So I've seen a few of these and decided to try one myself. The words in bold are direct quotes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I appreciate reviews, but not flames. I do not own Harry Potter. J.K Rowling does.
The Girl Who Lived
Sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs never granted a peaceful night's sleep, but after nearly eleven years (and countless spider bites) Charlotte Lily Potter was well used to her living conditions.
A pounding on the small, square door roused the tired ten-year-old girl from her restless slumber and she shoved herself up, long raven hair dangling halfway over her naturally pale face. "Are you up yet girl?" the annoying, high-pitched voice of her aunt screeched.
Charlie, as she preferred to be called, scowled softly and rubbed her bright green eyes. Not for the first time did she wish for an alarm clock so she could tell what time it was. "Yes ma'am," she answered, attempting to keep her irritation to a minimum. It would be mistaken for attitude, and that would result in another lecture of how grateful she should be that they took her in instead of dumping her in an orphanage.
"Don't take that tone with me, you insolent brat!" Petunia snapped, picking up on the less-than-pleased tone. "Now hurry up and tend to the bacon, and don't you dare burn it! I want everything perfect for Dudder's birthday."
Charlie resisted the urge to gag as she struggled out of her small cot. She got dressed quickly in the oversize T-shirt and jeans that used to belong to her overweight cousin Dudley. The shirt fell well past her waist and the jeans were held up by a belt, which was fastened at the very last hole. Her skinny, small form did not make a good fit for Dudley's hand-me-downs, but it was another aspect of living with the Dursleys she had gotten used to.
She opened the cupboard door and allowed her vision to adjust to the bright sunlight streaming through the windows. With a soft sigh, she shuffled into the kitchen.
If you were a stranger entering the immaculate Dursley household, you would never even think that there were two children living there. First of all, all the pictures on the walls and over the piano (which was never used, only there for decoration) showed a fat man with a large neck, a woman with horse-like teeth and a long neck, and a big fat lump of a boy with a thick mass of blond hair. Those were her only living relatives, and they were stuck with each other.
Though she questioned the fate of her parents often, she knew better than to ask. She learned long ago that it was a topic that put her aunt and uncle in a snappish mood. All Aunt Petunia offered was that they died in a car crash and nothing more. While Charlie believed this, she didn't understand her recurring dreams of a bright flash of green light. She was told that she had been in the car with them (resulting in the lightning-shaped scar on her forehead) and couldn't figure out the source of the green light.
Charlie set up the pans and got to work cooking the bacon. She watched the pieces of meat sizzle in the pan, idly nudging it around with a spatula. Vernon lumbered in and plopped down at the table, which was overflowing with brightly wrapped gifts. "Cut your hair!" he barked, and that was the closest thing to a 'good morning' he'd ever say to her.
"Mm-hmm," she hummed in acknowledgement. Her hair hung well down her back and was constantly getting tangled into knots. Petunia attempted to cut it on multiple occasions but it always grew back in a matter of days. Charlie didn't mind, as she couldn't imagine herself with short hair. Besides, she was grateful for her bangs, which covered her weird scar. Her long, raven hair was currently tied up in a ponytail so it would not fall into the pan.
Charlie had just finished frying the eggs when Dudley arrived in the kitchen. He immediately set to counting his presents and once he finished his face fell. "That's only thirty-six. That's less than last year."
"Sure you counted right?" Charlie asked innocently. At her uncle's glare, she hastily returned to piling the breakfast items onto plates.
"No, sweetie, you haven't counted Auntie Marge's present," pointed out Petunia.
"It's still only thirty-seven," said Dudley hotly. "Still one less than last year."
More than I've ever gotten in my whole life, thought Charlie. She handed out the breakfast plates and decided to stand near the counter to eat hers, as could feel a nasty Dudley tantrum coming on. Her cousin was known to flip tables and the last thing she wanted was her breakfast on the floor.
Petunia quickly said, "How about when we go out, we'll buy you two more presents. How does that sound?"
Dudley furrowed his brow as he tried to work it out. "So...I'll have thirty..."
"Thirty-nine," supplied Charlie, shoving a piece of bacon into her mouth.
"That's all right then." Satisfied, Dudley plopped in his chair and started tearing apart his presents, ignoring his food entirely (which was very uncharacteristic). Vernon chuckled and ruffled Dudley's hair fondly.
The phone rang and Petunia scurried to answer it. Charlie watched as her cousin unwrapped a remote-controlled car, a racing bike, a cinema camera and was just in the process of unwrapping something else when Petunia stormed back into the kitchen, angry and upset.
"Bad news Vernon. Mrs. Figg won't be able to babysit her. She broke her leg, apparently tripping over a cat or some nonsense like that."
"Is she okay?" Charlie asked, though she was a bit relieved she wouldn't have to venture across the street. Mrs. Figg was very nice, but she had too many cats and her snacks were always stale.
"What about Marge?" Vernon suggested as he and his wife ignored the girl's question.
No! Anyone but her! Charlie thought desperately.
"Don't be silly. Marge hates the girl," Petunia dismissed with a frown.
Well, I'm not fond of her either, Charlie thought with a soft scowl. Every time Vernon's sister came to visit, she always brought one of her huge dogs that always chased her and bit her ankles.
"I can just stay here," she offered. It wasn't often she got to stay home alone, as the Dursleys didn't trust her with their stuff, and for good reason. She was looking forward to watching some T.V. and playing on Dudley's computer while they were gone.
"And come back to find my home in ruins? I don't think so!" Petunia snapped.
What exactly do they think I'm capable of? Charlotte thought irritably. Sure, a few strange things have happened. I'm sure there are logical explanations. I didn't mean to turn Dudley's hair pink, and I'm certain I didn't teleport myself to the school roof when Dudley and his gang were chasing me.
Dudley immediately burst into tears. He discovered that if he cried hard enough, he could get whatever he wanted from his doting parents. "I d-don't w-want her to c-come! She'll r-ruin e-everything!"
Petunia hurried to calm her son and Charlie shook her head and gathered the dishes up. While she didn't like her cousin too much, it was still his birthday. Even if he treated her birthday as nonexistent, she was not one to mistreat others, no matter what was done to her. It just wasn't her nature. Today, nothing would go wrong. She would make sure of it.
...
Piers Polkiss was Dudley's best friend, and Charlie (who had no friends thanks to Dudley) found herself pressed against the window of Vernon's car as the two kept shoving against her and snickering. Charlie only rolled her eyes and stared out the window. At least something good will come out of this. I'm getting my first trip to the zoo.
Her bright green eyes idly observed a motorbike roaring by and she commented without thinking, "I had a dream about a flying motorbike last night..."
Vernon slammed on the brakes and whirled around, face turning red. "There are no such things as flying motorbikes!"
Dudley and Piers snickered and Charlie arched an eyebrow. "I know that. It was just a dream." Geez, I wonder what his problem is.
When they got to the zoo, it was packed with families. They wandered around from exhibit to exhibit, Charlie made sure to linger behind. When they stopped for a treat at the ice-cream van, she tried to hang back, but the lady noticed her anyway.
"And what will you have dear?" she asked kindly.
Eyes wide, Charlie darted her gaze between her narrow-eyed uncle and the lady. "Uh-"
"Lemon ice-lolly," her uncle cut in gruffly.
It was the cheapest treat there was, but Charlie appreciated it all the same, even if it was to keep her relatives from looking bad. "Thanks," she said, taking a lick.
"Don't get used to it," he growled.
They set off again, making their way to the reptile house. As they passed the gorilla exhibit, she mulled on how it resembled her cousin, though she suspected it was smarter.
They finally came upon the reptile house, the exhibit Dudley was looking forward to the most. Dudley and Piers hammered on the glass of the habitat of the largest python in the place. When they couldn't get it to do anything, they got bored and went off. Charlie approached the glass and sighed. "At least you don't have to put up with them all the time."
Then the snake winked at her.
Stunned, Charlie looked around to see if anyone else had noticed. They hadn't. She turned back around and stared at the snake. Then she winked back.
I've gone mad.
But then the snake jerked its head towards Dudley and Piers and cast what seemed to be a sympathetic glance towards her. Charlie smiled. "Thanks. I manage to survive. So, where do you come from?"
The snake jabbed its tale at the sign near the glass. Charlie glanced at it. "Brazil huh? Is it nice there?"
The snake jabbed at the sign again. Charlie leaned forwards and squinted at the fine print. "Oh...you were bred in the zoo. So you've never been to Brazil before?"
It shook its head.
I'm talking to a snake.
Before she could dwell on the weirdness of it, Dudley lumbered over and shoved her out of the way, knocking her to the ground. "Look at the snake! You won't believe it!"
Charlie scowled and glared daggers at her cousin. Suddenly, the glass disappeared and Dudley stumbled forward in shock. The snake slithered out and screams started erupting around them. Avoiding the stampeding feet, the snake turned to her and hissed, "Thankssss."
Charlie widened her green eyes as the snake slithered away. She was yanked upwards by her uncle and ushered roughly from the reptile house as her aunt collected a stunned Dudley.
I am going to be in my cupboard for a long time, Charlie thought wearily as she was tugged away.
So much for a 'nothing-go-wrong' day.
So here's the introduction. So yes, this is an AU. I will throw Harry in here. And if you have any suggestions, I do take them into consideration.
Review please.
