Half Evans

Dear Mr. Dursley We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

Petunia pastes an appropriately excited smile on her face as Dudley waves the crisp piece of parchment in the air.

“I got my letter!” He yells excitedly.

“I got my letter!” “I got one too!” Harry comes bounding into the kitchen, his own letter clutched tightly in his fist. Dudley turns to his cousin excitedly and Petunia watches as they compare letters that she’s almost positive are perfectly identical.

“Well. Congratulations boys.” She says, giving them a tight lipped smile.

“There’s a supply list too, Mum!” Dudley thrusts the paper towards her and she takes it.

“Right then. Let’s have a look.” She scans the list with pursed lips, barely containing her snort at the clothing requirements (why on earth does she need to buy a winter cloak when their coats will do just fine?) and skips to the textbooks and supplies.

“Aunt Petunia, mine says I need a wand.” Harry’s voice is breathless and she glances at Dudley’s, whose face has gone from excitement to concern.

“Does mine say that, Mum? Do I get to have a wand too?” Petunia doesn’t bother looking at the list before she answers.

“Of course you’ll get a wand, Dudders. You’re a wizard same as Harry, and if he gets one so will you.” Dudley is not placated though, and he picks at a fingernail nervously.

“But does it say it?” He asks timidly. “Does it say it?” Petunia sighs, glancing down at the list in her hand. If for someone reason a wand is not on this godforsaken list Albus Dumbledore will have hell to pay.

“Of course it’ll have a wand, Dud!” Harry pipes up chipperly. “Why wouldn’t it? ‘Sides, your magic is way cooler than mine anyway. You can make whole bouquets of flowers now, I can still only get one or two.” Dudley shuffles his feet.

“I guess..” He says.

Petunia, having located “wand” on Dudley’s list, watches the interaction from over the top of the paper and for the millionth time her heart gives a little squeeze.

“It’s right here, love.” She says gently. She holds the letter closer to him, pointing at the word and watches as he visibly relaxes. “See?” Harry pushes his cousin roughly, knocking him to the side.

“I told you! This is why you should always listen to me.” Petunia hides a small smile as both boys dissolve now into excited theories about Hogwarts and all the ‘cool stuff’ they’ll get up to.

She tosses both letters onto the table and grabs the yellow legal pad from its spot on the counter and pulls out a chair. She clicks a ballpoint pen and begins to write.

Albus, I have received the boys letters today. I feel as though I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but they will obviously both be attending. I would have hoped that a list of appropriate shops and directions would have been included with their letters, however I see now that once again I give you too much credit. You would do well to include those things for non magical folks, as most of us will have no clue where to find a magic wand or a special wizard hat. I will expect these things by week’s end, as I have no intention of leaving all their shopping to the last minute.

P. Evans

She rolls the yellow paper and goes to the window, clicking her tongue. In only moments, her grey owl flutters to the windowsill. It extends it’s leg to her, and she affixes the letter to it with a small piece of brown twine.

“To Albus Dumbledore, please.” She says. The bird cocks its head before taking flight, and Petunia reclaims her seat at the table.

The letter arrives the next day with a list of shops, directions to a place Petunia now recalls is called Diagon Alley, and instructions on how to exchange her money for wizarding coins.

Both Harry and Dudley are beyond excited to venture for the first time in their short lives into the wizarding world, and before Petunia even really recognizes what’s going on, she finds herself in front of a decrepit looking pub that she would never in her wildest dreams visit.

And yet..

She pushes open the door with a gloved hand and strides into the building, her two boys behind her. She hisses at them to stay close before making her way to the counter, where an amused looking man dressed in strange clothes watches her.

“I think you’ve got the wrong pub.” He says dryly, eyeing her from head to toe. Petunia bristles at the brazenness of this man.

“I need to get to Diagon Alley.” She says haughtily, and the man merely raises an eyebrow in amusement.

“You need to get to Diagon Alley.” He repeats. She fixes him with her own stern look, one that usually makes lesser men wilt. But this man, this weathered, dirty man is not intimidated.

“What business do you have in Diagon Alley, then?” Petunia feels a familiar rage begin to bubble up.

“None that is any of your concern.” She says with barely contained fury. “If you’d be so kind as to show me the way, then.” Suddenly, the man pales, and Petunia smirks. Finally.

“Sweet Merlin, is that..?” She glances to her side and sees that Harry has crept from behind her to the counter. “Harry Potter!” A voice from behind her exclaims. The barman is shaking now, and Petunia notices the rest of the pub patrons taking note of them.

“It’s really him, then!”

“Harry Potter, as I live and breathe!”

“Do you see? It’s him!”

“Mum..” Dudley’s voice cuts through the din of the crowd and Petunia feels his pudgy fingers wrap around hers. She reaches for Harry, grabbing onto his shirt sleeve tightly.

“Diagon Alley,” She says firmly, her voice wavering slightly. “We need to get to Diagon Alley.”

“Mr. Potter,” The barman breathes. “I never thought, I never dreamed..”

People clamor closer. Hands reach for them. Petunia feels her heart hammering in her chest. And then..

“Aunt Petunia!” Harry yelps, as a particularly grubby man grabs at his coat, and Petunia snaps.

Right then.

“Get your hands off of my boys!” She shrieks, squaring her shoulders. She grabs Harry roughly by the arm and yanks him closer to her side, doing the same to Dudley and turns to the dirty man who’d grabbed Harry. “If you like another one of those sausages on my boy I’ll –“

“That’s enough o’ that!” A loud, booming voice rattles the dirty window panes in their frames, and Petunia looks to the doorway where the largest man she has ever seen in her life stands glowering at all of them. The man releases Harry’s coat, taking a trembling step backwards and Petunia feels her breath hitch in her throat. She does not look away though. The man steps closer to her, letting the rickety door fall shut behind him with a bang.

“Harrassin’ a woman in broad daylight, and with two kids to boot! Yer lucky I don’t call the aurors m’self, ya bloody – my usual Tom – what’d ya think they were up to this time ‘o year? Hogwarts shopping o’course!” The man turns to Petunia, who squares her shoulder. “Presumin’ you’re heading to Diagon Alley, are ya?”

“If any of these lot would show us the way, yes, that was the plan.” She responds haughtily. The man grins a wide, beaming grin.

“Well I’d be happy to show ya the way, then! It’s right back out here. My table, Tom if you will.” The man lumbers towards the back of the pub, making his way to a small, rickety door and into a cobblestone alleyway. “They’re not actually a bad lot, y’know, if ya give ‘em a chance. I can’t imagine why they were makin’ such a fuss though, s’not like Tom to let ‘em get all rowdy like that. Name’s Hagrid, by the way, Rubeus Hagrid.”

“Petunia.” Petunia responds stiffly. “And this is my son Dudley, and his cousin, Harry.” Hagrid glances back at the boys, lifting his giant hand in greeting when he stops, eyes locked on Harry.

“Oh!” He exclaims. “Well, that makes a lot more sense then.” Harry visibly shrinks, stepping a little closer to Dudley, who in turn steps a little closer to Petunia. Petunia narrows her eyes at the giant man.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” She snaps, and Hagrid chuckles.

“S’just, yer Harry Potter, aren’t ya?” Harry nods timidly. “Right. Well you’re somewhat famous here in the wizarding world. Only person to survive a killing curse and all that. Not to mention defeatin’ the Dark Lord. I imagine the men in the pub were so shocked to see ya outta nowhere they just couldn’t contain themselves.” Hagrid continues on through the alleyway towards a large brick wall. However Harry, Dudley and Petunia stop in their tracks. Harry’s mouth falls open and Dudley stares wide eyed at his mother.

“Someone tried to kill me?”

“Someone tried to kill Harry??”

“You bloody idiot!” Petunia hisses and all of the sudden she raises her handbag in the air and whacks the giant man across the back. “Why on earth would you tell him that? He is a child!” She continues beating him, all the while berating him loudly. Hagrid lifts his giant arms to defend himself.

“Ah! Hey! Woah now, come off it would ya! I did’n mean anything by it! I thought he knew! Ow! STOP HITTIN’ ME YOU RUDDY WOMAN!” Petunia delivers a final blow and finally lets her arm drop, her handbag swinging from her fist. A small noise pulls her attention and she glances back to see Harry, eyes filled with tears staring at her.

“Aunt Petunia.. did someone try to kill me?” Petunia shoots another venomous look at Hagrid before crouching down in front of the boy.

“Harry. That.. Rubeus is quite correct when he says that someone tried to kill you. It is the same someone who murdered your parents.”

“You-Know-Who.” Hagrid adds, utterly unhelpfully.

“No he does not know who.” Petunia snaps. “And it’s utterly irrelevant, really. He is gone, killed when he tried to kill you. Which for some reason did not work, but that’s irrelevant as well. Point is, he tried, and when it came to you, he failed and he died instead. Apparently that means that some people feel entitled to you, which is completely and utter nonsense.” Harry’s lower lip trembles, and Petunia fights the urge to assault Hagrid again.

“Listen.” She grips Harry tightly by the shoulders. “You have had a horrific thing happen to you. Your parents were.. they were good people, Harry. And they loved you dearly.. Harry they died protecting you. It is no less than what I would do. However that does not make your life a tragedy, nor does it make any member of this ridiculous world entitled to you. Do you understand?” Harry nods, and Petunia nods her head jerkily. “Right then. Are we prepared?” He nods again and she looks to Dudley. “Dud?” Dudley nods as well and she straightens up, smoothing the wrinkles of her floral skirt. “Diagon Alley, if you will.” Hagrid nods somewhat uncomfortably and turns to the brick wall, tapping it with his umbrella in a peculiar fashion. Dudley gasps loudly as the bricks then start rotating and shifting, turning into a large archway big enough for even Hagrid to fit through.

“Woah!” Harry exclaims, and Petunia is pleased to note that all traces of his previous sadness seems to have disappeared. She reaches out and grips each boy’s hand tightly in her own.

“Absolutely no running off.” She murmurs. “You boys stick right with me at all times, do you understand?”

“Yes Aunt Petunia.”

“Yes Mum.”

Petunia squares her shoulders and inhales deeply.

Right then.

Off we go.