~ Rock Island ~

~ Trying to escape the letters, Vernon moved his family and Harry to a house on a rock island. The family slept peacefully whilst Harry lay on the cold, dirt floor. He drew a birthday cake which recites, Happy Birthday Harry. He turns his gaze to Dudley’s watch that beeps at midnight. ~

Harry: *disheartened* Make a wish, Harry. *blows*

~ Almost like magic, the door thumps, provoking him to jump. The door thumps again causing both Harry and Dudley to jump up and back away. Petunia and Vernon rushed to them with a gun. The door bangs once more and falls to the ground, and a giant man and a small girl appear. ~

Vernon: *scared* Who’s there? *sees the figures* Ahh!

?: Sorry ‘bout that. *puts the door back up*

?: *giggles* He keeps forgetting how strong he is.

Vernon: *stern* I demand that you leave at once, Sir and girl! You are breaking and entering!

Petunia: *surprised* Ooh.

~ The giant man walks over to Vernon, grabbing the gun and bending it upwards, making it useless. All the while, the mystery girl chuckles at the action. ~

?: *annoyed* Dry up, Durley, you great prune. *gun fires*

All: *scream* Ahh!

?: *sighs* Was that necessary?!

?: *see Dudley* Mind, I haven’t seen you since you were a baby, Harry, but you’re a bit more along than I would have expected. Particularly ‘round the middle!

?: *shakes head* Oh, Hagrid.

Dudley: *scared* I-I-I’m not Harry. 

Harry: *appears* I-I am. *looks to the girl* Rachel? Is that you? *smiles*

Rae: *smiles and waves* Hey, Harry! 

Hagrid: *looks at Rachel* Yeh know Harry?

Rae: *smiles* We might have met before. 

Hagrid: *sighs* We will discuss this later, missy.

Rae: *shakes head* Yes, dad.

~ The giant man ruffles Rachel’s hair making her laugh as he grinned. Rachel glances over at Harry, who admires her laugh and beams at him. ~

Hagrid: *smiles* Oh, well, of course, you are! Got something for ya. ‘Fraid I might have sat on it at some point! I imagine that it’ll taste fine, just the same. *pulls out a cake* Ahh. Baked it myself with Rachel’s help. *hands Harry the cake* Words and all. Heh.

Rae: *giggles* Let’s just say dad can overcook food sometimes.

Harry: *smiles* Thank you! *opens cake, reads Happee Birdae Harry*

Hagrid: *happy* It’s not every day that your young man turns eleven, now is it?

~ The giant man plops down onto the couch, taking out his umbrella, and pointing it at the empty fire. Poof, poof! Sparks fly and a roaring fire is born as the family gapes. Rachel chuckles as she sits on the armrest. ~

Harry: *puts the cake down* Excuse me, who are you? 

Hagrid: Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. O’ course, yeh know Rachel Hagrid, me daughter. *ruffles her hair again* Course, you’ll know all about Hogwarts. 

Harry: Sorry, no.

Hagrid: *surprised* No? Blimey, Harry, didn’t you ever wonder where your mum and dad learned it all?

Harry: *confused* Learnt what?

Hagrid: You’re a wizard, Harry.

Rae: Almost all Hogwarts parents have a child that is one.

Harry: *stares at both of them* I-I’m a what?

Hagrid: A wizard. And a thumping good one at that, I’d wager. Once you train up a little.

Rae: And Hogwarts can help with that.

Harry: No, you’ve made a mistake. I can’t be-- a-a wizard. I mean, I’m just-- Harry. Just Harry.

Hagrid: *curious* Well, Just Harry, did you ever make anything happen? Anything you couldn’t explain when you were angry or scared? *Harry’s expression softens* Ah.

Rae: *smirks* That glass didn’t disappear by itself. 

~ Dudley remembering the experience whimpers, as Hagrid hands Harry his letter that they have been trying to avoid. ~

Harry: *opens it* Dear Mr. Potter, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts’ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Vernon: *angry* He’ll not be going! We swore when we took him in; we’d put an end to this rubbish!

Rae: *angry* It’s not rubbish! *Hagrid holds her back*

Harry: *angry* You knew?? You knew all along, and you never told me?

Petunia: *scoffs* Of course we knew. How could you not be? My perfect sister being who she was. Oh, my mother and father were so proud the day she got her letter. We have a witch in the family. Isn’t it wonderful? I was the only one to see her for what she was. A freak! And when she met that Potter, and then she had you, and I knew you’d be just the same, just as strange, just as-- abnormal. And then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up! And we got landed with you.

Harry: *pissed* Blown up? You told me my parents died in a car crash!

Hagrid: *shocked* A car crash? Killing James and Lily Potter?

Petunia: We had to tell him something.

Hagrid: *upset* It’s an outrage! It’s a scandal!

Rae: *upset* The whole wizard world knows James and Lily Potter died protecting good!

Vernon: *yells* He’ll not be going!

Rae: *stand up* Like hell he will!

Hagrid: *grabs her wrist and sits her back down* Down Rachel. *glares at Vernon* Oh, and I suppose a great Muggle like yourself’s going to stop him, are you?

Harry: *confused* Muggle?

Rae: *scoffs* I have worse words than that for them.

Hagrid: *pats her head, calming her* Non-magic folk. This boy’s had his name down ever since he was born! He’s going to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world, and he’ll be under the greatest headmaster Hogwarts’ has ever seen: Albus Dumbledore.

Rae: *serious* This moment has been destined for a long time. No Muggle is going to ruin it. 

Vernon: *angry* I will not pay for some crackpot old fool to teach him magic tricks!

Hagrid: *whips out the umbrella and points it at him* Never insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me.

Rae: *smirks* Unless you have a death wish per se.

~ In the midst of the commotion, Dudley took it upon himself to eat Harry’s cake. To teach him and his parents a lesson, Hagrid directs his umbrella at his rear, creating a grey pigtail. ~

Dudley: *terrified* Ahh!

All: Ahh! 

~ Dudley’s parents chase after him as Harry laughs, manifesting a smile on Rachel’s face. Hagrid catches a glimpse of it, forming a smile of his own, knowing it has been a long time since he saw her happy or genuinely smiled. ~

Hagrid: *chuckles* Oh, um, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone at Hogwarts about that. Strictly speaking, I’m not allowed to do magic. 

Rae: *giggles* Correction Hagrid. We’re not allowed to do magic. Dumbledore is already on us about me being here. 

Hagrid: Ah, that is true.

Harry: *nods* Okay.

Hagrid: *checks clock* Ooh, we’re a bit behind schedule. Best be off. Unless you’d rather stay, of course. Hmm? *leaves*

Rae: *smiles* Come on, Harry. The adventure of Hogwarts awaits. *leaves*

~ Harry beams as he looks at his family one last time before following after Hagrid and Rachel. ~