Broken China Doll

by: pandorabox82

Epilogue: Forget About the Ones That are Crying

The next thing Petunia knew, they were touching down in the yard of a mish-mash of a house. Harry pulled the cloth off of them, and she saw a whole host of redheads rush out into the yard.

"Harry, do you have any idea how many laws you broke? It's a good thing Arthur was able to mask most of the magic you did. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking this was my last chance to get her out safely. Besides, now no one will know where I am. How soon before we move on?"

"Tomorrow. The Grangers already dropped Hermione off there, and Ron's with her now. I thought it would go better if we stayed here a night before moving on. Hello Petunia, I'm Molly Weasley, and these are some of my children. Ginny, Charlie, I want you to welcome Harry's aunt. She'll be living with us until Harry can find a house for the two of them."

There was an awkward silence as everyone tried to not be the first one to speak. Finally, Ginny moved forward and took Petunia's hand in hers. "You'll be staying in my room for the night. I'll show you where it is." They walked into the house as Harry smiled at their retreating backs.

"Are you insane? You could have gotten her killed, not to mention yourself! Were you even thinking?"

"Mrs Weasley, I'm sorry, but all I could think about was getting her out of there. Vernon knew something was going on and was planning to take her away. It was a do or die situation, I'm certain. After everything she's told me, and all that she's gone through, I couldn't let her down just before the end. You understand, don't you?"

Molly sighed heavily. "Of course I do, dear. I just wish you hadn't been so rash about it. Albus won't be too thrilled to hear about this either, Harry. We're coming up to the final battle, and we need you to stay safe, not put yourself in unnecessary danger."

"Saving her was completely necessary! I don't care what anyone says – I'd rather be her savior than the entire wizarding world's!" He ran a hand through his unruly hair. "I mean all this world has expected of me is to be the Boy Who Lived and to save them again once Voldemort came back on the scene. She has asked nothing of me. Even bringing her here was my idea. She's the last link to my mother, and if you knew their story in full…" He broke off mid-sentence and looked at her, his eyes a brighter green than normal.

Molly pulled him into a tight hug. "I read between the lines of your letter and asked Remus what had really happened all those years ago. He wouldn't tell me everything, even when Tonks pressed him to, but from the look in his eyes I knew it was nothing good."

"The reality of what she did for my mother, or what she felt she had to do, is not for me to discuss. Don't push her to talk of her past; she'll do that if and when she's ready. I brought her here, to you, for all that you can give her." Harry broke from the embrace. "But should you or anyone in the Order hurt her, there will be me to deal with."

He retreated inside and went up the stairs to Ginny's room. Knocking softly on the door, he then entered and found his aunt in the middle of asking Ginny a question. Coughing to get their attention, he then went in and sat on the bed next to Ginny. "We're going on to the safe house tomorrow, so I wouldn't unpack anything," he said as he pulled the spelled trunk out of his pocket.

Petunia put up a hand to stop him. "Thank you, but I shan't need that until we arrive at our final destination. Ginny has graciously allowed me the use of a set of her clothes tomorrow so that I won't look or feel so out of place on my arrival."

"We're about the same size, Harry," Ginny said, with a slight smile and a look of concern in her eyes. "Your aunt is just a little bit thinner than I am, though I'm certain Mum will change that soon enough."

"If you do need anything from here, Aunt Petunia, just ask Ginny to show you where Ron's room is. I'll be there for the night," Harry said as he placed the trunk back into his pocket. He left the room and was glad to hear his aunt pick up the conversation again.

The day went smoothly, with Ginny's quick acceptance of Petunia affecting the rest of the family. Soon, night fell, and everyone retreated to their rooms to get some sleep, as the day ahead of them promised to be a long one.

Harry had just fallen into a light sleep when he felt himself being shaken awake. Groggily, he croaked out, "What?"

"It's your aunt. She's having a terrible dream and I can't wake her up from it. Oh Harry, I never realized she was, that we shared a somewhat common background – you know, what with Riddle my first year at Hogwarts. Please, you've got to come now."

A sharp scream pierced the quiet and bolted Harry out of bed. Pushing past Ginny, he raced from Ron's room into the one where his aunt was. In a moment, he was at her side on the bed, taking her hand into his own, whispering words of reassurance. Ginny slipped in quietly and took her other hand, smiling gently at Harry. Though it took a little time, he eventually got her calmed down and back to sleep.

"Harry, before you leave, will you move my bed closer to hers."

"Why?"

"She may have let go of your hand, but…" Ginny held up her arm, showing Harry the tight grip his aunt retained on Ginny.

Harry did as he was asked. Before he left, he kissed Ginny's cheek. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being so kind and accepting her so quickly. It means the world to me." He turned and walked to the door, then looked back as Ginny carefully got into bed so as not to disturb his sleeping aunt. He smiled at the bridge of hands the spanned the small space between the beds, a link of hope that signaled her acceptance into his world.

The morning dawned bright and clear, but clouds in the far off horizon promised rain later. A car had been ordered from the Ministry and soon after breakfast the group was on their way to 13 Grimauld Place.

The car stopped in front of the house and everyone got out. Bill and Charlie began to move the luggage inside, and Petunia watched as they seemed to shimmer a bit before her eyes. "Harry, what was that?" she nervously asked.

He took her hand and smiled at her. "Trust me." Ginny came up and took her other hand and they led her forward. She closed her eyes, only to find herself on the stoop of an old mansion that had not been quite so clear five seconds before.

"It's part of how our world works," Ginny said, answering the question in Petunia's eyes. As Molly came to stand beside the, she let go of Petunia's hand and mover closer to Harry. "I need to talk to you. Mum, can you show Petunia to my room and have Fred and George move another bed in? Harry and I will be along shortly." Ginny took hold of his elbow and steered him farther into the foyer. "Why didn't you tell us she was magical?" she hissed.

"She's not, really. No owl ever came for her, after all."

"Then how can she get past the wards? They're keyed for us."

"I'm certain your mother arranged it, Ginny," he responded, not telling her about the wand Ollivander had given her, not the fact that it responded to her. "Look, I have to drop this trunk off in your room and then I'm going to introduce her to the Order members that are here. If you'd like, you can join us."

"That would be lovely," she replied, still not buying his story.

Together, they climbed the stairs to where Ginny had stayed the previous summer. He nodded at Molly, who told Petunia it was time to meet the people who would be coming and going from the house quite frequently. As a foursome, they walked down the stairs and went into the library. There was a large group of people waiting for them, and Harry began the introductions.

"These are my best friends, Ron and Hermione. They'll be staying here until September, when school begins. Next to them is Kingsley Shaklebolt, one of our finest operatives. I'm certain you remember Remus, and that's his, well, that's Tonks. Then next to her is…"

"Ms McGonagall." The words slipped from her lips, unbidden as old memories rose to the surface of her mind.

"You remember me? After all this time?"

"How could I forget you? I waited so long for you to return for me that your image became burned into my memory." She breathed deeply and everyone heard the catch in it. "If you'll excuse me," she said, before turning and hurrying from the room. Harry and Ginny followed her a few moments later and were in time to watch her run into Severus Snape.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't look where I was going." She sounded so forlorn to Harry and he was grateful when Ginny grabbed his hand.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" he asked in a voice Harry recognized well from taking Potions with him.

Hearing the challenge in his voice, Petunia drew herself up tall and replied. "I'm Petunia Evans Dursley and I was brought here by my nephew Harry. And you are?"

For a moment, Severus seemed taken aback by her direct answer, then he replied, "I am Severus Snape. I teach your nephew at Hogwarts. Lily was, she was classmate of mine."

She stared at him a moment, failing to recognize him, then spoke once more. "That's nice to know, Mr Snape. It was a pleasure meeting you, but as you can see, I need to wash up. If you'll excuse me."

"Here," he said, holding out a square of white linen, which she hesitantly took and began to wipe her cheeks with.

"Thanks," she whispered as she tried to hand the handkerchief back to him.

"Keep it. Staying here, as you are, I'm sure you'll need it again." He then brushed past her to join the others in the library. She turned to watch him and saw her shadows standing there.

"I'm not going back in right now. Will you give them my apologies?"

"Of course, Aunt Petunia. Ginny will show you around the house, won't you?"

"Certainly, Harry."

They parted, with Harry rejoining the others and Ginny leading Petunia to the next room in the house.

"Ginny, is he always like that?" she asked as they walked.

"Yeah, Harry's always looked out for those he cares for."

"No, not Harry. I meant Mr Snape. Is he always like that?"

"Oh, Snape. No, come to think of it, he's not. Why do you ask?"

"No reason really, just wanted to know," she responded as she slipped his handkerchief in her pocket, a small smile on her face. Slipping her arm through Ginny's, she let the girl lead her into another room. "Now, tell me about this place."