Harry Potter woke to feel a sharp poke on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked up at Aunt Petunia, who stared down at him from over his bed.
“Get up.” She signed. “It is Dudley’s birthday.”
Harry nodded and sat up in his bed. Aunt Petunia walked out of the bedroom and shut the door. Harry looked around for his glasses, which he found on the stand beside his bed.
Harry had the smallest bedroom at 4 Privet Drive, but he couldn’t bother to complain. For, he would rather complain about being deaf than the size of his bedroom.
Harry planted his feet on the carpeted floor and raised his arms in the air in a wide stretch. He was slightly skinny and a bit taller than average, reaching just barely past Dudley. He approached the mirror and frowned. His gaze on his forehead, where a lightning shaped scar was. His Aunt had told him that an evil man, from ‘his lot’ as Uncle Vernon would call it had given it to him. That’s why his parents were dead.
His brushed the fringe of his hair over it and turned away.
Dudley stood in the doorway, a broad grin plastered on his red face. He said something, quickly.
Harry huffed and rolled his eyes. Dudley blinked, the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what Harry was annoyed about.
“Are you still deaf?” Dudley signed. Harry snorted and nodded.
“Yes.” He signed back. Dudley turned and shouted something down the stairs. He balled up his fists and ran out. Harry shrugged and followed behind. He jogged down the stairs, where Dudley stood at the bottom, speaking with Aunt Petunia sharply. Aunt Petunia glanced at Harry and gestured for Dudley to follow her elsewhere.
Harry entered the kitchen where Uncle Vernon sat at the round table reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of tea. He looked up, his bushy mustache twisting in displeasure.
He set the newspaper down and gestured to the stove where a pan of bacon sizzled. Harry nodded.
Uncle Vernon had never bothered to learn sign language, but Harry doubted he would care to use it even if he had.
By the time the bacon had finished, Dudley had sat at the table, along with Aunt Petunia. They seemed to be in a stand-off of sorts though Harry wasn’t sure what about.
He carried the plate of bacon to the table and set it down and took his own chair.
Dudley had given up glaring angrily at Aunt Petunia in favor of counting his pile of presents.
Harry took a piece of bacon from the plate as Aunt Petunia said something.
To the best of his ability, he read her lips. “We are going to the zoo.” She said.
Harry bit back a grin and continued to eat his bacon. Uncle Vernon narrowed his eyes at him. Harry batted his eyes innocently and Uncle Vernon scowled.
Half an hour later, the Dursleys and Harry, finished with their breakfast all went to their respective rooms to get ready for the zoo.
Harry stared at himself in the mirror as he pulled trousers and a pair of trainers on. He was fairly happy with how he looked. He had bright green eyes and jet black hair that seemed to never be neat, no matter what he did.
He yawned and pulled a red shirt over his head.
About ten more minutes later, the Dursleys, Harry and Dudley’s friend Piers Polkiss were all piled into the car and off they went to the zoo. Piers, who was unfortunately sat next to Harry begun poking and prodding on him. Harry stared out the window, ignoring him. A large black dog trotted alongside the road, a lanky man with straw colored hair tailing close behind.
Inside the zoo, Harry quickly caught sight of an elephant which looked remarkably similar to Dudley. Harry told him so, too, which left Dudley in stitches for a good five minutes. The group next moved on to the giraffes and then the reptile house.
It was cool and dark, and it felt slightly damp. Harry followed Dudley and Piers as he licked the ice pop the Dursleys had given him. They stood wide eyed at the glass of a large python’s exhibit. The snake was coiled up and its beady yellow eyes followed Dudley as if he would make a good snack.
Dudley frowned, seeing the snake do nothing. He turned to Harry.
“Whys it not moving?” He signed.
“Maybe it’s tired.” Harry shrugged. Dudley walked away with Piers close behind.
“Sorry.” Harry mouthed to the snake. He felt bad for the creature. The snake lifted its head and blinked lazily. “Where are you from?”
It curled its tail up to where a label on the glass read: BOA CONSTRICTOR, BRAZIL.
Harry nodded. He felt rather silly, speaking to a snake. Then again, perhaps this was what Uncle Vernon meant when he spoke about ‘his sort’.
“You should be free.” As quick as he said it, the glass vanished from thin air. Harry toppled into the exhibit, splashing.
“Thanksssss.” The snake hissed, climbing out of the exhibit. Shrieks rose up around the exhibit as the massive python scaled its way through the floor. The director stared at horror and glanced between Harry, the glassless exhibit and the snake and back to Harry.
Uncle Vernon pulled Harry out of the water, his face twitching and purple. Aunt Petunia, the godsend, pulled Vernon away by his shoulder and said something to him. He glared between Harry and her.
Turning to face Harry, he mouthed. “We’re going home.”
Harry lay in his bedroom. It was rather empty, he now realized. He expected most boys his age would have pictures hanging of bands and sports players. Maybe he’d borrow one of Dudley’s.
He rolled over and stared out the window. Maybe his bedroom as a baby had looked like this. He wished he could have at least remembered his Mum and Dad.
All he could remember was green light, and sometimes when he spent long hours alone at Privet Drive, wandering around, he could feel a fiery, intense pain where his scar was. The door was opened and Harry sat up and glared as Uncle Vernon entered. Uncle Vernon extended his hand and gave a letter to Harry.
Uncle Vernon turned away. Harry had never gotten a letter before, but it read;
Mr. H. Potter
The Smallest Bedroom
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
The letter had a wax seal. It had a badger, eagle, snake and what Harry thought was the coolest, a lion. They surrounded a letter H. The letter was written in green ink and was on a yellow parchment.
Harry tore open the letter and unfolded the first sheet of parchment that fell. It 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 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
What in the world was Hogwarts? He was a wizard?