Petunia sat on the couch in a small motel, in the heart of the bustling capital of the U.S., rocking her nephew to sleep. She wrapped him in warm blankets before leaving their small motel room. Outside was a cab, waiting to take them to her cousin.
Before coming to America on a business trip with her husband, she had spent hours with Remus Lupin sorting through Lily and James's belongings: anything that she thought held some sort of importance or she felt their son might want- basically the few items that had not been completely obliterated- had been sent to their vault at Gringotts.
Petunia remembered telling Remus of her plans of bringing Harry to the U.S and leaving him with a cousin- one that had been quite close to Lily. It had surprised her when Remus had told her that she was making the right choice for her nephew, and that Harry would probably be much safer in America.
Flash back:
Petunia and Remus sat at her kitchen table going over a few last minutes things. Both babies were asleep and Vernon had gone to work few hours ago.
"You sure about this Petunia? You still have time to change your mind..." Remus began.
"I'm quite sure we'ad been through this before, Remus. I'm sure about this, very sure. I cahn' keep him'n I won't let'im be taken into an orph'nage. Them followers is still on the loose; 'Arry'll be much safer wit' Temp than he is wit' me." Petunia answered in her strong native accent.
"I suppose you're right," Remus said, "Can I see your ring?"
"You know," she said giving him her ring "if I hadn't been drunk that night I'd-a neva-a married Vernon. I don't love him."
"Then why are you still with him, if you don't love him?"
"I was drunk instead of saying the vows that they wan'ed me ta' say I ended up sayin'a marr'age bindin' spell."
"Oh- Merlin! I can feel the magic. What did ya' do to it Remus?" Petunia asked as she placed the ring back on her finger.
"I turned it into a portkey- in case you ever need it. It will take you anywhere you wish."
"Thank you so much Remus." Petunia said, after a moment of staring at her ring in awe. She then leaned over suddenly and kissed him. He brought her closer as their kiss depended.
"We shouldn't be doing this 'Tunia" Remus said, pulling away from her lips.
"Why not?"
"Because, you're married." He said, a bit exasperated and confused at her question.
"Yeah, a mistake I wish I'ad never made."
"I need to go.." he said, quickly getting his coat and wand.
"No, Remus! Wait!" She said too late- he was already gone.
End flash back
She. Was. Nervous, no- terrified. Yet somehow, felt a sense of peace and satisfaction. Never had she ever done anything like this before-leaving something so precious to her in the care of another- but knowing that this savior of a little boy would be better cared for and be presented with more opportunities with another relative gave her that serenity and satisfaction.
Oh, how she wished she still had her magic. Petunia had been born a witch just like her sister, mother, and father, she had attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and had was a proud Huffelpuff. Such a great life she once had, but, she had to go and ruin it by marrying that stupid-lump-waist-of-space-good-for-nothing husband, Vernon Dursley. Her parents- angry at her choice of a husband- disowned her and used a spell that blocked her magic. It was not because he was a muggle-her parents were not that closed-minded, but because of the way he had acted towards her and even around others.
"Ma'am? -We're here," the cab driver said, bringing her out of her reverie. He was parked in front of the Jeffersonian, where she had heard Temperance worked as some famous scientist. Quite unusual to her, as the beautiful witch had been at the top of almost every class, was amazing at quidditch, and had quite the brave heart.
"Wait here," Petunia told the driver, as she got out of the car with the baby in her arms.
Dr. Temperance Brennan, her partner, F.B.I., Special Agent Seeley Booth, and their colleagues -or the Squints as Booth liked to call them- were arguing over where they were going go for lunch, as their latest case had just been completed.
They didn't notice a flash of green come out of the good doctor's office, nor the slender woman bustling about, nor the baby left on Brennan's desk.
"Okay! So we're all in agreement- heads, the diner, tails, Wong Foo's. Got it?" Angela asked out on the platform, before flipping the quarter when everyone nodded.
"Tails!" She called- looking at the head-down coin resting on the floor.
There were a few groans-mainly from Hodgins who apparently found great pride in choosing his own meal- and a high-five between Brennan and Booth -who chose their now intended destination- but everyone was content with the outcome.
"Alrighty! Let's go get our stuff and Vamoose!" Said Cam, wanting to get the show on the road, as she was starving. "Dr. Brennan- that means lets hurry up and get going!" As she looked to the Doctor who usually misunderstood figurative language.
"Hey! I kne-"Brennan began, but was cut off by her partner dragging her in the direction of her office..
As she opened her office door, everything was in it's place as usual- books on the bookcase, the human skull in its case on the shelf, her iguana in its cage, and the baby in a car seat on her desk. Wait-wait-, hold on a second... baby? What in Merlin's name was a baby doing in her office?
"Ah-Bones?" Booth said.
"That's... a baby," she said before turning to look at him, "What the hell is a BABY doing in my Office?! WHY!? Is it in my office? HOW cou-"She stopped abruptly, noticing an envelope with her name on it sitting atop the baby. She hastily removed the envelope and began to read to herself:
My Dearest Cousin Temperance, the lettered began.
Hopefully, by the time you read this, I am on my way back to England. I cannot take care of him, my cousin, I would love to, but I cannot. The Wizarding War has just ended not long ago, and his life will be in danger if he stays with me.
My cousin, I know that with you, he will be safer from DeathEaters. Lily and James gave up their own lives to give him a chance to live out his own. He is famous, Temp, this little baby- just seven months old, defeated Him. The Death Eaters are after him now, Tempe. I have no magic to protect him, nor does my husband (you do remember that good for nothing bucket of lard). You, on the other hand, do.
Everything that he'll need for the next few weeks is in the diaper bag. I am sorry cousin, I truly am, but by the time that you finish reading this letter, the spell on it will activate making Harry legally yours- both muggle and wizard. Please take care of him as if he was your own flesh and blood; for him, for me, for that strong friendship that you and Lily once had, Take care of him, Tempe.
-Petunia
No Lily could not be dead... she just... couldn't be.
"Temperance" Booth placed a hand on her shoulder, noticing the tears running down her face. She turned to look at him, trying to hold back her sobs.
"She- she- she..." was all that she managed to get out before they wracked her and Booth's bodies, as he held her to his chest while she cried.
Her crying was what alerted the others, and they came rushing toward her office, serious concern etched their features - Temperance Brennan never cried, ever. What they saw when they arrived at her office didn't do much to ease their worry, but definitely brought a smile to the friends' faces:
Booth was kneeling behind his partner's right shoulder, left hand on her back, giving some moral support as she, though still crying, looked lovingly at the little baby wrapped in her arms who was playing with her hair and wiping her cheeks, causing her to smile.
"Oh- My God..." Softly squealed Angela. "Look at them..."
"Where'd the baby come from?" Whispered Cam.
"No idea... Think it's hers?" Hodgins replied.
"Well, considering she's on the floor crying, Hodgins, I'd say probably not..." Angela stated matter-of-factly.
"Why do you think she's crying? I mean, Brennan doesn't cry, like, ever... at least not like that... right?" Cam asked her other two co-workers.
"Uh-No." Angela said, while Hodgins shook his head.
Their was a brief moment of silence before Cam replied, "Ya know what? Screw the guessing- I'm just gonna ask, guys." Before knocking lightly on the door frame.
Booth heard the knocking and looked up, not surprised to see the rest of the squint-squad there. He continued his soothing circles on Brennan's back while shaking his head, in a warning not to ask.
"Bones-Temperance," She looked up. "Let me take you home." She merely nodded and carefully got up, seeing how th-her, now- her baby was beginning to fall asleep.
Booth grabbed his partner's bags and the carseat, while Brennan grabbed the diaper bag and, following Booth, left her office, her eyes never leaving her newly-proclaimed son.
As Booth moved to shut the door he turned to the others and shrugged, indicating he didn't have a clue what was going on, then hurried to catch up with Brennan.
The drive to her apartment was a silent one. Brennan had decided to ride in back with the baby while Booth drove-as usual. As they pulled up to her building, they both were lost in the many thoughts swirling through their heads.
Brennan's thoughts were focused on her dead cousin, and her former godson, as he was now hers. What happened to Lily and James? Does anyone else know their baby is with me? How am I supposed to hide his magic as well as my own?
Booth had questions- Who was the baby? Where did it come from? Where are it's parents? Who was the child in relation to his partner? What's going to happen to the baby? But he only voiced the one that seemed most important at the time, knowing Brennan would talk when ready. "Bones, you okay?" He asked, taking the key out of the ignition.
Brennan looked up when he called her name, then bit her lip slightly before nodding, "We'll be fine. Thanks, Booth." She finished with a hint of a smile.
"Aright. Call me if you need anything okay?"
"I will."
And with that she grabbed her bags and the carseat and headed up to her apartment.
A/N: okay soooo? How'd you like it? Feedback is a godsend people! It really helps knowing what you guys want to see and what you're opposed to. One other thing- As I said in the A/N of the last chapter, I really am not that great of a Harry Potter fan and have no idea where to really go with the Petunia/Remus thing... If it were purely up to me, then I would probably leave it out, but based on reviews from where this story was last posted, people really liked that aspect of the story. Write in that big box (vvv) you can't miss it! More to come soooon:)
Oh! PS- I think it's important to know that this story is set after Verdict in the Story (3x13 of Bones) for sure (why will become apparent later) and possibly even farther along than that. Okay, Now review and more to come soon.:)