Chapter 30: Ice cream of the past

Holly grinned so wide, one might think her face would get stuck like that forever. She was trying to restrain her excitement, but she simply couldn't. For a couple of moments she could only stare at it in awe and beauty; it was majestic, graceful, simply one of a kind...

Has a chocolate-vanilla ice cream ever looked so... amazing?

"Stare at it any longer and it might melt away because of the attention." Her Uncle's soft and amused voice stated from across the table. Holly looked horrified at the idea and she gasped in horror as she already saw a couple of drops slide from their freezing castle above. She quickly licked them clean- how dare they try to run away from their majestic icy kingdom? Only penalty awaits such fools!

Assured that everything was fine now, a smile graced her child face as she stared at the land of ice and cream in her hand. Her uncle blinked a couple of times, before he stated firmly.

" You should start eating it now."

"But it's so... beautiful."

"It's not meant to be looked at, but eaten, alright? Now, go ahead." Holly bit her lip in worry as she started at her Uncle with fearful eyes. Destroy such a majestic place? With her own mouth and tongue? Never!

"B-but..." She protested weakly, yet her Uncle remained firm and absolute. "No buts. Eat it." He glanced at his own cup of ice cream, as he took a chunk of his strawberry- raspberry kingdom with his spoon and ('My God!' She thought.) lifted it to his awaiting mouth, where the pinkish substance met its doom. "Think of it this way." He spoke as he swallowed, finally giving up and trying to reason with her."In this heat it will melt sooner or later. Why make it go to waste?"

Holly pouted a bit, making sure that her uncle didn't see it. Were all adults so stupid? Did they not see the beauty in front of them?

She swallowed nervously as she glanced at her kingdom- it was amazing, but uncle was right. They were sitting in a ice-cream parlor in a square near town. But despite being in the shade, the ice cream was still melting (more rapidly than before). 'If I let it melt then Uncle's money will go to waste... But if I eat it, I will destroy its prettiness.' Her eyes determined as she made her decision. It would vanish anyway- why give it a painful and slow death?

It would be her first time ever eating ice-cream.

At one point nerves caught her as she brought it to her lips- but then all thoughts disappeared as the taste attacked her senses. It was cool, yet it was amazingly sweet. The combination of vanilla and chocolate made her step into a dream like state as she kept licking.

Her uncle seemed unaware of her expression as he looked at the street to his right. He seemed to have already eaten his own ice-cream, as wandering thoughts now entered his mind.

"Say, Holly..." He spoke after awhile, effectively snapping her out of her trance at the call of her name. "What are your dreams?" He said absent mindedly, still looking to the side.

'My... Dreams?' She stopped licking altogether now, staring at her uncle with wide eyes. "What...do you mean?" She spoke cautiously.

"What have you always wanted? What do you want to achieve someday? Your greatest desires, your wishes and dreams." Holly thought about it carefully- her dreams? She'd never really desired stuff...

Well, for now her dream was to wake up one day in a cave filled with ice cream of all kind- hers for the taking. Holly shook her head- perhaps that was one of her current dreams and wishes.

Her greatest dream though, was something else. She had always wanted what Dudley had. To be loved and nurtured- to be woken up with smiles and affection, not rough knocking and a frown laced with disappointment. She remembered when she was younger, when she still slept in that cupboard, and how she always prayed to God to fulfill her wish. She promised that she would never forget it or take it for granted. Because she desperately yearned for it.

But now? What did she desire now? Before it was what Dudley had- love. But now?

She wanted a family.

She desperately wished for what others had in her class- a mum and a dad. The parents that looked out for you. Or maybe just hugged you and played with you. And every time she thought of it, her heart would burst of yearning and overwhelming guilt. She did not deserve that- she had gotten more than enough. Acknowledgement from her own uncle, which she now viewed as her own father figure at times. And despite all odds, her aunt had left her alone for the time being. She, who was now selfishly taking advantage of Dudley's position, deserved no more.

And for that sole reason she remained silent.

"You know, when I was your age myself." He spoke, eyes faraway, his voice hollow. "I got bullied a lot because of my weight. Most of the kids in my street were poor, so they hated me. And I was...a lot like you Holly." He turned to stare at her, his words suprising her.

"I tried to ignore them or I simply ran off when I could, and I endured the kicks when they came. At one point, I truly believed all their taunts; that no one would want me ever and that I would die alone with no friends. I guess, that was my boiling point. I remember crying in my room for hours, not being able to eat a thing." Holly stared wide eyed as her mind couldn't believe what he was telling her- sharing her past with her right now.

" And then, you're aunt Marge came in." He spoke, his words covered with fondness, while Holly could only wince at the many unpleasant memories of her raging mouth and similar bulldogs. "She had sat on my bed, and listened to me cry as I poured out everything. And then she hugged me, got up and left the room."

" And then the next morning...everything changed for me. When I came to school, right there at the front gates, was my older sister beating up all my bullies. I couldn't believe it though- I thought I just walked into a dream. And let me tell you, she wasn't very slim either. And after she saw me, she stopped, turned to me and said: "Be proud of who you are." And I can't tell you how much thse words meant to me. They saved me." Holly probably shouldn't have been that surprised seeing how much aunt Marge adored her younger brother. She kept on listening with interest as her uncle scratched the back of his head.

"I can't really tell you that I myself wasn't violent- because that isn't true. I didn't search out other students to harm them, but I wasn't necessary gentle when they had taunted me either. But I truly do owe it to my sister; she gave me strength. And soon I found myself finishing college, a new carrier ahead of me as I became a manager of a certain drilling company." He winked her way, Holly realizing what the certain drilling company really meant. She grinned a bit in response.

He smiled so gently and his eyes became so soft as he spoke his next words. "And then... I met your aunt. And she was- she was..." Holly must of licked that ice cream too much; she could of sworn she saw a pink stain on her uncle's cheeks! "God! She was amazing. I mean..." He coughed into his hand then as he regained his senses." Your aunt was... very, very kind. She was so...warm and sweet, and I admit that she wasn't very good looking, but her smile was enchanting to me." Uncle Vernon sighed fondly and probably noticed the look of disbelief on Holly's face as he laughed suddenly. It was bitter and strained. "I know that you probably can't imagine that right now... And I don't blame you." The aura suddenly got sad and it seemed to suck out all of uncle's fleeting joy, but it thankfully didn't last long as he continued.

"And I guess she had begun to slowly change from our wedding. I was very happy that day- I was getting married to a wonderful woman who loved me for who I was, I had a job and I was simply satisfied with my life. Your aunt was happy too. Yet... I can't really say that the wedding went smoothly. I mean; it did for the most part." At this part even Holly noticed how increasingly uncomfortable her uncle became. "Well... If I remember correctly, I think it was your father that...let's say, joked around a bit." Holly felt herself blush crimson; her own father had almost destroyed a wedding?! Well, if that was the case...

"I didn't meant to say it like that Holly." He apologized. "That was not you're mistake- you have nothing to regret." She frowned, but upon seeing his strict face she managed to nod with some difficulty. "Well... Your aunt had been really mad at both of your parents then, and I'm not really sure if she had fought with her sister, you're mother, that exact day- but from that day on we never came in contact again. You're aunt didn't seem to want to and I didn't want to bother or pester her, as I respected her wishes."

"I think...that after all those years our disliking for one another had turned to hatred. Your aunt had changed in a way; she had burned all her family photos, and she never spoke to her sister again. Not once. I think that she was slowly changing into a woman that you once knew- it just that hatred never came to view until you came into our home. And then... Well... I think you know what happens then." Holly winced as her eyes were set squarely on her lap; her fingers tightly holding the hem of her over-used dress. She hoped that the conversation would be left at that- a small painful reminder. But it didn't, as many other things for her never did.

"I had... disliked you for the same reason your aunt did. And I believed I was... right in doing so." This time they both flinched painfully. " But I was wrong." He whispered and for a moment she thought that she had only imagined it.

" I was so caught up in my success and pitiful pride that I have forgotten a fundamental lesson. Life." He seemed to smile cruelly for a moment. "It is a bitch. And you should know not to forget that Holly." He murmured to the slightly stunned girl. Time has passed since he has last sweared, and she couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her at his tone of voice.

" I had finally realized my mistake- because you should always be proud of who you are, that is true. But despite that, you shouldn't forget that there are always ways to improve yourself and change- to achieve something more." He whispered. "I was too blind to see that and I finally realized it all until recently. Until it was too late." Here he stopped momentarily, gave a long sigh before he took out and lit his cigarette. Holly barely saw him through the clouds of smoke which seemed to purposely hide his face from her view. She coughed a bit as some smoke entered her nose, and she quickly cleared her vision and lungs.

"Holly." Her Uncle was holding her hands now, and Holly squirmed at the uncomfortable sensation- it still unnerved her. "Your aunt is very tired and sad... And I think she strongly believes that she had lost everything dear to her. And I know that this might sound difficult to ask of but..." He seemed to close his eyes tightly before opening them, their gazes interlocked. They were a colour of red leaves and peanuts; desperate yet determined.

"Whatever happens... Don't ever leave her."

Her heart stopped and her stomach leaped. Her eyes were wide and her legs shook a bit. Her hands shivered inside his own and she gulped loudly. Could she truly do that? The woman despised her so much- would it had not been better to actually leave as soon as she was able to? To end her misery... For uncle didn't mention it, but she knew who the woman blamed. She could never forget those mad, blue eyes...

Her mind was determined with her decision- there was not a chance she could fulfill this task. Because it was just impossible.

"I promise."

A/N: This is the longest chapter by far- and it's kinda an apology gift for being so late with updating. Well I had no choice really. Don't you just hate it when life buts in and gets you out of your small hole with your headphones and phone or other digital gadget, while you scroll through the internet, wasting away?

Ahem- jokes aside, things are beginning to get serious. As in Sirius serious. As always the many follows and favorites are much appreciated.

A special shout out to God of all: Thank you for following my story dude/dudette? This guy/girl here reviewed my story from when it was barely sprouting (despite the fact that his reviews are always exactly the same- which kinda creeps me out- but NEVERMIND).

Disclaimer before I pass out to my bed: I don not own Harry Potter.