As the sun rose on a summers Saturday morning, Harry Potter was already outside slaving away in the garden. Sweat trickled down his neck as he worked quickly and efficiently in his aunts flower garden. It was peaceful, Or at least it had been..

'BOY! GET IN HERE NOW!' Harry sighed, gathering his tools together and brushing himself off he made his way through the back door. Promptly ducking to avoid the china bowl that had been thrown exactly where his head was a second earlier.

'WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING BREAKING OUR THINGS?!' Harry looked down at his feet, counting to 5 in order to keep his anger in check.

'I'm sorry Uncle Vernon.' Harry flinched as his uncle got into his face.

' You listen here boy, Marge will be arriving tonight.' Harry supressed a groan. Great, Aunt Marge.

SLAP! 'Don't give me that look boy, your lucky we took you in at all. You have a list of chores and you better have them done by the time i get home or you're sleeping in that bloody shed. You hear me?' Harry nodded. Next thing he's skidding across the floor where his uncle had punched him.

' ANSWER ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU,YOU FREAK!'

'Sorry Uncle Vernon, Yes Uncle Vernon.' Giving his nephew a kick on his way he waddled out of the room and out to his car. As Harry gasped for breathe he curses for the millionth time his bad luck in being dropped on their doorstep on the night his parents died. See, Harry is not a normal boy. He is a wizard, and attends Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. His parents were murdered by the Dark Lord Voldemort when he was only a year and a half. He also tried to kill Harry, but for some unknown reason he wasn't able to. He turned into a wrath, and fled the country for a decade leaving nothing but a lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead. Albus Dumbledore headmaster of Hogwarts, then left him on his aunt and uncles doorstep in the middle of the night in nothing but a basket with a thin blanket. Supposedly there were blood wards on the house that Harry's mother Lily, had somehow erected when she died. Harry wasn't sure what the point of them were. He may be protected from anybody on the outside but he certainly wasn't protected on the inside. Harry used to idolize the headmaster. Heck he used to idolise the wizarding word as a whole, but after spending two years there and almost being killed multiple times he was starting to resent his fellow magicals. He was famous for bringing down the dark Lord, unfortunately, fame came with scorn and expectations. Harry's first years at school were full of danger, murderous teachers and creatures. The only two good things were his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They kept Harry sane, didn't turn on him at a moments notice and were his first ever friends. The second was his beautiful snowy owl Hedwig, his first ever birthday present. When Hagrid, the gamekeeper, had broken down the door and whisked him off to Diagon Alley he had bought the owl for Harry's 11th birthday. There weren't any teachers he could say he really admired, Professor Dumbledore had dropped him off in this hell hole ad then allowed Harry to be in danger. His head of house Professor McGonagall, didn't bother listening to him when he asked for help with the stone in first year. She had allowed him on the quidditch team but he never really felt like she was very involved with her house or students, though he didnt blame her too much as she had so much going on. Not only is she Head of Gryffindor, she was also transfiguration teacher and Deputy Head mistress. The teacher Harry hated the most was a sour man named Severus Snape, youngest potions master of the century. Snape hated Harry with a passion. Harry never understood why, though he gathered that he and his father had a horrid history. Harry never understood the deep level of hatred. He hadn't spoken or seen his father since he were a year old so how could he be like him? Harry was determined this year to stay out of Snape's way, He was tired, and just didn't think he could deal with such intense hatred twenty four seven. Despite this, he couldn't wait to return to Hogwarts in two days time.

Once Harry had struggled to his feet he grabbed the list of chores and got going. He had 4 hours to hoover, dust and polish the bedrooms, cook a three course meal to be ready for 6pm. Mow, weed and mulch the garden as well as paint the garage door and the back fence. He sighed. There was no way he would get all this done in time. Prioritising the inside he set to work in the bedrooms before preparing the vegetables and basting the turkey. He made a lemon cheesecake as well as a chocolate pudding. He was losing stamina, his back still hurting from his uncles latest 'gift'. Making sure the food was cooking in time he made his way outside and started on the garden. He lost himself in his work, slowly losing more and more strength. At 5.45pm he heard the front door and ran back into the kitchen to start dishing up dinner. Thankfully his fat whale of a cousin had been out today so he hadnt needed to deal with him. Marge and the Dursleys sat at the table and chatted while he served them. Aunt petunia scrunched her nose at him but other pointedly looked away, Marge was obviously already nearing drunk and Harry knew that Uncle Vernon would not be far behind. Knowing he wouldn't get any dinner, Harry began dishing up, rushing in order to get outside to finish his chores. Just as carried the gravy boat round the table in order to pour it on Marge's plate, Dudley decided he needed a bit of entertainment. Sticking out his leg Harry tripped, watching in horror as the entire boat of gravy went flying, all over Marge's fat lap.

'AHHHH! MARGE! BOY!, YOU WAIT.. YOU FUCKING FREAK..' Chaos erupted. Vernon, Marge and Petunia all started shouting, Vernon grabbed Harry by the colour and shoved him into the lounge.

' HOW DARE YOU HURT MARGE! YOU WORTHLESS... PATHETIC... UNGRATEFUL FREAK!' Hard blows punctuated his words, He booted Harry in the stomach, reigned his fists against his face, causing Harry's glasses to break and glass cut his cheek. His tooth was knocked out and he could feel blood trickling down his face. Dudley stood in the doorway smirking at the drama he had caused.

' Your in for it Potter! Go Dad!' Once Marge had been hosed down by Petunia at the sink, she came rumbling in and joined her brother in beating his nephew bloody. Dudley 'conveniently' found his Smelting's cane, passing it to his aunt as he did so.

WHACK.. WHACK.. WHACK! Hard hits reigned across Harry's face, cuts opened quickly. Suddenly Vernon and Dudley grabbed his arms that he had ben using to protect his face as much as possible. Harry struggled but they were too strong. Dudley ripped off his shirt and then the two men pinned him to the floor on his stomach.

WHACK.. WHACK.. WHACK..

Harry gave up trying not to cry, tears ran down his cheeks as he felt his back being split open. Eventually he stropped struggling and just lay there. Wishing he had died that night with his parents.

Eventually, after an hour of beatings, the Dursleys retreated to bed and Harry passed out into blissful darkness.

Harry didn't wake until late the next day. At first he couldn't understand where he was, It was pitch black and he was cramped in a small ball. It took a moment for him to recognise his old bedroom. The cupboard under the stairs. Groaning loudly he flinched as his back scratched against the sharp edges of his school trunk. He took note of his injuries, His back and face were burning, letting him know that they had really done a number on him. He drifted off into another painful sleep, Not realising that he should be going to Hogwarts tomorrow morning. Not knowing that he wouldn't be missed until the first day of classes.