The Boy Who Refused To Die

Chapter 1: The Dursleys

Petunia woke up that morning, not to the sun or the chirping birds like she usually did, but to the wailing of a baby.  She sighed as she rolled out of bed and made her way to Dudley's nursery.  She opened the door but was shocked to see him sleeping soundly.  Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she made her way through the house in search of the source of the noise.  
She followed the sound all the way to the front door.  She cautiously opened it and saw none other than Harry Potter laying on her doorstep.  
"VERNON!  VERNON, COME HERE!  QUICKLY!"  She wailed in her shrill voice.  She scooped up her nephew and checked him over for any harm that may have been caused to him, only finding a lightning bolt shaped gash with a bit of dried blood around it and a letter.  
"Petunia!  What's the matter?!"  Her walrus of a husband rushed into the room.  She turned around with worry in her eyes and a baby in her arms.  "What the bloody hell?"
"I t-think something happened to L-lily..."  She held the letter out for him to read to her.  
He cautiously opened it and began reading it aloud.  

Petunia,

I am terribly sorry to tell you this, but Lily and James were killed by a terrible man.  You must look after Harry and protect him.  Please, teach him all you know about magic, he'll need the knowledge.  I would care for him myself, but it is far too risky.  
Protective spells have been cast over your home and family.
I will visit when it is safe.  

~Severus Snape

"It can't be true..."  Her voice was weak as she slumped to the floor, clutching Harry to her chest.  "Vernon," she sobbed, "It can't be true!"
"We don't even know who this Snape fellow is Petunia.  This could all just be a cruel joke," he said in an attempt to put his wife at ease.  
"N-No.  I knew h-him.  We were friends when we were young."  She went on to explain how she knew Severus Snape and her husband listened.  "He is many things, but he's never been a liar," she finished and sobbed even harder.  
Number 4 Privet Drive lost the happy glow that it once emanated that day, but gained a new resident.  Mr. And Mrs. Dursley vowed to raise   Harry as best they could and teach him as much magic as they were able to.  
One day, on his tenth birthday to be exact, the family was sitting around the kitchen table as Harry opened his presents.  He got a new jumper as well as a new pair of dress trousers to wear to school.  He didn't ever ask for much because he didn't really like things.  They took up too much space and it made him a bit on edge when things weren't organized a certain way.  When he reached the final package he felt a bit different.  A bit more... energetic?
It was long and thin and when he started to unwrap it both his Aunt and Uncle smiled even wider at him.  What was inside confused him.  It was just a stick.  He reached to take it out of the box, but the second he laid a finger on it a shock went through his body.  
"What the..."  He quirked an eyebrow at his guardians and Petunia's smile grew.  
"Harry, you know a great deal about magic.  Vernon and I made sure of that.  You father, he was a very good man, a bit odd at times, but good.  When you were born he gave that to me for safe keeping.  He said to give it to you on your tenth birthday if he couldn't.  They would be so proud to see how far you've come Harry!"  She walked around the table and wrapped him in a tight hug as she tried to keep her tears at bay.  When she released her death grip on him she answered his question.  "That, my dear, is a wand.  You can cast magical spells with it."
His eyes widened as he looked at his aunt.  
"Mommy!  I want a wand," Dudley wined.  
"Don't you worry Duddykins.  Mommy'll get you a play one next time we go into town!"
The boy was satisfied with the answer and ceased his wining.  
"Harry, there's one more my boy," Vernon said.  He gestured to a particularly large package with one of his sausage hands.
Harry reached over to the end of the table where the last present sat and pulled it over to where he had been sitting.  As he tore the wrapping paper off he wasn't all that surprised to be met with the sight of five thick books.  He asked for new books every year, so this wasn't anything new.  What was new, however, were the titles of the books.  He had never heard of anything quite like them.  'Beginners' Guide To All Magic','Advanced Potion Brewing','A Complete and Unbiased History Of Magic','Novices' Guide To All Magic' and 'Creating New Charms And Spells'.  
"Those were your mother's books from after she graduated school.  She wanted to learn more so she taught herself," Petunia said with a nostalgic smile.  
"Thank you so much!"  Harry exclaimed while flipping through the book on potion brewing.  His uncle had taught him quite a bit on the subject and he was eager to learn more.  
The moment soon ended though.  A great black owl swooped into the kitchen through the open window and landed directly in front of Harry on the table.  There was a scroll attached to its bony outstretched leg.  Harry cautiously removed the paper and handed it to his aunt who read it aloud while the three males around the table stared in shock at the owl.  

Dear Guardians Of Mr. Harry James Potter,

It had been brought to my attention that you are muggles.  Being such, you are not fit in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic to raise a wizard.  It is my displeasure to inform you that Mr. Harry Potter will no longer remain in your care, and instead will be raised by a witch/wizard of the Ministry's choosing.  Visitation can be discussed with the chosen caregiver who will arrive promptly at 5:00p.m. tomorrow.  

Sincerely,

Cornelius Fudge
Minister Of Magic

"THEY CAN'T DO THIS!" Vernon roared.  "THEY HAVE NO RIGHT!"
"Vernon, please-"
"They can't just take him away Petunia!" He shouted.
"I know dear, but shouting won't do anything!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" He snapped.  
"We could write them back," Harry piped up.  
"That's a good idea Hare," Dudley said.  He learned at a young age that Harry was the smarter out of the two of them so he usually just agreed  with what he said.  
"Yes, good idea indeed dear," Petunia siad.  "Vernon, fetch me some paper and a pen will you?"
"Yes dear."  He sighed in defeat and did as he was asked.  
When he returned Petunia began scribbling on the paper furiously.  

Mr. Cornelius Fudge,

I assure you that we are quite well suited to raise Harry.  He has been brought up around and taught as much magic as we could muster.  There is no need to replace us.  If you decide to ignore this we will find a lawyer and you will be thrown in jail for kidnapping.

~Petunia Dursley

She tied the letter to the leg of the owl before shooing it off. 
No resident of Number 4 Privet Drive slept well that night.  they all hoped that they would receive a response before 5:00p.m.  Nobody wanted Harry to leave, so when the clock tolled 5 the next day their hearts all dropped.  There was a sharp knock at the door and Petunia answered it.  
"SEVERUS?!"  She would have fallen back in surprise if her husband hadn't caught her.  
"Good to see you too Petunia," the tall man smiled at her.  His long black hair shadowed his face and he was draped in dark robes.  "You must be Mr. Dursley, it's a pleasure," he said as he held a hand out for the man to shake.  He promptly put it down when he realized that the man was unwilling to take it.  
"How do I know you're not here to hurt my family?" Mr. Dursley asked suspiciously.  
"I assure you sure, I have no intenti-"
"Then you'll have no problem taking veritaserum?"
"None at all sir.  I'm surprised you have access to such a rare potion," Snape said cooly.   
Mr. Dursley left the room and returned with a small vial of green liquid and handed it to the mysterious man in his doorway.  He  quickly drank the contents of the vile before looking at Mr. Dursley curiously.  
"It was just died water?" Snape asked.  
"Yes, but you didn't know that," Replied Mr. Dursley.  "Why are you here sir?"
"I am here so that I can bring Harry home with me.  I understand that it is not ideal, but it is for his safety and your own," Severus said.  "I can't tell you much more without putting you at risk and potentially exposing myself, I'm sorry."
"Well you can't jus-"
"Vernon, if he says it's for the best then I trust him," Petunia placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.  "Severus, just promise me that I'll see him again.  Please, promise me," she begged.  
"I promise," he said solemnly.
After that he introduced himself to Dudley and Harry.  Petunia told him to pack all of his things and said that he had to go with Severus.  As he packed he got acquainted with the man he was supposed to go live with.  They found that they shared a love for potions and reptiles.  After they finished Severus shrunk everything and placed it in one of the many hidden pockets of his robes.  
Harry's once book filled bedroom was now completely empty of everything except for furniture.  
"Harry dear, I love you so much.  I will miss you dearly.  Write to me whenever you can, alright?"
"Alright.  I love you too." He said as he embraced his aunt.  
"You'll come back, won't you?" Dudley asked sadly.  
"Don't worry Dud, you won't get rid of me that easily," Harry said as he gave Dudley a side hug.  
"Do me and your parents proud boy," Vernon said.  Though to anyone else the words wouldn't hold much value, they meant the world to Harry.
"I will, I promise."