A Different Beginning
My own version of Harry sorted into slytherin! The main diversion for me being that Hagrid is not the one to pick up Harry from the Dursleys. Instead a Slytherin Kettleburn picks him up. Thereby ensuring a less pro-Gryffindor/anti-slytherin introduction for Harry. The result? He goes into the sorting with no preference and winds up in Slytherin. My goal in this story? Mostly to try and have fun writing it, and sharpen my fiction skills. That’s the personal goal anyway. In terms of plot? I honestly feel slytherins are given short shrift. I have a hard time buying that 1/4th of all children are destined for “evil” because a ratty old hat sticks them in a house. I strongly feel that if we saw slytherins from the inside, we would come away with a vastly different perspective. While I will try to keep the characters reacting in what I feel is a realistic way, this *is* an AU. In particular (though I intend to take a while getting there) I intend to explore the following: A new Harry/Draco dynamic. One that probably starts off the same as in the canon but changes towards understanding and friendship due to the close proximity between them as the series progresses. A new Snape/Harry Dynamic… as being in slytherin gives them the chance to get to know each other better and perhaps eventually understand each other. Finally, a look into some of the overlooked dynamics of Slytherin house. Ships? No idea, I haven’t thought that far ahead. Harry is just a firstie right now! He is still in the “sex? ::giggle giggle:: haha! You said SEX” mode. We will see what happens. Ohh. And spoilers to all books! Beware!
Redemption
This is an AU story. Know that going forward. The primary differences in this universe is 1) Malfoy feels he needs certain advanced potions to bring off his “death eaters into the school” plan. Not trusting Snape (for the canon reasons) Malfoy is continuingly pestering Slughorn (the same way Harry did) to help him out with “extracurricular” potions. The other possible difference, is my Slughorn feels an overwhelming guilt for the information he gave Tom Riddle. I do not really consider this to be out of character, as his actions strike me as those of a guilt-riddled (no pun intended) man. He blames the info he gave on Horcruxes (as well as other Dark Arts I hint on) as being what has allowed Voldemort to rise to and keep power. As a result, Slughorn blames himself for all the death and destruction that has followed. This story is his attempt to regain redemption for what he did. As I said… this will be an AU story. I will try to keep the characters realalistic… but the end to Book 6 could be radically different.
Essays
The Whitening and Assimilation of Harry Potter Fans in Post-War America
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