"Normal dialogue"

'Inner monologue'

§Parseltongue§

Chapter 1: Harry in his childhood years I

It was about ten years ago that Harry Potter was left at the Dursley's doorstep. Petunia woke up in the middle of the night, as she felt something was amiss. It was a gut feeling... that something had went wrong. The doorbell rang. Petunia blinked. Twice. It was in the middle of the night. Drunk neighbours mistaking their doors? Petunia peaked through the peep hole. No one was in front of her door. A prank then. How rude! She opened the door to double check. Her hand automatically moved to cover her mouth as she gasped at the sight of a baby in a crib with a piece of letter laid to his side.

She rushed forward to pick up the crib that was left in the cold October air and snaked her way to the living room, where the warm fireplace could be found. Surprisingly, the baby was not cold at all, thought Petunia as she took him into her arms, out of the crib. He was warm, as if he was just inside a heated room. Petunia felt the baby shift a bit, his eyes opening. She rubbed him in the back and quietly whispered a lullaby in his ears. Petunia recognised his eyes, green eyes that she used to look at.

'Lily…'

Petunia took the letter and flipped it open.

To Mrs. Petunia Dursley,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Lily and James Potter lost their life defending their son from a dark wizard named Voldemort. Their son, Harry, was the only survivor we found in the Potter's house in the wake of Voldemort's assault. It would be best if Harry grew up outside the wizarding world, free from its influence and harm, until he is ready to learn magic. I offer a way of contacting us. If this letter is burned in the fireplace before Friday midnight, then we will come by for a visit at 10 am on Saturday.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Family friend of the Potters.

Petunia felt her chest tightens and drops of tears fell from her eyes. It was a bitter truth. Lily was gone, and Petunia couldn't remember the last time they talked. They didn't leave each other on a good term. The baby in her arms was the legacy Lily left and her only chance at making up with her sister.

"Good morning, Mrs. Dursley."

Petunia eyed the aged gentleman wearing a colourful attire. A red tie and a maroon blazer over a dark blue shirt. She was certain her eyebrows were raised looking at such an odd combination. Besides him stood a stern-looking woman. Her mouth curled in such a way that reminded Petunia of her uptight uncle. She was dressed properly though.

"Albus Dumbledore?"

"You would be correct, and here is Professor McGonagall. You might remember her visiting your house 10 years ago, when Lily first received her letter to Hogwarts, …."

"Yes, she does look familiar… though to be honest I was trying to forget about magic and… Lily." Albus noticed that Petunia paused a bit before mentioning her sister.

"That wizard friend of hers, he was terribly horrid to me. Behind Lily's back he picked on me and insulted me."

"Aaa Severus… He had a rather traumatic experience in his childhood that offsets his view on muggles. Although his recent encounters with the dark lord forces would mature him a bit." Petunia was quiet for a split second. Truth be told she would rather forget and leave it all behind.

"Enough chatter, would you like to come inside? I've prepared some tea. It would be rude of me to just let my guest stand here."

Vernon was becoming increasingly irritated as he observed Petunia picking up Harry to feed him. He knew of Lily and her kind and hated magic with all disgust he could muster. It started with just petty complains. Vernon started just by reminding Petunia she should prioritise their son first. She was okay with that, it made sense. Then it got worse when Vernon started asking Petunia to give more and more preferential treatment. She refused, and it often escalated into a fight. Vernon refused see reason and accused Harry, innocent little Harry of bewitching her and that he wasn't normal.

"Tuney, what do you think of buying Dudley two birthday present this year? One more than last year. It is his second birthday."

"and for Harry too?" asked Petunia.

"Errr, to be honest I haven't given a thought about him."

"He's our child too, you know. You can't keep singling him out. This is not normal!"

"Normal? I'll tell you what's not normal. All this magic business. Dropped onto our shoulders. My shoulder. We've never asked to take him in."

"He's just a baby! And he's our nephew. He's got no one else left to raise him."

"Bullshit. I'm sure he has relatives on his father's side. Maybe godparents. He's bringing his kind's freakiness into this normal household. And the danger of it too! What if that Dark Lord decided to target this household?"

"The headmaster assured us he put the strongest ward he could. And no one knows Harry is here except a few."

"Then how did his parents die in the first place? These bloody wards are bullshit I tell you."

"I'm not abandoning Harry." stood Petunia firm.

Vernon brushed her off, having to rush to work.

One day, Vernon actually raised his hand as he came home and about to enter the living room and saw Harry levitating some toys to entertain himself and Dudley. Petunia quickly ran to Harry and shielded him, taking the brunt of the slap. It didn't hurt Petunia much. But Harry was he shocked that he cried harder and Vernon was pushed back strongly by some kind of force that he broke the wooden chair he was pushed into.

A week later, Petunia was an Evans once more.

8 years later…

Harry Potter, his classmate was not normal. Those green eyes of his accentuated his freakishness. His messy unkempt black hair screamed trouble. Malcolm Wagner knew from the very beginning that his classmate was bad. No, Malcolm didn't make this claim because he performed badly in exam while Harry got good marks. Malcolm suspected the freak of cheating in his.

There were other instances that happened only around Harry. Malcolm and his friends joked a bit about his messy unkempt hair. They were just playing around with Harry a bit that time. It wasn't bullying or anything like that. Perhaps they did corner him alone in the locker room after P.E. class. Harry wasn't giving them much attention that they felt pleased riling him up. So he decided to step it up a bit further and suggested he inherited his hair from his parents. That his parents were homeless freaks and Harry was abandoned. They stopped when Malcolm's hair started turning blue. His hair was fixed the next day, but Malcolm couldn't recall how.

He was currently scanning the streets as he and his friends stealthily followed Harry after school. Malcolm would confront Harry for humiliating him today in class. Scare him a bit. Seeing an opportunity, Malcolm hasten and tapped Harry on the shoulders with his left hand and raised his right fist.

The only warning Harry had was the incoming fist to his face as he rounded the corners. Harry managed to close his eyes and raised his forearms to shield himself with his arms.

"I wanted to hit you for quite a while, freak!"

It was Malcolm, flanked by Piers Polkiss and Gordon. Three against one. No chance for him coming out of this unscathed. Harry bended his knees to pick up his glasses, thank god was not broken from its fall, while still keeping an eye on his assailants. He would hate to waste money buying new glasses. Can't they just leave him alone?

"That was uncalled for, Malcolm!"

"You've embarrassed me in class today!" shouted the huge boy.

"It wasn't my fault Mrs. Pearl chose me to correct you. What am I supposed to do, act dumb?"

"Yeah, act like the freak you are!

Harry was about to reply before Dudley came from behind him and punched Malcolm right in the jaw.

"Why didn't you wait for me, Harry?" It was Dudley. His big-boned cousin who played for their school's football team.

"Thought you would take another half an hour with Madam Jones, Dudley."

No way can Harry let Dudley get involved in this matter. Dudley could be thrown out of football team if they found out he had been involved in a fight with Malcolm and his gang again.

"Back off Malcolm." Dudley warned.

"What! Think you're so tough? I know you'll get in trouble with your football team if we both come to school tomorrow looking all beat up!"

Harry was worried for Dudley. Malcolm and his gang beating him up usually ends with some adult intervening and stopping them. Malcolm had been kicked out of the basketball team last time he remembered. But Dudley also got a warning.

"Are you kidding me? It's just football. Family is more important."

"You asked for it!"

"We sure showed them Harry. Are you alright?" asked Dudley. The two decided to go the school clinic instead of going home directly. Harry suggested it as he didn't want aunt Petunia to worry needlessly. She would be too tired from her sewing work.

"Yeah, don't worry about me, Dudley. How about you? What are you going to do about the football team?"

"Like I said, it's just a sport team. Maybe I'll resign from the team before Malcolm gets to fire his mouth. Takes his satisfaction away."

Harry was silent. Guilt eating away in him. Why does it have to be this way? Dudley worked so hard to get into the team. He liked playing football. It wasn't fair!

"Come on Harry, let's go home."

They came home, only to be greeted by aunt Petunia at the door. Harry gulped as he saw her face. She knew what happened.

"Harry, Dudley… Come in, dinner is ready. Go clean yourselves up first."

They rushed in, avoiding eye contact with her. "Told you mom would find out soon, Harry." Dudley whispered to Harry.

"Didn't expect it to be this soon."

"The school nurse probably contacted her."

Harry sighed. He took his bath and went to dinner, his aunt and cousin already waiting for him. Aunt Petunia was heating up the stew. After what seemed to Harry like an eternity, she brought the heated pot onto the dining table.

"What happened today at school? "

"They started it first, mom. Malcolm was picking on Harry." answered Dudley.

Petunia turned her at gaze at Harry. Harry turned his head away, averting from his aunt's eyes .

"I just want them to leave me alone… Why is it always me? Maybe they're right. Something is not normal with me… Weird things keep happening around me."

Only now had Harry noticed that aunt Petunia had made her way behind him and hugged him from behind. Her arms wrapped around him over his chest.

"Harry, don't put yourself down like that. Don't listen to those voices telling you're different…"

Harry turned and cried his eyes out in his aunt's arms.

During the weekend, Petunia brought Harry and Dudley to the zoo to cheer Harry up. To tell the truth, Petunia tried her best to give Harry and Dudley a normal childhood. Alas, it wasn't enough. As a single mother, she could only do so much.

Dudley was such an active boy and took interest in sports when he entered school. She did her best to support him. She listened to him bragging about what he accomplished

"Mom! Look at me. Look how fast I can carry the ball over there!"

It was adorable. But she remembered that day when she was supposed to go to Dudley's match. He was playing against other schools. He had been talking about it for days. But on that day, she passed out while she was working and woke up in the hospital. She had missed her son's match. Her children was brought to the hospital by a teacher. They asked if she was okay and Dudley didn't even mention his match. Petunia felt guilty. Was she a good a parent. A good mother?

Harry was different from Dudley. He was a timid boy instead. He looked so adorable when he asked her to read him his favourite book. However, he had bouts of accidental magic when people pushed his buttons. Petunia had expected Harry to be a wizard. But she didn't know what it means to be a wizard and only knew the world from what Lily told her. If Harry wanted advice as he grew up and enter his adolescence, how could she understand what his worries and his concerns would be? What awaited him in the wizarding world? Who will take care of Harry from its danger? It was one of Petunia's greatest fear. That one day, the magical world will take Harry from her… and that she couldn't do anything about it.

"Aunt Petunia?" She was pulled out of her thoughts.

"Yes, dear?"

"Dudley and I want to take a look at the snakes over there, let's go!" He asked while pointing his finger at the snake exhibition area up ahead. She happily took his hands and led him and Dudley there.

Aunt Petunia was accompanying Dudley on the way to the toilet. Wouldn't want anything to happened to Dudley. Bad people are everywhere nowadays, said his aunt. Harry asked to stay and wait at the snake area. Aunt Petunia was reluctant to leave him alone but caved in when Harry said it was a public area.

Harry observed the copperhead snake in front of him. Odd animals, thought Harry. Though to be honest Harry kinda like snakes. They were handicapped, no feet and all but still they were able to thrive where lived. It was looking at him, as if expecting Harry to say something. Maybe a hello would't hurt.

"Hello there…" he heard himself said.

§Hello, sssspeaker§

Harry's heart skipped a beat when he unmistakably heard the hissing reply.

"You can talk?" It nod its head

"Bbut how?"

§Sssspeakersss are giffffted with ability to sssspeak with usssss§

Harry was fascinated and wanted to talk to it some more, but a dreaded voice came from behind.

"Talking to a snake now? Shows that you're really a freak!" It was Malcolm, Harry recognised him as Harry turned his back to face the large boy.

"What are you doing here, Malcolm!"

"My dad got some tickets to the zoo, though I'm surprised you're here. I thought you couldn't afford the tickets."

Harry wanted to say something but couldn't.

"I know you come to school sometimes with empty lunchbox, because your family is so poor."

"What? Cat got your tongue?" His tormenter continued.

"Leave me alone, Malcolm! Go mind your own business." Harry subconsciously took a step back, his back to the glass wall of the copperhead snake exhibition.

"Or what? You're gonna cry?"

That got to Harry. Harry just wanted the large boy to leave him alone, why couldn't it be so simple? He wanted to retreat further, but the glass was halting him. If only the glass was gone...

Harry's hands moved its way aro- wait, what? He couldn't feel the glass wall. Its gone! The copperhead snake slid its way between Harry's leg.

§Sssssss§ Harry heard it hiss

"Whaat? Snake! Snake!" Malcolm was frightened, Harry swore he was turning blue. Maybe Harry could get Malcolm to leave him alone.

"Scare him a bit." he heard himself speak as he turned to the copperhead snake.

The snake understood Harry and made its way to Malcolm It bare its fangs before biting into Malcolm's thigh, releasing its venom.

"Aaaahhh snake! The snake bit me! Help!" Malcolm was hysteric. He was going to die, he thought to himself.

The large boy's shout had its intended effect. People rushed in as they noticed the dangerous snake on Malcolm's feet. Harry was a bit shocked at what happened. He didn't mean for the snake to bite Malcolm. He lifted his gaze away from Malcolm, noticing aunt Petunia gasping, her hands over her mouth. Her eyes… they were sad eyes.

The journey back home was excruciating for Harry. Dudley was asleep, tired from their trip. Aunt Petunia was quiet. Harry was worried that aunt Petunia would be upset with him. When the bullies kept calling him freak, he was scared that they were right. He didn't want to listen to them, no he was just Harry. But please, not aunt Petunia. He never wanted to upset her…

"Harry? Could we talk?" asked Petunia as she knocked Harry's door before Harry was about to go to bed.

Harry opened the door and let aunt Petunia in.

"Harry, do you want to know what happened to my sister Lily, your parents?"

Harry immediately sat up straight and meekly nodded.

"My parents sacrificed themselves so I could live? And I'm a wizard?" Harry noticed a tear drop from his right eye. He'd like to think that his parents were strangers to him, as he never had memories of them. But somehow his heart remembered them.

"When I saw you using your gift to hurt that boy at the zoo, it was what I feared the most, Harry. That you'll be drifted into the magical world and that I won't be able to fend off bad influences from you as you grow up…" Harry saw the tears falling off his aunt's eyes.

"Aunt Petunia…"

"Your parents were taken away by magic, by the dark wizard that wished you harm… That's why promise me, Harry. Promise me you'll never use your gift to harm others!"

Harry nodded, not trusting his voice to coherently answer…

'I promise I'll do good things with my magic, aunt Petunia!'

The day Harry made his resolve was the day he began to walk the path of a hero.