A.N.: Thanks to everyone who took a little time to read the first chapter of this story. Thank you all who reviewed, that didn't hurt did it? lol.
Please Review...
Harry Potter was having a blast. He always felt great while swimming and right now, as he touched the bottom of what seemed to be the deepest of oceans, he felt like he had never felt before in his life. Not even flying was as good as this…
Suddenly, everything turned pitch-black and a mocking and malice voice could be heard getting louder and louder. Harry started to panic. How could he be so stupid? It always started good but then it would get like this. "You're so stupid Harry Potter!" He chastened himself while looking around in the darkness as if looking for a way out of this foul place. But only one thing would come; it always did…
That voice, getting louder and louder, though the words were not perceptible, but Harry could now hear a woman screaming. A single word kept invading his mind every single time the woman's cries came: please, please, please…
Something strange started to happen then, another voice, one which sounded awfully like the woman screaming, joined the mix of screams, pleas and laughter. This voice was warm and caring, like a cup of hot chocolate in a snowy and cold afternoon, Harry mused. As the minutes passed by, and the voice grew stronger and more insistent, Harry could now decipher what this new voice was saying: it was calling his name…
"Harry, wake up!" Harry, Harry, Harry…
"HARRY!"
Harry Potter sat bolt upright in his bed, sweating and breathing like he had just ran a mile. He hadn't. What had happened though made him wish he had. Another nightmare, he mulled over, the seventh in the past seven days…
Any other thoughts were forgotten as a blur of red filled his vision. He let himself fall into the arms of his mother, sobbing like he hadn't in a long time. He had put on a brave front throughout last week, dismissing his parents worries, insisting they were just nightmares and he wasn't bothered at all. This was too much to bear, though and today he couldn't help but cry as soon as his mother's arms enveloped him in that warm hug and started talking sweet words in his ear.
After a few minutes, Harry pulled out of the hug and, cleaning his eyes dry, looked around to find the worried faces of his brother Andrew and his father. Looking around from behind his father was the distraught face of his little sister, tears running down her face. He couldn't help but open his arms and reach out for her. He was immediately thrown against the pillows as she jumped into his arms crying in earnest as Harry made soothing noises and ran his hand gently through her hair. Harry was feeling a bit embarrassed, truth be told, but he kept this hidden in his attempt to calm the little girl in his arms. She was his sister, after all, and if there was something that he couldn't bear in this world, it was to see her cry.
"It's alright Sophie, everything's alright. Calm down, please!"
This seemed to relax the little 5 year-old. She pulled back from her big brother's arms and after she gave him a kiss on the cheek, she took her mother's hand and pulled her out of the room saying something under her breath about them having to hurry up and do something.
"Are you alright, son?" James asked in concern over his son's well being.
"Yeah, Dad. Nothing to worry about."
"Alright then, I'll see you at breakfast."
After his father was out of the room, Andrew, who looked like he had been holding his breath for a while, jumped on his brother asking question after question.
"What happened? Was the nightmare really bad? Are you really alright?"
"I'm alright, Andy, don't worry. It was just a silly nightmare."
"But you screamed so loud…"
Seeing the concern splashed across his brother's face, Harry jumped out of the bed, stepped forward and placed his hand in the boy's shoulder.
"Don't worry, please. Like I said it was only a nightmare. I'm alright, I promise."
"Alright." The young boy relented. "I'll leave you to change. See you at breakfast"
"Yeah. See you in a while"
Not wanting to dwell in the dream, Harry hurried towards his personal bathroom to take a nice and long, hot shower.
As he stepped under the falling water, however, the dream came back into his mind. For the first time he knew who that cold voice belonged to. At least he thought he did. A cold feeling ran through his spine as he tried to figure out how he could be hearing the voice of You-know…no Voldemort, as his father had told him to say, in his dreams.
Stepping out of the shower and placing a warm, fluffy towel around his waist, Harry returned to his room to find the clothes for the day placed in his bed. Harry knew it was his mother who went everyday into his room while he was in the shower and chose his clothes for him. It always amazed him how she chose clothes that he liked to wear, except for formal occasions as he absolutely hated dress robes.
After getting dressed, he made his way downstairs to the kitchen to have breakfast. The whole house was silent and that made him a bit uneasy. The meals at Potter Manor were always loud affairs and the silence was strange. It was explained though as he passed through the door and the world exploded around him.
"SURPRISE!"
In addition to his parents and siblings, his godfather, Sirius, and his uncle Remus were standing around the kitchen table with huge smiles in their faces. It took Harry a good while to realize what had happened: it was his birthday and he had forgotten all about it.
"Wow, thanks everyone" he said still in a daze. How can anyone forget his own birthday?
After the usual birthday congratulations, everyone sat at the table, Harry at the head, to have a huge and delicious breakfast.
"So kiddo, excited about turning eleven?" asked Sirius as a mischievous smile crept across his face. "One or two more years and I'll have to admit you're not an ickle baby anymore."
Harry just rolled his eyes in response to the little provocation but decided to respond anyway.
"I guess I'm a bit excited. I mean, I'm finally old enough to go to Hogwarts and that's great. That is if I get my letter." The last part was added in an almost whisper. It was, however, easily heard.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure you'll get it today. It's not common for Hogwarts letters to come before you turn eleven," said Uncle Remus trying to take away any nervousness from his mind. "Well, unless your birthday is very close to September first."
"Exactly. Don't worry about a thing sweetheart. You're definitely not a squib," said Lily trying to cheer him up.
In that exact moment, a large barn owl came flying through the window and sat right in front of Harry, showing her leg for the young boy to take the letter attached to it.
In a swift movement, Harry took the letter from the bird and ripped it open; his poor heart running a hundred miles an hour.
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 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
(Pg 51, Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone By J.K. Rowling, American version)
"YES! I'M IN!" screamed Harry as he jumped out of his chair and he ran through the kitchen with his fist in the air and a huge smile on his face.
"Of course you are. I told you so," responded Lily, rolling her eyes in spite of the proud expression crossing her face. James was quickly scribbling something in a piece of parchment that he tied around the owl's leg before it flew away.
"Well, tell us what the second part is about," said his father as Harry took his seat once again at the table.
Picking up a second manuscript that he hadn't even noticed, Harry read it out loud.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First year students 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, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags.
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells Grade One 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 an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
(Pg 66-67, Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, American version)
"Well," said Lily gaining the attention of everyone present, "there's only one place where we can bye all that: Diagon Alley."
Harry's smile immediately fell from his face. "Oh, Mum, do we have to?" He absolutely hated to go there. Every single time he was forced to, people always gawked at him like he was some kind of god or something, and used every single opportunity to shake his hand. Harry hated being famous.
"I'm sorry darling, I know you don't like to go there but it's the only place to buy your school supplies," reminded Lily with a somewhat said expression in her face.
"Ok. But do I have to go? I could stay home while you guys went and buy it!" giving her the saddest puppy dog eyes he could achieve.
"Don't give me that face Harry James Potter. It'll get you nowhere." Exclaimed his mother catching on what he was trying to do. "You have to go. I'm sorry but we have to get you a wand, for which you have to be present, and you have to be fitted into your school robes and uniform. Now what would you like to do for your birthday?"
Her tone showed that the subject was closed so Harry turned back to his breakfast, thinking about what he'd like to do. It didn't take long until he came to an answer.
"We could play Quidditch after we eat. And, maybe, swim in the backyard pool in the afternoon and play some games."
"Of course, darling, this is your day so we'll do whatever you want."
"Thanks Mum!"
It was, in Harry's opinion, a great birthday. He had a great time, playing Quidditch and swimming, or just joking around with the people that meant the most to him in the whole world.
After a delicious supper, which consisted of all of Harry's favorite foods and an enormous birthday cake in the form of a Quidditch pitch with two teams playing around in the field (Gryffindor was slaughtering the Slytherins), the entire family sat in the sitting room for Harry to open his presents.
"Mine first," exclaimed Sirius smiling like a maniac as if it was his own birthday.
And so Harry did. When he unwrapped the package completely, his mouth fell open in shock. For a few minutes there was silence in the room, until Harry jumped into his godfather's arms and gave him a huge hug.
"Oh, Uncle Sirius, a Nimbus 2000! I can't believe it!"
"Nothing but the best for my godson." He said with a nervous chuckle as he watched Lily's expression. She was glaring daggers at him.
"Sirius Orion Black! He's eleven years old and you give him the fastest broomstick in the world?"
Luckily James came to his rescue.
"Oh come on Lily. Harry's a great flyer. He can handle the broom and you know it."
She seemed to debate for a few minutes until she spoke in a resigned tone.
"Very well, he can keep the broom. But he's not taking it to Hogwarts, it's against the rules."
Seeing it was useless to argue, as she was right and he could keep this amazing broomstick, Harry picked up his next present which was a box of chocolate frogs from Sophie.
"Thanks, sis, they're my favorite!" he told her as he gave her a huge hug. Sophie just beamed knowing that her brother had like her present.
After that he unwrapped Andy's (a bunch of Zonko's prank items which were apprehended immediately by Lily) and Uncle Remus' (a book called Quidditch through the ages) presents leaving only a small rectangular shaped box in the table. His parents' present.
It turned out to be a small golden key. This deeply confused Harry and his face must have shown it because his father immediately started talking.
"That key, Harry, is for your new Gringotts account. It is a Potter Family tradition that when a child turns eleven, a trust fund of 100 thousand Galleons is set up for the boy or girl to manage through his 7 years at Hogwarts. It'll help you learn how to manage your own money, and you better learn because that money will be used to buy all your school supplies and anything else you want to buy for yourself throughout the next seven years."
"Thank you Mum and Dad," said Harry as he got up to hug both of them. Pulling back from the hug he added: "Oh and Dad?"
"Yes, son?"
"I'm not a child!"
Harry woke up in the morning of September 1st with a rollercoaster of feelings. On the hand he was excited and happy that he was going to Hogwarts and meet other people. On the other hand, however, he felt a bit sad leaving his home for the first time for so long.
At the base of his bed sat his new pet. It was an absolutely gorgeous snowy-white owl that his parents had bought him the day they went to Diagon Alley. He had named her Hedwig.
After a quick shower, he got dressed and went downstairs. With a quiet "Good morning," Harry started to eat his breakfast.
When everyone had finished, Lily took Harry upstairs to check his school trunk. She wanted to make sure everything was packed and that the trunk was clean of any unwanted items.
When she left the room Harry quickly went under the bed and took a certain item his father had given him on his birthday right before Harry was about to go to sleep…
"Harry?" his father called as Harry finished brushing hi teeth.
"I'll be right there Dad."
When he came into his room, he saw his father sitting at the lounge area in one of the comfortable overstuffed chairs in front of the extinguished fire place with a package on his lap.
"Come and sit for a moment." asked James.
"What's that Dad?"
"See for yourself." James said with a smile.
When Harry finished unwrapping the package his mouth fell open in shock for the second time in a few hours. He couldn't believe it! A…a…
"An invisibility cloak! Where did you get it? I thought they were really rare!"
"They are. It was your grandfather's Andrew. He gave it to me the day of my 11th birthday. It is time it passes to you. Use it well…and make a lot of mischief from under it." He added with a wolfish smile.
"Son?" his father's voice interrupted his thoughts as she came through the doorway already wearing his robes. "It's time to go. And you might want to hide that."
Looking down, Harry saw he still had the cloak in his hands. He quickly placed the cloak in his trunk, just as his father shrunk it and placed it in his pocket.
Picking up Hedwig's cage and following his father downstairs, Harry was led to the entrance Hall's Grand Fireplace where his mother and siblings stood waiting for them.
"Alright, we'll be flooing to The Leaky Cauldron where we'll take a Ministry car to drive us to King's Cross." His mother started taking control of the situation. "James, you go first with Sophie."
His father took Sophie by the hand, and after throwing the powder and jumping in the flames in the flames, he disappeared with a shout of The Leaky Cauldron!
"Andy, you next." His brother repeated the process.
"Go on Harry." Her mother said offering the pot with the powder.
He took it and walked nervously towards the fireplace. He hated to floo as he never managed to end up on his feet. Then he threw in the powder and with a shout of "The Leaky Cauldron!" the world started spinning around until he was spit out of the pub's fireplace and sprawled onto the floor much to the amusement of James and Andy, who were laughing their brains out. Sophie on the other hand was glaring daggers at them while she tried to help Harry up off the floor.
As Lily came from the fireplace they made their way out of the pub and entered the car that awaited them. As they made themselves comfortable, Harry asked something that had been bothering him for a while.
"What if there are reporters at the platform?"
It was his father that responded. "Don't worry, son. I made sure none of them would be there."
The trip to the station was made without any problems and soon they were packing Harry's trunk (which James had cryptically grown again) into a trolley, and making their way through the station.
They stopped in front of the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Harry knew why that was. His father had told him how to get to the platform. "Just walk straight at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10." James had told him.
Again, James went first with Sophie, quickly followed by Andy. He was preparing to follow them when a voice caught his attention.
"Now what is the name of the platform again?" Harry looked around. It was a short, plump woman that was followed by a heard of red-headed children like herself.
"Nine and three quarters. Mum can't we go too?" asked two young twin girls who were by their mother's side.
"Oh Ginny, Carma. I told you you're too young. You have to wait another year."
Harry turned back to his trolley but the look on his mother's face stopped him. She was looking at the woman intently. As if she had known her once.
"Alright Percy, you f…" the woman trailed off as she looked at Lily. Her face scrunched in concentration until realization dawned on her face.
"Lily? Lily Potter?"
"Molly Weasley?" at the woman's nod his mother stepped further and shook her hand. "It's been so long. We never got those play dates settled. After everything that happened I lost your contact. Oh, where are my manners? This is my son Harry."
"Hello, dear. It's nice to meet you. These are my children, Percy," Mrs. Weasley pointed at a tall boy in glasses who looked to be enjoying this as much as Harry enjoyed the floo. "Fred, George," she pointed to another set of twins. Both had smiles that reminded him of Uncle Sirius when he was about to prank someone. "Ron, who's also starting first year," The boy in question was almost as tall as Fred and George even if he was supposed to be a first year, "And these here are my youngest two, Ginny and Carma." Mrs. Weasley looked back at the two girls. One of them had her eyes open wide and as Harry's eyes drifted over her she began to blush and hide behind her sister.
"It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Weasley, and you all, of course." He said, still confused over the girl's attitude.
"Well, let's not take any longer or you'll all miss the train. Percy, Fred, George you go first," said Mrs. Weasley taking over her troops.
As the boys disappeared she sent Ron, and then asked Harry if he'd like to go after. Harry nervously ran at the barrier expecting a collision. It never came though and he was looking at a scarlet train engine and his father pacing impatiently with his brother and sister.
"What took you so long?"
He was excused from an answer when his mother came through the barrier, followed immediately by Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Carma. After a quick explanation to James, who remembered Lily mentioning Mrs. Weasley, James took Harry's trunk to the train and helped him find a compartment. They found one where the twins were helping Ron to place his own trunk.
Returning to the platform, Harry found himself immediately engulfed in an enormous hug from his mother.
"Now you listen to me Harry James Potter. Behave yourself and respect ALL your teachers." The way she was talking made Harry think he had already done something wrong and was about to be punished for it. "Do your homework and if you need any help, ask Percy, he is a fifth year's Prefect." Percy, who was nearby puffed his chest at the possibility to help another student as the twins and Ron rolled their eyes.
"Yes, Mum."
"And write as soon as you can telling us of your first thoughts of Hogwarts and your House." She continued.
"It better not be Slytherin or you'll be disowned!" added his father but the slap on the back of his head refrained him from further comments.
A flash of red, then, invaded his vision as his sister ran into his arms and started crying into his chest.
"Shh…don't cry Sophie. I'll see you real soon. Just three more months and I'll be home for Christmas." He said as he tried to calm his sister. She just hugged him tighter and cried even harder.
"I don't want you to go. I've never been away from you and I don't want to be."
James picked her in his arms and started to soothe her.
The train whistled and a voice was heard informing them that the train would leave in five minutes. Harry looked momentarily around and saw Ginny and Carma crying to their mother's chest. He couldn't see much else as Lily pulled him into another hug.
After she pulled back, Harry went to his father, who had place Sophie back in the ground though her face was hidden in his belly, and gave him a quick hug. Giving Sophie a kiss in the head, he went to his brother who seemed close to tears himself though he was trying to hold them in.
"Well, see you at Christmas, bro," he said placing a hand in the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah," Andy responded in a strangled voice repeating the gesture. "See you at Christmas."
The train started to whistle again so Harry entered with a quick wave at Mrs. Weasley, and made his way with Ron to their compartment, where they waved through the window until the platform was out of sight.
After minutes of silence, they both looked up at the same time. Ron grinned sheepishly and blurted,
"So, you're Harry Potter?"
A.N.: Thanks again to Code Romance who betas this story and puts up with me...Thanks Manda!
