The Dursely's were an ordinary family, a married couple, one son, no pets and a beautifully kept lawn, with one black Volkswagen proudly on display for the whole neighbourhood to see. The interior of the house was just as clean as the exterior. There was little excitement, with decorations of burnt orange, earth brown and yellow, it was a conservative house, with not a speck of dust to be seen. The residents of the house were just as proper. The man, average in height, with small beady eyes, a conservative moustache and considerable weight around the stomach area, the women, tall and skinny, with black curly hair, high cheekbones but with a look of strained politeness constantly plastered on her face. The boy however was much like his father, fat, short and rather unattractive to those not in the immediate family.
Now on the 31st of October this particular family felt happy with the world, the man recently promoted to assistant manager in his branch of the firm, the women had just received an award for the best kept lawn and the son, well nothing particularly spectacular happened to him as he was a baby. Therefore it can as a very large shock that in the middle of the night a considerable amount of large noise was emanating from the front door. The man waking at the sound, what could now be identified as baby's screams quietly crept down the stairs (a surprising feat for one of such considerable girth) and opened the door. The sight, to say the least, shocked him; a baby was tucked in a bright blue blanket placed in a wicker basket. His immediate thought was, his neighbour was having him on, playing a practical joke, because, let's be honest, a baby in a blue blanket in a basket is very cliché. However on further inspection a note could be seen, tucked away, written on the front were the words:
"To the Dursley residence"
The man, quite at a loss of what to do, picked up the baby and brought him in from the cool night air, creeping up the stairs to wake his wife and find out what to do.
-Page Break-
"Petunia, Pet, wake up, someone has left a baby outside, quickly wake up" roused the man.
The women, now identified as Petunia, wiped the sleep from her eyes as she rose up into a sitting position.
"hmmm, Vernon, what is it, it's too late at night for Dudley to be awake?" Petunia stated sleepily.
"Pet, someone has left a baby outside our front door, what do we do, there is a letter addressed to us, quickly read it so that we know what to do."
Petunia, now wide awake, reached for the letter and started reading.
"To Petunia and Vernon Dursley,
I am regretful to inform you that Lily Potter nee Evans and James Potter were murdered early this evening by the Dark Lord Voldemort. The sole survivor of this attack is Harry Potter, the boy in the basket. I ask in this time of great celebration for many, and time of heart break for you and your husband, that you can open your hearts and your home to this innocent boy? …
Both Petunia and Vernon stopped reading after this, and quickly scanned to the bottom of the page,
Signed
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
The couple turned to each other, Vernon stating 'I will get the keys,' seemingly having reached a decision about the wellbeing of the boy.
Soon afterwards Petunia was cradling the boy, with Dudley snoring in the back, while Vernon was driving, looking for a place to put the Boy. After searching for a long time, the sun having just peaked and started to rise, they reached a decrepit old house. Having reached their time limit, Petunia stepped out of the car with the baby and walking with no hesitation up to the front of the steps and placed the boy at the foot of the stairs with a small note, stating the following
To whom it may concern,
This boy recently found his way into our hands and we are unable to look after him, please provide him with a home, his name is unknown, do with him as you will.
…
Petunia, after tucking the blanket in to keep away the morning chill, scurried back to their car, shut the door and told her husband to drive on. Never looking back, and leaving the life of Harry Potter behind, for what she and her husband thought would be for the last time.