trigger warning ily guys enjoy!
Y/n
I screamed as my vision began to get blurry. I was trembling as I ran up the stairs, quickly shoving myself into my room and locking the door. My breathing quickened as I slid down the door and started crying my eyes out.
I brought my knees to my chest and screamed again as I heard my stepmother banging on the door and yelling. I just crawled away from the door and leaned against my extremely ratty mattress lying on the floor. I cried as I pressed my hands over my ears to block out the crashing from downstairs, my stepmother got angry that she didn't get to me in time before I slipped away.
The tears just kept slipping down my face as I rolled onto the mattress and cried into what was supposed to be my pillow. "Oh, It's my birthday tomorrow.. I completely forgot..." I thought. I'm turning 11, not that it matters anyway.
I sat up as the crashing died down and I turned to stare at my hands in dismay. I stood and walked to the window, wiping my tearstained face wishing for all of this to be over. I sat on the windowsill and just waited for some mystical fairytale miracle I knew was never going to happen, to appear and whisk me away to a land where I would be safe and live normally.
I have countless minor scars and cuts coming from my stepmother's wrath directed to me. My father pretends I don't exist to try and feel better about my mother being gone, giving his new wife full reign of the house.
My room is small, I don't have many personal belongings, a few clothes of mine and books I've managed to swipe from my father's study. I feel sore. My limbs cry for relief after the dreadful days I'm always forced to deal with, running and dodging my stepmother's abuse. I've learned to take things from around the house that would benefit me, like some of my stepmother's nice jewelry and perfumes. It's rare that she remembers some of the things I take since she's always wanting more and more from my father, but when she does? It turns foul quickly.
As I was watching the public outside go about their evenings, I slowly fell asleep, my body curled against the windowsill.
***
I woke to the soft tapping of something on my window. I shifted out of the way and opened the window, sleepily rubbing my eyes.
I looked out the window and squinted as something flew over my head and into my room. I gasped and quickly turned around to see an owl perched on the little table in the corner of my room.
I tilted my head as I approached the owl. It just chirped and dropped a letter on the table. It chirped again as I picked up the letter, and flew out the window.
I flipped it over and saw that it was addressed to me.
Ms. Y/n L/n
Storage loft
16 Clapham St
Silversbury, Brixton
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What? How does this letter know where I live?" I flipped it to the side with the seal to see a nicely imprinted stamp of some sort of crest.
My curiosity, getting the better of me, told me to open it and check it out. Before I opened the letter, I went and checked the time. "July 30th, half past 2... It's my birthday." I smiled to myself and grabbed the letter, softly humming the 'Happy Birthday' tune under my breath.
I sat on my mattress and started to carefully open the letter, in order to not rip it.
After a few minutes of trying to open the letter, I just resorted to ripping it. I opened it, and pulled out a couple of slips of parchment paper.
My eyes widened as I read the letter over and over. It was an invitation to a school called Hogwarts! A school for Witchcraft and Wizardry? I've never heard of such a thing!
I'm completely speechless as I run to get my old case and start packing. I grabbed my clothing rack, as I only had a few pieces, and stuffed them inside. I grabbed the most important book I owned, the journal my mother had left me, and placed it inside as well. I quickly slipped on my shoes and snatched up the letter. "Fate has given me what I've always wanted.. a new home..!" I quickly open my window and look around.
"Damn..." I muttered when I saw the drop to the next window. I shrugged and built up the courage to go down. I grabbed my case and tossed it in the neighbor's flower bush. I swung my leg over the side and held on to the windowsill as I slipped slowly down the side of the brick wall, my foot catching on the next window below.
I sighed, relieved that I was tall enough to reach and continued to climb further down. As my feet touched solid ground, I quickly took off making sure to properly flick off the house as I ran down the dimly lit street.
After a few minutes of running, I realized that I needed somewhere to actually go. I put my case down onto the pavement and sat next to it, still clutching the letter. I reread one of the papers again. King's Cross Station. I wonder where I can find that?
I stood again as I gathered enough strength to pick up my case and keep walking down the street.
***
I leaned against the wall as I noticed an abnormally large man with a boy around my age walk into a bar looking place.
Curious, I decided to follow them since I have nothing else to lose.
I was a few feet behind them so it won't seem like I'm following them. I approached the door and I saw that the sign lit up saying the Leaky Cauldron. I smiled a bit and walked inside to see bunches of people seated inside and, others with odd looking sticks in hand.
I smiled at the sight, although I did notice that the raven-haired boy whispered to the man next to him and looked back at me, pointing slightly. I wonder what they were saying?
Harry
I'm standing with Hagrid at this bar place, as this girl walks in looking like she's just been through hell. I try to catch her eye, but she doesn't seem to notice, as she's gazing around the place sort of awe-struck.
I tap Hagrid's arm and sort of whisper, "Hey, Hagrid?" He turns to me and tilts his head while scratching his beard, "Wha is it, 'arry?" I glance back, to make sure she's still there and say, "There's a girl over by the front," I point at her with my thumb and continue, "she looks a bit troubled. Do you think we could help her?"
Hagrid glances back and looks at her while shrugging. "If she's 'ere then tha means she could also be a wizard.... She migh' need our 'elp, then." He starts walking and waves me over. I try walking as fast as I can to catch up with him.
Y/n
I see the massive man and the boy start to make their way over to me and I start to back up, a bit frantic. Maybe I'm not allowed here? My mind stirs with the thought of being thrown out again just as the boy holds out his hand.
"Don't be alarmed! We're just here to help you. You looked lost." The boy leaves his arm outstretched, waiting for me. The large man smiles as I hesitantly shake the raven-haired boy's hand, "Harry. Harry Potter. What's your name?" He smiled. Seeing their smiles made me feel warm and safe, such an unfamiliar feeling.
The large man spoke next with a gruff voice, "'Agrid. Me name's Rubeus 'Agrid, Nice to meet yer." He held out his hand and I slowly nodded and shook it.
"Uh, Y/n L/n..." I spoke softly. Hagrid nodded once and said, "Well, If yer 'ere then yer a wizard too, I suppose?" I shrug and say, "I think so...?"
Harry smiled and asked Hagrid, "Maybe we should take her with us, then?" Hagrid complied and started to walk to the back, Harry and I followed behind him.
Harry turns to me and asks, "What's wrong? You look scared." I shook my head and faked a smile, "It's fine-" Harry puts his hands up and cuts me off, "Oh, it's alright if you don't tell me. Just know I'm willing to listen, alright?" I smiled and continued to follow Hagrid to the back.
He opened a creepy looking door leading to a brick wall outside. Harry and I look terribly confused and he asks, "What're we doing here?" Hagrid laughs and taps some bricks with the end of his pink umbrella and then some of the bricks begin to move! It becomes a walkway, revealing an entirely secluded area bustling with people and things flying around! I look around in awe and start to walk in, Harry close behind me. Hagrid smiles and looks up.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I might be updating on Thursday so keep an eye out! I'm extremely excited about this book just because of all the action and description I'm thinking of right now... Also! I have a question that I want you guys to answer in the comments. Should I make one book for every Harry Potter school year? Please let me know! I've been trying to consider it but since I have such a busy schedule, I'll have to set some time off for writing.
Word count: 1638
Written Feb 26, 2019
Edited March 1, 2025 (I don't think I'm gonna change the authors notes at the end cause nostalgia LMAO)