Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – A Read Through
Harry sprinted towards the Headmaster's Office, anxious as to what would play out over the next so many hours. Reaching the stone Gargoyle, Harry muttered the Password Dumbledore had given him in case of emergencies last year. The young boy Wizard was not too sure what kind of reception he would receive, after his Professor had done nothing but ignore and avoid him all year. Once he had reached the top the spiral moving stairs, Harry stepped onto the platform. He hesitantly knocked on the wooden door.
"Come in." A deep yet soft voice called. Harry pushed open the door to peak his head into the room. Dumbledore looked at Harry for a couple of seconds, from where he sat behind his marble desk, before returning his gaze to a stack of paperwork. "Mr Potter. How can I help you?"
Self-consciously, Harry stalked towards the Silver haired man. Since when did he start calling him Mr Potter? He halted in-front of Dumbledore, placing a collection of hard backed books on the Marble.
"No need to worry-Headmaster, I shall not keep you any longer than necessary." Harry spat out at him. Surprised that his Mentor had called him out, Harry continued; "These set of books arrived today; about me. I was instructed to bring them to you." He paused as he noticed the Headmaster glance at the books, but still avoided his gaze. "Not that I need your assistance, Professor!"
Albus Dumbledore looked up from his desk and glanced at the set of books once again. He wasn't going to admit it, but Harry's words had hit deep. He understood Harry's attitude and his anger, but he could not deny that it upset him.
Dumbledore sighed deeply before speaking faux stern towards the Raven Haired Youngster;
"I would request you return instantly to your Dormitory Mr Potter. I shall no doubt see you in the Great Hall for Breakfast, tomorrow." He heard Harry snort, most likely he thought at the mention of seeing him. "Good Night, H..Mr Potter."
Albus watched Harry from the corner of his eye, he saw the boy stare at him in what seemed like sadness. But only for a moment, Harry then turned towards the door and left. However, his very sensitive ears picked up Harry's soft parting words, which he was sure he hadn't meant for him to hear.
"Goodnight Sir." His words he noted were void of sarcasm, but filled with pure grief. It broke his heart.
Morning ascended far too quickly for Harry's liking. Shrugging on his Uniform after having a wash, he made his way down into the Common Room where he spotted his friends Ron and Hermione. Walking over to them, he noticed their worried looks.
"Harry! Where were you last night? Ronald and I were worried sick, disappearing like that!" Hermione chastised him. Ron nodded his head in agreement, not daring to interrupt their bushy haired friend in her rant. Harry however was not in the mood. He started towards the portrait, knowing they would follow him. "I had to speak to HIM." He said, only to be interrupted by Hermione. "And it's about time too Harry! Dumbledore has been a downright dingbat for how he has treated you this year." Harry altered at her tone of voice, one not heard often. However that didn't stir him; "You seem to be under the illusion 'Mione that he initiated the talk." Harry Scoffed.
Entering the Great Hall, Harry noticed the Headmaster sat at his usual seat, who was once again avoiding his gaze. A rage of fire fought to come to surface from inside the Gryffindor, but he pushed the urge down as he sat down next to his Friends.
Dumbledore didn't need to see Harry enter the hall, he felt him. Harry's ever growing hatred for him, could almost be seen radiating from his small form. Albus resisted the urge to look at the Boy-Who-Lived. He felt sick with the guilt that consumed him. What am I doing to this boy? How did I not foresee how distancing myself from Harry would affect the boy? It is Arianna all over again… Dumbledore pulled himself out of his slowly decaying thoughts, determined not to venture into that place. Besides he had a job to do, and after all, there is no time like the present.
He walked over to the Golden Perch and cleared his throat, waiting patiently for the Hall to grow silent. "Good Morning my dear Students and Staff, I know that you will all be grumbling about been pulled away from such a marvellous Breakfast. However, I beg you to bear with me a few moments, and then you may return to your animated chatter, for such an early time." Laughter could be heard emanating from the Teachers and Students alike. Albus allowed his gaze to settle on Harry for a few short seconds, trying to convey his apologies. "Yesterday Evening I had a Student visit me in my magnificent Office. There I was dutifully informed of some rather startling news. We as a School have been offered a chance to read into the life and times of one particular member here. We are given the chance to see the future and to maybe change a few things in the future. I am of course talking about the life of; please may he forgive me, Harry Potter." A few gasps sounded through-out the Hall, several faces landing on young Harry. Am I doing the right thing? Well, I could choose just a select few to share the stories. I could do that for my dear boy. I also might know of a way to cheer him up a little. Oh Harry, don't look at me like that. Dumbledore swiftly moved his vision away from Harry and continued with his speech. "To spare him, I have decided to remove all but a select few of you from the Hall. I am sorry that this is to be the case." Albus could see the relief flood Harry's face and the Headmaster felt pleased that he had been able to do something for the hero of the Wizarding world. Such a huge burden for a boy so young." Anybody who is NOT on the following list please leave the Hall and proceed back to your Common Rooms or Courtyard, for Classes remain cancelled. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Seamus Finnegan. Cho Chang, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Fred and George Weasley, Ginny Weasley. Katie Bell, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Also, I would like Professor's McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Trelawney, Hagrid, and Sprout to stay and join us. As for the rest of you, grab your belongings and scuttle along. Have brilliant day Boys and Girls."
Swarms of Students flooded from the Hall, leaving only the select few behind. Harry and Ron were having a heated conversation about Quidditch. "Listen Harry mate, she cannot ban you from the game. I had 'Mione read up on the rules, she cannot ground you with-out valid reason." Harry gave his Red-Headed friend a solemn smile. "You'd think that wouldn't. I don't know, this is Toad Umbridge we're talking about here. Green dressed in a pink. What you think 'Mione?" Harry looked around to find that she wasn't there. It didn't take long to spot her however; as Harry gazed over to the Teacher's table he noticed that Hermione was in a stimulating conversation with Dumbledore. As soon as Dumbledore seemed to notice that he was been watched, Harry turned to Ron.
The Headmaster rose from his Golden Chair, directing Hermione back to her seat at the Gryffindor table. "Alright Miss Granger, please return to your friends, and would you be so kind as to inform Mr Potter, I wish to see him after all this over. No exceptions." He saw the girl nod and watched her walk away, before conjuring a comfy chair in front of the Tables. Before he had a chance to address his Audience, a loud pop sounded throughout the room. A small circle of people had apperated in, by his special permission of course.
"My dear Students and Colleagues, I wish to introduce our guests. We have Remus Lupin, who I am sure you all know as your former Professor." Remus nodded and smiled in acknowledgment. "Also, we have Arthur and Molly Weasley, parents to the many Weasley children we have here. It's a pleasure to have you both here today." Arthur came up and shook his hand, smiling. Molly merely nodded her intense gaze on who he knew was to be Harry. I am really going to have to have a private chatter with her, over the matter with young Harry. "Also we have in attendance, Mr Potter's Godfather; Sirius Black. And no, he is not a Murderer!" Despite his reassurance, whispers still could be heard. He watched briefly as Sirius made his way to Harry. He saw Harry's content smile as he Sirius held him in his arms. He knew that he could never compete for Harry when it came to his Father's best friend. Sirius and Harry, he knew, had become really close this year. How could they not? Harry had virtually been alone when it came to Adult support this year, so he did the only thing he knew. He attached himself all the more to the falsely accused convict. Although it killed him to admit it, he knew that something would happen to Sirius one day soon. He was such a reckless young man. Always wanting to be where the action is and it would one day kill him. And when that day came, it was going to shatter Harry's already fragile heart. He could only hope Harry would allow him to help put him back together. "Please play nice. Miss Granger kindly informed me a couple a minutes ago, that Dean Thomas' name was missing from the list. It's good to have you with us Mr Thomas." He paused for a moment before continuing. Harry he again noticed was leaning back against Sirius' arm, although his face was looked on his own. Pretending not to notice as he had all year, he carried on. "Right then, I do believe that is everybody. Shall we begin?" Dumbledore sat down on the chair, double checking on Harry.
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" He started.
Harry's P.O.V
"Chapter One- The Boy Who Lived.
Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or Mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense."
"Petunia's entire life has been strange, growing up with a Witch. Although, if you ask me, I'd say she's the strange one." Came Sirius' voice from amongst the crowd of listeners. Harry smirked at Sirius, looking up at him. "That's what I love about you Sirius, always coming out with the obvious." Sirius smiled down at Harry and poked him in the rib.
"Mr Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunning's…"
Fred interrupted "What is Grunning's then Harry?" Harry rolled his eyes and answered with a bit of attitude, "If you didn't interrupt you'd know by now. They do Drills. And before you ask Mr Weasley, a drill is a device to help put objects together. Almost like one would use their Wand, you know." Mr Weasley nodded excitedly in understanding, the group laughing at him. They all knew how much Papa Weasley was fascinated by Muggles and their appliances.
"…Which made Drills. He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large moustache." Snorts sounded from everyone at the description on Harry's Uncle. "Mrs Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbours. Mrs Weasley gave a small cry of indignation. "Peeking over fences and spying? How the likes. She's find herself with a hex in the face, if I ever noticed her peeking in my garden!"
"The Dursleys had a small Son called Dudley" Anybody who had met Dudley gave a noise of disbelief. "and in their opinion there was no finer boy anywhere. The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it. They didn't think they could bear it if anyone found out about the Potters."
Dumbledore saw everyone's eyes turned on Harry, who just shrunk even further into Sirius if possible. He gave a small sigh. Poor boy. His thoughts were interrupted by Remus shocked words; "What's wrong with Lily and James? They were the nicest people I knew."
"Mrs Potter was Mrs Dursley's sister, but they hadn't met for several years; in fact, Mrs Dursley pretended she didn't have a sister," The adults who had known Lily shook their heads. How could someone defy knowing Lily? "Because her Sister and her good-for-nothing husband…" Harry was literally thrown out of seat as Sirius stood abruptly to his feet. "JAMES WAS NOT A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING HUSBAND! Don't you listen to their lies Harry! Your Dad was the best!" Sirius' sudden outburst shocked Harry; he had never seen Sirius so angry. Luckily, Dumbledore had noticed. "Sirius I think you had better calm down. Young Mr Potter seems scared out of his wits at the explosion of your emotions." Albus saw Sirius turn to Harry guiltily, and heard him say; "I'm sorry Pup, I don't mean to scare you. You know that don't you? Your Dad was my Best Friend, and I won't have nobody disrespecting his name. Come, let's sit back down?" Sirius pulled Harry back down against him, rubbing the boys arms in apology. Harry smiled at Sirius in understanding and offered him a brief hug. Dumbledore watched on sadly, wishing he could comfort the boy. He received a bit of a surprise when Harry nodded his thanks to him. Albus for the first time in nearly a year, smiled slightly at Harry. "…were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be. The Dursley's shuddered to think what the neighbours would say if the Potters arrived in the street. The Dursley's knew that the Potters had a small Son, too, but they had never even seen him. This boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away; they didn't want Dudley mixing with a child like that." Hermione laughed coldly, catching the attention of Ron. "A child like what?" Ron asked, honestly confused. "A Wizard" Replied Hermione.
"When Mr and Mrs Dursley woke up on the dull, grey Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the Country." Ron interrupted the Headmaster saying; "Strange and Mysterious things? The Dursley's are not going to be very happy about that. The miserable bast..." He cut himself off at the stern glare of his Mother. "Sorry Professor, please carry on."
"Mr Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work, and Mrs Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a Dudley into his high chair. None of them noticed a large, tawny Owl flutter past the window.
At half past eight, Mr Dursley picked up his briefcase, pecked Mrs Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley good-bye but missed, because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls…"
"I have never heard the likes!" Mr Weasley commented exasperated.
"Little tyke," chortled Mr Dursley as he left the house. "Okay, now I have." Said Arthur, shaking his head.
"He got into his car and backed out of number four's drive. It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar – a cat reading a map. For a second, Mr Dursley didn't realize what he had seen – then he jerked his head around to look again. What could he have been thinking of?"
Laughter came from amidst the crowd, but it became evident this was from Dean Thomas as he breathily said; "From what Harry has told me, his Uncle does not think. Right Harry?" Dumbledore glanced over towards Harry, who it seemed had nearly missed the question, as he startled at all the faces staring at him. "Um, right yeah. I said that." Sirius chuckled at his Godson's antics. Dumbledore reckoned that Harry probably reminded him so much of did to so many, but he also knew that Harry was very much like Lily as well. The problem was that many people, including Severus Snape seemed to forget this little fact. Mainly due to the fact they couldn't look past Harry's features, at least not properly.
"It must have been a trick of the light. Mr Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his mirror. It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive – no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps or signs."
"Professor McGonagall, is that you? You're an Animagus cat are you not?" Asked Hermione, being her usual inquisitive self. The Professor just smiled softy and gestured for her to listen on to Dumbledore.
"Mr Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind. As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to get that day. But on the edge of town, drills were driven out of his mind by something else. As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam, he couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be a lot of people about. People in cloaks."
Dumbledore stopped reading as he heard a snort from Harry, "Uncle Vernon always has had a one tracked mind." Several students as well as Sirius laughed at Harry. Mr Black he decided was not the best role-model for Harry. He needed somebody to guide him, to tell him what is wrong and what is right.
"Mr Dursley couldn't bear people who dressed in funny clothes – the getups you saw on young people! He supposed this was some stupid new fashion."
"What is he on about? Cloaks are not stupid. Everybody wears cloaks don't they?" Asked Ron. Hermione answered him, sounding rather angry. "Honestly Ronald, do your homework! Muggles have not worn Cloaks for centuries!" Harry laughed at Hermione's outburst and at Ron's face, red from humiliation. Dumbledore looked on fondly at the trio of friends. "Harry! Whose side are you on here?" Asked Ron crossly. Harry laughed louder, leaning into Sirius, who in turn wrapped his arms around Harry, securing him against his chest; "Sorry mate, but your face!" The elderly Headmaster waited for the teenagers to quieten down, trying not to think too much on Harry and Sirius' interactions.
"He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and his eyes fell on a huddle of these weirdoes standing quite close by. They were whispering excitedly together. Mr Dursley was enraged to see that a couple of them weren't young at all; why, that man had to be older than he was, and wearing and emerald green cloak! The nerve of him! But then it struck Mr Dursley that this was probably some silly stunt – these people were obviously collecting for something… yes, that would be it."
That seemed to be a trigger for Hagrid as he shouted; "The nerve of him, use your head Dursley, you great prune!" Everyone turned to Hagrid in surprise, at the outburst from the gentlest half giant around. "Calm down Hagrid, you seem to be forgetting that he doesn't have a head. It's just a growth from the rest of the pig's body." Harry exclaimed, earning himself a playful thump on the arm from Ron.
"The traffic moved on and a few minutes later, Mr Dursley arrived in the Grunning's parking lot, his mind back on drills." Harry blushed as Ginny Weasley spoke up; "You were right Harry, one tracked mind!"
"Mr Dursley always sat with his back to the window in his office on the ninth floor. If he hadn't, he might have found it hard to concentrate on drills that morning. He didn't see the owls swooping past in broad daylight, though people down in street did; they pointed and gazed open-mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead. Most of them had never seen an owl even at night-time. Mr Dursley, however, had a perfectly normal, owl-free morning. He yelled at five different people. He made several important telephone calls and shouted a bit more. He was in a very good mood until lunchtime, when he thought he'd stretch his legs and walk across the road to buy himself a bun from the Bakery." Harry gasped loudly, "And here I was thinking that he was going to do some exercise. Don't know what I was thinking Padfoot." Sirius looked down at his Godson, mirth in his eyes. "Neither do I pup." Harry grinned up at him, their eyes locking for a split second.
"He'd forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed a group of them next to the Baker's. He eyed them angrily as he passed. He didn't know why, but they made him uneasy. This bunch was whispering excitedly too, and he couldn't see a single collecting tin. It was on his way back past them, clutching a large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words of what they were saying.
"The Potters, that's right, that's what I heard yea, their son, Harry." The hall grew quiet at the mention of the Potters, all murmuring gone as they listened intently. Harry did not feel comfortable at all the stares, so he sank further down Sirius. "Mr Dursley stopped dead. Fear flooded him. He looked back at the whisperers as if he wanted to say something to them, but thought better of it. He dashed back across the road, hurried up to his office, snapped at his secretary not to disturb him, seized his telephone, and had almost finished dialling his home number when he changed his mind. He put the receiver back down and stroked his moustache, thinking…no, he was been stupid. Potter wasn't such an unusual name. He was sure there was lots of people called Potter who had a Son called Harry." "Fred and George grinned and in unison said; "Not 'round here there isn't, hey Harry!" The Twins obviously didn't see Harry's face fall, but apparently Mrs Weasley did as she scolded her children; "Fred! George! Don't say stuff like that! Don't you listen to them Harry dear, I;m sure they didn't mean it how it sounded." Harry smiled shortly, "I know Mrs Weasley, it just hurts to be reminded that I'm alone." Mrs Weasley gave him a pitying look, whilst Sirius turned Harry to face him; "Harry, listen to me, cause this has never been more important. No, look at me Pup. That's it, you have to understand that you are not alone Harry. You have so many people who love you and care about you. There's me and Remus, all the Professor's, even Snape, even though he won't admit it." Snape scowled at Sirius, although not correcting him. "I know for a fact that Ron and Hermione think the World about you Harry. There is also the Weasley family, who I am sure would take you in any day, given the chance." Arthur and Molly nodded kindly in response, a soft smile on their faces. "I love you Pup, we all do!" Harry turned his gaze to Dumbledore, before replying in choked whisper; "Not everyone Sirius."
Deciding not to let this carry out too long, Dumbledore decided to continue the story. He would talk to Harry after this chapter. He had to prove to Harry that he did love him. No matter how his actions this years might have begged to differ.
"Come to think of it, he wasn't even sure his nephew was called Harry. He'd never even seen the boy. It might have been Harvey. Or Harold." Dumbledore nearly laughed at the grimaces of all those present in the room. "As if it isn't bad enough that you own Uncle didn't even know your name, he had to suggest Harvey and Harold!" Cried Minerva McGonagall. Dumbledore winced as he just heard Harry's half hearted, but muffled reply; "I'm still not sure if he does know."
"There was no point in worrying Mrs Dursley; she always got so upset at any mention of her Sister. He didn't blame her – if he'd had a sister like that… but all the same, those people in cloaks…
He found it a lot harder to concentrate on drills that afternoon and when he left the building at five o'clock, he was still so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door.
"Sorry," He grunted, as they tiny old man stumbled and almost fell. It was a few seconds before Mr Dursley realised that the man was wearing a violet cloak. He didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked to the ground. On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passers-by stare, "Don't be sorry, my dear Sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!" Minerva was about to comment about the references to the Wizard World, when Harry shouted something that made her realise just how insignificant her worries were, compared to Harry's grief. "My Mum and Dad have just died! Forget Voldemort!" People flinched at the use of his name, but Harry just rolled his eyes. "What about my family? Tell me, was anyone thinking of my Parent's sacrifice that day? Or were you all too wrapped up in your celebrations, that you completely tossed my family aside? The Wizarding might have been vanquished of a Dark Lord for a short while, but on that night, I lost my Mum and Dad forever!"