The sun cascaded through the open window of the smallest bedroom in number 4, Privet Drive. The golden flecks illuminated the bleak wallpaper and dull bedspread, though it did nothing to lift the spirits of the boy who slept there. Harry Potter stifled a yawn, opened his eyes, and immediately wished he hadn't. Life had reached an all time low, and he wished more than anything that he could return to his wistful dreams, even if they were filled with horrifying images of two-faced teachers or blinding flashes of green light.
Harry thought of Hogwarts, and how he longed to wake up in his four poster in Gryffindor tower, even with the frightening prospect of Voldemort stealing the stone. His thoughts were interrupted when his stomach grumbled hungrily. Three days ago, Dobby the house elf had paid harry a visit and had upset some very important guests that Uncle Vernon had had over for dinner. Harry had never seen his uncle so angry before.
When the guests had run out of the house at top speed, squealing with fright, Uncle Vernon lost his temper. He had turned to Harry, his face going from deep red to an unpleasant purple colour, his vein pulsating. Like the crack of a whip, Vernon's pudgy knuckles collided with Harry's bony jaw. This had caught Harry by surprise .He had been caught off guard. He had been expecting punishment - a week locked in his bedroom, without meals, perhaps - but this?
Harry was still recovering from the shock when Vernon delivered his second blow, to Harry's eye. Harry came to his senses, then, and dodged a third blow. He ducked under Vernon's outstretched arm and ran up the stairs at top speed. it wasn't that he was afraid of his uncle, but Harry didn't think it was wise to try and defend himself when his uncle was in such a temper. He was, after all, about the size of a small walrus, while Harry was short and thin for his age, and he wasn't allowed to use magic.
Harry could hear his uncle making his way up the stairs, but by that time, he had calmed down somewhat and with a scraping noise, Harry's door was locked.
The following day, Uncle Vernon had fit bars over Harry's window. Harry thought halfheartedly of breaking them, using magic, before discarding the idea. He would surely be expelled from Hogwarts, and then where would he be? In any case, his bedroom was on the second floor, it's not like he could climb down. His blankets and muggle clothes were all second hand and very tattered; they would surely rip if he tied them together in the hopes of climbing out the window. Even if he did manage to climb down, where would he go? Ron's? Hermione's? There was no way to get there, the thought of Uncle Vernon giving money was laughable and couldn't pay with wizard money.
To make things worse, Harry was now sporting a brilliant black eye and a bruise on his jaw. Harry was busy wallowing in self-pity when he he a tapping of glass. Hedwig was trying, unsuccessfully, to get through the bars in the window. Harry had released her a few days into the holiday, telling her to go to Ron's house. Her screeching had irritated the already hot-tempered Vernon, and after he threatened to break her neck, Harry thought it best to let her go, even though she was his only link to the magical world.
It was then that Harry noticed a note tied tied to her leg. He reached through the bars, fumbling to untie the letter. This seemed to cause the snowy owl considerable distress and, to Harry's horror, she let out an ear-piercing screech. He snatched the letter and shooed Hedwig away, before banging the window shut noisily. Hedwig hooted indignantly, but flew away nonetheless.
However, their interaction did not go unnoticed by Uncle Vernon. "Boy!" he bellowed, "what is the meaning of all of this ruckus". Now he was in trouble.