-- Chapter One --

Privet Drive

After the tragedy endured in the Wizarding Community, after the deaths and of many, and murder of each family, an infant was said to have survived. An infant whose parents were said to be victims of the well – known darkest and most powerful wizard of all time. An infant who was remarked to outlive by the said sacrifice and lingering protection of his mother. An infant named, Harry James Potter.

Harry, bearing the burden of the lightning scar on his forehead, was brought to his only living relative, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, who resides at Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, in Surrey. A long white-haired and long bearded man named Albus Dumbledore, whose wearing a large, long robe which color varies from light blue to white and silver, brought him after the night the Potters were attacked. He entrusted Harry's life to them and explained that Lily, Harry's mother and Petunia's younger sister, together with his husband, James, was killed and Harry has nowhere to go except to them.

"Petunia, keep Harry for the sake of your sister's life. Take him, for he is safe in your arms. Give him everything just what every child deserves. Treat him as if he's your own. And whatever happens, don't let him leave this house for it's the safest place for him. In the right time, I'll be back, or I must say, in time when he's of age, he will be going somewhere and you'll allow him to come back here when he needs to." Dumbledore said in an undertone as he watched the Dursleys looking up at him, speechless, and shocked. There was a pause between them, until a large man with a grimace face speak. It's Vernon, Petunia's husband.

"When you say he's going somewhere in time, why not now? I – I mean why does he need to stay if he's going into somewhere you said he will? He can just stay there for good!" Vernon said firmly, glancing to his wife who's now carrying Harry then he turned back his face to Dumbledore who gave him a pleading look.

"I know you would say that, Vernon. But as I told you a while ago, this place which you intend to prefer your home is the safest place for Harry." He said as he took a stand and moved closely to Petunia who was still carrying the child. "I asked you this for the last time, Petunia. Keep Harry Potter, keep him as if he's your own, for your sister who died to save his son. Take good care of him, and I say goodbye for you now.-" he said stretching his arm, tapped Harry in his forehead which made the Dursleys realize that he was going to leave. "See you soon." Clank. And he disapparated in the midair. Scared looks still covered the couple's faces. Petunia looked at Harry closely and noticed that his eyes were very much like of her sister's. Silence fell between the two of them, until Vernon broke up.

"Fine, we'll keep the child. But don't forget, Petunia, we still have our son, Dudley. Now, get a place where that child can rest 'cause I'm already sleepy." He mumbled as he strode upstairs and went straight to their room and went to sleep. Petunia placed Harry in an old crib near Dudley's and went to bed, remembering Dumbledore's last few words. This place is the safest place for Harry, keep him. Treat him as if he's your own.

***

Years passed and the orphan was now an ten-year old boy. He knew ever since that he was just subjected to his Aunt and Uncle's house to have someone to keep him, to have someone to take care of him, and to have someone he can call 'family' after his true parents died from a 'car accident' as what they told Harry, without knowing the truth about the death of his parents. But it was the other way around for Harry. There was a time that he thought of leaving the house because of his arrogant Uncle Vernon, whom he knew, ever since didn't like him.

It was a hot summer noon. From the window, Harry was watching some children running through the street and happily playing with each other. Suddenly, a loud bang was heard from the main door and a large white-haired and mustached man entered, leaving his yellow umbrella hanging outside. Harry went towards him and got his coat and boots which he'll place in its proper storage. With a minute or so, Uncle Vernon called, "Come on, you boy! Quickly! Quickly! You still have to prepare our food, we're all hungry!"

"Vernon, mind your attitude, he's just a boy!" Petunia uttered as he gave her husband a 'don't-do-that' look, while knitting.

"Petunia, this is just how I'm getting to discipline your nephew!" he said back to his wife and threw his attention back to Harry who was now standing in front of them and staring innocently. "What are you looking at? Get up to the kitchen now, we're all hungry!" Uncle Vernon said grumpily, watching Harry's surprised face.

"Fine." said Harry irritably, walking straight to the kitchen but still glancing up to his Uncle's face who was now looking so disgusted.

After their lunch, the Dursleys left. Harry was now alone again in the and already find himself bored. He wanted to go outside but his Aunt and Uncle said not to leave, because he knew that ever since, they don't want other people to know that he is existing in this house. He thought for a minute and said to himself, "But I'm not a prison. I have the right to play with other children, like my cousin Dudley do." He took a deep breath and continued, "I'm going out. None of them will ever know. I'll just come back before their return."

With extreme curiosity, Harry went outside the Dursley's house. Beyond the bound of walls covering him inside, Harry could see the tall trees; he could feel the fresh breeze and felt freedom. He walked and walked through the grounds of the street until he reached the playground where lots of kids, most of his age, were playing. Joy and laughter covered Harry's face at that moment. After a minute or so, he stopped. He walked around, wanting to have a full view of the place, until he saw a group of kids bullying someone, that he recognized once a girl. He moved closely, he could hear the girl pleading to give back her book. He moved rather closely that he recognized one of the boys who were playing rude and nasty jokes on the girl was, Pier Polkiss, Dudley's bestfriend who go in and out of the Dursleys' house twice a week. Harry could see that the girl with a bushy hair was crying. He then suddenly walked towards them and muttered, "Give her back the book, Piers. It's not yours." Piers, who is now casting a look at Harry, burst into laughter that it made his friends laugh too.

"Oh hello, Potty! He uttered as he threw the book behind and he continued, "So how's little Potty, huh? How does he live when he knows he has no 'mummy' beside him? Where is your Mum, Potter? Is she dead? Is she dead, Potter?!" Piers said indignantly which made Harry felt infuriated. He moved another step forward facing Piers, for a while he stared up at the girl who is now being hold by the two nasty friends of Piers. For a split second he turned back to Piers and said angrily,

"Don't you dare have a go with my mum!" He stared furiously at Piers, so intimately that made Piers flew through the air and reached the length of a tree. The girl with a bushy hair screamed and the two boys looked flustered. Piers suddenly shouted with shock, "P-Put me down! You tosspot! Put m-me down!"

"Hey, bring him back now! Somebody might see you!" the girl demanded as she got her book from the ground where Piers had dropped it.

With a great shock, Harry had put away his eyes from Piers and turned to the girl. It seems that his eyes have done something unusual. Piers fell to ground, and his two other friends helped him. "W-What are you? What did you do to me?!" Piers stand back and continued muttering, "You'll gonna regret this Potter! I'm telling you!" as he and his friends strode away.

"What have you done?" asked the girl who was getting closer at Harry, still handling her book entitled: History of London.

"I—I dunno. I'm not sure if I did it. I dunno how." said Harry moving towards the bench to have a sit, but the girl him and sat beside him.

"I'm Hermione, by the way. Hermione Granger." said the girl stretching her hand to Harry for a handshake.

"Harry Potter." said Harry, shaking Hermione's hand. "From Number 4, Privet Drive." he added, letting go of Hermione's hand.

"I'm from here too, all the way from Number 10. How long have you been here, exactly? I always go here but I've just seen you now. Are you a new resident?" asked Hermione, clutching her book.

"I've been living here since my mother left me. I don't know who've sent me in my Aunt's house. Aunt Petunia said my mum and dad were killed by a car accident. I was one." explained Harry.

"So, how come I've never seen you before?" asked Hermione, looking to Harry.

Harry explained to her that the Dursleys wouldn't outside their house. He said that he just escaped them now because the Dursleys were away. They've talked for a long time, they became friends. They spent almost hours playing together and sharing some old stories about themselves.

"Oh my God! I've almost forgot. I need to go, Hermione, the Dursleys mustn't know that I went out. I'm very sorry, I-I'll just see you again, if I had a chance. Nice meeting you. Bye!" said Harry, running away from Hermione.

"Thank you, Harry! Bye!" shouted Hermione, waving her hand to bid good-bye to Harry. But Harry didn't turn around; he just waved his hand and ran away, too far away from Hermione. He forgot that he just escaped from the Dursleys that he needed to get back home before they returned.

With a precise moment, he reached the Number 4, Privet Drive. He could see the car in the garage; he could see that the Dursleys were coming out of their car, seemed like they've just arrived seconds ago. Harry hurriedly ran to the backdoor so none of the Dursleys could see him. As he entered the door, Uncle Vernon called from the main door, "Harry! Come on, open the door!"

"Yeah, coming!" answered Harry, running immediately to the door to fetch them. He opened it and got the bags handling by his Aunt and Uncle.

***

Harry got to bed in that night, still remembering what he had done earlier; he was still thinking of what he had done to Dudley's best friend, Piers; still wondering of how he had made Piers flew in the air without doing any locomotors skill. But above all, he was very pleased to meet Hermione Granger with whom he had found company, with whom he had found someone to call a friend. Lying in his bed, he closed his eyes while putting off his glasses, and remobilizing flashes of the Dursleys, Piers in the air and his new and first friend, Hermione Granger. He wondered whether he could see her again. Moments later, Harry fell asleep.

The next day, while the Dursleys were busy on their household works, a doorbell disturbed them all.

"Harry, go to the door and look who's interrupting us this time." Uncle Vernon groaned, fixing his stereo which was dropped by Dudley last week.

As Harry towards the door and opened it, a little girl-like his age-with a bushy blonde hair, carrying a book surprised him. It was Hermione Granger who's beaming at him.

"Hermione?" said Harry surprisingly, watching her from head to foot as she stood in front of him.

"Hi, Harry" greeted Hermione gleefully. Harry was about to speak until Uncle Vernon broke up from the living room, "Who's that, boy?"

"Er—nothing. Just someone asking for a proper direction." shouted Harry, pulling Hermione towards the street, leaving the door opened. "Hey-hey! What are you doing? Get off!" Hermione mumbled then Harry let go of her.

"What are you doing here?" asked Harry, looking annoyed.

"Why? I'm visiting you, of course. We're friends, aren't we?" exclaimed Hermione, fixing herself.

"You don't understand. You can't be here, I can't have visitors." said Harry indignantly, looking up at Hermione.

"Well, why don't you tell them that I'm your friend? It's perfectly simple." said Hermione in an ungrateful way

"No it's not. Hermione, whatever this is, it's not simple. You don't understand." uttered Harry, now looking exasperated.

"Explain then. You're part of the family aren't you? You too, have the right to accept visitors at some point." exclaimed Hermione, now frowning at Harry and held her book so tightly that it couldn't breathe, though it doesn't need.

"I've already told you, I can't go outside, away from that disgusting house. So tell me, how can I have a friend to introduce with them if I'm not going out and meet some? I'm sorry Hermione, but I can't play with you, maybe in some other time, when the Dursleys are out. I'm really sorry, I-I need to go back." explained Harry, looking up at Hermione, hoping she could understand him.

Hermione, on the other hand, looked up at Harry, giving him an apologetic look, still handling her book but this time loosen her holding to it and muttered, "I – I'm sorry too. I don't know exactly how you were treated by your Aunt and Uncle. I'm sorry, Harry. I think I just need to go."

"It's alright. I'm sorry too. I promise I'll see you next time, when I have a chance." said Harry trying to cheer up his new friend.

"Yeah. I'll wait for it. Bye" said Hermione now casting a smile at Harry as she walked away from him towards their house.

"Bye." said Harry as he waved his hand so Hermione could see it and went back the house, trying not to express his joy and fear of seeing Hermione. He closed the door and walked slowly through the living room where Uncle Vernon was fixing his stereo while Dudley was watching his favorite TV show: Old Beans' Dirty Holiday Treat. Not surprisingly, Uncle Vernon interrupted Harry and asked, "Whom you're talking to?"

Harry stopped dead still remembering his friend's visit and suddenly murmured, "I've already told you, it was just a lost old man asking where's the street if Little Hangleton."

With disbelief on Uncle Vernon's face, he continued what he's doing as Harry went upstairs towards his bed.

It was almost evening, and after they had their dinner, Harry went back to his room. There he sat on the bed, scanning an old book which he got under his cabinet, probably Dudley's old one, wondering and still recalling what Hermione did. With a sudden, a crack was heard within Harry's large window. Harry got scared at first but slowly moved towards his window. He could hear whispers and soft screams, until a girl emerged from the human-sized window, beaming at Harry. It was Hermione. Harry stared at once, surprised and helped Hermione to get down.

"How-h-how did you - ? How did you get here?" asked Harry looking so bewildered as he looked up at Hermione expecting for a clear answer.

"I used my dad's ladder. He told me an 11 year-old can already use it. He made it suitable for kids like me, 'cause he knew I'd love it." said Hermione as she took a sit on Harry's bed.

"Blimey! That's cool! You're great Hermione." Harry said with astonishment on Hermione's actions.

"So, you need to tell me everything. Everything about your Uncle, and why you hate him so much." said Hermione, gazing up through Harry's room. She could see one small wardrobe, supposed to be an antique one because of its oldness. His bed was small but suitable for one though it's not as soft and as big as her bed. No other toys except for one old damaged toy car.

"How can you live with this?" said Hermione sadly, still giving a great look at Harry's room.

"Well, I don't even know exactly how." said Harry in an undertone looking at Hermione who's still scanning every item in the room as she sat beside Harry. Then, seconds later, Hermione mumbled, "So, tell me everything. No secrets, okay?"

Harry nodded as he gave Hermione a glass of juice and told her everything. Every little thing that the Dursleys did to him, every aspect of details gave a huge jump on Harry's heart which made Harry feel angry. Angrier and angrier, he tells Hermione all the things that's happening to him in Privet Drive. With extreme indignation, Harry broke the glass which Hermione was holding that made her screamed a little.

"Sshh.!" warned Harry, looking at Hermione as they heard footsteps coming upstairs.

"Your Uncle!" whispered Hermione looking thoroughly nervous.

"Hide back! Behind the wardrobe. Now!" Harry shrieked as he hurried towards the door and watched Hermione hid behind his old wardrobe. Suddenly, the door slid open and Uncle Vernon emerged from the door.

"What's going on here?" asked Uncle Vernon sarcastically staring at Harry who's handling a piece of broken glass.

"Er—sorry. Fell over." said Harry blankly as he look straightly at Uncle Vernon's eyes.

"Well, clean that up, boy! I don't want to see any mess inside my house." Uncle Vernon said, unconvinced. He looked up at Harry for a second and shut the door behind Harry.

Hermione went out of the wardrobe and watched Harry looking exhausted as he sat back on his bed. "What's happening to me?" asked Harry as Hermione went towards him and sat.

"Adrenaline Rush. That's it. It normally happens to a person when he can't resist his feelings anymore, which sometimes burst and makes the person capable of doing unusual things. I think it's your hatred to your Uncle that made you do that." said Hermione coherently, tapping Harry's shoulder.

"D'you really think, it's just that?" asked Harry looking bewildered as he looked at Hermione closely.

"Yes. I mean, what else could it be?" Hermione wondered as she jumped out of the bed and got her copy of Cinderella: A Story. Then Harry muttered with curiosity, "So, you're really are a book lover, aren't you?"

"Not really." Hermione said ironically as she gave Harry a simple grin, got to her feet, and bid Harry "Goodbye and Goodnight" and went out of Harry's room through her dad's safety ladder. Harry waved at Hermione as he watched her strode away quietly.

That night, Harry went to bed happily, recalling how Hermione got in his room. He was now sure that he has found a real friend, a true best friend. After a few moments, Harry had fallen asleep gazing up to the ceiling, considering that it has been the coolest day of his life, having a friend.

***

Harry and Hermione met secretly the whole summer. They played enjoyed telling stories about everything and exchanging jokes with each other.

One bright sunny day, the Dursleys were out for shopping so Harry, like what he always did when the Dursleys were not around, went outside to meet up Hermione. He strode along the dusty road and finally reached their meeting place, the playground. Hermione saw Harry and gave him a wave then called, "Harry! Over here!" Harry went towards her and sat on the bench beside her.

"When will they get back?" asked Hermione querily, watching Harry's bespectacled face.

"Well, er—I dunno. Maybe before sunset." said Harry, watching Hermione's ingenious face staring up at him. He stopped for a bit and then he uttered, "Why?" frowning at Hermione, expecting for a clear answer.

Hermione stared at once, raising her eyebrows, giving Harry a wide smile and said, "I'm just wondering if you want to go to our house, mum and dad were pleased to see you."

Harry stopped dead, thinking whether he'll go or not. Then with a split second, Harry speak up, smiling up at Hermione, "Sure."

Harry and Hermione got to their feet and ran to Hermione's house. Harry noticed the outside look of Grangers' house and it's more like the Dursleys', only it's bigger and brighter in Harry's perception.

Then they went inside the house and Harry could see wonderful paintings attached on the walls; large plasma TV; colorful wallpapers: pink, green, blue, red and white; but what caught his attention most was the large bookshelf placed near the fire place.

"How d'you like the house?" asked Hermione, giving Harry a delightful smile, as they walked and sat in their flowery-designed sofa.

"It was brilliant." smirked Harry, still gazing around the place.

Suddenly, Hermione's parents entered the living room who found Harry beaming up at them and stood up to give them a proper greet.

"You must be Harry Potter." said the man wearing shirt with a short coat covering it and jeans. He stretched his arm to meet Harry's hand and gave it a shake.

For once, Harry realized that the man standing in front of him was Hermione's dad, definitely not much like Uncle Vernon. He was tall, skinny, brown-haired and handsome man with spectacles. Beside him was also a tall, black bushy haired woman like Hermione, which he recognized once as her mum. Harry immediately stretched his arms and reached Hermione's dad's hand and said, "Yes, sir."

"Hermione's telling us more about you, dear. Have a seat." Said Hermione's mum as all of them took their seats. "I'm Monica Granger, by the way." she added as she beamed at Harry delightfully.

"Er—pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Granger. I-" said Harry, unfinished. He was interrupted by Mrs. Granger and said, "Just Aunt Monica, Harry. Since you're Hermione's best friend you're allowed to call me 'Aunt'."

"Er—thanks." said Harry leaving a smile on his face.

"So, I'll leave you here for a while, I think I need to cook a delicious lunch for four." said Mrs. Granger, smiling to all of them as she drifted away to the kitchen, leaving Harry, Hermione and her dad in the living room.

"So Harry, what have you been doing all this summer? Hermione told me you've been maltreated by your biological Aunt and Uncle in Number 4. I'm Wendell Granger, by the way. You can also call me Uncle." said Mr. Granger, looking up at Harry's pallid face.

"Er—not fine, really, sir. But I can still keep up." said Harry firmly as he watched Mr. Granger worriedly.

"I'm sure you can, Harry. Well, I think I should leave you two first, to help Monica in the kitchen. Good day, Harry." said Mr. Granger steadily.

***

All that day, Harry and Hermione exchanged laughter, joy and happiness. It's been an unforgettable experience for Harry.

It was almost six o'clock in the afternoon when Harry realized that he had to leave. "Er—thanks for welcoming me here. I'm so grateful. Thanks a million." said Harry grinning to Hermione and to her parents.

"It's alright. You're always welcome." said Mrs. Grange, hugging Harry.

"Yeah, thanks." mumbled Harry, leaving a smile to each of them. He was about to go when Mr. Granger interrupted, "Be a good boy, son."

"Don't worry sir, I will." said Harry as he bid good-bye to them and walked away. To his surprise, he saw Hermione running towards him.

"What?" asked Harry, frowning at Hermione.

"I just want you to have this." said Hermione handling a piece of parchment which he gave to Harry. "Just in case you can't come back here sooner." she added as she waved at Harry and ran away from him.