Chapter One

It was a story Harry Potter knew by heart, despite being unable to hear it. His Aunt Petunia would tell him the same story every time she had a bad day at work.

"Your mother called me to try and make amends after your sainted Uncle Vernon passed away. Yes, Dudley, your father was the best person I had ever known in my entire life. Anyway, Lily manages to invite herself, and you, over for dinner. Well, can you believe it, right after we clear the dinner dishes, Lily makes some excuse about her husband James and runs off, leaving you behind. So the whole next day, I'm at home, waiting for her to come back, but she just abandoned you. Here, with me. And she knew that I had my own little tyke - yes, Duddy, that's you - to care for! But I guess that irresponsibility got handed down from parent to child. Does that explain why your chores are never done, Harry?"

Harry usually tried to remember his mother during this time, but he could only remember growing up as the second, unwanted child of Petunia Dursley. He began to daydream, and recalled going to the neighbor's house with Dudley before kindergarten while Aunt Petunia was at work, and he recalled his excitement to start kindergarten. He smiled as he thought of his kindergarten teacher and how she would hang his pictures on the wall, and how she would tell him that he was a very smart little boy. The smile faded as he remembered how his ears had hurt so badly right after summer holiday started, and how Aunt Petunia had yelled at him for being selfish. Two weeks later, Aunt Petunia pulled Harry out of story time and brought him to a doctor that moved his mouth a lot, but didn't actually make any noise. Harry, at 5 years old, thought maybe the doctor was playing a game, and Harry wanted to play, too. But the doctor wasn't playing, and Harry was left alone to figure out how to be in a world where he wouldn't be able to hear his teacher telling him that he was learning his letters very well.

The next September, Aunt Petunia fussed over Dudley more than usual. Harry waited for his turn, but it never came. Finally, Harry pointed to the shopping bags full of new clothes and school supplies and then to himself, and looked at Aunt Petunia hopefully. Petunia explained that Harry wasn't going to school with Dudley anymore, he was going back to the neighbor's house for instruction. Fortunately for Harry, Mrs. Thompson used to be a teacher, and was able to teach him some words and basic math. But what Petunia didn't know was that sweet, little, old Mrs. Thompson was also fluent in British Sign Language when she was younger, so she taught Harry to sign as well. Harry flourished under his new instruction, and was soon reading books way ahead of his age group.

When Aunt Petunia found out that Harry was learning Sign Language, she was definitely not pleased. To punish Harry, she sent him to "clear out" the backyard. The backyard had been largely unattended since Uncle Vernon had passed away, Petunia being too busy working and spending time with her "favourite little man" to keep the yard in any sort of shape.

Over a weekend, Harry dragged out the rake and some garbage bags, and started removing all the dead things from the yard. Bags upon bags of dead leaves and forgotten flower bushes piled up as the hours passed. When Harry began to take the bags out to the street to be picked up, he found a little green grass snake. Knowing that Petunia would make him kill the snake, Harry moved very slowly towards the tiny creature, with the hope of being able to put it safely into Mrs. Thompson's yard. Strangely, the snake didn't slink away when Harry came close enough to touch it's scaly skin. As Harry reached for the little snake, the snake almost seemed to smile at him. "That's ridiculous," Harry thought, as his hand barely brushed the shiny green scales. Sparks flew up Harry's arm, and the snake just curled into his palm.

"Hello, sssssstrange one," Harry felt a whispery voice behind his left ear. "Thank you for sssssssaving me." Harry's eyebrows nearly flew off of his forehead when he realised what was happening: this little snake was talking to him! At first, Harry was confused, because he couldn't hear when Aunt Petunia or Dudley spoke to him. As Harry tried to find a complete thought, the little snake continued. "I undersssssstand your emotion right now. I'm not jussssst a grassssss sssssnake; I'm part occamy on my mother'sssssss sssssside. That meanssssss I can change my sssssssize and alsssssso communicate telepathically. I've been living in here for yearssssss, waiting for you to find me. I come from a ssssssschool called Hogwartssssss, and I need to get back there. Will you help me?" Harry thought that he would love to help the little snake, but Aunt Petunia would never let a snake into her pristine house. "Don't worry," the snake continued. "Your… aunt?... will never sssssssee me. Watch." And as Harry looked, the little snake seemed to soak into his skin, looking oddly like the tattoos that the young man down the street had on his arms. "Pull your sssssssleeve down." The whispery voice vibrated behind Harry's ear again. Harry complied, and with his sleeves down, Aunt Petunia would never see his new friend. So Harry finished the yard work, and then spent the evening talking to his new friend about this place called "Hogwarts".

Harry shook his head to clear his head of all of his memories. Thanks to Hedwig, his little snake, he knew that he was a wizard, and he should be going to Hogwarts on his 11th birthday. Hedwig also remembered Harry's parents from her days roaming the castle grounds. "Yesssss, I remember Jamesssss Potter. He was the weightless boy, and he was always talking to the red girl." Harry knew from the one picture he had of his parents that his mother had bright red hair. Harry sighed and looked at the clock, which read 11:58pm. In exactly two minutes, it would be Harry's birthday, and he would turn 11. Aunt Petunia would have forgotten, and would remember only when Harry pointed it out on the calendar. After dinner, there would be exactly one present, terribly wrapped, on Harry's bed. Harry would open it, and it would be one of Dudley's old things that he didn't want anymore. "Oh well," thought Harry, "it can't be as bad as the year I got that awfu-" Harry felt the entire house shake, and he leapt out of bed to investigate. When he got to the living room, Harry was presented with the largest man he had ever seen. Harry wondered how he had gotten in, when he felt Aunt Petunia come running down the stairs with her light, quick steps. The large man started talking to Petunia, and Hedwig whispered everything so that Harry could keep up and not show this stranger what he considered his weakness.

"My name is Hagrid, and I've come to take Harry Potter to Hogwarts, seeing as you haven't answered any of Dumbledore's letters," said the large man, who was apparently named Hagrid. Harry wondered who Dumbledore was, and why he hadn't gotten any letters.

"You didn't get a response because you're not taking him to that- that- freak show!" Petunia replied, growing red in the face. "My sister went there, and she ended up marrying that Potter and ruining her life. So no, you're not taking him."

"Very funny, Ms. Dursley," Hagrid chuckled. "Wizards can decide for themselves whether or not they want to go when they don't live with their parents. Harry?"

Harry nodded his head, not willing to speak in front of Aunt Petunia. She wasn't aware that he was practicing speaking with Mrs. Thompson, and Harry prefered it that way. Hagrid nodded back, and told Harry to grab anything he needed to go away to school. Harry disappeared into his "room" and returned with the blanket his mother had left with him, and the photograph of his parents. Hagrid smiled not unkindly at Harry, and gestured that Harry should follow him out the door. Harry did, and upon leaving the only home he had ever known, was hoisted onto a giant, black motorcycle. Hagrid plopped a helmet onto Harry's head and revved the engine. "Ready?" Hagrid asked over the rumbling Harry felt through his entire body. Harry nodded, once, and the motorcycle began to lift straight up. Harry began to panic, and Hagrid laughed. "Don't worry Harry, my bike is protected by magic. As long as you're wearing the helmet, you won't fall out." Harry let out his breath, slightly less worried about falling to his death. Hagrid continued, "So before we get to Hogwa-"

"Where's my mom? And my dad?" Harry interrupted. Hagrid looked surprised by Harry's outburst. "Well, you can speak. That makes this easier." Hagrid answered, trying to avoid Harry's question. But Harry was relentless, and finally Hagrid landed his motorcycle - "Her name's Lucille, isn't she a beaut?" - and prepared himself to answer Harry's question.

"When you were a baby, there was this one wizard who went about as bad as a wizard could go. Your parents were part of a group that was trying to prevent him from hurting people, and killing them. Unfortunately, the night your mom took you to visit your aunt, this bad wizard went to your house and attacked your dad." Hagrid took a deep breath and hung his head slightly. "Your dad didn't make it Harry." Harry was frozen to the spot. Over the years, he had imagined thousands of scenarios, trying to picture where his parents might be. But he never once imagined that his mother was alone. Hagrid had paused to allow Harry to get his thoughts in order. Harry gulped and asked the question he was now dreading: "And my mom?" Hagrid only shook his head, and Harry dropped his chin to his chest to try to hide the tears that welled in his eyes. Hedwig wrapped her tail around Harry's arm to try and show her understanding of his whirling emotions.

After a moment, Harry sniffled and wiped his eyes. He looked at Hagrid and asked what happens next. Hagrid told Harry that they needed to stop at the bank, and then they needed to get Harry's school supplies. Harry was confused, because he didn't have any money on him, and Aunt Petunia never opened a bank account for him.

"Now, Harry, your mom and dad would never just leave you with nothing. Come on and see." Harry didn't understand, but he followed anyway. Hagrid walked into a large building that looked as though it would topple at any moment. "I don't trussssssst thisssss," Hedwig hissed. Harry mentally agreed, but followed Hagrid anyway.

Once inside what Hedwig called "the wobbly building", Harry's eyes adjusted to the dim lights and saw creatures he had never seen before. "Goblins," Hagrid explained, "are the only creatures that work at Gringott's. They only trust their own kind, so this is the safest place in the world to store something." Hagrid walked up to the tall counter and asked for vault 731, while presenting a key. Harry vaguely noticed that those numbers were the same as his birthday. The wrinkly goblin led Harry and Hagrid to a rickety-looking wooden cart. Harry nervously climbed inside. Hagrid told Harry not to worry, and with a wink, off they went.

After what felt like an eternity, the cart rolled to a stop outside of a large metal door with the number shining in the torchlight. Hagrid handed Harry the key and nudged him forward. Harry slid the key into the padlock, half expecting it to get stuck. Hedwig made a little hissing sound in support, and Harry turned the key. The door swung in to reveal mounds of gold, silver, and brass coins.

"Is all of this… mine?" Harry asked, eyes wide with shock. "Yes, Harry, this is yours to pay for school and a place to live once you've graduated. Unless you want to live with your aunt again?" Hagrid responded with a chuckle. Harry shook his head vigorously and blanched at the thought.

Hagrid collected the money that they would need to purchase all of Harry's school supplies, and the pair departed for a place called "Diagon Alley". Harry followed his large companion through a nondescript pub, noticing that the people inside were largely wearing robes, and one man was absent-mindedly stirring his tea. After a second glance, Harry noticed that the spoon was actually turning on its own, and the man was simply moving his finger. Harry realised that he must be a real wizard! "He isssss," Hedwig told him, "and apparently a very powerful one."

After Hagrid had stopped to talk to a couple of people, he and Harry arrived at a brick wall at the end of an alleyway. Harry was puzzled, but Hagrid winked again and began to tap the bricks in some sort of pattern. Harry felt the ground begin to shake as the bricks parted to reveal what appeared to be some sort of shopping center. He mentally asked Hedwig to only whisper to him when he was being directly spoken to, otherwise he wouldn't be able to process all of the conversations around him. "Of courssssssse, my hatchling," Hedwig replied. Harry was content to wander around and observe all of these new people, all of these new things he had never even dreamt of before. Occasionally Hagrid would ask Harry for his opinion on something, and Harry would either nod or shake his head in response. To be honest, Harry wasn't sure he would be able to speak loud enough to be heard over all of the other people that appeared to be talking.

All of a sudden, Harry felt a *thump* against his shoulder and he lost his balance. From his new position on the cobblestones, he looked up to see a young girl, maybe a year or two younger than him, with bright red hair. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you," was all she said before helping him up and running off. He watched her join a group that appeared to be her family, as they all had the same red hair and the same woman fussing over all of them. Harry wondered what it would be like to have siblings, "It'ssssss not fun," Hedwig interrupted Harry's thought process. "They ssssssssleep on top of you, and then they try to sssssssteal your food while you're eating it. Trusssssst me, hatchling, you don't want ssssssssiblings." Harry smiled to himself at Hedwig's words, and continued following Hagrid in and out of shops.

Several hours and several hundred dollars later, Harry stood inside King's Cross station with his packages bundled up in his new steamer trunk that Hagrid insisted was a birthday present. Hagrid had left Harry at the train station a few minutes ago, with the instructions "Just go to platform 9 ¾ and I'll see you at the school." Shrugging, Harry walked up to the nearest King's Cross station master and asked where his platform was. The man glared at Harry and told him that he didn't have time for pranks today. Turning around, Harry saw the same red-headed girl that bumped into him walking with her mother. "And they just run right into the wall like that? Right between the platforms?" The little girl seemed wonderstruck. "Yes Ginny, just like that, right between platforms 9 and 10," the mother replied, clearly ready to go home for the day. Harry started walking towards platforms 9 and 10, and saw the wall in the middle. He thought he may as well give it a go, what's the worst that could happen? "You could hit the wall and get a concussssssssion," answered Hedwig, the voice of reason. Harry took a deep breath, and started to run.