The Dursley's always have told Harry that his parents were nothing more then worthless dregs of society, his mother a slut and prostitute, and his father a drunk, who died in a car crash. Of course Harry never believed them.

But what if he had? What if the fact that his parents were so low in society spurred him to be better, to rise up, to make himself someone.

Now couple this with the classic cliche of running away from the Dursley's at a young age, and the mental ramifications in Harry's attitude toward the world would be immense even after discovering the truth. Consider it a good excuse for a Slytherin Harry.

If indecisive parents breed decisive children, then a similar vein holds true here.

 

Its not really a challenge, more of a plot bunny for an intelligent Harry who wants to actually do something with his life. Ambition would take him into Slytherin. The promise of Slytherin making him great and powerful would tempt him into accepting that House.

I like it as a basis for a fic, but it doesn't provide a plot or anything. Would it just be a rewrite of the series? Or would you want to do something different. Perhaps intelligent Harry would collect appropriate evidence of misdeeds and take it to a member of staff, rather than run blindly into danger. You could then gloss over his years in Hogwarts, have Voldemort return using Diggory's blood, and then have a post-Hogwarts fic with intelligent!capable!decisive!powerful!Harry.

 

Yea, you're right. My mistake, I just sort of came up with it and wrote it.

In essence, it really is only a plot bunny, however, running with the challenge aspect it would be of a gloss over of the first few Hogwarts years, depicting the major events of course, settling into 6th or 7th year (author's choice) and from there on out, branching into the war against Voldemort as per usual.

As said before, this is more of a plot bunny, so apologies to the administrators for not thinking. Feel free to move it.

 

Meh, this is what every beef-up-Harry AU story includes one in way or the other.

 

Yea, i know, but I'm talking about the Psychological effects. Thinking for years that your parents were nothing more then a prostitute and a drunk, and taking that and twisting it.