Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Rewritten

Chapter 3: A Mother's Love

Harry showed Dumbledore to the three-seater sofa but Dumbledore settled himself instead, on Uncle Vernon's chair. Harry bit his lip nervously. Should he say something? No, he decided. Maybe he should offer something to eat or drink instead. But Aunt Petunia might not like that...

Harry was saved the trouble of deciding by Dumbledore who said, "Harry, please go and fetch your aunt and uncle. Then go to your room. I have some things that I wish to discuss with them." His voice was polite and he had said please, but Harry got the feeling that it wasn't really a request.

"Yes, sir" Harry found himself saying. He left the sitting room and checked the kitchen but Aunt Petunia wasn't there. Her bedroom door was shut, however. So, Harry knocked on it. "What do you want, boy?" demanded Uncle Vernon, opening the door. "A Mr. Albus Dumbledore is here. He's asking for you and Aunt Petunia."

Uncle Vernon glanced at his wife who gave a small nod. "Right, we'll see him. You go to your cupboard."

Harry watched his aunt and uncle disappear into the sitting room. He briefly considered eavesdropping on them. But what if he was caught doing it? Dumbledore wouldn't be pleased and Harry didn't want to offend the man who might be his ticket out of here. He went to his cupboard and waited.

Ten minutes later, Aunt Petunia rapped on his cupboard door. When he'd opened it, she simply said, "It's been decided that you'll attend -- that – that school and that you'll come back to us each summer till you're an adult. He'll take you out today for – for school stuff."

"Yes, Aunt Petunia" said Harry, his heart soaring.

"And put on something clean" she added, wrinkling her nose at the food stains on Harry's t-shirt.

"That was Dudley's clumsiness. Wasn't me" said Harry, unable to restrain himself. Aunt Petunia's lips thinned. But she walked away, not saying anything else to him.

Harry quickly put on a different t-shirt, one of two that was actually his size, and then joined Dumbledore in the sitting room.

"Ah, Harry, there you are. Come and sit" called Dumbledore, patting the sofa cushion nearest him.

Harry nervously sat down.

"You must have a lot of questions, Harry. But it's best for me to explain things like I usually do, one step at a time. I have quite a bit of experience in breaking the news about the warlock world to young boys and girls."

"So... so it's true, what the giant said?" asked Harry eagerly. Magic is – it's real?"

"The giant is Rubeus Hagrid who prefers to be addressed by his last name only. And yes, magic is real." Dumbledore drew a black wooden stick from within a pocket of his strange robe. "This is called a magic wand."

Harry leaned forward eagerly as Dumbledore pointed it at the coffee table. A jet of violet light issued from its tip and struck the table. A moment later, the table turned into a swarm of bees. Harry stared at the bees, his jaws hanging open. He wanted to rub his eyes or pinch himself but he could not help but feel that both would be childish things to do. Dumbledore pointed his wand at the bees and a moment later they changed back into a coffee table, which landed, with a small thud, exactly where it had been moments ago.

"Could I learn to do things like that, sir?" asked Harry eagerly.

"With study and practice" replied Dumbledore. "I am glad that you believe in magic. The next step is to believe that you, Harry, are capable of magic."

"I've had a lot of strange things happen to me."

"I imagine they all happened when you had particularly strong feelings about something."