Chapter Two
Number 8 Privet Drive, Age 8
Harry Potter was a quiet little boy, eagerly waiting his 8th birthday. It was 11:47 p.m., July 30th. He was so excited, not only because he would be 8, because he might finally be able to get out of the cupboard.
It's still, Harry peeked out at the kitchen, only 11:50. Blimey, time is going way too slow. I hope Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon will let me get out for my birthday. Maybe they'll even let me take Dud's old room! Boy, that'd be the day…
Harry gently opened the door of the cupboard, praying that it wouldn't squeak. He kept pushing slowly, and squinted his eyes as he though the door would- …but it didn't squeak. He breathed a sigh of relief, and listened to the telly talking about some Sham-now or something. He figured that it was safe, and gingerly put one foot to the floor, as one would dip a toe in a pool. It, too, refrained from squeaking or creaking. Phew! I thought for sure it'd
SQUEAAAK!
Shite! He heard Vernon wake up and walk out of the living room. Harry closed the door quickly, hoping his uncle hadn't seen him.
"Boy!" his uncle whispered forcefully, "Were you trying to sneak out of the cupboard?"
"No, Uncle Vernon, I wasn't, I swear!" Harry responded quickly, shaking his head.
"Lies!" Vernon returned. He grasped Harry by the scruff of his neck and pulled him roughly out of the cupboard. "What were you going to do? Off to the kitchen for a little midnight brunch, eh?"
Harry looked at the clock in the kitchen (12:03!) then muttered excitedly to himself, "It's my birthday!"
"What?" Vernon asked. Harry turned back to him and looked up.
"It's my birthday! I'm eight years old, Uncle!" the boy had happiness shining in his eyes.
Vernon, however, only had rage. The damn boy was trying to filch food again! I'll have to punish him! I was just considering shortening his treatment from another four days to three and three-quarters! "I don't bloody care! You were sneaking out, so I'm going to have to punish you! Damn brat!" Vernon raised his right hand as if to slap Harry, only making the threat, and Harry (quite afraid of getting hit) squeezed his eyes shut and took the fetal position. In a burst of accidental magic and a loud pop, he disappeared.
A/N: It's a short chapter, and for that I am sorry. However, the next chapter and it's second part are most crucial, and this is just the lead-up to it.
