Okay, so the first sentence, the Hogwarts letter, and, later on, the Gringott's poem are from the book, but everything else is from my head.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, because if I did, Harry would be with Draco and Ginny would be with Luna.

Chapter One

"Hurry up, boy!" Uncle Vernon shouted from the kitchen. "What are you doing, checking for letter bombs?" He chuckled at his own joke.

Harry snapped out of his trance. He headed towards the kitchen, but before he got there, he dropped the letter addressed to him in his cupboard.

He entered the kitchen, gave the postcard and the bill to Uncle Vernon, and sat down to finish his breakfast.

Harry went through the rest of that day in a thoughtful mood. Who was the letter from? Why didn't it have a stamp? And what did that H on the seal stand for?

After dinner, Harry went to his cupboard. He sat on his bed and waited until he was sure all three of the Dursleys had gone upstairs. Then he pulled the letter out from under his pillow and stared at the green lettering before turning it over to examine the seal.

Finally, he broke the seal and opened the envelope. Inside were two pieces of parchment. One was a list, the second, a letter.

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 list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

It was signed by Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.

Harry's head was spinning. He's a wizard? No, that's impossible. Then again, so is talking to snakes and making glass vanish.

He took a peak at the other piece of parchment. It was the list of necessary items and books.

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Harry read it over again. He still wasn't sure if it was joke. Then again, the Dursleys don't have much humor.

"But how could this be real?" he whispered to himself. "I'm a…wizard? I'm wizard. That sounds strange, but somehow right. I'm a wizard." At this, he pulled out his school bag from under his bed and grabbed a pen and a notebook. He had decided that he wanted proof that he was a wizard, not just this stamp less letter.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

My name is Harry Potter. I have just received a letter telling me that I am a wizard; however, I'm not sure that I believe it. I'd like to see actual proof. Jokes like this don't usual happen to me, so I'm inclined to believe that it's true, but it seems so strange.

If you could come to my place of residence to tell, and show, me in person, then I will attend your school. As soon as possible, if you please, because my aunt, uncle, and cousin aren't very tolerant people, and I don't how long I'd be able to keep my Hogwarts letter a secret.

Sincerely,

Harry J. Potter

P.S.

If all of this isn't a joke, how am I supposed to pay for everything?

Once Harry finished writing the letter, he snuck out of his cupboard. The Dursleys kept envelopes and stamps in a desk in the living room. Harry took an envelope and stamp, and then went back to his cupboard. The letter went into the envelope, the envelope and stamp got licked, the stamp went onto the corner of the envelope, and the envelope went under his pillow. He would take it to the mail box at the end of the street in the morning, while the Dursleys were still sleeping.

Harry put his pajamas, covered up, and went to sleep.

"Harry, get up! Get up now!" Aunt Petunia was knocking on Harry's door; however, Harry wasn't in there. He had woken up early to put the letter in the mailbox. Aunt Petunia kept knocking. Harry came out of the kitchen.

"I'm right here Aunt Petunia," he said. She jumped backward and then glared at Harry.

"What are you doing out of bed already?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I was sitting out in the garden."

"Well, don't scare me like that. I nearly had a heart attack." With that, she walked away.

Harry walked into the living room and sat down in one of the chairs. He had woken up early to put the letter in the mailbox, so he was pretty tired. He was just about to go to sleep…when Dudley decided to dump a glass of water on him.

"What was that for?" Harry yelled. Dudley just kept laughing, even as Harry pointed at him. All of a sudden, Dudley stopped laughing. Harry wasn't sure why at first, but then he realized that he was dry and that the water Dudley had just dumped on him had formed into an orb that was now floating just inches above Dudley's head.

"I'm sorry Harry! Please don't get me wet!" Dudley whispered frantically. But then the doorbell rang, which distracted both of them, causing the water to fall on Dudley's head.

"Oops, I'm sorry Dudley, I got distracted," Harry sad as he went to answer the door. He opened it and then stopped to stare at the man who was standing there.