Stories In Progress (Fan-fiction First Chapters)

Harry Potter: A Mighty Pen

Chapter One: A Simple Anecdote

In England there are many streets that are just like the others. In a town called Little Whinging these streets are more uniform than others, more so one particular street called Privet Drive. There was one house on this street that however was different than the rest though no one would know it from the outside. Outside the house was like all the rest, painted beige to match the others, its lawn trimmed and neat, and car in the driveway parked and quiet; which wouldn't be surprising as the time was late.

Inside this house lived three family members and one unwanted addition. This shouldn't have been easily identified as while the house had four bedrooms there was only three people asleep upstairs. The fourth person wasn't asleep on one of the nice comfortable beds upstairs. In fact the fourth person who it turned out was a little eight year old boy wasn't asleep even though the hour was late, but this would have been hard to see unless one was to open the little door connected under the stairs.

For the last couple of years ever since he had started school the boy called Harry Potter had realised several things. His life was not (no matter how much his relatives might argue) normal; it was not normal to only learn your name when you started school, it was not normal to not know your own birthday until a secretary at the hospital asked you to fill out a form when your cousin breaks your arm at said school (which was the only reason Harry was sure he even went to the hospital), and for the last it was not normal to have a bedroom that was also a cupboard under the stairs.

Brushing back the black hair that always was just too scruffy for his aunt, Harry who was short and far too skinny for his age held up the little semi-broken Mickey Mouse watch he had found in the bins near the park. Squinting through his taped together charity bin glasses, he was lucky that the door to his cupboard had become warped and was now letting moonlight shine through or he wouldn't be able to see the time as it got closer to midnight. The very thin red blanket that was all he had as cover barely kept him warm as he waited. As the hand ticked over he let out a breath and gave a small smile.

"Happy Birthday Harry."

He had been as quiet as he could as he knew waking his relatives would not be good. Keeping the warm feeling he got from having anyone wish him happiness even if that person was himself, Harry closed his eyes and made his regular birthday wish.

"I wish my life was better."

Years back when he was really small he had wished ever so hard that his mum and dad would come and rescue him, even after his aunt told him they died driving drunk in a car crash, he still wished they would come and take him away. Lately though he had changed it, he thought that if he wasn't specific or asked for too much maybe the wish had a better chance of coming true. Holding his breath he wished with everything he had, sometimes if he wished hard enough Harry had noticed that odd things happened so this one time he would concentrate and wish his hardest. After a few seconds he breathed out and opened his eyes.

Looking forward all he found was his same old cupboard: dark, cramped, and filled with junk. Trying not to let that warm feeling he had escape he sighed and wiped away the tear he could feel on his cheek. Giving up for now Harry slid the watch under his thin dirty mattress to keep it safe and decided to get some rest. As he turned to lie down to get a little sleep as his aunt would expect him to get up at six to make breakfast for his uncle, Harry was shocked when he found something lying on his bed. Eyeing the item before him Harry couldn't help wonder whether he was dreaming.

Before him was what he could clearly see was a present, a present wrapped in blue and green wrapping paper with little zigzags all across it and a little blue bow on top; a present that had not been there several minutes ago. Glancing round at the small cupboard Harry couldn't understand how it had gotten there. Reaching out slowly he pushed his finger against the side. Feeling it give and move slightly Harry jerked his hand back. Once more slowly reaching out Harry placed his whole hand this time on top of the present. Now believing it was real Harry slowly shifted closer and using both hands brought the box, for that was what it felt like, so that it lay on his knees.

Trying to stay calm Harry carefully felt the edges while still glancing round expecting someone to appear and take it from him. When Harry felt one edge of the paper he stopped and waited once more. When nothing happened he slowly pulled the edge so it started to tear. Once more he froze more at the noise than any more fear of someone coming to take it back. When still nothing happened, Harry finished pulling the paper off to show the box beneath. Harry was surprised there was no lid so he was able to see what the box contained straight away. Inside nestled in more green and blue paper was a book.

Twitching his head this way and that Harry stared at the book within the box. It was several minutes before Harry could force himself to reach out and take hold of the book. Carefully lifting it out Harry slid the box off his knee and now lay the book there. Brushing his fingers across the cover Harry looked it over being careful not to damage it. Reading in the school library had become one of Harry's secret pleasures and the librarian there would let him stay all through lunch as long as he was cautious of the books. Dudley his cousin never set foot in there so Harry was safe from being bullied by him and his friends.

Once more focusing on the book Harry this time read the authors name and wondered who Thanatos was. The title was an even bigger mystery as the cover was simply black with gold lettering. No picture to explain what it was about. Brushing his fingers across the words Harry slid open the cover and started to read.

"The Philosopher's Stone."