I did some revisions on the story because I didn't like the flow of the first draft.

Nobody's Hero

By Shadow-of-Roses

Summary- Ryan Potter is the boy-who-lived and Harry desperately wants to escape his twin's shadow. Now thrust into a barbaric world not his own, Harry must fight to survive, as he searches for a way home. Alternate Universe warning.

Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Scholastic. I do not receive any money from this fiction nor do I plan to. This is a fanfiction made for the pleasure of the readers in mind.

Warnings- Mostly for Violence, Death, Future mentions of rape and sexual activities.

Spoilers- From all Harry Potter Books

A/N- So here is the story that will help me out of my writers funk with MY SHADOWS SHADOW. One reviewer told me it reminded them of a plot device in Harry Potter fanfiction so I investigated and fell in love with this particular plot bunny and decided to turn it into my own. I'm hoping this may also help to refine my writing skills. In this chapter it is mostly explanations, however the plot never stops flowing. In this story Harry isn't the loser who triumphs. Harry actually is the bully who must learn a lesson. Don't be mad about that either. I had reasons to have made Harry a bully and hold to them. Also, I despise it if people tell me he's acting out of character. For a fanfiction, where people like to make Harry into an adult at sixteen, maybe he is. But even J/K Rowling's understood that Harry was a child, with the world on his shoulders yes, but a child nonetheless. In this fiction, Harry acts, talks, and thinks like a child. The entire point is for Harry to grow up during the story.

Also, you may be reading the story thinking that Harry was thrust into a would that was similar to his own. This is in fact not true at all. The world Harry enters is nothing like his. The histories differ from each other fifty years in advance. Voldemort has already ruled the world for many years. The world Harry finds himself in is similar to the medieval times. Imagine knights, adventurers, bards, travelers, whispering trees, evil goblins, resourceful dwarves, elves, vampires, talking dragons, swords, and the slaughter of people without consequence. In any case, here goes it. Enjoy!

***

Prologue

***

Nicolas leaped heedlessly forward into the throng of charging warriors. Green strands of energy span through the air towards him. Surprisingly, Nicolas was agile for his age; he used the willow staff secured in his hand to flip over and balance upon and let the spells pass an inch from his face. Such a narrow escape had his heart racing. An angry red streak of power collided with his left shoulder, drawing him painfully back to the dire situation he found himself in.

He rounded on the eleven Death Knights surrounding him and fired two stunners in quick succession.

Just as the two had fallen three more took their place leaving Nicolas little time to breath. They swung their broad swords in precise directions intending to slice through very vital parts of his anatomy. Nicolas did not give them the satisfaction. He placed a strong sticking charm on his fingers and gripped the stonewall and used that to lift himself up enough to strike two of the knights and knocking them backwards. A gruff "umph" accompanied one knight's descent as he crashed into the wall opposite him.

The third took no notice to his fallen comrades. He launched a series of aggressive sword attacks and Nicolas, using his staff, was pressing to keep up with them as his opponent pushed his further and further down the hall. Magically enhanced wood met Earwill metal in a complicated battle. As the young knight took slow and even strokes at him, he impressed Nicolas. Here he was, a young man, who could not be older than twenty-seven, actually being a challenge to him. If they had met under different circumstances, Nicolas would have enjoyed a chance to fight this young man.

Nicolas forced a bit of magic to in circle his feet and pushed off the ground to position himself on the knight's shoulders. The knight folded his body backwards forcing Nicolas to curse and channel magic to his feet and launch himself onto the wall to run horizontal along it and towards the other knights. He fired a series of stunners, dodging and twirling away from their attacks. One of the knights managed to slip begin him and knock him from the wall with a blasting hex to his abdomen.

Nicolas landed on the ground with a hiss. Wincing as he rolled over, Nicolas used his hands to quickly spring to his feet. The knight met him, and in a clash of wills, they began to fight in earnest until he managed to knock the staff from Nicolas' hands.

Now weaponless, Nicolas disappeared and reappeared behind the young knight and dropped to the floor. He swept his feet an outward at the knight's trying to knock him over and onto the ground. The knight sensed him before he could manage and leaped away. Nicolas ducked under the sword and prepared to launch an uppercut, layered with a killing curse at the knight's face. A pair of widened blue eyes under the enfolding darkness of the knight's helmet stilled him. This young man was no older than nineteen.

A yellow flash out of the corner of his eyes had him spinning upwards in the air to avoid it. It was a second too late, though. The cutting hex slammed into him, shooting straight through his rib cage. Nicolas gagged as he slid across the floor. He saw the knight fall to the ground, balanced on one knee, and a fist pressed over his heart.

A tall dark haired man stood before him. The man was ghastly pale, with a pair of eerie red eyes. A few silvery scales littered the man's body most clustered around his neck.

"Flamel," The dark presence said chidingly, "You never should have stolen from me."

The being circled around him stopping in his line of sight. "Where is the stone?"

Nicolas dared to glare at the man triumphantly, and said, "You will never find it Voldemort."

The Dark Lord growled. He grabbed a fist full of Nicolas' hair and tugged on the light brown locks harshly. "Speak, Flamel, now or be killed."

Nicolas yanked his head from the others grasp and rolled away from him, very aware of his bleeding side. He threw a banishing hex at the lord.

"Waddiwasi," the Dark Lord Pronounced. Three silver tipped spears dismounted from the wall and shot in Nicolas' direction. Nicolas shook the sleeve to his robe out, his wand dropped into his palm.

"Engorio," he cast silently. His wand tripled in size, until it was a good foot taller than he was. He swung it around blocking each spear. He caught the last one in a tornado like spin of his staff and used some advantage to launch it at Voldemort. The Dark Lord raised a hand and the air rippled around the staff stopping it in midair and turning it to ash. Nicolas prepared to charge the man, but a stunner from behind had him falling to the floor. Nicolas cursed himself. He had forgotten about the young wizard he had let live. It was a choice that would cost him his life.

Voldemort swept across the floor. "I will torture it out of you Flamel," He said. "You will lose any grasp of sanity you hold over your mind, and with will fall you occlumency shields. In the end, I will have that stone," Voldemort said raising a steel toed boot to bring down over the wizards fingers and crushing them beneath him.

Nicolas did not wince. He could feel his body becoming detached from reality his mind falling into a familiar haze of grey he associated with a vision.

Before the Dark Lord on the floor a boy with the most piercingly green eyes he had ever encountered. Nicolas watched in horror as the young man cried out as his hand was crushed by Voldemort who held a sinister grin.

Nicolas watched as shock over took the Dark Lord's face as the young man began to glow a rosy red color, "I have very little respect for you Riddle. In fact I pity you."

Then all faded to black. Soon enough Nicolas was back in the chamber, gritting his teeth as his hand was crushed.

Nicolas forced enough magic through his system to break the stunner, but he was too weak to move. "I pity you as well Tom Riddle." He told the man.

The Dark Lord stilled above him. A look of confused anger washed over his face. "You dare call me by that hideous name?" He hissed.

Nicolas snapped his head up to glare at him; the Dark Lord took a wary step back. "I would beware Tom. You will fall, to the glowing green eyes of a young man. And when you do, I will meet you on the other side, and I pray to you that day never come, for hell will not keep me away from torturing you."

And before the Dark Lords eyes, Nicolas Flamel fell to ashes. Anger overcame Voldemort, he spun to face the knight who was looking at the scene in wonderment.

"Come idiot," He hissed out, "We must find that stone."

The Dark Lord swept from the room cloak billowing behind him. The knight was quick to follow him, trembling ever so slightly.

***

James collapsed into the warm leather chair behind his desk with a sigh. Harry always managed to get to him. Without even trying to. He let his gaze sweep across the room over to where Sirius was standing awkwardly and peering out the large window at the quarter moon.

"Sirius-"

Sirius was quick to speak. "I know James, I know."

"Then why do you keep doing this?" James let a small amount of irritation filter through his voice.

This was not the first time Sirius had lied to Harry about his reasons for canceling their 'bonding time.' James had to watch repeatedly as Sirius turned Harry's requests to play chess, and quidditch down with the same lame excuse. James did not like to admit it to himself, but Harry seemed to love Sirius more than he loved his own parents. It was probably just a teenager thing, he had decided.

James could not be there for Harry as often as he would have liked to. Between Order business, Auror duties, and training Ryan, he didn't get too many chances to spend one on one quality time with his other son. At first, James was glad that Sirius had taken up that role. And somewhat jealous that Harry saw Sirius as a second father. But now, Sirius was withdrawing from Harry, spending less and less time around him.

"I know I'm not handling the changes in Harry the right way James. I know that I should speak to Harry about his attitude, but I just can't. I've tried, but Harry is so determined to be a bloody prat it drives me up the walls."

James sighed exasperatedly. "Sirius get down from there," he called to the other man who was literally driving himself up the wall in frustration.

A burst of green flames shot from the fire, and with it flew out a note that landed neatly on James' desk.

The fire was unexpected, causing Sirius to yelp in surprise and take not to where he was and what he was doing.

Sirius dropped to the ground sheepishly. "Sorry," He said scratching the back of his head.

The two burst into laughter a second later.

James shook his head. "I can't believe you drove yourself up the wall."

Sirius shrugged, chuckling helplessly. "I can."

They both sobered.

James scanned the note quickly before setting it on fire with a murmured 'incendio.'

"This has got to stop; I can't deal with this James. I'm not his father."

James knew he was referring to Harry's attitude that was causing a strain on the family.

"You should explain to Harry that he has it made. A home, food, a family that loves him, things I never had growing up."

James looked down at the table feeling ashamed. "I would Padfoot," he began solemnly catching Sirius' attention, "But you and I both know that Harry would rather listen to you than me."

***

Dumbledore had shown up later that night. He whisked his parents off to the Parlor Room and had been speaking with them for little over an hour. Harry and Ryan, used to Dumbledore's impromptu meetings, had long since retired to bed. Harry had woken up and sought to acquire a drink from the kitchens.

Dressed in a pair of red boxers and a white t-shirt, Harry entered the kitchens quietly. He knew the elves would be sleeping and did not wish to disturb them. He grabbed a glass from one of the cabinets and filled it with water. Taking a few steps towards the stairs, he prepared to return to his rooms when the muffled sounds from the Parlor Room reached his ears.

Harry had given up years ago trying to listen in on the secret meetings the adults had behind the closed doors of the Parlor Room. Harry had always been curious what their conversations were about. When he was younger his mother had told both him and Ryan that adult meetings where not to be held for the ears of children. Of course, Ryan was usually included in these meetings, so Harry thought it was mostly him who was left out. He used to listen at the door hoping to catch a few snippets of conversation. Unfortunately, a silencing charm placed on the room prevented that. He hadn't tried to listen in on a meeting since he was ten. His parents, Harry decided, must have stopped placing the charm up when they noticed that both boys would not being poking their noses in where they didn't belong. And Harry now debated whether he should be nosing around into their business now anyway. Curiosity always was his biggest down fall.

Why not

Harry crept forward and lightly pushed at the door before peering through the slit it created. He could see the stiff figures of his parents and Dumbledore sitting transversely from each other.

His mother was ranting as his father held her hands. Dumbledore, the smug old goat, looked calm and serene, as though he knew he would win whatever fight they were having. And it was inevitable that he would win.

They were probably discussing a new training program for Ryan. Ryan always bragged about having extra training after school hours. He pushed the subject in Harry's face every chance he got. Harry knew that Ryan was magically stronger. And the fact got his hackles raised so high, he could have climbed Mount Everest. It seemed entirely unfair that Ryan was getting training, and he was not. Voldemort might have had his sights set on Ryan, but nothing was stopping him from attacking Harry either.

Harry took the matter up with his parents. One night while his mother was sipping on a cup of tea, and his father was 'slapping' together a sandwich he asked them if he could too receive extra training. His parents refused him. They explained that Ryan wasn't training for fun, but for preparation. With Voldemort's return his brother had to be ready in case the Dark Lord decided to attack. Harry hadn't seen the point of training Ryan though, His twin while relatively okay with a wand, wasn't very skilled, and he could do very little wandless magic despite that amount of power he had. Harry neglected to think about the fact that he himself could do none. Harry had raced away from the conversation disappointed, only to meet up his brother's smugness. Harry would have given his brother a broken nose that day, but he refrained, knowing that harming his brother would only cause him more grief. Plus, Ryan had proven long ago he could and would 'kick his ass.' After that, Harry had vowed to show up his brother as much as he could; however, all he had managed to do was score higher than Ryan each year at Hogwarts.

"No, absolutely not," Lily snapped, drawing Harry's attention back to the conversation. She pointed an accusing finger at the man before her. "You've already destroyed one child for this war; I will not let you do the same to the other."

Dumbledore held up a placating hand, taking little heed to the indignant squawk, from being interrupted, that this action drew from the red headed woman. "Now Lillian, I can assure that the risks involved are very low. I've taken every precaution to ensure Harry's safety is sound."

They're talking about me?

James Potter placed a calming hand on his wife's shoulder, stopping her from going into another angry tirade.

"Albus," James explained, " While Harry's safety is something I believe is important, I can't ignore the fact that we would be favoring Ryan once again in this situation. We already allow Ryan free reign of his magic during the summer and not Harry." He pushed a frustrated hand through his wild hair. "How would this action affect Harry? If we abandoned him to save his twin? How would he react? I will not have Harry be the decoy for Ryan. And of all places to send him to, Lily's sister? Petunia Dursley holds no love for us, and we have little left for her."

Harry saw the old wizard lean forward and staple his fingers. "Yes James, I can see where any parent would worry. And I want you to know that I would never ask this of you, of Harry," he corrected after seeing Lily was going to speak, "If this was not a matter of extreme importance. And trust me, I have already spoken with the Dursley family, they have agreed to it."

He leaned back against arm chair and discarded his glasses on the side table. Harry could honestly say that he had never seen the man so tired before. The old Headmaster had always seemed strong for age. Unnaturally so. Yet, in that moment, he looked as fragile as glass without his glass. Harry had to wonder, how much longer would the light have it's strongest leader. And if the old man were to pass on, would his brother take over? He desperately hoped not. Ryan didn't need more fame.

"You both know I care for Ryan and Harry too. But I'm not asking for our peace of mind, what I'm asking for…The whole world is at stake. Are we really ready to condemn it?"

Lily leaned against James' side, Harry snorted in his own mind. He was always disgusted with his parents, whenever they showed even the slightest bit of affection for each other.

"I know Albus, however, Harry already has a problem with the attention Ryan receives because of his training…" I do not; I just think it's unfair.

Dumbledore smiled. "Actually, Harry's efforts in this endeavor could prove to be the turning point in the war. If Harry were to impersonate Ryan, this would be an Order mission. Not only would he be inducted into the Order before Ryan is," Is he serious? I will be able to join the Order? That would definitely give me one up on Ryan. "He would also be written down in the history books. Furthermore this-"

Harry swung the door wide open and leaped forward, "I'll do it!"

Lily stood, staring at him in surprised anger. "Since when, Harry James Potter, does a private conversation between adults include children?" She asked.

Harry shrugged. "I heard my name."

He ignored her and his father who looked defeated in favor of seeking out the knowing gaze of his Headmaster. "I'll do it," he repeated.

"Harry," Lily said threateningly.

Dumbledore looked at him gravely. "Harry, I want you to understand that you hold no obligations here. The risks involved at very high in deed. Are you sure?" Yes

"Absolutely-"

"-Not." Lily snapped. "Harry you don't know…"

Harry wrinkled his nose at her in frustration. "What is there not to know? It's for Ryan's safety, right?" He said, "Then I'll do it."

Couldn't she see he wanted to do this? Couldn't she see that he needed to do this?

He ignored their protests. "If I do this then I'll be protecting the world, or something, right?" He asked naively.

Dumbledore nodded. His parents both became very silent. They could not argue that Harry had stated a very good argument, no matter how childishly it was phrased.

But still, James thought remembering his earlier conversation with Sirius, I'm not sure that is your only reason for offering.

***

The next day dawned early. Harry rolled out of bed at half passed nine and hurried through his regular morning routine. He sat down at the table and wolfed down the stack of blueberry pancakes his mother set down before him. He glowered at his brother, gave Remus a simple shrug, and ignored the pained look on Sirius' face when he didn't even acknowledge his existence. Harry was still mad at him, and it would be a cold day in hell before he would easily forgive him.

Harry clomped downstairs, his suitcase floating behind him. He fell into place beside his family as they handed him a vague and unfeeling farewell. Harry knew he wasn't leaving on good terms with any of his family members. However, Harry just wasn't the sort of person to offer an apology, especially if the apology wasn't real. He balked as his mother gathered him in a one-arm hug and his father patted him on the back. He felt entirely too detached from the situation. He gave Remus a quick hug, ignored his Godfather once more and nodded curtly in Ryan's general direction not caring if the fool saw him or not, then stepped into the flames. They licked promiscuously at his refined clothes and he threw the Floo powder down and said clearly- Number Four Privet Drive.

The green flames grew stronger and a large amount of green smoke rose up to surround him. Staring around at those gathered around the fire place, Harry gaze met the crystal blue eyes of his brother and he thought he saw worry filling them, just before he was swallowed by the smoke and shot off through the Floo Network. He dismissed the look as a trick of the light. After all why would his brother worry for him?

***

The Dursley's, Harry decided, where the most horribly "Muggle-lized" family he ever had the displeasure of meeting. They had the most ordinary house situated on the most ordinary street he had ever seen.

Vernon Dursley was a big man with very little neck and a large round face. He directed a drill making firm called Grunnings. It was a questionable business, that Harry knew couldn't be legal. For many of the drills that Vernon sold at ridiculous prices, were returned broken a few days later.

Petunia Dursley was nothing like her younger sister. Where Lily was young and beautiful, Petunia Dursley was everything but. She wasn't hideous, Harry admitted, but she was not beautiful. She had dark beady eyes, and a hooked nose. She often looked like she had swallowed a lemon. While Vernon went to work to pay the bills, Petunia spent much of her day peering though the kitchen curtains using her abnormally long neck to spy on her neighbors.

And then there was their son, Dudley. Dudley Dursley was largest and meanest bully Harry had ever met. Harry was just glad his cousin was a bloody coward and scared to death of him.

They hated anything that wasn't their idea of ordinary. Which meant they hated Harry.

The minute Harry had tumbled out of the Floo channel, covered from head to tow in soot, and coughing up a storm, the Dursley's had shown just how much they cared for 'his kind' by snatching away every one of his possessions and searching through them. Everything he owned that looked in the least bit 'freakish' including his wand was tossed and locked away in the cupboard under the stairs. Harry couldn't fathom why, a shiver went down his spine every time he looked at it.

For the most part, the Dursleys had mastered the art of ignoring him. Sometimes, Harry felt as if he were talking to air when he asked for breakfast. Of course air would have been more helpful than his Aunt Petunia.

A breeze blew by causing the swing next to him to twitter in it. His 'family' had left for an early dinner a few hours before, commanding that he leave their premises because they couldn't trust a no good thief alone in their home.

Harry had gladly left the stuffy doors of Number Four with a slam, and found himself wondering to the park.

The park was deserted, unsurprising as it was after seven. Earlier he had noticed a few women eyeing him suspiciously from a bench. Not that he could blame them, his family had kicked him out before he could change out of his pajamas.

His feet shifted on the ground under him, and he determinedly refused to think about what his true family was doing at the moment in time.

Probably enjoying a great dinner without me he thought. I bet Sirius and Ryan are racing brooms in the back yard right now.

Just as he was contemplating his mothers cooking, the popping sound of Apparation drew his eyes to four wickedly dressed figures on the other side of the park. He hurried to stand when he noticed their white masks. In and instant he had ducked behind a bush and bit back a gasp when it scratched his arm.

"Are you sure this is the place Lestrange?" one asked.

"Shut it Malfoy," A female's voice answered, "I saw the boys come this way earlier." Harry did not move encase the heard him. He peered through the leaves and watched as they began perusing the area. When they were a distance away his hands slowly inched towards his pocket where his contact mirror was stored for such emergencies. Thankfully his Uncle had only thought him to be a narcissistic prick when he had come across the mirror and had thrust it back in his hands with no preamble. He had hoped it wouldn't be needed.

"Come one Mary, I'll race you to the swings!"

Harry's eyes shot over to two small children who were making their way through the park, probably let out after dinner to play off some excess energy.

Harry didn't move. The children had stopped running and were looking at the deatheaters in fright. The four masked wizards seemed to have an argument. Harry's heart started beating loudly in his ears.

"Let's kill them and find the boy."

Harry didn't even think before he acted, in second he was up and across the park out in the open screaming bloody murder. "Hey, you Wand waving freaks, over here!"

He ran.

***

Eventually, Harry thought as he slid through another large hedge and tore down someone's backyard, eventually I'm going to have to learn not to bait the bad guy.

He hopped a few more fences, and ducked around more corners before he could feel himself begin to tire. He slid into a narrow alley way, that had he had any weight in the front of him, he was sure he would not have been able to fit into.

A large rotund man quickly came waddling by a tall skinny one jogging in his wake. The skinny one slowed down until he was no longer moving and shot a few looks around.

"Do you see him Crabbe?" The skinny one asked.

Harry held very still, hoping the Death Eaters were foolish enough to give up looking for him.

There was a noise further down the street, Harry assumed to be a cat or rat knocking over some scrap metal. Harry was thankful for it, because minutes later the two Death Eaters were racing towards it, giving Harry ample time to scurry out of the alley and onto a fire escape. He began climbing them quickly and in moments he reached the roof of some obscure building and collapsed onto this hands and knees breathing raggedly. He reached into his pocket to grab the mirror but came up empty handed.

Harry began to feel dread building in the pit of his stomach. He had dropped it somewhere. He must have.

He would have given it more thought but he was interrupted. "Well, well, well if it isn't a cornered Potter."

Harry was on his feet and turned around facing two of the deatheaters. He wondered how they found him.

"Ryan Potter, our Lord wishes to send his regards." Harry hadn't noticed he was backing up until he reached the edge of the building and stumbled forward to avoid falling. His eyes glanced back between the Death Eaters and the edge, and he wondered which death would be more painful, a ten story drop or torture.

He wouldn't have a choice, a stunner was sent his way and on reflex he avoided it, but fell backwards over the edge.

Harry squeezed his eyes shut willing himself not to cry. If he was going to die, then he would die with some dignity. With out looking Harry could tell the ground was rushing up to meet his head, and within seconds he would be gone. He wished he had said sorry to Sirius. He wished he could have proven himself to the world. It took Harry a few seconds to realize that his body should have hit the ground by now. And that he was still falling. His eyes flew open and he gazed around in shock. All around him could currents of blue and purple rippling in and out. Bursts of red tingled into the mix and he was lost in shock.

What the hell was going on?

Harry saw the ripples spread─ and then suddenly another set of ripples wavered away from what looked to be moving trees.

The dark haired boy had just enough time to wrap his head around the idea of a moving tree before the world turned black around him.

Firstly, I don't expect to get a lot of feed back on this story if any feed back at all, but I hope you enjoy it, even it it wasn't the best writing I've ever done. I decided to gloss over the Dursleys for now, because this chapter is frickin HUGE. I even cut it down in revision and it is still was huge. The Dursleys will be in the story more towards the end and mostly in the sequel. I love the sequel already, Harry is all super powerfully awesome, and his brother is a spoiled brat.

Here are some things That I did go over in the story but you probably ignored.

Harry is way smarter than Ryan already, he has all the book smarts but little feild smarts, which is what Ryan has. Harry is a prat, and acts like it.