One's Own Dream
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter Characters, books or anything else related to the Harry Potter universe, J. K. Rowling co does. Anything you do not recognise from the books or Movies is my own however. There are parts of the original book in this story. It is not my own work.
So I have decided to update my first 4 chapters. They are riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes and a few reviewers have pointed out inconstancies in the plotline. I am attempting to rectify this. I will not revise them again. Those that read the original will relise I have updated the format to the one I started using. I am still working on chapter 5 everyone as my computer had to go to be fixed. It was playing up. At the time chapter's 4 and 5 were saved onto the hardrive because my USB decided to fill up. So my appologies.
A special thankyou to all those who have added this/me to favourite's and alert's lists, and to my reviwers as well. A very special thankyou to Elfwyn and Schwann for pointing out the plotline inconsistencies. As you can see I have a tendency to miss them. Also to everyone else who have pointed out anything amiss. Elfwyn, I kept the stuttering in the next chapter because Harry didn't know Hagrid and wasn't expecting a present. It was shock at having a stranger give him such an expensive present. Because Hedwig would have been expensive. Animals are. That's why I kept it, but I may make it more clearer when I update it.
Please tell me if you want my to change the areas that I left the same as the original book by Rowling when I update them I know some people complained about it, even though I personally couldn't see those bits changing. Let me know what you think please!
Enough rambling, here you are, the updated chapter 1.
Chapter 1: Exchanges, updated
'Thoughts'
Letters
Harry stared wide eyed at the letter in his hands. The paper was thick and creamy coloured (parchment his mind supplied helpfully), and the writing was curly with green ink. Even girlish. It didn't matter though, the point was that it was addressed to him, and it was an acceptance letter. To some foreign school he had never heard of. A school of magic. Hog something. Maybe it was the school his parents had gone to? His Aunt had previously said that they were different, could do things, where special. He had suspected something like this, but had hardly dared to believe in something quite so illogical. Even if he could control it. He could heal things, he knew that much. And could make things fly. Now it seemed obvious that it he had magic. His family didn't know he could control it. It was his secret.
"Hogwarts" he whispered, staring at the letter again. Did this mean he a wizard? Or was he called a sorcerer? He decided to play dumb. "Aunt Petunia, what's this letter about? It's addressed to me. Something about magic and a school named after pigs?"
"Hogwarts" was the prim reply from his aunt. "It's the school your parents went to for their secondary education. We did tell you that you were special in a different way to our Dudders. And that your parents were the same" His aunt sounded proud.
"But you didn't say it was magic" Harry protested. Dudley, his older cousin by a few months, sniggered. "You shoulda figured it out yourself."
"Speak properly. I can't stand it when you say things like that"
"Harry" his Uncle Vernon warned. "What's your letter say"
"HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
HEADMASTER: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr 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 all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress"
The Dursley's all stared. "But you don't have an owl." That was Dudley, always stating the obvious.
"If I write a reply, perhaps one will turn up? After all, an owl must have delivered the letter in the first place." But Harry didn't sound certain. Petunia nodded.
"It sounds like the best plan. What do you need? Lily got her things from somewhere in London. Ask in your reply."
"Uniform: First years will require: Three sets of plain work robes (black), one plain pointed hat (black)"(Dudley and Vernon stifled laughs) "for day wear, one pair of protective gloves (dragonhide or similar), One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings). Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags". Harry looked up "Sounds rather cliché. Pointed hat and dragonhide gloves."
"All students should have a copy of each of the following: The standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, Magical Theory by Adalbdert Waffling, A Beginners' guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble.
Other Equipment. 1 wand, 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2), 1 set of glass or crystal phials, 1 telescope, 1 set of brass scales. Students may bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad. PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS."
The Dursley's and Harry exchanged looks. "They forgot writing equipment" Harry observed. Dudley and Vernon laughed incredulously and Petunia's lips thinned. Harry could almost see her trying to decide if she was amused or not.
The next day, a reply to the letter Harry had sent appeared. The previous afternoon a Barn Owl had turned up and stuck out its leg in clear demand for Harry's reply to his acceptance letter. It looked like Professor Dumbledore had answered.
Dear Mr Potter,
Thankyou for your prompt response. I will send a member of our staff on 31 July at 8.30am to take you to collect your equipment and answer any questions you may have. Please respond if this does not suit you.
Kind regards,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Harry looked at the letter in excitement. It was written on thick parchment in green curly, girlish writing. 'Looks like I know who helped write the letters' he thought. 'That's my birthday. Good thing nothing is planned this year. What a great birthday present'.
The 31 July dawned bright and clear. After quickly eating breakfast, blueberry pancakes, and opening his gifts (Several History books, a fiction book, and a new camera that was bought from an antique store so that it would still work at Hogwarts, Lily had once told Petunia about that mistake she had made), the doorbell rang.
Harry opened the door, to find a huge man, with wild bushy hair and beard wearing a strange coat, which appeared to be made entirely out of pockets. Harry was certain that at least one pocket was moving. Grinning at the thought of what the neighbours would think, he greeted the visitor.
"Hi, I'm Harry, you must be the Hogwarts representative. Come in." The stranger had to duck.
"Las' time I saw you, you were only a baby Harry. Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes." Harry grinned again. "Got summat for yeh here – I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right."
Harry looked down at the green icing on the cake that exclaimed Happy Birthday. "Thanks! But, well… who are you?"
"True, I haven't introduced meself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." As Harry shook Hagrid's enormous arm, he wondered if all the staff at Hogwarts were going to be like this. If so, his arm was definitely going to get sore after a while. "But call me Hagrid," he said, "everyone does. Yeh'll know all about Hogwarts, o' course."
"A little, only what my Aunt knew. I'd like to hear more though. Perhaps you could sometime today. Once we've left I mean."
"We'll be leaving now, got ter take the bus."
"How did you get here" Harry asked
"Flew" came Hagrid's reply. The Dursley's looked out the window.
"How?" Dudley sounded as incredulous as his parents and cousin looked.
"By bike o' course. Best way there is." And it must've been, because Hagrid was positively beaming.
"Err, Hagrid… Bike's don't fly" Vernon nodded faintly in agreement.
"Mine does. Given to me years ago ter borrow. Never got a chance to give it back ter be honest. Anyways. Best be off, Harry, Lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an buy all yer stuff fer school."
"Can we buy all this in London?" Harry wondered aloud waving his booklist around
"If yeh know where to go" said Hagrid.
I hope you liked it. Please review. And tell me what you thought of this version/ my story.