AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know it's been forever since I've updated this story but I've been doing some planning out so I should be able to add on a few more chapters

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know it's been forever since I've updated this story but I've been doing some planning out so I should be able to add on a few more chapters.

Still, if anyone is interested in helping me write this, let me know.

Read, review, and show your love!

Chapter 10

When Petunia woke up the next morning, she was curious why her neck had a kink in it. Sitting up, she stopped when she realized that Harry had rolled over and was now facing away from her. Rubbing her neck, Petunia studied Harry as the sunlight came in through the bedroom window. She touched the bandage on his left arm gently so as not to wake him. What had Harry been through all these years?

Slowly getting up, Petunia tried to think back. All the times she'd seen a cut or scar on Harry's arm… how could she have missed what he was going through?

But of course she hadn't noticed. She hadn't cared enough to notice. She'd always looked at Harry as a burden. Not as family… not as her sister's only child. If Petunia had been the one to die and Dudley had ended up in Lily's care she would have treated him as her own child.

But because of Vernon's fear and disdain for anything out of the ordinary, Petunia had never opened her heart to Harry.

If only that was all that kept Petunia from caring about Harry. There was also the fact that Harry was the last blood family she had. And there was always the underlying fear that Harry would be torn away from her as well.

Hearing the bedsprings creak, Petunia saw that Harry had woken up and was reaching for his glasses. "Aunt Petunia?"

"Good morning," she replied, cordially. "Sleep well?"

Harry nodded as he threw back the blankets and sat up. "Yeah. First time in a long time."

"Do… you want me to leave?" Petunia asked as she stared at Harry's bare stump and the faint scars on his legs.

"I don't know," Harry replied, honestly as he looked at his aunt.

"I can understand why you hate me," Petunia said, taking a step towards her nephew. "I've never cared about you like I should have…"

"Do you have any idea how it feels to have your only blood relative reject you?" Harry said, a cool note in his tone.

Petunia took another tentative step and tried to put as much emotion into her words as possible. "I'm not rejecting you now. I do care about you, Harry. And I'm sorry it took the car crash to realize that."

"I can't just forgive and forget," Harry said, his face impassive.

"I'm not asking you to," Petunia replied. "I'm not saying that we start over. Just start in a new direction. Can you give me another chance?"

Harry sat in silence for a long time but after a while he nodded. "Yeah. I can give you one more chance."

Petunia nodded and went to sit next to Harry on the bed. When he turned to look at her, she said, "We need to talk about what you're doing to yourself." Harry looked away but Petunia went on. "I know you probably have your reasons but I don't care." Waiting until Harry turned to face her, Petunia said, "You will stop this. I'm not asking you, Harry. I'm telling you."

"You know everyone's always worried about Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. The only person to ever survive the Killing Curse," Harry said, vaguely. "No one ever knew about Harry, the abused orphan."

"I'll make you a deal, Harry," Petunia said, taking his hand. "I promise to listen to you, care about what you're going through… if you promise not to cut yourself again."

Harry thought about his aunt's words and looked down at her hand around his. "Okay… I promise."

Petunia smiled at him and stood up. "Alright. Now we're going to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

"What?" Harry said, hopping up quickly before falling backwards onto the bed. "Why?"

"Because he's your headmaster and deserves to know what's going on," Petunia replied, firmly as she handed Harry his prosthetic.

Once Harry had his leg on and had changed into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, he headed out of his suite with Petunia and the two of them headed up to Dumbledore's office.

"Ms. Evans… Harry," Dumbledore said, pleasantly. "What brings the two of you to my office?"

"We wanted to talk," Petunia said, simply. "Just… talk."

"Ahhh…" Dumbledore replied, knowingly. "Then please… have a seat."

--

Halloween was a crisp day and as it landed on a Saturday there was a Hogsmeade visit.

At the Gryffindor table Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were talking about what they would do during their trip and didn't even notice Harry coming up to them. "Do… do you mind if I join you?"

Hermione looked up and saw Harry leaning on his cane, looking at her with a hopeful expression. "Of course not, Harry."

Harry sat down and helped himself to breakfast. "Um… I know you've been worried about me… But I'm okay. Really."

"Harry…" Ron was looking apprehensive as he looked across the table at his best friend. "I… I never… Are we… okay?"

Harry hesitated for long enough that Ron turned back to his own plate and started poking dismally at his food. "Ron… Do you know how it feels to have the first friend you've ever had not believe in you? I needed you on my side."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Ron said, not looking up. "Guess I'm not that good of a friend."

"You're still the first real friend I've ever had," Harry said, a smile tweaking the corner of his mouth. "Besides… you didn't voice any doubts that I didn't have myself."

After a moment Ron looked up. "So… we're okay?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. So… where to first in Hogsmeade?"

--

As Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron approached the outskirts of Hogsmeade they stopped as a lyrical, misty voice shouted, "Harry!" Turning, Harry saw Luna traipsing up to them, smiling broadly. "I didn't think you would be here."

To Luna's unspoken question, Harry smiled. "I'm okay. Really."

Luna took Harry's hand and kissed his cheek. "Good. I'm happy for you." Turning to the others, she said, "They just opened a coffee shop. Shall we check it out?"

Hermione gave Luna a smile. "Sure. Sounds good."

As Hermione, Ron, and Ginny started off, Harry pulled Luna back and after a few moments' hesitation, he leaned towards her and kissed her on the lips.

--