Hey everyone. So I wanted to focus on one story at a time and get my first one finished before moving on so I could get some practice in. However, this plot bunny just wouldn't leave me and as my other story (good friends, good neighbours) is looking like it will be longer than I originally planned (I just keep adding chapter ideas to my plan as I think of more things I want to include) I figured I'd give this one a chance too- the two stories are not related and I will make a point to give both equal time so this story will not delay the other. Its set just before Harry is due to leave for the world cup in Goblet of Fire and covers a somewhat 'what if' scenario. The Idea behind it is simply this: we all hear various theories as to why the muggles never responded to Harry's abuse ranging from 'Dumbledore' to 'there just mean' to 'it's a book/film, police usually suck at their job'. I wanted to look at the angle of them intervening but doing so when Harry was already at Hogwarts since I like the idea of there actually being official stories for the muggle-born/half-blood kids to tell non-magical people which the Dursley's just never bothered to learn, resulting in a lot of confusion. Anyway, enough waffle: on with the story! (P.S. sorry for the long authors note-didn't feel it belonged in the summary)
I don't own Harry Potter or anything other than any OC's I may mention.
Harry Potter was different for a number of reasons. He had a rather unusual appearance with dark hair and vivid green eyes you'd swear were contacts if it weren't for the glasses he wore. He was quite small for his age, with his skinny frame suggesting a person who while not currently starving, had known both hunger and hard labour. Oh, and he was also a wizard.
Even that last one wasn't the strangest thing about him- after all, he wasn't alone in that aspect (ask his schoolmates; all of whom were witches and wizards). No, that came in the form of a thin lightning shaped scar. The only evidence that he survived the deadliest curse there was. That, he was alone in. Even his parents had fallen to it, leaving him where he was today: Number 4 Privet Drive. Home of his muggle (non-magic to 'normal' folks) aunt and uncle, as well as his cousin.
Now you would think having a boy in your house who could use magic would be considered impressive to most. Especially one who happened to be famous and who had already completed some incredible feats in is short life (such as fighting dark wizards, giant spiders, giant snakes, and werewolves, all while keeping on top of his homework… well mostly). However, in this household, that was not the case. The Dursley's loathed magic and as a result they felt likewise to Harry.
Instead the Dursley's felt compelled to 'squish the magic' out of him through chores, imprisonment, and the occasional beating. Basically- the Dursley's were cruel, but they got away with it because they had influence in the neighbourhood stemming from Vernon owning a well-off company giving them money and respect. So, if teachers noticed the boys clothing was miles too large, they believed it when told he simply couldn't be trusted with new one's as he'll ruins them, likewise it wasn't the Dursley's fault if he was too skinny to be healthy, for he wouldn't eat his dinner. And the list goes on. Whenever someone did raise concern they were often brushed off: what policemen in his right mind would mess with a family who supposedly had many political ties?
And so, the Dursley's got away with treating Harry poorly for years. Harry didn't mind so much anymore; he spent most of his year at school and now he was being trained in magic his relative's treatment of him had improved significantly.
However, it would all change when things came crashing down one summer morning.
Harry was locked in his room- being punished for something his cousin Dudley did (he wasn't sure what), when there was a knock on the door. For a moment he remembered the night of his 11th birthday when he met Hagrid, his first friend, for the first time, and how that knock on the door had turned his whole world upside down- completely unaware it was about to happen again.