That was a thing back in Ancient Rome. The majority of the Caesars we know were actually adopted by the ruler of the time from another prominent family. It was mostly to ensure that the succession went to the best possible candidate (for a given value of 'best') rather than as a hereditary monarchy. The Romans had a thing about Kings even then.

If the Wizarding World were to be modelled more along the lines of the Roman Empire (say that the Statute of Secrecy was instituted much earlier or a wizard took over the Empire and ensured it never fell) you could quite easily see powerful political figures adopting talented young men to become their heir.

 

Don't know if I've ever read a story with this premise or if it's ever been brought up here, but what about a story where during his encounter with Harry while trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, like in the film version(I don't believe this occurred in the books but it did in the film, but lets assume the POD from canon is that it occurred in this story), after destroying Quirrel's body, Voldemort spirit tries to go through Harry's body. The difference is that Voldemort detects the Horcrux and Harry, and instead decides to borrow Harry's body, latching itself onto the Horcrux, as Harry passes out.

Basically, the story would be Voldemort slowly possessing Harry, and changing Harry from within, turning his enemy into a tool for his rise to power and a weapon against Dumbledore by slowly and carefully manipulating Harry personality and memories to suit his needs, and making him unknowingly obedient to Voldemort. Harry isn't fully aware of his presence for a while(as Voldemort possess Harry's body when he sleeps), but slowly becomes aware over time.

Dumbledore, who is beginning to suspect that Voldemort created Horcruxes, and believing Harry may be one, doesn't fully realize that Voldemort is now sharing a body with Harry.

 

Horace Slughorn learns that since his retirement Hogwarts produces less and less students with O's in Potion NEWTS. It doesn't sit well with the retired Professor and he decides to investigate. Every single thing that he found out seemed to be worse than the one before. Students are blowing up cauldrons because they are not taught the proper safety measures; Quidditch games are won not by outsmarting the enemies but by committing blatant fouls; the reputation of his old house going down the drain thanks to Snape's bias.
Slughorn sees what Snape and Dumbledore oblivously don't; the situation in Hogwarts is a disaster waiting to happen. If somebody manages to unite the students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, they'll turn their wands against Slytherins, detentions and loss of house points be damned.
Slughorn decides that Snape must go. If he feels safe because of Dumbledore, he is sorely mistaken. The true Slytherin is on warpath!

 

...so a "Hogwarts is bad, let's fix it!" story?

That premise would be enough for me to drop it.

 

I could see it done well if it turns out Slughorn is senile and slightly scitzophrenic.

 

I like that idea if it was done in a certain way. Instead of Hogwarts being bad, it could just be Slytherin. It could be from Slughorn's perspective, with an an interesting personality, and have it set in Harry's third year (though Harry wouldn't play a part.)

Anyway, on to my plot bunny. Fourth year, from Sirius' perspective.

The ministry is desperately trying to catch Sirius, as their reputation among the rest of the world is rapidly going downhill. As such, fudge authorises the use of some if the most dangerous people in the wizarding world.
Bounty hunters.

The story would basically be one massive chase scene, as Sirius jumps from country to country, evading creatures from every nationality and race, all hoping to collect the 10000 galleon reward.

Basically I just read a spinoff book about Boba Fett, and this popped into my head. Thoughts?

 

Make it humorous, with Sirius using his inner Maradeur to evade the bounty hunters, who keep getting horribly embarrassed.

 

The challenge will be to avoid making it silly or slapstick, unless you're writing crack. But I feel it is too good a concept to waste.

 

That doesn't make it better, you know.
"inner Marauder" is supposed to help how? They were a group of friends in Hogwarts, not fucking ninjas.
All in all this just sounds like a worse Mr. Black, by Rorsach's Blott.

 

Which is why I'm not writing it.

 

PostGoF AU. The Triwizard Tournaments really leads to international cooperation. Harry, Cedric, Fleur and Krum take the center stage in the coming war against Voldemort after The Graveyard Incident. It would involve training Harry to become the hero he was promised to become in the first books, be it via Dumbledore or multiple mentors.

The Champions can become a sort of team that leads the war. Perhaps their, not always good, advice is listened because of Harry being 'The Chosen One' or maybe they are just poster figures for the government. The civil war could torn into a real open conflict, not just subterfuge fighting. The fic could involve heavy travelling ala DH.

 

This can actually be interesting.
-) Political struggles in the ministry with the attampts to replace useless and corrupt Fudge with Amos Diggory,
-) international version of DA (naturally without 'Dumbledore' in the name because the Headmaster isn't happy at somebody else taking the central stage, or Harry receiving the actual training instead of being mushroomed like in canon),
-) old conflicts between French and British ministries resurfacing,
-) Voldemort recruiting new Death Eaters in Europe etc.

 

AU in which the war for Britain continued for many years. Harry has grown into his own power, and can now stand against Riddle on his own merits--a good thing, because while Albus' magic is as strong as ever, his body is beginning to fade. To match the combination of Harry and Dumbledore, Riddle broke Grindelwald out of prison and pressured/persuaded him into siding with him, even if the man wouldn't take his mark. The duels between the four men are the stuff of legend.

One day, there is an accident. A summoning gone wrong, or maybe horribly right. A portal is opened--the gates of Hell, a door to the Outside, it is known by many names--and all manner of nightmare floods forth. Harry, Tom, Albus and Gellert are forced to work together to battle their way to the heart of the portal and force it shut. Unfortunately, there is only one way to seal this gateway, and they all know it--the lifeblood of a wizard.

With each party waiting for the inevitable betrayal from the other, getting through the swarms of eldritch monsters may just be the easy part.

 

You could make it a Doom or a Diablo crossover - that would be sweet.

 

Sounds a bit like a riff on Skin Game - pretty good opportunity for a crossover there, eh...

 

HP AU fic inspired by House, set in St. Mungo's Hospital.

Who's the House equivalent, you ask?

Tom Riddle.

Went into healing to further study immortality, a few years ago performed an experiment on himself that went wrong. Despite his proclivities and unhealthy interest in dark magic, he's the best healer St Mungo's has ever seen. And now he's being given three apprentices fresh from Hogwarts to teach.

Hermione-centric fic, with her as one of Riddle's apprentices.

 

This sounds incredibly amazing.

Save for that Hermione-centric part, I've had enough of her already.

 

Now hold on. I've seen that sort of premise before, but with Canon!Harry getting ported over. The experiment that went wrong is more Rectifier, though.

Found the link. IIRC it's not great, but it is complete.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8678567/1/A-Riddled-Universe

 

I too share an aversion to Hermione-centric, but I just couldn't see Harry becoming a healer, even in an AU.

Maybe Hermione as one of the apprentices but keep it Riddle centric.

A great thing about the fic idea is that you could explore fun and slightly absurd magical diseases. Like Ernie MacMillian comes in with an inflating head and it's because he's so arrogant that his head is literally getting bigger.

 

They try to treat a guy that was transfigured into a newt, but find untransfiguration ineffective. Eventually it turns out to just be a newt cursed to think he's a man.