Note

This story takes place after the battle of Hogwarts but before the 19 years later. I am trying to make it as accurate as possible to previous events in the books however it may have some slight things that may have slipped my mind while writing.

Chapter 1 - The cupboard under the stairs

It was summer time five years after the battle of Hogwarts and Harry had decided to revisit his old home after all by living there he had been safe for the time before he turned seventeen. The Dursleys had moved back to number four privet drive shortly after the battle of Hogwarts when Harry had told them it was safe to do so.

Standing on the door step, Harry thought of the first time he would have been on this door step, a long time ago because Voldermort had killed his parents. Sighing he remembered the fear he had felt of his Aunt and Uncle all the way through his childhood but he didn't feel that now. There were certain things that fighting a war made feel insignificant and however much he resented his family for the treatment they had given him they could no longer scare him.

It was Dudley who answered the door, still as chubby and spoilt however old he now was.

"Cousin." he greeted.

"Cousin." Harry replied.

Upon that Harry stepped through into the hallway of his old home. Aunt Petunia and uncle vernon we're both stood warily in the doorway between the kitchen and the hallway. Harry didn't blame them for looking a little scared after all he had told them how he had partaken in a war and killed although it was necessary he had killed and now he didn't have the trace they knew he could do whatever magic he pleased.

"L-Long time to wait before you came to see us." Aunt Petunia finally stated but with a slight stutter that Harry had never heard before but he disregarded it assuming it was just the nerves that Harry was there, they never had liked wizards.

"Yeah, well I've been busy." Harry replied which wasn't entirely a lie but Harry had been avoiding returning to his old house for quite some time now. "Would have been nice for you to let us know you were coming." Retorted uncle vernon. It was true Harry had not told them he was coming but it was a split of the moment decision that Ron had pushed him into after Harry had lost ten games in a row of wizard chess (they'd had a bet).

"Look I'm here because I needed to see you we're all still alive and ... and" he felt a bit stupid saying it "I want to see my cupboard again, it's just that I need to check something." He didnt disclose what he wanted to check but the truth was he needed to get an object that was linked to his youth for the wedding. He and Ginny were getting married and as a part of the Weasley tradition they needed to have something from their carefree lives as young children to have with them on the wedding day. It was supposed to ensure the couple would have fun together like they had fun as a child except Harry hadn't had fun. He pushed this thought from his mind, it was the Weasley's tradition and he should honour it. He didn't much think he would find anything in his cupboard but was hoping to perhaps find one of the little toy horses he had stolen from Dudley's room when he had been about seven or eight. He hoped it would still be in the cupboard.

"Sorry but I don't think that's going to be possible." Petunia said making her way to block the door.

"And why's that?" Harry questioned his eyes narrowing.

"You just can't." Petunia answered

Harry wondered what Petunia could possibly be hiding and it made him even more curious to see. Harry took a step forward but Petunia stood her ground.

"Move out of the way or I will make you." Harry did with complete seriousness. Petunia could obviously tell this was no empty threat but stood her ground. Harry kept taking steps toward the cupboard but Petunia refused to move. Eventually Harry was stood right in front of her. With her still refusal to move Harry cast petrificus totalus on her.

"What are you doing boy?" Vernon asked aggressively.

"What you are making me do." Harry answered simply.

Moving petunia's body out of the way he opened the door to the cupboard. When he opened the door he saw something he wasn't expecting to see... a child skinnier than he had been at his age with a gag round her mouth. Wearing what appeared to be Dudley's clothes from a long time ago, she had long brunette hair but it was extremely messy. There was a huge fear in her eyes as Harry stared in shock at what he was seeing. It was worse than young Harry had been like.

He turned back to the Dursleys with an angry glint in his eye.

"What is this?" He asked brandishing his arm at the child behind him.

"One of your kind." Vernon spat at him

"You had a magical child?"

"Oh yes and I can say she's been much worse than you and that's saying a lot."

Looking back at the child Harry found this hard to imagine.

"Don't be fooled by her," Vernon spat "she makes things happen, she's made fire, she nearly killed us."

"It's not her fault." Harry shouted. It was her accidental magic, children were prone to it and it was no surprise hers tried to hurt the Dursleys when it looked as if she'd been treated worse than he had been.

"How old is she?" Harry asked quietly.

"She's eleven next Monday." Vernon replies confused by Harry's change in tone.

"Has she had a letter?"

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"I think you do Uncle"

"Well, no, not yet although I'll admit yours started coming around this time when you were her age."

On those words as a strange coincidence an owl flew to the front window with a letter bearing the familiar Hogwarts crest. Harry moves over to let it in but kept his eyes pinned on the cupboard. Luckily Vernon didn't try anything.

"I think it would be best if I took her with me" Harry said quietly.

"You want to take out child?" Vernon asked stunned

"Yes, she is clearly not being well treated here and is not among her own kind, I would be able to teach her what she needed and you wouldn't have to worry about being discovered by the neighbors." Harry knew that was the Dursleys biggest concern and he also knew he couldn't let this child live in this house any longer.

"You know what fine!" Vernon retorted " you think you can handle her you take her but I'm warning you she's very difficult and not at all nice"

Harry disregarded this as they had said the same about him once.

"Oh and fix my wife!" Vernon shouted.

Harry muttered the counter curse and returned to the cupboard, he looked deep into the girls eyes, they were green like his and his mother's.

"You're going to be okay, I just need you to trust me can you do that?" He asked the girl. She nodded and he removed her gag. He hated the Dursleys for their treatment to this child but he didn't allow his anger to take over. Deciding to leave his childhood item for the moment he took the girls hand and walked out onto the street of privet drive.

Note

Thank you so much for reading my first chapter i hope you enjoyed it, I will be trying to get the next one out ASAP. Leave a review please!