Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.

Harry Slithers-in; Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 1: Missing Letters

Harry's first month back on Privet Drive after completing his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry started off badly. He had barely returned to the house before Uncle Vernon had taken his trunk, broomstick and all other wizarding paraphernalia and locked them in the cupboard under the stairs. When Harry had complained he was told to shut up and do as he was told. He was allowed to keep Hedwig in his room but her cage was locked and Uncle Vernon had the key.

To add to Harry's problems none of his friends had written to him. Dudley had noticed this and had begun taunting Harry saying he had no friends at that freak school anyway. In response Harry had begun threatening to use magic on Dudley. He doubted this would be very effective since Aunt Petunia probably knew he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school but Dudley did seem genuinely frightened so Harry made sure to keep doing it simply because it was fun.

Things changed dramatically, however, on the 20th of July. It was early evening when the phone rang. Vernon went to answer it. "Vernon Dursley here," he said into the receiver. There was a pause while the other person replied then Vernon said, "What do you mean? No-one has reported us to child welfare before. I assure you, madam, that our son is being perfectly well looked after." Next moment Vernon's expression changed from anger to shock. He put the phone down.

"Boy," he shouted at Harry after returning to the lounge and closing the door. "You tell that woman on the phone you are completely happy living here and you have no concerns about how we treat you."

Harry picked up the phone. "Hello?" he asked.

"Hello, Harry. Janet Davis here. Tracey was wondering why you haven't replied to her letters yet. Is there something wrong?"

"I haven't received any letters from anyone," Harry replied.

"Really?" Mrs. Davis replied. "I know Tracey has sent you a couple of letters and I'm quite certain others have written to you as well. I think it best if I come and visit you in person tomorrow. I will arrive at about 7pm and I want to speak to both you and your uncle and aunt when I arrive. Stealing someone's mail is a serious offence in both the muggle and wizarding worlds so it will need to be investigated. Tell your uncle and aunt I will be paying them a visit tomorrow evening and that we will discuss your welfare when I arrive. In the meantime I will contact a few witches and wizards to set up a trap to catch the thief. Goodbye for now Harry and I will see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye ma'am." Harry hung up the phone.

When Harry returned to the lounge Vernon immediately said, "Did you do what I told you to do?"

"I tried to but she didn't believe me. She will be arriving here tomorrow at 7pm and she wants to speak to both of you as well as to me while she is here," Harry said.

"Some nosey parker from child welfare is coming here? Tomorrow?" Petunia seemed furious.

"That's what she said," Harry replied. All three Dursleys looked less than happy at the prospect. For his part he kept a straight face before retiring to his room before any of the Dursleys could think up a plan to avoid the visit.

The next day Harry noticed the Dursleys were being especially nice to him. Vernon took Dudley for a trip to London while Petunia invited Harry to join her on a trip to the local shops where she allowed him to choose anything he wanted providing the price was below 10 pounds. He chose a board game that cost 9.95 pounds which he had wanted for quite some time. Next Petunia took him a fast food restaurant and bought him a large meal consisting of a burger, fries and milkshake. Harry knew exactly what she was trying to do and promised he would tell the 'social worker' that he was being treated reasonably well and that he had no concerns about how his aunt and uncle were treating him.

That evening Harry dressed in some of the clothes he had received for Christmas and waited in the lounge with the Dursleys. He noted that Petunia had done all the cooking and had then washed the dishes. Indeed the only chores he had been set that day were the regular ones which any boy his age would routinely be asked to do.

Shortly before Mrs. Davis was due to arrive Vernon said, "Remember, boy, if you do what we ask you to do we will allow that bird of yours out of its cage. If you don't then that bird and its cage get taken to an animal rescue centre and you'll never see it again."

"Yes sir," Harry replied, trying not to laugh.

At precisely 7pm the doorbell rang. "Answer the door please, Harry," Vernon said in an unnaturally nice voice. Harry went to the front door and opened it.

"Hello, Harry," Mrs. Davis said.

"Good evening Mrs. Davis, please come in," he replied politely.

Harry led Mrs. Davis to the lounge. "Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, I believe you know Mrs. Janet Davis."

"But you said you worked for child welfare," Vernon said angrily.

"You," screeched Petunia. "You lied to us."

"No I didn't," Mrs. Davis replied. "I do work for the wizarding equivalent of child welfare so what I told you was entirely true. Just because you interpreted what I said wrongly doesn't mean I didn't tell the truth. Harry, how have they been treating you?"

"Not too badly. Certainly things have been better this year than last year, although they won't let me let Hedwig out of her cage."

"Is that true?" Mrs. Davis asked the Dursleys.

"Well, in a manner of speaking, it might be true," Vernon spluttered.

"So clearly we have an animal welfare problem here at least. That will have to change, I will contact a colleague of mine to check up on that. Harry, as regards your mail, a Ministry sponsored enquiry is now being undertaken. We expect to have located the culprit within a couple of days and, once we do, all mail we can recover will be forwarded to you. At the very least the matter should be resolved by your birthday. Tracey has bought you a present, incidentally, but we felt it would be safer in the circumstances if we did not post it. It will be hand delivered next week."

"Thank you, Mrs Davis," Harry replied. He decided not to add that this would in fact be his first ever genuine birthday present. He would, however, remember to point this out to the Dursleys once it had arrived.

After Mrs. Davis left the Dursleys rounded on Harry. "Boy," Vernon began, "You knew all along who she was, didn't you? And yet you still made us look like fools in front of her. From now on you have extra chores to do."

"She will be back next week, remember," Harry said. "Either her or another representative of the Ministry of Magic. What would happen if I told them how you usually treat me? I daresay they would be less than impressed."

"Go to your room, let that ruddy owl out but you stay there until morning," Vernon said. Harry left.

Three days before Harry's birthday the doorbell rang early in the evening. Unsure as to who it was Vernon answered the door, deciding to personally handle it just in case it was another child or animal welfare person. "Good evening," the woman began. "I am Narcissa Malfoy; I would like to speak to Harry Potter, please."

Harry, Petunia and Dudley could hear from the lounge what was being said. Harry immediately went into the hallway and greeted their guest. On the doorstep was a blonde woman of average height and build who had a sour expression on her face. Harry guessed this might be Draco's mother but couldn't understand why she was here. As he approached the door he said, "I'm Harry, ma'am."

Vernon stomped back into the lounge leaving Harry alone with Mrs. Malfoy. "Mr. Potter, a pleasure to meet you," she began. "I am Draco's mother and I am here in response to an important matter."

"Please, come in," Harry replied. He led Mrs. Malfoy into the lounge where all three Dursleys sat, warily watching their visitor.

"I shall not stay long," Mrs. Malfoy said to the Dursleys. "Mr. Potter, it is with deep regret that I must inform you it was a member of my household who has been stealing your mail. One of the family servants took it upon himself to prevent you receiving what was rightfully yours. I assure you this servant has been appropriately punished. On behalf of my husband, Lucius, and myself I wish to present a formal apology for this behaviour and to return to you what is rightfully yours." Mrs. Malfoy handed Harry a thick stack of letters bound together with twine.

Harry accepted the bundle. On top was a letter from the Malfoys and, below it, there were nearly a dozen more letters. "Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry replied. "I accept your graceful apology and now consider the matter closed."

"Thank you, Mr. Potter," she replied. "I am aware your birthday is coming up and I should like to extend to you an invitation to spend a couple of weeks at Malfoy Manor starting on your birthday. Draco would like to catch up with you as would the Davis'. Perhaps we could arrange for you to visit with them after your stay at the Manor as I doubt you would be all that keen to remain here?"

"Thank you, yes, that would be good," Harry replied.

"I shall collect you around 5pm on the 31st of July, then," Mrs. Malfoy said before turning toward the door. Harry escorted her outside and was going to ask how she had arrived when she suddenly vanished with a loud pop.

Harry returned to the house where Vernon stopped him. "What did that woman mean by household servants?" he demanded.

"The Malfoys are one of the richest families in Britain. They are very much wizarding nobility and are held in high regard by most people in that world," Harry said. Clearly Vernon was impressed by the fact that such a high-born woman would personally visit Harry over such a matter. Harry suspected he might be trying to find some way of accessing all that wealth and prestige for himself.

"So, we will have a very wealthy visitor in a few days' time; the same day as I hope to close a major business deal," Vernon said, a gleam in his eye.

"I doubt Mrs. Malfoy would want to spend any more time than is necessary in a place like this," Harry said. "She is, after all, a witch."

Vernon started. "Go to your room," he snapped.

In his room Harry went through the letters he had received. The first one was a written apology and an invitation to stay from the Malfoys. Harry had already accepted their invitation so he put that letter aside. There were two letters from Tracey. The first was a general letter talking about everyday things while the second was a request for an explanation as to why he hadn't replied to the first one. He would write to Tracey to explain exactly what had happened but that would have to wait.

Another letter he received was from Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch captain. It required an urgent reply since it was about a meeting for the team that was supposed to be happening that evening and which Harry wouldn't be able to attend.

After writing that reply and sending it off with Hedwig Harry read through the remainder of the letters. Draco, Daphne, Theo and Blaise had all written as had Hermione Granger while even Ron Weasley had sent him a letter. He prioritised who he needed to send replies to meaning Hedwig would be delivering a lot of mail over the next few days. He would send his letter to Hermione by muggle post, however, since she had included her address in the letter.