A/N: Yes, yes, another new story. As always, 5 reviews OR a week before I post new chapters, when said next chapters are finished. So far 5 chapters all written by Moi. :D okay i better go before my ego gets .. big.

Harry Potter and the Great Hall

Childhood

Six years old. Thats how old the boy in the cupboard under the stairs at number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging in Surrey, was. It was the 31st of July, 1986, and this day will be a special day in the little boy's heart. He had no friends, if anyone whom the Dudley's knew, asked him. He would act wierd so Vernon can explain why he sleeps in a cupboard and not a bedroom, when people are around. The Police a few times came, but a strange old man with a long beard had stopped them and they forgot entirely. This was the only times the Dursleys, he would later realise, didn't not like magic... it stopped the police from pressing charges of child abuse on them.

Anyway, this day was special to the Boy, since it was his 6th Birthday. As he woke up at 6am, as he usually does, he said to himself in his head, "Happy Birthday Harry."

Ofcourse, he didn't think it would be a happy day, nevermind a happy birthday. He has never had a Happy day in the Dursley household.

In the pitch black of the tiny cupboard, the also tiny body of one Harry Potter, got dressed. He was used to the dark, the Pitch Black, dark. Since he had little room here, sleeping on a old baby cot that was crammed in here, with many objects that the Dursleys had no more need of, he had become very in tune with his body, and unknowingly through his special magic ability, his surroundings. Minutes later, he pushed open the door of the cupboard, and skillfully got out of it, without making a sound. It had never passed his mind that the door had been locked the previous night. Closing it, he momentarily wondered why the usually squeeky door was now silent, but pushed the thought away. Locking the door, he then went into the kitchen, and crept out of the house, down the back alley and headed to the one place he likes in this town.

Harry knocked on the door to Mrs' Figg's house. Mrs Figg was a kind old woman, but she had some, strange, quirks. But for some reason, Harry never seemed to be bothered by it, other then for the smell said quirks produce. He knew he wasn't going to have a single cat pet when he was older, even just because of the smell of cat pee.

Mrs Figg opened the door, and made a face, but let Harry in. The moment the door was shut however, a truly genuine smile crossed her face.

"Harry, Happy Birthday. I wasn't expecting you this early though. Whats' the matter?" she asked.

Harry shrugged but looked sombre. "Has it ever been Happy, Mrs Figg?"

The look on her face was answer enough for Harry, but she pressed on. "Your first birthday was likely. Anyway, come through to the living room. I'm not done with the cake but I'm sure," she got a strange look on her face as she said this, "you can occupy yourself until its done." she smiled, and went into the kitchen. Harry followed her through the door then round the worktop, and froze at the sight of the living room. Or rather, who was in it.

"Happy Birthday Harry!" shouted 6 girls and 3 boys.

Harry smiled for the first time in weeks. He hadn't seen them since school, and that wasnt under the best of circumstances either. Ever since they started school, they had seen how Harry was treated, and so decided to keep the friendship 'under the radar' as one boy had said one time, confusing everyone, even him. His dad was a military man.

Harry looked at the group in turn, naming them. "Lisa, John, Erica, Isabel, Alex, Lyra, Stacy, Paul, Jenny... " He stopped, and they went in for a group hug.

Alex and Lyra were evidently twins, and they had the mischeif/innocence look about them. Harry knowingly pulled the piece of paper off his back that had written on it "kiss me, im cute." after hugging them. Stacy and Jenny, also twins, identical twins, hugged him tightly. Isabel hugged him lightly and John and Paul shook his hands, before John went to isabels' side.

Quickly, the morning got into full swing as the small party got underway. Harry had gotten new clothes that were only 2 sizes too big for him instead of 4, as was the ones that he got from the dursleys. Also, Erica said they wouldn't fall apart as easily, for some reason. He nodded asif that was something normal. Well, the clothes that fit him now , was a present from her for his 4th birthday...

after Cake and such, the kids were sequestered away into a bedroom along with the presents, leaving Harry and Mrs Figg. This was because Mrs Figg somehow learned that Petunia was on her way round.

Answering the door to Petunia, Harry heard mumbles, before Petunia came in.

"What Have I told you about running off! Back with me, Now." Petunia said. Harry was interested to note something strange in the voice but he never could identify what it was. If he thought on it, he would notice that it was only noticable when not around Vernon or Dudley, or even, not when at Privet Drive.

Harry was good at acting so it was easy for him to hide how upset he was that his first and only birthday party he would have for years, was being cut short. He returned to Privet Drive, and did the chores he was given.

Later that day, Mrs Figg came round saying she needed some help around her house and Harry had offered when he saw one thing she needed help with. Harry schooled his face to make it seem like it was just him being polite and that he didn't want to help, so ofcourse, Petunia would want him to go and help. It was an Act both Harry and Mrs Figg were used to.

Back at Mrs Figg's house, he said, "Like a yoyo.". Mrs Figg smiled, and a few phonecalls later, the kids were back.

They had a great day, and Harry showed a talent for painting when he painted a dog. it was still obvious a child had done it but if Mrs Figg had to guess, she would have said the child was 11 or so.

Finishing off the party, Mrs Figg had help from Erica's Father, in making the place look like it usually did. (the kids had rather exuberantly destroyed a few things in their hyperactiveness).

The kids were upstairs as the clean up went on so Harry didn't know that magic was used to great effect in the clean up. Erica smirked knowingly when he was shocked at how quickly everything was repaired.

the kids left before it was time to return to Privet Drive, and Harry dove into a prepared tub to make himself look dirty. at the door, he answered it. But instead of finding his aunt, as she was always the one to fetch 'the boy' from Mrs' Figgs, it was Vernon. This was not good.

Harry sobbed as quietly as he could, which was silently, in his cupboard. he clutched his broken right arm, ignoring his bald head. Petunia had taken some scissors to it several times but always was stumped about why it grew back, to the same style but never grew longer then that. This time it was Vernon, and it was evident were the garden Sheers had gone too close to Harry's scalp, as there were blood marks where it nipped the skin. He was in pain, tremendous pain, but he was used to this. This was why he never had a 'happy day' in his life. He may have happy moments but no happy day. Each very happy moment in each day was always offset by something like this. And it was always the Dursleys that were responsible for the not-happy events in his life.

He fell asleep, not knowing his hair would be back in the morning. Not knowing that soon things will change in this household, for the better.

That night however, he dreamt. Dreamt of a large stone Castle, bustling with many young children and Teenagers, all wearing some sort of uniform. some wore yellow ties and they had a yellow badge on their, cloaks, some wore green and silver ties and they had a silver and green badge with a snake on their cloaks, some wore blue ties with a blue badge, and the rest wore red and gold ties with a red and gold badge with a lion, on their cloaks. One of them in green, he recognised, but in a wierd way. that boy, had black hair and emerald green eyes, and was with a girl who had hair that seemed to change color every so often. Little did he know, this image would come to life in a month, give or take a few days.

Harry barely registered a beep that denoted the day rolling over to August 1st, 1986.