QL - Prophet - We Love A Good Villain

Warnings: Child abuse/neglect.

Word Count: 762

Beta's: CupCakeyyy, S. Lowelle.

Petunia was extremely normal, thank you very much. She prided herself on fitting in with those around her, having a great, loving, and working husband, and a perfect baby boy. Her life was exactly how she wanted it. A nearly nuclear family - unfortunately, she was unable to conceive a second child, otherwise, everything would have been perfect.

The new mother happily walked her baby boy around, showing him off to all the normal neighbours. When she and Vernon had looked at houses, she simply knew this house, and more specifically, this neighbourhood, was perfect. There was no weird house at the end of the street, or strange boys who lured her sister away. It was 100% normal.

The 1st November arrived, and in Petunia's world that meant she could start shopping for Christmas which was the following month. November was the average time others started shopping for Christmas, and therefore, was when she started too. After all, she was just like everybody else.

Until she wasn't.

That morning, she found a baby boy on her doorstep. It wasn't her baby boy. No. It was her sister's. Lily's son. She had perished for being abnormal. For being weird. For being a freak.

No doubt her son would be exactly like her, and that pigheaded husband she chose to marry.

This was a disaster! This infant was going to ruin her life, her normal and perfect life! Just like his mother had done beforehand.

Vernon was furious. He didn't want to take care of somebody else's kid, especially as they weren't able to have another one.

"We can dump him on the side of the road! Nobody cares about this thing! He won't be missed by anyone!" Vernon would say two days after they were forced to take in the boy.

Harry. That was his name. Petunia liked that name. "We can't leave him to die," she replied lightly. Of course, Vernon was joking around. She had the perfect husband.

A scoff came from said 'perfect husband'. "I'm not joking! I met his freak parents! The world would be better without him!"

Petunia looked towards the stairs, where baby Harry was sleeping. That was her husband's idea. He had a lot of ideas. And if he had meant them all, then her sister's boy wasn't safe. But Petunia didn't care about the baby. He was going to be a freak. He'd ruin her life. She knew that.

At the same time, he was just a baby. An innocent little boy. And her sister, even though they hadn't spoken in months - or was it years? - had entrusted her baby boy with her. And when she thought about it, if anything were to happen to Vernon and herself… there wasn't anybody else apart from her freak sister who she'd want to look after her darling Dudley.

Petunia had told Vernon that she'd deal with the new arrival. However, Dumbledore refused to take him back; he had said it was for the 'greater good' that he stayed where he was. The idiot never listened to her.

Only two more days passed when she observed her perfect husband striking Lily's baby.

She couldn't allow that.

Petunia grabbed the boy, along with his blanket, grabbed a pre-prepared nappy bag, and exited the home without another word.

Even though she didn't want this child, she couldn't allow him to be treated this way. Vernon hated Harry. And if she was honest with herself, she did too. He disgusted her.

But she had to do what was right.

She had been to Diagon Alley with her magical sister before to buy school supplies and had memorised where it was. She would find a wizard and have Harry taken away with someone that could give him the care he needed. That was for the 'greater good'.

Petunia felt incredibly lucky as she walked into the pub and saw one of the freak friends that was at Lily's wedding. That would do. "Here. You take him!"

The sandy-haired man, who looked a bit drunk, stared at her in utter confusion as he held the small bundle in his arms.

"He's not safe with me. Don't give him back to me. You can tell Professor Dumbledore what I've said!"

When the sandy-haired man held Harry closer and Harry smiled in recognition Petunia knew it was the right decision. He would be looked after and wouldn't be a burden on her or her family.

The End