AN: So from now on I'll just post the chapter that my friend writes, which means the notes at the end as well. Any feedback from you guys will go to her as well.


Chapter Four - The Beginning

Unfortunately for Vernon, Willow's mental communication did not stop after that once instance.

The few days, after Vernon's firm handling at the nursery, were tense. Petunia kept glancing worriedly at her husband and the young girl, she seemed reluctant to leave the two alone for any short period of time. Perhaps Petunia viewed her husband's newly found temper as a hazard as she also rarely left her own son with his father.

This of course caused loud discussions each night. Each of these arguments followed a similar script.

"Petunia this is madness!" Vernon would huff angrily when his wife brought him his coffee after the two children were sent to bed.

"No Vernon. You hit her," Petunia would retort calmly.

"She deserved it!" Vernon said, his voice raising as his temper threatened to break. "She used her freaky powers to talk to me without talking!"

"Vernon calm down!" Petunia said firmly, shooting a glance at the cupboard where Willow resided.

"No Petunia! I told you I wouldn't have a freak in the house and you have done nothing to stop it! If it happens again I am taking control over it. If it doesn't stop she will be left on the streets!" Vernon bellowed.

"Vernon!" Petunia would hiss, although her voice would always be considerably weaker by this point.

Vernon would normally then leave without a word. However, the fifth night this argument occurred he walked up to his wife. Petunia stood her ground as Vernon grew closer, her eyes softened slightly as she saw what the late nights were doing to him. His stress and fatigue was obvious.

"This needs to stop," he said softly, staring his wife in the eyes. "You told me yourself that you hated your sister, so why are you sticking up for her brat?"

Petunia had flinched hearing the words thrown at her in such a venomous way. Her only whispered reply was; "she's only a child Vernon."

"She is a child that needs to learn what she is doing wrong. You obviously cannot teach her that so whenever something freaky happens I'll be the one punishing her. That child needs to learn!" the predatory glint in his eyes made Petunia shake her head firmly.

"No Vernon. She will learn without your temper!"

"Petunia," Vernon growled as a warning.

"No. You know she is scared of you -"

"Maybe that will help her learn! God knows fear can teach children anything!"

Petunia stepped back, truly fearful. She decided to try once more. "Vernon," she said softly, in a tone that one would use to calm a frightened animal. "She might just be recovering. Even Dr Johnson –"

Vernon reacted instantly. His face turned purple and he slapped Petunia hard on the cheek. She stepped back several paces as she watched her husband with watery eyes.

"I told you not to take her there," he hissed, stepping closer to his wife.

"I –" Petunia fell silent. Her excuse died before it left her mouth.

Vernon raised his hand slowly and brushed Petunia's red cheek, not reacting when she recoiled at his touch.

"Tomorrow," he said softly. "Take Dudley out to the zoo. Let him pick a few toys. I'll talk to the girl and explain what will change, ok?" Vernon's voice may have been soft but his eyes dared his wife to disagree.

It was with a defeated nod that Vernon truly smiled.

"Good," he whispered.

Come morning Petunia had barely slept, despite Vernon slumbering with ease next to her. A huge portion of her wanted to refuse to leave him with Willow, yet she couldn't bring herself to face her husband's temper once more.

Petunia was sure that Vernon was not one to lash out. He was normally so level-headed. It must have been the stress of Willow's magic, she had eventually concluded in the early hours of the morning. Yes, she thought, that must be it.

With great reluctance Petunia had fed and left the house with Dudley once Vernon woke. She had left Willow with the hope that the girl would sleep through the day.

Vernon sat at the table for an hour thinking over the best way to do what he had planned. He knew that the girl wouldn't be able to do a lot, she was barely five years old after all. Even if she didn't act it.

It was with a determined sigh at half past ten that Vernon stood and opened the door under the stairs. To his shock he found Willow laid on the small bed with one of the books Petunia had gotten in order to teach the two children to read.

"Out!" he barked, annoyed that the girl was already awake and seemed to have been for a while.

Willow scrambled to put the book back onto the small shelf that was above the bed before she stepped out of her sanctuary.

"I've got a list of chores that you will start doing," Vernon said as soon as Willow had joined him in the hall. "Failure to do these chores will lead to a consequence, the more consequences you have the worse they will get. Do you understand?" Vernon asked sternly, his eyes narrowing as the girls head bobbed. "You will put all the toys away before any event. You will collect the laundry and put it in the washing machine. You will dust daily. You will collect the mail. You will collect and move the forks, knifes and spoons before and after each meal and you will help Petunia clean the table and dishes. You will also water and tend to the garden. Understood?" Vernon's anger grew more at the silent nod.

"Go put the toys away," Vernon ground out. "After that get the washing down. Then come get me and we'll see what needs doing next."

Vernon cursed himself as Willow left. He had picked the easier things for her to start with, probably for the best, she is only a child after all, he reasoned. He decided that he would get Petunia to assist with the chores until the girl had proven herself capable of handling them. It was with a sigh that Vernon left to watch the television, giving no thought to the young girl that had just entered the spare room that had been converted into a playroom.


AN: Ok, so this chapter sent shivers down my spine to write. It was so difficult to do. I don't think I'll go into too much detail over what happens at home but it will be briefly spoken about. Mainly because I think it's important to know but I know it's difficult to read (it's difficult for me to write mainly). But generally, crap goes on. This is where we start getting darker.