I do not own Harry Potter; that belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Hope you like this chapter!

"Normal Speech"

'Thinking'

'unknown'

"§parseltounge§"

(._.)

Inky black tendrils swirled around Harry. In a deep, dark, and cold void, screams assaulted his ears: "No! Not Harry! Take me instead! Please, not Harry!" Then, suddenly, a bright, emerald green flash of light, and it ceased.

Harry woke covered in sweat, dark tendrils of magic out of his sight fading away. His Killing Curse green eyes darting around the room, blood shot, anxiety coursing through Harry's veins.

"R-right, just a-another dream..." Harry calmed himself. He had the same nightmare night after night. This had been going on for months. "I... I should get up," he said to himself as he began his morning routine. He greeted Petunia, made breakfast for her, Dudley, and himself, and got the mail. As usual, this time of the month, it was a bill for Petunia, a bill for Petunia, Hogwarts acceptance letter, a bill for Petunia. Harry stopped. "...Hogwarts?"

Before he knew it, he had 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 into 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 July 31.

Yours sincerely

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"This has to be a prank," Harry tried to reason.

"I mean, magic? That's not real," he said, completely ignoring the fact that he could talk to snakes.

"Who would even use an owl to send a letter?" Harry was cut off by a hoot. He turned his head slowly to the right, meeting the pitch-black eyes of a Barred Owl. "Oh," Harry said smartly.

"I'll... I will be back..." Harry said to the owl. He didn't know why, but he felt the owl understood him. Harry quickly rushed inside, threw his letter on his bed, gave Petunia the bills, and swiftly walked over to his cupboard.

Harry sat in the cupboard for a couple of hours, thinking, "Well... there was that one time I teleported to the roof of the school while being chased by Dudley... I can talk to snakes... Maybe... Just maybe, this isn't a prank."

Harry decided that, even if it was a prank, he would respond. He quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Not knowing what to say, really, he wrote asking for someone to get him and help him find his supplies.

He went outside to the owl, which looked at him curiously and held out its claw. Harry held out the letter, and it was quickly snatched by the owl as it flew away.

(._.)

It had been two days since Harry sent his acceptance letter. He was beginning to think it really was a prank, until later that day.

Dear Mr.Potter

We at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are delighted that you have agreed to learn at our school. As most of us will be busy these days before school, it is unfortunate that I myself will not be able to bring you shopping for your supplies. However, our potions professor, Severus Snape, is on his way. He should be there within the hour.

Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry quickly got up and quietly walked to the bathroom to brush his hair. 'Harry,' Harry's eyes snapped over to the mirror, emerald green eyes meeting ruby red. Fear coursed through Harry's veins; he felt as if his soul was being pierced by those eyes.

He blinked, they were gone, replaced by his own eyes. He took deep breaths as he looked himself over in the mirror. His black, unruly hair with streaks of red every now and then, his lightning bolt scar still looked fresh. It always had.

"What was... never mind, I have to get ready." Harry quickly brushed off the event as if it never happened and continued brushing his hair, failing miserably to straighten it.

"You've got to be kidding me," Harry grumbled as he brushed his hair. "I don't have much longer until..." Harry was cut off by a sharp knock from the front door.

(._.)

Severus didn't know what to think. He was going to Little Whinging to get Harry Potter, Lily Evans' son. He was thinking about what Harry would be like. Part of him argued that he would be just like his father, a pompous bully, while another part hoped he'd be like Lily.

He was anxious about the meeting. He looked up at the house in front of him, Number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging. He took a deep breath, readied his mind, and knocked on the door.

He was not expecting Harry to look so much like his mother, with her red hair and Lily's eyes staring back at him. If Severus had not been an occlumency master, he might have let a tear fall. Instead, he steeled himself and asked, "Harry Potter?"

Alright! That's chapter 2 finished! Good morning/afternoon/evening to you all!

Honestly thought this would turn out to be another unfinished project, but I'm starting to like where I'm going with this!