Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter of any other characters belonging to the author J.K. Rowling. Too bad...
Before the Discovery
Chapter Two:
Harry looked around his Aunt and Uncles' house. The car wasn't in the driveway telling him that they must have already left to get Dudley his two new toys. 'Fine with me,' thought Harry.
He didn't mind the Dursley's were gone, but he couldn't help be a little annoyed and left out that Dudley always got toys. In Harry's opinion, Dudley was a loud, irritating, spoiled brat who didn't deserve anything.
Harry shook his head as if to remove any thoughts of Dudley. He had to endure of him enough when he was here, better enjoy his time Dursley free.
Harry made his way into the house moving straight for the kitchen. Dishes were pilled up, so Harry quickly began to clean them, besides he knew Aunt Petunia would demand him to do it anyway.
As he put out away the last plate his stomach gave a loud growl, reminding him the he hadn't had anything to eat all day. Silently, Harry opened the fridge and made himself a peanut butter sandwich. He devoured it rapidly, then as he finished he wondered what he would do with the house to himself. Since Dudley normally took hours picking out his toys, making sure they were the most expensive ones he could find.
Harry noiselessly cleaned up his dinner, and then he decided he would go look for a good book to read of maybe watch some television in the living room.
Now Harry fully intended on going straight to the living room but as he headed towards it his attention was diverted elsewhere.
There, the attic door stood.
Harry had never been up in the attic, but he had always been curious what was in there exactly. The Dursley's held a strict rule that Harry wasn't aloud to go up in there, and if they were here Harry would have followed the rule without a doubt, but the truth was they weren't here. With a devious smile Harry opened the doorknob and pushed himself in.
The attic was dreadfully dusty and things were pilled everywhere. Harry noted how terribly dirty the attic was compared to the rest of the spotless house, and he found actually comforting, if you can believe that, because he wasn't surrounded by perfect cleanliness.
Pushing aside a large spider web that hung in front of Harry's face he noticed a small chest that was lying in the back of the attic next to the only window. It was simple and didn't have anything special about it but for some reason it grabbed Harry's interest. Carefully he made his way to it, dodging spider webs and other piles of junk that stood in his path.
When he reached the chest he noticed that it was locked with a rusty padlock. He lifted the lock up in his hand and found that even though it was old it was sturdy.
'Oh well,' Harry thought as he let go of the lock, 'it's not mine, it's the Dursley's, I shouldn't go breaking into other people's things.' Suddenly Harry looked up at where he was at; the fact was finally sinking in.
'Wait a minute, what am I doing here!? The Dursley's are bound to come back soon!'
With that, Harry turned planning on leaving. That was until something on the chest caught his attention. There seemed to be something written on it.
Curious, Harry brushed away the dust so that he could clearly read what was written on the chest.
His eyes opened wide with shock.
To his parents pleasure Dudley was all smiles. He kept glancing down at his two new toys. One was a remote car and the other was, of course, the latest and greatest gameboy.
The Dursley's were in their car driving back to the house after their long shopping extravaganza that had taken hours in order to find Dudley's perfect presents.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had engaged themselves in juicy gossip about the neighbors. Aunt Petunia was about to tell Uncle Vernon that the Mursel's had recently ordered house cleaning for the first time, when a thought hit her head and the conversation took a sudden turn. "We left Harry alone in the house, he better not be snooping around. Being the nasty little boy he is."
"Yes his so unlike our brilliant boy Dudley," agreed Uncle Vernon as he took his eyes of the road to give his son a smile. "But don't worry dear, Harry knows his place, and if he was found snooping there is sure to be strict punishment for him."
Aunt Petunia nodded.
The car ride continued on in silence, until Uncle Vernon pulled up the driveway to their orderly home of Number 4 on Private Drive.
"We're home," he announced, then he stepped out of the car door and proceeded to walk up the sidewalk leading to their house with Aunt Petunia and Dudley following closely behind. Uncle Vernon inserted the key in the doorknob then as soon as it was unlocked he opened the door.
There, carved into the chest was Harry's mother's name, Lilly Potter.
He couldn't believe it! Harry had thought the Dursley's had nothing of his late parents but here, here, was a whole chest devoted to his mother.
Frantically, Harry searched around for a key to open the chest. After moments of searching his patience began to wear thin because of his shear excitement of the thought of opening the chest and his anxiousness knowing that the Dursley's would be arriving home soon.
Finally, Harry found a wire hanger lying on the ground. 'This will have to do,' he thought as he hurriedly snatched it up and began to push the end of it into the lock. Harry twisted and turned the wire around inside the lock until at last he heard the satisfying sound of a click.
The lock fell to the ground and Harry, who could barely hold down his enthusiasm, opened the chest.
He had expected to find the chest full memorabilia about his mother, maybe even a few photographs or letters. To his dismay the chest contained only one item, a book.
With trembling hands Harry reached for the lone item. He pulled the book out and after wiping away the dust he realized that it was not a book as he first thought, but a journal.
Harry opened the first page to find that it was indeed his mother's journal. Again, he felt the overjoyed feeling and was just about to read the first entry when he noticed that outside the window the Dursley's car was pulling up in the driveway.
Harry's happiness was quickly forgotten at the sight and was instead replaced with dread. The Dursley's couldn't find him up in the attic! 'They won't,' Harry told himself in attempt to calm down.
Without a second thought, he quickly shut the chest and proceeded to put on the lock. As he was doing so he glanced out the window a second time, only to see that the Dursley's were making their way up to the house. Panic was filling Harry as he dashed down the stairs and hastily stuffed the journal under his oversized shirt, hoping that Uncle Vernon wouldn't notice.
Harry reached for the door to exit the attic, practically jumped out of the room, and then he swiftly shut it behind him just as Uncle Vernon opened the door.
Harry found himself starring face to face with his very large and intimidating uncle whose eyes were full of suspicion. "Hello," Harry said finally hoping he didn't sound too anxious.
Uncle Vernon continued to glare at him, "What were you doing, boy?"
"Nothing."
"Really? Looks to me like you were doing something,"
At this Harry felt his stomach give an uncomfortable lurch, Uncle Vernon hadn't seen him in the attic, or had he?
"Are you going to answer?"
Finally Harry found his voice and to his surprise it sounded very calm and collected.
"I had just finished washing the dishes and was heading for the bathroom, unless it's some kind of crime to go, would please move and let me pass," said Harry pointing at the bathroom that was down the hallway Uncle Vernon was blocking.
To Harry's relief Uncle Vernon moved to let Harry by, but he continued to glare at him with distrust.
"Thank you," Harry said as he proceeded to walk to the bathroom, trying desperately to keep his cool demeanor.
Once inside, Harry splashed his face with water in an attempt to calm down his nerves. Then he let out a long sign that was soon followed by a huge smile.
He had done it! He had successfully disobeyed the Dursley's and he had gotten away with it! And, he had found his mother's old journal. Harry grinned once more; he was indeed very pleased with himself.
After towel drying his face Harry pressed his ear against the bathroom door, so that he could hear where the Dursley's were. When the hallway sounded silent Harry tucked the journal once again under his shirt and peeked out the door checking to see if anyone was there. The hallway was empty, so Harry quietly tiptoed out and to his room under the stairs.
His 'room' as the Dursley's called it, was actually a cupboard and was only large enough to fit Harry's tiny bed. It was uncomfortably small, and every time someone walked on the stairs dust and other things fell on top of Harry.
Ignoring all this, Harry moved to the door. As soon as he was safely inside he shut the door behind him, pulled out his flashlight, and then continued to open the journal.
A/n: Phew! That was fun. Next chapter, Lilly's journal! I will update as soon as I can
And once again, review! (It really is helpful!)