The letter
As a punishment for the boa incident, as he calls it, he had to stay in the cupboard until the summer holidays started. Aunt Petunia let him out only to go to the bathroom and do his chores.
In July he started feeling very giddy. There was no reason that he knew of but the feeling remained inside.
At the end of the month, while his relatives were eating, he was forced to get the mail and it was then that he understood why he has been feeling that way. His eyes couldn't look away form the letter in his hands, a letter addressed to him.
Mr. H. Potter
The Cupboard under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
The envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment, and the address was written in emerald-green ink. Turning the envelope over Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
Hogwarts, he thought. It was an unexpected voice inside his head and the use of such a familiar word that reminded him of his relatives waiting for their own mail. And to hide his letter too. They can't know about it and he did as he felt was right. Harry went back to the kitchen with unfocused eyes and handed Uncle Vernon the bill and the postcard. Then he turned around to ask aunt Petunia if he could go back to his cupboard using the excuse of feeling ill.
He was sent there without a second thought, probably because she didn't want him to infect them with some weird and freakish illness.
Once inside, the young wizard took the letter from his pocket and sat down in his worn and too small mattress. There was almost no light but enough to see the ink. The boy ran his finger over the green letters, intense longing hitting him. It didn't take long for him to pull it out and read its contents.
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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
With a frown, the green-eyed boy put the letter aside and stretched out on the mattress. Several images came to his mind, an old man with a long beard, a woman with a stern look and dark eyes as black as coal. And so many more.
It took a long time before Harry turned to his side and unfolded the second piece of paper inside the envelope, which read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL o f 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 (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' 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 Beginners' 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 of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope set
1 brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED TH AT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Harry ripped a piece of paper from an old notebook and wrote down a quick note to indicate he accepted the invitation and that he needed help to get his stuff. Done that, the raven went back to staring at the ceiling, ruminating on the changes he has noticed in himself since he had his nightmare about the bodies scattered around. The boy noted his lack of empathy and coldness towards the Dursley. More than usual in any way. Maybe he reached his limit. Perhaps those images disturbed him enough to make him change. Whether he changed for the better or for the worse is something he has yet to decide.
Letting out a sigh, the raven stood up with a plan slowly forming in his head. First he needs to find an owl to sent his response.
Enough time passed for him to be able to go outside in the garden without disturbing his aunt who went out to buy with Dudley, and his uncle who went to work. As silent as a mouse the boy stepped out of his room -- the Dursley might have forgotten to lock it -- and headed to the entrance, listening to any sound that would indicate that someone was there. Just in case, he thought. He needs this to work or he'll lose his opportunity, or so his mind was telling him.
Just when the dark-haired boy was about to turn the handle, an image came to his mind. A huge shadow, surrounded by drops of water smelling of the sea, and a strong wind against his face. He heard a thunder, the door was flung open revealing the silhouette of a tall man. Hagrid, Harry heard inside his mind. Friend. But danger. Dizzy from what just happened, Harry ran a trembling hand over his face until he brushed the hair back from his forehead. It went back to its place. Finally he turned the handle and stepped outside at the warm air of the afternoon. Not far from where he was he could smell something sweet that reminded him he still had to eat. Later, he promised.
His first stop was the garden. The neighbours next door were, unfortunately, very curious about him being outside at that time when he's usually inside. Or just doing his chores. He ignored them and searched for an owl. He couldn't spot any, only small birds. Next he tried a park near them. There was no one around and that made it easier for him to relax and look closely to any of the trees. Maybe it's too soon for any owl to be outside, he thought.
Tired, Harry took a seat on one of the benches. The day's very quiet and peaceful.
"I wish it was always like this," he said out loud. The feeling of freedom is as amazing as he imagined, enough to make him smile.
It's hard. This life is hard, living with his relatives it's hard. It is also very hard to accept that he's different regardless of what he wants and how he feels. He's never been lucky. He's always been a freak or a weirdo to everyone.
And now... He has a week or so before starting this new school that he has no prove of its existence and yet, inside him, he knows Hogwarts is his real home. It's waiting for him and so are the people that he's going to meet. Maybe that's what is considered good luck. Maybe, just maybe, his luck is starting to appear now that he has his letter as if it were a sign.
Magic.
How wonderful.
The boy closed his eyes and took a deep breath letting go all the extra energy inside him in slow waves. A breeze caressed his disheveled hair filling him with an unknown emotion, while the different birds around him began to sing. He is part of this world, of the nature around him. They are one. Everything else dissolved into thin air. Calm washed over him. He was at peace. His mind was getting foggy but in a good way. The boy continued to breathe deeply, in and out. In and... out. As if waking up from a wonderful dream, his green eyes opened slowly, blinking several times, before focusing on the large, curious yellow eyes of the animal in his lap.
An owl.
He smiled softly at the cute bird, showing it his hand as a request and as an invitation. He grey owl let out a chirp before getting closer to his hand and rubbing his feathered head against him.
"You're really cute. Do you think you can help me?"
The owl was quick to nibble in his fingers as if telling him "Are you challenging me?"
The boy burst out laughing, "you're funny too!" he exclaimed more lively than he has been this last month. Or ever. "Alright, alright," with a grin he took the piece of paper and gave it to the little bird "I trust you will find to whom this is meant to go."
The feathered animal took it gently in its beak before giving him one last look and flying away.
He got a response later that night where the only words written were the date and the place. His first thought when he reread it was: why the park?