What would happen to HARRY POTTER if he was NOT raised by the DURSLEYS, but by SIRIUS BLACK and REMUS LUPIN?

We all know that Dumbledore arranged Harry to be raised by Petunia Dursley, since she's still Harrry's aunt and covers Lily's protection by her blood.





But anyway, what if when Voldemort failed to kill Harry when he was infant, Sirius came earlier than Hagrid and took Harry away with him? And what if Sirius didn't bother to chase Wormtail, but contacted Lupin instead to help him raise Harry (so that Sirius could explain all to Dumbledore and Order of Phoenix about Wormtail's betrayal, thus avoiding his 12-year imprisonment in Azkaban)? Remember, Sirius is Harry's godfather. I think he would be such responsible godfather there. Would Harry be raised in Grimmauld Place no.12 in Black manner (not their Blood-purity idea, Sirius himself disposed it), aristocratic wizarding family way? Would Harry even notice his Muggle aunt and family?





How would this affect the entire series? How would Harry befriend Ron and Hermione? How about Scabbers and the Weasleys?

What would happen to HARRY POTTER if he was NOT raised by the DURSLEYS, but by SIRIUS BLACK and REMUS LUPIN?
It is difficult to imagine that Sirius wouldn't immediately pursue Wormtail after he realized he had betrayed Lily and James, but it is a fascinating question. It was possible for Petunia to have refused to take Harry in; if she'd turned him away he probably would've been sent to live with Sirius. Her decision sealed the charm Dumbledore had created from the lingering effects of Lily's blood sacrifice: "You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, whilst you are there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years." (OP37) But, Petunia could've decided that she didn't care and then it would've been up to Sirius to protect Harry.





If Sirius was allowed to raise Harry with Lupin's help Harry would be different than the Harry we currently know. Harry would've inherited his parents' money, as Sirius inherited the Black family money, so he would've been raised with plenty of food, clothing, and other personal belongings. He'd also be raised knowing what had truly happened the night Voldemort attempted to kill him. Sirius and Lupin would've shared their fond memories of Lily and James with Harry and he'd have grown up around others that knew them. Harry would've been told about his Muggle Aunt and cousin, so he'd know about their lack of interest in him, and he would've avoided them. No reason to attempt to force a relationship on a person that despised his parents and didn't care if he lived or died, right? So much of what we know about Harry would be different if he hadn't lived with the Dursleys; he'd have a strong sense of self, having been raised with love instead of as an imposition. He'd have confidence and feel valued, instead of feeling uncertain and like an outcast. He'd probably still be a kind, generous, brave boy, but it would've affected his perception of people.





One of the reasons Harry disliked Draco from their first meeting was that he reminded him of his spoiled cousin Dudley and he talked about things he knew nothing about. If Sirius and Lupin had raised him, Harry would've lived a priviledged life too and would've been familiar with the topics Draco mentioned. Harry befriended Ron easily because he knew what it was like to have no money and nothing new, having been forced to use Dudley's hand me downs. With Sirius %26amp; Lupin, he'd have always had money and new things, so he wouldn't be able to relate to Ron's embarassment. Similarly with Hermione, Harry related to her lonliness and her feelings of being an outsider also being new to the Wizarding world and not having had friends at school before because of Dudley. With Sirius %26amp; Lupin, Harry would've been happy and always included, so he wouldn't be able to relate to her either. He may have become friends with them anyway, but who knows?





This would've altered the lives of Sirius and Lupin as well. Sirius would've avoided incarceration at Azkaban and may have married. Lupin would've lived comfortably and not have the tatty robes he now wears. They would've home-schooled Harry in defense against the Dark Arts, transfiguration, flying, charms, and care of magical creatures. He'd have learned about Quidditch, Voldemort, the Death Eaters, the Marauders, Snape, blood status, etc. long before he went to Hogwarts. Harry would also have the benefit of Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix to tutor him, tell him about his parents and help keep him safe. I don't know if Sirius would've raised him in #12 Grimmauld Place, but if he had taken advantage of the security in place there it would've been a different experience. They could've brought in house elves to clean up, banished Kreacher to Hogwarts, used Silencing charms on the portraits, and redecorated in Gryffindor colors if they wanted to.





Oh, and Sirius would've told Dumbledore about switching with Peter for the position of Secret Keeper, so there would've been a massive man hunt for Peter Pettigrew. He would not have been able to live with the Weasleys as "Scabbers" with it common knowledge that he was an Animagus that took the form of a rat. He'd have been forced to live in hiding - not safe from good wizards or Dark ones. Cornelius Fudge would've probably even gone to the Muggle Prime Minister to warn the Muggles to watch for Peter, as he did when Sirius escaped from Azkaban.
Reply:Thanks! I like answering "What if..." types of Harry Potter questions. I think it is fun to think about it and interesting to see what other people have to say. Great question. =) Report It

Reply:great answer, although, i think all of you are forgetting that harry would probably still be friends with ron beacuae sirius and ron parents know each other from the order! he might not know hermione, but people stay in touch and a group like the order is bound to be close. Report It

Reply:That couldn't happen because Lily set up a protection spell to where Voldemort couldn't step foot in the Dursley's house since they're Harry's family. If he was raised by Sirius and Lupin he'd probably already be dead by now cause Voldemort would of more than likely have found a way.
Reply:he would be working in a elevator
Reply:probably he might know everything he knows about magic earlier
Reply:I think that would totally change the WHOLE thing. You're right, he wouldn't befriend Ron and Hermione the same way, because he would know all about magic, as he would be brought up around it, and he would know how to get onto platform 9 3/4, still though, Sirius likes Ron and Hermione, and Harry would feel the same way about everybody, and Malfoy would still be an ******, so really I think in the end he would have the same friends, and he would still have almost the same personality but with more confidence because he's not always being put down. He would know way more about his parents, and that could be good or bad... you really thought that all out, didn't you. lol.
Reply:he wouldnt prolly and he would know about magic and it wouldnt have much of the action in the books that it has now
Reply:I think he would have been worse off than he was with the Dursleys. He would have had a better life perhaps but I think he would have grown up to be something like Gilderoy Lockhart. I doubt Sirius would have chosen Grimmauld Place as he despised it. His aunt and uncle would have remained blissfully unaware as Harry would of them.
Reply:Interesting. It raises the question of how much Harry's personality is a product of his upbringing withe Dursley's and how much is his native personality.





I'd like to think that Harry is as he is despite the Dursleys, not because of them.





So maybe Sirius would have taken Harry and have been talked into letting the Dursleys rear him by Dumbledore. That would have allowed Harry to know about his heritage much earlier, to say nothing of protection against the Dursleys abuse of Harry. Harry could have entered Hogwarts much more aware of things and very likely would have had an easier time of things in OotP and HBP.





I don't think Dumbledore would have allowed Sirius to keep Harry. If he had, Harry might not have made 11! Consider if the rank-and-file witches and wizards knew at least approximately where Harry lived, the Deatheaters did too.
Reply:there is no way that this would happen. harry must live with the dursleys in order for his protection from his mom to work (remember how in hp and the sorcerer's stone he couldn't be touched but after the blood was taken in hp and the goblet of fire voldemort had harry's blood in him and said i can touch him now and did so causing harry excrutiating pain) so...dumbledore knows this very well (as he reminds petunia with a howler in order of the pheonix) dumbledore would not have let them raise harry for his own protection. they would not disobey dumbledore especially if they knew it was in harry's best intrest. plus in hp 1 dumbledore thought it best that harry not know of his fame, so even if he had been allowed to visit sirius and lupin, they probably would have been under orders not to let him know much about anything else. and if u want to say that maybe lupin and sirius took him and wouldn't tell dumbldore..dumbledore would have figured it out and he is so powerful that i'm sure he could have had some way to take harry and give him to his aunt and uncle... and even if he had known how to get on the platform he still would have met ron and hermione the exact same way, because ron came to harry's train compartment and asked if he could sit there because all the others in front of it were full, so even if he hadn't seen harry at the station he would have still come to that compartment first as he worked his way down the train, and hermione just happened to come by and ask about neville's toad when they met her and they didn't become friends with her until ron had pointed out how annoying she was in classes and the whole troll thing happened...