Chapter Text
Albus Dumbledore shuffled into the Great Hall through the teacher's entrance behind the staff table. The hall was full and loud, students rushing last minute homework and eating breakfast.
"Good morning, Albus." Minerva greeted him, cutting a piece of sausage.
Albus smiled benevolently. "Good morning Minerva. How are your exams going?"
"Very well, thank you. Only seven students have received lower than an Acceptable so far." Minerva said proudly. Albus sat down in his chair and a bowl of porridge, plain, with only brown sugar to sweeten it appeared in front of him. A gleaming silver spoon sat on a napkin. He tucked in, savoring the peace of knowing his place at Hogwarts was supreme, the Ministry was almost certainly going to refuse the Magical Child Welfare Network, Amelia Bones was going to introduce the Muggleborn Integration Act, Hepheastus Potter had agreed to bi-weekly meetings-
An owl's screech signaled the start of the flood of owls carrying the morning post. A black and grey bird swooped down and unceremoniously dropped a wrapped Daily Prophet on Albus's lap.
Albus smiled and untied the string folding the newspaper. He cracked it open and felt his stomach drop at the headline.
Boy-Who-Lived's Brother At Beauxbatons?
By Rita Skeeter
December 21, 1994
Everyone knows that Hephaestus Potter is the Boy-Who-Lived, the infant vanquisher of the Dark Lord Grindelwald. We’ve followed his parent’s recovery, his childhood, his first years at Hogwarts. Now at age fifteen, Hephaestus, or “Henry”, is one of Gryffindor’s newest prefects.
But what happened to the other little boy in the cradle? What became of Hesperides Potter?
Hesperides Potter has been noticeably absent from British society. At age fourteen, Henry Potter presented as all children do. His status as prime alpha was common knowledge within days. The banquet held hosted some of the biggest figures in wixen society, such as Chief Warlock Thomas Gaunt, Head of the DMLE Head Auror Amelia Bones, and of course, friend of the family Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump Albus Dumbledore.
But what about Hesperides?
Henry was given the coming out banquet all heirs and children of prominent families do, so we know the Potter’s typical “progressive” ideals did not have a factor in Henry’s coming out. So why didn’t Hesperides have a ball? While it was never announced by the Potters, the name "Hesperides" is a nod to the daughters of the Greek mythical Titan Atlas. The Hesperides were nymphs of sunlight and guarded the garden of golden apples from which Gaea gifted to Hera and Zeus. From this female name, we can assume Harry was a male omega, as male omegas and female alphas are identified at birth by their reproductive parts.
Hesperides should have been given one of the grandest balls in British society. And still, we have yet to hear a single thing about him.
Dear readers, this reporter decided to dig deeper. For all of you who may not know, Hesperides Potter does not go to Hogwarts. Henry attended Hogwarts as an eleven year old, but Hesperides was no where to be found. Even more suspicious, is that there are no public records of Hesperides Potter past 1989, when Hesperides would have been eight. Not a single mention. No Prophet picture with his brother, no name on a Yule card. Even his St. Mungo's file is frightfully barren barring his birth records and childhood check-ups before the age of eight.
Now, anyone else may have stopped here and assumed that Hesperides was simply homeschooled. But this reporter smelled a secret. It took three trips to the Ministry Archives, a Knight Bus to Briton, and multiple Apparations to finally find Hesperides.
I discovered Hesperides Potter alive and well in the streets of Marseille. There, he and other students dressed in blue Beauxbatons uniforms shopped on their weekend off. Hesperides looked happy and healthy, laughing with his friends and wrangling younger students. The green eyes of his mother Lady Lily Potter and the nose, cheekbones, and hair of his father are proof enough to me.
(Picture of Hesperides Potter in a blue Beauxbatons pressed button up, tie, skirt, kneesocks, heels, and a blazer. Hesperides has long curly hair, green eyes, and a brilliant smile. Hesperides does his best to take hold of a running child and chastises them gently.)
I pursued the matter with witches and wizards who lived in Marseille, and found out from a Beauxbatons groundskeeper that Hesperides Potter in fact attends Beauxbatons, and goes by Harry Evans, a halfblood from Britain. Hesperides makes good grades and is apprenticing under the institution's Healer, Madame Dubois.
It is a relief to this writer to find a missing person hale and thriving. But questions remain- what is Hesperides doing at Beauxbatons? Why is he not at Hogwarts? Why is there no mention of him anywhere?
I suppose we must look to the Potters to find out why one of their only children has been excluded from British Wixen society.
Albus watched the sea of students sharing newspapers and loudly arguing over the fate of young Hephaestus' brother.
Albus felt a headache coming on.
Beauxbatons is simple. Because the school is so prestigious, it's run by strict caretakers and the best way to conduct yourself is to do well in your studies, be polite, and make connections early on. Harry rarely worries about bullies, aside from the purebloods who obviously think badly of his supposed Muggle blood. He's been allowed to live quietly, only bringing attention to himself with his job as a baker at La Belle's Patisserie down in Marseille during the summer, and as an apprentice Healer with Madame Dubois.
Although not required, Beaxubatons encourages students enroll at the age of eight, three years before their first year. They grow up with their year mates and form inter-dorm bonds before they are sorted at eleven.
Beauxbatons, like Ilvermorny and Hogwarts, separates students into dorms. Instead of specific traits like Hogwarts, Beauxbatons sorts more similarly to Ilvermorny. The Heather Dormitory holds students who are based in defensive magic and earthen power. The Aspen Dormitory houses those with an affinity for wind spirits and mind magic. The Calendula Dormitory focuses on water attraction and healing. The Orchid Dormitory builds diplomats often having empathetic powers.
When a first-year is sorted, they are offered a heather stem, a calendula, an aspen branch, and an orchid. The plant will either reject or grow on the student depending on whether or not they have an affinity for their type of magic. Harry had been accepted by three of the dormitories; the aspen branch had curled around his wrist, the lotus had bloomed a gentle pink and yellow, and the orchid had seemed to glow from the inside. The heather had rejected him, petals flaking off it as the vibrant purple turned brown.
Harry had chosen the calendula flower. Mom and Dad had enrolled him early on, and Hephaestus hadn't cared much, as he'd been much more preoccupied with the Ron Weasley, his older brother Fred and George, and their cousins, Felix and Rufus Prewett.
His mother and father had only told him Beaxbatons would be safer for him. Dark wizards were always trying to kill Henry, and Harry would be safe on the Continent.
And Harry was safe. And happy.
And sometimes unbearably lonely.
After his first year where he struggled with French, he stayed quiet until he sorted Calendula. Then, he slowly offered his help with Charms and Potions, until he was seen as a willing tutor and welcomed at breakfast and group assignments, and for once, Harry felt like he'd belonged, because even at home he'd been a little shorter, a little thinner, quieter, more fragile, prone to tears, and unwilling to roughhouse with Ron Weasley.
At early childhood parties, he was overlooked for brighter, friendlier Henry. He sat at the Potter table with a book and tried not to feel stupid for being the only child alone.
Harry had been well taken care of, but not nearly as loved as certain Gryffindor Henry with his lightning scar and wide smile and open personality.
Beauxbatons was a welcome reprieve, and Harry studied and studied until he'd been someone of respect. He had friends, had adopted a pale orange cat and named it Bast. He had no intention of ever returning to Britain.
Until that blasted bastard of a reporter Skeeter stuck her nose where it didn't belong. And now Harry found himself being standing with his trunk and Bast in a cage in front of Headmistress Maxime's personal Floo, called home to be presented to British wixen society, and transfer from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts.
Permanently.
"You were a wonder to raise, dearest Harry." Headmistress Maxime hugged Harry as well as she could. "I can only hope the best for you overseas."
"But Headmistress," Harry pleaded. "Can't I stay here? At least for the rest of the school year?"
"I would love to Harry. But your parents are firm in that they are enrolling you as a transfer student to Hogwarts for the rest of your schooling. I hold no custodial rights over you now that you are no longer enrolled in Beauxbatons." Headmistress's eyes teared and she blew her nose loudly with her handkerchief.
"But I don't want to leave." Harry whispered, blinking back tears of his own.
"You'll make fools out of those Brits." Headmistress sniffled. "Their fault for letting you get away so long ago."
"I'll make Beauxbatons proud, Headmistress." Harry wiped his eyes and stood up straight. "I'm ready to go."
Headmistress blew her nose once more and activated her Floo. Harry took some Floo powder from the jar on her mantle.
"Oh, your parents said they'd moved. Your new address is Deerhaven." Harry blinked.
Of course they'd moved without even a cursory letter.
Harry sighed. "Deerhaven!" He shouted, throwing the Floo powder at his feet. His lungs filled with smoke, and then he was standing in front of his mother, father, brother, and a whole mess of people he hadn't the slightest of recognizing.
"Surprise!" Firecrackers popped off and a shower of rainbow colored glitter filled the air.
"Happy return surprise party little Potter!" A pair of twins blew noise makers in Harry's face and pulled him out, stunned.
"Hello, Harry." Mum smiled, her hands folding over themselves. Harry gently hugged her back, then detatched to hold his arms to himself.
"Hi Mum, Dad, Hephaestus." Harry bowed his head shallowly.
"Ew, just call me Henry." Henry made a face, then hugged Harry fiercely. Harry stiffened but returned the hug reluctantly.
"I'm so glad you finally get to be home." Henry says from his shoulder. Harry pats him once and then pulls away. Dad hugs him next, arms strong and big.
Harry clears his throat and picks up his trunk. "If it's okay I'd like to see my room. I haven't slept there since I was eight, and I'd like to arrange it to my liking."
"But your party!" Dad cleared his throat. "We got the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, the Greengrasses, and a bunch of other family friends to welcome you home!" Harry blinked at the crowd of people staring at him eagerly. Nearly half of them were redheads.
"Oh." Harry said. "Alright-" Dad cheered and pulled him by the hand into the throng of people. Harry had to drop his trunk and Bast, who loudly declared her disapproval, so that he wouldn't hit anyone's knees.
"Lovely to see you again, Hesperides." An elderly woman with a stuffed vulture on her hat grabbed his hand. "You should meet my son, Neville, he's in your year at Hogwarts you know-"
"Mundungus Fletcher, pleased to meet ya Ms. Hesperides!" A slightly dirty, short man shook Harry's hand roughly.
"Oh, hello, Hesperides dear. It's so lovely to have you back home." Molly Weasley kissed his cheeks, smiling.
Dad snapped his fingers. "Oh! The cake!" Suddenly Harry was rerouted, avoiding stepping on people's feet again. A brand new batch of people shook his hand and smiled toothily at him, giving their well wishes and proposing introductions.
"Oi, Lils, where's Harry's cake?!" Dad shouted.
"It's coming, it's coming!" Mum yelled back. A ruby red cake with golden frosting floated into the room, and the whole room people 'oohed' and 'awed'. It had sparklers and little lions dancing on top.
Harry didn't even like red and gold. Or lions. His favorite color was purple, and he much preferred cats, which was why he had Bast.
"Everyone, say 'welcome home Harry'!" Dad roared.
"Welcome home Harry!" The room shouted at varying times. A camera flashed, and another barrage of firecrackers and red and gold glitter went off. Laughter and loud conversation filled the air as Harry was practically manhandled to the sitting room.
Great. Home sweet home.