyond the norms and limits of the universe I was use to. Still, I sometimes tried to shoot fire out of my hands like Zuko did or cast spells like Hermione or read minds like Edward or move things with my mind like Luke. Whether this experience I had was a gift from a god or everything was just in my head: I don't know. I was happy, though. Here's the story.

"Boy!" "Boy wake up!" was yelled quite loudly at me as I woke up. I sat up, opened my eyes, stuck my hands in my eyes and rubbed them, looked around, and saw an absolutely unfamiliar surrounding. I hadn't fallen asleep in what looked like a cupboard under the stairs the night before. My immediate thought went to Harry Potter and thought my parents must be playing some sort of joke on me but then I looked at myself. My hand were not this small, I was not this skinny, nor this short. I had long hair, not this short hair I could feel with my knobby miniaturized hands. I didn't own clothes like these oversized grey rags and I definitely didn't remember changing into them. I raised my fingertips to my forehead and found a scar. Tracing the lightning bolt shape with my fingers, I realized I must BE Harry Potter. I had no clue what was going on other than this must be one of my more lucid dreams. If that was the case, I needed to enjoy it while it lasted.

"BOY!" "Get up!" a women yelled again. I assumed this must be Aunt Petunia. "And fetch the mail!" I lifted my right hand to fiddle with what looked like a brass lock. I unlocked it and then did as instructed, pushed my hand on the door and stumbled out, getting adjusted to the feeling of operating a new body. Walking was weird. My feet were small and my legs were small and my torso was small. Everything around me seemed bigger than it should. This whole 4'8" thing was going to take some getting use to. I walked down the foyer hallway to the mail and saw a letter shining with green ink on top, addressed to Mr. H Potter. This must be the summer before first year... I knew how this played out in the books and I didn't desire all the commotion that Harry had to go through, so I just snatched that parcel and smudged that envelope down my pants so the Dursleys wouldn't see it. I decided right then and there, if I only got a limited amount of time in this dream, I didn't want to spend it with the freaking Dursleys. So, I opened the door and just started walking down Privet Drive. The Knight Bus would help any stranded witch or wizard, wouldn't they? I didn't have any money, but I was Harry Potter! Maybe Stan Shunpike would make an exception if I used a little bit of celebrity charm. I walked down to the end of the street where the road intersected another, far enough where none of the neighbors would see me, as it was early in the morning and no one was about walking about in this foggy dawn. I extended my right hand, which was what I had to do, right? It had been a while since I read the actual books and I mostly consumed fanfiction. Sure enough, less than a minute later, after sticking my freaking hand out like a fool: I heard a sound like a car rushing through a tunnel, and a flash of purple. "The Knight Bus" was standing right in front of me. It really was triple decker. That's so awesome! I assumed the "dream" that I thought I was having was going to end before this, so I was surprised I was able to control it to this extent.

The door shifted open and a conductor, who I assumed was Stan, stepped out and spoke "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening. Who are you and where are you going?" I timidly stepped forward. I decided I was going to fake it until I made it.

"Hi Stan, my name is Harry Potter and it's such a pleasure to meet you. I'm terribly sorry about this but I don't have any money on me and was wondering if you'd be willing to take me to Diagon Alley. It would really help me out and I'll make sure to come back and repay you once I've visited Gringotts." I knew I had him. The moment I said I was Harry Potter his eyes flicked up to my scar and then when I said it was a pleasure to meet him, he basically swooned.

"Oh. Oh, well of course sir. Hop on board" He turned to the driver, "Ern, we're taking the young Potter to Diagon Alley, pro-bono." He offered me a hot chocolate and sat me down on the bed closest to him and proceeded to badger me with questions. It was beautiful in a quirky way in here, beds lined up against purple walls with ornate chandeliers hanging from the rickety ceiling.

"What were you doing in Surrey?" he asked me.

"Well, that's where I grew up, but I got my Hogwarts letter and came to get school supplies." I lied, not wanting to tell Stan much of anything. I didn't know how this dream was going to play out and honestly I didn't want to screw it up. At this point, this dream was more vivid than anything I had ever "dreamt" before. I wasn't sure this wasn't real-so I pinched myself, and I don't know if that was really supposed to do anything because I felt it. I thought you weren't supposed to feel it if it was a dream, so that was interesting. I decided I was just going to play it cautious so I asked Stan, "Do you have a bathroom?".

"Down the end of the Hall. The only door." He responded. "Can I get you anything?" he asked again, eagerly.

"No thanks, Stan. I'm fine." I responded as I got up and walked to the bathroom. Opening the purple door, there was a mirror on the opposite wall and I saw myself for the first time. I really did look like Harry. I didn't look exactly like Daniel Radcliffe, though. I looked better, to be honest; I actually had green eyes. My face was skinnier and more boyish than movie Harry's. My eyes were big and beautiful and my hair was a nice kind of unruly and curly black. The problem was the weakness of this body, so small and frail. Harry had obviously been abused by the Dursleys, treated like a house elf. I guess it would make sense to be public with this past and use it to my advantage. I wasn't sure if Harry was some rich lord like in fanfiction–which I hoped he was. If he wasn't, I could make money off of selling a book about Harry's past, probably. But I didn't know Harry's past. As I was thinking that, I did have memories, memories that weren't mine, flooding my brain. A woman who looked like she could be Aunt Petunia smacking my face with a frying pan. A snake in the garden singing a tune. Getting chased by a fat boy around the school yard. This was weird. This didn't feel like I dream. I couldn't experience memories than weren't mine in a dream... I delved further into my mind and discovered more memories, Harry's childhood, locked away in my brain. I wasn't dreaming, I was here, I must have replaced him and I have no idea how! I wonder if this means I'm never going back, back to my Earth, to my home?

I started to freak out a little, but got it under control. I was here now, unexplainably, and I was Harry. There was nothing I did to get here so there's nothing I can do to get back, so I might as well have some fun while I was here.

At that time, a few knocks ringed on the door and Stan's voice called out, "Mr. Potter, are you alright? Your stop is here."

I smacked my face to pull myself together and walked out of the door. Stan was there. I took his hand, shook it and thanked him for his help. Taking a brave first step through the glass and purple painter metal door, I got off the bus and walked into the Alley.

It was amazing. Everything I had ever imagined, and more. The shops were crowded next to each other with tall glass windows, and levels of what were probably apartments above them. The streets almost towered in just a little, making the alleyway feel enclosed. Potage's Cauldron Shop was right there, and wow, brooms on display hovering in windows! Quality Quidditch Supplies! Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop! Slugs and Jiggers Apothecary! There was so much magic everywhere. It was exciting. Every building was a different color from the others adjacent to it. It seemed like there was an average of four floors per building. Most of the shops were accessed on the ground floor but a few stairwells led to second story shops. This beginning section of Diagon Alley seemed very busy and what must be the main center of action. Further down the road, I could see Gringotts, the centerpiece of the "British Wizarding District". The brick wall of the "Leaky Cauldron" began the alley, I could see. Adjacent on both sides to this brick wall were fireplaces that must be used for people to floo in and out of. "BANG! Whoosh!" came from behind me with a rush of air and I turned around to one of those floo fireplaces, having no idea where the Knight Bus came from or disappeared to. There was only one street here. Nevertheless, I knew exactly what I needed to do, and that was to get money. I made my way down the cobblestone street to the gigantic marble building at the intersection of Knockturn and Diagon Alley, which was obviously Gringotts. I kept my head down, so no one would recognize me. I wasn't ready to handle any attention. The poem from the books was inscribed on the silver doors.

"Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there."

Walking through the entrance was so surreal. I walked in and up to a teller and he didn't look at me for a second, so I just waited… and waited... Then finally after what must have been twenty seconds of him counting what must be golden galleons he asked, "May I help you?"

"Yes, I'd like to visit my vault. Sadly, I have no key or way to access it because I'm an orphan. Could you help me to get a new key so I can enter my vault?" I said. I felt like I was roleplaying, but I was fine with it. No one in this world knew Harry, so I could act however I wanted. He could have my personality.

"For a fee. What's your name?"

"Harry Potter." I said quietly. His eye glinted and he said softly, "Come", as he made his way off his stool and hobbled through the marbled hall to a side door, leading me with him. He took me into a large golden chamber with a bowl on a dais and a knife resting on top of the bowl. He dragged me over by my hand, pricked my finger with the knife and let a few drops of my blood pool in the bowl before he pulled out a piece of parchment and dipped it into my blood in the bowl. The parchment began to have my name, "Harry James Potter" appear on it. Then the words, "son of the late James Potter, son of the late Lily Potter nee Evans, godson of Sirius Black". These words were all written in my blood, redding the page.

"Everything seems to be in order here. I'll have them fashion a new key right now." He said, gesturing to another goblin standing in the doorway who scuffled off.

"I have a godfather?" I asked, playing stupid. I knew Sirius was innocent and needed to be freed and I knew I'd need to get a lawyer for him.

"Yes, but he's in Azkaban. You should know though, if he shows up as a godfather here, he must have taken The Godfather oath. That means he wouldn't have been able to betray you like the Ministry said he did. I can find a lawyer for you, for another fee." The Goblin said to me. This worked perfectly, I didn't even have to do the hard work!

"That'll be great, thank you." I said, as the goblin who had left before came back with a key and placed it in my hand before running off again.

"I'll have Griphook take you down to your vault. Griphook!" He called loudly. A goblin, Griphook, I presumed, came scurrying into the room and outstretched his hand to lead me away. We went through large marble doors in the entrance hall to a dark mine shaft with a cart on a track. I got into the cart and so did he and then the cart shot forward like the rollercoasters I hated. I just tried to enjoy but it was just nauseating and scary. Twists and turns occurred, and even one upside down spiral that almost made me heave.

When we finally jerked to a halt outside of vault 687, I was glad the trip was over and that I would be able to see how much money I had. I was even more happy about the flat land that didn't ricket with every bump. The goblin, Griphook, took his lantern and hopped out of the cart. Then he walked to the door as I got out of the cart. He outstretched the new ornate brass key that had been made for me, flipped open a matching brass hatch for a lock, and turned. Then with the groan of metal, the vault swung open inch-by-inch. Inside, there were heaps and heaps of galleons. "How much is there, Griphook?" I asked.

"50,000 galleons and a few family items." He said shortly. I walked inside the vault and found a pouch among the few items grouped together in the corner. I filled the pouch, which just seemingly never ended, which was quite useful. I must have withdrawn just over $100,000, or 2,000G. I worked out the exchange rate based on asking Griphook what things cost and it seemed like a galleon was roughly $50 US dollars and a sickle was $3. I needed to purchase things and pay to put a lawyer on retainer, so I grabbed quite a bit. After grabbing the money, I looked around the items and found nothing worth taking, it just seemed like the old family trinkets nobody would want so they put them away inside of a locked vault they only visited occasionally. Maybe there were a few important things stored in here, but that would be for another time. However, I did find a copy of James and Lily's will sitting in the vault. It bestowed everything to me and asked for Sirius to raise me, stating that he had undergone the godfather bonding ritual and that Peter Pettigrew was their secret keeper. This was good evidence for Sirius's case for release.

We made our way back up the mine shafts on the cart, which was only a slightly more pleasant trip, and Griphook led me into a different marbled room off the main hall. There were two club chairs with a nice side table with little pastries set up on a golden dish and a woman sitting in one of the two chairs.

"Hello, Andromeda Tonks, lawyer of Tonks & Tonks, at your service." the woman rose to say.

"Harry Potter" I said, providing my name. The edges of her mouth raised slightly, just barely giving away she didn't know who she was coming in to meet with.

"What can I do for you today, Mr. Potter?" she asked, lowering her hand in an arc, motioning for me to sit.

"Well, I have just recently discovered that my godfather, Sirius Black, underwent the godfather ritual with me while I was a babe, which would prevent him from betraying my family and me all those years ago and that Peter Pettigrew was my parents secret keeper. That means Sirius Black has been wrongfully imprisoned for a decade, all without a trial." I said unfazed. Her jaw unhinged, she looked as if she was both the saddest, happiest, and angriest woman in the world all at once.

"Did you know him?" I asked. (Even though I damn well knew she was his cousin.)

"Yes, yes I did. He was my cousin. That must be why Nogwin, the goblin teller, choose to floocall me instead of another firm. A suit coming from a family member who was on the right side of the last war will help to get the case seen. No trial, really? All those years, I thought they had just expedited the damn thing. Do you have proof of this godfather ritual?" She asked.

I handed over the copy of James' and Lily's will that I had.

"This will do it. I'll get right on it. If there truly was no trial, and this godfather ritual checks out- I can likely have him out by the end of tomorrow on an emergency Wizengamot procedure. It will be hard to find Peter if he's out there. Thankfully, we don't need to find him to prove Sirius's innocence. With Veritaserum combined with the godfather ritual, everyone should believe him."

"What will you be able to get in compensation? I want to push for both loss of income and pain and suffering damages, if those exist in the Wizarding World." I asked and stated. She looked impressed at my legal knowledge.

"Yes, that does bring up the question– where have you been all these years? Are you not familiar with the wizarding world?"

"No, I am not. I was raised by my maternal Aunt and Uncle. Even though this will stipulates for me to go to Sirius first and foremost, followed by Frank and Alice Longbottom and subsequently Minerva McGonagall in preference." I told her.

"Do you have a place to stay?" she asked me.

"No. Not really. Actually, how about calling this um… "Remus Lupin" that the will leaves 300 galleons to "as one of our best friends", to come and stay with me? Will that be suitable? I was going to stay here in the Alley, for ease of access."

"I can do that. It's still quite early. If he's within the country an owl could get to him by night time, and if not you can stay with me for the night. If he's in London, the owl could take a very short time. I will ask him to apparate to meet us." Andromeda told me.

"Thanks. Now I must ask, what's your rate per hour and how much money can we get out of the Ministry?" I asked.

"6 Galleons per billable hour. I trust that is not a problem?" She asked.

"Not at all." I replied, thinking it a fair price for a good lawyer.

"As far as how much we can get out of them, I suspect we can get all of his lost salary, plus four times his salary in pain and suffering from being in Azkaban. Also, I'm not sure how to say this but I must warn you: people who are in Azkaban that long don't really make it out well. You might not ever get to stay with Sirius." I knew he was an animagus and used that ability to stay sane behind bars, though. He would be alright.

"Alright. How much would his wages compound to be?" I asked.

"I actually do know this because my daughter is becoming an Auror. With an annual salary of 1,600 galleons, he would after 10 years likely have compiled 16,000 Galleons in earnings. Taking in punitive damages, altogether I think we can get compensation of 80,000 galleons." She said. I knew this was a hefty penny, being about 4 million dollars today.

"I also want to look into getting compensation for the use of my name on products and books about me from the past 10 years, as long as we can do it via settling out of court. I don't want any publicity downfall from seeking compensation for the use of my name and likeness."

"I can look into that for you. I'll see what products and books have been written and come back to you. I'll leave you now and write a letter to Remus." She said. "You'll be here, at Gringotts?"

"I was going to go out into the Alley, but yes, he can meet me here. Thanks." I said.

Then she left, saying goodbyes while leaving the room. Then, while alone in that room I remembered something which meeting with Tonk's mother had reminded me of. Harry never had a haircut, and when he did: his hair grew back overnight. I always thought in my head that he was a metamorphmagus. Of course, there was the possibility this also wasn't exactly like the universe the books were in and I suspected even if not, there were just things we never discovered through the lens of Harry's view. Additionally, J.K.'s books were full of so many contradictions that for it to actually exist in any universe would mean some changes would have to occur from the books. So, I walked over to the far wall of this meeting room where a golden ornate mirror hung, and attempted to change my hair from black to blonde. It surprisingly worked, the color spreading like a piece of paper dipped in paint. This was amazing! I was a metamorphmagus. I could be anyone, disguise myself, and always look good. I turned it back to black, hid the scar, cleaned myself up, and made myself a bit taller, a bit bigger, a bit more muscular, and more attractive by shaping my face just a tad. I pulled out the letter I had shoved into my pants earlier that morning and went back over to the armchair I had been sitting in. Unfolding it, it had more than the two sheets the books had led me to believe I should have recieved. This was a surprise. They read:

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
"Minerva McGonagall"

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragonhide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 set brass scales

1 beginner's potion ingredients and preparation kit

400 feet (or more) of parchment

3 (or more) quills

2 (or more) ink pots
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

(Other pets need special permission from the Deputy Headmistress.)

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

Yours sincerely,
"Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus"

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

REQUIRED COURSES

First year students must take:

Charms, 3x a week

Introductory Flying, 1x a week

Herbology, 3x a week

History of Magic, 2x a week

Magical Self-Defense, 3x a week

Magical Theory, 2x a week

Potions, 4x a week

Transfiguration, 3x a week

OPTIONAL COURSES

First year students may take:

Advanced Alchemy, 2x a week

Advanced Ancient Runes, 3x a week

Advanced Ancient Studies, 2x a week

Advanced Arithmancy, 4x a week

(For students ready to learn algebra based mathematics.)

Advanced Beastiology and Being Studies, 2x a week

Advanced Divination, 2x a week

Advanced Elemental Studies, 2x a week

Astronomy, 2x a week

(One session of class is held at either 9 or 10 pm at night on a weeknight.)

Composition Preparatory, 1x a week

(For students who want further preparation to compose academic essays.)

Introduction to The British Wizarding World, 1x a week

(For Non-British raised students.)

Introduction to The Wizarding World, 2x a week

(For Muggleborn students.)

Languages, 1x a week

Yours sincerely,
"Minerva McGonagall"

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

ADDITIONAL COURSE BOOKS FOR OPTIONAL COURSES

For Advanced Alchemy:

What is Alchemy Anyway?

By Nicholas Flamel

For Advanced Ancient Runes:

Ancient Runes Made Easy

By Laurenzoo

For Advanced Ancient Studies:

An Introduction to the Magic of The Ancient World

By Ancarus Ridge

For Advanced Arithmancy:

Numerology & Grammatica

By L. Wakefield and M. Carneiro

For Advanced Beastiology and Being Studies:

Beings of The Magical World

By Helena Ruthfart

For Advanced Divination:

Unfogging The Future

By Cassandra Vablatsky

For Advanced Elemental Studies:

Water, Earth, Fire, Air

By Nathan Carmichael

For Astronomy:

The Night Sky

By Allidia Twane

For Composition Preparatory:

The Art of The Essay

By Peter Dinklage

For Introduction to The British Wizarding World:

A Guide to Magical Britain and Ireland for Outsiders

By Reed McKnight

For Introduction to The Wizarding World:

Welcome to The Wonderful Wizarding World

By Waldo Weston

For Languages:

French 101

By Melissa Langard

German 101

My Melissa Langard

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR OPTIONAL COURSES

For Advanced Alchemy:

Beginner's Alchemist Kit

For Advanced Ancient Runes:

Beginner's Rune Carving Kit

For Advanced Divination:

Beginner's Divining Kit

For Astronomy:

Telescope

Yours sincerely,
"Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus"

Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

To take non-required courses, we require a letter stating which courses you wish to take. All first years must take at least one non-required course. If you do not sign up for at least one course, you will be placed into one at availability. Please be advised no first year student can take more than 40 course hours a week due to scheduling restrictions and the recommended amount is only 30. If taking any classes with a private tutor, we will require a written notice from both you and the tutor and will be subject to our scheduled times (provided on September 2nd) for those sessions to occur. If you wish to participate in any higher year courses due to your foreknowledge or instruction through private tutor, we will merely require a written statement from both you and a tutor or parent. Please be advised no student can participate in 6th or 7th year courses without an OWL grade of O or E or a current professor's recommendation.

Yours sincerely,
"Minerva McGonagall"

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Well, this letter was both illuminating and interesting. This world was either not exactly like the ones from the books, or the books simply just got some things wrong and left some things out. It was interesting that Harry from the books only took the required courses and astronomy instead of more. Looking back into the memories of who he was in my mind, I'd think Hagrid maybe never signed him up for any extra when he confirmed Harry's enrollment. I wouldn't make that choice, I wanted to take everything. Of course, I would wait a few days to get advice before submitting my response. I wrapped the letter back up in the envelope.

Then I left, walking back out into the wonderful world of Diagon Alley. My first stop needed to be to get out of these rags.