Silent All These Years

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 3: Iris

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I could taste is this moment
And all I can breath is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

*~*~*~*~*

Petunia blinked a few times, trying to remove the tears that stung her eyes. Because they'd blurred her vision, she couldn't discern Harry's facial expression, so she was unable to tell if he'd heard her and Severus's conversation. She felt silly standing before her nephew with tears glistening in her eyes, but she thought that to wipe them away would be too conspicuous and she didn't want to draw attention to herself. Why had she let Severus get her so angry and distraught?! No one else but he had the power to reduce her to nothing more than a pathetic, emotional pile of rubbish on the floor. Not even Vernon could trigger a reaction from her as powerful. She was embarrassed at the thought of herself crying and aggravated that Severus held this control over her. If Harry had heard anything, so help the both of them!

"What's he doing here?!" Harry yelled as he directed a scowl of deepest disgust towards the potions master. He'd stopped dead in his tracks at the doorframe of the kitchen, both surprised and furious to see his least favorite Hogwarts professor standing in his aunt and uncle's house.

"Careful, Potter," Snape growled, "I am still a professor, summer or not. You will not talk to me in such a tone!"

Before either could say another word, Petunia interrupted, still afraid that her nephew had heard more than he should've. She tried to conceal the fear in her voice as she admonished him harshly, "You know better than to eavesdrop! It's highly rude to listen in on other people's conversations, especially when it doesn't concern you! How long have you been standing there?"

"I just got here," Harry answered curtly. His eyes, which were now narrow slits, still focused intensely on the menacing form of his professor. Without averting his eyes, he asked his aunt, "What were you talking about?"

Petunia opened her mouth to say something, but Severus beat her to it. "As your aunt has already told you, it doesn't concern you." His black robes rippled at his side as he sauntered closer to Harry, but kept distance enough away. "What does concern you, though, is that the headmaster has sent me to make sure you don't do anything moronic and foolish this summer," a smug look crossed his sallow face.

"What are you talking about?" snarled Harry, now even more infuriated.

"Watch your tone," Severus warned threateningly. "I'm going to be staying here until you are scheduled to return to Hogwarts. You and I are to resume the Occlumency lessons as Professor Dumbledore thinks it's imperative that you master it after the most unfortunate event in June concerning Sirius Black." Sarcasm heavily coated the word "unfortunate" while he donned a ruthless, yet mirthful smirk.

"No!" Petunia adamantly shouted and both Severus and Harry turned to look at her. "You will NOT be doing magic in this house! You will have to find somewhere else to do it!"

Severus retorted, "And where else are we suppose to go?"

"You popped in here from somewhere, so I suggest you find somewhere you can pop out to," she said, crossing her arms and putting her foot down. She was not going to let this man take over her house!

Severus didn't get a chance to respond as Harry jumped in brazenly, "If Dumbledore wants me to learn Occlumency, he's going to have to teach me himself! If my life depended on you, I'd rather die!"

Inching closer, the professor was close enough that he could reach out and grab the boy by the neck and choke him until his last bit of life melted from the scrawny fifteen-year old body before him. His words left his lips in his deepest, silkiest tone, "Whether you live or die is of no concern to me, but I would think that you'd be concerned for the lives of your innocent friends, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. What happened to Sirius Black could most certainly happen to them, and then you would be responsible for their deaths. Are you stupid enough to think that you can fight and protect them against Death Eaters and the Dark Lord armed with only a wand and a few mere curses?? I'd have thought you would've learned your lesson, but apparently it's impossible for anything to be absorbed through that thick head of yours. Your professors think of you as one so brilliant and gallant, but if you were so brilliant you would've known that the Dark Lord was just using you to get what he wanted. Your stupidity is mistaken for bravery and intelligence, and THAT is what caused your dear godfather's death."

"ENOUGH!!"

Petunia shouted loud enough that her voice slightly echoed throughout the kitchen. Startled, Severus jerked his head in her direction and Harry, who's eyes were narrowed substantially and mouth was nothing more than a thin line on his reddened face, tore his face from his professor's to give his aunt the same loathsome, hate-filled look before brashly turning to bolt up the stairs. His every step made a resounding and pointed "thud" as he rapidly ascended the staircase. Petunia knew when he'd gotten to his room when she heard the thunderous slam of his door which caused the walls of the house to shake.

"Just like his father!" Severus sneered. "No regard for authority whatsoever."

But Petunia, who at any other time would not be one to take up for her nephew, didn't agree. Instead she was livid that anyone would feel comfortable enough in her home to speak to one of her family members like that, be it Harry or Vernon or Dudley.

"If your are going to remain in this house, Mr. Snape, then I'd suggest that you refrain from talking to those who live under my roof in the manner that you just did!"

He cocked an eyebrow, "So you don't agree with me that the surly Mr. Potter lacks discipline and sorely needs to be reminded to show respect to his elders?"

She threw her hands on her hips. "It's not for you to decide when my nephew needs discipline! He's not at school and he hasn't done anything wrong except find you repulsive. So, if you're going to punish everyone who can't stand the sight of you, then be prepared to punish everyone that you come into contact with!"

At that precise moment, the pair heard a loud bang that came from the floor above them, more specifically, Harry's bedroom. Petunia looked up toward the ceiling of the kitchen, puzzled. What on Earth was the boy doing? She could hear more muffled clamor and heavy footsteps. At the same time, Petunia and Severus realized what Harry was planning to do.

They both made a hasty start for the stairs. When Petunia saw that Severus had brandished his wand and intended to accompany her, presumably to further antagonize Harry, she stuck out her hand to stop him from following.

"Oh no you don't! You've done enough! You wait down here!" she spat disdainfully. Just before disappearing up the staircase, she looked back at a scowling Severus and brusquely added, "And put that thing away!"

Up the stairs and to Harry's bedroom door she went, the ruckus getting louder with her every step. As she got closer, she could hear drawers being opened and shut and things being moved and cast about. Without bothering to knock, Petunia threw open the door. Harry stopped momentarily, shocked at his aunt's sudden intrusion, but then resumed his activities.

Petunia saw his opened trunk sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor, half full with his things. She saw a few unfolded shirts that had been tossed carelessly in there along with some books and various scattered papers. Harry had his back turned to her as he finished clearing his stuff out of a bureau drawer. After collecting an armful of his belongings, he stomped over to his trunk and hurriedly dropped them inside.

Before speaking, she watched him move back and forth several times between the bureau and the trunk, waiting for him to say something first. Several minutes passed before she finally gave in to the fact that he wasn't going to talk any time soon. "Are you planning on going somewhere without my permission?" Petunia snapped as she crossed her arms, eyeing him inquisitively. She knew all too well that he was planning to run away.

"Do you care?" Harry retorted angrily. He kept right on packing.

"Yes, I do. As I understand it, you're not to leave this house."

He whirled around to face her, his wand, now in his hand, was pointed straight at his aunt. She was taken by surprise at the sight of having the instrument pointed at her so threateningly. "I've taken care of myself for the last five years. I've done things and been through things that no one else has been through, things that no one else would understand! And I'm not going to stay here this summer with you and Snape breathing down my neck, making my life miserable!"

"Put that thing away! I've had enough of those things in my house!" Petunia ordered. Harry didn't budge.

"I won't!" he stammered. Petunia saw that his wand quivered slightly and she could hear Harry's accelerated breathing as he looked at her with extreme contempt. This did not deter her. She then took a small step towards Harry, resulting in a look of bewilderment to overcome his sweaty face.

"You know how I feel about those things," she gestured towards the wand, "put it away. NOW!"

"No! I'm leaving and you're not going to stop me!"

"Oh??" she raised her eyebrows. "And just where will you go?"

"I have friends... I'll go to my best friend, Ron's house. His mother likes having me around. And I like being around them!"

"Your professor told me that you're to stay here, that it's not safe for you to go gallivanting around because there are some people from your world out to get you."

"That's probably just some excuse of his to keep me here so that he can insult me and my parents and Sirius for the rest of the summer. I'm sure you'd love that, wouldn't you? Too bad Uncle Vernon's not here to join in the fun. Isn't it only fitting that the worst of the wizarding world, save Voldemort, meet up with the worst in the Muggle world??" Harry snickered at the cruel irony.

Petunia saw a flicker of sadness in the boy's angry, defiant eyes. His arms dropped to his side, his wand lowered and now aimlessly pointed towards the floor. The voice inside of Petunia's head revisited her and suddenly, she felt pity for this orphaned boy. It was as if she could see her own Dudley standing in his place. Was it the voice making her feel these things or was she experiencing these emotions of her own accord?

In any event, she couldn't have Harry going off on his own. If he got himself killed, it would be her fault and while her husband probably couldn't care a less, Severus would not be so apathetic. More importantly, Harry was her dead sister's only son and though she hadn't gotten along with Lily, deep down, Petunia felt that she owed it to her sister to make sure Harry lived to a ripe, old age.

"When I found you on our doorstep, I also found a letter that was addressed to me. In it, I was told that you had to live with me for the simple reason that I shared the same blood with your mother, as do you and I. Because of this, you're protected from some... man--that man that killed your parents. For this to work, you have to live under the same roof that I do. So Harry, if you still want to leave, go ahead, but I'm afraid that I'll have to come with you."

Pausing, she stopped to gather her wits about her and held her breath. She didn't really plan on leaving, she only intended to call her nephew's bluff. In an instant, though, the sadness dissipated from his eyes and his bitterness resurfaced.

"Why can't you just let me leave?! You don't want me here anyway! You never wanted me here! You've made it obvious my entire life that you wished that I'd never been dropped off to live with you and Uncle Vernon. Why do you care what happens to me? At least I'll be gone!"

Uneasiness settled in Petunia's stomach and spread throughout her body. It was true, she'd never had a kind word for the boy, constantly criticizing him when she wasn't ignoring him. Vernon was the same way, if not worse. But something had changed since last summer. And after this morning in the garden, she'd opened up a part of herself that let her feel something towards Harry and his mother.

But she couldn't think of those silly things right now. It was important that she keep Harry in the house. If not, she'd have to deal with Severus and probably those Ministry people as well. Once they found out that Harry had run away, they'd swamp the house, and how would she explain to the neighbors why all those funny looking people were walking around outside her home??

Shortness returned to Petunia's voice as she spoke, "It's simple. If you leave this house, I go with you. And don't think that you'll easily slip away under your professor's nose. Once he knows that you're gone, he's going to alert everyone he knows and they'll all be looking for you. And once you're found, you'll probably be placed under closer watch and be subject to the scrutiny of Severus every single day until the summer's end."

At the mention of Snape's first name, Harry's head snapped up. Forgetting what his aunt told him that morning about asking questions, fraught with curiosity he inquired, "You called Snape by his first name. How do you know his name?"

Immediately, she realized her mistake. She hadn't wanted to give it away that she knew Severus or anything about the wizarding world. After mentioning last year that she knew what dementors were, Vernon had been kind of wary of her in the days that followed. How stupid could she have been to let that small bit of information slip?! Thinking fast, she said the first thing that came to mind.

"Your mother was a witch, wasn't she?? It was inevitable that I meet her freaky friends when we would drop her off and pick her up at the train station." For the second time that evening, Petunia held her breath and waited for a response from Harry. As the curiosity faded from his face, she could tell that he was satisfied with her answer.

Glancing around at the messy room, she winced. It was a total wreak, much like herself at the moment. Her hands were shaking and traces of her headache yearned to return to wreak havoc on her head. But there was still a boy--not a hero or a survivor but just a boy of fifteen, who felt all alone in the world, standing before her pitifully and dejected.

In a soft voice but not without its usual emotional detachedness, Petunia instructed him firmly, "Harry, unpack your things and clean your room up." He didn't move, but rather continued to look downward at his foot that playfully kicked at the trunk. The matter seem settled. Harry appeared to be staying at Privet Drive, but she wasn't going to give up her guard that easy. There was still a chance that the boy would run away the first opportunity that came along.

A little louder, she asked him, "Did you hear me, Harry?"

Without raising his head to look at his aunt, Harry mumbled quite resignedly, "Yes, Aunt Petunia..."

"And you won't try to run away, will you?" Petunia pressed him, wanting to impress the idea upon him that if he ran away the consequences would be dire. Her words were laced with a trickle of fear and worry.

Once again, he muttered, "No, Aunt Petunia."

"Good," she said as she stiffened her composure, satisfied, for the moment at least, with his answer. "I'll be up in about an hour to check on you." He didn't say anything. His attention was drawn to a small orange ball that he was now shuffling halfheartedly between his feet.

Turning, Petunia went towards the door, but just as she was about to leave and close it behind her, she turned back around and paused to stare at the boy. Never before in his fifteen years had he given her such cause to be captivated by him. Perhaps it was just because Vernon and her Popkin were gone. For the last month she'd been stuck in the house with only Harry for company, so it was only natural that she missed her husband and son so much that she began to take solace in Harry's presence. Right?? She wasn't going soft on him, was she? After all, his mother was a witch, his father was a wizard and he was some kind of unnatural combination of the two. Vernon had told her for years that nothing good could come of those people. And she'd believed him. He was always right, wasn't he? Vernon loved her, so he would never lie to her, would he? People like her sister and nephew were the outcasts, the freaks.

So, then why did she not feel so superior right now? Why didn't she feel like rubbing it in his face that Severus Snape would be here all summer, content that he would be able to torture his obviously least favorite student? Probably because she felt tortured as well, due to Severus's untimely appearance in her life. He was included in a life that she'd reluctantly and bitterly left behind several years before meeting Vernon. Now, he was a threat to her present life, that of marriage and motherhood and neighborhood teas and socials and garden parties...

Life with Vernon hadn't been nearly as complicated and as traumatic as it had been with Severus. She never had to work for Vernon had always provided more than adequately for her. In return, she'd given him a son of which he could be enormously proud. And one child had been enough, especially after Harry had been dropped at their doorstep. Though she'd done her duty in providing Vernon with a child, the maternal instinct was just not present in herself. So, to the best of her knowledge, she'd tried to rear little Diddykins the best way she knew how and gave him all the love that she could.

She hadn't liked being pregnant as the pregnancy had been difficult and she'd spent the most part of it either ill or on bed rest. It had been difficult carrying such a large, round "bump" on her skinny, little body. The only thing she remembered was wanting the thing growing inside of her to hurry up and be born so she could go back to being normal, however she never dared tell Vernon that. All he did from the moment she'd found out she was expecting their baby was go around proudly telling everyone that he knew it was a boy. He'd been so ecstatic from the time he had come home from work when she'd told him that she was pregnant until the very day Dudley was born. The day after she'd told Vernon her news, she came down to start breakfast to find a breathtaking diamond bracelet in a black velvet jewelry box. Though it was a lovely gift, she couldn't help but wonder, did Vernon give her this gift out of the love that he had for her or for mere appreciation that she was to sire his child?

Over the years, he'd bought her gifts here and there and promised vacation homes in France and Italy. He never once raised his voice to her and he never held it against her that her sister was a witch. She was grateful that he married her despite her freaky sister, for Vernon was an utter gentleman and was, without exception, loving towards her. But there was always something missing between her and her husband. Love wasn't a question, for with each year, she grew fonder of him. It was almost as if she kept waiting for some part of Vernon or for some aspect of their marriage to recapture the same emotional and sensual highs and lows that she felt with Severus.

Severus.

The man's name sent an ice cold chill down her spine. Outwardly, she shuddered so violently that she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Aunt Petunia?"

The voice of her nephew broke through her internal thoughts and slowly her eyes refocused upon the scene before her. Harry was looking in her direction and she could discern mild concern on his face. At that moment, she was wholly vulnerable and raw. She wished Vernon would come home, now more than ever.

"Clean your room, Harry," she briskly told him before shutting the door to the bedroom behind her.

Down the stairs she went and as she quietly walked into the living room area, she saw Severus standing in front of the fireplace with his back to her. As per his usual manner, he was standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back. From the back, he looked to her as he had looked all those years ago. For a second, she could almost believe that she was twenty years old again. It was remarkable how he had managed to look so much the same except for his face. There were lines and creases on his face that hadn't been present the last time she'd caressed his face. His hair was still long, and just as jet black as it had always been...

"I do believe it's impolite to stare, Mrs. Dursley," Severus's low, rich voice filled the silence in the same way a wisp of smoke unfurls from a freshly snuffed out candle.

Walking over to where he stood, she came to a stop beside him. He refrained from looking at her, instead, his attention was focused on the framed picture before him on the mantle.

"So, is the invincible Mr. Potter going to run away and send the wizarding world into an uproar once again as they try to locate his whereabouts?"

All sense of complacency disappeared at his sarcasm, giving rise to the virulence that lay buried just beneath the surface of her skin, always ready to emerge when she felt extreme loathing.

"No," she answered tersely. "And let's get a couple of things straight. You might be Harry's professor, but you will NOT talk to him in such a manner as you did today. You will NOT mention his parents or his godfather."

Petunia could feel that Severus was slightly perturbed at being told what to do. He never liked taking orders from anyone.

"My purpose for being here is not to discuss Potter's parents or his beloved godfather. I'm here on orders from Dumbledore to watch him and to teach him Occlumency."

"I don't care why you're here, just as long as I know you'll be leaving. And when you leave, I never want you to step into this house again."

The two of them stood in silence in front of the fireplace several more minutes looking at all the pictures of the Dursley family that decorated the mantle. Petunia only looked at Severus when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him reaching for something on the mantle. He had a framed portrait of Vernon, Dudley and herself in his hand!

"What do you think you're doing?! Put that down!" she yelled, horrorstruck that this despicable man had the gall to touch anything in her house.

He turned to her and shoved the picture into her hand.

"Do you know what I see when I look at this, Mrs. Dursley??" he spat venomously. His eyes were dark with fury and his anger was marked by the intensity of which he spoke. "I see a clever actress that has played so many different roles for so long that she's forgotten that they are just roles. No one knows it, though, because from the time she gets out of bed in the morning until the time she returns to it at night, she keeps herself busy making her husband happy, placating her child, cooking and cleaning, so that she doesn't have the time to think about how morbidly unhappy she is! So many years have passed now, that she doesn't even know why she's unhappy!"

Petunia's eyes glossed over with tears and she let her rage be known. "You're the one to talk about happiness! Look at you! You don't look the epitome of a happy man to me!"

"But I don't pretend to be happy, either!" he shot back.

"You're wrong," she said almost in a whisper. But her tone of voice contradicted her words. "I am perfectly happy. You--You're the one who's suffered all this time, Severus, not me. What do you have to show for yourself?? NOTHING! You brought it all upon yourself when you joined those damned Death Eaters... Did you think I'd never find out?! Did you think you could keep it hidden from me?! Did I matter that little to you that you'd go off and join the other side?! Well, DID I?!"

In an eerily calm and steady voice, he asked her, "Is that what you honestly think of me?"

"Yes," she answered in a voice broken by her emotion.

"Then it's good you married your husband, Mrs. Dursley. You need someone whom you don't really love so that when they hurt you, you don't feel the pain."

"DAMN YOU!" Petunia screamed, releasing the anger that had been building up since Severus's arrival. She took the picture frame in her hand and threw it at Severus's head. He ducked just in time.

Now, she was even more mad that she hadn't at least physically harmed him. It took a lot to restrain herself from collecting all the frames on the mantle and throwing them at Severus one by one. How dare he speak to her in such a manner! And in her house, too!

"Get out of my sight!" she shouted.

Severus smirked, "Of course. Harry and I will be starting the Occlumency lessons at once."

"Fine."

"I remember you specifically stating that we aren't to do magic in the house..."

"I don't care where you do it, just as long as it's away from me and some place where the neighbors can't see it! Just get out of my sight!"

Silently, Severus left the room, headed for Harry's bedroom upstairs. Once she was sure that she wouldn't run into either of them, Petunia tiptoed upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom the rest of the night. Until the early morning hours, she thought longingly about her husband that was thousands of miles across the ocean as was her only child. The thought of having to share her house with Severus for the next month and a half nauseated her. Over and over again, she heard him speak those words that he had hurdled unfairly at her in the living room. Her stomach did a sickening lurch. Memories of Lily crept into her mind as well, as did images from her young adult life, especially the one day which brought her whole world crashing down. Eventually, just before the birds began to sing their morning tune, Petunia drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The next few days passed by unceremoniously. For the most part, Petunia avoided Severus, and Harry gladly avoided both of them by remaining in his room at all times, unless his aunt had chores for him to do. Wherever Severus was, Petunia had made sure to be somewhere else. If he and Harry were practicing the "M" word in the house, then she was outside working in the garden. Actually, she was watching for nosy neighbors who might be trying to peer over the fence. Every so often she would look up from her work to suspiciously scan the yard for eavesdroppers. Since Severus's arrival, she feared that at least one of her neighbors would find out she had a freak living with her and tell every one else on the street. She had been extra careful to have the curtains closed at all times and had deferred visits from friends and neighbors.

The words that passed between the two adults were minimal and, though not as contemptuous an the mutual feelings they had for one another, their words didn't generate any feelings of warmth either. After two weeks of living like a prisoner in her own house plagued by feelings that she may go crazy if trapped in the house another minute, Vernon surprised his wife by coming home for a weekend.

It was eight o'clock on a Friday morning when Petunia heard the front door open then shut. She had been eating breakfast alone in the kitchen and started to get up from the table when Vernon came walking into the kitchen with a big grin on his face. He sat his suitcases down on the kitchen floor. Never had she been happier or sorrier to see him.

"Vernon!" she squeaked nervously as she hopped up from her chair and looked around hoping Severus would stay put wherever he was. She wanted to have the chance to explain to Vernon Harry's situation and the reasoning behind Severus's presence in the house. Vernon would most certainly not be happy. The only thing that would stop him from throwing Harry and his professor out of the house would probably be to remind him of those people's words from the train station when they went to pick Harry up in June.

He came around the table to where Petunia stood and kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "How long has it been, a month, month and a half??"

It took her a minute to realize what he was alluding to.

Quickly, she stumbled out of his reach and went to stand on the opposite side of the kitchen. "Vernon, there's something I need to talk to you about," she stammered, really not wanting to have to tell him about Severus.

He moved towards her, still grinning. She turned around to face the sink, wanting to deflect Vernon's romantic insinuations. Firstly, she had something that she needed to tell him before Severus showed up and ruined her plan therefore causing a more explosive confrontation than was needed. Secondly, she wasn't feeling the least bit romantic at the moment.

From behind her, her husband slipped his beefy arms around her tiny waist. She could feel his heightened breath beating wildly on her hair. "Where's the boy?"

"He's out for the day." she answered simply.

"Well, well, how convenient then. We have the house all to ourselves," he growled ever so slyly.

In his tight grip of her, Petunia whirled around to face him, catching him off guard a little bit.

"Vernon, I have to tell you something," she tried to say as he began nipping at her ear. She wanted him to stop. All the sudden, she couldn't stand to have him touch her. "Vernon... Vernon there's a wizard staying in our house!"

Silence.

At the word "wizard", Vernon abruptly stopped what he was doing and let go of his wife. Taking a step back from her, he eyed her concernedly and asked, "Petunia, dear, are you feeling all right?? We've known that about your nephew since he started that freaky school of his."

She shut her eyes in exasperation and sighed heavily, "No! Not Harry! His professor, Vernon. His professor has come to stay with us until Harry returns to school!"

It took a moment for Vernon to digest this information and when he did, his face was all shades of purple.

"WHAT?!" his voice boomed deafeningly, causing Petunia to flinch. "I will NOT have any weirdoes living under my roof!"

"Believe me, Vernon, I already tried telling him!" She pleaded, hoping he would calm down.

"HIM?! You mean you've been living with a man for the last month?! Did he try anything on you??" Vernon pointed his finger at his wife, his face rabid with fury.

"No! No no no! He came to stay because Harry is in danger. There are people out to get him and so the professor came to stay here as a precaution."

"We should've thrown him out last year when we had the change, Petunia! I will NOT put my family in danger over some freak son of your weird sister's!"

Indescribable anger flooded Petunia and coursed violently through her veins like ocean waves during a hurricane. Her husband's words about her dead sister unleashed a hell of emotions which she strained to keep suppressed. Repulsed by him, she moved farther away from where he stood in front of her. She went back to the table and broodingly sat down in the chair from which she ate her breakfast.

It took all the restraint she had to keep her inner feelings from being displayed on her face, and somehow, she managed to remain calm. After all, she'd said some not too nice things about Lily, herself. In fact, some of the cruelest things ever said about Lily probably came from her own mouth.

Flatly, she said as she looked at him straight in the eye, "He has to stay here. It's the only way that the man who killed his parents won't find him. It's only until school starts, Vernon, then we'll be rid of the both of them."

"But Petunia--!" Vernon started to protest.

"They both stay. I'm sorry, Vernon, but we have no choice."

His mouth tightened which caused his mustache to twitch. He then turned to walk out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Petunia shouted after him.

Dryly, he answered, "To the office. I need to deliver some reports." Then he was out the door.

Petunia couldn't say that she was sorry to see him go. He'd infuriated her. Although she was made at her husband, the next time she saw Severus that afternoon, she'd made sure to tell him to stay out of Vernon's sight. He agreed, but not without his usual sneer.

It wasn't until later that night that Vernon finally came home. It had been strange sleeping alone those first few weeks of his absence, but now it was even stranger having him in the bed next to her. As she lay there trying to fall asleep, she thought about how it had been her wish for her husband to come home, but now that he was, she didn't feel any better. She'd hoped things would go back to normal when he came home, but she still felt as though she had no control as to what was going on around her.

Vernon hadn't said two words to her when he came home. She couldn't tell whether he was mad at her or uncomfortable with the thought of freaks inhabiting his house. What was even more strange was the fact that he hadn't said anything to Harry, either. Not even to criticize. Perhaps the next day, she thought, things would get better for her and for Vernon.

The next day, Saturday, things did get better. Vernon woke up in a better mood and he and his wife went to London for some shopping and caught a movie. Even the dinner was lovely. He talked about the people he met in Argentina, the exotic places he'd seen and how he should be home permanently by October. Petunia was thankful that the topics of Harry and Severus were avoided. The outing was a welcome one for she'd wanted to get away from that house and just be normal again. It was during their evening stroll through Hyde Park that Petunia began to wish that when Harry left for school that year that he would stay gone and never come back. As they drove home that night, Petunia couldn't imagine a day that could've been better. She'd forgiven Vernon for what he'd said about her sister and realized that she had probably been a little too thin-skinned. Once they had gotten home and in bed, she vowed to herself to make Vernon's last two remaining days at home comfortable and enjoyable.

On Sunday, Petunia woke up happy and refreshed. At had been a long while since she felt this at ease. The morning went by without incidence. The sun shone brightly in the clear sky as puffy, brilliant white clouds dotted it's pristine perfection. There was a light breeze that whipped softly passed Petunia's face, adding a bit of rosy color to her cheeks. Vernon decided that he wanted to have his afternoon tea out on the terrace in the back yard, so Petunia happily obliged and brought the tea outdoors. For the better part of an hour, the two sat on the comfy lawn chairs blissfully sipping their tea in blessed silence. There were no sounds except for birds chirping cheerfully overhead.

"Ahhh, a fine day, isn't it?" Vernon asked his wife with a smile. He sat his empty cup and saucer down on the patio table.

"Mmm Hmm, just wonderful," Petunia returned the smile.

"Dear, I've been thinking..." Vernon started.

"Yes?" she asked before taking another sip of tea.

"I think you should come with me back to Argentina."

Oh, how she wanted to. She would give anything to escape this lonely house for without Vernon or her little Diddykins, she felt useless and bored. She needed to be someone's wife or someone's mother, she wasn't content waiting at home biding time until her family came back home to her.

But what about Harry??

It was that cursed voice again.

So, what about Harry? He has Severus, besides he's going back to school in a month.

But you're his aunt.

I'm Vernon's wife and Dudley's mother! I can't help if Lily went and got herself blown up! I'm not going to put my life on hold for her brat! I'm tired of sitting at home being separated from my husband!

Lily was your sister.

No more! Stop it! I'm going and that's it!

"Of course I'll come, Vernon, dear," Petunia sweetly smiled and took another sip of tea.

"Splendid!" he clapped his hands together and laughed joyfully. "Oh, Petunia, you're going to love it! Lobster for dinner every night and you won't have to clean a thing! Everything's taken care of!"

"Sounds lovely," she responded, but on the inside she wondered if she was just trying to assure herself that she was doing the right thing by going to Argentina with Vernon whilst leaving Harry behind.

Just then, there was a sound like a weak firecracker which was followed by three figures in mysterious, black hooded robes instantly appearing in the back of the lawn by the fence, taking Petunia and Vernon completely by surprise. She dropped her cup and saucer in shock. It shattered into pieces on the brick terrace.

"What the devil?!" roared Vernon as he began to rise out of his seat.

"Stay seated, Vernon," a wide-eyed Petunia instructed him quietly.

"What?! Petunia, they're trespassing on our property!"

"Shh!"

At that moment, Severus instantly appeared on the terrace in the same fashion as the hooded figures who were ascending the lawn towards the house. His wand was raised and he had a look of utmost seriousness and solemnity on his face. Petunia realized that it was three against one. Slowly, she got up out of her chair. She didn't know what to do. Should she and Vernon run?? What about Severus?? Though they were completely covered from head to toe and she couldn't see a thing, she knew what they wanted. They wanted Harry.

"Petunia!" Severus barked. "I can't take them all by myself!"

"Where's Harry???" she asked frantically.

"I told him to stay inside!"

"Are you sure he's safe??"

"Unless he's going to try to act hero once again and come outside! Petunia, there's no time to go get anyone else! I need your help!"

Petunia froze. Oh God, had it come down to this?? What could she do?? There's was no way she could help! She couldn't!

"I can't help you, Severus!" she shook her head.

"Merlin, Woman, don't be stupid! I need your help!" he yelled sharply.

"I can't, Severus! I just can't!" She would be crying if she hadn't been scared out of her wits. Vernon rose up angrily, but Petunia screamed, "Vernon sit down!!"

"Petunia, you idiot, if you don't do anything then you're going to get us all killed!! Do you want to die?! Do you want Lily's son dead?!"

All she could think of were Harry's angry words to her a couple of weeks back: "You know, I don't hate Uncle Vernon or even Dudley as much as I hate you! You know why?! Because you were suppose to love me and want me! You are my aunt! My mother's sister! That's why I had to come live with you!

He was right, she was his aunt. By taking him in, she, in effect, had agreed to protect Harry as she would've protected Dudley: with her life.

Upon exhaling the breath she'd taken in so deeply, her shoulders sagged in resignation and she succumbed to a decision witch would probably have a lasting impact on her life from here on out. With sad eyes bedimmed with tears, she looked over at her husband who was more than perplexed by the whole situation. In a wavering voice, she apologized sorrowfully, "Vernon, I'm so sorry..."

If it was possible to look even more confused than he already was, Vernon achieved it. "Wh--what?? Petunia what are you--?!"

Sighing, she said, void of any emotion whatsoever, "Accio, wand."