Title: Non-Replacement
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Vernon/Petunia, Harry
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 545
Summary: Dudley's dead when Harry is left on the doorstep of Number 4 Privet Drive.

Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Scavenger Hunt

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Jewel Day Challenge - Tanzanite - Bracelet: ยท Write about the death of a child.

It was on Number 4 Privet Drive that the Dursleys' lives changed. At one time, they would have said it for the worse. But with had happened recently, they believed it was for the better.

Recently, only about six months ago, their only child, their darling son, Dudley, had died from a childhood illness. The doctors did everything they could to save him, but the baby's immune system just wasn't strong enough to fight the horrible disease.

Both Vernon and Petunia had been in shock. They never thought something so tragic would befall their family of three. They were supposed to have a perfectly normal, happy life. Dudley would grow up, get married, have kids, and die at a nice old age, a long time after both Vernon and Petunia passed away. They weren't supposed to have to bury their infant son.

It just wasn't fair.

Vernon had gone back to work despite the fact he didn't feel like it. After all, they had bills, including mountains of hospital bills, to pay. Petunia's friends came over, but she no longer felt the need to gossip. It was so petty when there were so many real problems in the world.

On November 1st, 1981, Petunia and Vernon's lonely existence was forever changed. Petunia opened the door to get the newspaper, like she did every morning, and on her doorstep, was a sleeping baby, a note attached to him.

Without even looking at the note, she knew who it was.

She didn't scream. Instead, she opened the note and read about her sister and brother-in-law's death, about how Harry Potter had no other person he could go to live with. Because of Lily's sacrifice, there was a special protection around the Dursley's house now, and Harry had to live there.

Petunia swallowed. She didn't feel any real sadness for her sister's death. They had gone too many years without seeing or talking to each other. She did feel sad for nephew, orphaned at such a young age. Harry and Dudley would have been the same age.

Petunia carried Harry inside and walked into the kitchen, where Vernon stood with a coffee mug. Vernon stared at her with the baby. "This is Harry. My nephew. Lily's dead, and their world wants us to take him in."

"Pet, you can't be serious," Vernon exclaimed. "I thought you wanted to stay as far away from that freaky world as possible."

Petunia stared down at the quiet baby that had woken up. Familiar green eyes gazed sadly into Petunia's own eyes. Like he was very much aware of what had transpired the previous night. "I did, but Harry doesn't have any parents now. And we no longer have a son. We can raise Harry like he was our own, and maybe he doesn't have magic. Maybe we can keep him out of that freak world, and he'll be a normal boy."

"He won't take the place of Dudley," Vernon gently reminded her.

Petunia choked back the tears. "I know, but I can love him like I loved Dudley. Please, Vernon."

Vernon's face showed he still had some misgivings, but maybe if the kid was raised to be a normal, non-freaky kid, it wouldn't be so bad. "Okay, Pet. Whatever you want."