Okay, first of all, many thanks to shaun, Mrs.PoynterandMrs.Judd, Adrianna Ashke, and todderbaby, (who tried to review, but, alas, could not). It's so exciting to have reviewers. Okay, questions answered. Mr. Evans name is, well, important. And, this is the school year before Harry got accepted to Hogwarts.


Chapter One


Mandy

Dear Diary,

So, oh my gosh, I talked to Harry today. He is the raven haired kid with the funny scar that I talked about yesterday. He is really shy, but boy is he the sweetest guy I've ever met. And he's soo cute. Hallie, my sister who is three years older than me, caught me talking to him by my locker. That was a little embarrassing. Actually, it was very embarrassing. But I cannot believe that I got to talk to him. It was kind of funny what happened today actually.

:Flashback:

It was finally six o'clock, we didn't have to be at school until eight thirty, but this morning was special. I was going to search Mr. Evans desk for any information.

I walked over to my dresser and put on a pair of jeans and a grey sweater. Inconspicuous right? I grabbed a pair of rubber gloves from the kitchen on my way out of the house because I did not want to get framed as Mr. Evans murderer. Unlikely, but it could happen.

I jogged to school, (it's only six blocks), though it was rather uncomfortable in jeans, getting there at seven. That gave me an hour and a half.

Great, I thought as I tried the door. It was locked. I definitely hadn't counted on that.

"Oof," I cried as something large hit me on the back. I turned around and felt my mouth drop open like a toddler who watched his twin get what he wanted. It was Harry Potter.

"I'm sorry. I'll just . . . go now," he stammered, looking quite apologetic.

"Yes, uh I mean, no. Don't go. I was just going for a morning jog," I lied.

"Oh, yea, me too." We stared at each other for a few moments, but I had pride in my staring abilities, and he cracked first. "Actually," he mumbled, "I was going to check on Mr. Evans things, if nobody has moved them yet."

I swear I looked like a wide-mouthed tree frog. "Now way," I practically shouted, "me too!" Just my luck really, this cute guy comes along and I totally embarrass myself. :Can you pick locks?" I asked quickly, trying to stop staring.

"Actually, I have a gift with locks." He placed his hand on the doorknob and, to my surprise, it turned. "It was unlocked," he said.

"No it wasn't!" But I let myself follow him inside despite my gut feeling that something unnatural was going on.

We came up upon Mr. Evans classroom door and found it covered in yellow tape. Like in all the cops movies where there is a criminal investigation. Hmm, weird.

"Hey, what are you kids doing here?"

And we got caught! By a policeman. Isn't that awful. He told us that we weren't allowed to be in the building before eight, like I didn't know that. Hmph. I have cops. And then, he escorted us out of the building. He held our hands and told us to 'run along.' It was so creepy. He was old . . . and wrinkly. Ew. Then, right after my first class, Harry comes to my locker and tells me that we should sneak in tomorrow morning at four. And of course, Hallie comes along and embarrasses me out of my mind. 'Oh, baby sisters got a boyfriend.' She makes me sick. But, hey, I wouldn't mind. Well, I got to go. I have a swim lesson. I promise to write tomorrow.

-Mandy Peters


Harry

"You idiot boy. Let me get this straight. You sneak out of the house at six thirty. Then you run ten blocks to school and break in. Then you meet a policeman and he escorts you out of the building and gives you a warning. You are too young to get a warning. Oh. You deal with him Petunia. I can't even look at him." Uncle Vernon's face was purpling as it usually did each day when Harry came home.

Harry was standing in the front hall, choosing to come into the house at the exact wrong moment. Right after a phone call from the cops. Of course. That was the way Harry's luck went.

Petunia pursed her lips as Uncle Vernon went to get himself a 'large brandy,' large meaning fist sized. And for Vernon, that was quite large. "Well," Petunia said, looking down her long nose, "for the rest of the day, you are confined to your cupboard. And no supper," she added, oblivious to the fact that Harry had no supper for the rest of the week.

"Like that's anything new," Harry murmured to himself, out of Aunt Petunia's hearing. He walked grudgingly to his cupboard cursing his adoptive parents into oblivion. He hated them so much, he just wanted to strangle them.

He slammed, and locked, his door and sat on his bed, staring up at the cobwebs on the ceiling of his so-called bedroom.

Maybe tomorrow will be better. At least I can see, er, what's-her-name. . . Sandy. No, Mandy. But I'll have to find a new way to sneak out. Maybe I can use Dudley's second bedrooms window. The door is off limits, the back door maybe. Oh, I dunno. I'll just see when I wake up, at four? Why oh why did I tell her four? I guess I'll have an easier time sneaking out . .

And with that final thought he fell asleep. At six in the afternoon. Well, he needed the sleep.


To Be Continued . . . Again!