Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Connor (Jim Moriarty) and Finley (Richard Brook) O’Neill Joined Harry Potter’s and Dudley Dursley’s reception class in January, having moved from Ireland, Dudley having learned from his father how the country was going to the dogs because of immigrants, {I absolutely does not agree with that statement} decided that like his freak of a cousin the twin brothers were a good target for his gang. Harry did what he could to protect the brothers even if that was just distracting them with himself, it was a start of an unlikely friendship between the saviour of the wizarding world and the future Napoleon of crime and his younger brother.

The three of them to survive together in a world where adults were not on their side and the authorities could not be trusted to help, in year three Connor and Finley declared Harry was also there brother and Connor teaches his brothers to pick locks after he learned

Eventually when the boys are in year five Carl Powers went too far and Connor killed him, (in the same way as canon,) he took the shoes as trophies but hid them as he knew that his brothers where kind hearted despite how life and Little Whinging had treated them so far and would not approve, but Finley found them and told Harry. They did not hand Connor in as they did not wish to lose their brother, and the authorities had never helped them, besides by that point the investigation had ruled that Carl's death was a tragic accident, Connor did not tell them about the young Sherlock Holmes feels insisting it was a murder and to look for the shoes. Together they decided that they (Jim) would not kill any more of their tormentors, and that they would live as honestly as they could and when they could get jobs but hide the money from their families so that it would be safe and when they had enough they would run away together and escape the crushing hatefulness that was Little Whinging, but that was not to be…

On the last day of year six Conor and Finlay give Harry a early birthday present just in case they don't see him before it, it is a pocket knife, this is the last time that they see each other for many years.

That's not that unusual for Conor and Finlay to be unable to see harry during the summer holidays while it was unpleasant they were not that alarmed when they did not see Harry especially after they heard about the snake incident from Piers Polkiss and the rest of the gang however when the Dursleys up and left and took Harry with them they were concerned especially as they left in a hurry, the trip to the zoo was the last time Harry Potter was ever seen in public when I asked in September the Dursleys claimed Harry was going to Saint Brutus’s Connor knew no such place existed but was unable to find more information on his brother's disappearance, so fearing for his and his remaining brother's safety he faked his and his brother's death in a fire and pinned their murder on the members of Dudley’s gang still in surrey, hoping that the investigation may throw up information he was unable to find on Harry's fate, and they fled…

Chapter Text

Hagrid shows up at the shack's as in canon and takes Harry to Diagon alley when they he’s returned the Dursleys do not allow Harry out the house for fear of the neighbours somehow realising that Harry was one of them and definitely wasn't normal. Never mind that even if he was a squib, because of their treatment him for the last 10 years he wouldn’t be normal.

Harry packs everything important to him which of course includes the knife from Connor and Finlay, at Kings Cross he meets the Weasley family and travels with and befriends Ron. The Sorting decided that Harry's most defining trait is his loyalty to his brothers and thus he was sorted into Hufflepuff, he still maintains his friendship with Ron.

Fred and George can tell there's something up with the strangely intense Hufflepuff And once he shows his cunning and stealth that he learned to survive Little Whinging, they do not truly understand the origin but take him under their wing and teach him the ways of pranks. Harry is good at feigning innocence but never deliberately throws Fred and George under the bus once they are caught, but it's not long before the teachers learn that appearances can be deceiving with Harry Potter.

Fred and George are the first wizards to learn about Harry's brothers and his guilt over vanishing on them, and his knowledge that it would not be safe for Hedwig or his brothers to send them letters explaining what happened, and that's because of the Dursleys he was unable to see them before he left for Hogwarts. His hope to see them next summer to explain, he knows it's not a good idea to return to Privet Drive more often than he has to even if it is to his brothers.

This conversation happens because when Harry was sharing muggle lock picking with Fred and George and all his suppressed emotions regarding his brothers came bubbling up with the familiar memories. The twins learn why Harry has the skills he has, and do what that can to help including showing harry how to owl order supplies for the summer.

Harry was not with Ron on Halloween when he calls Hermione a know it all, he learns about it later turn just before the feast, and tells Ron in no uncertain terms that his actions were cruel specially when he found out Hermione had heard him and he did nothing and he's not going to be with friends with someone who insults people behind their back, and then he goes to find Hermione to try and comfort her and apologise for his idiot of a friend whether he is apologising on Ron’s behalf or for being friends with Ron, even Harry doesn't know yet

When the troll happens Ron knows he must warn Harry and Hermione after all it is his fault that they're in danger, and don't even know about it. Harry does not stick his wand up the trolls’ nose in this fight instead he manages to stab it in the eye with his pen knife just before Ron arrives and Ron clubs it with its own club. Unlike canon Harry and Hermione are injured more than just scrapes and bruises they be all right after a night in the hospital under Madame Pomfrey's diligent care, fix but it’s a stark reminder that it could have been us so much worse. When Hermione tries to take the blame Ron can't let her get in trouble for a mess that was his fault and confesses, before sincerely apologising to Hermione, and promising never to speak about anyone else like that again. And so the golden trio’s friendship begins in blood pain and a very broken bathroom.

When Snape examines the troll after the trio have been sent away he realises that one of the three had to have been carrying a knife. There is a meeting in the morning with Dumbledore as headmaster, McGonagall and Sprout as the trio’s heads of houses of the trio and the trio. It is clear that Ron knows absolutely nothing about what Dumbledore is talking about, but if even if he did he probably wouldn't say anything. Hermione and Harry looked guilty for very different reasons Hermione explains that she really hadn’t been sure that was what Harry had and she wasn't going to get someone who just charged a troll to protect her in trouble for a suspicion, Harry wants to deny having a knife but with Hermione's confession he knows he's not skilled enough to lie himself out of this one, yet. Harry reluctantly reveals his knife still stained with the trolls blood, with the explanation that it was a precious gift from two people very dear to him his brothers.

Dumbledore despite being an renowned champion of muggles isn't the most up to date with their culture so just assumes it's a normal parting gift and/or his family who know what happened to Lily and James we're worried for his safety and gave it to him a form of protection, he also more focuses on the positive over wizard as strong as Harry has the potential to be has strong positive connections to the muggle world, not like Tom or Gellert or even His foolish younger self. He does gently warns him that unless there's official paperwork listening his brothers as his adopted brothers in the wizarding world to be cautious with statue to secrecy,
and ask Harry to hand over the knife into his care until he leaves to return home, to keep it in his trunk on the express and not bring it back. Harry knowing he has no other choice and choosing to trust dumbledore agrees, but requests to be allowed to come and see it now and again just check it's safe dumbledore can see how hard is for Harry to agree to give up his knife, so he agrees as a kind of reward and to ease what is clearly a difficult decision.

The story mostly continues as normal from here with Fluffy and Norbert, the Unicorn detention, the Cloak and Hagrid been as good at keeping secrets as a sieve is at keeping water. However when Harry looks in the mirror of ersed it is not his parents he sees or not only his parents he sees, his brothers are there with him, they are happy and safe Having a picnic lunch in the garden of a cottage that is clearly theirs. Harry is the twins Hufflepuff apprenticed maybe the twins joined Harry, Ron and Hermione when they decide to steal the stone before Snape can, maybe they don't, but Harry still faces Quirrell-mort alone and faces having committed his first kill…

Just before the train leaves return him to his brothers hagrid gives Harry the photo album, however unlike cannon Fred and George somehow ended up helping out and gave the suggestion to add blank pages at the back for Harry to continue it and supplied a few photos of Harry and his friends to go in as well, it quickly becomes one of Harry's most prized possessions along with the cloak his wand and knife.