-Chapter 1-
Meeting the Family
"Petunia, as his only living relative, you have full responsibility of-" Albus was cut off by a man's low growl. The man put down the cup he was previously holding, quiet loudly too, and stood up. Leaving Petunia and Albus alone.
"Petunia, as I was saying, the boy will stay here until he's eleven. Then I will take him as Lily ordered." Albus continued calmly as if Vernon never did a scene.
"Leave the boy before I change my mind." Petunia said under her breath.
"Thank you." Albus said as he looked at the sleeping child. "Well then, I must go." He added as he stood up and headed for the door. "Make sure that they do not know he exists." He said moments before he closed the door behind him, leaving the young boy behind.
"Well, come on now Hagrid, Minerva. We've ensured Mister Potter's safety. Our job is done for now." Albus said to the two people that approached him as soon as he closed the door.
"But Dumbledore, I've asked people what kind of family lives here. They say that the husband -Vernon- has got quite a temper!" The woman exclaimed.
"So, yer sayin' 'arry's not safe 'ere?" The tall man asked, his voice thick with an unknown accent.
"He'll be safe. He's James and Lily Potter's son." Dumbledore replied before he walked past them and into a waiting car.
-ten years later-
"Get up! Wake up boy!" A knock woke him up with a start. He rolled around, or at least he tried to, his bed and stretched before putting a hand to his hair to ruffle his deep black hair. He grabbed his spectacles -or what it was supposed to be- before another row of shrill shouts started.
"Are you up yet?" She shouted, all the way from the kitchen too, it seems.
"Almost." He replied as looked for a pair of socks. "Well, up now!" The third shrill call.
"Watch over these. I have to go wake Vernon and Dudley." His aunt said as she walked past him and up the stairs. A few moments later, she came down followed by her son -who closely resembles an ugly pig with a wig- and her husband, uncle Vernon.
"Come on now angel, it's your birthday, see your presents?" She cooed to her 'angel' who began counting them. He, meanwhile, struggled to put the plate of eggs and bacon on the cramped table.
"Thirty-six." Dudley said after what seemed like twenty minutes of counting.
"Thirty six?" He asked as he looked at his mother. "Why?"
"Darling, you forgot to count the present your aunt sent." Aunt Petunia answered, hoping that her son won't have a fit. Harry ate as fast as he could when he sensed a huge wave of Dudley's temper tantrum, judging by the redness of his swollen face.
"Alright then, thirty-seven. It's still not enough." The boy said. Petunia also seems to have sensed the danger and tried to soothe her son by promising him another two presents later.
-38 Days Later-
The voice on the telly announced the date, July 31st. 'I'm eleven.' He thought. 'And no one even cares.' He walked to the door, picking the post up and scanning through it. Bills, a letter for uncle Vernon, another bill, one for aunt Petunia, and one for Mr. Harry Potter.
"Give the post here, boy!" Vernon shouted to him, all the way from the other room.
"Coming!" He shouted back as he hastily tucked his letter in his pocket before waling towards where his uncle was. He silently handed the post to him and was about to leave when Vernon saw the letter sticking out of his pocket.
"What have you got there boy? Hiding something?" He asked as he grabbed Harry by the arm.
"This was addressed to me, sir." Harry said as he pulled out the letter.
"Nonsense! Give it here and go clean the house. Who would send you letters?" His uncle ordered. Harry gave him the letter and as soon as he did, Vernon ripped it to shreds and threw it on the bin.
"There, it's sorted. No more letter." He said when he saw Harry looking at him. "Go on now, clean the house. Be useful." He shooed the kid away. Little did he know that the letter was just the first of a series that was about to come and knock him off his perfectly normal life.
Later that day, another letter was dropped inside their mailbox. Odd, since the post was supposed to be delivered at the same time. Harry, whose duty was to do every possible job he was capable of, promptly went out to fetch the newly delivered mail. When he saw to who it was addressed to, he smiled. The letter got delivered again. His smile dropped when he saw who was at the door. His uncle Vernon was waiting for him. A mad look on his face.
"There's another letter. Still addressed to me." He explained as he handed the envelope to the man who tore it to shreds again.
"Now, no more letter." He said as he pulled Harry by the collar. "From now on, you will no longer fetch the post." He said angrily as he slammed the door behind them.
By two pm, Harry had cleaned the whole house. He also managed to practice reading whenever his uncle Vernon left him alone. He was about to go back to his room when he noticed an odd thing. A person was sneaking outside the house, stacking countless of envelopes on every possible place. Harry, who feared another beating, called his uncle who ran past him to look at the flood of letters.
"Go back to your room!" He shouted as he grabbed a bag and opened the window to gather the letters.
"Sir, why won't you let me read it?" Harry asked.
"Because you shouldn't! Now go back to your room!" He shouted back to the boy.
During supper, everyone at the table was shocked when Vernon suddenly slammed his utensils down the table.
"What's wrong dear?" Petunia asked as she tried to overcome her shock.
"We're leaving." He replied before he got up, leaving Petunia, Dudley and Harry puzzled. After his aunt composed herself, she went after her husband. Minutes later, she came back down to order Harry to change and pack up.
"But where are we going?" He asked.
"Far away." She replied as she pulled Dudley off the table.
"Now go pack." She said before she headed for the stairs with her son.
Author's Note: I would just like to thank the most talented person I know for Beta reading this chapter. This would've been a crappy chapter without her. Thank you Lizzy. I love you!