HP: The Stealing Isn't That Bad! Is It?

June 4, 1988, #4 Privet Drive, Surrey

"Look at what I got... " Vernon Dursley said proudly as he showed in his hands a gift wrapped in colorful packaging paper to his son. His son's eyes widened and the boy dropped the current toy he was playing and raced across the living room, eager to get his hands on his latest gift.

The young chubby boy snatched the package from his father and in seconds tore away the expensive wrapping paper.

"You got it! You got it!" Dudley Dursley shouted as he jumped up and down in excitement. He remembered to give his father a quick hug in gratitude and rushed back in front of the TV to open his latest gift.

Vernon looked on proudly as his son played with latest toy that was popular on the market... his son would once again become popular amongst the kids he played with around the neighborhood.

He noticed a pair of green eyes staring at his son from the dark cupboard and he smiled in satisfaction. It was always satisfying to see the look of longing and envy on his nephew's face... it gave him the pleasure and a sense of superiority over the boy.

Harry stared enviously at his cousin's latest toy. It was the action figure that he had seen on the commercial on the telly yesterday. He wanted one badly.

So far he had a few toys in his own collection, and they were not the broken toys his aunt usually made Dudley give to him, since he discovered a way to satisfy his own wants.

Harry Potter started sneaking into his cousin's room two years ago during the middle of the night to steal the toys he knew Dudley rarely played with but were still in good condition.

It was during those years that young Harry discovered the freedom of the night and the excitement it gave him.

Rules that were tightly enforced during the day did not necessarily apply to him, as long as he was not caught by his relatives.

There were some near misses, when once he was stuffing his mouth with the ham that was left over from the previous night. His Aunt Petunia unexpectedly came down the stairs to get a drink of water and Harry immediately closed the door and of the refrigerator and hid under the table.

The closest incident where he was nearly caught was last month, when fed up of not being able to buy candy like the other kids in his school, he dared to sneak into his aunt and uncle's room to steal a few pounds. Harry knew that his Uncle had some coins in his pocket and the large heavy man never really counted them, and a few pounds missing would go unnoticed.

The young boy knew that his uncle's pants were washed every three days, and while in use it was hung on the chair beside the bed. While in the process of fishing the large pockets for coins, his uncle's keys fell from the pocket and onto the floor making sufficient noise to wake the large man.

Harry panicked as the man woke up and his eyes quickly looked around for a hiding place. He knew that if he was caught right inside their room he would get the most severe beating of his life.

As the young boy closed his eyes expecting to get a terrible scolding, he felt a strange sensation and found himself inside his cup board, safe and with a handful of coins in his hands. He never knew how he did it.

"Harry! Start cooking dinner!" A woman's voice said from the living room snapped him out his thoughts.

Harry carefully made sure that all his 'acquisitions' were carefully hidden since his cupboard was also used as storage for the vacuum cleaner and his aunt sometimes opens the cupboard without warning.

He heard his Aunt yell again, this time with a louder and shriller tone of voice and the young boy scampered out of his cupboard to start cooking.

Harry passed by the living room and observed for a moment as his cousin tinkered with his latest toy and he grinned in anticipation. He would give his cousin two days.

Two days later

"MOOOOMM!" Dudley Dursley shouted.

"What is it Duddykins?" Petunia asked as she entered her son's... well lived in room.

"I can't find Snake Eyes... you know the one Daddy gave me a while ago." Dudley said as he searched deeper on the pile of toys beside his bed.

"Oh honey... you must have misplaced it... I'm sure it's here somewhere." Petunia said, warily eying the pile of toys.

"But I want it now! Piers and the others, we were supposed to all bring our toys to the park!" Dudley complained, tossing his other toys around the room in search of his latest, and favorite action figure.

"Fine... I'll ask Harry to look for it" Petunia sighed as she headed downstairs to look for her nephew.

Wisteria Lane, Surrey

"So it's a deal?" Harry asked. "It's in good condition and it's a limited edition... though his sword's missing."

The older kid thought for a moment and finally agreed and gave a crisp ten pound note to the young boy. "I don't mind... I don't like the sword anyway... I heard it's made of plastic. Last year's was better it was actually metal"

"Thanks" Harry said as he folded the note carefully and placed it in his sock.

The older kid stared curiously at this strange behavior but said nothing. As Harry was about to leave, the older boy asked another question. "Say... if there's a new toy or comic book that's hard to get... Can I ask you to obtain one for me?"

Harry smiled. "Sure... what are you looking for anyway?"

"He's over there! Get him!" Dudley shouted as he spotted his cousin sitting on bench at the far side of the school playground.

The rest of Dudley's gang followed their leader's orders and headed towards the black haired boy's direction.

Dudley's cousin surprisingly has a good supply of chocolate bars and sweets and he always wondered where Harry gets them from. Sweets were not sold on the cafeteria and it was a rare commodity in the school yard.

Dudley's gang had finally decided to cash in on the trade and to divest the thin boy of his stock.