CHAPTER 1

"Boy!" I vaguely heard someone yell. "Get your ass up and out of bed. Now!"

I opened my eyes slowly. Everything is blurry so I blink a few times trying to clear my eyes. I grab my thick black glasses off of my bedside table and my vision quickly becomes clearer. I see my Uncle Vernon turn around and stalk out of the room. I groan. It's Dudley's seventeenth birthday. I have to hurry and make breakfast before everyone else wakes up.

I slowly climb out of bed. I take my time though. It's not like anyone will be up for another hour.

I grab a pair of slacks and a black t-shirt. As I head to the bathroom to take my shower I see that Dudley is already up. I must've overslept. Now I won't have time to take a shower.

"Hey you. You're supposed to be making my breakfast." Dudley says coolly.

I look behind me and see my cousin already wearing his new birthday suit. I notice that it makes him look huge. Which is saying something considering he's already the weight of a whale. I hold back a snicker at his pink bowtie.

"What are you laughing at?"

I grin. "Nothing,"

I push past him and back into my bedroom. I pull my clothes on quickly and glance in the mirror. My jet-black hair has tamed down a lot lately. No more does it stick up in every direction but lays softly over my eyes. I've been letting it grow out and it is now down to the bridge of my nose. My eyes are still their normal shocking emerald and my skin is pale as ever since I haven't gone outside much this summer. And when I do venture outside it's always in the dead of the night.

When I walk down the stairs I see everyone sitting at the table. Uncle Vernon is reading the paper, his face beet red (no doubt from hunger), Aunt Petunia is fussing over Dudley as usual, and Dudley was staring intently at his enormous pile of presents.

Aunt Petunia is first to notice my presence. "What took you so long?"

"I overslept," I say shortly as I make my way to the refrigerator to get out the bacon.

"That is no excuse. Now, as punishment you will have to clean the bathroom out," she says coldly.

I roll my eyes. Like that's a horrible punishment. They've made me do that almost everyday lately, no matter how small I thing I do wrong. I decide to say nothing.

When the food is done I serve the family first. Dudley and Uncle Vernon are digging into it like they've never eaten before and Aunt Petunia is taking her own sweet time so that it will take her an hour just to finish her meal. I serve myself last and sit as far from the rest of the family as possible.

Dudley finishes in record time and runs over to his pile of presents.

"Dudders, shouldn't you wait for mummy and daddy to finish eating?" Petunia asks.

"Oh Petunia, let the boy open them. It is his birthday after all,"

So Dudley starts tearing the presents open hurriedly. He gets a new watch, a laptop, 4 new Play station games, a new CD, a DVD player, a platinum screen TV, and 5 DVD's. Dudley looks up from his presents and frowns at his mother and father.

"What about the car I wanted?"

Petunia frowns.

"Well son, that cost's a lot more money than we have right now," Vernon answers slowly.

"But I want a car," he says menacingly.

Vernon, sensing a tantrum, quickly tells Dudley exactly what he wants to hear. "How about we go to the car lot tomorrow and look at some new cars. It might not be a Ferrari like you wanted but we'll get you a nice car,"

Dudley smiles. "Ok"

After Dudley is done opening his presents from other relatives I go upstairs. When I walk into my room I notice an owl lying on my bed. I go over to it and notice the letter attached to its leg. The scrawl tells me it's from my best friend Ron Weasley. But there's another owl that just soared into my window. This owl is pure white with black around its eyes, which reminds me of a raccoon. This owl is also carrying a letter but I've no idea who it's from.

I decide to open Ron's letter first.

Harry,

Hey mate, how's your summer been? Everything is fine here. Hermione just got here yesterday so that's been good fun. Mum told me to tell you hello and that we're coming to get you on Saturday. I think we're flooing so try to keep your fireplace open won't you? I don't fancy being caught in it again. Fred and George started up their store. Weasley's Wizarding Weezes. It's great. They're doing really good business. Anyway, don't forget to pack your stuff before Saturday. See you then,

Ron.

I grinned when I read that Hermione was already at the Weasleys. Her and Ron had started dating at the end of last year. I couldn't wait to go to Ron's house. It was only in two days that they'd be coming to get me.

I glanced at the other bird, curious as to whose bird it was. I walked over to where it was perched and untied the letter. I slowly opened it and read:

Harry,

I really don't know what possessed me to write this letter. Perhaps it was because I felt you needed to know about my deepest feelings that I have for you. I have just been thinking about you so much this summer. I can't get you out of my head. You are the only thing I think about constantly. I know your probably wondering who this is, but I cannot tell you. You know me and we do not exactly have the best of relationship. Which is why I shouldn't be having these feelings for you. If anyone found out the consequences could be quite dire for you and me both.

I just wonder why you won't go away. Even when you're not around you never seem to leave me alone. At Hogwarts too I cannot seem to escape from you and your friends. And it tears me up inside because I know when I would look at you I will never be able to have you. Every minute of every day you are on my mind. Even when I 'hated' you I always was thinking of you.

Why am I telling you all of this? I honestly don't know. The urge to tell you was quite strong. I debated on whether I should send this letter or not but decided in the end that it was worth a shot. But do not worry; I'm not a 'stalker' like you might think by now.

You do not have to reply if you do not feel comfortable doing so. I would just like to know if I could continue writing to you. I do hope you say yes. I would like to get to know you before I can tell you who I am. You can send your answer with my owl Amity.

I have to bid you farewell now. My father should be waking at any moment now and I cannot let him catch me writing this.

Signed, Me