Harry Potter Volume 1

Dreams and Letters

Hogwarts. That was the only thought. The cupboard was cramped as usual, with his small bed, a light bulb, a few broken toys and things. He heard his own heart beating harder than normal.

The morning, Dudley was jumping around the house with his new Smelting uniform. It was an awful thing by itself with maroon tailcoats, orange knickerbockers and flat straw hats called boaters but it became worse with Dudley in it. And Uncle Vernon looked very proud of him. And with Aunt Petunia showering kisses on his cheek, forehead and double chin, Harry wanted to throw up all his breakfast.

That was when they heard the mail slot click along with the flop of letters on the doormat. Uncle Vernon stopped admiring Dudley and scowled at him, saying, 'Get the letters, boy.' He stood, washed his hands and his plate quickly and went to the main door. Four letters in all. He quickly scanned the addresses: one from Uncle Vernon's office, one from his sister Fat Marge (only he calls her that anyway), one was addressed to Aunt Petunia, and another . . . for . . . himself. A letter for me?

Harry was about to take them to the dining hall when a thought came to him: What if Uncle Vernon doesn't let me see it? But if I open it here, Dudley can come snatch it away. So he slowly, on his tiptoes, walked to his cupboard, opened it and hid the letter under the bed. He knew what exactly the Dursleys do if they knew there was a letter addressed to him. No letter was addressed to him. His parents died long ago when he was only a baby, in a car crash. That's when he got the scar on his forehead. A lightning shaped scar. That was when the Dursleys took him in. The envelope had only one word written on it in beautiful cursive: Hogwarts. Later.

He then quickly ran to the dining room with all the three letters dropped at the door.

He handed them over to Uncle Vernon who said, 'Ah, Marge snt me a letter! And looks like Catherine sent one to you my dear,' giving it to her. They read their letters happily while Harry just sat there. Dudley looked at him and said, 'Why are you still here? Want another beating?' waving his clenched fist in the air.

'No but thanks for asking,' Harry said as he slowly stood. He then turned around, exiting the door and running to his cupboard. That fat pig! He hated the beating and everything about Dudley in general. But he hated the beating more.

He locked himself up. Then he read the letter. All of it, over and over until it fixed itself as clear as a photograph in his mind. Hogwarts. That was the only thought. The paper was odd. He didn't see that anywhere. The ink was black and the strokes sharp. Normal pens don't write like this. Must be something . . . magical. He read the letter yet again.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

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 by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress