Harry nervously drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove. Ron stared sleepy-eyed out the passenger window and Hermione was deeply immersed in a book. Harry merged onto the A303 motorway and sighed heavily, 20 k's down, about 200 to go. The wide open spaces and fields of Ottery St. Catchpole slowly gave way to more developed and densely populated Muggle areas.

"I sort of feel badly for leaving Charlie stranded." Harry finally said. Ron and Hermione both looked up.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, leaning forward in her seat.

"Well, the only reason my car was even at the Burrow was because I told Charlie he could borrow it while he was back. I drove it down there yesterday morning and took the Floo Network home again." He explained.

"I can't imagine Charlie minds at all, Harry. You couldn't have known this was going to happen. Besides, he's going to be home for a few more days yet; he can still drive around with that girl." Ron replied shrugging.

"That girl? That's a bit chilly of you, Ron. Didn't you like her? I think she's sweet." Hermione said somewhat scoldingly.

"No, no I liked her well enough. Not like anything is going to come of it anyway; Charlie isn't the marrying kind." Ron said with a slight chuckle.

After a brief silence, Hermione puzzled and spoke again, "Can I ask the two of you something?"

"Yeah, what?" Harry said, looking at her in the rear-view mirror.

"Jessica…does she…look like anyone in particular?" Ron and Harry exchanged looks.

"You mean you? Yes, Hermione she looks a bit like you." Ron said over his shoulder.

"A bit? Ron, she looks more than a bit like Hermione." Harry chuckled.

"I knew it! I was speaking with her last night and this morning. I thought I was imagining it." Hermione exclaimed.

"I noticed it straightaway…once I got over seeing Charlie and her naked on our bed." Ron said wincing and balling a fist at the memory.

"What does that mean though?" Hermione inquired. "After all these years does Charlie…" her voice trailed off.

"I wouldn't read into too much, Hermione." Harry said reassuringly. "Charlie's brought all kinds of girls home before, this is the first one with such a resemblance." This seemed to satisfy Hermione but it only made Ron more curious.

"George and Bill noticed, too." Ron said quietly.

"Mate, we all noticed." Harry laughed. Ron shot him a look.

"Shut up, Harry." He said with his jaw clenched. "Wouldn't it bother you if she looked like Ginny?"

Hermione laughed loudly. "Ron, if Charlie brought home a girl that looked like Ginny I think we'd all be a little worried!"

"Well said, Hermione!" Harry laughed. Ron blushed but once he'd considered how stupid his comment was and was soon laughing too.

There was very little traffic on the road that morning and the three of them were each enjoying the drive in their own way. Harry was glad to have the company but relieved that his friends didn't try to speculate about what might happen when they reached Dudley's home. Ron switched on the radio and turned the dial until he found a clear channel. He and another Auror called Reginald Lent, had placed a bet on who would score the first points in that afternoon's meet-up between Holyhead and Tutshill; he was hoping to be able to listen to the match on the radio. Ron and Harry both frowned when they heard the match was delayed due to an unexpected rainstorm.

"The whole sport is going bloody soft!" Ron complained. "They never used to delay matches in bad weather. For Merlin's sake, they didn't even delay when we were at school – remember that match you played in the rain?" He asked Harry.

"You mean the one when I almost bloody died because the Dementors were flying over the pitch? Yeah, Ron. I remember." Harry said sarcastically. Ron shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, that's what I mean, Harry! Minus the business with the sodding Dementors, the match was going on anyway. Goggles and the Impervius Charm are all they need." He shrugged again. Ron switched the radio off and the silence in the car resumed.

Harry shifted in his seat slightly, they'd been driving for nearly 75 k's and he was getting increasingly anxious about speaking with his Aunt. Hermione must have sensed something was amiss because just then she leaned forward over Harry's shoulder and spoke.

"Do you want to make a pit stop, Harry? Coffee? Anything?" She said sweetly. "Ron's probably going to need to use the Gents in a minute anyway."

"Oh, I'm off on missions with him, Hermione. I'm well acquainted with Ron's tiny bladder." Harry teased and bumped Ron's elbow with his own.

Ron growled at his best friend. "Never you two mind my tiny bladder." Harry and Hermione shared a private chuckle.

"Aw, shit." Ron said, smacking his leg with his hand. "Now I have to go." Harry winked at Hermione in the rear-view mirror and pulled off the motorway at the next exit. Ron was starting to shift in his seat like a child.

"I told you, you should have gone before we left the Burrow." Harry teased him.

"Shut your gob." Ron said. "Fuck, I hope there's a restaurant or something nearby. I really don't want to go at a petrol station." Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled at her husband.

Harry searched ahead and pointed. "That looks promising, Ron. I could go for a cuppa as well." He said.

Ron gave a sigh of relief as they pulled into the car park. It was a small, nondescript diner with what appeared to be a steady flow of patrons going in and out. Harry parked the car and the three of them stepped out of the car. Ron tried to discreetly adjust himself before he double-timed it into the diner in search of the Gents.

Hermione linked her arm with Harry's as they walked inside. "So do you need to talk about it?" She asked him.

"About how your husband needs to have a pee every 10 minutes?" Harry joked. Hermione tossed her head back and laughed.

"No, but it is very rough on the nerves to take a Sunday drive with someone who's always bouncing in his seat like that." She laughed again.

They'd reached the front door of the diner and got inside. In spite of the number of cars parked outside, there were several booths available. They paused a moment until Hermione spied a sign instructing them to seat themselves. Harry led her towards an empty booth within eye shot of the loo, Ron wouldn't have trouble spotting them when he was done.

Hermione sighed and sat across from Harry in the booth. She folded her hands and placed them on the tabletop in front of her as she spoke:

"You knew perfectly well what I meant outside, Harry. Do you need to talk?" She tilted her head awaiting his reply.

As he usually did, Harry avoided eye contact when the subject of the Dursleys came up. He took the salt and pepper shakers in his hand and rotated them around each other while he started out the window.

"I'm nervous, that's all." He said at last. Ron was suddenly sliding into the booth next to Hermione.

"Bloody Floo Network." Ron said as he sat. "It's so much easier than riding in cars. You're there in a flash and you never have to wait to go to the loo." He put an arm around Hermione's back and kissed her shoulder.

"As you were saying, Harry…" Hermione playfully elbowed Ron in the ribs, indicating he'd interrupted.

"Sorry, mate – go on." He said.

"No, nothing. I was just saying I'm nervous about seeing her. I can't think what she'd want to say to me. There's been no great love lost between us, I remind her of my mother; I have her eyes and the magic that drove them apart." Harry said, adding the glass sugar dispenser to the salt and pepper shakers he was playing with.

Ron shrugged. "She'd better apologize to you, Harry. Whatever grief you might have given her, you were just a kid. You didn't ask for any of the shit that happened when you were a baby. It was cruel of her to treat you the way she did."

Hermione rolled her lips inward and bit down gently, an expression she reserved for when she thought Ron had made an excellent point and she was restraining herself from adding to it. What Ron had said could stand on its own.

A busy waitress approached the table, "Tetley's, loves?" She appeared to be about Mrs. Weasley's age, thin with long gray/blonde hair. Her white pinny was dotted with coffee stains.

"Yes, please." Ron and Hermione answered at the same time.

Harry cleared his throat, "Coffee for me, please."

She gave them a friendly nod and quickly tossed laminated menus on the table between them before departing again.

"If either of you want something, go ahead. I'm all set." Harry said, motioning to the menus. Ron shook his head and looked to Hermione who also indicated that she was not hungry.

A few seconds later, they each had a steaming hot cup in front of them and they drank quietly. The diner patrons buzzed on around them, a nearby group was yelling about a football match the previous night. Apparently, a referee had made and very unpopular call.

"His head was wedged straight up his arse!"

"Never in all my years have I seen anything as bad as that!"

"Nearly kicked right through the telly!"

Harry, Hermione and Ron exchanged amused looks as they finished their drinks. Harry sipped the last of his coffee and stretched his arms over his head. He checked his watch and calculated how much longer until they'd be in Guildford.

"I'll be outside, I'm going to tell Dudley we'll be there soon." He slid out of the booth and was flipping his mobile open as he walked out the front door.

"He's a bundle of nerves." Ron observed. Hermione nodded. Ron caught the eye of their waitress and waved her over. She slipped the bill in the table and before she could walk away, Ron had the cash out of his pocket. She smiled at them and they headed back out again. Harry was closing his phone again by the time they reached the car. Hermione thought she saw him wipe a tear from his eye before he turned his back to them; she and Ron exchanged looks.

"What is it, Harry?" Ron asked quietly.

"Nothing, let's just get a move on, shall we?" He opened the driver's side door and got in. Hermione was about to protest but Ron took her hand.

"Don't push, Mione. Let's just go." He said.

Harry barely spoke the rest of the ride. Ron switched the radio on and to his delight, the Holyhead/Tutshill match was underway and Holyhead had scored first. Ron smiled and sat up straight in his seat, knowing when he got back to work, he'd have 5 galleons headed his way from Reg.

Listening to the match took his mind off of his worries and Harry's car seemed to be on auto pilot directly to Dudley's house. Townshend Drive was very like Privet Drive in Little Whinging; quiet, clean and everyone kept to their own affairs. Number 17 was a dark gray two-story home with bright yellow flowers planted around the lamppost. A two-seater swing hung on the porch and two children were sitting cross-legged on it, facing each other while playing cards.

The older boy, Patrick, was 13 and very tall for his age. He had Dudley's distinctive facial features but, luckily for him, was not the spoiled corpulent youth his father had been. The younger boy, Luke, saw his brother look up and turned towards the street to see what had caught Patrick's attention. Harry was getting out of the car and waved to them; they each raised their hands to acknowledge him.

"Dudley's boys?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded.

"Patrick's the eldest. Luke and Gemma are twins, then there's Emmeline." He replied.

Ron and Hermione walked behind Harry towards the house. The boys greeted them at the stairs.

"Hi, Harry." Luke said with a friendly smile. One of his front teeth was missing.

Harry smiled back, "Hi Luke, Patrick. How've you been?"

The boys both shrugged. "You're here to see Gran, then?" Patrick asked sadly.

"Yeah. I heard she was asking for me." Harry said. The boys looked at each other.

"Asking? More like yelling." Patrick said, surprising Harry.

"Eh?" Harry blurted.

Patrick entered the house, leaving 10 year old Luke to explain.

"She calls out for you a few times a day, Harry. She keeps saying she has to tell you something."

Harry barely had time to turn to Ron and Hermione when Dudley appeared at the door, Christina not far behind him. Dudley opened the screen door and waved them inside. In an uncharacteristic move, Dudley held his hand out for Harry's and pulled him in for a hug.

"So good of you to come, Harry. She'll be pleased." He said.

"Erm – sure." Harry kissed Christina on the cheek and introduced Ron and Hermione.

"I so hope we're not intruding, only it's a very far distance for Harry to drive on his own…" Hermione said quietly.

"Not at all." Christina replied. She motioned towards the sitting room and after a slight hesitation, Ron and Hermione nodded to Harry and followed Christina.

Alone for the first time in well over two years, Harry and Dudley stared at each other. Dudley had large dark circles under his eyes; his brown hair was thinning at the top and his cheeks were hollow. It looked like he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks.

"Thank you for coming, Harry. I know it can't be easy for you." He said. Harry gave him a small smile.

"I hope it helps, whatever she has to say."

"Dad?" A small voice behind them made Dudley turn. A tiny girl, no older than 7, was standing at the foot of the stairs. Harry hadn't seen Emmeline in a long time; the first thing that struck him were her eyes. Mostly because they were the same shade of green as his own. She was thin and pale with light brown hair that hung carelessly past her shoulders.

"Emme, do you remember cousin Harry?" Dudley asked, Emmeline made no effort to acknowledge his question.

"Daddy, she did it again." The little girl said sadly. She walked over to Dudley and put her impossibly small arms around his waist. She peeked up at Harry through her hair.

"What did she do?" Dudley asked, sighing. Harry didn't need to guess who they were talking about.

"She called me 'Lily'" Emmeline said, confused. The revelation made Harry's heart drop. Dudley grimaced and looked to Harry. Before any of them could speak again, a bell could be heard ringing on the second floor.

"Dudley! Dudley! Is he here yet?" It was very clearly Aunt Petunia's voice, but it sounded less mean than Harry remembered; less piercing. Harry ran his fingers through his hair, scraping his scalp with his nails. He cleared his throat.

"Patrick said she was calling for me."

Dudley nodded. "Night and day. She knows…" He kissed Emmeline on the top of her head and motioned for her to go into the sitting room. Dudley lowered his voice. "She knows she hasn't got long, whatever she has to say, she wants to get it off her chest."

Harry sighed, "I'll go up then."

Dudley smiled sadly. "Second bedroom on the right." He said.

When he reached the top of the stairs, the ringing bell started up again. Harry knocked softly on the closed bedroom door.

"Yes?" Her weak voice croaked.

"Aunt Petunia? It's Harry." The words hung in the air. She didn't respond but Harry turned the knob and pushed the door in. The room was a very pale pink color, the furniture was all painted an antique white. Her bed was up against two windows, letting the afternoon light illuminate her face through gentle sheer curtains. Harry felt a lump in his throat at the sight of her. If she was thin the last time he saw her, she appeared to be half that weight. Her skin was sickly pale, a tinge of yellow gave her complexion an almost ghoulish pallor. She squinted at him, as if she couldn't believe this man standing before her was the boy she'd raised, her sister's beloved son.

"Harry." She whispered. "Harry, th-thank you for coming. Please, come sit with me." Her voice was raspy and low.

He took hesitant, slow steps toward her. As he approached, she patted the mattress next to her with her skeletal hand. He gently sat down next to her and without a single beat of hesitancy, she brushed his cheek with the back of her hand and rested her palm affectionately on his knee. Harry placed his hand on hers and tried to avoid staring at her frail face. He felt a wave of emotion building up inside him that he truly did not expect. This small woman bullied him for years, made him feel lower than dirt and had never showed him a moment of tenderness. Seeing her in what were surely her final days softened Harry's heart and he felt himself let go of his long-held resentment towards her.

"Aunt Petunia…I've been told you wanted to speak to me." He said.

She breathed deeply and he heard the crackling sound her lungs made as she exhaled. Pneumonia had set in. He felt that if he had delayed his visit by a few hours, he might have missed her altogether.

"I do." She took a second deep breath and again, her lungs crackled and wheezed. "It's about Lily. No, not Lily…" She looked away, confused.

"Emmeline?" Harry offered. Her eyes widened and she nodded.

"Emmeline. Yes. I've known for several years. All the signs are there. She looks just like your mother. She's just like you were."

Harry narrowed his eyes and took a sharp breath. "She's a witch." His voice barely rose above a whispered.

Petunia nodded.