Owly shenanigans and strange letters
After Petunia had checked thrice that all things necessary had been packed into the car and Vernon locked the door twice,the dursleys had finally managed to leave Harry to his own devices.He now sat on the doorstep contemplating his luck.Should he check the library?Go to the park?What great options he now had!Nodding decisively to himself, he got up and made his way to the park planning to spend the day rereading Charles Dickens Oliver Twist.He found a strange solace in Oliver’s troubles - another orphan with a shitty life.He could also try his hand at some of the sixth grade books he had swiped from the boxes of disregarded books at school,but why spend a perfectly good summer day without petunias list of chores studying?
Once Harry had read about 200 pages on the little bench he had found in the park hidden by a few trees,he decided to make his way back to the Dursleys.It wouldn’t do after all to ruin the day by being late and incurring Vernons anger.
Harry was nearly at the front door,obviously punctual since the car was not parked in the drive way yet,when he stopped in his tracks.An owl?Why would there be an owl sitting on the ugly fence petunia had put up in spring?Weren’t they night animals?
Harry would not claim expertise on owl behaviour,but even he could categorise it as strange.It wasn’t even doing anything just staring at him.Hopefully Vernon wouldn’t see the bird and blame Harry for its presence.As if he had nothing better to do than luring strange birds to the house!
Just when Harry decided to better shoo the bird away before it would cause him problems,the owl stretched its wings and started flying.directly.at.Harry’s.face.
Before he had the chance to dodge the obviously deranged bird the owl landed on the little roof over Harry’s head.
It carried something with it.Now that Harry could see it closely,he could see a piece of paper in his beak.
He cocked his head to the side questioningly. Naturally the damned animal could not care to explain himself but simply dropped the paper,nearly hitting Harry on the head with it and flew away.
Harry picked it up curiously.After all it wasn’t every day that a trained owl delivers a ..letter to him in such a way.Who even has that much free time to train an owl anyway? Harry distracted himself with the idea of a trained owl flying in Dudleys face.
Then he heard the noise of a car pulling into the driveway.Harry quickly stuffed the strange paper under his shirt and put on his “I’m too innocent to hurt a fly” face as petunia approached the front door.She simply ignored his wonderful acting only for Dudley to quite rudely shove him aside as he ran up to his room followed closely by a grinning Pierce.Harry scowled at their retreating backs.So much for familial love.
Vernon had by now finally managed to extract himself from the drivers seat and only greeted him with:”Get in your cupboard boy,we ate at the zoo!”Harry was quite happy to follow his uncles command for once.He had a mysterious owl delivered letter to investigate and no time for his “familys” unpleasing presence.
Under the dim light of the half broken light bulb of his cupboard he finally took a good look at the strange letter.
Mr. H. Potter
The cupboard under the stairs
Number four Privet drive
Little whinging Surrey
“Wow” was Harrys first thought,”someone must be stalking me.”The revelation didn’t truly spark the expected fear in him though.
The second was:”Who would spend their time training an owl,finding out where I live only to sneak me a letter?In green ink?How bored do you have to be?”
With the true patience of a ten year old,Harry quickly ripped open 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 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 by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall deputy headmistress
Now a normal child would have found this letter crazy,rule it out as a prank and inform their parents.Harry didn’t have parents to inform and he was not normal.He had been raised by the fantasy worlds of Alice in wonderland and the great hope that someday he could leave his relatives house on the back of a dragon,preferably after burning down the whole thing for good riddance.He had noticed early on that his relatives were right at least in one regard.He was somewhat abnormal.Teachers wigs don’t turn blue by chance.He would know,he researched it.
As such the idea that magic truly existed and not only that,but that there is a whole school of people like him,filled Harry with hope not derision .He read the second page.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragonhide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
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
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 glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
Harry stared at the page.Where in gods good world was he supposed to get a wand?
But magic was real.There was a way to escape from the Dursleys into a world of magic so much sooner than waiting for emancipation.Harry would figure it out.He vowed right there in his cupboard to learn all the magic in the world so that no one could ever force him back to the Dursleys.He would be free.
As long as he could figure out the owl training because he had a response to send at least.
The next morning petunia didn’t hammer on his cupboard at criminally early times.In fact she did not hammer at all.Maybe his absence of the family had invoked some good will.Harry shook his head at the thought.His aunt was most likely simply exhausted from Dudley’s antics yesterday.The reason didn’t truly matter though.No matter why luck was on his side today.He could sneak out of the cupboard and try to find at least a post stamp.How hard could it be to send one letter?after careful contemplation Harry decided to formulate a polite and standard(at least he hoped so) reply.He didn’t know the mighty mugwump Dumbledore,but a person who put that many titles after his own name certainly raised some red flags.It wouldn’t do to draw unnecessary attention to himself before he had ensured his future studies at the magic school.So he wrote yesterday in his cupboard on the most unused paper he could find:
Dear Mrs. McGonagall,
I would like to officially accept my place at Hogwarts, school for witchcraft and wizardry.Please send me all further information necessary for my first year.
Regards Harry J. Potter
There that was perfectly normal,wasn’t it.Harry,quite satisfied with his reply walked into the kitchen,trying to quietly rummage through the drawers in search of an envelope.When he lifted his head,he froze,then grinned.The owl was back!Now he knew that it was surely some magical creature.He made the only logical decision and rushed outside.Surely sending the letter back by owl post would be the expected magical way to do things here.The owl didn’t even flinch away from him,but stared at him,waiting.Now how was he supposed to charm the bird into accepting his letter?A codeword maybe?
Before he could get his invitation and try to figure out whatever fantastical test he would have to pass for the bird,the owl extended its leg.There at the scaly bird foot was a little piece of red wool hanging there.
Harry did his best to knot his letter as securely as possible to its leg.
“Well thank you madam or mister owl.Have a good eh flight I guess.” Harry felt kind of stupid for talking to a bird,but who knew with magical owls.It was certainly better to stay polite.
After the owl had flown of,he made his way back into the kitchen.Harry certainly hoped that it would not loose the letter while being busy with whatever owls did all day or,well, night.Since he had some time,he thought about his next course of action until his relatives woke up.He obviously needed to buy some things and his relatives didn’t strike him as the type to bus their freaky nephew his first magic wand.Well all the fantasy heros had to overcome obstacles,didn’t they.