Chapter 4, Privet Drive

Monday 2nd November 1981

9:09

Rose was sat at the petite dining room table with several books spread around her - her address book, which thankfully had Petunia and that husband of her's address in, a map of the surrounding area and a timetable of the buses to Surrey, as a taxi would be too expensive and Rose couldn't drive, again due to the costs of running a car and learning to drive.

Rose found the best bus to take her to Petunia's house, No. 4 Privet Drive, and saw that she would have a 10 or so minute walk from the bus stop to Privet Drive.

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Around 1 hour later

Rose was lost in deep thought on her walk to Privet Drive, thinking about whether Petunia would know anything about what happened to Lily and her family - as unlikely as it seemed considering everyone Lily knew knew how close she was with Rose and how strained her relationship was with Petunia, so why would anyone tell Petunia and not Rose, she wondered.

'Then again,' thought Rose, 'Petunia's my last chance of finding out what happened until Ruby returns and who knows when that might be. I mean, I can hardly hop on a bus all the way from down here to Hogwarts in Scotland. And I'm pretty sure Lily mentioned once that Hogwarts is invisible to Muggles unless you're already keyed into the wards, so visiting Petunia really is my last hope for now,' Rose concluded.

Just then she rounded the corner of Privet Drive.

'Aha, right No. 4, where is it? Oh there!' she exclaimed as she spotted it.

As she observed No. 4 she noted that everything from the house, to the lawn, to the flowerbeds looked pristine. The grass looked recently trimmed and was a luscious green colour, despite the approaching winter. And the pavement outside the house was clear of all stray leaves from the nearby trees, as though it had only been brushed 10 minutes before.

Rose finished her silent observation and took a deep breath.

Now was the time to speak to the sister she hadn't spoken to in just over a year. The last time being at Dudley's christening when she'd defended Lily from Vernon's insults and Petunia had rounded on her, telling her to leave straight away before she caused a bigger fuss.

No that had not been a good day, Rose recalled.

Anyway, time to knock on the door and hope that Petunia would at least invite her in to have a little chat.

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Knock knock

A couple of minutes later Rose was about to leave, thinking that Petunia must be out. Suddenly the door was wrenched open and there stood a tall, thin and rather ugly woman.

That woman was Petunia.

Each woman stood on their side of the door, looking each other up and down, before Rose (realising that Petunia wasn't about to say anything anytime soon) started with "Tuney."

"Primrose," Petunia responded, stiff with surprise, still taking in her sister's beautiful features and how much she looked like Li-her.

"May I come in please? It's rather cold out here," Rose asked.

It was as though all of a sudden Petunia had come back to her senses. "What do you want," she snapped, "I'm busy enough as it is without you turning up on my doorstep," she said with disdain.

Rose's face showed the surprise that she was feeling. She hadn't thought that Tuney would have been so sharp-tongued to her only remaining sister, no matter the not-so-good terms they last ended on.

"I wondered if you know anything about what happened to Lily and her famil-" she was cut off.

"What do you mean - of course I know. You left me lumbered with the damn freak!!!" Petunia shrieked.

Rose was well and truly confused by this latest turn of events.

"What? I left you lumbered with the freak? What do you mean? And who are you calling a freak?"

"Don't you play dumb with me Primrose," Petunia all but snarled, "you know exactly what's going on. In fact, I expect you've only come here to get a rise out of me. Yes, that's it," she assured herself, "well it's not working."

Suddenly a scream erupted from nearby.

"Now excuse me while I go and see to the stupid freak," she spat.

And with that she slammed the door in Rose's face.

Rose stood in shock on the doorstep, mulling everything over.

'She seems to think I know what's going on. And what did she mean about having to see to the freak? Wait a minute, does that mean that Harry's alive? Who else would she refer to as a freak? And it was a baby's scream. But that doesn't make sense, why would someone place Harry with Petunia if both Lily and James had died - from what Lily said it would have been Sirius or me?'

Rose took a deep breath. 'Too many questions and not enough answers' she thought. 'Time to try again. This time with Plan B.'

Knock knock

The door opened.

"Go away!" she growled.

"Petunia, please. Is Harry there?"

"Of course, who else did you think was screaming so loudly? My little Dudders is such a good little boy he never screams like that!" she replied pompously.

"Maybe that's because he's just lost his mum?" Rose challenged, starting to get a little bit annoyed by Petunia's appalling attitude.

"Yes, of course, if you ask me the world's a much better place without freaks like them clogging it up. Good riddance!"

"For Your Information I Didn't Ask Your Opinion." Rose seethed, "I couldn't give a damn what you think. Now let me see my poor little nephew," she demanded.

"You've changed your tune! Just yesterday you couldn't wait to force him on us what's changed?"

"What on earth do you mean? I know you too well Petunia, I would NEVER leave a wizard or witch under your care, even in my worst nightmares."

"That conversation you had with that Dumble-fool before he left the freak on our doorstep with only a letter! Can you imagine my horror to find the brat on my doorstep with only a bloody letter explaining that my stupid sister and her husband only got themselves blown up and left their freak to my care! MY CARE! Poor Vernon nearly had a heart attack at the news. And then you turn up the next day, demanding to see the freak, only 24 hours after you told that fool 'oh no I can't take care of the boy, no I'm far too young and inexperienced. I know! You should dump him off at Petunia's with just a letter for explanation!' Yes that sounds like a perfect plan doesn't it Primrose!" Petunia ranted.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Dumbledore's not contacted me and I've not contacted him, though I certainly will be following this! I found out that our dear sister died from some wizards talking about it in the café where I work! You imagine that! It's like finding out from a customer at work that Dudley died!," Rose ranted back, "whatever Dumbledore's told you about me is absolutely not true at all and trust me I will be having words with him! Anyway that doesn't matter right now. As you're obviously so put out by looking after Harry I'll take him. Once and for all, right now. I'll get him out of your hair. You won't even have to see me again to sign any custody forms - I'll sort that out for you. Now how does that sound? Pretty good I imagine."

Petunia stood at the door with her mouth hanging wide open, obviously not expecting that response.

"Well hurry up then," Rose chided, "I'm waiting to see my nephew."

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Petunia reluctantly let Rose into her oh-so-perfect house, insisting that she took her shoes off on the doormat, as expected.

When Petunia went to collect Harry Rose noticed that she turned left, when the stairs to the bedrooms were on the right.

"Where are you going? Isn't Harry in a bedroom upstairs?" Rose asked.

At this Petunia faltered. "Um no, he's this way, I'll just get him."

"I'll come with you then," Rose informed her.

Petunia knew she wouldn't be able to get out of this one, remembering how stubborn Rose was from their childhood together. So she reluctantly lead the way to the cupboard-under-the-stairs.

As Petunia put her hand over the door handle Rose finally had to say something. "Why are you going into a cupboard? I thought you were getting Harry, not his things?"

"Um, well, you see" Petunia started blandly and then stopped suddenly, as if deciding that not answering Rose's question would calm her down.

"That's not-" Rose stopped, dead in her tracks as the door to the cupboard opened.

A moments pause.

Then...

"What the hell is Harry doing in a cupboard? On a mattress no less! Why has he got a red mark on one cheek and tears streaming down his face? What have you been doing to him? He's your nephew! Your own flesh and blood! I'm sure your precious Dudley is upstairs in his own spacious room with an actual cot and his own toys! You have a lot to answer for Petunia Dursley!" Rose shrieked.

"How dare you compare him to Dudley! The brat is a freak! A stupid freak who got dropped on us after his parents went and got themselves killed! Nothing good ever comes of freaks! We've done more than enough for him already. We've taken him in out of the kindness of our hearts, fed and changed him. More than enough!" Petunia ranted.

"How dare you call him a freak because he possesses talents you and I don't. You're just jealous and you know it. Lily told me about your letter begging Professor Dumbledore to accept you at Hogwarts. And how can you honestly say you've taken him in out of the kindness of your hearts? For starters you obviously don't have a heart to treat an innocent baby so cruelly, especially after he's just lost both his parents! And secondly you've not even provided him with the basic human rights - under the 1966 Child Protection Act you've not provided him with a sufficient place to sleep, which is classed as an insufficient shelter and a form of child abuse. And don't even get me started on that red handprint on his cheek!" Rose ranted at her sister. "You know what, I've had enough of you and your stupid views! I'm going and I'm taking Harry with me. Right now."

And with that she carefully picked up Harry, turned on her heel, put her shoes on, and left No. 4 Privet Drive, thanking the Gods that she'd got Harry out of that hell-hole, and that she'd kept her temper enough in check not to slap Petunia as she had been so tempted to do.

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A/N: Thanks once again to all the follows, favourites and reviews! I can't believe so many people have read and liked this story in only 3 chapters!!

And just so you know I made that bit up about the 1966 Child Protection Act just so it works with the story. If you're surprised that a 19-year-old knows all that then remember that Rose is doing an apprenticeship at a law firm, as she's hoping to be a lawyer. This bit of information will be important later on in the story!

To my reviewers:

bluepillfanfic - Haha yes that fun will come up within the next few of chapters!

LambdaOfTheDead - Thank you! Glad you're enjoying it!

F.maiden - He's here!! He'll feature a lot more in future chapters!

kirstywilson2004 - Glad you like it!

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