A good Beginning (Harry Potter)

Chapter 4: An awkward Christmas

'Lily, are you ready! It's Christmas! Come on, We haven't seen your parents since the end on November, they must be really excited to see you!' James shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Lily soon appeared at the top of the magenta coloured stairs and slowly walked down, with Harry wearing a cute Christmas wanzy. Lily and James both sported Christmas jumpers which read Mr and Mrs Clause.

'I'm really worried James, this is the first time I'm seeing Petunia in 2 years and it's also the first time Harry is meeting Dudley and Vernon. There going to be so nasty towards him!' Lily stated with worry trembling in her voice. James took her hand and smiled warmly at her.

'Don't worry love, they will be nasty but if you can handle them, then Harry can handle them. Besides Harry is getting more powerful by the day, if they annoy him he can just use magic, it can't be that bad can it' James replied whilst trying to reason with her. Lily sighed and held out her arm which James grabbed; a small pop was heard and they found themselves in the driveway of the house in which Harry and Rose Evans lived in. The small family walked up to the door and knocked twice; the door soon opened to show 2 people who closely resembled Lily in their own way. Mr Evans had slightly wrinkled skin, red auburn hair and green emerald eyes; Mrs Evans had blue eyes and blond hair but all of her other features were the same as Lily.

They both grinned and shouted 'Merry Christmas' in unison before engulfing the Potters in a big warm hug; Harry laughed with joy at the sight of his grandparents as they drawled over the boy; Lily put Harry on the ground before he got up and hugged his grandparents legs.

'Isn't he just precious?' Rose said, looking down at the boy with tears of joy, 'So much more well behaved than Dudley, I tell you Lily, when you meet the boy today you'll understand what I mean about temper tantrums'. Mr Evans grunted in agreement.

They all walked into the house and James emptied a small box by the Christmas tree; he then took a few steps backward and pointed his wand at the small items which fell out of the box. With the flick of his wrist, the small items enlarged into a fair amount of presents, whilst Harry squealed in delight at the display of magic. Lily who looked very distressed turned to her parents and said:

'How did Petunia react when you told them that you were still alive? Did she still blame it on me? What's Dudley like? Has Vernon finally shut up about drills?' James chuckled at this last question, but then turned his attention to his parent in laws to see their answer. Mr Evans sighed and began to talk.

'She still blames you Lilyflower, she seemed mildly happy that we were alive and Dudley is a very plump spoilt child who complains a lot. Don't be surprised if Petunia call Harry a freak and don't be surprised if Dudley has a temper tantrum. I tell you, the way Vernon and Petunia are raising him is so wrong, they give him anything he asks for and stuffs him with food. If anything seems tense today, ask Vernon about his drills, he'll just stop everything to talk about how much money he makes'. Everyone looked grim at the thought of Vernon talking about his drills.

Rose was about to start talking when suddenly the door bell rang and Mr and Mrs Evans stood up to go answer the door and put on their bravest smiles. Soon, Petunia entered the room with a giant, fat baby in her arms; she looked over at Harry, who's head was tilted and looking curiously at her, and sneered. She then looked at Lily and James and said:

'What are you freaks doing here?!'

'It's Christmas Petunia. Mum and Dad invited us' Lily retorted. Petunia looked like she was about to explode, she was about to shout at her younger sister when he mother chimed in her usually cheerful voice and shouted:

'It's time for presents!' When she said this, Vernon entered with three humongous bags and emptied all the tightly wrapped presents by the tree. Dudley reached for the presents and started to cry and shriek 'Mine!'

'Yes Dudikens, most of those are yours except for the ones where the freak child is sitting', she glared at Harry, 'let daddy go get your car first'.

'Car?' James questioned.

'Yes we brought Dudley a car for babies so that he doesn't have to walk around. Vernon could easily afford it because he recently got another promotion' she said smiling whilst everyone else in the room rolled their eyes.

'If he doesn't walk frequently then Dudley won't get any exercise and will stay pudgy'.

'Are you calling my Dudikens fat?!'

'No! I'm just saying that it isn't healthy for him' James replied whilst Vernon walked into the room and set down a small car; Petunia put the fat crying baby down in the car and sat down on the sofa next to the walrus of a man named Vernon.

'Let's let Dudley open all of his presents first, we bought him 30, I got a new promotion you see. Let's separate all the presents for the freak though.' James got up and pushed aside the presents which were for Harry.

Dudley tore through each present and threw each present away if he didn't like it; Harry seemed very confused as to why the boy was being so ungrateful and expectant.

When it was Harry's turn to open his presents, his grandparents got him a toy puppy, which Harry loved and sat up to hug them. He got some books and prank supplies from Sirius and Remus, but the highlight of the show for him was what his parents got him.

'Here Harry, this is what mama and dada got you' Lily said whilst handing him a package. Harry carefully unwrapped it to reveal a slightly larger broom than the one he got last year; He bounced in joy at the sight of it.

'A new bwoom!', The infant squealed, 'thank you mama, thank you dada'.

'You brought the child a broom!? You must really hate the child; but the way what are those metal bars at the bottom?' Just as Vernon was saying this, Harry mounted the broom and zoomed around the room swerving his way around the furniture and doing circles around Dudley. Dudley looked at the broom enviously and began to shriek:

'I want! I need!'. Sensing a temper tantrum Petunia said:

'Dudikens you can't have it because it's for freaks'

Christmas continued, Jame's got Lily a golden bracelet of a doe and a stag whilst Vernon made Petunia a bracelet made of the string from sausages he's eaten, he claimed that they spent all the money on Dudley.

The Dursley's left during lunch because Harry wasn't holding any cutlery, using his magic to lift the food up for him, Petunia pointed at him and called him a freak which Harry only mimicked thinking out was funny.