A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait. School is basically over however, so now I shall hopefully update sooner. Thanks for sticking with me!

PadawanMage: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for noticing about the transitions.I really did have them...but they didn't show up for some reason. So I went back and added them...to all my chapters, since they seemed to all have disppeared. :D And, I'll get right on your fic! You never can read too many fics you know. :P

Mrs. Poynter and Mrs. Judd: Thank you so much. I too, love yelling at Dudley. He just sort of seemed a Larence. :D

Miss Effie: Thanks for the enthusiasm. And you can count on changes.-grin-

Daphne Picklesouse: I'm glad you think so. I was hoping to put her in a different light.

R&R!

Chapter 6- A New Day

"I don't know what you think you were doing! Vandalizing the playground? You wait till your father hears about this!" Petunia yelled at Dudley as she dragged him home by his ear.

"Ouch! Mum, you're hurting me!" Dudley exclaimed as Petunia gave a particularly nasty tug on his ear.

"I can't believe you take part in a gang like that!" Petunia kept raging, oblivious to Dudley's outcry. "I know we haven't really enforced rules, but I thought you would have known better than that!"

"Mum—" Dudley began.

"Don't you Mum me! You are in so much trouble right now," she spat at him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "I've created a monster."

"Mum, I'm not a monster."

"What are you then? Hmm? I'd certainly like to know. Don't even try to tell me it wasn't you who beat up Paul Maple last week just because he wouldn't give you his lunch money. I mean, what kind of person are you! School doesn't start till tomorrow! He wouldn't have had his lunch money!"

"That wasn't me," Dudley said, trying to defend himself. When he noticed the glare coming from his mother he added, "He sassed me. I couldn't let him get away with it."

"Oh, ho! Is that right. He sassed you. Well, heaven forbid! Since you're the big bad leader I suppose you couldn't go having your image ruined by a TEN year old!" Petunia stopped yelling long enough to suck in air, but when she started in again, she was near tears. "How could you lead those boys down the tragic road of gangery?"

"Mum, you are overreacting," Dudley cut in.

"Overreacting!" Petunia bellowed. "I am not overreacting. My son is a bully! And vandalizes!" She glanced up and saw Vernon standing on the front step, staring down the street at them.

"Hurry up, we haven't got all night," Petunia said yanking on Dudley's ear once more.

"Ouch!"

"What the bloody hell are you doing to our son!" Vernon yelled as they walked up the driveway.

"I caught him spray painting the wall at the park! Vulgar language all over!"

"For God's sake, Petunia. He's a teenage boy," Vernon said, shocked that Petunia was acting this way.

"Oh, no! You are not coming up with excuses for him anymore! He is going to suffer the consequences of his actions for once. We have spoiled him rotten! But no more," she shouted, spit flying from her mouth.

"And what do you propose we do?" Vernon asked, wiping the spit from his face.

"First things first. Dudley," Petunia started, lowering her voice.

"Yes, Mum?" he peered up at her, fear etched in his face.

"You are to bring down your television, computer, game cube, video camera… everything. Leave your books. I will sort through them later…. On second thought, take it all to Harry's room."

"Yes, Mum," he said. He then turned around and trudged up the stairs.

"Petunia, what has gotten in to you?" Vernon asked when Dudley was out of hearing.

"I have finally realized I was being bullied. By my son and husband. I am no longer taking it," she said, giving Vernon a look so venomous he didn't dare retort. "I'm trying to right 16 years of wrong. And I advise you not to stand in my way. You and Dudley will no longer be able to push me around to get what you want. I will not be making all your meals, washing all your dishes, or doing your laundry. I will not be buying Dudley two more worthless presents that he received the year before. He has enough belongings as it is. If you don't like it, tough. You are going to deal with it. Ever since I married you, I've been treated worse that dirt. I am putting up with it no longer. And poor Harry. He's been treated worse than I am! I don't how he's lasted here without popping. I really don't know!" Petunia stopped panting.

"Poor Harry? What are you talking about! You know what he is! He doesn't deserve to be treated as well as we are treating him!" Vernon exploded. "And you bloody will do what I tell you to do, woman! You are my wife!"

"I am your wife! Not a house elf! And don't you forget it!"

Vernon looked astonished. "A what?"

"A…slave," she snapped, quickly, covering up her mistake.

"You said house elf. What is that?"

"I most certainly did not!"

"What the bloody hell is a house elf!"

After Hermione left, Harry watched the fire for a few more minutes, then climbed the stairs to his dormitory. Pulling on his pajamas, Harry climbed into bed. He was about to pull the curtains when Ron said, "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm in it bad, right?"

"That you are, mate," Harry said chuckling.

"It's not funny! I have no clue what I'm going to do!"

"I don't know how to help you, Ron. I really don't have this problem."

"Oh, don't rub it in!" Ron was silent for a few minutes. Harry thought he'd fallen asleep when Ron said, "You could, you know. Have this problem, I mean. Half the girls in this school would be glad to help you have this problem."

"Oh, yes. I'm sure they would," Harry answered, sarcastically.

"I'm serious, Harry."

"Yes, so am I."

"He's right, you know," came a new voice.

"Whoa! Didn't know you were awake, Neville," Ron said.

"Neville, you're not helping!" Harry said, sternly.

"Sorry," came Neville's response, a smile in his voice.

"Maybe I'll ask Ginny tomorrow," Ron said.

"Sounds like a plan. Now, can I please go to sleep?" Harry asked, giving a fake yawn just to help convince them.

"Yeah, sure. Sorry."

"No problem," Harry said, drawing his curtains.

But the truth was that he wanted to think about what Ron and Neville had said. Was it true that most girls liked him? He had never thought about it before. Of course he noticed the looks he received in the corridors between classes, and the giggling as he passed, but he had thought that to be just girl stuff.

Now that he considered it, Harry wanted something like Ron had with Hermione...or at least, would have, if he had the guts to act upon his feelings. But was there any girl that he felt about in that way or could grow to have feelings for?

' I obviously need to give this more thought. Well, no more black hair. I've had enough of that from Cho, ' he thought. 'Brown hair…no, that'd remind me of Hermione. Blonde? No, that'd be like staring at Luna, and that wouldn't be right. So I guess that leaves red. Now, she can't just like me because I'm the Boy Who Lived. It must be real.' Harry rubbed his hands over his face. Thinking about girls was hard work.

'Okay, she'd have to be funny and be able to stick up for herself. But have this endearing quality. Oh, Merlin, there aren't any girls like that !' Harry gave up and burrowed under his covers.

As he was lying there, trying to fall asleep, Harry's thoughts wandered to Ginny. Her laugh, her smile, her blush, the glow of her hair... Thinking back on the list of requirements he had made for the perfect girl, Harry realized that Ginny...well, according to him, Ginny was the perfect girl. What if that ache he felt every time he looked at her wasn't just coincidental? What if...what if he liked Ginny? And then Harry realized it wasn't a "what if." There was no question about it. He liked Ginny Weasley.

Petunia climbed the stairs to Dudley's room.

"Are you all ready for bed?" she asked. She asked this every night, but this night was different. The phrase was no longer thick with an overly sweet tone or accompanied by a pet name.

"Yes, Mum," Dudley whimpered.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning, then. Don't forget to clean out your room. Good night," she said closing the door behind her.

When she came out, Vernon was entering their bedroom. She followed him and saw he was changing into his pajamas. She waited until he was climbing into bed to start her next strategy.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Getting into bed," Vernon answered shortly.

"I'm sorry, but you're not sleeping in this room tonight."

"Excuse me?" Vernon said, disbelief all over his face.

"You heard me. I'm not sleeping with you tonight."

She crossed to the bed, grabbed Vernon's pillow and threw it into the hallway. As Vernon left, she heard him mutter something about crazy women.

"Sleep tight," she said in her fake sweet voice. Then shut the door in his face. When the door was closed, Petunia leaned against it and sighed.

'They're going to listen to me yet,' she thought. Then she crawled into bed, and fell asleep.

The next morning Harry woke to find Ginny leaning over him.

"Whoa!" he yelled, sitting up fast.

Ginny tried to back away but wasn't fast enough. Harry smacked right into her nose.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" she said, clutching her nose.

"Sorry," he groaned. "I wasn't expecting a wakeup call."

"Yes, well, Hermione just thought I should come up to get you and Ron. We've only got half an hour till classes start, and she was waiting to eat with you."

"Oh, right. We have classes, don't we?"

"No, Harry. This is just a year long vacation," Ginny said, rolling her eyes at him.

"You never know," Harry grinned. "Where's Ron?"

"In the loo."

"Ah." Harry, forgetting about his boxer clad self, pushed back his warm gold blankets and stood.

Ginny let out a small gasp, her cheeks getting Weasley Red. Other than her brothers, Ginny had never seen a boy dressed…or, rather, not dressed like that before."

"Sorry, Gin, I forgot!" he moaned, reaching for his robes.

At that moment Ron walked in, dripping from what Harry assumed was from a shower. "Bloody hell, Harry! Get some clothes on!"

"I'll see you two in a few minutes," Ginny commented as she backed out of the room.

Harry pulled on his robes, and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to ignore the strange looks he was receiving from Ron. He supposed it had something to do with getting caught in boxers only, in front of Ginny.

"Are you ready?" Ron asked after putting all his books in his bag.

"Getting there," Harry answered shoving all his books in his own bag. " Okay, let's go."

The girls were waiting at the foot of the stairs when Ron and Harry made it to the bottom.

"Err…Gin, could I talk to you for a minute?" Ron asked as they headed to breakfast.

"Sure. Hermione, Harry, keep going we'll catch up," Ginny said, wondering what was going on.

Harry and Hermione kept walking as Ron started, in a low whisper.

Hermione sighed. "I wondered what it is that he couldn't tell us."

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I imagine it has something to do with…well, with Ron walking in on me and Ginny when I was in my boxers…"

Hermione grinned as they sat down across from each other at the Gryffindor table. "That could be it. Honestly, Harry. What were you thinking?"

"I forgot, okay? I just got out of bed, and Ron walked in!"

"Oh, good, our schedules," Hermione said when Professor McGonagall handed four of them to Hermione. "Let's see…Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays…

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmancy 3, Advanced Herbology and History of Magic. And Tuesdays and Thursdays…Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes and help in the library…" she muttered to herself.

"You're still taking History of Magic? What for?" Harry asked.

"I thought knowing our history was important," she replied.

"Yeah, you would," Ron said. He and Ginny had just walked up. Ron looking a little flushed, Ginny looking smug. They sat across from each other, Ron next to Hermione.

Harry took the look to mean Ginny had won their argument. They both started loading their plates as Hermione handed them their schedules.

"What've we got first?" Ron asked in between bites.

"Advanced Defense," Harry answered.

Ron looked at the schedule. "What's 'all' mean?"

"I'm assuming that since Advanced isn't required, there aren't enough people taking it to make up classes from the houses," Hermione explained.

Ron looked up at Hermione and smiled, "I suppose that makes sense." Hermione blushed and took a bite of toast.

"Urgh! I have Double Potions with Slytherin first thing!" Ginny exclaimed.

Ron stifled a laugh by shoving a biscut in his mouth. "I wasn't laughing at you, really," he said, mouth full of bread, when he saw Ginny's look.

Ginny stuck her tongue out and flung some eggs at him. Ron dodged them, and they headed towards the Ravenclaw table, hitting Michael Corner in the back of his head.

His head flung around and saw Ginny with her embarrassed look. He laughed.

"Long time, no see, Ginny," he called.

"Yeah, sorry about that," she yelled back.

"No problem." Michael turned back around with a wave.

Harry felt a pang in his chest, but it was gone just as quick as he felt it. Before he could wonder what it was, Ron let out a yell.

"Ron, what's the matter?" Hermione asked, looking worried.

He shoved his schedule under her nose, "What's that say?"

Harry noticed her trying to conceal a smile, "I believe it says Divination."

Ron groaned. "That's what I thought." He put his head on the table.

"Well, don't you have a fifty-fifty shot of having Firenze. He wouldn't be all that bad really," Harry said, trying not to grin.

"Read the line under it," came Ron's muffled reply.

Hermione grabbed the schedule and read, "Trelawney."

"Now who's laughing?" Ginny asked, a wicked grin spreading across her face. Ron glared at her. "Shall we go?" she suggested, standing. As Harry and Ginny stood, their shoulders bumped, sending a tingle down Harry's arm.

They walked Ginny to the stairs leading to the dungeon where she met up with Colin who was also heading to Potions.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to Defense Against the Dark Arts. When they got there, Tonks wasn't to be seen, but her office door was shut, so they assumed that's where she was.

They were some of the first in the room. There were only two other occupants, both of whom looked familiar to Harry. The girl was reading a book in the far corner. The boy was sleeping, head on the desk, beside her.

"Well, this should be an interesting lesson. I wonder if Tonks can manage it without breaking anything," Hermione said smiling, as she pulled out her Advanced Defense book.

"Can you imagine calling Tonks professor?" Ron asked.

"That is going to be weird," Harry commented.

"Imagine all she knows! She is an Auror after all," Hermione said with great interest.

All of the sudden the girl in the corner started sobbing.

Petunia rolled over and covered her eyes with her arm. The sun was coming in through the blinds letting her know a new day had started. She moved her arm and squinted at the clock. It read 'nine-fifteen AM'.

'I suppose that's a sign…not being woken up at five to do something…' she thought.

She got up, pulled on some of her designer lounging clothes and opened her door. The house was eerily quiet. There were no sounds of Dudley's stupid television shows wafting up from every television. No sound of muttering from the kitchen as Vernon read the paper.

Petunia walked to the kitchen. On the table next to a bouquet of petunias was a note.

My Darling Petunia,

Dudley and I are very sorry for last night.

'What about our entire married life?' she thought bitterly.

I got a call from work; something urgent came up with our newest shipment, so I made sure Dudley moved all his stuff out of his room, and then drove him to school—

'First day of school! Some mother I am…'

and drove into work. I'll pick Dudley up when I'm done. Have a day off today. Dudley and I will pick up when we get home.

-Vernon

"How nice of him," she muttered. "'Take a day off…'"

Petunia went to the fridge and took out a low carb bagel and smothered it in low fat cream cheese. She ate it as she walked up the stairs to Dudley's room.

When she pushed the door open, she nodded in approval. Dudley had done as she had asked. His television, computer, video games, game cube, remote control cars…

everything (except the books) had been removed.

The bed was even made. Petunia licked the last of the cream cheese from her fingers as she walked to the closet. She opened it and found a box of chips and snack cakes, like she had expected.

She dumped the food on the bed, opened a bag of chips and started sorting through all Dudley's reading material, most of which was never touched.

By the time Petunia was done, the bag of chips was empty and the box was entirely full of every comic book Dudley owned, all the car, motorcycle, and bike magazines and every Playboy magazine she found under his mattress. All that was left on the shelf were some wildlife magazines, books a distant cousin always sent him, a mystery novel he'd probably stolen since she didn't remember buying it and a Bible, quite as untouched as the wildlife stuff.

She lifted the box, bending over with its weight and carried it to Harry's room. She noticed all of Dudley's stuff on the far side of Harry's bed. She put the box of books on the TV. As she turned, she froze. The loose floorboard was still up, the false bottom lying next to it. James, Lily, and Sirius were peering up at her. Petunia's heart thudded in her chest. If Dudley saw that…

"Where's my wand!" she yelped suddenly. Petunia sank to the floor afraid of what she wouldn't see. She bent over and looked under the bed, letting out the breath she'd been holding. Lying in wait in a bed of dust was her wand. She clutched it to her and leaned against the bed, putting the picture in her lap.

As she was staring at it, James lunged at a laughing Sirius and they began to wrestle. Lily chuckled at them and then turned to face Petunia, her emerald eyes seemed to look right into Petunia's heart.

Lily and Petunia gazed at each other for a few minutes. Then Lily gave a small smile, and Petunia's eyes filled with tears. James stood up, wrapped his arms around Lily's waist, burying his face in her red hair. Lily watched Petunia a few seconds more and then spun to return James's embrace.

Petunia's tears fell as she began to rock back and forth.

"I'm so sorry, Lily," she cried. "What have I done? I made his life horrible, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry…I was just scared and angry…but I'll make it up to him…please forgive me, Lily."

Petunia wiped her eyes and placed her wand back in the secret compartment. She glanced at the picture one last time and placed it on top of her wand. As she replaced the false bottom, Lily broke from her hug, looked Petunia in the eyes and nodded.