Disclaimer: I have not and will never own the Harry Potter works. They belong to Rowling and her alone.

As the lights were put out and the sleeping baby left on the door step, the residents of the Dursley household slept on. Thunderous snores sounding through the house, the night crept on and the sleeping baby began to wake, and you begin to wonder what kind of reaction will come. Dawn broke across the estate and the wail of a baby echoed, not from the street mind you, but the wail of an overindulged baby who had been sleeping peacefully in the safety of the indoors.

A door creaked open down the hall and a tall, skinny woman strode down to the source of the noise. Bustling into the room 'Oh my little Dudders, are you hungry darling? Oh, you are.' She hefted the big baby, his face red and hot from the effort of his cries. 'Oh, you're getting so big darling. I think you need a change.' The woman huffed and puffed as she struggled with the squirming child. And so, the morning routine began as the spoiled baby, Dudley was fed and his mother, Petunia cooked the breakfast for her husband, quite content with her life even as mashed up banana splattered all over her floor and the wailing began again. She sorted out the mess and plonked the baby in front of the TV in his rocking chair. When she went back to the kitchen, she heard a whimpering cry and hurried back to her Dudders.

Nothing seemed out of place and the child was quite contently garbling and spluttering at the TV. Petunia walked into the hall and heard the whimper again, looking behind her, she could see her baby still not bothered in the slightest.

A sound of a cry came, and the confused mother looked to the front door. 'What in the world?' She yanked the door open and looked outside, the cry had stopped, and she became even more confused, she looked up and down the street, seeing nothing she began to close the door when she heard a small cough come from her feet.

She looked down and screeched. She stumbled backwards, tripping over her slippers and falling to the ground. She stared in horror at the sight of what was on her door step. The baby, bundled up in his blanket, watched her in curiosity, he seemed to come to the decision that the adult would do and squirmed, trying to free his hands to reach toward the adult. His squirming dislodged the letter that had been placed on him earlier in the night it slipped and fell into the door way. The woman watched transfixed at the sight before her, gazing at the letter that fluttered to the ground then snapping her eyes back to the moving child whose movements seemed to become more desperate by the second. She came out of her stupor when the child began to cry, his face scrunching up in frustration. She got to her feet and picked the baby up, the habit of comforting a frustrated child coming to her easily.

She looked down at the baby cradled in her arms, automatically making shushing noises and bouncing him up and down as she rocked him side to side. His face relaxed gradually until he was barely whimpering. She gazed in wonder as the baby stared up at her, his big green eyes shining with tears, lips puckered in a pout, quivering. Her mind trying to comprehend the sight before her. She looked to the letter still on the ground at her feet. Squatting down she plucked it off the floor and once again scanned up and down the street, making sure no neighbours saw and shut the door.

She walked back down the hall in a daze, baby and letter in her arms, as she entered the kitchen she became aware of the world around her and looked in horror at the smoke that obscured her vision, she scurried over to the kitchen window opening it then over to where had once been frying eggs was now charred lumps on a sauce pan. She dumped it in the sink then turned the tap on, creating a puff of steam and smoke.

She looked to the child that was still in her arms and walked to the dining room table, plopping him in what was normally Dudley's chair and strapping him in. She went back once more to the kitchen. She cleaned up the mess and made herself a cup of tea to calm herself. Then getting the remains of Dudley's breakfast brought it out to the baby that had become impatient and was trying to escape the confines of the baby chair. She turned him the right way around and gave him the first few spoonsful of the oatmeal and banana. He seemed to know what to do from there and made to grab the spoon that she was feeding him with. She relinquished it after she was satisfied he had eaten enough and left him to his own devices.

Sitting across from him she eventually had her cup of tea, while opening the forgotten 'til now letter. Turning over the almost see through envelope in her hands, she read the address. Mr and Mrs V. Dursley, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. It was no mistake, with shaking hands she again turned the letter over again and breaking the wax seal, took the letter from the envelope. Unfolding it with trembling fingers she began to read.

Dear Mr and Mrs. Dursley,

I leave this letter with the deepest of sadness. Earlier this Halloween evening, James and Lily Potter were murdered. This crime was committed by none other than Lord Voldemort of whom I'm positive you've heard of before. But by some great miracle their son Harry survived….

Petunia read the letter, until her hand trembled so much that she could no longer read the words. She dropped the letter onto the table and looked to baby sitting across from her, of course she had recognised him as soon as she had seen his eyes, but she hoped, she hoped to god it wasn't him. Tears gathered in her eyes. What could she do? They couldn't keep him, despite what this Dumbledore said. They couldn't, they wouldn't! He'll be a freak just like his parents. God what will the neighbours think! What'll Vernon do? He won't let him stay in this house, he wouldn't even let me go to see Lily when she had him. Oh god Lily, a sob tore through her throat. Her baby sister was gone, murdered! Oh, I hate them! Why! Why did she have to be a witch? A freak?

The baby across from her babbled, she looked at the letter again.

'It is essential that he stay with you. I know you have had your differences in the past with Lily but for the safety of Harry he must stay with a blood relative of Lily's and you are her only family….'

A blood relative?... Her only family?

As Petunia contemplated this strange wording, her whale sized husband waddled through the kitchen door. She stared at her husband in horror not knowing what she will say. 'Morning.' He grunted as he went over to the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee. She didn't answer him, but he took no notice. It was only after he had taken his first sips of coffee that he noticed anything was the matter.

Now Vernon Dursley was not the smartest of men but even so, you'd have thought someone would notice if a stranger's baby was sitting at their dining table. Eventually he did a double take at the scene before him. He blinked stupidly at the sight before him, once, twice. 'Petunia…'

'Yes darling?' She replied shakily. 'What…Why is…' He said as he came closer, eyes squinting as he regarded the baby eating happily before him. He inhaled sharply as his head whipped over to look at his wife. His complexion took on a purplish tinge as he saw the delicate parchment letter sitting on the table in front of his wife.

'What...is...the...meaning...of...this?!' He said his voice gaining volume with each word. He stood up to his full height, which to be honest wasn't all that impressive but his body mass made up for what he lacked in height. Petunia shrunk back in her seat as her husband's fury became even more terrifying. The baby sitting across from her began to cry, as the sudden shout startled him.

'What is that freak's child doing in our home?!' He roared. 'I don't know.' She wailed. 'I came down the stairs this morning, fed Dudley his breakfast and was going to put out the milk bottles when I heard him,' she threw a scathing look in the baby's direction, 'crying outside, this letter was on top of him,' She said as she threw the offending letter in her husband's direction. He picked up the letter and read it thoroughly, he began to pace, mouthing the words as he went along.

'Dead?' He said as he looked up towards Petunia, she gave a nod as she looked down at the table. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he continued to read. 'Only blood relative?' He again looked up towards Petunia. 'Yes, I thought that was odd as well.' She said.

'But didn't they make that cousin of yours his Godmother?' He asked with his eyebrows furrowed. 'Yes, Emer's daughter had turned out to be a freak just like them, Lily found out, they've been in contact ever since.' Petunia replied slowly, just as confused as her husband in how the child ended up on their doorstep.

Petunia glanced up at the clock. 'Vernon you're going to be late for work.' She exclaimed as she hopped up from her chair. She flurried around the kitchen making him a to-go breakfast. 'I'll call Emer while you're at work and explain to her the situation.' She said as she handed him a flask of coffee and a brown paper bag with food in it.

'We're not taking in that freak Petunia. Even if this cousin of yours doesn't agree, we're not going to put up with this.' He said as he pointed an accusatory finger at the baby who had been silently watching the exchange, his eyes full of tears as they silently trickled over his cheeks. The scar on his forehead an ugly mar on his chubby innocent face. Petunia inhaled shakily at her husband's words, she knew he wouldn't accept the baby but to turn him out entirely? She nodded her compliance and turned away. Vernon gave a grunt and turned to leave, going first to say goodbye to his son then out the door.

'This is all your fault.' Petunia spat at the baby. He looked up at her helplessly, his eyes so much like Lily's, begging her for comfort. Petunia broke, she had denied contact with her sister for so long and now it was too late, the least she could do was give her nephew some comfort. She pursed her lips as she picked him up out of the armchair. He was truly an adorable child, his cheeks a rosy red, button nose, thick black hair in a fuzzy halo around his head and his eyes, of course his eyes were the main feature. The rest of him was very much his father, though if Petunia looked hard enough she could just see a bit of her own father in the shape of his chin and mouth. She gave a watery smile at that.

'So, you're Harry, you know, your mother and I haven't talked in years, except she would consistently send me letters. Once a month, mind you but they were lengthy things and for the last year she has talked none stop about you.' Petunia said, shifting the baby from one arm to the other. 'I never once responded.' Her lips stretched into a thin line. 'I regret that so much now. She didn't deserve this.' Petunia sniffled. She closed her eyes and reigned in her emotions. A sticky hand touched her cheek, she opened her eyes and looked down at her until now mysterious nephew. He watched her, a deep look of concentration on his face.

'Momma?' he asked her.

'No momma.' She whispered, trying to keep the waver out of her voice. His forehead scrunched up. 'Dada?' She shook her head, desperately trying not to cry. This wasn't fair, why, why her? Why them? 'Pa'oot?' She looked at him in confusion. What on earth was that? ' 'Oony?' She shook her head again, not really knowing what he was asking. Just then her own baby started to cry. She hurried into the living room. She swapped the baby's, taking hers out of the bouncy chair and putting her nephew in. She tried to calm the screaming child.

The differences between the children was outstanding. Where one was quiet the other loud, one fair the other dark. The contrasts went on. She left the room then, bouncing her little boy on her hip as she walked over to phone, deciding to call her cousin as soon as possible.

She found her old address book, not remembering the last time she had called Emer. It must have been years ago, they used to be so close, until she had found out about that daughter of hers that had somehow become like Lily. A witch. An abomination. She remembered years ago when Emer used to come over in the summers and she, Lily and herself were inseparable. Then Lily started doing her freaky tricks and Emer, oh I should've known then. She thought it amazing what Lily could do, didn't see her for what she was.

Petunia scoffed 'Well look where it's got her now. None of her little tricks stopped her from dying.' She thought. She immediately regretted it but didn't take it back. She eventually found her cousins number, hoping that it hadn't changed she dialed. It rang four times and she was preparing to hang up and try again when she heard the familiar voice of her cousin.

'Hello?' Petunia froze then, even though she hadn't kept in contact with Lily, Emer had. She was named Harry's Godmother for Christ's sake!

'Hello?' She heard from the line again. This time Petunia spoke up. 'Emer?' She asked quietly. There was silence on the other end of the line, all Petunia could hear was the static and her cousin's breath then, 'Petunia?' She almost could see the incredulous expression on her face from the amount of disbelief in her voice.

'Yes.'

'What is it? What's happened?' The surprise was still in her voice, but suspiciousness was creeping in quickly.

'I…. It's…it's Lily.'

'What do you mean? What's happened to Lily? Petunia?!' Emer's voice became more and more panicked as she went. Petunia opened and closed her mouth trying to think of the words to say. 'She.. she's gone.'

'Gone? Petunia you're not speaking clearly. What's gone?' Petunia choked back a sob and it all came out at once, 'She's dead! They're both dead! They've gone and gotten themselves blown up!' saying the words aloud broke something within her and she started sobbing, babbling nonsense. She heard a straggled gasp from the other side of the phone. 'How…what..where did you hear this?' Emer's voice wavered and broke by the end of her sentence. 'I found their son on my doorstep this morning, a letter was left with him explaining it all.' Petunia said. She heard a stifled sob from the other end of the line and closed her eyes trying to stem the constant flow of tears. 'Vernon won't allow him to stay here Emer he won't! And why was he left here in the first place? It..'

Petunia was cut off from finishing, 'Who was the letter from Petunia?'

'…What?'

'The letter. Who was it from?'

'Dumbledore.' She heard a crash from the phone and held it away from her ear looking at it before listening again. She could hear some mumbling but couldn't make out what exactly was being said. She heard heavy breathing, 'Dumbledore left this letter? So he left Harry on your doorstep for who knows how long in the middle of the night? A one year old?!' The anger could be heard building in her cousins voice though the grief was also ever present.

'Yes. Emer are you not his Godmother? Why was Harry left on our doorstep?'

'No one else knew apart from a select few.'

'What?'

'I'm a Muggle Petunia. It's illegal for me to know about the wizarding world.'

'But your daughter…'

'I know, Lily took a risk we weren't supposed to know until Ciara went to Hogwarts but she couldn't stand the thought of Ciara not knowing what she was.' Emer's breath hitched as she said Lily's name. Petunia pursed her lips trying to refrain from making a scathing comment about "what she was". Closing her eyes she tried to calm herself and bring the conversation back to the reason why she called. 'Will you take him?' she blurted out in the end.

'Petunia?'

'The boy. Will you take him? He can't stay here Emer, Vernon won't stand for it.' There was silence on the phone, 'You would cast out your own nephew?' The disgust in her tone evident. Petunia didn't answer. She heard a scoff and some mumbling. 'I'll be there in two days alright?'

'Two days?!'

Yes Petunia, I can't get there any sooner. You still live in Surrey yes?'

'Yes.'

'Then I'll see you then. Will…will you put Harry on the phone for me Petunia?'

'But he's only a baby.' 'Yes and he's currently an orphan surrounded by unfamiliar people and doesn't know what's going on. Please Petunia, he'll recognise my voice.'

'Fine. Give me a moment.' Petunia left the phone beside the receiver and walked back into the living room, her son having fallen asleep on her shoulder while she spoke on the phone. The black haired child was happily bouncing in the chair blowing bubbles in his mouth when he noticed her. She quickly placed her sleeping son in the play pen and picked her nephew up, bringing him to the phone. 'Here he is now.' Holding the phone to his ear she couldn't hear what was being said, only seeing her nephews reactions and it startled her the difference in him. She thought him happy enough before but the child fairly lit up when hearing his Godmother's voice calling 'Ema.' Over and over and babbling nonsense over the phone. Emer must have understood him well enough as the baby began getting excited at whatever she was saying. Eventually Petunia pulled the phone away.

'Emer?' She heard a sniffle.

'You be good to him alright? I mean it Petunia. He's a wonderful boy and it's only two days. I don't care what Vernon thinks he will have to get over himself. I'll try my best to be there sooner but it's not likely.' Petunia sighed in relief 'Thank you Emer.'

'There's nothing here to thank.' Her cousin said angrily before hanging up the phone.

And there we have it, I've had this idea stuck in my head for ages and I've finally decided to put it to words. This story is a sort of AU with details here and there from Rowling's amazing books.

Please leave reviews on what you think.