Petunia Dursley stood at the door, utterly dumbfounded at her visitor. She had not expected him to ever show up at her house again, considering past events, which, if she was being honest with herself, were mostly her own fault.

Harry, however, seemed completely unfazed by her shocked expression. "May I come in?" he asked, softly, gesturing to the door.

Petunia was caught off guard by his question. "Of-of course! I...err...do come in, Harry."

He nodded in response and followed her as she headed inside to the living room. She supposed it hadn't really changed since he had last been there, many years ago. Still the dingy apricot couch with a stain one of the cushions, and the faded curtains in that shade of asparagus green that Vernon loved but Petunia secretly hated. She sighed as she walked in, and offered Harry a seat on the couch, while she herself sat on the chair across him.

"I wasn't expecting to meet you again, dear," Petunia said, oping her voice was not shaking. The endearment sounded strange on her tongue. She knew Dudley kept up a friendly correspondence with his cousin after the wizarding war, but nonetheless, she was telling the truth when she spoke.

"I know," Harry replied calmly. "I wanted to speak to you about something, actually. I assume Uncle Vernon is not home?"

Petunia noticed her hands were shaking slightly. She wondered why. "No, he's not home," she affirmed.

"Good," Harry replied, before pausing for a while. "Dudley must have spoken to you about this, I believe. Since he couldn't convince you, he thought I might have some success."

Petunia frowned, trying to remember if any of the recent topics she had discussed with her son would warrant a visit from Harry. She couldn't think of any.

"About what?" she asked, still confused.

"About leaving Uncle Vernon," Harry replied evenly.

Petunia's eyes widened at his words. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice low.

"We all know how he treated you."

"How he treated me?" Her voice was choking now, though she hoped he wouldn't notice. "I love him. He is g-good to me, Harry."

"Is he? I was quiet but I was not blind, Aunt Petunia." His words made her gasp.

"I don't know what you and Dudley have been talking about. There is nothing wrong with Vernon. You are basing it all on speculation," she protested, despite knowing it was useless.

Harry simply took out his wand and muttered a spell. Petunia's sleeve rolled up of its own accord, revealing white skin marred by bruises. Harry raised an eyebrow challengingly.

Petunia looked away, ashamed. "Why are you doing this? Why do you want to help me? I was a terrible aunt to you..."

"You wouldn't have been, if he hadn't been there, I think. I don't think we'll ever know, either way. But that's in the past now. You can't keep suffering like this. You can live with Dudley or even Ginny and me..." He broke off when he saw that she had started to sob.

He moved over to stand by the chair to lay an arm on her shoulder.

Through her tears, he could make out only a few words.

"I loved him..."

Notes: For the British Literature Challenge on The Golden Snitch. Prompts: #4 Privet Drive, asparagus green, speculation, I was quiet but I was not blind.

And for the Through the Universe Challenge: Prompt: to meet you again

Also for the Crayola Color Challenge on HPFC: Apricot.