When good old horse-like Petunia said no supper for the rest of the school year, Holly thought she meant no supper for the rest of the school year. Yet, here she was on day five, and it seemed that no supper actually translated to no meals in general. Holly couldn't tell if it was on purpose or they just forgotten she existed, which is understandable. Holly wasn't known to make her herself known when dealing with the Dursley. With the Dursley, it was best to be known when needed. No need to get in more trouble by reminding them of her existence.
They didn't even let her out to do any chores. Normally, she would have been ecstatic by that. But, now she is extremely hungry and ran out of reading material. Holly, for the first time, wished she could slave about on the house. At least then she would have something to do.
Now she was sitting on her bed, glaring at her door. Her stomach let out a monstrous groan. Holly, preferring not to be accidently starved to death, decided she would once again have to play "B and E", also known as breaking and entering. While technically she would be breaking out of her room and entering the kitchen for food, not actually breaking into someone's house. Though, one could consider it the same thing.
Holly made up this game the first time she gotten a no meals punishment. Seven-year-old Holly might have, somehow, accidently removed all of Petunia's blonde hair when she tried to force her to wear this ugly mustard yellow dress for picture day. Holly never seen her look so mad. Holly ended up with an awfully bruised back and thighs while being sentenced no meals for two weeks. Holly remember how one night she was unable to sleep due to the pains coming from her stomach, then she heard the door unlock and slowly creep opened. Curiously she inched closer and poked her head out. Not wasting the opportunity, she snuck into the kitchen and grabbed any food that would easily be glossed over. When she was done, Holly would creep back into her room and silently closed the door (which would somehow always be locked in the morning).
Now, at ten, Holly relied on her hidden stash of paper clips to pick her way out. The last time she tried to use her tricks to unlock door the way she did when she was seven was the day after Halloween. Holly was planning on smuggling some of Dudley's candy for a much better cause than to be eaten by someone who had no need for junk food. Sadly, it ended up backfiring big time. Blew up the door knob instead. This incident also added another obstacle of a newly added door chain lock.
However, it seemed the Dursley's underestimated Holly, just the way she liked it. She had already fashioned the ultimate lock pick, which was several paper clips connected with a hand-made paper clip hook at the end.
So, on the night of the fifth day of her punishment, she put her plan in action. One of the benefits of her living situation was the fact she was able to tell if any movement is going on upstairs (though the heavy weight of both Vernon and Dudley helped). When she was sure that the three of them were asleep, she began to the lock picking portion of her amazing plan.
While the lock picking was extremely time consuming, Holly couldn't complain. Better taking ten to twenty minutes picking two locks for food than pathetically starving to death in a dusty cupboard.
Once the both the door knob and door chain were unlocked, Holly carefully pulled up on the door knob and quietly opened the door. Next, she crept towards the kitchen, taking note to each section of the floor to avoid the creaking areas. Once she James Bond her way to the kitchen, she carefully opened the kitchen cabinet that held a wide variety of canned food. Silently she shifted to the far back and grabbed any of the cans that the Dursley wouldn't realize were missing. Once she believed she grabbed enough, Holy scooped up the cans and slowly shut the cabinet door.
Holly wrapped the cans within her shirt as she took a plastic fork that Petunia kept in the utensils drawer then rushed back to the safety of her cupboard.
Holly placed the cans on her bed and turned her focus on relocking her door. Another downside of not using her special tricks. While relocking the door knob was fine, trying to relock the door chain was nearly impossible. Holly would have given up, but the fear of knowing what would happen when the Dursley put two and two together. Well, that was motivation enough.
For the rest of her punishment, she did not go hungry.
When she was finally allowed outside of her room, school had ended. Holly was planning on smuggling the large number of stolen books back, but I guessed they were hers now.
Apparently, Dudley was going to a place call Smeltings, Vernon's old private school, and they had these sticks that you beat other children up with? Holly wasn't sure if that was correct since it seemed like that rule would be against the law and common sense, then again what should she know. She was the "disappointment that lived in the cupboard" after all. She couldn't help but be glad by that title. Being a disappointment on the Dursley standard had to be a good thing. However, if that was true, it would explain a lot about Vernon and his anger issues.
The only reason she thought she could possibly be wrong about beating the tar out of classmates was because anytime the Dursley's talked she usually ended up daydreaming. In her defense, who could blame her. It wasn't like they talked about anything interesting. Holly did overhear that she would be attending a public school, Stonewall High, which according the Dudley was hilarious. She wasn't sure why that was so funny, it was just a school after all.
The summer was going quite well after the ending of her punishment. She got to stay with Mrs. Figgs again when the Dursley went to go shopping for Dudley's new uniform and wack-a-mole stick. The food was stale, but she got to watch some television. Beggars can't be choosers.
When Holly saw Dudley's new uniform, she almost had to go back into the cupboard to laugh in peace. It was an unflattering maroon tailcoat that clashed with the bright orange knickerbockers. The outfit was completed with a straw hat and the stick Holly heard about. Knobbly stick. What a stupid name. Meanwhile, Holly's uniformed was going to be all her shirts dyed grey. She managed to walk into Petunia dyeing them, claiming how "It'll look like everyone else's after I'm finished" with her snooty tone. Holly decided to leave it at that and walk away.
Holly was minding her own business after her encountered with Petunia. Sitting at the dining table and rereading a disguised Howl's Moving Castle, since she figured she would get a beating for reading something that involved the absolutely dreaded m-word. Honestly, Holly took it as a challenged, after all trying to censor something just made her even more curious.
However, this boring summer day got a lot more interesting when the mail arrived. Yes, the mail. Dudley was beating the house with his new stick and Vernon was reading the newspaper. That is when they heard the click of the mail slot.
Holly, being the designated slave of the household tucked her book underneath her arm and headed towards the door to get the mail. There on the doormat were scattered letters of things she couldn't care about. Except for one envelope. One thick and yellowish envelope had her name of it. When she grabbed the letter to get a better look, it said:
Miss H. Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Holly glanced at the end of the hallway, making sure she wasn't being noticed and slid the letter addressed to her into her cupboard. She had a sneaking suspicion that the Dursley wouldn't take the fact that someone knew her exact location well. Plus, the letter was addressed to her. The information was meant for her, not them.
With that she walked back to the kitchen and handed out the letters, making sure no discernible emotion was on her face. No one was the wiser.
That night Holly was back in her cupboard, the letter addressed to her of all people in her hands. She lightly traced over the green ink that said her name and her cupboard, curiosity bubbling within her. A letter...for her. A concept that never crossed Holly's mind once in her entire life. She had no friends, no extended family that liked her enough to write her. Holly surprised herself a bit for caring even a little for this letter, yet this whole event was not abnormal and foreign to Holly that she couldn't help but be intrigued.
She flipped the letter, looking at the fancy waxed seal. The purple seal was a fancy looking H being surround by four animals: a lion, a snake, an eagle, and a badger. Interesting choice of animals she mused. Holly wondered who would actually take the time out of their day to write to her. More importantly, how did they find out about her cupboard.
Quickly, she tore open the envelope and removed the letter from inside. Her curiosity and slight amusement of the thought that someone knew enough information on her to write to her faded into confusion as she read the letter, which said:
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 Ms. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted 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
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
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 Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's 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 glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Holly stared at the letter in bewilderment. She went into opening this letter with no expectations, and she was still disappointed. A magic school? Named Hogwarts? Holly scoffed, crumpling the letter into a ball and throwing it as far away from her. This had to be a joke, and she refused to play along with it.
Even if it was a well-executed prank, she was glad the Dursley's didn't find out about it. Just seeing the world "magic" would have given them a brain aneurysm. Hmm, maybe she should have let them read it in that case.
Her mind switched from the image of the Dursley's reaction to reading the letter to the letter itself. Her mind automatically went to Dudley as the culprit of the prank. After all, the amount of trouble she would have been in if Petunia and Vernon saw this letter would have been the greatest thing for him to witness.
However, the amount of effort and creativity that went into the letter was suspect. After all, they had to get an intricate design for the wax seal, hell they had to get a waxed seal. Also, the names of the books and authors had to take some imagination. This quickly removed Dudley as the culprit. Holly doubted that he had a creative bone in his body. The amount of detail also made her waver slightly on the prank theory, especially considering the address on the envelope.
After all, who else knew that she lived in the cupboard underneath the stairs? She was pretty sure that Petunia and Vernon forbid Dudley from telling anyone about her living conditions (she remember vividly Dudley crying when Vernon punished him when he almost let it slip to his friend. Petunia was furious) and Holly only told one person, her teacher back when she was six. Nothing came of it though, she was a troublesome child and her teacher merely assumed she wanted attention. After all, how could the amazing and loving Dursley do anything like that.
A magic school called Hogwarts. Holly was positive she wasn't magical. Well, she never considered herself magical. A freak and the Dursley disappointment? Yes, and proudly too, but magic wasn't real. If anything, she was a self-declared mutant, not a witch.
With a sigh she leaned forward to grab the paper ball and unraveled it. Holly reread the letter once again, trying to make sense of it. This had to be a joke. Someone must've found out about the cupboard, somehow, and decided to prank her. After all, nothing amazingly good ever happens to Holly. It just doesn't happen.
Holly wasn't special. She wasn't a witch or anything in that nature. She was the unwanted burden on her aunt and uncle. She was the girl who would never become anything important, or special, or anything really, she of all people should know. She was just the girl who lived in her tiny cupboard underneath the stairs. The girl who read book after book. Just the small and skinny girl who spends her nights awake imagining different and better worlds to be a part of. This letter was a lie, it...it had to be. Honestly, she should just throw it away. Rip the thing to shreds. But, she didn't.
She merely hid the letter underneath her bed, despite her negativity to the thing. Just for curiosity sake.
The next day came and Holly made sure the letter was securely hidden underneath her mattress before heading out to cook breakfast.
As she cooked the bacon, Holly tried to ignore the any thoughts of the letter. Yet, she kept picturing the way her named was elegantly spelled on the envelope, the detail of this Minerva's signature. The fact they needed a response via owl. Now, why would someone do this is the biggest question. It isn't a well thought out prank in any case. Unless said person was trying to get her in trouble with the Dursley, which that letter would have certainly done.
The smell of burning bacon and the warmth of flames pulled her out of thoughts. The bacon and the pan were on fire. Whoops. Holly, ignoring the shrieking and sputtering from Petunia, quickly grabbed a dish towel, ran water under it, and then placed it on top of the fire.
"You brat!" Petunia shrieked, gripping Holly's upper arm. Great, one bruised leaves for another to form.
"What were you trying to do? Burn down the house and kill us all?" Petunia continued, shoving Holly towards the kitchen table. Holly merely glared at the ground, not trusting herself to say anything. She would be lying if she claimed those thoughts haven't crossed her mind. Maybe not kill, but she wouldn't mind them suffering a bit, so maybe they could feel how she felt.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you girl!" Petunia's voice seemed to raise an octave. Holly, gnawing on her lip, did just that. Holly could have sworn she saw something flash in Petunia's blue eyes. She wasn't sure what it was, but after that emotion left her eyes Petunia faltered.
"Just...Just go." When she said that, Holly wasted no time booking it, nearly tripping over Vernon's extended leg. She headed straight to the front door. She needed air, to feel the wind blowing through her hair and making it a tangled messed. Usually she would have just hidden herself away in her cupboard, but the letter was in there and that was the last thing she wanted to think about right now.
As she approached the door she noticed more letters on the doormat, which was odd as she felt she would have heard click of the mailbox like before. Unlike the day before where Holly got one letter, today she had ten. Ten of those thick yellow envelopes splattered around the mat. Each one sharing identical green ink that spelled her name just like the first one.
Scoping the letters up, she carried them into her cupboard and hastily shoved them under her bed. Holly left as quickly as she entered, locking the door behind her and rushed outside. There in the surrounding trees were owls of all different types. The oddest thing was that they were just staring at the Dursley house, not moving.
Holly crept towards them and still they did not move. As she processed this odd situation, Holly began to shift her opinion of those letters being a joke. She tried to wave the birds away, but instead of flying off they just looked at her. They even looked unimpressed by her efforts.
Letting out an irritable groan, Holly walked back inside and into her cupboard to read and compare each new letter she got. She wondered how long it would take the Dursley's to notice the swarm of owls outside their house. The sentence "We await your Owl by July 31st" burned into her mind.
Maybe the owls would stick around for the night.
Wow, did not expect this story to get that many favorites and follows. Here is good old chapter two and I apologize for any typos and grammatical mistakes, I just started writing and couldn't stop. I was wondering what house do you think Holly will get sorted into? You may answer or you may not answer it. Hope you guys have a great thanksgiving break (for those in the US). Hopefully, we can have a week without anything too awful happening.