SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Web of Illusions: Prologue
By Davita
Summary: AU. After a childhood of being exploited for his magical talent, Harry Potter lives through a very different first year at Hogwarts, starting with his sorting into Slytherin, and including an unlikely friendship with Draco Malfoy and an encounter with the Dark Lord. Possible slash in the far future.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and associates belong to JK Rowling. I own the plotline, the writing, and various unimportant original characters.
Author's note: Well, it's nice to be back and writing in the HP world again. I hope enough people will enjoy this story to merit my continuing it, but I'm pretty sure that I'll stick with it anyways, at least till school starts. The title is subject to change, since I'm still not quite happy with it. The prologue is short, but chapters will probably be longer.
If you like it, please let me know; if you hate it, tell me why. All and any reviews are appreciated. Thanks!
Six-year-old Harry Potter crouched behind the neat row of bushes that surrounded the oh-so-tidy lawn belonging to No 4 Privet Drive. It was a good hiding place. None but the most observant of viewers might catch sight of the brilliant green eyes that peered timidly over the hedge. And Mrs. Green, the inhabitant of No 5, certainly did not belong to that elite group. No, the estimable Mrs. Henry Green was currently fully engaged in a conversation with her neighbor Mrs. Dursley–really, a most respectable lady. It wasn't her fault that she looked like a horse, poor thing. But one can't have everything....
With a slight shake of her head, Mrs. Green brought herself back to the conversation. "Oh, and Petunia, please do tell your darling Dudley not to tread on my tulips again...not that I mind, of course, just that Henry likes them so. Why, isn't that your son now?"
Indeed it was. Dudley was currently approaching at the pace of a rampaging elephant, followed by his loyal pack of fellow bullies. Pausing only to stomp on the much-abused tulips, he approached his mother and managed to gasp out, "Where's Harry?"
Taken aback, Mrs. Dursley only managed to gasp out "I'm not sure, but sweetums–..." before being interrupted by her son's roar, "Go to it, fellas!"
Rushing to obey Dudley's authoritative command, the group speedily dispersed and began conducting a haphazard but thorough search of the property, despite Mrs. Green's anguished wails for her ravaged tulips. No bush was left unkicked, no tuft of grass untorn, no flower stem unsnapped. Is it any wonder, therefore, that even Harry Potter's admirable hiding place should fall under such an assault?
For fall it did. Approximately five minutes into the onslaught, Piers' triumphant cry of "Got him!" brought Dudley running, with his minions trailing close behind. Naturally, Harry started to sprint across the lawn in a futile effort to escape. Futile, because in his haste, Harry tripped over a small rosebush and fell, sprawled across the sidewalk.
With a loud whoop and a fearsome battle screech, Dudley and co. ran to their fallen enemy, turned him onto his back, and surrounded him, waiting for the fun to begin. Harry closed his eyes, knowing what was to come. And come it did. First a vicious kick to his shin (that would be Piers), then a weak punch in his stomach (and that had to be Eddie). Then a pause. Harry Potter slowly cracked an eye open.
That was his great mistake. Harry cowered inwardly as Dudley's massive fist approached, a punch that would surely break his nose (not to mention his glasses). In fear, he did the only thing he could think of to do–he brought up his hands to cover his face. Oh, this was gonna hurt--
Nothing happened. Slowly, cautiously, Harry lifted his hands–and almost screamed. Before him, Dudley stood frozen in place, his flesh morphed into stone. He was a statue.
"What did you do to him?" Piers whispered in disbelief.
"I didn't do anything!" Harry cried.
The two ladies, who had hitherto been content to look on, ran over at the sudden halt in activity. Upon catching sight of her immobile son, Mrs. Dursley was, for perhaps the first time in her life, speechless. Her mouth opened and closed, opened and closed, without any sound escaping. Mrs. Green, on the other hand, was delighted.
"Why, you didn't tell me that your nephew was a magician!" she cried, forgetting the devastated tulips in light of this new revelation.
"A–a magician?" Mrs. Dursley said shakily, before fainting unceremoniously upon the grass.
Mrs. Green gawked at her prone body, before looking at the boys and snapping, "Well, don't just stand there. Pick her up! That's right. I knew it was too hot out here! Little wonder she fainted, I say."
In the excitement, no one noticed as Dudley slowly started to move again and stomped into the house, or as Harry Potter retreated quietly to his hiding space next to the bushes. Not even Mrs. Green, who was far too busy telling every acquaintance within five miles about her neighbor's remarkable magician–a real prodigy–and bound to sweep the world over with his talent once he made his debut in show business!
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