CHAPTER ONE
BACKSTORY
The Dursleys were one of the most normal families on the block, and proud of it. Mr Dursley was a jolly, big, beefy man with barely any neck and a smile always on his face. Mrs Dursley was one of the sweetest women on the block, always ready to lend a hand or do a favour.
The Dursleys had 2 sons called Harry and Dudley, and in their opinion, there were no finer men anywhere. Of course, that was only true up until the kids were together. Why, you may ask? Simply put, Harry and Dudley together were a force not to be reckoned with. Bless them, the two kids, they got along so well that to the Normal eye, no one could tell that they were cousins, and not brothers.
Like all families do, the Dursleys also had a huge secret. Again, What, you may ask?
Magic. The fact that Harry Potter had magic, was something that was only known to the Dursleys. Petunia, who felt guilty for pushing her sister away due to her 'freakish-ness', never let Harry feel unloved or unwanted. Both the boys were pampered yet as humble as one could be.
All in all, the Dursleys were what you would expect the perfect family to be.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
More than 10 years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find
their nephew on the front step, but Privet Drive had hardly changed at
all. The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass
number four on the Dursleys' front door; it crept into their living
room, which was almost the same as it had been on the night when
Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls. Only the
photographs on the mantelpiece showed how much time had passed.
Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a
large pink beach ball wearing different-coloured bonnets - but Dudley
Dursley was no longer a baby, and neither was Harry.
This, was a day of celebration, because this was the day Harry Potter turned 11. However, the mood in the house was a sober one, not one of joy…
This is because today was the day that would change everything. The day that Harry Potter would get the letter for Hogwarts. The first few years of his life, Mr and Mrs Dursley had conveniently hoped that somehow, Harry would turn out to be a Muggle, and not have to leave them, ever. They soon found out the hard way that this was not the case, since at the early, early age of 5, Harry showed his first sign of accidental magic, turning all the bronze cutlery in the house into real, 24karat gold cutlery. I know, amazing, right?
The Dursleys and Harry Potter were all sitting in their living room, watching a game of Football, Harry having already opened all his presents. The Doorbell rang, causing Vernon to shudder violently and get up to open it.
"No Uncle Vernon. You sit, I'll open it. Really, it's no problem at all," said Harry.
"Nonsense, boy, it is your Birthday. Now sit back down while I answer the door!" exclaimed Vernon, smiling sadly.
"Yes?" Vernon asked, sneering, seeing an old man with a long beard and half-moon spectacles, dressed in a long, periwinkle blue robe and a witches hat.
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but would I be correct in assuming that this is the residence of Mr Harry Potter?" asked the old man
"Yes. Yes, it is. So you are one of those freaks who has come to take our Harry from us, aren't you?" asked Vernon, a tear in his eye.
A little piece of Mr Dursley's heart broke as the man nodded.
"Come in, come in. No use standing out here when the boy you are looking for is in the house" said Vernon
Mr Dursley and the man walk in, the old man surprised at the cleanliness of these muggles.
"Who is it Vernon?" asks Petunia, in that shrill voice of hers.
She emerges from the kitchen, polishing a dish, and drops it, seeing the man.
"Ppp- Professor Dumbledore? But- but I thought that he wasn't going to your school, we didn't receive any letter.." said Petunia, sputtering
The old man, now identified as Professor Dumbledore, said "Ah, Petunia! How are you? Lily always used to speak highly of you in Hogwarts"
"Stop. Just stop with the pleasantries," says Petunia, leading Dumbledore to the living room where Harry is still watching TV, with Vernon following them at a steady pace.
Dumbledore walks in, his eyes twinkling, seeing the 2 boys, so much like brothers. This reminds him of when he was a kid, listening to the wireless with Aberforth. He shakes his head, reminding himself to get back to the present.
He walks up to Harry, and starts speaking.
"Harry, my boy. You look so much like your father. You must be wondering, of course, who I am. I am Headmaster Dumbledore of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course, you must have heard a lot about it," Dumbledore says
"Good afternoon Headmaster. Yes, I have heard many praises of this School. I wondered, however, that I would not be enrolled as I did not get a letter." says Harry
"Well, my boy, it is standard procedure for a professor to come and deliver the letter to a muggle-born student, or in your case, a muggle-raised student. Petunia, Vernon, would you be so kind as to let me take young Harry here for the day, take him shopping for his equipment while I explain the workings of our magical world to him."
"Uh- Sure… How many pounds will you need?" asks Petunia
"Oh No no Petunia. Harry here has a small fortune of his own he can spend money from. There is no need for you to pay." exclaims Dumbledore.
"OK," says Petunia stiffly, tending to Dudley, who is still sleeping blissfully.
"Let us go, Harry, to a place for all your school equipment. Oh, and, your letter," says Dumbledore.
Harry opened the letter, and read;
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