Prologue Part 1

Harry James Potter

Dear Diary,

Today is July 30th, 1990. It's official today is our first day in this new house. Sirius was more excited about it than I was with the move; not that I didn't want to move. This was for him; it's good, he needed this. He seemed a little depressed with Grimmauld Place. It was painful seeing him act all gloomy in that house. It was not like his house gave him good memories to begin with. His family was never the easiest to grow up with. They were sympathizers of pureblood ideologies and tried to indoctrinate him at a young age. My parents were the ones to change his life, slowly but surely it became a haven for them to grow their relationship, to house his Godson; and now that my parents were gone so to were the vestiges of anything positive Grimmauld Place had. It's nothing more than a ghost now, haunting him every single day for ten long years. I didn't know what to do I just missed the Sirius who used to be a lot more cheerful; I missed my Godfather. So I suggested a move for him, it was the only thing I could think of. He didn't like it at first however; the timing was perfect, he had just been promoted at Ministry and was going to receive a raise. He began to see the move as a very interesting adventure. Kreacher, however, simply would not move. He was bound to the house or to the family that once resided in it. We had no choice but to free him from our services. Sirius told me he gave Kreacher a new home. About time too, Kreacher was worse than Sirius in that house. We moved to a location in Surrey, England; a small quiet location called Privet Drive in a city called Little Whinging. It's not a very exciting area; however the people here are nice. Perhaps it's a good change of scenery and community for Sirius. The house itself is nice enough to accommodate the both of us. The move itself was easy; with magic it always is. I almost felt sorry for the neighbours across from us who appeared to be moving in as well. I pitied their need to use mundane methods like a moving truck and two movers. All of this made me think about Hogwarts. Sirius told me that I had to turn 11 before I get my letter to Hogwarts. He told me it was guaranteed that I would receive a letter from them since both my parents were magical. If my parents were so magical then how did a simple car accident take their life? I don't know what drove me to ask that stupid question. This was supposed to be a new start and my big mouth had to bring back the past. As expected, Sirius couldn't answer the damning question. He remained silent afterwards and I cursed myself for being so idiotic. I know he'll forgive me for that outburst, even though I don't deserve it. Anyways I should go and make my room, and then brace myself for midnight; after all I turn 11 tomorrow.

Hermione Jean Granger

August 1st, 1990

Dear Diary,

We finally got around to unpacking all the boxes. It only took us a couple of days but we managed. Thank goodness that the movers did all the heavy lifting for us. Mum and I would never have been able to move those damn couches by ourselves. I'm glad she found a clinic in the quiet community of Privet Drive. She could really use the change of scenery. The old house was just one big reminder of what we lost. I can still remember the night I had awoken to the loud sobs emanating from their bedroom. Mother's crying never did stop; it did get quiet in time, at least enough for me to sleep uninterrupted. The first couple of nights after the incident were the worst; at least that's what I thought. I couldn't have been more wrong. She was wailing in noises so alien and at decibels I couldn't register; and it didn't ease up for the next few nights either. I can't blame her. I found myself crying to sleep on many occasions as well. It's still a shock to me, every morning I wake up expecting him to be downstairs drinking coffee on our dingy little coffee maker. It breaks my heart every time I walk down and see the dust collecting on the machine. That's when the finality of it hits me; he's not here anymore, he never will be. I hope the move to this new house just helps us in some way or another, if even just a little bit. The house itself was marvellous. It's much bigger than the last one, or at least it seemed that way since it was just the two of us minus all of Dad's stuff, which resides in a storage compartment elsewhere. The community seems nice, according to the real estate agent its one of the safest places to live in. No robberies, break-ins, murders, or any gang related violence in this area. That is certainly a load of our minds (I am a little suspect as to why she mentioned gang violence at all). Hopefully we can find just a little bit of peace in this quiet little place. I hope that everything turns out nicely. I want us to start living like a family again. Anyways I should be going, mum wanted to take me out somewhere. Oh, before I forget; Daddy if you're watching me out there I just wanted to say Happy Birthday, I love you so much. I miss you, we both do.

Harry

"Lilly look, Harry's giggling" a man had said said.

Harry? What am I doing here? Who was this man? Why couldn't I see him?

"JAMES! Look at the road, not at Harry" the woman yelled.

Who was that woman? Why is it so dark outside? Why can't I properly see them? When did it start raining?

"Don't worry, no one drives on this road; isn't that right Harry" the man said looking back at me once again.

I tried to answer but all that came out were childish noises. I wanted to reach out to them but I was strapped down by something. Suddenly my vision came to me. I was in a baby seat, the people up front I had seen them but where?

Now I remember, they are my parents. Is this the night of the accident? I saw a huge pair of headlights coming towards the car.

"DAD watch out!" I tried to yell but only baby gibberish came out. I tried to point my finger but my hands, for some reason I can't use them properly.

"JAMES WATCH OUT!" the woman screamed.

The last things I heard were the breaking of glass, a loud crash and the blaring horn of a truck before everything went black.

My eyes had just opened on their own accord. Bad dream? It sure as hell felt real. I didn't remember the crash well, my parents died when I was just a year old. I have no memories of them or the accident. I tried not to dwell on the details, I had to get up; I didn't want to sleep anymore.

I sat up and walked towards the window of my bedroom and ripped opened the curtains. That was a huge mistake, the sun's rays were quick to blind me and I shielded my eyes. Moments like these are when I'm thankful for my poor eyesight. Until I realized I had to find my glasses. I began my search for them; I never realized just how bad my eyesight was. Sirius suggested I get contacts but I was happy with my father's glasses. They didn't look bad either. I've never seen spectacles so perfectly round like his were. I wonder if his eyesight were as awful as mine.

Feeling a bit hungry I decided to go downstairs and grab some breakfast. That was until I realized we didn't have much to eat in the fridge. Still it wouldn't hurt to check anyways Sirius might have gone shopping in the early hours. So I rushed down the stairs to assuage my hunger.

CRUNCH!

I had stepped on (practically slipped on it more like) some letters that had arrived through the door. I bent down to pick them up. Most of them had been from some of Sirius' old friends that I remember. Uncle Remus, Kingsley, Uncle Peter and Hogwarts had all sent Sirius a letter. Wait a minute Hogwarts? I looked at the letter again and sure enough it hadn't been addressed to Sirius. It was for me, Harry James Potter.

Was this the letter that Sirius told me about? I ripped it open in a hurry and read it out loud. The letter had said that I was accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It listed supplies that I needed for the school year. I wanted to scream and jump for joy. I settled for a glass of milk from the fridge. I peered out of the kitchen window and saw that it was a nice day outside. So I grabbed a pair of sandals, strapped them on and headed outside.

It was a pretty active neighbourhood especially during the holidays. On one end you have a bald old man mowing his lawn, on the other someone's kids playing with a water hose, even across the street from our house a woman and her daughter were playing with an old soccer ball. You even had a few people walking along the sidewalks. I noticed a huge wall of a bush to the left side of the house near the driveway. It really looked bad, almost like my messy hair. There were thorns growing in different directions. Suddenly 'BAM!' something had hit me on the side of the head. Someone had then come running from across the street and asked "Oh my god, are you okay?"

I replied back "Yeah, I'm fine" I turned to the side to see a girl my age with dirty blonde hair as messy as mine but hers was bushier. If I was honest it suited her quite well. She had a cute nose and chocolate coloured eyes. I hadn't realized that I was staring at her for an extended period of time, but what I also didn't realize was that she was staring back with the same expression. What was she thinking? Who is this cute girl?

Hermione

My father once told me that brilliant minds are often the most revered people both currently and in history. I still remember the constant history lessons he would give me on famous historical figures such as Winston Churchill to Queen Elizabeth. All of them put an emphasis on knowledge and understanding and I guess he wanted me to do the same. He wouldn't stop talking about them and I wouldn't stop listening. He would always fascinate me with all their stories. He was an even better storyteller. When I was five he used to put me bed by making up a new story, he even let me read his huge collection of fiction novels. He was my first teacher and perhaps my first friend.

I read most of the books, but mum sold them all to someone else. She never told me why she did it, but I always knew; they just reminded her of him. It frustrated me; if there was anything, which belonged to or reminded her of dad, she will absolutely hate that one particular object. She had to throw out expensive pieces of china dishes and glasses just because "He had bought those for me on our honeymoon." It made me wonder if I would have been thrown out then, after all he is the man who helped make me. She hasn't thrown me out yet, thankfully. I didn't understand why that frustrated me either or anything she did. Perhaps I just wished I could have some reminder that he existed in my life. Something, which I could cling to if, I ever feel like I'm forgetting him.

I had been lying on my bed contemplating my life and my petty, childish hatred towards my mother. So I plucked up the willpower to get off my bed, take my diary and write something. However nothing was coming to mind, is this what writers block is? No, of course not Hermione you haven't written a book yet. Do I have to be writing a book to get it? All these questions, I'm sure dad would have had an answer. He always seemed to in these moments.

Oh, when can I get out of this depressing atmosphere? I just can't wait to go to this Hogwarts School I really do need something to occupy my mind and time. God I miss my old school, all my friends and everything. Why did I have to suggest the move to her? I have to find something else to do, I can't stay cooped up in my room all break. So I left my bedroom, went down the stairs and into the kitchen to make myself something to eat. Wait hang on, is the sun out already?

I saw a crack of sunlight from one of the kitchen curtains. I opened them only to be met by a full blast of sunlight. Instinctively I used my arms to shield me from the sun's rays. Once my eyes adjust I looked outside the window to see that it was late in the afternoon. How did I know? It was usually when the street would be alive with the sounds of children, lawn mowers and other casual neighbourhood activities. I didn't understand why I had the urge to go outside but it didn't seem like a bad idea either until I realized I was still in my pyjamas.

So I rushed back upstairs put on some jeans and a nice white shirt and rushed back down to go outside. That's when I heard the door unlocking and stopped dead in my tracks. It was my mother, bringing some leftover boxes from our old house.

"Good morning dear" she said.

"Morning Mum" I said back to her.

"It's a lovely day, where you just about to step outside?" she asked me and I nodded my reply.

"Well hang on, I just found something interesting in one of the boxes. Something for the both of us to do" she said. From the box she pulled out and old roughed up soccer ball.

I laughed as hard as I could, which earned me a very confused look from my mother. It was just the idea of my mother even attempting something like this.

"What?" she asked.

"You want to play soccer with me?" I asked her with a smirk on my face.

"Well why not? I mean I am still young and completely open to new experiences" she said "Come on, it'll be fun."

I couldn't convince her otherwise, she was hooked to the idea and I had to go along with it. So the both of us went outside and started kicking the ball around. My mother used two jackets as a net and I being on the girl's soccer team took my natural position as a goalie.

My mother was on the opposite end of the lawn preparing to kick the ball with her old roughed up shoe. She took a couple of small kicks, which I easily blocked. Thankfully my mom is a novice. It's not an insult to her skill whatsoever; she's just inexperienced. Which was good for me because I didn't want to ruin this shirt. My mother took another look kick, which never got to me.

"Come on mum, at least give me one challenging one" I said with a cocky smirk before kicking the ball back.

She gave me that 'Oh I'll show' look and then ran towards the ball at full speed. The determination on her face made me worry that something bad was about to happen, and it did. The ball had soared past my head, missing by inches and was going towards a black haired boy across our street wearing spectacles. He was just standing there unaware of the preceding danger.

Oh no I thought, please duck by some coincidence. Instead of doing the logical thing and warning him I just witnessed the ball smash his unsuspecting face, knocking him down. My mother and I gave each other the same shocked expression. However, I decided to act rather than stand there flabbergasted. Thus I ran towards the black haired boy.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" I said. I inspected his injuries, no cuts or bumps that I could notice. Thankfully he wasn't knocked out either.

His back was still towards me when he said, "Yeah I'm fine". He then turned to face me. At that moment I was mesmerized when I saw his face, properly, for the first time. His emerald green eyes enchanted me and caught me in a very affectionate yet deadly stare. There was something about it, which attracted me for some reason. It was just unique, and sad but also seemed affectionate. I didn't understand why I liked it; I just did. It had been a long moment before I realized I was staring at him. It took even longer to realize that he was also staring back. I then cleared my throat and broke the awkward silence by asking, "Any bumps or bleeding?"

The emerald eye boy took a while to register what I had just asked and then replied, "No, I don't feel anything. It didn't hit me that hard. It just caught me by surprise is all"

"Oh, okay" I said. 'Oh, Okay' is that the best you have Hermione. He had said something but I didn't hear it.

"What?" I said.

"My name is Harry, what's yours?" he asked

I gave my hand out and said "Hermione". He shook it and said "What a nice name. It's both unique and different"

Did he just compliment me? My checks automatically turned red; Damn things. I could help but smile at his comment.

"How is it different?" I asked curiously.

"Well it's not like the typical female British names you hear like Becky, Victoria, Sandy, Christina, Emma, Jane, Laura, Abbey, Elizabeth," he continued

I couldn't help but laughing because he was pretty spot on with the names.

"Why, do you have a hatred for typical stuff?" I asked.

"No, not really" he said "But I don't mind different and unique"

My cheeks turned red once more because I knew he was referring to me. Wow, this really is a good neighbourhood. On the second day I found a cute guy who actually likes me, I think.

In an effort to make myself look appealing I slowly stroked my hair back with one hand. I caught him looking at it, and couldn't help but smile. However I just remembered I didn't brush my hair properly it was probably a mess right now.

"So, how long have you been living here?" I asked in an effort to divert his attention from my hair.

"My godfather and I just moved in not a day ago" he said.

"Godfather?" I asked curiously. How this boy fascinates me.

"Yeah, my parents died in a car crash you see" he said.

Oh, my god you complete idiot I thought to myself "I am so sorry" I said.

He waved his hand in a don't-worry-about-it way and then said "It's alright." He took a deep breath and then asked "What about you?"

"Me? Well my story is about the same as yours, except the only one I lost was my dad. And it's alright" I told him before I had someone else give a sympathetic speech.

However what made me curious is the small chuckle he gave after I finished talking.

"Well, I really must be going I've got some stuff to catch up on" He said.

"Wait you sure you don't want to have that head checked out?" I asked him in an effort to keep him from leaving.

"Its fine" he told me "However if you're still worried about it then you can come over for dinner to check up on it" he said.

"Yeah, sure" I said immediately. Wait a minute; did he just con me to a date? He just asked me over to his house and I didn't realize it. What a fascinating character.

Hey everyone,

I suppose I do have a lot of explaining to do. I know none of these stories have been updated in years but I said I wasn't abandoning them and I intend to keep my word. As from the last Authors Note in my other stories I was in a bad place and gave up something which i loved doing to figure my life out a bit, and I'm happy to say that I'm on the right track. After a bout with depression and finally figuring out how to be a full time filmmaker/writer I was about to start my life on the path I was trying to get on for years...and then COVID was became a thing so my life had to be put on pause. Which was a good thing because it made me look back on these stories which were left undone. I'm going to be fixing/rewriting most of these because I feel like in some stories I lost the thread so I'm hoping to find it once going through each chapter and finally finish what i started. I also didn't like how bad my writing was years ago so I'm also just editing my work as best as I can. This particular work had been on my mind for a while, I had exciting stuff planned out and never got around to conceptualizing and delivering a new chapter. I will be doing that within the week hopefully. I just wanted to do something to show that I was back in business.

In case you hadn't noticed I have changed my username as well. Nothing significant to it, just decided to keep my account names the same on other sites. Speaking of which I am also on Archive of Our Own as DocHollywood (no-13). I haven't posted a fic on there yet but I will be eventually. The ones on my fanfic wont go there since I am too lazy and also its a special place to me, it belongs here. I will however post my new fics on both sites (yes there will be new fics).

I hope you all are keeping safe and I wish you the best of luck during these trying times. I also thank you for your patience and apologize immensely for keeping you waiting as long as I have. I will upload the remaining chapters and the new ones by Friday the latest. Take care - DocHollywood