by Kathleen Gilligan

Created on: July 05, 2007   Last Updated: January 01, 2008

Before Harry Potter went off to school
Do you know all that he went through?

He was a little boy, all alone,
living in the cupboard under the stairs.
Stuck without light, fluffy pillows,
blankets, or even chairs.

He had no loving parents
to tuck him in at night.
His only companions were spiders,
and they gave him a fright.

He needed a mother
to soothe his tears.
Or a loving father
to chase away his fears.

Instead he had terrible aunt
who forced him to cook,
And a mean uncle who
took pleasure in calling him a crook.

Don't forget the vicious cousin
who would jump on his back,
push his face into the mud,
and give him a smack.

Why were his parents killed, his past so tragic?
What would save him? Could it be... magic?

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