Chapter 12. Our Home.
Dumbledore entered Snape's house through the fireplace and shook out his clothes a little.
"Hello Harry. Severus."
Severus stood and simply bowed his head. Harry greeted him with a smile.
With a wave of his wand Dumbledore cast a disillusioning spell that made him completely invisible, to Harry's astonishment which was the first time he had seen that trick.
Snape turned to Harry. "I want you to come with us, go into the house and tell your aunt to accompany you to the back garden."
"Okay."
They walked out the door and headed for the Evans' house.
Petunia was sitting reading a magazine, or at least pretending to read it, because she was so nervous. Dudley and Vernon were watching TV.
Harry came in trying not to make any noise and motioned for her to come out. She did so, and when she reached the garden she met the two wizards, because Dumbledore was visible again.
"Mrs. Dursley, I am Albus Dumbledore. I must tell you that I am very sorry for this situation. I did not pay enough attention to Harry and I also left you and your son unprotected."
She looked at him suspiciously. "What really matters to me is that you can help me now."
"I certainly can."
Petunia watched in alarm as Dumbledore entered the house and pointed his wand at Vernon, who rose from the sofa and got out to head for the car. He started it up and pointed it in the direction of the town center.
"Apparently your husband has felt the sudden need to go buy ice cream. It will take him at least half an hour to get back, enough time to raise the defenses Severus told you about. Is that what ypu want?"
"Will you confirm that I will be able to stay with my son and I will be protected from Vernon?"
"I assure you that we will protect you and your son with all available resources, both magical and Muggle."
"All right then. What do I have to do?"
"Please read this. If you agree read it aloud again."
Petunia read a scroll and looked back at Dumbledore. "Nothing else?"
"Believe me, those phrases will invoke the most powerful magic I know."
"All right, I'll do it."
"Intent is really important. Are you sure everything it says there is the truth?"
"Absolutely."
"Then proceed."
"I, Petunia Dursley, née Petunia Evans, declare that this was the home of my parents, myself and my sister Lily, and that as of this moment, it becomes the home of myself, my son Dudley, and my nephew Harry, with whom I share blood kinship through my sister."
Snape approached Harry, who was playing with some pieces of a construction toy that Dudley had left lying around in the garden.
"Harry, come here a moment."
Harry approached his aunt and Dumbledore, and the latter handed him another parchment.
"Please, Harry, read this."
"Is this true, are we going to stay?" said Harry eagerly.
Petunia nodded.
"What about Uncle Vernon?"
"He's going back to Privet Drive." Petunia replied.
"And he's not coming back anymore?"
"No, Harry, you won't have to see him anymore."
"And Aunt Marge either?"
"No, I'll make sure of it."
"Great." Harry looked down at the parchment. "I, Harry Potter, declare this to be my home."
Dumbledore waved his wand and the air seemed to vibrate as if hot air was rising. The effect only lasted a few seconds.
"It is done." Dumbledore said.
Petunia still looked worried. "But Vernon still needs to be told."
"It will have to be in the street, he can't go beyond the fence anymore." Snape said. "While he's coming back you can take the opportunity to pack his bags for him."
"I always pack for him, but this time it will be a real pleasure." Petunia smiled still nervous.
"I'm going to stay at least until Mr. Dursley comes. I want to see how the defenses behave." Dumbledore said. Snape nodded.
By the time Vernon returned, Petunia had brought two suitcases down to the entrance. He tried to drive the car into the garage ramp, but when he got far enough forward for his body to reach the property line the car stopped for no apparent reason. Vernon hit the ignition, and as soon as he tried to move forward, the car stalled again. He began cursing and turning the key in the ignition roughly. He pulled out of gear and when he put it back into first gear the gearbox scraped, he stepped on the accelerator and again got the same result. He decided to reverse and in that direction he was able to move, but when he went forward again by pressing the accelerator fully the car stopped abruptly, causing him to hit the steering wheel because he was not wearing his seat belt.
He got out of the car and started kicking the back wheel.
"Petunia!" he bellowed.
"She's not taking it well." Snape said.
"What if I drove the car?" Petunia asked.
"It could get in without any trouble." Dumbledore replied in amusement.
"It seems the defenses don't identify him as a serious threat." Snape said.
"What do you mean?" asked Petunia.
"They're merely stopping the car. They could let it move forward and smash your husband against the seat, even do much nastier things. Then it would have to be cleaned up, it would be... a hassle." Snape replied.
Vernon saw Petunia standing next to Snape and a stranger and walked towards her.
"Petunia, whatever happens I advise you not to go outside the fence." Snape said.
"All right." she replied very tensely.
"What is he doing here, and who is this man?" shouted Vernon red as a tomato.
"You know Severus Snape." said Petunia. Then she pointed to the other side. "This is Albus Dumbledore."
"He's the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Snape added enjoying the transformation in Dursley's expression, who still looked even more furious than before.
"Magic and Wizardry? And wasn't Severus that weird boy who went with your sister to that school?"
"The very same." Snape acknowledged calmly.
"I want them off my property immediately."
Dumbledore looked at him with a gentle expression, and spoke in a leisurely voice. "The point, Mr. Dursley, is that legally this property belongs to Mrs. Dursley, your soon-to-be ex-wife, and Harry Potter. In fact this statement is true in the face of both Muggle and magical law, in more ways than you can possibly imagine." he informed him. "Therefore it is you who has no access to the estate."
"Who do you think you are to forbid me anything?" said Vernon trying to move forward. As he reached the fence gate he collided with the barrier so hard that he bounced backwards.
Snape turned to Petunia. "I think the part where the professor referred to you as his future ex-wife hasn't been processed by his overheated brain. You may have to repeat it to him in fewer words. Maybe drawing a sketch will help him."
"Vernon, please, you're putting on a show." Petunia said. "What are my neighbors going to think."
"Your neighbors? You don't live here."
"Now I do, I'm leaving you Vernon, I want a divorce." Petunia said slowly.
Vernon snorted like an angry bull. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's worked. I think he's really got it now." Dumbledore said.
"And without the need for the sketch. Remarkable." Snape added.
"I get it now. You've taken up with him. You're a..." suddenly Vernon was moving his lips without a sound coming out.
"That's no way to talk. The children might hear it." Dumbledore said, holding his wand casually.
"I think it's an improvement. I propose you leave it that way." Snape said.
"Won't the neighbors notice all this?" Petunia said worriedly.
"I've cast a spell so that afterwards they'll only have a vague idea that you've argued with your husband. They won't remember witnessing anything out of the ordinary." said Dumbledore. Then he sighed. "As entertaining as this is going to be, I have things to do. Can you take care of the rest?" he asked Snape.
"Sure, I'll take care of it." Snape said with a less than reassuring smirk.
Dumbledore entered the house and there was a thud as he disappeared.
"You may be safe in there, but you'll have to come out sometime." Vernon said.
"I'm afraid it won't matter. I have authorization to modify your memory. As of today you will not be able to return to this neighborhood." Snape informed him.
"That is impossible."
"Try it and see. If I am not mistaken each time you attempt to access this location the loss of the ability to orient yourself will affect a larger radius. It is possible that if you insist too many times you may end up not knowing how to get from your living room to your bathroom in your house on Privet Drive."
That made Vernon snap and he tried to punch Snape, who didn't even move. Vernon's fist slammed into the barrier and there was a crack. Vernon ducked, clutching his right fist with his left hand.
"Did he break it?" Petunia said.
"From the sound of it I'd say so. The barrier usually returns the force with which you try to break it. The bad thing is that he can't drive with his hand like that, and he'd better go as soon as possible." Without addressing Vernon, Snape flicked his wand and recited a spell. Vernon stopped complaining.
"What did you do?" asked Vernon.
"Healed your hand."
"I didn't ask you to."
"It was just so you could leave now, you're running late."
"Of course I'm going. You can keep that..." again Vernon couldn't utter an insult.
"Wow, looks like Professor Dumbledore's spell is longer lasting than I thought." said Snape.
Vernon struggled to speak again. After nearly a minute he succeeded.
"Get Dudley. You can stay here, I don't need you, but he's coming with me."
"No." said Petunia firmly.
"He's my son and I'm taking him."
"He's my son too and he's staying."
"You have no right to take him from me."
"I'm going to file divorce papers and ask for custody. The judge will say what your visitation rights are. I'm going to spell it all out, with details, and we'll see what you're entitled to."
"I'm his father! Do you hear me?"
"Yes, me and the whole neighborhood, and the answer is the same. Dudley stays." for a moment Petunia looked at Vernon and then said in a cold voice. "You will not take him, I will not allow him to become like you."
"Into what, a real man?"
"Into a sperp who thinks he can get everything he wants by force."
"This won't stay that way. You'll hear from my lawyer. I won't pass you a penny."
"I don't want your money. I intend to get a job and support myself. I'll only ask for what is due Dudley. However little money I get paid it will be more than you were giving me." Petunia looked him up and down and added. "I have nothing more to say to you." She turned and walked around to the entrance, picking up the two suitcases. He set them down on the edge of the fence gate and pushed them in with his foot. Then she entered the house without looking back, followed by Snape.
"Petunia! Get back here right now!"
Petunia closed the door to the house and leaned against the wall, panting.
"I've done it, I got rid of him."
"Congratulations."
Dudley looked at her puzzled. Vernon was still shouting down the street.
"Mum. What's going on?"
"Your father's coming home, but we're staying. We're living here from now on."
"But I want to go back to Privet Drive. I don't have cable TV here."
"I'm sorry Dudley, but we're staying, and we can't afford it here."
"This sucks! Dad's calling me and I'm going with him!"
"You're not going anywhere. Go up to your room."
"You don't send me!" said Dudley heading for the door and shoving his mother away. He found himself instantly immobilized.
"From now on you will obey your mother, and if you ever yell at her again or assault her in any way you will deal with me. Is that clear?" Snape said in his best icy voice. "The same goes for Harry. No more using him as a punching bag." he added.
Dudley could only nod.
"Go up to your room, your mother will let you know when dinner is ready."
Dudley obeyed immediately.
"Serves me right. I should have imposed more discipline on him from the beginning." said Petunia in despair.
"I've seen worse cases, it may take a few weeks, but by the time term starts I'm sure he'll have come to his senses."
"It's too late to enroll the children in school."
Snape shook his head. "It can be arranged. Make a list of the arrangements you need to make, we'll give them to an employee of the Ministry of Magic who will forward them to the relevant Muggle body through the cooperation department."
"All right." she said somewhat dumbfounded.
"If you'd like to rest for a while, Harry and I will take care of dinner."
"That's very kind of you." she said. She sat down in an armchair, suddenly exhausted.