SECRET ( Drarry fanfiction)

Chapter 31

Harry found himself oddly alone when he woke up. Refreshed, but alone, which was rather unusual. He amended his alone status as he paused to give Hedwig a little attention and hiss a greeting to his snakes on his way to the loo.

Upon returning to the bedroom, he spotted the photo album on the night stand. He climbed back into bed to finally look at it. He'd had it for less than a week, but it felt like it'd been a year since he'd found it under the floorboard.

His life was spinning, and he wasn't sure there was much he could do about it. Voldemort wasn't going to put the war on hold for him. In fact, with Dumbledore gone and Harry actively pissing Voldemort off, the war was escalating quickly.

And Draco. He wouldn't give up Draco for anything, but he had to admit, he picked a really bad time to get involved in a relationship. His emotions were constantly churning with everything that was happening. Some good and some bad, and he wasn't sure how to get them under control again. He simply didn't have time to get them under control.

He focused on the album again, wondering if it was his aunt's way of apologizing. She'd never shown any kind of affection towards him. Even when she'd been helpful this summer, she was still rather detached. He still thought she'd been helping him out of fear, but he debated whether he should've made more of an effort to talk to her.

Sighing, he opened it and began slowly flipping through the pages. The pictures indicated that his mum had had a happy childhood. So many photos of her laughing and smiling, ranging from when she was a baby to her teenage years. There were even a few with Aunt Petunia smiling beside her, but they would've been before his mum started at Hogwarts. A couple of family photos were included, and Harry stared at his grandparents. He'd never given them much thought, and didn't even know what had happened to them.

He came to the photo with Severus again, and found a few more on the following pages. There was one of Remus and Severus, and he had to wonder if there had been some kind of attraction between them even back then. Then came photos of his mum with the Marauders. He laughed aloud at one pair of photos. The top picture was a shot of his parents scowling at each other. The bottom picture was them kissing and making up.

He was astonished when he came to the last few pages. They were photos of him at different ages. Some had been taken when he was sleeping. Some were taken when he'd been outside working in the yard. A few appeared to be from his primary school.

He turned the last page and stared at the note taped to the inside back cover.

Harry,

I never wanted you here, as you very well know, and I am quite glad that you are finally gone. Given what you are, I've never felt you deserved much. Vernon felt you deserved even less. You are Lily's son, though. I have given back what you arrived with, and these photos. Your kind stole her away from me, but she would've wanted you to have them.

I fully expect you to end this war, the sooner the better, then I will no longer have to deal with your kind ever again.

Petunia Dursley

He read the note again, attempting to read between the lines, but afraid to read too much into them. It was rather straightforward. He sighed, realizing it probably would've been pointless to try to talk to her. She liked him no better now than she had all along. Somehow, the blame for Lily's magical heritage had come to rest on his shoulders.

He did learn that Aunt Petunia actually still cared for his mum, though. Perhaps a little of that love for her sister transferred to him. Not much, and most of it was suppressed further by Uncle Vernon, but maybe she cared for him at least a little. Enough to take a few photos of him and save them without anyone knowing about it.