Freak of Nature – Chapter 2 (Some Truths)
Petunia knew she wouldn't be able to ask Lily or her parents about what her nephew was, they were dead. He looked like one of those mermen from one of those children's movies. Though this was obviously the real deal, this was no child fantasy.
What did one of those creatures need anyways? She didn't know, so she hoped that the attic would give her an answer.
The house had been her parents until they had passed several years ago. Many years before Lily had been murdered. And yes, she knew that her sister had been murdered by someone in her sister's world. She had never known what to think about that. And it had been through a blasted letter. If they had known where she lived, why didn't they tell her in person?
She may have not spoken to Lily in years, but she felt that she deserved that courtesy. But there was no point in dwelling in the past. And they obviously had no care for Lily's son.
She even had the thought of sending him to an orphanage, but the letter had terrified her. She didn't think she was equipped to take care of two children. Even at that age, Dudley had required all of her attention. So, she had not spared any to the other child. And so, she kept up that habit for years.
He did not deserve any of her ire for things she was not able to control. She doubted that the boy would forgive her. He would obviously be just out of depths as she would be.
Everything she had stored of her parents had been stored into the attic. Petunia also knew that Lily had stored a lot of her stuff there over the years. But she had refused to go up there for years, too many memories.
The light filled the dusty room, and the room was cluttered. Even with the mess that was there, she could spot Lily's things. It was in a trunk, most likely the same one she had taken to Hogwarts. She wondered if Lily had touched it since she graduated from the school that she went to?
With hesitant steps, Petunia inched closer to the trunk. The top was covered in dust as she brushed it aside. There was an engraving of her initials before she had married that Potter.
L.J.E.
Her fingers brushed over the lettering as more dust fell. She could feel a tear fall. It was the same trunk that her sister had used since she was eleven until she was seventeen. She was sure of it.
Petunia didn't bother to brush the tear away before opening the clasps on the trunk. She eased it open as it fell back. Even where her sister was dead, Lily had always been organized. On one side of the trunk must have been all of her books. They looked quite thick; she didn't dare to touch them. There was an odd-looking paper and quills on the other side of the trunk, where clothes rested on top. It was the same clothes she had seen Lily wear before leaving each year. The odd papers were filled with her elegant handwriting. Lily had always had the better handwriting of the two of them. In the center of the trunk, she noticed several notebooks. She recalled Lily had sometimes taken to carrying them around. It wasn't often, but it was enough to recognize them.
She cautiously extended her hand out, surely her sister wouldn't have cursed her, would she? A thin hand curled around the journal. There were three of them that were centered into the trunk.
She slowly sat down on the dusty floor, not caring if it stuck to her clothes. They could always be washed and cleaned later.
Each notebook was a different color. The first one she had picked up had been blue, the next one was a dark green, with the last being a dark brown. The colors reminded her of the colors of the scales on her nephew's tail.
Petunia turned to the first enjoy and saw familiar writing.
April 5, 1968
I am not sure why mum and dad said I should keep notes, but thought I should give this a shot. I am not sure what I am. Tuney was there with me and I was so scared. We were supposed to have our baths. But my legs were gone! I had a tail! I know Tuney didn't know what to think of it either before running out of the room. There was so much pain.
Mum and dad hugged me even though I looked weird. How was I supposed to walk without legs? Though I eventually found out that once I'm dry, the scales disappear.
Weird!
August 9,1971
So, I got my Hogwarts letter! I'm a witch! I can do magic! Our neighbor, Severus, had told me too as well. I didn't tell him about the tail since mum and dad warned me not too. Though Tuney was very mean and called me a freak.
It wasn't nice at all, though I didn't tell mum or dad. I don't know what to say to her because she won't even look at me. I don't want her to be mad at me… Though Severus let a twig snap on her head. I don't why he would do that.
I am supposed to be going to Hogwarts this September. Though mum and dad think this school may have the answers to why I have a tail. I hope I can find out why though I noticed that water keep me calm, there is this freedom I can't quite understand. I hope there is someone at this school where I can bath without having to worry about someone seeing. I would love to see the library; they must have so many books…
Petunia skipped over several of the entries Lily had made during Hogwarts. Looking for something that Lily may have found out at Hogwarts. She knew that Harry would be receiving a letter from them in a few years.
December 11, 1974
I didn't think I would ever find out what exactly I am. Everyday I try to find more information in the library, and nothing had given me the right answer. Until we covered creatures in Defense today. We went over the Selkies that lived in the Black Lake. They were the closest creature I could find. I was looking in the wrong section.
I know the Ministry considers the Selkies dangerous creatures, there is even given evidence of what happens when someone enters their territory. I have never tried swimming in the Black Lake, too much of a chance I may be seen before I can dry my tail.
There are several distinctions between me and Selkies. The tails are shaped differently and were a very pale grey color to match their skin. I know my tale looks nothing like that but does look quite similar. Maybe related to the Selkies?
Which I did find several books on those later. Sirens and Merrows. I was able to cross off Merrows, as they are very similar to the Selkies in the Black Lake.
The only one that seems obvious is the Sirens. Its hard to believe that I may be somewhat part of them. But how does that explain the tail and how I can breathe underwater. I am kind of afraid to try to sing… does that mean I will have a voice like the Sirens?
Feels so much to take in and I don't think there is anyone I can ask about this…
Petunia froze, her sister was a Siren? You heard about them in myths that were sometimes told to children. She had never imagined they were real. There were several entries that talked about how dangerous it was for her to tell anyone. She couldn't believe that someone would hunt them down just because. If Lily had been one, that meant her son was one too. She had seen it with her own eyes. How had her sister lived with this? Did that mean the Potter bloke she married was one too? Perhaps her journals would tell that story as well.
She figured that her nephew was some type of merman from those fairy tale movies. She had watched them with her son, Dudley when he was younger. It seemed so much simpler than having to think about the entire magic thing. Which was still a bitter taste that she had to swallow.
She wasn't part of that world and never would be. She had hoped that Lily's son wouldn't be either, but she knew he would be. The letter had said as much. She hated that letter too.
The boy would be back in his cupboard, that would be something she needed to change. So, maybe she had been more cruel towards him than she had intended. Though he doubted that Vernon would have been any agreeable to letting him have his own room. She didn't even know how to approach that with Vernon anymore than she knew how to approach Harry.
"Why should that freak get a room!?" Vernon growled, instantly furious that his wife had brought up that freak.
Petunia's nose flared, "Vernon, I am at least trying to come into grasp of my sister's death. She may have been that type but that didn't mean I didn't totally hate her! How do you think they will feel if they ever find out!"
Vernon actually went slightly pale at that, "you think they're watching us?"
Petunia actually didn't know if they were, but she wouldn't be surprised if they were. But when had her life ever been fair.
"They could be right now," she replied.
"Fine, give the freak Dudley's second room," Vernon growled before marching out the door.
Petunia gave a shaky sigh; she wasn't sure on how that may gone. But at least Vernon had agreed. It was hard to tell with her husband. She knew there would be a fight with her son, he wouldn't understand why he would have to give up his room. But it would be something she would deal with. And perhaps maybe Harry would allow her to help him. Try to mend for all the mistakes she had made out of hate and bitterness.
She made her way up to Dudley's second bedroom, maybe that is where some of her mistakes had come from too. Was she spoiling her own son too much? She hadn't thought much about it. The thought occurred to her as she looked around at all the broken toys that she would have to throw away. The bookcase could stay, she didn't have much need for it. She had forgotten she had stored it in here. Lily had always been more of a reader than she had been.
Was her nephew even a reader?
Petunia shook her head before gathering what was in Dudley's second room. She had spotted the first television she and Vernon had bought for Dudley. Their son had never told them on how it got broken, only that he needed a new one. She had never asked on how and perhaps she should have. She could spot the broken video camera she had bought for Dudley a few months ago, she wasn't sure she wanted to know how it got broken. There were various things that were broken in the room.
Though the room felt bare after she had gathered everything up. There wasn't even a bed, she would have to get one. No doubt if she told Vernon about the need for another bed, he would claim that the 'freak' could use the one he had. Even she knew that she had done wrong with making her nephew sleep under the stairs. And she wouldn't even call that a bed, so she wouldn't tell Vernon on what she was doing. She debated on throwing that old bed out and there was the conversation with Harry about the room move to. He would be suspicious, she knew that.
But she figured that she could wait to tell him by the time the new bed got there. Though she may have slipped something about it to Harry while he was doing his chores. Vernon had already went to work for the day.
But thankfully it didn't take long for the bed to arrive. It was just a simple single, on the cheaper end so it was easier to explain to Vernon, but still comfortable. She had even managed to get a thick mattress protector to go under the fitted sheet to add some warmth and padding. She had even found memory foam to add some comfort. She had the same one on her bed and it made quite a difference. While shopping in the discount section, she found seen a startling red duvet that was the same colour as Lily's had been after she came back from Hogwarts. The fuzzy memory forcing its way to the forefront. Lily had been so excited to see the garish colour duvet and insisted on getting it with gold sheets.
"The colours of my school house Tuney!" She had cried happily, Petunia remembered it was one of the few times she had let herself smile at her sister's excitement about the magic school.
Without thinking, she grabbed the duvet for Harry. Maybe one day she could explain to him why and he would feel that connection even though his mother wasn't there with him.
But she had been so intent at watching a few guys lug up the boxes that held the mattress and box springs that she hadn't realized Harry was standing by her.
Breaking one of the rules, Harry asked, "What is that?"
"What does it look like? It's your bed," Petunia commented, not really thinking on how she worded it.
Harry's eyes went wide, "my what!?"
Petunia actually looked over to Harry, "Harry, you are not going to be staying in that cupboard anymore. That—that was very cruel of me and I wish I had spoken up sooner about it. I am doing something that should have been done, you will be moving into Dudley's second bedroom, something you should have gotten the moment you were brought here," she felt more and more guilty the more she spoke. She knew that Harry should have had that bedroom since the moment he was brought to them. But they had put him in the cupboard, ignoring his existence when they could. She hated herself for it, still did.
"But… the bed was fine…" Harry tried to say.
"That bed should have never been in this house," Petunia wrinkled her nose. "I am not going to allow that filthy thing to be hauled upstairs"
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he said nothing. This new behavior from his aunt was strange to him, he didn't understand on why. Not that he didn't like the new behavior, but he was sure that she had a motive. But he kept his mouth shut, he had already broken the 'no questions rule.'
Petunia was sure that she honestly would have rather had the conversation with her son about the bedroom while she was throwing the stuff out. Because she heard his yell through the house.
"Mum! The freak is in my room!"
Petunia sighed, this was going to be worse than explaining he couldn't have a dog because she was allergic. Unfortunately, because Marge would bring hers when visiting, regardless, her son had screamed for hours about her lying. Eventually they had settled him with his computer and a promise to visit other pet options when he was older. She secretly hoped he would forget that facet.
"MUM!" Dudley screeched again, she hurried quickly up the stairs when she heard Harry squeak and a soft thump. When she got to the doorway of the room, she was greeted with the sight of Dudley standing by the bed with tears running down his cheeks and Harry on the floor with a scowl.
"Ma…Make hi... him leave!" Dudley cried, added with the stomping of his feet extremely close to Harry's hands.
"Dudley!" Petunia heard herself snap in a panic as Harry rolled away quickly, only narrowing avoiding being trodded on. Her sharp tone shocked her son just as much as it had shocked herself.
"Oh Duddy," She hugged him close, although she was worried about spoiling him, and how she had treated Harry, she still hadn't meant to snap at him. He was only a child like Harry, he was only a few months older than him.
"Now, this is a change for everyone," She soothed her son before letting go and checking on Harry who stared at her like a mysterious puzzle box. "But this is Harry's room now."
"NOOO!" Dudley howled, Petunia stared as the tears vanished and were replaced with horrid anger. "I don't want him in here Mum! It's my room!"
"It was your room," Petunia kindly reminded him. Though she was starting to wonder if those were actually fake tears. "You still have a room; you don't need two bedrooms."
"What would you think if you didn't have a room? Don't you think Harry deserves a room as well," Petunia said. "And don't think I didn't notice everything that you broke! So, you will not be getting another camera either!"
Harry watched this exchange completely confused. 'Why was Aunt Petunia doing all this?' 'Was it a trick?' But from watching his Aunt discipline Dudley for what appeared to be the first time ever, he couldn't really believe it was a joke. But at the same time, nothing good happened for or to him, why would it change now? He watched as Dudley screamed himself hoarse at his Mother, his face going the ugly puce colour. Uncle Vernon did when Harry did something freaky. He watched in a stunned sort of silence as Dudley stormed out of the room screaming for his Father. He felt a flash of fear, unknown to him, not only was that fear visible but he let out an involuntary whimper. Petunia turned around at the sound to see her nephew backing up, deeper into the room, until he hit the wall in the corner of the room and sunk to his knee's making himself as small as possible.
She felt her heart tighten. Was this really what they had to done? She watched him flinch and raise his hands to protect his head as Vernon pounded up the stairs.
"Pet!" He thundered.
"Yes, Vernon dear." She smiled docilely, standing in the doorframe, blocking his sight to Harry.
"Why is Dudley upset about the Freak?!"
"We have to be careful dear; they may be watching the house. But I can't explain that to Dudley about why Harry is getting his own room."
Vernon let out a grunt of understanding, he didn't like it, in fact, he hated it. But he wouldn't put it past the freaks to be watching them. He wouldn't let them know anything, he was doing what was right by the freak, but he wouldn't risk them not agreeing. He had an image of a perfect Father, a hard worker and great businessman to maintain.
Unfortunately, Dudley had followed him back up and when he realized it wasn't changing anything, he let out a wordless shriek. He swung his Smelting's stick as hard as he could at his Father's legs as many times as he could before the stick was ripped from his hands. The only thing left to do was to scream in his room and throw things about.
Petunia sighed, "I'll handle things from here, dear. Just let Dudley calm down."
She avoided looking towards Harry, not wanting Vernon to look over at her nephew. That would catch his attention.
She knew that Lily would be furious with her if she knew what they let happen to her son. Maybe it was too late to change things, she didn't know. But he had to make up for everything she never stopped. But there was a single question in her mind, had her husband harmed her nephew?
His reaction to her husband had been too obvious. Even when he had been in pain that night, he hadn't flinched from her. Maybe at the notion of being in the tub, but she hadn't blamed him for it. She had seen the pain Lily had gone through. She was always thankful that she never had to go through that.
Petunia crept forward after Vernon had gone back downstairs mumbling about a whiskey and the game. She frowned when Harry didn't move from his spot, even after Vernon and Dudley had left.
"Harry?" She called his name, keeping her voice soft, slowly, she saw his head lift up. Bright green eyes peering out her from behind his black messy hair, arms still folded over his knees hiding his nose, cheeks and mouth.
"Are you okay?" She asked as she finally reached him, sitting down on the floor beside him, arms and legs touching. She didn't think she had ever asked him that.
Harry nodded quickly, almost like a reflex.
"I know this is a big change. I can't imagine how confused you are." Petunia started, she paused, unsure of how to ask what needed asking or explain what needed explaining.
"You know, your mother and I were extremely close at one point," Petunia sighed, she would start at the beginning and see how he took everything. He still seemed skittish and wary, asking him direct questions probably wouldn't get her anywhere just yet. Harry just blinked owlishly, had he always been this silent?
"We were best friends, only two years between us. We had our own secret language, we used to make forts with the blankets and sleep in them at night telling each other our secrets and dreams," Petunia sighed, it had been a long time since she had allowed herself to remember the good times before she threw everything away.
"I had always struggled with my jealousy over Lily, everyone would always talk about how beautiful she was, how talented and I was just there. Lily never let me pull away from her when we were young. She would drag me with her, treating me like her hero. Making sure I was never left behind. The day after she turned eight, I was talking to her about our plans for the park the next day as she climbed into the bath. She grew a tail for the first time." Petunia felt more than heard Harry's sharp inhale.
"I remember screaming and running to get our parents. We had no idea what was going on, but our parents made it very clear, it was a family secret. We couldn't risk someone taking Lily away. Strange things had always happened around Lily, from the time she had been a baby. But this was the biggest." She could see Harry hanging on every word, eyes wider than ever.
"It was shortly after that, that Lily made a new friend. Severus Snape. He was a foul little boy, he used to watch us from the bushes while we played at the park. One day Lily was on the swings showing me her new trick. She would swing as high as she could, leap off the swing and somehow float down. Almost like magic." Petunia whispered the last word like a secret and small smile as Harry gasped, arms moving away from his face and leaning forward.
"Snape told us that magic was real, that Lily was a witch like he was a wizard and that when they turned eleven, they would get a letter to go to magic school," Petunia let out a soft laugh as Harry whispered 'magic school' under his breath.
"I hated Snape, all of a sudden Lily was following him around, hanging on his every word like she used to do to me. But whenever she wasn't around, Snape would say the cruelest things. He would call me names, and finally one day, Lily was focusing on a dead flower. She managed to bring it back to life! I was so scared, Lily was doing magic just like Snape said, she would leave me for this school. In my fear and anger, I lashed out, I screamed at her, calling her a freak." Petunia wrapped her arm around Harry's shoulder as the boy flinched back, tears forming in his eyes.
"Snape used his magic to cause a tree branch to fall on my head. I managed to run home but ended up in hospital with a concussion. Lily lied to our parents and said I fell out of the tree. I was so angry that she would cover for the vile boy. He had told me that Lily hated me following her around, that she agreed with what he said about me. For me this proved it. After her letter came, I managed to send a letter to the Headmaster asking if I could come. One last chance to stay with Lily. He said no, I didn't have the active gene. But Snape and Lily found my letter. Snape made fun of me the minute he could. Laughing that a stupid Muggle like myself would never be allowed in. So, I allowed myself to hate Lily, it was easier than the pain of her hating me." Petunia startled when she felt tiny hands on her face, wiping away her tears.
"I am so sorry Harry. I will make this better. I will be better. I can be the person Lily believed I was even after all I said to her for so many years."
Petunia didn't know if this meant that Harry would trust her. But perhaps he would understand this was all on her, not him.
"Even after each summer, we never regained that closeness. I was still hurt and going to school. I didn't want anything to do with my sister. I am not sure if she ever learned why or not. But I kept pushing her away. My parents only seemed to notice precious Lily, never me. It seemed like moving away and going to school was the only thing that gave me comfort. Lily still kept in contact with me, but I usually threw anything she gave me away. I didn't know what to do when I received the letter that my only sister was dead. We never got to reconcile with each other. But I have her notebooks when you are ready," Petunia said quietly. "But I am sorry that I pushed all of my hate and bitterness onto you. You aren't your mother, and I am sorry I didn't realize that."
"But magic isn't real?" Harry finally whispered, eyes darting to the door looking for a hidden enemy. "Uncle Vernon says so."
Petunia looked guilty at that; she had been the one that had told Vernon about her sister having magic. He hadn't trusted it that day and even less when he had met her sister's husband.
She hadn't thought Potter was all that bad, he had cared deeply for her sister. Even with all the hate in her heart, she had been happy to see that. Unfortunately, Vernon had taken an immediate dislike, Potter had held himself with a slight air of obnoxiousness and arrogance. Vernon's dislike turned to disgust when he had called him Potter and the man had smiled and responded with "Heir Potter or James" before disappearing with his best friend with laughter. Lily had explained how her fiancé was in fact the son of a Lord in their world and only heir to the fortune. Vernon had gone into a rant about trust fund kids and lazy no-good people who never work for anything. Unfortunately, it only got worse when Potter and his friend Black let off fireworks as a loud prank and spent most of the night messing with guests.
"I think, we had believed, no matter how ridiculous, that if you didn't know. You wouldn't have it. But Harry, there are going to be times that what Vernon says is not true. Before I may be agreeing with him. I had hoped that you may be normal, like me. But you follow after your mother, no matter how painful that is for me to swallow," Petunia admitted.
"What about Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked trembling, green eyes terrified.
"Harry..." Petunia hesitated. "What has Vernon done to make you this afraid of him?"
Harry immediately started shaking his head. "No, no, no…" Hands slapping to his ears.
He may have broken the no question rules, the talking when not allowed, or maybe even more. But he would not break this rule. Would not. Don't talk about punishments.
"Harry, stop!" Petunia cried, grabbing his hands when the child started to hit his head repeatedly.
Petunia used her strength to pull the boy over her lap, frowning when she realized how easy that had been. Harry proceeded to curl into her legs, wrapping his arms around her knees, head tucked into his own. Petunia sighed and started to rub his back soothingly, only to freeze. There were bumps under the shirt. Ridges over his back. Carefully she reached down to his shirt. Harry panicked and tried to leap up but because of his size, she was able to wrap one arm under his chest and hold him tight. The other arm lifted his shirt.
The gag and gasp of horror battled in her throat. Harry's back was covered in welts of various healing stages. Red, angry and only just starting to scab over. Purple bruising with fully formed scabs. Black bruises with dark healed lines. And finally silver scars of years old healed lines. Her nephew had been flogged.
What monster had she married!?
She would have never approved of this. No matter how much she had hated Lily. Her sister could have cursed her with her magic, not that she would. But she would never condemn this behavior to a child.
How could Vernon do this? They had a son as well and near Harry's age.
She could feel the tears falling on her as she wrapped her arms around Harry. He obviously hadn't wanted her to see. Did he think that she would have agreed with Vernon about this? Surely not!
She slowly rocked him in her arms, like she had done when Dudley had woken from a nightmare. There would need to be a conversation about this, but she knew she wouldn't be able to look at Vernon now.
It would only be a reminder of who exactly he was. Had Lily tried to warn her? She knew that her sister had never approved of her husband. She may not have said it, but she knew Lily. No matter how distant they had become. No matter how much hate she tried to muster. She still knew her sister.
Looking back at the crying child, she knew what she had to do. She had to protect Harry, and even Dudley. Vernon had to go.