Eleanor Potter and the Philosophers Stone
By Sophie Hunter
Disclaimer – The story and characters of Harry Potter belong to a one J.K Rowling; not me however much I wish other wise.
Eleanor Potter was happy. She stood in the middle of a vast green field. Her plain white dress fluttering in the breeze, as her jet black curls fanned out behind her. She laughed gaily and danced as the birds sang to the rising sun. Yes, Eleanor Potter was very happy indeed.
She heard someone shouting in the distance but she couldn't make out what they were saying, (or where they were for a matter of fact!). As the noise grew louder she managed to decipher a word, "Up"! 'Up'? She thought, what does that mean? Slowly the field started to dissolve into blackness, "NO" she cried trying to cling on to the tall grass but it slipped through her fingers leaving her alone lying in the darkness. The voice was clear now, "Up! Get up you lazy child! You have some jobs to do". Eleanor now realised that the shrill voice belonged to her Aunt Petunia. So before she got yelled at any more she quickly replied that she was up and started feeling for some socks round her bed.
Two minutes later a cupboard door opened and a young girl stepped out dressed in an old black skirt and faded pink blouse which was two sizes too big for her and made her way into the kitchen of the house.
At a table sat a woman who would have been mildly attractive had it not been for the sour look on her face, in front of her laid a list which the child knew would contain her daily chores. "Vernon has taken Dudley to London for the weekend to see a boxing match", Eleanor cheered inwardly knowing that she wouldn't have to see her uncle for at least forty-eight hours, "so I'm having a dinner party".
Those last words drove any feeling of happiness away, a dinner party meant her running around all day trying to clean and prepare everything for the meal while her aunt went off to the local spa to get pampered all day as she usually did. "I want these all doing before I get back at six, the meal is at seven o'clock. I want everything perfect and when you're making the meal remember that Yvonne is allergic to fish and Jill is a vegetarian… and if anything goes wrong your Uncle will find out about it". Eleanor gulped nervously at the warning and nodded to show that she understood. She picked up the list and began to read what she had to do as her Aunt got up and left.
The clock struck four as she laid the last knife down. She grinned to herself as she surveyed the table; she had already cut up all the vegetables so she just needed to put them on to boil before everyone came so she had a couple of hours free. She went and took out a chocolate bar from her pocket which she had bought from the supermarket with the 50p Mrs Figg had given her, half of it had gone already as she had given in to temptation on the way home but now, now it was Eleanor time. She sat down on the sofa munching on the chocolate and turned the TV on.
Eleanor jumped up and ran hastily to the dining room and acted as if she was laying a knife on the table as her Aunt came through. Petunia glanced at the table and sniffed as if she was upset that she could find no fault with it. Without a word or another glance her Aunt turned on her heel and went upstairs to get ready Eleanor sighed, she didn't really expect to gain any other reaction from her aunt but sometimes she wished the woman would smile, or even nod for pity's sake!
She stood surveying the room for five minutes till Petunia's voice came from behind her, "I don't need to tell you what to do, do I?". The young girl groaned, for she had forgotten about the rules when her families friends were round, "yes Aunt" she forced out in what she hoped an obliging tone, "I just need too" her Aunt cut her off before she could continue, "I'll do it, I will not have you ruining things now after all the work I've put in". Eleanor wanted to say that it had been her working all day but thought better of it, after all Vernon would get wind of it and that would not be good in the long run.
Eleanor looked out of the window in the front room onto the street and wished that somehow she could get out of this house and go somewhere were she would be loved, have friends and to be who she truly was, but as most people do who wishes don't come true she had long given up it ever coming true. Little did she know however that somewhere in Scotland a letter was being written that would change her life for ever.
A/N: Please I would appreciate any feedback you can give me, be harsh! This is my first try at fanfiction so I'd like to know just how bad it is. This is just a tester chapter; if you think it's good I'll write more if you don't I'll go back to reading and reviewing. Thank-you xxx
