The Shadows Solace Book I: The Growing Years Prequel

Chapter IV: It's a Small World After All

The next two and half weeks were a blur of activity for the Dursley family. Petunia had taken her role as Harry's surrogate parent very seriously and did everything she could to help her infant/toddler nephew adjust to his new surroundings. She was sure that being in an environment where little to no magic could be observed was strange to the child. Petunia had learned recently that Harry wasn't a very fussy baby; unless he wanted to be, and when he was one...he was a hell demon to deal with.

Healer Moon was there most days to help her adjust to caring for one magical child and one non-magical child; all the while teaching Petunia and her husband Vernon the ins and outs of magical society.

Mostly that involved what would be needed for her to know for the upcoming custody battle before the Wizengamot and letting her know that she could in no way allow Albus an inch or he would run the mile over her.

Petunia had told Adriana that she had known that; she had met him several times before this, though she hadn't had to interact with the man much as a muggle. She was also thankful for that as he gave her the strangest sensation of dread.

Vernon and Petunia were still not sure that they were ready for all this; they hadn't been asked and had hardly any experiences with dealing with the magical world. Vernon had told his wife that had he not been to see the Alley for himself; he probably would not have accepted this as well as he had.

She knew that, and it had been one of the truest reasons of why she allowed him to go. Vernon was not exactly open-minded to things of this nature; growing up in a fully muggle home with the principles and values he had, but neither was he so arrogant to say that his own wife was a liar either.

Not without undeniable proof of it.

Petunia had also confided to Adriana that she and her sister had fallen apart because she had become bitterly jealous of her in her younger years. She told her of how close they had been; sisters that were almost always together outside of school and best friends that kept the other's secrets. Then Lily had become something she would never be. Experience a world she would potentially never know, and it had eaten at her.

Adriana had listened and knew this was something that she may have never known if circumstances had been different. Lady Potter had never talked of her family; and now, it was clear why.

So, Adriana convinced Petunia that speaking to her sister's portrait would probably be a huge way to mend fences with her; even if she was no longer alive. Vernon had seen the hesitation in his wife, but he too had agreed with Healer Moon and told her so. He believed that mending fences this way would allow Harry to know later that his aunt and his mother were at peace with what happened between them and would not affect their family later.

Petunia begrudgingly agreed to speak to her sister for that reason alone, but asked of Adriana to wait until after the custody battle was over and Healer Moon easily agreed as Petunia could not afford to have her emotions split during this. It would allow them to eat her alive.

--

Petunia was woken early on the day of her introduction to the wizarding world by a loud cry. She bolted up, grabbed her dressing gown and darted out the door and was running down the hall in seconds; brown eyes wide with fear as she fled to the nursery of her boys, and leaving Vernon to figure out what had happened on his own.

She stopped dead in the doorway to the sight before her.

Dudley was sitting up in the crib opposite of Harry with a huge smile, while her nephew was sitting up too, and his smile was all the relief she needed to know both were okay. However, all the stuffed animals in the room were now floating mid-air and seemingly dancing. A squeal of delight from her son drew a small smile to her lips; hopefully this would be an indication that the two would protect the other in years to come.