Chapter One

It was May 30, 1991, just two months shy of Harry's eleventh birthday and he

was locked in the cupboard under the stairs. Vernon Dursley, Harry's uncle,

sat in the kitchen and thought about what it would be like to get rid of his

freakish nephew forever. Ever since Harry had appeared on his doorstep almost

ten years ago, Vernon had thought of putting Harry up for adoption and as he

thought about this more and more it just kept sounding better and better to

him.

He yelled, "Petunia, Dudley! Come into the kitchen!"

Petunia and Dudley entered the kitchen and sat down at the table with Vernon.

Petunia started, "Vernon, dear, what is this meeting about? Why is Harry not

involved in this meeting?"

Dudley cut in, "Not like I care or anything, but I had made plans with some of

my friends. I hope this doesn't take too long."

Vernon replied, "Don't worry about that, Dudley." The next thing that Vernon

asked shocked both Petunia and Dudley, "How would the both of you like to get

rid of HIM forever?" They all knew whom he meant by HIM.

After a moment Petunia and Dudley both asked, "How?"

"Adoption! As you know, I have thought numerous times of putting HIM up for

adoption and now I have decided to put ad into several different newspapers."

Petunia questioned, "Won't THEY figure out what happened to him?"

"I sincerely doubt it." Vernon replied flippantly.

Vernon got up from the table to get a pad and pen by the sink and he wrote a

rough draft for the ad.

Boy for Adoption,

Contact Vernon Dursley

Number 4 Privet Drive

He showed it to Petunia and Dudley, and then asked, "What do you think of this

ad?"

Petunia said, "It's a little too short and it doesn't have our full address or

phone number listed. I think that we should put our address, phone number, and

have it by appointments only."

Vernon asked, "Dudley, what do you think about this ad?"

Dudley said, "I agree with mom, and how about having his age in it too?"

Vernon then wrote out another aid.

Ten-year-old Boy Up for Adoption.

As his guardians

something came up

and we are unable to

take care of him any longer.

Please contact Vernon Dursley at

(01209) 509601

or write to

4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey

By appointment only.

He showed the new ad to Dudley and Petunia and at the same time, they said, "I

like it."

"Great. Meeting has ended."

After Petunia and Dudley exited the kitchen, Vernon went to the phone and

called the Surry Advertiser, Surry Comet, Daily Prophet, and placed the ad

that he had written in all three newspapers.

Harry was in his cupboard under the stairs when he heard footsteps coming from

the kitchen. "Another of HIS stupid family meetings without me as usual I

wonder what this one was about." Harry thought to himself.