A/N
I don't believe in excessive use of authors notes – this will be the last I include one at the start of a chapter. I will have a short one at the end of my chapters to credit some of my ideas and also explain some of my – sometimes wild leaps of 'logic'. I will try and give credit where I have borrowed other authors ideas but I have read so many fan fics it is impossible to remember where I got what ideas, so sorry it I haven't credited you it is not intentional! I am looking for a beta for this fic so PM me if you are interested. I think my grammar and use of spell check is adequate but I want someone to advise, nit-pick plot holes and help me bounce plot bunnies occasionally.
Chapter 1: The Choice
In the early predawn hours of November 2nd 1981 Petunia Dursley was making a decision that would affect not only the future of her family but also the wizarding world of Britain. She didn't realise the wider impact of the choice but even if she had known it was doubtful she would have cared.
Petunia had never had a very good relationship with magic. Growing up it had been yet another thing separating her from her perfect sister Lily. It had ruined her wedding, and worst of all it had killed her parents. She had spent her entire life striving for a normal middle class life and once again magic was trying to ruin her life.
Lying in a basket on the floor was a small black haired baby. She had only seen once before she had found him that morning on her doorstep. The letter accompanying the baby was both astonishing and terrifying. It told of her sister and brother-in-law's deaths and of the protection that could be had if he lived with her. It told her one more thing. Her very worst nightmare come true. Her Dudley was a wizard.
While it was not welcome news it was not entirely surprising either. Having been previously exposed to magic she recognised the small oddities that accompanied a magical child. Dudley in his highchair eating a biscuit she said he couldn't have from a plate across the room. He always managed to get what he wanted no matter how out of reach it was.
Petunia had always dreaded Vernon finding out. She had always thought herself dreadfully lucky to be married to him. She knew she wasn't much to look at, her parents had never had much money – she wouldn't have had a chance to study further. Vernon had a good stable job and treated her well, but had never been comfortable with magic. After Lily's wedding he had wanted nothing further to do with any of 'that lot'.
This letter could be the answer she was looking for. Dumbledore had made her a promise. If she just accepted the boy into her home…no one would know. The letter would never come for her baby. Petunia made her choice. The die was cast.
A/N
*I would like to give credit to Ali Hewison (Harry Potter Lexicon) and her awesome essay on Petunia Dursley that gave a good explanation about why the Dursleys kept Harry and explained in the howler the 'pact' between Petunia and Dumbledore (PoA).
The way Petunia talks about magic through the series (and what Vernon sees and thinks about in the start of TSS/TPS) suggests that they have had more than a cursory exposure to the wizarding world. I don't believe their attitudes are entirely unjustified. It's highly likely that Petunia and Vernon were invited to Lily and James' wedding and I also think that they would be an irresistible target for the marauders. What would have seemed like a harmless school prank to them would be scary and frightening to someone without magic. Another point I think writers often ignore is that Severus Snape was poor and lived in a poor area, odds are very high the Evans who lived near them didn't have much money either.