Chapter 2

Harry awoke with a start. He shook his head, as though trying to clear it; to detach it from the experience he had just had. Despite his efforts, he felt those meaningful words echoing through his mind.
When you see the sun lower opposite you, look to the sky. Behold, you will find answers...
He would find answers? Well, that would be something, over hearing virtually nothing informative over the whole of the summer.
But what day; when would he see the sun lower opposite him? Any day? That couldn't be right; they wouldn't know when to...to talk to him...
Harry lay in his bed, deep in thought, until the first light of the morning sun shone through his window, and the birds celebrating the coming of the day could be clearly heard outside.
"Right," Harry muttered to himself. "All right then. I'll make sure today is the day. I'll watch the sun set this evening, and I'll look to the sky. And someone will give me some answers!"

Harry got up that morning feeling strangely triumphant. At last, he might have some answers! He was extremely curious though, but he was trying to put all his thoughts on hold. Any doubts might make him rethink his decision to watch the sun set and look to the sky.
He went down to the kitchen to pour himself some orange juice, to find that he was the only one up. He took his juice into the garden, finding himself looking up at the sun.
Tonight, I'll watch you set, he thought firmly to himself. Tonight I am going to get some answers!

Harry found himself in the garden most of the day. Normally, he would have retreated to his room by now, but some strange part of him felt it was necessary to watch the sun, just in case it suddenly set while he wasn't watching.
Uncle Vernon seemed extremely suspicious. He kept shooting Harry nasty looks from out of the windows and Harry knew he was wondering what he, Harry, might be up to.
Harry sighed. It was one thing after another.

He paced around the garden, not noticing the well-kept grass beneath his feet. As well as continuously looking up at the sun, he kept checking his wand in his jeans pocket, as though reassuring himself it was still there and hadn't momentarily disappeared. He didn't know what to expect; whether it was going to be good or bad. All that he knew was that he had to do something. He couldn't be cooped up for another moment...he needed to know what was happening in the world...and to somehow find out who had taken the other part of his letter.
He turned around suddenly to see Aunt Petunia walking towards him. She had been acting extremely oddly all summer, avoiding him like the plague, not catching his eye, keeping her distance.
But she was looking at him now. And there was a strange look in her eyes...

Harry watched her walk towards him without moving or speaking. Finally she reached his side.
"Harry," she whispered suddenly, taking him by surprise. "Tonight is the night."
"W-what?" he asked her in a quiet but urgent voice.
"Tonight," she repeated.
Harry understood exactly what she meant, but what he didn't understand at all was...
"How do you know this?"
"There's no time, Harry," she replied without taking her eyes off his. "I will make sure you are alone in this house for the time. Tonight is your only chance, Harry."
Harry knew he simply had to accept it. He nodded.
"Thank you."
"I have not finished," she replied straightforwardly. "Yet this last piece of information is from another."
"What...what is it?" Harry asked quietly, all sure he knew who it would be from...
"He says...Do what you think is right..."
And with that Aunt Petunia strode away. Harry watched her go. He did not move, he did not call her back, seek to know more. Just as she did not turn around.

It was Uncle Vernon who came to tell Harry that they were going out without him. Harry simply nodded; he could not speak. The support of his aunt was the strangest thing in the world...
He watched Uncle Vernon head back into the house and suddenly saw his Aunt watching him from the kitchen window. Their eyes locked and stayed for several moments, until Harry saw Uncle Vernon reach her. They spoke briefly, and Uncle Vernon headed into the hall, out of sight to Harry.
Aunt Petunia turned back to Harry. She raised her hand. What was it? A salute? A farewell? A gesture of friendship? Harry raised his own hand.
Aunt Petunia smiled sadly, and turned to walk out of his life.
Harry swallowed. Perhaps it was a mixture of all three.

He heard their car drive away and sat on the grass for a while, deep in thought. He could hardly believe what his aunt had done for him...
The sun was getting lower. Harry watched it with anticipation. Now was the time to start gathering up everything he needed.
He made his way into the house, stopping at the kitchen for a glass of orange juice. Suddenly his eyes fell on a note by the toaster.
A note...and a package...

Harry set the glass and the carton down next to the fridge. He walked over, uncertain of what to expect.
He took the large piece of paper between his fingers, not looking at it. Finally, he forced himself to read the letters upon the page...
Dear Harry
This is, from me, a final farewell. I do not, from where our paths are leading us, think we will see each other again. Although I have kept it hidden from you for so many years, this does sadden me.
There are...things, I have to tell you, Harry, things I do not find easy to say. I know you may have believed you discovered the entire truth last year, but you did not. Who I am has been kept from you.
I am a witch. I have, however, renounced the ways of that world and returned to this world. My reasons for doing this I will keep to myself. If we ever do meet again, I will tell you.
Few know this. Vernon himself does not. Of course, my parents knew, and my sister knew, but they are dead in this world as you know. There are only three living souls on this earth who do know.
One, now, is you. The second is Albus Dumbledore. The third, is Lord Voldemort...
Lord Voldemort fears me. I cannot tell you why, just as I cannot tell you why I returned to this world. I keep to my word, however...if we meet again, I will tell you.
I now ask you to open the package. I shall not tell you what it contains; you will know when you see it.
Harry, please believe me when I tell you I never wanted things to end, or even to begin, like this. You are unique, you are special, you are wonderful even, and I want to tell you that I love you. I always have done. I just could not tell you before now.
Sometimes it hurt me to look at you. The eyes looking back at me were Lily's...I could not bear to be reminded of it all. It was so much easier to push you away; keep you in the dark.
I am sorry, Harry. So sorry. I hope that one day you can understand, and forgive me. I leave you on this note; repeat my given message.
Do what you think is right.
Petunia

Harry stood still for a moment, staring at the letter as the words jumped out at him.
A final farewell...I love you...I'm sorry...Lord Voldemort fears you...I am a witch...
How, how could this be? The aunt that he'd hated, rejected, despised for all these years truly felt that way about him. He continued staring at the letter.
She loved him...
An involuntary tear formed in Harry's eye. He let it fall, roll down his cheek as he gazed, unblinking, at the letter that, in truth, completely changed his entire world...
The secrets; the lies. They had to end. Petunia...she had realised that. She had known it was necessary to tell him. The borders had to be broken.
Harry's gaze fell upon the parcel.