Unimaginable

A boy was sitting on a broken swing, while the sun was shining right into his face. All of the other children were running around the playground, enjoying each other, except him. Today was the last day of July, which meant only one thing. It was his birthday today. He was eleven now.

The raven haired boy has never celebrated his special day though, because he didn't have anyone to do so with. Although he did not mind, it was quite lonely sometimes, especially on his birthday. He's always wondered, what it would be like, if he had friends. What it would be like, if he had someone to love and care for him? He's never experienced such a thing. Yes, his parents most likely loved him however, they were dead and he's never actually met them, therefore there was no reason for him, to love them back. He shouldn't dwell on the past, because it was something, he couldn't change.

One of the kids, a boy named Pierre, came over to him. The boy reminded him of a squirrel, since he was short and his mouth was stuffed with food all the time. He was one of the popular boys in the orphanage, or dare Harry say, a bully. He had a big group of 'loyal friends'. Harry liked to call them 'simple-minded dummies', owning to the fact, they were constantly following their leader like headless chickens.

Pierre snickered, "what, little potty, sitting there alone like the freak, you are?"

Harry raised his head to look at him, but paid him no mind any further. He didn't have any intention to spend his time by arguing with bullies, when there were so many other important things, he could give his attention to. Pierre was not one of those important things. He was, in fact, not even close, also considering, his parents did not want him, hence he ended up in there. Was Harry the one to talk? No, his relatives did the same thing, thankfully, but still.

He stopped the swing from moving and casually got up, like nothing was affecting him.

Pierre's group soon joined and stood beside him, hoping to support their, so called, leader. They all thought, Potter was a weird child. He resembled the ugly duckling from the kid's story well. Not because he'd be unattractive, quite the opposite actually, it was because he was different and the other children in The Sunny Orphanage did not like that.

Every adult, who came by the building to adopt, was always the most amazed with Potter. They though he was like an angel fallen from heaven. A child every parent wished for. A beautiful, innocent boy. They wanted him each time. So of course, the other kids had to step in. They wanted attention too. They wanted a secure home full of love. Which was the reason for their foolish actions. They managed to convince every soon-to-be parent, he wasn't the right person without fail. It was either, 'He's evil.', 'He's insane.', 'He's possed by the devil.' or 'He bullies all of us!', 'He does freakish things.'. Therefore, Harry was sadly never the one, who ended up to be adopted into a new family.

When he was younger, the thought of nobody wanting him made him sad. He felt unwanted, like he didn't belong anywhere. And that was true, he still did not belong anywhere. He had his own category, because somehow, he managed to be an outcast in a world full of outcasts.

Now though, he didn't care. He realized, he didn't need a family. He could do everything on his own. He could win and he was going to. Harry wasn't someone, you could simply take down with a few mean words.

As he slowly walked into the orphanage, completely unbothered and ignoring the inhuman beings he was seeing behind every little corner. The other kids stayed put in their place, yelling at the boy, furious he wasn't paying them any attention. How dare he?

Another child from the group yelled, "who do you think, you are, freak? We're talking to you!" His name was Philip and he carried himself around, like he was the prince and everyone should respect him. He was mean and rude, even to some of the caretakers. In an unkown way to Harry, he managed to be spoiled without any guardian's love.

"Just you wait, you little br-," he was cut off by Harry, when he slammed the door of the old building shut.

The little, now eleven year old, boy made his way to his room, which was on the highest floor of the orphanage. The first floor consisted of the living area, the dining room and the big kitchens. Then, if someone had the courage in them, to walk up the old wiggly staircase, up into the second floor, they'd be met with the library. To be fair, no one except Harry actually visited said room. The boy supposed, it was because, the other orphans were too dull-witted and ignorant to even read a single book in their hopefully short life.

Next came the living quarters. Those started on the third floor and ended on the sixth floor. Harry, though, had his small room on the seventh floor, which was only supposed to be for the adult caretakers. However, it was the only space left for the boy in the old, wooden building, that looked, as it would fall apart like a house made out of cards in a few seconds. Harry honestly didn't know, why someone hasn't fixed or rebuilt the building, yet. It was the only orphanage in town and, surprisingly or not, had a lot of kids in it.

"Harry! There you are my dear," Mrs. Saint interrupted his trail of wonder, when he reached the last floor in the tall building. She looked at him with her kind brown eyes, which held her sad life story inside. She put a strand of hair, that fell into her wrinkly face, behind her ear and patted his head sweetly. "If my old mind remembers right, it's your special day today, isn't it?"

Harry smiled faintly. At least someone remembered and cared. He nodded, not making any audible sounds and waited for the main caretaker to continue.

"Well, if you eat your supper today, you'll get a little surprise from me," Mrs. Saint continued her excited rant. She had to brag him with things all the time, so the boy would eat his food, since he was a picky eater. She was intending to surprise him with his favorite chocolate cake, because she wanted to make him happy on his birthday, if nobody else did.

His green, mesmerizing eyes lit up with eagerness. The raven haired boy would never admit this to anyone, but cakes were his weakness. He asked for reassurance, "will I?"

"Yes you will, my boy," Mrs. Saint agreed with a smile. "Oh! Before I forget," she remembered. "This came in the mail and it's addressed to you. Funny looking letter, I tell ya!"

Harry took the letter from her and inspected it. It had a red stamp with a weirdly-looking erb on it. He has never seen something even similar to this, therefore he wondered, what it could be. "Thank you, ma'am," he answered politely and left the main caretaker standing in the hallway alone, when he entered his old, dusty room, to open the letter in private.

He took a seat at his wooden desk and ripped open the letter, swiftly unfolding it.

"Dear Mr. Potter," the boy started reading.

We are pleased to inform you, you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st, please board on the Hogwarts Express on the platform 9 and 3/4 before eleven am.

-

Needed equipment for first years:

A wand

A cauldron

Potion ingredients (etc. here)

Books for different subjects (etc. here)

Regular black robes, winter cloaks and the school's uniform (preferably with name tags)

A wand holster (optional)

A pet - only rats, toads, cats and owls allowed (Not required, but recommended and keep in mind, that no other pets are allowed, unless they are your familiars.)

One black pointed hat

One pair for protective gloves (dragon hide recommended)

One telescope

One set of glass or crystal phials

One set of brass scales

Keep in mind please, that broomstick are not allowed for first years. Everything needed for the school year can be found and bought in The Diagon Alley.

Thank you,
with great regards Minerva McGonagall.

-

Harry was gaping, as he looked at the letter, he held in his shaky hands. "What?"