Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 1
Harry Potter was a rule breaker. Not that anybody knew, of course. He enjoyed trying to circumvent rules as much as possible and was clever about it . The consequences of being caught doing anything that was out of the ordinary ranged from scoldings to beatings and even starvation. Like that time he'd scored more marks in a test compared to his cousin Dudley or when he'd come first in the running race competition at school.
His body had gained a thin frame due to the lack of proper nourishment over the years but his legs were pretty strong. Not getting beaten up was a strong motivator and Harry was nothing but an excellent student under pressure.
Children around the age of ten generally lived a carefree life going to school in the morning, coming back home and playing with their friends and generally being free of the responsibilities that adults shoulder. But Harry was a 'special' child, though special here does not have any positive connotations. His 'special' involved cooking food, cleaning up the house, gardening and other menial jobs around the Dursley household.
So he resigned himself to a quiet life with occasional mischief whenever he could get away with it. But he knew he had a fire in him that wanted to burst open and show the entire world that Harry Potter too could amount to something more than an unpaid slave of the Dursleys.
On the morning of his eleventh birthday, Harry woke up excited even though there wouldn't be anything special about the day. It'd be an excellent day if Mt.Vernon didn't erupt or if Petunia Horseface didn't neigh.
Once he was done cooking the breakfast, he came into the living room to call the Dursleys for breakfast. Vernon was reading the newspaper and grumbling about some god forsaken thing as usual. Petunia was on a phone call gossiping as if the world would end tomorrow and Dudley was as usual watching those wrestling matches on TV, no doubt to try a few of those moves on Harry if he had the chance.
The hustle was broken up by the clacking of the mail flap. It was Harry's job to go and get it as usual and go he did.
It was quite surprising that anyone would ever bother writing a letter to him, Harry thought, considering the fact that no one really spoke to him at school nor did he have any other friends. The envelope seemed rich given that it was quite sturdy unlike the usual mail that his uncle received. But he did not have the time to analyse the envelope. He'd have to go back soon and he'd have to make a decision whether to tell his family or not. He was quite sure they'd not let him read it just to spite him and he was also quite sure that they'd only heard the click of the mail slot. He quickly opened the door checking if there was any mailman in sight, picked up some soil from the garden and put it where the letter had been.
Tucking the letter in his pant and hoping they wouldn't find out, he ran back inside exclaiming, "Uncle, somebody has littered through the door, they've thrown soil through the mail flap."
He wondered if his Uncle was an inspiration to any comic book villains that he'd seen in Dudley's room given how his face could change so many colours. It was sporting an impressive shade of red and Harry would bet everything he had, (not that it was much) that Mt. Vernon was going to erupt soon. And erupt it did.
"Well then why aren't you cleaning it up, boy? I swear if this is another one of your pranks then you'll be getting it from me", shrieked Vernon.
Thank god he believed it. "I swear it wasn't me Uncle. I'll clean it up soon"
"You better. I'll come and check in another five minutes and I expect it to be spick and span without any trace of soil or you won't be getting your meals"
Harry quickly nodded and ran to pick up the broom while gently slipping the letter into his cupboard once his uncle or Dudley weren't watching. He supposed he was quite lucky this time. Things had somehow gone according to his half-baked plan. He'd have to check up on the letter at night away from prying eyes.
Scammers had become quite good now-a-days he thought. Harry's back remembered the beating it had received when one of those letters about winning a free trip to America turned out to be a scam. Vernon had even turned purple that day having lost a hundred dollars to it.
This letter too was a scam he thought. It said
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
There was a second part too with a list of items
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Draughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Well, it looked quite interesting and rather elaborate to be dismissed just as a prank. Harry was reminded of the times strange things happened around him. Like the time when he'd grown his hair back overnight or the time when he'd simply moved from the ground to the roof of his school while running away from Dudley. He was also reminded of how his family referred to him as a 'freak' every time something like that happened and Vernon would then proceed to try and beat the 'freakishness' out of him.
"Witchcraft and Wizardry", he mused. "I suppose I'm a wizard then." If it looked like magic and felt like magic, then it must have been magic. Might explain why the m-word was so forbidden at the Dursleys. Dudley could get away with a lot but not from watching that show about magic. Even Dudley had been beaten that day.
"Might as well write a reply to them. I don't know how I'd catch hold of an owl but better to write one and find an owl rather than finding an owl and not have a reply". He'd heard in the news that owls in Britain seemed to be gathered in great flocks and were acting very randomly.
And he wrote
To,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Ma'am,
If this is your attempt at an elaborate prank, I assure you that it is ill-taken. But consider this letter as me handing out an olive branch and accepting that your letters are true and not an attempt to make a fool out of me, though I can think of no reason why you wish to do so.
Your letter raises a lot of questions and I find myself in no position to answer them. It might be difficult but I wish you would come and meet me personally and help me find clarity to the below questions that I have:
1. What is Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry? Where is it?
2. How did you determine that I'm a wizard and not someone like, say my cousin Dudley?
3. How did you know where to find my house? I did not see a postman anywhere but the letter was at the doorstep.
4. Where do I buy these things that you have mentioned? I don't have any real money to my name and it seems like the items and books are going to be a bit expensive? Is there anything like a scholarship or a sponsorship available?
5. How much is the fees for an year at 'Hogwarts'? When is it to be paid? How is it to be paid?
I suppose that is all for now and if I have any further questions I'll ask them when I meet you personally. Hoping that you will come.
P.S: If you come, could you please act like you don't know me and could you also bring another copy of this letter with you.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Potter.
The letter seemed satisfactory to him. It didn't sound too desperate he hoped. Now if he could only find an 'owl'. He'd seen a lot of birds in the park nearby. Would any of them be an owl he wondered.