Summary: Harriet has been abused at the Dursley's and is sick and tired of working like a slave. What happens when she gets her Hogwarts letter and is offered the chance to find a real family and somewhere to truly belong?

A/N: This is my first fanfic and I hope it goes over well. This is absolutely non-canon and some characters will be OOC. Rated M for mentions of abuse (all types) and for mature themes later on. Flames are used to cook my crummy college meals and will be ignored. Anyway R/R!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Harriet and a few other OCs later on. Everything else is sprouted from the renowned imagination of J.K Rowling.

I was just opening my eyes a crack when a sharp rap at the cupboard door brought me to complete attention. "Up," shouted Aunt Petunia in a horse voice. Guess she still had a sore throat. "I need you to cook the breakfast and everything better be perfect for Dudley's special day. That's right I, Harriet Potter, sleep in the cupboard under the stairs on the nights Uncle Vernon doesn't drag me upstairs to the spare bedroom.

I sighed inwardly as I pulled back the top of my green sleeping bag. I would have preferred to forget about my 'dear' cousin's birthday. I felt around next to my 'bed' until I found a pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt I had inherited from Dudley. I slipped into my clothes and out into the main hall of number 4 Privet Drive, the worst place in the world according to me. I fought back a scowl and instead plastered a passable smile on my face as if there were nothing in the world I'd rather do than cook breakfast for my relatives. With this thought firmly in place I pushed open the kitchen door. "Good morning, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia," I said sounding as cheerful as I could as I proceeded to the kitchen and tied on my apron.

Aunt Petunia sniffed through her stuffed up nose and Uncle Vernon gave a barely audible grunt. Well that was a better response than I got most mornings. The house trembled as if an earthquake had struck but it was just Dudley stomping down the stairs. He burst into the room humming "Happy Birthday to Me" and plopped himself down into his usual chair at the table.

"Happy birthday, Dud," Uncle Vernon said ruffling his son's hair. He glanced over his shoulder to where I was standing pouring his coffee next to the stove in the kitchen. I took my cue and, sticking the cutlery into my apron pocket, I grabbed the three plates and Uncle Vernon's coffee. I balanced a plate on either arm, held a plate in my left hand and the coffee in my right. I walked over to the table and lay the Dursley's breakfast out in front of them before retreating back to the kitchen where my own meagre breakfast awaited.

Before I even got a bite in though the mailslot rattled as the postman pushed the letters through the slot. I spared a glance for the Dursley's before I strolled down the hallway to gather the post now lying on the doormat. As i headed back towards the kitchen I flipped through teh mail. Postcard from Aunt Marge, 3 cards for Dudley, 2 bills, and a letter for me. Wait, what? I stopped in my tracks. A letter for me? I occasionally got those "You won a million dollars" things in the mail but this one was different. There was no return address and the envelope was made of heavy, rough feeling paper. The address was what really intrigued me. Written in emerald green ink was: Ms. Harriet Potter

Cupboard-Under-the-Stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Winging

Surrey

"Harriet!" I heard Uncle Vernon yell. Oops I had dallied to long. I rushed back to the kitchen, placed the mail (except for my letter which was safely stowed in my apron pocket) next to his now empty plate, and gathered up the breakfast dishes. The dishes went into the hot soapy water that I would wash them in later and I turned around to find the Dursley's standing at the front door. They were going to the zoo for Dudley's birthday while I was to stay home and do my chores.

Uncle Vernon glared at me. "Remember we'll be gone the entire day and…" I interrupted, "and you want everything done before then. I'm not to do anything except my chores and Dudley's birthday cake is to be on the table when you get home. I understand completely." I opened the door. "Now have fun at the zoo and I'll see you when you get home."

I saw a shadow of a smirk on my uncle's face but ignored it and closed the door behind them. I heaved a sigh and decided to read my letter before embarking upon my chores. I fished it out of my apron and turned it over in my hands. That was when I saw any indication of who had sent it, for on the back of the envelope was a crest. An 'H' surrounded by a lion, a badger, an eagle, and a snake. My hands shaking I pulled the letter out of its envelope and started to read:

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of necessary school supplies.

Term begins on the 1st of September. We await for your reply owl no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,

Minervra McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

I read it three times over to make sure I understood. So I was a witch, but that explained everything. Why almost everything I wished for came true. My hand reached up and I absentmindedly traced my star shaped scar. Could my scar have anything to do with my being a witch? Every time I envisioned the night my parents had died all I saw was a flash of green light and the sound of a baby crying.

A knock at the door drew me from my thoughts. I hurriedly shoved the parchment and its envelope back into my pocket. Stopping in front of the hall mirror I adjusted my bangs to conceal my scar and straightened my apron. I opened the door to reveal the most curious looking man I had ever seen.

"May I help you," I asked as I glanced at him up and down. He had on a midnight blue robe with high heeled boots that had silver buckles on them. His face was partly concealed by a long, flowing, grey beard that looked to be as long as my arm. What I noticed most was his light blue eyes that twinkled madly behind his half-moon spectacles.

"Do I have the pleasure of addressing Ms. Harriet Potter," he inquired.

I replied that he did and asked if he'd like to come in off the step. I didn't want the neighbours to see such an odd man on the Dursley's front step.

"Yes, thank-you," he said stepping inside.

I showed him to the living room and as he sat down asked if he'd like a cup of tea. He said he would love a cup and I went to fetch him one. I came back, gave him his tea, and took a seat on the sofa across from him. "I don't mean to rush you," I said, "but could you please tell me why you're here. I have a lot of work that needs to be done before my aunt and uncle come home."

He methodically sipped his tea and then replied, "I have come concerning a letter that you may have received."

My eyes narrowed and I became suspicious. "If I did receive a letter would that not be my own business," I questioned.

"Not if it was from a certain school of magic," the man replied still sipping his tea.

"How do you know that?"

The old man's eyes twinkled behind his spectacles. He merely said, "Your answer tells me that you have, indeed, received and read such a letter."

"Look," I shouted rising from my seat, "I don't know who you are but I'm this close," holding my thumb and finger and hair breadth from each other, "to calling the police and turn you in for snooping through my mail! Not to mention the Dursleys are going to kill me when they find out I let a stranger into the house." I sank meekly back onto the sofa as I thought about Uncle Vernon's punishment.

"How could I have been so rude," the old man exclaimed. "I haven't even introduced myself." He shook his head and said, "You must forgive my rudeness. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

I looked over at him. "Well then I must tell you that my relatives would never allow me to go to a school of magic, even if I was a witch. Besides," I said hanging my head, "I'm a freak. My parents didn't even care enough to try and survive the car accident that killed them."

The headmaster crossed the room and sat down next to me on the couch. "Harriet," he whispered lifting my head so our eyes met. "Your parents loved you very much despite what your aunt and uncle may have said. They were murdered by the Dark Lord, Voldemort, and died to protect you."

My eyes filled with tears. "So they did love me," I whispered. "They loved me enough to be killed for me."

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "They loved you that much." He gathered my into his arms and held me against him.

I sobbed into his robes. I don't know why I allowed him to touch me, to hold me so close but I did and I was glad he was holding me. I had never shed a tear for my parents before but now all the feelings I had held inside came flooding out and I just sat there and cried. We sat there for almost ten minutes before my tears stopped flowing. I leaned back and Dumbledore released me. "Thank you," I said. "I think I needed that."

"Sometimes," he said, "we all need a good cry."

I wiped my eyes and gave a small laugh. "I really should get my chores done," I said.

He rose from the couch pulling me up with him. He smiled warmly at me and said, "You'll find that all you need to do is bake your cousin's birthday cake. Your chores are completed."

A look of puzzlement crossed my face as I looked around. My chores had been done. I glanced back at Dumbledore. "Magic," I asked.

"Magic," he stated. The headmaster started walking towards the door and I followed. He stopped on the threshold and turned to me. "Professor McGonagall will be coming before school starts to help you buy all your school supplies."

I frowned. "I'm used to being on my own, Professor. I'm sure I can handle buying a few school supplies."

Dumbledore smiled again. "I'd like someone to be with you just for your first time." He walked out the open door and away from the house.

I smiled to myself and closed the door. Dudley's cake wasn't going to make itself. "And who knows when the Dursleys are going to get back," I thought out loud.

A/N: I know this is short but the chapters will get longer. I will update as often as I can depending on my college schedule. Remember to press the little green button down below. Reviews are always nice to receive, especially for new authors like me.