1 – At First
Petunia Dursley of 4 Privet Drive started that morning as usual. She woke up at six, so that she could have a few minutes for herself, and after her morning visit to the bathroom, with her hair combed, her face clean and her teeth shining, she went downstairs to open the door and bring the fresh milk bottles in, intending to relax with a cup of milk-coffee before starting her day's chores.
She found more than she expected when she opened the door. Besides the milk, she found a bundle of blankets out of which she saw big green eyes looking at her. There was an envelope attached to the blanket. Petunia barely held her surprised cry, not wanting her husband to wake up yet, and certainly not wanting to attract the neighbours' attention. She lifted the bundle, taking another look at those familiar eyes, hugged it to her heart and took it in. She lay it tenderly on the couch before going back to the door and bringing in the milk.
She now took another look at the bundle. She recognized her nephew immediately. Those eyes were the initial giveaway — the same emerald green as her sister's. And then there was the mop of unruly black hair, just like his father's. It wasn't the first time she saw the boy either, although he had been smaller the previous times she had seen him.
Petunia couldn't understand why Lilly and James would leave Harry on her doorstep and not come in for a quick chat, at least. True, she wasn't fond of the world her sister was now part of, mainly because she would never be able to be part of it, but she loved her sister dearly and quickly became fond of her brother-in-law as well. He was a charmer — good-looking, rich and arrogant, who always knew what to say to make people like him. His best point, though, was his total commitment and love for her sister.
She noticed that the green eyes were closing groggily. Good! Such a small boy needed his sleep. She then noticed a scar on the boy's forehead. It was raw red and peculiarly shaped. She didn't know how he got it, but she was sure to disinfect it and put some antibiotic ointment on it as soon as he woke again. Meanwhile, she took the envelope, made sure the boy was well tucked in, and went to the kitchen for her belated coffee.
With the hot cup resting on the table in front of her, she took the envelope again, noticing for the first time that it was addressed "To Mrs Petunia Dursley" and not just "To Tuney" and the handwriting wasn't Lilly's. She thought it odd, yet her sister would do some odd things at times.
She took out the parchment from the envelope. The handwriting was vaguely familiar, although she couldn't really remember it, yet the contents were almost freezing her blood. It was informing her that her beloved Lilly, along with James, were no more. They were killed by some evil wizard, and she was asked to care for Harry and raise him as her own.
Her cup forgotten, she started weeping silently, clutching that parchment in her hand. Those damned wizards! One killed her Lilly and another just left Harry on her doorstep, not daring to show his face! Alright! She would raise Harry as if he was her own, love him as much as she loved her Dudley and teach him how to be a good person, like his mother. But she would not let any of them close to him! Not — any…
"What is it, Pet?" she heard her husband's voice, tenderer than usual.
Vernon was a good man and he loved her dearly. She tried to love him back. It wasn't always easy. Vernon had a temper that was easily ignited and then he was almost a different person. Yet he loved her, she had to remind herself repeatedly.
Petunia straightened the letter in her hand and passed it to Vernon. She waited for him to read before she whispered, "They're dead! He's sleeping on the couch, the little darling…"
Vernon had never felt at ease with Lilly and James. He could never understand their special gift. He only saw it as some abnormality. In a way he was right. Any attribute which most people lack is not normal by definition. Yet Vernon was brought up with normalcy as an ideal, as something he should try to achieve, maybe because his parents came from families which were much poorer than normal. He wasn't happy to take this child into his home. He had already seen him perform some abnormal deeds, like floating his bath toys in the air. Yet he couldn't deny his Pet's wish.
"We shall take him in and raise him as ours," he said, knowing it was what she wanted to hear, yet wondering what kind of trouble he was bringing upon himself.
–..–
Vernon left for work with a detailed list of what he needed to order by phone or buy on the way home to have the spare room transformed into another nursery. It would be a financial burden, of that he was sure, but he knew Lilly would have done much more had the situation been reversed.
Petunia took care of Dudley, having him washed, clothed and fed, before Harry started stirring awake. She let Dudley play in the crib while she took Harry out of his bundle and had a good look at him. He didn't look hungry, yet he needed a change of clothes. Whoever took care of him since… She couldn't even think of the incident. That person had not had Harry's clothes changed for more than a day, and these were showing signs of his previous meals as well as having a certain smell…