Chapter 1

Privet Drive was quiet, except for the occasional bird chirp piercing the silence and bouncing off the rows of dreary houses. Inside number 4, a sixteen year old Harry Potter sat at the edge of his bed, anxiously awaiting the return of Hedwig, his snowy owl. He had just sent a letter to his best mate, Ron Weasley, a few hours before. He had asked if the Weasley's would allow him to finish the summer at the burrow, before returning to Hogwarts together. He was just about to climb into bed when he glimpsed the top of Hedwig's small feathered head through the darkness. Harry got up and opened the window and waited for the white bird to fly into his room. As soon as he had, Harry closed the window and walked over to Hedwig's cage where the owl was staring at him expectantly, as if to say 'Well, aren't you going to open it?' He quickly untied the folded piece of parchment tied to Hedwig's leg and read it.

Dear Harry,

Mum and Dad said they would be glad to have you for the end of the summer. We will be over at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon. See you then.

Ron

P.S. Hermione is coming too.

Harry had a small smile on his face as he refolded the parchment and slipped into his bed and quickly dropped off into a dreamless sleep. Harry awoke suddenly and slowly reached for his glasses on the nightstand by the bed. He rose silently and looked at his alarm clock. 7:00 in the morning. He walked towards the door, scratching Hedwig under the chin on his way out. He made his way into the kitchen where uncle Vernon, aunt Petunia, and the hulking mass known as Dudley were sitting around the table. No one looked up as Harry walked in and sat down in the only available seat.

Without looking up, uncle Vernon said in his deep voice, "We are going to Dudley's aunts and you will be staying here. You are not to leave the house, and none of that weird stuff. Do you hear me boy?" With a jolt, Harry realized that he had not told his uncle about Ron picking him up today.

"um", He began "my friend Ron is coming to get me at 3:00 today and I'm going to spend the end of the summer together and then we're going to go to Hogw-er-school from his house."

Uncle Vernon looked up and squinted at Harry for a moment and then finally deciding, said "Do what you want." Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He got up and walked silently back up to his room. He lay there until he heard the door shut and the sound of Dursley's car fade away. He lay there until he slipped into a deep sleep. His alarm clock rang and he awoke with a start. Harry glanced at the clock and shot to his feet. It was 2:30 in the afternoon! He hurriedly packed all the things he thought he would need, not only for his stay at Ron's, but for Hogwarts too. Harry had not finished a moment before he heard the Weasley's arrive in his fireplace via Floo Powder. He grabbed his trunk and half ran and half walked down the stairs. As he rounded the corner he a smile immediately lit his face.