Chapter Text
Harry's sitting on a branch of a tree in front of a playground, with flowers everywhere. It's so calming and peaceful, unlike his house-
"Sev!" Harry turns around to see a familiar auburn-haired girl with a pair of bright green eyes—his eyes? Mom?
"Yes, Lils?" he asked. That's not Harry's voice. Harry wanted to jump down the tree and hug the girl, who looked like his mom, but he couldn't move. Is this a scripted dream? Or a nightmare?
"It's real! Oh, I can't wait to see-"
"-WAKE UP! HARRY EVANS!" Aunt Petunia rapped the door of his room.
"I'm awake!" He answered breathlessly and stood up, hurriedly opening the door to see his aunt walking away to Dudley's room.
She's holding a breakfast tray, and as he looks away, Harry's heart aches in jealousy. 'Why can't I have that on my birthday?' He then remembered the last time he pointed it out and the minutes of yelling Aunt Petunia gave him.
"You make the tartar sauce before you eat breakfast."
"Yes, Aunt Petunia," he answered, quickly walking down the stairs, 'and good morning to you too.'.
He couldn't help but look at the pictures hanging on the wall as he went down—Evans and Dursley's family photos. There's only one picture of him there—a baby picture of him with Dudley professionally done at the end of the staircase. This is probably the first picture you see once you enter the house.
He never had a solo picture put on picture frames, unlike Dudley. Uncle Vernon says he should be lucky that they even frame his face. His first picture was taken at Christmas with his parents when he was five months old. His past home was filled with Christmas decorations—25 small reindeer, a red and gold Christmas tree, and poinsettia. With him dressed in a Bambi onesie and red paint on his nose. His parents dressed in Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause costumes while sticking their tongues at the camera. It gives an interesting sob story for his aunt to tell their guests, and if the guests get interested in his parents or him, his aunt will focus on the Dursley photos.
The second was Dudley's six-year-old birthday; the picture shows Dudley blowing out the candles with Harry covering Piers Pokiss's mouth while smiling brightly at Dudley. The only time his aunt was truly proud of him was without anger and without Harry having to prove himself.
The last one is a large family portrait on top of the fireplace, the only time his hair miraculously tamed. Harry always claimed his hair preferred the stylist's soft styling to Aunt Petunia's; that was why it stayed put.
It's not like they don't have a picture of him; he has more pictures hanging compared to his mom, who only has 2 pictures. He has a lot of pictures on a big album filled with his pictures with Dudley or his friends, some of his parent's pictures at their home, and his mom's baby-to-childhood photos.
"You clean the dishes, boy!" Uncle Vernon yelled from the sitting room while arranging Dudley's birthday gifts. It's a surprise that he had time for Dudley's birthday since he was promoted to a big construction equipment supplier and manufacturer.
"Yes, Uncle Vermin." Harry looked at the gifts: a guitar with a beginner guidebook, a racing bike, and a video recorder. Harry frowns as he washes the dishes. Since when did Dudley want a guitar? He wants a sketchbook- Harry paused; he mentioned wanting to play the guitar on Valentine's Day while they walked past a local secondary school.
"What did you call me?" He glared at him, and Harry composed himself, 'Fuck, I slipped.' It's not that Uncle Vernon hits him, but that doesn't make him less terrifying. With his 193 cm stature compared to his 155 cm height, his hurtful blunt words, and the intimidating glare that Dudley also receives when he doesn't follow Aunt Petunia's rules.
"...you?" Harry tilted his head and blinked in the most innocent way possible. "What did you think I called you?"
"Just go, you're lucky it's my boy's birthday!" Uncle Vernon hissed Harry as he hurriedly walked to the kitchen, silently thanking Dudley, he would be dragged in the cupboard for 5 hours if it wasn't his birthday, "And comb your hair!"
Harry nervously laughed, "Yes, uncle."
Dudley always chooses a gift that both of them can share or just make him feel protected every year. Dudley Lyle Dursley is the only reason Harry hasn't called the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Dursley yet. 'Harry, don't be dramatic; they're not THAT bad; it's not like you're sleeping in the cupboard or forbidden to eat just as much as them. You also have a birthday gift: going to your parent's grave every year at Cokeworth while Aunt Petunia talks about Mom. Okay, who am I kidding? I would've called an NSPCC on them, and if Dudley grew up rotten, I would've lied about sleeping in the cupboard just to be petty.'
He quietly finished the ranch and ate the breakfast prepared for him by Aunt Petunia. 'What did we buy spices for for nothing? Are they kitchen decorations now?'. Harry's now thankful Aunt Petunia rarely cooks since she's busy working as the owner of a financial adviser firm. Even though his grateful that his aunt cooks for him, he'd rather cook for himself from recipes that he learned over his 5 years of cooking. Uncle Vernon is a better cook than her, granted that might be because his parents were chefs.
"Ree!" Dudley called him, and Harry turned around to see Dudley lifting the bike. "Let's play!"
"Sure, Happy 11th Birthday D!" Harry said with a grin. Both ran outside the door.
"We'll be going to Pleasure Beach in Blackpool; you'll be staying with the Patils until we come back."
"They're not letting you go with them again?" Parvati asked, frowning.
"Remember last time, two years ago? They say I'm bad luck and don't want me ruining the day," Harry said after putting down the chai.
"The glass was a mistake on the zoo's part," Patil said, trying not to smirk.
"It wasn't your fault, and Richard's terrified whimper was so funny." Parvati laughed, and Harry snorted. Remembering Dudley's 9th birthday, when they went to the zoo. Richard Taylor, Francis Barnes, and Piers Polkiss kept annoying him and the twins as they went over the animals.
When Francis was banging the snake's glass cage to wake up, Harry kept glaring at him from behind, and then the glass broke and fell.
"Piers and Francis were peeing in their pants!" Harry added, laughing with the twins.
"Why are they still invited to Dudley's birthday anyway? It's not like they're friends; they're not even neighbors," Patil asked.
"Their moms are Aunt Petunia's childhood or university friends." Harry rolled his eyes. Those women glare or sneer at him every chance they get.
"Why can't Dudley's school friends go with him this time? Hell, we've been invited with Jaivant once and were your friends."
The twins and Jaivant aren't his only friends, but they're the most 'tolerable' ones since they can speak English properly with a full British accent so they were invited to go to the zoo. And they're not 'bad in the eye', with some of Aunt Petunia's friends asking them if they also have Eurocentric features like Harry. Since of course that would be the only reason why they have charming features, their brown skin only making them 'exotic'.
"You know why, as much as we're put in an international school, aunt and uncle hate the idea of Dudley making friends with some people. Yumi and Hyun are Asian, Albert is Jewish, Yousef and Amir are Muslim, and Kira is African. Our neighbors don't have any kids our age but you guys. And they're not surprised that I'm friends with you guys because you're all Indian and they don't want me to talk to Dudley for his special birthday."
"That didn't end well," Parvati snorted and Harry nodded, Dudley kept talking and joking with them more than the other boys, no matter what scolding Aunt Petunia gave him about how rude he was.
"You finished the Sanskrit lesson for today, kids?" Ivaan Patil asked.
"Yes, Dad/Ivaan," they all said in unison.
"Just in time, Amala finished making lunch."
"What did mom make?"
"Food,"
"Ha.Ha."
"Funny, right? Oh, and Harry, after eating, do you want to play with the musical instruments with me?"
"Of course!" He loves playing with the Tanpura and Dhol since they're the first instruments he learned.
After that, they watched Bollywood films while eating pani puri and guessing what would happen next. After that, he spent the night in their guest room and practiced with the guitar until he fell asleep.
Days pass by quickly, especially if there's a routine you're expected to do. Waking up at 6 to cook and water plants every morning or study to have good grades but not that good that you'll be 'better' than Dudley (like he cares). Listen to teachers at school, do diligently at chess, swimming, and chemistry clubs (and don't join the same clubs as Dudley because they say he wouldn't want that). Once he goes back home, he'll have to cook or finish the chores first before he does his homework or even starts studying, and if he finishes all of that, he'll have his own free time to do anything.
Summers and holidays are a bit of an exception; he'll travel with the Dursleys if it's a long travel vacation (which is all the summers and Christmas holidays really), but if it's just a one or two-day trip, he'll have to stay with Ms. Arabela Figg or the Patil's. The neighbor's weird old lady with cats and birds; at least that's what Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon say. The neighbors love her trained, well cats, and quiet, not-shitting-anywhere Budgerigar and Dove.
"I'll do the cooking and the chores. Ree, you go up and open the presents we gave you. You can play on the computer too." Dudley whispered at him, and Harry blinked in surprise. Aunt and Uncle always made sure Dudley had a busy schedule so he couldn't help Harry with the house chores by giving him tutors, signing him up for archery classes, and urging him to join the karate and arts clubs. Harry sometimes thinks it's ridiculous that Dudley would skip his paid classes to help him when he has more chances to play around and learn.
"It's fine; I'm done with cleaning-"
"Go! It's your 11th birthday and the start of summer vacation, for God's sake. Just go rest and play with the computer!"
"Alright. Alright," Harry mused, hugging Dudley. He ran to the stairs but stopped when he saw a letter with no stamp on top of the doormat.
'Finally...' Harry took a deep breath and slowly walked to the letter made of yellowish parchment, a purple wax seal bearing an interesting coat of arms: a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. 'The animals are moving!'.
Mr. H. Potter
Third room, second floor
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
"Potter?" He stares. "So dad's also mixed race?" 'Then why did Aunt Petunia change my surname? Did she even change my surname?'. He never knew anything about his dad other than his first name James, and that he inherited most of his looks. His surname is Potter.
He slowly walked up to his room and slowly pulled out 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 a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl or mail by no later than August 2. If you live in a muggle world and are not allowed to have an owl, we allow you to send your response to the address shown below:
The Leaky Cauldron
Euston Road
London, Great Britain
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Added note: We send these letters to first years with magical blood, if you don't know you have magical blood please add that to your response letter for I will come there in person. And if no one responds I will still go with a Ministry official to look at what's going on.
'Oh thank God, Professor McGonagall better be intimidating and can read the room for me to go to Hogwarts. Should I not respond? But I don't want to bother a Ministry official with my plan.'
The school name started floating and Harry grinned in excitement. Harry pulled out another piece of paper that showed the lists of everything he needed.
Uniform
First-year students will require:
- Weightless extension luggage (Hogwarts package: Compartments and hangers)
- Two sets of Hogwarts robes (Black: one Tudor, one Victorian)
- House Badge (Hogwarts Black: Name, purple string)
- Six pairs of white polos (three long sleeves, three short sleeves: 2 white polos, 2 main house colored polos, 2 sub house colored polos)
- Three pairs of Trousers (30 cm pocket: male or female: 1 grey, 1 black, 1 white)
- House-colored tie (Formal wear: Hogwarts Black)
- One medieval pointed hat (Black: charmed to fit any weather)
- One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- One winter cloak, detachable fur trim (Black fur, purple fastenings)
- Wand belt (with polisher)
- Weightless extension messenger bag (charmed for books only)
- One pair of Quidditch robes (Plain White: Hogwarts)
- One pair of Broom shoes or Muggle trainers
- Two pairs of any school shoes (Muggle or Wizard)
The Hogwarts uniforms except the shoes are magically adjusted every year to fit the growing student. All students can get any pajamas or jewelry they like (reminder that this is a boarding school, don't bring expensive items).
During Sundays, students are also allowed to wear civilian clothes to class (Half day). No above-the-knees or revealing outfits that show the waist or chest for both genders.
Others
- All the course books are in the library
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
1 set of first-year potion set
Parchments (Whole order: 21 rolls for First years: weekly arrival)
1 A year's supply of ink (Black and Purple)
2 Quill (Unbreakable: Glass or Feather)
4 annotating tabs (Hogwarts book: any color)
1 Hogwarts map (Blood activated)
Students may also bring a pet as long as it's well trained, they can balance their school work, and they have a supply of food for their pet (without a house elf). Hogwarts has its own messenger owl for family contact.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR BROOMSTICKS
Harry was silently squealing the whole time he was reading the letter. Who wouldn't? Unexplainable things happen to him every time and if he talks about it to Aunt Petunia he gets yelled at that it's not real. Like all the dust around the house flying towards the trashcan? Him floating? Or waking up in the attic? The dishes washing itself? Is his hair growing itself overnight? All a dream, all happening inside his head. The lightning scar on his forehead to the bottom of his left eye that doesn't seem to heal occurred during a car crash that killed his parents.
"Okay let's do this!" He slapped his face and pulled a paper and an envelope from his drawer.
Dear Professor Minerva McGonagall,
I'm sorry but I think you sent the letter to the wrong kid, as honored as I am to receive a wizard letter my name is not H. Potter. My name is Harry Evans. Well, I don't know if Potter is my dad's surname, I know nothing about my dad. I want to think I am H. Potter, but even if I am I don't think my Aunt and Uncle would want me to go to Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon's family is a devoted Catholic, and Aunt Petunia hates unnatural things. And without their approval, I don't think I can buy the supplies needed for the boarding school.
Now let's say I am H. Potter, and you've managed to convince my relatives. Will you explain to me what the hell is going on? And do you know my parents, had they gone to Hogwarts? Because my Aunt doesn't have any photographs of her in secondary school.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Evans
After that, he played the guitar until Dudley finished and recorded themselves playing poker and video games.