Harry was awakened by the thumping of Dudley's fat fist against the door. "Get up Potter! Dad says it's time for breakfast!" Dudley yelled. "It's already eight thirty!"

Harry groaned and sat up. He reached his glasses and put them on. Harry got out of bed, went to his wardrobe and opened it. He grabbed a random t-shirt and some jeans. He slipped out of his pajamas and pulled on the shirt. He pulled his jeans on and went down to the kitchen.

Dudley was already at the table and stuffing his face. He was staring intently at the television.

"What are you watching Dudley?" Harry said smugly. He took a seat next to Dudley and grabbed a muffin. Dudley didn't even look up. "Idiot." Harry muttered.

Harry didn't even see it coming. Uncle Vernon had used a rolled up newspaper to smack Harry on the back of the head. "Ouch." Harry groaned.

"Don't say thing like that about your cousin." Uncle Vernon's fat purple face was angry so Harry shut up.

"Ah, Vernon, did you hear something last night?" Harry's Aunt Petunia said. She appeared out of nowhere. Must have been behind the counter.

"Yes as a matter of fact I did." Vernon replied eyeing Harry.

Harry turned his attention to his muffin and said nothing.

"I could have sworn I heard the door open last night around about three o' clock." Vernon said.

"Did you now?" Harry muttered.

"Shut up boy." Vernon said.

He did.

"What were you doing last night boy?" Vernon demanded.

"N-nothing. Sleeping." Harry lied quickly.

"A likely story. Why are you so tired?"

"I'm not tired." Harry lied again.

Vernon eyed his nephew.

"Honestly Uncle Vernon what could I have been doing?" Harry said.

Vernon scowled and slapped the muffin out of Harry's hand. Harry's eyes went wide. Vernon looked like he was about to backhand Harry.

"Now. Go outside and cut the grass. NOW!" Vernon yelled.

"Yes Uncle Vernon." Harry raced out the door to the yard.

Life went on like so for the next few weeks. Harry had more dreams and his scar was almost always hurting now. He was sitting on his bed. He stared at the book Hermione had sent him for his birthday. 'Ancient curses and how to detect them.' His birthday was in a matter of minutes.

He looked over at the clock. It read 11:58 pm. It changed to 11:59.

The time gave him a thought. In exactly on minute the Dursley's house would no longer protect him. If Voldemort wanted to attack this would be the best time to do it.

Harry put the four-inch thick book on the floor and slid it under his bed. He lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling.

Then, Harry's scar started stinging. It had happened so many times that summer that he thought nothing of it.

He groaned and rolled onto his side closing his eyes. Uncomfortable he turned to face the opposite side of his bed. He opened his eyes. He nearly screamed at the figure that stood before him. He took a deep breath in to say something but the figure placed his had over Harry's mouth to muffle any sound.

"Shh. Harry, don't say anything. You'll only make it hurt more." Lord Voldemort smirked. He took his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at Harry then removed his hand from Harry's mouth.

Harry jumped to his feet. His breathing was fast. He felt as though his heart was going to pop out of his chest. He scrambled for his wand. He turned away for a second and when he turned back Voldemort was gone.

"I'm not really here Harry." Voldemort's voice echoed through Harry's room.

"What do you mean?" Harry whispered for fear of waking the Dursley's.

"I mean, Harry I'm, not, here." Voldemort laughed. "Now, now Harry. Don't make it worse." He backhanded Harry and sent him flying across the room.

He knelt down next to Harry. He grabbed Harry by the hair and lifted his head causing Harry to whimper. He then slammed Harry's face into the floor with a thump.

Harry could feel blood coming from his nose. It was probably broken. He crawled for the door. Voldemort grabbed him by the left forearm and lifted him off the ground.

Harry's arm and scar instantly started burning. He screamed in agony. He felt like his arm was going to liquefy. The scorching heat on his arm was mind-boggling. He screamed louder.

He could just barely hear his Aunt and Uncle hammering on the door.

"What's going on in there Potter!" Uncle Vernon yelled.

Voldemort glanced at the door. "Tell them to go back to bed Harry. Unless you want to watch them die." He demanded. He squeezed Harry's arm even tighter. Harry screamed.

"Nothing! Bad dream. I-I mean I…ah! Nothing!" Harry lied. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. Black dots were swimming in front of his vision.

"Well done Harry. Well done." Voldemort said. He looked pleased.

"If you're going to kill me, you might as well do it now." Harry panted.

"Harry." Voldemort let go and Harry fell to the floor once again. "Like I said before. I'm not really here. I cannot kill you. Only inflict pain and suffering." His eyes turned scarlet. His mouth twisted into a smile and he pushed Harry to his back with his foot. He placed his foot across Harry's throat, crushing Harry's windpipe.

Instantly Harry started thrashing. Oxygen couldn't get to his lungs or heart. Black dots were swimming in front of his vision.

He recognized two other voices from the hall. None of who belonged to the Dursleys. He looked up at Voldemort.

"Consider yourself lucky Harry. I will be back again." Voldemort sneered. He lifted his foot from Harry's throat and in a surge of wind he vanished.

Harry still couldn't breathe. After a moment his door burst open and two figures approached him as everything went black.