Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden beneath all Dudleys birthday presents It looked as though Dudley had gotten the new computer he wanted not to mention the second television and the racing bike Exactly why Dudley wanted a racing bike was a mystery to Harry as Dudley was very fat and hated exercise unless of course it involved punching somebody Dudleys favorite punching bag was Harry but he couldnt often catch him Harry didnt look it but he was very fast Perhaps it had something to do with living in a dark cupboard but Harry had always been small and skinny for his age He looked even smaller and skinnier than he really was because all he had to wear were old clothes of Dudleys and Dudley was about four times bigger than he was Harry had a thin face knobbly knees black hair and bright green eyes He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped like a bolt of lightning He had had it as long as he could remember and the first question he could ever remember asking his Aunt Exactly said Dumbledore looking very seriously over the top of his halfmoon glasses It would be enough to turn any boys head Famous before he can walk and talk Famous for something he wont even remember CarA you see how much better off hell be growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it Professor McGonagall opened her mouth changed her mind swallowed and then said Yes yes youre right of course But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it Hagrids bringing him You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this I would trust Hagrid with my life said Dumbledore Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place said Professor McGonagall grudgingly but you cant pretend hes not careless He does tend to what was that A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them If the motorcycle was huge it was nothing to the man sitting astride it He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide He looked simply too big to be allowed and so wild long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face he had hands the size of trash can lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins In his vast muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets Hagrid said Dumbledore sounding relieved At last And where did you get that motorcycle Borrowed it Professor Dumbledore sit said the giant climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke Young Sirius Black lent it to me Ive got him sir No problems were there No sir house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin around He fell asleep as we was flyin over Bristol Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets Inside just visible was a baby boy fast asleep Under a tuft of jetblack hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut like a bolt of lightning Is that where whispered Professor McGonagall Yes said Dumbledore Hell have that scar forever Couldnt you do something about it Dumbledore Even if I could I wouldnt Scars can come in handy I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground Well give him here Hagrid wed better get this over with Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys house Could I could I say goodbye to him sir asked Hagrid He bent his great shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy whiskery kiss Then suddenly Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog Shhh hissed Professor McGonagall youll wake the Muggles Sssorry sobbed Hagrid taking out a large spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it But I cccant stand it Lily an James dead an poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles Yes yes its all very sad but get a grip on yourself Hagrid or well be found Professor McGonagall whispered patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door He laid Harry gently on the doorstep took a letter out of his cloak tucked it inside Harrys blankets and then came back to the other two For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle Hagrids shoulders shook Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledores eyes seemed to have gone out Well said Dumbledore finally thats that Weve no business staying here We may as well go and join the celebrations Yeah said Hagrid in a very muffled voice Ill be takin Sirius his bike back Gnight Professor McGonagall Professor Dumbledore sir Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night I shall see you soon I expect Professor McGonagall said Dumbledore nodding to her Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street On the corner he stopped and took out the silver PutOuter He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four Good luck Harry he murmured He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on not knowing he was special not knowing he was famous not knowing he would be woken in a few hours time by Mrs Dursleys scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley He couldnt know that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices To Harry Potter the boy who lived CHAPTER TWO THE VANISHING GLASS Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step but Privet Drive had hardly changed at all The sun rose on the same tidy front gardens and lit up the brass number four on the Dursleys front door it crept into their living room which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Mr Dursley had seen that fateful news report about the owls Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed Ten years ago there had been lots of pictures of what looked like a large pink beach ball wearing differentcolored bonnets but Dudley Dursley was no longer a baby and now the photographs showed a large blond boy riding his first bicycle on a carousel at the fair playing a computer game with his father being hugged and kissed by his mother The room held no sign at all that another boy lived in the house too Yet Harry Potter was still there asleep at the moment but not for long His Aunt Petunia was awake and it was her shrill voice that made the first noise of the day Up Get up Now Harry woke with a start His aunt rapped on the door again Up she screeched Harry heard her walking toward the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the stove He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having It had been a good one There had been a flying motorcycle in it He had a funny feeling hed had the same dream before His aunt was back outside the door Are you up yet she demanded Nearly said Harry Well get a move on I want you to look after the bacon And dont you dare let it burn I want everything perfect on Duddys birthday Harry groaned What did you say his aunt snapped through the door Nothing nothing Dudleys birthday how could he have forgotten Harry got slowly out of bed and started looking for socks He found a pair under his bed and after pulling a spider off one of them put them on Harry was used to spiders because the cupboard under the stairs was full of them and that was where he slept When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden When he was dressed he went down the hall into the kitchen The table was almost hidden When he was dre