Disclaimer: JKR owns the whole Harry Potter world and characters and all that good stuff!!!
A/N: I would just like to say thanks to my reviewers before I go any further because I now have over 100 reviews!!!! I am so excited! I can't believe it you guys are so great!!!
Ms. Watson was having a rough day. She just couldn't understand why none of the children were getting along with the Potter boy. Granted, he had strange clothes and his glasses were always broken, not to mention that he was unusually small for his age. But still, the child was adorable.
She felt that Harry should be getting along pretty well with everyone, instead of sulking in the shadows during playtime. Why didn't he join in with the games that the other boys in the class played? Why was he the one who was never spoken to?
Then there was the matter of the homework. Dudley Dursley was the worst student she had ever had the displeasure of teaching. Besides being a spoiled, obnoxious, and disruptful little boy, he was rather dim witted. She always managed to get a headache whenever she had to correct his homework.
That is why, when she sat down to check over his latest assignment, she sighed and prepared herself for the worst. To her amazement, however, the paper was perfect. Every single question was correct. That had never happened before. She pulled out the day before's assignment and compared the work. How had he changed in such a short time?
She then gaped at what she saw. The handwriting was completely different as well. His old homework was messy and barely legible. While his new writing was not perfect, it was very easily not the same writing. She was shocked at what she saw. It wasn't possible that students at that young of an age would even think about cheating, was it?
Nevertheless, she looked through the rest of the class' work to find a handwriting match. Her search stopped when she got about halfway through her pile of papers. Her name rested at the top of the paper: Harry Potter.
How on earth did Harry Potter manage to do Dudley Dursley's homework? Well, Dudley was ending up to be a bit of a bully and Harry was the class outcast. It wasn't too difficult to think of possible scenarios. He could have cornered Harry during playtime, or before he got on the bus. She would speak to Harry about it during break the next day.
~*~
"Alright, class, good work, today! Go ahead and go outside to play for a while. Harry, dear, could you stay behind please?" Ms. Watson asked. Harry looked a little apprehensive, but nodded his head that he would stay back and patiently waited at his table while the rest of the class filed out of the room.
When he and Ms. Watson were finally alone, Ms. Watson tried to make herself look as approachable as possible. She sat down next to Harry and waited until he looked directly into her eyes, which took a rather long time.
"What is it, Ms. Watson?" Harry quietly asked.
"Harry, I have to ask you something about the homework we do in here." Ms. Watson began. "Harry, at any time has Dudley Dursley ever made you do his homework for him?" Harry sucked in his breath.
"No, miss." Ms. Watson had a feeling that Harry would say this, so she came prepared. She pulled out Dudley's homework and his homework. Both sheets were identical.
"Harry, look here. Both papers have your writing on them. They both have exactly the same answers. I cannot tell you what Dudley is getting, but he does not usually get such high scores." Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights. His eyes suddenly got much larger than they normally were and his mouth hung open slightly in shock.
"No, it must just be a coincidence." Harry replied as calmly as he possible could, which wasn't very calmly at all, Ms. Watson noticed.
"Harry, I know you must be scared, but trust me, if Dudley is making you do his homework he will begin to do even worse in the future, and when he takes the test. Also, I would make sure that he never hurt you." Ms. Watson tried to sound as logical and comforting as she possibly could in the situation. Harry then opened his mouth to speak.
"Ms. Watson, my cousin wouldn't do something like that," then Harry began biting his lip as Ms. Watson's head suddenly shot up to attention.
"Your cousin?" she questioned, "Do your parents know that your cousin and you are in the same class and that he is bullying you to do his homework?" Ms. Watson immediately wished she had not said that as Harry's face suddenly paled and he looked about ready to cry. He then mumbled something indistinguishable. "Sorry, dear, I couldn't quite make that out," she told him gently.
"I said, 'I don't have any parents.'" Harry looked about ready to cry but for some reason, unlike any small child that Ms. Watson had ever seen, Harry was refusing to cry. "They died when I was just a baby. We were in a car crash, that's how I got my scar. I live with my Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley. They were so generous to let me in. I am grateful." 'That was another odd thing,' Ms. Watson thought to herself, 'five year olds don't generally know what generous and grateful are. This boy was acting so strangely!'
"Harry, the homework is in your handwriting though." Harry suddenly looked like he had had an epiphany.
"Dudley had hurt his wrist and I offered to help him with his homework. I showed him how to do it, too," Harry replied eagerly. He knew his answer made sense and covered all his bases. Ms. Watson was looking skeptically at him. But in the end, she sighed and told him that that was fine and that Dudley was lucky to have such a nice cousin as him.
~*~
Harry simply nodded and then ran outside. He was very glad to be away from his teacher's prying eyes. He would have to be more careful from then on. He would have to make sure that he never wrote Dudley's homework in his own handwriting ever again. How could he have overlooked something so simple?
Oh well, he would learn from this experience. This was turning out to be a long day and Harry was finding that he was longing for the quiet and seclusion of his cupboard under the stairs. He thought it was a bit odd, but he was finding that he actually liked his cupboard. At least there he could always pretend that Aunt Petunia or Uncle Vernon weren't yelling at him, or Dudley wasn;t chasing him, or teachers weren't trying to pry into his life when they weren't wanted. Harry sighed, life was at least easier before.
At least he knew what each day would bring. He would be woken up, told to do some chores, would get any leftovers from the meals and then be put in his cupboard for the night. He wouldn't trade being allowed to go to school for the world though. Although Dudley was there, at least he could always try and stay away from him and his gang and Harry had also had fun with some kids, even if it was only for part of the first day. That had never happened before and it made Harry at least have dreams.
He could always daydream that all the kids in the class liked him and they asked him to play football with them and they still shared part of their sandwiches with him. Harry would always remember that first day as a wonderful day. Well, at least except for Dudley and his gang chasing the other kids and chasing him and Mr. Snape getting angry with him, but that could always be overlooked.
To My Reviewers:
Kateydidnt - Kateri1 - Harry's Muggle Sister – emma – Kimi-sama – Gina – Harriet Jamina Potter – Piper of Locksley – Lover5 - DxInsider - anon – lovelydarkness – Celtic Bard – Lacye74 - ER
Anora- haha! Your review wasn't pointless! I thought it was very helpful and thanks for your ideas, no I don't think Harry would do well as sly or cunning. I don't know. I just imagine Harry as one of those people who can never lie very well…
Pheonix Flight – thanks for telling me! I am so sorry about that!
April – thanks for telling me!!! I don't know what happened, but I fixed it, woo hoo!!!
t.a.g. 0 – Haha, your reviews always make me laugh!!! Thanks! Yep, Snape is finally getting a clue!
Azntgr01 – CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You get the million dollar bonus prize! You are the only one who actually thought of that little tid bit. I always felt Harry's teachers would notice something funny going on!
Incensio Lady – Thanks, I am trying to make less meanness but I want it to all happen at a somewhat believable pace.
Jessyka – I am trying to work on not leaving the oh so evil cliffies for you guys!
Shortnsassy – you will just have to wait another week for that answer!
Kar' Nia – Thanks for the cookie!
Saturn Angel1 – thanks for both reviews!!!
Goddess Moon Lady – Well, I figured he would to fit in with the muggles! Plus it amuses me to do so! Hehe!
Mikee – Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it! I am trying to make this as believable as possible!
Cally- I completely agree!
Amber16 – Why are you looking at me??? Oh wait *smacks forehead* I'm the author…nevermind…hehe!
Balleke – I appreciate your input, but could you please tell me how I made Snape wrong and humorous, I don't want him unbelievable. And what the heck are sausage stuffed vultures?!?
Tati1 – Thanks, I'm glad the chapter made you so bouncy!!!
A/N: Well, now that you have read, please tell me what you thought, this chapter is a little different from the other ones, so I hope you like what I did!
