Chapter 2: Meanwhile in the Muggle World
Vernon Dursley slumped on his sofa watching his new, state-of-the-art color television. He reached his hand into his pillow sack and pulled out the last bit of chocolate from last Halloween. As he popped the candy into his mouth, he let out a small burp and grinned. Although he was disappointed that he ran out of candy, he could now look forward to filling the pillowcase up with even more candy this Halloween in less than two months. He made a mental note to tell his dad to buy several more bags of chocolate to last him until then. A loud rapping at the window caused Vernon to crane his short neck. A small brown owl was perched outside, pecking incessantly on the glass. Vernons eyes widened as he struggled to move his beefy body over to the telephone to call animal control. In the process, he screamed for his father. Darrius Dursley, a tall, burly man with a well- defined jawline and broad shoulders entered the room. "Ah!" Darrius gasped in his deep gravelly voice. "Its Shannon! Isn't she a beauty, Vernie?"
As he opened the window for the owl, Vernon looked dumbstruck. "Dad, that creature practically drilled a hole into our home! I would hardly call it a beauty. I say, that thing is a menace and it should be reported to."
Darrius tuned out as he caught a glimpse of a piece of yellow parchment dangling from the owl's leg. He glanced stealthily at Vernon, who was still yammering on about the dangers of unknown birds of prey. Darrius turned abruptly to Vernon and said shakily, "Er, Vernie, dearest, would you mind going upstairs and, er, having a go at my new train set?"
Vernon, frowning suspiciously, but not ready to forfeit a chance to play with his dad's expensive toys, climbed grudgingly up the stairs but stopped halfway and peered through the railings when curiosity got the better of him. He watched his father as Darrius carefully unfolded the bit of parchment and a fond smile crossed his lips. "Albus Dumbledore." He murmured nostalgically. He suddenly glanced up and immediately spotted his son's pudgy visage and piggy eyes behind the railings. Vernon, upon being spotted, clambered clumsily up the stairs and into his bedroom. Darrius followed him, and peeked his extensive head into his son's room. "Er, Vernie, dear,"
"Yes, dads?" Vernon asked angelically.
"Er, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time."
***
Petunia sat alone, perched on a large rock in her backyard. This is where she often spent most of her time, especially when she needed to get away from her parents when they were gushing about Lily's "special gift." Today was one of those days; as she woke up, she heard her parents chatting happily, repetitively using the words "Lily," "witch," and "Hogwarts." Not wanting to be a part of this worship of her sister, Petunia immediately sauntered outside and plopped down on her favorite rock, trying to quell the tears accumulating in her eyes. "It's not fair," she mumbled to herself. "Why did it have to be her?" She spotted a small stick beside her and picked it up. The stick was straight and smooth, about a foot long. Her eyes glazed over and a small smile played upon her lips as she imagined that the stick was really a wand, like the one her sister bought several years ago. She waved the stick around with flicking motions of her wrist to get a feel for it. She laughed out loud as she pointed to a bare patch of dirt, gestured with her wand, and said quietly, "Arbio nitidus!" Of course, she had no idea what she just said, but it sounded similar to the Latin spells she often heard Lily practicing during the summer in the room they shared. Her mind filled with glee as her imagination produced a cluster of brightly colored exotic flowers in the once barren, dry patch of dirt. But the joy was fleeting; She blinked and was instantly brought back to reality. The patch of earth remained empty, and Petunia realized her "wand" was just an ordinary stick. She hurled the stick with all her might across the yard and then sat back down and rested her elbow on her knee, cradling her chin in her hand. "What am I doing?" She asked herself incredulously, and then a bitter tone overtook her voice as the truth sunk in. "Lily's nothing but a freak."
***
{Author's note: Well, this chapter describes the goings on in the Muggle World. Please review! The stories will intertwine soon, just be patient. Be on the lookout for more about Lily and James, and also some explainations. Discover the secret of Vernon's father.... New chapters will be up shortly, we won't keep you in suspence much longer! --Talon}
Vernon Dursley slumped on his sofa watching his new, state-of-the-art color television. He reached his hand into his pillow sack and pulled out the last bit of chocolate from last Halloween. As he popped the candy into his mouth, he let out a small burp and grinned. Although he was disappointed that he ran out of candy, he could now look forward to filling the pillowcase up with even more candy this Halloween in less than two months. He made a mental note to tell his dad to buy several more bags of chocolate to last him until then. A loud rapping at the window caused Vernon to crane his short neck. A small brown owl was perched outside, pecking incessantly on the glass. Vernons eyes widened as he struggled to move his beefy body over to the telephone to call animal control. In the process, he screamed for his father. Darrius Dursley, a tall, burly man with a well- defined jawline and broad shoulders entered the room. "Ah!" Darrius gasped in his deep gravelly voice. "Its Shannon! Isn't she a beauty, Vernie?"
As he opened the window for the owl, Vernon looked dumbstruck. "Dad, that creature practically drilled a hole into our home! I would hardly call it a beauty. I say, that thing is a menace and it should be reported to."
Darrius tuned out as he caught a glimpse of a piece of yellow parchment dangling from the owl's leg. He glanced stealthily at Vernon, who was still yammering on about the dangers of unknown birds of prey. Darrius turned abruptly to Vernon and said shakily, "Er, Vernie, dearest, would you mind going upstairs and, er, having a go at my new train set?"
Vernon, frowning suspiciously, but not ready to forfeit a chance to play with his dad's expensive toys, climbed grudgingly up the stairs but stopped halfway and peered through the railings when curiosity got the better of him. He watched his father as Darrius carefully unfolded the bit of parchment and a fond smile crossed his lips. "Albus Dumbledore." He murmured nostalgically. He suddenly glanced up and immediately spotted his son's pudgy visage and piggy eyes behind the railings. Vernon, upon being spotted, clambered clumsily up the stairs and into his bedroom. Darrius followed him, and peeked his extensive head into his son's room. "Er, Vernie, dear,"
"Yes, dads?" Vernon asked angelically.
"Er, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time."
***
Petunia sat alone, perched on a large rock in her backyard. This is where she often spent most of her time, especially when she needed to get away from her parents when they were gushing about Lily's "special gift." Today was one of those days; as she woke up, she heard her parents chatting happily, repetitively using the words "Lily," "witch," and "Hogwarts." Not wanting to be a part of this worship of her sister, Petunia immediately sauntered outside and plopped down on her favorite rock, trying to quell the tears accumulating in her eyes. "It's not fair," she mumbled to herself. "Why did it have to be her?" She spotted a small stick beside her and picked it up. The stick was straight and smooth, about a foot long. Her eyes glazed over and a small smile played upon her lips as she imagined that the stick was really a wand, like the one her sister bought several years ago. She waved the stick around with flicking motions of her wrist to get a feel for it. She laughed out loud as she pointed to a bare patch of dirt, gestured with her wand, and said quietly, "Arbio nitidus!" Of course, she had no idea what she just said, but it sounded similar to the Latin spells she often heard Lily practicing during the summer in the room they shared. Her mind filled with glee as her imagination produced a cluster of brightly colored exotic flowers in the once barren, dry patch of dirt. But the joy was fleeting; She blinked and was instantly brought back to reality. The patch of earth remained empty, and Petunia realized her "wand" was just an ordinary stick. She hurled the stick with all her might across the yard and then sat back down and rested her elbow on her knee, cradling her chin in her hand. "What am I doing?" She asked herself incredulously, and then a bitter tone overtook her voice as the truth sunk in. "Lily's nothing but a freak."
***
{Author's note: Well, this chapter describes the goings on in the Muggle World. Please review! The stories will intertwine soon, just be patient. Be on the lookout for more about Lily and James, and also some explainations. Discover the secret of Vernon's father.... New chapters will be up shortly, we won't keep you in suspence much longer! --Talon}