Disclaimer; blah, blah, don't own, blah, blah, blah… OK you get it

Ok, so yeah I suppose this is me making my sheepish return O_O I got really stuck on this chapter (not to mention having to reluctantly attend school) and also not to mention the sudden increase in my social life.. Eg; I have one :)

O.o

Chapter 3

The Dursleys

Number 4 Privet Drive was a large, neat and symmetrical house in a large, neat and symmetrical neighbourhood. The owners, Petunia and Vernon Dursley had everything that they wanted including a young son; Dudley, and to them there was no better child in the world!

Although in Petunia's opinion, her gorgeous nephew, Harry Potter was almost irresistible with his beautiful, lamp like emerald eyes, not unlike his mothers. However Petunia would never voice her opinion to her husband, well not unless she wanted a divorce…

And so one rainy, cold and miserable afternoon Petunia found herself perched stiffly on the plain, floral and generally ugly couch, her back was ram-rod straight and her horsey features schooled into a nasty scowl. Vernon, her husband sat slouched next to her, taking up the majority of the three seater with his huge blob of body mass. A certain air of superiority surrounded the pair and to a third person they looked like a snobby, mean and unpleasant family, and well that third person would be right, the Dursleys were asnobbish, mean and a generally unpleasant family…

"WHAT THE RUDDY HELL!" Vernon's gruff shouts mingled with the ear-splitting scream escaping his wife. The reason to the pairs commotion was caused by the large, majestic and beautifully silver doe that just happened to have glided through the walls of Privet Drive before coming to a stop in front of the two stationary Dursleys. Petunia sprang to her feet, ready to flee for her son at the first sign of danger but froze as she did, her husband who was futilely trying to heave his oversized body from the low couch duplicated her actions, as at that moment the doe's mouth opened and a disembodied human voice emitted;

"Petunia, my dearest sister I know that you did not want Vernon knowing of our mended relationship but an emergency has arisen, and as you know already there is a war raging outside these walls, a war that is claiming evermore lives… The point, Tuney is that I need you… Harry needs you…"

XxX

As the sedate voice died down Vernon looked up at his wife from his place on the couch and was not only surprised but enraged to see a soft smile gracing her features. 'How dare those freaks send their freakiness into his house! And how dare she hide things from him! Anger began building up and it seeped out of him at an alarming rate…

XxX

Petunia, try as she might could not supress the smile that snuck sneakily upon her face, her thin lips turned up and an almost enigmatic curve, proclaiming it's self as a smile. She was not as stupid as one might think, she knew her sister was on her way, with Harry!

A very unDursleyish giggle emanated from the feverish woman and a mind blow of thoughts hit her; Confusion, worry, suspense… 'When is she coming, how is she coming and why is she coming?... it's not that Petunia did not want her sister to visit, but the message spoke not of a social sojourn but instead of an emergency! And if either Lily or Harry were hurt… Petunia stood in middle of the surpassingly tidy room, wrapped in her sea of thoughts, oblivious to the heaving breaths coming from the puce faced man behind her.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Petunia jolted around to her husband as his booming voice shook her, she was shocked to see him on his feet, standing tall and his face slowly turning purple as a vein throbbed visibly from his temple. Petunia was scared. Terrified. She shrunk back under the frenzy produced form the foaming man looming over her, intimidating her, trapping her…
"HOW DARE YOU HIDE THINGS FROM ME? HOW DARE YOU SEE THOSE FREAKS? AND HOW DARE YOU LET THERE FRAKISHNESS INTO MY HOUSE?" Vernon's voice pulsated on her ear drums and spittle flew in every direction, sparing nothing with a covering of its repulsive concoction.

"What-no-I ju-just.." Petunia's voice was small and weak, she sounded pathetic even to her own ears. Painfully she swallowed the fright, skilfully pushing it past her heart and soul and drawing it out until it was basically non-existence, she straightened her back, held her head high and matched her husband's stance. She refused to be pushed about by that man any longer and as a brief look of surprise transferred over his face she spook up…

"No, Vernon. Firstly it is not up to you what I do, I am not yours to own, to control! I am a woman not an object! And secondly that is my sister you are insulting and my nephew! Just because you have some poor excuse for a sister! Oh and by the way any insult you deal my sister and nephew you also deal to me!" Petunia, if she could say so herself, was impressed by the speech she had given and was feeling every moment of it, her eyes were wide and her chest heaved.

XxX

Vernon looked dumbfounded at his wife as her haggard breaths became longer and more controlled. She was a dangerous force that Vernon decided not to trigger again, she had gotten her point across that was for sure and Vernon was astounded, Petunia had shown herself at a completely different angle and he didn't know what to think of it… as he measured her up she managed to get herself under control enough to finish her dialect.

"Go, Vernon just go..." Vernon jerked as if the words had caused him physical pain and he scanned Petunia's face, looking for any hint of reconciliation, he saw non, only determined conflict, she was regretting the words even as they came out but she was also definite about them... she meant every word. Vernon turned to leave only looking back once as he headed towards the door, he meet the sight of a masked face and eyes dancing with fury. Slowly he trudged towards the exit, silent as he went with only his heavy foot steeps creaking beneath his large body. 'Those freaks, this is their entire fault!' his mind readily accused anything other than himself.
"Freaks, stupid abnormal freaks!" his voice was barely audibly but it cut painfully through the silence like a knife through flesh.

"What. Did. You. Say?" Petunia may not have heard, but she knew the tone; insulting. However her question fell on deaf ears as in reply she heard the painstaking slam of the door. Heaving a sigh she turned, collapsed upon the vacant couch and dragged her hands ruefully down her stress lined face.

Petunia effectively banished all thoughts about Vernon and was brought back to her previous questions; how was her sister coming? She was well aware that the Potters could not simply go waltzing down the road to make social visits. However, as if sensing her questions and deciding to answer them, Petunia was shoved out of her thoughts, by the fire place astonishingly enlarging before being engulfed by green tinged flames, yelping in shock at the abnormal act she stood to attention as she hid herself from self from view and her mind raced in an attempt to explain what was happening, until finally it settled upon the only possibility; magic.

XxX

Lily held her son lovingly as she stepped into the burning fire place, grabbing the offered Floo powder she looked James in the eyes, her fear must have shown in her amiable and expressive eyes because her husband was quick to answer the unspoken question.
"It's okay, babe. I'll be right behind you, I promise." Lily nodded imperceptibly and Harry wiggled, still annoyed at being woken at such a time, yet at the same time, as if he sensed the frigid atmosphere produced by his parents he behaved.

"James you- you don't think it could be any one close to us…" Lily's soft voice shook with fear; it shattered the cold, deathly silence of the sleeping house. It shattered James's heart. Confusion flashed across James's face before comprehending his wife's question.
"No, no Lily they would never betray us, not Sirius nor Remus and Peter, well he wouldn't hurt a fly would he?" James shook his head with defiance and spoke with a strong voice covering his true emotions, he opted to stay strong for his family.

Lily laughed a humourless laugh as she leaned in to kiss her husband's cheek. "Merlin, you know what James, I think I'm losing it. Of course you're right they would never betray us." She too shook her head but instead it was in an act to banish all doubt and worries, she had to be strong, for her family. Throwing the powder she shouted in a now clear and strong voice; "NUMBER 4 PRIVET DRIVE."

A ball of green flames consumed her before spitting her out at her pre-determined destination. Stumbling slightly, Lily unfolded herself from the fire place and quickly got her bearings, scanning the room for any sign of danger as she secured her hold on the green looking Harry. A sigh of relief escaped her pinked lips, she was probably being silly but she wasn't going to risk her baby's life even if the risk was minute. The green flames returned, this time bringing her husband with them.

Lily watched as James stepped out expertly and a small smile shone through as she thought back to her own clumsy entrance and her son's slight green hue, James was bound to comment, and surely enough; "Ha look at him" he barked out indicating to Harry. "he's almost as bad as his mother when it comes to magical travel."
Lily glared good heartedly and retorted "That's because magical travel is not normal!"
"Of course it is, I've been doing it all my life!" James exclaimed, feigning a look of confusion as he teased his wife, happy to see her relax.

"Lily?" Petunia's questioning voice broke through the two Potters conversation and caused them to startle and with well-rehearsed precaution they both draw their wands; James took the front stance, automatically covering his wife and protecting his son while Lily used a silent spell before placing her wand away, her shoulders sagging in much needed relief as she signalled James to lower his wand also. "Stand down James, it's her." She urged him while placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"How do you know?" his eyebrows where knitted together in confusion and Lily fought against rolling her eyes.
"Because, honey" she purred as a way of getting his attention. "I did the spell, all the wards are intact and if that wasn't her they would have been broken. Remember James? We've been practising it silently, so if it was ever needed, our enemies wouldn't know that we knew they were intruders, it gave us the upper hand, remember?
"Oh-oh yeah" James tucked his wand away, making sure it was still easily accessible as her looked sheepishly at the gentle woman beside him, already hating him for the lack of trust. "I'm sorry"
"Don't be, James I would rather have a husband who was willing to go over board to make his family safe than one that got his family killed because he assumed." Lily easily forgave the man she loved so deeply and handed Harry over before turning to her shell shocked sister and pulling her into an almighty hug. "Yeah, Petunia it's me. Sorry 'bout' that sis but you can never be too careful nowadays."
"Yes, well just keep your husband on a chain." Petunia looked over at the messy haired man now glaring at her, she never cared much for him, but her sister was obviously very taken by him, so what could she say?
"Petunia" Lily admonished lightly. Petunia's gaze travelled to the equally messy haired child slumped tiredly in his arms before launching an on slaughter of questions, aimed directly at her sister. "What happened, why are you here, why do you need me?" her worry came full force and her eyes flew over the threesome, looking for signs of injury. Finding non she once again settled her gaze on Lily wordlessly demanding an explanation.
Lily's soft, warm smile returned as she suddenly noticed Petunia's frazzled and haggard appearance. "we're fine Tuney, you how ever… what's wrong?" she asked in a voice as soft and warm as her smile.
"Oh, me and Vernon.."
"go on…" Lily gently urged
"Well suffice to say, he wasn't too happy to hear the message you sent…" Petunia look to the floor, missing the look of apology her sister sent. "We had a fight." She sniffled slightly and was surprised to hear a vicious and angry voice cut her off.
"He didn't hurt you did he!" and it wasn't Lily's.
"Wha- no James, no." She offered him a smile of appreciation and got a simple nod in reply. They may not like each over much but it seemed James wasn't about to let her get hurt, especially not by her own husbands hand.
"No, we just shouted, although at first I wasn't sure… I was so scared." Petunia jumped slightly as comforting hands led her to the couch.
"Where is he Tuney?" Petunia's reserve broke and tears slid down her face.
"I kicked him out." She stated it so simply yet Lily had the feeling the actions were not nearly as simple as the words.
"Oh Tuney, I'm so sorry…" Lily whispered genuinely.
"Nope" she shook her head adamantly and evened out her voice. "I'm not, and if he knows what's good for him he won't come back." Her voice held such a velocity of heart broken determination that Lily didn't ever try to hide her pride. "Good for you big sis, good for you!" both woman chuckled slightly before Petunia cleared her throat and with all traces of any previous tears gone she got back on track. "Anyway enough of me, you came here because of an emergency, so tell me what's wrong?"

Lily shared a quick glance with James and he subtly turned his attention to his bleary son leaving Lily to the task of breaking the undesirable news in a function of privacy. "Petunia, there might be a problem… with the people who protect you." She stated hesitantly, unsure of just how Petunia would take it. Petunia for her part however was showing only confusion at what she had been told.
"What, do you mean the Order of the Phoenix?" Lily simply nodded, she hadn't expected her sister to remember. However, before time allowed her to gather her thoughts Petunia carried on, worry now more evident. "What about it? What do you mean there might be a problem?"
"Tuney, we got a Patronus- eh message" Lily corrected knowing her sister wouldn't understand. "Telling us that we must attend an emergency meeting… that there was a spy in Order." She trailed off trying to predict her sisters reaction.
"Wait a-a Spy? No that's bad what if it's someone close to you?" Petunia's mind settled on the same worries that her sister's had previously. "Are Dudley, Vern-" she stopped herself short, taking a gulp of air she pushed on past her sisters pitying look and continued. "Are Dudley and myself safe?" Lily once again shared a look with James, only this time it was to shoot down any of his protests as he now unabashedly listened with an indignant look.
"Yeah, sis you're safe you and Dudley. No one close to us would betray us like that. I promise." Lily relayed the promise James had given her not a half hour ago, hoping it would be enough for both. James once again looked away with a more content look as Petunia took a steadying breath, berating herself for losing her cool again in such a short time. "Ok, Lily I trust you, you say we're safe? Then why are you here?" Petunia asked inquisitively. "you're safe aren't you?
"Yeah sis, we're safe" or as safe as you can get in our current time "it's just I need a huge favour." Lily looked into the depths of Petunia's grey and mild eyes, she saw her own green looking reflectively back.
"Anything Lily…" Petunia urged on her sister with a substantial promise.

Lily refused to be the one to break the gaze she held with Petunia, she refused to push back the feelings of pride and love she felt for her sister; after everything she had been through, everything she had lost on that night Petunia was still willing to give her sister 'anything'. That soft, warm smile returned as the corners of her mouth twitched upwards. "It's just that these meetings, well they aren't exactly 100% safe. Certainty not a place you would take a baby. I need his ensured safety, there isn't anyone else I would trust who is available right now. Do you think you could-"
"Take Harry?" Petunia finished the obvious question with uncertainty.
"Yeah Tuney, y-you will won't you?" It was Lily's turn to be uncertain.
"Well yes Lily of course I will, I would do anything to keep Harry safe… anything." Petunia stressed the truth in her words yet once again uncertain "But are you sure I'm the best for the job?"
"Is that what you're worried about?" Lily asked rhetorically with a conspicuous sigh of relief. "Haven't you already proven that you are the best for the job?" She riddled, once again rhetorically. Petunia's eyebrows rose in discernible confusion. "You promised validly that you would do anything to make my baby safe. Your words were whole and loud Tuney, I have no doubt that the action will be louder." Lily's smile grew as understanding registered on Petunia's face and a smile of her own sprouted.

XxX

hope you liked it and I hope you review! I have edited some of the more obvious mistakes I could find on my previous chapters but feel free to tell me improvements, I'm always eager to learn and improve :)