Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Vernon entered house after a long day at work and saw a woman sitting on the couch hold Dudley that he had never met. He kissed Petunia on the cheek who was sitting on the floor changing Harry's diaper. He turned to the woman who sat on the couch.
"I'm Vernon Dursley." He said holding out his hand to the woman.
"Minerva McGonagall. It's nice to meet you Mr. Dursley. I came here some time after lunch and well, we've enjoyed each other company today. These boys are wonderful." She said tapping Dudley on the nose. "I have fixed your wards around the house since they were starting to weaken."
Petunia got up off the floor and threw away diaper. She returned to living room with a beer for Vernon. He smiled and took the beer from his wife. He sat down in his recliner. He watched the boys' play, and Petunia told him about what happened to Harry and how the healer and curse breaker helped him. Vernon's eyes widen at the news that he just learned. He ran his pointer finger and thumb over his mustache.
"Is Harry ok now?" asked Vernon in concern.
"Oh, yes. Everything went fine and the curse is now gone from his scar." Minerva explained. Vernon nodded his head. "I have noticed that Petunia is exhausted and is running around here nonstop. Do you think she can get some help since you are at work?" asked the witch and threw Petunia a quick wink.
Vernon took a sip of beer. He knew how exhausted his wife was by the end of day and could barely keep her eyes open to eat dinner. "I will look into a house keeper, but they are so expensive."
"Mr. Dursley did James and Lily ever mention house elves to you?" asked Minerva.
Vernon thought for a moment. "Yes. One time they did. But I'm not sure if I am comfortable with a creature here. I mean this is a non-magical house."
"Well, the one thing about a house elf is that they can go undetected. No one will have to know he is here. He can be a big help. At lest give him one week and if you are not pleased you can ask him to return to Potter manor."
Vernon looked at his over worked wife and nodded his head. "Fine. We will give this house elf a week. Pet does need help. I am willing to do anything to help her."
Petunia gave him a grateful tired smile. She called, "Charles," and the house elf popped into the room.
Vernon's mouth fell open at the sight of the strangest creature he had ever seen. He took several deep breathes to calm his anger. He didn't mind James, Lily or even Professor McGonagall. But this creature was strange and had big tennis ball like eyes.
"Now, Vernon I know he doesn't look human. It's because he is a house elf." Petunia said trying to defuse her husband's temper. "Charles can you please prepare dinner for us and make sure to fix the boys something soft they can eat please."
"Anything for Master Harry's family." said the house elf and popped away.
"Vernon, you won't have to see him or anything. He can help out while you are at work, would that make you feel better?" asked Petunia.
Vernon grunted and nodded his head in approval. Petunia smiled her husband. Minerva rose to full height. She told the family she needed to head home. She shook Petunia and Vernon's hands. She told them if they needed anything she was only an owl away. Petunia showed the witch to the door and thanked her again for all the help that she would keep in touch. Minerva smiled and walked down the street and melted into her tabby cat form before making her way to the local park and vanished with a pop.
Charles popped into the living room causing Vernon to jump. He told the family that dinner was on the table. Vernon grunted and entered the kitchen with the boys in his arms and eyes widen at the table. Petunia entered the kitchen and mouth fell open. The table was set nicely with a large roasted turkey, yams, cream corn, squash casserole. A desert of a large chocolate cake sat on the counter.
"Ok, maybe having a house elf to help out won't be too bad. Shall we eat while it's hot dear." Vernon said as his stomach growled at the sight of the food. "Here you go boys." He said sitting them in their chairs with their food and the couple sat down at the table and enjoyed a wonderful cook meal.
Vernon sat back in his chair after finishing a wonderful dinner and looked over at the boys who were covered in pudding. He chuckled at the boys who had their bowls on their heads. Petunia grabbed the camera nearby and took a picture of them giggling at each other.
"Wow, we can have left overs for a couple of nights." Petunia said looking at all the leftover food. She leaned forward and looked into the living room and saw Charles cleaning up the room. "Wow, having him here will be a huge help, Vernon."
Vernon leaned forward and saw crisp clean room. "Wow, no wonder James liked the elf. He told me a couple of times when we met at work how hard he worked." He looked at the boys. "I believe it's bath time for you two boys."
Petunia got up and left for the upstairs bathroom to start a bath for both boys. She returned and grabbed the messy boys and took them upstairs while Charles cleaned the house and she put the boys in the tub together to play for a while before cleaning them up.
She sat down on the floor and watched Harry turn the bubbles into different shapes and they floated up in the air. Dudley laughed and popped the bubbles. Petunia couldn't believe how Harry was doing magic so easily. She in awe at each shape that floated around the room. The room began to fill with bubbles and her eyes widen in shock.
"Charles!" called Petunia and the house elf appeared in the bathroom.
"Master Harry, that will be enough bubbles for now." He said and pointed his finger and the large number of bubbles vanished only leaving the bubbles in the tub. "Charles will clean the babies," and he pointed his finger and both boys were washed and clean. He bent down and scooped them out of tub and water vanished. "Charles will change boys now. You goes relax."
"Thank you, Charles." Petunia said returned back down stairs to enjoy sometime with her husband.
Charles changed the boys and sat down in the rocking chair and rocked the boys. The elf looked down and gently smiled at the babies until their eyes closed. He was happy to be here to help Master Harry and Master Dudley. He had a family to care for while the manor was being looked after by the other elves. He laid them down in the crib that he enlarged to fit both boys. He quietly left the bedroom.
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Charles appeared in the living room and told Petunia and Vernon that the boys were asleep and that he would put away dinner. Vernon smiled and nodded his head while couple snuggled on the couch for some much-needed time together. The clock chimed and they couple turned in for the night.
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Petunia walked around the kitchen hanging birthday decorations up for Harry's second birthday party. She nodded to Charles who was helping her decorate. Vernon had gotten use to the house elf around the house, and she was so grateful for the help. It made the day go by so much smoother and she wasn't exhausted at the end of the day.
Petunia wrote a quick note to Minerva about Harry's party and she sent it with Orin. She smiled at the thought of the nice woman coming to celebrate. She turned and saw Lily's picture and smile slipped from her face at the thought of her sister missing out on Harry's life.
She picked up the picture and let several tears fall down her face. "Oh, Lily I hate how you're not here to celebrate on the fun."
"Mistress Pet, you oks?" asked Charles. He walked over to the woman and looked at the picture. "Me misses Mistress. She bes good to me." He blinked and buried his face in his hands and cried hard over the lose of his family.
"There, there Charles. Today is about Harry not morn over Lily." Petunia said gently patting the elf on the shoulder. "Let's make the cake."
"Oks." Charles said happily and they walked around the counter to make the cake.
Petunia and Charles smiled at their handy work on the cake. It was nice size sheet cake with very detailed picture of bocks that had "Happy Birthday Harry" in different colors. She placed two candles on the cake. Charles cast a protective charm over it so nothing would happen to it if Harry had a shock of accidental magic which happened when he was really excited or sad.
"It looks wonderful Charles. Thank you for the help today. If you don't mind staying hidden during the party and after I will help you clean up and then you can give Harry the gift you made him." Petunia said with a smile.
I can dos that Mistress." The house elf said and was gone with a pop to Potter manor for a couple of hours to check on the manor.
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Harry slowly walked into the kitchen and his bright eyes sparkled at all the color streamers, the green table cloth and party hats. Dudley giggled at the sight of the cake.
"Arry ake." Dudley said pointing at the cake.
Petunia walked into the kitchen and saw the boys eying the large cake. She picked up the boys and walked outside to the backyard. She put them in large kid pool. The boys laughed and slashed in the water. She walked over to the back gate and unlatched the lock and hung sign for Harry's party. She sat down with a cup of lemonade and waited for the guest to arrive. She had invited the kids on the block. She had started a weekly playdate at the park with the local kids and it allowed the moms together and chat while the kids played with each other.
After an hour of watching the children play, they moved the guest into the kitchen for cake and gifts. They all sang happy birthday. Petunia cut the cake and handed out a piece to each person starting with Harry and kids.
"I am so sorry I'm late Petunia said Minerva as she entered the house after knocking on the opened door.
"Minerva it's not a problem. Would like a piece of cake?" asked Petunia.
Minerva smiled and nodded her head. She took the cake with a thank you. She walked over to Harry and kissed the top of his head. He ruffled his hair not in the mood for kisses at the moment. He smirked and leaned down buried his face into the icing and looked up causing Hermione giggle and shake her head.
Petunia gasped but grabbed the camera and quickly took several pictures of the kids. She grabbed a napkin and cleaned off Harry's face free from icing. Harry giggled and went to do it again but Petunia raised a brow at her nephew. He stuck out his lip and smiled at him. He smiled back and ate his cake with his hands.
After cake the gifts were passed out and Harry ripped into the gifts. He got serval different types of toys, and some clothes. Minerva smiled and handed Harry her gift. He removed the wrapping paper and pulled out a wand. She showed him how to use the bubble wand. Harry laughed and sprayed the room in bubbles before running outside followed by the other kids who were popping the bubbles.
"I believe your gift over took over the others Minerva." Vernon said with a laugh.
Minerva laughed and nodded her head in agreement. She walked over to the window and watched them play in the yard. She smiled so grateful that Harry was in such a loving and caring home. She sighed at the thought of Lily and James and all that they would miss in Harry's life. But Harry was loved and taken care of until he reached Hogwarts.
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Petunia sat down exhausted after an amazing party. She looked around the kitchen. It was mess. She called for Charles. The elf popped into the kitchen and began to clean up the mess. Petunia cut a piece of cake and smiled at the Charles and sat it down on the counter and patted the elf on the head and told him that was his piece of birthday cake. He looked at the cake and over at the woman with tears in his eyes.
"You reminds mes of Mistress Lily. Thank yous." Charles said and ate his cake after cleaning the kitchen.
"I'm the one that is thankful for you Charles." Petunia said and exited the kitchen with a smile.
She found boys sitting on the floor watching cartoons and playing with toys. She smiled at Harry who handed Dudley his bubble wand to play with for a while.
"The boys are sharing so well." Vernon said from his recliner.
"They have there days when they fight, but overall, they do wonderfully."
Charles came into the living room and gave Harry his gift. It was a homemade stuffed golden snitch. Harry's green eyes lit up and happily took the snitch after hugging the little elf and thanking him for his gift.
The family stayed down stairs until it was time for the boys' bed, and Petunia went up stairs with Charles who helped her with boys' bedtime. She returned back down stairs knowing the little elf would help if Harry and Dudley needed anything. Besides them missing Lily and James the day had been perfect for the family.
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I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.