Chapter 2

Vernon Dursley was not a man with an overabundance of self-control, yet he also found it impossible to say no to his wife when she was passionate about something. So after a doctor told him he was at serious risk of a heart attack unless he changed his diet, and his wife begged him with tears in his eyes to listen to him, he relented. 3 weeks later though the temptation was just too much, which is how he found himself in the kitchen shovelling fried bacon into his mouth.

Suddenly the kitchen door exploded inwards with an enormous bang and a man wreathed in light entered the room with a piece of knobbled wood gripped tightly in his fist, his cerulean eyes aglow with an eldritch fire. "Dursley, I will ask this once and once only, where is Harry Potter?"

Albus watched as the fat man in front of him opened his mouth repeatedly like a fish, before he suddenly paled, gripped his chest and collapsed to the floor. Albus stared dispassionately at the man, crouched down and felt for a pulse and found none, with a sigh he traced an arcane sigil in the air with his wand and muttered "Refocilo". He waited a few seconds for the sudden gasp and Vernon sat upright.

"Now Vernon, I have given you your life back, so answer my question. Where is Harry?"

Vernon gulped and began to talk.

3 days earlier

"Boy, we're leaving for Marge's in 45 minutes. You will be going straight to Mrs Figg across the way in 15, do we understand each other?" Vernon glowered at Harry across breakfast punctuating each word by chewing an enormous mouthful of fruit.

Harry internally sighed, ever since his aunt had put his Uncle and Cousin on their new diet they'd been even more irritable than normal. "Yes Uncle Vernon."

"And I don't want to hear any stories about you wandering the streets like a common thief either! We've told all the neighbours that we shall be away for a few days, and that they are to keep an eye on you." Vernon noisily scraped the remainder of his food onto his fork. "Dudley! You better be ready to go soon or I'll be having words with you too!" he bellowed up the stairs.

"Harry dear, welcome, welcome. It's so good to see you again. Look at you, you're growing so big!" Mrs Figg ushered Harry inside and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You're only 8, but just look at you, one day you'll be fighting off girls with a stick!"

Harry smiled, he loved staying with Mrs Figg, she was always nice to him and she has the friendliest cats. "Hello Mrs. Figg, hello Danny, and Felix and Sammy, and Lucy..." he was interrupted by a loud meow "And of course I could never forget you, Duchess!"

"Harry, how many times do I need to tell you, call be Bella, Mrs. Figg makes me feel like an old lady!" she said with laugh at seeing the cats jumping all around Harry.

"Sorry Mrs Bella. I can't help it."

"That's ok, do you want something to eat? Or shall we put on a video?" she said with a knowing grin.

Harry's smile almost split his face in two, "Aristocats!"

"Harry dear, it's been lovely having you here again, do feel free to pop over if you want to say hello, and not just when your Aunt and Uncle need a babysitter" Mrs Figg said with small smile, "Now run along back home, you know you're not supposed to be late back."

"Yes Bella, thanks for everything", he crouched down to the small congregation of cats gathered around his feet "And bye to all of you too, I'll see you soon I promise."

As Harry walked out the door he glanced both ways to make sure the road was safe to cross, when he paused "Has Mrs Polkiss always had such a weird tree?" he shrugged, he'd always found it weird what grown-ups chose to put in their gardens. As he was crossing the road he suddenly found himself wrapped in the pink petals that had been blown off the tree, combined with a the bright sunlight glowing through it created a kaleidoscopic rainbow of colour, Harry laughed and span in place, "This is amazing!" he thought. Then it stopped as quickly as it had started leaving Harry slowly spinning in the middle of the road.

Harry jumped as the sudden beeping of a horn snapped him out of his reverie and he suddenly sprinted to the side of the road to avoid the car suddenly speeding towards him. Harry smiled to himself, maybe just maybe, it might be a sign that things are going to get better.

"Boy, get your arse out of bed and into the kitchen right now!" Harry's sleep and hope for a gentler time at Privet Drive were both shattered by the bellow of his Uncle. Harry pulled on his clothes and made his way into the kitchen, "You've had 2 days of lazing around at the neighbours and now you're nine you are going to start taking some responsibility around here. You will be vacuuming and mopping this kitchen 3 times a week, every week. Are we clear?"

"But Uncle Vernon, why do I have to do chores and Dudley doesn't?" Harry pouted.

"Because his school marks reflect that he has a bright future, whereas yours show that you are destined for something rather more menial. The sooner you get used to that fact the better, do we understand each other?" Vernon huffed dismissively and went back to reading his paper.

Harry sighed and nodded. "Yes Uncle Vernon."

"Good lad, get to it."

"Aunt Petunia?" Harry gently pulled on the edge of her skirt.

"What is it?"

Harry looked down at his feet, "I've finished with the kitchen, would it be ok if I went outside to play?"

Aunt Petunia strode into the kitchen and glanced around "Yes well I suppose you've done rather an adequate job. Lord save us we've managed to find something that you're not terrible at. You can go outside for the next 2 hours, do not let the neighbours see you rolling in the dirt like some kind of animal." And with that she walked away returning to the television.

Harry grinned and ran out the back door.

Harry had always loved being outside, it was peaceful and calm, yet so bright and colourful. He could walk through the woods for hours every day and always find something new to see, and something fascinating to learn. Harry knew that deep down he was not the smartest kid in class, he would never get the best grades and would never be a top student, he just didn't have the attention span, but he absolutely devoured books about nature, animals and plants.

2 years ago Harry had stumbled across a tree deep in the local wood that was different to all the others, he wasn't sure why from the outside it looked like a standard English Oak, but it exudes a sense of serenity and mischief that he found utterly intoxicating. He'd spent more time in that tree than almost anywhere else, the only place he'd spent more time was Privet Drive itself.

Which would explain his confusion at the tree not being there anymore.

Harry looked around he knew these woods like the back of his hand and yet, he didn't recognise where he was. He was completely lost, Harry started to panic a little, his Aunt had warned him about this exact thing. She had told him time and time again to not wander in the woods, why couldn't he listen to her for once?

Harry turned and started to run back the way he came, hopefully he could find his way out and get back before he was late and he could avoid being given a lecture by his Uncle and a scolding by his Aunt. He was so caught up in his worries he wasn't paying attention to where his feet were going and before he knew he was tumbling head over heels down a hill that had snuck up on him. Harry landed heavily, his ankle twisting awkwardly under him.

He slowly climbed to his feet, wincing as his right took his weight. It was definitely twisted at the very least. Harry turned to look at the hill he fell down so he could work out how to get back up. There was only one small problem, there hill wasn't there anymore.

"What is it with me and nature disappearing on me today?" He thought to himself.

Instead of the hill, Harry found himself staring at a woodland that dwarfed the one he was previously running through. The tree's here stood hundreds of feet tall and was made up of oaks, maples, palms, cherry trees, baobab trees, and others trees that Harry had only ever seen in pictures and certainly ones that had never grown wild on the British Isles. But all of that paled into comparison compared to what sat in the middle of them, sat in their centre was the most beautiful tower he had ever seen. He'd recognise it anywhere, it was his tree.

Harry smiled and started to walk towards it, marveling at every little thing he saw. Things he'd never dreamed of even in the stories he'd been read at school.

Sooner than he'd have thought he found himself stood before a huge set of double doors, covered in designs of animals and flowers, from lilies that looked so real he was convinced they were about to bloom and hummingbirds where he could swear the wings were moving. He slowly raised his hand to hesitantly knock on the door, he didn't to disturb the animals. As his hand was about to make contact the door suddenly swung open and stood behind it was, what Harry thought must be, the most beautiful woman in existence.

"Oh hello, you must be Harry, I've heard so much about you. Thank you for looking after my friend whilst I've been away. He's told me so much about you. I'm so sorry, where are my manners, come in, come in, welcome to my home. My name is Verenestra, please won't you join me?" she said in a warm, melodious voice that made Harry think of the joys of summer time. Verenestra extended her hand and waited

Harry paused for a moment, remembering his Aunt's warnings about stranger danger, before he smiled, took her hand and stepped into the tower.