Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Lily sat on the couch visiting Petunia while their husbands were at work this gave the ladies time to spend time together and mend their broken relationship. They both knew that it would take time but since Petunia didn't work and Lily was done with her teaching hours by three it gave them a couple of hours to work things out between them.
Petunia poured two cups of tea and handed Lily a cup with a splash of honey. The redhead smiled and thanked her sister and sat back and took a sip while looking around the nice house that the Dursleys' had bought almost three years ago.
It had light yellow couches, end tables and light brown recliner that Petunia didn't care for but Vernon had told her that he needed a "man chair" for the living room. The rooms had cream-colored walls and soft white carpets. With several family pictures hanging on the walls.
"Pet, I believe it's time to show Vernon that all magic isn't bad. It's like a handgun. It depends upon the user's intent if they use it for evil or just a means of protection." Lily explained.
Petunia blew through a false contraction and sat her cup down on the table. She nodded her head. "Yes. If you explain it in a way that Vernon can understand it would make things go a lot smoother. You know I can't stand a gun and Daddy had a safe full of them for his hunting club."
Lily smiled at the memory of their family. Sadly, their parents had been killed in a terrible car accident two years ago. "Yes, I know. But it's the best way to explain things, and then we can show you a few spells so you can get the understanding of magic. You know like when Professor McGonagall had showed us when she explained to us when I got into Hogwarts."
Petunia rested her hands on her growing belly and nodded her head. She knew that Vernon and James met regularly due to his investment into Apple and Microsoft companies and that the men had the starting of a nice friendship. The ladies were grateful for that.
Later that evening Vernon and James walked through the door laughing hard at something the wizard had said. The men smiled at the ladies who were sitting flipping through a magazine.
Vernon walked to the kitchen and returned with two beers in hand, and handed one to James and the men joined the women. Vernon wrapped his arm around Petunia and kissed her cheek and took a sip of his beer.
James and Lily knew to wait before they approached the subject of magic until Vernon had his second beer in hand. It took the large man time to unwind from the day and they didn't won't to hit the wrong buttons. Because when it came to subject of magic Vernon was touchy about the subject. They knew they had to approach this carefully.
Petunia got up from the couch and placed an order for dinner to be delivered to the house that night. They enjoyed take out every once and while and they agreed on several pizza's that had just started to deliver to the houses in the neighborhood.
The doorbell rang and Vernon answered the door took the pizzas and paid the driver. While Petunia grabbed several plates and Vernon sat the pizzas down on the table. They enjoyed a nice dinner enjoying the company of family.
"Now, shall we address the elephant in the room." Lily said looking at her sister and brother-in-law.
Vernon sighed heavily. "Very well let us address the magic issue." He opened his third beer of the night and took a sip.
"I know this hard for you to understand Vernon, but magic is real just like us. Just because you can't always see it doesn't mean it isn't there hidden among non magical people." Lily explained. She pulled out her wand and handed it over to Vernon to look at it.
Vernon took the wand and looked at carefully. It looked like a normal stick. He noted that it was finely hand crafted. He handed it back to the redhead. She put it away for the time being.
"The magical world is hidden from non-magical people. This is due to the fact of the witch burnings in the Middle Ages because those with no magic feared those with magical abilities. So, the worlds broke apart. We can't have non-magical devices in our homes because the magic will fry the devices. We pretty much live-in olden days of oil lamps and such things."
Vernon shook his head at the idea of no television, power and the easiness of a toaster. "How do you handle not having power?"
Lily chuckled, "It took some getting use to trust me. I came from a home like this one and entering Hogwarts was stepping into the Middle Ages. It was a shock to tell you the truth. But magic does make things easier." She pulled out her wand. "May I show you?"
Vernon grunted at the idea of magic but nodded his head. "Go on show us what you can do, witch."
Lily cracked a smile and pulled out her wand. "Now, I'm going to clean up this here." She said pointing her wand at the left-over pizza and trash. She flicked her wand and pizza was put way in storage box and placed it the fridge. She flicked it again and the trash was in the can in the kitchen. "There. See quick and easy." She put away her wand.
Vernon's eyes widen in awe. Petunia smiled at her sister and nodded her head in thanks. She didn't have to clean up the mess that sat before them, and Lily winked at her sister.
"So, you use magic to do everything?" asked Vernon.
Lily shook her head. "No. I don't use it all the time. I will still do things without magic. I like to cook without magic. It gives me something to do during the day. I will use magic to clean the house as I do it with and without magic."
"We do have Charles to help out at Potter manor." James told them. "I come from an old wizarding family and that comes with wealth and other benefits. But Lily does have her ways with house elves. They help keep the properties up and maintain the houses while we are not there."
"You own slaves!" hissed Petunia.
"No, not slaves. They get their magic from the families they serve. They thrive on helping others. If a house elf is freed over time their magic will vanish. They help with raising children while the parents are at work." explained James.
"See it this way, Vernon. You have children's daycares here. You drop off the kids so you can go to work, it's like that for us with the house elves. They care for our children."
Vernon nodded his head. "Ok. I can understand that. I think."
James explained about having defensive spells in time of work, and Lily jumped in and explained how it was like a gun and put it into terms that Vernon could understand since James couldn't explain it to non-magical person. Vernon nodded his understanding and asking questions as they told them more about magic and showing them different types of magic that they could see.
The clock chimed and James and Lily rose to their feet. The redhead smiled and they all walked to back yard that was fenced off from prying eyes.
"We will be by this weekend for our cook out. Are we still good for Saturday?" asked Lily with a smile.
"Oh, yes Saturday is great. The football game will be on at three." Vernon said. He had introduced James to soccer.
James beamed at his brother-in-law. "Wonderful!" He said happily. He took Lily into his arms. "Now, this is one way we can travel. Please don't be alarmed when we vanish from sight. It's perfectly safe."
Vernon nodded his head slowly and watched the couple vanish from sight with a slight pop. Vernon rubbed his eyes to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He shrugged his shoulders and the couple entered the house to turn in for the night.
James sat down on the couch after a long hard day at work and removed his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. Lily walked in and handed her husband a glass of fire whiskey and sat down on the couch next to him. He wrapped his arm around small frame. Things were getting worse with people vanishing and turning up dead. The DMLE was at wits end at what to do everyone was in a state of fear. It was hard to understand that one wizard and his followers could cause so much trouble for their world.
"It's time to explain to Vernon and Petunia. We need to place wards around their house." said Lily sadly. James nodded his head in agreement and put his glasses back on his nose.
"I'll see what Charles has made for dinner tonight. We can go to bed."
James got up from the couch and the couple walked into the dinning room for a nice dinner before bed.
James and Lily appeared in the Dursley's backyard. Vernon looked up from working in flowerbed. He removed the dirt from his hands and shook James's hand and hugged Lily. The trio walked into the house. Vernon could tell something was weighting heavily on their shoulders. He sighed heavily he knew he wasn't going to like this conversation.
The couples got comfortable in the living room. James fixed two strong drinks and handed one to Vernon. Lily sat copies of the Daily Prophet on the coffee table.
"We have been keeping this to ourselves for awhile now. We wanted you to understand magic. Now all of it is not bad Vernon. But we have been dealing with what you would call a terrorist in our world." Lily told the couple.
Vernon and Petunia picked up the papers and read over the articles. Petunia gasped at the news. They switched papers. The Dursleys' knew that the world wasn't always peaceful and wars did brake out. It was a part of human nature.
"Will they come here?" asked Vernon after taking a sip of his drink.
"We are doing all we can to stop that from happening Vernon." James said. "We would feel better if we can place some protection wards around the house."
Vernon looked at his very pregnant wife and nodded his head. "Please do. I want my family safe from his crazy wizard."
Lily sighed in relief. "Thank you, Vernon. We'll disillusion ourselves so no-one will see us while we are placing up the wards."
Vernon nodded his head. James and Lily stood up and pulled out their wands. They tapped their heads and they became invisible and exited the house to the back yard, and they placed up the charms around the house.
After nearly an hour James and Lily entered the house and sat down. The room was tense and quite while they processed everything. Vernon rose to his feet and started cooking before the game started. They had done everything that could be done for now. He nodded at James to join him out back.
"Thank you for protecting my family the best way you can James." Vernon said starting up the grill.
James clapped Vernon on his shoulder. "Your family and I will die to protect my family. I will do all can to help you. I want you to promise me that will take care of my baby if something should happen to me and Lily."
Vernon stopped striking the lighter and turned to the wizard beside him. "I promise we will take care of your child. I know you and Lily would do the same for us."
James pulled Vernon into a hug and the men fired up the grill to start the food. Vernon asked about Hogwarts and the wizard happily told him about the school and his friends that they were pranksters of the school. Vernon laughed at the stories and moved onto a happier conversation, but war stayed in the back of their minds.
The family enjoyed a nice dinner and the football game just enjoying family and making happy memories. The time was late when James and Lily returned to their home. Grateful that the Dursleys' were protected as long as they were alive.
Lily and James entered Number 4 and smiled at the baby that rested in Petunia's arms. Lily rushed over to her sister who was sitting on the couch with a new bundle of joy.
"Oh, look at this strong boy!" said Lily as Petunia handed over her new born son. "Pet, he's so sweet. Hello Dudley. I'm your Aunt Lily."
"Let me get a picture of you three." Vernon said grabbing the camera.
Petunia shifted and Lily moved Dudley so his face could be seen in the picture. The ladies smiled and camera flashed. They spent the day loving on their nephew. Lily and James visits had become less due to the war not wanting to bring the war to their family it wasn't spoken but understood that things were getting worse in the wizarding world. Petunia prayed that nothing bad would happen to her family.
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