Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, never has been, never will be. All characters you recognize belong to JKR, all that you don't and the plotline are mine.
Just finished reading Never Alone, Never Again by bored beyond belief. Great story, if you are interested! Very angsty, but love seeing characters OOC (if you couldn't tell by my own use in this one) ;)
Chapter 7 Lowest of Lows
Petunia Dursley opened her eyes and blinked to focus. She began to turn her head quickly when she heard a strange muttering next to her, but stopped at the wave of pain that shot through her face and head. She moaned and closed her eyes again.
"Petunia? Are you awake? Are you hurting?" The familiarity of Severus Snape's voice speaking to her brought comfort to the ache she could now feel throughout her, what felt very battered, body. She ran her tongue over her parched lips. "Water. Water please."
Severus leaned over, and carefully brought a bottle of cool water to her lips, before slowly tipping it up and letting it pour through her parted lips. She was wondering why she hurt so bad, and had just swallowed the water down, when she remembered. Petunia sat up, ignoring all of the pain that shot through her body.
"Charlie! Where's Charlie? If he her hurt her, I swear to…" She was panting from the pain, sweat already dripping from her brow, while Severus rushed to calm her.
"She's fine! She's fine! Petunia, lie down, Charlie is fine. She's waiting outside with Harry right now."
Petunia collapsed back, her chest heaving with a mixture of sobs and pain. "How did you find us?"
"Harry left some stuffed animal. He couldn't sleep without it, so he had to settle for Sirius last night." Severus smiled, though it still didn't quite reach his eyes and he looked at the beaten woman he'd once loved. "We all wanted to come to have a word with that bastard, but found you and Charlotte instead." He felt tears in his eyes, and knew Petunia could clearly see the grief in his face. "I really thought I lost you this time, Tuney. I felt like I did when we were kids, and your appendix burst at the playground, remember?" He slid his hand over hers and squeezed gently. "I've always considered you and Lils my family, and I thought I was going to lose you now too." His voice broke over the last word, and he leaned his head against their joined hands.
Petunia reached with her free hand, and gently ran her trembling hand through his hair. She knew very few people saw the unguarded Severus Snape, and counted herself lucky to be one.
He let her soothe him for a few minutes, before sitting up dry-eyed. "Is it okay if I bring Charlie to see you? She might be sleeping still, but I bet it would make you feel better to see her with your own eyes." He smiled gently at her.
"I'd love that. Please do." She smiled as Severus rose and walked out of the room. My poor babies, shouldn't have had to go through so much…She'd always been protective over Severus growing up, and had thought they would end up married until he stopped spending as much time with her one summer when they were sixteen. She'd met Vernon that same summer, and it was all downhill from there. Her slightly older self now wondered over those three months, and what had made him pull away. I bet that is why I always tried to protect Harry from Vernon, she reflected to herself. There are so many parallels between him and Severus.
Just then two of the objects of her thoughts came slowly into the room, accompanied by her daughter clinging to both of them.
"Mummy!" Charlotte ran and launched herself onto the bed with Petunia.
"Oomph." Petunia tried to protect herself from her daughter's flying limbs, but only halfway succeeded. She wrapped one arm around the now crying girl, and the other protectively around her now even more aching middle. Severus gazed concernedly at her before turning and walking out of the room. Harry still stood closer to the doorway, studying her. She lifted the arm that was hugging Charlie, and gestured for him to come closer. He was much more gentle than his cousin, and settled into the chair Severus had vacated moments ago.
"Are you okay Aunt Petunia? You looked so hurt!" The concern in his bright green eyes brought tears to her matching ones. He'd always been so sensitive, it was one of the things that reminded her of her sister, and made her love him even more.
"Yes, sweetheart, I'm alright. A bit banged up, but the Healers fixed me up nicely." She smiled gently at the boy. "What about you? Are you all right? How do you like Sirius, Remus and Severus?"
She leaned back and listened as Harry's babbling relaxed her, but still smiled with relief and took the pain potion when a Medi-Witch brought it for her. The potion brought so much relief she almost cried. It reminded her of when she was young, and Sev and Lily would brew together during their summers home- they'd make some pain potion for scraped knees and such, and once had made her some anti-nausea potion when she'd gotten a stomach bug. She'd always been fascinated with magic, and Hogwarts too, and had never thought of it as anything more than amazing until she had met Vernon. Once he heard about it and her sister, she never mentioned it around him if she could help it. He only hit her a few times in their relationship before now, and the first time he had was after she defended her sister and Lily's new husband James.
The door creaking open broke her split attention between her thoughts and Harry's chattering, and she was pleased to see Severus come back in with Remus and Sirius close behind.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Three Musketeers." Petunia smiled at the three men. She didn't know Sirius or Remus nearly as well as Sev, but she was familiar with them. She did feel a bit uncomfortable knowing how they must have seen her a few hours ago.
"Hi, Petunia. How are you feeling?" Remus showed her a bunch of wildflowers in a vase before setting them on an end table.
"I feel much better. And the pain medicine helped a bit", she smiled wryly. "Thank you for arriving when you did. The Healer said I probably wouldn't have made it ten more minutes without you."
Severus turned even paler and rested a shaking hand on Harry's hair, before picking him up, and sitting in the same chair with Harry on his lap.
"I'm just glad we could be there in time." This time Sirius stepped forward, and handed her a black stuffed dog, a serious expression on his face. "We had something we wanted to talk about, if you feel up to it."
Petunia nodded, and cuddled her now sleeping (again) daughter closer to her chest.
"Our police, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement are going to want to talk about what happened. Were you aware before this morning that Charlotte was a witch?"
"I had a feeling, but this was the first time I was ever positive. It's not that far-fetched, I had a cousin who was one as well." Petunia frowned. "That's not going to be a problem, is it?"
"No, no, I apologize. I just wanted to clarify what we had talked about with the DMLE earlier, that she was one. What I wanted to ask you, was if you think Vernon is going to come after you or Charlotte, or if you thought he was going to turn himself in for what he did."
"That bastard will probably come after me the first chance he gets. He told me the other week that he thought-", she glanced at Harry, and grasped the young boy's hand, "that he thought we should have made an 'accident' for Harry when he was younger and no one would have missed him." Severus grasped Harry harder, who looked composed for hearing at such a young age that his uncle wanted him dead. "I'm so sorry sweetheart! I wish I could have done more for you! I didn't know what else to do! I contacted that Dumbledore man, and said I was worried for Harry's long-term health about a year ago. He just told me it would make him a stronger man in the future, and that there was no one else to take him."
Sirius growled. "That man is a piss poor excuse of a wizard, and I will personally make sure he pays for all of this." He pulled up one of the other chairs and perched on the edge earnestly. "We figured Dursley would try to come after at least Charlotte, if not the both of you, and we all care about you two. We would like to see if the two of you would want to come live with us. If not indefinitely, at least until you're recovered and on your feet, and have somewhere safe to go."
Petunia teared up at the gesture. "That would be such a relief. I don't want to be a burden, but I want us to be safe until they can catch Vernon." She smiled at all three of the men, before turning to Harry. "Would that be alright with you Harry? If Charlotte and I came to stay with you?"
Harry leaned so far forward towards his aunt he almost slipped off of Severus' lap. The latter tightened his hold so just that didn't happen. "I'd like that Aunt Petunia. I liked you when Unc-… I mean, he wasn't around." Petunia had tears slipping down her face at the innocent admission of the abuse he'd taken. "I promise, never again will I stand by while he hurts you. I wish I could have helped more."
"Why didn't you?" Remus stood quietly behind everyone. The question coming from anyone else would have sounded accusatory, but from the studious man it sounded like he believed she really couldn't.
"The first time Vernon punished Harry by making Harry do yard work in the summer, I waited until Vernon left and did it all while I thought the children were napping. Dudley saw me and said something about it to Vernon. That was the second time he ever hit me, and the first time he hit Harry harder than a smack." She looked apologetically at Harry. "I tried to make myself seem more apathetic after that, but I just couldn't, even for our safety. I think Vernon could sense it and that was part of why he treated Harry so badly- to even out the treatment from me. It didn't help matters that Dudley was waiting to notice anything either of us did. Dudley! Where's Dudley? He was at the park with friends. Was he at the house?"
"Shh, Petunia," Remus soothed, "when Severus stepped out to ask about pain medications, we told the DMLE that there was one more child in the house. They're checking your home now."
"Thank you. I don't think Vernon will hurt him, and honestly I don't think Dudley really cares for me, but he's still my child."
"Vernon Dursley!" Pound, pound, pound. "Mr. Dursley we're here to talk to you about your wife and daughter. Pound, pou-.
"What is the meaning of this shit?" A large woman with a bulldog face opened the door to three mysterious looking men, two with sticks in their hands. "My brother and his family are on holiday in France. What do you want? What is the meaning of this scene?" The woman had a squeaky voice that opposed her manly face and body.
"Your brother is currently wanted on suspicion of beating his wife and daughter, and child abuse towards his nephew." The lead man started forward as he was talking, while wedging his foot inside when the ugly woman tried to close the door.
"My brother would do no such thing to his wife and daughter. The nephew just needs a few good scolding's to get some of that strangeness out of him. Weird parents that one had. Freaks, really, the both of them."
The three men glowered and all walked into the house. The woman took two steps back for every one they took forward.
"That boy's parents were saviors of our world. They died fighting, and sacrificed themselves so even people like you could live," said the smallest man, spittle flying from his lips with his anger. "You have no right to talk about the Potters like that, no right at all!"
The woman composed herself for a moment. "Surely you're mistaken. I just spoke with my brother two hours ago, when he asked me to make sure the house was closed up tight. Decided to take his family on a last minute vacation, even that brat. There's no way he would hurt Pet-Pet or Char."
The men grimaced at the squeaky voice around the pet names. "Have you by any chance gone into their bedroom?"
"No, of course not. That's their space. I'm just making sure the backdoor was locked. That good for nothing boy was in charge, and he really can't be trusted. Honestly, I don't know what Vernie was thinking, putting that rascal in charge of locking the door." Her voice faded on the last few words at the looks from the men.
"Follow us then, we saw the scene earlier." The smallest man lead the way to the master bedroom, where a large amount of blood stained the mattress, and the glass on the mirrored dresser was shattered.
"Oh my god! They were attacked! You have to check on my Vernie! He must have had to come back after we spoke! He could be hurt. Please! Find him!"
"Lady, we told you. He attacked Mrs. Petunia Dursley sometime early this morning, before leaving, we presume, with Dudley Dursley. We currently have Petunia and her daughter Charlotte in our hospital under guard. She has corroborated this story, but is unsure of her son's whereabouts."
"Get the hell out of this house. There is no way my Vernie did that, and if that is what Petunia," she spat, "is telling you, she's full of shit. Probably slept with some man who did this, and my Vernie could be hurt! Get the hell out, I say! Now!"
The three wizards headed towards the front door and stopped once they were outside with the door closed.
The leader of the group spoke to the smallest one, "Williamson, I want you to stay and charm a perimeter. If anyone crosses it, notify me at once and don't let them leave."
"Yes, Captain. I already marked a perimeter in my head on our way in. I'll just activate it now. Will I be able to reach you by Patronus?"
Scrimgeour nodded quickly. "Barkly, you're with me. We'll have to meet with the Muggle police on this one."
"And if you just sign here you can be on your way," the older Medi-Witch smiled at Petunia, and handed her a small piece of parchment.
"Thank you again, for all you did for us," Petunia spoke quietly while signing her name in a quick scrawl.
"You're very welcome, deary. Now make sure you don't end up back here. My brother is a Squib and teaches a Muggle fighting class just outside London. I put his card in your bag." The witch patted Petunia's hand, before walking out of the room.
Petunia smiled bravely at Severus, before picking up her small bag, "Well, I guess that's our cue to leave, hmm?" The men had already gone through the DMLE and had most of Petunia's possessions picked up from Privet Drive, and her bag just carried enough clothing and personal items for a weekend away, or in this case, a weekend in the hospital.
Severus gently took Petunia's hand before gripping her a bit more firmly. "Remember, hold on to me, we'll be there in a flash." Petunia wrapped her free hand around Severus and tightly closed her eyes. She remembered the feeling of Apparation, and a small childlike giggle escaped her lips before they were gone with a faint pop.
"Mummy!" A small body threw itself between the two adults (who may have held their embrace a moment longer than needed), before two arms snaked their way around Petunia's legs.
"Hi, sweetheart." She leaned down, and lifted Charlie close to her chest. "Why, you must have gotten five inches taller since I saw you last night! How did you grow so quickly? Did you eat cake for dinner?" She pretended to frown at the girl, but no one could miss the twinkle in her eye.
"Mummy. No." Charlie looked at her mum with the seriousness that only a child knowing they're being teased can have. "I ated fish! An gween beans. An saw magic." The child let out a squeal of delight as, at her last words, Sirius changed into the bounding black dog she'd been playing with all morning. "Sewious is a doggy!" She squirmed to be let out of her mother's arms, and took off after the loping canine, her squealing laughter following her.
"Well. Would you like to see your room?" Severus could sense his awkwardness creeping up, and did his best to smother it. He'd be damned if he embarrassed himself in front of this woman who'd been so brave, over a foolish crush from when he was younger.
"I'd love to. Thank you again for your hospitality. Where are Remus and Harry?" Petunia followed Severus' brisk walk through a short hallway into a large bedroom.
"They're out looking at the horse stable and some of the property. This place has been sitting empty for several years, and they're both eager to see what it has to share with us." He headed to the big window seat on one wall. "If you want to peek out here you can just see the corner of the barn over there," he said, gesturing to the left. "I had mentioned it would be nice to have a greenhouse with how much sunshine this area gets all year long, but I hadn't realized how much those two would jump on the idea." He smiled dryly.
"Harry always liked the garden, even when it was a chore," Petunia smiled sadly, tears forming in her eyes. "Oh, Sev! How could I? How could I have failed her like that! And Harry!" She choked out a sob, before wrapping both arms around herself and sinking to the floor. "Harry. He's so small and I failed him. My poor boy. And my Dudley- I'm so afraid I've lost him to his father's influence already. I failed them both."
Severus could barely make out the last few words through her sobs, and lowered himself behind Petunia before wrapping her in his lean arms. He'd figured this was coming. He'd always liked learning, and at the age of twenty-six, held multiple accolades, both Muggle and Wizarding. He'd taken up psychology shortly after graduating from Hogwarts, and had attended Oxford University where he received his PhD. He always thought some wizards were too engrossed in their own kind, and had thought it important to have both Muggle and Wizarding education. Through all of his knowledge and studying he'd figured a breakdown of some type must be coming, and he was glad he could be there for Petunia, both to support someone he cared deeply for, and selfishly, to be the one she could rely on.
He rubbed her back as her sobs slowed, her sniffles coming out less and less frequently. "You did everything you could, Petunia. You showed him you cared as often as you could, while protecting both of you. It wouldn't have been better for either of you if you'd shown him more affection. It would have just drawn Dursley more towards hurting you both."
She sniffled into her arms. "I could have taken the children and left. I could have found someone. Found you." She lifted her eyes to Severus' own and looked at him tenderly for a long moment, before rising briskly. "Is there somewhere I can wash my face? I must be a mess." She blushed a bit, stumbling over her words.
Severus quickly stood, albeit a bit awkwardly for his normal grace. "Yes, you and Charlotte have your own bathroom right through here." He pointed just outside the door to another just to the right. "We've added a powder room off of the living room, where we came in, so this bathroom will be just for the two of you." He stepped aside so Petunia could pass through the doorway, her shoulder brushing his chest. She smiled shyly up at him.
"Thank you Sev. You will never know how much I appreciate you and this." She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving a Potions Master to lean his head against the door frame and sigh, before walking slowly back into the living room to join the rest of his makeshift family.
