Petunias scream echoed through the small neighborhood of Little Whinging, Surrey. Before her nosey neighbors could pop their heads out the window and see what the fuss was about, she snatched the now crying bundle from her front step and slammed the front door shut. Hyperventilating, she made her way to the kitchen, holding the baby as far away from her as she possibly could. Just as she placed the baby on the kitchen table Vernon burst into the room. His face an ugly shade of puce and eyes bugging as they swept from side to side before locking onto his wife's wide eyes.
"What is it? What in the devil is wrong for you to be screaming this early in the morning?" Vernon heaved, the effort of running down the stairs coupled with no imminent danger having winded him. Petunia still couldn't find her voice, so simply sunk to the floor and pointed at the kitchen table where the baby was still crying rather loudly now.
"Dudders?!" he exclaimed as he rushed over to what he thought was his son, "Somethings wrong with our boy?" He went to scoop the child into his arms when he noticed the blanket. Dark royal blue with golden balls with wings on it, a bit strange, but not so abnormal if not for the fact that the wings were flapping, and the balls were moving around on the fabric! Vernon blinked hard once. Twice. Then he rubbed his eyes and looked again, but no, the print on the blanket was still moving. Snatching his hands back like he was stung he rounded on his wife.
"What is this wickedness?" he whispered, eyes squinting "why have you brought this freakishness into our house Petunia?"
"Vernon!" Petunia gasped, then shrieked "I couldn't very well let the neighbors see!" She looked around as if they could see through the very walls of her home. Vernon helped her up and they held each other while staring at the bundle that was now trying its best to kick the offending blanket off. As it was moving a letter slipped out and landed on the table.
Vernon reached forward and quickly snatched it up. In elegant looping writing, the name "Petunia" was written on one side. He handed the letter to his wife who took it with trembling hands. She flipped it over and broke the red wax seal, sliding out a thick parchment paper that had the same elegant writing upon it.
"Dearest Petunia,
I regret to inform you that your sister Lily Potter nay Evans has perished last night under the hand of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Your sister and her husband were both killed last night making their son Harry James Potter an orphan. You are Harrys last remaining next of kin and as such I am entrusting him in your care. It is my hope that you will raise him well, and treat him like your own son.
My deepest condolences,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump of the ICW, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamont, Order of Merlin First Class"
The letter fell from her hands and gently floated to the floor as she finished reading. She looked at the baby in front of her, the same age as her Dudley, orphaned, and felt nothing but disgust and fear pooling in the pit of her stomach. Her face regained a bit of a peachy coloring as her lip curled in distain.
"It's my freak sisters child," she spat, "She went and got herself blown up or something and they left her hell spawn on OUR doorstep!" She ripped herself from Vernon's arms and snatched the child up once more, holding him with as few fingers as possible with her arms fully extended in front of her. "Don't worry darling, I'll take the trash out to where it belongs and then we can put this all behind us. I won't let this freak taint our home, or harm our son! Watch Dudders for me, I'll be out for the day, should be back in time for supper! Order a pizza for lunch sweetums, and I'll be back before you can miss me okay?"
Vernon looked at her desperate eyes and nodded once. "I won't have that freak in our house a moment longer, best you be off with him dear. I'll look after our duddy-poo while you take care of this. I'll expect you home by dinner, alone." He glanced at the still crying bundle squirming in her hands and back up to her face before rushing to grab the car keys and open the back door for her. He led her to the car and opened the back seat where their sons car seat was, before narrowing his eyes.
"We'll have to buy a new car seat after this," he said, "don't want the freakishness to rub off on our Dudders." Petunia nodded her head empathetically, "I'll pick one up on the way home dear, don't you worry." She strapped the miserable child into the safety harnesses before rushing back into the house. She grabbed the pot of honey, and opened the front door to grab the milk she wanted to bring in before this disaster presented itself to her. Making hast she scurried to the car, nodded to her husband and climbed into the front seat.
She drove with no stops all the way to Berkshire, the boy had fallen asleep early on in the drive, which was a relief, but he was starting to stir again, and her nerves were already fried being in such close proximity to a freak for such a long time. By the time she made it to the Downs, the sun was high in the sky, and she was very thirsty, hungry, and quite agitated. She stumbled out of the car and unbuckled the tired, hungry, soiled child, snatched his blanket to go with him, and made her way on foot over the grassy hills.
After what felt like an age she found it. A round patch of grass a distinctly different color than the lush green surrounding it. This patch wasa perfect circle of silver-grey grass, looking as if it was kissed by moonlight even in the light of midday. With a cry of relief, she placed the babe right in the center of the circle, taking care not to set one toe inside herself. With him she placed the pail of milk and the jar of honey of which were both now open. Trembling in with fear she slowly backed away, before turning and running all the way back to her car, sobbing in relief as she sunk into the driver's seat. She gave one hard look in the direction of her nephew and took a large shaky breath.
"You're with your kind now," she whispered before turning the car on and driving away as quickly as she came. She had to get some fast food for herself, stop at the buggy store for a new car seat, and make it home before supper. It would be a long time before she thought of her nephew again, and by the time she did, it would have been too late for the Wizarding world to find him.