Chapter 1: Dursleys
November first was always a terrifying day in the Dursley household for Harry. He always had more chores, plus, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were always easy to anger. This year, Uncle Vernon had thrown Harry into the cellar after he had accidentally spilled the coffee.
It was dark in the cellar, and much like his cupboard, minus the excessive amount of spiders. The cellar seemed to be too cold for spiders. Harry shivered. Yes, it would be too cold for a spider. Hesitantly, Harry touched the walls, hoping to find a light switch. Finding a small extrusion in the wall, Harry flipped it. A yellowing light bulb flickered on, providing a dim light. The cellar was empty, except for a few boxes laying around here and there. One of them looked like it had books inside.
Harry, the unremarkable genius in his grade (though he quickly learned to get grades lower than Dudley's), quickly sped over to the box. Finally, there was something Harry could read that wasn't children's picture books. He took the first book out and blew off the thick layer of dust on the faded red book.
"An Introduction of Magic to Muggles," Harry whispered the title to himself. Harry brought himself and the book under the light. Curiously flipping the book open, Harry started reading.
—
The cellar door slammed open, with a yell from Uncle Vernon. "Boy!" he thundered. "Get up here and move your stuff!" Startled, Harry dropped the red book and scurried up the stairs.
Harry stuffed his limited belongings in a worn out bag. It was provided to him for when he went to school. It was only given to him because the teachers would be suspicious if he had carried his things in a plastic one. He already had stuffed a few pens and a small notebook into it when the Dursleys weren't looking. Dudley never noticed they were gone.
Uncle Vernon took the bag and threw it into the cellar. He had also done the same with the blanket and pillow. Then, the walrus of a man moved the mattress into a corner of the cellar. Noticing what his uncle was doing, Harry did some quick thinking and unscrewed the lightbulb in the cupboard. Harry hid it in his shirt. He knew the lightbulb in the cellar wouldn't last long.
—
After Harry was shoved into the even colder cellar later that night, he severely wished he was back in the cupboard. It was warm in the cupboard, even if it was cramped. The cellar, even if it was small, was at least four times bigger than the cupboard. However, the extra space made it seem even colder.
Flipping on the light, Harry noticed that the lightbulb was brighter. He was glad that someone —he wasn't sure if it was his aunt or uncle who had done so —changed out the dimming light bulb. Harry thought it might have been Uncle Vernon because he was annoyed by it. Now that the light was brighter, Harry noticed the small chair and desk in the corner. This was much nicer than what his aunt and uncle would give him. "Uncle mustn't have seen it then…" he thought to himself. It was a nice change for once. He had more than enough room for himself.
Harry smiled to himself and picked up the red book. He would have a bedtime story to read tonight. Like how Dudley did, every night. Harry sat down in his bed and started reading.
After Harry finished reading An Introduction of Magic to Muggles, he had noticed the strange things that had happened when the book described it. Like when Aunt Petunia cropped his hair, but it grew back. The book called it "accidental magic". Harry wondered if he could do it now.
Harry got up and tried to open the cellar door. As he expected, locked. Wishing hard, Harry tried his best to make the door unlocked. "Open," he thought to himself. Just then, the door clicked. With wide eyes, Harry twisted the knob and opened the door. Quickly, he shut it once more, noticing the light from his Aunt and Uncle's room. Harry smiled. Wishing his relatives asleep, he opened the door once more. The light from the bedroom was closed.
~0~
By the time Harry was eight, he could do anything he really wanted. Yet, no matter how much he wished to be invisible, or have the Dursleys forget him, it never worked. Harry was worked down to the bone. One day, the Dursleys went out. They never came back. The policeman had knocked on the door and told Harry only get clothes and a few things.
Harry took a thick blue book he had yet to read. It was called Magic for the Young and How to control it. He put it in his bag with the rest of his clothes. Harry glanced over his cellar one last time before he goes back out to the front door.
Harry never saw Number Four Privet Drive again.