((Okay, before I start I want to thank everyone who reviewed for doing so! I worked so hard on this one, I hope it is longer and better then the others! Hope you like this one!))
Chapter Four: Aunt Petunia's Story
"What?" Harry asked, alarmed, "My MOTHER?"
"Yes" Aunt Petunia replied, sounded extremely angry.
"Well, tell me" Harry said.
"Tell you WHAT?" Demanded Aunt Petunia, sweating as she spoke.
"Why my mother made your life so...bad" Harry answered her, nervous about what she would say.
"You honestly want to know?" Aunt Petunia cried, "No one does!"
"I do" Harry said quickly.
"Fine" Aunt Petunia said, walking all around the room.
Harry watched her closely. She seemed like she had been trying to tell him for a long time.
"Please...tell me" Harry whispered.
"Alright, alright!" Aunt Petunia snapped, then she calmed down.
"So...?" Harry asked.
"I was the oldest. I was born first. I was the only child for three years...then Lily was born. I was always...well, let's just say not very pretty. But I was okay with that until Lily was born. She was tall and thin...she had emerald eyes...and long red hair...of course that was when she got older...but she was beautiful, smart, and liked by everyone. I was jealous! So I asked her how she did it when I was twelve. She was nine...do you know what she told me? She said 'Some people are born with greatness...and some are not'. I was furious with her and we got into a fight...more or less, I did. She ignored me pretty much. But since then she made me feel awful. She always teased me...and when she got her Hogwarts letter I sat down and cried. She would always threaten to put hexes on me if I said anything wrong...so I stayed in my room my whole life...pretty much" Aunt Petunia seemed to say it all in only one or two breaths.
"Oh" Harry said staring at his feet.
First he found out his Dad wasn't so nice, but now his Mom? It was horrible.
Aunt Petunia sat down on Harry's bed and started to cry.
"Nobody liked me" She sobbed, "Vernon did! He understood me! He was someone I could hate Lily with!"
Harry for once felt sorry for Aunt Petunia. He wondered why his Mom had been so pleased to make Aunt Petunia's life bad.
"So...it became...pretty much a living hell to stay at home?" Harry asked.
"A living hell to live" Corrected Aunt Petunia.
"But...why..." Harry started to say, then he stopped.
"There is something else that no one knows...not even Lily" Aunt Petunia said quietly.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure if I should say" Aunt Petunia said as a tear fell down her face.
"Here" Harry said as he handed her a tissue.
"Thank you" Aunt Petunia said.
"So why are you not sure if you should say?" Harry asked.
"Because it is a secret" Aunt Petunia said.
"It's not like I'll tell" Harry told her.
"Well..." Aunt Petunia looked confused.
"Look" Harry said, "Just tell me"
"But..." Aunt Petunia began.
"Then don't!" Harry snapped.
"But I don't know..." Aunt Petunia seemed to be having a fight with her head.
"Well, forget it, then!" Harry responded, "It's fine"
He wished he had not said that, but he didn't want Aunt Petunia to be angry.
"So...tell me more about you and Lily" Harry said.
"Lily was always showing off. When I was in the fifth grade, she was in the second grade. One time as I was walking through the halls she started to tease me and a bunch of her pretty friends joined in. I felt horrible being teased by seven second graders" Aunt Petunia whimpered.
"So...my Mom was awful?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no!" Aunt Petunia said with a laugh, "Just to me. At that school of hers...and yours...Hogzits or whatever--"
"Hogwarts" Harry corrected her.
"Yes, Hogwarts..." Aunt Petunia replied, "Anyway, at this Hogwarts she was sweet as sugar...she told us how she had a boyfriend...she got a new one every year...but that James Potter that she dated in seventh year...she decided to run off and marry him! I didn't see her after the Easter of her seventh year. She came home and then never came back after summer. Then I hear she's been murdered by a wizard some odd years later!"
"Well...I...er..." Harry was shocked and didn't know what to say.
He thought about it. Why his Mom? Why couldn't Aunt Petunia have been the younger, meaner one? Why?
"I never knew" Harry said.
"Well, of course not" Aunt Petunia replied sourly, "Everyone says Lily was Head Girl, a wonderful person, very pretty, very smart...but most of it is just lies! Well...part of it. Wonderful Person....not to me. Our parents loved her...they hated me. She took advantage of everyone...especially her boyfriends...but oh, not James...too bad, isn't it? She might still be alive..."
"And me?" Harry asked bitterly.
"You would just have a different father" Aunt Petunia simpered.
Harry sighed. He couldn't deny he'd love to see his Mom...but what would she be like to him? Would she be mean? It was too much.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Why what?" Aunt Petunia asked.
"Why didn't you tell someone?" Harry asked.
"Because, honestly, what could I do? She was the better one...no denying it!"
"Not at being nice" Harry said angrily.
Aunt Petunia sighed.
"Harry, that's true" She said slowly, "But that doesn't mean she didn't change"
"What?" Harry snapped, "Of course she didn't! She ran off with my Dad and had me and got herself killed! She didn't care about me, either! She hasn't gotten any better!"
"But your Lily died to save you" Aunt Petunia whispered.
"How would YOU know?" Harry asked furiously.
"Because..." Aunt Petunia paused.
"What?" Harry asked, looking up.
"This is what I didn't know if I should tell you" Aunt Petunia said, "But I will"
"Okay" Harry said, "Go on"
"I...I got a Hogzits letter before Lily did" Aunt Petunia said in a voice hardly above a whisper.
"You what!?" Cried Harry, in such shock he forgot to correct 'Hogzits'.
"Well, I did" Aunt Petunia said sadly, "Let me tell you..."
Harry stared at her...what was she going to say?
"The year I turned eleven, I got the letter. I was so happy. My parents sent me but told me to pretend I was off to boarding school. Oh, Lily teased me. Said I was stupid and dumb. I was furious and almost told her...but my parents said Lily was foolish and wouldn't keep the secret. So I didn't tell her. Lily was eight then...so off I went. I learned magic and had a wonderful time making friends. I made it to my second year. Lily was ten. I was having a wonderful time...but then...I got accused of killing the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...I didn't! But they expelled me. I lost all my hope in life. I felt like a Dementor had sucked all the joy out of me!"
Harry's mouth had dropped open so far, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to close it again.
"You...you were a WICTH?" He asked.
"Yes" Aunt Petunia said, standing up.
"Well...well...I won't tell"
"Thank you, Harry" Aunt Petunia said with a smile as she walked out.
Harry only stared after her.
He hardly ate anything that night. He had too much on his mind. Aunt Petunia a witch? He stared at his mashed potatoes and sighed. He wondered who really had killed the teacher. It wasn't Aunt Petunia...he knew that. For once he knew he could trust her...believe her.
"Why aren't you eating?" Dudley sneered.
"Shut up" Harry said coldly.
"YOU DON'T--" Uncle Vernon roared, but Aunt Petunia cut him off.
"Dudley, please learn your manners" she said, "Vernon, be nice"
Dudley and Uncle Vernon gaped at her.
"Ummm..." Uncle Vernon muttered, looking very red in the face.
They finished dinner in an odd fashion - Dudley washing the dishes - and then Harry watching TV.
"What the devil is going on?!" Harry heard Uncle Vernon ask Aunt Petunia.
"Why, nothing" Aunt Petunia replied shrilly.
"Something is" He grunted, "What is it?"
"I think we should give him more than hell!" Aunt Petunia snapped, "Now if you'll excuse me--"
"What? Hell? I think we've been pretty damn nice to him--"
"We haven't!" Aunt Petunia protested.
"Then what HAVE we been doing?" Uncle Vernon asked.
"We've been being rude to him, that's what!" Aunt Petunia screamed, "Now leave me alone!"
And off she went.
"What the devil--?" Uncle Vernon sighed.
Harry slumped in the lumpy couch feeling guilty.
The next day was nice and sunny, but inside the Dursley House there was nothing but the dark and cold of everyone.
Every other second a fight would start--then end.
Harry could hardly take it as he stuffed his head inside a pillow case to block out the noise.
By the end of that day, everyone was furious with someone else.
This continued for four more days. Then it was his birthday.
No one seemed to wish him a very happy one. He spent most of the day reading "Quidditch Through the Ages" and thinking about how in about one month he would be back at Hogwarts--where he belonged. Before long the day was over and it had been as worse as any other. Aunt Petunia HAD sneaked him a slice of cake though, and he was greatful for that change.
Harry walked upstairs to his room and sat on his bed staring at the moon and the stars...
"Harry?" A voice asked.
Harry turned around. There was Aunt Petunia in the doorway, looking sad.
"What?" Asked Harry.
"Harry...I need you to pack" Aunt Petunia whispered, "I have to go"
"What are you talking about, Aunt Petunia?!" Harry cried.
"Vernon and I are getting a divorce"
Harry fell off the bed.
"Ouch!" He cried.
"Are you alright?" Aunt Petunia asked.
"Yeah...fine" Harry said, "Why?"
"Because I want to know if you're alright, that's why--"
"No! Why are you getting a divorce?" Harry asked with a sigh.
"Because I told him I was a witch" Aunt Petunia cried as tears poured down her face.
"That bothered him?" Harry asked.
"YES! He says I am a moron just like Lily! Oh this is awful!" Sobbed Aunt Petunia.
"But..."
"But what? He's taking Dudley, don't tell me you're going to insist that you stay with him, too!" Aunt Petunia cried.
Harry thought of what everyone said about staying, but he couldn't...
"Hang on" Harry said.
He scribbled on a piece of parchment:
"Lupin,
I have to leave...something happened...I have no clue where Aunt Petunia and I are going...I'll let you know when I do.
Harry"
Harry gave it to Hedwig.
"Give this to Lupin, okay?" Harry said, petting her soft feathers.
Hedwig nodded and zoomed into the night.
"I'm packing now" Harry said.
The next day he was packed and ready to go. He said good bye to Dudley and Uncle Vernon who refused to look at him and he walked out.
"This is weird" Harry said with a sigh as he got into the car.
"Yes, I suppose so! You've never been anywhere else" Aunt Petunia sighed.
They started driving and Harry glanced out the window.
There was Mrs. Figg.
"STOP!" Harry yelled.
Aunt Petunia slammed on her brakes.
Harry threw open the car door and charged at Mrs. Figg.
"Harry, do slow down" Mrs. Figg said with a smile.
"Okay! Sorry" Harry said, "But Aunt Petunia and I are moving...so please tell Dumbledore...please!"
"What? Certainly. But be careful. Wand out at all times" Mrs. Figg said and hurried inside.
Harry rushed back to the car, feeling quesy.
And off they set for somewhere...
Chapter Four: Aunt Petunia's Story
"What?" Harry asked, alarmed, "My MOTHER?"
"Yes" Aunt Petunia replied, sounded extremely angry.
"Well, tell me" Harry said.
"Tell you WHAT?" Demanded Aunt Petunia, sweating as she spoke.
"Why my mother made your life so...bad" Harry answered her, nervous about what she would say.
"You honestly want to know?" Aunt Petunia cried, "No one does!"
"I do" Harry said quickly.
"Fine" Aunt Petunia said, walking all around the room.
Harry watched her closely. She seemed like she had been trying to tell him for a long time.
"Please...tell me" Harry whispered.
"Alright, alright!" Aunt Petunia snapped, then she calmed down.
"So...?" Harry asked.
"I was the oldest. I was born first. I was the only child for three years...then Lily was born. I was always...well, let's just say not very pretty. But I was okay with that until Lily was born. She was tall and thin...she had emerald eyes...and long red hair...of course that was when she got older...but she was beautiful, smart, and liked by everyone. I was jealous! So I asked her how she did it when I was twelve. She was nine...do you know what she told me? She said 'Some people are born with greatness...and some are not'. I was furious with her and we got into a fight...more or less, I did. She ignored me pretty much. But since then she made me feel awful. She always teased me...and when she got her Hogwarts letter I sat down and cried. She would always threaten to put hexes on me if I said anything wrong...so I stayed in my room my whole life...pretty much" Aunt Petunia seemed to say it all in only one or two breaths.
"Oh" Harry said staring at his feet.
First he found out his Dad wasn't so nice, but now his Mom? It was horrible.
Aunt Petunia sat down on Harry's bed and started to cry.
"Nobody liked me" She sobbed, "Vernon did! He understood me! He was someone I could hate Lily with!"
Harry for once felt sorry for Aunt Petunia. He wondered why his Mom had been so pleased to make Aunt Petunia's life bad.
"So...it became...pretty much a living hell to stay at home?" Harry asked.
"A living hell to live" Corrected Aunt Petunia.
"But...why..." Harry started to say, then he stopped.
"There is something else that no one knows...not even Lily" Aunt Petunia said quietly.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure if I should say" Aunt Petunia said as a tear fell down her face.
"Here" Harry said as he handed her a tissue.
"Thank you" Aunt Petunia said.
"So why are you not sure if you should say?" Harry asked.
"Because it is a secret" Aunt Petunia said.
"It's not like I'll tell" Harry told her.
"Well..." Aunt Petunia looked confused.
"Look" Harry said, "Just tell me"
"But..." Aunt Petunia began.
"Then don't!" Harry snapped.
"But I don't know..." Aunt Petunia seemed to be having a fight with her head.
"Well, forget it, then!" Harry responded, "It's fine"
He wished he had not said that, but he didn't want Aunt Petunia to be angry.
"So...tell me more about you and Lily" Harry said.
"Lily was always showing off. When I was in the fifth grade, she was in the second grade. One time as I was walking through the halls she started to tease me and a bunch of her pretty friends joined in. I felt horrible being teased by seven second graders" Aunt Petunia whimpered.
"So...my Mom was awful?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no!" Aunt Petunia said with a laugh, "Just to me. At that school of hers...and yours...Hogzits or whatever--"
"Hogwarts" Harry corrected her.
"Yes, Hogwarts..." Aunt Petunia replied, "Anyway, at this Hogwarts she was sweet as sugar...she told us how she had a boyfriend...she got a new one every year...but that James Potter that she dated in seventh year...she decided to run off and marry him! I didn't see her after the Easter of her seventh year. She came home and then never came back after summer. Then I hear she's been murdered by a wizard some odd years later!"
"Well...I...er..." Harry was shocked and didn't know what to say.
He thought about it. Why his Mom? Why couldn't Aunt Petunia have been the younger, meaner one? Why?
"I never knew" Harry said.
"Well, of course not" Aunt Petunia replied sourly, "Everyone says Lily was Head Girl, a wonderful person, very pretty, very smart...but most of it is just lies! Well...part of it. Wonderful Person....not to me. Our parents loved her...they hated me. She took advantage of everyone...especially her boyfriends...but oh, not James...too bad, isn't it? She might still be alive..."
"And me?" Harry asked bitterly.
"You would just have a different father" Aunt Petunia simpered.
Harry sighed. He couldn't deny he'd love to see his Mom...but what would she be like to him? Would she be mean? It was too much.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Why what?" Aunt Petunia asked.
"Why didn't you tell someone?" Harry asked.
"Because, honestly, what could I do? She was the better one...no denying it!"
"Not at being nice" Harry said angrily.
Aunt Petunia sighed.
"Harry, that's true" She said slowly, "But that doesn't mean she didn't change"
"What?" Harry snapped, "Of course she didn't! She ran off with my Dad and had me and got herself killed! She didn't care about me, either! She hasn't gotten any better!"
"But your Lily died to save you" Aunt Petunia whispered.
"How would YOU know?" Harry asked furiously.
"Because..." Aunt Petunia paused.
"What?" Harry asked, looking up.
"This is what I didn't know if I should tell you" Aunt Petunia said, "But I will"
"Okay" Harry said, "Go on"
"I...I got a Hogzits letter before Lily did" Aunt Petunia said in a voice hardly above a whisper.
"You what!?" Cried Harry, in such shock he forgot to correct 'Hogzits'.
"Well, I did" Aunt Petunia said sadly, "Let me tell you..."
Harry stared at her...what was she going to say?
"The year I turned eleven, I got the letter. I was so happy. My parents sent me but told me to pretend I was off to boarding school. Oh, Lily teased me. Said I was stupid and dumb. I was furious and almost told her...but my parents said Lily was foolish and wouldn't keep the secret. So I didn't tell her. Lily was eight then...so off I went. I learned magic and had a wonderful time making friends. I made it to my second year. Lily was ten. I was having a wonderful time...but then...I got accused of killing the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...I didn't! But they expelled me. I lost all my hope in life. I felt like a Dementor had sucked all the joy out of me!"
Harry's mouth had dropped open so far, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to close it again.
"You...you were a WICTH?" He asked.
"Yes" Aunt Petunia said, standing up.
"Well...well...I won't tell"
"Thank you, Harry" Aunt Petunia said with a smile as she walked out.
Harry only stared after her.
He hardly ate anything that night. He had too much on his mind. Aunt Petunia a witch? He stared at his mashed potatoes and sighed. He wondered who really had killed the teacher. It wasn't Aunt Petunia...he knew that. For once he knew he could trust her...believe her.
"Why aren't you eating?" Dudley sneered.
"Shut up" Harry said coldly.
"YOU DON'T--" Uncle Vernon roared, but Aunt Petunia cut him off.
"Dudley, please learn your manners" she said, "Vernon, be nice"
Dudley and Uncle Vernon gaped at her.
"Ummm..." Uncle Vernon muttered, looking very red in the face.
They finished dinner in an odd fashion - Dudley washing the dishes - and then Harry watching TV.
"What the devil is going on?!" Harry heard Uncle Vernon ask Aunt Petunia.
"Why, nothing" Aunt Petunia replied shrilly.
"Something is" He grunted, "What is it?"
"I think we should give him more than hell!" Aunt Petunia snapped, "Now if you'll excuse me--"
"What? Hell? I think we've been pretty damn nice to him--"
"We haven't!" Aunt Petunia protested.
"Then what HAVE we been doing?" Uncle Vernon asked.
"We've been being rude to him, that's what!" Aunt Petunia screamed, "Now leave me alone!"
And off she went.
"What the devil--?" Uncle Vernon sighed.
Harry slumped in the lumpy couch feeling guilty.
The next day was nice and sunny, but inside the Dursley House there was nothing but the dark and cold of everyone.
Every other second a fight would start--then end.
Harry could hardly take it as he stuffed his head inside a pillow case to block out the noise.
By the end of that day, everyone was furious with someone else.
This continued for four more days. Then it was his birthday.
No one seemed to wish him a very happy one. He spent most of the day reading "Quidditch Through the Ages" and thinking about how in about one month he would be back at Hogwarts--where he belonged. Before long the day was over and it had been as worse as any other. Aunt Petunia HAD sneaked him a slice of cake though, and he was greatful for that change.
Harry walked upstairs to his room and sat on his bed staring at the moon and the stars...
"Harry?" A voice asked.
Harry turned around. There was Aunt Petunia in the doorway, looking sad.
"What?" Asked Harry.
"Harry...I need you to pack" Aunt Petunia whispered, "I have to go"
"What are you talking about, Aunt Petunia?!" Harry cried.
"Vernon and I are getting a divorce"
Harry fell off the bed.
"Ouch!" He cried.
"Are you alright?" Aunt Petunia asked.
"Yeah...fine" Harry said, "Why?"
"Because I want to know if you're alright, that's why--"
"No! Why are you getting a divorce?" Harry asked with a sigh.
"Because I told him I was a witch" Aunt Petunia cried as tears poured down her face.
"That bothered him?" Harry asked.
"YES! He says I am a moron just like Lily! Oh this is awful!" Sobbed Aunt Petunia.
"But..."
"But what? He's taking Dudley, don't tell me you're going to insist that you stay with him, too!" Aunt Petunia cried.
Harry thought of what everyone said about staying, but he couldn't...
"Hang on" Harry said.
He scribbled on a piece of parchment:
"Lupin,
I have to leave...something happened...I have no clue where Aunt Petunia and I are going...I'll let you know when I do.
Harry"
Harry gave it to Hedwig.
"Give this to Lupin, okay?" Harry said, petting her soft feathers.
Hedwig nodded and zoomed into the night.
"I'm packing now" Harry said.
The next day he was packed and ready to go. He said good bye to Dudley and Uncle Vernon who refused to look at him and he walked out.
"This is weird" Harry said with a sigh as he got into the car.
"Yes, I suppose so! You've never been anywhere else" Aunt Petunia sighed.
They started driving and Harry glanced out the window.
There was Mrs. Figg.
"STOP!" Harry yelled.
Aunt Petunia slammed on her brakes.
Harry threw open the car door and charged at Mrs. Figg.
"Harry, do slow down" Mrs. Figg said with a smile.
"Okay! Sorry" Harry said, "But Aunt Petunia and I are moving...so please tell Dumbledore...please!"
"What? Certainly. But be careful. Wand out at all times" Mrs. Figg said and hurried inside.
Harry rushed back to the car, feeling quesy.
And off they set for somewhere...
