Chapter 7

"Where did you kids go?" Harry asked, rushing out to see his daughter and Vernon, who had both been missing for over an hour.

"We went to that one store that had the puppies in front," Vernon explained. "We didn't mean to be that long, Uncle Harry."

"To get what..?" Ginny began to say, but paused at the sight of her daughter's arms and what they held. "You have a puppy."

"Yes, isn't she the cutest?" Lily smiled excitedly.

"The lady said we could have them," Vernon explained innocently.

"You should have asked me first," Dudley responded, knowing of Anne's hatred for animals.

"But you might have said no," Vernon answered. Petunia let out a chuckle in the background.

"The puppy would have been an orphan if I didn't take her; can we keep her? Oh, Daddy, please don't make me let her go!" Lily asked, shooting her big brown eyes to her father.

"She's already attached to it," Ginny whispered to Harry.

"Yes, of course," Harry said, knowing at this point it would break Lily's heart if he said no.

"Thank you," Lily bounced in excitement of her new friend.

"You shouldn't have wondered off without asking, you know better than that," Dudley said to Vernon.

"I know Mum doesn't like dogs, but can we keep him at your place?" Vernon asked politely. After Sam killed his last pet, he didn't want this one to suffer the same fate.

"Your mum doesn't like anything living," Harry mumbled to himself. Petunia, hearing him, nodded.

"You should have asked first," Dudley said, wondering if it would be right to let his son keep the animal after he broke so many rules to get it. "You wandered the neighborhood alone without asking, and leading your relative along proves you're not responsible enough."

"He can stay with me until it is proven you can take care of him," Petunia suggested, coming to her grandson. "He'll still be yours, but I'll keep him. You have to call and check up on him though."

"Anne's going to hate that," Ginny whispered. She'd passed her once in London and the ungrateful Muggle acted like she was a germ. If she was like that towards her ex-husband's cousin-in-law, surely Anne's attitude towards her ex-mother-in-law was worse.

"I know." Petunia smiled with delight. "You can go and find a place for him to sleep."

"She's going to sleep in my room," Lily said excitedly, not letting go of the puppy cuddled in her arms. At the same time Vernon let his puppy loose, noticing how it ran playfully through his grandma's yard.

"We'll have to stop and get a few things on our way home," Harry explained. "It's a good thing I have tomorrow off."

"You can housebreak it," Ginny muttered in.

"We're going to go now," Harry said as heard Lily told her new companion about Albus and James.

"See you next week?" Petunia asked.

"Of course," Harry answered. "See you then. Dudley, thank you for the invitation," he said, holding up the invitation for the memorial event for his grandfather.

"What are you going to call her, Lily?" Harry asked, looking at the puppy's bright brown-gold fur and brown snout.

"Pumpkin," Lily answered. "Because of her fur."

Hogwarts

Violet came up nervously as she noticed the House Heads collecting the permission slips. Professor Wood, the injured flying teacher was collecting for Gryffindor. Professor Patil, the Potions Master, was collecting for Ravenclaw. Professor Sinistra, the Astronomy Professor and the Deputy Headmistress, was collecting for Hufflepuff. Professor Tonks , the Charms Master was collecting for Violet's house: Slytherin.

"Violet, do you have yours?" Professor Tonks asked, knowing the answer.

"Mum said she would get around to it," Violet explained, embarrassed.

"I see," Professor Tonks said. She knew cooperating with Violet's mother was like moving a brick wall.

Mrs. Winters most likely became self-involved again and forgot to send back her daughter's permission slip. She hated the thought of Violet being stuck alone while the children of responsible parents got to go to Hogsmeade. However, rules were rules.

"Well, what about your father?" Professor Tonks asked. "I have seen you talking to him."

"My mother has the only copy," Violet explained, wondering if she should mention her father didn't know she was a witch. It was bad enough one of her homes rejected her because of her magic.

"I could send him a copy," Professor Tonks suggested.

"I wouldn't want to go anyway," Violet responded as she saw the other students in her house giving them sympathetic looks.

"Well, alright, I'll leave you be." Professor Tonks lead the house away.

Violet wandered past the other houses who were still collecting permission slips. She glanced over and saw Lilac Ossupov standing with her fellow Ravenclaws. The two shared a gaze. Lilac directed her attention to Patil.

"Excuse me, Professor, I forgot something," Lilac explained.

"Be quick," Professor Patil said.

"I can pick up something for you if you like," Lilac suggested, coming up to Violet by the clock pendulum.

"No, I don't need anything," Violet answered. "Do you mind finding Vernon a gift?"

"Of course not," Lilac responded as she glanced back over to see Professor Patil putting two fingers on her watch.

"Perhaps, I can work on that one thing," Violet suggested.

"Can't wait to see what will be accompanying me," Lilac responded. They both smiled, knowing each other's secrets. She then ran off with the other Ravenclaws.

~X~

Violet went to spend a few hours alone in the library. She was aware that Madam Malfoy, the school librarian, tended to favor her house. Malfoy even let her talk on her phone while the members of different houses were told to hang up. Only Muggle-borns had mobile phones, and the library and Muggle Studies tower were the only places that allowed reception.

Violet spent the day in there, trying to figure out ways to get down that bloody Patronus Charm she needed to pass Defense. She saw no use for it except for figuring out what she was going to become to accompany Lilac during the full moon. Most of her good memories were of when her parents were married. One memory was of her paternal grandmother, which shifted some. So far, she figured her patronus would be something with wings: a hawk, perhaps.

Violet was debating on going somewhere to practice, when she overheard some voices at the tables behind the reference section. It was the sound of two Gryffindor males that she happened to be related to, but very seldom recognized.

"They waited until we left to finally get a dog?" James said.

"Apparently our sister just came home with it. We should've done that," Albus responded. "Why did she name it Pumpkin?"

Violet first ignored them, debated to join them, and then gathered her belongings and followed the voices through the rows of books. She then came across James and Albus, both with untidy black hair; though James had brown eyes and was a bit taller than Albus. Albus had green eyes that reminded Violet of Vernon. That must have been why Violet was disappointed at the sorting ceremony when her closest relatives were sorted into her rival house. She didn't know why - not that she wanted anything to do with them - but there was a part of her that wished the two Potter boys were in the same house as her.

They were with Rose, the most recent Weasley to join the Gryffindor dynasty. Rose was silently working on a charm to make the flowers on the table come to life as her cousins read over a letter they received from their sister. Violet figured it most likely had the same story Vernon wrote to her about getting a puppy.

"May I join you?" Violet asked. She then got out her wand and, with one flick, she completed Rose's task.

"We're related," James said, not looking at her.

"So you're the witch on our father's side?" Albus asked, confirming the fact.

"Yes, but we don't talk about that, do we?" Violet reminded them.

"Violet doesn't like telling people her parents are Muggles," James said. "I do, however, question that. I once heard Dad say your Mum was a gargoyle, that's why mirrors melt when she passes them. He didn't know we overheard."

"Nice of you to pass it on to me," Violet said as James shrugged and went back to his second-year reading.

"Why aren't you in Hogsmeade?" Albus asked.

"Mum forgot about the permission slip," Violet answered. The boys went silent, staring at her for a while.

"You know there is nothing wrong with being related to Muggles," Rose put in. "I'm half-blood, myself, and I love my Muggle grandparents."

"Anyway, we heard you made the team," James added.

"Beater," Violet said proudly.

"But you're a girl?" James responded.

"I've noticed," Violet said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I got a letter from Vernon; he's coming here next year."

"How do you know he's a wizard?" Albus asked, considering their second cousins are the most boring children they played with during his younger years. Their father always warned them on their once-a-year visit not to use magic around the Dursley children, they were Muggles.

"Well, this past summer, after the incident with my step-grandmother," Violet started, innocently.

"You mean when you stretched and flung her?" James asked.

"It wasn't on purpose," Violet explained. "It was her fault anyway for insulting my dad, belittling my brother and picking on me."

"What did she say?" James asked as Rose faced them.

"Well," Violet put her book down for the bragging session, "It started out simple. I was playing along, letting her believe I was going to some fat girls school."

"But you're not that fat?" Rose said, confused. Violet was one of the prettiest girls in the school. She had some curves but that just added to her beauty.

"I know, but my step-dad's family thinks I am," Violet snickered. "My step-family is obsessed with their looks. They spend a thousand pounds putting chemicals in their hair and go endless weeks dieting. Mrs. Winters kept teasing me about my weight, I fake-smiled, and said, 'It's hard for me, obesity runs in my family', and she said it wasn't my fault. Then as I was clearing the table she went off on my father, and said it was a shame Mum married a 'slum lawyer' that ran out on us. Well, that was an outright lie, so I let it slip Mum was still married to Dad when she started seeing Sam.

"She said I was lying and I said it was the truth. Mrs. Winters said it was a good thing Mum went for someone better. She proceeded to call me a brat and said I should be grateful her son lets us stay here. I pointed out Dad lived here first. She said that Sam is a better provider. Vernon Jr. looked up and her glass broke. Very proud moment for me," Violet smiled. Her second cousins pretended to be amused.

"She, of course, ordered us to clean it up. Sam suggested I take my brother and go to bed. Mrs. Winters said no, and said Vernon should clean it up and take responsibility. 'I swear, if that boy doesn't get his act together, he'll be using his father's service,' she said, and then started going off on what a geek my brother is, and telling my Mum he needed to toughen up. That was what put me over the edge.

"Then suddenly her body started to become thinner and thinner. It was like the air was being vacuumed out of her. The window opened and she stretched across the living room and she flung out the window. I didn't touch her, though Sam yelled at me anyway. Mum took his side, I went to gather my things, and help Vernon pack then we left. I found out Vernon was a wizard that night."

"How?" Albus asked.

"The Knight Bus," Violet answered. "We were going to call Dad, but my phone was dead. It then showed up and the conductor said he is to pick up any stranded witch or wizard. Then looked at us and said, 'It seems we have both here.' It surprised Vernon, but the man didn't care that he'd 'let the cat out of the bag' early. He took us to Dad's place before Mum could even call. He even wrote me in a letter about something…It was then Violet reached into her bag and pulled out her brother's very long letter. She opened the envelop and went to the third page of the letter. Violet began to read:

"…It happened, yet again, and as always the blame is put on me. Anyway, to start out, Claudia and Abby were at home this weekend. They went shopping. Mum forced me to go even though I would rather walk through fire."

"Abby and Claudia?" Rose asked.

"My two preppy stepsisters," Violet explained. She also knew they liked using Vernon for shop-lifting.

"Sam made them watch me even though I am perfectly capable of being on my own. They went into this god-awful girl store where they started shop-lifting. When the lady caught them, Abby, who was trying on this pink wig at the time, started blaming it on me.

"Then suddenly she was no longer wearing a wig, the bright pink hair was sealed to her scalp and became her real hair. Claudia of course started blaming me, that's when her feet became sealed to her enormous heels.

"Mum had to take her to surgery to get them off, and Abby is planning to go and spend twenty hours at the beauty salon. Sam, of course, points his finger at me. I want to tell someone how it isn't my fault. They were clearly asking for it.

"He'll probably be in Gryffindor," Albus interrupted.

"Or be in the house most of his family - namely me - is in," Violet corrected.

"Your great aunt, your father's cousin, me, Albus… then there's you in Slytherin," James said counting with his fingers, "That's four to one in Gryffindor. Sorry, you're the oddball."

"Are you at all interested in any reading materials?" Madam Malfoy approached them.

"Nothing for us, I'm just tutoring these students," Violet said as the blond-haired woman smiled and turned her back to her.

"Well, it appears the Wizarding world judges by surname and, as far as they know, Dursley is a Slytherin name," Violet pointed out.

Violet went back to her work when her mobile rang. "I'll see you around," she said as she gathered her school books and left.

The two Potter boys seemed relieved as Violet walked away. She wasn't even aware about her family's connection to the famous Harry Potter until her second year when her second cousin showed up and they all talked about that being the son of the famous Harry Potter. It was soon afterwards that she connected her relations to the ignorant Muggles who raised him when she was first told about the famous Boy-Who-Lived tale. That was why Violet tried hard not to associate with her Muggle family. She still didn't mind it when her father sent her money, nor did she complain when he paid her bills; he didn't have to pry so much for those. She looked at her phone. She didn't recognize this number.

"Who are you?" Violet picked the phone up.

"Violet, it's your grandmother."

"Grandma," Violet sighed, a little irritated. "How did you get my number?"

"Your father gave it to me," Petunia answered. "So, how are things going?"

Violet really wished her father would ask before handing out her number. "Things are going fine," she answered.

"That's good," Petunia said. "Is school going fine?"

"It's great," Violet answered. "Is that all you want to know?"

"Violet, I would really like to talk to you about something important."

Oh, good God woman, what do you want? Violet rolled her eyes. "Yes, Grandma?"

"I am just going to say it: I know."

"About what?" Violet asked standing at the desk. Madam Malfoy gave her a disapproving look and turned her back.

"Well…you know," Petunia started. "Your father knows too. You should really just let it out, I promise, I will love you just the same."

What the hell does that mean? Violet thought to herself. "What are you talking about?"

"Never mind," Petunia said, realizing that approach wouldn't work. "Did you get your brother's letter?"

"Yes. He said you're keeping his dog," Violet answered.

"Yes, I am," Petunia said.

"You need to turn it down," Madam Malfoy finally said.

"Grandma, I have to go now." Violet hung up. She then left and made her way to the dungeon, stopping in front of a red-haired lady on a thrown. Professor Tonks removed the former portrait for not letting Muggle-Born Slytherins in.

"Password?" said Lady Chistokrovnyh said.

"Flek," Violet answered.

~X~

Professor Sprout had the monthly faculty meeting later that week. She had received a surprising owl from Minerva that morning. Sprout enjoyed her position as Headmistress and had learned a great deal about the founders, studied educational theories, and loved being involved in the constant progress to make magical education at Hogwarts the best.

When the Karmi family showed up in April, Headmistress Sprout was glad to welcome them. Their son, Bahaar, who was twelve, had started as a first year. They had a younger daughter, Fahmida, who was going to start in two years when she was eleven, but was advised to go to Muggle school to learn English. Their oldest daughter, Husansa, was a different story. Professor Sprout couldn't deny her a place in Hogwarts, yet, it puzzled her how a girl that couldn't speak English very well and had no magical training would fair at this school. It wouldn't be fair to place a fifteen-year-old with the first years and had no business being in the same classroom with the other fifth years.

At the same time, McGonagal had returned from a trip to Mexico. She then confided in her old friend that she missed Hogwarts and wished she hadn't retired. When McGonagal said that she would give anything to teach again, Professor Sprout told her about Husansa. McGonagal surprisingly volunteered to work with the young lady.

First, the two women worked to get a pardon for Husansa so that she could practice magic outside of school. The Ministry of Education allowed it, but gave McGonagal a restriction. Husansa had to pass the OWL Exams to attend Hogwarts with the others the following year.

Husansa had been taking lessons for eight months now. She could fly a broom; she was in second-year Charms, she was in third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy and Earth Magic; almost in third-year Potions; in fourth-year Herbology; in fifth-year Transfiguration; and had completed History of Magic. She also wanted to know the materials needed for Study of Ancient Magic, Care of Magical Creatures and Alchemy. Husansa was advised to take those as her extracurricular studies. Sprout made a note to speak with those teachers later.

Sprout knew of a few members of her staff that were still loyal to the headmistress whom had hired them, such as: Hestia Jones, The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the first teacher hired by McGonagall who had kept the position for more than a year; Mopus Aesolon, the Transfiguration teacher from Greece who could transform into a mountain lion, was a descendant of Falco Aesalon and wrote several books on Transfiguration; Tuwa Powaqa, the Earth Magic professor from the United States, a witch in the Hopi tribe that was able to take her department from extracurricular to an elective for third years. She also hired Madam Malfoy as librarian, who transformed the library to being the thriving vessel of Hogwarts. They would surely give McGonagall what she needed for her pupil. She had also hired Wood after his Quidditch injury, as flying professor and Quidditch director.

Sprout was responsible for the tenure of Longbottom, Patil, Tonks and many others. All three who exceled in the subjects they taught and were able to control a classroom effortlessly, while making it exciting for their pupils. She hired Longbottom when she became Headmistress in 2008. She later hired Patil and Tonks out of St. Mangos the following year, mainly to serve as house heads.

Andromeda Tonks was a more than qualified for the Charms positions due to her extensive work as a healer and breakthrough in Charms research and innovation. Andromeda had also exceled her role as the Head of Slytherin House. It was a group of tough students. Despite, her grandson being in Gryffindor, she was still able to advocate for her House. Sprout's appointment happened to be a thing of fate. In 2015, Andromeda's sixth year as the Head of Slytherin was the year the Sorting Hat had decided it was time to start sorting Muggle-borns into Slytherin. Violet Dursley had the honor and misfortune of being the first Muggle-born sorted into Slytherin.

Andromeda was able to monitor the behavior and get the other students to accept Violet, despite their parents' forbidding them from even talking to her. Violet had done well with the social aspect of her situation and became quite popular among her Slytherin peers.

Andromeda was invested in Violet's success, like all of her students. She was a very bright and ambitious student. Despite her dysfunctional family background Violet showed the qualities of what a Slytherin should be.

Violet had had very few problems with the students, except when Violet finally punched Theresa Flint in Longbottom's class. Theresa had been ostracizing Violet for a long time now. Several of the third- year students approached Andromeda about it.

Andromeda had received various reports about Miss Flint's bullying behavior towards Violet from other Slytherins. It was reported that Theresa often called Violet a "Mudblood", made offensive comments about Muggles, and she had even asked Violet to fix the leaking sink because "Muggles learn to do that in school". Theresa had once dared to made a comment in public, asking Violet if it was lonely being the only witch in her family.

That was when Oliver started to annoy Andromeda about Slytherin's need for a Beater. He started out casually by saying he arranged the field to be free for try-outs when the Slytherin third years didn't have any classes. He then made the comment that Slytherin had good prospects this year and that he was anxious to see how they played on the field, especially in the Beater position, despite female Beaters being rare. Finally, Oliver just said it: "Appoint Dursley as a Beater. She has a lot of anger that needs to be released. She also had good upper body strength and a build perfect for it. She can go far if she is given the chance. Please arrange for some try-out with your captain." Andromeda made arrangements Jacob Bletchley, her appointed team captain, and Violet was soon made Beater along with Vincent Goyle, a fifth year.

"Slytherin report," Sprout called as she finished with Hufflepuff.

"Yes, I have problems trying to contact a student's parent," Andromeda said as she looked around the room. They knew who she was talking about.

"Alright, what's going on this time?" Sprout asked. Violet Dursley's contact information had remained unfilled for over two years now. Sprout just wished there was a magical relative somehow related to Miss Dursley who could help out her and her brother who was registered for next year. Violet was the only Muggle-born child whose parents hadn't filled out a form allowing Muggle parents to their rights nor given them any information on who they could contact in case problems arise.

"Even though her father isn't on the list, is there any way we could figure out how to reach him. I heard her talking to him on her little mobile phone the other day, he may actually care," Andromeda explained. Contacting her mother was like contacting a brick wall, Sprout was well aware of that. The first attempt at contact was when Violet came to school unprepared. Andromeda wrote, and wrote, and wrote never got any responses. Miss Dursley's having arrived at Hogwarts unprepared didn't encourage the idea of Muggle-borns in green and silver to Slytherin alumni.

Eventually Andromeda called and reached her step-father who informed Andromeda that as long as Violet was at Hogwarts, Violet was her problem, not his. So, she contacted her mother at work, and explained that Hogwarts expected its students arrive prepared and this girl didn't even have a wand. The man who visited had informed them where to go and get these things, and her showing up without anything was unacceptable. She wrote to Sprout saying that Andromeda accused her of being a bad mother.

Andromeda stopped trying after that, assuming Violet was just a lone case - until that summer. Andromeda got an owl around late July from Teddy, who was working as an aid at the Muggle ward in St. Mango's Department of Accidental Magic Reversal. He wrote that he had to escort a Mrs. Winters to be aired due to Violet's loss of temper. He wasn't allowed to send out requests looking for Violet, but he informed her that he had seen her with Lilac at a café he liked. Andromeda 'accidentally' ran into the two girls, and was able to figure out where Violet and her brother were staying. She assumed it would be with the Ossupovs, but Violet surprised Andromeda saying that she was staying with her father. She said Mrs. Winters smacked her brother, and then threatened to throw him out on the streets. Violet screamed for her to get away from her brother, and then the woman's body became deflated and then was flung out of the window into the London night.

Andromeda had never even heard of Violet's real father. She now figured out that it must be the man whom she was talking with on her mobile phone. He called at least every other day around the same time to ask about her welfare. He didn't know she was attending Hogwarts but, if the school tried to contact him, then they would have someone responsible enough to help her and even make sure that her brother's cross over into the magical world would go a lot smoother next year. At the same time Andromeda feared that violating any Muggle custody rights would mean pulling the girl out of school. She was going to seek advice from her staff.

"Who is her father?" Hestia asked, she knew having another contact besides the girl's mother, the term used lightly, would make things a whole lot easier.

"I was able to get a copy of her birth certificate." Andromeda went through Violet's file and read her copy of the certificate. "He is a lawyer in London who goes by the name of Dudley - Dudley Dursley."

It was then Hestia and Hagrid grew astonished. Hagrid stood with his eyes downcast. He knew it was a hopeless case.

"I don' think yeh can get much contact from him," Hagrid said sadly, remembering the family's attitude towards magic. They wanted nothing to do with it. If they went as far as abandoning their home for a shack, they most likely would have abandon their granddaughter. They were probably trying to stomp the magic out of her brother, which was why Violet told Hagrid about Vernon so much. The girl had to go home to people who were ashamed of her.

"Why?" Andromeda asked.

"Her father's Harry Potter's cousin," Hagrid said. "I met 'em. They were scared of magic an' acted like as if it was something to be ashamed of. They tried ter make sure Harry didn' know 'bout Hogwarts. Probably why her mother an' step-father act like she's in a loony bin."

"That would explain why her family is ashamed of her being a witch." Neville sighed as Andromeda came to frustration of a dead end.

"Well, at least you have a guardian to write to," Hestia Jones suggested.

"Yes, it's a good thing I found a relative that I know personally. This will make things easier." Andromeda felt relief. There was finally someone to contact about her concern for her pupil.

"Contact her father first," Sprout ordered. "You can ask Harry for her father's contact, but I don't want word to get out that we were contacting magical relatives before their Muggle parents. I would then like you to arrange for a conference on her education. "

1979

Lily and James didn't stay long after everything was cleaned and put away. She reminded her father five times to not smoke, and copied the dates of his next doctor appointments into her planner. Harry thanked them and wished them to have a good evening. He sat around and watched the news for an hour, but then decided to call Petunia.

He loved both his daughters equally but found it rather ironic that, despite Lily going to a world that they knew nothing about and dealing with creatures they heard about in horror stories, Petunia was the one whom they spent most their energy worrying over.

She was hard not to worry over. Harry and Iris spent hours wondering what came over her. It seemed from the time she was thirteen and onward Petunia pushed the limit. It started with her getting detentions on a regular bases for several things: violating the dress code numerous times, not paying attention and mouthing off to teachers. She had also been suspended for smoking in the bathroom. Harry went tough on her that week, though it didn't seem to matter to her. Finally, she was expelled from school for immoral conduct. It was humiliating for Harry and Iris to get a call from the school reporting that their daughter was caught in the basement of the school with a boy and brandy with both their shirts off. They sent her to a state school. Harry was truly tempted to send her off to a convent, though they're not Catholic. She was vocally mouthy to both of them, and would bring home several boyfriends of whom she knew Harry wouldn't approve. The scariest was when she started skipping school to hook up with a delivery boy - that terrified Harry beyond reason.

When Petunia was sixteen she ran away. She'd disappeared for three weeks with his boss's son. That was a horrible time. He still remembered Iris waking up at two in the morning in tears. It was after the first week the boss's son had returned, and thanks to Mrs. Snape, that Harry was able to get a confession out of him. She was in Liverpool. After five days, Harry and Konstantin found Petunia in the hotel room of some rock band that had washed their hands of her when they found out she was only sixteen.

That then led to a long succession of dating men with fake IDs, piercings, tattoos, and mohawks, who all would talk back to him. Some of them were well into their twenties, and it all led to Vernon. He was safe, but boring. He had no sense of humor, and never got much of anything. When Vernon had bragged about being the director of Grunnings and said he had a tight hold on the laborers, Harry had to say, 'Good you got a nice hold of your laborers, now will you quit yacking, and get me a beer?' Harry had both been working at Cokesworths for years under jackasses with Vernon's thoughts. Vernon said alright, and got the beer, not seeing the sense of irony in that at all. Harry still had a strong hold over Vernon, like he did James.

Petunia was the one he still worried about. She was in this phase of avoiding family functions. Harry thought it may have been due to Konstantin's death; he always had a way of making Petunia feel obligated to the family. She had even apologized to him for not making Lily a bridesmaid; and, at the wedding, when Konstantin recited a blessing in Russian and Vernon's sister commented on it and Petunia had hushed her.

The phone rang, and there was an answer. "Hello, Dursleys," Petunia said.

"Petunia, this is your father," Harry responded. He could tell by the sigh that followed that she was annoyed.

"What is it now?" Petunia asked. She was wondering why her father chose to call them in the middle of evening. Did they think she had nothing else to do? Did Lily leave early, making him want to bother her?

"I wanted to talk to you," Harry answered.

"About what?" Petunia hissed.

"Do I need a reason to talk to my own daughter?" Harry asked.

"In the middle of the evening, yes," Petunia responded.

Harry shook his head wondering where he went wrong with her. There was something that happened when she turned thirteen and started a rebel stage that Harry was glad Lily skipped. It was so strange. Harry looked at the picture of his wife on their wedding day. They had decided to have children in their fifth year of marriage, and then struggled six more years trying to conceive resulting in a stillborn. They gave up and lived a year trying to accept their loss, and accepting their life without children. Then out of the bloom, Petunia came along. Yet, she didn't think she was special.

Petunia scared Harry, though. He was worried about her fate with her recent activity. He feared what would happen to his family once he was gone. First was the bridesmaid fiasco. Being a single father, Harry had to hear about these things. Lily kept complaining that Petunia was had refused to make her a bridesmaid. He understood Petunia making Zinnia the Maid of Honor, they were best friends, and it was a miracle Vernon's sister could fit into a dress and walk, so it was alright that she was included. Vernon's relatives embodying a freak show on the other side of the isle made it clear that everyone was a little bit out there. It was when someone accepted that fact that they got along with people. He hoped Vernon would one day. Joseph Dursley was rather interesting if one looked past his…problems. It still was phenomenal that her future father-in-law was worried 'the people' were going to invade. When Harry dared to ask of whom he spoke, right at dinner Dursley said, 'The ones from the other planet.' Yet, Petunia was worried Lily would make a scene.

Then after Konstanin's funeral it was like Petunia took scissors and cut herself of from the family entirely. It was also the same summer that Harry's nephew and godson, Ivan the Third, got accepted into Hogwarts. Petunia didn't even look at the poor lad. Didn't he have enough problems with his father?

Afterwards, she refused to go to Lily's wedding, which was the biggest threat of all for Harry. Didn't Petunia realize that she was losing her biggest support system? Petunia needed to understand that siblings are like a friend for life. No matter how much of a fall-out they had, a sibling would always be there. The final family drift was when Petunia was a no-show at her grandmother's funeral. She no longer had her mother and grandparents and, due to her own actions, her aunt and cousins were gone too. Harry knew that in a matter of time he was no longer going to be there, and that was why it was vital that Petunia and Lily were on good terms with each other soon.

"I might be going to Surrey tomorrow, can I stop and visit in Little Whinging?" Harry asked.

"I'm busy," Petunia answered.

"Doing what?" Harry asked.

"What time?" Petunia then said.

"Noon or so. I can come for lunch."

"Fine, you can come to the house. Vernon has a business meeting, so he won't make it."

I'll suffer through the loss, Harry mused. "Good, I want to be with you."

"Why?" Petunia asked.

"Because you're my child, therefore I have a right." Harry could tell she was annoyed with the idea. Perhaps she wouldn't understand his desire to know her until she had children of her own, he only hoped one of her offspring wouldn't make her feel the same way Petunia made him feel.

"Alright, I can see if I have time," Petunia said.

"You will have time," Harry corrected. "Petunia, I didn't want to bring this up, but you do know I am not well."

"I heard," Petunia answered. "The news is all over the cases with the factories. Some of the workers for your company have several forms of cancer."

"And I am one of them," Harry pointed out.

"She told me," Petunia sniffed. Lily thought they should get together and present his case to a lawyer that was defending the workers. Lily wanted to be in court when those men's crimes were brought to justice and have their father's name listed as one of those made suffer through unfair labor treatment. Petunia didn't want to see that freak. Besides Vernon said that if they didn't want to get sick then they should have found a better job. Nothing annoyed them more than some outspoken activist with a law degree trying to get them to care and making things more expensive on their part. Petunia didn't want to waste her time with Lily, much less spending all afternoon in the office of some man claiming to help them.

Petunia wasn't going to cut off all ties with Lily officially, she just needed a break. She didn't tell Vernon this, but Petunia did plan to contact Lily sometime in the future, she just needed to live normally for a couple years or so. She knew Lily well. After five or six years, Lily would forgive her and act like nothing happened.

"Yes, and I want to spend as much time with my daughters as possible," Harry explained.

"Well, I am sure the ginger is enough to satisfy you," Petunia said.

"You know that's not true, Petunia. If you watch two children grow up, then you want to continue seeing them." Harry wasn't one to become sentimental: this was as sentimental for him.

"You're not dying," Petunia screeched.

"I am," Harry said. "It's hard enough for me to accept it, you need to too; I have to see you again. You're scaring me Tunia. I don't want you to be cut off from your family. I hardly knew my parents, and because of that I was never whole. I would hate to see you end up like that."

"Didn't your father leave you?" Petunia pointed out a little too casually.

"He did, and I hated him for it. There is no reason for you to hate me."

"I don't!" Petunia didn't know where this was stemming from.

"Your actions prove so," Harry said. "Petunia, please join us, come to our house on Sunday, visit with your sister, she still thinks the world of you."

"No, she doesn't," Petunia spat out rolling her eyes.

"You're the oldest, she always has admired you. She misses you too," Harry said.

"Dad, I said you can have lunch with me tomorrow, isn't that enough?" Petunia asked.

"Yes, for now it is," Harry said. Petunia hung up.

It was not that she didn't love her family, she just needed a break from them, both Lily and her father. She was going to get around to making time for her father eventually. She was going to make it up with Lily eventually. They were young, they both had a lot of years ahead of them. She just needed a break. She was sure both her father and sister would forgive her whenever she got around to going back to them.