Meeting the Dursleys, and Harry

"Duddy, why don't you go comb you hair so that you look sharp for your father's cousin?" Petunia said from as she finished basting the roast pork loin in the oven. When she didn't get a response she called toward the living room, "Duddy?"

"Oh, let him be Petunia," said Marge, sipping from her second glass of wine. "His hair looks fine. And there's really no reason to impress Darrin, believe me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just look at who he married, some Yankee woman that no one's heard of. She's probably after his money. He was never a bright one, Darrin."

Harry walked through the front door and rolled his eyes as he heard the two women gossip in the kitchen. He had been doing yard work outside. Uncle Vernon, always eager to impress even people he didn't particularly care for, wanted everything perfect for the Stephens.

"Boy!" He looked to the stairs to see his uncle coming down. Harry approached him, frowning.

"Have you finished your chores?" Harry nodded.

"Very well. You will be eating in the dining room with us tonight. I want to keep an eye on you, so that there will be no repeat of last year."

"Yes, sir," said Harry gloomily.

"During dinner, you will be silent. I don't even want to know that you're there. If you are spoken to, you will be respectful and keep your answers brief. After dinner, you will sit at the end of the couch, out of the way, until either your aunt or I dismiss you to your room. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon."

"If you know what's good for you, there'll be no…"

"Magic?"

"Don't say it!" Uncle Vernon roared. "If anything goes wrong, I'll rip that form to shreds and you won't be allowed to visit that Hogswallop village."

"Yes, sir," Harry said, clenching his jaw to keep from snapping back a retort.

"Good, now get upstairs and change. And for God's sake, comb your hair!"

At ten till six, the taxi turned onto Privet Drive with Darrin and Samantha in the back seat. Samantha was wearing a knee-length pink dress with a matching wrap. Darrin chose his usual blue suit, and was holding a bag of toffee and a bottle of wine.

"It's kind of a bland neighborhood, don't you think?" Samantha said quietly, looking out the window at all of the identical houses with the same manicured lawns and polished cars.

"Verne never did have much imagination," Darrin replied.

"Here it is, number 4," said the cab driver, pulling over outside the house. Darrin and Samantha climbed out of the back seat. Samantha smoothed her dress while Darrin paid the cab driver.

"Thank you," they both said before he drove away and they turned to walk up to the door.

"Darrin, how wonderful it is to see you," said Vernon when he opened the door.

"It's good to see you too, Vernon. We brought this for tonight," he handed Vernon the wine.

"Most thoughtful of you," said Vernon. He then noticed the pretty blonde woman standing next to him. "You must be Selena?"

"Samantha," she said politely as she shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Won't you both come join us in the living room?"

They followed him into the living room where Marge and Petunia were posing with false smiles on their faces and Dudley was transfixed by the television.

"Darrin, Samantha, welcome to our home," said Petunia.

"Thank you so much for having us," said Samantha.

"Darrin," said Marge, eyeing her cousin, "You're too skinny. Does she not feed you enough?" she asked critically.

Before Samantha could say anything, Darrin spoke up, "Actually, Marge, Samantha feeds me plenty. She's a very good cook." Samantha smiled at her husband.

Marge replaced her fake smile and turned to Samantha, "It's wonderful to finally meet you deary."

"Likewise, I'm always happy to meet Darrin's family," said Samantha, flashing a genuine smile.

"And this must be Dudley," said Darrin, "This is for you," he held out the bag of toffee. Dudley eyed it hungrily for a moment before he snatched up the bag.

"What do you say, Diddykins?" said Petunia.

"Fanku misser Seevens," said Dudley, his mouth already full of toffee. Samantha resisted the urge to grimace in distaste.

"That was very kind of you, Darrin," said Petunia.

"Don't mention it. They're from a popular candy company owned by my new client, Albert Walker. You've probably heard of him. He wants to bring his candy to the states."

"Isn't that interesting?" said Vernon, though he secretly detested the thought of one of 'their' candies going to a bunch of Yankees.

"Aunt Petunia," the Stephens turned to see a young, skinny boy with black hair and glasses. "The roast is almost ready."

Petunia glared at him for a second before she smiled and said, "I'll be back in a moment."

Darrin and Samantha waited a moment until it became clear that no one was going to introduce the boy. "What's your name?" asked Samantha kindly.

"Harry," he said, though he glanced at Vernon as if asking permission.

"We didn't know you had two boys, Vernon," said Darrin.

"He's not ours. He's Petunia's sister's son, orphaned."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Samantha. Harry didn't say anything. "It's a good thing we happened to bring an extra bag of candy." She twitched her nose and pulled out another bag from under her shawl.

Harry looked at it in slight confusion when she held it out for him. "Thank you."

Samantha smiled at him.

Vernon cleared his throat and said, "Well, dinner should be done any moment. Why don't we head into the dining room?"

"That would be lovely," said Samantha, and they followed him out of the living room. Though Darrin's family seemed nice enough, Samantha was finding it difficult to form an opinion about them. At least all of them except Harry.

*AN*

Sorry for the wait. My new job has been keeping me pretty busy. Hope you all enjoy this. Tell me what you think.