CHAPTER 7
Privet Drive. The air was still, as it usually was. The sun would not be up for a few more hours still. The clear sky was broken up only by the sight of a large man riding a tiny broomstick with two boxes strapped to the back. Vernon landed in front of number 4. His home. He had not seen it for what felt like weeks. He quietly walked into the home. He tip-toed over to the cupboard under the stairs, careful not to trod on the large pile of presents covering the floor. Vernon unlocked the small room with the key which had fortunately not fallen out of his pocket. Luckily, Potter had no way of accessing his possessions, so he would never know that the broom had gone missing. Vernon then went back to the garage to return the cooler and bungee cord. Finally, he tucked the Playstation under his arm, and silently went upstairs to his room.
Vernon slowly walked towards his bed and tapped on Petunia's shoulder. His wife awoke in a start. Petunia jumped out of bed and stood up tall in front of her husband. She was about to scream at him about how he'd been missing for days, how he hadn't left a note, how worried they all were- when she saw the Playstation under his arm. All at once, she understood. Petunia pulled out a roll of wrapping paper out from under her pillow and began to wrap the present. Vernon watched as Petunia finished wrapping and left the room, only to return a minute later. Petunia climbed back into bed and fell asleep, and Vernon followed suit.
Morning. The summer sun was only just barely shining through the window when the stomping began in the hallway. Dudley was rushing to retrieve his presents. Vernon and Petunia sleepily fumbled out of bed and downstairs. Potter was not yet out of bed- he'd learned by now not to mess with Dudley's birthday. Petunia went to the kitchen to make coffee as Vernon sat on the couch and watched Dudley open each of his gifts. Sixty-eight boxes were opened, and each only served as a disappointment to Dudley. Then came the last present. The large boy tore off the wrapping paper with his eyes full of hope. The hope was fulfilled. The Playstation was sitting in Dudley's hands. Dudley looked up at his father inquisitively. Vernon nodded to his son. Dudley jumped up, overjoyed, and ran upstairs.
"I've got a Playstation! I've got a Playstation! Hey Potter, guess what you haven't got! That's right, a Playstation!"
Vernon smiled to himself. It was always good to see his son happy. Vernon slowly got up from the couch and followed his son upstairs. By the time Vernon arrived, Dudley was in his room, attempting to hook the Playstation up to his personal telly. Vernon stared out the open window as a breeze ruffled his short hair. This day would not have come, Vernon realized, if it weren't for magic. If it weren't for magic, he'd be watching his son being driven away in a police car after having eaten half of all the neighbors. Ever since the day Petunia told him about that side of her family, Vernon made a promise to her and to himself to keep all forms of magic away from their perfect life. Perhaps he had misjudged what he once thought was odd, evil, and unwelcome. Perhaps he had misjudged magic.
Suddenly, Vernon heard light footsteps to his right. The sounds of Petunia singing "Happy Birthday" could be heard coming from the hallway. Petunia pushed open the door slightly more than it already was, and entered with a plate. Dudley stopped connecting the Playstation to the television and stared at his mother intently. At that moment, Vernon realized that there was not much light in the room. There was nothing but the sunlight coming in through the window and the candle on the plate Petunia carried. The song ended, but Dudley continued to stare. Vernon looked at his son, then back at his wife. Petunia stood there, wondering what her son was thinking, while holding the plate which contained a candle stuck into a single quarter of grapefruit.
Suddenly, Dudley jumped towards his mother, roaring. Vernon could do nothing but watch. Dudley slapped the plate out of her hands and yelled that there was no cake. Petunia sobbed that his diet didn't allow cake. Dudley roared again, then turned around and grabbed the Playstation off the ground. He hoisted the Playstation over his head, pulling out the cords and almost yanking the television off the shelf in the process. Dudley then threw the console out of the open window. Vernon's eyes went wide as he jumped up to look out the window. Vernon peered down at the driveway. The Playstation had completely smashed against the concrete.
A vein bulged in Vernon's head. This never should have happened. He hated Sony for not making a stronger console. He hated the school for forcing Dudley to go on that diet. He hated the people who poured the driveway, the people who made the window, and even the weather man who predicted there would be no wind.
But most of all, Vernon hated magic.