September Challenge: The Harry Potter AU Extravaganza!
Welcome to omniocular's September challenge: the Harry Potter AU Extravaganza!
Have you ever contemplated what sort of Hufflepuff Snape would be? Have you ever wondered if maybe wizards are actually aliens using advanced technology? Have you ever thought that Hogwarts would make a fine ranch and the Marauders would be brilliant cattle rustlers? Have you ever suspected that Aberforth Dumbledore should have been Hogwarts headmaster rather than his brother?
Of course you have. Haven't we all?
This is your chance to put those ideas to work. Below is a list of over 150 suggestions for Alternate Universe scenarios. A handful of the suggestions were edited to avoid duplication or because they were focused on altering or rearranging canon pairings. Of course, changing or eliminating romantic pairings can be an aspect of the AU stories for this challenge, but for both the prompts and the submissions, our community rules are the same as they've always been: the pairings should not be the focus.
To participate, simply comment to claim one of the prompts and write a story or create a piece of art about that AU scenario. Each prompt may be claimed only once, and you may claim only one prompt at a time. Gen stories and artwork of any genre, style and length are welcome, and if you have an AU idea that isn't on the list, feel free to write it and submit it for the challenge.
Everybody is welcome to participate: members, non-members, writers and artists. Members may post their submissions any time according to the community guidelines; non-members should post their work on their own journals and drop us a line on this post in via email (omnio_mods @ yahoo.com) with a link.
The challenge will be open until September 30. Have fun!
The AU Prompts
1. Snape is sorted into Hufflepuff.
2. Fandom general assumption seems to be that Snape's parents are dead. So the prompt is: Snape's parents are alive and the family even isn't as dysfunctional as many a fic suggests. Scenes from Snape family life. claimed by lunafish
3. Snape is Hermione's biological father. It's time to write an alternative to Severitus fics! claimed by slippingpastyou
4. Voldemort kidnaps young Harry instead of trying to kill him. James and Lily live. I'd like to see the humanization of Voldemort via raising Harry but not unabashed fluff. claimed by oolsock
5. After his escape from Azkaban, Sirius is stuck in his dog form (forever or for several years). How does this change affect the following events? claimed by eudaimon
6. Hogwarts and current cast of characters in medieval times. claimed by katecarden
7. Complete gender reversal: Harry is a girl, as are Ron, Snape, etc., while Hermione and Ginny are boys. Could be horrifying, or horribly funny. claimed by eliathanis
8. Instead of being a castle in the middle of nowhere, Hogwarts is in the heart of London.
9. The Dursleys manage to hide the letters and send Harry to Stonewall. Well, at least for now... dun dun dun! claimed by ink_monkey
10. Harry sees the thestrals his first year and starts asking questions much earlier about his parents' death.
11. Harry or someone else doing magic is caught in an emergency situation on live news. It's too late to cover it up, and the Muggles start asking questions.
12. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Minister of Magic Tom Riddle join forces to fight off dark wizards and witches. Tom's daughter Lily and her husband James Potter give birth to a boy whom they name Harry. Harry grows up to become best friends with both Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. Who are these dark wizards and witches? What is the cause they are trying to promote? How do Albus and Tom fight them off, and will they win?
13. Hermione, one of Ravenclaw's best students, finds herself having odd dreams in which someone is calling out to her in a desperate attempt for help. She soon discovers that the dreams are being sent forward through time by the Founders, who are trying to reunite the houses. Now, with the help of Harry Potter, a Slytherin, Ron Weasley, a Gryffindor, and Neville Longbottom, a Hufflepuff, Hermione must work to unite the school against the forces of Albus Dumbledore before it's too late.
14. Aberforth was the Headmaster of Hogwarts instead of Albus. Also, Hogwarts resembles an alehouse. With goats, perhaps.
15. James, Sirius and Peter never became Animagi. claimed by snow_blossoms
16. Hagrid was never expelled. Instead, he graduated and attempted many professional careers. What were his failings/successes as a barrister? Auror? Healer?
17. The Weasleys had six girls and one boy. claimed by paradise_loved
18. The Dark Lord Bertie Bott poisons his candy and attempts to overthrow the Ministry of Magic and take control of the Wizarding World.
19. When they arrive at Hogwarts, James and Sirius loathe each other on sight. They become rivals instead of friends.
20. Snape doesn't tell Voldemort about Trelawney's prophecy. How does this affect the first Voldemort war?
21. Draco kills Dumbledore that night on the top of the Astronomy Tower.
22. Draco is sorted into Gryffindor.
22. When the troll is let into the school during the Halloween feast during Harry's first year, Harry and Ron don't go to Hermione's rescue (either she's killed, or they just never reconcile with her). How does Hermione's absence affect Harry's success in fighting Voldemort?
23. What if Salazar Slytherin had prevailed, instead of leaving Hogwarts?
24. Harry died on Halloween, 1981. claimed by lilith_morgana
25. Sirius was sorted Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.
26. Merope Riddle nee Gaunt didn't die and leave Tom an orphan. claimed by virginia_bell
27. Through time travel, Harry is Snape's biological father.
28. Harry is the ruler of the Wizarding World.
29. The Malfoys are enslaved to the Potters. Harry finds out. claimed by jordangrant
30. When Voldemort 'died', all the Death Eaters swore obedience to the baby who defeated him, Harry Potter.
31. The Wizarding World is matriarchal. Severely so. Hermione gets a shock when she finds out. claimed by shiv5468
32. Lily never died when Voldemort attacked. How does this affect Harry's life? Can he cope with his mothers new boyfriends and kids, and is he Sorted into the same house? claimed by secondsilk
33. Petunia was a witch too.
34. Petunia loved Harry instead of neglecting him. claimed by onadancefloor
35. Molly Weasley didn't lose her brothers, and they were alive through the Weasley kids' childhoods.
36. That prank with Snape? James didn't save him, and Snape was infected with lycanthropy. How was it covered up? And did Moony survive? Specific emphasis on how this affects his abilities as an instructor and a spy, bonus if you manage to work this in during the Trio's 3rd Year.
37. Harry has a sister who is the Girl Who Lived. claimed by meddow
38. Dumbledore killed Riddle right after he vanquished Grindelwald.
39. Lucius Malfoy, accompanying Voldemort to the Potters, decides to raise Harry after the Dark Lord's death.
40. A prank by Fred and George confuses the Sorting Hat in Harry's first year, resulting in horrible house mismatches. (e.g. Draco the Gryffindor! Hermione the Slytherin!) claimed by corvidae9
41. Voldemort attacks the Potters through their family, starting with the Dursleys -- except Petunia sacrifices herself to save Dudley, making him the Boy Who Lived, a (poor) wizard and a parselmouth from Voldemort's absorbed power.
42. Tom Gaunt: Son of Slytherin. claimed by by_starkiller
43. 'Wizards' are actually aliens; their 'magic' is all superscience. claimed by ignipes
44. Time travel into the future rather than the past. Either Harry or someone from the Marauder era goes forward in time.
45. Voldemort begins his destruction of Muggles, mudbloods,and blood traitors by starting up concentration camps. Harry decides that in order to bring them down he needs to do it from the inside and so he gets captured or disguises himself in order to be put in a camp.
46. Harry kills Pettigrew that night in the Shrieking Shack. Who would find the Dark Lord and bring him back to power? How would Harry's life change not having to return to the Dursleys?
47. Godric Gryffindor was a Prince/King of the wizarding world when he died only his blood-heir could assume the throne, but in order to do that they had to pass a test of some sort without knowing that they were actually being tested. In absence of royalty to rule, the Ministry of Magic was created. What happens when it's discovered that Harry is indeed the Gryffindor heir?
48. Dumbledore created a Horcrux when he defeated Grindewald. When he dies and leaves Harry his home, Harry discovers a journal in his library that tells about his Horcrux. Harry brings Dumbledore back with the same ritual that brought back the Dark Lord. (No Evil Dumbledore or Harry please.)
49. Voldemort goes after the Longbottoms instead of the Potters on Halloween 1981. claimed by lareinenoire
50. Remus Lupin is not offered a place at Hogwarts due to his lycanthropy. Would the Marauders, as a group, still exist? What would be the dynamic? Would they have become Animagi sans Remus?
51. Merope Gaunt did not stop giving Tom Riddle Sr. the love potion (if that is indeed the way it happened). How would Tom Jr. have turned out?
52. Dumbledore treated Tom Riddle the way he treats Harry. Would that change the course of events at all?
53. Early in Voldemort's career, it is revealed that he is a half-blood. How does that affect his status and the Death Eaters?
54. Dumbledore is evil. Any way you please.
55. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley never married, so there are no Weasley children. Who does Harry befriend?
56. Everyone is a superhero or Mary Sue. Crackfic encouraged. claimed by gauriel
57. Harry is a Squib and grows up with the Dursleys, but he's still the one who has to kill Voldemort.
58. Harry gets a clue right after Voldemort returns and employs a crack assassination team to kill Voldie, thus keeping himself safe. Special points if James Bond has a cameo.
59. Hogwarts as a hospital where the staff are nurses and doctors and the students are patients. claimed by cock_a_snook
60. Lily and James Potter survive Voldemorts attack and adopts an orphaned Draco Malfoy. Draco and Harry grow up as brothers.
61. One of Neville's parents 'awakens'. claimed by giventofly37
62. Harry has a chance to pick someone else to fall through the Veil. Will he? (Bizarre opportunity to re-live that day, or something?) claimed by amidalashari
63. The Chamber of Secrets is not opened in Harry's second year. It's Ginny's second year now, and she's still writing in Riddle's diary. claimed by lowlands_girl
64. Secret training sessions are going on deep in Hufflepuff. The other Houses don't have a clue. claimed by lazy_neutrino
65. The Whomping Willow holds a class.
66. The Weasley family is Old Money rich (and snobby) and the Malfoys are their best friends.
67. Petunia and Vernon Dursley never had a child of their own. They've adored Harry since he first went to live with them. When his Hogwarts letter arrives, Harry is more of a spoiled monster than Dudley ever could have been.
68. Hermione and her family are purebloods and Ron's Muggle-born. But the trio still exists.
69. Another character fell into the veil, either Ron or Harry.
70. Dudley was never born (or was born and died very young), so Petunia felt very different towards Harry due to her grief. Harry had a very different childhood. claimed by lorelei_lynn
71. Draco was sorted into Gryffindor (perhaps due to an argument with the Sorting Hat because he 'was too just as brave as Harry Potter, you old smelly rag!')
72. Peter did not escape in PoA and was able (willingly or not) to clear Sirius' name, so Sirius wasn't a wanted criminal.
73. Remus did end up biting someone during that one night he forgot his potion in Harry's 3rd year. You choose who was infected: Ron, Snape or Lucius Malfoy (Lucius being at the school because he's on the board and their was an escaped criminal on the loose - one thought to have been devoted to the Dark Lord). claimed by lupinslittlesis
74. Snape is still very Snape, but he loves to teach, and students love his sharp wit and his classes. claimed by dreamer_marie
75. Draco is not an only child. He has an older brother who makes his life hell.
76. Harry shook Draco's hand at the beginning of first year. How does this change things?
77. Crookshanks manages to eat Peter Pettigrew in PoA. Now what?
78. Neville manages to stop the trio in the first year, and they never get to save the Philosopher's Stone. Does Voldemort get it? Then what?
79. Instead of wizards, MWPP are cowboys and Hogwarts is a ranch. Bonus points if there is rustling. Brokeback references optional. claimed by such_heights
80. Instead of wizards, MWPP are pirates. Avast!
81. After a harrowing week of "talking to the werewolves," Remus decides that he's had enough and takes Sirius, Harry, and anyone else who'd like to come on a road trip. Rules and Dumbledore be damned. claimed by marvolo
82. Sirius Black was an only child. Remus was a twin.
83. Fenrir succeeds in kidnapping Remus as a child.
84. At the end of GoF, the Ministry does not ignore Harry's claim, but accepts it and prepares for war.
85. Some champion, who may or may not die, besides Cedric makes it to the end of the maze in GoF.
86. Voldemort is a partisan on the behalf of Muggles and Muggleborns, rather than against them.
87. Snape hears the whole of the prophecy.
88. Dumbledore gives Voldemort the Defense Against the Dark Arts job when he comes to request it.
89. Trelawney’s second prophecy actually refers to Barty Crouch Junior, who escapes from his father that night. (Whether Wormtail also escapes is optional.)
90. Cedric just takes the cup in the maze when Harry tells him to, and is thus the only one carried off to Little Hangleton.
91. Ron gets the Half-Blood Prince’s book instead of Harry in Slughorn's first Potions lesson.
92. Sirius Black was sorted into Hufflepuff and became best friends with Frank Longbottom. Fast forward eleven years and Sirius is caring for his godson Neville. He joins a support group for wizarding lone parents, where he meets James Potter who somehow survived Voldemort's attack and is raising Harry alone. Cue male bonding, competitive fathers and dubious childrearing techniques. claimed by principessa05
93. The Ministry of Magic has a social services/child welfare department. Following reports of abuse, parental incapacity due to mental illness and use of Dark Magic, the young Sirius and Regulus are taken into care. What happens to them?
94. Someone is expelled from Hogwarts. Could be for something that actually happened in canon, or something you've made up. claimed by rian219
95. The parents of a Muggle-born child pull them out of Hogwarts. How do they cope without a magical education? claimed by gyutto
96. Tonks kills Bellatrix during the fight at the DoM. claimed by a_t_rain
97. Peter has an eleventh hour attack of conscience and doesn't betray the Potters.
98. Regulus survives, and becomes a spy. But for whom?
99. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange had an infant, who was a ward of the Malfoys, the Ministry, or perhaps Andromeda Tonks for the sixteen years that they were in Azkaban. If the child was the same age as Harry and attended Hogwarts, how would they have interacted? What would have happened when the Lestranges escaped Azkaban?
100. Harry's Patronus is a snake.
101. Upon his parents' death, Aurors are the first to arrive at Godric's Hollow and find the infant Harry. Harry is already gone when Hagrid arrives to take him to the Dursleys.
102. Remus Lupin was the traitor.
103. Regulus was sorted in to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. What happened to his relation between Sirius, and how might that change his future fate?
104. The Black family is not a bunch of people who believe in pureblood madness.
104. Both Sirius and Regulus survive. claimed by nicolen
105. Sirius remained as Potters' Secret-Keeper. claimed by noldo_
106. The Muggles actually know all about the wizarding world and are keeping tabs on them. The wizards have no idea and think themselves superior until war erupts. claimed by themolesmother
107. Dumbledore never defeated Grindelwald. A young Tom Riddle became Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Order went into hiding. Focus on either the underground attempts of the Order to bring down Grindelwald or the conflict between Riddle's growing power and his mentor, Grindelwald, would be great.
108. Dumbledore was the Secret-Keeper all along, but the world still believes that Sirius or Peter was. Why did Dumbledore orchestrate this switch, and cover up its true nature? claimed by claraminutes
109. Sirius fought with his family and all that, but no more than any other teenage boy does. Eventually, he came around to their way of thinking. Slytherin!Sirius is fine. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff (if you can work it with Death Eater!Sirius) is fine, too.
110. Petunia has dormant magic powers which are triggered by her pregnancy, and strange things start to happen in the Dursley household. claimed by lottelita
111. The Blacks blame Regulus (for whatever reason) when Sirius leaves, and Regulus runs away as well. Where does he run to, and what does he do there? claimed by violetion
112. Harry's primary school teacher reports the Dursleys to Social Services, and Harry and Dudley are made wards of the state. How does a decade of being bounced from foster home to foster home affect Harry, and where is he sorted? claimed by mk_tortie
113. Snape drops out of Hogwarts after his fifth year. How do the Marauders react when they find out, and how does it affect them (e.g., no Shrieking Shack incident)?
114. Ginny Weasley is a Squib. How do the Weasleys deal with it, and what happens to Tom Riddle's diary?
115. Hermione chose not to attend Hogwarts. What happens when (sometime in her mid-teens), her incidents of accidental magic become so frequent that the Ministry decides to intervene? claimed by nekare
116. Harry is loved by the Dursleys.
117. Hagrid never returns from the Giants.
118. Harry's grandparents are still alive and he was bought up by them.
119. Snape did not kill Dumbledore. The whole thing was orchestrated so Dumbledore could go into hiding.
120. Neville is the one selected by Voldemort. claimed by msmoocow
121. Luna is secretly Snape's much loved daughter. She is exactly the same and still becomes Harry and company's friend. How does her father react to this development?
122. Hermione's Polyjuice Potion mishap couldn't be cured.
123. The Sorting Hat decided not to make Tom Riddle a Slytherin. Instead, it thought he would make a good Hufflepuff.
124. All of Luna's creatures actually exist. The heliopaths are plotting to take over the world with the support of the evil vampire Rufus Scrimgeour and Goblin-crusher Fudge. A crumple-horned snorkack escapes their clutches and persuades Luna that only she can foil their fiendish plans. claimed by bicyclette
125. Hogwarts is located on Tahiti and all its residents are islanders. How would this affect the classes, war, etc.? Actually, any other significant magical culture, i.e. Sub-saharan African, Aboriginal, South American, Middle Eastern, East Asian, American Indian, etc., would be interesting.
126. Trelawney's first prophecy is complete tosh, and when Voldemort is finally killed, it's not by Harry. Not even by a Gryffindor. claimed by thistlerose
127. Fenrir Greyback runs for Minister of Magic. And wins.
128. Unknown to Bellatrix and Narcissa, Snape has perfected a potion which provides temporary immunity from the Unbreakable Vow. He drinks it before they visit. How does this affect the events in HBP?
129. Remus isn't really a werewolf, but an Animagus who craves attention and sympathy, and has used his 'lycanthropy' to get it.
130. Cedric survives the maze. How does his survival alter events that follow? E.g., this is not just about how he survives, but what it means that he does. Does he side with Harry and Dumbledore against Umbridge (and Voldemort)? Do his parents join the Order? Or does he resent or blame Dumbledore or Harry for what happened? Either is a possible response. My only stipulation is that whatever he does, his essential character can't be altered. He is, indeed, the clever student, honest person and loyal friend -- the basic good guy -- that Rowling painted him.
131. The Aurors don't get to the Longbottoms in time. Bellatrix takes Neville to raise as her own. claimed by starrysummer
132. Something odd happens during Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley and he decides knowledge is power. Enter Ravenclaw Harry!
133. Remus bit both Snape and Harry outside the Shrieking Shack in PoA, infecting them. (Optional if he infects/kills Ron and/or Hermione as well.)
134. Draco was born at the end of July, 1980, causing the Malfoys to be targeted by Voldemort as well as the Potters and the Longbottoms.
135. During the Snape's Worst Memory incident, Remus stands up to the other Marauders and makes them stop before Lily intervenes.
136. Snape joins the Marauders during his schooldays, including helping them out with their pranks and bullying as well as other stuff. claimed by doggy_dogworld
137. Sirius Black does not break out of Azkaban during PoA; he does so after the events of HBP.
138. Post HBP- Severus knows that Harry is with Dumbledore in the tower and takes Harry away when Severus and Draco make a run for it.
139. Hermione doesn't exist. Draco has a twin sister with whom he is very close and who is sorted into Gryffindor. How does Draco treat the trio when his sister is one of them? claimed by blingbelle
140. Petunia leaves Vernon because of his abuse and takes the ten-year-old boys with her.
141. Draco has a secret, there is more to the Malfoys than they seem. (His Veela blood makes Draco a hermaphrodite.) claimed by mayflo
142. Harry learns to be an Animagus in 5th year, just like his dad did. But who is the other Animagus he meets when roaming the halls?
143. Dumbledore mentions during the meeting at Madame Rosmerta's that during the war he had a network of spies, including Snape. What happened to all the other spies? Are they still in place? What if Fudge was right and Dumbledore was out for power all along? What if at the end of the OotP during the battle in the Ministry of Magic he calls on his deep cover spies, wrests power from Voldemort and takes over the Wizarding World?
144. What if Hogwarts started an annual parents day? All parents are magically forced to attend, including the Dursleys. A comedy, obviously.
145. What if Fawkes got lonely? Where do exactly do phoenixes come from, anyway? Charlie Weasley gets a special assignment from Dumbledore to bring back another phoenix as a friend. On the way Charlie meets Luna and her dad on the hunt for another crazy, mythical monster and they give him a life in their hot air balloon. Be as crazy as you like.
146. As well as a cup for the House with the most points, what if the Head of House with the least points had to do an unsavory task, chosen jointly by the other three Heads of House. What unpleasant chore do they inflict on their fellow teacher each year? And how can the three of them possibly agree on anything without hexing each other stupid? claimed by dbassassin
147. What if Tonks' metamorphmagus abilities suddenly become catching, like the flu? Everyone can change into everyone else. It's all very confusing. How long will it last? No-one trusts anyone else any more - are they who they say they are? Not to mention the uncontrolled morphing from untrained wizards and children breaking out all over the place. Meanwhile, Tonks feels left out. She's not special any more.
148. Lucius Malfoy fails to plant Tom Riddle's diary on a Weasley. Instead, it is picked up by his son, Draco. claimed by hibernater
149. The Voldemort menace is a gigantic red herring. The real threat is a giant ball of Kryptonite hurtling towards the Earth. If it hits it will destroy all magic on the planet. But will the Wizarding world be able to put aside its differences in time to stop it?
150. Professor Sprout teaches Potions. Professor Snape teaches Herbology.
151. Everything Gilderoy Lockhart writes about himself is actually true. claimed by snorkackcatcher
152. You can Apparate in and out of Hogwarts... if you are willing to pay the price.
153. Sirius was in St Mungo's being treated for Death Eater-inflicted wounds to his legs for the week preceding, and the night of, the Potters' deaths, so he was never accused of killing the Potters. He never regains use of them. It'd be interesting to see if he became less reckless, more bookish, or if he became extremely inventive and involved in the magical medical field, etc.
154. Sirius either never went to Azkaban, or escaped after a month. He goes to 4 Privet Drive, and becomes the Dursleys' dog so he can guard Harry. Would love it if Sirius had fun teaching the Dursleys the error of their ways, yet did it in such a way they could never prove a thing, or everyone, including Dumbledore, thought they were mad. claimed by sazzlette
155. Harry is actually sorted into Slytherin on his own merits. EVERYONE must remain in character otherwise, you may do what you wish with his relationships with Malfoy, Crabbe/Goyle and Ron/Hermione, but STRONG preference for a, er, "less confrontational" relationship between Harry & Snape. I.e. - Occlumency lessons actually WORK, even if Harry has to nearly drop dead from exhaustion to do it, Potions classes are less hostile, and he possibly picks up some Dark Arts knowledge in the process.
156. Bella is either not so suspicious or is even supportive of Snape during the Spinner's End scene.
157. Snape teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts from his date of hire -- mention the curse or not, I don't care. But canonically, he's almost a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT teacher in DADA than he is in Potions; his technique is totally different.
158. Sirius' prank succeeds, and Snape is killed. claimed by fell_beast2
159. When Voldemort says he will let her live, Lily steps aside. claimed by plaidphoenix
160. Back in Dumbledore's office following the Department of Mysteries fiasco, Harry does attack Dumbledore before hearing him out. (Optional: And then he leaves Hogwarts, alone, to seek vengeance.) claimed by serpentclara
161. Snape is presumed dead after Voldemort's first fall, but he's really an Animagus who has taken up residence at 4 Privet Drive. Non-Animagus Peter ends up teaching at Hogwarts instead.
162. Fred and George join the Inquisitorial Squad, and Draco joins the DA.
163. Grawp. What a hunk. And eloquent, too. *swoon*
Have you ever contemplated what sort of Hufflepuff Snape would be? Have you ever wondered if maybe wizards are actually aliens using advanced technology? Have you ever thought that Hogwarts would make a fine ranch and the Marauders would be brilliant cattle rustlers? Have you ever suspected that Aberforth Dumbledore should have been Hogwarts headmaster rather than his brother?
Of course you have. Haven't we all?
This is your chance to put those ideas to work. Below is a list of over 150 suggestions for Alternate Universe scenarios. A handful of the suggestions were edited to avoid duplication or because they were focused on altering or rearranging canon pairings. Of course, changing or eliminating romantic pairings can be an aspect of the AU stories for this challenge, but for both the prompts and the submissions, our community rules are the same as they've always been: the pairings should not be the focus.
To participate, simply comment to claim one of the prompts and write a story or create a piece of art about that AU scenario. Each prompt may be claimed only once, and you may claim only one prompt at a time. Gen stories and artwork of any genre, style and length are welcome, and if you have an AU idea that isn't on the list, feel free to write it and submit it for the challenge.
Everybody is welcome to participate: members, non-members, writers and artists. Members may post their submissions any time according to the community guidelines; non-members should post their work on their own journals and drop us a line on this post in via email (omnio_mods @ yahoo.com) with a link.
The challenge will be open until September 30. Have fun!
The AU Prompts
1. Snape is sorted into Hufflepuff.
2. Fandom general assumption seems to be that Snape's parents are dead. So the prompt is: Snape's parents are alive and the family even isn't as dysfunctional as many a fic suggests. Scenes from Snape family life. claimed by lunafish
3. Snape is Hermione's biological father. It's time to write an alternative to Severitus fics! claimed by slippingpastyou
4. Voldemort kidnaps young Harry instead of trying to kill him. James and Lily live. I'd like to see the humanization of Voldemort via raising Harry but not unabashed fluff. claimed by oolsock
5. After his escape from Azkaban, Sirius is stuck in his dog form (forever or for several years). How does this change affect the following events? claimed by eudaimon
6. Hogwarts and current cast of characters in medieval times. claimed by katecarden
7. Complete gender reversal: Harry is a girl, as are Ron, Snape, etc., while Hermione and Ginny are boys. Could be horrifying, or horribly funny. claimed by eliathanis
8. Instead of being a castle in the middle of nowhere, Hogwarts is in the heart of London.
9. The Dursleys manage to hide the letters and send Harry to Stonewall. Well, at least for now... dun dun dun! claimed by ink_monkey
10. Harry sees the thestrals his first year and starts asking questions much earlier about his parents' death.
11. Harry or someone else doing magic is caught in an emergency situation on live news. It's too late to cover it up, and the Muggles start asking questions.
12. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Minister of Magic Tom Riddle join forces to fight off dark wizards and witches. Tom's daughter Lily and her husband James Potter give birth to a boy whom they name Harry. Harry grows up to become best friends with both Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy. Who are these dark wizards and witches? What is the cause they are trying to promote? How do Albus and Tom fight them off, and will they win?
13. Hermione, one of Ravenclaw's best students, finds herself having odd dreams in which someone is calling out to her in a desperate attempt for help. She soon discovers that the dreams are being sent forward through time by the Founders, who are trying to reunite the houses. Now, with the help of Harry Potter, a Slytherin, Ron Weasley, a Gryffindor, and Neville Longbottom, a Hufflepuff, Hermione must work to unite the school against the forces of Albus Dumbledore before it's too late.
14. Aberforth was the Headmaster of Hogwarts instead of Albus. Also, Hogwarts resembles an alehouse. With goats, perhaps.
15. James, Sirius and Peter never became Animagi. claimed by snow_blossoms
16. Hagrid was never expelled. Instead, he graduated and attempted many professional careers. What were his failings/successes as a barrister? Auror? Healer?
17. The Weasleys had six girls and one boy. claimed by paradise_loved
18. The Dark Lord Bertie Bott poisons his candy and attempts to overthrow the Ministry of Magic and take control of the Wizarding World.
19. When they arrive at Hogwarts, James and Sirius loathe each other on sight. They become rivals instead of friends.
20. Snape doesn't tell Voldemort about Trelawney's prophecy. How does this affect the first Voldemort war?
21. Draco kills Dumbledore that night on the top of the Astronomy Tower.
22. Draco is sorted into Gryffindor.
22. When the troll is let into the school during the Halloween feast during Harry's first year, Harry and Ron don't go to Hermione's rescue (either she's killed, or they just never reconcile with her). How does Hermione's absence affect Harry's success in fighting Voldemort?
23. What if Salazar Slytherin had prevailed, instead of leaving Hogwarts?
24. Harry died on Halloween, 1981. claimed by lilith_morgana
25. Sirius was sorted Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.
26. Merope Riddle nee Gaunt didn't die and leave Tom an orphan. claimed by virginia_bell
27. Through time travel, Harry is Snape's biological father.
28. Harry is the ruler of the Wizarding World.
29. The Malfoys are enslaved to the Potters. Harry finds out. claimed by jordangrant
30. When Voldemort 'died', all the Death Eaters swore obedience to the baby who defeated him, Harry Potter.
31. The Wizarding World is matriarchal. Severely so. Hermione gets a shock when she finds out. claimed by shiv5468
32. Lily never died when Voldemort attacked. How does this affect Harry's life? Can he cope with his mothers new boyfriends and kids, and is he Sorted into the same house? claimed by secondsilk
33. Petunia was a witch too.
34. Petunia loved Harry instead of neglecting him. claimed by onadancefloor
35. Molly Weasley didn't lose her brothers, and they were alive through the Weasley kids' childhoods.
36. That prank with Snape? James didn't save him, and Snape was infected with lycanthropy. How was it covered up? And did Moony survive? Specific emphasis on how this affects his abilities as an instructor and a spy, bonus if you manage to work this in during the Trio's 3rd Year.
37. Harry has a sister who is the Girl Who Lived. claimed by meddow
38. Dumbledore killed Riddle right after he vanquished Grindelwald.
39. Lucius Malfoy, accompanying Voldemort to the Potters, decides to raise Harry after the Dark Lord's death.
40. A prank by Fred and George confuses the Sorting Hat in Harry's first year, resulting in horrible house mismatches. (e.g. Draco the Gryffindor! Hermione the Slytherin!) claimed by corvidae9
41. Voldemort attacks the Potters through their family, starting with the Dursleys -- except Petunia sacrifices herself to save Dudley, making him the Boy Who Lived, a (poor) wizard and a parselmouth from Voldemort's absorbed power.
42. Tom Gaunt: Son of Slytherin. claimed by by_starkiller
43. 'Wizards' are actually aliens; their 'magic' is all superscience. claimed by ignipes
44. Time travel into the future rather than the past. Either Harry or someone from the Marauder era goes forward in time.
45. Voldemort begins his destruction of Muggles, mudbloods,and blood traitors by starting up concentration camps. Harry decides that in order to bring them down he needs to do it from the inside and so he gets captured or disguises himself in order to be put in a camp.
46. Harry kills Pettigrew that night in the Shrieking Shack. Who would find the Dark Lord and bring him back to power? How would Harry's life change not having to return to the Dursleys?
47. Godric Gryffindor was a Prince/King of the wizarding world when he died only his blood-heir could assume the throne, but in order to do that they had to pass a test of some sort without knowing that they were actually being tested. In absence of royalty to rule, the Ministry of Magic was created. What happens when it's discovered that Harry is indeed the Gryffindor heir?
48. Dumbledore created a Horcrux when he defeated Grindewald. When he dies and leaves Harry his home, Harry discovers a journal in his library that tells about his Horcrux. Harry brings Dumbledore back with the same ritual that brought back the Dark Lord. (No Evil Dumbledore or Harry please.)
49. Voldemort goes after the Longbottoms instead of the Potters on Halloween 1981. claimed by lareinenoire
50. Remus Lupin is not offered a place at Hogwarts due to his lycanthropy. Would the Marauders, as a group, still exist? What would be the dynamic? Would they have become Animagi sans Remus?
51. Merope Gaunt did not stop giving Tom Riddle Sr. the love potion (if that is indeed the way it happened). How would Tom Jr. have turned out?
52. Dumbledore treated Tom Riddle the way he treats Harry. Would that change the course of events at all?
53. Early in Voldemort's career, it is revealed that he is a half-blood. How does that affect his status and the Death Eaters?
54. Dumbledore is evil. Any way you please.
55. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley never married, so there are no Weasley children. Who does Harry befriend?
56. Everyone is a superhero or Mary Sue. Crackfic encouraged. claimed by gauriel
57. Harry is a Squib and grows up with the Dursleys, but he's still the one who has to kill Voldemort.
58. Harry gets a clue right after Voldemort returns and employs a crack assassination team to kill Voldie, thus keeping himself safe. Special points if James Bond has a cameo.
59. Hogwarts as a hospital where the staff are nurses and doctors and the students are patients. claimed by cock_a_snook
60. Lily and James Potter survive Voldemorts attack and adopts an orphaned Draco Malfoy. Draco and Harry grow up as brothers.
61. One of Neville's parents 'awakens'. claimed by giventofly37
62. Harry has a chance to pick someone else to fall through the Veil. Will he? (Bizarre opportunity to re-live that day, or something?) claimed by amidalashari
63. The Chamber of Secrets is not opened in Harry's second year. It's Ginny's second year now, and she's still writing in Riddle's diary. claimed by lowlands_girl
64. Secret training sessions are going on deep in Hufflepuff. The other Houses don't have a clue. claimed by lazy_neutrino
65. The Whomping Willow holds a class.
66. The Weasley family is Old Money rich (and snobby) and the Malfoys are their best friends.
67. Petunia and Vernon Dursley never had a child of their own. They've adored Harry since he first went to live with them. When his Hogwarts letter arrives, Harry is more of a spoiled monster than Dudley ever could have been.
68. Hermione and her family are purebloods and Ron's Muggle-born. But the trio still exists.
69. Another character fell into the veil, either Ron or Harry.
70. Dudley was never born (or was born and died very young), so Petunia felt very different towards Harry due to her grief. Harry had a very different childhood. claimed by lorelei_lynn
71. Draco was sorted into Gryffindor (perhaps due to an argument with the Sorting Hat because he 'was too just as brave as Harry Potter, you old smelly rag!')
72. Peter did not escape in PoA and was able (willingly or not) to clear Sirius' name, so Sirius wasn't a wanted criminal.
73. Remus did end up biting someone during that one night he forgot his potion in Harry's 3rd year. You choose who was infected: Ron, Snape or Lucius Malfoy (Lucius being at the school because he's on the board and their was an escaped criminal on the loose - one thought to have been devoted to the Dark Lord). claimed by lupinslittlesis
74. Snape is still very Snape, but he loves to teach, and students love his sharp wit and his classes. claimed by dreamer_marie
75. Draco is not an only child. He has an older brother who makes his life hell.
76. Harry shook Draco's hand at the beginning of first year. How does this change things?
77. Crookshanks manages to eat Peter Pettigrew in PoA. Now what?
78. Neville manages to stop the trio in the first year, and they never get to save the Philosopher's Stone. Does Voldemort get it? Then what?
79. Instead of wizards, MWPP are cowboys and Hogwarts is a ranch. Bonus points if there is rustling. Brokeback references optional. claimed by such_heights
80. Instead of wizards, MWPP are pirates. Avast!
81. After a harrowing week of "talking to the werewolves," Remus decides that he's had enough and takes Sirius, Harry, and anyone else who'd like to come on a road trip. Rules and Dumbledore be damned. claimed by marvolo
82. Sirius Black was an only child. Remus was a twin.
83. Fenrir succeeds in kidnapping Remus as a child.
84. At the end of GoF, the Ministry does not ignore Harry's claim, but accepts it and prepares for war.
85. Some champion, who may or may not die, besides Cedric makes it to the end of the maze in GoF.
86. Voldemort is a partisan on the behalf of Muggles and Muggleborns, rather than against them.
87. Snape hears the whole of the prophecy.
88. Dumbledore gives Voldemort the Defense Against the Dark Arts job when he comes to request it.
89. Trelawney’s second prophecy actually refers to Barty Crouch Junior, who escapes from his father that night. (Whether Wormtail also escapes is optional.)
90. Cedric just takes the cup in the maze when Harry tells him to, and is thus the only one carried off to Little Hangleton.
91. Ron gets the Half-Blood Prince’s book instead of Harry in Slughorn's first Potions lesson.
92. Sirius Black was sorted into Hufflepuff and became best friends with Frank Longbottom. Fast forward eleven years and Sirius is caring for his godson Neville. He joins a support group for wizarding lone parents, where he meets James Potter who somehow survived Voldemort's attack and is raising Harry alone. Cue male bonding, competitive fathers and dubious childrearing techniques. claimed by principessa05
93. The Ministry of Magic has a social services/child welfare department. Following reports of abuse, parental incapacity due to mental illness and use of Dark Magic, the young Sirius and Regulus are taken into care. What happens to them?
94. Someone is expelled from Hogwarts. Could be for something that actually happened in canon, or something you've made up. claimed by rian219
95. The parents of a Muggle-born child pull them out of Hogwarts. How do they cope without a magical education? claimed by gyutto
96. Tonks kills Bellatrix during the fight at the DoM. claimed by a_t_rain
97. Peter has an eleventh hour attack of conscience and doesn't betray the Potters.
98. Regulus survives, and becomes a spy. But for whom?
99. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange had an infant, who was a ward of the Malfoys, the Ministry, or perhaps Andromeda Tonks for the sixteen years that they were in Azkaban. If the child was the same age as Harry and attended Hogwarts, how would they have interacted? What would have happened when the Lestranges escaped Azkaban?
100. Harry's Patronus is a snake.
101. Upon his parents' death, Aurors are the first to arrive at Godric's Hollow and find the infant Harry. Harry is already gone when Hagrid arrives to take him to the Dursleys.
102. Remus Lupin was the traitor.
103. Regulus was sorted in to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. What happened to his relation between Sirius, and how might that change his future fate?
104. The Black family is not a bunch of people who believe in pureblood madness.
104. Both Sirius and Regulus survive. claimed by nicolen
105. Sirius remained as Potters' Secret-Keeper. claimed by noldo_
106. The Muggles actually know all about the wizarding world and are keeping tabs on them. The wizards have no idea and think themselves superior until war erupts. claimed by themolesmother
107. Dumbledore never defeated Grindelwald. A young Tom Riddle became Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Order went into hiding. Focus on either the underground attempts of the Order to bring down Grindelwald or the conflict between Riddle's growing power and his mentor, Grindelwald, would be great.
108. Dumbledore was the Secret-Keeper all along, but the world still believes that Sirius or Peter was. Why did Dumbledore orchestrate this switch, and cover up its true nature? claimed by claraminutes
109. Sirius fought with his family and all that, but no more than any other teenage boy does. Eventually, he came around to their way of thinking. Slytherin!Sirius is fine. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff (if you can work it with Death Eater!Sirius) is fine, too.
110. Petunia has dormant magic powers which are triggered by her pregnancy, and strange things start to happen in the Dursley household. claimed by lottelita
111. The Blacks blame Regulus (for whatever reason) when Sirius leaves, and Regulus runs away as well. Where does he run to, and what does he do there? claimed by violetion
112. Harry's primary school teacher reports the Dursleys to Social Services, and Harry and Dudley are made wards of the state. How does a decade of being bounced from foster home to foster home affect Harry, and where is he sorted? claimed by mk_tortie
113. Snape drops out of Hogwarts after his fifth year. How do the Marauders react when they find out, and how does it affect them (e.g., no Shrieking Shack incident)?
114. Ginny Weasley is a Squib. How do the Weasleys deal with it, and what happens to Tom Riddle's diary?
115. Hermione chose not to attend Hogwarts. What happens when (sometime in her mid-teens), her incidents of accidental magic become so frequent that the Ministry decides to intervene? claimed by nekare
116. Harry is loved by the Dursleys.
117. Hagrid never returns from the Giants.
118. Harry's grandparents are still alive and he was bought up by them.
119. Snape did not kill Dumbledore. The whole thing was orchestrated so Dumbledore could go into hiding.
120. Neville is the one selected by Voldemort. claimed by msmoocow
121. Luna is secretly Snape's much loved daughter. She is exactly the same and still becomes Harry and company's friend. How does her father react to this development?
122. Hermione's Polyjuice Potion mishap couldn't be cured.
123. The Sorting Hat decided not to make Tom Riddle a Slytherin. Instead, it thought he would make a good Hufflepuff.
124. All of Luna's creatures actually exist. The heliopaths are plotting to take over the world with the support of the evil vampire Rufus Scrimgeour and Goblin-crusher Fudge. A crumple-horned snorkack escapes their clutches and persuades Luna that only she can foil their fiendish plans. claimed by bicyclette
125. Hogwarts is located on Tahiti and all its residents are islanders. How would this affect the classes, war, etc.? Actually, any other significant magical culture, i.e. Sub-saharan African, Aboriginal, South American, Middle Eastern, East Asian, American Indian, etc., would be interesting.
126. Trelawney's first prophecy is complete tosh, and when Voldemort is finally killed, it's not by Harry. Not even by a Gryffindor. claimed by thistlerose
127. Fenrir Greyback runs for Minister of Magic. And wins.
128. Unknown to Bellatrix and Narcissa, Snape has perfected a potion which provides temporary immunity from the Unbreakable Vow. He drinks it before they visit. How does this affect the events in HBP?
129. Remus isn't really a werewolf, but an Animagus who craves attention and sympathy, and has used his 'lycanthropy' to get it.
130. Cedric survives the maze. How does his survival alter events that follow? E.g., this is not just about how he survives, but what it means that he does. Does he side with Harry and Dumbledore against Umbridge (and Voldemort)? Do his parents join the Order? Or does he resent or blame Dumbledore or Harry for what happened? Either is a possible response. My only stipulation is that whatever he does, his essential character can't be altered. He is, indeed, the clever student, honest person and loyal friend -- the basic good guy -- that Rowling painted him.
131. The Aurors don't get to the Longbottoms in time. Bellatrix takes Neville to raise as her own. claimed by starrysummer
132. Something odd happens during Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley and he decides knowledge is power. Enter Ravenclaw Harry!
133. Remus bit both Snape and Harry outside the Shrieking Shack in PoA, infecting them. (Optional if he infects/kills Ron and/or Hermione as well.)
134. Draco was born at the end of July, 1980, causing the Malfoys to be targeted by Voldemort as well as the Potters and the Longbottoms.
135. During the Snape's Worst Memory incident, Remus stands up to the other Marauders and makes them stop before Lily intervenes.
136. Snape joins the Marauders during his schooldays, including helping them out with their pranks and bullying as well as other stuff. claimed by doggy_dogworld
137. Sirius Black does not break out of Azkaban during PoA; he does so after the events of HBP.
138. Post HBP- Severus knows that Harry is with Dumbledore in the tower and takes Harry away when Severus and Draco make a run for it.
139. Hermione doesn't exist. Draco has a twin sister with whom he is very close and who is sorted into Gryffindor. How does Draco treat the trio when his sister is one of them? claimed by blingbelle
140. Petunia leaves Vernon because of his abuse and takes the ten-year-old boys with her.
141. Draco has a secret, there is more to the Malfoys than they seem. (His Veela blood makes Draco a hermaphrodite.) claimed by mayflo
142. Harry learns to be an Animagus in 5th year, just like his dad did. But who is the other Animagus he meets when roaming the halls?
143. Dumbledore mentions during the meeting at Madame Rosmerta's that during the war he had a network of spies, including Snape. What happened to all the other spies? Are they still in place? What if Fudge was right and Dumbledore was out for power all along? What if at the end of the OotP during the battle in the Ministry of Magic he calls on his deep cover spies, wrests power from Voldemort and takes over the Wizarding World?
144. What if Hogwarts started an annual parents day? All parents are magically forced to attend, including the Dursleys. A comedy, obviously.
145. What if Fawkes got lonely? Where do exactly do phoenixes come from, anyway? Charlie Weasley gets a special assignment from Dumbledore to bring back another phoenix as a friend. On the way Charlie meets Luna and her dad on the hunt for another crazy, mythical monster and they give him a life in their hot air balloon. Be as crazy as you like.
146. As well as a cup for the House with the most points, what if the Head of House with the least points had to do an unsavory task, chosen jointly by the other three Heads of House. What unpleasant chore do they inflict on their fellow teacher each year? And how can the three of them possibly agree on anything without hexing each other stupid? claimed by dbassassin
147. What if Tonks' metamorphmagus abilities suddenly become catching, like the flu? Everyone can change into everyone else. It's all very confusing. How long will it last? No-one trusts anyone else any more - are they who they say they are? Not to mention the uncontrolled morphing from untrained wizards and children breaking out all over the place. Meanwhile, Tonks feels left out. She's not special any more.
148. Lucius Malfoy fails to plant Tom Riddle's diary on a Weasley. Instead, it is picked up by his son, Draco. claimed by hibernater
149. The Voldemort menace is a gigantic red herring. The real threat is a giant ball of Kryptonite hurtling towards the Earth. If it hits it will destroy all magic on the planet. But will the Wizarding world be able to put aside its differences in time to stop it?
150. Professor Sprout teaches Potions. Professor Snape teaches Herbology.
151. Everything Gilderoy Lockhart writes about himself is actually true. claimed by snorkackcatcher
152. You can Apparate in and out of Hogwarts... if you are willing to pay the price.
153. Sirius was in St Mungo's being treated for Death Eater-inflicted wounds to his legs for the week preceding, and the night of, the Potters' deaths, so he was never accused of killing the Potters. He never regains use of them. It'd be interesting to see if he became less reckless, more bookish, or if he became extremely inventive and involved in the magical medical field, etc.
154. Sirius either never went to Azkaban, or escaped after a month. He goes to 4 Privet Drive, and becomes the Dursleys' dog so he can guard Harry. Would love it if Sirius had fun teaching the Dursleys the error of their ways, yet did it in such a way they could never prove a thing, or everyone, including Dumbledore, thought they were mad. claimed by sazzlette
155. Harry is actually sorted into Slytherin on his own merits. EVERYONE must remain in character otherwise, you may do what you wish with his relationships with Malfoy, Crabbe/Goyle and Ron/Hermione, but STRONG preference for a, er, "less confrontational" relationship between Harry & Snape. I.e. - Occlumency lessons actually WORK, even if Harry has to nearly drop dead from exhaustion to do it, Potions classes are less hostile, and he possibly picks up some Dark Arts knowledge in the process.
156. Bella is either not so suspicious or is even supportive of Snape during the Spinner's End scene.
157. Snape teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts from his date of hire -- mention the curse or not, I don't care. But canonically, he's almost a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT teacher in DADA than he is in Potions; his technique is totally different.
158. Sirius' prank succeeds, and Snape is killed. claimed by fell_beast2
159. When Voldemort says he will let her live, Lily steps aside. claimed by plaidphoenix
160. Back in Dumbledore's office following the Department of Mysteries fiasco, Harry does attack Dumbledore before hearing him out. (Optional: And then he leaves Hogwarts, alone, to seek vengeance.) claimed by serpentclara
161. Snape is presumed dead after Voldemort's first fall, but he's really an Animagus who has taken up residence at 4 Privet Drive. Non-Animagus Peter ends up teaching at Hogwarts instead.
162. Fred and George join the Inquisitorial Squad, and Draco joins the DA.
163. Grawp. What a hunk. And eloquent, too. *swoon*