Nature's Keeper

Chap 1 - Petunia's realization

Harry's 16th birthday lay on a cloudy Saturday. He noticed this as he mowed the lawn, the Dursleys paying no attention to the boy while hey went about their day. 'Not that it would matter' Harry thought as he put away the lawn mower 'no one even cares'.

Harry had waited all holiday for his friends to respond to his letters, but he had only gotten letters from Hagrid and surprisingly Professor Snape who had replied to his question on the potions homework telling him that 'the correct book for reference is The compendium of theoretical potions and that the chapter is The theories of the Mindrift potion'.

'Ron and Hermione should have received my letters by now', he thought, 'why were they not answering' but as he was wallowing he saw Hedwig perched on his window carrying a couple letters and parcels and he ran up to his room, ignoring his uncle who yelled as he caught sight of the small boy.

Harry quickly released Hedwig of her burden and started to open his presents. Hagrid got him a scarf and a small metal carving of the dragon he fought the year before. Harry smiled at the thoughtful gift and opened the next parcel, it was packets of candies and chocolates from the twins with a hilarious note saying 'for all your sugary needs - Gred and Forge'.

Harry heard Vernon yell at him to "shut your damn trap, I'm trying to watch TV" and he stopped laughing but couldn't help the large grin on his face. He opened the last letter and his chest tightened as the grin fell off his face, 'Hey Harry, sorry but we can't have you for summer as we are going to Romania with Hermione to see Charlie', enclosed was a picture of Ron with Hermione sitting on his lap laughing as Ginny smiled in the background.

Tears ran down Harry's face as he stared at his friends that looked happier together than they had ever looked with him. They hadn't even told him they were dating but it was pretty obvious now. It hit him that they hadn't wished him a happy birthday, a small voice told him that he didn't deserve to be happy when Cedric was dead.

He would have stayed in his room, but Dudley slammed open the door, "Make breakfast freaky" Harry sighed and wiped the tears that nobody would ever notice, 'I better make breakfast I guess' he thought.

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Harry would have thought that, with the turmoil in his heart, he would have no appetite, but he seemed to eat all the scraps he could get his hands on, even the gross looking ones. He finished his meal and offered to cook more, if only so he could eat more food.

"Boy, finally making yourself useful! I like your change of attitude" Vernon said, in his too loud voice. He smiled a bit at the promise of more food and missed his aunt looking at him suspiciously.

Petunia Dursley stared at her nephew who was acting strangely. She looked at the calendar hanging perfectly straight on the wall and her eyes widened, its his 16th birthday. She looked over to her husband "Vernon, honey, because it's such a lovely day would you like to take Dudley to that racetrack place you were talking about" she said in her trill voice, hoping he wouldn't notice the light clouding in the sky.

"Well I think that's a wonderful idea Petunia, are you coming?" Vernon grunted happy, his day was just getting better and better.

"Mmn, no I believe that I have some embroidery to finish for the fair. I simply cannot loose to the obnoxious Flandersons again!" Vernon nodded, his chins jiggling grossly.

"Me and Dudley shall make it a bonding trip then." Dudley smiled. When Dad said bonding he meant, buy everything Dudley wanted because Dudley was such a Good Boy.

Petunia bobbed her head as the possibility emerged. She had hated Lily for halving her chances with the wizard, especially when her child ended up as a boy. There hadn't been a male one for centuries, so they had all written Harry off but there was the tiniest of chances that he'd inherited it. 'Or maybe he is just a hungry teen' she thought as she watched the boy serve everyone seconds.