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English
Series:
Part 2 of Harry Potter and the Increasingly Divergent Plot
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Published:
2025-10-10
Updated:
2026-06-20
Words:
69,200
Chapters:
16/35
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15
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57
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1,853

Harry Potter and the Heir of Slytherin (Second Year)

Summary:

It's been a month since Harry left Hogwarts and if he hadn't hidden his wand under a loose floorboard, he might think it was all just a dream. He's only heard from one of his friends, and the Dursleys have seen to it that he can't send any letters of his own.
So he couldn't be more pleased when Lucius Malfoy shows up to help him out of some legal trouble, and invites him to spend the rest of the summer at Malfoy Manor.
But is whoever's been watching Harry from bushes responsible for framing him for something much more serious than a bit of underage magic? And whilst Harry's friendships might have weathered a long gap in communication, can they survive when someone starts Petrifying students at Hogwarts and the evidence starts pointing to Harry?

Notes:

This work covers Harry's second year at Hogwarts and has the same overarching plot as canon, with a lot more divergence in the details than 'School of Magic' did.

Individual chapter notes include content warnings, and I aim to provide enough detail for canon-atypical content warnings to allow readers to prepare for or skip any parts they may find triggering. Since pureblood supremacy is a major theme for this work, I won't be flagging it in individual chapters, but this ideology and language will continue to be present, including from protagonists.

Some chapters will include divergence summaries for those who don't want to read a chapter that's very similar to the original work.

Chapter 1: Prelude: The Missing Letters

Summary:

The friends Harry Potter made during his first year at Hogwarts haven't forgotten about him.

Notes:

Perspective(s): various letters sent to Harry Potter but not received

No content warnings apply for this chapter

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

2 July

Harry,

Thanks for my birthday present - I love Bertie Botts!

Hope you have a good summer.

Vince

8 July

Dear Harry,

Do you fancy coming to stay for a week this summer? Mum said I was allowed to invite you, as long as you promise not to dismantle anything in the bathroom. We could do something for your birthday, if you want, or if you come a bit later, we could go shopping for our school supplies together.

I’m not sure if Ginny’s more excited about starting at Hogwarts or meeting you - she won’t stop talking about you. I think she’s a bit nervous about the Sorting as well, but I can’t see her going anywhere but Gryffindor.

How’re the Muggles treating you? Dad’s hoping if you say yes, he can meet your aunt and uncle - will they be OK to say hello, or do I need to tell him not to get his hopes up?

Let me know if you’d like to stay,

Love from Ron

14 July

Hi Harry,

Draco says you might be having a birthday party at his place. Wicked!

Me and Vince are going to stay for the last week of the holidays. It would be great if you can come, too. Then there would be enough of us for me and Vince to get some Beater practice in before Tryouts.

See you soon,

Greg

17 July

Dear Mr Potter,

As I’m sure you’re aware, my grandson is in your year at Hogwarts. You may not know, however, that my son and his wife considered your parents among their closest friends. I would consider it an honour to have the opportunity to share some of my memories of your parents with you, and I’m sure Neville would be delighted to see a familiar face from school over the summer. He tells me you were instrumental in him securing a passing grade in Potions.

If you don't already have plans to celebrate your own birthday that weekend, we would both be delighted for you to join us for a small party on 1 August, to celebrate Neville's twelfth birthday.

Please let me know whether you will be attending Neville's party, and if you would be amenable to visiting us another time for a spot of afternoon tea. Your guardians would be more than welcome to accompany you.

Warmest regards,

Augusta Longbottom

19 July

Dear Harry,

Errol probably lost my last letter - he’s getting a bit old for long journeys so I’ve sent him via the Post Office this time. But I’d asked if you wanted to come and stay at some point this summer. Mum said to tell you she’s totally over the toilet incident, so don’t let that stop you!

Have you started any of your homework yet? I haven’t, but I got a letter from Hermione this morning saying she’s ordered a couple of new books and thinks she might have to rewrite one of her essays once they arrive! Can you believe it?

I went to a birthday party for one of the girls in the village the other day, and when she found out we’re at school together she asked if I could get her your autograph. I think her family are hoping you might say hi if you do come and stay, but no pressure. Anyway, I don’t think mum and dad will want to tell everyone you’re coming, because I don’t think they’ve replaced the Security Charms for years. But I think Larunda thinks I was pretending to be your mate to show off, so if you could send an autograph, I’d owe you one.

What’ve you been up to since we left school? Dad said you might have been to the moving pictures, but I thought you said Muggle photographs don’t move.

Write back soon.

Love from Ron

22 July

Dear Harry,

How’s your summer going?

Professor Dumbledore's having some difficulty filling the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, so your supply list might be out quite late this year. I was going to wait to send this letter with it, but I wanted to ask if there’s anything you want for your birthday and you might not have time to reply if I wait much longer.

Charlie Weasley sent me a couple of photos of Norbert - I’ve put one in the envelope for you to see how big he’s getting. Charlie thinks he might even be a she, fancy that! They won’t know for sure until he’s a bit bigger, but it would explain why he was such a handful - girls are a lot feistier than boys.

Let me know if there’s anything in particular you fancy.

Love from Hagrid

25 July

Dear Harry,

Is everything OK? I know I said I'd be busy with the family here, but I didn't mean I'd be too busy to write!

I thought about asking father to check you’re OK, but I haven’t actually told him you live with Muggles and I’m a bit worried he might not want you coming to stay if he finds out. So write back to let me know you got this safely. If I don’t hear from you in a week, I’m telling father.

Now that everyone's getting ready to go home, mother’s keen to schedule that interview for Young Flier, so let me know about that, too. I’m hoping my parents will upgrade my broomstick if we do a joint feature - they won’t want everyone knowing I’ve got an older model than you! So please say yes.

Seeing as I’m not sure my letters are getting to you, I’ll wait to give you your birthday present in person, unless I hear from you before the end of the month.

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Your friend,

Draco

29 July

Harry,

Happy Birthday! I can’t remember if you’re still collecting Chocolate Frog cards, but hopefully you’ll like the Frogs even if you don’t want the cards! Mum made the fudge - she wanted me to make sure you know she’s hoping you’ll visit as much as I am.

Let me know either way whether you want to come, OK? It’s cool if you’d rather stay with the Muggles - I’ll see you soon enough at Hogwarts.

Ron

30 July

Hey Harry,

Draco said he’s not sure if his letters have been reaching you, so I’m copying him and not sending your present now - guess I’ll give it you at school unless I see you at Draco’s first.

But I thought I’d write anyway and say happy birthday! Have a good one.

Greg

30 July

Dear Harry Potter,

I hope it’s not presumptuous of me to send you wishes for a happy birthday. I spotted this when I was looking for some introductory texts on Transfiguration, and I remembered you getting confused about Fortescue’s Law. I thought this might help.

I still feel ever so guilty about not realising it was Professor Quirrell who wanted the Stone. I do hope you’ve recovered from your injuries.

See you soon.

Kind Regards

Best Wishes,

Hermione Granger

30 July

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday! I haven’t heard back from you with any special requests, but I know you like my rock cakes, so I’ve made a special batch for you.

Dumbledore still hasn’t found anyone for the Dark Arts post yet. I’ve never known him cut it this fine, but given what happened to Professor Quirrell, I’m not surprised nobody fancies the job. I don’t know what he’ll do if he can’t find anyone - Hogwarts has to offer Defence Against the Dark Arts, but how can they, without a proper teacher?

I expect you’re busy with your family, but if you get a chance, let me know you’re OK?

Love from Hagrid

Notes:

Author's notes:
1. Yes, something odd is going on with Harry's letters, because he hasn't received any of these...
2. I headcanon Neville's gran inviting Harry to his party in canon as well. At least this time Neville probably had no expectation of Harry accepting the invitation.
3. I'm aiming to publish Chapter One in a couple of days but after that it will probably be a week or so between chapters to give me time to finish the big second-year rewrite.