He was scared terrified really. He didn't know what had happened. All he knew was that one minute his uncle was about to hit him again and then poof his uncle was changing colors literally and he was out the back door and running.

Harry stopped at some point he didn't know breathing heavily as he attempted to catch his breath. As he was doing so suddenly an epiphany struck.

'Wait if they don't like people talking about magic even my cousin and they call me a freak then does that mean magic exists and that I have it?'

That was when his attention was diverted to a tv in a nearby store window showing a cartoon Yugi something or other but what caught Harry's attention was when they used those duel things to summon monsters and an idea struck.

'If I have magic then I could try to…'

That was when he heard the car, or more specifically his uncle's car turning down the road seeking him out.

In that moment Harry decided to run down a nearby alley fear for his life in overdrive making him do so but the alley was a dead end with a door on the side.

As he heard the vehicle getting closer he decided to try the door and to his surprise it was unlocked allowing him entry which he thankfully took before closing and locking it behind him.

After the sound of his uncle's car passed he fell back against the door and sighed in relief before looking at his surroundings, he was in a bookstore of some sort filled to the brim with old books.

But what really caught his attention was the man staring at him with a look of amusement.

The man was dressed in a blue military uniform of some sort, he had a grey beard and mustache which matched the greyness of his hair.

The man then decided to approach him and say,

"Hello there you seem to be in a bit of trouble there young lad and I was just about to lock up… So would you like to come with me and have a cup of tea? I would like to know what your problem is."

Harry nodded swiftly, he did NOT want to go back out there.
-

A few seconds later
-

As he followed Harry watched the man grab a certain book with chains wrapped around it seemingly to make sure no one read it off a shelf before continuing on.

After they climbed a set of stairs into what seemed to be a living area the man gestured for him to sit on a sofa across from a leather backed arm chair which Harry quickly obliged while the man went and set a kettle.

When he was finished the man sat on the armchair in front of Harry placing the kettle on a coffee table in between them before saying,

"My apologies for not introducing myself my name is Gil Graham."

"Harry, Harry Potter. Thank you for letting me stay."

Mr. Graham nodded before saying,

"Now what was it you were running from if I may be so bold?"

Harry shook his head deciding it was ok to tell him.

"My uncle."

Gil Graham raised an eyebrow at this but didn't show any inclination to send him away before asking,

"May I inquire as to why you were running away from your uncle?"

Harry adamantly shook his at this fearing that if Mr. Graham found out he would stop being nice.

Mr. Graham sighed then said

"Then I am afraid that I will have to return you to your uncle."

Harry's eyes clearly expressed his shock before changing to that of fear before stuttering out,

"M-m-my uncle w-wants to hurt me for accidentally burning their dinner."

Now Mr. Graham's eyes widened as if in realization of something which scared Harry deeply before he asked,

"He had you making dinner for his family?"

Harry replied with a mournful nod fully expecting to be rejected by Mr. Graham when he asked,

"Did he have you do anything else?"

Harry nodded at this causing Graham's expression to darken when he asked,

"Harry did he hit you a lot?"

Harry nodded rather shakily.

Gil Graham finally asked,

"Where, when, and how?"

Harry trembled slightly at Mr. Graham's tone of voice before saying,

When I was with them and with their fists or anything in their hands. Are you going to send me back there?"

Mr. Graham shook his head and said

"No I won't send you back there but I will need to know your uncle's name."

Harry sighed in relief before saying,

"Vernon, Vernon Dursley."

Gil Graham nodded and stood up before walking towards the stairs and while passing he ruffled Harry's hair.

But before he left Harry asked,

"What is that weird book on the table and why is it chained up?"

Gil answered with

"A gift for someone important."

Gil then descended the stairs leaving Harry to his own devices.
-

This is but a prologue and the setting is prior to Harry's eighth birthday but the timeline is debatable you can leave any form of reviews I don't care as long as they help me get better at making fanfiction.