Chapter 1

A/N: This is my first fic. It's my attempt to do a classic Indy!Harry "avada kedavra orbs" type fic, but subverting the tropes to make it interesting.


Harry Potter sat at the small rickety desk in his cupboard under the stairs, doing his best to finish the maths homework his Aunt and Uncle had left him. As he scribbled numbers onto the page, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. His cousin Dudley had received a letter from Smeltings Academy, a prestigious school for boys, a few weeks ago. Dudley was already bragging about the amazing presents he would get on his birthday. Harry, on the other hand, had never received a letter in his life, let alone a birthday present.

Just as he sighed and put the pen down, he heard a strange tapping sound on the window. Startled, he turned to see a large barn owl perched on the windowsill, holding an envelope in its beak. Harry rushed to open the window, his heart pounding with curiosity and excitement.

The owl dropped the envelope on Harry's desk and hooted softly before flying away into the night sky. The front of the envelope was addressed to him, in emerald green ink, and the letter carried no postage stamp or return address. Harry's heart raced as he carefully tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. It read:

"Mr. H. Potter The Cupboard under the Stairs 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey"

Harry's hands trembled as he continued to read the letter:

"HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress"

As Harry read the letter, he couldn't believe his eyes. He was a wizard! This explained so many of the "incidents" that had happened in the past: his hair growing back when Aunt Petunia gave him that awful haircut, him turning that teacher's hair blue... they did all seem to be related to hair. Maybe he was a hair wizard?

But wait, there was the time he somehow got on the school roof. Fears assuaged, he looked to the list of required items. It read:

First-year students will require:

Uniform Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)
One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for day wear One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags at all times.
Books

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's 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 of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may also bring an Owl, a Cat or a Toad.

These items may be purchased in Diagon Alley, through the Leaky Cauldron in Gracechurch Street, London.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.

Well, that at least gave him somewhere to go. But how was he going to make the 30-odd miles from Little Whinging to London? The Dursleys always drove to London, but he couldn't do that. Maybe there was a train? Harry made up his mind. He would make the trek to Sunbury, and get a train from there. But how to pay for the train?

Harry was struck by an idea. All of the Dursleys were out, taking a tour of Smeltings. He got up from the hard stool in the cupboard, and climbed the stairs.
With a creak, he slowly opened the door, peering inside to make sure the coast was clear. The room was a chaotic mess, typical of Dudley's spoiled and extravagant lifestyle. There were expensive toys scattered everywhere, and posters of Dudley's favourite wrestlers adorned the walls.

He tiptoed into the room, his eyes scanning the cluttered shelves and drawers. Harry knew that Dudley often stashed his pocket money in a piggy bank on the highest shelf. Standing on his tiptoes, he reached up and grabbed the brightly coloured piggy bank. Others would feel remorse about stealing from family, but Dudley had it coming. He probably wouldn't even miss it, Harry thought.

Score! Thirty pounds in crisp Ten Pound notes. That would be more than enough for the round trip. How was he to pay for the assorted cauldrons, robes and wands though? Maybe they had a fund for students from poor families? He would have to look into it.


Harry stepped off the train with a sense of both excitement and nervousness. He had never been in a busy tube station before, and the sights and sounds overwhelmed him. People hurried past him, talking in rapid bursts, while the trains screeched to a stop, and the announcements echoed throughout the station.

With his worn-out backpack slung over his shoulder, Harry took a moment to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. He had to find his way to Diagon Alley, and the first step was to get to Gracechurch Street.

Approaching a station attendant, who was busy directing people, Harry cleared his throat nervously. "Excuse me," he said, "Can you tell me how to get to Gracechurch Street?"

The attendant, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, paused for a moment and looked at Harry curiously. "Gracechurch Street, eh? That's not too far from here. You'll want to take the District Line westbound and get off at Monument Station. From there, it's just a short walk. You can't miss it; there's a monument right in the middle of the street."

"Thank you," Harry replied, feeling a bit relieved to have clear directions. "How do I get on the District Line?"

The attendant pointed to the signs overhead, indicating the direction to the platform. "You'll see signs with the letter 'D' and the colour green. Just follow those, and it'll lead you to the right platform. The train should be arriving soon."

"Thanks again," Harry said, giving the man a small nod before making his way to the platform. He felt a bit apprehensive as he looked around at the bustling crowd, wondering if anyone would notice that he was different from the other s.

Once on the platform, he waited for the train, trying his best to act like a regular commuter. When the train finally arrived, he boarded it, finding a seat by the window. As the train pulled away from the station, Harry felt a mix of wonder and uncertainty. The view was unlike anything he had experienced before, and he found himself gazing out the window, watching the city whizz by.

At Monument Station, Harry followed the signs to the exit and emerged into the bustling streets of London. He took a moment to get his bearings and then started walking in the direction the attendant had indicated.

After a few minutes of walking, he saw Gracechurch street, and after turning on to it, the Leaky Cauldron stuck out like a sore thumb.

As Harry approached the Leaky Cauldron, he couldn't help but notice how peculiar it looked compared to the other pubs he had seen before. The blackened timber and the slightly crooked sign swinging overhead gave it a quaint and old-fashioned appearance. He wondered if it was just a regular old pub that happened to have an interesting name.

He took a deep breath, and opened the door.