Where to put Harry Potter for a month

[Crescent Pulsar S]

It seems I'm going to write some Harry Potter fan-fiction at some point down the road. Woo-hoo.

Anyway, the story diverges during Harry's first time in Diagon Alley. He ends up female, and while still human in appearance will stand out in an odd way. The problem I'm having is whether he would still be sent back to the Dursley's, and if not: where would he end up staying for a month, and why? One thing to take into consideration is that Harry Potter essentially becomes a "magical creature," just not in a traditional sense of the type he becomes, so there are some unknowns in that regard (though not many, especially in terms of being an endangerment).

The story will cover the first book of the series, so I'm already in the process of re-reading that one, but I'm reluctant to read through the rest of the series instead of using them strictly for reference. The problem with that (of course) is my memory, so my ability to make solutions in retrospect is somewhat suspect, as -- possibly -- illustrated by this instance. After all, last I read any of Harry Potter was shortly after the last book was published.

[Spica75]

Anyway, the story diverges during Harry's first time in Diagon Alley. He ends up female, and while still human in appearance will stand out in an odd way. The problem I'm having is whether he would still be sent back to the Dursley's, and if not: where would he end up staying for a month, and why? One thing to take into consideration is that Harry Potter essentially becomes a "magical creature,"

I take it you mean from first time in D. Alley up until school start?

Well, if something as odd as that happens, Hogwarths(possibly with the nurse or with Hagrid(due to magical creature status)), St. Mungo´s as it would possibly be considered an illness of some sort(?)...

Since he doesn´t know, and isn´t known by barely anyone at that time yet, it will almost have to be on an official basis, probably of the "oh dear what happened, we must examine/cure this" kind.

He might still be sent back to Dursley´s, the in universe norm tends to be on the level of "oh it´s nothing to worry about, i´m sure he will grow another arm someday soon".


Oh, btw, run into any HP story where Hogwarths gets another house for some reason?
Or where he starts out with a twin, which gets kinda vaporised by Moldywarts, protection jumps in and instead of dead, she ends up as a backseat driver in the back of Harry´s head, causing a somewhat uncertain/confused personality...?

I have bit written on both, just wondering if i managed to be original or not(first is cross with SM).
Haven´t seen anything like either yet, but there´s too many HP stories for me to have read more than a few % of them.
2nd will probably get a name something like "The girl who died. Kinda. Almost. Sort of..." and will eventually feature HP able to use animagus ability to let his sister out to play.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

Right, St. Mungo's could work... It didn't cross my mind since it was usually just mentioned here and there throughout the series, rather than visited. Though I'm not sure they would keep Harry around if there isn't a real problem (i.e. danger), or if the solution is itself problematic/dangerous or unknown.

Now, if Harry were to be studied as a curiosity, possibly to be documented as a new (offshoot?) species, I wonder how things would end up then, and if that would require him to be anywhere in specific.

As for the other things, I couldn't tell you how many of those stories there are, as all I've read have been crossed over with Ranma 1/2 (and those are quite limited).

Are you sure you've read even one percent? Just going by the amount at FF.net, you'd need to read six-thousand before reaching one percent.

[Spica75]

Are you sure you've read even one percent? Just going by the amount at FF.net, you'd need to read six-thousand before reaching one percent.

Heh, misremembered how many there were...

As for the other things, I couldn't tell you how many of those stories there are, as all I've read have been crossed over with Ranma 1/2 (and those are quite limited).

Ah, oh well...

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

Remember: Dumbledore has plans for Harry. Even if he becomes Magical Fairy Harriet, wherever she ends up will be under Dumbledore's supervision. That being the case, she'd land in Hogwarts -- either in the infirmary, or under intensive/insensitive study by Snape. Or both.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

I don't remember Dumbledore being the fanon Pluto equivalent of Harry Potter... Granted, from what I remember there was reason enough to keep him within reach (particularly once Voldemort made a reappearance), but Harry was destined for Hogwarts anyway and Dumbledore rarely took advantage of the fact that Harry was there unless the circumstances called for it. Rather than nudging Harry along, he usually just got behind Harry's own initiative.

That aside, I'm wondering if the Ministry of Magic would get involved... I'm not sure if it would or not.

[Spica75]

Remember: Dumbledore has plans for Harry. Even if he becomes Magical Fairy Harriet, wherever she ends up will be under Dumbledore's supervision. That being the case, she'd land in Hogwarts -- either in the infirmary, or under intensive/insensitive study by Snape. Or both.

Plans yes, but as long as HP isn´t "lost" to him, ie, stays within safe reach, he´s unlikely to interfere THAT much.
If it happened during later years, then you might be correct(or more likely to be correct at least, as what you say could still happen, i just don´t think it´s the most likely reason for it, especially early on).

That aside, I'm wondering if the Ministry of Magic would get involved... I'm not sure if it would or not.

Almost certainly falls under writer fiat category, if you want it to happen, it does. Since noone is much aware of him yet at this time(or more correctly, that he is around ), i would say they simply don´t know enough to bother. But if someone has noticed that he´s around, they might try to score some propaganda points one way or another.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

I don't think it'd really be an issue of who he is, but the nature of the incident. Since it involves a wand, I was thinking that maybe the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes might get involved. Or, after Harry's new status has been established, perhaps even the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. But that doesn't exactly tell me where Harry will be during the month leading up to attending Hogwarts, and probably makes a boarding arrangement outside of the Dursley's more complicated. And then there's what to do at the end of the first year, of whether Harry would return to the Dursley's anyway.

I've so far considered placing him with another family, like the Weasley's or Granger's, but -- technically -- there are a number of (known and unknown) families that Harry could stay with, and I can't really think of any argument that would make the aforementioned Weasley's and Granger's special enough -- or best suited -- for the task. The easiest solution that I've come up with, so far, is using a false memory charm on the Dursley's, so they believe that Harry' new look is the same old look. (But that option feels like a cop out, to me.)

[ckosacranoid]

but the true fun of this little switch would by expaling to harry all about everything you never really wanted to know about women from thier point of veiw and what they have to go though....and then the fun of being anew race on top of that......
if you wanted to be very evil and done right nasty, harry could end up under snipe....some of the more a**hat type dumbledorks have been for turning harry into a girl and marry him off to snipe which would put harry really under his thumb.
but that is just down right nasty.

familys that could work, longbottoms, greens, the red heads, for a month that work and then i dought harry would want to go back to the a**hats of his uncle after seeing what some other family is like.

[ckosacranoid]

harrys female new form is somewhat very dark for some people tastes.....dressing all in a black dress and carrying a headless doll named annette and having taste for thinking of ways to marry someone and then kill then. hanging out in gravyards at night....being callled addams all of a sudden......oh. wait, you said you where not doing a cross over...sorry about that....

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

harrys female new form is somewhat very dark for some people tastes.....dressing all in a black dress and carrying a headless doll named annette and having taste for thinking of ways to marry someone and then kill then. hanging out in gravyards at night....being callled addams all of a sudden......oh. wait, you said you where not doing a cross over...sorry about that....

This reminds me very much of a series by kyaru-chan about Harveste Addams. After killing the Dursleys at the age of 5, Harry is adopted by the Addams family. And I'm not sure about the headless doll, but when he gets to Hogwarts, he's wearing the black dress. Starts out rated T, later moves into M, and completely boggles the mind -- Voldemort's mind, Dumbledore's mind, your mind...

If you like it, you'll be riveted. If you don't, you'll realize it quite rapidly.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

Nope; no such dark things here... Quite the opposite, in fact. <_<

[Spica75]

if you wanted to be very evil and done right nasty, harry could end up under snipe....some of the more a**hat type dumbledorks have been for turning harry into a girl and marry him off to snipe which would put harry really under his thumb.

I´m yet to read ANY fic that does something even remotely like that in a way that makes for a good story. An illogical excuse for doing it is pulled out someones rear end and then the poor story is abused until it´s so awful you almost throw out the computer just to get rid of it ASAP.

You want a seriously dark HP story? Try "Princess of the Blacks". Harry´s sister ended up a bit, "offside"...

I've so far considered placing him with another family, like the Weasley's or Granger's, but -- technically -- there are a number of (known and unknown) families that Harry could stay with, and I can't really think of any argument that would make the aforementioned Weasley's and Granger's special enough -- or best suited -- for the task.

The Grangers, being nonmagical are probably very much NOT good, UNLESS Dumbles wants/needs to keep things quiet. However, has Harry even met them yet at the point your story is at?

If you want somewhere semiofficial to place him, how about the Bones family? Amelia is a trusted official figure and Susan is same age.
Tonks is the only known morpher in the universe, just out of school and aiming for auror training(ergo likely considered trustworthy and used to some odd stuff), might be suitable for a less noticeable place to stay a while.

The easiest solution that I've come up with, so far, is using a false memory charm on the Dursley's, so they believe that Harry' new look is the same old look. (But that option feels like a cop out, to me.)

Mmm, it does. But it´s not a terrible solution.

And then there's what to do at the end of the first year, of whether Harry would return to the Dursley's anyway.

Very, VERY much doubt it. They cant handle it even when he´s at least a physically normal human, handling him as a magical being? Not going to work out.
Also, will the primary reason for him staying there(ie the wards) even be valid at all after he changes? I doubt it.

Weasleys would be the easy way out of that question. But that would assume that he still makes friends with Ron. And that´s an open question even if somewhat likely.

Currently reading "Harry & the Mysterious Curse of the GirlWhoLived" right now BTW, where he´s still HE, but everyone SEE and think about him as if he´s a girl. People can´t even say "Harry", instead saying "Harriet" to him.
There he ends up spending part of the time at the Patil, but still befriends Ron and the Weasleys...

First of all, do you even want him to go the "usual route" in this? Usual house, usual friends etc... There´s also the option of just staying at the school all around the year.
Just about any of the magical families is somewhat likely depending on how you play it out. While staying with a nonmagical family might be advantageous if he can/want to stay more outside and away from magic society.

[Té Rowan]

... and completely boggles the mind -- Voldemort's mind, Dumbledore's mind, your mind...

I just had a mental image of Voldy and Dumbles spotting Har... taking a long look, then looking at each other and saying "So not going there..." before sneaking away in complete synchronicity and as quietly as they could. Cartoon-style quietly, that is.

[Crescent Pulsar S]

The Grangers, being nonmagical are probably very much NOT good, UNLESS Dumbles wants/needs to keep things quiet. However, has Harry even met them yet at the point your story is at?

If you want somewhere semiofficial to place him, how about the Bones family? Amelia is a trusted official figure and Susan is same age.
Tonks is the only known morpher in the universe, just out of school and aiming for auror training(ergo likely considered trustworthy and used to some odd stuff), might be suitable for a less noticeable place to stay a while.

The reason for considering the Granger's is because they're much like the Dursley's with the exception of Hermione, as an alternative if even a false memory charm wouldn't keep the Dursley's abuses from becoming worse than they already are (since Harry won't look like a normal person anymore).

I can see Harry and Susan getting along well, but the problem here is that there's so little known about Susan's life outside of Hogwarts, such as where she lives and who her guardian(s) is(are). The other thing to consider is that she may have enough influence for Harry to end up in Hufflepuff, and like the other houses outside of Gryffindor there isn't much to go by in terms of how things get along in the dorm on a day-to-day basis.

As for Tonks... That's probably not a good idea, mainly because of her age. That, and while Harry will be spending most of his time at Hogwarts, I've no idea what exactly the regimen for auror training is, or how time-consuming it is.

Mmm, it does. But it´s not a terrible solution.

It's going to be a last resort, if I can help it.

Very, VERY much doubt it. They cant handle it even when he´s at least a physically normal human, handling him as a magical being? Not going to work out.
Also, will the primary reason for him staying there(ie the wards) even be valid at all after he changes? I doubt it.

Weasleys would be the easy way out of that question. But that would assume that he still makes friends with Ron. And that´s an open question even if somewhat likely.

No, the protection afforded by Petunia being Lily's sister probably wouldn't remain in effect. But, it also means that "Harry Potter" wouldn't be on anyone's radar, anyway. Now that I think about it, I don't see why fostering or adoption shouldn't be a consideration. Hmmmm...

If Harry still meets Ron on the train, I don't see why they can't get a good enough start there. I think the main problem would be in Ron dealing with a pretty girl, and possibly not having as much of the magical world to share with Harry, depending on where and who he ends up with during the month preceding their meeting.

First of all, do you even want him to go the "usual route" in this? Usual house, usual friends etc... There´s also the option of just staying at the school all around the year.
Just about any of the magical families is somewhat likely depending on how you play it out. While staying with a nonmagical family might be advantageous if he can/want to stay more outside and away from magic society.

I want to avoid a carbon copy of the story, but keeping things familiar will be good for the readers. It will be good for me, too, seeing as the closer I stay to the path taken in canon the more reliable information I'll have to work with. I'd rather have readers reference the canon material against what I do rather than try to argue for and defend whatever I pull out of my rear from every available angle.