Harry did not leave his cupboard for a long time. He was beginning to wonder if his uncle was trying to starve him to death. He listened to his relatives go about their daily business as though nothing was wrong, and soon lost track of what time it was. He was getting to the point of painful thirst when there was a loud, booming knock on the door.
"WHO'S THERE!" Uncle Vernon demanded.
"OPEN THE DOOR! I'M HERE TO SEE HARRY POTTER!"
Harry was stunned to hear this, but before he could process this development, his uncle interrupted his thoughts.
"THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE!" He yelled. "I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
"I KNOW RUDDY WELL THAT HE LIVE HERE YA GREAT MUGGLE! OPEN THE DOOR! I KNOW YA HAVEN'T BEEN LETTIN' HIM GET HIS LETTERS!"
Aunt Petunia gasped. Uncle Vernon, however, was still determined to keep the man outside away.
"LEAVE RIGHT NOW OR I'M CALLING THE POLICE!" He roared.
But right as he finished the sentence, there was a bang, and the door swung open, the hinges creaking dangerously.
"Now, where's Harry Potter?" The intruder growled threateningly.
Harry weighed his options. This was not the sort of man he wanted to cross. He must be incredibly strong. But he was the letter sender. He must have answers.
Taking a risk for the first time in his life, he yelled "I'm in here!"
The man came around to the cupboard entrance, and began yelling curses at Uncle Vernon. A moment later, there was another bang, Aunt Petunia shrieked, and the cupboard door opened, pulling out the nails.
"Come out now, Harry." The man said in a kind, gentle voice.
Harry froze. No one had ever spoken to him kindly before.
"It's alright Harry, I'm here to help. Blimey, it's been a long time since I've seen you.
Curiosity drew Harry out more than the man's reassurances. Who could this man be?
Harry gasped at the sight of the man. He was extremely tall, and very broad and muscular. At the sight of Harry's bruised face, the man let loose another torrent of curses against Uncle Vernon. Finally free, Harry could see his aunt's and uncle's reactions to what was happening. Petunia was trembling and white as a sheet. Vernon was somehow simultaneously both pale and purple in the face, the vein in his temple threatening but not yet dangerous.
"Anyways, Harry, here's yer letter." The man handed him an envelope identical to the one that had got him in so much trouble. "They can't stop ya readin' it now."
Hands shaking, Harry took it and tore it open.
All of his questions were answered at last. The Man's name was Hagrid. After giving him some water and a birthday cake (it had been three days since the letter), Harry learned everything that had been kept from him since his parent's deaths, which were MURDERS, not a car accident as he'd been told. He was a wizard. The strange things that happened around him were accidental magic. There were many like him, and there was a school for people like him! He would be going there in September! It all seemed so impossible. It must be a dream. Maybe a daydream. A hallucination of his dehydrated mind?
His thoughts were interrupted by Hagrid. "Now, you wasn't supposed to come with me Harry, you was supposed to stay here 'till September. But, givin' the circumstances- " He shot a glare at Harry's aunt and uncle. "-I'll be sendin' an owl to Professer Dumbledore to see what can be done." He then drew a small owl from his coat pocket, scribbled down a note, gave it to the owl, and tossed it out the open window. "Come on now, Harry. We'll me meetin' Professor Dumbledore in London."
Harry found himself with Hagrid in a pub called The Leaky Cauldron. Soon, they were joined by a man with long white hair and beard. This was evidently Professor Dumbledore. He looked appalled at Hagrid's description of Harry's treatment. At the end, he said, "Very well. Harry can stay here until term begins, and by the beginning of summer break I shall find him a wizarding home to take him in.
