Petunia helped Dudley to swallow the potion brought by a man she had thought lost to her; Severus Snape. Yet another thing she envied Lily for. Once the solution slipped through his throat, she sighed with relief. It was hard for her to see her son like this but if magic can bring him back from the depth his depression, then by God she will use all that she can.

Meanwhile in the other side of the room, Albus Dumbledore continues to peruse her nephew's mind. She had stood in shock when Albus slumped unconscious but when the man sent a glowing bird out the window, Severus Snape came and assured her in his cynical way that the elderly wizard was safe but even he couldn't tell her more. Thus teaching her how to feed potions to her son, he lingered in the room.

Petunia stole a glance at the dour man. As usual, Severus dressed in dark attire but unlike his child counterpart, he was dressed sharply in floor lengths robe. She found his grown physique endearing to her eyes but shut the thought out, fearing that he will hear her. Suddenly Harry started to glow and butterflies magically appeared, fluttering all round him and Albus. Petunia staggered back, torn between rushing to her nephew and the wizard and shielding her son. Severus made the decision for her when he tried to cast a spell and Albus was called back.

The old man opened his baby blue eyes and held onto Severus, "Wait, it won't harm him but I cannot assure for us,"

Petunia took a shuddering breath and stood before her son, as if her willowy body could protect him against the might of the supernatural. The blue butterflies with uncertain breed kept fluttering over Harry like a little storm of blue wings when suddenly it blasted outward, causing them to shield their faces and eyes. Petunia opened her eyes and gasped; her nephew was dressed differently and he seemed healthier for some reason.

She turned to a wary Albus and a scowling Severus. The former stood straighter and stepped toward the sleeping boy, a torn and overused rabbit held in his arms. He called, "Alice?"

Severus frowned, "His name is Potter," The distaste was obvious from the name Potter and Petunia held back a mournful sight; he still pine for Lily, she thought. His black eyes flashed to hers but returned to quickly to Albus who sighed, "It is complicated, Severus,"

He gestured them out and once everyone was seated comfortably in their respective chair for both Albus and Severus conjured their own, Albus started the explanation; starting with a little girl named Alice Liddell…

Petunia stared in silent horror of how similarly close the predicament that befall Alice and her family while Severus stared with a blank look to his eyes. When it closed with the story of how Harry has become the new Alice, she sobbed, "Oh my boy!"

Severus stared at her as she cried and sighed, digging into his robe and took out a kerchief and offered the square fabric to the distraught woman. She stared at it as though it will come alive and attack her. Severus was tempted to roll his eyes but didn't and was a little surprise when she gently took it and uses it with strangled thanks. Merlin, but he could never handle a crying woman well!

Albus sighed, "I think that it is best we took both Harry and Dudley to Hogwarts for Pomfrey to decide what to do with them. She's our resident nurse," He explained, using the Muggle terms for Healers. Petunia nodded, "Where am I to go in the mean time?"

Albus smiled, "Well, it is summer. Why don't you come to Hogwarts? I remembered you wanting to come a long time ago,"

Petunia blushed and mumbled incoherent words. As she accepted his invitation and run up stair to pack what little she owned, Severus turn on him, "Are you mad, inviting that woman over?"

Albus chuckled, "We are all mad here,"

Severus scowled, "That is not what I-!" He sputtered before sighing and shaking his head to one that was common to one who was resigned to the scheming ways of the Headmaster. Soon, Petunia was ready and Albus Portkeyed them all to Hogwarts' Great Hall. Minerva greeted him with wide and wet eyes. She saw a familiar woman carrying a small black haired boy and Severus barely holding onto a familiar large boy to his body. Albus greeted her, "Minnie, I could use some help getting them to Poppy,"

She nodded and with a wave of her wand, both boys floated and she quickly headed toward the Hospital Wing. Petunia fussed on her two boys, worrying that the spell might fail and caused them both to fall to the ground; you can never be too sure of something. Albus grabbed Severus just as the young professor was about to make a run for it. Severus took a long suffering look as he grumpily followed the older man.

Poppy was making sure the beds were set manually when Minerva make her way in with two boys. She took one look at them and immediately rushed with wands at the ready. Grabbing Severus with a well-practiced move, she dragged the man her and closed curtains. Petunia paced, "What now?"

Albus placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Do not worry, my dear. Poppy is the best Healer that Hogwarts has had the honour of housing in the last decades,"

Petunia sighed and Albus summoned a chair for her, "Here, you must exhausted, my dear,"

She slumped into the chair, cradling her head, "Thank you,"

Albus sighed and turn to Minerva, gesturing for her to join him. She followed him after sending Petunia a confused glance. She waited as Albus cast the necessary charms before coming down on him like an avenging angel, "I TOLD YOU, ALBUS!"

The Headmaster and arguably the strongest wizard of the 20th century merely sat on the nearest bed and sigh, "Minerva, keep in mind that there are more than meets the eye,"

She fumed, "What do you mean?"

"Who do you think it was that cast the Blood Barrier spell? For I can assure you only the one who was related to both Harry and Petunia can cast it. It is the kind of spell that was used for family purposes and there are many variants to it, but the strongest was one that was casted by relative," He rubbed his face, "I tried to dissuade her but she insisted,"

He looked up with a sad smile, "It was the only spell strong enough to stop the Killing Curse but a sacrifice must be made. The more costly the sacrifice, the stronger the effect," He sighed, "Lily's sacrifice was a double edged blade. It protects the one it was meant for at the same time attacking the one it was meant to," He looked at her, "At the same time it completely protect the whole family members, but one catalyst must be chosen for the spell to work and she chose….Petunia Dursley,"

Minerva stared at him, "You meant to say it was all Lily's idea? Don't play me for a fool, you manipulative meddler!"

Albus shook his head, "Think Minerva, Lily could have chosen anyone related to the Potters and being in the magical family whose lineage can be traced back to the time of the Founders, granted that Harry was the last of the Potters with James' death, but it was well-known that magical families are related to each other, no matter how distant or how far back it was, so why the Dursley?"

He cradled his head again, "The closer the blood to the caster and sacrifice, the stronger the effect. Petunia was a logic choice indeed but there were others, such as Sirius Black or even the Weasleys. There's only one answer to that and it is Petunia," He chuckled bitterly, "Full circle,"

Minerva shook her head, "No! NO! You must have convinced her somehow, just as how you convinced James to choose Black!"

Albus stared at his Deputy, "Your trust to me…has truly been shattered, Minerva?"

Minerva gaped at him before stepping back, her eyes cold, "Unfortunately, Albus…yes. My trust in you has shattered…" She rubbed her head, "Oh, Albus…I-I don't know-what to say!" She took a seat across from him, "I mean…you said he will be safe with his family in the Muggle world. You assured me that he will be fine…was that all lies?"

Albus sighed for the umpteenth times in one day, "Part of it? Yes, I lied…I don't know how else to keep him safe from possible eavesdropper. You can never be too safe, after all. And I did insist that James use Sirius as their Secret Keeper but…Sirius wasn't it,"

Minerva stared at him disbelief, "Are you telling me that we have an innocent man sent to Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit? Is that what you are telling me?"

Albus nodded, "It was Peter…Lily didn't know and neither did James. I don't know how to safe Sirius without concrete proof and his mind was too muddled by guilt and despair that he believes himself to be the traitor. You know that despite the wonderful effect of Veritaserum in spilling the truth, how are we to know what is truth to another man can be lies to us?"

Minerva paled, "Albus…"

He chocked, "I can't save him, Minerva. Not without miracles, I can't save him. Unless we find Peter Pettigrew alive, we can't exhume him from Azkaban. Not with all my political connection or with all my influence. To the public, he's guilty," Tears fell down his cheeks, "It was what I have been working on for the last four years…and I have yet to find the perfect solution," He sobbed as he shuddered with the thought of what his failure would meant to the innocent man in Azkaban.