Harry Potter: Changing the Course of History

A note from the author: The storyline and writing do belong to me, whereas on the other hand, the Harry Potter series does not. That belongs to its rightful author, J.K Rowling. Without her writing this series, this mashup wouldn’t be possible. This story starts BEFORE Hogwarts. In this story, Harry is 10 (at the start) and Dudley is 11. They have a close relationship (as cousins) in the rewrite.

Click here to read the previous chapter.

Chapter 4: Hogwarts letters

“I got the mail!” Harry said running in. Severus and Tom had made a deal with the Dursely’s. Dudley and Harry could stay with the Dursley’s weekends and he could stay with them on the weekdays. (The only reason Harry was staying is that Dudely begged him too.)

“You did? We actually have mail?” Dudley asked, jumping up.

“Duh! It’s a Manor after all.” Harry plopped beside Dudley and went through the mail. “Tom...Tom...Severus...Dudley...Me^___Wait.” He paused after Tom’s mail. “Dudley? You got mail? For here?” Harry asked.

“No...you?” Dudley asked.

“No…” Harry thought for a moment. “Severus!”

“What, Harry?” Severus said, walking down the steps.

“We got mail,” Harry explained.

“And what’s so important about this mail?” Severus asked.

“Because...uh...it’s for all of us.”

“All of us?”

“That’s what I said isn’t it?”

“Don’t get mouthy, Harry.” Severus sat next to Harry and snatched the mail from him. He opened his letter. It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Dear Professor Severus, we are pleased to have you another year at Hogwarts. Your request for Dark Arts has been canceled. Dumbledore thinks it’s best if you just stay in Potions for now. Good luck,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

“Blast it,” Severus said, reading the letter again.

“What’s up Severus?” Harry asked, trying to get a look at the letter.

“Hogwarts letters.”

“Hogwarts? Isn’t that^___.”

“It sure is,” Severus said and handed the boys their letters. “Go on, read them.” Harry went first. Confused and scared.

“D-Dear Mr.Potter…” His voice got lighter and his face brighter when he read the next part. “We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

“Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry!” Severus said with a grin.

“What about me…?” Dudley asked. “Harry?”

“Dudley, idiot, Dudley don’t worry! You got one too!” Harry glimmered, pointing to the letter still in Dudley’s hand.

“Oh, right,” Dudley said. “Dear Mr. Dursely, We are pleased to inform you of your acceptance into Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are sorry for your late letter, but the book of acceptance has only just now seen your magical strengths and abilities.”

“Amazing Dudley!” Severus clapped.

“Thanks, Snape.” Dudley said with a smile, “It looks like we're both going to Hogwarts.”

“We need to tell^___” Harry was interrupted by a loud crash coming from upstairs. And not just anywhere upstairs^____in Tom’s office upstairs.

“I’ll check on him.” Harry jumped off the couch and marched up the stairs. Please don’t be what I think it is… He begged in his head. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late. He swung the door open and saw that Tom had just fallen from his swivel chair and was muttering words no eleven-year-old should hear.

“Tom?” Harry asked, holding back laughter. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just fell.” Tom picked himself up only to cry in pain.

“Tom!” Harry ran to him and looked around. Glass! The glass! He called for Severus.

“What happened?” Severus asked.

“Tom fell, and his cup shattered,” Harry explained.

“Alright, hold still.” Severus pulled out his wand. “Emendo!”

“Severus Snape!” It was the only time Harry^___or Severus for that matter^___heard Tom say Severus’ full name. “You never should use that spell on me.” Tom finally said a few minutes later. “It hurts like he^___”

“Tom. Don’t you dare?” Severus said, giving him a glare. “Harry’s here.”

“Alright. Fine.” Tom said. “But it did hurt like rat’s dew”

“Stop using…” Severus paused. “Shakespeare?”

“Yep,” Tom replied, proud of himself for remembering that.

“Tom guess what!” Harry said, getting back to the reason he was going to come up in here.

“Yeah?” Tom asked, leaning against the desk.

“We got our Hogwarts letter!” Harry said, his arms flinging up in the air.

“You got your what?” Tom asked.

“Our Hogwarts letters,” Harry said, slowly. Pronouncing each syllable.

“Oh. Those.” Tom said with a disgusted look.

“What’s wrong with Hogwarts letters?” Harry questioned with a devastated look on his face. “I thought Hogwarts was amazing!”

“Hogwarts is amazing. It’s just that^___” Tom got interrupted by Severus who had a very dad-like expression on his face.

“He has a certain grudge of the headmaster Dumbledore,” Severus explained. “He hasn’t got over it. Not yet anyway.”

“Tom holds grudges?” Harry asked as Dudley walked in, curious to what was happening.

“Believe it or not, the great Tom Marvlo Riddle does hold grudges.” Severus said, “Now, do us a favor Tom, and make some tea.”

“Tea?” Tom said, grinning. “What type?”

“You really shouldn’t have to ask,” Severus answered. “It’s Vahdam for me and the tea you made for Harry last night.”

“Alright.” Tom, Harry, Severus, and Dudley all walked down the stairs one after the other. Tom went to the kitchen, Severus to his potion labs, and Dudley and Harry to play a game of Wizarding Chess.

“Your^__” Tom got interrupted by a very concentrated Harry.

“Shush. I almost got ‘im.” Harry was right at the corner and had Dudley trapped. “Checkmate!” He announced triumphantly as the knight moved to end the game as the board disappeared.

“Aw, man!” Dudley said, “Good game Harry.”

“Good game Dudley,” Harry then turned to Tom who was standing over them. “Yes, Tom?”

“Well, for starters, a very good game of chess. And your tea is ready.” Tom handed him a cup of Honeysuckle Tea.

“Mmm...smells good!” Harry said, taking a sniff of the tea. “Honey?”

“You’ve been around Severus way too much.” Tom joked, putting down another cup of tea, This time it was Vahdam Tea.

“Well, what shall we do now?” Harry asked, taking a sip of his tea.

“Well, that’s up to you, we may need to go shopping,” Tom stated, laying back on the couch.

“Alright.” Harry said, “Dudley want to come with us?”

“Of course I do!” Dudley replied muffled through bits of granola bar. “Why not?

Chapter 5: Ollivanders

“Severus!” Tom called out the front door of the manor while tying his shoelaces on his black and red boots. “We’re going out for a bit!”

“Alright! Stay safe!” Severus called from his potion’s lab. “Don’t get too mad Tom!” And with that, hand-in-hand, Tom, Dudley, and Harry walked out of Manor and walked to Diagon Alley.

“First stop, Ollivanders.” Tom swung his arms like a grand opening, showing them the crooked sign.

“Woah,” Dudley said, breathless.

“This. is. amazing!” Harry added, jumping up and down with excitement.

“Well, let’s go inside before you two lose your minds.” Tom led Harry and Dudley into the store. They huddled together as Tom walked to the front, where Garrick Ollivander stood, and a castle of shelves with wands behind him.

“Ah, hello! Two youngins?” Ollivander greeted them, looking at Harry, or rather, Harry's scar that had appeared visible when he brushed his hair to the side.

“Yes, both need wands,” Tom said like a business person said ordering a product. Meanwhile, Harry and Dudley pointed at different wands, oohing and awing. It was a thrilling experience. Even if they didn’t know exactly what they were doing there.

“Well then, who’s first?” Ollivander asked.

“Dudley is!” Harry pushed Dudley to the front of the room. He’d never be the first to try new things, especially when Dudley was there.

“Mr.Dursley, is it? Well, let’s try this one.”Ollivander handed him different wands at a rapid speed. Each wand either attacked Ollivander or attacked Tom and Harry.

“Watch it!” Harry yelled, ducking after almost getting hit from behind.

“Dudley Dursely!” Tom screeched after almost falling over from an attack.

“Well then,” Ollivander said, breathing heavily, handing Dudley a wand. “Try this one.

“Alright.” Dudley swished and swooshed the wand a few times and sparks appeared out of thin air.

“Perfect! That one is made of ash.” Ollivander explained, grateful that they finally found the right wand. “Keep it safe. It can break easily.”

“Will do!” Dudley tucked the wand into his baggy jeans.

“Harry, it’s your turn,” Dudley said in a sing-song way.

“Fine.” Harry walked up to the front. And they tried out a few wands.

“Hey!” Dudley and Tom yelled in unison ducking from an attack of one of the wands. “Watch it bub!”

“Sorry!” Harry said, sheepishly.

“Alright,” Ollivander said breathlessly, for he’d been dodging attacks from the wands as well. “Try this one,” He handed Harry a wand made of holly wood and phoenix feather core. Harry swished and swooshed the wand and sparks appeared, none attacking Ollivander or Tom and Dudley.

“Curious,” Ollivander said, dreamily.

“Sorry,” Harry said, questingly. “But what’s curious?”

“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr.Potter. It so happens that the phoenix whose tailfeather resides in your wand gave another feather...just one other. It is curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother gave you that scar.” Ollivander explained.

“I-” Harry tried to speak but his face got grim and his eyes misty. Tom noticed and walked up to the front, his face strained with a smile.

“Alrighty!” Tom said, clapping his hands together. “We’ve got more shopping to do so let’s get a move on.” Tom paid fourteen gallons for the wands, thanked Ollivander for the help, and left with Dudley and Harry, who gladly walked out of the shop.

“Where to next?” Harry asked, looking up at Tom.

“Madam Malkin’s Robes of course!” Tom answered, grinning.

“And why do we’ve got to go there?” Harry asked.

“Well for starters you two need school robes, and Severus will kill me if I don’t get him a new robe,” Tom explained.

“What happened to Severus’ robe?”

“I spilled something on it.”

“And that something is…?”

“His tea, I knocked it over and spilled it all over him.”

“And that was his ‘professor’ robe wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was.”

“Well then,” Harry said, “It looks like we’ve got a mission to do.”

Chapter 6: Madam Malkin’s Robes

“Hello, Malkin.” Tom greeted her, pushing the two boys into her view.

“Hello, Mr.Riddle.” Malkin said, “You must be here to pick up and pay for Snape’s robe, correct?”

“Pay for?” Tom asked. Of course, he had expected this, he just hoped Severus would have been a bit on the nicer side of things.

“Oh, Mr.Snape didn’t tell you?”

“You break it, you buy it comes to mind.”

“Well hello, little ones!” She said smiling as she had just noticed the two boys standing there in complete silence. Both of the boys turned their heads and looked in awe. She motioned back and forth and then looked at Tom. “Hogwarts outfits I presume?” and then, with a nod from Tom she added, “What’re their names?”

“Blond hair is Dudley, black hair is Harry,” Tom explained, pointing to each boy.

“Ah. Okay.” She pointed to Dudley. “You. Come here.” As Dudley started to get pricked with needles another blond-haired boy came in along with his mother. He looked pale and had a crooked nose. He sat on a nearby stool, the next one, currently, was being used by Harry.

“Hello,” the boy said, shifting himself on the stool. “Hogwarts, too?”

“Yep! I’m excited.” Harry said, uncomfortably. He’d never talk to any other than the few people in his life and school teachers. However, he never liked talking in general. To make matters worse, this certain boy looked like he wanted to start a conversation. A very long conversion.

“My father’s next door buying my books and Mother just went up the street looking for wands.” The boy paused, turning his head. As if he was looking for something. Or someone. “Say...where’s your parents?

“My parents?” Harry said, his voice quivering just a bit. “Uhhh….” He hadn’t discussed this matter since he met Tom. And that was over a year ago.

“Leave him alone,” Dudley said, still getting stuck with a needle. Dudley had become very observant since becoming friends with Harry. And he knew when Harry wanted to be left alone.

“...No.” The blond-haired boy said, looking at the boy with some confusion. “I'm quite fond of him.” The bond-haired boy stuck his hand out. “I’m Draco. Draco Malfoy.”

“Harry,” Harry said, relieved to pass the topic as he took the hand and shook it. “Harry Potter.”

“The Harry Potter?” Draco asked, “You have the scar and everything?”

“Yeah,” Harry said, pushing his hair revealing the lightning bolt scar.

“Cool,” Draco said at last after closing his gaping mouth. “Who’s that, the boy, the one that said to leave you alone.” He pointed to Dudley and Harry nodded and grinned.

“That’s my cousin. His name is Dudley.”

“You’ve got a cousin? I’ve never heard that before.”

“What do you mean ‘heard that before’?”

“You haven’t heard? Harry^____If I may call you that^___.you’re a legend!”

“A legend? No way.”

“Yes, way! You beat the one and only you-know-who!”

“Oh...him.” Harry was motioned by Madam Malkin to get stuck with a needle next. “Well this chat has been nice, I shall see you at Hogwarts then?”

“Oh, certainly.” Draco then takes a seat next to a stack of books his mother brought for him and began his reading.

* * * * * * *

Harry is happily swinging a cage with a snowy white owl he calls Hedwig. As he swings the cage back and forth he is walking in the forest as Tom manages to carry a sleeping Dudley on his back.

“How did he even fall asleep?” Tom murmured hefting a bag filled with the boy’s Hogwarts things inside.

“Well, we’ve been out all day, he’s tried and I am too, I just have a bird to hold to keep me company,” Harry explained, rolling his eyes.

“Yeah, Yeah.” Tom paused thinking about what Harry just said. “Don’t get mouthy, Harry.”

“I’m not getting mouthy,” Harry explained. “I’m just stating pure facts here.”

“Yeah, Yeah,” Tom and Harry stopped at the old crimson castle. “Slytherin Prince,” Harry said.

“You two have been out awfully^___” Severus looked down at the cage. “You got him an owl?! Tom, we talked about this!”

“Still, it’s just an owl,” Tom told him. “I don’t see what’s the matter of it.”

“It’s alive.” Severus pointed out. “That should say anything.”

“I can take care of her,” Harry said, butting into their conversion. “All by myself. I promise.”

“Okay.” Severus said slowly, “Why’s Dudley asleep?”

“He’s tried and so am I,” Harry said, pushing himself in the manor. He headed to his room and put the owl on a desk near the corner, changing into his pajamas he got in the bed and fell asleep.