Destined Paths - The Hogwarts Chronicles

Chapter 1 - Owl Post

Harry Potter sat in the dimly lit living room of Number 4 Privet Drive, the home of his relatives, the Dursleys. The summer sun beat down relentlessly outside, casting harsh shadows across the room. Harry sighed, feeling the weight of boredom settle over him like a suffocating blanket. It was another dreary day in Little Whinging, and Harry longed for the excitement and magic of Hogwarts.

But today, his mundane routine was about to be interrupted by an unexpected visitor - his Aunt Marge. Vernon Dursley's sister was due to arrive later in the day, and Harry braced himself for the inevitable onslaught of insults and criticisms that would accompany her visit.

As he idly flipped through a dog-eared copy of Advanced Potion-Making, the shrill ringing of the telephone shattered the monotony of the afternoon.

Uncle Vernon who had answered the call. "Vernon Dursley speaking. "Harry, who happened to be in the room at the time, froze as he heard Ron's voice answer.

"HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I -- WANT -- TO -- TALK -- TO --HARRY-- POTTER!" Ron was yelling so loudly that Uncle Vernon jumped and held the receiver a foot away from his ear, staring at it with an expression of mingled fury and alarm. 

"WHO IS THIS?" he roared in the direction of the mouthpiece. "WHO AREYOU?" 

"RON -- WEASLEY!" Ron bellowed back, as though he and Uncle Vernon were speaking from opposite ends of a football field. "I'M -- A -- FRIEND --OF -- HARRY'S -- FROM -- SCHOOL --"

 Uncle Vernon's small eyes swiveled around to Harry, who was rooted to the spot. 

"THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE!" he roared, now holding the receiver at arm's length, as though frightened it might explode. 

"I DON'T KNOW WHATSCHOOL YOURE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN!DON'T YOU COME NEARMY FAMILY!" And he threw the receiver back onto the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider. 

The fight that had followed had been one of the worst ever. 

"HOW DARE YOU GIVE THIS NUMBER TO PEOPLE LIKE -- PEOPLE LIKEYOU!" Uncle Vernon had roared, spraying Harry with spit. 

Ron obviously realized that he'd gotten Harry into trouble, because he hadn't called again. 

So Harry had had no word from any of his wizarding friends for five long weeks, and this summer was turning out to be almost as bad as the last one. There was just one very small improvement -- after swearing that he wouldn't use her to send letters to any of his friends, Harry had been allowed to let his owl, Hedwig, out at night. Uncle Vernon had given in because of the racket Hedwig made if she was locked in her cage all the time.

Through the window soared three owls, one of them was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. Harry recognized the owl at once -- his name was Errol, and he belonged to the Weasley family. The second one was carrying his 3rd years Hogwarts letter other Hedwig carrying Hermione's letter.

He picked up Ron's letter and unfolded it.

Dear Harry, 

Happy birthday! 

Look, I' really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted. 

It's amazing here in Egypt. Bill's taken us around all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.

I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me anew wand for next year.