"This place could really use some greenery," Ben thought looking around the barren island, despite complaining for the umpteenth time, he had yet to do anything to bring greenery to this place. He had checked, and while the air was breathable, everything else was dead, he'd have to start shitting in the soil here to make it fertile, just like that Martian movie.

Just the thought of shovelling shit to grow plants made his nose wrinkle, and the amount of work he would have to put in to make it happen gave him a massive headache.

"Perhaps I should get a house elf in here," after all, there stood a house here, and that's all that is needed to avail of an elf's services.

"Speaking of elves, I wonder what he's up to," Ben pulled out a black hair and closed his eyes.

--

It was a brilliant, sunny day. A skinny boy with green eyes and round glasses with a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead got out of a Suburban house at 4 Privet Drive. He crossed the lawn, slumped down on the garden bench, and sang under his breath:

"Happy birthday to me . . . happy birthday to me . . ."

It was his birthday, yet he had received no cards, no presents, and he would be spending the evening pretending not to exist as the Dursleys have a nice dinner with their clients. He gazed miserably into the hedge. He had never felt so lonely. More than anything else at Hogwarts, more even than playing Quidditch, Harry missed his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They, however, didn't seem to be missing him at all. Neither of them had written to him all summer, even though Ron had said he was going to ask Harry to come and stay.

He couldn't send any letters either as his owl, Hedwik had been locked in a cage by his uncle, Vernon Dursley and he could do nothing about it. As an underage wizard, he wasn't allowed to do magic out of school or he'd be expelled.

Harry missed school dearly, what wouldn't he give now for a message from Hogwarts? From any witch or wizard? Something to show that the last year hadn't just been a dream. He'd almost be glad of the sight of his archenemy, Draco Malfoy or even a word of doom from the peculiar Ravenclaw student, Benedict Brown.

Harry suddenly jolted his back straight on the garden bench. He had been staring absent-mindedly into the hedge - and the hedge was staring back. Two enormous green eyes had appeared among the leaves.

Just as Harry jumped to his feet, a mocking voice floated from across the lawn.

"I know what day it is," sang Dudley, toddling toward him.

The huge eyes on the hedge blinked and vanished.

"What?" said Harry, still staring at the spot where the eyes had been.

"I know what day it is," Dudley sang again, stopping right in front of him.

"Well done," said Harry. "You've finally learned the days of the week."

"Today's your birthday," Dudley sneered. "How come you haven't got any cards? Haven't you even got friends at that freak place?"

"Better not let your mum hear you talking about my school," said Harry coolly.

Dudley pulled up his trousers, which were slipping down despite his fat bottom.

"Why're you staring at the hedge?" he said suspiciously.

"I'm trying to decide what would be the best spell to set it on fire," said Harry.

Dudley stumbled backwards at once, a look of panic appeared on his fat face.

"You c-can't! Dad told you you're not to do m-magic, he said he'll chuck you out of the house and you haven't got anywhere else to go - you haven't even got any friends to take you-"

Somehow Dursley had given voice to Harry's worst fears, he was starting to question if he really had any friends and if he did, why hadn't they contacted him till now.

"Jiggery pokery!" said Harry in a fierce voice. "Hocus pocus - squiggly wiggly -"

"MUUUUUUM!" howled Dudley, tripping over his feet as he dashed back toward the house. "MUUUUM! He's doing you know what!"

The Dursleys had their own taboo word and it started with the letter M.

Harry paid dearly for that little moment of fun, he would have gotten a soapy frying pan to the face from Aunt Petunia had it not been for his fast reflexes, developed after months of Quidditch practice, that made him duck just in time.

Petunia then promised the boy that he wouldn't be getting any food unless he completed all the work around the house.

Harry had to clean the windows, wash the car, mow the lawn, trim the flower beds, prune and water the roses, and repaint the garden bench. The sun blazed overhead, burning the back of his neck while Dudley lolled around eating ice cream.

"Wish they could see famous Harry Potter now", he thought savagely as he spread manure on the flower beds.

It was only when the sun had set and the time for Dursleys' guests to arrive was approaching, was Harry allowed inside the house. He was given two slices of bread to eat while a huge mound of pudding stared at him from the top of the Fridge and an appetising aroma of roasted pork loin wafted from the oven.

"Eat quickly! The Masons will be here soon!" Petunia snapped at Harry to finish his pitiful dinner.

She whisked away his plate even before he was finished. "Upstairs! Hurry!"

Just when Harry reached the upstairs landing, the doorbell rang and the furious face of Vernon Dursley appeared at the base of the staircase.

"Remember, boy - not one sound"

Harry tiptoed to his bedroom and quietly closed the door. He was tired and ready to collapse on the Bed, but just as he turned, he was shocked to see a beautifully wrapped package land on his bed with a soft thump.

He looked up, "Where did this drop from?" He asked puzzled, there was no hole in the ceiling which could only mean that someone had magicked it in.

Harry could feel the excitement rise in him, had someone finally remembered his birthday?

--Dreamscape--

Alright I admit, a lot of this is from the book, but we needed some context for the next chapter, so here it is.

More stuff at Patreon.com/DreamyApe.