Of Schools & Harmony

Lots of Conversations

“And that’s the situation Albus, what do you think we should do”? Lily asked Dumbledore, going over what transpired the previous day and how Harry had  been feeling isolated. They were in his office at Hogwarts with tea in front of both of them though Lily hadn't touched hers.

"Hmmm, I see. That is quite the predicament you are in, Lily. You could always keep going the way you have been with the boys. I'm sure Harry is a very understanding brother who would never grow bitter of being in Julius's shadow all the time, after all I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding". Dumbledore said with a very grandfatherly tone, but on the inside he was dancing with joy. His plan was working.

Dumbledore had never anticipated that both Potter elders and both their brats would survive Tom's attack that night. Since then he had to adjust his plans for the boy who lived. James and Lily would raise Julius into the perfect sacrificial pawn.Lily didn't always listen to his word but that was nothing a compulsion potion or two in her drink wouldn't fix. She also listened to James and Molly who followed his word without question. Julius was being groomed to be the ideal Gryffindor as the boy who lived.

The only wild card was Harry Potter.  Dumbledore had never imagined James and Lily would have twins so having Harry survive that Halloween left him at a loss. He couldn't predict how Harry would turn out so driving a wedge between the twins was the first step in his plan. It was a good thing he authorized the publishing of those books about Julius to make that wedge between the two even larger. Over the years Albus has formed 4 plans for Harry, all depending on which house he got sorted to when he got to Hogwarts.

Gryffindor- If sorted here Harry would become a pawn to mold into a second boy who lived in case Julius perishes before the time comes to face the dark lord, or if Julius's starts to rebel from the light in any way.

Hufflepuff - This house is loyal to a fault, having Harry here would mean his desire to be loyal to his brother will push him to do anything Albus says in order to help his brother.

Ravenclaw - Ravenclaw's are tricky; they're far too neutral for Albus's liking and far too smart for their own good. If Harry somehow manages to get sorted here, well is nothing else he can always use another spy like Severus. Harry would just need a nudge in the right direction and with Julius and Ron destined to become the next generation of Marauders that shouldn't be too hard to do.

Slytherin - This was the house Dumbledore was hoping Harry would get sorted into most. If sorted here he'll do everything in his power to mold Harry into the next Dark lord after Tom's destruction. Being responsible for vanquishing three dark Lords is sure to cement Dumbledore's place in history and with that kind of influence he can mold the wizarding world to his liking beyond Britain.

While Albus was plotting in his head, unbeknownst to him Lily, noticing Albus in his own little world, wordlessly vanished the tea in her cup. While James trusted Albus unconditionally she'd rather be safe than sorry.

"But Albus, it's not Harry being jealous of his brother that I'm not worried about, it's his mental health from being in his brother's shadow all the time that concerns me. He's becoming withdrawn and other kids are bullying him since they think he's lying about being Julius's twin." Lily corrected,  not liking where this was going.  He was around children all the time, surely he must have some idea of what to do.

"I see, then why don't you separate the twins, send Harry somewhere else for a while to grow into his own. Then, when the two go to Hogwarts later down the line Harry won't just be seen as the boy who lived brother but someone different". Albus suggested. This could work for him, Dumbledore thought, he just needed to convince Lily to send Harry to the one place that would allow him to grow bitter of his sibling and gain the traits necessary to be sorted into Slytherin.