A Tangled Web
Book One:
All These Poses of Classical Torture
By: pandorabox82
AKA: Steph
Disclaimer: This story you are about to read is rated NC-17 for a reason. If you are a minor, leave now. That said, here follows the standard disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I am not anywhere near JKR's writing style because I am not her. I just happen to be borrowing her characters for a little bit so I can get this story out of me. Don't sue, because I am a typical college student, and have nothing.
Author's Notes: This story came from weird and wonderful places in my mind. Please keep in mind that this is book one of five planned. Please go read the prologue to this, entitled "Eternity in the Palm of Our Hands" to understand some direction that I am going in. Also, there is a mention of a certain daytime television show. 50 points to your house if you can identify it! I would like to thank all the gals at Snape's Secret Cabinet who gave me some really good ideas for this. Also, I want to thank my bouncer, Lynne, without whom this story would never have taken on the scope that it has. She's kept me in check, and pointed out ways that seem more consistent and in character. And as always, this story is dedicated to my angel, my muse, Gretchen.
"Well, well, well Draco. We did not think you'd be here so soon."
"Master, she has been recalcitrant. I have brought her to you now so that she may gain some lessons in obedience before I see her again."
"We can arrange that, can't we boys?" Voldemort asked to his surrounding lackeys. They all nodded in agreement. "But Draco, before you leave, we have a favour to ask of you."
"Well, there it is. We're at Malfoy Manor."
"I can't believe the Ministry gave you permission to search their estate for your aunt."
"Neither can I, Hermione. But I'm glad they did. I know we'll find her here." Harry walked up to the door and banged the heavy brass knocker thrice on the heavy mahogany monstrosity. A few seconds later, the door was opened by a house-elf.
"Yes?"
"I've been sent by the Ministry of Magic to locate a Mrs Petunia Dursley. I have permission to search the entire estate. Now, step aside," Harry said, sweeping past the little creature and beckoning Hermione to follow him. They'd got as far as the staircase in the main hall, when Narcissa came sweeping down it.
"They're not here. He took your aunt to Voldemort. She hasn't been very co-operative."
"If your husband has done anything to her, he'll get it back ten-fold!"
"Husband? I have no husband. Voldemort had him taken care of last year."
"Then you're talking about Draco being the one who delivered her to Voldemort?"
"That is quite right."
"But I thought Draco was on our side, Harry?"
"So did I, 'Mione, so did I. Where are they, Narcissa?"
"I truly haven't a clue. Neither Lucius nor Draco ever bothered to tell me where Voldemort kept residence while he was regaining himself."
"You've been such a help, Narcissa," Hermione said with a sneer.
"Anytime, my dear, anytime," she replied, the sarcasm thick in her voice.
Harry and Hermione turned to leave when Narcissa's voice stopped them. "If you ever get your aunt back, have fun trying to get her normal again."
Harry's fingers clenched into fists, but Hermione's hand on his arm calmed him a little. "Harry, she's not worth it. She's just trying to get you in trouble."
"You're right, let's go. This isn't the end of this Narcissa."
"I never expected it to be," she answered as they apparated away.
'Once more, I am the vessel, his fuck-toy. None of this is pleasurable to me, yet my body chooses to betray me and he thinks I'm enjoying it. Enjoy being raped in front of complete strangers, one of whom scares me to death? While he may posses my body, he'll never control my mind. I just have to hide in myself for a bit, shut out everything that is happening to me…'
Draco felt the exact moment when she changed, when she left him. Her body, though still responsive, lost all the fight in it. Something he revelled in so much was her mind always putting up a fight, and now that was missing. He pumped into her body harder, trying to get some response from her mind, but nothing occurred. The orgasm they shared was lacklustre, and Draco felt very disappointed. Withdrawing his now flaccid prick from his Pet's body, he moved off the bed to get dressed.
"That was quite a performance, Draco."
"Yes, well, she's been better."
"I thought as much. Leave her here, under guard, and come with me. There is much we need to discuss."
Time passed, and Petunia let her mind and body be one again. Looking around, she noticed it was now dark outside. 'Where am I?' she thought.
"Good evening, Petunia. Tonight is a very special night. Imperio!"
This time, the voice in her head was strong and clear, and she couldn't find a footing to fight on. This made her very anxious, wondering if she could still detach herself from the world as she had earlier with Draco. She found herself following him, down flights of stairs, through corridors filled with pictures of horrible scenes of torture, until they reached a room hidden behind a tapestry.
"Welcome to the Torture Club, Petunia, where all your worst nightmares come true." Petunia looked in the door and shuddered at the images that assaulted her mind. Nude women were strung on the rack, or being chained upside down. Some women were being fucked by dogs while having to suck on the cock in front of her. Many were being whipped, spanked, screaming in agony and terror. "Now, if you never want to visit here again, you'll be good, and do what I say. We have limited time to get you trained well enough to be our secret weapon. Here's your wand. Show me what Draco taught you on her." Voldemort brought forward a young girl with flame-red hair.
Petunia struggled against the voice, which commanded her to throw the curses she knew at the girl, but it was to no avail. She felt her arm rise up with the wand in it, and heard her voice call out 'Crucio'. She watched the girl writhe in pain, tears flowing from her eyes. "Now the other one, Petunia." Petunia's struggles against the voice increased, knowing she was about to extinguish this girl's life. Her hand shook as she uttered the two hated words, 'Avada Kedavra,' she whispered, watching the green light shoot from her wand and hit the girl square in the chest. As the girl fell to the ground, Petunia felt a small pain in her heart. 'Magic was never meant for this,' she thought, as she fell to the floor.
"Get up woman! There is more to be done!"
"No," she whispered.
"Do you defy me, woman?"
"Your little voice never said for me to get up."
"Draco was right, you do need obedience training."
"I'm not some kind of dog, I'm a human being."
"Woman, do you have any idea who I am? I am the worst, most evil Dark wizard there has ever been, and ever will be. You should be cowering in fear before me. But, if you want to play like this, than we can. I've been meaning to try this out on someone for awhile now. Imperio Totalus!"
Petunia watched as she knelt down before Voldemort, kissing his feet. She winced when he kicked her, even though she felt no pain. She tried to speak, but found she couldn't control her lips. 'What is going on,' she thought. Trying to get a probe out, she met a brick wall.
"This is something you can't fight, Petunia. I have total control over you, and you will do anything I tell you," Voldemort said with an evil laugh. "Now, sleep. We have Muggles to torture tonight."
She was back in the hills of Ireland, but this time a brick wall blocked her path forward. No matter where she turned, the wall was there, blocking her. There was no way to scale it, and she knew that on the other side lie her freedom.
'I need a shovel,' she thought. And there it was, right next to her. Picking it up, she began to dig at the base of the wall the tunnel to her freedom…
When Petunia was awakened, her body felt more tired than when she'd been forced to sleep. However, she noticed she was able to command her little toes to wiggle. It hit her then what her dream was - a metaphor for her to gain her freedom in the waking world. But when would she next dream?
She was being led out into the darkness of the night, to a small house in the countryside. She watched as Voldemort and his followers led out a woman and two small children. She felt herself laugh at the fright evident in the woman's eyes, join in on the 'Juggle the Muggles' game Voldemort played with the children. She willed herself away, into herself once more, unable to watch through uncaring eyes the horrors Voldemort was inflicting on these innocents. Time passed, and she felt the pain in her heart once more, and knew that she had taken another life. The oblivion she fell into was complete, and she felt no more.
Nights and days fell into a familiar, yet horrible, pattern. She slept during the day, slowly digging to her freedom, and tortured Muggles by night. Voldemort seemed so sure of himself, so pompous and overbearing, that it made Petunia laugh. Voldemort had no idea that she was slowly gaining her independence from his tyranny. All too soon, it was May, and Voldemort was preparing for the assault on Hogwarts.
"Now, as my secret weapon, you will be under an invisibility spell until we need you. You are going to kill Harry - that is your only goal. All my followers will be protecting you to make sure you accomplish this. Tomorrow is the day of victory for us. Finally, we'll destroy that Mudblood-loving school and create a new order from the ashes!"
Petunia felt a shudder of fear shoot down her back. 'He's insane. There's no way I'll kill Harry, I'd die myself first before I'd let that happen,' she thought. As she slept that night, her dream-self finished the tunnel - it was just large enough for her to crawl through, but she spent the night in her jail, not wanting to attract the unwanted attentions of Voldemort.
In the morning, Voldemort summoned all of his followers to his side. With Petunia on his right hand, he prepared them for the final battle in the war. At 11:00, he and the rest apparated to just outside of Hogwarts. As they marched up the grounds, Petunia watched children who were returning to the castle begin to scream in terror, and break out into a mad dash for their sanctuary. Voldemort ignored them and continued to march ahead to the woods. Finally stopping, he levitated Petunia up onto a tree limb and put an invisibility spell on her.
The rest took up their positions, flanking Voldemort, as people began to stream at them from the castle. She recognised three of the red-heads who came at them as the people who'd helped Harry escape eight years ago.
An older man shouted, "Minerva, Xiomara, shields up!" A shimmering barrier sprung forth, protecting most of the people behind it. The Deatheaters let loose a barrage of curses, hexes, anything to try and break through the shield, all while dodging the impediment charms thrown at them.
Petunia watched, horrified, as the first person from the good side went down. The one the older man had called Xiomara had stepped outside of the barrier she'd helped to erect, and took and Avada Kedavra to the chest. As she fell, the barrier went with her, leaving the rest vulnerable. The good side moved on to stronger means of disabling the Deatheaters, and managed to take out a good number of them, while losing a few of their number to the Death curse.
She could watch no more, and so took control of her eyes, willing them to watch the horizon. Hurtling towards the battle scene was a blur on a broomstick, which she knew to be Harry. As Harry settled down on the ground, the man she'd met so long ago at the Apothecary's stepped out from behind the old man.
"So, Severus, you finally show your true colours. You've chosen a good day to die. I can see it- "Turncoat Killed Along Side Harry Potter". The justice of this is so sweet."
"You'll never win, Voldemort! The light always destroys the dark!" Harry yelled.
Laughing, Voldemort brought her to the ground. "Not while I have my secret weapon. How ironic that the Boy Who Lived will be killed by his own aunt. Finite Incantatum!"
Slowly, Petunia became visible to all. "Petunia, kill Harry, then Severus." She walked up to Harry as all motion on the battlefield stopped to watch her. She was an arm-length away from her nephew when she spun around and faced her tormentors.
'Oh, shit, I know that look. I'm getting the hell out of here,' thought Draco, as he melted into the Forbidden Forest, and then apparated home.
"No, I will not kill Harry! He's the only family I have left!" she shouted at him, raising her wand. But Voldemort was quicker and sent an Avada Kedavra shooting at her.
"No!" yelled both Harry and Severus. Severus jumped at Petunia, pushing her out of the way and taking the hit himself. Petunia gazed at the man who'd died for her as she slowly stood once more. Lily's words came back to tug at her mind. 'He died and gained his soul,' she thought. Anger filled her body at the realisation that yet another death was caused by her. She faced Voldemort, her wand dropping from her hand.
"Accio wand!" Harry shouted at Voldemort, his wand tearing free from his grip. Those Deatheaters not impeded in some way turned and ran, knowing the end was near.
"Horankana!" The scream tore itself from her soul, as a large ball of light formed between her hands, then shot out to surround Voldemort and the rest of the participants in the battle. As the light hit Voldemort, he screamed in agony. Everyone looked at him as the light faded. There stood not the evil that had been in that very spot so recently, but a handsome young man. A dark spirit flew from his body, and was sucked into the ground. Slowly, his body began to crumble until all that was left was a pile of dust that blew away with the wind.
Tentatively, Petunia turned to Harry. "You're all right, then?"
"Yes, Auntie, I'm fine."
"I'm glad," she answered, before crumpling to the ground.
Harry sank to his knees, and drew his aunt's head onto the slope of his legs. "Aunt Petunia, wake up! Come back to me!" he shouted, his voice raw with emotion. He felt someone lay a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw the concerned face of Dumbledore.
"So, it has ended, and it has begun."
"What has, sir?"
"The fulfilment of the first prophesy, and the beginning of the next. I never expected your aunt to be the catalyst…"
Just then, Poppy ran up to them. "Is she going to be okay?"
"We have no idea, Poppy."
"Then bring her up to the Infirmary, and I'll take a look at her there. Expect me to follow in twenty minutes. My students have their hands full right now trying to take care of the injured, and I have to see if there are any serious injuries."
"Not a problem, Poppy. Harry, I'll…"
"I'll take her up, Sir. She's my aunt." Lifting her slight body, Harry realised she'd lost weight while she'd been gone. Already a thin woman before, now she was gaunt. "Oh, Auntie, what did they do to you?" he whispered. Following Albus, he stepped carefully around the dead and wounded. They had lost so many to Voldemort and his followers. Xiomara, Severus, Sibyll, and many others all gave their life for the cause. Looking back down at his aunt, he thought, 'Yet it was she who gave us freedom from this nightmare. She gave up so much for a cause not even hers.'
When they reached the castle, Hermione came running out. "Albus! Harry! You're both okay!" Looking at just what, or who really, Harry had in his arms, she cried, "My god, Harry, is she…?"
"No, she's not. Poppy has to come up and look at her after she gets all the others stabilised." Giving her a quizzical look, he asked, "'Mione, why are you here, and not on the battlefield?"
"Albus needed someone to protect the children, and it was either me or Severus. I knew he wanted to be there. So I stayed behind. Why are you looking at me like that, Harry? What's wrong?"
"Severus died to save her."
"What?"
"Severus pushed her out of the path of a Killing curse and took the hit himself. Why he would do something like this, when he'd only met her once, is beyond me."
"Maybe he loves her."
"From one chance encounter? I hardly think so. Severus has his heart locked up tight, and no one knows where the key is hidden." Somehow, they were in front of the Infirmary door. They jumped when Albus' voice whispered the password to open it up. Slipping inside, Harry gently laid his aunt on the bed with the most privacy.
Albus cleared his throat, and Harry and Hermione looked at him. "I'm going to go see where Poppy is. Hermione, you're in charge until I come back."
"Yes, sir," she answered as he exited the room. Turning back to Harry, she said firmly, "He loves her, he just doesn't know it yet."
"What makes you say that?"
"The fact he jumped in front of a killing curse for her. What greater love does one have than to sacrifice yourself so that the other person might live?"
Harry couldn't think of a response, so they sat together in silence, until a little first year Hufflepuff knocked on the door. Hermione stood and answered it. "Yes?"
"Professor Sprout wants to know how the battle went. Did we win?"
"Yes, dear, we won."
"Thank-you, Professor Granger," the child answered, as she turned and left, skipping down the hall. Suddenly, Poppy was in the room with them.
"Yes, Professor Granger- I know. However, mediwitches have clearance to apparate wherever they need to. Harry, has she woken up at all?"
"No, not at all. What's wrong with her?"
"I have no idea. I'll have to run some tests and see. Please, go somewhere else while I do so."
As Harry and Hermione exited the Infirmary, they ran into Dobby.
"Harry Potter, Professor Granger, come with me, come with me!"
"What is it Dobby?"
"You shall see, sir, you shall see." Turning, he ran down the stairs. Shrugging, they followed him to see what all the fuss was about. Passing Albus on their way out the front doors, Harry said, "We've been told to follow Dobby."
Albus gave them a weird look, before excusing himself from Minerva and following them out the doors. Not about to be left alone, she too followed them onto the recently deserted battlefield. All that was left were the bodies of the fallen, waiting for their families to claim them. Dobby ran up to Xiomara's body, and shouted, "See?"
Harry ran up to them, and knelt down to look at his flying instructor's lifeless body. Or was it? Taking a closer look, Harry was stunned to see her chest rise and fall. "Albus! Minerva! Look, she's breathing!"
"Albus, how can this be? I saw her take an Avada to the chest. She was dead!"
"Of course! The spell Petunia uttered. I knew I'd heard it somewhere before! It is one of the great healing spells."
"So, she didn't kill Voldemort, she healed him?" Harry asked.
"That's how it appears. Great Merlin, that Severus, and Sibyll, and the rest are alive as well!"
"Harry and I will check on Severus, will you and Minerva check on the others?" Before Albus could answer her, Hermione was dragging Harry to where the prone form of Severus Snape lay. They were quite relieved to see the rhythmic moving of his chest. Turning him so that he was on his back, Hermione gently shook him awake.
"Miss Granger, did you die as well?"
"No, Severus, you're alive!"
"How can that be? I know the killing curse struck me."
"Aunt Petunia did it, sir. She stopped Voldemort, healed him is more like. Hagrid always said there wasn't enough human left in him. The house-elves were the first to notice that something so wonderful was happening. We'd best get you to the infirmary, though. Poppy will love to be able to study this!"
"Harry, love, should we tell him?"
"Tell me what?"
"When we get to the infirmary, 'Mione."
"Tell me what?" Severus asked again, as Hermione conjured up a stretcher, and Harry levitated him onto it.
"In due time, sir. In due time," Harry answered as they followed Albus and Minerva, who had the rest of the re-awakened with them. Including Severus, there had only been eighteen casualties, but now- now there were only living, breathing people where there'd once been death.
This trip to the infirmary was uneventful. Once in the door, however, the look Poppy gave them was unforgettable.
"I thought we'd lost them."
"So did we, Poppy, so did we. But it was Petunia who saved them. Nearest I can figure, she used all her energy to these eighteen."
"That should have killed her! Really, Albus, do you think that she'll be able to pull through?"
"It's going to be a waiting games, Poppy. Now, do you have beds for these eighteen? We should observe them, at least for the first 24 hours."
Drawing the curtain that surrounded Petunia's bed closed, she led Albus to a row of beds. "Leave them here. What kind of observations would you like me to do?"
"The normal ones? Great Merlin, you know I'm no mediwizard!" Albus replied as he, Minerva, Hermione and Harry put the seventeen still sleeping people onto beds. When Albus reached Severus, he got a mutinous stare.
"I'm not lying in that bed for 24 hours, Albus. You can't make me," he said in a perfectly calm voice. "Besides that, where's Petunia? She is all right, isn't she?"
"Albus, why don't I explain. You go and prepare the victory party."
"Thank you, Miss Granger. Minerva, would you be a dear and help me?" he asked on his way out the door.
"I'd be delighted, Albus." Taking the arm he held out to her, they walked down the hall together.
"Harry, go sit with her while I explain what happened." As Harry left his old Potion Master's bedside, Hermione began to speak. "After you'd fallen, Petunia used one of the great healing spells. It destroyed Voldemort, and brought you back to life, along with the others."
"She did it wandless," Harry's voice said, floating over from the next bed.
"One moment, Severus," Hermione said, as she walked around his bed and peered into the other side of the room, behind the curtain. "What do you mean, 'She did it wandless.'? No one can control that much power without the focusing agent of the wand!"
"After Severus took the Avada, she turned to face Voldemort, and her wand dropped from her hand. I picked it up when I took her here."
Hermione shook her head, and came back to Severus's side of the room. "Anyway, after she uttered the spell, she collapsed and no one has been able to rouse her. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going over there," she pointed to where Harry and Petunia were. "If you need anything, just say something."
The hours dragged by, with no change from Petunia. She lay there still as death, the only movement coming from the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.
Around 7 o'clock, Minerva came and got Hermione and Harry. "We're having an informal feast tonight, and a larger one once everyone gets better. Come, it is about to begin, and Albus wants both of you there."
Rising from the chairs that sat at Petunia's bedside, they followed Minerva from the infirmary.
'I died to save her, only to be brought back by her. Now, she's dying because of it.' Pushing his left sleeve up, he found that his arm was free from any blemish, as if that hated Mark had never been there.
Cautiously, he sat up, and put his feet on the floor. Standing made him weave a bit at first, but he soon regained his balance, and slipped over to her side of the room. Taking the seat that Harry had just vacated, he gazed at his saviour. She looked so small and defenceless, it was hard to believe that it was she who had defeated the Dark Lord. Unbidden, a Muggle poem his mother had once made him memorise came to his mind. "She walks in beauty, like the night/Of cloudless climes and starry skies;/And all that's best of dark and bright/Meet in her aspect and her eyes:/Thus mellow'd to that tender light/Which Heaven to gaudy day denies," he whispered to her. 'My god, I'm becoming soft in my old age,' he thought. 'Spouting poetry to someone who can't even hear it.' Going back to his side of the room, he fell into an uneasy sleep, haunted by a pair of ice blue eyes.
The days fell into an easy pattern. Harry watched over Petunia during the day, with Hermione relieving him during dinner and supper, and Severus coming during the night to sit with her for awhile. No one but Albus knew he came, and he intended to keep it that way.
Some things, however, cannot be kept under wraps forever. One night, two weeks later, as Severus sat by her side, he noticed her eyelids flutter before fully opening. Turning her head to look at him, she asked, "Are we together, then, in the afterlife?"
"No, Petunia, you're in the world of the living. You've finally come back to us."
At his words, she burst into tears. "I was supposed to die!"
"What do you mean? No one is supposed to die."
"I needed to - to gain my redemption, forgiveness for what I'd done to Harry. My penance was completed at the hands of Malfoy. Why didn't you let me die?"
"I didn't have any choice. You were expected to die, uttering the healing spell, and giving so much of your energy should have killed you. But it didn't. Obviously, you're here for another purpose, some reason that ties you to this earth. Now, I'm going to get Harry, he's been worried sick about you."
He got up and turned to leave when her voice said to him, "Wait." Turning once more to face her, he waited while she continued to speak. "Thank you for not betraying me that day at the Apothecary's shop."
Abruptly, he once more turned to face the exit, and walked out on her. She heard his voice waft back to her. "You're welcome."
A few minutes later, a very tired Harry walked into the infirmary. 'What does Severus know? Has he been keeping watch over her, like I have? Dear Merlin, what if he has? Why would he do something like that, though? Could 'Mione possibly be right?' Peering inside the curtained-off section of room, he thought she was still not with them. He watched, though, as she brought her hand up to wipe at her eyes. 'She is awake, and everything can finally get back to normal.'
"Aunt Petunia! You're awake!" he exclaimed aloud, rushing to her side. She turned her face from him. Taking one of her hands in his, he asked, "Dear God, Auntie, what's wrong?"
She turned her face back towards him, and he was shocked to see the tears pooling there in her eyes. "How can you even stand to be with me, after all that I did to you?"
"You're all I have, and I'm all you have. That is enough."
"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry." Her tears dropped from her eyes to splatter upon the pillow.
Sitting her up, Harry held his aunt until her sobs subsided. "You're coming to live with me. You can't return to your old house, it's been sold. Besides, you'll like my house. There's a beautiful garden, which I can do nothing with, not with my black thumbs! Now that you're finally awake, the real party can be held."
"Real party?"
"Yes, celebrating the fact that you defeated Voldemort."
"Only with your help. If you hadn't taken his wand, we'd all be gone."
"No, you are the real hero. Look at all the people you saved. Every single person on our side that died was revived, thanks to you. Now, I'm going to get Albus and tell him the good news. Today is a day to rejoice!"
And rejoice they did. Owls were sent throughout the land, and impromptu feasting and partying began. None was greater than the celebration at Hogwarts. Albus spared nothing. There were fireworks, a great feast, anything anyone wanted was procured. For the feast, Harry led Petunia down from the infirmary to the Great Hall. The applause when she appeared was deafening. Blushing, Petunia ducked her head and let Harry lead her to the seat of honour. When the feast was over, the people who she'd saved came up to see her.
"So, you are the one."
"The one?"
"Yes, the one that has been prophesied about since long before Voldemort came to power for the second time. Who knew that someone so seemingly fragile carries within her the strength of a lioness? Your strength will serve you well in the future, my dear, even when things seem their bleakest. Thank you for accepting your destiny." The curly-haired witch gave Petunia a light hug. As she broke away to let the others have a chance to speak to Petunia, she spoke once more. "Yes, Petunia, we are expecting great things from you. So speaks Sibyll Trelawney." She melted into the throng of students, and disappeared from Petunia's sight.
Severus waited until all had finished with their effusive thanks before approaching Petunia. "I, too, know what it's like to want to die for forgiveness. Never wish it on yourself." Turning, he walked away from her, a look of pain etched on his face.
Looking at Harry, Petunia asked, "Can I go back to my room now? I'm suddenly quite weary."
Taking her arm, Harry led her up the stairs, back to the infirmary. As Harry exited the room, her voice spoke to him. "May we go to your house tomorrow? I don't think I can stay here any longer."
"Of course we can go home. Anything you want to do is okay with me. I'll pack up our stuff in the morning, and we can leave after breakfast."
"Thank you, Harry."
The next morning was hectic. Hermione ended up helping Petunia pack her few belongings, while Harry gathered his things from Hermione's room. As the women finished packing, Minerva came into the infirmary, carrying a small package. "The staff and I started an account for you at Gringotts. It's not much, but it should leave you comfortable enough. Also, I'd like to say that anytime you want to come up to Hogwarts and learn how to use your power, you're more than welcome to do so. I would be more than willing to help, and I'm sure most of the staff is as well. Have a safe trip." Handing Petunia the package, she walked out of the room.
Petunia sat in a nearby chair and slowly opened the box. Inside was a small golden key resting on a bed of crushed velvet. Picking up the key, she found it was attached to a thin gold chain. Slipping it over her head, she closed the box, and put it in the trunk.
"Ready to go, Petunia?"
"Yes, I do believe that I am." Together, they walked down the stairs, Petunia's trunk floating lazily behind them. They took a seat at the teacher's table, with Hermione between Minerva and Harry, and Petunia between Harry and Severus. Petunia ate quickly, with her attention focused on her food, not allowing herself to be drawn into the conversations going on around her.
"Albus is asking you a question, Petunia," Severus whispered in her ear.
Sitting up a little, she turned to Albus. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"I asked if you were so sure you wanted to leave right away. You're more than welcome to stay here as long as you want."
"Thank you, but I want to get adjusted to this new life as soon as I can. Though it is very kind of you to offer." Turning back to Harry, she asked, "Are you ready, Harry?"
"Let me just say goodbye to Hermione, then I'll be ready."
"All right, I'll wait for you by our baggage. If you will all excuse me." She pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. "Thank you for all that you did for me. I'll never forget any of it." As she began to walk to the Entrance Hall, she felt someone take her arm. Looking up, she found it was Severus. "Why?"
"We started this together, we might as well finish it together."
"Then, we'll never see each other again?"
"It's not very likely. Harry and I don't run in the same circles."
"Well, then, I guess this is good-bye."
Taking one of her hands in his, he raised it to his lips, gracing it with a soft kiss. "This is where I hand you over to Harry. Good-bye, my dear." Putting her hand on Harry's arm, he strode back into the Great Hall, never once looking back.
She stared after him until the doors closed behind him. "He's a wonderful man, isn't he, Harry?"
"Yes, he is, Aunt Petunia. He's a great man. Now, let's go home."
"Home." Together, they walked out the majestic doors into a beautiful spring day.
Harry looked out the window, watching his aunt make her way to where his parents were buried. Giving a small sigh, he called to Albus through the fire.
She patted down the fresh tilled dirt around the lilies she'd just planted by the headstone. "Now you have a proper resting place," she whispered. She bowed her head, as her tears fell to water the new plants. This past month had been so hard, living at Harry's, at the house he'd built on the foundations of his parents' house. This was the third time she'd come out here, to their graves.
As she sat there, she realised that she had no idea where Vernon and Dudley had been buried. Her tears began to fall in earnest, the sobs wracking her body.
"My family, my old life, my capacity to trust, my innocence, my joy, all were taken from me by one person. How can I go on from here?" she whispered as she felt a person come up behind her. She turned her tear-streaked face to look at him.
"Woman, why weepest thou?"
She stared a long time at Albus Dumbledore, the man who'd guided her nephew in the years that had formed his current strength. 'I should have been the one to be there for Harry, but my jealousy stood in the way,' she thought, as she began to cry even harder.
He came over to her, wrapping an arm around her, helping her to stand. Leading her to the stone bench Harry has put there not long ago, he gently guided her into taking a seat. Petunia sank into his fatherly embrace, drawing strength from his presence. "Woman, why weepest thou?" he once more asked.
'Why am I crying?' she though. Unbidden, she found words tumbling from her mouth. "I cry for all that I lost."
"What did you lose?"
"Everything. I've lost everything. First it was Lily- to your school, and then to James. Now this. My family killed before my eyes. I lost the only way of life I knew and was comfortable with. I can't bring myself to trust anyone new. Harry's been trying to introduce me to people, like Arthur and Molly, but I'm so afraid they'll hurt me, or leave me. The last bit of innocence I had left towards the world faded from my mind, along with my joy. I can no longer be happy, and who can restore my joy? Can you? I want to go home, but I have no home to speak of. Love has fled my life, and left me completely alone."
"Have you forgotten all that you've gained?"
She gave a mirthless laugh. "Gained? What gain was there for me? I gained nothing, and only got what I deserved."
"So, you think Malfoy's abuse of you was deserved?"
"Of course. I made Harry's life hell, and then my life was made hell. It was a fair trade."
There was a pause before Albus spoke next. "You remind me so much of him. This might just work."
"What might just work?"
"Once more, I ask, what have you gained, Petunia?"
She thought for a moment, and then replied, "I gained a closer relationship with my nephew, I found a new home and new friends, though they are Harry's friends, really. But I'm still not happy."
"Don't worry, my dear, it will come with time. But always remember, sometimes we find out happiness in the places where we least expect it to be."
"Thank you," she softly said, as she leaned over and placed a shy kiss on his cheek. She then stood and quickly walked into the house.
Waiting a few seconds, Albus then followed suit, entering the house at Godric's Hollow. He entered the kitchen and sat at the table, accepting the cup of tea Harry offered him. After taking a sip, he gave a small sigh. "You're quite right, Harry. We need to get her out of this funk. Also, she's perfect for him, if we could only get them together."
"Leave that to me, Albus. Severus has asked me to come and give an update on how things are. I'm going over there today, and I have a plan…"
"I'm glad you've learned to be punctual, Potter," Severus growled as he opened the door to his manor.
"Yes, well, you made this sound important."
"Come in, then. Do you want any tea?"
"Earl Grey, if you have it."
They took a seat in the parlour room, and Severus gave his order of tea to a waiting house-elf. As they were waiting for the tea, Severus asked, "So, how are you holding up?"
"Surprisingly well, it's just…"
"Yes?"
"Aunt Petunia, sir. She won't tell me anything, no matter how much I pester her for some inkling of understanding of what she went through."
"How does she act at home?"
"Cold, withdrawn. She never smiles anymore. She does the work of ten people, and never complains about it. She anticipates my ever need, and has it ready. I've tried to get her to meet new people, the Weasley family has been over more times than I can count, and still no new connections. Hermione thinks she's a dear, and tries to include her when we go out to the theatre, but she always tells us to have a good time, and to tell her about it when we get back. I keep trying to show her that I love her, and that I don't blame her for Vernon's influence. Nothing registers with her."
"Harry, have you ever thought that this is her penance, and her punishment?"
"What do you mean, Severus?"
"After I'd become a spy for Albus, I tried to do my best, though it was never much. I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch, to reach out to Albus in any way I could. I told him this truth, and now I'm telling it to you. I wouldn't have had you come all this way just to fool you. And even though everything in my life all went wrong, I'll stand by my saying that she is performing her penance and her punishment. We all make mistakes, and have to pay for them. She feels that her problems are too big to just hand them over to you. She doesn't want to burden you with them."
"How can you say that with such confidence?"
"Because no one, not even Albus, knows the half of what I went through under Voldemort's control, and then later as a spy. I could never thrust that burden upon another."
"Oh. Is there anything I can do for her?"
"Yes. Tell her you love her. Be there for her. In time, she'll open to you, a little. Be prepared to listen- don't give any blasé comments, she doesn't need that. Your aunt is a strong woman, Harry, able to resist the Dark Lord. I wish I had been as strong. You could learn a lot from her." A soft smile graced his visage. "We could all learn a lot from her."
This was the opening Harry had been waiting for. In a sing-song voice, he asked, "You like my aunt, don't you?"
Shooting him a withering look, he said, "Harry, shut up."
Heedless of the warning in Severus' voice, Harry plunged on. "You want to date her. You want to be my uncle Sevvie."
"Harry Potter, will you please shut the hell up?"
"You want to have children with her. Oh, your children would be so cute!"
"Harry James Potter, shut the fuck up! And get the hell out of my house!"
Harry stood up, and skipped out the door. As he reached the end of the drive, he turned back to look at Severus. "Remember, Severus, you're having dinner with Albus and me tonight. Where are we eating again?"
"A place called Tuscany. It's upscale, so make sure you two wear dress robes tonight. The reservations are for 7 sharp."
"Don't worry, Albus and I will be at my house when you come to get us at 6:15, Uncle Sevvie! See you then!" With a loud pop, he apparated home.
"Will he never grow up?" Severus grumbled as he turned and entered his house.
"Harry, what is it? Why are you rushing around so?"
"Listen, Aunt Petunia, when Severus comes, Albus and I went to France. He's most likely going to be angry, but not at you. Agree to go along with whatever he wants to do, I promise he won't hurt you."
Giving Harry a perplexed look, she replied, "All right, but where are you really going to be?"
"In France. Albus wants me to visit with the Headmistress of Beauxbatons. Don't worry, I'll be home before you know it. Look, I've got to go. Please, just go along with him. I love you." Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he apparated away.
'He loves me, and that is enough,' she thought.
"Albus, Harry, you're early!"
"Yes, Maggie, you see, there's been a slight change of plans."
"Oh, really? And these would be?"
"We're going to need two tables this evening. One for Harry and myself, and one for Severus and his guest. Our table needs to be able to be concealed easily, and within sight of Severus' table."
"May I ask why?"
Harry interrupted, "Albus and I are playing matchmaker between my aunt and Severus. Knowing Severus, they should be here shortly."
"Oh goody, matchmaker!" Maggie exclaimed, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I have the perfect spot for them and for you to spy on them. Is there anything special you'd like for them to have with their supper?"
"How about a bottle of Merlot, a good vintage year. Just put it on my tab," Albus answered, as Maggie showed them to their table.
At 6:14, there was a knock at the front door. Wiping her hands on her apron, Petunia went to answer it. Opening the door, she found herself facing Severus. "Good evening, Severus. Can I help you?" Stepping back from the door, she motioned for him to enter the front hall.
He replied as he entered the house. "Yes, are Harry and Albus ready to go?"
"Uh, well, um, they're in France right now," she slowly answered.
"What! They knew we had dinner reservations! This is just like them!"
"Why are you so upset? You three can have dinner together any time."
"Yes, but to break these reservations will cost me fifty Galleons. Unless…yes, that's it! Run along and change into something nicer. You are coming to dinner with me."
"What if I don't want to?"
"Look, I'm paying. Come to dinner with me, please?"
"Well, I would, but I don't have any better clothes than this," she said, motioning to the robes she currently wore.
"I can fix that." Pulling out his wand, he muttered something under his breath, and with a small pop, her plain grey robes were suddenly black silk. Despite the fineness of the robes, to Petunia they felt very much like widow's weeds.
"Oh," she remarked, a small note of dejection in her voice.
"What's wrong with them?"
"Well…"
"Fine, here, is this better?" Once more, he pointed his wand at her robes, changing them to a dark green velvet.
Looking down, she gave a small smile, and fingered the soft material. 'Thank you," she softly whispered. "No one's ever given me something so fine."
Holding out his hand, he said, "Come, we must go if we're to get there in time for our reservations."
She took his hand, and together they apparated to Tuscany.
"Early as usual, Severus. Who's this you brought with you? She doesn't look like Albus or Harry."
"Maggie, this is Petunia, Harry's aunt."
"Pleasure to meet you, Petunia. Wait a minute, you're not the Petunia, the one who saved us all?"
Petunia blushed, and ducked her head. Severus took the initiative and answered for her. "Yes, Maggie. This is the one who saved us all. Now, could you please show us to our table?"
"Right this way, Severus, Petunia." She led them to a secluded table, lit with a few candles. "Gretchen will be right with you."
"Good evening, I'm Gretchen, what can I get for tonight?"
Petunia gave Severus a panicked look, and once more, he took the initiative. "We'll have the filet mignon and a nice fresh salad with that."
"Very good. Any dressings?"
"French."
"Italian."
Pulling out a bottle of Merlot, Gretchen conjured up two goblets. Uncorking the bottle, she poured each a glass.
"Wait a minute. We didn't order any wine."
"Maggie said it was on the house. I'll go put your order in." She turned and left them alone.
"So, how are things with Harry?"
"He's been more than generous to me, especially after all that I did to him."
"Yes, well I heard that was more due to Vernon's influence than to you actually hating him."
She stared into her glass of wine for a moment, and then took a sip. Drawing a shaky breath, she said, "Yes, well I never really went against Vernon, either. My jealousy blinded me to how much I was turning Harry against me."
"Truly, jealousy is a great blinder of many," Severus replied, as Gretchen brought out their salads. Silence reigned as they are their salads, and then their dinner. After their dishes had been taken away, Severus spoke once more. "How are you adjusting to this new life that's been thrust upon you?"
"According to Harry, not very well. But I don't fit in anywhere. All of you have been imbued with this power from birth. I only recently acquired it, and it still feels so uncomfortable to me. Maybe it's the way I gained this power that makes me so afraid to fully accept it."
"How I wish I'd been brave that day in the Apothecary's and spirited you away. Then none of this would have happened."
"Yes, and Voldemort would still walk this planet. A sacrifice was needed, and I was chosen to be it. It is as simple, and as complicated, as that. Could we please go now? I'm getting a bit tired."
"Not a problem. Let me just square away the check." Hearing a quiet pop, he turned to the potted plants that had been close to their table only to find them gone, and in their place sat a table with two chairs. Giving a low groan of annoyance, he signalled Gretchen and paid their bill. Escorting Petunia out the door, he then apparated to Harry's house.
Standing on the threshold, they faced each other, both uncertain of how to say goodbye to each other.
"I had a lovely evening," Petunia hesitantly began.
"I as well. Your company is most engaging. Do you think I might call on you for tea tomorrow?"
"That would be lovely. I'll see you then?"
"Yes. Good evening, my dear."
"Good evening, Severus." Reaching up on her tiptoes, she placed a light kiss on his cheek. He slowly turned his head so their lips met. As they broke the gentle kiss, Petunia softly touched her lips with her fingers. Giving him a shy smile, her first in months, she slipped inside the house.
'Tomorrow,' he thought, 'tomorrow begins the start of her entering this world and all it holds. I'll get her out of her shell, and she'll be ready to take her rightful place as the heroine she is.'