"Uncle Harry! Uncle Harry!"
Harry Potter smiled as Iris Dursley ran toward him outside the fish and chips shop where he had agreed to meet her and her father. Getting down on one knee he braced himself for the collision he knew was coming.
"Got you" he yelled as the girl crashed into his arms and he wrapped his arms around you. Standing up he swung her over his head in a circle and then set her gently on the sidewalk.
"Again. Again." Iris jumped up and down in front of him, pleading for another ride until her father put his hand on her shoulder.
"Iris, you don't want to hurt your Uncle Harry, do you? You're getting to be such a big girl, and he's an old man."
Dudley looked down at his daughter as he dropped Harry a wink. He took the hint.
"Oh, my back. Ow. Oh. I can't take stand up anymore." Leaning over he pretended he was falling over onto her. She laughed and pushed him away.
"You're silly Uncle Harry." Standing on her tiptoes she presented her cheek for a kiss. When he obliged her, she smiled and took his hand.
"Hi Harry."
"Hi Dudley. Does she control you like that?"
"Every day, Harry. Every day. Wait until you have a daughter."
"And I thought boys were trouble." Laughing, he opened the door to the restaurant, but Dudley didn't move to go in.
"Are you alright Dudley?" he asked. "This is the place you recommended, right."
"Oh, yeah. This is it. I just thought maybe we could get some takeaway and we'd eat in the park. It'll be my treat."
"Sure. That sounds fine." He told Dudley what he wanted and he waited outside with Iris. Dudley hadn't been joking when he said that she was getting big. She was taller then his boys had been at her age.
Dudley came out carrying a large bag and balancing two cups of lemonade. Harry took one and they crossed the street into a park set inside a roundabout that had a large children's play area. Finding a bench with a table they set out the food and drinks.
As Iris ran off to play Dudle leaned back in his seat and stretched his back. Harry heard a pop.
"Oh my God, that feels good."
Harry laughed. "Getting the kinks out Dudley?"
"One or two. Out of a hundred."
"Are you alright. You look worn out."
"I am Harry. I am. That's why I wanted to come to the park." He took a sip of his drink. "I tell you Harry, when I got promoted I thought it would great." He leaned back and stretched again.
"What? You don't like your job?"
"No. It's fine. It's just the hours."
"Long 'eh?" He could sympathize with his cousin. He had accomplished his dream of becoming an auror, but the Ministry of Magic made damned sure you earned your wages.
"Harry, it's dark outside when I go to work and dark when I get home. I'm starting to feel like a plant in a conservatory that's starting to wilt from lack of sunshine. Its nice to get outside during the daylight."
Harry laughed at that. He knew how a Dudley felt.
They watched Iris as she ran around the park. She seemed like a natural leader, guiding the children she was playing with in some kind of game.
"She's a good kid" Harry said.
"Yeah, she is. I got lucky."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't marry a woman like my mother."
Harry nearly choked on his lemonade. He certainly wasn't going to argue with that. Mari Dursley was as nice a person as she had ever met. As he caught his breath Dudley pretended not to notice.
"Any plans for another" he asked.
"No. But Mari had been dropping hints."
"Hints?"
"Yeah, she's been talking about adding another bedroom or two to the house."
"Two, huh?" Harry remembered Ginny going through the same phase after James had gotten out of diapers. "And how do you feel about it?
"I'm okay. The more the merrier. If it happens I'll be happy. And the trying is fun."
They looked at each other and laughed. A scream from the direction of the play equipment made them turn their heads.
Dudley began scanning the area frantically.
"Harry, where's Iris?"
Harry looked around, trying to find the bright red jumper Iris had been wearing. He couldn't see it anywhere.
Dudley jumped up and ran off to the left, circling the perimeter of the small park. Harry went to his right. When they met on the far side they passed each other and double checked the others' path before coming back to their bench.
"Check the businesses, Harry" Dudley said, his voice starting to show his panic. "This park doesn't have a bathroom. She might have gone somewhere to pee. She's done it before."
They checked all of the shops around the park with no luck. When Harry got back to Dudley he found him taking out his mobile.
"What are you doing?"
"We have to call the police, Harry. They'll find her. They have to. They have to. It's, it's their jo, jo, job." He was starting to stutter in his panic.
Harry pushed him against a tree and slapped him across the face.
"Stop it Dudley. Stop it. They can't help us."
"Yes, they can Harry. All we have to do is call them." He tried to raise his phone. Harry slapped him again.
"Damnit Dudley, they can't." He turned him to look at the children who were still running sound playing happily. "No one saw anything. No one heard anything. No one's upset. They didn't see anything. The police can't help."
"But what do we do Harry? Where is she? What if they hurt her. Oh my God, I don't know what I'd do if...." Putting his face in his hands he began to cry.
"Don't worry, Dudley. I have an idea."
"You...."
Before he could say another word Harry wrapped his arms around him and twisted away. If a Muggle saw them Apparating, it was just too damned bad.
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
"No Harry. I can't."
"Yes, you can Hermione."
She turned away from him and looked at Dudley. He was on his hands and knees vomiting up his lunch. Apparating hadn't agreed with him.
"And how did you even know that I had a Time Turner?" she asked.
"You told me once that you found one while we were looking for the diadem in the Room of Requirement. You never told me you turned it into
the Ministry."
Hermione blushed.
"There are rules Harry. I can't. I'm sorry." She turned to go back into her house but was stopped by Harry's hand clamping down on her elbow. He turned her around, his face angrier than she had ever seen.
"They have his child, Hermione. His child. Doesn't that mean anything to you? What if it were Rose? Would you use it then, or does that break your rules?"
Hermione pulled her arm away. She turned away again, but he didn't stop her again. They had known each other too long. He had to trust that she would do the right thing.
At the door she looked back at him. "Stay here, Harry. I'll be right back."
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
Dudley had taken his second trip traveling magically a bit better but he was still having trouble standing up straight when they arrived back in the park. Harry led him behind the bench they had been using and watched as he got his bearing back.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. "Yeah. What next?"
"Here. Step back a few feet."
Taking the Time Turner out of his pocket he looked at the chain Hermione had put it on. It wouldn't fit around around both of their heads as he and Hermione had used it during their first year at Hogwarts. Laying it in his palm he wrapped the chain around Dudleys fingers and directed him to close his hand tight. Turning the device once counter clockwise he did the same.
"Hold on Dudley."
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
"My God Harry. Is that us?"
"Yeah. Come on. We can't let them see us."
He led them to a tree that would hide them from themselves but provide a good view of the park. They watched as they and Iris talked outside of the fish and chips shop across the street.
"This is just too damned weird Harry? We're here, but we're there."
Harry nodded, agreeing silently. They looked at the two men who had been them an hour before. Yes, it was weird, but there was no time for that.
"Dudley, listen to me." He hadn't had time to really explain his plan. He could only hope that he could adapt quickly. "We've gone back in time one hour. We are going to stand here and watch and see what happened."
Dudley shook his head as he watched his other self cross the street with Harry and Iris.
"No. We go get her now and none of this ever happened. She's safe and we go home." Turning, he started to walk away. Harry grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back, forgetting how strong he was. They struggled for a minute before he could get him back behind the tree.
"Stop, Dudley. Stop. It doesn't work that way. There are rules. If we interfere we could really mess things up. For us, for Iris, for everybody."
That made Dudley stand still. He looked at Harry, angry but listening.
"What rules?"
Harry gestured to the Harry and Dudley who had sat down on the bench. Iris had left to go play.
"We can't interfere. We can't talk to them. We don't try to stop them. What's happened is already done. We can't change anything. We can only watch."
"Then how do we help?" He still looked scared, but he had calmed down.
"We stay here and watch her. We'll see who took her and then we go back to our time and catch them. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Alright. You go behind that tree over there and I'll stay here. That way we'll have a view from both sides if she goes behind the playhouse."
Dudley nodded and took up his position, being careful to not be seen as he walked behind the bench. When he was ready he gave Harry a thumps up.
Harry spotted Iris and began his surveillance. As he watched she ran around laughing and playing with the other children. He lost track of her when she sent behind a large tree but she reappeared a few seconds later. She was holding a woman's hand. They walked away laughing.
"Oh shit."
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
"My mom? Harry, you have to be wrong. My mother would never take Iris without asking me or Mari."
"It was Petunia, Dudley. I know it was. She was wearing that ugly pink raincoat with the blue flowers that she's had forever. It was her. And Iris wasn't fighting her. You know she'd be screaming her head off if a stranger tried to take her."
Harry wished that Dudley was right, but he knew he wasn't. He would recognize Petunia's bony features from a mile away.
They had Apparated outside of the house on Privett Drive a moment earlier. Harry wasn't looking forward to going in, but he would if he had to. This was too important for him to let his hatred of the place to stop him.
Petunia had never been what Harry would call a stable individual, but she had only gotten more peculiar over the past year since Vernon had died of a stroke. From being the doting grandmother who visited several times a week she had become a recluse who rarely left her house.
"When is the last time you saw her Dudley?"
"Two weeks ago. Mari and I stopped by with some movies we thought she would like for her birthday."
"And how was she?"
"Okay, I guess. We had dinner together, but she didn't say much. She didn't play with Iris at all."
They went up the walk to the door. Dudley rang the bell. When no answered he tried again.
"You got your keys, Dudley?"
"Yeah. Sorry." He fished his keyring out of his pocket and opened the door. He flipped on the hallway light and they looked around. No other lights were on. The house seemed deserted and cold.
"No one here."
"No." Harry walked to the living room. He smiled as he looked at the bricked over fireplace, remembering the time the Weasley's had climbed out of when they came to get him for the summer. God, Petunia and Vernon had been so mad. They hated anything to do with magic so much.
Something clicked in Harry's mind.
There were two ways to hide, he knew. You hid in plain sight or you went somewhere that no one expected.
"Come on Dudley. I have an idea."
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
It had taken them awhile to find the house in Spinners End.
Run down and dirty, the house didn't look as if it was occupied, but Harry could see a small light shining between the curtains of an upstairs window. He looked at the name on the post box beside the door.
SNAPE
Dudley reached for the doorknob. He hadn't questioned Harry when they had left Petunias' house. He didn't know where they were going, but he trusted him.
Now he reached for the door, but Harry stopped him.
"No. This house is owned by wizards. There could be defensive spells. Stand back." Raising his wand he pointed it at the door. "Revelio."
The air in front of them shimmered as the spell washed over the house. He waited a few moments. When nothing happened he aimed at the door lock. "Alohomora."
The door swung open on rusty hinges. Harry raised a finger to his lips and they walked in silently. They could barely see as they went down a narrow hall.
"Lumos."
The tip of his wand flared as they stepped into a living room decorated with heavy, dusty furniture. An old woman was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. When the light hit her face she raised her head and opened her eyes. She was tied to the chair.
"Oh, hello dearies. It's so nice to have visitors."
Harry stepped forward. The old woman followed his movements, seemingly unbothered by the ropes around her body. He looked at her closely. Yes, he could see the resemblance.
"Mrs. Snape?" he asked quietly.
Eileen Snape smiled at him, showing a nearly toothless grin. Her eyes were unfocused. Harry wondered how long it had been since she had talked to anyone.
"It's so nice to have another visitor" she said. Looking at Dudley she began to hum.
"Mrs. Snape. Mrs. Snape. Is there someone else here?" He had to turn her face and look directly at her to get her attention. When she didn't answer he asked again.
"Oh my, yes. She's upstairs with the prettiest little girl." Turning her head she began to hum again.
Dudley had nearly jumped out of his skin at her words. Harry shushed him and they went to the stairs in the corner of the room, removing their shoes before they began to climb. On the upper landing they saw a door open at the end of the hall.
Before he could stop him Dudley had ran forward and kicked the door open.
Petunia was kneeling beside a bathtub, a knife in her hand. When the door crashed in she whirled, raising it above her head. The look on her face was manic.
"Expelliarmus."
The knife flew out of her hand and clattered away. With a snarl she dove at them and then fell like a stone as Dudleys fist connected with her bony jaw. He didn't even look at her as he went to the bathtub. Iris was lying inside, her arms and legs tied with thin ropes. He tore them away and lifted her into his arms.
She struggled at first, but then she saw who was holding her. Flinging her arms around her father's neck she began to sob.
"Shhhh baby. Shhhhh. You're safe. You're safe."
Slowly she calmed down as he rocked her gently. When Petunia began to stir he handed her over to Harry.
"Take her downstairs Harry. I'll bring Mom." His voice was cold.
"Are you okay Dudley?"
"Yeah. Get Iris out of here. We'll be down in a minute."
Harry carried Iris downstairs and set her on a couch. Sitting down beside her he listened for any sounds from upstairs. He wasn't sure what Dudley might do. In front of them Eileen continued to hum contentedly.
Dudley came down the stairs a few minutes later leading Petunia by the arm. Setting her in one the old woman's chairs he looked at Harry.
"Keep your wand on her Harry."
Harry did as he was asked. Petunia sat quietly, looking at nothing in particular.
"Look at me mother" Dudley said.
She turned her head to face him, but said nothing.
"Why? Why would you try to kill your granddaughter?"
She remained silent.
"Why?" His voice was a shout. Her head jerked back as if she had been hit again.
"Your father."
"Dad? What about Dad?"
"He's dead. Your father is dead."
"I know Dad is dead. I miss him every day. What's that got to do with anything?"
Petunia began to laugh crazily and tried to get out of the chair. Dudley pushed her back down.
"Your father is dead" she screamed, pointing at Iris. "He's dead and that little bitch did it."
Dudley stepped back as if he had been slapped. It couldn't be real, it couldn't. How could his mother think that his little girl was responsible for the death of her husband.
When she spoke again Petunia was calmer but she still looked unhinged.
"The night I lost my Vernon you came over for dinner. You, and Marigold, and that freak. She killed him."
"How could Iris kill someone Mom. She's a baby. She couldn't hurt anybody."
Petunia laughed. "When you and Marigold were in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner it was in the living room with us. It made the couch float up to the ceiling with my Vernon on it and spun him around. I'd never seen him so scared. And all it did was laugh and laugh like an animal."
"You know things like that could happen. She's magical. It's normal."
"It's not normal. She's a freak. A freak I tell you. After you left he was still so upset that he had to go to bed to lie down. When I went up to check on him he was gone. My Vernon was gone. And now it's that little freaks turn."
She jumped out of the chair and dove at Iris.
"Stupefy."
Harry lowered his wand as she fell to the floor. Dudley dropped to his knees, crying. Iris hopped up and went to him, putting her small arm around his shoulder.
"Don't cry Daddy. Don't cry. I'm okay."
Dudley looked up, trying to smile. He patted her hand. "I'm okay, baby. I'm okay." His eyes fell on Petunia, sprawled on the floor. "What do we do now Harry?"
He considered the question. Their was only one real answer, but he didn't know if Dudley would like it.
"There are spells Dudley. Spells that could change her memory all the way back to the night your father died. She would still be sad but she wouldn't remember what drove her to this."
"Will it work? Will she get better?"
"I think so. In time. But I'm not skilled enough to be that precise. She'd have to go to a wizard hospital."
"And she won't remember any of this?"
"No."
Dudley was quiet for a minute and then nodded. "Okay. How do we get her there?"
Harry raised his wand. "Expecto patronum." A ghostly silver stag appeared and disappeared through the wall.
"They're on their way."
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
When the doctors arrived Harry apprised them of the situation. After being hit in the jaw and Stupefied Petunia was complacent as she was put onto a stretcher and secured by her wrists and ankles. Dudley turned away until they finished covering her to the waist with a blanket.
"Can I go with her?"
The doctors consulted with each other and then told him no, it would be better if he waited until the next day. Dudley looked disappointed but resigned as he leaned over and gave Petunia a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Mom. I'll see you tomorrow. "
In unison the stretcher bearers picked Petunia up and turned sharply toward each other. With a pop they disappeared. A moment later the doctors followed them.
"Well, I guess that's that" Dudley said. He looked at Iris. She was curled up on the couch asleep.
"It'll be alright Dudley. They'll take good care of her. I'll take you to St. Mungos tomorrow."
"How long will it take? For her to get better, I mean."
"I don't know, Dudley."
They looked at Iris, resting on the couch.
"Can you help her?"
Harry nodded and sat down carefully beside Iris. Taking out his wand he ran it carefully over the red marks the ropes had left on her wrists and ankles. When he was done he touched it to her forehead and began to whisper softly. Dudley looked scared but he didnt interfere.
"There" Harry said, sitting up. "When she wakes up she'll only think that you took her out to the park and had icecream."
"That's it? No bad dreams or anything?"
"That's it. Just a nice day at the park with her dad."
"Okay. But what do I tell Mari? I can't tell her what really happened, but I'll have to have a reason for making a bunch of trips to London."
Harry considered the thought. "Tell her that she had a breakdown because she misses your dad, and she's getting help. That's the truth without telling her the worst part."
"I guess that could work. Well, we better get home." Picking up Iris he followed Harry outside.
"Do you want me to take you home?"
Dudley laughed. Harry was glad to see it. "That vanish and reappear thing? No thanks. There's a shop down on the corner. I'll call a cab."
Nestling Iris against his shoulder he held out his hand. "Thanks Harry."
Harry took his hand. "No problem. Well, you better get home. It's getting late. Mari will be worried."
"Aren't you coming?"
"Not right now. Mrs. Snape needs help too. I'll wait until the people from St. Mungos get back."
"Do you know her Harry?"
"No. I knew her son. He was a good man. I'll tell you about him some time. It will help you understand why this happened."
"What?"
"Later, Dudley. Later. Get your daughter home. I'll see you tomorrow. "
He told Dudley where to meet him the next afternoon. Watching him carry Iris down to the corner shop he breathed a sigh of relief.
It had been a long day.