First things first-- HARRY IS INSANELY AU, HE'S IN SLYTHERIN. THIS IS HOW AU THINGS ARE
This unsurprisingly is going to affect things in lots of ways, some of which might not even be clear for ages. Because of this I intend to provide a lot of skeleton/outline work as best as I can but also allow room for partners to tweak and edit as needed so that interpretations can mesh. Harry in many ways is still very much his normal self, his core personality, likes, interests, opinions etc. are not automatically different because of the house change. He doesn't automatically like Draco and dislike Ron or anything like that. In fact for many other slytherins it's likely it'll take time for him to warm up to them ( particularly the ones who are known bullies ) .
His being in Slytherin opens up the opportunity for better understanding and friendships but does not guarantee it, just like it doesn't mean he doesn't actively continue to pursue and prefer / enjoy his friendships with his canonical friends like Hermione and Ron.
In many ways my interpretation of Harry is much more isolated and struggling from the off since he lacks the immediate support system of his canon gryffindor posse and instead is stuck with people like Draco, Crabbe and Goyle who actively hassle him. This only gets worse in 2nd year and all of this combined forces him to become more clever, planning and resourceful than we already see in the books. He still has his temper and his bravery, but is more willing to look at other options, bide his time, or swallow his pride if it means a win or just you know, not getting fucked up again for the 80th time
also fair warning this is a very very very ROUGH working document and after a point we just get to ???? but I want to have SOMETHING for people to use as a means of getting their bearings with him since he’s so intensely au while i’m trying to decide on details n shit
YEAR 1
sorted into Slytherin
has like literally no friends except Hagrid until the Bathroom Thing with Hermione bc all the canon Slytherin kids are fucking jerks. Option to either solidify or forge a friendship with Ron at this point.
Harry still stands up for Neville but gets detention, does get on Slytherin team tho bc quidditch is Serious Business and he no fucking scoped that shit m8.
Harry is 100000000% suspicious of Snape head of house be damned.
Emo Christmas all alone + Mirror of Erised but this time it’s Even More Depressing
Harry still out here trying to fucking nancy drew this shit but it’s a lot harder to do since it’s harder to talk to the posse
the philosopher’s stone obstacle course w/ uncle voldie bc ofc
YEAR 2
Probably has like .5 friends who’re under the age of 60 by now if he’s lucky
Too bad Dobby fucked him
Also Draco still doesn’t have friendship privileges yet so jot that down
Not clear yet on how Harry is #Exposed as a parslemouth but he IS
This naturally......... does not go well at fucking all
Harry’s life turns into a waking fucking nightmare
If the school turned against him in the books when he was in gryffindor imagine the fucking carnage he gets dealt being in SLYTHERIN.
Honestly I just cannot in a very simple rough working outline express HOW BADLY THIS WHOLE YEAR FUCKED HIM LIKE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS BAD IN CANON ????? WELL TOUGH SHIT THIS IS THE YEAR THAT FUCKING BROKE HARRY !!!! KID WAS FUCKING TORMENTED TO HELL AND BACK
YEAR 3
Begging for Death™️
Probably fucking LIVES in Remus’s office
FIGHTS EVERYONE
Seriously think raw untreated ptsd OotP Harry but 12
still gets the map, either because he’s friendly with the Weasleys or because The Plot Demands It.
Gets brought in to Snape’s office more than once and likely Dumbledore’s as well who HOPEFULLY has the good sense to try and help Harry deal with his bullying and the emotional damage done by it.
Sirius naturally still goes after Peter but his break in is now utterly baffling to everyone since Harry’s not in Gryffindor
Look I’m still working on HOW we get there but Harry DOES make it to the shrieking shack for the Big Reveal and Sirius doesn’t get Kissed. Working on the deets here it’s a LOT to work thru when ur not clear about who he’s friends with at the time. But I mean he’d still go off to help Ron if he was getting dragged away by a huge fucking dog even if he wasn’t friends with him.
NO IDEA if time travel comes into it.
YEAR 4
YEAH HELL’S BACK AT IT AGAIN HERE TO KILL HARRY
Still a champion
is much more on his A Game suspect everyone and is honestly putting pieces together much much quicker
does NOT give Barty Crouch Jr. the Map
TRUSTS NO BITCH ( except cedric, dumbles and the order types and friends they’re all cool )
LIKE THE ONE YEAR HALF HIS OWN HOUSE ISN’T OUT FOR HIS BLOOD
Cedric still fucking dies ( unless you know.... you’re a Cedric rper )
YEAR 5
[ HEAVY METAL SCREAMING ] EVERYTHING’S EVEN WORSE SOMEHOOOOOOOWWWW!!!!
IT’S YEAR 2 ALL OVER AGAIN BUT NOW IT’S EVEN WORSE!!!!
Harry is now just full blown survival mode slytherin but also you know.... suffering from untreated ptsd and a LOT of guilt and grief
a LOT smarter about how he’s working against Umbridge
Does he still date Cho???? Good question.
ACTUALLY!!! USES!!!! SIRIUS’S MIRROR!!!! FREQUENTLY!!!! DOES NOT FORGET ABOUT IT!!!
never uses Umbridge’s Fireplace to talk to Sirius
the whole ministry bit probably goes WILDLY DIFFERENT but I’m still hashing out the deets. I’d say it doesn’t even happen except its’ still..... Harry..... and he’s still......That Bitch......
YEAR 6
real talk this is where things get VERY hard for me sorting out what’s the new canon since i’ve gotta contend w/ all the previous changes and I’m Tired but naturally all the like..... Plot Critical Things occur but the social things are WILDLY DIFFERENT and order of events or how they go down is different.
also Harry doesn’t date Ginny so there’s that
snape still kills dumbledore, harry still witnesses it.
YEAR 7
Honestly call me back I’m too scared to grapple this shit atm fdkgljhsdgjklsdh it’s SO MUCH THAT’S GOTTA BE DIFFERENT MAN ITS’ A LOT
james: harry we’ll love you no matter what house you get into
harry: [sorted into slytherin]
james @ lily: [looks up from letter] .... let’s hold off from telling sirius for a bit.
"How big of a fool do you believe me to be, mr. Potter?" Narcissa told him with a slight shake of her head. They hadn't spoken all that much after the war, but he had done so much for her family's trials she felt compelled to at least make an attempt at helping him at this. She had experience after all.
"You've been through too much, it is only logical you're reaction is one of anger. Whether you're ready to admit that or not."
