Chapter Text
Harry James Potter had never had the luxury of a normal life. His aunt was a god-awful bitch that would do anything to ruin him. His uncle chose violence at every turn, and his cousin was learning their ways. So here he stood making breakfast for all these horrible people and not likely to get any of it even though he was the one making it. His cousin was turning eleven today, and he was going to the zoo. Harry was likely to be left with the crazy cat lady a few doors down. At least she would feed him and let him watch the telly with her, even if it was just documentaries, it was better than nothing.
Finally, all the bossy horrible people had food, which meant Harry could have a bit. Just toast and some scrambled eggs, but hay it was more than he had in a week, so he would take it. The mail came through the flap just as they were all finishing up, “Get the mail, Dudley.” His uncle said. “Make Harry do it!” Dudley exclaimed back at his father. Harry was out of his seat before anything else could be said. He didn’t want to deal with these people right now. He picked up the stack to notice his name on one of the letters. He slipped it through the vent on his cupboard door and continued back to the dining area.
The phone rang while he was gone, so his aunt was chatting on it. She came in about the same time he did, “Bad news, Mrs. Fig has broken her leg and can’t keep the boy. We either leave him here or take him with us.” She had a sour look on her face when she said it. “I’m not going, you better just lock me out of the house or in my cupboard because I will make you regret ever knowing I existed if you make me suffer through Dudley and his constant whining all damn day,” Harry stated flat-out. If he had to be miserable he would rather do it in peace thank you very much. His mouth had got him into plenty of trouble, but no one took him for a liar, he was too blunt, and when he said something they knew he meant it. “Fine by me, you can go to the park and stay there until the lights come on, and then you need to be here for bed.” His aunt answered before his uncle could blow a gasket.
She handed him five pounds to feed himself for the whole day and then dropped him off at the park to make sure he wasn’t at the house, then left him. It wasn’t entirely new for Harry to have to find something to do, but he had slipped his mystery letter into his jeans when he had gone to grab his shoes. Once secluded in a bush, he pulled it out of his pocket and read it.
Dear Mr. H. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have been excepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment. The term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
Harry stared at the letter in disbelief. There was no way this was real. He knew something was up, but he never thought there was an actual school for freaks like him. He had to go, but how and who would help him? A snap decision had Harry sprinting to the Crazy Cat Lady’s house. Yes, she had a broken leg, but that probably meant nothing if she could just answer his questions. He rang the bell twice. His nerves were so short, he was bouncing on the balls of his feet. The cats were screaming and Mrs. Fig was telling them to get out of her way. She answered the door, her face said she was surprised to see him. “Harry, shouldn’t you be at the zoo with your cousin?” Harry noticed her leg wasn’t broken, “Isn’t your leg supposed to be broken?” Harry asked back. “I thought you would rather go to the zoo than sit here with a bunch of cats.” She stated outright. “Maybe if my cousin wasn’t going to be there.” He told her. “Ah, a miscalculation on my part. Do come in, dear.” She said, as she moved to the side, opening the door enough for him to come through but for the cats to stay in.
Once she had shut the door, he handed her his letter with a raised brow. She took it and nodded her head, “Where’s your list?” He handed that over as well, and she went shuffling back into the living area also covered in cats. He followed, allowing the cats to wrap around his legs a bit. “Well, let’s get you sorted, dear. I have some parchment in the drawer over there, if you would kindly fetch a piece and get the fountain pen as well.” Harry did as she said before walking over to her. “I don’t know where your Gringotts key would be, but it’s no matter, we can get you another while we are there. What time are you expected back?” “Lights,” Harry told her.
She then had him in his neatest writing accept his invitation and ask for a muggle-born manual, as his aunt couldn’t explain everything. It was a lie she wouldn’t explain shit and they both knew that, but Mrs. Fig only knew so much herself and this was the easiest way to get more information. “Well, let’s go call the knight bus down and head off to Diagon to get your stuff, dear.”
She put on a cloak and got another one out of the closet in the hall for Harry to try on. “It was my sons when he was older than you, but maybe it won’t be too long, dear.” He tried it on, but it dragged the ground a bit. “I can hymn it in just a few minutes. It won’t take long, and we can be off. Will you be a dear and feed the cats before they start eating each other?” Harry did that while she fixed the cloak. The cloak itself was dark green and the hymn was done with black thread, but it wasn’t overly tacky, just obvious the cloak had been made for an adult and adjusted to fit a child. “You could just drop me off. I don’t want everyone to think it’s your fault I look like a street rat.” Harry stated. “Nonsense, I have another pair of jeans that will be too long, but they at least will fit you in the waist better than those things you're wearing now do.” So Harry changed jeans and put the cloak on and looked mildly like a normal child.
They stepped outside to the street corner. She handed him a carved wooden stick out of her bag. “Point it towards the sky at an angle, dear.” It was the only instruction she gave him. He did, and one moment there was nothing, and the next there was a blue double-decker bus before them. “Welcome to the Knight bus, please mind your step.” The attendant said as they boarded. Mrs. Fig got on one of the beds and gestured for Harry to join her, and then tightly tucked them into it.
“Diagon Alley, please. My grandson needs school supplies.” She lied easily to the attendant. “Yes, Ma’am. All Hogwarts students ride free when going to get supplies or when they need a ride to the station, of course, we just need to see the supply list to verify.” He told her. She showed him the list and gave him two silver coins. He handed it back and the bus took off like a rocket headed to the bloody moon. If they hadn’t been tucked into the bed, they would have been flying all over the place. Harry thought it was good fun, but his poor babysitter had her eyes closed and was clutching her purse so tight to her chest, he was mildly worried about her heart. They stopped in less than five minutes in front of a shady-looking pub in London.
The pub was dark and a bit dingy. “Hello Tom, how are you dear?” Mrs. Fig said to the barkeep. “Fine, Ma’am, would you like me to let you through?” He questioned with a smile. “No, thank you dear, I have my grandson with me today.” patted Harry on the head and walked to the back of the pub and into an alley. They stopped in front of a brick wall. She then showed him a pattern with her finger, handed him the stick again, and looked at him expectantly. He mimicked the pattern with the stick and the wall came apart, revealing a secret shopping centre with hundreds of people wearing cloaks and pointed hats milling about. “Welcome home, dear.” She said with a smile. For some reason, Harry felt like crying, he smiled back at her instead.