I waited patiently for the post, as I had for most of the summer holidays. I was 11 years old, and one of the most famous people in history, for something I did when I was five years old. To be honest, it was my aunt Sansa's fault. She had saved me from Voldemort.

Mum came in while I was staring out of the window thinking. "It won't be here yet" She said smiling gently at me.

"I know, I'm just waiting." I said, my thinking interrupted.

Mum laughed and left the room to see my sister Meg, well, her full name was Megara but she was only called that when she was in trouble or when we wanted to annoy her. I think Mum went up to wake Meg up, but Meg had come down earlier, eaten then went back upstairs.

An owl appeared in the distance clutching something in it's talons. I jumped up, expecting my Hogwarts letter, instead it was the paper. I don't know why Mum and Dad insist on having the paper delivered everyday, but then I have never truly understood my parents.

"The names MEG" I heard Meg shout at Mum as Mum came back downstairs laughing.

"Still not come?" She asked as she came back into the room. I flicked my head in the direction I had threw the paper. Mum sat down and started to read it. I heard the normal mutterings as she read it.

I saw another owl coming towards the house, as it came closer I saw the thing I was waiting for. I jumped off of the stool I was sat on, making my mum jump as I did.

"What is it?" She asked, sounding fearful. It was typical of my Mum to be worried about me sometimes I felt suffocated by her. When I told Dad he had laughed and ruffled my hair. He said that she was going to be overprotective, as they came so close to losing me.

"AN OWL" I yelled in Mum's general direction and caught the letter that it dropped.

I stared down at the envelope that I had been waiting for all summer. It was a heavy yellow parchment. With green writing that said:

'Mr. H. Potter
The Kitchen
9 Godric's Hollow'

"You going to open it?" Mum asked with a smile.

I opened it excitedly and grinned.

'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chr. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress'

"Mum? Can we go to Diagon Alley?" I asked. I loved going to Diagon Alley with Mum and Dad, other then them knowing almost everybody, it was amazing, at home Mum used magic occasionally, she liked using Muggle things, and always did Muggle things with me and Meg, so that we didn't miss the type of childhood that she had.

Mum laughed and nodded. "I'll get Meg ready." She said and took the household owl Ayra off her perch and send her with a note to Sirius's before crossing the room and putting her head in the fire. I looked at the other sheet of parchment in my letter.

'HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS'

Dad would be distressed I thought with a grin. He said that he always hoped that the first years would be allowed to get a broomstick. He hated the school brooms.

Mum's head came out of the fire and she looked round at me. I looked back and raised my eyebrow slightly.

"Can we meet Neville?"

"I think he's going with Augusta next week darling. She wanted to shop with him on her own for the first time."

"Oh Ok." I said and disappeared upstairs to get ready.

"Harry, Get Meg to hurry up." Mum called after me.

"Yeah." I called back before going into my room and pulling on my shoes. I banged the wall that separated mine and Meg's rooms.

"I'M COMING." Meg yelled at me, smacking the wall as she ran around her room. I jumped down the stairs taking two at a time and getting to the bottom as Mum was getting her bag.

"Ready?" She asked as I landed next to her.

"Yep."

"Meg ready?"

"MEGARA!" I called upstairs.

"IT'S MEG!! M-E-G! WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" She yelled back as she appeared on the landing and came downstairs.

"Harry, do you have to wind you're sister up like that?"

I shrugged, to tell the truth it was really fun. Meg came down stairs and jumped onto my foot. I winced. Mum was near the car and I grabbed my letter before following Meg to the car. Meg started to get into the front.

"No Meg, We're going to pick up Sirius, Charisa and Will. Sit in the back with Harry."

Meg stomped to the back and threw herself in. I laughed at my little sister's behaviour. Meg shot a grin at me. As she shut the door Mum drove off and Meg got her book out. She was a real bookworm. As we pulled up to Sirius's house however she quickly hid it.

"You don't want Will to see it do you?" I asked, I always teased her about him. Will was Sirius's child and Charisa's twin. Where Risa looked like her mother, but with Sirius's eyes and hair, Will was a copy of Sirius, except for his mannerisms. I thought that Meg had a crush on Will.

Meg just scowled at me.

Sirius, Will and Charisa appeared at the door and quickly got into the car. Risa was squashed between me and her twin.

"Hi Harry." She said, in a muffled voice.

"Hey Risa."

Sirius turned from his point in the front. "Heya Squirt." He said, ruffling my hair.

I ducked out of his way. My hair was already messy enough as it was. Mum drove across London to the Leaky Cauldron, which is possibly the most famous pub in the Wizarding World. She parked the car and we all piled out. When we entered the pub we spotted the shape of one of Mum and Dad's friends… Hagrid.

"Mornin' Lily, Sirius." He said in his booming voice, nodding his head in the direction of Mum and Sirius. Sirius grinned.

"Hagrid." He said, by way of greeting.

Mum blew Hagrid a kiss and ushered us through to the alley. Hagrid followed.

"Now young Harry. I have to get you you're birthday present." He said.

"Oh no, you don't have to." I said quickly, as Mum opened up the entrance.

"Nonsense. Can't have an eleventh birthday an' get no presents."

"Thank you Hagrid." I said in a small voice, knowing that I'd lost the battle.

"Now, what do you want?" Hagrid was muttering to himself. "How 'bout a pet? Not a toad, no-ones got them anymore, how about an Owl? Cat's make me sneeze."

"Thank you Hagrid." I said again. Hagrid smiled, his huge whiskery beard covered his mouth but his crinkly dark eyes sparkled.

"Hey, Lily, Where you goin' anyway?" He asked, he quickened his stride to catch up with Mum.

"Meeting Molly and Arthur outside Gringotts after we've been in. You?"

"I'll come with you a minute." I saw him pat his top pocket gently and glance at me, the twins and Meg. "Hogwarts business." He said to Mum darkly.

Mum nodded. "Yes Dumbledore said…" She broke of and glanced worriedly at me. "Never mind. We have to get Harry's school stuff. You're welcome to come if you want."

"Thanks Lily, you know I can't stand those carts."

Mum laughed lightly. "Sirius will you stay out here with the kids?" She said as we arrived outside the bank.

Sirius nodded.

"Mum." I said suddenly. "Can I come with you?"

Mum looked slightly taken back. "Sure." She said eventually. And I followed her into Gringotts, the Wizarding Bank.