Hello all! I hope you're enjoying the story so far! I apologize if it seems to dark, gruesome, and angst. Also, sorry, this chapter is a bit shor But life is always happening!

Please, feel free to leave a review! Critiques are always welcome! Or you're welcome to PM me too. :)

Tell me your favorite part so far!!

Does anyone use/read from Archive Of Our Own/Ao3? ~dearallyhansen

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The next morning, Harry woke to the sound of Vernon yelling at the telly and Aunt Petunia knocking on the door and saying, "Up! Up! You mow the lawn this morning!"

Harry groaned. Why did he have the feeling that today was just going to be like every other birthday he had endured with the Dursleys?

Reluctantly, he tore himself away from sleep. He was having a very good dream too. There was a large, jolly man on a motorbike, with a sleeping baby next to him. He had a feeling that baby had been him, because the little one had a lighting-bolt shaped scar...

He got dressed and took the lawn mower out of the garage. Why the Dursleys bothered tending to their lawn, Harry didn't know. It was already immaculate.

After that was done, he walked back into the house.

"Plant these bulbs in the front yard! And then take a shower, you smell disgusting, freak."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia."

She handed her nephew a few daisy bulbs and he went back outside to plant them.

-

After the flowers were planted and He'd showered and dressed, he cooked eggs on the stove for Petunia, Vernon, and Dudley.

"Thanks, Harry," Dudley said quietly.

Harry smiled.

By midafternoon, Aunt Petunia made Harry clean every square inch of the two story house. The whole time, his cousin watched TV, played video games, and hung out with his gang, which made Harry realize that he hadn't changed, not really. Not that he would've expected anything

more, anyway.

It was 4 in the afternoon by the time he finished cleaning and in his cupboard he flopped onto his bed in frustration.

-

Serverus Snape

It was nearing 3pm at Hogwarts. This year, he reluctantly agreed to helping Dumbledore and Mcgonagall with reading the answers from coming-of-age students. The Headmaster and Transfiguration teacher were pleased that he said yes to helping them this time, as they had been begging him for years. Upon arrival, he groaned at the at least a thousand letters atop the Headmaster's desk. He knew it was going to take all day! Time well spent, he sighed. At least they were done now.

A letter of assurance of his arrival never came from Potter. That troubled him. Even with James and Lily gone, he was sure that boastful Potter was going to be just like his father, first to everything. And yet, 4pm the deadline, came and went with no letter from the boy. He decided that the first coarse of action that he should take is to talk to Minerva.

He stuck his hand in the floo powder, threw it in the flames, and shouted, "Message to Minerva Mcgonagal!". His head found her in her office and saw the woman sitting at her desk. He watched her look up and jump.

"Good heavens, Serverus! What a surprise! How may I help you?"

"Evening Minnie. May we meet for tea in, say, ten minutes?"

"My office or yours?" She replied matter-of-factly.

"I'll be at yours in ten minutes if that's fine by you?"

"I'll see you in ten with tea all ready made, Snape."

They smiled at one another, and he was back in his office.

The shoulder-length haired man pulled on his robes and a pair of black slippers. He made sure the potion he had been making sat at a stand-still. All ingrediants were put in their place but the professior made sure to double check, as he always did when he was leaving his potions lab. Serverus Snape briskly left his office for his evening tea with the Head of Gryffindor House.

-

"So what brings you to tea with me on this sunny afternoon, Serverus?" Mcgonagall asked.

"Do you realize today that we did not recieve a letter from one Mr. Harry Potter?"

"That did cross my mind, Serverus. It did leave me a bit curious, but that does happen from time to time with students, does it not?"

"True, true, yet I feel that this situation is...different. With the parents he had (rest in peace my sweet Lily), there's no way he could have opted not to come to Hogwarts..."

Minerva nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. The boy's name has been accepted into this prestigeous

school since Lily had him! Do you

think something is wrong? I do hate those muggles that Dumbledore placed

him with..."

"Wait, they placed him with muggles? Do you happen to know who?"

"I believe they were called The Dursleys. You couldn't have found muggles who hated wizards more." The professor huffed indignantly, nose in the air.

"Minnie, what do you say to paying them a visit and seeing how the little Potter boy is doing?"

"This is out of character for you Serverus! I must say, I'm a bit shocked. But yes, I think that would be very good for Harry, and for my well-being as well."

They stood up to leave Minnie's office.

-

Harry

This time, Harry Potter chose the backyard as his sanctuary. The large, rather lavish back yard wasn't as nice, in his opinion, but was still a very good place to be alone, away from the Dursleys but close enough to hear just about everything.

-

"I saw what you were hiding from me, Petunia."

She gulped.

"I did not, however, get to read the letter." Vernon's tone was threatening, like lightning and storm clouds pulling in on a windy day.

"Will you tell me what it said?"

"He's...like her." She said softly through clentched teeth, referring to Lily.

"We swore when we took the boy in that we were going to stomp the magic out of him! We are not dealing with a...magicman..in the house, Petunia!" He got up and pulled out seveal bottles of all sorts of alcolhol, including brandy and vodka and opened the vodka, drinking slowly.

"I'm not disagreeing with you! I don't want that nonsense around Dudders!"

He muttered nonsense about silly robes and cloaks and took a great swig of vodka.

"As much as I despise the boy, I'm not willing to have another wandwaving freak in my life." she whispered.

"The settles it, then. He's not going!"

"I never said he was or that I wanted him to, Vernon." she continued whispering.

Her husband took another gulp of alcohol and screamed. "You and your talking back has got to stop!"

She went over to scrub the dishes in the sink and wimpered.

Vernon grouchily drank again and stomped over to their bedroom.

He paused on the way there when there was a knock on the door.

-

Harry

"BOY!"

Harry wondered who was at the door. Nobody ever visited him on his birthday, and Grunnings laid Uncle Vernon off a long time ago. From his angry shout, and Dudley's lack of stomping down the stairs from his room, it doesn't sound like he, Dudley, or Petunia were expecting anyone either. He lazily got up from the soft grass he'd been plucking. Two steps in the house told him that his Uncle has been drinking.

"You! Answer the door!" Petunia's shrill voice got Harry to move faster. As he opened the door, Dudley came running down the stairs.

"WHO IS IT-" Dudley screeched, ever the impatient one.

Harry heaved a sigh, and pulled open the door.

A dark-haired, shoulder length man and a tall woman who's hair was pulled back into a very tight bun stood at the door.

Harry and Dudley stared up at both of them.

"Hi. I'm Minerva Mcgonagal, and this is Serverus Snape. We're from Hogwarts. Are either of you Harry?"

"T-that's me.." said Harry nervously.

Dudley looked at Harry curiously.

"May we come in? It's rather warm out here and we'd like to speak to you."

" Okay, sure." Harry guestured to the rest of the house nervously.

They stepped inside, and sat down at Petunia's pristine kitchen table. Dudley and Harry, who was wondering what was going on, followed suit.

"Wwwwwwhooo are this funnnnny looking people?" Vernon slurred.

Petunia, taking in their robes and realizing what was about to unfold, looked between these people and Vernon nervously and spoke in a very defensive tone.

"We are NOT letting the boy go learn some fuddy duddy magic like my stupid sister and her crappy husband who went and got themselves killed by some mad magician!"

Harry gasped. "You told me they died in a car crash!"

"A car crash?! Petunia, why would you

lie to your own nephew?!" Snape looked agast. He barely sat down, and this is what he was fed?

"My sister was IDOLIZED by our parents in my house. All she could do was wave a magic wand, and suddenly, she was the favorite! Both of us equal, she and I were the best of friends! Then she went and became a...a wandwaving freak and then we lost touch and then she married that other wandwaving brat! They had you," she

spoke loudly, pointing to Harry. "and went and got themselves blown up and then we got stuck with you!"

"Thhhe boy is noottt a wizzzarddd. Noot in this houuseee." Vernon piped up sleazily

but angrily, barely able to make human speech.

Minerva spoke. "You should be proud to have a wizard in your home! His name has been down for Hogwarts ever since he was a baby!"

Then she turned to addres the now eleven year old boy sitting in front of her and Snape.

"Harry, do you want to go to a magic school

and learn how to be a wizard?"

"Oh yes! that sounds really cool!"

"Wonderful! As it's your choice and not your Uncle's or Aunt's, I would like to inform you that you are offically accepted to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Mcgonagal smiled.

"Cool!" Harry's eyes gleamed.

His Aunt and Uncle huffed,

It was Serverus's turn to speak.

"Potter, one of us would like to take you to Diagon Alley today to purchase your school things. Would that be okay with you?"

"Yes, sir!" Harry clapped.

"Which one of us would you like to accompany you?"

Harry turned to Minerva. "Can you take me, ma'am?"

"Yes, child, I would be glad to. And you can call me Minnie." she said softly, smiling.

"Thank you, I'm very grateful, Minnie!"

She could see none of James in the little boy but in the last five minutes or so of meeting, she could see all of Lily. And he had her stunning green eyes.

The two older Wizards get up from the table to leave.

"Wonderful! Shall we be off?"

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