Easter Holidays 1993- Petunia

For as long as she lived, Petunia never forgot Narcissa Malfoy's anguished screams as she held her son's body. She never expected the night to end like this. After Dobby delivered his cryptic message to Severus, Petunia hurried to Dumbledore's office. Breathlessly, she filled him in on what had happened. Minutes later, Dobby appeared in Dumbledore's office, and told them that Severus had gone into the Chamber alone. Petunia slumped into a soft, blue armchair hopelessly. If Draco was right, and it really was a basilisk down there, Severus was as good as dead. She had read about the creature in a book called 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and thought at the time that it was a good thing they hadn't been seen in England for so long. Oddly, the same feeling of grief and despair that had clouded over her when she got the letter about Harry's petrification began to creep into her heart again. She hadn't realised how much she had come to care for Severus.

Dumbledore, not one to give up on his favourite Potions Master, dashed to the Chamber, leaving Petunia alone with her thoughts. She jumped when Dumbledore's pet bird let out a cry, and spread his wings, feathers blazing gold and orange. He picked up an old hat with his talons and flew out the door. Petunia hoped Dumbledore wouldn't blame her for losing his pet. She sighed, and felt utterly useless. A muggle in the midst of a magical battle probably was not in the best of situations. Petunia shook herself. She couldn't do magic, but she certainly could help by alerting others in the castle about the situation. She rushed to the Hospital Wing and pulled a bleary eyed Madam Pomfrey out of bed. Together, they prepared several beds in anticipation of Severus, Dumbledore, and Draco returning with injuries. Madam Pomfrey quickly instructed Petunia on preparing the ingredients for some simple healing potions. They also set up a small station with bandages and hot water. The Hospital Wing shone as Madam Pomfrey lit every light and candle in the room. It was almost cosy, except for the partitioned beds that held the petrified students, a reminder that the light was just a façade, a mask over the darkness that threatened to envelope the school.

The doors flew open, and Dumbledore imposing, he looked older and bent. He carried a child in his arms. Behind him, a body floated- Severus. Petunia's heart dropped. Severus' arm hung limply at his side, and she wasn't sure if he was breathing or not. Dumbledore levitated him to a bed, and Petunia was relieved to see his chest rising and falling. She turned her attention to Draco, and Dumbledore sadly shook his head. He laid the child's tiny body on a nearby bed. Tears welled in Petunia's eyes. When Dobby first alerted them, she thought he might be found petrified, like the others. She never expected him to die. She had dealt with death before- her parents, Vernon. But never a child. Draco's body was so small and frail, bruises blossoming on his pale skin.

Dumbledore turned to Madam Pomfrey. 'Poppy, please make Draco… please make him look as though he is asleep. I've got to break the news to his parents. They will want to see him.'

Madam Pomfrey nodded as she wiped tears away and began preparing. She gently wiped the dried blood from Draco's face and hands, and smoothed his ruffled hair. Soon, he looked almost peaceful. Petunia sat beside Severus, and held his hand. Madam Pomfrey quietly drew the curtains around Draco's bed. His parents would be arriving soon.

Outside the Hospital Wing, Petunia heard Dumbledore. 'I am sorry, Lucius, Narcissa. There was nothing we could do.'

'No!'

Narcissa Malfoy burst into the room. Petunia barely caught a glance at the aristocratic witch as she rushed to Draco's bedside. Lucius Malfoy followed her, his face drawn.

'No, no, no, no, please, darling, wake up, mummy is here,' cried Narcissa. Petunia could not see her behind the fragile privacy of the curtain, but her heart broke at her agony. 'Please, Draco, wake up!'

Narcissa's choking sobs turned into wails of anguish, and Petunia could feel the castle shake with her rage and grief. A cold wind swirled through the room, parting the curtains. Petunia could now see Narcissa clearly, holding her son's body, light and energy crackling around her. Outside, lightning lit the sky purple while thunder crashed, as Narcissa's magic turned into tormented chaos.

Lucius wrapped his arms around her, attempting to calm her. Narcissa snapped her head around and glared at him. 'YOU did this! You, with your allegiance to the Dark Lord, with your meetings, and your Death Eaters… YOU KILLED MY SON!'

Lucius was knocked off his feet and thrown into the opposite wall. Roused by the noise and the surge of magic in the air, Severus stumbled out of bed, assisted by Petunia.

'Narcissa… I am so sorry,' he whispered, arms outstretched to the grieving woman. 'I tried to save him. But, you must know, he was so brave at the end. So, so brave.'

Narcissa's rage evaporated, and she held Draco's body close to her, tears pouring down her face. 'My sweet boy.'

The freak storm outside died down, and the only sound left was Narcissa's faint weeping. She rocked back and forth, cradling her child, lost to the world. Lucius quietly backed out of the room, followed by Severus, Petunia and Madam Pomfrey.

He turned to Severus. 'Did I do this, Severus? Did I kill him?'

'You couldn't have known, Lucius.'

His shoulders drooped. 'I knew I was playing with fire. We all knew the Dark Lord was mad. But he was supposed to be our madman. He was supposed to be on our side. How could he have killed my son, Severus? He must have known the Malfoys would be loyal to him.'

Severus said nothing, but his eyes glittered with tears. Petunia finally realised why Severus had neither married nor had children all those years. When she first came to the castle, she secretly wondered if he still nursed a crush on Lily. Now, she better understood his actions since the war- acting as an informant and turning the war to their side, Dumbledore's trust in him, his friendship with the Malfoys. He was a double agent, and with no kin, he could afford to walk that fiery path. But Lucius couldn't. He had bet everything on the Dark Lord, and he had lost it all.

One week later- Severus

Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon spectacles. 'Are you certain we can trust them, Severus?'

'I believe so, yes. Narcissa and Lucius were never fanatics. They always drift to the side that benefits them the most. And now….'

Dumbledore smiled ruefully as Severus trailed off. They both knew that Draco's death would be either the breaking or the making of the Malfoys. Severus wanted to give them that chance. The chance to avenge their child's death, the chance to be on the right side of history. The chance that he got when he realised that Lily was the subject of that prophecy.

'I trust your judgement, Severus. See what you can do.'

The potions master made his way to the door. As he was about to leave, he turned to Dumbledore. 'Professor… might I ask you something?'

'Of course, Severus.'

'How was I able to get the Sword of Gryffindor from the hat? I thought only a true Gryffindor could retrieve it?'

Dumbledore looked at him fondly. 'That is true.'

'Then how…?'

The old headmaster gazed at him, regret and pride mingled on his face, and he echoed the hat's words, 'Sometimes, my dear boy, I think we Sort too soon.'

Malfoy Manor- Severus

Draco's funeral was quiet, with only his parents, Severus and the now freed house elf, Dobby, in attendance. Eerily composed, Narcissa resembled a beautiful porcelain statue. She did not cry. Lucius, on the other hand, wept openly as Draco's casket was placed in the family mausoleum. Narcissa stared stonily ahead, and never looked at her sobbing husband once.

The dinner held after the service was quiet. Narcissa only sipped wine, while Lucius stared at his plate, his peas and ham getting progressively colder. Severus cleared his throat. It was now, or never.

'Lucius, Narcissa. May we speak in private?'

They both looked up, Narcissa displaying the first emotion she had in days- curiosity. Severus wondered if she knew what he was about to say. He had always been wary of Narcissa Malfoy- she was far cleverer than she appeared. He sensed that she knew much more than she let on. He quickly cast the muffliato charm and a muted buzzing surrounded them.

He looked at them intently. 'Do you think you can still be loyal to the Dark Lord, after what he has done to your family?'

Lucius started. 'Y-yes, of course, he is our Lord, and we-'

For the first time in days, Narcissa spoke to her husband. 'Oh, do shut up, Lucius. Isn't it obvious, what's going on here?'

Lucius stared at her, confused. 'What do you mean?'

Narcissa nodded at Severus to continue.

'You've worked tirelessly to find the Dark Lord, since our marks started coming back. And you never got a word of thanks. Instead, he took your child from you. Will you continue to follow his orders?'

Tears glimmered in Lucius' eyes. 'I don't know how to get out.' He turned to his wife. 'Narcissa, I am so sorry. You were right. If I had chosen differently… if I hadn't supported the Dark Lord, Draco might still be alive.'

Narcissa stared at him wordlessly. There was no forgiveness in her gaze, only pain. Severus wondered if she would ever feel anything but grief and anger again. He loved Draco, but knew that his loss was nothing compared to Narcissa's- a mother's love, turned into a mother's rage. Seeing his opportunity, Severus quietly slid a piece of paper across to them. He wasn't worried about being betrayed. Besides their already shaken faith in the Dark Lord, the paper was charmed- they would never be able to speak the words they read to anyone who didn't already know.

Isle of Avalon

The mists will open

if your heart is true

Just as they finished reading, the paper burst into flames, and curled into ashes.

'Go there, if you wish to avenge Draco. But I warn you, the mists will know if your intentions aren't good,' said Severus looking at them intently.

Lucius gaped at him. He hadn't been expecting Severus, of all people, to offer a way out. Even after the Dark Lord's fall, they had remained close allies, with Severus occasionally feeding him bits of information about Dumbledore (at the Headmaster's behest, of course). Narcissa, however, didn't look surprised. Severus suspected that she had an inkling that he was never quite loyal to the Dark Lord.

'Severus, I don't know what to say…' Lucius trailed off.

'It will be dangerous, what I'm suggesting. You might not survive. But it could help us.'

'Yes!' Narcissa burst out, hatred flashing in her ice blue eyes. 'Lucius, Draco is gone because the Dark Lord killed him. I don't want his death to be in vain. I don't care if I die. I want to help.'

Lucius hesitantly took Narcissa's hand, and for once, she didn't flinch at his touch. 'Yes, of course. Severus, of course. We will join you.'

Severus nodded. He silently rose and left the table, his mission successful. As he stepped into the floo, he saw Narcissa embrace Lucius as he broke down weeping.

Hogwarts- Petunia

The mandrakes were mature, and the day had come to treat the petrified students. Petunia sat at Harry's bedside, anxiously knitting a scarf. All the other students had been cured, and were in varying stages of consciousness. Hermione Granger had even been allowed to go home to her parents already. Impatiently, Petunia stuck her head out the curtain to see if either Madam Pomfrey or Severus would attend to Harry soon.

Dumbledore walked in. 'Petunia, my dear, I am so sorry this has taken so long. I must speak with you and Severus before we proceed with Harry's treatment.'

Petunia nodded apprehensively. She wanted her nephew back badly, and the delay was making her antsy. Severus came in, looking as puzzled as she felt.

Dumbledore gazed at Harry's still form. 'Our recent discovery of Lord Voldemort's horcruxes made me suspicious of his attack on Harry… the attack in which Harry lost his magic. We always theorised that he was trying to get rid of him, given that he was the subject of a prophecy that predicted his downfall.'

Petunia nodded. This she knew. The prophecy had singled out a child, born at the end of July, who would supposedly kill Voldemort. She was aware that Severus had been the one to tell Voldemort about the prophecy, but he hadn't known who it was about. It was the thing that brought him over to their side. Her heart thumped slightly at the memory, a strange pride flooding through her.

'I believe it was more than that,' continued Dumbledore. 'Ever since the theory of the horcruxes came up, I've wondered… could Voldemort have tried to make Harry a horcrux?'

Petunia gasped in horror. 'No! That evil man can't be a part of Harry! Why would he do that, anyway? What on earth could that accomplish?'

Dumbledore sighed. 'I believe that Voldemort thought that if Harry was a horcrux, he was guaranteed immortality. No one would kill the child destined to kill the dark lord, and even if Harry did kill him, a piece of his soul would live on in him. No doubt his followers would have been instructed to use Harry as some sort of vessel to bring him back.'

Petunia began crying. Nothing in Harry was evil. He was the sweetest child. The thought that someone could just see him as an object repulsed her.

Severus gently held her hand. 'While Harry is petrified, I can run some tests on him. If this is the case, we will figure this out, Petunia.'

'And it won't hurt him?'

'Not at all. This is the best time to run these tests.'

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. 'Typically, the spell used would cause much pain. But as Harry is petrified, he should feel nothing at all.' He looked at Petunia, his gaze gentle. 'It is up to you, Petunia. You are his guardian, his mother, really.'

'I need to think about it.'

Dumbledore and Severus left her to her thoughts for a while. She debated the possibility of Harry being a horcrux. He had never shown any signs of evil, or even being bad. He was just a typical child. She almost got up to tell them to forget it, that it wasn't necessary, and she wanted Harry awake and home. But a niggling thought lodged itself at the back of her mind- what if? What if creating a human horcrux had been Voldemort's intention all along? Her mind made up, she called them back to Harry's bedside.

'Run the tests.'

Petunia sat next to Harry as Severus chanted, and scattered a gold potion over Harry. At first, nothing happened, and Petunia's heart lightened. Perhaps there was a chance that nothing would happen at all. Her hopes were dashed when the golden liquid turned a putrid grey.

Dumbledore gripped her shoulder. 'I'm so sorry Petunia. This means that Harry is indeed, a horcrux.'

'No,' whispered Petunia. 'What do we do? Professor, what do we do?'

'We have several options. Harry could be a useful tool to us in the fight against Voldemort. He might be the only one who can actually kill him.'

'He is a CHILD!' snarled Petunia enraged. 'You can't put that on him!'

'I understand, Petunia,' said Dumbledore softly. 'I don't want him in this war anymore than you do. But it may be the only way to win against Voldemort.'

'Is there any way to remove the horcrux from him?' She turned to the potions master. His face was unreadable. 'Severus?'

Severus nodded slowly. 'He's petrified now, and I believe we can isolate the soul fragment and kill it with basilisk venom. We will need Fawkes to administer the antidote immediately, of course.'

Dumbledore frowned. 'Harry might be the only way of winning the war, Severus.'

Severus straightened his hunched shoulders. 'Professor, I will do everything I can to ensure that Voldemort is destroyed without Harry. He's just a child, and we can't doom him to die. We can, and we must do this without him.'

Petunia stood in front of Harry's bed protectively. 'He is my child, Professor. The only child I'll ever have. I swore to my sister to protect him, and protect him I will. Even if I have to protect him from you. Even if it means this world goes up in flames. You'll find a way to kill Voldemort, but it won't be Harry.'

Dumbledore looked contrite. 'Of course, you are right, you are both right. Forgive an old man his ambitions. I got carried away with the idea of ending Voldemort once and for all. Harry's life is not the price we will pay for peace.'

Severus and Dumbledore quickly left to gather the materials necessary to kill the soul fragment. Severus would be retrieving basilisk venom, and Dumbledore would be getting his phoenix, Fawkes. The phoenix had saved Severus' life, and she hoped he would save Harry's as well. She held her nephew's cold, stiff hand, and longed to feel it move and pulse with blood and life. She would never again take it for granted when Harry ran, played and shouted.

'Petunia.' Dumbledore held out a hand, and drew her away from Harry. 'It is time, my dear. Would you prefer to leave the room? It may not be pleasant.'

'No.' Petunia shook her head. 'I have to stay… I've got to be here when he wakes up. And… I need to see what he goes through. I can't be a coward.'

Severus returned with a vial of basilisk venom. Viscous and dull yellow, it looked innocuous, and a little disgusting. The potions master pulled out an old fashioned syringe, and Petunia shuddered at the thought of getting shots with that thing. He quickly marked out areas on Harry's body to inject the venom- his throat, heart, stomach, thighs and feet.

Severus turned to her. 'I'll be starting now. Petunia… I can't guarantee that this will be uncomplicated.'

Petunia understood the meaning behind his words. She leant over Harry, and kissed him on his forehead.

'Be brave, my love,' she whispered, tears clouding her voice. 'I will be here when you wake.'

Severus began injected the venom, and at first, nothing happened. The injection points smoked faintly from the contents of the syringe. A loud crack startled them. Harry's body twisted, the venom fighting against the petrification. His eyes flew open.

'Harry!' shrieked Petunia, jumping towards her nephew.

Severus grabbed her and held her back. 'I don't think that's Harry, Petunia.'

Harry began to laugh, but it was nothing like his regular laughter. It was deep and bitter. The smile he wore was cold and cruel. The horcrux was awake, and the malice in its power was palpable.

It turned to Petunia, hatred shining in its eyes. 'Harry hates you, Petunia. You're not his real mother, you never will be!'

Inexplicable anger against Lily consumed her. For a moment, she hated Harry, resented that her own baby was gone forever, while she was saddled with the child of a sister who outshone her all her life.

Harry's head turned stiffly and he sniggered at Severus. 'And you, Snivellus, you think he looks up to you? A greasy potions master? Harry is just waiting to curse you the way his father did.'

'Don't listen to it!' shouted Dumbledore, pulling out his wand. 'It's the horcrux, it's Voldemort!'

Petunia fought through the hatred and resentment and forced herself to remember the nephew she loved, the child she would die for. She snarled at the horcrux. 'None of that's true. You're just angry, and you're dying. Harry will defeat you!'

As it turned to spew more insults at Petunia, Severus used the distraction to quickly inject more venom into Harry's heart. The horcrux shrieked in pain and anger.

'Fight, Harry, fight!' Petunia urged her nephew. He was still in there, and she was certain he could hear her.

Harry's body convulsed, and the horcrux screamed.

'Auntie! Make it stop!'

It was Harry, not the horcrux.

'It's working!' shouted Dumbledore. 'Harry, keep fighting, hold on!'

Harry's face twisted and evil glared back. 'Harry is gone! It's only me now.'

The boy's head whipped back and forth as Harry fought to regain control. 'Professor! Help!'

Severus delivered one final dose of the venom, and the horcrux howled in pain. Harry's body emitted an intense flash of green light. The horcrux was dead. His body became stiff again, and Severus swiftly placed Fawkes on the child's chest. Several tears leaked from the birds eyes onto the points of injection. When Severus was sure that the phoenix tears had gotten rid of the venom, Severus administered the mandrake cure.

Harry's eyes opened, and he blinked in confusion. 'Auntie? I had the weirdest dream, I was in a bathroom, and then I was in the hospital wing, and there was this voice in my head-'

His words were lost as Petunia swept him into a hug. She had her boy back.

One Week Later, Hogwarts

A hint of spring hung in the air as students gathered on the castle's front lawn. It was the day of Draco Malfoy's memorial. His mother and father sat at the front, composed and stiff. Harry hung at Petunia's side, his face swollen and his eyes red. Petunia wasn't sure he would ever get over his friend's death.

'I should have noticed something was wrong,' Harry had sobbed to Petunia when she told him the news. 'He's my friend, I should have seen something.'

Petunia had cradled him. 'You were the best friend he could have asked for. Voldemort is a powerful wizard. He hoodwinked everyone. There was nothing you could have done, my dear.'

Now, he stood silently, a small dot in the sea of black. The students were uncharacteristically quiet, and Slytherin house, with Severus in front, was even more subdued than normal. Severus confided that his mark had come back, and that he had seen Voldemort in the flesh. Horror pervaded Slytherin House when they learnt that Draco had been killed by Voldemort. 'A necessary sacrifice' Voldemort had reasoned to his followers. He promised to bestow riches and power on the Malfoys for their 'contribution'. Many students in Slytherin had parents who were ardent followers of the Dark Lord, and the sense of safety they might have enjoyed during his return was destroyed by the fear that, like Draco, they could be killed for his gain.

Severus gave a brief eulogy, and Dumbledore spoke kindly of the child as well. As a Slytherin prefect spoke about what an exemplary student Draco was, Petunia said a small prayer for the deceased child. She believed that his death would not be in vain, and that perhaps, it would turn some of his followers against him. As the service ended, Harry tugged on her sleeve.

'Can I say something to Draco's parents?'

'Of course, you were his friend, I'm sure they'll like that.'

Harry was tough, Petunia had to admit that. At that age, she would have gone to pieces before talking to people who looked as grand as the Malfoys. Truthfully, she felt a little like going to pieces now.

'Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy,' said Harry softly. 'My name is Harry Dursley. I was friends with Draco. We took the advanced Potions class together and he was one of my best friends. And you should know, he didn't care that I'm muggle born. I'll miss him a lot.'

Narcissa wiped away a tear. 'Thank you, dear. It's good to know that Draco had friends here.'

Lucius shook Harry's hand. 'It seems my son was far wiser than I ever was.'

'We will learn from him,' said Narcissa calmly.

Petunia sensed a determination in the delicate blonde. She understood. Narcissa Malfoy would end Voldemort, even if she died in the process. Petunia knew, because she would have done the same in Harry's place. She smiled grimly. Voldemort had his work cut out for him. The tides had turned.

AN: I know it's been a while since I posted, but I really hope you enjoy this update! Please review and let me know what you thought! xx