Chapter 1: A plastic family
"Lily, its him, go up! Make sure the twins are safe!" James hoarsely said to his wife as a masked figure was attempting to break down their door
"You know what'll happen if I leave you here" Lily croaked. James stroked her cheek
"I know. Be brave Lils. For me, for Harry, for Ashley" James managed to choke out. Lily gave her husband a final worried look before speeding up the stairs
"What are you doing here?" James confidently asked
"To fulfill a prophecy" Voldemort simply said
"I won't let you…aah!" James let out a scream
"Crucio" Lily's heart leaped as she heard the Dark Lord's voice and imagined the image of James now. She had to be strong. She had to rescue the twins. She dashed to the nursery and huddled next to the kids. It was the end for her. But it wasn't going to be the end of her children
"Ah, Lily" Voldemort's voice was slithery
"No…take me instead. Don't lay a hand on Harry and Ashley" Lily sobbed
Voldemort pushed her huddled figure aside. Lily fainted.
"Harry Potter" Voldemort hissed
"You bad" Harry blabbed
"Awwy! Hide!" Ashley tugged on Harry's shirt
"No, we hab to stop da bad man" Harry strictly said
"Enough of this, Potter…Avada Kedavra" Voldemort uttered the words
A green light hit Harry on the forehead and Harry lost consciousness. The spell's side effects were taken on Ashley who now had minimal scars.
The green light rebounded and hit the Dark Lord. Voldemort slumped down the floor and vanished
James got conscious and sped upstairs. He woke Lily up and took no notice of Harry and Ashley.
Ashley was trying to revive her brother while shaking him.
"Eke up Awwy! Bad man gone" Ashley crooned to the figure
"Lily, look!" James said and Lily's eyes averted to the twins
"Ashley is the child of the prophecy!" Lily gasped
Hours later, Dumbledore cam to their house. James explained everything: Peter's betrayal, Voldemort's failure and their daughter. Lily proudly held up Ashley while Harry played with the ashes
"She's the child of the prophecy, Albus! When I came, she was trying to wake Harry. Harry had one scar, but Ashley has numerous" James said
Dumbledore smiled
"We have found the savior of the world"
--
That was 10 years ago.
Ashley Potter was now the star of the wizard world. Feared and respected everywhere. Loved, pampered and spoiled everywhere. Known as "England's Angel" to Lily and James and their close ones
She took it for granted. She was a brat. Arrogant, conceited, selfish and self centered. She was boastful about her being "the girl who lived"
Harry meanwhile had been shut to the shadows like a common servant. Mentioned only in the newspapers as "Harvey". Abused and neglected by his family. No one cared about him, no one gave a damn. Every birthday of his would be forgotten because the people were too busy planning "Ashley's Holiday". Harry learned how to talk, spell and do math all by himself but no one cared…no one…no one…
--
"Brat… get down here right now!"
From the people who knew Lily Evans back in her Hogwarts years would say she was a sweet girl and if she had children, she would be fair and just to them. They were wrong.
Ever since the attack, Lily was hostile towards Harry. She didn't know why but she had found many reasons like:
"You couldn't have helped Ashley! You just fainted like a coward"
"Your hair is too messy! I want it cut"
"Your eyes are too scrawny"
And the like. They were stupid reasons. But Lily felt the need that if her daughter was to face the fearsome Dark Lord someday, she had to be spoiled and pampered for as long as she could.
"Coming mum" Harry barely said. It was his 12 birthday and everything seemed like a normal day. His birthdays were not really special. Except every birthday for the past 5 years, he would receive a present from someone anonymous. They were very expensive, special and they looked old. He never told his mother about them
Harry went downstairs and he saw the same sight as he did everyday. His parents giving Ashley a gift. But this time, numerous ones.
"What is this I hear from Ashley? You spilled Milk on her doorstep!" Lily angrily said
"It was an accident…" Harry reasoned
"You know very damn well it wasn't. We treated you very special in this household; this is the thanks you give us?" Lily asked.
Ashley looked smug and smirked at Harry
"What is all this screaming about?' James asked, lumbering downstairs
"Harry purposely spilled milk on my door" Ashley pouted
James looked shock at Harry and went near Ashley
"Oh, that's just terrible! Don't worry sweeten; we'll get you a new door. This time, your favorite color" James said as he coddled the 12 year old
"Oh please" Harry muttered
"And as for you…"James clenched his fist and punched Harry in the stomach. Lily evilly grinned and so did Ashley.
Harry felt tears sting his eyes as he clumsily ran upstairs. He hated this place. He didn't have any happy memory of it. Suddenly, his scar was pierced with pain. This happened a lot so he got used to it.
Just then, a luxury owl arrived carrying a package. Harry didn't know the owl's name but it was the same owl every year. It was carrying a small brown package. And for the first time, a note
Dear Mr. Potter,
You noticed I have given you gifts for the last few years. I expect that you keep those gifts since they will be a part of your life. The first gift, a small golden chain, can bind up even them strongest people. The second gift, a silver card, can tell you which directions to take. The third gift, a small, diamond blade, can slice up anything in a swish. The fourth gift, a book, can tell you even the toughest information
Before I get to the fifth gift which is the one enclosed, Let me tell you this: Every decade, we choose 6 different people. All powerful yet mistreated. You, Harry are one of those chosen ones. These six people, if they agree, can leave their current homes and stay at my manor where they will be trained by the best of the best. I'm sure you have heard of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as very powerful schools. The knowledge you can learn in these schools is only a single dot in a big circle of dots in which we will teach you in the manor. You are destined for greatness, Harry. Choose this academy, and you will someday become part of an elite, strong group.
The fifth gift is a portkey and it will be activated at 7:00 this evening. I think it's about 9:45 so you have hours to say goodbye. Touch the portkey at seven and it will transport you to the manor
Goodbye and I hope to see you soon,
Count Lodes
"Lodes…that's familiar" Harry mumbled. He had read the name somewhere. It was about a man who was very powerful and offering splendid education to the most unexpected people. Very few books were written about him. All giving out unspecific information. He was mysterious yet dangerous
No way. THE Count Lodes was offering him a spot?
He was damn well excited. To leave this horrible house and start new. He was going to be trained to be powerful. One by one, he started packing his things. Putting the gifts in right places in the suitcase and the portkey still in its box
--
"Count Lodes, are you sure these are the six people we're looking for?" A girl in black and pink robes asked
"They are…I am very particular about the last one: Potter. You see, there's something about his past and I cant put my finger on it" Count Lodes said
"Are you sure they would agree?" The woman pursued
"They are mistreated in the most brutal ways possible. And yet with each hurt they experience, their power level seems to grow bigger. That happened to you, Luciana" Count Lodes motioned to the woman
"I just feel sorry for them, watching them. It brings out stuff about my past" Luciana said
"You experienced far more in your childhood than they could ever, I admit, but Luciana, you were brought here to the manor to release that negative energy and start a new leaf" Count Lodes responded
"I know…Count Lodes, are we going to help in the war?" Luciana asked
"This batch is lucky. They will help in the war. They just need training. And as Strum predicted, the final battle will be 5 years from now. Strum has never been wrong" the count chuckled
"At Hogwarts, I know. It will be held there. And the perfect timing. 5 years of training is the true course we have been doing for the past years" Luciana smiled
"I just hope they would be ready" Lodes sighed
"You've never failed any student sir. Why should this be any different?" Luciana asked
"It's got the whole world at stake" Lodes said as he walked away, leaving Luciana in doubt
"Sir, can I come too?" Luciana called after
"Your spirit was never lost. Your flame never burned out. That's your power" Count Lodes called back
--
Hey I'm back again…this time hit with a new plot bunny! Tell me what you think!