A much tighter presentation of McGonagall. It clearly shows she's human under her icy mask, but that she never shows that to the people she's intimidating. It also once again highlights that Potter is inhabited by a different person, and that this person is older, and somewhat more experienced. Of course, it isn't difficult for a person to be more mature than Harry. In many ways he's a total innocent, since his uncle's family is a parody on the conventional modern English family. The idea that a person actually *lived* in a parody family as a serious member of the family would horrify anyone, and being locked up in a closet most of his life would have cost Harry most of his socializing opportunities before the school.
An interesting point here though. You mentioned that his magical abilities are sub-par, and isn't nearly as good on a broom as Harry. If the magical abilities are a function of the spirit, and not of the body, then it should become *more* obvious over time that Harry has none of his "father"'s magical talents, which may start getting people to wondering just why this particular apple has fallen so far from the Potter tree...
Also, if a switch occurred, what's Potter doing in Michael's body, with full (if untrained) magical power and a family that accepts him fully, even if he *has* sustained some odd blow to the head that's messed up his memories? (As they'd see it.)
Also, while I'm thinking of it, what *caused* the switch? I could see Potter doing it accidentally if he wished hard enough to be in an alternate world where he was liked for himself, but why was Michael the target? Given that Voldemort is going to make soul-contact with him at the Mirror if things continue the way they did in the first book, then eventually these questions beg answers that someone's going to find out.
(And as you said earlier, Dumbledore's going to get quite an eyeful when he sees the images "Harry" conjures up when he looks in the mirror. A whole life that Harry never had, and people Dumbledore never met. If he *doesn't* know who Harry is, anyone who looks in that mirror will find out awfully fast...
Nice story, very interested to see how these and other questions turn out.
---
Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.
An interesting point here though. You mentioned that his magical abilities are sub-par, and isn't nearly as good on a broom as Harry. If the magical abilities are a function of the spirit, and not of the body, then it should become *more* obvious over time that Harry has none of his "father"'s magical talents, which may start getting people to wondering just why this particular apple has fallen so far from the Potter tree...
Also, if a switch occurred, what's Potter doing in Michael's body, with full (if untrained) magical power and a family that accepts him fully, even if he *has* sustained some odd blow to the head that's messed up his memories? (As they'd see it.)
Also, while I'm thinking of it, what *caused* the switch? I could see Potter doing it accidentally if he wished hard enough to be in an alternate world where he was liked for himself, but why was Michael the target? Given that Voldemort is going to make soul-contact with him at the Mirror if things continue the way they did in the first book, then eventually these questions beg answers that someone's going to find out.
(And as you said earlier, Dumbledore's going to get quite an eyeful when he sees the images "Harry" conjures up when he looks in the mirror. A whole life that Harry never had, and people Dumbledore never met. If he *doesn't* know who Harry is, anyone who looks in that mirror will find out awfully fast...
Nice story, very interested to see how these and other questions turn out.
---
Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.