{Authors note: First off, thanks to all the reviewers! We really
appreciate it! Also, we're experiencing a technical difficulty that
perhaps you can help us with... we don't see our story on any of the pages!
So to anyone reading this right now, could you please review our story and
tell us how you found it? Thanx a bunch! Now on to the story... Back to
the Muggle World. Expect a very... different... twist ;) ~Talon }
Chapter Five: The Revelation
Vernon was getting dizzy as he watched his father pace about the room, yet again. A full month had gone by, and every day, Darius sat Vernon down to tell him something, yet the only words that left Darrius's mouth were "er," and "son." Vernon, getting quite annoyed, sighed heavily, hoping to hint to his father to hurry up. Darrius began for the hundredth time. "Er, son." Then he stopped and pondered a bit, then paced some more.
Vernon, unable to take anymore, finally piped up. "For goodness sake, Dads! Spit it out then!"
"Alright alright." Darrius breathed in. "We need to talk about something."
Vernon, now relatively agitated, interrupted. "Listen Dad, if its about what happens when a man and woman love each other, we've already discussed it in school. I'm sixteen years old, I believe I know enough about--"
Darrius turned red. "No, good heavens, no! That's not what I wanted to talk about!" Vernon breathed a sigh of relief. Darrius continued. "Well, perhaps it will be easier to explain if you read this." He handed Vernon the piece of parchment that he had obtained from the talons of the owl several weeks ago. Vernon's plump forehead scrunched as he read the letter.
---------
You are Cordially Invited.
To join the Seventh Year Students of
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
In the First Annual
Family Week. The event shall take place during the Week of Halloween of the current year
And will feature Quidditch matches, Grand feasts, and other social
activities.
Please R.S.V.P by owl as soon as possible.
We look forward to meeting the families of these brilliant Witches and
Wizards.
---------
At the bottom of the invitation, a very confused Vernon spotted a handwritten note:
---------
Hello there Darrius!
I came across your name in my address book and thought you might like to come revisit your former school. This shall be the perfect opportunity for you to tie up any loose ends you may have. Also, It will allow us to do a great deal of catching up. I missed you terribly, old friend! Please say
you can attend. I shall be most delighted.
Sincerely Yours,
Albus Dumbledore
--------
Vernon put down the letter, feeling as if the whole world were spinning about his head. "Dad. May I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Vernie. I know this whole thing must be a great shock to you and you must have a lot of questions. I'll answer them as best I can. Now go on then, what's your question?"
"Have you gone totally and utterly mad? What is this load of bullshit? Witches? Wizards? Your former school? I say, obviously this Albus fellow is a crackpot and should be reported immediately to the mental institutions. And while they're at it, they should take a long hard look at you. Letting in wild animals through the window, for goodness sake, actually taking this pitiful prank to heart?" Vernon was barely making sense now, and he felt lightheaded as he plopped down on his bed.
Darrius sighed and sat down next to his son. "I know its hard to believe, Vernie, but just hear my story." He proceeded to tell Vernon the whole story. Only bits and pieces entered Vernon's mental capacity, and with each bit of new information, Vernon felt more and more queasy. "I attended Hogwarts..." he faintly heard his father tell him. "came from a line of pure-blood wizards... Fell in love with a muggle (er, non-wizard, that is)... Father rejected me... changed my last name, moved to the muggle world... Albus Dumbledore was my best friend... lost touch for all these years... Vernon listen to me!" Vernon shifted his watery eyes to gaze into his fathers intense stare. "Everything I'm telling you is the truth, son. I was, er, am... a wizard." With those last words, Vernon lost consciousness and he descended to the floor with a thud.
* * *
"Petuuuunia!" Mrs. Evans' voice rang through the backyard, jolting Petunia out of her glum moping.
She was yet again sitting on her favorite rock, pretending to cast hexes on Lily. "Cauda ponusius! Hah, you grew a rat tail. Capillus inflammo! Hah! Your hair's on fire! How does it feel now, Ms. Head Girl? What do you think about the shoe being on the other foot, hm?"
"Petuuunia! Come over here Pet, we have something to tellllll you!" Petunia rolled her eyes and sulked into the kitchen. "I swear," she muttered under her breath, "if it's about Lily I'm just going to--"
"We're going on a vacation!" Mr. Evans said brightly.
Petunia looked up with a breath of relief, smiling slightly, despite her somber mood. The Evans Family wasn't exactly well-off financially and a vacation was a rare and precious event. "That's wonderful, Father! Where are we going?"
Mr. Evans chuckled. "I'm so glad you're excited, Dearest." He paused and exchanged a glance with his wife, his excitement swelling up inside him. "We're going to visit Lily at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" He declared with a wide grin.
Petunia's face instantly fell. The color drained from her already fair face as her worst nightmare was confirmed. Not only was she going to be spending time with a bunch of... freaks, but she'll also be pushed even further away from the spotlight than she usually is. She swallowed, trying to push her heart from her throat back down to her chest. She turned her head slightly, so her parents would not notice the tears welling. However, that didn't seem to be a problem as her parents were too busy rambling on about "all expense paid transportation on the Night Bus" and "Free room and board at the guest tower" to notice that Petunia was not at all as excited about the "vacation" as they thought her to be.
"If you'll excuse me, then..." Petunia ran swiftly back to her rock in the backyard and threw herself on the grass beside it, sobbing uncontrollably for hours. As she cried her last tear, she rolled over to face the setting sun. She let the gentle breeze dry the tears on her cheeks, leaving salty streaks on her face as to remind her not to forget the sorrow she had just experienced. Thoughts drifted in and out of her head. Lily, and how she always got more oats than her at breakfast. Lily, and how her parents literally forgot Petunia's name the day that they received the admission letter to Hogwarts. Lily, and how she could badmouth the most brilliant looking fellow without feeling any remorse whatsoever... Petunia sat up. "That brilliant looking fellow!" She had forgotten all about him up until this moment. "James Potter..." she mumbled, remembering his tousled black hair and sparkling hazel eyes. She remembered that intense moment they shared, as he looked at her and smiled, it felt as if he was penetrating her soul. At that moment, she remembered, she was truly happy. James Potter saw her in a way that nobody else cared to look for. "And now," Petunia said, smiling for what felt like the first time in her life, "I get to see him again..."
Chapter Five: The Revelation
Vernon was getting dizzy as he watched his father pace about the room, yet again. A full month had gone by, and every day, Darius sat Vernon down to tell him something, yet the only words that left Darrius's mouth were "er," and "son." Vernon, getting quite annoyed, sighed heavily, hoping to hint to his father to hurry up. Darrius began for the hundredth time. "Er, son." Then he stopped and pondered a bit, then paced some more.
Vernon, unable to take anymore, finally piped up. "For goodness sake, Dads! Spit it out then!"
"Alright alright." Darrius breathed in. "We need to talk about something."
Vernon, now relatively agitated, interrupted. "Listen Dad, if its about what happens when a man and woman love each other, we've already discussed it in school. I'm sixteen years old, I believe I know enough about--"
Darrius turned red. "No, good heavens, no! That's not what I wanted to talk about!" Vernon breathed a sigh of relief. Darrius continued. "Well, perhaps it will be easier to explain if you read this." He handed Vernon the piece of parchment that he had obtained from the talons of the owl several weeks ago. Vernon's plump forehead scrunched as he read the letter.
---------
You are Cordially Invited.
To join the Seventh Year Students of
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
In the First Annual
Family Week. The event shall take place during the Week of Halloween of the current year
And will feature Quidditch matches, Grand feasts, and other social
activities.
Please R.S.V.P by owl as soon as possible.
We look forward to meeting the families of these brilliant Witches and
Wizards.
---------
At the bottom of the invitation, a very confused Vernon spotted a handwritten note:
---------
Hello there Darrius!
I came across your name in my address book and thought you might like to come revisit your former school. This shall be the perfect opportunity for you to tie up any loose ends you may have. Also, It will allow us to do a great deal of catching up. I missed you terribly, old friend! Please say
you can attend. I shall be most delighted.
Sincerely Yours,
Albus Dumbledore
--------
Vernon put down the letter, feeling as if the whole world were spinning about his head. "Dad. May I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Vernie. I know this whole thing must be a great shock to you and you must have a lot of questions. I'll answer them as best I can. Now go on then, what's your question?"
"Have you gone totally and utterly mad? What is this load of bullshit? Witches? Wizards? Your former school? I say, obviously this Albus fellow is a crackpot and should be reported immediately to the mental institutions. And while they're at it, they should take a long hard look at you. Letting in wild animals through the window, for goodness sake, actually taking this pitiful prank to heart?" Vernon was barely making sense now, and he felt lightheaded as he plopped down on his bed.
Darrius sighed and sat down next to his son. "I know its hard to believe, Vernie, but just hear my story." He proceeded to tell Vernon the whole story. Only bits and pieces entered Vernon's mental capacity, and with each bit of new information, Vernon felt more and more queasy. "I attended Hogwarts..." he faintly heard his father tell him. "came from a line of pure-blood wizards... Fell in love with a muggle (er, non-wizard, that is)... Father rejected me... changed my last name, moved to the muggle world... Albus Dumbledore was my best friend... lost touch for all these years... Vernon listen to me!" Vernon shifted his watery eyes to gaze into his fathers intense stare. "Everything I'm telling you is the truth, son. I was, er, am... a wizard." With those last words, Vernon lost consciousness and he descended to the floor with a thud.
* * *
"Petuuuunia!" Mrs. Evans' voice rang through the backyard, jolting Petunia out of her glum moping.
She was yet again sitting on her favorite rock, pretending to cast hexes on Lily. "Cauda ponusius! Hah, you grew a rat tail. Capillus inflammo! Hah! Your hair's on fire! How does it feel now, Ms. Head Girl? What do you think about the shoe being on the other foot, hm?"
"Petuuunia! Come over here Pet, we have something to tellllll you!" Petunia rolled her eyes and sulked into the kitchen. "I swear," she muttered under her breath, "if it's about Lily I'm just going to--"
"We're going on a vacation!" Mr. Evans said brightly.
Petunia looked up with a breath of relief, smiling slightly, despite her somber mood. The Evans Family wasn't exactly well-off financially and a vacation was a rare and precious event. "That's wonderful, Father! Where are we going?"
Mr. Evans chuckled. "I'm so glad you're excited, Dearest." He paused and exchanged a glance with his wife, his excitement swelling up inside him. "We're going to visit Lily at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" He declared with a wide grin.
Petunia's face instantly fell. The color drained from her already fair face as her worst nightmare was confirmed. Not only was she going to be spending time with a bunch of... freaks, but she'll also be pushed even further away from the spotlight than she usually is. She swallowed, trying to push her heart from her throat back down to her chest. She turned her head slightly, so her parents would not notice the tears welling. However, that didn't seem to be a problem as her parents were too busy rambling on about "all expense paid transportation on the Night Bus" and "Free room and board at the guest tower" to notice that Petunia was not at all as excited about the "vacation" as they thought her to be.
"If you'll excuse me, then..." Petunia ran swiftly back to her rock in the backyard and threw herself on the grass beside it, sobbing uncontrollably for hours. As she cried her last tear, she rolled over to face the setting sun. She let the gentle breeze dry the tears on her cheeks, leaving salty streaks on her face as to remind her not to forget the sorrow she had just experienced. Thoughts drifted in and out of her head. Lily, and how she always got more oats than her at breakfast. Lily, and how her parents literally forgot Petunia's name the day that they received the admission letter to Hogwarts. Lily, and how she could badmouth the most brilliant looking fellow without feeling any remorse whatsoever... Petunia sat up. "That brilliant looking fellow!" She had forgotten all about him up until this moment. "James Potter..." she mumbled, remembering his tousled black hair and sparkling hazel eyes. She remembered that intense moment they shared, as he looked at her and smiled, it felt as if he was penetrating her soul. At that moment, she remembered, she was truly happy. James Potter saw her in a way that nobody else cared to look for. "And now," Petunia said, smiling for what felt like the first time in her life, "I get to see him again..."