Confrontations and fruitful plans
Harry had reached a conclusion after careful planning.If the dursleys knew he was different then at least one of them must have come in contact with the new magical world that openened its doors for him.His aunt petunia was his only true option here.He HAD to reach Hogwarts,he wouldn’t let anything keep him away.
Now Petunia wasn’t very likely to talk about magic in general much less a hidden magic school.In fact pigs were more likely to grow wings.Harry couldn’t leave any option unexplored though.So he waited and tried his best to keep Petunia happy for the day,starting with cooking breakfast.
After having to force himself though a list of chores with no complaint and enduring Dudleys brainless comments all day,as well as the urge to shove the ice cream in his face he ate while Harry had to cut the hedge in the burning sun,Harry was nearly ready to throw his plan out of the window.To hell with the dursleys and the non existent help from Hogwarts!Would a brochure about the damn thing been too much to ask for?
In the evening while washing the dishes under petunias watchful eye,he finally deemed it safe enough to shoot his shot:”Aunt Petunia,do you know about Hogwarts?”
His aunt froze.”I don’t know what are you talking about boy.”, she sneered.The milky white colour of her face betrayed her words.
Harry kept pushing.Obviously his aunt knew something!”I got my letter and I already told them I would attend.I want to know where to get my supplies.”He continued on undeterred.Aunt petunia looked like she had bitten into a lemon.Finally she seemed to have regained some of her composure:”Why do you think I would tell you anything boy?I made sure for that your freakishness didn’t touch my Dudley.If you had any decency you would have died with your parents instead of forcing your way in mine!” Her voice was shrill now, nearly loud enough to disturb Dudley upstairs.
Harry had always known that his relatives didn’t want him,but to hear that she wanted him dead did hurt a little.Well no matter,he hadn’t had any high hopes anyway.He could work with this though.
“If you tell me how to get to Hogwarts,I will be away for most of the school year,” he tried to persuade her desperately,”my …freakishness won’t go away if you ignore it.Maybe others from that world would come looking for me.”
Faced with the threat of her family being exposed to other wizards cajoled Petunia to change her plans a bit.Just the thought of even stranger unknown wizards being around Dudley sent shivers down her spine.
“Fine” she finally agreed ,”I will tell you boy.You better listen carefully.After this is over I want you out of the house.I don’t want you home for the holidays.I don’t want any strange post.Nothing.You go into that world and you will never disturb us again.”
Harry nodded.There was nothing truly left for him here anyway.He had nothing he would miss.Hogwarts was his only chance.
“Well,I will tell you then.When your mother was your age she got that same letter.My parents were oh so excited for her then.Their special princess.She went into that world and came home with pockets full of strange creatures and potions in the summer.The longer she stayed there the more she left us,her real family behind.In the end she married that no good potter boy.The wedding was the last time I saw her.Two years later you were dumped on my doorsteps.I got nothing more than a five paragraphs telling me my sister had die, they expected me to take you in now.” Petunia seemed to look at him with some other emotion that anger and hate for the first time.
Harry almost felt sad for her.”I’m sorry”, he tentatively tried to console her.
She quickly shook herself out of it.”I don’t need your pity boy”,she sneered.She continued then:”Tomorrow you will take the bus to London.You will go to Charington street and enter that dingy old pub next to number 48.There is the entrance of the their shopping district.I only visited the place once before but I remember the tall white building at the end of the street.Itcalled gringotts and functions as the wizarding bank.There you should have an account.The potters were a rich family not that they ever thought to support us for having to take you in.”
Petunia seemed done for the night.She left Harry alone with the half finished dishes and went upstairs.In the dimly lit kitchen Harry finished putting everything away with growing excitement.”Tomorrow,”he thought”tomorrow I will be free!”