Chapter One August 1985
"BOY!" shrieked Petunia Dursley, rapping her knuckles sharply on the door to the cupboard under the stairs.
5 year old Harry Potter muffled a groan as he rolled over on the small cot that was his bed.
"I'm awake Aunt Petunia,"
"Hurry up and make our breakfast freak!" she snapped, "you're late!"
Harry rolled out of bed and got dressed quickly,
"sorry Aunt Petunia," he said.
Ever since he was old enough in the Dursleys' eyes, (age 3) he'd had to make breakfast for his...family. When he learned to read, only a few months later, Petunia had just been writing his chores as a, usually very long list, and simply giving it to him. (in her opinion, the less time she spent talking to 'the freak', the better.)
When Harry got to the kitchen, Vernon Dursley was reading the newspaper.
"You're late, freak!" he snarled from behind the paper by way of a morning greeting.
"Sorry Uncle Vernon," Harry said as he dodged a kick from his large cousin Dudley.
He grabbed pans and the food to make breakfast, and when the bacon was frying, Petunia gave him the chore list. Nothing more needed to be said about that, Harry knew exactly what would happen if he didn't complete them on time.
When the breakfast was done, Harry carried the plates carefully to the table, and Petunia gave him a piece of toast and a slice of bacon. He ate quickly and scampered back to his cupboard, dodging another kick from Dudley.
Uncle Vernon finished his breakfast and left for work. Dudley left for his friend's house, and Aunt Petunia snapped at him as she grabbed her pocketbook.
"I want those chores done by the time I get back, freak! Or you'll be sorry!"
"Yes Aunt Petunia," he said.
Once she was gone, he looked at the list.
Clean living room
Dust shelves
Vacuum carpets
Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Clean bathroom
Mow lawn
Weed garden
Clean attic
Wow, thought Harry, they never made me clean the attic before. After making sure she was gone, Harry nicked what was left on the plates, and a few things they wouldn't miss from the fridge, then started on his chores.
Three back-breaking hours later, there was just the attic left. Gathering what he needed, Harry headed for the attic.
Oh wow, Harry thought, sneezing, this is really dusty. He got to work and quickly had everything done, except for an old trunk shoved back in the far left corner.
After wiping all the dust off, Harry stared at the trunk. Curious, he reached out to open it. He jerked his hand back quickly when he felt a poke. After a minute, Harry reached out again,and the trunk opened. Looking in, he saw two white envelopes and a booklet. Picking them up he looked and then dropped them. Both envelopes had his name on them! Carefully, he picked up the envelopes, and opened the one on top.
The paper was thick and odd-looking. Quickly he read:
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this, then Dumbledore broke our will and put you with my hateful sister. I expect you have many questions, so I will try to answer them here. First of all, your dad and I love you very much. Never forget that. Next, magic is very real. You are a wizard, like your father, and I am a witch. There is a secret world separate from the normal one, full of witches and wizards just like you.
This trunk has everything you'll need to learn about the magical world. No one can see or open it but you, and whoever you tell about it, the prick you felt on your finger was the trunk taking a sample of your blood. Your father and I made it that way so you could hide it if necessary. There are many different compartments, each has something you might want or need. The booklet that was with this letter will tell you all about your trunk. Read it carefully, and be very careful about who you tell. No magic can be detected inside, so once you've started Hogwarts, be very careful to only do magic there.
We also left you some pounds, just in case. Use it wisely, and be careful. I can only hope that Petunia is treating you well, and that you are safe and happy.
There are so many things you need to know. We have placed many books in the library section of this trunk, including the Starter Books that all Muggle (non-magic) - born and- raised students are supposed to get. Read them, I can only hope you get as much use from them as I did.
With Love Always,
Mum and Dad
Harry quickly put down the letter and wiped the tears from his eyes. It wouldn't do for the Dursleys to see he'd been crying. He'd most likely get a smack or two because "freaks aren't allowed to cry."
His mind was in turmoil, the only thing he could think was they loved me! My parents really loved me! Over and over. Finally getting ahold of himself, he carefully placed the precious letter back in its envelope and put it in the trunk. He carefully picked up the second envelope and opened it A piece of paper fell out, he picked it up and read;
To shrink the trunk, put your hand on it and say "small" to enlarge it again, do the same and say "big"
Looking inside the envelope, he saw several 1, 5, 10, and 20 pound notes. There were even a few 50s and some 100s. This must be the money Mum talked about, he thought. Pocketing a 20 he shrunk the trunk, he put it in his pocket and finished cleaning the attic.
Seeing that Petunia wasn't home yet, Harry went to the fridge and nicked two cans of Dudley's soda, an apple, and a couple small bags of Dudley's chips from a multi-pack Aunt Petunia always bought, then he headed quickly for his cupboard.
Once there, he enlarged his trunk only long enough to hide his snacks. Then he used the bathroom and closed himself in again.
