Summary: What if Hogwarts was no more than your typical high school and Harry didn't get his letter to attend it until his Junior year? An HP, AU, slashy high school fic. Come on, you know you love it!

A/N: I changed the date the term starts to September 2nd because I checked and in the year 1996, the first Monday in September was the 2nd.

CHAPTER TWO: WORK AND A WONDERFUL SURPRISE

Sometimes Harry had to wonder why he even bothered trying. His relatives were never going to be satisfied with anything he did, or at least they'd never actually admit that they're satisfied with it. One day the tea is too hot, the next day it's too cold, and even if he did manage to get it to be just the right temperature, they'd just find some other bone to pick. Today, he hadn't made the sausage greasy enough. Like 'Duddykins' actually needs any more fat in his diet. But what could he do? It's not like he actually cares that Dudley's eating himself to death. In his humble opinion, Dudley can chow down to his piggish little heart's content. Hope he gives himself a heart attack before he hits forty.

But, whale-like cousin aside, sometimes it actually got to him that they never can manage to refrain from complaining about everything that concerns him. It tends to grate on one's nerves after a while. Especially after, let's see...15 years? No matter, he'd be out of there soon, though not soon enough. They seemed to have gotten worse lately, if that's even possible. It's almost as if they're trying to see if they can set some new standard for low, to beat their old scores.

It was almost enough to make him seriously think about sending a reply to that Hogwarts place. Just the mere possibility of getting out of here, no matter how slim it may be, is extremely appealing right now. And, after all, what harm could sending a letter back to the school be? He supposed that anything is worth a shot.

He was surprised that he had caved in and was going to write back less than a day after he had received it, though he supposed he really shouldn't be. Feeling silly despite the fact that he had just told himself that it really does not matter, Harry took out the Hogwarts envelope from his nightstand drawer, intending to reply to the letter. He didn't exactly know what to say, but he supposed it really makes no difference anyway. Grabbing a blue pen (one that doesn't leak) from his book bag, he hastily scrawled:

To Whomever it May Concern:

I had never heard of Hogwarts before receiving this letter and truthfully have no idea what you were talking about when you referred to getting my parents' paperwork and funds in order. I have no idea how you got my name or why you would want me to attend your school, but I really don't have enough money to pay for going to a private school even if I did want to attend. I'm sure you probably made a mistake in mailing this letter to me, but if you would write back with more information concerning the school and anything to do with my parents, it would be highly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter

Harry carefully read over his brief letter a few more times, and although not completely satisfied with it, deemed it good enough to send. Folding the letter and sticking it into the envelope, which he then licked and sealed, Harry placed it aside to mail later that day on his way to work. But although he was finished with the letter for now and should be working on his homework, he couldn't seem to get the mysterious letter out of his mind. He kept trying to return his attention to his physics, but his thoughts just kept drifting back to the letters and Hogwarts.

What would it be like if he really did get the chance to go there? Would he get the chance to go there? Could it be possible? Were they really talking about his parents in the original letter? And why, oh why, had they even sent the letter to him in the first place?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

He got to work today a bit later than he usually did, a fact which the ever attentive Adruitha didn't fail to notice. "You're late," she remarked simply, though with no malice, merely playing the part of the pissed off boss berating a troublesome employee. She could never truly be mad at Harry; after all, he is her best employee.

"I'll make sure to stay over today," he replied, with an over exaggerated sigh, shaking his head as if in consternation. Truth was, he liked this job. A lot. It was certainly a whole bunch better than being stuck with the Dursleys at home--if he could even call it that.

"You do know that Tuesday is a really busy time for us," she joked before switching tactics. "What kept you?" she asked curiously, returning to her usual mildly curious, yet flippant at the same time tone. She raised a dark brown eyebrow in question when Harry didn't reply right away.

"I had to drop by the post office so I could mail a letter," he informed her, not looking her in the eye for fear that she would ask what the letter was about and he would have to tell her about the whole embarrassing thing. He would lie, but he was a really shitty liar and she would be able to see through any of his half-assed fibs any day.

"Alright," she accepted his excuse, though he could tell that she knew there was more to it than he was saying by the way she was scrutinizing him. Harry was glad that she let it slide, though. "You get to work the register today, 'cause Chez is home sick, a.k.a. his girlfriend is in town for the day. I really should just fire that boy's ass," she said, grinning. They shared a light laugh as Harry headed to the back room where he kept his stuff.

"So, how are those sodding pieces of shit you have for relatives treating you?" Adruitha joked, though with an underlying concern that Harry couldn't help but note. He paused in retrieving his 'work clothes' so that he could turn and look her in the eye.

"I'm fine, Adra," he attempted to convince her, though no doubt in vain. She stood there, arms crossed, tattoos and piercings giving her a tough look, added to by her don't-feed-me-that-bullshit glare. He shrugged. What else could he do?

She rolled her eyes in a frustrated manner before turning to head back out to the main part of the store, yelling a half-serious "Get to work!" over her shoulder as she left. Harry let out a slight snort as he headed to the bathroom to change into the baggy black pants and acid green shirt with a snake artistically drawn on the front that he had picked out for today. Too bad he couldn't wear these clothes at home and to school, but he was afraid that they would only get ruined by some shit-for-brains jock if he did.

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It was already Thursday, a fact which he could hardly believe, though was quite thankful for. He had passed up a ride home from Adruitha, seeing as how he wasn't at all eager to get back to Number 4 Privet Drive and the berating his uncle would surely give him as soon as he walked in the door. He took his time getting back, strolling at a leisurely pace as he passed through Fairfield Park where he had played--using the term lightly--as a child. He knew that delaying his return would only heighten his uncle's anger, but he couldn't find it in himself to care at the moment, deciding instead to revel in the relative peace he could experience while alone.

Despite his best efforts, he eventually did arrive at his relatives' house and gingerly opened the door, making sure that he was quiet enough as to not alert his 'family' to his presence. He shut the door softly and was about to make his way stealthily up the stairs and to 'his' bedroom when he nearly tripped on the mail that was still laying on the floor right in front of the door where the mailman had delivered it.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Harry hastily bent down and scooped up all of the papers littered across the floor. Sifting through the many bills, junk mail, and letters meant for his aunt and uncle, Harry was surprised, though pleasantly so, when he came upon a letter addressed to him. It was from Hogwarts. He was shocked at how quickly they had gotten back to him; it had only been two days.

Dropping the rest of the mail back to where he'd found it, he made his way swiftly up to his room. Closing the door and praying that he wouldn't be disturbed, Harry hastily dumped his book bag by his dilapidated desk before pouncing on his bed and ripping open the seal on the letter. Extracting the two pieces of parchment contained within the envelope, Harry eagerly read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to hear back from you, though troubled by your lack of knowledge concerning our school. It was always your parents' plan for you to attend Hogwarts, the school they themselves attended, and you were therefore signed up upon your birth 16 years ago. Money for you to attend school was set aside at that time, so there is no need for you to worry about that. Considering your letter, I take it that your relatives did not inform you of Hogwarts or of your parents' wishes for you to the school. Therefore, I would like to send someone to escort you to school and to answer any questions you may have. The best time for this would probably be the day before you leave, August 31st, if you are planning on riding the train up. Please write back detailing if that is okay with you and, if so, what time would be best for you.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Stunned by the fact that he had not been rejected as he had expected, Harry absentmindedly grabbed a pen and piece of paper to write a reply. Jotting a quick response saying that he would be happy to have an escort and could meet him here, at Number 4 Privet Drive, between 11:00 am and noon. That done, he sealed it in the envelope that had been provided with the Hogwarts address on it. Perhaps he could sneak out and run down to the post office without his relatives noticing so that he could make sure the letter would be received in time.

Despite himself, Harry was excited. He had always wanted someone to come and steal him away from this dead end life. And now it seemed as if somebody was actually going to. He wondered what Hogwarts could possibly be like, but it couldn't be much worse than where he was now, so he figured that no matter what it would be a welcome change. He couldn't wait to get out of this hellhole.

Of course, he would miss Adruitha and his work at Selena's, but he was sure that everyone there would understand. He had told a couple of people there about his horrible, good-for-nothing relatives, so he was sure that they would all be happy that he was getting the chance to get out of here. Still, he would miss them, though not enough to keep him here.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad you all seem to like it so far. There isn't going to be any magic in this fic (at least I'm not planning for there to be) because it is going to take place in the real world at a normal private school called Hogwarts. There will diffidently be some parallels to the books as I'm sure you've already seen, but it is probably going to veer off drastically in a couple of chapters. After all, this is going to be slash, though I'm not sure yet who I want to pair Harry with. I suppose it will be a surprise to all of us when the time comes! Anyway, don't expect all of the updates to come this quickly; I just got really excited about this fic and couldn't stop writing. Hope you liked this chapter alright. Chow!