CHAPTER TWO
By the time David was allowed out of the orphanage again, the summer holidays had started.
Harry was sad to say the school year was over, as he now had nothing to occupy himself with. This empty feeling led Harry to spend all his time out of the orphanage, wandering around, with the always enthusiastic Hannah and the perpetually sombre David, thinking about the end of the holidays looming over him.
Unlike all the other children Harry could only be in his element when he went to school, a place where he excelled. When September came he would be going off to secondary school and to Harry's disappointment he wouldn't be with the others from the orphanage.
Libby had been accepted at an old all-girls school, Trias High School, thirteen miles away from Crewe. Hannah was going to the local Crewe co-ed school called Slaton High, this explained their argument on the bus. Harry, on the other hand, was going to Elizabeth High, the top school in Crewe. Sam thought this was very funny as it left Harry isolated from the others.
One day while Harry and Matron were making breakfast, while Harry was making breakfast, both cooks heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat.
"Can you please get the mail Matron," Harry said from as he began to fry the bacon.
"Make Christine get it."
"Can you please get the mail, Christine."
"Make Matron get it."
Harry sighed, almost shocked at the childishness she had just to do such a simple thing. Harry dodged the victorious grin Matron wore and went to get the mail.
There were lots of things which lay on the doormat: a postcard from Glen, a boy who used to live in the orphanage but had gotten adopted by a nice family, who was vacationing in Madrid, Spain.
A brown envelope that looked like a bill, his prescription for the newspaper, a letter from the Greys who had come a month or so ago, they had most likely decided to adopt someone, and - a letter for Harry.
Harry picked it up and stared at it, his mind contorting in thought at who could have written this letter. No one, ever, in his whole life, had written to him. Who would? He had no friends outside of the orphanage and he had hot made any before he came to the orphanage, no other relatives... Who would write to him anyway - he had already gotten all the things from school at open evening as well.
Yet here it was, a letter, addressed so plainly there could be no mistake:
Mr H. Potter
Bottom Left Bunk Bed At The End Of The Hallway
14 Davidson Terrace
Crewe
Cheshire
The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. There was no stamp. Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
He stalked towards the kitchen still bending his mind trying to work out the mystery until he reached the conclusion that it must have been an offer from an old private school if the coat of arms was anything to go by.
He would read it later as he could already see Matron poisoning the food if he let her carry on cooking.
His voice was always what made the first loud noise of the day: "Up! Everyone get up!" The children woke up begrudgingly as was a habit. He began to rap on each person's door making sure each child had woken up.
After he had made sure all the children had at least got out of bed he made his way to the kitchen to dish out each person's food as he usually did.
The children heard him walking toward the kitchen and then almost instantaneously the sound of excited children marched around the orphanage at the prospect of Harry's cooking.
Everyone chugged down their food as if they were hungry wolves. As he watched over them Harry began to read his letter at the table after he had eaten his food, he still had to set an example.
He began to read the addresses letter:
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 September 1.
As you have lived in a muggle oriented household we have decided to send a teacher in order to assist you in your choice to join the school, the purchase of your school equipment and integration into the wizarding society.
We would also like to invite you to a special open evening at Professor McGonagall's personal residence, however, this is optional.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
Harry unfolded the second piece of paper he hadn't noticed before, and read:
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, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' 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 Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic 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
Wand cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) set
Glass or Crystal Phials
Telescope set
Brass Scales
Students may also bring an owl, a cat or a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"What is it, Harry?" said Hannah confused towards Harry's unamused gaze.
"It's nothing important," Harry said in a cold tone.
The inhabitants of the residence were shocked still, it was as if hell had frozen over and pigs began to fly.
"That's mine!" said Harry viciously, as he tried to snatch the letter back from David.
"What'd they be writing to you that's got you so worked up?" David said in concern, as he tore the letter open with one hand and he began to rip into it.
His face went from confusion to anger in a split second. And it didn't stop there. Within seconds it was the greyish white of old porridge and objects began to rise.
"M-M-Matron!" Sam rasped still in fear.
Hannah grabbed the letter so as to read it, but was unable to finish as Matron slithered into the room and held it high out of her reach. Matron took it curiously and read the whole letter line for line. For a moment it looked as though she might lose consciousness. She crumpled the paper and forced a choking noise.
"Harry! Oh my goodness - Harry!"
They stared at each other both having contrasting thoughts, seems to have forgotten that the other children were still in the room and still paying them attention.
Sam, with his superiority complex, wasn't used to being out of the loop and he gave Harry a sharp tap on the head with his Smelting stick.
"I want to read that letter," he said loudly.
His command was immediately shot down.
I don't want you to read it or anyone else for that matter," said Harry furiously, "and as it's mine I'm sure my opinions go."
"Harry do you want to talk about it," Matron said pushing out concern into her voice, as she stuffed the letter back inside its envelope.
The comment and cohesion made by Matron calmed down harry and he nodded his head slowly as if charmed.
I WANT THE LETTER!" Sam shouted."Let me see it!" demanding to be put in the loop.
"Quiet!" reprimanded Matron ecstatic at the thought of trapping Harry by himself, and she took both Harry into her quarters holding onto his hand as if meant to be reassuring. She closed the door into the hallway behind, slamming the kitchen door as if threatening the others to follow.
Sam and David began to have a furious but silent fight over who would listen at the keyhole; Sam won, so David listened from the floor, his ears straining to hear what was being said, lay flat on his stomach to listen at the crack between door and floor a few seconds they were joined by Hannah.
Even when being so close to the door an unknown force willed them to be unable to hear but unlike Sam, David had the power to deter the wills powers but not stop it.
"Harry, are yo_ _," Matron was saying invoice whose intention could not be perceived, "look at the a_ress _ _esn't make se_e how could they possibly know where _ sleep it _n't? You don't think they're watching the house?"
"_ing - spying - might even be following us," muttered Harry wildly conspiracy theories coming left and right in his head.
"B_ _at should we do, _? Shou_ we write to the police? Tell them that your rel_ives _ds mig-"
Hannah could see practically see Harry's black hair being groomed backwards by Harry as he had a habit of doing when he thought hard about something.
"No," he said finally his thinking coming to a conclusion. "No, we'_ just have to _nore it. If _ don't get an answer... Yes, that is pro_ly the best course of _tion... _ _'t _ _."
"But Har-"
"I'm not hav_ an overblown problem in this new home, _tron! Did_ we swear when you took me in we'd stamp out the past! didn't we promise to let go of what they did! didn't you promise me I could forget about it!?"
At that, Harry stormed out of the room ignoring the eavesdroppers and the eavesdroppers did their best to be ignored.
That evening when Harry got back from walking and had calmed down, Sam did something he'd never done before in dinner; he didn't talk to Harry in his condescending manner, in fact, he did not even speak to Harry as Harry's anger was still visible in his mind.
"What was the letter about?" said Hannah with a hidden tact as she knew Harry would not lose control of his emotions in front of the younger children and he would never lie to anyone he cared about.
The moment Harry had heard these words he squeezed his nose and squirmed in the kitchen chair.
"Did you finish your food."
"Who's writing to you?"
"No one important, I'm almost sure that it was a mistaken letter, maybe even a prank," said Harry in a very short and uncaring manner.
"What did you do with it?"
"I have burned it."
"Why?"
"Does that matter."
"I'm just worried about my angered friend."
"Not angered just worried."
"Why?" Hannah said genuinely curious.
"I'm sure you heard."
"No we were unable to, when we put our hear to the door it seemed to gain soundproof properties."
Looking surprised for mere seconds Harry began to study each of the eavesdropper's faces and saw one wasn't exactly complaint with her words.
"It seems one of you was able to, however."
Both Sam and Hannah looked questionably at David noticing Harry's gaze.
"I had to really will myself to be able to listen," David replied to the silent questions.
"Ah, that explains the soundproof qualities then."
"How!" Sam said with force.
"I willed myself not to be heard," was Harry's simple reply.
"We're going off topic."
"What do your relatives have to do with the letter you got, I thought they were in jail," David interjected.
"They are, so that's why they have nothing to do with this conversation at all, " Harry said getting defensive.
"Then why would you men-" he was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"I think it's time for curfew," Harry said taking up his mantle of second in command to Matron.
"It's two hours too early!" a five-year-old orphan said shocked at the changed retirement time.
"I guess you have only these three to blame for that," with this all of the attention that was focused on Harry was redirected in just a few words.
Realising that the ire of the whole orphanage was on them Sam, Hannah and David decided to leave the issue there but they didn't even wait one day before the issue was brought up again.
Harry's voice was always what made the first loud noise of the day: "Up! Everyone get up!" The children woke up begrudgingly as was a habit. He began to rap on each person's door making sure each child had woken up.
After he had made sure all the children had at least got out of bed he made his way to the kitchen to dish out each person's food as he usually did.
The children heard him walking toward the kitchen and then almost instantaneously the sound of excited children marched around the orphanage at the prospect of Harry's cooking.
He rolled up his sleeves and he began to serve the breakfast he and the Matron had made. When the children began to flow into the room they thanked Harry for the food as they always did.
"You really need to comb your hair, Harry." Hannah small talked, by way of a morning greeting. Harry looked over the top of his newspaper, yes he read them they just seem to pass the time faster for him, and shook his head, Harry always needed a haircut.
"Worry about your mess before you speak to me about mine." Harry punctuated those words with a smirk.
Hannah sputtered and began to retaliate.
*DING* *DONG*
However, their quiet but eventful lives came to a standstill.
Harry got up from his chair and went to the door.
Maybe it's the Greys.
Harry opened the door to a woman who would later name herself as Professor Minerva McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall was a tall, black-haired woman who was dressed in emerald-green robes stood there looking at Harry with a calculating look and unbeknownst to both of them some softness. She had a very stern face, that Harry could translate to a stern personality, and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross but to befriend.
"Harry Potter?" she questioned not generally but to Harry specifically which shocked the boy.
"Yes, and what may you need Ma'am."
"Did you receive our letter of invitation yesterday?"
This left Harry dumbfounded, she did not seem the type to be friends with his relatives not to mention hold their friendship intact after two years of the Dursleys in jail.
"I'm sorry to say I thought it was a cruel prank," Harry replied as he thought he had just clued her in on the fact that he wasn't as gullible as this woman believed him to be but her response was not what he had expected it to be.
"Why so Mr Potter?" Harry was shocked at the lack of anger he had expected from her after he had "found her".
"I'm sorry to say but my logical side had me believe that magic was a work of fiction." Harry pointedly said hoping to poke holes in her supposed facade.
"Did you know some works of fiction are based on fact." the reply was short and spoken as if informing Harry of something the way a teacher would.
"May I have some evidence?" Harry retorted knowing he had her stumped.
"Then look at your hands," she answered towards his subtle challenge.
Harry looked and was shocked to find his skin turned into reptilian scales.
Harry stared at his hands for an eternity and then looked at the woman with the same disbelief.
After two eternities Harry said, "It seems this will be enough proof."
With this, a grin that never graced McGonagall for eleven years had graced McGonagall.
AN: I will use this to explain or accept valuable criticism.
Studley24
Thanks for not immediately bashing me and it was on purpose as I wanted to emphasise the fact that Harry's day was always practically the same so that the second time I repeated it and McGonagall came to the orphanage it had more of an impact.