Fic Plans:

Ok, here it goes, my idea!

Harry is found and raised by an assasin/hit wizard, who detects his accidental magic as a baby on the Dursleys doorstep. Raised by one of the greatest assassins in the world, Harry is taught wand movements and the art of hiding ones self from an early age. However, unlike most 'Harry gets a mentor' stories, Harry will HATE his mentor. He will be an abusive, terrible, lonely, but incredibly powerful man. I plan on expanding the spell system of HP a bit, as well as describing other magical nations (mainly the ones that will play a role later). Only a few chapters will be on Harry's childhood, scattered clips of his training. He will not receive his wand and begin to learn actual magic until age 11, for explained reasons.

At age 16, the story will truly begin. Harry will break away from his mentor (in a way I won't divulge yet), and seek out a new life. However, Harry has one problem. He has no idea what he wants. He knows he enjoys learning about magic, and creating. He will also enjoy fighting with magic. However, he refuses to live the paranoid and lonely life of his mentor. Somehow (I don't know how to clear this yet), Harry will know the prophecy (Via one o the little clips mentioned earlier). He knows he wants to defeat Voldermore. To seek training from the only wizard he knows who can teach him what he needs, he goes to Hogwarts, and Dumbledore.

I have a good negotiation scene planned, where Albus and Harry will trade training for coming to Hogwarts for schooling. Harry will also feel he wants to make friends, though not in an angsty, "I need friends or I'll cry" way. More of in an ally gathering, "I will not be alone" way. He will seek brothers-in-arms, and the bonds of brotherhood (I'm a sucker for the 300 kind of stuff).

Albus, however, will not be teaching Harry dueling, or Occlumancy, which Harry already knows from his mentor. He will be teaching Harry the art of Alchemy. Even though Albus is supposedly a master of Alchemy, I've never seen a story expand on it. That's where I want to capitalize, I suppose. I'm still working out my ideas for Alchemy, and while some are based in Full Metal Alchemist (the manga/anime), I will NOT be turing Harry into a 'clap-and-transmute' alch-freak. In my story, alchemy will be an art combining potions with transfiguration, to create powerful magical substances and objects. It will be more ritual than on-the-go creation.

As for original characters, their will be many, though none Harry's age. I dislike Rowlings villains. I will be including a French-Italian Dark wizard, who will ally with Voldemort for a particular reason I don't want to reveal. I also hope to expand upon Voldie's death eaters, as I loved IP82's characterization of Rookwood (that name right? I'll check it later...). Though I will, obviously, not be stealing that idea.

Now for my basic plot, I'm drawing inspiration from another story, which combines the plots of the many HP books. However, my Harry will not be as obviously powerful as that stories Harry. In my story, there will be a Tri-Wizard tourney, however, Drumstrang will not be attending, but another, much lesser known and not-as-great (no super exclusive mighty school here) school will attend. This will be important, for reasons explained later on. As well, the Chamber of Secrets will play a role. Here's where I might lose you, I may use Ginny's interaction with Riddle as a way to hook her up with Harry. It will not be love at first sight, but Harry will slightly use her for info on Riddle. I may or may not have him slowly start to actually like her a bit. If not a pairing, I will probably make them allies and friends. She will NOT be fanon-Ginny, who is super powerful and dominates everyone. But canon Ginny, the shy, tomato of a girl whose NOT obsessed with Harry Potter. The Philosophers Stone will also play an important role in my story, though I'm not sure as to how. It's link to alchemy makes it too nice of a plot device to not use.

The students of my story will be different than canon. Ron will have never moved out of his brothers shadow, and has been reduced to a much more pathetic version of canon!Ron, who has little confidence, but a horrible thirst to prove himself. Neville will pretty much be the same. Hermione will be the same bossy know-it-all, but much more subdued. The Slytherins and Draco will have dominated Hogwarts, striking fear into the hearts of the other houses. Gryffidor will not be all pathetic, as Ron will begin to fight back, and organize, essentially taking Harry's role in cannon when he created the DA (though not as officially organized as that). Sorry to those who hate Ron, but I need him in my story. Hermione will eventually be attracted (not sexually) to Harry out of curiosity, and then out of thirst for knowledge. Ron will come to him seeking a means to get recognition and prove his worth. Neville will come seeking power. Others will come to Harry as well. Harry will slowly become the leader of a group of students within Hogwarts (their will be more than Gryffindores, but I don;t want to give it all away here).

I know, some of you are screaming "They're just pathetic KIDS" at this point/ But remember, Tom Riddle had students calling him Lord Voldemort before he graduated. How do you think he got his following? And the death eaters are certainly not pathetic. However, the kids who surround Harry will not be powerful. It will take time before they play a significant role in battle. It will NOT be the DA, and will NOT be an army of brats. Only kids in 6th year, with a few exceptions, will be included. And even then, not all that you may expect.

As Harry trains, and helps to teach his followers, the story will progress. My tournament will have three different tasks, which I have not got entirely planned out, but do have a basic idea of a few of them. As well, the plot surronding my Italian/French wizard will move along. Voldie will be seeking an ancient artifact that will bring him closer to rebirth (or so he thinks). Remember, no tourney 4th year means no Rezzed Voldemort. But instead of hooking up with Quirrel, Voldie found someone much more interesting to merge with (NOT my Italian/French wizard), so everyone THINKS he' may be back.

Harry will also struggle with figuring out what he wants to do with his life. He will slowly realize he wants to lead. To learn, to become more powerful, to lead others. He will not be becoming a dark lord, but something close. Not evil, however. I'm not entirely sure how I'll tie up this knot. This is one of my main problems, actually.

Politically, it won't be Harry who takes the stage, but someone from his possy. You'll see, I won't be giving it away just yet.

I have a few other plot twists and ideas, but they'd be giving things away to mention.

Things I need help with:
~ Pairings - I'd love to try a multi pairing, but don't know how I'd do. Hell, I don't know how I'll do with a one on one relationship. But I do think my Harry could handle a few women. No more than three. I'm thinking a Ginny/Luna/Cho/Harry foursome would be awesome, but I fear I'd lose myself to smut and have to rewrite after de-hornyifying myself. And by the way, I'm partial to those three, if I decide to do a multi-pairing. If I decide to stick it one on one, any girl around Harry's age is fair game. If you can gimme a good reason why they'd fit with my Harry character or plot wise, I'd consider her. Whatever pairing it is, it won't be love immediately, or even quickly. Harry will not go all mushy and realize he'd give his life for so-and-so. If Ginny, it'd be him using her, and eventually watching her transition into darkness. A Dark!Ginny would certainly break her stereotypical fandom mold now wouldn't it? Imagine a slightly less crazy Bellatrix with read hair and freckles. She most certainly wouldn't be dominating Harry. She's gonna be that way personality wise whether or not Harry falls for her. She's gonna be a loyal Harry-follower, as he will be the one to introducer to the darker side of magic. As for Luna, I just love her fucking personality. Her insanity ties in very well with what I have planned. For a person whose never been silly in his entire life, chatting with Luna I think would help de-stress Harry. Cho... well I have an Asian fetish. Plus, I could tie in a pre-planned Asian wizard character whom Harry will be interacting with for a plot reason later one.

~ Animagus - I want to do something unique and new. Something that will fit both his role as a leader, but also one as an assassin and warrior. I really have no ideas for this. However, I already no he will NOT be having a familiar. Just doesn't fit his character. He will be one of the only Animagus's among his group, as I actually recognize it is very hard to become an animagus in the HP universe. He will have done part of the process as a student under his mentor, and will complete the process with McGonnagal as she prepares him for the transfiguration part of Alchemy.

~ Alchemy - I've got lots of ideas, but I'd like to hear all of your's as well.

~ Tasks - I've pretty much got these in general, but hearing idea's can't hurt.

~ An Ending - Do I have Harry lead a revolution after downing Voldemort? I'm thinking of leaving that to a sequel, so I can use his group as an actual component (as they won't be playing a big role in the Voldemort thing for the most part). Will he start a war? Maybe an army of some sort invades? I don't know, I guess this is all sequel ideas that I think I shouldn't be thinking about yet.


NOTE: This is all copypasta'd from my intro thread found here; http://forums.darklordpotter.net/showthread.php?p=131988#post131988

Check there for my answers to questions I guess... and post new q's/advice here!

I'm mainly looking for advice on how to begin. I really want to flesh this idea out, and work out all the kinks before I start writing. I don't want to get half way through and realize I've contradicted one of my principals by using a dumb cliche I was unaware of, or that I've accidentally muddled my original laws of magic and alchemy, or that I no longer have anywhere for the story to go.

EDIT: A few things I'd like to add that have already been said in my other thread:

~The Mentor is a coward. He is a hit from a distance and run type of guy, who could not beat upper-class aurors in one on one duels. He's lonely, and has an all around crappy life.
~Harry will not be able to WTFPWN people when he comes to Hogwarts.

~Harry will NOT be a mutli/magical animagus. I'm well aware of the cliches, thanks.

~ Harry won't be 'hiding' his knowledge from his peers.

~ Harry will be concentrating on Alchemy and defensive magic. No Super-Awesome-at-Everything Harry's here.

 

It's a good plan, but...

Are you actually going to write this?

You mentioned in you intro that you like to plan but never get round to writing.

 

Eh the idea seems to be a spin on an old one but its not bad. I really am not a fan of Leader Harry (I prefer him doing things on his own) but thats just a personal preference. So far the concept has merit.

For the animagus transformation, I would be very very careful. Nearly every animal has been done, and badly at that. I think the only way to be original is to come up with a new way to do it, but even then the idea gets olds. Just for God's sake and mine dont give him a Marauders name. Please.

The tasks I have no quelms with changing it or keeping it. Most people keep em from what I notice to keep the fiction and canon tied together but I like it when there changed. Most especially the Second Task which I found to be the quite lame. The only suggestion I can offer you, if you are planning on changing the tasks is to keep it in the spirit of the originals. In other words if the Second Task delt with swimming, keep it to that but change what they have to do.

I like fics where he learns Alchemy but again be warned it is a slippery slope in doing that well. The main goal of Alchemy was to create the Philosophers Stone, and its been done. There really is not much that can be done with Alchemy unless you have a solid idea.

Multiple Pairings: I think the best way to go about it is to consider his age. And be realistic with how people act at that age. At 16-17 I can tell you I was not thinking of marriage, nor of finding "the one". At the same time not every girl wanted to go out with someone who had 2 other girlfriends on the side. So be reasonable.

 

I've been playing around with this idea for a LONG time. Actually writing my plans down however, is a step I've never taken before. I'm thinking about setting a date, and just sitting down on that date and banging out the first chapter, no matter what. I've actually got a few chapters of other stories lying around, I just realized I have nowhere to go with them, towards the middle of the story, and don't bother posting. This is the first idea I've really fleshed out plot wise.

I'm also holding off reading DH so that I write this... I feel like it'd sap away my need to write about HP.

The only problem I have with TrulyIndependent!Harry is... how the hell could he do it? How could he defeat Voldemort and all of his Death Eaters on his own? Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A lot of independent stories end up faltering, and are either abandoned, crappily ended, or, most rarely, compromise Harry's independence when they hit on this problem.

Everything under the sun has been done, if people want to read something truly original, they can go read an actual book. People get angry when we stray from canon, and then they get angry that everything is not original. How many fics in the library are truly original? I think it's best to use the old ideas in new ways, and try to be innovative in other areas.

As for the tasks, the basic premises will stay similar. I thought both the second and third task's were lame... and the whole concept of a race to the finish? Kinda kills the other two tasks meanings... The first task will still deal with dragons somehow, and the second task will be a retrieval type task (though not one with people). The third task, however, will definetly NOT be a race to the finish.

I don't see how alchemy can have a main goal. What is the main goal of Charms then? Of potions? Of Transfiguration? Is the study of dark arts completed because the killing curse has been invented? Alchemy, in my story, will be about the creation of magical artifacts. Harry will be interested in learning it because of an incident he experienced when he was younger. Remember, my Harry doesn't particularly know what the hell he wants to do with his life when he comes to Hogwarts. At that point, he'll simply be seeking the knowledge he finds most interesting. It'll tie in though, as he'll be using alchemy to arm and help create fortifications for his own following (don't worry though, their will be no Super!DA soldiers who fight off the incompetent!Death Eaters).

I'll definetly be considering your advice about pairings. If I did do a multi-pairing, it'd probably be Luna and Ginny, mainly because they'll both be a bit out of their minds, and wouldn't particularly mind the other. Harry won't really be 'falling' for either of them, however.

Thanks for the advice!

 

You said Alchemy will be influence by Full Metal Alchemist. So that means transmutation circles and changing one substance to another right? I wouldn't mind seeing Harry do things like create giant statues, create a whole lake, use it in a fight, like Edward Elric does. Alchemy is such an obscure branch of magic in the Potterverse, I look foreword to your explanations of it.

 

Why does it have to be Ginny in the Chamber with Voldemort? Mini!Bellatrix could describe any female student after a run-in with mini!Voldemort. And with the changes you're making, Lucius could have dumped the diary on any student he ran into in Diagon Alley.

 

It would be very different and original to have a different student be taken into the chamber, perhaps Luna? It could explain her change(I can't remember if she was mentioned as looney during this time) into the far off personality that she has now?

It could work very well or it could really be pointless.

 

It's going to have influences from FMA, mainly the concept of the 'transmutation circle', and using basic substance to form an object. However, as for using it in a fight... my alchemy is more for the lab than the battle field. However, you've sparked my imagination a bit, perhaps alchemic traps?

What difference would it really make? Plus, it ties in the Weasley family a bit, as the family comprises a lot of characters, and Ron is going to have a semi-important role later on. I knwo a lot of people hate Ginny on sight, but if she's not 'red-headed temper' Ginny, or 'I turn Harry into mush' Ginny, does it really matter?

Plus, Lucius wanted to get at the Weasley family, can't just forget a family rivalry...

Well, Luna's going to be crazy normally, and I don't want to change her character from insane, to devoted-insanity with a taste for the dark. Making a different student taken in the chamber is an original idea, but I believe it'd end up being pointless. There are more reasons for me to make it Ginny than anyone else. It has to be a shy character, or else they wouldn't talk to Riddle as much. It has to be a character I can tie in as a devoted follower of Harry. And Ginny ties some other things together as well.

It's not like making her Mini!Bellatrix is going to garuntee she'd be paired with Harry... plus I don't seem to have the outright hatred of Ginny some of you seem to have regardless of her character. I just happen to usually hate her character. Making Ginny dark, even when Harry isn't that dark, I feel, is an interesting twist on a DLP stereotype.

Or maybe I'm just nuts. Whichever you'd like to believe

I think I'm going to start the first chapter tomorrow, as I don't have work then. I just can't figure out how to open a goddamn scene. Gah.

 

Yes. Yes it does. Ginny is so irrevocably stained in some of our minds that you'll have to pull off a legendary feat of writing to overcome it.

Then again, a Harry/Ginny pairing will draw in scores upon scores of simpering fangirls saying 'omg i luv it harry/ginny luv is so pure update ppllllllzzzz'. It, like many things in life, is a trade-off.

Because the Malfoy family has only made one set of enemies in their time as Voldemort's bitches and subsequent 'whoops, it was the Imperius, no really' period.


Any barely-fleshed-out character can take Ginny's place. In Harry's year alone you could pick any of the Hufflepuff girls, any of the Ravenclaw girls save Padma, Tracey Davis... or you can just go younger or older and create an OC. Sky's the limit. Personally, I'd recommend a Hufflepuff - they're stereotypically shy and loyal. Perfect for your purposes.

 

I like you notion of alchemy, and everything else sounds pretty good. Hope you set a date soon I would like to see your ideas become concrete. I too have difficulty opening scenes. The best advice I can offer, is to start with a description of either an area, or an emotion that the character with which you want to start the scene is in, and slowly transition, or pan your focus onto the character.

 

Oh? Has a Greater Roadrunner ever been done before?

I feel certain that you have considered this, but make sure that you don't get carried away in portraying the mentor's abusiveness. Perhaps you could have other victim's rather than Harry be on the receiving end of whatever he does, so that you can sidestep having Harry be pressured to turn Dark.

 

Ok, I get it, Ginny is the devil. I doubt I'd pull normal H/G fans with the way Ginny would be portrayed (a devoted, psychotic, semi-slutty, dark witch). Plus, if she's involved in the pairing (she would NEVER be one on one with Harry) at all really has little to do with her being the Mini!Bella. The Chamber girl will be crazy no matter what. I suppose a Hufflepuff might do... but none of them have a connection to another character we already know. Connections are important to make people empathize. Meh. It'll be awhile before I'm at the chamber parts anyways, plenty of time to think on it.

Yep, thought of it. He's not going to be beating Harry because he forgot to put onions on his hamburger. Harry's hatred has less to do with his mentors abusiveness, which Harry recognizes as a semi-necessary evil, but his cowardice and isolated lifestyle. Harry isn't going to be Dark or Light. It's not really a classification I'm going to make. Chamber!Girl will be DARK. Harry will jus be Harry. No torturing for no reason, but torturing for info. No random killing, but killing shall be done (for money too). He won't be throwing AK's and Crucio around. I even have an idea about AK. AK will require massive amounts of power build up, explaining why Dark Lords and their minions monologue before killing. They're stalling for time to build power for the AK! Of course, Voldie can do it faster than most. Explains why we don't see DE's using only AK as well.

 

About the animagus: I thought I'd suggest the hyena. A hyena can go be part of a pack or it can be a loner. They're the ultimate survivors. Plus, they're frickin' badass. What other animal comes equipped with the ability to laugh maniacally? I don't think I've ever seen a hyena animagus before. It would be original, at least.

 

Oooo... I like it... I'm thinking an exotic/non-British animal, as Harry will be spending a lot of his childhood outside of Europe...

Hyena sounds awesome... perhaps a monkey or ape? Though Hyena sounds a bit more dignified.

I got a big question I need help with. My mentor's name. I'm looking for a single name, no last name necessary (he'll have dropped it long ago). Something common in almost all parts of the world. Jon perhaps? My working name is Jon, but if I get a better idea I can easily change it.

 

Right, for Alchemy: The historical goal of alchemy is to change one substance into another, more particularly, base metal into gold. This was supposedly obtained by creating the Philosophers Stone. Thus it is the ultimate goal in alchemy. There are obviously many things you can do with "change one substance into another" line, but the Philosophers Stone is stil the ultimate target.

To he who said that since its been created the goal is no more, like fuck. Just because one guy managed to create it doesn't mean that suddenly no one else is interested in immortality and unlimited gold. The one guy is going to keep the process a secret, and everyone else will either try to kill him and steal the secret/or just steal the stone, or will try to make their own one and do all the research themselves.

On the animagus form: Exotic animal sounds interesting indeed. But remember, its supposed to be based off significant personality traits (Sirius=playfullness, James=Magesticness/Stoicism/Some other Gryffinfor propaganda bullshit, Peter=Cowardliness/Sneakiness/Ungryffindorness), so whats in Harry's personality that makes him a Hyena? Going by the way you seem to want to have him raised, a small animal or a bird would probably be more likely. Since I'm unaware of specifically what birds populate other parts of the world I won't actually venture a suggestion, just the type.

 

My totally unhelpful suggestion for an animagus form: Koala. They're cool and no one would ever suspect the Koala was behind <insert unspeakable crime here>.

 

Seconded.

However, I still support the Roadrunner. Harry is unnaturally good at running away.

 

Koalas that are disturbed are known to be violent, their teeth and claws capable of providing considerable injury to humans; special handling requirements are as such applicable -Wikipedia

They're quite clumsy- Zoo Website Whose Name I Can't Spell

Since I don't want to xcel this thread with useless c&p'd information, I'll add that I think it's a great idea to give him a rare Animagus form, but you should make becoming an Animagus a difficult and time consuming process. I agree with KenderCleric that the form should match his personality- if you can give him one that matches a consistent characterization of him, you'll, sadly, be very unique.

 

The rarest koala you can get is the Drop Bear. Climbs above the tents of hot Swedish backpacking ladies and drops on their tents, driving them to the apparent safety of the nearest bunch of camping Aussie blokes.

On a more useful note, the Kikiyaon, if you're into cryptids as an animagus form could be interesting. Giant killer owl of doom that scares the shit out of everyone.

 

I'll address the whole animagus thing here;
The problem with basing it off his personality, is how much his personality is going to change. Here's what's going to be pretty much steady throughout the fic:

~ He'll detest cowardice
~ He's definitely a predator; stalk-and-kill
~ He genuinely enjoys not only learning, but using magic to fight and create.
~ Type-A personality, alpha male. He's always looking to dominate the pack. He'll want to do whatever he feels will set him ahead of his peers. Never content to stay a servant/apprentice/student/any kind of beta to anyone.

A Gorilla would certainly embody three of these points. But the stalk-and-kill thing makes it a miss.

And don't worry about the difficulty, he'll be working long nights with Minerva before he comes close to transforming.

Alchemy's primary goal was, in my eyes, to make powerful artifacts using substances. For is it alchemy, or the stone that transmutes base metals to gold? Remember, the stone also provides the elixir of life. The goal of alchemy is not he elixir or transformation of metals to gold, but the creation of the stone itself.

My alchemy = creation of magical artifacts as well as transmutation of one substance to another. Just making it one sub to another makes it sorta pointless when you consider transfiguration dose it all the time! I have a theory which states that transfiguring base metals into other metals is difficult (near impossible), because precious metals don't channel magic well.

The order for substances that channel magic (IMO);
Flesh>Wood>Stone/Earth/Water>Metal

Of course, their are exceptions. Certain metals channel magic well, but others, particularly the precious metals, do not. This also helps explain why silver = death for many magical creatures.

Any advice on my naming situation, btw?