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A Different Path: The Sorcerer's Stone
By Dishonorable
Chapter One: The Trip That Started it All
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Choose your own adventure type books.
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"Mrs. Cankle."
The grey-haired teacher did not appear to hear the waif and turned another page in her book.
"Mrs. Cankle," Harry repeated a bit louder.
This time Mrs. Cankle looked up with a scowl on her face. Obviously, whatever Harry needed wasn't nearly as important as the objective of finding out whether Clarissa chose Mark or his twin, Sid.
"I'm finished," Harry whispered, holding up his test paper.
Her nostrils flared slightly and a gnarled hand took the paper. A bony finger pointed toward Harry's desk and Harry trudged down the familiar and only path to his desk. Hopefully, Piers Polkiss, his cousin's best friend wouldn't- With a grunt Harry landed on the ground, a crumpled sheet of paper in his hand. He had foolishly tried to break his fall. As another result, there was a large brown mush on Dudley Dursle's shirt. He had been sneaking a bite of chocolate when Harry's flaying hands had ended his dream.
"My shirt!" Dudley, Harry's cousin, said loudly. Not that he needed the chocolate. He was enormous for his age and his buttocks hanged some off of his chair.
Harry winced slightly and tried his best to smooth the crumpled and slightly torn test.
Mrs. Cankle frowned heavily, repressing the urge to roll her eyes. Dudley and Harry were notorious for getting into scrapes at school. Really, it was rather Dudley and his gang beating up Harry, but nobody cared that much for details.
"When I said no cheating, I meant it," Mrs. Cankle snapped irritably, ignoring the chocolate. Not only did Chris have to throw up during announcements, but now she had to deal with this. Oh, she rued the day she wrote out Dudley and Harry's nametags. "Zero, Dursley and Potter!"
"It wasn't my fault, Mrs. Cankle," Dudley said with what he thought was a winning smile.
"Negative two, Dursley."
"What?" Dudley was aghast. He had never received a negative grade in his short life, he had never even heard of one! Of course this was because Mrs. Cankle had just decided to give the only one as a punishment for revealing such an awful sight as Dudley Dursley's smile.
It was no great loss really; Dudley was incredibly stupid and was bound to receive a "D" at the most. Perhaps a C- if he was lucky and got a few answers off of Jessica Pelinksy's paper.
Harry, meanwhile, had quickly gone to his desk. Dudley's minions took this chance to glare at him. A hit to Dudley was a punch to them as well.
"Negative five."
Dudley gaped wordlessly.
"Go ahead and throw your paper in the trash, Dursley. I shan't need to grade it this time."
She smiled, a grin that rivaled Dudley's.
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"Heads up!" called a tall boy, "Potter and Dursley coming through."
The kickball game in progress paused and a moment later Harry ran through the field at a mad dash. Pierce Polkiss
was fast on his tail and a little while the rest of Dudley gang pounded through.
The game resumed shortly after more than a couple of snorts.
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"You're in for it now, Potty!" Piers called delightedly, "You mess with the bull, and you get the fangs!"
Though Piers had further proved his stupidity, Harry didn't bother correcting him. With a quick short breath, he started running quicker toward the school. The yard supervisor had gone to the loo when Dudley had seized the chance to get revenge and it didn't look like she was going to be back any soon. They usually locked the door so no students tried to sneak in without being checked for foreign objects, but perhaps she had left it open...
Piers gave a cry of rage as he fell even further behind Harry. Soon the messy-haired boy turned a corner, removing himself from Pierce's line of sight.
There were the doors! Harry's eyes stared determinedly at the doors before glancing around quickly for the yard supervisor. Without meaning to, he spotted several large silver trashcans. He could try the door or hide behind the trashcans...But Piers's footsteps were growing closer and closer. There was no way that this would be the day that he beat Pierce, Dudley, and all of their gang...With muttered oath, Harry made a break for sanctuary.
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AN: Thanks for your reviews! If anyone is confused about this story, please notify me. Remember, please follow the directions at the end of each chapter once the next chapter is up. You may need to refresh yourself before reading each update.
If you decide that Harry will hide behind or in the trashcans, please go to Chapter Two.
If you decide that Harry will try the door, please go to Chapter Three.