Harry Potter and the Missing Piece

Harry Potter and the Missing Piece

Chapter 1: A New Horizon

As the sun peeked over the houses of Privet Drive, Harry Potter opened his eyes. He looked at the calendar on his wall. He had only been home from school for two days, and he already wished he was back there.

Harry quietly got dressed, careful not to wake up his aunt and uncle. He surveyed himself in the mirror. He was the same on the outside: a skinny boy with dark, messy hair, green eyes, and a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. However, on the inside, he felt much different.

The scar on his forehead was only one of the things that made him different from others. Harry was a very famous wizard. Almost fifteen years ago an evil wizard bent on world domination, Voldemort, had killed his parents, Lily and James Potter. When this dark lord had turned his wand on an infant Harry, the curse backfired, almost killing Voldemort and leaving Harry with his famous scar.

Gazing upon the scar, he remembered the dream he had just had. With a green flash of light and the sound of high pitched laughter, the Mirror of Erised had appeared. In it were four people who had one thing in common. They were dead because of Harry.

He recognized the first two people from photographs. His mother and father had sacrificed their lives for his. Cedric Diggory was also there. Harry still regretted asking him to take the Triwizard Cup with him. The last person was Sirius Black, Harry's godfather and friend. Sirius had come to rescue Harry and had lost his own life in the process.

In the dream, the people in the mirror had waved to Harry and turned to walk away. Harry had wanted to make them stop or to go with them, but he could not. They faded out of the mirror until he could not see them. He had felt so alone staring into the emptiness. Then he woke up.

Satisfied that his appearance was as good as it could get while having to wear his enormous cousin's hand-me-downs, he quickly left the room and descended the stairs. He grabbed a banana and walked out the front door. He walked all over this neighborhood every summer, letting his mind wander back to the wizarding world. But this summer he wished he could stop thinking altogether, as all thoughts led to the same thing: death.

Harry entered the park and sat down on a swing. The park had recently been fixed up, but it was only a matter of time before Dudley's gang vandalized it into its former state.

Harry ate his banana as he watched the sun rise. It was a Sunday, so not many people were out on the streets. Harry did not mind; while in the wizarding world people stared at him with awe and respect, at Privet Drive people looked at him with fear and mistrust. This was due to his uncle telling everyone that Harry went to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys.

Across the street from the park was a small church. Harry had never been there, but he liked to watch the people going in and out of it. What do people find in there that makes them come back every week? Harry wondered.

A teenage girl walked out of a house next to the church with two people who appeared to be her parents. They were all dressed nicely and went to the church doors to greet the people going inside. The girl had a smile that lit up her face. Her strawberry blonde hair framed her face nicely, and her dark eyes sparkled. She was not tall or short and was a bit on the skinny side. She was not society's idea of beautiful, but Harry thought she was very pretty in her own way.

As he looked at the girl, her eyes scanned the park, and their eyes met for a few seconds. She turned and walked into the church. Without thinking, Harry stood up and walked the short distance to the church. Everyone was already inside, and he could hear them singing. With a deep breath he pushed open the doors and took a seat on the back row.

After a few songs that Harry did not know, the man he had seen earlier walked to the pulpit. He started preaching to the audience, telling them about a loving God who cares about His children. Harry felt like laughing. How could a loving God allow all the suffering he had been through? That the world had been through?

As if he knew the questions Harry wanted to ask, the preacher started talking about sin, and the choices humans have made that separate themselves from God's love. People, not God, caused death and suffering. He had even sent His son Jesus to suffer and die so that people would have a way back to God.

Harry sat in the back pew, wondering what to think. He had always felt like something was missing in his life. Could it have been God? It was not until someone tapped him on the shoulder that he realized the service was over and everyone was gone. Everyone, of course but the girl he had seen earlier, who had tapped his shoulder.

"Hi. My name is Katelyn Powers. I saw you in the park earlier. I'm glad you came." Harry was not sure what to say. This girl was smiling at him, and her eyes were just looking at him, not judging him like everyone else's eyes did.

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter," he finally said. He desperately wished he were someone else...someone who was not considered a criminal. Deciding he might as well tell her what she would soon find out he continued, "You might have heard of me because I'm a dangerous juvenile delinquent and attend St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys."

A mixture of emotions flew across Katelyn's face. First, there was surprise, then fear, then, for some strange reason, confidence.

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing you came to church, isn't it?" she joked. Harry could not help laughing.

"I guess you're right," he replied, trying to sound serious.

There was an awkward moment, and they both searched for something else to say. Finally, Katelyn asked, "Would you like to eat lunch with me and my family?" Harry thought he saw hope in her eyes.

"Sure. I'd love to." Harry had a feeling as he walked with Katelyn to the door, that he was diving into a different world, but his feet kept walking. He silently looked to the sky. God, if you are real, change my life. He did not know, however, that God had already answered his prayer.

*******

Harry followed Katelyn out of the church and into the house next door. Of all the muggle homes he had ever been in, he could already tell that this was the nicest. Photographs of Katelyn, her parents, and a person that Harry assumed was her brother lined the front hall. All the faces bore smiles and he could not help but wish he knew what made them so happy.

Katelyn started talking, changing her voice to imitate a tour guide. "To your right is the living room. The stairs lead to our bedrooms. This door," Katelyn stopped at a door on the left side of the hall, "leads to the dining room and then to the kitchen."

"You have a very nice house," Harry politely replied. He was doing his best to give a good first impression.

"Thank you." Harry thought that Katelyn was giving him a strange look. Her eyes drifted up to his scar, and although he knew that she did not know what it meant or how he had gotten it, he still pushed his hair down in front, covering it up.

Katelyn quickly turned and entered the dining room, continuing into the kitchen. Harry followed her, not knowing what else to do. The kitchen smelled wonderful. Katelyn's parents moved around the kitchen, working together to make dinner.

"Mum, Dad, this is Harry Potter. Harry, meet my parents, Tom and Debbie Powers."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Powers. Katelyn graciously invited me to eat dinner with you. I hope that is all right with you." Harry was very apprehensive as he shook both of their hands. They too showed a variety of emotions at hearing his name. Harry's stomach sank. Of course, they know that I am supposedly a juvenile delinquent, thought Harry.

However, whether or not the Powers realized who Harry was, they both smiled and welcomed him into their home.

"Katelyn, why don't you and Harry set the table. Make sure you get a plate for Jacob, too." Katelyn's parents went back to putting the final touches on the roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls, while Katelyn handed Harry plates and silverware.

"Who's Jacob?" Harry asked as he helped Katelyn spread the tablecloth over the dining room table.

"He's my older brother. He works as a policeman in London but eats a few meals a week with us." Harry was not sure why, but he had a feeling that there was a lot more to Jacob than the small description he had just been given.

As he talked to Katelyn, Harry felt more and more as if he had known her his whole life and that this was another Sunday dinner that he was sitting down to, like he always did. They talked about all sorts of muggle things: music, movies, books, and other things. Harry made a mental note to watch the news and pick up the newspaper occasionally, so he would have more things to talk about if they ever spent time together again.

Harry and Katelyn both looked up at the sound of the front door opening and shutting. There were loud footsteps down the hall and a young man soon stood in the doorway to the dining room.

"Hi, Jacob. This is Harry. He came to church this morning and is eating lunch with us." Harry walked over and extended his hand for Jacob to shake.

Remembering his manners, Harry said, "It's a pleasure to meet you." Jacob seemed to hesitate before shaking Harry's hand, taking in his glasses and scar. If Harry had not known any better, he would have thought Jacob was just another wizard who was finally seeing someone they had heard so much about.

Just then, Katelyn's parents entered the dining room, carrying plates and bowls full of food. The five of them sat down. Mr. Powers bowed his head, as did the rest of his family and blessed the food. Harry had never seen this done before, but he thought it was a nice way to start a wonderful dinner.

"So Harry, you live with the Dursleys right? They're your uncle and aunt?" Mr. Powers asked as he passed the mashed potatoes.

"Yes, and I have a cousin, Dudley, also." Harry did not like this subject. He was afraid it would lead to unanswerable questions about his past.

On the contrary, they all spent a wonderful meal eating and talking about everyday things. Harry was surprised when he realized it was almost three o' clock, which meant that he had been there three hours. Harry, Katelyn, and Jacob cleared off the table and then joined Mr. and Mrs. Powers in the living room.

Jacob and Harry were busy talking about England's chances in the upcoming Olympics, when Katelyn asked her father loudly, "Dad, is the church still looking for someone to hire over the summer to do yard work and some repairs?"

"Yes, Katelyn, they are. Harry, I don't suppose you would be interested in earning a little money this summer, would you?" Harry could not believe his ears. He was sure that these people knew the stories about him, so why were they being so nice to him.

"That would be great!" Harry finally said. The conversation turned to other subjects and before long, Harry realized it was getting late and he needed to go home. After agreeing to meet Mr. Powers in front of the church at seven the next morning, Katelyn walked Harry to the door.

"Thank you for inviting me to have dinner. I really enjoyed it." Harry wanted to be able to tell Katelyn that he thought she was pretty, smart, and funny and any other adjective that could be used to describe someone in a good way. Instead, he went with a less embarrassing course of action. "Maybe we could go to movie or something, once I get my first paycheck."

"I'd like that," Katelyn said. Harry could tell that she meant it, and later, as he walked down Privet Drive, he could still hear her laughter and her voice and see her shining face smiling at him. He opened the door to Number 4, walked up the stairs, and laid down on his bed, enjoying the happy feelings flowing over him.

He changed into his pajamas, brushed his teeth, and was almost asleep when a thought occurred to him. Just that morning, after church, he had asked God to change his life. His life had certainly just taken a turn for the better. Maybe I should talk to Mr. Powers about this God thing. He might actually know what he is talking about, thought Harry. As he drifted into a peaceful slumber, his heart sincerely hoped that the preacher did indeed have the right idea.