A Harry Potter fan fiction by Iapetus
Disclaimer: I'm not British, so how could I have written the British story Harry Potter?
Lastly, thank you (again) to Willowish for looking over my story. (By the way, I forgot to mention this before… This was beta-read from a member of the Sugarquill. Stop by there sometime, it's a lot of fun!)
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After messing up the first time, Petunia decided to go to notebook paper. She'd write a rough draft, and then transfer it to the fancy stationary given to her as a gift. Right now, when no one else was around, her wall of pride had been broken down. She wanted answers, and knew she wasn't going to get them by being rude to the man who could answer her.
Some nights, while getting ready for bed, she could hear her nephew talking to his pet owl. He had talked about his school Headmaster a lot, and how wise the man was. Harry wasn't the only person to hold the man in high regard.
In Lily's second year, there had been a scandal involving the funds for a reward she and several other people had won. The Elite Academic Grade Level Education (EAGLE) Scholarship had been opened to Muggle-born students with exceptional grades and/or financial need. The Ministry had cut off the money for the program, and the Headmaster had fought hard to get it reinstated. It was a time in their family's life when they could barely put Petunia through school, much less the younger daughter with all the special (and expensive) wizarding supplies needed. If the award had not have been given to her, Lily would have not been able to return to Hogwarts. His action had won the total confidence of her parents, as well as the gratitude of Lily.
And then, there was that giant that had taken Harry to get his supplies in the first place. She had seen some of the letters from him around her nephew's room. Hagrid seemed to think that he was the best man in the world, and had given her son a tail when Vernon had insulted the Headmaster in his presence. To win the respect of a person the size of a giant, she thought, he must have been an agreeable man.
Several crumpled pieces of paper lied on the floor. She had stopped using her best pen, when she realized that a rough draft was needed. The pencil was becoming dull again, and she would need to sharpen it soon. It was hard to read the writing- her hand was trembling so much.
I have to get this done, before anyone comes home! She thought, her mind on the edge of panic. Holding up her most recent attempt, she examined it with her narrow eyes:
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
You and I have never met, but I know we both know of each other. I am Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter's aunt and his mother's sister. I hope you are doing well.
From what I have remembered hearing from my sister, the statements that Harry and others have made, and the letter you sent me so long ago, I know you are thought highly of. I also have heard you were a man of remarkable wisdom, and of knowledge.
I happened to come across some news that the man known as Voldemort had risen. You stated in the letter with Harry that he was the man responsible for killing my family. Sir, I won't hide the fact that this has disturbed me greatly.
When Vernon and I originally took the boy in, we vowed to stomp the magic out of him. For him, it was because he couldn't stand the idea of having a wizard in the house. For me, (while I agreed with him) it was to keep him from the evil that had taken away our family. I do not like the boy, but I also don't believe that anyone should have to suffer like that. I know what it's like to have your parents murdered...
Petunia had to stop for a moment. Tears were welling up in her eyes again. I can't be doing this when I write the final draft, she thought. Grabbing a tissue, she touched the corners of her eyes, removing the moisture. Regaining composure, she continued to read.
I was hoping you'd be able to tell me what I am supposed to do. I do not know how to do magic (obviously), and don't know how to protect Harry - should He come back. I also want to protect my family. When Voldemort sent a Death Eater to my family, he had planned to kill me as well as my parents before he killed Lily. Sir, our relationship was not that of close sisters, but as ones who tolerated each other's presence. We still loved each other, though. She did not deserve to die.
Please write me back promptly, if you are not too busy. I'm sure running the school must take up a good deal of time, even in these summer months. And, to evade the curiosity of my husband and son, is it possible that your response come through regular mail? Or, could the owl drop it off in our slot? I don't think my family would enjoy seeing me receive mail the wizarding way.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Petunia Dursley
It was the last line, but something was missing. She sat in her chair, pondering what it was, when her nephew came walking down the stairs.
In a rush for him not to see what she was doing, she picked up all the scrap paper in a handful, and threw it in the trashcan. She was just folding the letter into thirds when his feet touched the landing.
"Aunt Petunia?" he asked patiently, waiting for her to turn her attention to him.
"What?" she snapped back in response.
"I'm done cleaning the attic."
She turned to look at him, sneering the whole time. Dust caped the too-big clothes he was wearing, and his glasses were cracked.
"Did you break anything?" she asked, perceptively.
"No," Harry responded quickly, "I caught it in time."
She gave him a once-over. "Good. Be careful next time. There are a lot of important family mementos up there. I don't want to loose any by a trouble-making boy like you.
"Now, go wash up. There is some tuna fish you can have in the fridge," she smiled at him nastily. "After that, I want you to clean up the glass on the floor by the entranceway." He turned to go to the downstairs bathroom. Good, she thought, then I can get upstairs without him hearing much of anything. He was almost out of view, but she shouted after him. "If there is ONE shard left in the carpet, you'll have no meals for a week!" Well, she couldn't have her poor Dudders cutting himself on one, could she?
Satisfied by lack of response, she hurried upstairs quickly with the envelope in her hands. She could still hear the water running as she crept into his room.
Petunia must have seen her sister do it a hundred times when they were children. Always writing to James, or one of his friends. Either that, or Danette, Cindy, or Janet - her dorm mates. You always tied the letter you wanted to send to someone to the leg of an owl. Then, they'd take off and deliver it for you. It had to be simple, right?
Wrong.
At first, it wasn't even there. Then, it flew in - appearing out of nowhere. She had two letters tied to her legs.
Petunia didn't know how long Harry would be before he came up to his room again. Working quickly, she tried to take the two letters off, but the bird wouldn't let her. The owl Hedwig had never seemed to like her, and convincing that she had good intentions was even more difficult. It took every fiber in her body not to start screaming at the animal, which would surely not let her mail the letter then. With a desperate attempt, she threw away the last of (what she considered) her dignity.
She asked it politely.
"Will you send this to Professor Dumbledore?" the owl seemed to eye her warily, not knowing whether to trust the change-of-heart. Petunia was getting desperate.
"Please!" she whispered panic evident in her voice. "It has to do with Harry's safety!"
She had said the magic words. Hedwig gave an assuring hoot, and held her free leg out to her master's aunt. Taking the small piece of ribbon from the inside of her apron, she tied it securely to owl's leg. Without another moment's notice, she took off into the sky.
From what she had heard, she knew that Dumbledore would have enough sense not to tell Harry about her letter. This was a relief, because, she now realized, she had a reason for acting like she did.
You know, she thought finally, you're just like Lily. She smiled. The reason you are such a nice person is because you had to put up with people like me.
Fin.
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Wow.. I was so surprised! I got almost as many reviews for the first two chapters as another story I have (which has 14 chapters). Thank you to EVERYONE who commented. This was my first Harry Potter piece, and I'm glad people enjoyed it.
This story has ended, but I already have ideas for more. Are any of you interested in seeing more of my work? If so, respond in your review (hint hint), and I'll e-mail you all when I finish. It shouldn't be too long from then.
-Iapetus