Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. This goes for the whole story, just in case I forget to put this.

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Chapter One: Meeting Harry Potter

Hope Collins watched the children playing in the park from her seat on the bench. Her next door neighbor, John, was swinging with his friends and she had no choice but to laugh at their childish actions while she babysat them. She was brought out of her laughter when a boy with raven hair and green eyes was suddenly standing next to her.

"Is someone sitting there?" He asked, motioning to the seat next to her. She shook her head and felt the bench shift as he sat next to her.

"I've not seen you around much before," Hope said to the boy.

"I'm not really allowed outside much. Every other summer I've been stuck doing chores. Finally this year I get to get out and just enjoy myself."

"Well, in that case, I'm Hope Collins. Hopefully we'll see more of each other this summer, considering the only teenagers around here seem to follow around a fat kid and torture kids younger than them."

The boy laughed. "I'm Harry Potter. I know what you mean though. That fat kid that they follow around is my wonderful cousin, Dudley."

Hope's face blanched a bit. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult your cousin."

"Nah, it's fine. He's never been very nice to me anyway. Besides, what you said is completely true. He is a fat kid who tortures anyone younger or smaller than him," Harry said, getting a laugh out of Hope.

Hope opened her mouth to say something else but was interrupted by John.

"Hope, Hope, look what I found," he yelled running over to her. The five year old boy was shorter than most kids his age, but his lively character made up for the lacking of height.

Hope got off the bench and knelt in front of the boy. "What did you find, John?"

"I found a snake! I found a snake!" He exclaimed holding out his hand to show her a little brown snake.

"John, put that thing down now!" She yelled at him. "It could hurt you."

Harry laughed. "Not that it's my place to interfere, but he's harmless."

Hope sent a glare at him before turning back to the boy.

"John, your mother isn't going to be happy if you bring home a snake. So unless Harry here wants it…" she said with a look towards the raven haired teen, "…then you need to go put it back where you found it."

"But Hope, I want to talk to him. Don't you?"

Hope let out a sigh. "John, people don't talk to animals. It's not possible for them to understand and talk back. Watch, even Harry will agree."

"What am I supposed to agree to now?" He asked with a look.

"That people can't talk to snakes," she said, giving him a pointed look. Harry was tempted to just lie to her. Instead he knelt down beside her and took the snake from the boy.

"You never know what is found in other places, Hope. There may be someone out there who has the ability to talk to snakes."

She rolled her eyes. "Next you'll be saying magic exists."

"It just might," he replied, avoiding her gaze.

"Well, Harry, I think you can believe in fairy tales all you want. I prefer to live in reality."

John watched the interaction with curiosity. The five year old was incredibly smart for his age.

"Hope…" he said pulling on her sleeve.

"Yes, John?

"How come you tell me not to argue with my friends, but you do with yours?"

Hope stared at the boy before sighing and turning to Harry.

"I apologize, Harry. I should respect your beliefs and opinions."

Harry just shrugged at her. Hope stood up from her position and ruffled the little boy's hair, causing him to groan and pull away and Hope to laugh.

"John, it's getting late. We should probably get you home before your mom gets worried."

"But Hope, you promised me we'd get pizza."

Hope laughed. "I'll make you a deal. If your mom is okay is with it, then we'll get pizza tomorrow night. Maybe even Harry can come along?"

"Is he keeping the snake?" John asked, his voice showing some excitement.

"Ask him."

"Harry, are you going to keep the snake?"

"I think I will. The nice little guy deserves a home," he said, referring to the snake that had curled up and gone to sleep on his hands.

"Yay!" The boy jumped up and hugged a shocked Harry. "What should we name it? I know…name it Jeffery."

Hope and Harry both laughed. "I don't think you can name a snake Jeffery…"

John started pouting and Harry gave in. "Well, Jeffery. I hope you like your new home," he said and slipped the snake into his pocket, and turned to the other two standing there. "I'll see you tomorrow for pizza, then."

Harry, Hope and John were all joking around the table when Hope asked the question she'd wondered about since last night.

"Harry, where do you go to school? I'm sure I'd have seen you if you went to the same school as Dudley."

"I go to a boarding school. It's different, but to me it's home."

"You must have a lot of friends there," she said. She had friends at her school, but she never felt like they understood her.

"I have two best friends, and a few other people who are friends, but not a lot as you put it."

She nodded and continued eating her pizza while Harry entertained John with stories of merpeople and a lake outside of a castle.

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A/N: So here it is, the first chapter of my story. Please review if you read this. Opinions are welcome, but please don't completely diss the story.
I also want to send out thanks for Nita, who betaed the story for me.

I will try to update every week by Wednesdays. If not I'll definately post as soon as possible.

Kayla