It took another month for Vernon and Petunia to agree upon seeing a family therapist, but it became harder to argue not to when Dudley punched Harry a second and then third time on consecutive bad days. They had slapped at each other and pulled hair before, but this time, Harry ended up with bruises when Dudley knocked him into the coffee table. It did not matter how quickly Petunia was able to end the fight once it started, both parents were still afraid of something much worse happening, particularly should Harry "accidentally" retaliate. Petunia just kept remembering Severus' dire words from his first visit: "the worst thing that could happen is not that the magic within him will turn dark and violent and end up injuring or even killing multiple other people around him before he dies." Yes, Severus was talking about something else, the Obscure-thing, but the implication was still there that accidental magic could be just as dangerous as a gun accidentally going off. Bad enough if Harry should hurt himself, but he could hurt Dudders too... and Dudley was too young to know better, no matter what Petunia or Vernon said to him. Vernon even went so far as to spank Dudley after the third punching episode, over Petunia's objections as she felt each blow in her own chest. Unfortunately, that had seemed to make both boys even more upset and irritable rather than deter bad behavior. They were scared into obedient silence for exactly as long as it took Vernon to leave for work. After Vernon left, Dudley threw a tantrum, and Harry hid himself in the closet under the stairs for several hours. Petunia was in a panic and about to summon Severus by the time she finally found him, by feel because he was invisible, and she reduced him to tears dragging him out of there and scolding him. When Vernon returned home, Petunia forbade him from striking either boy again. She then struggled through three days of constant tantrums from Dudley and frightening (though thankfully magicless) hide-and-go-seek episodes from Harry until things returned to something closer to normal.
Very contrite and equally at a loss, Vernon agreed something had to be done. Petunia mentioned the fights to Rachel, but she was not much help, having only the one daughter and herself being an only child. So they called Vernon's parents, who suggested they try spanking the boys again the next time one of them did something unacceptable. So they ignored that suggestion, asked the nurse at Dudley's pediatrician's office for referral numbers, and made an appointment with the only child psychologist in Surrey. They got lucky. The wait list was very, very long, but Petunia got a callback about a cancellation and was able to take the appointment spot just two weeks after they decided to seek professional help.
The initial appointment was scheduled for an hour in the middle of the day October 28th, which Vernon was fortunately able to take off even with such short notice since it was for family medical reasons. Harry and Dudley were directed to a child-sized table and chairs in the corner, which held some toys and coloring books, while Vernon and Petunia sat in the two wooden chairs facing the doctor going over the history. Petunia spoke the most, keeping her voice lowered and pleasant so as not to distract the boys.
"Dudley is ours, of course. Harry is my nephew, who came to us when he was, let's see, fifteen months old after his parents were both killed in a car crash."
"I see..." Doctor Jones made a note on her yellow pad. "Was he involved in the collision as well?"
"Er...yes. He has a scar from it. He wasn't badly hurt, though."
"And how was he when he came to you?"
Petunia shrugged helplessly. It was difficult to explain without mentioning the fearful secrecy they had also been keeping at the time. "I did not have much contact with him before, but he didn't seem like a happy baby like Dudley was. He cried a lot, and when he wasn't crying, he was quiet. He played a little, but he didn't babble like Dudley."
"Could he speak at all, yet?"
Petunia nodded. "Yes, he had I think the same number of words as Dudley, he just... was quiet. And he was walking and picking things up normally," she continued, remembering the questions the pediatrician would ask her about Dudley. "They both seem to be hitting the, um, what-do-you-call-ums... milestones now." There were no concerns when Dudley had his recent checkup and three-year vaccinations, certainly. Harry's was scheduled for next month, something they realized they hadn't done last year after getting the all-clear from Severus. Petunia had also realized after making the appointment, she did not know if he had gotten any of his vaccines yet, or even whether wizard children got them at all. She had been meaning to ask Severus about that. He was certainly off-schedule for vaccinations regardless after the year in hiding. It was just another problem to worry about, though fortunately not an urgent one.
"Alright, so he was probably developmentally appropriate. And what is the problem more recently...? Ah, fighting and tantrums," she read off the form Petunia had filled out in the waiting room. She nodded. "That's very common in this age group. Tell me about it."
Petunia launched into an explanation, with Vernon chiming in once in a while. It was still true that the boys were sometimes very good and sweet together, as they seemed now, playing in the corner of the doctor's office. If Harry had an idea of a new game to play, he always brought it to Dudley rather than to Petunia or Vernon, and the reverse was also true. They still usually loved playing football together, even though Dudley got increasingly frustrated if he failed to make any goals. But then there were the times where one of them had something the other wanted, and they simply would not agree to share. She talked all about what had happened on Harry's birthday, although instead of magic of course she said Harry had thrown the cake in Dudley's face. And then there was the recent escalation of tantrums into wrestling and fist fights. Petunia also had noticed ever since the incident where Harry collided with the coffee table, he had started running away when Dudley hit him instead of fighting back. She was not sure if that was an improvement or not. At least he was no longer hiding from her or Vernon. And, thinking silently to herself now, at least there had been no more aggressive magic, yet.
"This does sound like it's been difficult for you. If I may, which one usually hits first?"
"Dudley," Petunia admitted after a moment and an apologetic glance at Vernon. He shrugged. He knew it as well as she did. Just because they adored their son with all their hearts did not make them blind to reality. "It always starts with verbal arguing, though!" she hastened to add. Dudley wasn't deliberately mean she was sure; neither of them were.
"Okay..." The doctor launched into her own barrage of questions, asking for more details about the circumstances of both Harry's and Dudley's squalls, more information about their day-to-day routine, Vernon's work schedule, their extended family... she raised her eyebrows and set down her pen when Petunia mentioned her own mother had also passed away shortly after her sister, and father years before that. "How are you coping, Petunia?" she asked sympathetically.
"I... I'm doing well. Honestly, the first year was so hard, but then things were getting better, until recently with the boys." The doctor extended a box of tissues towards her. Petunia gratefully dabbed her eyes and blew her nose while Vernon rubbed her back.
When she was recovered slightly, the doctor leaned in and smiled gently at her. "It's okay to feel for and take care of yourself too, Petunia. You have all been through a lot of stressful things. Your children can sense when you are sad, even when you're trying to be cheerful, you know. Now, I'm not saying that their behavior is all your fault by any means, not that way, but you are such a big part of their lives, we have to consider how to keep you happy and healthy in order to help them." She looked at Vernon and amended herself, "And by that, I mean both of you." She leaned back and started making more notes. "Now, Harry and Dudley are both much too young to consider their challenging behaviors anything but that: challenging behaviors to manage. What you are describing is well within the spectrum of normal for this age group. We just have to come up with strategies to help you positively redirect negative behaviors when they happen, and help them develop more appropriate responses to their emotions. I'd like to watch them interact for a little while, and then we can talk about what to do."
I think my mother is dying. -S It had been another bad visit today. She had come down with pneumonia this week. Bacterial pneumonia. Witches didn't get run-of-the-mill bacterial infections as a rule, not unless it was from a contaminated wound (from a magical creature no less), or the unfortunate person had been cursed or was extremely old. None of which applied to his mother. Viral infections were another story, although never so severe as to withstand a single dose of Pepperup, with the exception of dragon pox and mumblemumps. And fungal infections were of course completely different and frequently magical... Well, Eileen's pneumonia would be easily cured, but with an inhaled anti-septic potion that, according to Valerian, hadn't actually been used at St. Mungo's in over a century. Severus had never brewed it before either, not even for curiosity, since it had so little utility. Other than the inexplicable mundane infection, her status had not really changed since admission to the hospital. She still refused to work any magic, and refused to see Ollivander or try one of the charity wands that were periodically donated to the hospital. She had successfully pulled out some of Severus' hair today, as well as coughed all over him and cursed him out royally with a bevy of extremely foul muggle swear words he had only ever heard her scream at his father before during their frequent fights, never at him. The healers explained she was in a bad mood after her gobstones were taken away earlier in the week. Apparently, she had attempted to shove some of them down one of the healer's throat while they were trying to get her to breathe in her antiseptic treatment. Eileen said she wanted to go home, and that he was a bad son for forcing her into the hospital. Even though he knew her behavior was neither normal nor healthy, he did wonder if she was right, since if anything she was getting sicker under the healers' watch.
Oh, Severus, I'm sorry to hear that. Is she very ill? -P
It was only when Petunia wrote back that Severus even realized what he had, rather foolishly, written. No one even knew his mother was in the hospital besides himself and the healers, not even Albus. He had intended to broach an entirely different topic with Petunia this evening. Well, nothing for it now. He would try to redirect the conversation quickly. Yes. -S
It's so hard to lose a parent. I know Lily would have told you when our father died. And Mother is gone as well, just after Lily. -S
I know... I found her body. -S
Your mother's?! -P
No. Your mother's. I was the one who found her initially. -S
Oh. -P
Merlin's beard, why had he told Petunia that? He was not thinking at all tonight.
Did she suffer? -P
Severus dropped his head onto the desk with a thud. Probably. Pyrites most likely tortured her for information before giving up and killing her. Or maybe he hadn't, assuming idiotically the muggle woman was beneath his notice, a mere temporary obstacle between him and his prize, until he realized there was no infant Harry in that house. Severus had no way of knowing. She had died by the Killing Curse, which left no traces, and any other magical evidence was obscured by his own duel with Pyrites by the time he and Alastor were able to investigate. So he merely wrote what was kindest for Petunia to hear. There were no signs of it. -S
Thank God... I'm almost afraid to ask, but do you know who did it? -P
He's dead. -S
Oh. Good. -P
Severus stared at the page, where she had punctured it with her forceful underlining and full stop. Somehow, he had never expected Petunia to express such anger, she was always so obsessively proper and rule-abiding.
Sorry, I'm sure that sounds terrible. So, what is wrong with your mother? -P
It's a magical malady. I don't know why I brought it up. Let us speak of something else. Did the therapist have any insights at the appointment? -S
Yes, actually. They agree it sounds like the boys are competing with eachother for affection and attention, particularly for mine, since I'm home all day and Harry knows I'm the blood link to his parents. They had two suggestions, first that we look into preschool options so I get a break and they have to learn to get along with even more children, and second that they get to know more friendly adults. To spread their attentions around, I suppose. Also some general tips on managing tantrums, but most of those were in that book you found. She almost gave us a Xerox of that chapter on tantrums before I told her I had the book already. -P
Good to know we found the best resource. The preschool idea does make sense to me. There are still plenty of fights and rivalries at school, I assure you and as I'm sure you yourself recall, but it's not usually among close family from what I've observed teaching. The odds are good they will 'join forces' when surrounded by peers, particularly if you encourage them to do so. -S
That's what the therapist said, essentially. You must be doing something right as a teacher, Severus! What do you think of her other suggestion? -P
Outside my realm of expertise. You may recall my family was only nuclear and that the other adults in our neighborhood generally disapproved of me. You are currently my only friend with children this age. -S Former Death Eaters and their children didn't count.
Oh, yes. Sorry? -P
You have nothing for which to apologize. -S
Oh, good. Well, I still have to discuss this more with Vernon, but we might want to invite you over again. No promises. -P
If you do, I will be good this time. Pinkie promise. -S
Pinkie... Seriously? -P
Cross my heart. Or even double-cross. -S
...I really hate it when you say weird things like that. They're not funny. -P
Apologies. -S
Oh, I did have one more question, Severus, that I almost forgot about. What do wizards do about childhood vaccinations and things like that? -P
Finally, a question he actually knew the answer to. Pureblood families never bother because the child's magic tends to provide superior innate immunity to most ordinary communicable illnesses, and because the traditionalists disdain muggle medicine anyways. That said, vaccines are not harmful to magical youth. No one knows if they might actually help. -S
Thank you. He'll probably need a vaccination record to go to preschool. -P
I am 100% positive he never had any before coming to you. His father was a pureblood, and they went into hiding very soon after his birth. -S
That answers my other question. Thanks again. -P
Several hours later, Severus glanced back at the journal and had to laugh. I disagree with my wife. That was kind of funny, coming from you. -V
His laugh faded when he read the next line. Sorry to hear about your mother, Sev. I hope she gets better. -V
Author's Note: Severus attempting friendly banter is mostly just weird, to anyone except Lily Evans.
I tried to think of the most frightening bit of not-acutely-dangerous accidental magic Harry might do at this age, and turning invisible so mother figure couldn't find him for hours at a time was top of the list.
Obviously Dursley's seeking therapy is out of character from what we've come to expect in the books, not to mention out of character for 1980s middle class family in general, but as some of you have pointed out, the Dursleys are plain inexperienced parents. Obviously Severus is no better, in fact probably even worse, for general parenting problems. They need help, and fanfiction is at its heart wish-fulfillment! There was never going to be a chance to divert from the book's young!Dudley-Vernon-Petunia already unhealthy dynamic without a significant shake-up. My justification is that in this story, the Dursleys are actually far more wary of what Harry might do with accidental magic than they were in the books, because they know slightly more about it from Severus. They know enough to fear Harry could do scary things (a la young Tom Riddle) if they don't manage him correctly (their imagination is probably more dramatic than reality, of course). Really, book Dursleys were very lucky that Harry developed such a loving nature despite them that his accidental magic remained fairly benign.
FYI, I've decided the book Severus ends up with is Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach, because it was written in 1977.