I challenge you to write this...

It's a completely AU series premise, based around uncovering the mysteries surronding the founders. The story would work best if Harry was in Ravenclaw. Voldemort will have died in 1981 when Harry vanquished him, so Harry is famous but Voldemort is actually defeated. The main villain of the series would be...well, you'll see.

Each story has a focus on a specific person, shown in brackets.

Philosopher's Stone (Gryffindor)
The Philosopher's stone was created by Godric Gryffindor, not Nicolas Flamel. When Godric died of heartbreak the stone was hidden within Hogwarts. Story follows Harry finding out about it and trying to find it. No obvious enemy: the enemy isn't like a physical enemy, but a mental one - the unknown, an unsolved mystery, and hidden knowledge. This reflects the more Ravenclaw nature of the story, instead of Gryffindor. Though of course, you'd have your occasional action sequence, but it would be more against obstacles than people. Story ends with Harry finding the stone but being unable to retrieve it because he fails to pass the tests guarding it.

Chamber of Secrets (Ravenclaw)
The split between Salazar and the other founders still occured, but Slytherin did not build the Chamber of Secrets. Instead, the CoS is Rowena Ravenclaw's library. Story revolves around this. Harry finds it.

Prisoner of Azkaban (Grindlewald)
Non-founder related storyline. The Prisoner of Azkaban breaks out. What is Azkaban? It's still a prison, guarded by Dementors, but it is not the main Wizarding prison: it holds only one prisoner: Gellert Grindlewald, captured by Dumbledore in 1945. He's going to be our main villian.

Goblet of Fire (Hufflepuff)
The GoF is another name for Helga Hufflepuff's cup. Story centers around this artifact, plus a bit of Grindlewald problems.

Order of the Phoenix (Harry)
Order of the Phoenix is an order that only ever consists of one member, who carries a secret. When this person dies, he passes the secret on to the person who he deems most worthy, so the secret lives on in a new body, like a phoenix. Harry is chosen as the next holder of the secret. What is it? The story of the Deathly Hallows (not the canon one: I have a different story).

Half-Blood Prince (Slytherin)
Slytherin was a half-blood bastard child of the Peverell family. Not actual royalty, but they were so powerful and rich that their children would be called princes. Story revolves around this, the Peverell family (of which the Potters also decend from) and Grindlewald stuff.

Deathly Hallows (the finale)
The Deathly Hallows are the 4 powerful relics left behind by the founders. Hufflepuff's cup, which Harry has, the Philosopher's stone, which is in Hogwarts, though Harry can't get at it, the Diadem of Ravenclaw, which is hidden in Ravenclaw's library, though Harry hasn't found it, and the Peverell ring, which Harry discovers Voldemort possesed. As the threat of Grindlewald rises, Hogwarts needs to be made safe, but this can only be done if the four hallows are brought back to Hogwarts and united. Harry takes it upon himself to do this.

Obviously these storylines are just very vague and there would be many subplots and school stuff happening at the same time; stuff like Harry's magical development (which would be much more impressive than in canon: he'd be like the next Dumbledore), romance, his fame, the history of the Potters, etc etc.

As you can see, I've kept the original titles. This is because it is supposed to be truly AU: something that JKR could very well have written, but didn't.

Rules:

1. No bashing. It's just amateur.
2. You can have Harry interested in and using some dark magic, but this isn't evil!Harry. Harry must stay a good guy.
3. Romance is completely open (no slash).
4. The canon magic system must be kept. This means no "magical cores", no occlumency sheilds, no uber wandless magic.

 

/eye twitch

I hate you Taure. I hate you so much.

/sigh

/goes off to write yet another story

 

If you're actually going to write it, then I love you just as much as you hate me

 

3200 words and counting. I really hate you.

 

Wow, you're really working on this. 3200 words in...fifteen minutes. This must have really inspired you.

 

I'm glad your taking this challenge up, it needs someone to do it justice and I cannot wait to see what you've done in addition to anyone else who takes up this great challenge.

That said, if you don't finish this story I shall rape you with a big screw driver and a hammer.

 

Intros are easy. The hard part is writing an intro that I don't throw out the window 5 minutes later. I usually get around 4k words written in 20 to 25 minutes. Then spend 5 hours rewriting those 4k words and buffing it up into the 8-10k range.

It's nuts, but it works for me.

Edit:

Also, this challenge fit really well into a plot bunny that I've been toying with for a while. It was like finding that missing puzzle piece that lets you complete the puzzle after trying to find it for a week.

 

Do tell

Also, how exactly are you going about introducing it?

 

I've already got three people I'm beta'ing for, but if you need someone to throw ideas off of then I'm usually around.

 

Well, a while back I had a plot bunny that I posted as a challenge here. Unlike most of my challenges that I post and then forget about that one had stuck with me. The problem I had is that it meant a retelling of books 1-6 with only small plot variations. It wasn't enough to justify the effort, but the basic idea still appealed to me.

When I read your challenge it was like a lightbulb turning on. Your challenge gave the reason, the expanded plot if you will, to rewrite the HP stories. So now I had a the core story to go with the change to Harry I'd wanted to play around with. Once those two clicked I was doomed and started to write.

While I've now scrapped and started over what I wrote instantly after I read this challenge the basic outline I've got in mind remains the same. The story will start just as Voldemort kills Lily. Right off the bat the changes from canon will kick in even before Voldemort dies.

If you want a few hints of where it'll go from there take a look at the challenge I linked above. Since your challenge was the one that solved my puzzle so to speak I'll be following your suggestion and putting Harry into Ravenclaw, not Hufflepuff. I also think that the concept I've got for Harry's year before Hogwarts will be an interesting twist.

As soon as I've got a prologue I'm happy with I'll post it. The working title for the series is Harry Potter and the Founder's Legacy, with a volume title of Founder's Legacy: The Philosopher's Stone. Might change those later, but who knows.

 

And obviously, I can always assist.

 

Even though I'm not to this point yet, I do need two bits of technical assistance from an England native.

1) Am I correct that a standard Police Officer in England would be refered to as a Constable or Police Constable?

and

2) What name does Child Protective Services go by in England?


...and just to head off anyone who is thinking I'm going for the abused!Harry theme don't worry. It's not what you think.

 

Hmm...I think Corporal is the lowest rank in the Police force, but yeah, constable is the one people will connect immediatly with the police.

As for the UK version of CPS...I'm not sure if there is a direct equivanlent. People just tend to call them "social services". This is all I could find on Wiki:

 

lulz at Kender.

Anyways, epic challenge Taure. I had actually planned on doing something somewhat similar with "In The Chamber" originally, but that didn't work out. I don't really like the Order of the Phoenix idea though, with it only being one person (unless the rest of last member's contemporaries had died). I think that it should have expanded throughout the years since it was founded.

I did like that Harry couldn't get at the Philosopher's Stone, as well as the rest of the plot that you've cooked up.

Can I has moar Return nao, plz?

 

This is totally random, but since the subject of the police turned up, there are British Narcs right?

 

What's a Narc?

 

He's either thinking of a Narcoleptic or someone involved in drugs in some way, like an undercover Police Officer trying to arrest someone for trafficking.

That's the most likely case, at any rate.

Oh, and can't wait to read it, KenderCleric.

 

Police informant, or snitch.

 

Wow, this challenge is really good. About time someone came up with a decent plot that allows the rewriting of his Hogwarts years. Good luck Kender, I will be waiting to read it.

Well, it could have two meanings. 1) A police informant, doesn't always have to involve Narcotics or 2) The person your selling drugs too is really a Narcotics police officer (hence Narc).

The term is usually reserved for undercover Narcotic officers. So, be careful who you all sell drugs too 0_o

 

Good God... can I have your brain please?

Good luck.