Chapter 19

Chapter 19

The next day, Severus Apparated to Privet Drive for his confrontation with Petunia Dursley. He had left his cloak at home, but still wore his usual black button-down suit coat and pants. He hoped he looked plain enough to blend in while in this Muggle neighborhood. He walked up to number four and rapped on the door. A few minutes later the door opened, revealing a stern looking woman.

"Petunia, how nice to see you again," Severus said caustically.

"You! What gives you the right to show up on my doorstep, you incorrigible boy!"

"It might be hard for you believe, Petunia, but I am no longer a boy," Severus replied with a snort. "I need to speak with you for a few moments."

"This is about the baby, isn't it? I knew I shouldn't have agreed to take him in!"

Severus pushed past her and stalked into the room. Not one, but two babies met his gaze. They both sat on the floor, playing with trucks. Both babies looked at Severus and smiled happily. The chubbier one raised a truck to his mouth and began to chew on it.

"Now just a minute, Severus!" Petunia barked at him. "You have no right barging in here like this!"

Severus extended his wand at Petunia. "This wand and that baby give me the right," he stated coldly.

Petunia got a look of fear in her face and rushed to the chubby baby boy and picked him up, trying to shield him from Severus and his wand.

"You have a son?" Severus asked while lowering his wand.

"This is Dudley."

"Fanciful name," Severus said blandly.

Petunia looked at him crossly. Severus went to baby Harry and picked him up tentatively. He noticed the lightning bolt wound on his head. The baby smiled at him and giggled. He grabbed at Severus' nose and laughed out loud. Severus wasn't sure if he should be offended or amused by the baby's behavior. He finally turned to Petunia.

"I understand that having another baby put upon you is a burden, Petunia, but I have a favor to ask of you." Severus' tone had become soft and gentle.

Petunia looked at him in astonishment. She had never heard him speak so kindly. He had always had the utmost disdain for her and had taken every opportunity to insult her. She finally snapped out of her amazement and spoke again.

"What is it you want, Severus?"

The baby giggled more as he grabbed at Severus nose again. Severus pulled his face out of the babies grasp, giving him his finger to play with instead. He looked back at Petunia.

"I want you to treat him as if he is your own."

"But you know what he represents! How can I have that in my home and act like everything is normal? How can I treat him like he's mine when he's a freak?"

Severus' eyes narrowed at Petunia. She suddenly became frightened.

"He is no more a freak than that little chub in your arms is a freak. He just has abilities that others do not."

Petunia became angry. "He is a disgrace! How can we live in this neighborhood with that thing? He'll destroy our reputation!"

Severus closed the distance between them. Suddenly Harry wasn't laughing.

"You will treat him like your own son or suffer the consequences. I will watch you, and if you do not treat him well, I will return. I'm sure having me on your doorstep will be much worse for your reputation than simply having a harmless baby here to take care of. Besides, Petunia, I know your little secret. Lily told me. Don't think I don't understand that you would die if it came out."

Petunia looked at him in horror.

"Oh, yes, what would your dear husband say if he knew, Petunia?" Severus arched an eyebrow and looked at Petunia sternly. "How would he react if he knew that you also were a freak? That you too had magical powers? Undeveloped powers, yet there nonetheless. What would he say? Would he still love you? Would he run shrieking in horror?"

"They are just flukes!" Petunia shrieked. "They're nothing! Odd coincidences! They just appear now and then. I don't make them happen! They came to me too late for me to go to Hogwarts. She went to Hogwarts! She knew how to use them. But did she offer to help me? No! She knew I was terrified by them, but did she help me? She laughed at me!"

Severus eyed Petunia menacingly. "You would not let her help you, Petunia. She tried, oh, yes, she did. During her fifth year, when she went home for Christmas break to find you could levitate things with your mind. Lily was ecstatic. She thought you two would finally be close because of your new-found bond. But you rejected her, just like you always did! You called her unnatural, of all things. If there ever was anything unnatural in that family, it was you! Constantly jealous of Lily because of the extra attention she got. You are so filled with jealousy and hate you cannot see past your own nose! And, of course, when you exhibited the same powers, you were afraid. You were so afraid that you shunned her help. You feared becoming like her. You hid your talents away and never developed them."

Petunia was shrinking back now. "Stop! Please, just stop! I'll do whatever you ask! Just don't speak of my weakness again!"

Severus looked haughtily at her. "You speak of strength as weakness. You are truly pathetic."

"How can something so horrid be strength?" Petunia cried.

Severus' shoulders drooped in defeat. He would never get through to this woman. She was so wound up in her beliefs that she would not even entertain the thought that perhaps she was looking at this in the wrong way.

"It all depends on how you use those powers, Petunia," he said softly. "They can be a great asset or a great curse. It is up to you to decide how you want to use them."

Petunia stared at Severus curiously. His words had struck a chord in her.

"Just treat the baby fairly. You don't have to shower him with gifts and spoil him. Just make him feel loved. Make him know that someone cares. Don't take out your hatred of your sister on him."

"I never hated Lily," Petunia said quietly.

"You had a strange way of showing that you didn't," Severus remarked.

"I will do as you ask, but Vernon, my husband, will not treat him well, no matter what I say or do."

"Have you no influence over your own husband, Petunia?"

"Of course I do, but he has very strong beliefs about this abomination, and he will not accept Harry, no matter what."

"Abomination? Is that your word, or your husband's?" Severus demanded.

"It is Vernon's. He hates that I have agreed to take Harry in and doesn't understand why I am doing it. He will go along with it though. He will just never like it."

"Will he not soften as he gets to know the boy? He seems like a fine child." Severus looked over at Harry, who was still in his arms. The boy had placed his head on Severus' shoulder and was now fast asleep. Severus stared at him in wonder. He had never been around babies before and was unsure how to react with them, but this child seemed to take to him quite well. He wondered if all children were this easy to deal with. He turned back to Petunia for her answer.

She shook her head. "He will never come around. I know he won't."

Severus sighed. "Then will you make up for his arrogance?"

"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

"Love this baby. Make him know that he is not alone in the world. Even if Vernon does not treat him well, the love of a mother can counteract much in a boy's life. You know that my mother was the only one who loved me. My father was horrid, my upbringing intolerable, but I can look back at the love my mother gave me and have some peace at those memories."

Severus thought of his childhood. It had been filled with a drunken father who beat both his mother and himself. Try as she could, his mother wasn't able to calm her father when he was in one of his drunken states. She had thrown herself in between Severus and his father on several occasions, taking the brunt of the beating. When his father had finally given up, or the more likely outcome, passed out, his mother would cradle Severus in her arms, rocking him back and forth, telling him how much she loved him, and she would protect him. Unfortunately she was never strong enough to fully protect him.

When he got older, the scene reversed itself. His father ignored him and concentrated on beating his mother. He would be the one protecting her from his father's wrath. He would not let his monster of a father hurt the only person who loved him. He had done all he could to keep his mother out of harm's way.

"Vernon would never beat Harry like you were beaten, Severus," Petunia remarked. "He will be gruff and nasty, but he will never lay a hand on the boy."

"All the better," Severus sighed.

"I will do as you ask, Severus. Even I understand the importance of a mother in a young man's life. He may not have the easiest upbringing, but I will try to treat him fairly."

Severus stared amazedly at Petunia. "It seems that I have underestimated you, Petunia. You are more caring than I thought."

Petunia picked her head up proudly at Severus. "I am not the devil, Severus."

Severus looked at her for a long time. Finally he decided that his visit was over. He asked Petunia what he should do with the baby, and she ushered him up to the babies' bedroom. Powder blue assaulted Severus eyes as he entered the small bedroom which held a white crib, a small baby basket that had evidently held Harry when he arrived, and an assortment of baby necessities.

"We haven't had a chance to get another crib," Petunia explained as she motioned for Severus to place Harry into the crib.

He laid the little boy down gently. The babe did not awaken in the slightest. Turning back to Petunia, Severus regarded her with interest.

"Thank you," he said finally.

She nodded to him.

"If you ever want to learn more about your magic, contact me. I would be happy to help you buy a wand and work on some simple spells. Your sister was an incredibly powerful witch. Who knows what you are capable of?"

Petunia frowned at him. "Just go, Severus. I have been more than patient with you."

Severus nodded at her. "Don't forget what I said about the baby and your magic. I would be interested to teach you. I work at Hogwarts. You can get in touch with me there"

"Out!" Petunia cried.

"Okay, okay," Severus chuckled as he backed out of the baby's room and left the small home.

oooOOOooo

Severus was surprised two weeks later when he received an odd letter. He recognized it as Muggle mail. He opened it, and his eyes grew wide. It was from Petunia. Evidently she had thought about his offer and wanted to learn more about her powers now that she had a magical baby in the house. She wanted to meet with him during the day when Vernon was at work and see what she could learn from him. Severus lowered the letter and stared in amazement. Wonders never ceased, he supposed.

oooOOOooo

They met weekly for about a year. Petunia by that time had good control of her magic. She was almost as powerful as Lily had been. She had been able to hide her new talent from Vernon easily, as he was not wont to see things unless they were right in front of his nose.

Severus and she spent most of their days together sparring and dueling. Severus was quite surprised that she actually gave him a good fight each and every time. She would never best him, but she always came close. He looked over at Petunia as she readied herself to shoot another spell at him. They had enlarged the living room and pushed all the furniture to the side, giving them enough room to spar effectively. Petunia pointed her wand at Severus and shouted Stupify. Severus shot back and landed on the floor.

"That was too easy," Petunia cried. "You let me win!"

Severus pulled himself back to a standing position and smiled at Petunia. She had become a much nicer person in the year they had been working together. Severus could now see signs of Lily in her that had been invisible in all her pent up rage before.

"You deserved a good win," he said finally.

"How am I to be of any use if you are constantly letting me win?" she asked angrily.

"You are a talented witch, Petunia."

Petunia still winced at the title, but she gave him a smile eventually.

"Your training is over," Severus commented.

Petunia looked at Severus in shock. "You mean I'm a full-fledged witch?"

"You always have been. You just never knew it."

"What now?" she asked.

"You will be able protect Harry if needed."

"Perhaps I could Obliviate him so he won't remember how awful Vernon is to him."

Severus smiled. "Perhaps you could Obliviate Vernon, so he won't be so nasty to Harry."

Petunia smiled back. "Sorry, I can't do that. No matter how enticing it sounds. I love my husband and would have him no other way."

"You are a glutton for punishment, Petunia."

She smiled again. "Will I see you again?" she asked him, wondering what would happen now that their lessons were over.

"Technically, I am not supposed to be interfering with your life, on Dumbledore's orders. I have been coming here without his knowledge all of this time. I am sorry to say that I will be unable to return. I have kept this little secret for too long as it is. I don't want Albus to become suspicious."

She looked at him sadly. "Can't you come by occasionally? Harry really enjoys your company."

Severus frowned as he looked at the toddler, who was playing with some blocks on the floor.

"I am afraid not. I am fearful of being found out. Now that a year has passed, some of Voldemort's loyal followers are coming out of the wood-work again, trying to organize. If they are to find that I have been coming here and continue to do so, they will suspect my motives. After all, I should have killed Harry the first time I stepped through the door. So, for the safety of all of you, I will not return. I will see Harry when he turns eleven and comes to Hogwarts. Perhaps we can renew our friendship then."

He went over to Harry and hoisted him up into his arms. The toddler smiled at him and grabbed his nose. It was their little game.

"Sevvie, pway wif Harry?" the little boy asked.

Severus smiled at Harry. "I can't today, Harry. I must be going."

Harry frowned at him. "Sevvie, pway now!"

Severus pulled the toddler into a hug. "I will miss you, little one," he said gently to Harry.

"Where go?" Harry asked as his chubby arms encircled Severus neck.

"I must go back to work," Severus explained. "I will not be able to visit you for a long time."

Harry pouted. "Sevvie, no go," he said simply.

Severus felt his heart constrict within him. The last thing he had ever expected was to have strong feelings for the son of James Potter, but here he was, filled with love for the boy.

"I will see you again, Harry," he murmured into the little boy's ear.

"See me now!" Harry exclaimed.

Severus laughed at the young boy's persistence, but set him down and told him to find his cousin and play. Harry scampered off, forgetting his demands on Severus in the excitement of finding Dudley.

Petunia regarded Severus sadly. "I was hoping you could be a father figure to him," she said softly.

"I regret that I cannot be so at this time."

"I understand. Thank you, Severus, for seeing past my anger and helping me to become something more than I was."

Severus looked at her curiously. He had not expected such kind words from her, even though they had formed a decent friendship.

"It was the least I could do," he said finally.

Petunia stared at Severus as several emotions flitted across her face. Before Severus knew it, he was enveloped in a great bear hug. The woman was much stronger than her petite build revealed. Not quite knowing how to react, Severus slowly put his arms around Petunia and returned the hug.

"Thank you, Severus. I shall always be indebted to you."

"Just care for Harry. That is the only thanks that I need." With that, Severus pulled himself from Petunia and left the home, never to return.

A/N: Next up: Harry's 11th birthday approaches, aka: Owls a plenty.

Big hugs to everyone of you. I appreciate your comments and just the fact that you've read this far.