Aug 9, 2019 - Raising the Heroic Squib (FR-13)
Aug 9, 2019 - Raising the Heroic Squib (FR-13)
Author: mmooch
Summary: **Part of the 2019 LiveJournal’s Twisted Shorts FaD** challenge. Lily doesn’t accept the idea that she has to get rid of one son to properly raise the other. With a heavy heart, she leaves the Wizarding World with Harry.
Challenge: Just an idea for a story where Harry is overlooked by Dumbledore for the supposed ‘Boy Who Lived’ because he shows very little magical ability - and therefore considered a squib.
Crossover: Harry Potter
Rating: FR-13.
Word count: 1911
Warning: some anti-pureblood stuff, which will include the pro-Muggle purebloods as well.
Timeline: Starting with AU Halloween 1981 and going even more AU from there for HP; post-series for BtVS; move the timelines to match
A/N: This isn’t part of my other story, but I’m not feeling that story today, so you get another HP cross. I have a lot of them cluttering up my brain.
Disclaimer: HP characters belong to JK Rowling. BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon / Mutant Enemy. I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
Godric’s Hollow
After Voldemort’s attack…
When they heard the explosion, James and Lily Potter immediately abandoned their private Samhain celebration in the woods near their cottage. They somehow knew instinctively that Voldemort had found their hiding spot again, despite their latest effort which included casting a Fidelius Charm on their home. Maybe using Peter as the Secret Keeper wasn’t their best idea after all.
But how had the Dark Lord found them? Peter was in the house, watching the boys. Their concern for the safety of their children kept them from making the somewhat logical leap that Peter had betrayed them. That realization would come days later.
Inside the front door, they saw a smoldering heap of something. That something clearly had Peter’s robes covering it, making them think that Voldemort had used a burning curse on their friend. They’d grieve for him later…right now they needed to find their boys.
The boys were up in their bedrooms, lying down in their double crib. Right after the boys were born, they tried using separate cribs, but the boys would fuss until they were put together, so to save their sanity, they just expanded one of the cribs to fit them both. In front of the crib was another smoldering robe covered in rips.
While they were checking both boys over for wounds of any kind, Hagrid and Dumbledore came into the room. “Hagrid, can you check the outside to be sure we don’t have any more unpleasant surprises?”
“Sure thing, Headmaster,” Hagrid replied in his thick accent.
“We don’t know what happened, Headmaster,” James began, cutting off the opening question. “Peter was watching the boys while we performed a Samhain celebration out back. We heard an explosion and came running. Did you see Peter’s remains downstairs?” he asked in a voice thick with emotions.
“I did,” Dumbledore replied somberly. “His death is tragic, but we can be grateful that your children didn’t die with him. In fact, if this robe on the floor is any indication, one or both of them may have been responsible for Voldemort’s defeat. With your permission, I would like to do some tests on them; make sure they are okay and to see if I can get any answers about what happened here.”
They quickly gave their permission and waited anxiously while he did his checks. Their anxiety level grew when he seemed disturbed by something and did them a second time. Before they could get hysterical, he announced his findings, “They are both healthy…physically-speaking.”
“What does that mean, Headmaster? Why did you say physically?” James demanded, feeling a sudden twist in his gut as his mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion and his heart begged for it not to be true.
His heart shattered when Dumbledore answered him sadly, “It appears that in saving his brother’s life, Adrian inadvertently drew power from Harry’s magical core, rendering him…”
“A squib,” James finished before breaking down into sobs.
Lily looked perplexed by their reactions. While she was aware that most Wizarding families looked down on their squib relations - even going so far as to not acknowledge them as family - it wasn’t like they would do the same…would they? “Are you sure it’s not just magical exhaustion?” she asked, wanting to be sure of the facts before worrying about Harry’s future.
James’ head snapped up as he stared hopefully at the Headmaster. Dumbledore shook his head in sorrow. “This goes beyond magical exhaustion, Lily. James, I’m sorry that I had to give you such tragic news.”
“What’s tragic about it?” Lily asked. “I know it’s not good news, but it’s not as if he’s dead or anything.”
“For the purposes of our family, he is,” James told her as he hung his head again. “If he hadn’t been our firstborn, the heir of the Potter line, then we might have been able to keep him. But he is the heir--”
“What are you talking about, James? Of course we’re going to keep him…whether he’s the first or second born. It … doesn’t … matter!” she shouted at her husband, causing both boys to fuss.
After they were quieted again, James explained, “If the firstborn son of a Wizarding family is a squib, the family has to disown him in order to keep their status.”
“Damn our status! I am not disowning my son!” Lily replied angrily, yet in a hushed voice as to not upset the babies again.
“It’s not your decision to make, Lily. As the Head of the Potter line, I have a responsibility to both my ancestors and also to our descendants to keep the Potter name strong. For that to happen, Harry cannot remain a Potter,” James told her, clearly unhappy about it.
His unhappiness still didn’t stop Lily from slapping him as hard as she could. “You bastard! You claim that you aren’t like the other purebloods, but you’re still willing to sacrifice our son for your precious bloodline! I will take both our sons and leave the Wizarding World before I let that happen.”
“You wouldn’t be allowed to leave with Adrian,” Dumbledore interjected. “Since he would be the Potter heir, James’ desires supersede yours when it comes to where he’s raised. I hope that you won’t make our savior - and your son - grow up without his mother.”
“You both make me sick,” she spat. She should have listened to her earlier qualms about getting involved with James Potter. How had she been so blind as to believe he was different from the rest of them?
Two days later and things hadn’t improved in the Potter household; in fact, they had grown even worse. When she was unable to change James’ mind about disowning Harry, she asked Remus and Sirius to talk some sense into him. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out like she had hoped. Remus sided with her, although he suggested that Harry get schooling in the Muggle world since he’d be ridiculed in the magical world.
Given how Sirius felt about his family, she was sure he’d agree with her, too. To Lily’s shock, Sirius backed James’ position. He tried to explain how important family status was and that it wasn’t just about being proper purebloods and all that rot, but Lily stopped listening to him. In fact, she stopped talking to him and James altogether.
It wasn’t until she finished packing her and Harry’s belongings that she finally spoke to James again. “Someday you’ll hate yourself for forcing me to do this,” she vowed.
“I already do,” James admitted with bright eyes. He handed her the paperwork needed to dissolve their marriage legally, then said the necessary ritualistic words to do it magically, “I, James Jonathon Potter, do hereby cast Lily Rose Evans Potter and Harry James Potter from the Potter family. The heir is now Adrian Lancaster Potter.”
He leaned down to give Harry a kiss goodbye on the forehead, knowing that Lily wouldn’t allow the same with her. “Be good for your mother,” he whispered. When he stood back up, he pointed to a moderate-sized trunk and waved his wand to open it. The inside was filled with English pounds of varying denominations.
“I don’t want your money,” Lily said bitterly.
“You’ll need it, Lils,” James replied softly. “Nobody will hire you in the Wizarding World now that you’ve left me. Your only chance is in the Muggle world. Use the money to get whatever education you need there. Don’t let your anger and pride keep you from doing what’s right for Harry.”
Lily snorted at the words. Like he cared about what was right for his disowned son. But he did have a point that she wouldn’t be qualified for anything in the real world, and given how quickly he threw his son away, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was telling the truth about her opportunities in the magical world. So, for Harry’s sake, she would use this money. But she’d find a way to pay back every pound.
London
Knowing that her sister, Petunia, wouldn’t welcome her back into her life, despite her divorce from James, Lily settled down in Camden Town, near Regent’s Park, in a two-bedroom flat. Harry was still small enough to stay in the same room as her for now, so she used the second bedroom as a library while she caught up on seven years of non-magical education. It also served as a guest room for Remus when he came to visit every so often.
He was the only one from her past life that did, though. Leaving James for a squib son turned her into a social pariah. Oh, they were sympathetic about the situation, but every one of them said she should have just let Harry go into the Muggle world without her. The letters stopped after a month.
That just made it easier for her to put that part of her life behind her and focus on Harry and their future. She retook her maiden name of Evans and gave it to Harry as well. Because of her quick mind, organized study habits - and a neighbor that was willing to watch Harry while she went to class/studied - she was able to sit for her A-levels within 18 months.
When she came home from the testing, she walked into to find a banner up congratulating her with Buffy and Remus ready to celebrate. Buffy was holding Harry and prompted him, “Say ‘Good job, Mommy!’”
Lily’s heart melted when he repeated the phrase and added, “’M proud of you!” He wiggled his way down and ran over to give her a big hug and kiss. As soon as that was done, he asked hopefully, “Cake?”
“Sure, my darling boy,” Lily answered a little wistfully. She wished the rest of her family could be here to celebrate, but if they were still her family, she probably wouldn’t have done this.
“It’s his loss,” Buffy whispered while Remus got Harry set up with his dessert.
“Who?” Lily asked, pretending like she didn’t know what Buffy was talking about.
She got a ‘don’t be stupid’ look in return, but Buffy replied anyway, “Your ex…he who shall not be named…James.”
Lily looked startled for a moment, then chuckled wryly. If only Buffy knew she was comparing James to the evilest wizard of the last several hundred years. She wouldn’t go that far, but she wasn’t exactly a fan of anyone from the Wizarding World right now - except for Remus, of course.
Whether he wanted to admit it or not, James casting them out because of Harry’s squib status was the same attitude that allowed somebody like Voldemort to gain power…just to a lesser extent.
As much as she missed some parts of her old life, Lily knew she would do the same thing over again if she had to in order to raise Harry. She just wished she had been able to take Adrian as well. By mutual decision, Remus never mentioned James or Adrian to her. After getting updates for the first six months, she found it was just too painful. Remus did promise to tell her if anything really bad ever happed, though.
The last thing he shared with her was that James - at Dumbledore’s urging - made Sirius Adrian’s guardian if anything should happen to him, cutting off any chance of Lily getting her son back. Every night before she fell asleep, she cursed Dumbledore’s name for that.
A/N: I have a vague idea of where I want to go with this, but we’ll see what the muse decides.
Author: mmooch
Summary: **Part of the 2019 LiveJournal’s Twisted Shorts FaD** challenge. Lily doesn’t accept the idea that she has to get rid of one son to properly raise the other. With a heavy heart, she leaves the Wizarding World with Harry.
Challenge: Just an idea for a story where Harry is overlooked by Dumbledore for the supposed ‘Boy Who Lived’ because he shows very little magical ability - and therefore considered a squib.
Crossover: Harry Potter
Rating: FR-13.
Word count: 1911
Warning: some anti-pureblood stuff, which will include the pro-Muggle purebloods as well.
Timeline: Starting with AU Halloween 1981 and going even more AU from there for HP; post-series for BtVS; move the timelines to match
A/N: This isn’t part of my other story, but I’m not feeling that story today, so you get another HP cross. I have a lot of them cluttering up my brain.
Disclaimer: HP characters belong to JK Rowling. BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon / Mutant Enemy. I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
Godric’s Hollow
After Voldemort’s attack…
When they heard the explosion, James and Lily Potter immediately abandoned their private Samhain celebration in the woods near their cottage. They somehow knew instinctively that Voldemort had found their hiding spot again, despite their latest effort which included casting a Fidelius Charm on their home. Maybe using Peter as the Secret Keeper wasn’t their best idea after all.
But how had the Dark Lord found them? Peter was in the house, watching the boys. Their concern for the safety of their children kept them from making the somewhat logical leap that Peter had betrayed them. That realization would come days later.
Inside the front door, they saw a smoldering heap of something. That something clearly had Peter’s robes covering it, making them think that Voldemort had used a burning curse on their friend. They’d grieve for him later…right now they needed to find their boys.
The boys were up in their bedrooms, lying down in their double crib. Right after the boys were born, they tried using separate cribs, but the boys would fuss until they were put together, so to save their sanity, they just expanded one of the cribs to fit them both. In front of the crib was another smoldering robe covered in rips.
While they were checking both boys over for wounds of any kind, Hagrid and Dumbledore came into the room. “Hagrid, can you check the outside to be sure we don’t have any more unpleasant surprises?”
“Sure thing, Headmaster,” Hagrid replied in his thick accent.
“We don’t know what happened, Headmaster,” James began, cutting off the opening question. “Peter was watching the boys while we performed a Samhain celebration out back. We heard an explosion and came running. Did you see Peter’s remains downstairs?” he asked in a voice thick with emotions.
“I did,” Dumbledore replied somberly. “His death is tragic, but we can be grateful that your children didn’t die with him. In fact, if this robe on the floor is any indication, one or both of them may have been responsible for Voldemort’s defeat. With your permission, I would like to do some tests on them; make sure they are okay and to see if I can get any answers about what happened here.”
They quickly gave their permission and waited anxiously while he did his checks. Their anxiety level grew when he seemed disturbed by something and did them a second time. Before they could get hysterical, he announced his findings, “They are both healthy…physically-speaking.”
“What does that mean, Headmaster? Why did you say physically?” James demanded, feeling a sudden twist in his gut as his mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion and his heart begged for it not to be true.
His heart shattered when Dumbledore answered him sadly, “It appears that in saving his brother’s life, Adrian inadvertently drew power from Harry’s magical core, rendering him…”
“A squib,” James finished before breaking down into sobs.
Lily looked perplexed by their reactions. While she was aware that most Wizarding families looked down on their squib relations - even going so far as to not acknowledge them as family - it wasn’t like they would do the same…would they? “Are you sure it’s not just magical exhaustion?” she asked, wanting to be sure of the facts before worrying about Harry’s future.
James’ head snapped up as he stared hopefully at the Headmaster. Dumbledore shook his head in sorrow. “This goes beyond magical exhaustion, Lily. James, I’m sorry that I had to give you such tragic news.”
“What’s tragic about it?” Lily asked. “I know it’s not good news, but it’s not as if he’s dead or anything.”
“For the purposes of our family, he is,” James told her as he hung his head again. “If he hadn’t been our firstborn, the heir of the Potter line, then we might have been able to keep him. But he is the heir--”
“What are you talking about, James? Of course we’re going to keep him…whether he’s the first or second born. It … doesn’t … matter!” she shouted at her husband, causing both boys to fuss.
After they were quieted again, James explained, “If the firstborn son of a Wizarding family is a squib, the family has to disown him in order to keep their status.”
“Damn our status! I am not disowning my son!” Lily replied angrily, yet in a hushed voice as to not upset the babies again.
“It’s not your decision to make, Lily. As the Head of the Potter line, I have a responsibility to both my ancestors and also to our descendants to keep the Potter name strong. For that to happen, Harry cannot remain a Potter,” James told her, clearly unhappy about it.
His unhappiness still didn’t stop Lily from slapping him as hard as she could. “You bastard! You claim that you aren’t like the other purebloods, but you’re still willing to sacrifice our son for your precious bloodline! I will take both our sons and leave the Wizarding World before I let that happen.”
“You wouldn’t be allowed to leave with Adrian,” Dumbledore interjected. “Since he would be the Potter heir, James’ desires supersede yours when it comes to where he’s raised. I hope that you won’t make our savior - and your son - grow up without his mother.”
“You both make me sick,” she spat. She should have listened to her earlier qualms about getting involved with James Potter. How had she been so blind as to believe he was different from the rest of them?
Two days later and things hadn’t improved in the Potter household; in fact, they had grown even worse. When she was unable to change James’ mind about disowning Harry, she asked Remus and Sirius to talk some sense into him. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out like she had hoped. Remus sided with her, although he suggested that Harry get schooling in the Muggle world since he’d be ridiculed in the magical world.
Given how Sirius felt about his family, she was sure he’d agree with her, too. To Lily’s shock, Sirius backed James’ position. He tried to explain how important family status was and that it wasn’t just about being proper purebloods and all that rot, but Lily stopped listening to him. In fact, she stopped talking to him and James altogether.
It wasn’t until she finished packing her and Harry’s belongings that she finally spoke to James again. “Someday you’ll hate yourself for forcing me to do this,” she vowed.
“I already do,” James admitted with bright eyes. He handed her the paperwork needed to dissolve their marriage legally, then said the necessary ritualistic words to do it magically, “I, James Jonathon Potter, do hereby cast Lily Rose Evans Potter and Harry James Potter from the Potter family. The heir is now Adrian Lancaster Potter.”
He leaned down to give Harry a kiss goodbye on the forehead, knowing that Lily wouldn’t allow the same with her. “Be good for your mother,” he whispered. When he stood back up, he pointed to a moderate-sized trunk and waved his wand to open it. The inside was filled with English pounds of varying denominations.
“I don’t want your money,” Lily said bitterly.
“You’ll need it, Lils,” James replied softly. “Nobody will hire you in the Wizarding World now that you’ve left me. Your only chance is in the Muggle world. Use the money to get whatever education you need there. Don’t let your anger and pride keep you from doing what’s right for Harry.”
Lily snorted at the words. Like he cared about what was right for his disowned son. But he did have a point that she wouldn’t be qualified for anything in the real world, and given how quickly he threw his son away, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was telling the truth about her opportunities in the magical world. So, for Harry’s sake, she would use this money. But she’d find a way to pay back every pound.
London
Knowing that her sister, Petunia, wouldn’t welcome her back into her life, despite her divorce from James, Lily settled down in Camden Town, near Regent’s Park, in a two-bedroom flat. Harry was still small enough to stay in the same room as her for now, so she used the second bedroom as a library while she caught up on seven years of non-magical education. It also served as a guest room for Remus when he came to visit every so often.
He was the only one from her past life that did, though. Leaving James for a squib son turned her into a social pariah. Oh, they were sympathetic about the situation, but every one of them said she should have just let Harry go into the Muggle world without her. The letters stopped after a month.
That just made it easier for her to put that part of her life behind her and focus on Harry and their future. She retook her maiden name of Evans and gave it to Harry as well. Because of her quick mind, organized study habits - and a neighbor that was willing to watch Harry while she went to class/studied - she was able to sit for her A-levels within 18 months.
When she came home from the testing, she walked into to find a banner up congratulating her with Buffy and Remus ready to celebrate. Buffy was holding Harry and prompted him, “Say ‘Good job, Mommy!’”
Lily’s heart melted when he repeated the phrase and added, “’M proud of you!” He wiggled his way down and ran over to give her a big hug and kiss. As soon as that was done, he asked hopefully, “Cake?”
“Sure, my darling boy,” Lily answered a little wistfully. She wished the rest of her family could be here to celebrate, but if they were still her family, she probably wouldn’t have done this.
“It’s his loss,” Buffy whispered while Remus got Harry set up with his dessert.
“Who?” Lily asked, pretending like she didn’t know what Buffy was talking about.
She got a ‘don’t be stupid’ look in return, but Buffy replied anyway, “Your ex…he who shall not be named…James.”
Lily looked startled for a moment, then chuckled wryly. If only Buffy knew she was comparing James to the evilest wizard of the last several hundred years. She wouldn’t go that far, but she wasn’t exactly a fan of anyone from the Wizarding World right now - except for Remus, of course.
Whether he wanted to admit it or not, James casting them out because of Harry’s squib status was the same attitude that allowed somebody like Voldemort to gain power…just to a lesser extent.
As much as she missed some parts of her old life, Lily knew she would do the same thing over again if she had to in order to raise Harry. She just wished she had been able to take Adrian as well. By mutual decision, Remus never mentioned James or Adrian to her. After getting updates for the first six months, she found it was just too painful. Remus did promise to tell her if anything really bad ever happed, though.
The last thing he shared with her was that James - at Dumbledore’s urging - made Sirius Adrian’s guardian if anything should happen to him, cutting off any chance of Lily getting her son back. Every night before she fell asleep, she cursed Dumbledore’s name for that.
A/N: I have a vague idea of where I want to go with this, but we’ll see what the muse decides.