The Stuff Legends are made Of

Written by: WriterL

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

And sorry for the long absence. I have had no free time what-so-ever!

Hidden Memories

Days like these were rare. The sky was as blue as the ocean, spotted with fluffy white clouds. They hung over head like tufts of cotton candy or whipped cream teasing those below. A cool breeze blew through the air; just enough to tickle the skin on this warm summer day, and the green grass was soft and plush, making it the perfect day for children to play outside.

And so they did. All over Privet Drive young children roamed the streets barefoot, throwing balls, playing tag, and enjoying the perfect day. Parents watched their children from porches sipping glasses of lemonade and laughing good naturedly at the antics of their kids.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley were no different than any of these other families. Their own son Dudley roamed the yard with his cousin playing a rather long drawn out game of hide and seek. Currently Dudley was seeking the younger boy Harry.

The chubby blonde was trying to climb a tree in the far corner of the yard, and failing quite miserably.

"Harry!" The blonde wailed. "If you're up there then I've found you!" There was no reply.

Getting rather frustrated Dudley Dursley rubbed his palms together. He backed up and took what appeared to be a runner's stance. Silently he counted. Five! Four! Three! Two! One! He ran or should one say waddled, to the tree and jumped, clinging to the trunk as if his dear life depended upon it. For moments he stuck to the tree, but then gravity set in and the boy toppled to the ground red-faced and angry.

"Fine! If you won't come down then I won't look any more! You can stay here all night! See if I care." With those final words the young boy stomped off into the house to have himself a well deserved snack.

Petunia, who had been watching these events unfold, gasped in horror. Her poor Diddy-Dudkins! He could be hurt! She rushed in after the boy to check his wounds!

Vernon Dursley just sat on the porch. His son was no baby. He could take those scrapes like a man! He chuckled at the thought of his own flesh and blood crying over a few bumps and bruises. Preposterous!

Slowly the sun began to set and the family all gathered inside to enjoy a nice meal of sandwiches and in Dudley's case, a few heaping bowls of ice cream as well. It took them almost the whole evening to notice that one member of the family still wasn't there.

Harry Potter had never come home that night.

After a debate from the family members …

"Vernon, we shouldn't leave the boy outside all night! What if somebody finds him and blames us!?"

"The boy can stay out there if he doesn't want to come back!"

"Where's my video games! I want to play Mario!"

….It was decided that Vernon would go out and find the boy and bring him back home.

"When I find you boy, you're going to be locked in your room for a week! A week do you hear me!" He grumbled under his breath.

The bushes were scoured, and the tree shook, and still there was no sign of the young boy. Vernon check behind the flower beds and under the porch to see if the small child had shimmied underneath and gotten himself stuck. And finally he came to the small shed in the backyard.

Why on earth the boy would go in there was beyond him. Vernon kept all his old paint cans, lawn mowers, and petunia's gardening supplies in there. It was no place for a child; Even one as freaky as Potter.

He slowly opened the door and peered inside. Darkness. It was too dark to see anything.

"Petunia! Will you bring me a flash light?!"

After a few moments the horse faced woman came outside with the desired object as well as a curious Dudley pulling at her skirt.

"What has that boy gotten himself into this time?" She demanded handed the long black stick to her husband. He clicked on the button and a steady stream of light shone forth.

It illuminated the shed. The small family could see the tools and chemical products, but there was no Harry Potter to be seen.

Defeated the family decided to give up the search and see if the boy turned up in the morning. They turned to leave the shed when a small scratching sound echoed in the darkness. Vernon turned on the light one more time and pointed it into the shed.

Still no Potter.

But the sound came again, this time more solid and desperate. Vernon swung the flashlight around frantically trying to find the source.

"Potter if it's you show yourself boy!" The scratching continued. And then it turned to pounding. Like someone was pounding on the roof…

The flashlight shot upwards to the ceiling, the beam illuminating the tip of the small shed. The ropes and hoses swung to and fro in a steady rhythm. There was no one there.

"Vernon. Outside!" Petunia clung to her child and pushed her husband out the door following him closely. Slowly Vernon raised the beam of light to the roof of the shed. A small silhouette was shown in the bright light.

A sharp gasp was heard and Petunia's hand flew to her mouth. Dudley took a few steps backwards and then ran to the house in fear, stumbling over his own two feet in the process.

The flashlight dropped from Vernon's hands and he stood there in the moonlight. The scraping and banging had stopped and all that could be heard was Dudley falling and running in the darkness.

Petunia turned and ran after her son leaving the two in silence.

"So it's true." He stated starring at the small child on the roof.

"You really are a freak."


And miles away from Privet Drive Harry Potter woke up from his dream screaming.

Screaming because:

This dream really wasn't a dream

He didn't know what happened next

He didn't know where he was, and

There was a strange woman sitting a few feet away staring straight at him.