It was Harry's 6th birthday that day, but the Dursleys' had forgotten it as usual. Despite this, Harry was still happy for the whole day. Even when Aunt Petunia made him go outside because he "seemed too happy" and she suspected he was up to something, Harry didn't mind. He was glad to leave the house because Dudley was having another tantrum and he decided that it was best to avoid him.
He sat on the lawn for 5 minutes or so, but then he got bored and started to wander around the neighbourhood. After checking behind him to make sure his uncle wasn't looking, he went out and walked down the street, singing "Happy Birthday" to himself under his breath. As he went on, Harry noticed Mrs Figg's cat, Tibbles, was trying to escape through the catflap, but apparently he was too fat to get through it.
He tried to ignore it, but then he suddenly heard a swishing noise from her backyard. He couldn't suppress his curiosity and waddled towards the sound.
He saw an older girl turning her back at him, holding a tree branch. Something was emitting from it. Harry tried to see what she was doing, and went up to her. He let out a gasp - he caught a glimpse of a golden stream of light wrapping itself around the branch. The girl must've heard him, because she whirled around, looking shocked and terrified. She lowered her gaze and saw Harry. At first, she didn't recognise him, but when he brushed his hair out of his face, she laid her eyes on the lightning-shaped scar that she had seen 4 years previously and the truth dawned upon her.
"Harry?" she dropped the branch and whispered. She looked relieved, almost happy to see him. "How do you know me?" he squeaked. "As far as I know, no one here actually knows that I exist." The girl laughed, her brown curls swaying behind her. "Ever since you were brought here, I've been watching over you." Harry seemed confused. "Why? I don't even know you!"
She smiled. She had been waiting for this moment for years now. "Here's the thing, Harry—You're a wizard." He looked shocked. "Wait, what? That's impossible!" Far-fetched as it might seem, though, he couldn't help believing the girl. "If that's true, how are you the only person who knows it? My aunt and uncle didn't." "Because I'm one too." she chuckled. "Well, to be more precise, a witch, but they're practically the same anyway." To Harry, it was all too good to be true. "But, can't wizards, like, do magic? I've never done anything of that sort." She stopped for a moment, and said, "I don't know. Perhaps nothing happens until you're of Hogwarts age, which I am." "What's that?" he asked, eager to hear more. "Oh, I keep forgetting you're only 6. I'd better tell you all about it."
The girl told Harry about the wizarding world. "As for Hogwarts, I don't really know anything yet, I'm only starting this September." "You get to learn magic?" he said enviously. "Don't worry, you'll get the letter one day too." She reassured him. "When?" he pressed on. She quickly did the math. "Um… 5 years from now?" Harry slumped. He wasn't expecting to wait for that long. "Speaking of time, I think you'd better run back home, it's almost 6pm." He gasped. "Uh oh, I have to go. Bye!" He shouted, and ran home as fast as his little legs could carry him. "Oh! And one more thing!" the girl yelled. "Happy birthday!" Harry almost stopped. He hadn't heard someone say that for years. It filled him up with warmth. But he realised that it was getting late and Aunt Petunia would get cranky if he didn't show up for supper, so he shot up the sidewalk without looking back.
"How dare you, getting late for supper? This is unacceptable! Where were you?" screamed Aunt Petunia. Harry didn't dare answer her truthfully, saying that he met a witch, so he lied, "I saw a pink dog riding a scooter down the road, so I wanted to follow him. I didn't realise it was 6 already." "Nonsense! You see, Vernon? Only 6 years old, and his brain is already filled with ridiculous ideas! This is exactly why we vo…" "Petunia!" Uncle Vernon warned. Harry looked at him, confused. What was his aunt and uncle trying to hide?
He began," What are you ..." but he was interrupted. "I'll have none of that in the house, thank you. Don't. Ask. Questions. Now run along and set the table. Poor Duddydums is getting hungry, right darling? " his aunt glanced at Dudley, who nodded, his mouth still full of cookies. Harry sighed, and went into the kitchen. If only he knew magic, he would turn the Dursleys into big fat toads and they would know not to make him do the chores!
Something suddenly occurred to him. The girl who was being so kind to him—he didn't even know her name! He'd never thought of asking her, as he was too surprised at the thought of being a wizard. Maybe this was merely a prank? But no, the glowing branch was proof that she was not normal. Now he started to doubt himself. Did he imagine the golden light? Somehow, even though he only just met the girl, he knew he could trust her, as if she was his….sister. She knew when his birthday was, after all! Harry liked the thought of having a magical sibling, who could tell him everything about magic and the wonderful world he actually belonged to. It was only when Aunt Petunia cried for him to hurry up that he stopped daydreaming and was brought back to reality.