CHAPTER 1

The black car pulled into the driveway of Number 4, Privet Drive. Vernon Dursley cut the engine and stepped outside, careful not to ruin his immaculate lawn. He looked up at the living room window and sighed with the knowledge of what awaited him inside. June really was the worst time of year. For one, the Potter boy was back home from his ridiculous school. His very presence in the home was disturbing the peace. For another, Dudley's birthday was coming up quickly. As much as Vernon loved his little boy, his demand for presents was insatiable. And with Grunnings doing so poorly this past quarter, he wasn't sure he could afford to suppress his son's need for luxury. Finally, Vernon decided to face his family and stop standing out in this summer night.

It was just as he feared. Potter was cooking the dinner- a meatloaf that was quickly turning into a meat puddle- as Petunia yelled at him to stop messing up the meatloaf while yelling at him to continue to make the meatloaf. Dudley was sitting on the sofa watching T.V., attempting to distance himself from Harry and his horrid food. Vernon walked into the house without even attempting a "hello" towards his wife. He knew that in this state, it was near impossible to keep her from turning her fury from Potter towards himself. Instead, he turned to his 14 year old son and greeted him with a smile and a pinch on the cheek. Dudley ignored him and continued to stare at the television. Vernon looked up to see what sort of programming was this enthralling. He sighed. It was an advertisement. This one was for something called a "Playstation". Apparently it a was a new video game console, this time made by Sony. It didn't look cheap. Vernon hoped to god that Dudley wouldn't ask for it. Right in the middle of the advert, however, Dudley turned to his father.

"I want it," said the monstrous boy.

Vernon sighed yet again. He knew it would come to this. His only hope was to come up with some excuse. He scanned the screen, looking for something that would keep this device out of Dudley's hands. He saw what he was looking for and lit up. This would surely keep the whale at bay!

"I can't get it," replied Vernon. "It hasn't been released yet. See? The advert says that it won't be released until next year."

Vernon relaxed. Just as he was about to go over to the kitchen and help Petunia yell at Harry, those destructive words again berated his ears.

"I want it NOW."

The dreams of a peaceful summer crashed around Vernon Dursley. He would have to deal with this nightmare until Dudley went back to school next fall.

"But Dudley, it isn't in any stores. I can't get it for your birthday this year. Maybe they will have it out by next year's birthday?"

"No! That's not good enough! I want it for my birthday THIS YEAR!"

"But that's IMPOSSIBLE."

"You better get me a Playstation or else... or else I'll EAT everyone in the neighborhood!"

Vernon stopped. Eat everyone in the neighborhood? Was that even possible? Dudley certainly had the size necessary to pull such a stunt off. But could he follow through with the threat?

"Supper-time!" yelled Petunia from the dining room. Dudley turned off the television and ran to the supper table. Vernon breathed a sigh of relief that the confrontation had ended there. He shambled into the dining room and sat down at his usual spot. Petunia was serving food, and Dudley was already seated. Harry came in from the front yard with a pile of letters and plopped them right in front of Petunia, then sat down without a word. Petunia picked up the first letter. It had the Smeltings emblem on it, and Vernon knew this was not a sign of good things to come. He stared down at his food. It seemed as if all the violent talks with the school nurse had not paid off in the end. Dudley would have to go on a diet. Petunia read the letter aloud, tears in her eyes. As the list of foods his son could eat ended, Dudley slammed his fists down hard on the table, almost knocking over his water glass. Petunia assured Dudley that the whole family would partake in the diet too, but this was a meager bargain. The Potter boy ate his food as quickly as possible, then excused himself to his room. Vernon just stared down at his plate. He knew this would be the trigger that would push his son over the edge.

Later that night, Vernon lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The rest of the family was sound asleep, but Vernon was turning his fears over in his mind. He knew Dudley would stop at nothing to get his presents, and he knew that this diet was just enough to turn his son into a cannibalizing monster. He thought of the discussions with the police on how his son turned on the entire neighborhood. He thought of everyone at work laughing at him- assuming, of course, that Dudley hadn't gotten to them too. There was no other option. He would have to go Sony's headquarters and beg them for a Playstation.

Vernon got out of bed and went downstairs. He was almost out the door when he realized- This wasn't going to just be a simple drive. Sony's headquarters were in Japan. Plane tickets out of the country were not going to be cheap. He doubted he could even afford it. He reached into his pocket to see how much cash he had on him. As he fumbled through the pocket of his dressing gown, it dawned on him that most of his money would be in his wallet, which was still upstairs. Before he turned around to go there, however, Vernon found something in his dressing gown pocket. It was a small key. It fit in the cupboard under the stairs, where he kept all of Potter's school clothes and other items. Magic. Just the word was sickening.

Then, Vernon had an idea. Potter's broomstick could fly. That was the whole point, wasn't it? Perhaps he could take the broom and use it to get to Japan! Then Vernon stopped. Was he really going to resort to using magic? He thought back to all the times Dudley threw temper tantrum after temper tantrum because he didn't get the presents he want. He thought of all the bills he had to pay, and how a plane ticket might throw his family into the poorhouse. It was settled. He would take the broomstick.

Vernon grabbed a cooler from a back room and filled it with everything he thought he might need- food, water, blankets, and tools. He took his compass and stuck it in his pocket. He turned to the cupboard. This was it. No turning back now.

Vernon stuck the key in the lock and opened the door. There was a trunk, some ties, and what looked to be some sort of silvery robe. Then he saw it, in the back of the room. The broomstick. It looked very expensive, as far as brooms go, and there was a gold etching in the handle: "Firebolt". Vernon hesitated before taking it.

"Desperate times..." he muttered, as he grabbed the broom and left the closet.

Vernon carried the broom and his supplies outside. He attached the cooler using some bungee cords he had lying around in a closet.

Vernon sat on the broom, wishing he wasn't so afraid of heights. He looked up at the sky, then closed his eyes.

Vernon Dursley pushed his feet on the ground and took off.