AN: I'm new on the site and well...see chapter 2.

.

AN2: 6/16/2014. This is a rewrite. I am trying to make the chapters longer (and better?)

.

AN3: In this fic, Harry's legal name used to be Hadrian. I looked up the meaning of the name and I was surprised that it actually means 'dark one'. I chose the name Harrod (even though it doesn't roll smoothly down my tongue and it's nothing to do with the department store!) because of its meaning. It's a Hebrew name that means 'heroic'. People with this name also tend to become leaders and consummate Gryffindors. Owing to how Lily and James knew about the prophecy even before Harry's birth I think it would be nice if they named their son, the prophesized one with a strong symbolic name. I know Harry is quite a popular name in UK and it could mean 'army commander' but it still sounds like a nickname to me and since magical Britain is frozen in an era long gone, I decided to use a quirky or obscure (?) naming convention. So for this fic...nah, just deal with it...

.

AN4: I'm new to this rewrite thing. Should I delete this fic and publish the rewritten one or should I just repost all the chapters like what I did with this chapter? Help?

.

Disclaimer:It will be a veeeerrrry long time before Harry Potter becomes a public domain so...

.

I. What Families Are For

.

.

"Look Vernon, Harry's hair is no longer a mess! The tousles are actually developing into curls! Just think of that!"

Vernon Dursley just chuckled at his wife's antics. He need not turn to know that Petunia is once again trying to tidy up their nephew's hair. The four year-old's hair had been a total nightmare for Petunia ever since the boy had been left on their doorstep three years ago. 'The magpie nest won't just lie down!' Vernon chuckled again at the remembrance, shaking his head as he flipped to the designated page for the continuation of the news article that he was reading. His furry brow narrowed upon reading the results on the investigation of the death of one renowned scientist, 'The cause of death cannot be determined. There is no sign of physical assault and the autopsy disproved the hypothesis of cardiac arrest.' Mystery indeed, but Vernon cannot help but worry. He leaned on the couch, slightly tilting his broad back to take a look at Harry playing on the makeshift playpen while Petunia was escorting Dudley out into the restroom. Vernon's focus was now solely on the dark-haired child. His hair was glossy ebony black – just like James's, Vernon had been once told; and his eyes, Vernon can't forget those eyes – Lily's eyes, the same intense green that looked at him with fury when he tried to run away, afraid of the responsibility after he found out that Petunia was pregnant. Yes, those were Lily's eyes.

A lump suddenly formed on Vernon's throat as he remembered what Petunia had said after she secretly attended her sister's funeral: 'It was so surreal. They looked like they were just lying there unmoving, without even a single scratch. But as I looked at Lily's eyes, I…I just can't look back. It was not Lily's eyes. Lily's eyes were not like that – they're not dead.' A shiver ran down Vernon's spine as he realized that those green eyes were mere inches away from him.

"Uncle."

Harry's tone was that sweet lilt Vernon found out to mean that the child is asking if you are alright. Vernon just looked straight at those green eyes, uncaring as Harry gently trailed a matchbox car on his arm. Lily's eyes. Did the scientist's eyes look the way Lily's did, dying the same way as she did? Vernon shook himself from the morbid thought and gently rubbed Harry's back as the child leaned on him with that question on his green eyes.

"Just go play with your cars Harry, Uncle just feels like he had too much steak."

Harry pouted, as if to indicate that he doesn't believe him but he just went back to the makeshift playpen and climbed on his electric car and drove towards Dudley and Petunia as if to run over them. Mother and son shrieked and ran around the sitting room as Harry chased them off. Dudley soon climbed up on his own car and an impromptu race started, the two children zipping out of the room into the hallway. Vernon just silently watched them, his thoughts still on the dangers of the magic wielding individuals. He's wary of them, not all of them but of the ones that kill just anyone – even someone as mundane as him. He met Petunia's inquiring eyes and he just forced himself to smile. Magic is dangerous, but it's more dangerous not having it.

.

.

Petunia sadly glanced at Vernon. 'There's no way to cheer him up when he's in one of these moods' It would be best if he would just be left alone with his thoughts. 'Maybe I should cook one of his favorites for dinner' Petunia thought with a smile but that smile immediately melted away as she noticed how silent the house had become. She rushed out of the room, some strands of her curly blond hair escaping from the tight bun. 'No, no. Please don't let anything happen' Petunia frantically thought. She was out of breath as she arrived at the living room but there was no one there, turning back to the hallway she noticed that the back door was open. Without second thoughts, she rushed to the back door, almost missing the pavement as she searched for the two boys. She sighed in relief when she found Dudley tinkering with the toy cars using tools from a toy toolbox. She smiled at this sight and then turned to Harry who was lying on the grass. His eyes were half-lidded, his long lashes framing his green eyes. Petunia once more smiled and removed the clip from her hair and combed the strands with her hands. She was trying to re-clip her hair when she noticed that Harry was shivering.

A look of concern shadowed over Petunia's bony face. She walked out into the sun, placing the clip inside her dress's pocket. Kneeling down to Harry, she tried to feel his forehead for temperature. She suddenly paused when she noticed that there were tears trailing down Harry's cheek.

"Harry?"

"Aunty."

Harry hiccupped as he reached out his arms to Petunia. Petunia carried him up and gently rubbed his back.

"What's wrong Harrikins? Does your tummy hurt?"

"Sad. Uncle sad."

Petunia carefully watched Harry's expression. He seemed pained, as if he's feeling something so deep. Petunia hugged him close and turned to the window where Vernon was still on his usual seat, watching television. Even from a distance, you could see the solemn expression on his face. Petunia sighed and turned to Dudley to make sure that he was still there where she last saw him. Dudley was still tinkering on the toy cars, without a care in the world; how Petunia wished that Harry would be just like that, but ever since Harry came to their lives he had always been sensitive to the emotions around; like he always knows that there's something wrong. Your happiness is his happiness, so are your pains. The child psychologist said that Harry could be an empath or that he was deeply affected when he saw his parents die. Petunia hugged Harry closer at this thought. Her Harry is okay, she is quite sure of that. The psychologist asked to conduct some test on Harry but Petunia refused. She's quite afraid that more would be revealed – more things that really aren't from this realm. Those things felt to her like sand tightly held around her clenched fists; sooner or later they would come out and flow out of her grasp – out of her control.

"Duddikins, do you want to go to the park? Little Harry is quite sad, maybe he wants to see some of his girlfriends."

The teasing tone she used was bland even to her own ears but Dudley's just four and a half, Petunia is quite sure that he won't notice the subtle changes in inflection. She was proven correct as the toddler made a face and pretended that he didn't hear anything.

"I'm just joking! We can go and see if your friends are also there. No, we'll just walk. Just park the car there. You need to change first."

"Awh! I wan't to go now!"

"Dudders!"

Petunia just exasperatedly sighed as Dudley ran out towards the backyard gate. She put down Harry and tried to straighten up his hair and shirt but Harry hugged on his thighs, wanting to be carried up again.

"Oh no, you're not a baby anymore. What would your friends say if they see me carrying you? Dudders!"

The gate's latch made a soft clunking sound as it hit wood to wood. Dudley mischievously smiled and motioned to open the heavy wooden gate but Petunia immediately ran towards him, lightly spanking him on the bum. The boy made pitiful whimpering sounds but Petunia won't have any of it as she pushed the gate open with her right hand, her left hand tightly holding Dudley's right shoulder.

"C'mon Harry."

Harry ran as fast as his small legs can go and immediately latched on Petunia's side. Petunia smiled and led the two children across the road to a small park just across Wisteria Walk. Looking up the mid-afternoon sky, Petunia hoped that the good weather would go on until after dinner so that they could eat dinner by the patio but for now it would be enough for her small family.

.

.

"You're growing to be such a handsome lad."

Harry just stared at the old woman as the latter patted his cheek. He doesn't know who this wizened lady is with a huge cat cradled on her left arm. The smell of stale cabbage and cat food was mingling unflatteringly with the woman's scent that Harry was having a hard time stopping himself from scrunching his nose (it's rude after all). He just diligently filled his bucket with sand, waiting for the old woman to go. He's quite used to people like her. They would stop from wherever they are going every time they see him and say things like this then they would go once he thank them.

"Thank you Ma'am."

"And polite too. Your parents would be very proud…"

The old lady suddenly faltered, as if realizing that she said something she shouldn't be saying but as she saw that Harry's expression did not even change, she smiled to herself and once more gently patted the child's rosy cheek.

"Good day to you lad. Mrs. Figg by the way. If your guardians are in need of a minder one of these days, just tell that I'm always available. Good lad."

Mrs. Figg left, chuckling to herself as the thought of a four year-old remembering to relay the message to his guardians is quite a preposterous one. But she needs to keep an eye on the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. She has quite an important task but so far everything's as it should be. The boy looked happy and well-taken care of. He was tall for his age, average girth, his skin was delicate and rosy and his facial features were a good mix of his parent's best attribute. All in all he was a handsome and lovable child. Mrs. Figg turned back to see the boy still sitting flat on the sand with his hands deep on a red plastic bucket but his gaze was intent on her, that it almost unnerved the old Squib. Petunia suddenly appeared, Mrs. Figg haven't noticed her sitting just beside the sandbox, on a bench that was facing a small swing set where Dudley was happily swinging with two more boys. The smile Petunia gave her was rather put on in Mrs. Figg's opinion but she still smiled back, if not with the same enthusiasm. As she glanced back at Harry, she found that he was already gone from the sandbox and was leaning on Petunia's side. With the assurance of Harry's safety, Mrs. Figg continued on her way, no need to dally, she had done her job for today. She could become accustomed with this life. Retirement as a batty Muggle is not that bad. A floo call to the Hogwarts headmaster would be her last magic-related chore for the day. But she would surely mention to Dumbledore the strained smile that Petunia gave her. Petunia may be Muggle but Dumbledore would surely be interested in whatever she has to say about the woman and after that, she would happily be a Muggle again.

.

.

"So Mrs. Figg has her eyes on you now?"

Petunia raised her eyebrow at Anne Malcolm, the housewife from No. 7. She has an eight year old son that always plays with Harry and an infant daughter who was sleeping on a pram parked beside the bench.

"Oh Petunia, whatever could I mean? You know that Mrs. Figg always insists on minding children. My son reported once that the woman fed him stale cake! It's the age I think. Could she be already a hundred? Those wrinkles!"

Real amusement painted Petunia's smile upon hearing Mrs. Malcolm's words. She hasn't heard much about the old woman for she never leaves the children with minders. She's quite paranoid at things like that. She can't have a stranger teaching her children bad things or even worse, maltreating them.

"Aunty!"

"What is it Harry?"

"Aunty, she's...woman is like..."

Petunia's eyes widened as she realized what Harry wanted to say. She immediately shushed him. She pulled him up and perched him on her hips as they made the short walk back to the bench.

"Duddi, don't go far...come back here!"

"She's batty right?"

She was really trying to smile, to laugh at Anne's silly words but somehow Petunia felt ill at ease. She can't describe what she is really feeling. She's not afraid, no she's not; but is she nervous or just suspicious? Petunia tried to rend in her emotions as Harry started to be cranky.

"Maybe you had enough for today Harry. Maybe we should go home."

"Petunia, it's still too early! Alyssa would be coming soon and she told me that she heard some juicy..."

Petunia drowned out Mrs. Malcolm in favor of trying to catch Dudley's attention. Dudley stomped on the ground to indicate his displeasure but Petunia was incessant and the glare sent his way seemed enough to force Dudley to leave.

"Are you really going? I'll be alone here..."

"I'll just make it up to you Anne. Harry's quite cranky these days."

Mrs. Malcolm just gave a curt wave at them as Petunia gripped Dudley's hand. Petunia's heart seemed to be trying to get out from its place in her chest with each step she took towards home. She turned to the direction where Mrs. Figg disappeared. There was a house just across the park with a yellow beetle car. Petunia isn't even sure what good it will bring to her staring at the house like that, but she somehow felt like there should be some sign, some bread crumbs that would lead her to the realization of whatever Mrs. Figg was. But Petunia and Vernon had been living here close to six years yet they never noticed...

"Uwaaahuhu!"

Dudley immediately howled upon entering the house. Petunia did not have the chance to order Dudley into removing his muddy shoes as he entered the house. Petunia just watched Dudley climb upstairs, the boy's loud footsteps echoing until it was drowned down by the banging of the door. Petunia immediately zeroed in to Harry who was whimpering in protest, wanting to be put down. Petunia put him down and kneeled down to his level, looking at him eye to eye.

"Tell me Harry, what was it that you felt when Mrs. Figg was near you? Did it felt different, did you feel something like electricity? Tell me..."

"She's touch me cold then I feel a little warm here..."

Harry pointed at the tip of his chin then tapped Petunia's hand that was loosely holding his arm.

"Like when you touch me then it was like you; blue, strong blue but strange but like you."

"Is there anybody else like her? Like me around? Or red people?"

"Her cat was like your hair..."

Harry touched Petunia's curly blond Hair. Petunia was about to ask more when Vernon suddenly appeared from the hallway, his house slippers just half-way on his feet.

"What's happening to Dudley? Where..."

Vernon's question just hanged in the air as he noticed that Petunia and Harry was talking quietly. Petunia immediately straightened up upon seeing him and smiled at him.

"Dudley's having one of those tantrums. He was mad that we had to go home before he wanted to."

"Again? I'll have to talk to him. He can't just go and think that it would be okay to throw a fit all because we gave in last week at the supermarket."

"O-okay, I'll start the dinner. Bring Harry up with you. He needs to clean up."

It was obvious that there was something wrong. Vernon just watched her walk to the kitchen, bereft of any of her usual enthusiasm. This day is turning out for the worse. He led Harry up the stairs, but for some reason his gaze won't leave the direction to where Petunia disappeared into.

.

.

"She's a Squib. She knows about Harry! Does she know about me? She's like me..."

"Who's like you Pet?"

A drinking glass precariously slid near the edge of the counter as Petunia sharply turned to the direction of the voice. Petunia smiled convincingly but the crack of her voice revealed her true feelings.

"Just this new neighbor I met in the park."

Petunia spoke no more and busied herself pulling out ingredients from the cupboard. She did not notice as her elbow pushed down the drinking glass. A surprised 'Oh!' came from Petunia as she saw the now chipped glass on the tiled floor. Petunia saw the expression on Vernon's face and tried to smile once more.

"I'm fine. Just fine. Dinner would be nice tonight."

Turning back to the counter, Petunia's hand trembled as he reached for the chopping board and settled the vegetables above it. As she heard Vernon sigh, Petunia turned to see that her husband was taking this issue seriously. The crinkles at the corner of his eyes held no humor but the wear of age. His broad stature, that often make people think of him as brusque and intimidating is now slouched and weary. This is a man that doesn't want to commit another mistake. She hesitated at first but she ended blurting out the first thing that was on her mind.

"She's like me Vern. She's like me."

Petunia can't help it; she started tearing up even if she had told herself years ago that she would never cry over this. But now, just a reminder of it seems to tear her into pieces. Vernon immediately stood to comfort her but stopped mid step and headed to the direction of the hallway. He reached for the door and locked it before heading back to Petunia and engulfing her in an awkward hug. He had never been the one to become emotional but he knows that this gesture would comfort his wife.

"I'm sorry Vern, but I never told you."

"It's okay Pet, just tell me when you're ready."

"Mom and Dad were both magicals."

Vernon's grip became tighter. Petunia's voice was muffled as she snuggled on his chest but what he heard can't be wrong. A million things swam on his head; why did he never know? He'd met them a couple of times before he and Petunia got married. They were a very intimidating couple but there wasn't really anything... and why is she telling him this now?

"When they found out that I was a Squib… a child born from a magical family without…"

He understands; his gentle rubbing of Petunia's arm is his way of saying this. He knew too well how Petunia envies Lily for supposedly flaunting having something her sister can never have. This confused Vernon for Petunia had always wanted to be just another face in the crowd – to be his wife but why… It's only until now that he realized that there's more to it than just some selfish emotion.

"…they wanted to live as Muggles just for me – just for me Vern! They did not want to throw me away like any self-respecting Pureblood would do because the…they love me so much, me a lowly Squib! They're willing to give up their life, their magic just for me!"

"You deserved to be loved Pet. Remember that, you deserved to be loved."

Vernon could feel mixed emotions welling up inside him. It was just a simple statement yet it brought out a lot of emotions and memories from him; maybe it was because those were words that he had never even said before.

"They always tell me that, and I felt it even when Lily was born, things were as they were until when Lily turned five and she did accidental magic."

Petunia suddenly burst into laughter amidst her tears. Vernon held her on arm's length, confused on what to do with his wife's sudden mood change.

"She…she somehow got Dad into a Minnie Mouse costume complete with the ears and rat nose."

Vernon burst into loud chuckles as he wiped Petunia's tear-streaked face with the palm of his hands. Petunia pulled from him and brought out her handkerchief to finish the job.

"Anyway, she did that after Dad scolded her for cutting the curly fur of our dog to make it into her doll's hair… That event started the worse part of my life. It was my Aunt, my Mom's older sister who told me of who and what I am in the eyes of the magicals. Mom berated her for it; she tried to shelter me from the harsh reality. But I started to hate myself…"

"Pet, there's no reason for that…"

"No Vernon you don't understand! You don't understand! Lily can't live in a wizarding household…she has to pretend to be a Muggleborn, she has to endure all the prejudice…just for me! Just for me Vernon! She doesn't know the truth but every time I hear her tell Mom and Dad how the Slytherins torment her…on how James and Sirius tell her that she should take the Heritage test at Gringotts for they are sure that the Evans and Edmonds are a Pureblood family…I know deep inside she suspected it to be true but she was thinking of me – they were all thinking about me!"

Some of the tomatoes rolled down from the cutting board to the edge of the counter as Petunia broke from Vernon's embrace and blindly reached for a knife to start preparing for dinner. But her hands were badly shaking that she cut herself. Still with trembling hands, Petunia searched for something to stop the bleeding but Vernon beat her to it as he pressed a dishtowel unto the fairly deep cut.

"I-I'll just go check on the kids."

"Petunia. You're still bleeding..."

Vernon tightly gripped Petunia's arm as she turned around for the door. But Petunia heavily leaned on him and sobbed.

"I don't think I can do this anymore Vern. She went to Harry when we were in the park – she knows Harry...They're watching me, us...judging us for not being like them. They would...I don't know...I just want them to stop!"

"Pet…"

Petunia just staggered towards the sink and quickly washed her face before thoroughly drying on a towel, completely ignoring her cut. She was halfway to the door when Vernon spoke once again.

"I just want to know what brought this on...This... just the things you say, they just... I don't know Pet. I just feel overwhelmed right now."

"Vernon, please, please just understand me right now...I'm sorry. It all just came flooding back to me; all the memories like they were just yesterday. I thought that this was all over but..."

Vernon just mutely watched as Petunia leaned on the wall, caught up on her thoughts. Tears were still trailing down her cheeks. He heavily sat on his usual seat at the dinner table. The world he thought that was quite strange and dangerous had turned to be more complicated than he thought and he can't understand when it wove so deeply into his life.