July 24th, 1991

Harry awoke with a start from the long and frightening dream, or maybe it was a nightmare. The funny thing was, now that Harry thought about it, the events in the dream began on this very day.

If the dream was true Harry would receive a letter today. A letter he would not be allowed to open. His Uncle and Aunt would get these looks on their faces and Harry and Dudley would be told to leave the room. In the dream the letter turned out to be an acceptance letter to a special school for wizards and witches.

Harry lay in his camp bed with a pounding headache for what seemed like hours. He was about to fall back asleep when his aunt pounded on his door.

“Up,” she said, “get up.”

The door was unlocked and Harry slowly started to roll out of bed. Harry left his room and headed towards the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen Harry was hit with the most putrid odour he had ever smelled.

Harry couldn’t help but ask, “What is that god awful smell?”

Aunt Petunia wrinkled her nose and said, “It’s your new school uniform for when you start at Stonewall.”

“Oh,” was all Harry could say. In the back of his mind he couldn’t help but think of how similar this conversation had been to the one he had with her in his dream, too similar.

Harry helped Petunia cook the breakfast and was helping himself to a slice of toast when he heard the mail come through the slot.

“Dudley, get the mail,” Uncle Vernon said to his spoilt son.

Dudley grumbled, “Make Harry get it.”

“Get the mail, Harry.” Vernon said and went back to his breakfast.

Harry was about to argue about having to do something his cousin was asked, when he remembered the dream. He silently stood up and collected the mail, just as in the dream three things lay on the mat, a postcard from Vernon’s sister Marge, a brown envelope that look a lot like a bill, and the letter for Harry.

He stood there looking at the letter for the longest time. Could it be true, was he wizard? Harry made to open the envelope when Vernon called from the kitchen. Making a split second decision Harry stuffed the letter for him in his pocket to read at a later time.

Walking into the kitchen Harry handed his uncle the postcard and bill and went back to his toast. After breakfast his uncle headed to work and Aunt Petunia presented Harry with a list of chores for him to finish before the days end. Harry was to mow the lawn, paint the fence, and wash the drive while Dudley did whatever he pleased.

Harry started on the lawn first, knowing if he did either of the other tasks first he would end up redoing them once he did mow the lawn. The lawn took Harry an hour and a half, after he got a drink of water he started on the fence.

By the time Harry finished the fence it was past lunch and Harry knew he wouldn’t be getting any food until supper. Knowing the day was half over Harry started on the easiest of his tasks, washing the drive.

While the easiest to complete he still had to be careful not to get any water on the newly painted fence, any imperfection and there would be no supper for Harry. It was a quarter after two when he finished. Harry went inside to discover his aunt had climbed into the shower. Eager to get something to eat Harry rushed into the kitchen and grabbed some food out of the cooler.

Harry had just finished washing up the dishes when his aunt walked into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” she asked looking around the kitchen to see if anything was missing.

“Washing up,” Harry answered quickly. “I’m finished with my chores and was wondering if I could go to the park.”

Petunia thought about of for a minute before looking out the kitchen window at the freshly cut lawn. “As long as all of your work is done it’s fine.”

On his way out of the house Harry grabbed a pencil and a piece of writing paper before making his way to the park.

At the park Harry sat down at one of the picnic tables near the edge of the woods and pulled out his letter.

Mr. H. Potter

The Cupboard under the Stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

Harry ran his fingers over the elegant emerald-green ink in wonder before turning the letter over and carefully opening the heavy envelope. Inside Harry found his dream to becoming true before his very eyes.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no latter than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry read through the short note many times trying to absorb every word on the page. A few minutes passed when Harry realized he didn’t know how to let them know that he would like to go. He had no idea what the line, ‘We await your owl’ could possibly mean.

“My owl?” Harry questioned out loud right before he heard a hoot and something land in front of him on the table.

Harry looked up from the letter to see a magnificent screech owl on the table in front of him. The owl looked at Harry and held out its leg and looked at the writing paper on the table. Harry looked between the owl and the paper before he finally caught on. The owl would take his acceptance to Minerva McGonagall. Harry grabbed the paper and pencil and began to write.

Dear Minerva McGonagall,

My name is Harry Potter and I have received an acceptance letter to your school, Hogwarts. I would like to inform you that I would be delighted to attend for this coming school year. However, I am unaware of how to inform my relatives of the situation. We have never been on the greatest of terms and I am a bit uneasy telling them such a thing alone.

I also don’t know where, when, or even how I am to get all of the required books and equipment for this coming term. If you would kindly send someone to help me inform my relatives and take me to get my school supplies, it would be greatly appreciated. On a final note I am also unsure of how I am to pay for the schooling itself and all of the supplies.

Yours sincerely,

Harry James Potter

4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey