Petunia Dursley of number 4 Privet Drive would never admit it, but she loved her sister dearly. When she read the letter telling her that her sister had died, she blinked back tears until her husband left, and then cried for hours, clutching Harry in her arms. She loved her sister, and that is why, when Harry showed up on their doorstep one morning, Petunia took him in without question.

It was a chilly November morning. Petunia Dursley went through all the normal actions as if it was any other morning. She fed Dudley and made breakfast for her husband. As Vernon ate his breakfast, Petunia decided to step outside.

She would never admit it, but chilly mornings reminded her of her sister. Lily would always wake Petunia up early on a chilly morning that was also Lily's birthday. So, whenever a noticeably chilly morning came around, Petunia would always volunteer to be the one to put the milk bottles outside just so she could go outside.

She opened the door to see all the normal features of neighborhood. Identical houses lined each side of the street, and several people could be seen leaving for work.

Petunia Dursley was also greeted by an unfamiliar sight. At her feet was a tiny child, much smaller than her Dudley. He was sleeping soundly. A lightning shaped scar could be seen on his forehead, just below a tiny tuff of black hair. She let out a scream when she saw the child, but stopped the second she saw the baby's eyes flitter open.

Petunia picked up the child after the child's slumber was interrupted. He didn't cry. He just stared up at the woman with big green eyes. Petunia stared back down into his green eyes, her sister's eyes.

Mrs. Dursley could already sense what this meant. The owls the day before that she had passed off as nothing, as well as the report of shooting stars on the news. She just knew all those things had something to do with her sister, she just knew it. That was why she had reacted so harshly to her husband when he asked her about it; she didn't want to admit to him that she was scared for her sister. Her husband was already acting odd as it was.

Vernon Dursley heard his wife's scream, and went to the front door as quickly as possible. He was greeted by the sight of his wife holding an unfamiliar child in her arms. He knew by the look on her face that it was the same boy they had talked about the day before. He looked at the child and with a grunt turned around and walked back to the house, his wife following behind him.

When Petunia entered the kitchen, it was the first time that she had noticed the letter. She unfolded it, and with Harry in one arm, the letter in the other hand, she read it.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,

As you may have guessed, the child that has now entered your home is Lily and James Potter's child, your nephew. You must take care of him.

A war has been rising, and on October 31, it came to a screeching halt. A very dark wizard had been rising to power for some time. Last night, he was destroyed by the boy you found on your front porch.

Voldemort went to the home of Lily and James Potter with the intention to kill Harry. Lily fled with Harry when he arrived as James seemingly went to slow Voldemort down. Voldemort had one purpose: to kill Harry. He did not care who else he killed. James was killed. Voldemort continued on to find Harry and Lily. Lily stood between Harry and Voldemort. She died to save her son.

Because Lily died to save her son, there is now a blood connection. There is a connection between you and Harry. You must take him in, and care for him like he is your own son. As long as you do this, Harry will remain safe.

When it comes time for him to learn about it, he will learn about why he is famous in the wizarding world, and why he is alive. Tell Harry about what his parents did for him. They were great people who met a terrible fate. Tell him that he is loved.

You must take him in and care for him. It is very important.

Sincerely,

Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore

Vernon read the letter over his wife shoulder. When he came to the end, his thoughts were quite evident.

"Who are these people? Expecting us to believe a story like that? They probably got themselves blown up and no one else wants to take in their awful son. We shall send him to an orphanage straight away." Vernon told his wife.

"No," Petunia said quietly. "We will not send him to an orphanage. He is my sister's son. It's only right to take him in." Vernon let out a huff.

"Fine," he conceded. "We will take him in, but I won't be happy about it. Dudley is our only son. I won't be treating this boy as if he is one as well." Petunia nodded, keeping her face hidden from her husband's view. She didn't want him to see the tears on her face. "I'm leaving for work now," he said, his voice quieter. "He can sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. It's empty." He told her. And with that, Petunia could hear the sound of Vernon walking down the hall and exiting the house.

Petunia collapsed on a kitchen chair. She didn't care that Dudley was throwing a tantrum. She didn't care that Vernon hated her nephew. The only thing on her mind was her sister, and the baby in her arms. The tears began flowing. She cried for her sister. She never got to apologize for calling her a freak. Lily may have been a witch, but she didn't deserve this. She cried for the muggle world, the world that had just lost that sweet little red headed girl that was always arm and arm with her sister until she was eleven. She cried for the wizarding world, the world that had lost a wonderful witch at the hand of a terrible man. She cried for little Harry, who was quietly sobbing in her arms once again. He would never meet his mother, and there was nothing she could do to change that.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she murmured. "I loved her, too."