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THE BOY WHO LIVED Mr and Mrs Dursley of number four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal thank you very much .They were the last people youd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious because they just didnt hold with such nonsense .Mr Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings which made drills .He was a big beefy man with hardly any neck although he did have a very large mustache .Mrs Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck which came in very useful as she spent so

much of her time craning over garden fences spying on the neighbors .The Dursley s had a small son called Dudley and in their opinion there was no finer boy anywhere .The Dursleys had everything they wanted but they also had a secret and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it .They didnt think they could bear it if anyone found out about the Potters .Mrs Potter was Mrs Dursleys sister but they hadnt met for several years in fact Mrs Dursley pretended she didnt have a sister because her sister and her goodfornothing husband were

unDursleyish as it was possible to be .The Dursleys shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in the street .The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son too but they had never even seen him .This boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away they didnt want Dudley mixing with a child like that .When Mr and Mrs Dursley woke up on the dull gray Tuesday our story starts there was nothing about the cloudy sky

outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country .Mr Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work and Mrs Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high chair .None of them noticed a large tawny

flutter past the window .At half past eight Mr Dursley picked up his briefcase pecked Mrs Dursley on the cheek and tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls .Little tyke chortled Mr Dursley as he left the house .He got into his car and backed out of number fours drive .It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of something peculiar a cat reading a map .For a second Mr Dursley didnt realize what he had seen then he jerked his head around to look again .There was a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive but there wasnt a

map in sight .What could he have been thinking of ?It must have been a trick of the light .Mr Dursley blinked and stared at the cat .It stared back .As Mr Dursley drove around the corner and up the road he watched the cat in his mirror .It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive no looking at the sign cats couldnt read maps or signs .Mr Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind .As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of

he was hoping to get that day .But on the edge of town drills were driven out of his mind by something else .As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam he couldnt help noticing that there seemed to be a lot of strangely dressed people about .People in cloaks .Mr Dursley couldnt bear people who dressed in funny clothes the getups you saw on young people !He supposed this was some stupid new fashion .He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and his eyes fell on a huddle of these weirdos standing quite close by .They were whispering excitedly together .Mr Dursley was enraged to see

that a couple of them werent young at all why that man had to be older than he was and wearing an emeraldgreen cloak !The nerve of him !But then it struck Mr Dursley that this was probably some silly stunt these people were obviously collecting for something .yes that would be it .The traffic moved on and a few minutes later Mr Dursley arrived in the Grunnings parking lot his mind back on drills .Mr

always sat with his back to the window in his office on the ninth floor .If he hadnt he might have found it harder to concentrate on drills that morning .He didnt see the owls swooping past in broad daylight though people down in the street did they pointed and gazed openmouthed as owl after owl sped overhead .Most of them had never seen an owl even at nighttime .Mr Dursley however had a perfectly normal owlfree morning .He yelled at five different people .He made several important telephone calls and shouted a bit more .He was in a very good

mood until lunchtime when he thought hed stretch his legs and walk across the road to buy himself a bun from the bakery .Hed forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed a group of them next to the bakers .He eyed them angrily as he passed .He didnt know why but they made him uneasy .This bunch were

excitedly too and he couldnt see a single collecting tin .It was on his way back past them clutching a large doughnut in a bag that he caught a few words of what they were saying .The Potters thats right thats what I heard yes their son Harry Mr Dursley stopped dead .Fear flooded him .He looked back at the whisperers as if he wanted to say something to them but thought better of it .He dashed back across the road hurried up to

his office snapped at his secretary not to disturb him seized his telephone and had almost finished dialing his home number when he changed his mind .He put the receiver back down and stroked his mustache thinking .no he was being stupid .Potter wasnt such an unusual name .He was sure there were lots of people called Potter who had a son called Harry .Come to think of it he wasnt even sure his nephew was called Harry .Hed never even seen the boy .It

have been Harvey .Or Harold .There was no point in worrying Mrs Dursley she always got so upset at any mention of her sister .He didnt blame her if hed had a sister like that .but all the same those people in cloaks .He found it a lot harder to concentrate on drills that afternoon and when he left the building at five oclock he was still so worried that he walked straight into someone just outside the door .Sorry he grunted as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell .It was a few seconds before Mr Dursley realized that the man was wearing a violet cloak .He didnt seem at all upset at being almost knocked to the ground .On the contrary

his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare Dont be sorry my dear sir for nothing could upset me today !Rejoice for You KnowWho has gone at last !Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating this happy happy day !And the old man hugged Mr Dursley around the middle and walked off .Mr Dursley stood rooted to the spot .He had been hugged by a complete stranger .He also thought he had been called a Muggle whatever

was .He was rattled .He hurried to his car and set off for home hoping he was imagining things which he had never hoped before because he didnt approve of imagination .As he pulled into the driveway of number four the first thing he saw and it didnt improve his mood was the tabby cat hed spotted that morning .It was now sitting on his garden wall .He was sure it was the same one it had the same markings around its eyes .Shoo !said Mr Dursley loudly .The

cat didnt move .It just gave him a stern look .Was this normal cat behavior ?Mr Dursley wondered .Trying to pull himself together he let himself into the house .He was still determined not to mention anything to his wife .Mrs Dursley had had a nice normal day .She told him over dinner all about Mrs Next Doors problems

her daughter and how Dudley had learned a new word Wont .Mr Dursley tried to act normally .When Dudley had been put to bed he went into the living room in time to catch the last report on the evening news And finally birdwatchers everywhere have reported that the nations owls have been behaving very unusually today .Although owls normally hunt at night and are hardly ever seen in daylight there have been hundreds of sightings of these birds flying in every direction

since sunrise .Experts are unable to explain why the owls have suddenly changed their sleeping pattern .The newscaster allowed himself a grin .Most mysterious .And now over to Jim McGuffin with the weather .Going to be any more showers of owls tonight Jim ?Well Ted said the weatherman I dont know about that but its not only the owls that have been acting oddly today .Viewers as far apart as Kent

and Dundee have been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain I promised yesterday theyve had a downpour of shooting stars !Perhaps people have been celebrating Bonfire Night early its not until next week folks !But I can promise a wet night tonight .Mr Dursley sat frozen in his armchair .Shooting stars all over Britain ?Owls flying by daylight ?Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place ?And a whisper a whisper about the Potters .Mrs Dursley came into the living room carrying two cups of tea .It was no good .Hed have to say something to her .He cleared his throat nervously .Er Petunia dear you

havent heard from your sister lately have you ?As he had expected Mrs Dursley looked shocked and angry .After all they normally pretended she didnt have a sister .No she said sharply .Why ?Funny stuff on the news Mr Dursley mumbled .Owls .shooting stars .and there were a lot of funnylooking people in town today .So ?snapped Mrs Dursley .Well I just thought .maybe .it was something to do with .you know .her

.Mrs Dursley sipped her tea through pursed lips .Mr Dursley wondered whether he dared tell her hed heard the name Potter .He decided he didnt dare .Instead he said as casually as he could Their son hed be about Dudleys age now wouldnt he ?I suppose so said Mrs Dursley stiffly .Whats his name again ?Howard isnt it ?Harry .Nasty common name if you ask me .Oh yes said Mr Dursley his heart sinking horribly .Yes I quite agree .He didnt say another word on the subject as they went upstairs to bed .While Mrs Dursley was in the bathroom Mr Dursley crept to the bedroom window and peered down into the front garden .The cat was still there .It was staring down Privet

Drive as though it were waiting for something .Was he imagining things ?Could all this have anything to do with the Potters ?If it did .if it got out that they were related to a pair of well he didnt think he could bear it .The Dursleys got into bed .Mrs Dursley fell asleep quickly but Mr Dursley lay awake turning it all over in his mind .His last comforting thought before he fell asleep was that even if the Potters were involved there was no reason for them to come near him and Mrs Dursley .The Potters knew very

what he and Petunia thought about them and their kind .He couldnt see how he and Petunia could get mixed up in anything that might be going on he yawned and turned over it couldnt affect them .How very wrong he was .Mr Dursley might have been drifting into an uneasy sleep but the cat on the wall outside was showing no sign of sleepiness .It was sitting as still as a statue its eyes fixed unblinkingly on the far corner of Privet Drive .It didnt so much as quiver when a car door slammed on the next street nor when two owls swooped overhead .In fact

it was nearly midnight before the cat moved at all .A man appeared on the corner the cat had been watching appeared so suddenly and silently youd have thought hed just popped out of the ground .The cats tail twitched and its eyes narrowed .Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive .He

tall thin and very old judging by the silver of his hair and beard which were both long enough to tuck into his belt .He was wearing long robes a purple cloak that swept the ground and highheeled buckled boots .His blue eyes were light bright and sparkling behind halfmoon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked as though it had been broken at least twice .This mans name was Albus Dumbledore .Albus Dumbledore didnt seem to realize that he had just arrived in a street where everything from his name to his boots was unwelcome .He was busy rummaging in his cloak looking for something .But he did

seem to realize he was being watched because he looked up suddenly at the cat which was still staring at him from the other end of the street .For some reason the sight of the cat seemed to amuse him .He chuckled and muttered I should have known .He found what he was looking for in his inside pocket .It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter .He

it open held it up in the air and clicked it .The nearest street lamp went out with a little pop .He clicked it again the next lamp flickered into darkness .Twelve times he clicked the PutOuter until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny pinpricks in the distance which were the eyes of the cat watching him .If anyone looked out of their window now even beadyeyed Mrs Dursley they wouldnt be able to see anything that was happening down on the pavement .Dumbledore slipped the Put

Outer back inside his cloak and set off down the street toward number four where he sat down on the wall next to the cat .He didnt look at it but after a moment he spoke to it .Fancy seeing you here Professor McGonagall .He turned to smile at the tabby but it had gone .Instead he was smiling at a rather severelooking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the

of the markings the cat had had around its eyes .She too was wearing a cloak an emerald one .Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun .She looked distinctly ruffled .How did you know it was me ?she asked .My dear Professor Ive never seen a cat sit so stiffly .Youd be stiff if youd been sitting on a brick wall all day said Professor McGonagall .All day ?When you could have been celebrating ?I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here .Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily .Oh yes everyones celebrating all right she said impatiently .Youd think theyd be a bit

more careful but no even the Muggles have noticed somethings going on .It was on their news .She jerked her head back at the Dursleys dark livingroom window .I heard it .Flocks of owls .shooting stars .Well theyre not completely stupid .They were bound to notice something .Shooting stars down in Kent Ill bet that was Dedalus Diggle .He never had much sense .You cant blame them said Dumbledore gently .Weve had precious little to celebrate

eleven years .I know that said Professor McGonagall irritably .But thats no reason to lose our heads .People are being downright careless out on the streets in broad daylight not even dressed in Muggle clothes swapping rumors .She threw a sharp sideways glance at Dumbledore here as though hoping he was going to tell her something but he didnt so she went on .A fine thing it would be if on the very day YouKnowWho seems to have disappeared at last the Muggles found out about

us all .I suppose he really has gone Dumbledore ?It certainly seems so said Dumbledore .We have much to be thankful for .Would you care for a lemon drop ?A what ?A lemon drop .Theyre a kind of Muggle sweet Im rather fond of .No thank you said Professor McGonagall coldly as though she didnt think this was the moment for lemon drops .As I say even if YouKnowWho has gone My dear Professor surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name ?All this You KnowWho nonsense for eleven years I have been

to persuade people to call him by his proper name Voldemort .Professor McGonagall flinched but Dumbledore who was unsticking two lemon drops seemed not to notice .It all gets so confusing if we keep saying YouKnowWho .I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemorts name .I know you havent said Professor McGonagall sounding half exasperated half admiring .But youre different .Everyone knows youre the only one You Know oh all right Voldemort was frightened of .You flatter me said Dumbledore calmly .Voldemort had powers I will never have .Only because youre too well noble to use them .Its lucky

its dark .I havent blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs .Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at Dumbledore and said The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around .You know what everyones saying ?About why hes disappeared ?About what finally stopped him ?It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss the

reason she had been waiting on a cold hard wall all day for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now .It was plain that whatever everyone was saying she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true .Dumbledore however was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer .What theyre saying she pressed on is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godrics Hollow .He went to find the Potters .The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are are that theyre dead .Dumbledore bowed his head

.Professor McGonagall gasped .Lily and James .I cant believe it .I didnt want to believe it .Oh Albus .Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder .I know .I know .he said heavily .Professor McGonagalls voice trembled as she went on .Thats not all .Theyre saying he tried to kill the Potters son Harry .But he couldnt .He couldnt kill that little boy .No one knows why or how but

saying that when he couldnt kill Harry Potter Voldemorts power somehow broke and thats why hes gone .Dumbledore nodded glumly .Its its true ?faltered Professor McGonagall .After all hes done .all the people hes killed .he couldnt kill a little boy ?Its just astounding .of all the things to stop him .but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive ?We can only guess said Dumbledore .We may never know .Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles .Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it .It was a very odd watch .It had twelve

hands but no numbers instead little planets were moving around the edge .It must have made sense to Dumbledore though because he put it back in his pocket and said Hagrids late .I suppose it was he who told you Id be here by the way ?Yes said Professor McGonagall .And I dont suppose youre going to tell me why youre here of all places ?Ive come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle .Theyre the only family he has left now .You dont mean you cant mean the people who live here ?cried Professor McGonagall jumping to

feet and pointing at number four .Dumbledore you cant .Ive been watching them all day .You couldnt find two people who are less like us .And theyve got this son I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street screaming for sweets .Harry Potter come and live here !Its the best place for him said Dumbledore firmly .His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when hes older .Ive written them a letter .A letter ?repeated Professor McGonagall faintly sitting back down on the wall .Really Dumbledore

you think you can explain all this in a letter ?These people will never understand him !Hell be famous a legend I wouldnt be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future there will be books written about Harry every child in our world will know his name !Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses .It would be enough to turn any boys head .Famous before he can walk and talk !Famous for something he wont even remember !Cant

see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it ?Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course .But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore ?She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it .Hagrids bringing him .You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this ?I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore .Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless .He does tend to what was that ?A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them .It grew steadily

louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them .If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it .He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide .He looked simply too big to be allowed and

wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins .In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets .Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved .At last .And where did you get that motorcycle ?Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sir said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke .Young Sirius Black lent it to me .Ive

got him sir .No problems were there ?No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around .He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol .Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets .Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep .Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning .Is that where ?whispered Professor

.Yes said Dumbledore .Hell have that scar forever .Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore ?Even if I could I wouldnt .Scars can come in handy .I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground .Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with .Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house .Could I could I say goodbye to him sir ?asked Hagrid .He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss .Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog .Shhh !hissed Professor McGonagall

youll wake the Muggles !Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it .But I cc cant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the

door .He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two .For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out .Well said Dumbledore finally thats that .Weve no business staying here .We may as well go and join the celebrations .Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Id best get this bike away .G night Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir .Wiping his streaming

eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night .I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her .Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply .Dumbledore turned

walked back down the street .On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put Outer .He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street .He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four .Good luck Harry he murmured .He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone .A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last

place you would expect astonishing things to happen .Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up .One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the

door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley .He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived !THE VANASHIG GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but

Privet Drive had hardly changed at all .The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls .Only the photographs on the

really showed how much time had passed .Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother .The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too .Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long .His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day .Up !Get

up !Now !Harry woke with a start .His aunt rapped on the door again .Up !she screeched .Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove .He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having .It had been a good one .There had been a flying motorcycle in it .He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before .His aunt was back outside the door .Are you up yet ?she demanded .Nearly

Harry .Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon .And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday .Harry groaned .What did you say ?his aunt snapped through the door .Nothing nothing .Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten ?Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks .He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on .Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept .When he was dressed he went down the hall

into the kitchen .The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents .It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike .Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody .Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him .Harry didnt look it but he was very fast .Perhaps it had something to

with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age .He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was .Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes .He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose .The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning

.He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Petunia was how he had gotten it .In the car crash when your parents died she had said .And dont ask questions .Dont ask questions that was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys .Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as Harry

turning over the bacon .Comb your hair !he barked by way of a morning greeting .About once a week Uncle Vernon looked over the top of his newspaper and shouted that Harry needed a haircut .Harry must have had more haircuts than the rest of the boys in his class put together but it made no difference his hair simply grew that way all over the place .Harry was frying eggs by the time Dudley arrived in the kitchen with his mother .Dudley looked a lot like Uncle Vernon .He had a large pink face not much neck small watery blue eyes and thick blond hair that lay smoothly

on his thick fat head .Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig .Harry put the plates of egg and bacon on the table which was difficult as there wasnt much room .Dudley meanwhile was counting his presents .His face fell .Thirtysix he said looking up at his mother and father .Thats two less than last year .Darling you havent counted Auntie Marges present see its

under this big one from Mommy and Daddy .All right thirtyseven then said Dudley going red in the face .Harry who could see a huge Dudley tantrum coming on began wolfing down his bacon as fast as possible in case Dudley turned the table over .Aunt Petunia obviously scented danger too because she said quickly And well buy you another two presents while were out today .Hows that popkin ?Two more presents .Is that all right ?Dudley thought for a moment .It looked like hard work .Finally he said slowly So Ill have thirty .thirty .Thirtynine sweetums said Aunt Petunia .Oh .Dudley sat down heavily and grabbed the nearest parcel .All right

then .Uncle Vernon chuckled .Little tyke wants his moneys worth just like his father .Atta boy Dudley !He ruffled Dudleys hair .At that moment the telephone rang and Aunt Petunia went to answer it while Harry and Uncle Vernon watched Dudley unwrap the racing bike a video camera a remote control airplane sixteen new computer games and a VCR .He was ripping the paper off a gold wristwatch when Aunt Petunia came back from the telephone looking both angry and worried .Bad news Vernon she said .Mrs Figgs broken her leg .She cant take him .She jerked

head in Harrys direction .Dudleys mouth fell open in horror but Harrys heart gave a leap .Every year on Dudleys birthday his parents took him and a friend out for the day to adventure parks hamburger restaurants or the movies .Every year Harry was left behind with Mrs Figg a mad old lady who lived two streets away .Harry hated it there .The whole house smelled of cabbage and Mrs Figg made him look at photographs of all the cats shed ever owned .Now what ?said Aunt Petunia looking furiously at Harry as

though hed planned this .Harry knew he ought to feel sorry that Mrs Figg had broken her leg but it wasnt easy when he reminded himself it would be a whole year before he had to look at Tibbies Snowy Mr Paws and Tufty again .We could phone Marge Uncle Vernon suggested .Dont be silly Vernon she hates the boy .The Dursleys often spoke about Harry like this as though he wasnt there or rather as though he was something very nasty

couldnt understand them like a slug .What about whatshername your friend Yvonne ?On vacation in Majorca snapped Aunt Petunia .You could just leave me here Harry put in hopefully hed be able to watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudleys computer .Aunt Petunia looked as though shed just swallowed a lemon .And come back and find the house in ruins ?she snarled .I wont blow up the house said Harry but they werent listening .I suppose we could

take him to the zoo said Aunt Petunia slowly .and leave him in the car .That cars new hes not sitting in it alone .Dudley began to cry loudly .In fact he wasnt really crying it had been years since hed really cried but he knew that if he screwed up his

and wailed his mother would give him anything he wanted .Dinky Duddydums dont cry Mummy wont let him spoil your special day !she cried flinging her arms around him .I .dont .want .him .ttto come !Dudley yelled between huge pretend sobs .He always sp spoils everything !He shot Harry a nasty grin through the gap in his mothers arms .Just then the doorbell rang Oh good Lord theyre here !said Aunt Petunia frantically and a moment later Dudleys best friend Piers Polkiss walked in with his mother .Piers was a scrawny boy with a face like a rat .He was usually the one who held peoples arms behind their backs while Dudley hit them

.Dudley stopped pretending to cry at once .Half an hour later Harry who couldnt believe his luck was sitting in the back of the Dursleys car with Piers and Dudley on the way to the zoo for the first time in his life .His aunt and uncle hadnt been able to think of anything else to do with him but before theyd left Uncle Vernon had taken Harry aside .Im warning you he had said putting his large purple

right up close to Harrys Im warning you now boy any funny business anything at all and youll be in that cupboard from now until Christmas .Im not going to do anything said Harry honestly But Uncle Vernon didnt believe him .No one ever did .The problem was strange things often happened around Harry and it was just no good telling the Dursleys he didnt make them happen .Once Aunt Petunia tired of Harry coming back from the barbers looking as though he hadnt been

at all had taken a pair of kitchen scissors and cut his hair so short he was almost bald except for his bangs which she left to hide that horrible scar .Dudley had laughed himself silly at Harry who spent a sleepless night imagining school the next day where he was already laughed at for his baggy clothes and taped glasses .Next morning however he had gotten up to find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off .He had been given a week in his cupboard for this

though he had tried to explain that he couldnt explain how it had grown back so quickly .Another time Aunt Petunia had been trying to force him into a revolting old sweater of Dudleys brown with orange puff balls .The harder she tried to pull it over his head the smaller it seemed to become until finally it might have fitted a hand puppet but certainly wouldnt fit Harry .Aunt Petunia had decided it must have shrunk in the wash and to his great relief Harry wasnt punished .On the other hand hed gotten into terrible trouble for being found on the roof of the school kitchens .Dudleys gang had been chasing him as usual when as much to Harrys surprise as anyone elses there he was sitting on the

chimney .The Dursleys had received a very angry letter from Harrys headmistress telling them Harry had been climbing school buildings .But all hed tried to do as he shouted at Uncle Vernon through the locked door of his cupboard was jump behind the big trash cans outside the kitchen doors .Harry supposed that the wind must have caught him in midjump .But today nothing was going to go wrong .It was even worth being with Dudley and Piers to be spending the day somewhere that wasnt school his cupboard

Mrs Figgs cabbagesmelling living room .While he drove Uncle Vernon complained to Aunt Petunia .He liked to complain about things people at work Harry the council Harry the bank and Harry were just a few of his favorite subjects .This morning it was motorcycles . .roaring along like maniacs the young hoodlums he said as a motorcycle overtook them .I had a dream about a motorcycle said Harry remembering suddenly .It was flying .Uncle Vernon nearly crashed into the car in front .He turned right around in his seat and yelled at Harry his face like a gigantic beet with a mustache MOTORCYCLES DONT FLY !Dudley and Piers

sniggered .I know they dont said Harry .It was only a dream .But he wished he hadnt said anything .If there was one thing the Dursleys hated even more than his asking questions it was his talking about anything acting in a way it shouldnt no matter if it was in a dream or even a cartoon they seemed to think he might get dangerous ideas .It was a very sunny Saturday and the zoo was crowded with families .The Dursleys bought Dudley and Piers large chocolate ice creams

the entrance and then because the smiling lady in the van had asked Harry what he wanted before they could hurry him away they bought him a cheap lemon ice pop .It wasnt bad either Harry thought licking it as they watched a gorilla scratching its head who looked remarkably like Dudley except that it wasnt blond .Harry had the best morning hed had in a long time .He was careful to walk a little way apart from the Dursleys so that Dudley and Piers who were starting to get bored with the animals by lunchtime

wouldnt fall back on their favorite hobby of hitting him .They ate in the zoo restaurant and when Dudley had a tantrum because his knickerbocker glory didnt have enough ice cream on top Uncle Vernon bought him another one and Harry was allowed to finish the first .Harry felt afterward that he should have known it was all

good to last .After lunch they went to the reptile house .It was cool and dark in there with lit windows all along the walls .Behind the glass all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and slithering over bits of wood and stone .Dudley and Piers wanted to see huge poisonous cobras and thick mancrushing pythons .Dudley quickly found the largest snake in the place .It could have wrapped its body twice around Uncle Vernons car and crushed it into a trash can but at the moment it didnt look

in the mood .In fact it was fast asleep .Dudley stood with his nose pressed against the glass staring at the glistening brown coils .Make it move he whined at his father .Uncle Vernon tapped on the glass but the snake didnt budge .Do it again Dudley ordered .Uncle Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles but the snake just

on .This is boring Dudley moaned .He shuffled away .Harry moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake .He wouldnt have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long .It was worse than having a cupboard as a bedroom where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up at least he got to visit the rest of the house .The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes .Slowly very slowly it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harrys .It

winked .Harry stared .Then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching .They werent .He looked back at the snake and winked too .The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley then raised its eyes to the ceiling .It gave Harry a look that said quite plainly I get that all the time .I know Harry murmured through the glass though he wasnt sure the snake could hear him .It must be really annoying .The snake nodded vigorously .Where do you come from anyway ?Harry asked .The snake jabbed its tail at

little sign next to the glass .Harry peered at it .Boa Constrictor Brazil .Was it nice there ?The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on This specimen was bred in the zoo .Oh I see so youve never been to Brazil ?As the snake shook its head a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump .DUDLEY !MR Dursley !COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE !YOU WONT BELIEVE WHAT ITS DOING !Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he

could .Out of the way you he said punching Harry in the ribs .Caught by surprise Harry fell hard on the concrete floor .What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened one second Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass the next they had leapt back with howls of horror .Harry sat up and gasped the glass front of the boa

tank had vanished .The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly slithering out onto the floor .People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits .As the snake slid swiftly past him Harry could have sworn a low hissing voice said Brazil here I come . .Thanksss amigo .The keeper of the reptile house was in shock .But the glass he kept saying where did the glass go ?The zoo director himself made Aunt Petunia a cup of strong sweet tea while he apologized over and over again .Piers and Dudley could only gibber .As far as Harry had seen the snake hadnt done anything except snap playfully at their heels as it passed but by the time they were all back

in Uncle Vernons car Dudley was telling them how it had nearly bitten off his leg while Piers was swearing it had tried to squeeze him to death .But worst of all for Harry at least was Piers calming down enough to say Harry was talking to it werent you Harry ?Uncle Vernon waited until Piers was safely out of the

before starting on Harry .He was so angry he could hardly speak .He managed to say Go cupboard stay no meals before he collapsed into a chair and Aunt Petunia had to run and get him a large brandy .Harry lay in his dark cupboard much later wishing he had a watch .He didnt know what time it was and he couldnt be sure the Dursleys were asleep yet .Until they were he couldnt risk sneaking to the kitchen for some food .Hed lived with the Dursleys almost ten years ten miserable years as long as he

could remember ever since hed been a baby and his parents had died in that car crash .He couldnt remember being in the car when his parents had died .Sometimes when he strained his memory during long hours in his cupboard he came up with a strange vision a blinding flash of green light and a burning pain on his forehead .This he supposed was the crash though he couldnt

where all the green light came from .He couldnt remember his parents at all .His aunt and uncle never spoke about them and of course he was forbidden to ask questions .There were no photographs of them in the house .When he had been younger Harry had dreamed and dreamed of some unknown relation coming to take him away but it had never happened the Dursleys were his only family .Yet sometimes he thought or maybe hoped that strangers in the street seemed to know him .Very strange strangers they were too .A tiny man in a violet top hat had bowed

to him once while out shopping with Aunt Petunia and Dudley .After asking Harry furiously if he knew the man Aunt Petunia had rushed them out of the shop without buying anything .A wildlooking old woman dressed all in green had waved merrily at him once on a bus .A bald man in a very long purple coat had actually shaken his hand in the street the other

and then walked away without a word .The weirdest thing about all these people was the way they seemed to vanish the second Harry tried to get a closer look .At school Harry had no one .Everybody knew that Dudleys gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses and nobody liked to disagree with Dudleys gang .3 THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Harry his longestever punishment .By the time he was allowed out of his cupboard again the summer holidays had started and Dudley had already broken his new video camera crashed his remote control airplane

and first time out on his racing bike knocked down old Mrs Figg as she crossed Privet Drive on her crutches .Harry was glad school was over but there was no escaping Dudleys gang who visited the house every single day .Piers Dennis Malcolm and Gordon were all big and stupid but as Dudley was the biggest and stupidest of the lot he

the leader .The rest of them were all quite happy to join in Dudleys favorite sport Harry Hunting .This was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house wandering around and thinking about the end of the holidays where he could see a tiny ray of hope .When September came he would be going off to secondary school and for the first time in his life he wouldnt be with Dudley .Dudley had been accepted at Uncle Vernons old private school Smeltings .Piers Polkiss was going there too .Harry on the other hand was going to Stonewall High the local public school .Dudley thought this was very funny .They stuff peoples heads down the toilet

the first day at Stonewall he told Harry .Want to come upstairs and practice ?No thanks said Harry .The poor toilets never had anything as horrible as your head down it it might be sick .Then he ran before Dudley could work out what hed said .One day in July Aunt Petunia took Dudley to London to buy his Smeltings uniform

Harry at Mrs Figgs .Mrs Figg wasnt as bad as usual .It turned out shed broken her leg tripping over one of her cats and she didnt seem quite as fond of them as before .She let Harry watch television and gave him a bit of chocolate cake that tasted as though shed had it for several years .That evening Dudley paraded around the living room for the family in his brandnew uniform .Smeltings boys wore maroon tailcoats orange knickerbockers and flat straw hats called boaters .They also carried knobbly sticks used for hitting each other while the teachers werent looking .This was supposed to be

good training for later life .As he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life .Aunt Petunia burst into tears and said she couldnt believe it was her Ickle Dudleykins he looked so handsome and grownup .Harry didnt trust himself to speak .He thought two of his ribs might already have cracked from trying not to laugh .k k

There was a horrible smell in the kitchen the next morning when Harry went in for breakfast .It seemed to be coming from a large metal tub in the sink .He went to have a look .The tub was full of what looked like dirty rags swimming in gray water .Whats this ?he asked Aunt Petunia .Her lips tightened as they always did if he dared to ask a question .Your new school uniform she said .Harry looked in the bowl again .Oh he said I didnt realize it had to be so wet .Dont be stupid snapped Aunt Petunia .Im dyeing some of Dudleys old things gray for you .Itll

look just like everyone elses when Ive finished .Harry seriously doubted this but thought it best not to argue .He sat down at the table and tried not to think about how he was going to look on his first day at Stonewall High like he was wearing bits of old elephant skin probably .Dudley and Uncle Vernon came in both with wrinkled noses because of

smell from Harrys new uniform .Uncle Vernon opened his newspaper as usual and Dudley banged his Smelting stick which he carried everywhere on the table .They heard the click of the mail slot and flop of letters on the doormat .Get the mail Dudley said Uncle Vernon from behind his paper .Make Harry get it .Get the mail Harry .Make Dudley get it .Poke him with your Smelting stick Dudley .Harry dodged the Smelting stick and went to get the mail .Three things lay on

the doormat a postcard from Uncle Vernons sister Marge who was vacationing on the Isle of Wight a brown envelope that looked like a bill and a letter for Harry .Harry picked it up and stared at it his heart twanging like a giant elastic band .No one ever in his whole life had written to him .Who

?He had no friends no other relatives he didnt belong to the library so hed never even got rude notes asking for books back .Yet here it was a letter addressed so plainly there could be no mistake Mr H .Potter The Cupboard under the Stairs 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey The envelope was thick and heavy made of yellowish parchment and the address was written in emerald green ink .There was no stamp .Turning the envelope over his hand trembling Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms a lion an eagle a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter H .Hurry up boy

!shouted Uncle Vernon from the kitchen .What are you doing checking for letter bombs ?He chuckled at his own joke .Harry went back to the kitchen still staring at his letter .He handed Uncle Vernon the bill and the postcard sat down and slowly began to open the yellow envelope .Uncle Vernon ripped open the bill snorted in disgust and flipped over the postcard .Marges

he informed Aunt Petunia .Ate a funny whelk .Dad !said Dudley suddenly .Dad Harrys got something !Harry was on the point of unfolding his letter which was written on the same heavy parchment as the envelope when it was jerked sharply out of his hand by Uncle Vernon .Thats mine said Harry trying to snatch it back .Whod be writing to you ?sneered Uncle Vernon shaking the letter open with one hand and glancing at it .His face went from red to green faster than a set of traffic lights .And it didnt stop there .Within seconds

it was the grayish white of old porridge .PPPetunia !he gasped .Dudley tried to grab the letter to read it but Uncle Vernon held it high out of his reach .Aunt Petunia took it curiously and read the first line .For a moment it looked as though she might faint .She clutched her throat and made a choking noise .Vernon !Oh my goodness Vernon !They stared at each other seeming to have forgotten that Harry and Dudley were still in the room .Dudley wasnt used to being ignored

gave his father a sharp tap on the head with his Smelting stick .I want to read that letter he said loudly .I want to read it said Harry furiously as its mine .Get out both of you croaked Uncle Vernon stuffing the letter back inside its envelope .Harry didnt move .I WANT MY LETTER !he shouted .Let me see it !demanded Dudley .OUT !roared Uncle Vernon and he took both Harry and Dudley by the scruffs of their necks and

threw them into the hall slamming the kitchen door behind them .Harry and Dudley promptly had a furious but silent fight over who would listen at the keyhole Dudley won so Harry his glasses dangling from one ear lay flat on his stomach to listen at the crack between door and floor .Vernon Aunt Petunia was saying in a quivering voice look at the address how could they possibly know where he sleeps ?You dont think theyre watching the house ?Watching spying might be following us muttered Uncle Vernon wildly .But what should we do

?Should we write back ?Tell them we dont want Harry could see Uncle Vernons shiny black shoes pacing up and down the kitchen .No he said finally .No well ignore it .If they dont get an answer .Yes thats best .we wont do anything .But Im not having one in the house Petunia !Didnt we swear when we took him in wed stamp out that dangerous nonsense ?That evening when he got back from work Uncle Vernon did something hed never done before he visited Harry

in his cupboard .Wheres my letter ?said Harry the moment Uncle Vernon had squeezed through the door .Whos writing to me ?No one .It was addressed to you by mistake said Uncle Vernon shortly .I have burned it .It was not a mistake said Harry angrily it had my cupboard on it .SILENCE !yelled Uncle Vernon and a couple of spiders fell from the ceiling .He took a few deep breaths and

forced his face into a smile which looked quite painful .Er yes Harry about this cupboard .Your aunt and I have been thinking .youre really getting a bit big for it .we think it might be nice if you moved into Dudleys second bedroom .Why ?said Harry .Dont ask questions !snapped his uncle .Take this stuff upstairs now .The Dursleys house had four bedrooms one for Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia one for visitors usually Uncle Vernons sister Marge one where Dudley slept and one where Dudley kept all the toys and things that wouldnt fit into his first bedroom .It only took Harry one trip upstairs to move everything he owned from the cupboard to this room .He

sat down on the bed and stared around him .Nearly everything in here was broken .The monthold video camera was lying on top of a small working tank Dudley had once driven over the next door neighbors dog in the corner was Dudleys firstever television set which hed put his foot through when his favorite program had been canceled there was a large birdcage which had once held a parrot that Dudley had swapped at school for a real air rifle

was up on a shelf with the end all bent because Dudley had sat on it .Other shelves were full of books .They were the only things in the room that looked as though theyd never been touched .From downstairs came the sound of Dudley bawling at his mother I dont want him in there .I need that room .make him get out .Harry sighed and stretched out on the bed .Yesterday hed have given anything to be up here .Today hed rather be back in

his cupboard with that letter than up here without it .Next morning at breakfast everyone was rather quiet .Dudley was in shock .Hed screamed whacked his father with his Smelting stick been sick on purpose kicked his mother and thrown his tortoise through the greenhouse roof and he still didnt have

room back .Harry was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing hed opened the letter in the hall .Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia kept looking at each other darkly .When the mail arrived Uncle Vernon who seemed to be trying to be nice to Harry made Dudley go and get it .They heard him banging things with his Smelting stick all the way down the hall .Then he shouted Theres another one ! ‘Mr H .Potter The Smallest Bedroom 4 Privet Drive With a strangled cry Uncle Vernon leapt from his seat and ran down the hall Harry right behind him .Uncle Vernon had to wrestle Dudley to the ground to get the letter from him which was made difficult by the

fact that Harry had grabbed Uncle Vernon around the neck from behind .After a minute of confused fighting in which everyone got hit a lot by the Smelting stick Uncle Vernon straightened up gasping for breath with Harrys letter clutched in his hand .Go to your cupboard I mean your bedroom he wheezed at Harry .Dudley go just go .Harry walked round and round his new room .Someone knew he had moved out of his cupboard and they seemed to know he hadnt received his first letter .Surely

meant theyd try again ?And this time hed make sure they didnt fail .He had a plan .The repaired alarm clock rang at six oclock the next morning .Harry turned it off quickly and dressed silently .He mustnt wake the Dursleys .He stole downstairs without turning on any of the lights .He was going to wait for the postman on the corner of Privet Drive and get the letters for number four first .His heart hammered as he crept across the dark hall toward the front door aaRRRGH !Harry leapt into the air hed trodden on something big and squashy on the doormat something alive Lights clicked on upstairs and to his horror Harry realized that the big squashy something had been his uncles face .Uncle Vernon

had been lying at the foot of the front door in a sleeping bag clearly making sure that Harry didnt do exactly what hed been trying to do .He shouted at Harry for about half an hour and then told him to go and make a cup of tea .Harry shuffled miserably off into the kitchen

by the time he got back the mail had arrived right into Uncle Vernons lap .Harry could see three letters addressed in green ink .I want he began but Uncle Vernon was tearing the letters into pieces before his eyes .Uncle Vernon didnt go to work that day .He stayed at home and nailed up the mail slot .See he explained to Aunt Petunia through a mouthful of nails if they cant deliver them theyll just give up .Im not sure thatll work Vernon .Oh these peoples minds work in strange ways Petunia theyre not like you and me said Uncle Vernon trying to knock in a nail with

the piece of fruitcake Aunt Petunia had just brought him .On Friday no less than twelve letters arrived for Harry .As they couldnt go through the mail slot they had been pushed under the door slotted through the sides and a few even forced through the small window in the downstairs bathroom .Uncle Vernon stayed at home again .After burning all the letters he got out a hammer and nails

boarded up the cracks around the front and back doors so no one could go out .He hummed Tiptoe Through the Tulips as he worked and jumped at small noises .On Saturday things began to get out of hand .Twentyfour letters to Harry found their way into the house rolled up and hidden inside each of the two dozen eggs that their very confused milkman had handed Aunt Petunia through the living room window .While Uncle Vernon made furious telephone calls to the post office and the dairy trying to find someone to complain to Aunt Petunia shredded the letters in her food processor .Who on earth wants to talk to you this badly ?Dudley asked Harry in amazement .

•k k k On Sunday morning Uncle Vernon sat down at the breakfast table looking tired and rather ill but happy .No post on Sundays he reminded them cheerfully as he spread marmalade on his newspapers no damn letters today Something came whizzing down the kitchen chimney as he spoke and caught him

on the back of the head .Next moment thirty or forty letters came pelting out of the fireplace like bullets .The Dursleys ducked but Harry leapt into the air trying to catch one Out !OUT !Uncle Vernon seized Harry around the waist and threw him into the hall .When Aunt Petunia and Dudley had run out with their arms over their faces Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut .They could hear the letters still streaming into the room bouncing off the walls and floor .That does it said Uncle Vernon trying to speak calmly but pulling great tufts out of his mustache at the same time

.I want you all back here in five minutes ready to leave .Were going away .Just pack some clothes .No arguments !He looked so dangerous with half his mustache missing that no one dared argue .Ten minutes later they had wrenched their way through the boardedup doors and were in the car speeding toward the highway .Dudley was sniffling in the back seat his father had hit him round the head for holding them up while he tried to pack his television VCR and computer in his sports bag .They drove

they drove .Even Aunt Petunia didnt dare ask where they were going .Every now and then Uncle Vernon would take a sharp turn and drive in the opposite direction for a while .Shake em off .shake em off he would mutter whenever he did this .They didnt stop to eat or drink all day .By nightfall Dudley was howling .Hed never had such a bad day in his life .He was hungry hed missed five television programs hed wanted to see and hed never gone so long without blowing up an alien on his computer .Uncle Vernon stopped at last outside a gloomy looking hotel on the outskirts of a big city

.Dudley and Harry shared a room with twin beds and damp musty sheets .Dudley snored but Harry stayed awake sitting on the windowsill staring down at the lights of passing cars and wondering .They ate stale cornflakes and cold tinned tomatoes on toast for breakfast the next day .They had just finished when the owner of the hotel came over to their table

me but is one of you Mr H .Potter ?Only I got about an undred of these at the front desk .She held up a letter so they could read the green ink address Mr H .Potter Room 1 7 Railview Hotel Cokeworth Harry made a grab for the letter but Uncle Vernon knocked his hand out of the way .The woman stared .Ill take them said Uncle Vernon standing up quickly and following her from the dining room . •k k k Wouldnt it be better just to go home dear ?Aunt Petunia suggested timidly hours later but Uncle Vernon didnt seem to hear her .Exactly what he was looking for none of them knew .He drove them into the

middle of a forest got out looked around shook his head got back in the car and off they went again .The same thing happened in the middle of a plowed field halfway across a suspension bridge and at the top of a multilevel parking garage .Daddys gone mad hasnt he ?Dudley asked Aunt Petunia dully late that afternoon .Uncle Vernon had parked at the coast locked them all inside the car and disappeared .It started to rain .Great drops beat on the roof of the car .Dudley

.Its Monday he told his mother .The Great Humbertos on tonight .I want to stay somewhere with a television .Monday .This reminded Harry of something .If it was Monday and you could usually count on Dudley to know the days of the week because of television then tomorrow Tuesday was Harrys eleventh birthday .Of course his birthdays were never exactly fun last year the Dursleys had given him a coat hanger and a pair of Uncle Vernons old socks .Still you werent eleven every day .Uncle Vernon was back

and he was smiling .He was also carrying a long thin package and didnt answer Aunt Petunia when she asked what hed bought .Found the perfect place !he said .Come on !Everyone out !It was very cold outside the car .Uncle Vernon was pointing at what looked like a large rock way out at sea .Perched on top of the

was the most miserable little shack you could imagine .One thing was certain there was no television in there .Storm forecast for tonight !said Uncle Vernon gleefully clapping his hands together .And this gentlemans kindly agreed to lend us his boat !A toothless old man came ambling up to them pointing with a rather wicked grin at an old rowboat bobbing in the irongray water below them .Ive already got us some rations said Uncle Vernon so all aboard !It was freezing in the boat .Icy sea spray and rain crept down their necks and a chilly wind whipped their faces .After what seemed like hours they reached the rock where Uncle Vernon slipping and sliding led the

way to the brokendown house .The inside was horrible it smelled strongly of seaweed the wind whistled through the gaps in the wooden walls and the fireplace was damp and empty .There were only two rooms .Uncle Vernons rations turned out to be a bag of chips each and four bananas

tried to start a fire but the empty chip bags just smoked and shriveled up .Could do with some of those letters now eh ?he said cheerfully .He was in a very good mood .Obviously he thought nobody stood a chance of reaching them here in a storm to deliver mail .Harry privately agreed though the thought didnt cheer him up at all .As night fell the promised storm blew up around them .Spray from the high waves splattered the walls of the hut and a fierce wind rattled the filthy windows .Aunt Petunia found a few moldy blankets in the second room and made up a bed for Dudley on the motheaten sofa .She and Uncle Vernon went off to the lumpy bed next door and

Harry was left to find the softest bit of floor he could and to curl up under the thinnest most ragged blanket .The storm raged more and more ferociously as the night went on .Harry couldnt sleep .He shivered and turned over trying to get comfortable his stomach rumbling with hunger .Dudleys snores were drowned by the low rolls of thunder that started near midnight .The lighted dial of Dudleys watch which was dangling over the edge of the sofa on his fat wrist told Harry hed be eleven in ten minutes time .He lay and watched his birthday

nearer wondering if the Dursleys would remember at all wondering where the letter writer was now .Five minutes to go .Harry heard something creak outside .He hoped the roof wasnt going to fall in although he might be warmer if it did .Four minutes to go .Maybe the house in Privet Drive would be so full of letters when they got back that hed be able to steal one somehow .Three minutes to go .Was that the sea slapping hard on the rock like that ?And two minutes to go what was that funny

crunching noise ?Was the rock crumbling into the sea ?One minute to go and hed be eleven .Thirty seconds .twenty .ten .nine maybe hed wake Dudley up just to annoy him three .two .one .BOOM .The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright staring at the door .Someone was outside knocking to come in .THE KEEPER OF

KEYS BOOM .They knocked again .Dudley jerked awake .Wheres the cannon ?he said stupidly .There was a crash behind them and Uncle Vernon came skidding into the room .He was holding a rifle in his hands now they knew what had been in the long thin package he had brought with them .Whos there ?he shouted .I warn you Im armed !There was a pause .Then SMASH !The door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat on the floor .A giant of a man was standing in the doorway .His face was almost

completely hidden by a long shaggy mane of hair and a wild tangled beard but you could make out his eyes glinting like black beetles under all the hair .The giant squeezed his way into the hut stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling .He bent down picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame .The noise of the storm outside dropped a little .He turned to look at them all .Couldnt make us a cup o tea could yeh ?Its not been

easy journey .He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear .Budge up yeh great lump said the stranger .Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother who was crouching terrified behind Uncle Vernon .An heres Harry !said the giant .Harry looked up into the fierce wild shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile .Las time I saw you you was only a baby said the giant .Yeh look a lot like yer dad but yehve got yer moms eyes .Uncle Vernon made a funny rasping noise

.I demand that you leave at once sir !he said .You are breaking and entering !Ah shut up Dursley yeh great prune said the giant he reached over the back of the sofa jerked the gun out of Uncle Vernons hands bent it into a knot as easily as if it had been made of rubber and threw it into a corner of the room .Uncle Vernon made another funny noise like a mouse being trodden on .Anyway Harry said the giant turning his back

the Dursleys a very happy birthday to yeh .Got summat fer yeh here I mighta sat on it at some point but itll taste all right .From an inside pocket of his black overcoat he pulled a slightly squashed box .Harry opened it with trembling fingers .Inside was a large sticky chocolate cake with Happy Birthday Harry written on it in green icing .Harry looked up at the giant .He meant to say thank you but the words got lost

on the way to his mouth and what he said instead was Who are you ?The giant chuckled .True I havent introduced meself .Rubeus Hagrid Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts .He held out an enormous hand and shook Harrys whole arm .What about that tea then eh ?he said rubbing his hands together .Id not say no ter summat stronger if yehve got it mind .His eyes fell on the empty grate with the shriveled chip bags in it and he snorted .He bent down over the fireplace they couldnt

what he was doing but when he drew back a second later there was a roaring fire there .It filled the whole damp hut with flickering light and Harry felt the warmth wash over him as though hed sunk into a hot bath .The giant sat back down on the sofa which sagged under his weight and began taking all sorts of things out of the pockets of his coat a copper kettle a squashy package of sausages a poker a teapot several chipped mugs and a bottle of some amber liquid that he took a swig from before starting to make tea .Soon the hut was full of the sound and smell of sizzling sausage .Nobody said a thing while the giant was working but as he slid

the first six fat juicy slightly burnt sausages from the poker Dudley fidgeted a little .Uncle Vernon said sharply Dont touch anything he gives you Dudley .The giant chuckled darkly .Yer great puddin of a son don need fattenin anymore Dursley don worry .He passed the sausages to Harry who was so hungry he had never tasted anything so wonderful but he still couldnt take his eyes off the giant .Finally as nobody seemed about to explain anything he said Im sorry but I still dont really know who you are .The giant took a gulp

tea and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand .Call me Hagrid he said everyone does .An like I told yeh Im Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts yehll know all about Hogwarts o course .Er no said Harry .Hagrid looked shocked .Sorry Harry said quickly .Sorry ?barked Hagrid turning to stare at the Dursleys who shrank back into the shadows .Its them as should be sorry !I knew yeh werent gettin yer letters but I never thought yeh wouldnt even know abou Hogwarts fer cryin out loud !Did yeh never wonder where yer parents learned it all ?All what ?asked Harry .ALL WHAT ?Hagrid thundered .Now wait jus one second

!He had leapt to his feet .In his anger he seemed to fill the whole hut .The Dursleys were cowering against the wall .Do you mean ter tell me he growled at the Dursleys that this boy this boy !knows nothin abou about ANYTHING ?Harry thought this was going a bit far .He had been to school after all and his marks werent bad .I know some things he said .I can

know do math and stuff .But Hagrid simply waved his hand and said About our world I mean .Your world .My world .Yer parents world .What world ?Hagrid looked as if he was about to explode .DURSLEY !he boomed .Uncle Vernon who had gone very pale whispered something that sounded like Mimblewimble .Hagrid stared wildly at Harry .But yeh must know about yer mom and dad he said .I mean theyre famous .Youre famous .What ?My my mom and dad werent famous were they ?Yeh don know .yeh don know .Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair fixing Harry with a bewildered stare .Yeh don know what yeh are ?he said finally .Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice .Stop !he commanded .Stop right there sir !I forbid you to

tell the boy anything !A braver man than Vernon Dursley would have quailed under the furious look Hagrid now gave him when Hagrid spoke his every syllable trembled with rage .You never told him ?Never told him what was in the letter Dumbledore left fer him ?I was there !I saw Dumbledore leave it Dursley !An youve kept it from him all these years ?Kept what from me ?said Harry eagerly .STOP !I FORBID YOU !yelled Uncle Vernon in panic .Aunt Petunia gave a gasp

horror .Ah go boil yer heads both of yeh said Hagrid .Harry yer a wizard .There was silence inside the hut .Only the sea and the whistling wind could be heard .Im a what ?gasped Harry .A wizard o course said Hagrid sitting back down on the sofa which groaned and sank even lower an a thumpin goodun Id say once yehve been trained up a bit .With a mum an dad like yours what else would yeh be ?An I reckon its abou time yeh read yer letter .Harry stretched out his hand at last to take the yellowish envelope addressed in emerald green to Mr H .Potter The Floor HutontheRock The Sea .He pulled out the letter and read HOGWARTS SCHOOL oWITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY Headmaster ALBUS

DUMBLEDORE Order of Merlin First Class Grand Sore .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 by no later than July 31 .Yours sincerely Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress Questions exploded inside Harrys head like fireworks and he couldnt decide which to ask first .After a few minutes he stammered What does it mean they await my

?Gallopin Gorgons that reminds me said Hagrid clapping a hand to his forehead with enough force to knock over a cart horse and from yet another pocket inside his overcoat he pulled an owl a real live rather ruffledlooking owl a long quill and a roll of parchment .With his tongue between his teeth he scribbled a note that Harry could read upside down Dear Professor Dumbledore Given Harry his letter .Taking him to buy his things tomorrow .Weathers horrible .Hope youre well .Hagrid

Hagrid rolled up the note gave it to the owl which clamped it in its beak went to the door and threw the owl out into the storm .Then he came back and sat down as though this was as normal as talking on the telephone .Harry realized his mouth was open and closed it quickly .Where was I ?said Hagrid but at that moment Uncle Vernon still ashenfaced but looking very angry moved into the firelight .Hes not going he said .Hagrid grunted .Id like ter see a great Muggle like you stop him he said .A what ?said

interested .A Muggle said Hagrid its what we call nonmagic folk like them .An its your bad luck you grew up in a family o the biggest Muggles I ever laid eyes on .We swore when we took him in wed put a stop to that rubbish said Uncle Vernon swore wed stamp it out of him !Wizard indeed !You knew ?said Harry .You knew Im a a wizard ?Knew !shrieked Aunt Petunia suddenly .Knew Of course we knew !How could you not be my dratted sister being what she was ?Oh she got

a letter just like that and disappeared off to that that school and came home every vacation with her pockets full of frog spawn turning teacups into rats .I was the only one who saw her for what she was a freak !But for my mother and father oh no it was Lily this and Lily that they were proud of having a witch in the family !She stopped to draw a deep breath and then went ranting on .It seemed she had been wanting to say all this for years .Then she met that

at school and they left and got married and had you and of course I knew youd be just the same just as strange just as as abnormal and then if you please she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you !Harry had gone very white .As soon as he found his voice he said Blown up ?You told me they died in a car crash !CAR CRASH !roared Hagrid jumping up so angrily that the Dursleys scuttled back to their corner .How could a car crash

kill Lily an James Potter ?Its an outrage !A scandal !Harry Potter not knowin his own story when every kid in our world knows his name !But why ?What happened ?Harry asked urgently .The anger faded from Hagrids face .He looked suddenly anxious .I never expected this he said in a low worried voice .I had no idea when Dumbledore told me there might be trouble gettin hold of yeh how much yeh didnt know .Ah Harry I don know if Im the right person ter

yeh but someones gotta yeh cant go off ter Hogwarts not knowin .He threw a dirty look at the Dursleys .Well its best yeh know as much as I can tell yeh mind I cant tell yeh everythin its a great mystry parts of it .He sat down stared into the fire for a few seconds and then said It begins I suppose with with a person called but its incredible yeh dont know his name everyone in our world knows Who

?Well I don like sayin the name if I can help it .No one does .Why not ?Gulpin gargoyles Harry people are still scared .Blimey this is difficult .See there was this wizard who went .bad .As bad as you could go .Worse .Worse than worse .His name was .Hagrid gulped but no words came out .Could you write it down ?Harry suggested .Nah cant spell

.All right Voldemort .Hagrid shuddered .Don make me say it again .Anyway this this wizard about twenty years ago now started lookin fer followers .Got em too some were afraid some just wanted a bit o his power cause he was gettin himself power all right .Dark days Harry .Didnt know who ter trust didnt dare get friendly with strange wizards or witches .terrible things happened .He was takin over .Course some stood up to him an he killed em .Horribly .One o

the only safe places left was Hogwarts .Reckon Dumbledores the only one YouKnowWho was afraid of .Didnt dare try takin the school not jus then anyway .Now yer mum an dad were as good a witch an wizard as I ever knew .Head boy an girl at Hogwarts in their day !Suppose the mystry is why YouKnow Who never tried to get em on his side before

knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin ter do with the Dark Side .Maybe he thought he could persuade em .maybe he just wanted em outta the way .All anyone knows is he turned up in the village where you was all living on Halloween ten years ago .You was just a year old .He came ter yer house an an Hagrid suddenly pulled out a very dirty spotted handkerchief and blew his nose with a sound like a foghorn .Sorry he said

.But its that sad knew yer mum an dad an nicer people yeh couldnt find anyway YouKnowWho killed em .An then an this is the real mystry of the thing he tried to kill you too .Wanted ter make a clean job of it I suppose or maybe he just liked killin by then .But he couldnt do it

wondered how you got that mark on yer forehead ?That was no ordinary cut .Thats what yeh get when a powerful evil curse touches yeh took care of yer mum an dad an yer house even but it didnt work on you an thats why yer famous Harry .No one ever lived after he decided ter kill em no one except you an hed killed some o the best witches an wizards of the age the McKinnons the Bones the Prewetts an you was only a baby an you lived .Something very painful was going on in Harrys mind .As Hagrids story came to a close he saw again the blinding flash of green light more clearly than he had ever remembered it before and he

remembered something else for the first time in his life a high cold cruel laugh .Hagrid was watching him sadly .Took yeh from the ruined house myself on Dumbledores orders .Brought yeh ter this lot .Load of old tosh said Uncle Vernon .Harry jumped he had almost forgotten that the Dursleys were there .Uncle Vernon certainly seemed to have got back his courage .He was glaring at Hagrid and his fists were clenched

you listen here boy he snarled I accept theres something strange about you probably nothing a good beating wouldnt have cured and as for all this about your parents well they were weirdos no denying it and the worlds better off without them in my opinion asked for all they got getting mixed up with these wizarding types just what I expected always knew theyd come to a sticky end But at that moment Hagrid leapt from the sofa and drew a battered pink umbrella from inside his

coat .Pointing this at Uncle Vernon like a sword he said Im warning you Dursley Im warning you one more word .In danger of being speared on the end of an umbrella by a bearded giant Uncle Vernons courage failed again he flattened himself against the wall and fell silent

better said Hagrid breathing heavily and sitting back down on the sofa which this time sagged right down to the floor .Harry meanwhile still had questions to ask hundreds of them .But what happened to Vol sorry I mean You KnowWho ?Good question Harry .Disappeared .Vanished .Same night he tried ter kill you .Makes yeh even more famous .Thats the biggest mystry see .he was gettin more an more powerful whyd he go ?Some say he died .Codswallop in my opinion .Dunno if he had enough human left in him to die .Some say hes still out there bidin his time like but I don believe it .People who was on his side came back ter ours

.Some of em came outta kinda trances .Don reckon they couldve done if he was cornin back .Most of us reckon hes still out there somewhere but lost his powers .Too weak to carry on .Cause somethin about you finished him Harry .There was somethin goin on that night he hadnt counted on dunno what it was no one does but somethin about you stumped him all right .Hagrid looked at Harry with warmth and respect blazing in his eyes but Harry instead of feeling pleased and proud felt quite sure there had been a horrible mistake .A

?Him ?How could he possibly be ?Hed spent his life being clouted by Dudley and bullied by Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon if he was really a wizard why hadnt they been turned into warty toads every time theyd tried to lock him in his cupboard ?If hed once defeated the greatest sorcerer in the world how come Dudley had always been able to kick him around like a football ?Hagrid he said quietly I think you must have made a mistake .I dont think I can be a wizard .To his surprise Hagrid chuckled .Not a wizard eh ?Never made things happen when you was scared or angry ?Harry looked into the fire .Now he came to think about

it .every odd thing that had ever made his aunt and uncle furious with him had happened when he Harry had been upset or angry .chased by Dudleys gang he had somehow found himself out of their reach .dreading going to school with that ridiculous haircut hed managed to make it grow back .and the very last time Dudley had hit him hadnt he got his revenge without even realizing he was doing it ?Hadnt he set a boa constrictor on him ?Harry looked back at Hagrid smiling and saw

Hagrid was positively beaming at him .See ?said Hagrid .Harry Potter not a wizard you wait youll be right famous at Hogwarts .But Uncle Vernon wasnt going to give in without a fight .Havent I told you hes not going ?he hissed .Hes going to Stonewall High and hell be grateful for it .Ive read those letters and he needs all sorts of rubbish spell books and wands and If he wants ter go a great Muggle like you wont stop him growled Hagrid .Stop Lily an James Potters son goin ter Hogwarts

!Yer mad .His names been down ever since he was born .Hes off ter the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world .Seven years there and he wont know himself .Hell be with youngsters of his own sort fer a change an hell be under the greatest headmaster Hogwarts ever had Albus Dumbled I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS !yelled Uncle Vernon .But he had finally gone too far .Hagrid seized his umbrella and whirled it

his head NEVER he thundered INSULT ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IN FRONT OF ME !He brought the umbrella swishing down through the air to point at Dudley there was a flash of violet light a sound like a firecracker a sharp squeal and the next second Dudley was dancing on the spot with his hands clasped over his fat bottom howling in pain .When he turned his back on them Harry saw a curly pigs tail poking through a hole in his trousers .Uncle Vernon roared .Pulling Aunt Petunia and Dudley into the other room he cast one last terrified look

at Hagrid and slammed the door behind them .Hagrid looked down at his umbrella and stroked his beard .Shouldnta lost me temper he said ruefully but it didnt work anyway .Meant ter turn him into a pig but I suppose he was so much like a pig anyway there wasnt much left ter do .He cast a sideways look

Harry under his bushy eyebrows .Be grateful if yeh didnt mention that ter anyone at Hogwarts he said .Im er not supposed ter do magic strictly speakin .I was allowed ter do a bit ter follow yeh an get yer letters to yeh an stuff one o the reasons I was so keen ter take on the job Why arent you supposed to do magic ?asked Harry .Oh well I was at Hogwarts meself but I er got expelled ter tell yeh the truth .In me third year .They snapped me wand in half an everything .But Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper .Great man Dumbledore .Why were you expelled

?Its gettin late and weve got lots ter do tomorrow said Hagrid loudly .Gotta get up ter town get all yer books an that .He took off his thick black coat and threw it to Harry .You can kip under that he said .Don mind if it wriggles a bit I think I still got a couple o dormice in one o the pockets .DIAGON ALLY Harry woke early the next morning .Although he could tell it was daylight he kept his eyes shut tight .It was a dream he told himself firmly .I dreamed a giant called Hagrid came

tell me I was going to a school for wizards .When I open my eyes Ill be at home in my cupboard .There was suddenly a loud tapping noise .And theres Aunt Petunia knocking on the door Harry thought his heart sinking .But he still didnt open his eyes .It had been such a good dream .Tap .Tap .Tap .All right Harry mumbled Im getting up .He sat up and Hagrid s heavy coat fell off him .The hut was full of sunlight the storm

was over Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa and there was an owl rapping its claw on the window a newspaper held in its beak .Harry scrambled to his feet so happy he felt as though a large balloon was swelling inside him .He went straight to the window and jerked it open .The owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid who didnt wake up .The owl then fluttered

the floor and began to attack Hagrid s coat .Dont do that .Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way but it snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on savaging the coat .Hagrid !said Harry loudly .Theres an owl Pay him Hagrid grunted into the sofa .What ?He wants payin fer deliverin the paper .Look in the pockets .Hagrid s coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets bunches of keys slug pellets balls of string peppermint humbugs teabags .finally Harry pulled out a handful of strangelooking coins .Give him five Knuts said Hagrid sleepily .Knuts ?The little bronze ones .Harry counted out

five little bronze coins and the owl held out his leg so Harry could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it .Then he flew off through the open window .Hagrid yawned loudly sat up and stretched .Best be off Harry lots ter do today gotta get up ter London an buy all yer stuff fer school .Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them .He had just thought of something that made him feel as though the happy balloon inside him

got a puncture .Urn Hagrid ?Mm ?said Hagrid who was pulling on his huge boots .I havent got any money and you heard Uncle Vernon last night .he wont pay for me to go and learn magic .Dont worry about that said Hagrid standing up and scratching his head .Dyeh think yer parents didnt leave yeh anything ?But if their house was destroyed They didn keep their gold in the house boy !Nah first stop fer us is Gringotts .Wizards bank .Have a sausage theyre not bad cold an I wouldn say no teh a bit o yer birthday

cake neither .Wizards have banks ?Just the one .Gringotts .Run by goblins .Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding .Goblins ?Yeah so yehd be mad ter try an rob it Ill tell yeh that .Never mess with goblins Harry .Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep

cept maybe Hogwarts .As a matter o fact I gotta visit Gringotts anyway Fer Dumbledore .Hogwarts business .Hagrid drew himself up proudly .He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him .Fetchin you gettin things from Gringotts knows he can trust me see .Got everythin ?Come on then .Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock .The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight .The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there with a lot of water in

the bottom after the storm .How did you get here ?Harry asked looking around for another boat .Flew said Hagrid .Flew ?Yeah but well go back in this .Not spposed ter use magic now Ive got yeh .They settled down in the boat Harry still staring at Hagrid trying to imagine him flying .Seems a shame ter row though said Hagrid giving Harry another of his sideways looks .If I was ter er speed

up a bit would yeh mind not mentionin it at Hogwarts ?Of course not said Harry eager to see more magic .Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again tapped it twice on the side of the boat and they sped off toward land .Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts ?Harry asked .Spells enchantments said Hagrid unfolding his newspaper as he spoke .They say theres dragons guardin the highsecurity vaults .And then yeh gotta find yer way Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London see .Deep under the Underground .Yehd die of hunger tryin ter get out even if yeh did manage ter get yer hands on summat .Harry sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper the Daily Prophet

Harry had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone while they did this but it was very difficult hed never had so many questions in his life .Ministry o Magic messin things up as usual Hagrid muttered turning the page .Theres a Ministry of Magic ?Harry asked before he could

himself .Course said Hagrid .They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister o course but hed never leave Hogwarts so old Cornelius Fudge got the job .Bungler if ever there was one .So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning askin fer advice .But what does a Ministry of Magic do ?Well their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that theres still witches an wizards up an down the country .Why ?Why ?Blimey Harry everyone d be wantin magic solutions to their problems .Nah were best left alone .At this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbor wall .Hagrid folded up his newspaper and they clambered up the stone steps onto the street

.Passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to the station .Harry couldnt blame them .Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly See that Harry ?Things these Muggles dream up eh ?Hagrid said Harry panting a bit as he ran to keep up did you say there are dragons at Gringotts ?Well so they say said Hagrid .Crikey Id like a dragon .Youd like one ?Wanted one ever since I was a kid here

go .They had reached the station .There was a train to London in five minutes time .Hagrid who didnt understand Muggle money as he called it gave the bills to Harry so he could buy their tickets .People stared more than ever on the train .Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canaryyellow circus tent .Still got yer letter Harry ?he asked as he counted stitches .Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket .Good said Hagrid .Theres a list there of everything yeh

need .Harry unfolded a second piece of paper he hadnt noticed the night before and read HOGWARTS SCHOOL oWITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY UNIFORM Firstyear students will require 1 .Three sets of plain work robes black 2 .One plain pointed hat black for day wear 3 .One pair of protective gloves dragon hide or similar 4 .One winter cloak black silver fastenings Please note that all pupils clothes should carry name tags COURSE BOOKS All students should have a copy

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 SelfProtection 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 Can we buy all this in London ?Harry wondered aloud .If yeh know where to go said Hagrid .Harry had never been to London before .Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way .He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow .I dont know how the

manage without magic he said as they climbed a brokendown escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops .Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily all Harry had to do was keep close behind him .They passed book shops and music stores hamburger restaurants and cinemas but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand .This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people .Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them ?Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks ?Might this not all be some

huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up ?If Harry hadnt known that the Dursleys had no sense of humor he might have thought so yet somehow even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable Harry couldnt help trusting him .This is it said Hagrid coming to

halt the Leaky Cauldron .Its a famous place .It was a tiny grubbylooking pub .If Hagrid hadnt pointed it out Harry wouldnt have noticed it was there .The people hurrying by didnt glance at it .Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldnt see the Leaky Cauldron at all .In fact Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it .Before he could mention this Hagrid had steered him inside .For a famous

place it was very dark and shabby .A few old women were sitting in a corner drinking tiny glasses of sherry .One of them was smoking a long pipe .A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender who was quite bald and looked like a toothless

.The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in .Everyone seemed to know Hagrid they waved and smiled at him and the bartender reached for a glass saying The usual Hagrid ?Cant Tom Im on Hogwarts business said Hagrid clapping his great hand on Harrys shoulder and making Harrys knees buckle .Good Lord said the bartender peering at Harry is this can this be ?The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent .Bless my soul whispered the old bartender Harry Potter .what an honor .He hurried out from behind the bar rushed toward Harry and seized his hand tears in his eyes .Welcome

back Mr Potter welcome back .Harry didnt know what to say .Everyone was looking at him .The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out .Hagrid was beaming .Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron .Doris Crockford Mr Potter cant believe Im meeting you at last .So proud Mr Potter Im just

proud .Always wanted to shake your hand Im all of a flutter .Delighted Mr Potter just cant tell you Diggles the name Dedalus Diggle .Ive seen you before !said Harry as Dedalus Diggles top hat fell off in his excitement .You bowed to me once in a shop .He remembers !cried Dedalus Diggle looking around at everyone .Did you hear that ?He remembers me !Harry shook hands again and again Doris Crockford kept coming back for more .A pale young man made

his way forward very nervously .One of his eyes was twitching .Professor Quirrell !said Hagrid .Harry Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts .PPPotter stammered Professor Quirrell grasping Harrys hand ccant ttell you how ppleased I am to meet you .What sort of magic do you teach Professor Quirrell ?DDefense Against the DDDark Arts muttered Professor

as though hed rather not think about it .Nnot that you nneed it eh PPPotter ?He laughed nervously .Youll be ggetting all your equipment I suppose ?Ive ggot to ppick up a new b book on vampires mmyself .He looked terrified at the very thought .But the others wouldnt let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself .It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all .At last Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble .Must get on lots ter buy .Come on Harry .Doris Crockford shook Harrys hand one last time and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a small walled courtyard where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds .Hagrid grinned at Harry

.Told yeh didnt I ?Told yeh you was famous .Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin ter meet yeh mind you hes usually tremblin .Is he always that nervous ?Oh yeah .Poor bloke .Brilliant mind .He was fine while he was studyin outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience .They say he met vampires in the Black Forest and there was a nasty bit o trouble with a hag never been the same since .Scared of the students

of his own subject now wheres me umbrella ?Vampires ?Hags ?Harrys head was swimming .Hagrid meanwhile was counting bricks in the wall above the trash can .Three up .two across .he muttered .Right stand back Harry .He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella .The brick he had touched quivered it wriggled in the middle a small hole appeared it grew wider and wider a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for

Hagrid an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight .Welcome said Hagrid to Diagon Alley .He grinned at Harrys amazement .They stepped through the archway .Harry looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall .The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop .Cauldrons All Sizes Copper Brass Pewter Silver SelfStirring Collapsible said a sign hanging over them .Yeah youll be needin one said Hagrid but we gotta get yer money first .Harry wished he had about eight more eyes