i. our own house
Petunia's hand shook as she started to empty out the contents of her bag, placing the framed photographs of Dudley and all his achievements on the family's new table. New. She scoffed. Then she turned back to the photo frames. Well, they could make it work. It wasn't like this was a small house. It was even bigger than their house at Privet Drive. Thinking about Privet Drive made Petunia's heart clench. That was the place where she found somewhere safe. Safe to lead a normal life. Away from her parents, away from her sister, away from all that magic.
Stowing a few of Dudley's photographs in her arms, she ran up the stairs to find the room that Dudley had already claimed for himself. Where she found her son, her son snoring on the bed.
She smiled at the sight of him, so calm and so happy in his dreams.
One by one she placed the photos on the windowsill of the room. As she did, she recalled of the memories that came with the pictures. She could remember, as if it was yesterday.
Then her mind turned to the latest memory of Dudley.
Saying kind words to his cousin before they parted forever. She was going to do the same. To tell Harry that they were family, and that, they will always be. But the sentence stuck in her throat.
And she meant it. She will always mean it. That it was not her sister she hated, it was the fact that she would never be a part of her sister's world that she hated, so she pushed her away.
She tried to turn Harry into what she and Dudley were, so save Dudley the pain that she was put into.
Sometimes even when we're trying to help, we do more harm than good. And then the guilt rears its ugly head.
Petunia sighed. This was her family, and this her new home, she would protect it with every last breath. Petunia lied down on the bed with Dudley, and fell asleep.
