CHAPTER 2

The door opened, and was accosted by the face of her childhood best friend, Severus Snape. Severus Snape leaning against the doorway, clutching a bundle of blankets to his chest looking like he'd just been through an exhausting cardio workout.

"My God Severus, what happened to you? You look absolutely horrible! And what on earth are you holding? Get inside immediately and I'll make some tea." Petunia fretted over the man as he leaned against the wall.

"Of course, if you'd just help us inside. I'm a mite under the weather" He replied, his face revealing his true exhaustion.

Petunia put the man's arm over her shoulder and half carried him to her living room where Ethan was playing on the floor. They clumsily avoided his toys and got Severus and his blankets settled on the couch by her window. She immediately left the room to make some tea, and Severus finally relaxed. By the time she got back he was asleep.

After setting the tea tray down, Petunia grabbed the bundle Severus had been holding only to be shocked when it began crying. A tiny scarred face looked up at her, and she knew exactly why Lily hadn't written last night. This baby was the one and only Harry Potter. Another fact quickly introduced itself with the smell of warm iron in the air. Severus was bleeding and bleeding dangerously quickly. The wound on his stomach had been hidden by Harry's blanket and perhaps even stoppered by a spell, but it was back with a vengeance and Petunia was not letting possibly the only man who had answers for her bleed out. Not to mention the possible police involvement. She immediately called her husband to get the first aid and sewing kits, and began applying pressure to the wound.

It wasn't quick or easy, but Petunia eventually stopped the bleeding with nail glue and pressure, then sewed him up with her husband's taxidermy thread. Thankfully whatever wounded Severus hadn't cut open his organs. Once he was no longer making a complete mess of her living room, she was able to talk with Carlyle.

"So would you like to explain the presence of a strange man in my home or would you prefer me to make an assumption?' He joked, knowing full well his wife was faithful.

"It's Severus"

"Your friend from elementary school? The wizard?"

"Yes, that Severus. Not a very common name, is it?"

"And do you suppose the baby with him was his?" Carlyle looked to the bundle on the floor. Ethan had already begun to look him over as if expecting Harry to pop up like a jack in the box.

"No, it's Harry. Lily's son Harry."

"Oh my God" Carlyle looked stunned for a moment. "Do you suppose this means she's..."

"Dead. She wouldn't leave him otherwise. And she didn't write last night" That's when Petunia broke down sobbing.

Carlyle led Petunia to their bed, got Ethan and Harry situated in their crib and on a floor bed respectively, and began to think as he cleaned up the blood. If Lily had been a witch and witchcraft was hereditary, that meant Harry was most likely one as well. As was this Severus fellow. If Petunia was correct, and Lily was dead, that meant Carlyle now had a way into the magical community. He'd always wondered how magic would impact both the soul and the physical body, and now he had a way to find out. Of course, he'd never hurt or kill another human, but he had heard of magical creatures and every good taxidermist knows a creature will die somewhere at some time. You just have to be there to find it.

"I really would love to stuff a dragon" He said aloud, but there was no response.

The day went by and Severus slept, Petunia went out and bought baby supplies with Harry, and Carlyle tended to the cows and explained to Ethan that he had a new brother. By day three of Severus sleeping, everyone was concerned. Day four was when he finally woke.