Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.

It was nearly midnight, and he was lying on his front in bed, the blankets drawn right over his head like a tent, a torch in one hand and a large leather-bound book (A History of Magic, by Bathilda Bagshot) propped open against the pillow. Harry moved the tip of his eagle-feather quill down the page, frowning as he looked for something that would help him write his essay, 'Witch-Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless – Discuss'.

Harry frowned... This was something he knew was true... He read his textbook

Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognising it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning bad no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame-Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burnt so much that she allowed herself to be caught no fewer than forty-seven times in various disguises.

Harry put his quill between his teeth and reached underneath his pillow for his ink bottle and a roll of parchment. Slowly and very carefully he unscrewed the ink bottle, dipped his quill into it and began to write, pausing every now and then to listen, because if any of the Dursleys heard the scratching of his quill on their way to the bathroom, he'd probably find himself locked in the cupboard under the stairs for the rest of the summer.

The Dursley family of number four, Privet Drive, was the reason that Harry never enjoyed his summer holidays. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and their son, Dudley, were Harry's only living relatives. They were Muggles, and they had a very medieval attitude towards magic. Harry's dead parents, who had been a witch and wizard themselves, were never mentioned under the Dursleys' roof. For years, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had hoped that if they kept Harry is downtrodden as possible, they would be able to squash the magic out of him magic out of him. To their fury, they had been unsuccessful, and now lived in terror of anyone finding out that Harry had spent most of the last two years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The most the Dursleys could do these days was to lock away Harry's spell books, wand, cauldron and broomstick at the start of the summer holidays, and forbid him to talk to the neighbours.

Suddenly fury engulfed him. He didn't knew what was happening but he knew that whatever said in the books were lie. Muggles were bad news can't they see what the Dursleys were doing to him? He looked at his key and frowned he had money, he could go wherever he wants to.

Silhouetted against the golden moon, and growing larger every moment, was a large, strangely lop-sided creature, and it was flapping in Harry's direction. He stood quite still, watching it sink lower and lower. For a split second, he hesitated, his hand on the window-latch, wondering whether to slam it shut, but then the bizarre creature soared over one of the street lamps of Privet Drive, and Harry, realising what it was, leapt aside.

Dursley House, Surrey, 31/07/1993, 02:34 a.m.

Errol had brought a package, no doubt a gift from Ron and a paper from the daily prophet fell and Harry read the news clipping.

MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.

A delighted Mr Weasley told the Daily Prophet, 'We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank.'

The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.

Harry scanned the moving photograph, and a grin spread across his face as he saw all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at him, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump little Mrs Weasley, tall, balding Mr Weasley, six sons and one daughter, all (though the black and white picture didn't show it) with flaming red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with his pet rat Scabbers on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny.

Harry couldn't think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Ron's letter and unfolded it.

Dear Harry.

Happy birthday!

Look, I'm really sorry about that telephone call I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted.

It's brilliant here in Egypt. Bill's taken us round all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.

I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw, Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this holiday, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year.

We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there?

Don't let the Muggles get you down!

Try and come to London, Ron

PS: Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week

Harry glanced back at the photograph. Percy, who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian sun.

Harry now turned to his present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top. There was another note from Ron beneath, it.

Harry this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to- light up and spin, Bill says it's rubbish sold for wizard tourists and isn't reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn't realise Fred and George had put beetles in his Soup.

Bye- Ron

Harry frowned, everyone was enjoying with their families and here he? He was here sulking worried about his family finding him doing his homework. It wasn't like he was envy of them. But he also wanted to enjoy his life... In home, he worked as house elf and in school, he was always in a life threatening situation.

Harry frowned at the biting book and closed it with a belt. Picking up the letter he read the content :

DEAR HARRY,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! THINK YOU MIGHT FIND THIS USEFUL FOR NEXT YEAR. WON'T SAY NO MORE HERE. TELL YOU WHEN I SEE YOU.

HOPE THE MUGGLES ARE TREATING YOU RIGHT.

ALL THE BEST,

HAGRID

It struck Harry as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but he put up Hagrid's card next to Ron and Hermione's, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left.

Noticing that it was rather thicker than usual, Harry slit open the envelope, pulled out the first page of parchment within and read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three quarters, at eleven o'clock.

Third-years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade at certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign. A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall.

Deputy Headmistress

Harry pulled out the Hogsmeade permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. It would be wonderful to visit Hogsmeade at weekends, he knew it was an entirely wizarding village, and he had never set foot there. But how on earth was he going to persuade Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to sign the form?

He looked over at the alarm clock. It was now two o'clock in the morning. Deciding that he'd worry about the Hogsmeade form when he woke up, Harry got back into bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart he'd made for himself counting down the days left until his return to Hogwarts. Then he took off his glasses and lay down, eyes open, facing his three birthday cards. For the first time in his life, he loved having a birthday.

Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, 09/08/1993, 04:32 p.m.

Harry is currently having the best summer ever in Diagon Alley. He's free to do whatever he likes unlike how he spends in time in the Dursleys, he's free to do whatever he likes and now he can spend his days wandering around Diagon Alley instead of doing chores, he can now work on his homework without any worry instead of hiding from everyone and doing in night, even he's getting free ice cream sundaes looks like being the defeater of Voldemort really pays off.

It has been days and Harry decides that now he should go to Gringotts and start buying his supplies for the school year. Entering Gringotts, he asked the teller and as usual the teller called for Griphook.

"Key", Harry nodded and gave the key to the Goblin.

Entering his vault, he took the money and came outside. Suddenly, a thought came in his mind. "Griphook", the said goblin looked at the wizard. "Yes?" "Errr... Does someone manage my family's account?" Harry asked and Griphook frowned. "No one as far as I'm informed after your grandfather death, your father didn't appoint one." Griphook replied ignoring the wizards' frown.

"Can I appoint one?" Harry asked

"You're not a Lord, if you have been then only you could appoint someone." Griphook replied while riding the cart.

"When will I become Lord?" Harry asked. "Ask your magical guardian" Griphook sneered and took Harry to the main hall.

Harry was confused what was magical guardian? He never heard of that term... What even it meant? He shrugged it and went outside the wizarding bank.

"Harry dear, you shouldn't roam around like this. We were worried about you." Harry frowned but nodded. Mrs. Weasley was looking tense, she was looking alert and her wand was firmly on her right hand. 'Did something happened?' Harry thought, it was too unlikely for Mrs. Weasley to behave like this.

"Dunno, about it?" Hermione frowned as she nodded to Ron. It was now Harry's turn to frown, why the hell was Hermione coming from upstairs with Ron that too alone?

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed and ran towards her best friend. Harry's frown turned into smile as Hermione hugged him. "Mate, where were you Mom was biting my ears? Get ready we are going to buy our school supplies." Ron smiled at Harry and Harry quietly nodded.

Soon the Weasley family along with Ron and Hermione were in the Diagon Alley. They first bought Ron and Ginny new wand and then for the first time the Weasley kids Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny got new books and school robes.

"You know I heard Mom and Dad are saving some money so that next year also they could buy new books and school robes." Ron whispered to Harry. "That's great" Harry whispered back smiling genuinely at his best friend.

At the bookstore, Harry picks up his books for a new subject, Divination, which is about predicting future. He also bought books in Arithmacy and learns that the monster book, he got is a course book for Care of Magical Creatures. He still remembered his amusement when all the books were eating each other in a display case, he snort remembering the store owner's horrific face. Suddenly, realisation hit him. Hagrid was the new Care of Magical Creatures Professor, he had heard from Fred and George that Silvanus Kettleburn was taking retirement as he had only had one arm and half a leg due, to the injuries caused to him by the magical creatures he'd worked with all his life and they were wondering who their new professor would be. Yes, that's why Hagrid gave him the monster book. Harry was really happy for the half-giant.

Harry and Ron were currently watching the coolest thing ever : A brand new broom called the Firebolt. "It's too expensive" "Ya though it is the fastest broom" "I'll ask my father to buy it." "My parents gifted me on my birthday this summer." The children were watching the broom and gossiping with each other.

"I think we should buy one too." Harry said after counting the remaining money. "How much money did you took from Gringotts?" asked Ron shockingly as the Firebolt cost 400-1000 Galleons each.

"It's my money, I can take how much I want." Harry shrugged. Ron nodded, though, Harry could clearly see that Ron was jealous but ignored it. He was the seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, he needed the new broomstick, the current he have is two years old.

Ron and Harry, then went to the Weasleys and they all head to the Magical Menagerie so Hermione and Percy can get an owl. Arthur and Molly gifts an eagle owl to Percy congratulating again for making Head Boy while Percy's previous owl is given to Fred and George. Ron also takes Scabbers to get him checked out. Scabbers has been looking sick since the Weasleys returned from Egypt.

Ron has been complaining since Harry has arrived about how Scabbers is sick and he is worried that Scabbers won't make it.

"I'm telling you, mate. Something has happened to Scabbers, he's with us since 12 years and he is never this sick. Do you reckon he's got any mummy's curse?" Ron asked worried about Scabbers.

Harry paused. 12 years? The rat is living since 12 years? How was this possible? As far as he knew rats had short life span, they could live for minimum 2 years and maximum 7 years, that too in very special cases. Then how could Scabbers be alive till now? "I don't think Egypt agreed with him." Harry shrugged. Harry looked at Scabbers who was looking thinner than usual.

The trip to the shop is eventful since a giant orange cat jumps on Ron. The boys wait outside and Hermione appears with her new pet, that ugly orange cat, whose name is Crookshanks. "You said you want an owl?" Harry frowned.

The trio go back to The Leaky Cauldron and have an entertaining dinner with the Weasleys. But Harry's mind is in one single place, how could Scabbers live for 12 years? He looked as Ron was talking about the tonic, he had bought for Scabbers and hopes Scabbers would be okay. The witch at the shop said that the rat had a toe missing.

He had to talk to someone adult and not a Weasley. Harry frowned as he tried to remember something or rather someone.

Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, 13/08/1993, 09:32 p.m.

Harry was thinking about Scabbers, how could a rat lived for more than 3 years, especially a common garden rat. He closed his eyes as he remembered Susan Bones. Wasn't her aunt some Auror? He had a feeling something is fishy.

His thoughts then turned to the conversation between Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. Sirius Black escaped the prison few days ago and he was out to kill him after 12 years of imprisonment. His parents died 12 years ago. Scabbers came in Weasley family 12 years ago. He became an orphan 12 years ago. Harry sat on the bed. Sirius Black, Scabbers and his parents had some kind of connection, Scabbers is sick since he came from Egypt, Mr. Weasley told Mrs. Weasley that the Minister had shown the Daily Prophet and few days later or specifically on his birthday, Sirius Black escaped.

"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Blacks been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to pow er. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You- Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that..."

Harry took the newspaper clipping in which Sirius Black's escape is printed.

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today. "We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, "and we beg the magical community to remain calm." Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. "Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it-who'd believe him if he did?" While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

Sirius Black was accused of killing thirteen muggles with a single curse and a wizard named Peter Pettigrew whose only one finger was found, 12 years ago. It could mean one thing that Scabbers is not only a rat but Peter Pettigrew and if Peter was staying as a rat hiding from everyone so it could mean either he's afraid of someone or it's not Sirius Black but Peter Pettigrew who's a Death Eater.