Hello my beautiful people! It has been so long right?

But I finally have chapters for you! Thank you Nanowrimo lol.

Reviews:

Mariana Masen - Thank you! Hope this meets your expectations!

Annie - Thank you!

A/N: I'm just saying this in case some people reading this turn out to be hardcore Dursley hater. Wouldn't blame you, I am one of you. BUT - I am trying to find and delve into the deeper aspects of what happened for Harry to be treated like this. I won't bother to find Vernon's reasons, he is just the plain worst. But Petunia; now that is a fascinating character. And like all fascinating characters, she wasn't done the justice she deserved. No, instead we got..Snape - yeah. Now, I don't know how far I'm willing to believe the whole jealousy being the only motivation behind her actions, if people were that simple, life would be boring.

So I see this scenario. Petunia hasn't had any contact with her sister, one who already hurt her way before Petunia hurt Lily. She wasn't the only condescending one to the other sister (Lily's letter to Sirius). Plus I doubt Lily was any more willing to mend her relationship with Petunia as the older sister. That, and a baby left on her doorstep with that same sister's death news given so caustically and without any proper explanation. Yeah, there is a lot that went unexplored with Petunia Evans.

Moving on!

9 November, 1981

Harry stared up at Lisa with big, green, glimmering eyes. Soft coos escaped him, his baby limbs jerking from where she'd sat him on the dresser in his room. She'd held up two muggle baby shirts in front of him, a green one to match his beautiful eyes, and another grey one. Naturally, the one the baby boy laughed and clapped at was selected.

Lisa carefully trussed him up into a magical nappy – cloth based with a vanishing charm woven into the threads. This was so much better than the atrocity muggles put on their babies. She'd heard they were from some plastic material. Strange, at least the magical nappy wasn't harsh on the skin and it could be worn the whole day until the charm wore off and it could be washed and recycled so that the spell could be redone.

Sliding his feet into little shorts, Lisa allowed Harry a choice in his socks as well. He went with a blue one, with black broomsticks on it that she quickly took away before he could shove them into his mouth. Harry let out a loud screech, kicking out his feet and making it harder to put on the socks and shoes on him.

"Please Harry," Lisa whispered, nervously, desperately.

Today was an important day for little Harry, for Lisa too…and she suspected, for Dumbledore as well. Today, on a bright Monday, he would be seeing his maternal aunt for the very first time. She wanted to take this as delicately and slowly as she possibly could – unlike her actions in taking away Harry Potter from Privet Drive itself.

Dumbledore had assured her there would be no interference but she couldn't bring herself to quite trust that. After all, he had been very willing – eager even – to leave Harry to his horrid relatives. She wasn't about to become naïve suddenly and start trusting when suspicion had kept her alive for so very long.

Behind her, Remus sat on Harry's low bed, watching with those tired eyes at the mild tantrum his best friend's child threw and your attempts at soothing the boy. In the end, it took giving him the second sock to put in his mouth for him to quiet down. Lisa had to put on his other shoe without anything under it.

"What do you think, how does he look?"

"Thoroughly muggle," Remus replied lightly.

Lisa pushed hair out of her eyes, smiling thinly before sobering. "Do…do you have any…ideas about what can be expected?"

Remus didn't look at Lisa. His eyes remained on the little boy still on the dresser, waving the sock before shoving it against his face. Lisa idly hoped he wouldn't insist on taking the wet sock with him.

"I only know what Lily used to tell me. That Petunia was her elder sister, that the relationship had been strained ever since she discovered she was a witch. We all suspected it was jealousy; that she was turned down by Dumbledore once, or so Lily used to say. From the way I've heard her hate us; I can't imagine her actually wanting magic in her veins. Be that as it may, the bridge was never rebuilt in the years Lily went back home. And after she married James, well…" Remus looked at Lisa then. "I think she could be very nasty if she needed to be. Lisa, do you want me to come with you and Harry?"

The question was posed calmly, like all the times he had offered before. There was no suspicion that she might try and run away again with the Boy-Who-Lived. After all, she had run away with him to keep him from the Dursleys once. She was astounded to think that Dumbledore would still allow her to go off alone with Harry.

And that was exactly why she didn't trust Dumbledore to not meddle somehow.

If he had shown his hand, so had she a little bit. Remus in her house – no matter how much she liked him – was proof enough of that. She knew there had to be someone in Privet Drive who would be reporting back to the Mighty Wizard.

"No Remus," She answered, just as calmly. "It's best to go alone, since I think she'll be alone as well. Nothing good will come from this if she thinks we're ganging up on her."

He nodded, looking down for a moment before sighing.

"Since you are going…could you do something for me? It's about…the funeral. James," He cleared his throat. "The Potters are all gone, and Lily's parents too – Petunia is the only living relation either one of them had…"

"Oh," Lisa said softly.

"They're at the ministry now. But…they will be released soon and we need to – I need to, without Sirius – I,"

"Remus," Lisa gently cut him off, "I understand. I will ask her."

She left Remus sitting there on the bed, looking out the window dejected and stricken. With Harry gathered up in her arms and her cloak around her shoulders she exited her house, the awkwardness that flooded her at dealing with the deaths of two strangers heavy in her chest.

Lisa decided not to take the Knight Bus straight to the Dursleys' house. There were appearances that needed to be maintained and she doubted popping out of thin air was going to help her matters.

She threw her wand arm out, stepping too many steps back to safety when the Bus arrived. The conductor was different this time, another lanky wizard needing a job. She gave a safe spot as location in Little Whinging and climbed on.

Naturally, Harry found the triple Decker bus the best thing ever. His screamed his joy at the mismatched chair, the shining chandeliers overhead. He called out the words of the things he knew, wiggled to be put down, laughed and chortled loudly when the bus threw itself through its apparition portal, nearly causing her to topple.

Lisa cursed in a volume low enough that it wouldn't reach Harry's ears, holding tight to him. There was no way she was putting him down at all, not when she, for the first time, had taken Harry Potter outside into the world.

After a few minutes of struggle with a baby; he finally went silent, becoming content to stare out the window at the flashing scenery. He babbled at the stuffed bear she had brought along to engage him, pulling at the fur.

"Wha' tha'?"

"That's trees Harry."

"Tree!"

"Yes, baby, good."

He asked about the things he saw, as she got off some distance away from a bus station that Lisa had already seen in a map. She walked with Harry, letting him stretch his feet before getting onto another bus – a muggle one.

This ride was slower, Harry's questions increasing as he pointed out the things he remembered to her and asked for the names of more. Sign posts, cars, signals, things he'd never seen – all sparked the boy's curiosity.

People came up to him on both busses, gentle and loving words of affection crooned at the baby that had Lisa tensing in her seat, clasping the baby tighter in her lap. With each kindly word aimed at the baby, there was one aimed at her as well. She patted down Harry's fringe to hide the scar on his head a bit more.

The muggle bus was a bit different.

Having a baby too young in the muggle world was something frowned upon. The grandmothers and older women who crooned at the baby shot her side glances, judging the cloak around her, the exhaustion in her young face that held aged eyes.

She couldn't have been happier to exit the bus at the Privet Drive station.

This bus station was smaller than most, made only to drop off the residents of the suburb and school children. It was near empty at the moment, already having seen the traffic gone and children off to school.

Lisa made sure she had everything she had brought with her; Harry, the toy, her bag, her cloak and her wits; before setting off on a brisk walk towards the street she had visited only once. Harry was back in her arms, quiet after a long time, watching the bizarre muggle street.

It hadn't been that long ago that Lisa had seen this very street in her dreams, horrible images of a wailing child left alone, fed bare scraps, sleeping alone under a stairs that would rattle and creak with every inconsiderate footstep.

She stopped just a few houses away from Number 4. The porch and threshold looked just the same, minus a car, minus a wiggling baby left in the cold. She looked at Harry.

The baby looked back at her, confused by the stare mounted on him. He was so small, so curious and bright but so small…did she really want to bring him into this? Could she keep him safely away from this?

Internally, she screamed and raged at the thought of a little boy going through the things that…that she once…

She shook her head quickly to dispel the thought.

She knew the answer to her question. No, she couldn't keep Harry Potter safe by herself. She needed Dumbledore's assistance. And to fail him now would be disastrous. He would take Harry away permanently. At least this would give her an opening for another negotiation. She just needed to do this till she could come up with a plan.

She started to walk again, feeling just a bit conscious of her muggle clothes.

Having juggled the lifestyles of muggle and magic for too long, Lisa found that muggle wear was good for more than just one thing. She could move freely, there were pockets that she could magically enlarge, accessories which she could enchant.

However, she was in a posh muggle settlement where the worst of the breed lived. There was no telling what Petunia Dursley would nitpick on. Thankfully, Vernon Dursley was already gone.

Hoping things wouldn't go as badly as everyone feared she raised her fist and rapped the heavy wooden door three times.

Lisa didn't hear anything for a bit. She knocked again; a little more insistent and even Harry managed to land a whack on the door that had him giggling.

Finally there was a shuffle inside, before the door was opened just an inch. Thin, narrowed eyes stared at her, becoming slowly confused at her appearance; a cloak draped over a simple day shirt and skirt.

Petunia Dursley opened the door further, yellow blonde hair primly pinned to the side of her neck that was pulled just out of its careful cluster. There were stains on the pretty blue dress that draped over her bony frame. Her too long neck was pulled taut away from the bulk that she cradled in her arms.

Lisa stared at the boy that Petunia held. With a shiny pink face and huge chubby cheeks, a thatch of blond hair grew out of his head and he stared at the newcomers with sullen blue eyes. A perfect combo of the Dursley genes, Lisa thought, clutching Harry closer.

"Yes?" Petunia finally asked.

Lisa met Petunia's eyes.

"My name is Lisa Westfield. This is your nephew, Harry Potter. I suppose you received my letter about ten days ago?" She said politely.

Faded blue eyes widened, her chin wobbled, her color heightened.

Her mouth finally parted to let out a weak whimper and her arms loosened to drop to her sides. The only problem was that she had forgotten that she was, in fact carrying a child and the child in question did not like being dropped.

The baby boy gave a shriek that had both women scrambling to catch him. As much as Lisa had seen this boy grow up to be a detestable bully; she also knew that it had been because his parents were thoroughly monstrous. She wasn't about to actually wish the child get hurt.

Lisa's free hand just barely grabbed under the boy's waist, Petunia – still shaken, managing to grab his arms and heft him back up to cradle him. Her fingers found Lisa's flinching away before she all but lashed out at the younger woman. Lisa withdrew, rubbing Harry's back who had frozen a little in her arms at the sudden movements.

His big green eyes were blown open, cheeks reddening and Lisa bounced him a little, trying to soothe out whatever had brought on the cloud over his head.

"What are you doing here? And…you…you took him; why are you back here now? You and your kind aren't welcome here!" Petunia Dursley hissed.

Lisa glanced at her.

"Maybe if you allow me to step inside we could discuss it and I could explain things to you. I mean you and your family no harm, really. I honestly don't care about you. I'm here for him." Lisa nodded at Harry.

Petunia hesitated. She glanced at the rubbing and soothing gestures that Lisa made for her nephew, and then looked at Harry again, nervous. Finally, she glanced at her boy as if coming to a decision. Her shoulders slumped and her neck quickly swiveled to look around.

"Fine, come in, hurry before anyone sees you!"

The inside of the house was staggeringly…common. The walls were dull peaches and pinks, the floor a simple pale wood and white tile. Gold and cream accents highlighted the already pristine condition the house was kept in.

Not nearly so, as she spied a mess in the pink and white kitchen where Petunia was presumably attempting to feed and entertain her son. She glanced again at the spotted dress Petunia had on, comparing it to the outward appearance of her home.

Lisa was aware that children made messes. Living anywhere was bound to leave your imprint. Even before Harry, her home had never been this strategically tidy. There were books on her tables, parchment and quills in her drawers, ointments and muggle whatnots around that she felt she might need. With Harry, there was an added life in her place. There were his toys strewn where he would take them, his clothes were about, being washed or dried. Books were accompanied by cans of food for babies and formulas and mashes that he liked.

Even Remus's bags now decorated her living room.

Petunia waved a vague hand to the living room, keeping a tight hold on her son. Lisa held on to Harry tighter and this time he didn't seem to mind. He didn't struggle to be let down. Instead, with his hand now stuffed in his mouth, he watched with those big bright eyes.

The women sat down opposite each other on cream sofas, boys on their laps.

Petunia didn't offer her anything and neither did Lisa think she could bring herself to accept if she had. All her past instincts of paranoia and mistrust swirled within her, ready to lash out, to poke and prod at anything that seemed out of place. In theory, Lisa knew she and Harry couldn't be hurt here – but she could never math out the odds, not with so many variables.

Harry turned his attention from a set of vases to his aunt. Lisa watched Petunia reluctantly glance at him before her eyes flickered, looking away again. She mumbled something.

"Sorry?" Lisa asked immediately.

Petunia flushed. "I said he's got her eyes. Not much to say for his looks – I'd say they're of his fathers'? I didn't know him."

Lisa shrugged. The face of his father, set with his mother's eyes…there were worse things to happen to a child; all of which Harry had and could potentially face.

"I'm surprised you remember." She spoke. "The eyes, I mean."

Petunia looked at Lisa, her chin wobbling as she ducked it a little. "You don't forget eyes like Lily's."

Their eyes met. Lisa's common brown ones gazed into Petunia's pale blue ones – with the ability to turn flinty when needed. Not as uncommon as her sister and nephews', but not nearly as without impact as she thought. "I wouldn't know," Lisa said finally, "I didn't know them."

Those blue eyes grew wide with astonishment. "You didn't know them – yet, you took their son?"

Lisa looked down at the boy. She could only see part of Harry's face and his mass of hair from the angle he sat on her legs. But it was obvious he was observing, trying to place and failing to, his aunt. "He deserved to be loved."

Her answer did nothing to take the curiosity away from Petunia's eyes. If anything; it made her narrow her eyes, purse her lips. She probably doubted her, Lisa thought but she wasn't here for her approval.

"Would you have been able to love him, if I hadn't taken him?" She asked instead, already knowing the answer.

Petunia looked down at Harry, staring at him as if she was truly considering her answer. Lisa saw flashes of uncertainty, anger, hurt and resignation cross her long face before she said simply and softly, "I don't know."

Lisa didn't push it. It wasn't her place to after all. She didn't come here to mend the bridge Petunia and Lily had burned years ago. Those ashes would not touch Harry – not anymore. She only came because she had to.

Quietly – and somewhat gently – she began to explain what kind of ritual Dumbledore had done. The invocation, the basis, the requirements of it – on both sides…she explained them as succinctly and carefully as she could, wondering – if after she was done, Petunia would agree at all, or would she rave and kick them out. A part of Lisa hoped for the latter but was curious nonetheless.

Petunia didn't speak for a while after she was done. She ran a hand over her son's blond thatch and sighed. "I know; I got Dumbledore's," Lisa caught the barest hint of resentment, "letter. He said what he'd done, but…I didn't understand fully – until now." She didn't thank Lisa.

She looked at Harry again, those blue eyes blank.

At that precise moment, Harry squirmed. He pulled his fist out of his mouth, waved it a little and turned to give Lisa a pleading look, whining. Great, he wanted to be let go now.

"Behave Harry," She told him, ignoring his second whine. "I think it's time we should go."

Lisa gathered her bag and Harry's toy, handing it to him as she cradled him close in the folds of her cloak. Thankfully, she hadn't had to remove it.

Petunia didn't interfere with her rummaging, standing farther away as she watched Lisa march to the front door.

"As per my agreement with Dumbledore, I have to keep coming here…at some intervals, to maintain the blood protection on Harry." She said with her hand on the gleaming knob.

"Do you have to?" Petunia's voice was dull, weighed down by something that had Lisa turn around to look at her. She clasped her son close to her chest, her face almost hiding behind him. The boy, now, had a scowl on his face as he kicked thick legs out. It was a marvel he had sat still when they exchanged words before.

It then struck Lisa, that all those talks of burning bridges, of cruelty, of bitter acceptance…they were a thing that Harry might never have to deal with. But this, this was something Lisa was facing herself.

It wasn't anger, it was fear. And Lisa was well-versed in both those sentiments.

"I'll see what I can do." She said before pausing, looking at Petunia again, much more carefully.

"The…bodies…are going to be released soon. Do you think you want to be in charge of the funeral?" She asked.

Petunia gasped, as if she had been burned and she drew further away as if Lisa had threatened her with a match. She shook her head, once, twice before giving her a gloomy look. "Where is she?"

"The Ministry,"

Petunia shook her head again, as if trying to dispel understanding of their worlds. "What can I do? What should I do?"

Lisa knew the questions were rhetorical. She had had a baby of her own; she was getting into a routine of her own. She might not have cared for Lily at all, but the death of a sister was the death of a sister. Lisa had just barged into her life at a delicate time, even though she herself felt no sympathy for the woman, for what she could and would do were she given the chance.

But she could empathize with a woman who had no clue how to wade through her world.

"You could be there." Lisa said. "Be there for her in her death, I suppose."

Petunia scoffed lightly, face flushing crimson but she shrugged regardless, "I think I'd like to be there – when they're buried."

Lisa's forehead cleared. Petunia had just shirked off the duties of the funeral to her, maybe because she didn't know what or how to do it but it didn't matter. This was better, for it to be in the Wizarding worlds' hands. Remus would have to be the one to make the arrangements but Lisa had a suspicion he wanted to do it anyway, just didn't know how to ask for it.

Lisa nodded, letting herself out and shutting the door. The sun bore down on her head, tiredness from the day now making itself known.

"Come on Harry, let's go home."

The baby in her arms mumbled, waving his hands to her face and peered at her closely, almost as if checking on her. Lisa pressed a kiss to his head, checking the time. It was almost time for his nap.

Not wanting to go through the buses again, Lisa walked to the nearest shade, checking once to see if anyone was about in the gardens or at the windows and bundled Harry up in her cloak, holding his toy and her bag tightly.

Closing her eyes, she spun once, a sharp crack marking her exit from the muggle world.

And that's that for now! We are into the Dursley stage and will slowly ease into the next!

Hope you like it!