Easter Holidays, 1993- Petunia

Petunia nervously walked up the castle steps, unsure of the reception she would get. She knew that muggles were not welcome- her own parents had only come for Lily's graduation, and even then her mother had confessed, they had felt out of place and uncomfortable. However, neither hell nor high water could keep her from Harry now, and certainly not a few old witches and wizards. As Petunia debated her next course of action- this was a distressingly large castle-

she noticed students scuttling here and there. Those children whose parents simply couldn't bring them home had stayed at Hogwarts, dangerous as it was. A few of them glanced at her with mild interest, and she decided to take a chance with an officious looking redhead wearing a prefect badge.

Petunia feigned confidence, and walked up to him. 'Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of a teacher? I need to speak with someone about my nephew, Harry Dursley.'

The boy's eyes widened. 'Of course… you must be Harry's aunt. He's in the same year as my brother, Ron. I'll take you to Professor McGonagall right away. I'm Percy Weasley, by the way.'

Petunia followed the boy through several stone corridors. She vaguely remembered Harry mentioning a boy named Ron who his friend Draco disliked, and wondered if he were still here too, like Percy. Finally, they arrived at a heavy oak door. A gold plaque bore McGonagall's full name and title. Percy knocked smartly and a voice called them in.

'Mrs. Dursley! Oh, you must have come to see poor Harry. How did you ever manage the trip here?' She glanced at the Gryffindor prefect who was lingering at the door, obviously curious to hear what would be said. 'Percy, thank you. You may leave. Have a seat, Mrs. Dursley.'

Petunia sat with a sigh of relief. Tension had permeated her limbs from the moment she had read that awful letter until now. 'Professor, I do apologise, I know it isn't traditional for muggles to come here. I had to see Harry for myself, you understand.'

McGonagall nodded sympathetically. 'I'll take you to him, of course. Unfortunately, you can't stay more than one night… the ministry is quite firm on their rule about muggles here.'

McGonagall led her to the Hospital Wing. Several beds were cordoned off with white curtains, and Petunia suspected that those were the other victims of the attacker.

She approached Harry's bed with trepidation. 'Oh, my poor baby…'

He was stiff, and she might have thought he was a store mannequin, if not for the scared look stamped on his face. His skin was cold, reminding her of lifeless plastic. She sat with him for several hours, until it was properly dark, and the hospital wing was dimly lit by floating candles. She hoped that he was not in any pain.

'Petunia.' A soft voice shook her from her musings. It was Dumbledore. 'I am so sorry, my dear. I should have brought you here myself.'

His face was lined with new wrinkles, and his eyes lacked their usual sparkle. He looked older and more tired than Petunia had ever seen him. Even the during the war, when he had first taken her to the cottage in Cullfield, he had seemed in much better spirits. Today, he appeared downcast, and hopeless.

Petunia reached over and took his hand. 'It's alright Professor. I know a lot has been happening. Besides, now I've seen Harry, and all I can do is wait.'

Dumbledore brightened. 'Yes, the mandrakes- the cure- will be mature in a few weeks, and Harry will be back to his old self.'

'He'll be so disappointed to have missed so much of the final term,' smiled Petunia, thinking of Harry's competitive spirit.

The brief glow of happiness that had lit the headmaster's face dimmed. 'Unfortunately, the school will be closing after the students are cured. The ministry is allowing us this time to tie up loose ends, and then Hogwarts will be closed.'

'No! You can't close the school!' shouted Petunia, causing Madam Pomfrey to turn around and glare at her. Lowering her voice, she continued, 'You can't professor! Harry loves this place. And it was such a struggle to get him in to begin with!'

'I'm sorry,' sighed Dumbledore. 'Unless we apprehend the attacker, the school will be closed. And the teachers are far too occupied trying to keep the students safe to really look into it.'

'Then why doesn't the ministry send their own investigators?' said Petunia, enraged.

He smiled wanly. 'Politics, my dear. The Board of Governors would like to see me gone, and this is a good excuse. I do believe the ministry will reopen at some point, with a new headmaster in place.'

'That's not fair!' cried Petunia, risking Madam Pomfrey's wrath. 'The students love you! It won't be the same.'

Dumbledore smiled sadly, and patted her hand, and left. He seemed to be resigned to the school's fate of closure. Petunia slumped into the armchair next to the bed, determined to spend as much time as she could with her nephew. She drifted off, and woke to a cold, dark hospital wing. A muffled sob from the side of Harry's bed almost made her jump, but she kept a firm grip on herself, and kept still.

'I'm sorry Harry… I didn't mean for this to happen,' whispered a small, cloaked figure standing next to Harry. 'You were nice to me, and look what I've done. Please forgive me.'

With a sniffle, the child ran from the room. Petunia leapt up as quietly as she could, and followed them. As she hid behind suits of armour and pillars, Petunia began to feel ridiculous. Whoever this child was, she thought, they were probably just a friend of Harry's and had some misplaced guilt about his petrification. She stopped feeling silly when they arrived at an empty corridor ending in a window- a dead end. The tiny figure slipped into a door at the end of the hallway, and Petunia ducked into an empty room to watch, and wait. They never came out. Finally, after an hour of waiting, Petunia decided to peek into the room the child had disappeared into. It was an old bathroom and clearly not in use with its broken sinks and leaky toilets. A disused bathroom. Horrified, she realised that this was the room in which Harry had been attacked. It was empty. She wondered where the child had gone and why they would even come to here to begin with. Backing out, she took one last look at the room, and fled.

Hogwarts during the day was confusing, and Hogwarts at night was even worse. She wandered the corridors trying to find the hospital wing in vain. At least she'd managed to see quite a lot of the school, she thought. Petunia had begun to wish that she'd never left Cullfield. What had she really accomplished? Following a mysterious, upset child throughout the school? Getting lost? After passing the same statue of a juggling wizard (Jeremiah, the Juggler of Jamaica, who, according to the plaque, was chased off the island in 1767 after locals realised he was too good at juggling, and was therefore a wizard) for the fifth time, Petunia sat, ready to burst into tears.

Behind her, a silky voice emerged from the darkness. 'Well, well… a student out of bed. Interesting.'

A pair of hands hauled her up, and she got a look at her rescuer. They stared at each other, recognition dawning on each of their faces.

'Severus Snape?'

'Petunia? Petunia Evans?'

Summer 1992 - Easter 1993- Severus

Severus was worried. After years of being invisible, his dark mark had slowly begun to make an appearance late that summer. At first, he had convinced himself that it was a trick of the mind. He was merely seeing things, probably an effect of breathing in too many fumes in the potions lab. He couldn't deny its return at Halloween that year. A distinct outline had begun to show itself on his arm.

Severus showed Dumbledore, who, for once, was serious. Somehow, the Dark Lord was coming back. It was confirmed when Lucius owled him excitedly- his mark was coming back, as well as the marks of other members of the circle. Several of the other death eaters who had escaped death and Azkaban the first time around were talking, and planning for his return. Over the next few months, Lucius insisted on meetings with the surviving death eaters, searching for clues on how to help their master return to life. He even canceled the annual Malfoy Christmas Ball in order to prepare for the Dark Lord's return. Lucius had also left Draco at Hogwarts for the holiday season, and Severus' heart went out to the lonely child. He remembered having far too many solitary holidays in his childhood, and made a point to keep his godson company. Even so, Draco was unusually quiet. He was always a composed child- he had to be, with Lucius as a father- but he always chattered happily with Severus. Now, he barely talked, picked at his food, and there were dark circles under his eyes. A flame of anger rose in Severus' chest. Lucius was so lucky, to have this adoring son, and he was neglecting him for his insane lord. He made up his mind to talk to him. But Lucius would hear none of it.

Lucius waved him away dismissively. 'Draco will be grateful, Severus, when we return the Dark Lord to power. It will be a better world for all of us.'

'There is no guarantee that he's coming back Lucius!' exploded Severus, frustrated. 'You're alienating Draco for something that might never happen.'

'Draco will be fine. It is my duty to ensure a better life for him, Severus,' said Lucius, calmly. 'A world with muggles stealing our magic is not a world I want for my son. The Dark Lord will ensure that magic is preserved for people like us.'

He wouldn't listen, and Severus was forced to watch Draco fall further into himself. He was thankful when Harry Dursley had returned from the Christmas vacation. His presence seemed to brighten Draco, and Severus was pleased to see some colour return to the boy's cheeks. Then, of course, despite all the security measures in place, Dursley had gone and gotten himself petrified. Severus pinched his nose in frustration. Why did these children not listen? Draco was distraught, and babbled on about Harry following him and them getting separated. He'd had to dose him with a strong calming draught, as it was clear the boy was on the verge of hysterics. He felt angry and frustrated with Lucius all over again. Draco should have been at home for the Easter holidays, getting fussed over by his mother and spending time with his father, especially with what had happened to his friend.

Lucius had ignored Severus' concern. 'The boy was just a muggleborn, Severus. Who knows, this might even be our Lord's doing. He might be cleansing the school for us. Draco should not have been friends with him to begin with. Hopefully he has learnt his lesson.'

Severus was furious, but let it go for Draco's sake. It would not do for Lucius to decide to cut Severus off from his godson.

Now, Dumbledore insisted on students being chaperoned by teachers during the day, and patrols during the night. Severus had the second shift- Pomona Pomfrey had happily retired to bed at midnight. Severus stalked the halls in an increasingly bad mood. He had already caught a pair of would be lovebirds in a closet near the astronomy tower and docked twenty points each from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively. He also found one of the Weasley twins- he wasn't sure which- in the kitchens, pilfering snacks from the pantry, and happily took another twenty points from Gryffindor. After delivering each of the errant students back to their respective houses, he continued his ill tempered guarding of the school. He was just rounding the corner when he caught sight of a girl, dressed in muggle clothes.

'Well, well, a student out of bed… interesting,' he said quietly, and pulled her up. Familiar blue eyes looked into his, and he was enveloped in a rush of childhood memories. What on earth was Petunia Evans doing at Hogwarts?

Petunia

She thought quickly. She knew Severus was a teacher here- he was Harry's favourite professor after all. But she hadn't thought of that in her frantic rush to see her nephew. And Dumbledore probably didn't think she would leave the Hospital Wing to wander the halls in the dark, and therefore run into Severus.

'What are you doing here, Petunia?' Severus was staring at her in confusion.

Petunia blinked rapidly, a terrible habit she had when she was uncomfortable. 'I… always wanted to see Hogwarts! I wanted to see where Lily went to school!'

Severus glared at her. 'Liar. You always blink too much when you're lying. What are you really doing here?'

Curse Lily for telling him that, she thought. Well, it was a weak excuse anyway.

Perhaps Dumbledore could get her out of this. 'Oh, you don't believe me? Ask Professor Dumbledore, he invited me!'

'Fine!'

'FINE!'

They walked in an angry silence as she followed Severus to what she assumed was the entrance to Dumbledore's quarters. A stone gargoyle guarded the entrance.

'Cotton candy,' said Severus, quite seriously to the gargoyle. For an instant, Petunia wondered if he had gone mad. Then the gargoyle sprang to the side, revealing a door and a spiral staircase. They made their way to Dumbledore's office. Various instruments buzzed and whistled around the room, while portraits snoozed on the walls. A small bird with newly growing feathers was snuggled in a cage. Petunia would have loved to spend a day poking and prodding at the fascinating things there.

Dumbledore emerged from a room at the side of the office, dressed in a purple nightshirt with a matching nightcap. 'Severus? What is the matter, dear boy? Has there been another petrification?'

'No, but we seem to have an intruder of sorts,' said Severus, prodding Petunia forward.

'Petunia! Is everything alright, my dear?' said Dumbledore, glancing between her and Severus with interest.

'Wait, you know who she is?' yelped Severus in disbelief. 'Then you did invite her here?'

'Oh, not quite.' Dumbledore searched a nearby drawer and pulled out some maple candies. 'Have one of these, children. I got them from the Ministry of Maple Magic the last time I visited Canada!'

Petunia happily took a sweet. She had no idea how Dumbledore intended to sort this out, but he didn't seem upset, which relieved her. She rather liked the old man, and hated to think that she had disappointed him.

'What do you mean, "not quite"?' growled Severus.

'Well, Mrs. Dursley here-,'

'Dursley? As in HARRY?' Severus leapt up. 'What's going on?'

Dumbledore looked at Petunia. 'With your permission, I'd like to tell Severus the entire story. I believe he will be an ally. I trust him completely.'

Petunia considered it. Severus did help turn the war to their side all those years ago. His spying had contributed to saving her sister's life, as well as those of Harry and James. Perhaps it would be good for Harry's favourite teacher to know the truth. As much as she had disliked him growing up, this could help.

'Yes, professor. You may tell him.'

Dumbledore summoned a pot of tea, and a place of warm chocolate chip cookies. 'This is going to be a bit of a long story. You should get settled in, Severus.'

An hour later, Severus sat, shell shocked, while Petunia and Dumbledore nibbled on cookies and sipped tea.

'But… how did I not see it?' he kept wondering aloud. 'He looks exactly as James did at that age. How did I not see that?'

Dumbledore smiled cheerfully. 'Oh, you weren't looking for it, of course. Harry Potter was dead. You wouldn't think to associate this boy with a child who had passed away.'

'And he's nothing like James, anyway,' said Petunia, 'he's really perhaps the best parts of Lily.'

Dumbledore stirred his tea thoughtfully. 'I think he's most like you, Petunia. You did raise him after all.'

Petunia smiled at the comparison. Harry was a far nicer child than she was, and it was a lovely thing to be told that they were anything alike.

'What happens now?' asked Severus quietly. 'What do I do with this information? Where will Petunia go?'

'For now, you do nothing. As for Mrs. Dursley, I believe she will return home,' said Dumbledore, gently.

Petunia coughed slightly. 'Actually Professor, I was wondering if I could stay a little longer? I'm on holiday now, and perhaps I could stay and do some investigating, since the teachers are busy patrolling the school. It might be nothing, but I want to know why that child came to see Harry, and where they disappeared to.'

Dumbledore looked at her, considering the proposal. 'The school is closing anyway, and I don't see how it can hurt. Severus, you're in charge of making sure she doesn't get petrified.'

'What?' screeched Severus, jumping up.

'It's all settled, then,' said Dumbledore, ignoring Severus' protests. 'Please escort Mrs. Dursley back to her quarters, Severus. Off to bed, both of you. Chop chop!'

AN: Hi everyone! Sorry for not updating last week, I have a lot going on right now. But rest assured, I will complete this fic in a few months. Please let me know what you thought about this update! xx