Disclaimer: I do not own the concept and characters of Harry Potter. I'm just taking them out for a spin… A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed or placed this story on favourite/alert lists. Special thanks to Demon, my very first ever reviewer! Hopefully this will be updated regularly; chapter one is nearly finished, this is just a little of the back-story.

Interlude

Harry, Age 3

Harry remembered many things. He remembered the rich sound of his fathers' laugh, and the soft musical tone his mother spoke and sang with. He remembered the joyous shouts of his godfather, Padfoot; and the quiet, soothing voice of Uncle Moony. Harry remembered the way his father would toss him into the air and catch him, and the way his mother would hold him in her lap and read to him from books that would play music and light up the words being spoken. He remembered the time Padfoot had filled the house with soap bubbles for Harry to play with when he was babysitting and the scolding Padfoot got for it from Uncle Moony. Harry remembered the time he had read the book back to his mother, word for word, and how happy it made everyone around him.

And Harry remembered the night it all ended.

There had been pain, and fear, and anguish, and mocking laughter and a cold green light and baby Harry remembered it all; even though he didn't understand it. He knew that his parents and his godfather and his uncle had gone away, though he didn't know why. He knew that in their place was a person called Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon (although this other Uncle was nothing like Uncle Moony); and he knew from the moment they first looked at him that they didn't like him, even though he was sure he'd done nothing to displease them.

Yes, even though it would be many years before Harry would understand all these events, he certainly remembered them. Harry found it easy to remember things. Other children his age found it difficult to remember that dirty clothes were put in the laundry basket and toys were put away in their places – but not Harry; even though he had very little of the former and none of the latter. Books go on their shelves and food was not to be wasted by playing with it, but eaten, or you wouldn't get any. Very few children Harry's age cared about the first, or ever worried about the second.

Another thing that Harry could do that other children couldn't was observe those around him. He quickly came to know when Uncle Vernon was upset, and knew the best thing to do was leave the area post-haste; and he knew when Aunt Petunia had found out something especially nasty about someone else, and knew that this was the best time to ask for something he needed because he'd be more likely to get it – like the time he needed new shoes.

There was only one thing Harry liked about living with the Dursleys; and it combined these two remarkable talents – remarkable in that someone Harry's age shouldn't have them – and that was the fact that Aunt Petunia had recently decided that it was sophisticated to play the piano, and had taken up lessons on Great-Aunt Catherine's piano (who had died recently, and had left the piano to Harry's mother; although Petunia reasoned this made it hers now).

Harry had been drawn to the sounds coming from the wonderful instrument the first time he'd heard the instructor play it, and had, from then on, attended lessons at the same time as his Aunt. Not that she was aware of it; in fact she would have been livid had she known that he was picking up the theory and practice far better than she was herself. It had become even easier after the time he had run away from his uncle one day and found the other only good thing about living with the Dursleys – the local library was only two blocks away – and found and read a book about musical theory.

After that day Harry often returned to the library to read. Books and music became his sanctuary; both took his mind away from the harsh reality he lived with and gave him a sense of comfort and security in a world that was neither…

TBC…

A/N: Sorry about the false alarm, it didn't load properly the first time. As I said before, hopefully chapter one will be out soon. It shouldn't take too much longer. Enjoy!