A/N: READ THIS FIRST!!!!! I just want everyone to know right now that I am completely ignoring the events of DH in this story partly because of the horrible "romance" scenes between R/HR, and H/G, partly because she killed off about half of my favorite characters, and partly because I started this story before DH came out so some things that I planned on writing (and still will) regarding their seventh year did not happen in DH, so there will be absolutely no mention of DH in this story. However, books 1-6 will be the same except for the changes that Harry makes (and trust me there will be a lot).
Harry's head was throbbing. Again. He opened his eyes half-expecting to find himself face to face with another blinding light but instead, found himself staring up at a dark ceiling of wood. He lifted his hands to rub the sleep from his eyes but stopped short. Even though it was dark in the cramped space, he could see that his hands were now much smaller than they had been, but if Harry remembered correctly, he had just been de-aged about twelve years. He sat up slowly as if he was scared he would hit his head on the ceiling. Of course since he was now at least three feet shorter then he had been, that was pretty unlikely.
Harry peered out through the slits in the cupboard door and could just make out the clock hanging on the wall across from him. It read 5:30, which meant he had about three hours before Aunt Petunia would come wake him up and order him to make breakfast for Dudley.
In those three hours, Harry spent most of his time thinking about what he could change now. Obviously getting away from the Dursley's and getting Sirius out of Azkaban were at the top of the list. He just had to figure out how. After about two hours, he had a plan formulated in his mind, but by now he was very very hungry, but he knew that he wouldn't be eating anything until Aunt Petunia came to wake him up, and then all he'd probably get were two pieces of dry, burnt toast and a glass of milk. The thought of this pitiful meal made Harry grimace, but he knew that if his plan worked, this would be the last time he would ever have to eat it.
Harry spent the last hour considering the three pieces of advice that Max had left him with. The first bit was pretty easy for him to figure out, they obviously wanted him to take the sorting hat's advice this time around and be put into Slytherin. He was having a lot of trouble understanding why he should go into the house that turned out so many dark wizards. Of course, not all Slytherins were bad, but still, he couldn't see himself as a slytherin. Maybe they meant that he just shouldn't go into Gryffindor and not necessarily Slytherin. But if he remembered correctly, the hat had never actually said he shouldn't be in Gryffindor, just that he would have done better in Slytherin.
The second bit confused him greatly. The Weasley's were his friends, why should he avoid them? And for that matter, how would going to Malfoy's home benefit him? Perhaps they were just playing some kind of weird trick on him.
He was deterred from any further thoughts of this by a loud rapping on the cupboard. "Get up now boy! Dudley wants his breakfast." Came the shriek of his horse-faced aunt. Harry groaned as he realized that he had lost track of time and now had to get up and deal with his 'relatives'.
The first thing he saw upon entering the kitchen was his whale of a cousin Dudley. At five year old he wasn't really huge yet, but he was definitely too big to be considered normal for someone his age. "What took you so long you lazy git, I'm straving, make me breakfast now!" The horribly obese boy yelled at his cousin.
Harry grumbled and set to work cooking bacon and eggs, which was hard since he was too small to reach the stovetop.
A few minutes later, Harry's Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen. He grunted at Harry before turning all his attention to his son. Harry managed to finish cooking the food and serve it to his Uncle and Cousin, the latter of whom wolfed it all down in twenty seconds flat before demanding more.
"I'm sorry Dudley" Harry said not feeling sorry at all. "I didn't make anymore."
Perhaps it was because of that fact that Harry had not been forced to cook for the Dursley's in a long time, but he had forgotten until that moment just how bad an idea it was not to make seconds for Dudley. In the next two seconds, Dudley had burst into fake tears and was beating the kitchen table with his meaty fists.
"D-daddy!" He sobbed, "Did you h-hear that? The freak d-didn't make enough food for me, h-he wants me to s-starve!"
In any other situation, Harry would have laughed at this display, but not now. Vernon's face turned purple with rage as he advanced on his nephew, who stepped back in fear. What Harry wouldn't give for a wand right now.
"You little brat, how dare you try and starve my son, after all we've given you. We could have just shipped you off to the orphanage but instead we took you in out of the goodness of our hearts." Vernon yelled at the boy.
"Yeah right" Harry muttered under his breath, knowing full well that the only reason he was still hear was because of Dumbledore. Unfortunately, Vernon heard that remark, and that only made the veins in his head pulse faster.
"What did you say?" Vernon hissed in a deadly voice.
Now Harry was starting to get very nervous. He didn't have his wand so he had to way to defend himself from the giant man. "I-I didn't say anything Uncle Vernon" He stammered out.
"Don't you lie to me you ungrateful worm, you've earned yourself a day in the cupboard for that." Vernon roared. With that, he grabbed Harry by his shirt and dragged him to the cupboard. He threw the small boy in and slam the door shut. Harry laid down on the bed to catch his breath. One his face was a small smile.
Phase 1 complete.
That night, the residents of Number Four Privet Drive were currently in deep slumber, except of course for Harry Potter. Harry was at the moment, writing a note on a piece of paper he had grabbed from the kitchen counter that morning. If all went well, that note would help get Sirius out of Azkaban eight year earlier than he might have been. Luck had been on Harry's side earlier that night. He had been trying to figure out a way to undo the lock on the cupboard door when a half-asleep Petunia walked past. Seizing the opportunity, Harry had called out to his aunt saying he had to use the loo. Drowsily, his Aunt had simply mumbled a reply and unlocked the door. Now all Harry had to do was walk out the door and hope to god he was back before sunrise.
Harry pocketed the note as well as a small box he had found lying around and slowly opened the cupboard door. He stepped out into the hallway and crept softly to the front door. Stepping out on the porch he noticed that it was very cold out and wished very much that he had a jacket. Ignoring the cold he walked out to the street and extended his right hand, hoping this would work. With a telltale screech of tires, the Knight Bus stopped directly in front of the small boy. Out the door stepped a young woman with bright red hair tied back in a ponytail. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard, my name is Tina and I will be your conductor for this evening." She said reading the contents of a small index card she was holding.
She looked up at Harry once she finished and was surprised that a little boy had flagged down the bus. "My, your just a child! She exclaimed.
Harry put on the best scared face he could and said, "Please miss, my mummy said if I ever get lost, I should signal the Knight Bus and they would bring me home, I don't have any money, but I can't get home and I'm scared, please help me."
This had obviously worked as a look of pity had appeared on Tina's face. "It's okay little boy, we'll take you home for free." She said comfortingly.
Harry inwardly applauded his fine ruse as he gave the woman a big smile and stepped aboard the bus. He sat down on the bed closest to the door. "Where do to you live sweetie?" Tina asked.
"Ottery St. Catchpole, a house called "The Burrow" Harry replied.
"Alright then, we'll have you there in a jiffy." The conductor smiled.
A few moments later, the Knight Bus was off. Harry had almost forgotten how fast it could go and almost flew of his bed. Tina however was too busy reading a copy of "Witch Weekly" to notice. It amazed Harry to no end that the conductors of the Knight Bus were not affected at all by the speed this thing would go at.
Five minutes later, the bus came to a halt in front of the Weasley household. Harry was more than happy to get off. The conductor gave him another smile as he stepped off the bus. "Thank you for helping ma'am." Harry said looking out at Tina. She smiled and closed the door. With that, the Knight Bus took off once again and Harry was alone now.
Phase 2 complete.
Harry climbed up the wall on the side of the rickety house to the second story. After much searching he finally found Percy Weasley's room. Harry peered through the glass at the sleeping 9 year old and finally saw what he was looking for. The large rat was lying on Percy's nightstand sound asleep. Harry slowly opened the window a crack and reached over to the nightstand. He managed to pick up the rat without waking it or its owner. He put the rat in the box and closed it firmly before beginning his descent.
He had to jump once he was about two feet over the ground which was one problem, unfortunately however, the fall seemed to have woken Pettigrew, who started scrambling around inside the box looking for a way out. Harry had to shake the box very fast in order to knock Pettigrew out and once the rat stopped moving, Harry opened the box to make sure he was still breathing, he was.
Phase 3 complete.
Harry recalled Remus telling him were he used to live once. He was pretty sure he remembered the address. Hoping it was the right one, Harry quickly apparated away (he had learned in seventh year).
He ended up in front of a small, one story shack which was in dire need of a paint job. Harry peaked through one of the windows to find the sleeping form of Remus Lupin. Relieved that he had gotten the address right, Harry ran around the small house until he found the kitchen window, which was partially open. Harry opened it a little bit farther and managed to place the box containing Pettigrew one the old kitchen table. On top of the box was the note. Harry quietly put the window back the way it was and backed up slowly. His plan was now complete.
Smiling to himself, he apparated back to Privet Drive and after quietly reentering the house and his cupboard drifted of to sleep, knowing very well the tomorrow was going to be a very interesting day for the wizarding world.