So as promised here is the next chapter. The change in storyline has made some of the chapters very long so I'm probably going to start splitting them up into smaller chunks, starting here.

So far I have written up to the summer before third year, which is where the major changes begin to appear. Something to look forward to!

Thanks for all the lovely reviews. They make me want to write for you guys. So please R&R.

Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. I only dabble.

Summer Before Second Year - Part 1

Harry lay down on his bed sinking his head into the coolness of his pillow, glad for the brief respite of heat from his skin. His return to the Dursley's from Hogwarts had been depressing, his uncle had immediately separated him with his link to the magical world by locking Hedwig's cage, and his trunk was locked up in the cupboard under the stairs. Ironic wasn't it! He may not sleep under there anymore but the main part of himself, the magical part was.

Since that day his uncle had made sure to leave him countless lists of chores to do around the house and he had to make sure they were done properly. That was during the daytime, when his relatives were awake.

Harry smiled to himself as he pulled his potions homework towards himself, carefully making sure not to disturb the still wet ink, Snape did not like untidy work. His uncle may have thought that he wouldn't be able to 'spread his freakishness around the house' with his stuff under the stairs, but what he didn't know was that he was quickly able to pick the lock. The first night after they were all sleep he had gotten all his books and homework, he had then hid them under the floorboards in his room. He had silently thanked Fred and George for their instruction, shuddering as he thought about what Snape would have done to him if he hadn't done it, probably use him as potions ingredients!

Harry quickly finished reading through his potions homework, before putting it down, pleased that he had put in the correct information. He rolled over onto his side, his eyes alighting on a box that sat on his desk. This box had made the summer bearable, but had given him more questions than answers.

The box had been there since he had gotten back. He had immediately asked his aunt Petunia what it was. She had sniffed and had an indignant look on her face, as if he had just asked her an inappropriate question. To his surprise his aunt had actually answered his question.

"It's some of your … mums … stuff. You're at, that school now, I don't like all that freakish stuff but I made a promise, to make sure you received it after you got back from your first year. I can finally get rid of it, it's been cluttering up the attic all these years." She had turned to walk away before turning back around. "I know what's in the box and I don't want you questioning me about any of it. You and your freaky kind have no part in my life," she had finished before walking down the stairs. Harry had stared at her as she retreated, that was probably the longest conversation she had ever had with him.

He had not opened the box straight away, nervous about what he would find. He was worried, but excited too. The idea that he might find out more about his parents had been wonderful. When he finally opened the box he had taken his time. It contained lots of letters, correspondence between his mum and aunt petunia. He took them all out sorting them by date. He had then started to read them.

Dear Tuney

How are things going at home? Are mum and dad ok? What about you? How are things going at school?

Things have been amazing here! The castle is huge, and the lessons are really interesting. Some of the professors are really strict, like Professor McGonagall. She's the deputy head and my head of house, she also teaches transfiguration. That's when your change one thing into another. Like the other day we were changing a match into a needle.

I got into Gryffindor house but Severus was put into Slytherin, were still friends though, he's thrilled to be here as well he was really nervous about the sorting. Then this stupid idiot Potter, thinks he all high and mighty and the best thing since sliced bread, calls Severus stupid names. I yelled at him that his real name was Severus Snape and he was my friend. He was such a jerk, that Sirius Black guy was just as bad, he was just laughing along.

Anyway I hope things are good at home Tuney. I'll see you at Christmas!

Love Lily x

A lot of his mum's letters were like this, complaining about his father and his gang of friends who called themselves the Marauders, going on about how amazing the school was and what she was learning. The letters had decreased over the years that she spent at Hogwarts, she had slowly been growing more distant from her sister. She had also ended her friendship with Snape in fifth year after he had called her a Mudblood, a disgusting word to describe a muggle born. He had been quite amazed that his potions professor was friends with his mum when they were in school together, he supposed that was why Snape was so evil towards him. He probably hated the fact that she had ended their friendship, and then started hanging out the Marauders.

He had been quite worried reading the letters from his mother. She had always gone on about how much she hated James Potter, that he was so stuck up, such a prat. That he was annoying for trying to impress her with pranks and quidditch. Harry wondered how his parents ever got together, it was clear from the letters that she loathed his father as much as he loathed Malfoy. But then he found a letter from his mother's 7th year.

Dear Tuney

How are you? How are the wedding preparations going?

I really wish you would answer my letters. After Mum and Dad died in that car crash were the only ones left! I can't believe you don't want to talk to me. I still love you Tuney, you're my only family left. I would hate for us to be torn apart!

By the way you were right, I believe I owe you £20. You always said that I spoke too often of James, that I did actually like him. It took me this long to figure out that I do like him, he's grown up a lot since first year, and he's actually the head boy with me. He's so great with the younger years, he hates it when the Slytherin's attack the other students. I finally said yes to him, were going to Hogsmead on a date on Halloween. Embarrassingly we found out that there was a betting pool in the Gryffindor common room about when we would get together. I think they said it was started in 5thyear. Guess a lot of people saw it coming, especially Sirius. I told him he must have seer blood in him, he just laughed at me.

Thank you for the invitation to the wedding, the invites are very beautiful. I am very upset that you don't want you own sister for a bridesmaid, I always thought we agreed we would be each other's bridesmaids at the weddings. I will most likely be bringing James with me as my date for the wedding, I'll make sure he behaves. See you at Christmas.

Lily x

He was glad to see that his father had finally grown up enough for his mother to fall in love with him, he had obviously been a bit of a prat for six years. His mother had not been impressed with any of his antics. From what he could tell his mother had been very intelligent and loved her schoolwork and reading books. The letters to his aunt had dwindled down to two after his mum had left school.

Dear Petunia

I can't believe you didn't even have the nerve to come to my wedding! You didn't want to see your younger sister get married. How could you be so horrible? I have always loved you, you're my older sister and I know that me going to Hogwarts was difficult for you, but do you have to be so condescending about it? I had no control over my magic, I had to go to learn to control it. Now you hardly ever speak to me, after mum and dad died you just cut me away. James was the one that comforted me when they died, we weren't even going out then, but he still did it. At first I didn't know why, but it was because he couldn't stand to see me so upset and alone. I know that now because he recently lost his parents, just before the wedding. Death eaters got to them. I've never seen him so lost. So I returned the favour, made him remember the good things about his parents. I know that Sirius was very close to them too, they took him in after his family kicked him out. He's a mess at the moment but Remus is trying to help him.

Please don't cut me off Tuney, in these times family is the most important, I don't want us to lose that!

Lily x

The next letter was the final one from his mum.

Dear Tuney

I have a lot to say and not much time to say it. I know we have grown apart over the years but I have never stopped loving you, you are family. It's in our blood.

There are some bad things going on in the world at the moment. You've probably seen them on the news. There's an evil wizard called Voldemort who is trying to take over the world. He's killed so many people Tuney. I'm with this group, were all trying to stop him. He's so powerful, everyone is scared of him, they call him you know who.

We were visited by professor Dumbledore and he told us that Voldemort may be after us. That he wants to kill my son, Harry. I will not let this happen, I love my son so much, he deserves a life free from this nightmare we are living in now. I don't care what happens I will protect my son with my life. I need you to promise that if anything happens to us, that if his Godfather is not around, if something happens please will you look after him. He's just a baby. I know we don't really get on but he's family, and family stick together. I know this is asking a lot but please. I'm begging you to agree.

I love you

Lily x

Harry had looked at those three words, gently touching them with his fingers. Nobody had ever told them that they loved him. He could feel the tears beginning to roll down his cheeks, so much had been taken from him that night. He had lost the only people who had ever loved him, and he been stuck in this house, to protect him from Voldemort's followers. It had taken him three days to recover from his findings. He had been so shocked and upset by his findings that he had done all his chores mechanically the days following.

Harry shook his head bringing himself back to the present. Most of the letters had been opened by his aunt which surprised him. She never spoke of her sister, he assumed she really hated her. He rolled onto his back staring at the ceiling. The letters had really opened his eyes to his parent's lives. They had friends, they had days like he did. There were things which he did which he could connect to his parents. His mother loved to read and so did he. Then there was his father. He was an excellent quidditch player, and according to his mum ruffled his hair a lot. Harry had laughed a lot at that. He always ruffled his hair, trying to get it into a state of some sort of tidiness, it never worked though. He knew that even though they were dead, they lived on in him.

He had been so caught up in the contents of the box and homework, which he had only begun to realise that he hadn't had any post from Ron or Hermione. He was tempted to let Hedwig go, she was feeling restless being stuck in a cage, but he didn't want to face his uncles wrath if he were to ever find out.

Once again he sighed. Tomorrow was his birthday but he was perfectly sure that no one would remember it. The Dursley's had the Mason's coming over for dinner, some big deal that his uncle was looking to sign. He placed his glasses on his bedside table and rolled into bed.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.