It all begins, as often happens, on a middling day.
It's near the end of July and Harry's birthday is fast approaching. He's been sent to get the mail as per usual. But something's a little less usual this time: there's a letter for him.
Harry reads the address, briefly wonders how they know where he sleeps - it's a little stalkerish - and then wonders why the social workers haven't been called. But if they are stalking him-
"Boy, what's taking so long?" calls Uncle Vernon.
-then they probably don't care that he's sleeping under the stairs. Stalkers generally aren't nice people.
"Checking for letter bombs are you?"
Harry wonders how to hide his letter. He doesn't want it confiscated. As Vernon lets out a large chuckle, he stuffs it down his shirt. It's loose enough to not show and the sound Vernon's making covers up the crinkling of the letter as he hides it.
Harry picks up the other letters and manages to make it back before Vernon stops laughing. Coming later would put his uncle in a bad mood and Harry doesn't want that.
Not that Vernon's ever physically abused him. It's Dudley who shoves him around and Petunia who tries to clobber him. He knows it's abuse though. Verbal abuse can be just as bad as any other form. He's glad he found the wisdom to realise it isn't his fault.
Later, when Harry is finally able to slip back into his cupboard, he carefully opens the letter. Too loud and he'll be punished.
The letter is bizarre but it resonates with Harry, with a part of him he's never noticed before.
But why have his stalkers turned teachers not contacted social services?
Maybe they cannot mingle with the non-magical world he muses. Even still... Perhaps there are no child services? How horribly outdated!
But back to more important things (though that's subjective but Harry has to focus!). What is he going to do next?
He cannot confront his relatives, it is too risky.
But... he should receive more information soon.
He has no choice but to wait.
There is a note asking him to reply but it's a bit impossible so Harry leaves it.
A few weeks later, a giant nearly breaks down the door.
It seems Harry is off to Hogwarts.