Chapter 2. The Letter

"Up! Get up! Now!"

Harry woke with a start. His aunt rapped on the door again.

"Hurry up. Don't think I am going to keep breakfast for you"

With the special venom on which she infused you with, Harry knew this was going to be a trying day.

"Are you up yet?" she demanded.

"Nearly," said Harry.

As he slowly got ready for the ordeal of having to put up with his relatives. Since the whole running away incident, things had been tense, so Harry was committed to getting breakfast and getting out of the house as soon as humanly possible. Especially given what happened a few weeks ago at the Zoo. It seems talking to snakes does not meet the Dursleys normal meter.

By the time he got down for breakfast, Dudley and Vernon were already on their second helping of bacon. Dudley of course in his new school uniform for Smelting the public school that Vernon attended. The uniform consisted of a maroon tailcoat, orange knickerbockers, and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later life, though Harry thought Dudley needed more practice learning not to hit people then the reverse. Though there was of course one good thing, Dudley would not be bothering Harry at Smelting, Harry was instead going to the local comprehensive Stonewall.

When Harry sat down, uncle Vernon who was half eating half reading his newspaper, peered over and barked out.

"You need a hair cut boy".

"Yes, uncle Vernon" Harry replied to the common query with an emotionless tone.

It's not that Harry didn't care what his uncle thought. Well not only that he didn't care, it's just his hair seemed to have a mind of its own. No matter what he did it just didn't seem to stay straight or neat.

Half way through breakfast, the mail slot was opened, and Harry was ordered to get the mail.
Sluggishly moving so as to make the matter take as long as possible just to grind on his uncle, Harry went to get the mail.

What he saw there shocked him. In between the regular mail for his relatives was a letter for him. On some special kind of paper but as clear as day it read;

Mr. H. Potter
Smallest Bedroom #4 Privet Drive Surrey

It was also sealed with wax. With the wax forming some kind of arms, quartered with a lion, eagle, badger and snake. Not going to have a chance to read it now Harry pocketed it for later and headed back in the kitchen with the Dursley's mail. It only took about half an hour for Harry to be able to vacate #4. But the whole time his mind was reeling, the question was who would be writing to him?

By the time he reached the wooded section of the park that Harry had begun to frequent, his anticipation was reaching a fever pitch, and he tore through the weird paper with gusto. Inside he found a letter addressed to him and headed with the same arms as the wax seal.

Hogwarts School of Witchcrafts and Wizardry

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerers, Chief Warlock, of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place 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

The second page went on to list all the books and equipment that was needed, including robes, several spell books and a wand. Additionally, there was a third page.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Due to your muggle upbringing, a member of staff will be sent to your place of residence at 10 O'clock in the morning of Saturday 20 July to answer any questions you and your family may have and accompany you to Diagon Alley to purchase your school supplies.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

After reading the letters Harry let an audible gasp and a very loud "bloody hell!"

What was this, some kind of prank? But who would prank him? The Dursleys as much as they would love to get to him, even more so since he developed his rather aloof mask, they just don't have the imagination. Heck imagination was practically a curse word to them. Oh god, Magic! How many times was he told, that magic didn't exist. It was never don't be an idiot type of denial; it was always more than that. And his powers; they always seemed to blame him when weird things happen, did they possibly know that he was the cause of it? Was his powers magic? And if that was the case what of his parents where they magical too? There was only one way to be sure, and that meant meeting with this person.

The wait to the 20th seemed to be unbearable. But it had finally arrived. So far, he managed to keep his mask around the Dursleys but Harry was on tenterhooks. Harry's eyes were glued to the clock, 10 seconds, left, 5 seconds, 1 second and… Nothing. Nothing happened. 10 o'clock came and went and soon it was half past, but there was still no sign of anyone. Having lost faith that anyone was going to come, Harry was about to abandon his vigil, till...

"BANG!", "BANG" "BANG" echoed through the whole house.

"What the bloody hell is all that racket" Vernon shouts back out, startled from his afternoon tea.

He furiously moves to the door, to give whoever is disturbing his peace and quiet a good thrashing, but instead when he opens the door, he just pales and backs away. And Harry couldn't blame him. At the threshold was without a doubt the largest man Harry had ever seen. He must have been over 7 heck over 8 feet tall and bulky to boot. The sheer size of the man was incredible.

"Well 'ello there" The giant of man said, in a jovial West Country accent.

"My name is Hagrid, I am here to take young 'arry to grab his school supplies."

Vernon who until this moment was just spluttering started to come to his senses.

"wha…what school supplies"

"Aye, Hogwarts, you will know all about Hogwarts" the man named Hagrid responded.

"But… but the boy" Vernon attempted to get out before just giving up.

Seeing that this was his chance for some answers Harry moved forward.

"Umm excuse, excuse me Mr. Hagrid Sir, can you tell me more about, this school and well umm magic? It's just I didn't know anything about it except for what was in the letter."

"Err… What?" Hagrid asked confusedly.

"Are you saying they never told you, that you don't know anything?"

Blushing furiously and trying to push back the emotions Harry croaks out. "Well I know some things, I did go to school and I know I can do things with umm… I guess it's magic."

Looking sympathetic Hagrid responds kindly

"Oh, it's not your fault 'arry, Dumbledore told me there might be some err… complications, I just never expected this. Blimey Harry Potter knowing 'othing about magic" Seeing Harry face turn slightly sour, Hagrid quickly adds on. "But don't you worry we will quickly get you all caught up and all that".

'But I can do magic Hagrid" Harry pleads not wanting to look like a complete simpleton.

"No, no, that just err… accidental magic. Young'uns like yourself can't control the magic see. At ter Hogwarts you get to learn how to do that, all under Albus Dumbledore the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever seen."

Seeing that this topic was going nowhere, and having a deep ingrained reflex to downplay his accomplishments and even more so to keep his skills hidden, Harry let it drop. Besides he had to ask the one question question he had been dying to ask.

"Did you know my parents? James and Lily Potter? I don't really know anything about them see, and I was err… well you see… I was wondering if you knew them, all I really know is that they died in a car crash."

Out of know nowhere Hagrid just bellowed "DURSLEY" sending everyone scampering back from the enraged Giant.

"I err. I err." Uncle Vernon pleaded as he backed away from the giant of man, slowly moving to the parlor.

But Petunia who had until then stayed quite bust out. "It's not like we wanted the brat. He was left here in the middle of the night on the door step, with only a note explaining things. We fed him, provided him a roof over his head, just as I told that Dumblesdoor man when he came here criticizing us. We will provide for him but his freakishness has no place here! You want him at that freakish school, then take the boy, but leave me and my family out of it."

And without further ado Petunia left, with Dudley and Vernon in tow.

Shocked a little as Harry had never seen Petunia like that, there was this rather awkward pause. But needing to know the truth, Harry carried on.

"Err. Mr. Hagrid Sir… about my um… parents"

"Oh, yes umm 'arry firstly you can just call me Hagrid everyone does. And I am really not the best person to tell you that now 'arry."

"But Hagrid, I must know, they're my parents; I have to know, I umm need to know." Harry pleaded.

"Alright 'arry, well first, your parents were some of the kindest and bravest people I had the good fortune of knowing. Real great people and you look mightily like your dad, except for your eyes of course you have Lily's eyes, and they err… were so happy to have you even in the midst of the war…"

"WAR!" Harry gasped "What war?"

"Err… well right see um… something you have to understand umm is that. See the thing you need to know 'arry is not all wizards are good. Back some 20 years ago there was one wizard he went bad, really bad eh. See he started gathering followers, got 'em too. Some were afraid, some just wanted a bit o' his power, 'cause he was gettin' himself power, all right. Dark days, Harry. Didn't know who ter trust, didn't dare get friendly with strange wizards or witches... terrible things happened. He was takin' over. 'Course, some stood up to him an' he killed 'em. Horribly. Now, yer mum an' dad were as good a witch an' wizard as I ever knew. Head boy an' girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the mystery is why You-Know-Who never tried to get 'em on his side before... probably knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin' ter do with the Dark Side. They say Dumbledore was the only 'ne that he ever fear'd. Maybe he thought he could persuade 'em... maybe he just wanted 'em outta the way. All anyone knows is, he turned up in the village where you was all living, on Halloween ten years ago. You was just a year old. He came ter yer house and…."

Tears stared pouring down Hagrid's eyes, as he quickly pulled out a dirty old rag to blow his nose.

"Sorry see, It's just yer parents were some of the kindest people I knew, and all" Hagrid said through the tears.

"You-Know-Who killed 'em. An' then an' this is the real myst'ry of the thing, he tried to kill you, too. Wanted ter make a clean job of it, I suppose, or maybe he just liked killin' by then. But he couldn't do it. Never wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead? That was no ordinary cut. That's what yeh get when a Powerful, evil curse touches yeh, took care of yer mum an' dad an' yer house, even but it didn't work on you, an' that's why yer famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he decided ter kill 'em, no one except you, an' he'd killed some o' the best witches an' wizards of the age the McKinnon's, the Bones, the Prewett's an' you was only a baby, an' you lived."

"What's his name, this You-Know-Who?" Harry asked once he got out of the stupor.

Well, I don' like sayin' the name if I can help it. No one does."

"Why not?"

"Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are still scared. Blimey, this is difficult. See, it's not just that he went... bad. He went as bad as you could go. Worse. Worse than worse. He killed for fun, he was evil plain and simple. And his name was..." Hagrid gulped, but no words came out.

After the several attempts he finally hissed out "Voldemort " as he shuddered. "Don't make me say it again."

"Voldemort, Voldemort killed my parents" Harry chanted, not noticing the frightened shake Hagrid made at the mention of the name.

"Where is he now Hagrid? Where is Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"Don't say the name; I beg yer 'arry... it's a terrible name." Hagrid pleaded.

"Please Hagrid can you tell me what happened to the man who murdered my parents."

"I don't rightly know where you-know-who has gone to. He simply disappeared. Vanished. Same night he tried ter kill you. Makes yeh even more famous. That's the biggest myst'ry, see... he was gettin' more an' more powerful -– why'd he go? Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die. Some say he's still out there, bidin' his time, like, but I don' believe it. People who was on his side came back ter ours. Some of 'em came outta kinda trances. Don reckons they could've done if he was comin' back. "Most of us reckon he's still out there somewhere but lost his powers. Too weak to carry on. 'Cause somethin' about you finished him, Harry. There was somethin' goin' on that night he hadn't counted on -– I dunno what it was, no one does -– but somethin' about you stumped him, all right. You wait; you'll be right famous at Hogwarts."

"I don't want to be famous, for surviving the attack that killed my parents" Harry said coldly.

"I know 'arry, but nothing can change that eh. You're the boy-who-lived".