"Umm, hello," Harry thought in response. "Why are things going to suck? How can things get worse than the Dursleys?"
@Swedish15
Harry felt both confused and thankful for the praise. He never got any from the Dursleys.
@Epic Bygones
Magic? Is that why the Dursleys hated him so? Is that why strange folks sometimes came up to him on the street?
@Soulforce
Harry winced as the loud, insane voice ranted. Ok, maybe this might be worse than it first appeared.
@Nigerian Duck
"No, I'm sorry, I've never read that book. But toys come to life sound fun. All my toys are Dudleys broken castoffs."
@TheOmnimercurial
Oh dear, that sounds serious. But why would a school be evil? The only reason school was bad for him was Dudley.
@NSchwerte
The rambling voice seemed to be very violent. He probably shouldn't listen to it.
@Pokemon0406
"What's Hufflepuff?"
@OctarineShrike
Harry chuckled. The Dursleys would regard that as a good trade, and they didn't even like turnips.
@TheOmnimercurial
Harrys head whirled at the information. His parents weren't drunks? They were murdered by a "Dark Lord" and all this magic stuff? It was hard to swallow. Yet what else could the voices be besides insanity? "I tried telling people, but nothing ever happens. Maybe it's the protective spell?"
@OctarineShrike @Doccer
"I'm 10! I'm not going to defeat anyone by punching!"
@NSchwerte
A house? Like a boarding school? Is that what Hogwarts was?
@Planetary Tennis
Well, he'd always wanted out of the Dursleys and he wasn't afraid of hard work. If good grades got him far in life, he'd do it.
@yannoshka
The insane voice was back.
@Nigerian Duck
"Who's Hagrid? Is he a wizard?"
@Doccer
"My birthdays in a few months, and then I'll be 11. Should I get ready somehow?"
@OctarineShrike
Wow, that voice was reverby. "Destiny? Traveling the world? Piles of gold? Are you taking the piss? I'm hardly able to travel to London on my own, I'm 10!"
@_brightwing
"Well, I'm hardly going to accept insanity as an explanation.That would please the Dursleys!"
@Fghubyygvb
Harry eventually fell asleep and was awoken early the next morning to prepare a birthday breakfast for Dudley. Despite being only 10, years of being forced to cook had made him quite a good one. The fact he didn't get anything to eat if he messed up was a good motivator. Eating his meager meal as Dudley whined about not getting as many presents as last year, Harry ruminated on his new "friends." They seemed…eager to help. Perhaps a bit too eager, some of them.
Eventually, Dudleys tantrum subsided and Uncle Vernon hustled them towards the car. Harry decided to act on the voice's information. "Uncle Vernon, do I have to come to the zoo? Can I stay here?" "What, and have you mess up the place while we're gone? No, boy, you're coming to the zoo, and no funny business."
The trip to the zoo was uneventful, as Harry was distracted by the events of the previous night. Dudley was rude, loud, and coddled, gaining dark looks from other zoo patrons. On returning home, Harry was made to do more chores before being kicked out of the house to wander. He probably wouldn't get beat up by Dudley's gang today, he was too preoccupied with his new presents. There was time to plan and talk to the voices now.
A/N: Please mark stuff you want harry to hear with an [X]