Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the sole property of JK Rowling

Chapter 1: A Fateful Gift

Harry Potter was a wizard although he didn't know it yet. All he knew was that he hated his life. At that moment he was hiding out in the school library – his cousin Dudley had threatened to beat him up yet again for doing better than him in a maths test. He jumped as the librarian came up to him.

"Is there something I can help you find?"

It was only then that Harry realized that this was not Mrs. Blenkinsop, the usual librarian. Mrs. Blenkinsop was short, wore tweeds, and smelt like dirty socks. The librarian standing in front of Harry was tall, redheaded, very beautiful, and smelt like roses. But only being ten, Harry didn't really notice how beautiful the woman was or that she smelt nice. Instead he was simply afraid of being in trouble.

"Um, no, Miss. I, um, I…"

The woman smiled kindly at Harry. "Perhaps I could help you find a book to read while you're in here?"

"I don't think I'd better do that," Harry said, well aware that Dudley would probably find it and take it, and Harry would get into trouble with a capital 'T'.

"Why not?"

Harry stood stock still, not sure of what to say. Then his eyes widened when the woman spoke to him again.

"Is it because you're afraid that Dudley will take the book?"

"How…?"

"I have eyes, Harry Potter," the woman said, and she held out her hand. "I'm Lachesis."

A polite boy, Harry shook the woman's hand. "Um, hello."

"So, Harry," Lachesis said as she placed a gentle hand on Harry's sweater clad shoulder, hiding her dismay at how bony how he felt. "How about if I gave you a book to read that your cousin wouldn't even notice?"

"I don't understand," Harry said in complete confusion.

Lachesis reached up to the top shelf of the bookcase next to which they were standing and withdrew a book. "This is for you."

Harry took the book and looked at the title – 'Mathematics for Beginners'. He then opened it to discover simple maths problems. "But I can already do these sums."

"I know," Lachesis said as she leant against a table that Harry could have sworn hadn't been there a moment ago. "But when you get this book home it won't look the same inside, at least to you anyway."

Harry suddenly felt frightened. "I, er, have to go."

Lachesis suspected that she had unnerved Harry. "I'm not going to hurt you, Harry. I just want you to take the book. You don't have to bring it back."

"But I'll get into trouble if I don't."

"Open it up at the front."

As Harry did, he noticed that there was no page to be stamped with the date he had withdrawn the book from the library. "Whose book is this?"

"It's yours, Harry," Lachesis said as she straightened up. "Now, I'll see you next June in Hogwarts' Library."

"Where?" Harry asked in confusion.

"You'll see," Lachesis said. "Now put the book in your bag."

Still feeling a little scared and not really knowing what else to do, Harry put the book in the battered rucksack he had with him. When he looked up, the woman was gone as was the table. Harry fled.

Note: I came up with this idea after reading about the Fates in a story by NettieT and so I decided to pinch her idea of including them in the HP universe but I'm putting them to a very different use. NettieT has also kindly agreed to be my sounding board for this.