Freak of Nature – Chapter 3 (Changes for the Better)
Petunia was making the boys breakfast, pancakes for Sunday morning. Watching Dudley and Harry talking about the zoo trip excitedly for Harry's birthday.
It had been a big change since she had told Vernon to leave. She refused to have him in that any longer. Not around Harry and not around her son. To her, he was no longer Dudley's father.
The reaction he had was not one she was expecting.
Vernon had bellowed, "you!"
Harry had been behind her, hiding.
She knew that Vernon's target had been Harry as she had been striked, falling to the floor. She felt dazed and couldn't recall much what happened earlier. But Dudley had come to her defense against his own father. She didn't even know who had called the police.
But Vernon had been taken away in cuffs, though they had asked if she needed emergency care.
Petunia had declined but had thanked the officer. But she did have to make a statement about it later. Just as long as Harry and Dudley didn't have to stand in front of a court, they were too young to worry about such things.
Though it was a relief when she had received the letter stating Vernon's sentence. They had pictures of evidence and he would not be getting out for a while.
But at least she could do this trip for Harry for his eleventh birthday. He was supposed to be getting his letter sometime today. She didn't know how she felt about entering that magical alley.
She had done so when Lily had been eleven. But that had been so long ago.
But it did seem that Vernon's lack of influence had done wonders for her son. She wasn't blind to the bullying, but without his father to show off for. He didn't seem to mind being around Harry that much.
She would be giving him the first journal from his mother. She had decided to wait and at least do one at a time. She didn't want to overload him with information.
Though she knew that he would be going to Hogwarts, so they did need to have a conversation about what he was. She couldn't imagine what it would be like knowing that you were another creature.
But she mused, 'I suppose it would be as shocking as finding out magic was real' letting out a chuckle
At least she didn't have to worry about Harry having trouble learning the signs when he needed to be in water.
She still made sure that Dudley didn't know anything about that. He was still too young to be able to keep a secret. And it would be best if her son didn't know this about her nephew.
But what she didn't expect was a knock at the door.
Turning the stove off, she sat Harry and Dudley's food in front of them. Placing a soft kiss on both their heads.
"Dig in, I'll be back."
"Thanks mum."
"Thanks, Aunt Petunia."
Petunia slowly opened the door; she didn't even have a chance to grab the mail yet.
"You!" Petunia hissed.
She hadn't seen Snape since she was a child, but she would never forget. He apparently still hadn't learned to wash his hair
That limp greasy hair, those dark empty black eyes, and large uneven nose. He was older, like herself, but it was still the boy from Spinners End.
He was the reason for her sister being dead. She knew it. It didn't matter how much hate she had for Lily. He had killed her and that was unforgivable.
"You aren't welcome here," she hissed.
"Tuney," the ghastly boy sneered. It was like she was in the past, it was hard to see the man instead of the child that destroyed her relationship with Lily. Who tormented her.
"You don't get to call me that!" She snarled. "You have no right!"
"I am here for the Potter spawn," Snape drawled seemingly bored, completely ignoring the fact Petunia had spoken.
"No." She shook her head furiously, pointing her hand to the street. "You need to leave."
"I am here to deliver his Hogwarts letter, " Snape glared at the woman, Dumbledore had mentioned he might have some struggle. Of course, stupid Muggles didn't understand the importance of Hogwarts. Let alone ones like Petunia.
"Give me the letter then and leave." Petunia stood her ground.
"The boy will attend Hogwarts." Snape tried to come across menacingly, but after all Petunia had been through. It was just flat, like a child playing the villain.
"You will get off my property before I call the police or whatever law you have. You are already responsible for Lily's death! You will not be responsible for his!"
"And I will love to see your precious Dumbledore rescue you from our police and explain why you decided to trespass my home," Petunia smirked.
Snape actually surprised her by bearing his teeth, like the animal he was, Petunia snorted. But she knew everything, everything Dumbledore had left out when he dropped her nephew off with a letter in the middle of the night.
Not only did Petunia blame him for being the vile little bat that sucked Lily away and into the world of magic. But Petunia had gone through the trunk from the attic fully over the years. Including finding letters addressed to her that Lily had sent and she never read. She had already known they had fallen out at fifteen. Hard to miss when suddenly he wasn't allowed over. But letters to Petunia revealed that he had become a Death Eater, one of the ones killing Muggles, Muggleborns and Squibs. Although Dumbledore had sworn to hide it, he had told Lily exactly who had come forward with the prophecy after telling Voldemort. She couldn't figure out why the old headmaster would've told Lily, but if Snape was here with the letter. It meant he was a Professor at Hogwarts. So obviously the headmaster was stupid enough to believe he had been reformed. She knew better. She smirked as Snape glared even harder at her threat.
"Dumbledore trusted me to deliver this letter and take Potter to get his schooling equipment."
"Not happening." She said furiously. She sighed as she heard soft footsteps behind her. Try as they might to be subtle, those boys were not good at sneaking. She closed the door slightly, leaning on the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see both boys' heads peeking around the corner from the kitchen door with wide eyes.
"He looks like a vampire" Petunia heard Dudley whispered.
"What do we do?" Harry whispered back in fear. Both boys unaware that both adults could hear them clearly, and Snape's pinched expression was extremely satisfying.
She wanted Snape to hurt as much as he had hurt her. She was even tempted to not let Harry go to Hogwarts if that greasy git was a professor there. Dumbledore was obviously not on her high list either.
"Just give me the damn letter before I pen a letter to Hogwarts and your precious Ministry, letting them know they have a murderer on the loose," Petunia gave him a fake smile.
Snape could feel himself pale, he wasn't sure how she knew, but by the look in her cold blue eyes, she did. He wasn't aware she had any knowledge of their world, let alone him. He narrowed his black eyes in anger, if that's how she wants to play it, he knew how.
"I guess I will just have to come back with the Headmaster himself and you can explain to him why you wouldn't let me in the door. Although, with how you treated Lily, I am not surprised you would stop her son from attending Hogwarts. But you don't have a choice. The boy will attend."
"You call him boy again, you will wish you were sentenced to Azkaban," she snarled "And you bring your precious Headmaster, I will make sure that he does not attend Hogwarts with the likes of you to poison his mind!"
"I will be back, and next time I won't be alone" Snape snarled before twirling away, dramatically. Petunia rolled her eyes, before hustling the boys into the car. She wouldn't let Snape or Dumbledore ruin their trip to the zoo. Harry had always had an affinity for animals, and it was the only thing the child had asked for his birthday. Even after two years he still struggled with asking for things. Her past behavior hadn't help with that, but at least she had been trying to make up for it.
"Don't think that I can't see and hear you two," Petunia turned around.
She had a grin on her lips, which was better the scowl that had been there since Severus Snape had been at her door. She had been very close to calling the police just to witness him trying to argue himself out of the muggle police.
But at least she had Harry's letter and she be damned if she would ever let Snape inside her home. But Harry could read that after their trip.
"Who was that?" Dudley asked boldly as she started the car.
"He is a Professor at Hogwarts. He brought us Harry's acceptance letter. Unfortunately, he is not a good man, Harry, if you do end up going, I need you to be careful of him."
"He said he would be back?" Harry asked softly, green eyes meeting blue.
"Yes, with the Headmaster. I want to talk to him before we make any decisions. You will both be there; we are part of this journey as a family." She swore.
The hour drive to London Zoo was surprisingly normal, the two boys in the back seat talking animatedly about their favorite animals instead of asking questions that Petunia couldn't answer.
She rolled her eyes as Dudley started hollering his love for Gorillas and Tigers, Harry was just grinning and nodding along. Since Vernon had left, Dudley and Harry had formed a formidable bond considering the first eight years. Harry worshipped his old tormentor as if he couldn't believe his luck had turned and his older, cooler, stronger cousin believed him to be worth his time now.
"Did you know Tiger stripes aren't just the fur, the pattern is on the skin as well?" Harry piped up when Dudley finally took a breath. Petunia smiled as they pulled into the carpark.
"NO!" Dudley cried excitedly, "Mum?! Did you hear that?"
"I did Duddy." Petunia nodded with a smile as they pulled into the car park. Harry had definitely inherited his Mother's love of learning and reading, although there was a secondary influence, she laughed.
"Look boys!" She said as she parked swiftly. "Uncle Remus beat us here!"
Harry's eyes brightened up, "Remy!"
Remus Lupin had been standing near the doors to the zoo before having his hands full of an eleven-year-old boy.
Dudley had been trailing right after Harry.
Remus had brought both of them in for a hug.
"Both of you behaving for your mum and aunt?"
They both nodded their heads.
Remus had light brown hair with green eyes, they weren't quite the shade of Harry's. His clothes were a bit worn, but not in tatters.
His eyes strayed over to Petunia, a silent question.
Petunia glanced over to Harry before nodding. There would be a conversation later, she knew that Remus was a wizard. But this was supposed to be Harry's day. No sense in ruining it before it started.
"Boys, go jump in line for tickets." She smiled as Dudley hooted and grabbed Harry's arm.
"The Headmaster sent Snape to deliver the letter." She growled under her breath as she walked with Remus slowly. "Can you come back with us after this? He said he would be back with Dumbledore and I don't trust your world, Remus."
"Of course." Remus nodded sharply. "Why would he send Snape, that is just asking for something to go wrong?" he rolled his pale green eyes.
"Surely that school has more than one professor," Petunia whispered
"That's the thing. It should have been the deputy Headmistress, Minerva."
"He hadn't changed in the seven years at Hogwarts," Remus nodded in agreement.
Petunia snorted, she at least believed that. She knew that much from their very short conversation. And she had been correct in not letting Harry go with him. Perhaps Remus would like to go with when she took Harry shopping. Maybe she could finally convince Remus to get some half decent clothes for once.
She didn't know how she would have coped without Remus. She had found out later that he had been there; the night Vernon had been arrested. She had tried to kick him out, Harry had been flogged and beaten and taught rules that had made her sick. But Vernon had blamed Harry for her finding out, he had proceeded hit her trying to get to Harry again, Dudley had gone on the defensive standing in front of her. She had blacked out at that moment when she came to it had been to flashing lights. Police lights outside, and an Ambulance medic's torch checking her eyes.
Immediately she had called for her children only to discover they were both being tended to. Vernon, the brute had smacked Dudley for standing in front of his mother and trying to attack him. He had then tried to kill Harry. Beyond all, they had been lucky that Remus Lupin had been watching the house, trying to gather the courage to visit when Dumbledore had told him not to. The man had heard Dudley and Harry's screams, yelled at a neighbor walking their dog to call the Police and burst in, subduing Vernon.
She had been worried when she first found out who he was and what he was doing there. But he had proven himself, answering any questions she had, taking two steps back when she was overwhelmed and felt threatened by his world. He treated Dudley with the same love and care he treated Harry. Maybe with her and Remus, Harry and Dudley could keep the bond her and Lily had lost with the two separate worlds.
It was different, before she had known about Remus. He was just there. She had recalled him from Lily's wedding, though she hadn't stayed long for it. It made her realize that maybe some of Potter's friends weren't like him like she originally figured. She would have figured he would be more of Lily's friend not Potter's.
It had helped that Harry had seemed to briefly recognize him. So, that had elevated some of her worries. She wouldn't have thought Harry would allow someone near him, especially after Vernon.
It had taken Dudley a bit longer, but that was due to him not knowing the man. She imagined it helped where Harry knew him and didn't mind his presence.
Petunia was pulled out of her memories as they reached the till,
"Family pass," She said handing over the money, Remus sighed, he often tried to pay for himself. But she had won a year ago when they had to go to London's Natural History Museum, that it was cheaper to get the family pass than two different groups. He still made it clear he wasn't happy though, which always had her giggling. She felt a different person in the short three years. She was happier, laughing more, she barely recognized herself in the old family photos. She had looked so sour and angry, but in the new photos, she wasn't as beautiful as Lily had been, but she felt pretty now. To her, it felt like a vast improvement.
"Alright, boys!" Remus called out. "We will start with the orange path," he said as he looked at the map consideringly. "What do you think Tunes?"
She smiled, he never called her Pet, like she was lesser, he never called her Tuna like her classmates, but Tunes, like musical. He always asked for her opinion, never taking over, letting her decide if she wanted to lead. He was much better than Vernon had ever been and she liked it that way.
"You are better at those ridiculous maps than me." She laughs airily, freely. "Lead the way Professor Lupin." she joked, he had admitted that he had wanted to be a Professor at Hogwarts one day, and he was always ready to tutor Dudley and study with Harry.
"Right then! Fall in line boys" He grinned leading the two giggling children into a march as they made their way to the farmland exhibit.
Harry delightedly skipped by his Uncle Moony's side holding his hand. Dudley was beside him, holding Aunt Petunia's hand. They had been at the zoo for HOURS, he thought happily. The animals were amazing, with so many different species and so many facts to learn.
There were three paths throughout the zoo to follow, Orange, Pink and Blue. At the end of Orange, they had sat down with a lunch of hot chips, hotdogs, ice blocks, and drinks to recuperate and talk about their favorite animals on that path. At the end of pink, they sat down again with drinks and some snack bars, to keep their energy going.
Harry grinned thinking back, on the orange path his favorite had definitely been the meerkats. They lived in large groups of up to forty called a gang or mobs! They had lookouts to warn them of predators. They were a family.
The Pink route had Otters! He had squealed in delight and no one told him off but instead got him as close as he could be. Otters rested in large groups called a raft, they had been seen in groups of up to 1,000! Harry couldn't even count that high. They held hands so they didn't float away from each other, just like Harry was holding Uncle Moony's now. He had his own family like the animals here.
He grinned excitedly as they reached the Reptile House on the Blue path. Even more animals to learn about!
It was cool and dark inside the Reptile House; the walls were covered with lit-up windows. Looking through the glass Harry could see all sorts of lizards and snakes, crawling and slithering over bits of wood and stone. They were blissfully unaware of the many children pressing up against the glass.
Dudley ran up to the largest he could see; the Boa Constrictor was just curled up sleeping. It looked like it could wrap itself around the car twice! Harry thought to himself, he ran to join Dudley, reading the plaque in front of the enclosure.
"Dudley, no shoving," Petunia called out.
"This species is from Brazil, but this snake, in particular, was bred in the zoo." Harry read aloud, Dudley listening as he tapped his fingers on the glass.
"Dudley," Remus spoke. "Careful, animals don't like loud sounds on the glass," he explained, Dudley gasped and retched his hand back. A far cry from the boy he was. Today could have easily been Dudley smacking the glass and screaming at Vernon to wake the snake up.
Slowly, the snake blinked its eyes, and lifted his head to look at them.
"Mum! Uncle Moony! Look!" Dudley exclaimed excitedly, leaping from one foot to the other.
"Hey Mr. Snake," Harry spoke up leaning forward in excitement.
Harry was blissfully unaware of Remus and Petunia looking at each other in horror behind him. Remus' small gasp went unheard from everyone around him.
The snake's head snapped to side to stare at Harry intently.
Petunia obviously knew whatever Harry had just spoke was not English. But she knew that he didn't know another language... She didn't know how to react.
"Hatchling speaks" the snake hissed happily, uncoiling to get closer to the window. Dudley was looking between bewilderedly.
"You speak?!" Harry asked startled, green eyes wide. If possible, the snake seemed to laugh.
"Neonate, you are speaking snake." It said with what had to have been a snake's version of a smile. Could snakes smile to begin with?
"HARRY!" Dudley cried excitedly, gripping his arms and shaking. "What's it saying?!" he demanded. He knew about magic; Petunia had made sure he was aware of why everything had changed. But talking to snakes? This was beyond cool.
"Her name is Althea" Harry relayed, before turning back to the snake. "I am Harry, and this is my cousin Dudley, my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Moony."
"Nest mates are important to a hatchling," Althea hissed bobbing her head.
"Ah, Harry. It's time to go," Remus managed to strangle out. He had to shake himself out of his stupor.
"Nooo!" Surprisingly it was both Dudley AND Harry whining. Harry never joined his cousin in his whining or temper tantrums.
"No. You heard Remus," Petunia spoke, her voice slightly shaky. She didn't understand the significance of Harry talking to the snake. At first her fear was at a magical thing being revealed in public, Remus explained that they couldn't let Muggles be aware. But then she had seen Remus go white and gasp for breath for a moment. It was something deeper, she had to get them home, Remus could explain then.
Harry let out a cry, he was loving the zoo, he was talking a snake! for the first time in his life he stomped his feet in displeasure, Dudley right along beside him. A loud scream came from behind them, another child, a girl a few years older than Harry and Dudley had been leaning on the glass looking at Althea who had been moving her head looking at Harry and his nestmates. The girl was now inside the enclosures! The glass window is gone!
"Oh, Merlin." Remus groaned as Harry and Dudley watched wide-eyed as Althea slid out, she stopped to hiss a 'thanks' before fleeing the reptile house.
Oh, how Remus and Petunia hated accidental magic. Reacting to emotions often meant the most ridiculous form of magic happening. Harry had many instances in his past, appearing on the school roof, his teacher's hair turning blue, but they had increased since the acceptance of magic. Remus had explained that he had been suppressing his powers in fear, which was extremely dangerous and often deadly. So, they made sure Harry knew that he wasn't in trouble for the magic itself and made it clear it was normal. But that didn't mean it was frustrating cleaning up the aftermath. Not to mention about keeping his tail a secret. Magic was bad enough; his siren half was even harder.
Thankfully when Petunia made it back to the house, there were no wizards waiting for them. So, that meant that Snape hadn't followed his threat through, or nobody had stopped by yet.
"Am I in trouble?" Harry asked in a small voice.
Petunia's eyes widened in shock; she hadn't thought that Harry would think that.
"Not at all, Harry. We were just surprised. Though you know that your accidental magic will be hard to explain for those that don't know it. Cause of the secrecy rule for magicals."
"Why did the snake talk back? Was that because of my incidental magic?" Harry asked
Petunia looked over Remus, lost. She had no idea what to tell Harry. Lily had never spoken to snakes; she didn't know if it was a magic thing or not.
"I guess that's my cue." Remus smiled sadly. "Remember I told you that your parents James and Lily died at the hands of a Dark Wizard who wanted to rule the world?"
Harry nodded as Remus sat down on one of the single couches, Petunia in the other, Harry and Dudley on opposite sides of the three-seaters.
"I told you that I would tell you more when you got older, and I guess it's today." He muttered. "Now, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was raging a war on the magical and muggle worlds. He was so powerful that people were afraid to use his name." Remus started.
"What was it?" Harry asked curiously.
Tilting his head as Remus took a breath, back then James and Sirius gleefully and loudly shouted his name, Remus and Lily spoke it easily, just not as enthusiastically. Then he lost them all, then he became afraid.
"Lord Voldemort." He finally got out. "Now Dumbledore will always say fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing itself. He often encouraged people to use it. But, Lord Voldemort," Remus forced the name out again. "He placed a dark spell, a taboo on his own name. When someone was brave enough to use it, the spell alerted his followers, The Death Eaters of the speaker's location. Many brave fighters died because of it."
Harry was silent, just taking in all this information, he never really heard all the information. his Uncle and Aunt wanting to protect him from it before they couldn't anymore.
"Dumbledore formed a group to fight back, The Order of Phoenix. I was a member along with James, Lily, Sirius and Peter."
"The Marauders" Harry chirped.
"Exactly." Remus gave a sad smile.
"Now they were dark days Haz, we didn't know who to trust. Spies were being found week after week on both sides. High ranking Ministry workers were found the Dark Mark. A tattoo of a skull with snake coming out the mouth. It was their symbol. The Order of the Phoenix had a Phoenix as ours. James and Sirius actually had bright red shirts with Golden Phoenixes on them and would wear those shirts out fighting. Just to pis... annoy the Death Eaters." Remus only just caught himself when Petunia glared at him for his language.
Harry tried to hide his snicker before Petunia turned her glare at him.
"Then Dumbledore went to James and Lily, said he had dangerous information and to not share it. Of course, they didn't listen. They told us Marauders." Remus chuckled.
"There was a prophecy. None of us knew the exact wording. But it predicted the defeat of You-Know-Who. Dumbledore said it could only be two boys."
"Me?" Harry gasped.
"Yes, and your godbrother, Neville. You were born a day apart. I have already been in touch with his Grandmother, they will meet us at the train if your Aunt lets you go to Hogwarts."
Harry turned his pleading eyes over to his aunt. He had never known that he had someone that could have been close to his age and friend.
"How come I never met him?" Harry asked, turning back to Remus.
Remus coughed before starting again.
"His grandmother is hidden in the magical world; your Aunt wouldn't have known how to find them even she had known about them. Then we agreed to wait while you adjusted after everything that happened." Remus explained briefly.
"Now, James and Lily took you into hiding straight away." Remus continued. He already felt drained and wanted this to be over. But he knew that Harry needed to know this.
"Dumbledore suggested a spell to hide you. A Fidelius charm. A Secret Keeper would know the address, and no one would find the house under any circumstances other than being told by the Secret Keeper," Remus explained as simply as he could.
"Harry... Merlin, I never wanted you to know this stuff while you are so young. I know you are growing up, but this is hard for me. In mine and your Aunt's opinion, you are far too young to hear the dark details. But the rest of the wizarding world knows your story and we can't let you go in completely unaware. Dudley, you are only here because we know you will get it out of Harry the minute we aren't in the room. But you are still young, if you are uncomfortable or scared there is no shame, and you can leave the room."
Remus waited until he got firm nods from both boys.
"Where was I?" Remus hummed as he sipped on his tea. Merlin, Petunia made the best tea, that woman was a wonder in the kitchen.
"Oh yes, the Fidelius Charm. Now the most unfortunate thing about the Fidelius charm is that the Secret Keeper would become a target if it ever got out that they were one and protecting someone the Death Eaters wanted. Which is why James believed it would be obvious and dangerous to use your Godfather Sirius." Remus explained softly, pausing to let Harry digest the information.
"Uncle Padfoot right?" Harry asked.
"Yes, your mother, Lily and your father, James had named him Godfather before you were born. You were to go to him if something happened to James and Lily. Now we did think to use me, we talked it out. But Sirius refused to let me because, at the time, I was trying to go undercover with numerous werewolf packs. Trying to convince them to either stay neutral or join the Order."
Thankfully, Petunia, Harry and Dudley had taken the news of his inflection well. He had only revealed it, albeit reluctantly when he explained why he had listened when Dumbledore told him to stay away from Harry for the first seven years. He had believed he was a monster and a danger. But Petunia had then revealed that one of Lily's diaries had mentioned a werewolf friend and how he had helped her hide her siren side once. That was how she knew to trust him with Harry's secret. If he had helped Lily with hers, perhaps he may have more knowledge than what she could give.
"Werewolves that live in packs in the forest, they shun their human side, mostly due to how the humans treat them. But some enjoy the hunt, enjoy hurting people, and if those ones found out I was a Secret Keeper for the Potter's. I would've been killed, very slowly and painfully. I don't tell you this to scare you, but so that you are informed." Remus sighed, hanging his head.
This was much tougher than he even thought it would be. He felt a warm hand brush his shoulders. Petunia was rubbing his back, sitting on the side of the armchair. He gave her a thankful smile.
"I ended up going back into the packs before they made their choice. I have no idea who ended up becoming the Secret Keeper. It wasn't like they could just send me an owl." Remus chuckled dryly.
"Whoever they chose, they betrayed you and your parents. They betrayed us and the Order. Someone inside the Order had been passing on information for years. They got many good fighters killed. They gave You-Know-Who the cottage in Godric's Hollow's location. He came for you." Remus could feel himself crying already. Slow tears on his cheeks.
"No one knows for certain what happened that night. But He killed your parents, James, at the bottom of the stairs, Lily in front of your crib. Both of them trying to protect you. Now, He liked to kill with a certain spell. An Unforgivable, The Killing Curse. Nothing can protect you from it. No shield will block it. But when he raised his wand at you and tried to kill you with it. It rebounded and hit him. He vanished. You were left with the scar on your forehead," Remus sighed the worst was over, he hugged Harry tight when he came over, looking for comfort. Dudley hugging his mum, blue eyes teary and scared.
"All I know beyond that, is that when I came out from cover at Dumbledore's announcement. James and Lily were dead, you had been taken away and bought here without me getting a chance to see you. And Sirius, your godfather, one of my best friends was in the Wizarding Prison, Azkaban, for giving You-Know-Who your location and the murder of our fourth friend Peter and twelve muggles. I am not sure if I believe he did it. But the evidence is all there, for years he had fooled us. Fooled me, fooled James, Lily, and Peter…"
"Why was I told they died in a car crash?" Harry looked up after clutching Remus.
"Car crash?"
Petunia looked guilty, "I had a letter telling me about what happened to your parents, to my sister. No matter how much hate I felt. I couldn't tell you that your parents were murdered. So, doing what the letter had asked me to say. I lied," she admitted.
"But Vernon said they were drunks who hated me so much that they crashed on purpose, so they didn't have to raise me," Harry whispered.
"Oh god!" Petunia gasped. Every time she found out something new her ex-husband had done or said she felt like being sick all over again.
"No, Harry, No. He should have never of said that." Petunia gasped with tears, pulling Harry into her embrace tightly.
She had never been so thankful to be rid of him. She could never have pictured herself saying that, to a child at that...
Remus had frowned at that and Petunia wished to know what he was thinking.
"I never doubted for a moment that James and Lily loved you," Remus whispered.
"Now back to your original question, Harry. Though, just like your tail, Harry. Your ability to speak to snakes is not common. It's not a bad thing, but others will think it is. The last known Speaker of Parseltongue was You-Know-You." Remus said.
Part of it was hard to say and that was coming from a werewolf. He knew about the dark parts of magic. All throughout Hogwarts, anything to do with Slytherin was bad. But how could it be bad that Harry was speaking it? He was only a child. Though it still gave him shivers.
Harry gulped; he didn't like the sound of that.
"I don't know how you have this gift. Neither James or Lily could speak it. When I go back into the Wizarding World, I will look into it. Find some research books," Remus promised
"That doesn't mean it is a bad thing. But just know, a lot of bad wizards used it and most view it as bad," Remus comforted.
"So, just like my tail? Bad people will use that against me?" Harry asked.
"Sort of." Remus nodded. "With the Parseltongue, I want you to keep it a secret to protect you from hatred and fear from fellow students and the rest of the Wizarding World. Their fear of You-Know-Who is still prevalent and deeply rooted. Some stupid ones might try and say you are evil solely based on this gift."
"With the tail. Unfortunately, there are bad people in both the muggle and magical world. Muggles wouldn't understand the tail, would want to lock you up and study it. In the wizarding world, Magical creatures are classed in different levels of danger. Siren is pretty high on the scale. So, you could be treated like a lesser person but those that are prejudiced. I also fear poachers."
"Remus." Petunia gasped, was he really going to tell Harry about this?
"He has to be careful Tunes, and he needs to be aware of the dangers. I hate this as much as you do." Remus said firmly, Petunia sighed and nodded her assent. He was right, she knew it, that didn't mean she liked it.
"Poachers won't hesitate to kill magical creatures and use them for potions, wands, dark rituals. Promise me you will be safe? Do everything we have taught you to hide it. If you feel like you can trust someone, let us know. We will revisit it then," Remus finished with a squeezing hug with all three of his family.
"Will you really show me where I'll be safe to be in water?" Harry asked softly.
Remus had been about to answer when someone knocked at the door.
Petunia grimaced before standing up, she shared a look with Remus before going to answer the door.