A Snake in Lions Clothing
Chapter 1: The Dursleys
A small tabby cat was prowling along a garden wall when a loud motorbike engine was heard. In a pop and old man in what looked to be a dressing gown appeared in front of the feline.
"Albus I'm not sure this family is suitable for young Harry, they are the worst kind of muggles. They are rude and brutish."
"Minerva dear, they are the only family the young Potter boy has…"
He was interrupted by a giant figure making huge steps towards them. In his massive hands was a baby in a ratty blanket. On closer inspection the woman saw on the child's forehead an 'S' shaped scar, with blood still dribbling out of the wound.
"Oh Merlin, is that the mark?"
The elder man held up a long white wand and said a few quiet words, afterwards a small yellow light was on the tip of his wand.
"Yes, marking young Harry as his equal."
Minerva was shaken by this.
"Albus, how can a little baby boy be that awful monster's equal? He can't even talk!"
Once again the old man was interrupted by the giant.
"He'll be a great wizard one day McGonagall. You just wait and see."
The one known as Albus spoke up.
"Yes old friend, he will be a great wizard, a great wizard indeed."
"BOY! Get up now!"
Harry groggily awoke to his uncle roaring at him from the kitchen. Unfortunately for him this was a normal wake up call. Harry pulled on his oversized, hand-me-down clothes and went out the cupboard under the stairs.
"I'm sorry Uncle Vernon, it is my fault."
Harry did not know what happened, but he knew that he needed to take the blame.
"Not that freak, you've got a letter."
The latter part of that sentence was said with a sickly smile and bitter-sweet voice.
"I'm sorry but I don't know why anyone woul-"
Harry could not finish before his Aunt Petunia screeched at him.
"Shut up boy! The letter is an offer for adoption. Some poor old sap in London wants to take care of you, obviously doesn't know you're a freak then."
Adoption? Harry thought this over in his head several times.
"Why would anyone adopt me?"
Vernon waddled up to him somewhat menacingly.
"We don't care, just do it and you'll be out of our lives for good. Got it?"
"Yes, Uncle Vernon."
Harry took that as a cue to make breakfast. Bacon, eggs, sausages, beans. All not tasted by Harry. His breakfast was dry toast. So were his dinners. His only real meal was at school, even then Dudley took most of it.
Harry was much too thin for a ten year old (nearly eleven he kept telling himself). He was only 3 and a half stone, even for someone shorter than average this was much too thin. The school nurse kept on calling the Dursleys and insisting that Harry was underweight, they persisted on saying that he did a lot of exercise. He was only just over 4ft too, much shorter than his classmates by some 9 inches.
Dudley was the complete opposite. He was immensely overweight, for an eleven year old he was 7 and a half stone, over double the weight of little Harry. Dudley was tall too, he was a little under 5ft.
Another way they were opposite was academics, Dudley was a below average E grade student. Harry however had the ability to be top of the class, but through harsh verbal and physical punishments by his 'Family' dropped to about a D grade, and still was accused of copying of dear Dudley.
After breakfast Harry got one of the jobs he somewhat enjoyed: gardening. In the peace and quiet he thought more about his possible adoption. Vernon said he was coming round on Saturday, only four more torturous days. Harry wondered if he was nice, like his old Year 2 teacher, who let him stay in the classroom at break times when Dudley bullied him. Harry dreaded the thought of him being like the Dursleys, nasty people.
For the next three days Harry quietly and dutifully did his chores, causing no trouble and doing no harm. On Friday he could hardly contain his excitement. His hands were shaking when he was digging up the rose bush.
A large shadow covered him entirely. It was Dudley.
"Hey Potter, I hear that daddy's arranged to get rid of you."
"Yes Dudley, he has"
"Wouldn't be a shame if you were all bruised up?"
Harry knew what was coming next, it happened so often he could predict it.
"Hey Piers! Come over here and play Harry Hunting with me!"
Harry started running now. Down the street and around the corner into the woods. He hid in some bushes, small enough to disappear.
Piers saw him first, always smarter than Dudley, but considerably weaker. Piers hung with Dudley for protection, and Dudley was the biggest boy in the school, taller than some teachers!
"Hey Dudley, I've found him!"
Both boys came rushing towards Harry, who was too scared to move.
Suddenly a huge black dog ran out from another bush near Harry and towards the antagonists. It growled loudly at them. The two boys, both smaller than the dog backed away slowly, then scurried off. The dog turned, Harry swore that it winked at him, then it galloped off. Harry thought for a while about the dog on his slow meander back home, from his secret reading he deduced that it was and Irish Wolfhound.
It was too dark for Harry to garden any more, so he finished up quickly and went back inside to clean up and make dinner. At dinner, when Harry was washing the pots and pans whilst his relatives ate, Vernon spoke up loudly.
"Only one more night with the freak darling."
Petunia was visibly surprised to be called such an endearing term by her husband.
"Yes, then he will be whisked away and never seen again!"
The whole Dursley family cackled at this like horrid witches. Harry although he didn't show it was happy too, for much the same reason.
'Only one more night with the Dursleys' he thought.
In his bed that night Harry pondered about how his life was changing direction now. No more purposely being bad in school, no more insane chores. His life was going to change.