I don't own Harry Potter. Although that would be great.

Dearest Lily,

Its been a long time. Sounds rather silly doesn't it, saying that its been a long time? I suppose, when you think about it, it will always be a long time now and it will only get longer. Longer and longer and, I suppose, really it will never end. Funny, when you think about it.

I got all your letters. I'm sorry I never replied. I still have them, them and the photos you sent. I told Vernon that I threw them all away but I didn't really. I kept them all. I've got them secretly hidden under a loose floorboard in our third bedroom, the one that we don't use. It's getting quite full! You always did write such long letters, I'm afraid that very soon I will have to move them otherwise the floorboards will burst open!

I suppose that's not really a problem now, though. And I am sorry I never replied.

I'm writing because, well, we got the news today. There I was going about my normal morning routine and, when I went to collect the milk, there he was! A small bundle wrapped up on my doorstep with a letter attached. I thought for a moment some horrible street person had dumped their baby on our doorstep. Vernon is always going on about the homeless, how they are getting more and more intrusive, going into respectable areas where they have no business being. He's quite right of course and I couldn't believe that one of them had dared come into Little Whingington, let alone leave a baby on my doorstep! Then, of course, I saw mine and Vernons name on the envelope. It was from him, Lily. Do you remember when you found that letter from Hogwarts in my room? When you told me, I yelled at you and told you, you were a freak.

Well, anyway, it was so long ago but do you know, I recognized the writing right away, even after all these years. In it, the letter, he said, well he said that you and that boy were dead, and that the baby on our doorstep was your son. Harry. I couldn't believe it Lily. I mean, we haven't been close for a long time now but... you're my little sister. And you're dead. I wish I had replied to one of your letters.

So, I guess that's why I'm writing. Silly, isn't it? To be writing to my dead sister. I suppose you'd understand though. The things you used to tell me about that school. All the weird things that happened. I remember, on your very first term back you told me that the school was full of ghosts and they were all dead wizards and witches, that only witches and wizards got to become ghost. I wonder Lily are you a ghost now? I wish you'd come see me. I promise I wouldn't freak out. I just want to say that I'm sorry.

Well I guess what you'd like to know is about Harry. Vernon and I have agreed to look after him. We will raise him for you and with any luck, with my sweet Dudders as a companion, he will grow to be a normal, reasonable, boy. I suppose you'd ask to me to love him, wouldn't you? To love him, like I couldn't love you, since you left me for that place. But he's not you, Lily. I look at him and all I see is that awful boy you left with. The one that you left me for. The one you moved away and married and forgot all about me for. You were all I had left Lily and you abandoned me! Just for him! And now theres' Harry, and everyday he looks at me with the face of that boy, and I just... I can't love him Lily, I can't! And I'm sorry. Sometimes he looks at me and, just for a moment, I see you, looking at me through his eyes. I hope you understand.

I will try and raise him right though. It will be my gift to you, my last gift to my little sister. I will do everything I can to make sure that he becomes a normal, everyday boy. That way he will never become a wizard and he will never be taken away by that school and he will never, ever, die. I promise, I won't let that happen. I will do it for you, Lily.

Lots of Love

Petunia