Chapter Text
For all of his life, Harry James Potter has felt different to the world around him. Constantly everything felt like it was moving faster than he was. That wasn’t to say that he himself was slow, but rather he always doing things for longer. Harry held grudges for longer, it having taken months for his brother Dudley to get back into his good graces after ruining his precious garden. He deliberated on issues for longer, taking an entire month to decide what kind of glass frames he wanted. He also held onto emotions such as sorrow for longer, mourning a broken friendship with Dudley’s ex-friend Justin, after it was clear the boy was becoming a bully, for an entire year.
Of course that’s not to say it was all bad, for with it came almost unbreakable patience. It took an incredible amount of repeated actions to break it. The only reason he held that grudge against Dudley was twofold. First, the garden meant everything to Harry, it was something that he had been growing and raising for as long as he can remember. Which to be more specific, due to Harry’s long memory, was since he was able to walk and hold the gardening tools himself, his mother Petunia holding the watering can for him until he was six.
However, more than just all that, he was magical. According to his mother, his birth mother, her sister that is, was a witch and his father was a wizard, which made him one as well. It was obvious really when Harry thinks about it, especially with how nature just moves for him, but that’s a story for later. Of course while Petunia herself wasn’t magical, that didn’t mean she loved Harry any less and those conversations always led to her telling Dudley and Harry her favorite baby story of them both.
It was when Petunia had first discovered Harry as a baby on her doorstep. Somebody, his mother never told them who, just that they were an interfering old man, had abandoned him there like a thing of milk with only a letter to explain the situation. Of course, Petunia’s ex-husband Vernon had wanted nothing to do with Harry and to throw him into the cupboard under the stairs. Of course, Petunia sadly admits that initially she had thought the same until she had looked right into Harry’s eyes.
She could see nothing but innocence and love, which surprised her because Harry was only one, but it was enough to break the ice over her heart. Without saying a word, she had gone upstairs to leave Harry to play with Dudley while she had a conversation with Vernon. The talk was long and stressful and eventually ended with them screaming and her demanding that they were done after Vernon made a comment of outright killing Harry and burying his body. When she returned upstairs she was shocked to find Harry and Dudley both levitating, laughing, and giggling. When the shock abated she couldn’t help but smile.
However, we are getting away from the main part of the story, so let’s refocus our attention there. The reason why Harry was thinking about this, today of all days, was because it was a week before his birthday, his eleventh birthday. According to his mother, today was the day that he would receive his letter to Hogwarts, the magical school that his birth parents went to. This had prompted his current thought process and wondering if there would be anyone like him there. His train of thought however was interrupted when Dudley had plopped himself right next to Harry on the couch.
“Whatchya thinking about there Har?” He asked as he chomped into an apple that he had on hand. Harry sighed and slumped in the couch before answering the question. “I’m just wondering if I’ll make any friends there.” Of course, his answer was met with a laugh from Dudley, of which Harry gave him a glare. “Oh come on Har, you have so many friends at our school, what makes you think that you won’t have any at Pigblisters?” He said, butchering the school name completely.
“It’s Hogwarts Duds, and I dunno, I just feel like I’ll stand out too much. You know mum said that the amount that plants like me wasn’t normal in their world, at least from her stories about mom.” He said with an exasperated tone. Dudley’s response was simply to ruffle Harry’s hair and shake his head. “Don’t worry too much, people like you waaaaay too much for you to be practically unable to make friends.” He said, finishing off the apple. Harry was about to say something in return but the doorbell rang.
With a groan, Harry got up and decided to answer it, figuring that it was the mail, as around now would be when it was delivered. Upon opening the door he saw the pile of correspondence on the door mat. What stood out the most of the pile of letters was the one that was stamped with a red seal. Immediately grabbing it, Harry flipped it over to check the front, quickly reading it to themselves.
Mr Miss
Heir Potter
The Second Bedroom
107 Sandridge Road,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire
It was finally here! Harry was super excited to finally go get the things he needed for Hogwarts. Although he was confused as to why whoever wrote this wrote the wrong gender before opting for just heir. Shrugging his shoulders and putting it behind him for now, the young wixen opened up the envelope. Inside were two different sheets, both of which seemed to be made out of a thick material, remembering Petunia having said that the Wixen World was out of touch with the current times. The first sheet seemed to be directly addressed to him, which he promptly read as well as the next one, which appeared to be the school supply list.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation 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 1 September. We await your owl no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-Year Students will require:
- 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 with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE 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
Basics of Ingredient Preparation and Lab Safety
By Severus Snape
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 pure gold potion utensils*
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
*While with the others, a student can take out one on loan at the school, your wand and potion utensils must be bought. The wand is due to the average wixen’s wand being finicky when in the hands of another wixen. The utensils are necessary to prevent cross-contamination as well as potion mishaps. If a student is unable to afford either one, please owl Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall to access the Student Fund in order to be provided with the galleons to purchase the equipment.
Students may also bring, alongside their familiar, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMS
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
By the time Harry finished reading the letter he was smiling wildly, running to the kitchen where his mother was. Petunia was currently prepping dinner, as the meal she had planned for the day required a good couple hours of pre-prep. When Harry came sliding into the kitchen holding his letter and grinning, she laughed softly and rolled her eyes in a sort of joking exasperated way.
“I see you’ve got your letter there Harry, can I see it?” She asked as she set down her cooking utensils and brushed her hands off on her apron. Harry nodded quickly and handed it over, practically vibrating on spot as she looked at the letter. “When do you think we can go get my stuff mum?” He asked, giving her a begging look. “Harry James Potter-Evans, you know that look has ceased working on me since you turned eight.” She said with a laugh, causing him to pout. It’s not his fault that she’s especially resistant to his puppy dog look compared to every other person.
“According to the letter we need to send a reply back, but also can you ask them to send someone tomorrow to escort us? It’s been well over two decades since I last visited the wixen shopping area with Lily.” She asked, handing the letter back to Harry and directing him towards where she kept the letter paper and envelopes. He obliged and got out the things he needed before sitting down at the dining table to write out a letter.
Dear Deputy Headmistress,
I accept my placement at Hogwarts. Although my mum requested that you guys send a representative to escort us to the shopping area. She says it’s been too long for her to be able to remember where it is. Perhaps tomorrow around noon?
Sincerely,
Harry James Potter-Evans
Harry quickly showed his mum the letter and she nodded, gesturing for him to send it. “There should be an owl outside I believe that you can hand it to.” She said, before getting back to work on dinner. When Harry made his way outside he instantly spotted the owl and made his way over to it. “Are you here to deliver my response?” He asked, holding a hand out to the bird. The bird nodded and nuzzled his hand, treatment that Harry was used to from animals, before it stuck out its claw. Harry placed the envelope in the claw which immediately clamped down on it, proceeding to take off and deliver the letter. Harry stared at it as it left, excited for what tomorrow may bring.