Beyond Horizons

1.3 Mystery in the Mail

Disclaimers : I don't own any characters or settings apart from a few. All credits goes to J. K Rowling. ( Normal text is the Harry potter story line and text in bold is Marauders era reactions.)

Harry Potter was used to being treated badly by his relatives, the Dursleys, and his life with them was far from pleasant. After an incident at the zoo involving a Brazilian boa constrictor, Harry received his longest punishment ever, spending much of the time locked in his cupboard. When he was finally let out, summer had started, and Dudley had already broken his new gadgets and caused some trouble in the neighborhood.

Lily evens' eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the scene of her son.

"He's just a child... how could they treat him like this?" she whispered, her voice breaking. Her hands were shaking, and she turned to James, seeking comfort. "James, we... we cannot let this happen."

He caught sight of Lily, her face pale and tear-streaked, and pulled her into his arms, though his body was still trembling with rage. "We'll make it right, Lily," he said fiercely, though his voice cracked. "Somehow, we'll make it right."

Andromeda turned toward Ted Tonks, her fists clenched at her sides. "We should have taken him in! Any of us! How could they think it was okay to leave him with these monsters?"

Harry dreaded summer, as it meant dealing with Dudley's gang, who enjoyed tormenting him, especially with their favorite game, "Harry Hunting."

Sirius couldn't hold back any longer. "I'll kill them," he growled. "I swear to Merlin, if I ever see those Dursleys... They'll pay for this. "

"Hunting him? Hunting  like he's some kind of sport?" Dorea's voice was incredulous, "What kind of kids are they raising?"

This was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays. Harry found some hope in the fact that when the new school year began, he wouldn't be attending the same school as Dudley. Dudley was heading to Smeltings, a private school, while Harry would attend Stonewall High, the local public school. Dudley found this hilarious, making fun of Harry and teasing him about the school's rough reputation.

"They stuff people's heads down the toilet the first day at Stonewall," he told Harry. "Want to come upstairs and practice?"

"No, thanks," said Harry. "The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it—it might be sick." Then he ran, before Dudley could work out what he'd said.

"That's my boy! Did you hear that comeback? That was brilliant!" James couldn't help but grin at Harry's quick wit, but his smile quickly faded. "But...why does he have to deal with this rubbish in the first place? That Dudley kid is such a menace!"

One day, while Dudley and Aunt Petunia went to London to buy his Smelting's uniform, Harry was left with Mrs. Figg, who, to his surprise, wasn't as unpleasant as usual due to a recent injury. That evening, Dudley proudly showed off his new school uniform. Smelting's boys wore maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers, and flat straw hats called boaters. They also carried knobbly sticks, used for hitting each other while the teachers weren't looking. This was supposed to be good training for later life.

As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldn't believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins, he looked so handsome and grown-up. Harry didn't trust himself to speak. He thought two of his ribs might already have cracked from trying not to laugh.