Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of this universe and i will not be making any money from this. All I own is this specific story.

Chapter one: The boy who lived

On the night of October 31st, 1981 the entirety of wizarding Britain was celebrating. Not one person considered that the boy they were celebrating had lost all of his family. Not one of them minded that he was left on the doorstep of a muggle's house.

Albus Dumbledore did indeed feel sorry for leaving the baby there, but he was convinced that he made the right choice. They were his family after all.

It would take 10 years for him to realise what a mistake he made.

…..

The headmaster and Severus Snape entered the office of Miss Smith at the orphanage Harry was dumped at. After the headmaster found out Harry was moved from the Dursleys, he gave Severus the instructions to help find the boy. They thought about how to phrase this to the caretaker, and organised a meeting.

"Ah… yes, My name is professor Dumbledore, and I have got a place for young Harry at my school. He has been down since birth. All I need you to do is tell us what the boy is like."

"Well, he started as an angel, he did well in school, he always helped us out… but then things changed. The bullying started."

"He is a bully?" Severus growled.

"No it was the other boys that bullied him. They beat him, they locked him in the basement and ended up starving him down there. That was when things changed," she said darkly. "The boys that we suspected of locking him in the basement were found a month later after they went missing, they were in the basement. There was no food down there, yet they lived. Ever since that day the boys have been afraid of their shadows. Another incident was when Harry found a large snake, we let him keep it as it was not a harmful one. A boy killed it and then the next morning, the boy never woke up. Of course, we can't prove it was him, but I doubt the boy just died of natural causes, the doctor couldn't find any trace of why he died. And there was another major incident - you - you will take him to the school no matter what I tell you wont you?" She suddenly asked.

When Dumbledore nodded, she continued. "There was a boy in this orphanage, that crushed Harry's only chance of being adopted. The next day the boy had cuts all over his body, and they all said the same thing… You will suffer for failing me." Dumbledore could see the fear in her eyes, and he asked for directions to Harry's room.

Dumbledore turned around and saw that as they reached the door to Harry's room Mrs Smith rushed away from the door without a word. Harry was sitting on his bed, staring out of the small, prison-like window.

"Mr Potter… I am a professor from a school, and you have a place at it," Dumbledore said, using his grandfatherly look, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"A professor, why would you want me?" Harry asked, trying to work out if this would benefit him.

"My school is called Hogwarts, it is a school of magic."

"Magic? That's what I can do?"

"Yes, now I need to know what sort of things your magic does."

"Well.. It helps me control the boys at the orphanage. They no longer harm me," Harry said, keeping his mask up and trying to seem a polite child, he purposely left out the part about the torture and murder.

Severus almost believed him, and he would have if it wasn't for the conversation with his caretaker

"Ok Harry, I will now accompany you to Diagon Alley and you will get your school suppies."

"No, that's fine. I'll be alright on my own, I'll just need directions from here," Harry said, trying to seem respectful to him incase he later proved… useful.

Dumbledore gave him directions and he got up and walked to the door.

"Good day professor, I'll see you at school," he said, and he left without a glance.

"Keep an eye on him Severus, we need to steer him towards the light," Dumbledore said, and they apparated to Hogsmeade.