Title: Harry Potter and the Star of Babylon

Author: P.L.S.

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Rating: PG.

Full Summery: Alternate Timeline- Set in 1938 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, United States. American-born Harry Potter goes to a school for the newest generation of law breakers, gangsters, and assassins, Elmwood Academy. His parents were killed by the worst of the worst, Mortis. To top that off, this convicted cat burglar has already made a name for himself and almost ended up in jail. Harry is about to learn some important lessons in school and that there is nothing as great as friends and just how much one kid can be loved by others, but true to type, he doesn't go about this in the usual ways. No, he has to be on Mortis's hit list, find out something everyone would have liked to forget, nearly get expelled twice, fight those who would kill everyone he knows, and almost die in the process. Who said wizards are the only ones who have fun and nearly ruin life as we know it while doing so?

Author's Notes: Er... This idea hit me while I was doing the dishes one day as my dad was watching one of those History Channel things on Al Capone. I just started to draw parallels and get odd ideas in my head. It is going to just mimic Philosopher's Stone, and then I'll stop. I doubt I'll go and mimic all the books. No magic, no dragons, no Quidditch. But it will have lessons in lying, smuggling, shooting and gun care, and most importantly a lot of fun!

Warnings: There will be some Out-of-Characterness. It is not Hogwarts, the houses are not living in separate parts of a magical castle, they all room together. Remus is not a werewolf, Sirius is not in Azkaban, Peter is not Scabbers, Harry is not a meek and timid little boy who has never known he was famous until he came to Hogwarts. I'm sure you can deal with it.

Disclaimer: If I changed the names this could be an original work that seems to be inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. But as it stands it is a fan fiction and thus I am stealing a great deal to create my plot and to just write this. It is not a work that I am making money from, I do not own anyone I use here unless you cannot find mention of it in the canon. Don't sue, I must give credit to where credit is due. J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, and whoever else owns Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I don't own it. I wish I did.

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Chapter One- Robin Hood and His Band of Thieves Meet.

Summery: Ah, the joys of coming to school. Harry starts to gather up his soon to be gang of do-gooders, whether they like the plan or not. Elmwood will never be the same.

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The sun was going towards the west now and the warm golden sky was spotted with clouds of pink and purples. The full trees were a mix of golds, greens, and reds. It was September and about six P.M. The sounds of children's chatter and laughter filled the air at the school. On the lawn in the center of the five buildings, a group of about forty eleven year old children played games and talked excitedly. They had all arrived no more than an hour ago on three buses and their belongings came not much later on two trucks. One child, who was dressed in a plain white linen shirt, rust red necktie, and gray flannel suit, was not playing. His bright green eyes which were hidden by his old eyeglasses didn't miss a thing. He was on the brick stoop and leaning on the old wood door that lead to the inside of the boy's dorms; his dark black hair just got even messier as the wind blew through and as much as he tried to straighten it, his hair just stayed messy.

Harry had been sitting on the stoop of the boy's dormitories watching the new students arrive earlier that day. He was the only one here who really cared about the new kids, the rest of the students all thought they didn't matter until the third year of training. That was when the training teams were made and everyone was put into a group of others from all of the sets. Those groups were important because they competed for points and grades. Harry cared though. Harry cared because they were all in his age group and he was the one that would have to show them around and teach them the rules. Usually an older student who the teachers all trusted got that job, but Harry was more than equal to the task. And so he was the Guide.

Harry was the only kid here who was eleven and had been here for two years. He was only the second child in the school's history to come before his eleventh birthday. It was due to the fact he had almost landed in jail but luckily the dean knew the judge and pulled some strings. He was an orphan but both his mom and dad had gone here and the dean knew them both very well. The fact he had almost gone to jail had boosted his popularity when he first came here to live. You see, this wasn't the typical school. It was a kind of prep school for gangs and mafias. The students learned English Literature and Chemistry while they learned about lock picking, street fighting, sharp shooting, and how to get away with any crime.

Harry straightened his tie and tried to get his hair to lie flat. He was always told how much he looked like his late father. He was also told that he acted a lot like his late mother. Harry's mom and dad had been very good gangsters. His dad had been great at shooting and driving and his mom had been very good at smuggling and used to charm her way out of any situation. If he was lucky, he would be just as good as they were.

They were killed by a rival crime boss called Mortis when Harry was just a year old. When the local sheriff found the bodies Harry was put into the care of his only living relatives, his mother's bible beater sister. Harry lived with his Aunt Petunia and her tee-tolling family until he was nine and ran away after one too many snide comments and beatings from his Uncle Vernon. He got caught breaking into some rich old man's house a couple of months later then was shipped here after the trial.

Harry didn't understand how getting caught like that was something that others looked up to. He had spent the month before the cops found him as an okay cat burglar, it just so happened that it was the one time he forgot to check if the old man's butler lived there or not. The butler did live there and caught him as he was breaking into the safe. Harry had been very embarrassed about the whole fiasco and still was to some extent. But that didn't matter right now, what mattered was that the new kids get into their groups during dinner that night and that Harry found out what group he was going to be put into.

There were five groups, each made of kids who had certain traits. The Dragons were the plotters and usually the most political group. They were mostly cool headed kids with good connections and even better futures in the gangs or mafias their families came from. Most of the former Dragons were bosses or the controllers of quite a bit of the western world's government figures. One was even a very popular senator in congress. The whole group tended to not work as one like the rest, in fact most were loners or more in touch with the other groups than their own. It was often very funny to watch as the Dragons got together at the end of the year. Most of the students and a few teachers often said things like, I thought he was an Arrow.' or I didn't know he was a Dragon, he never even acted like a leader or anything.'

The Arrows were the brainiacs and the bookworms, they mostly were trained to absorb information and how to put two and two together. They usually turned into great visionaries who made the details work or found the legal loop holes. They were one of the only two groups you could just spot from a mile away. Most carried at least two books at all times and tended to be the worst know-it-alls. They were the best friends you could make if you knew you weren't all that great at an academic subject. Harry loved to sit in on their great debates on various subjects. If two or more got together they talked and talked about almost anything, usually they would question each other on a subject and then they would debate on it. Harry thought it was fun to listen to them and the theories on everything. He'd often ask questions as well and most Arrows were kind enough to answer them or even try to get his opinion. They loved it when he could talk on their level about something instead of just listening. He was told more than once last year that they would be very surprised if he wasn't an Arrow.

The Anchors were the most patient and caring of the kids, they were trained in medicine and whatever else the kids may show aptitude for. They rarely ever were leaders but the best leaders had at least one Anchor to support them. Most ended up with background jobs like the mob's doctor, or a coordinator and personnel manager for the bigger crime rings. There were a few like that kid from California, Cedric Diggory, who were more influential than most Dragons. There were some that out studied the Arrows. It was probably the most mixed up of the five groups. The only thing that bound them as one was the way they cared about everyone and never wanted anyone hurt. They almost never stayed in crime or worked alone. There were a few who learned how to tune out the faces of the victims, but those Anchors were rare. Harry knew there was no way he was going to get into that group, he was just too used to hurting others.

The Shields were generally the dumbest and most dense of the kids. Often they were allowed to flunk out of any academic subject, but they instead had strict and stressful training. They were trained for being bodyguards and servitude and usually were pared with a Dragon or Arrow very early on. Harry really didn't interact with the Shields unless he required their help or they needed his help. All he ever had to do was shoot up a few targets and they listened. Most used to be bullies, until Harry earned the full respect of the biggest of them early last year. Since then most of the older Shields watched out for him and anyone he hung around. Anyone who was beat up by a Shield would come to the attention to Harry via all his accquatences. That Shield then learned why he was the single scariest student, even if he wasn't more than five foot in height and ninety-eight pounds.

The Lions were the last of the kids, they were mostly hot heads who tended to rush into bad situations with both guns out. Trained in shooting, get away driving, and more fighting than almost any other group, they usually turned out to be the legions of crime. They ended up like Bonnie and Clide, Billy the Kid, or one of the other famous criminals that the movies get made of. They also tended to die young. Despite this they were some of the most fun loving kids that Harry had ever met. They seemed to live life in a constant party and often loved to drag everyone into their fun as well. They were by far the most sociable of the five groups.

Harry had been told that his father was a Lion and his mother was a Dragon, he didn't know where he'd be put. The tester had told him he was going to be a tough placement. It seemed he had traits of most of the groups but not enough to single him out, he was cool headed unless he had all the right buttons pushed by someone, could absorb information with ease as long as he was interested or needed it to survive, was caring but probably not enough, and he rushed into things if he thought it was the only thing he could do. The Tester had been thoroughly confused by the end of the interview and told him that he was not looking forward to placing him.

Harry studied the new kids. One of the guys was being attacked by the twins , Fred and George Weasley, of the twelve year old Lions. Harry was about to go rescue the kid when he heard the one of the twins, Our little brother, a regular crook. So Ronniekins, did mom send some pies or sweets to us in your care? Harry smiled, it was another one of them. You could always tell that family apart from all the others, they all had bright red hair. It was a large family too, the eldest brother had left in his last year here, one had graduated the year before last, and one was in his last year right now. All of them were friendly to Harry and in fact the eldest brother, William, had been Harry's mentor and taught him how to sneak around the school after curfew. The twins were rabid pranksters and very intelligent despite the fact they never got good grades in anything but sharp shooting.

Harry was almost surprised to see a girl come up to him. She had curly brown hair and a look that said she could remember everything. Harry was slightly nervous, she was the first peer to come and greet him. In hindsight, Harry realized he probably should have gone out and tried to make some friends. Never the less, he put on a smile and stood up.

Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. I didn't see you on the buses. She held out a hand and Harry shook it. She had a nice voice, it wasn't too high pitched like some of the girls but it wasn't too deep either. It suited her.

I'm Harry Potter, I live here. That would be why you didn't see me on the buses. Where are you from? He asked while trying to think of the basics of polite conversation. It had been a long time since he had to meet a new person without mediation.

I come from Chicago, so you live here? Are your parents teachers or something? she asked. Harry's smile was subdued effectively as he answered the question.

No, they have passed on. I just live here. Hermione looked shocked.

Oh, I'm sorry I shouldn't of... Harry smiled and shook his head.

Nah, don't be. I was a baby then. I don't even recall what they looked like.

So why do you live here instead of an orphanage or with family? She seemed like she was defiantly one of those people who had to know everything.

I used to live with my aunt until I got sick of her and ran away. I was an okay cat burglar until I got caught and was almost sent up the river. The dean here knew my folks and the judge though and he got me sentenced to go to school here. Harry smiled at her and she shook her head as if she was trying to remember something hidden.

I remember some blurb in the newspaper two years ago. A kid cat burglar caught in the act by a butler in Kansas City, was that you? Harry was sure that she was going to be like the rest, in awe of the young felon. It was quite irritating.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. Hermione frowned, she wasn't like the rest. She was displeased, very weird.

No guilt? She asked. Harry smiled, she was trying to get to know him. He was ready to believe in a god if she really did just want to get to know him for who he was and not his getting caught.

Not really. Only that I got caught. He answered.

She sat down on the stoop. Conversation had died quite suddenly, but Harry didn't regret it. There was something to be said for silence in the company of others. He sat next to her. They sat in silence just watching the others talk and play games. A blond boy in a suit came up to them.

Draco Malfoy. he had a very clear English accent and he held out his hand to them.

I'm Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger. Harry shook his hand. Draco smirked.

Oh, the boy who already has a criminal record. My father says your father was a very good gunslinger. May I offer my condolences on your parents' deaths?

You may, but they aren't needed. It was a long time ago.

It's only proper manners, correct Miss Granger?

Yes, you know it is very nice to meet someone who knows his etiquette. Hermione shook his offered hand and then he kissed the back of it. But you need to stop showing off. she warned him. He smirked at her and sat on the other side of Harry.

I'll keep your words in mind. So, Granger, what do your parents do for a living?

My father and mother are both dentists. she answered. Draco looked surprised.

Both? Very unusual. Most American women still are just housewives. What are their connections to the criminal world? Hermione smiled and shook her head.

None, I kind of tutored a little boy of some mobster back home and the guy was impressed. He talked my parents into letting me come here and paid my way here. I think he wants me to be part of the next generation. Draco looked surprised.

Impressive. I must stay in contact with you. drawled Draco. Hermione gave him a small smile.

Thank you, but I would hardly say owing a favor to a mobster is impressive. However, I have heard of your father. His name is Lucius, correct? Hermione said this as if it was common knowledge. Both boys knew it wasn't.

Yes. He is.

Then he is the single most wanted international crime boss at this point in time. He even has the Queen's ear. Harry wondered where she had picked up all this knowledge. Harry knew all that and more, but he had to work very hard to get it. It should be impossible for a girl without a family in the business to know of the Malfoy family. They never attracted the attention of the media or the law enforcement agencies around the world.

I see you are not quite as ignorant as most the Yanks are. Draco was just trying to look good now. He was used to having to play the arrogant son of the crime boss, but Harry could see a fire and a sharp mind behind those gray eyes.

Thank you, I think. Hermione said with a slight frown. Harry was trying to pick his words carefully and then spoke up.

Your father, he is the one who plays both sides of the war here. He helps Mortis avoid laws and gives him information, then he goes and lends money and men to the rest of the gangs. Very political and very untrustworthy. said Harry as he continued to watch the other kids. Draco and Hermione looked at him like he had grown another head. Harry sighed, I heard a lot while I lived in Omaha. Don't worry, I haven't formed my opinion of you. I don't trust just anyone unless they prove themselves. You're not your father, just like I'm not mine. Harry then looked up as Ms. McGonagall the English teacher and assistant dean came out to the yard.

Everyone! It is time for dinner. Eleven year olds follow me. Older students please go to the dining hall. She called out. Harry, Hermione, and Draco caught up to the rest of the group following Ms. McGonagall. they were silent as groups of the eleven year olds chatted away.

I don't understand how they can be so talkative. muttered Hermione. Draco laughed and Harry had to smile.

I never understood either. They just don't understand a nice silence. said the British boy with a grin at Hermione. Harry shook his head. He was nervous, what group was he going to be in?

They walked into the front part of the dining hall and lined up before the rest of the students. It was the only time teachers ate with the students, the rest of the time the prefects kept order and as long as no one abused that privilege it would stay that way. The teachers were all seated at a table in the front of the room chatting. The dean stood up and gave the typical beginning of the year drivel and then he started to read the names off of the list.

Allison, Daniel. Arrow. It had started, Harry was now trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach down. It was the moment he had been waiting for two long years. It was worse than when he had first shown up in court. Harry practically blanked out as the names were read. He only really paid attention to Draco and Hermione's names as they were called. Hermione was an Arrow and Draco was a Dragon.

Potter, Harry... Harry was nudged in the ribs by the red head he had watched earlier and Harry gave a half laugh as he stepped up. Harry blinked. He had not been expecting that. Anchor? Well, if that was what the Tester said, that was what he was. Harry went over to stand with the other Anchors as the rest of the new kids were placed. Draco and Hermione were standing as close as they could together and were chatting and giving him friendly smiles. Finally, the last name was called, Zimmer, Zachary. Shield. All of the new kids sat at the three open tables where platters of food waited. Draco and Hermione pulled Harry into a bench before he had even really registered what was going on.

Okay, Potter. You are going to tell us every bit about this school. Granger will take mental notes and I am going to try to do the same. I for one need to have a little bit of an advantage among our fellow students and I'm sure will make it up to you in the future. Draco said quickly as Hermione put a few pieces of chicken on all of their plates and was spooning sweet potatoes onto her plate. The red headed boy came up to them and gave a shy sort of smile.

Can I sit with you guys? Draco looked a bit annoyed, Hermione looked a bit apprehensive but Harry spoke first.

Sure. So you're the last Weasley boy? I owe your brother Bill a bit for helping me out when I first came here.

Oh? Are you that Potter kid? The Robin Hood kid? Harry was shocked, he was known as many things, but never a Robin Hood.

I'm Harry Potter, but who told you I was a Robin Hood? The red head laughed a bit.

All of my brothers. Bill was told me how you stood up to that bully of a teacher, the one who teaches science. Charlie told me about how you used to steal food with him and his friends and that you would make sure they got enough for everyone to have a nice sized portion. Fred and George told me all about how you beat up some bully and out shot all his gang too. You're a regular Robin Hood. Harry was laughing nervously at the end of the boy's explanation, it was all true but at the time it wasn't a big deal. He just did what felt right.

Well, it seems that you, Harry, are the best friend I could have had the pleasure of making today. Although, you, Hermione, are a very close second. By the way I never caught your name? said Draco with a grin. He was starting to strip off that mask of his.

Ron Weasley. answered the red headed boy with a small smile as he spooned some green beans onto his plate.

I am Draco Malfoy and this lady here is Miss Hermione Granger. Where is your family from? Harry was silent as he watched a now very social Draco charm the unwitting Ron.

We all live in Cleveland, where are you all from?

I'm from Chicago. answered Hermione as she swallowed a bite of her sweet potatoes.

Omaha and Kansas City. Harry said with a smile as he started to eat the chicken Hermione had served him.

I am from New Castle, England. Draco smirked as he saw the look of shock on Ron's face. The boy swallowed the mouthful he had before speaking again though.

England? That's a long ways away. Why didn't you just go to school there? Harry was listening carefully now, it was a good question.

My father says that this is the best school for my eventual career path. That and my mother has just recently moved our home and headquarters to New York City. She claims it will be more profitable here, especially with the way the Germans are acting. My parents both say that the Germans will start a war and England will feel it very soon. Draco was now much less pleasant.

Hermione took it upon herself to change the topic, So, what is school like here? Harry was happy for her wisdom.

It's okay, a lot of work. said Harry, he took a sip of his glass of water, As me specifics.

The conversation was animated and enjoyable after that. Even if Ron and Draco soom found out they really didn't like each other, they didn't fight. The two just focused on talking with Harry and Hermione.

When dinner was over Hermione followed a prefect to her dormroom. Harry, Ron, and Draco found out they were roommates and followed Percy, who Ron's elder brother and was Head Boy this year, to their room. They shared it with five other boys: Dean Thomas from Miami, Florida, Gregory Goyle from Toranto, Canada, Seamus Finnagan from New York City, Justin Finch-Fletchly from Virginia, and Vincent Crabbe from Tennessee. Harry was lucky he remembered that as he fell asleep that night. He was excited about the fact he would be attending real academic classes for the first time in three years.