The Dursleys were insufferable. Harry woke in his cupboard, his aunt screeching for him to wake. Dudley never had to get up, he could if he wanted to.

He never had to do any labor of any kind. He never suffered. Harry was growing tired of this neglect. The mail came. He was sent to get it.

There was a letter for him. Harry slipped it into his pocket, then gave the rest of the mail to his uncle. That morning would have been great, if not for the owl that collided with the door.

Uncle Vernon immediately blamed harry, and he was sent to his cupboard again, hungry. Harry rolled his eyes. He was used to hunger. He usually was refused meals, but soon, the Dursleys would pay.

Harry hated Privet drive. He hated the neighbors, he hated his cousin, Mrs. Fig. He hated his school. Harry tore open his letter and began to read.

"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 no later than July 31." Owl? What did they mean? and Wizard?

That certainly explained a lot. Then Harry had an idea. He'd be able to get back at the Dursleys! He'd be able to make them pay.

But what about that owl? What would happen if he didn't respond? Harry decided not to think about that. He'd have to wait and see.

It was the day after his response was due. No owls, and Harry hadn't told his aunt or uncle.

Harry steadied himself. He could make them hurt. He could make them suffer.

"Boy!" Vernon bellowed. Harry came to face his uncle in the living room.

"Prune the garden." Vernon demanded.

"No." Harry replied. Vernon rounded on him, incredulous, and enraged.

"What did you just say boy?!" He snarled.

"I said, No." Harry replied calmly. Vernon charged at Harry. The next moment, his uncle faltered, seeming unable to breath. Harry smiled.

"Not so fun, is it?" He said softly. Dudley came in. Upon seeing his dad, he raced to his side.

"Hello diddykins." Harry sneered. Dudley went to swing at Harry, when his fist turned on himself.

"You really shouldn't hit yourself, Dudders." Harry laughed. He didn't know how he was doing it, but he felt so alive.

Uncle Vernon collapsed, and Dudley passed out. Harry left the living room, left the house, and saw his aunt in the garden.

"Hey, aunt Petunia? Dudley needs you. He's in the living room." Harry told her. She raced inside. Harry smirked, shaking his head.

"Too easy." He said. A snake slithered from inside a bush. Harry watched it. He could have sworn he heard the snake muttering under his breath.

Harry followed it for a bit.

"What do you want?" The snake demanded.

"Where would I find more people like me? Wizards?" Harry asked.

"Follow." The snake instructed. Harry did. He came outside a pub called the leaky cauldron, where there was a ginormous man.

"An' Dumbledore sent me to fetch him, but the boy was gone. Vanished I tell yer." The man was saying. The bartender turned to Harry.

"Anything I can get you?" He asked.

"How do I get to hogwarts?" Harry asked. The giant man turned. "Blimey, it's yeh! I'v been looking all over fer yeh." The man said to Harry.

"Then tell me my name." Harry demanded. "Yer Harry Potter." The man beamed. Harry nodded.

"Will you get me there?" Harry asked. The man nodded.

"Firs, we need ter get yeh yer school stuff." The giant said.

He led Harry through a back door. He squinted at Diagon alley.
"Firs stop is gringotts. You'll be wantin' some funds." Hagrid mumbled. They made their way through Gringotts, got Harry's money, picked up a moldy brown package, and then Harry went to Madam Malkins, while hagrid went to Eeylops.

There was already a boy in there.

"Hullo," said the boy,

"Hogwarts too?" the boy asked politely.

"Yes," said Harry.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother’s up the street looking at wands,” said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice.

"Then I’m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first-years can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully my father into getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow." Harry glanced at him.

“Does that often work?” He asked, curiously.

“Usually with mum. Dad’s a bit harder to persuade.” The boy replied. Harry considered this.

"Have you got your own broom?" the boy asked.

"No," replied Harry. "Play Quidditch at all?" The boy pressed.

"No, and I don’t really know what that is." Harry answered, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be.

"Oh, it’s a wizarding sport, played on broomsticks. I play – Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you’ll be in yet?" The boy asked.

"No. What houses are there?" asked Harry,curiously.

"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and my favorite, Slytherin. No one really knows what house they will be in until they get there, do they? But I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?" The boy said, smiling.

"Why?" said Harry. “Oh, thy’re a bunch of Lost puppies that lot, looking for friends, and they’re known to be quite dull.” The boy explained.

“Not the house for me.” Harry replied, imagining it. It sounded dull. "I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding towards the front window.

Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Harry and pointing at two large ice-creams to show he couldn’t come in.

"That’s Hagrid," said Harry, annoyed.

"He works at Hogwarts." He added.

"Oh," said the boy,

"I’ve heard of him. He’s a sort of servant, isn’t He?" The boy asked.

"He’s the gamekeeper," sighed Harry. He was liking the boy more and more every second.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he’s a sort of savage – lives in a hut in the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic and ends up setting fire to his bed." the boy explained.

“Does he really?," Asked Harry nervously. "My father told me," said the boy, with a slight sneer.

“He’s the one showing me around, and helping to get all my school things.” Harry groaned.

"Why is he with you? Where are your parents?" The boy asked, alarmed.

"They’re dead," said Harry shortly. He didn’t feel much like going into the matter with this boy.

"Oh, sorry," said the other.

"But they were our kind, weren’t they?" He asked, a little repulsed.

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean." Harry replied.

"I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they’ve never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What’s your surname, anyway?"

But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That’s you done, my dear," and Harry hopped down from the footstool.

“Potter." Harry replied.

“Really?” The boy asked, impressed. Harry nodded.

“You should meet my father. I’d like to introduce you sometime.” The boy said.

“Alright.” Harry agreed. “I’m Malfoy. Draco Malfoy.” Draco told Harry.

"Well, I’ll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said Harry.

Harry stayed in diagon Alley for the first week after he'd left the Dursleys. He knew he couldn't go back, but he didn't mind. Draco had introduced him to his father, Lucius Malfoy.

Hagrid didn't like how Harry was with the Malfoys. Then, after the first week, Harry met Professor Snape. Snape was at the apothecary. Harry immediately recoiled away from this man.

He had sallow skin and greasy black hair. He looked at Harry, and his eyes flicked to Harry's scar.

"Ah. You must be Harry Potter. You look just like your father." Snape sneered. Harry rolled his eyes.

"So I've heard." He replied.

"Who are you here with?" Snape asked.

"Mr. Malfoy and his son." Harry replied.

"Who are you?" Harry demanded suddenly.

"Severus Snape, and when you get to Hogwarts, Professor to you." Snape said.

"And what class?" Harry asked.

"Potions." Snape replied.

"I was told my mother was good at potions. We'll see whose genes I got. Personally, I'd prefer hers. From what I understand, my father was an arrogant git, and I'd rather not be compared to him. Lastly, you'll have to earn my respect. It's not just given." Harry said coldly, and he turned and left.

Snape glared after him. Harry returned to Fortescue where Narcissa Malfoy stood with Draco, who was arguing with her. When he arrived she smiled warmly.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"She won't let me get a racing broom." Draco explained.

"Draco, it's much too dangerous." She scolded.

"It can't be that bad." Harry said. She glanced at him.

"Well I mean, think about it. He's seen people flying his whole life, he grew up with a toy broom, so he already has that practice, and we have a flying class at school." Harry explained. She didn't seem convinced.

"Come on Mother, he makes a good point." Draco pleaded.

"Oh alright. But be careful." She said softly, and they went into Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Draco selected a nimbus two thousand.

Narcissa offered to pay for Harry's as well, but he had preferred to do it himself.

They had dinner at the Leaky cauldron.

"Why don't you spend the rest of the holiday with us?" Lucius asked Harry.

Draco's eyes lit up. "Please say yes!" He pleaded.

"I haven't exactly got anywhere else to go." Harry grinned. The Malfoys took him in, and Draco led him in a tour of their manor.

It was beautiful. There were pure white peacocks strutting about the lawn, and a house elf in a tea cozy. At first, he was delighted to meet Harry, but he soon learned to stay far away.

Soon term started. Severus was dreading this. He already knew the Potter boy was going to be trouble. He proved so in the Apothecary.

Even so, he was intrigued by the boy. What could have gone so wrong? How could the boy who lived be worse than Voldemort?

And so young. Someone had done something to him. He was not the boy that Everyone hoped for.

Even so, the Death Eaters would be pleased. A new Dark Lord to follow after.

The sorting was dull, until Potter was called. Everyone else had been predictable. Snape was sure this boy would be gryffindor. His whole family had been, so why shouldn't he be?

Slytherin.

The potter boy was his problem. Just what Severus wanted. He'd have to talk to him, and figure out what to do about this. Surely there'd been a mistake.

He looked complacent as he joined the rest of his fellow slytherins, and he sat with Draco Malfoy. This didn't make any sense. He was supposed to be the Savior.

The feast came and went with no further incident, as Severus thought of it. Then time to go to the dorms....