*Word: Intended* This drabble takes place post-series. I always felt like Harry and the Dursleys had a more complicated relationship than we got to see in the books. Yes, the Dursleys were cruel people, but they were still the only family Harry had. I never felt like he would completely be able to let them go. This story explores that idea. Enjoy!
I always intended to make amends.
I thought that once the war was over and my life had finally settled down there would be time for me to deal with my emotions and finally come to terms with the pain my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin had caused me. In my mind, I had imagined calling them up and, after we'd all faced death in the war, we would be able to put aside our differences and be a family of sorts. But I bought a house, and started a career, and got a steady girlfriend, and I never made that call. The days flew by and it always seemed there was a reason why today was not the day. There was an emergency at work, or Mrs. Weasley wanted me to come and visit, or Kreacher needed help cleaning the house. Every now and then, Ginny would ask me about the call, and I would convince myself that I would make it soon, but then the next thing I knew it had been years since the end of the war and I had still not spoken to them.
I always intended to get back in contact.
I realized that when Ginny and I were composing the guest list for our wedding and she asked if I wanted to invite them. She asked it gently, and I felt a surge of gratefulness that she understood how hard this was for me, how complicated my emotions were. I knew she couldn't forgive the Dursleys for what they did to me, but the fact that she was willing to invite them to our wedding anyways, that she understood why this was so important to me, meant more to me than she would ever know. I opened my mouth, fully intending to say yes, but nothing came out. I choked on air for a second and my mouth opened and closed, and I fell even more in love with her when she just looked at me with concern and didn't laugh at how ridiculous I must look. For a long moment we sat like that, her watching me as I struggled to get past my emotional difficulties and respond. Eventually I gave up and changed the subject to flowers. And she let it go.
I always intended to have a polite relationship with them, even if it was just a phone call on major events.
When my first child was born, it seemed like the perfect occasion to begin that relationship. I could call them to tell them about him or, if I couldn't quite face that, I could send them a note. As I watched my wife cuddling our newborn son to her chest, I realized that I wanted them to know, that I wanted to share this miracle with the only blood relatives I had. But when Ginny's eyes met mine and I saw the question in them, it all suddenly became very real and I knew that, despite my intentions, I wasn't able to face that contact. And so the years would pass, and they would bring with them the joy of my second son and my beautiful daughter, but never the family that had parted ways with me so long ago.
It was only when I answered the door that Christmas morning five years later that I realized that my intentions had never really been true. I stood in that doorway and the sounds of festive Christmas carols, my sons shouting excitedly and ripping wrapping paper off boxes, and my wife soothing our daughter faded into the background. The smells of cinnamon rolls, fresh cookies, and the huge turkey that was already in the oven cooking for dinner that night disappeared. My vision tunneled, and I no longer saw the sparkling heaps of snow or the twinkling Christmas lights on the houses in the distance. Suddenly, all I was aware of was my Uncle Vernon, looking oddly small and sheepish for a man his size, my Aunt Petunia, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and my cousin Dudley, his face bright red with embarrassment. As my shock began to dissipate, I felt a warm feeling start to bubble up from the pit of my stomach and I wondered if we would have enough turkey to add three more plates to the table that night. It was in that moment that I finally understood my emotions.
I always intended to go back. But I guess what I really needed was for them to come to me.
AN: Thank you to everyone who has given these drabbles a chance so far! I hope that you have all enjoyed it. Please leave me a review and let me know what you thought. And if you have a word for me to write about, let me know! Goodbye until next week!