Chapter One - The Dursleys

Sitting in his bedroom is a boy of the age of 15. He lives with his relatives, the Dursleys, which include his aunt, uncle, and pig-like cousin Dudley. Everything about the Dursleys is normal and predictable. They live at Number Four Privet Drive where every house is the same as the next. Theres only one unusual thing about Privet Drive. That one thing is Harry Potter. Sure, you may think what could be so unusual about a 15 year old boy, but Harry you see is a wizard. He is in his 6th year attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry would rather live in an orphanage than live with his muggle (non-magical) relatives. His mother and father (Lily and James) are the only other magical people in his family, or so he thinks. Lily and James Potter were killed by Voldemort, the most feared of dark wizards. When Harry was only one year of age Voldemort came to their house and killed James. Lily tried to protect Harry, but when she died it left Harry with a love so strong Voldemort couldn't touch him. Voldemort tried to kill Harry, but instead transfered some of his powers to him and left him with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

On the 22nd day of July exactly one hour from being Harry's 16th birthday, he is waiting for the usual letters and presents he gets from his friends, Ron and Hermione. As he sits there in the dark looking out the window he sees Hedwig, his owl. He jumps up and opens the window. Hedwig gives a soft hoot as he unties the letters and packages from her leg. He opens the first letter. It's from Ron, it reads:

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday! I hope you like the gift I got you. I will send another letter tomorow letting you know what time we will be there to get you.

Ron

After he read the letter he put it aside and picked up the brown parcel and opened it. "Wow," he said as he studied the coin. Inside the parcel was another letter that read:

This is a coin I got when we were in Egypt. It's very rare. Take care mate!

Ron

Harry sat the facinating coin on his desk and opened Hermione's letter.

Harry,

Ron told me he gave you an Egyptian coin so I got you something to go with it. See you soon!

Hermione

Harry opened the last brown package and read the title of a book,"The History of Egyptian coins. Cool!" He laid the book down and looked at his alarm clock. "One o'clock, I'd better get some sleep." So he laid down and went to sleep in dreams of Hogwarts.

It seemed like he was asleep for 3 weeks with everything going fine. On the 17th of August, with 2 weeks left till school starts, Harry woke at 10 a.m.

He went down stairs for breakfast. When he got down to thek itchen he got out a plate and put some eggs, bacon, and toast onto it. He sat down to eat when his uncle said, "Now listen up boy cause I'm only gonna say this once, I am NOT going to take you to that freaky school you go to!" "That's fine," Harry replied, "I'll be leaving soon anyways!"

"Leaving, leaving, and where do you think your going?"

"Well, my friends are going to pick me up, I'm supposed to get a letter today telling me what time, so if you don't mind I'd like to eat my breakfast!"

After Harry ate his breakfast he went upstairs to wait on his letter from Ron. When if finally came he ripped it open and read it.

Harry,

We will be there to get you TOMORROW! Be ready! We will come by floo powder so be by the fire place around noon!

Ron & Hermione

"Yes," shouted Harry, "yes, yes, yes, I am finally leaving this muggle place to go to.......Sirius' house........." Harry sat there in complete silence for a long time. When he stopped crying silent tears he heard Dudley knock on his door. "What do you want you creep?" Harry shouted.

I need a favor, and it pays $50."

"Come on in, come on in. So whats the favor?"

"Well.....I've got to be somewhere today with some friends andI need you to cover for me. Mum and Dad don't trust me ever since they caught me smoking. I just need you to make sure I don't do anything. When we leave you can go wherever you want to with a crisp $50 bill!"

"OK, I'm in. Hand over the money."

Dudley handed over the money and they went downstairs. "Mum, Dad, I need to talk to you," said Dudley. "Yes son," said Petunia.

"Can I go out with some friends today?"

"Absolutely not son," said Vernon. "No way Dudders," said Petunia, "not after we caught you smoking."

"How about if Harry comes with me to make sure I don't do anything?"

"Well, why not," said Petunia. "But if we hear of any funny business, "said Vernon,"Potter will be in for it."

"Don't worry uncle, I'll make sure, and by the way I received my letter so I'll be leaving at noon tomorrow."

"Yea sure, whatever, like I care," said Vernon. "Have fun Dudders," yelled Petunia as they were walking down the street. When they got a good ways down the road Dudley took a left and Harry a right. "I think I'll go to the park for a couple hours, come and get me when your ready," screamed Harry to Dudley. So Harry sat down on one of the swings in the park, but something happened! Harry fell asleep and had an awful night mare. When he woke up all he could remember was that Voldemort was mad because he couldn't get the Green Flame Torch because evil couldn't touch it. He woke up when Voldemort was telling Wormtail that Harry Potter would get it for them! Harry's scar hurt worse than it had all summer. Harry was only awake for about 10 minutes when Dudley came to get him and they walked home. When they got in the house Harry didn't say anything, he walked upstairs and went straight to bed. He didn't want to stay in this muggle place for another second so he set his alarm for 11:30 a.m. When he woke that morning at 11:30 he packed his trunk and cleaned out Hedwig's cage. He walked downstairs and sat on the couch in front of the fireplace.

At almost exactly 12:00 Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came into the living room through the fire place. "Hey Harry dear," said Mrs Weasley giving Harry a big hug. "Hiya Harry," said Ron. "It's nice to see ya again Harry," chimed in Fred and George together. "Can we leave now please?" Harry asked. "Yea come on Harry, you can go first," said Mrs. Weasley. Harry got into the fire place, grabbed some floo powder, and said,"Number 12 Grimuald Place."