Petunia's Story

Dear Harry,

I've never written to you before, but I felt there were things I needed to tell you.

I received a letter last evening from your school saying you had been badly injured. I was agitated all night long. This morning I got the message that Madame Pomfrey, whoever she is, had fixed you up well enough that you were out of danger, but still badly injured. I knew Quidditch was dangerous, but I didn't know how dangerous. I've seen it played before, after all.

Harry, first and foremost, I never hated your mother. I pretended I did because Vernon hated her. I had always been fascinated by magic, actually, but when I was fourteen I started to distance myself from that fascination a bit. You see, my own parents were murdered--in the house we've lived in for so long. They were murdered by someone who works for that dark wizard everyone calls You-Know-Who. I guess you know whom I'm talking about. I know you know how they were killed, because your own parents were killed in much the same way.

I went to Hogwarts at the age of fourteen for a concert. I'm a little bit of a witch--enough that I can see Hogwarts and get on to the platform, but small enough that I can control it. That's really the only reason people go to Hogwarts, you know--to learn how to harness their powers. I don't have enough power to need to learn how to control it. I watched the Quidditch finals while I was there--your father was an excellent Quidditch player. I'm told you play also (obviously, since that's how you were injured) and I imagine you play as well as your father did.

I don't know if you know any of your father's friends, though you certainly have heard of one of them. Sirius Black, the man--oh, wait, he's your godfather, isn't he? You know about him. But your father had two other friends you might not know about. One of them was Peter Pettigrew. He was kind of a pig, and he told really lame jokes, but I didn't get very acquainted with him. The other one I remember very well. His name was Remus Lupin. He was sweet, kind of shy--everything Vernon wasn't. We dated for about three years (when he was home from school, of course) but he told me before his seventh year that he was a werewolf, and he was afraid he'd bite me if we were married. It's too bad we didn't, or your home life might have been a little different.

That brings me to the third thing, Harry--Vernon is no longer related to you. He was related through marriage only, and we divorced recently. Because I grew up in the house, the settlement is I keep the house, my furniture, your things, and of course you--Vernon didn't want to take you with him. Besides, you are my sister's son, and the letter Dumbledore sent us fifteen years ago said the house had some kind of protective spells around it to keep you safe. Basically, I keep things that came from my side of the family. Vernon took his things, Dudley's things (except the books), and Dudley himself. I actually couldn't be happier. I never liked the way that boy turned out, but Vernon dotes on him. I had to say all those gushy, mushy, disgusting things about him to keep his father happy.

I'm coming to Hogwarts to visit you, Harry. This letter will probably beat me there, and I'm glad. I wouldn't want to surprise you after all. See you in a couple of days. And...just in case I don't get there in time...Merry Christmas, Harry.

~ Love, Aunt Petunia.

~~~

Harry's eyes filled with tears as he finished reading the letter. He told himself that his aunt didn't know, that she had no idea what pain her words had caused, but that didn't make him feel any better. He quietly folded it up and stuck it partway under his pillow as the stern nurse came bustling over.

"Your friends are back," said Madame Pomfrey, looking a bit disapproving. Since Harry had been injured, every Gryffindor had visited at one point or another. Hermione and Ron had stayed there the whole time, hovering anxiously by his bed, but Harry had finally convinced them that he had no intention of dying anytime soon and would be quite all right if they stepped out for half an hour to get something to eat. Obviously, they'd been hungry, because they'd been gone for an hour.

"Hello," said Harry as cheerfully as he could. "How was lunch?"

Hermione gave Harry a sheepish grin. "I didn't realise how hungry I was until I sat down." Ron nodded his agreement.

"I'm glad," laughed Harry, tucking the letter the rest of the way under his pillow.

Ron glanced over. "What is that?" he asked.

"It's a letter from my aunt," said Harry, pulling the letter back out again with his right hand, which thankfully wasn't injured. A particularly forceful Bludger had hit him hard on the left shoulder and sent him flying off his broomstick and, somehow, into the Whomping Willow. Pretty much the only things that had survived unharmed were his broomstick, his glasses, and his right arm.

"Your aunt sent you a letter?" said Ron incredulously.

Harry nodded. "She's coming to visit too."

"I thought she hated you!" protested Hermione.

"So did I," shrugged Harry. "Apparently, though, she was really close to my mum. Not only that, she was at Hogwarts when she was fourteen, about twenty-one years ago. She never liked how Dudley turned out, she says."

"Does anybody like how Dudley turned out?" muttered Ron.

Harry shrugged again, then winced as his left arm seared with pain. "Uncle Vernon does. Actually, he's no longer my uncle. He and Aunt Petunia got a divorce, and he took Dudley. He thinks she got 'stuck' with me, but I think she's pleased about it."

~~~

Petunia felt perfectly ridiculous. She had done as Dumbledore suggested--she had gone to Diagon Alley and bought herself a set of robes so she would 'fit in' and not look unusual. She felt a bit out of place, though--as though she, a Muggle, had no business being here.

Her hair had been stripped, and she now had the pale red hair she'd had as a child. She looked up at the doors of Hogwarts, straightened her robes, and prepared to knock.

"Excuse me, madam, can I help you?"

Petunia turned around to find a man coming up the walk. He had light brown hair that was starting to turn grey, though the man looked about her age. Premature lines marred his youngish face, and light brown eyes studied her softly. For a moment she thought--but then she pushed the thought from her mind.

"No, not really," she said with a smile. "I haven't been here in twenty-one years, but I think I can find the infirmary myself. I'm just here to see my nephew."

The man fell in step with her. "I'm going up there myself," he said to her. "I'm here to see--to see a friend."

Petunia nodded, yet she couldn't help but think...She looked askance at the man. She could've sworn he was Remus Lupin--but one look into his eyes told her she was wrong. Remus Lupin had light brown eyes full of laughter. This man's eyes had a deadened, haunted look, as though he had lost his best friend or something.

"So," she said, trying desperately to make conversation, "what happened to your friend?"

The man looked a bit upset. "He was hit with a Bludger while playing Quidditch and was knocked into the Whomping Willow. He got rather badly injured."

Petunia smiled. "My nephew was injured playing Quidditch as well. Could we possibly be talking about the same boy?"

"Nah," said the man. "His aunt hates him. And all things connected with magic." He looked slightly forlorn as he said this.

They walked into the Great Hall. Dumbledore was waiting. He nodded to the Petunia. "You go on up." To the man he added, "You may wish to wait a while."

Petunia began climbing staircases. It took her an hour to find the blasted hospital wing. Finally she opened the door.

To her surprise, there was nobody in the room except Harry, a young girl perched on one side of his bed and a young, albeit tall boy perched on the other side. They were playing cards.

Harry looked up. "Hello, Aunt Petunia," he said as pleasantly as he could.

"You got my letter?" asked Petunia.

Harry nodded. He looked a little upset, so Petunia didn't pursue the subject.

The girl gathered the cards, shuffled them, and put a rubber band around the deck. Pocketing the cards, she stood up and held out her hand. "I'm Hermione Granger, Mrs. Dursley."

Petunia shuddered, just slightly. "Please. Call me Petunia."

The boy stood up also. "I'm Ron Weasley. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," said Petunia, shaking his hand too. Turning to Harry, she said, "So how are you feeling, Harry?"

Harry looked like he was about to say something, then glanced at Ron and Hermione and said quickly, "Fine--I'm just fine."

An owl fluttered in the window. Petunia jumped as it landed. Harry looked at it. "It's addressed to you two," he said, handing the letter to Ron and Hermione. They opened it, and a funny look crossed over Ron's face.

"Dumbledore wants us down in the Great Hall," he said. "Says there's someone we need to show up..."

Good old Dumbledore, thought Harry. He knew that Harry needed a little time alone with his aunt.

"We'll--we'll be back, Harry," said Hermione, startled, and she and Ron left.

Petunia moved over and sat next to her nephew. "Harry, what's wrong?"

"Aunt Petunia--" Harry sighed and pulled out her letter. "You're wrong about one thing in this letter. I do know Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Lupin was our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in our third year...that was the year I met Pettigrew and--" Harry gulped. "Well, the year I met Pettigrew. Pettigrew is the one who betrayed my parents. He's the one who did the crimes Si--" He choked on his words again.

"The ones Sirius Black was accused of?"

Harry nodded. His eyes filled up with tears.

"Harry," said his aunt in amazement, "what on earth is wrong?"

Harry looked up at his aunt, tears starting to run down his cheeks. He wiped his face, took a deep breath, and told her.

~~~

Remus took a deep, calming breath as Dumbledore sent a message up to the hospital wing. When Dumbledore sat down, Remus had to ask. "Professor, who was that woman?"

"That was Petunia Evans," said Dumbledore quietly. "She and Harry's uncle divorced a short time ago."

Remus stared. "She's here? What's she doing here?"

"She's here to see Harry. She truly does care about him."

"You wanted to see us, Professor Dumbledore?"

Remus turned. Ron and Hermione were standing nervously before him. "Ah, Ron, Hermione," said Dumbledore with a smile. "Would you please escort Remus up to the hospital wing?"

Bewildered (like he hadn't been there a million times--he had been a Chaser, after all), Remus followed Harry's friends.

Abruptly, Hermione said, "I know you don't need us to escort you up, but Harry's aunt is up in the hospital wing. I think Dumbledore decided they needed some time alone."

Remus nodded. "I understand."

~~~

Petunia hadn't had such a good time in years. She hadn't actually met any of the kids, as it was Easter vacation and they were all home, but she loved Hogwarts. Hermione and Ron had shown her how to find the Great Hall from the hospital wing without getting lost, and Harry promised to give her a tour when he was up and moving on his own again. She, along with Ron, Hermione, and Remus, spent much of her time in the hospital wing, and it was all Harry could do to get them to leave to get something to eat or a few hours of much-needed sleep. What times they were all in the room was enjoyable, spent playing Speed or Hearts or Bridge or Bluff. Once they played Canasta. They taught Petunia to play wizarding games too, Gobstones and Exploding Snap. Sometimes they would just sit around and watch Ron beat Harry at Wizard's Chess time after time.

The whole time Harry seemed perfectly cheerful and normal. Out of the corner of her eye, however, Petunia often would notice that Harry was crying--crying in silence, but crying nonetheless. She felt horrible. He had relayed the whole story to her, and she couldn't believe that anyone would be so cruel as to take loved ones from this boy who had already lost so much.

One afternoon, Remus tapped Petunia on the shoulder as they left the hospital wing. "Would you like to take a walk around the lake?" he asked her shyly, and suddenly she was reminded of the boy he'd been twenty-one years before.

"Of course," Petunia answered instantly, giving him a smile.

Harry glanced out the window as they emerged onto the grounds and smiled. They looked like a couple of schoolchildren. Harry couldn't help but wonder...He shrugged and turned back to his friends. "Two fours."

~~~

Petunia and Remus took a seat on the rock they'd sat on all those years before. Neither one of them said anything at first; both were lost in their own separate thoughts.

Petunia glanced sideways at Remus. He'd always been such a sweet boy. Never in her life had she been happier than the three years they'd been dating. The most horrible moment in her life had been that Christmas Eve when he'd confessed to being a werewolf, told her they couldn't go out any longer because he was afraid of hurting her. If only he'd waited, Petunia thought with a small, suppressed sigh. If he'd only waited another five seconds, he'd have known I didn't care...that I loved him anyway. Then I'd have never been Petunia Dursley...Dudley would've never been around...Harry wouldn't be this upset.

Remus studied Petunia out of the corner of his eye. Why had he refused her all those years ago? Why did he chase her away? Would she really care? He hadn't even stuck around to see...he'd seen this shocked look in her eyes and assumed she was shocked he hadn't told her. Recently he'd begun to wonder if she was shocked that he'd even think she'd care he was a werewolf. But she married Vernon Dursley, he reminded himself. Sirius always said she was a bad egg...that she'd choose wealth over love any day. Oh, God...Sirius...

"Petunia, did..." Remus began.

"Remus, I..." Petunia started at the same time.

They both laughed. "You first," Remus offered.

Petunia gave him a shy, half-smile. "I...I heard about Sirius. Harry told me...I'm so sorry. I know how close you and he were...and I kind of guessed how close he was to Harry. I remember when you guys came for a visit and we had that joke competition...I never could tell if you were egging them on or trying to stop them."

"A little of both, I imagine," Remus said fondly, remembering.

Petunia chuckled. "Anyway, what was it you wanted to say?"

Remus took a deep breath. "Petunia, I hope you don't find this impertinent, but...why did you marry Vernon Dursley? I know I shouldn't have just run off like that after I told you I was a werewolf, I know I should've written or something, but...Vernon Dursley?"

Petunia stared at the lake. "Remus, I didn't want to. In fact, after you ran off like that, I never wanted to get married at all. I was going to live single...but my uncle--you remember he took custody of Lily and me after our parents died--realised that I had no boyfriend and wasn't engaged, so he made arrangements with Vernon's father and married me off to him." She sighed and leaned back on her hands. "Thank God for small mercies, though...Vernon and I got a divorce about a month ago, and he took Dudley with him."

Remus stared at her for a moment. "You're kidding."

"Nope," Petunia told him. "So when the year's out, it'll just be Harry and me at the house...I think he'll be glad of that, quite honestly." She glanced at the castle, then dropped her voice. "Nothing official, of course, but I happen to know he was Dudley's favourite punching bag when they were younger...and I have reason to believe Vernon was abusing him this summer."

Remus turned pale. "Oh, my gosh. Poor Harry...he never said a word to any of us."

"I think he was scared to admit it. I never heard him cry out...either Vernon threatened him if he did, or he was allowing Vernon to hurt him, probably because--from the impression I got when he told me what happened--he blames himself for Sirius."

"But it wasn't his fault," Remus said, almost in a whisper. "It wasn't. It was an accident."

Petunia nodded. "I know that, and you know that, but he doesn't know that. I think he's very firmly convinced that everything is his fault. That girlfriend of his, what's-her-name..."

"Cho Chang?"

"Why her?" Petunia asked, confused. "No, that brown-haired girl...Hermione Granger, that's it. Anyway, according to her he blames himself for the death of a kid named Cedric Diggory, too."

Remus nodded sadly. "I know all about that. Apparently, he told Cedric to take the Triwizard cup with him...he thinks that it's his fault Cedric took it and was consequently murdered by Voldemort. I'm sure you know who Voldemort is." He looked Petunia straight in the eye. "He's the one who killed James and Lily." A bemused expression suddenly crossed his face. "Wait. Since when are Harry and Hermione boyfriend and girlfriend? I thought Harry had a crush on Cho Chang."

"He did--at one point," Petunia laughed. "The two of us had a conversation about her this summer...they had a couple of altercations because she hadn't completely got over her former boyfriend, who apparently was dead."

"Cedric Diggory."

"Ah."

A silence fell between them, but it wasn't uneasy. Remus had another question he was burning to ask. Finally, he blurted out, "Petunia...did you care that I was a werewolf? I didn't stick around to find out."

"Remus. Of course I don't care," Petunia told him gently. "And I didn't care back then, any more than I cared you were a wizard."

Remus bit his lip, then slipped his hand into his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at his shoes. "I--I just have one more question."

"What's that?" Petunia asked, looking over at him curiously.

Remus gathered his courage, stood up, then dropped down on one knee and opened the aged black velvet box he'd kept for nineteen years. "Petunia Evans...will you marry me?"

Petunia gasped, stared at Remus for a minute, then threw her arms around his neck. It was all the answer he needed.

~~~

"By the holy powers vested in me," the minister droned, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The blushing groom, who all of a sudden seemed twenty years younger, turned to his bride, threw back the veil, and kissed her. The tiny church erupted into cheers as the happy couple made their way down the aisle.

Not much later, at the reception, the newlyweds stood with a small group of people. Harry couldn't stop grinning. Neither could Hermione. A tall, redheaded woman played absently with Harry's hair, smiling lovingly at the bride. Two men stood, arms around each other, grinning at the groom from ear to ear. "Congrats, Remus," the slightly shorter of the two said at last, holding out a semi-transparent hand. "I knew we'd be brothers-in-law eventually."

Remus laughed and shook James Potter's spectral hand. Sirius Black came over and gave Remus a quick hug, then turned to Petunia with a look of mock sternness on his face.

"Now you take good care of Remus, mind," he said severely, wagging a finger in her face. "Or I'm liable to come back from the dead and bludgeon you with a haddock."

"And don't you two forget--anything happens to Harry and I hold you both personally accountable," Lily Potter added, hiding a smirk. "Your punishment for failing in your guardianship duties will be to chop down the mightiest tree in the Forbidden Forest with...a herring!" she added with just the right dramatic flair.

"What is it with you all and fish?" Petunia laughed. "I promise. I'll take good care of everyone."

"Congratulations, Lu--uh, Uncle Remus," Harry corrected himself hastily.

Remus made a face. "Uncle Remus...sounds like a rabbit. Just Remus is fine, Harry."

"All right," Harry agreed. "Congratulations, Remus."

A slow song struck up suddenly. James led Lily out onto the dance floor. Harry bowed to Hermione, and the two of them began to waltz after Harry's parents. Remus smiled at his bride.

"Shall we then...Mrs. Lupin?"

"Oh, let's, Mr. Lupin," Petunia answered with the same smile she'd given him the day they'd met over twenty years before, and together, the newlywed Lupins began to dance their first dance as a married couple.

~**~Fin~**~