Chapter 1

"Crucio!" The pain was intense, nearly unbearable. It hurt. It burned. It felt like a thousand knives stabbing and scraping me. I didn't dare scream or cry, that would just make it worse. It lasted almost a full hour. I was still standing through it all, but when he stopped, I collapsed. "Get up." He grabbed my arm and pulled me up. I stood shakily, looking down at the floor. "When is your birthday?" I was not expecting that question, but I answered it quickly, gasping for air, "Next Monday, sir." It was currently Saturday, July 28th.

I suddenly had an idea so crazy, that I hope it will work. I must leave, tonight. I don't know why, but I need to. So I begin to make preparations. On the outside, I look as submissive as always, but inside, it is crazy. "Go to your room, we will talk tomorrow." "Yes, sir." I scurry to my room. The term room, is a very loose term. My room, as he called it, is basically a cupboard. Rather small, but this is a rather small house on Spinner's End. The poor part of town. I came here when I was 7, looking for shelter in an especially cold summer night. He offered to let me stay for a long time, as long as I wanted. I later learned that he would be gone from September to the end of June. So I have a lot of time alone. I have learned a lot from the books, and I wish that I could learn it somewhere, but I don't dare ask him for anything. I am thinking all of this as I scurry to my room. I hear the lock click, the he leaves to who knows where. Actually, he probably knows where he is going, I hope.

When it is very dark, I try to sneak out, using a word that I remember from reading. "Alohomora." The lock clicks, and I sneak out of the house on Spinner's End. I have to survive on my own again. I am free again.

I find a spot to sleep for the rest of the night, then I get busy. I need to find another place to live for a while. I am in an alley when I hear a strange sound. Hoo, hoo. It sounded like an owl. Who would be delivering mail here. There is no one else around. So it must be for me. Who would be sending me anything? I opened the letter, but before I can read it, the owl starts pecking my pockets. I remember that he would give owls little treats or coins, but I don't have anything. I tell the owl that, and he flies off. I read the letter.

It turns out that I get to go to Hogwarts, but I need a lot of supplies, and I have no money, or any idea how or where to get the items requested. There is nothing that I can do. If they are waiting for my owl, I can't get one to them, so either they will come looking for me, or they will just ignore it and then that will mean that they don't care about me. I must find somewhere to stay soon, before winter comes.