27 June 1994
Harry managed to slip away that night to view more memories of his parents, he witnessed them falling in love. He watched as his father successfully pranked the entire great hall, as his mother hexed his father and his friends blue, and when they got married. He stayed up until sunrise watching the memories, picking his favorite ones. The ache to know his parents was just a little lighter now as he felt he could identify little quirks of his parents. His father ruffled his hair when he was nervous, making it look even messier. His mother bit her lip to stop smiling at a lot of his father's pranks but quickly scowled when she berated him.
Eloise was not happy about Hermione's new found fame, especially since it was based off of her theory that Sirius Black was innocent. Hermione tried to introduce Eloise to Minister Fudge when he came to speak to her and even explained that it was Eloise that figured out most of it but the Minister just smiled and congratulated the red head on being so modest. Eloise couldn't help but feel resentful towards her first friend, feelings as though Hermione enjoyed getting all the attention. Hermione was not impressed with her shy friends cold behavior, Eloise started to give Hermione the silent treatment the last week of term.
Molly was beside herself when she saw the newspapers, knowing that a mass murderer was not only in her house but in her sons' rooms. She decided that when Bill came home, he would be updating the ward scheme to the burrow. No more dark magic, alerts for animagus, and something to keep those away that want to do anyone in their family harm. She was now so grateful her son got his job at Gringotts, the ward scheme would leave them absolutely penniless if they went to professionals. For now, Molly had a much more important task.
"Hello, Mrs. Dursley. I wrote you to ask when you wanted to sit down and have some tea. Unfortunately, your response must have been lost, dreadful muggle post. So, I figured I would just stop by." Molly smiled brightly as the horse faced woman opened the door. Behind her stood her four youngest children, dressed as muggles. Fred and George were smiling wickedly at the shell shocked woman. "Well, dear? Where are your manners?"
"I-huh" Petunia cast a nervous glance down the street before Molly pushed the scrawny woman aside and ushered her children in.
"Why thank you, Petunia. Now, Fred, George, you remember Mrs. Dursley. They were ever so interested to see how Dudley's diet was going." Molly actually smiled broadly as Petunia squeaked. Fred and George shared a look before bounding up the stairs to find Dudley. Harry never told them what his family actually did to him but when he did talk of his family it was not in the most loving or affectionate way. As Fred and George considered Harry their unofficial brother, it was only fair they show what happens when you mess with a Weasley.
"Stay away from my Dudders!" Petunia cried, taking a step forward only to find her way blocked by a smiling Molly Weasley. "What are you doing here?" Petunia squeaked as finally came to her senses and slammed the door behind them.
"I think we should have that tea now. Ron, Hermione go find Harry." Molly smiled warmly at her youngest as they ran up the stairs.
"I will...just uh." Petunia stammered as Molly turned her normally warm brown eyes on her, there was a dangerous glint to them. The housewife quickly bustled to the kitchen to fix some tea, trying to calm her nerves.
"Now, I'm not sure what you have done to our Harry..." Molly began in a low, venomous voice as she stood in the kitchen doorway. Petunia jumped, dropping the tea set on the floor. China pieces broke and slid across the linoleum floor.
"I don't know what you mean." Petunia's voice quivered as she saw Molly pull the wand from her pocket.
"Reparo." Molly incanted as she waved her wand making the China pieces fix themselves instantly. She walked across the kitchen, a broad smile on her face as Petunia stared at her. "Are you going to pick that up?" Molly waved her wand again, levitating the tea tray to Petunia's waist level. She mechanically grabbed the tray and stared at it for a moment. Molly sighed as she sat at the table, waiting for Petunia to join her. The muggle woman took shuffling steps towards the table as if walking to her death.
"Sugar?" Petunia whispered and cringed as she poured Molly her tea.
"Honestly, you are the worst hostess." Molly scoffed as she fixed her tea then steepled her fingers in front of her. "Am I going to have to do all the talking?"
"What would you have to talk to me about?" Petunia said stiffly as she stirred her tea. She ground her teeth angrily as Molly just smiled sweetly, mocking her.
"Dudley is your son?" Molly asked innocently.
"You will not touch my Duddikins!" Petunia shrieked fiercely, knocking over her tea cup. Molly had the audacity to chuckle, making the skinny woman scowl.
"I was curious if you were actually a mother." Molly shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course, I'm a mother! I love my Duddy! I would do anything for my baby boy!" Petunia snapped as she cleaned up the spilled tea, glaring venomously as the redhead.
"I'm just curious how a mother could treat a sweet boy like Harry the way you have." Molly sighed, looking at Harry's aunt with such disappointment.
"We took him in, fed him, clothed him! Where were you people while we had to take care of a freak?" Petunia screamed indignantly.
"So, you have not been receiving a monthly stipend for his care?" Molly tilted her head, looking at the woman curiously. Petunia paled, her eyes drifting to the drawer where their monthly cheque currently lay. "Ah, so you thought no one knew that you got a stipend for the care of Harry?"
"We needed it to care for the freak! He could have hurt our Duddy with his unnaturalness!" Petunia hissed, her face growing red.
"How do you think Lily would have treated Dudley if you and Vernon died?" Molly asked quietly.
"Lily would never have taken my son! He would have gone to-" Petunia stopped, her mind drawing a blank. She would come back from the dead and killed Marge before letting her have her son. The blonde sat back in her chair heavily, thinking hard about the question.
"I didn't know Lily well, only met a few times in passing. She was a bit younger than Arthur and I but I do know everyone tells me what a wonderfully caring and loving woman she was." Molly said slowly, watching Petunia for a reaction. "I know that if someone came to my home in the middle of the night with a baby that lost its whole family, I would take that child and make them my own, no matter the consequences. I would love them, cherish them, make them feel like just another of my children. So, I'm just wondering, mother to mother...what kind of mother locks a baby in a cupboard?"
"I-uh" Petunia's breath caught in her throat, not able to meet Molly's gaze. The implications weighing heavily on her conscious. Lily would have taken Dudley, she would have loved Dudley as her own. She felt tears burning her eyes as she stared down at the table, wishing the freakish woman would leave her.
"Well, I'll just be going now." Molly was smiling smugly as she stood, gathering her hand bag. She just hoped that her words had the desired impact, if Harry came back to her with so much as a hair out of order she would come back for much more than a chat and tea. "I'm sure the children will be begging me to bring them here. My Hermione is so curious about muggles. We can have tea again!"
"Wait!" Petunia whispered and reached out to grab Molly but stopped just before her hand reached the other woman. Molly paused and turned back to the woman, waiting expectantly. Petunia risked risked a glance up at the woman and opened her mouth but her voice died in her throat.
"Was there anything you wanted to say?" Molly rose a challenging brow.
"I...you took my sister and my parents." Petunia said weakly, her eyes falling back to the table. Molly sat back down and watched the woman closely, patiently waiting for her to continue. The blonde woman took a deep shuddering breath before opening her mouth. "Lily was my only friend, even though I was three years older. We did everything together then she met that freak and she didn't want to spend time with me anymore. Wanted to spend all her time at the park doing freakish things. I told her, that it wasn't natural and that boy, Sev, was nothing but trouble but then some little...thing came to our home and invited Lily to that school." Petunia spat, her face scrunched in disgust.
"What does this have to do with Harry?" Molly bristled, starting to lose her patience.
"Did they tell you it's because of you freaks my parents are dead?" Petunia snapped. "Precious Lily, they thought it was so wonderful to have a witch in the family. Then they went to pick her up for school and got blown up! Lily got anything she wanted and then took everything from me! After I have a husband, a little boy, and the life I always deserved, she saddles me with her own whelp!"
"You're a miserable excuse for a mother. If it were up to me, I wouldn't ever let Harry come back here. Let me tell you something, Petunia. Those people that killed Lily and your parents, they're still out there. Still murdering and torturing muggles, like yourself! Do you know what stops them from coming into your home, while you sleep? What stops them from coming here and taking your little boy and skinning him alive in front of you? Harry! That's what! If he ever decides to leave because of you or your brute of a husband, I'll keep him safe with me and we'll let you rot. You won't last a day without the blood wards surrounding this house, you'll be prime targets for a little fun. Harry Potter's muggle family, magic haters too!" Molly laughed sarcastically then turned to see all of the children in the doorway. Her children looked at her with such pride she was able to stand at her full height. Hermione was clinging to Harry's hand as the poor boy was shaking, looking up at Molly in awe.
"Get out!" Petunia whispered, still staring at the table. The boney woman slowly stood and refused to meet anyone's gaze, not even her ashen faced son or wide eyed nephew. She ushered the family to the door, the red heads all hugged Harry goodbye. Molly shot her one more scathing look before exiting her home. As the door closed, Petunia broke down into tears.