So I have had an idea for a plot I might like to try and write. However, the problem that I currently face is that I am really having trouble coming up with an idea as to get to it. I am trying to find some way, as to make Harry go on the run, with the Ministry after him, Essentially making Harry Potter a criminal.

I just can't seem to come up with an idea that would work, and put Harry on the run, but at the same time, hasn't been used by 15,000 other authors. I would like it to be after Half Blood Prince, but that seems to be the big problem....

So I was wondering, if anyone wouldn't mind posting a few ideas about what I could possibly do to make Harry Potter a criminal, but not go over the edge. For instance Harry isn't just going to go mad and start chopping off the heads of innocent girls living around his home(Although, it would be great fun!). I need some plausible idea as to use for Harry running away from the law, for either committing a crime or being set up.

If anyone has any ideas, I would much appreciate it, it really could be anything. From Harry simply casting underage magic, to Voldemort framing him for a crime. (Just an example, as yes it is way to over done.)

 

Minister is mad at him for not accepting his position. So he tries to show Harry why he shouldn't cross him, get's Harry in trouble, and lends a helping hand. Harry feels this is weird, and smacks the hand away. This angers him, and he says that he was assaulted. Harry has to run.

 

A robbery occurs in Little Whinging, in which a store clerk is killed. The entire neighborhood blames Harry, because, of course, he is the only deliquent in the area deranged enough to do such a thing. The neighborhood kids start saying that they saw him in the area, his family supports the local opinion of him, etc. A warrant is issued for his arrest, and the Ministry of Magic is notified by a well-meaning Figg, but Rufus decides that instead of making the warrant go away, he will go with it and extend it to the magical world as well.

Boom. Innocent Harry accused of murder, on the run from both muggles and wizards. Of course, this may have been done before, but I can't recall any stories off the top of my head.

 

Why not have him be charged for something he's guilty of? He's done plenty. Breaking the Statute of secresy with the car in second year. Aiding and abetting Sirius Black. Production of Polyjuice. Attempted Murder of Delores Umbridge (or Accessory, that trip into the forest and subsequent abandonment could be misconstrued). Burglary (defined in Britain as breaking into a building at night to commit a felony, see aiding and abetting above) for the ministry trip. Illegal time travel (if the DOM can't monitor how much a time turner has been used (but can monitor underage magic) they must be crazy giving one to a school girl). Use of an unforgivable curse against a human being. Participation in a Dark Arts Ritual. Vigilantism....

He may have good excuses, but Harry Potter has probably earned his life sentance in Azkaban. Give him veritaserum and ask him if he did it. Don't ask him anything else and apply the silencing charms if he tries to explain.

I don't know why people insist on making Harry innocent when they write and Azkaban or fugitive!Harry fics.

 

Yeah, there's plenty canon material already to land him in Azkaban... helping an escaped prisoner in 3rd year, Cedric in 4th, Crucio in 5th, almost killing Malfoy if you want 6th AU... etc...

 

Alright thanks for the ideas so far, they have sparked my interest. The only problem I have with the ministry pumping Harry for info with Veritaserum is, that I need him to go on the run, and not land up in Azkaban. So it is probably going to have to do something near #4 and know he is now wanted as a criminal.

 

If you want it near #4 Privet Dr. then it should probably be the shop keeper idea, sounds realistic, and original (as i've never seen anyone use that take to get him in trouble.)

Have you noticed that when Harry DOES get in trouble in most azkaban!stories its almost always over the top with the crime(s)?

 

I am trying to remember what spells he cast at Snape trying to catch them; and the only spell I can remember him casting at Snape was his own. (Sectemsempra)(SP?) But hey, I could have just forgotten. But that is a very intriguing idea....

 

Well, I dug out my copy of HBP and he did attempt to cast Crucio twice when he was infuriated, among several Stunners and such...Snape blocked it and mocked him for it, even.


From what I could tell the only ones who was around and could have heard him do it, though, is probably Snape, Malfoy (Snape told him to run before Harry tried to cast it), Hagrid or this "huge Death Eater behind Harry" who attacked him - but that is slim since Harry himself could barely hear what Snape shouted "over the rushing of the flames, Hagrid's yells and the wild yelping of the trapped Fang."

 

Post HBP: Harry could always be claimed as the weapon of the ministry. Now that Dumbledore is gone and the people are in panic, who would oppose the ministry to utilze Harry as the weapon. Make a law that makes him property of the ministry, then he has to be on the run, cant contact any of his associates because he doesnt know who would betray him (willingly or not). His assets would be unreachable and he'd had to get by on his own. Some arcane law involving a prophecies subject and the welfare of the nation.... That doesnt sound to unreasonable to me. After all, in wartime the muggle world does the same, claiming young men as property of the army...

 

Wow, this is a pretty good idea. Although slavery is illegal in England...maybe not wizarding England though...hmmm

 

We all know how Harry Potter used the Cruciatus Curse on Lestrange. So the Minister finds out. There're two options for this:

First there was an investigation that lasted a year into the incident (e.g. How were Death Eaters able to penetrate the Ministry?) and only now that it's released do they find out that Harry used it - maybe there is a spell for tracing the outlines of curses.

The second option is that the Ministry knew about it only days after the incident, but Dumbledore used his influence to suppress the information - this could also explain why he refuses to actually train Harry.

Anyways, now that HBP has finished, the Minister decides to blackmail Harry by saying that Harry'll be charged with a crime to force him into Azkaban. After this there are another two options.

The first one is that Harry panics and runs away after refusing to do the minister's bidding. The minister leaks the information to the press, who promptly destroy his reputation. An important point is that Harry could've defended himself and resolved the controversy if he was there; however the fact that he runs away and therefore can't defend himself damns him as guilty.

The second one is that Harry refuses again. However, the conversation occurs in a public place, and Rita Skeeter - in her disguise as a beetle - or another reporter hears it. Then see above.

One very vital thing is to give a good reason for Harry to run away. I think that this can be relatively easy - the press's never been very friendly to him, he thinks the Ministry will actually send him to Azkaban, and he's going to go hunt Horcruxes anyways. In addition, you can make the Minister find out that he lives in Privet Drive - so the Minister blackmails him when he's alone. This means that Harry doesn't have anybody to dissuade him out of a rash decision - after he runs away all his friends puzzle over why in the world he did something so stupid.

Now you have two options again. The first one is that after the press has ruined Harry, fear builds up that Harry's doing something terrible that nobody knows about. So the Minister publicly states that Harry is a wanted criminal and that he's going to try to send him to Azkaban. However, this depends on making the Minister actually believe the public's views - and if you follow it you tread on the edge of rationality because it's going to be very hard for a reader to actually believe the public would think Harry's a dark lord despite his recent actions.

Therefore the second, better option is that the Minister and newspapers start saying that Harry's a lost boy who's in danger and may turn dark. So the public advocates that Harry is brought back to home where he can be safe and stay light. Of course, the Minister supports this because then he can use Harry, with full public support for his actions since Harry has shown himself to be a rebellious boy who shouldn't be trusted to lead the war - that title goes to Rufus. And if Harry refuses, he'll be accused of being unpatriotic.

 

You people do love me so, to give up such great ideas for me to "use".

Anyway, thanks for the ideas, I now have to decide which one I like best.....could be a problem. Well, I will get to work now and see what I can do.

-Void

P.S. Sorry I haven't responded, been in Vegas the last 4 days. But i'm back!

 

I like the idea of the crime being a muggle one, so he is on the run from both worlds. After all, you are not much of a fugitive if you can just check into a muggle hotel undisguised. Perhaps Dudley goes a bit overboard on one of his beatings, and accidently kills a kid (perhaps Mark Evans). His gang all testifies against Harry, and he is charged with murder. He uses magic to escape from prison, and is on the run for murder in the muggle world, and the improper use of magic from the magical world. He has to hunt down the horcruxes alone, utilizing disguises and magical stealth to remain undetected, all the while training (either on his own, or meeting with masters of a craft on his travels). Certainly has a good deal of potential as a fic!

 

Attempted Murder? Nah. That sounds more like Reckless Endangerment.

If you need him in Surrey to give him a chance to get away like that, there's a canon solution. Sirius Black was announced on the television as a muggle criminal on the run when he escaped Azkaban. Use any of the already mentioned reasons for why he'd be Wanted in the Wizarding World and have him see the report on the TV at the Dursleys before the aurors are sent to collect him. They could give any number of muggle reasons that he's wanted; car theft, assault, bank robbery, hacking... they don't care what the muggles think as long as they get their man.

That would be a perfect example of Ministry incompetance; putting the report out on muggle TV where Harry can see it, before he's been secured by authorities. This gives him his opportunity to run. I could see him making it out the back door under his cloak just as the aurors break down the front door, sending his relatives into a hissy fit with 'the freaks'.
Now, would The Order be trying to catch him because they want to protect him from the Minister's machinations and false accusations, because they think he's guilty too or because (either way) Albus sees it as a way to keep Harry firmly in his pocket? Hmm...

 

You forget this is the Ministry we're talking about. And vindictive as all hell Umbridge too. That was "attempted murder."

 

Warlock brings up a good point, I might just have to add that into what I have been planning so far.