Bound

Aunt

Winter holidays were approaching. Unlike previous years, Harry felt very excited at the prospect of having a real Christmas with his new family, having never been given the opportunity to enjoy it before. Hermione was more apprehensive, though. It was time to meet other members of her family, some of which she didn’t really enjoy meeting. She also didn’t like the idea of having to act as if they were only friends; she was proud of being Harry’s wife and felt bad at having to keep it a secret from her relatives.

They were both hugged tightly when meeting the Grangers at the train station. Hermione was relieved to find that this time they would not have a family congregation at Christmas; they would celebrate it within the close family only. Still, the adults had to attend to their clients, leaving the youngsters alone for most of the following days.

A letter was waiting for Harry on the breakfast table. Harry looked at the letter, wondering if he should open it. The envelope bore the Granger’s address but was for “Mr. Harry James Potter, staying with the Granger family”. Yet that wasn’t the oddest thing about it. Although the handwriting was awful, he could quite clearly decipher the sender’s address: “Dudley Dursley, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging”.

“I think you should open it,” Hermione told him.

“Are you sure?” he asked, knowing the answer quite well. She had already cast all the detection charms that they knew and ruled out any malevolent magic, yet a letter from Dudley?

He sighed once more before opening the envelope with a knife and pulling out the ruled paper inside. He unfolded the letter, noticing how deeply the writing was engraved into the paper. Dudley had certainly tried his best, he thought. He could feel Hermione’s presence in his mind. She was soothing him and watching through his eyes at the same time.

“Harry,

I hope this letter reaches you and I hope you really read it. Looking back on the time you lived with me and my family, I won’t be surprised if you won’t even look at it, yet I hope you will.

I need your help, Harry. Not for me, really, but for my Mum. Since you last visited us with that girlfriend of yours, Mum seems to have changed and I’m really worried. I didn’t notice it during the summer, but once I returned for the Holidays it became too evident to ignore.

She has never eaten very much, you know, but she hardly touches her food now. She used to make the house sparkle, and now she doesn’t even care if I soil the whole floor. It took me some time to notice (you always used to say I wasn’t the brightest kid in town) that she sits most of the time in the kitchen and lets her tears fall. I finally noticed she’s usually holding a piece of cloth that looks like an old baby blanket and mumbles “They’re gone”.

Dad suggested a visit to the doctor and I tried different ways to get her out of this, but nothing worked. I even tried to throw a tantrum (you probably remember how much I used to do it when we were younger), but she didn’t seem to notice it.

I’m worried, Harry. Dad is sure you did something to her while you were here. I don’t think so. You were never the type for revenge. I don’t know who can help her, but I believe that if she sees you and talks to you, maybe even for only a few minutes, it may be enough to bring her out of it and make her seek some help.

I know I don’t deserve your help and neither does my Mum, but you are still family and she is your only aunt. Please, Harry, help her.

I can’t say that she will suddenly love you, nor can I promise to suddenly become your best pal, but I would appreciate it enormously.

If you agree to help, just call me, so I can make sure Dad won’t be present. He will never allow you to help, even if that’s the only option we have.

Dudley.”

Harry sat silently, his emotions in turmoil, as Hermione stood behind him and hugged him tightly. Even without reading his mind she knew he was not able to reject the plea for help, no matter how much he despised that person.

“I think we could take a bus,” she said.

“I didn’t say I would do it,” he objected half heartedly.

“I know you can’t say ‘no’ to him, so why not do it as soon as possible and get it off your heart?”

Harry smiled sadly. “You’re right, as usual...”

“It also looks like your cousin is becoming aware of the misdeeds of the past,” she noted.

“Don’t count on it,” he told her. “Let’s get this out of our way,” he added a moment later and walked towards the phone.

Harry dialed the number and waited for a response. Hermione lifted the extension in the living room. “Hello,” they heard an enthusiastic voice, replaced immediately by a more controlled one: “Dursley residence, Dudley speaking.”

“Hi, it’s Harry. I’ve re...”

“Oh, Harry! I’m so glad you called. Mum is getting worse each day. When can you come?”

“Will tomorrow morning be fine? I...”

“Yes, tomorrow Dad has an early meeting at work and another meeting late in the afternoon. At what time will you come?”

“I’m not sure how long it may take, but I’ll leave here soon after breakfast. I hope to be there before ten in the morning, but I really don’t know.”

“I’ll be waiting. I can’t leave Mum this way.”

“Dudley, please don’t raise your hopes too high. I’ve not learned any healing of any kind, so I’m not sure if I can really help.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m quite sure you’re the only one who can help her. Do come!”

“I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Thank you Harry. I know we don’t deserve it, and I feel grateful that you still agree to help. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Hermione hugged him as he was putting the handset down. “He sounds desperate,” she said.

“Well, he is, but it seems to make him change for the better. I hope these changes will last.”

Harry was still thinking. “I don’t know how to go there by bus. They’ve never let me ride the bus on my own, except for the school bus. Besides, I don’t have any money.”

“You are a rich man, Harry. You have money more than enough.”

“It’s our money,” he said almost automatically. “I have some wizarding money with me, but not enough muggle money.”

“We can ask my parents...”

“No! They’re doing more than enough for me. Anyhow, I’m not sure if it will work. It took more than an hour to reach there in your father’s car during weekend. It may take more than three hours by bus. Isn’t there a magical alternative?”

Hermione thought about it. “We can’t use the Floo... We don’t know how to apparate... We could use a portkey, maybe, but we need someone to make it...”

Harry had a different idea. “Popsy!” he called.

A short while later there was a loud “crack” as Popsy materialized in front of Harry. “How can Popsy serve master?” she asked.

“Popsy, we need to travel tomorrow someplace but we don’t know how to do it magically. Can you deliver a message to the Headmaster, asking him for a portkey?”

Popsy seemed surprised. “The headmaster is unavailable for a few days, but maybe Popsy can help. Where do you need to go?”

Harry sighed. “To my Aunt’s house, at 4 Privet Drive. Can you tell us how we may go there?”

Popsy seemed somewhat offended at his tone, which suggested she might not know. “Master could just ride the Knight Bus,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“You just raise your wand at the side of the road to summon the bus. It should arrive in a few minutes. You then state your destination and it takes you there. It’s slower than apparition or portkey, but it can be used by anyone with no training and doesn’t cost much.”

Harry’s face lightened. “You think it could work?”

“Of course it would work. Many wizard folks use this bus all over the country, especially when not in a hurry.”

“But it takes some time, you say. How long will it take us to reach there?”

“Popsy can’t say. It depends...” She seemed to consider the problem some more. “But Popsy can take Master and Mistress wherever they need to go.”

“You can?”

“Just call Popsy when you want to go, and I’ll take you wherever you desire.”

“Thank you, Popsy. You’re a real help!”

“Would Master or Mistress need anything else?”

Harry didn’t think so, but Hermione had a question. “Would this not bother you? I mean, you may have other things you’d like to do, so...”

“Mistress doesn’t understand. Serving is not a bother; it’s what we house-elves do best and enjoy it. Anything else?”

They both shook their head and the house-elf vanished the way it appeared.

Knowing they need not hurry, they ate breakfast leisurely the next morning and then changed to some casual cloths, yet making sure to wear the most prestigious brand names, just in case his aunt would notice. Harry seemed quite reluctant, but Hermione held his hand reassuringly.

Popsy arrived immediately when called and then grabbed their hands and deposited them in the entrance hall at 4 Privet Drive, startling Dudley.

“We shall call you when we want to go back home,” Harry assured her and she disappeared, silently this time.

“Wow, Harry! That’s traveling in style!” Dudley commented, still trying to catch his breath after the surprise.

They followed Dudley to the kitchen. Petunia was sitting at the table, holding a piece of cloth which Harry identified as his old baby-blanket. Her hair was uncombed and she wore no makeup, yet she seemed to have washed her face and brushed her teeth. Her eyes were unfocused and she didn’t seem to be aware of anybody around her.

“Mum, Harry is here. He came to visit you,” Dudley told her. Harry was surprised by the tenderness in his voice.

Petunia didn’t react, didn’t seem to even hear what was said. Dudley tried again, a bit louder: “Mum, Harry wants to talk with you.”

Her eyes moved around, still barely focused, resting on Harry just a bit longer. Harry thought this was his cue. He came closer and put his hand on her shoulder. “Aunt Petunia, I’m here.”

She still didn’t move her head and didn’t say a word, yet her free hand moved to her shoulder and grabbed Harry’s hand tightly, pressing it harder into her bony shoulder.

Harry moved a bit to stand at her side, where she could see him better. “Would you like to talk with me?” he asked tenderly.

She turned her eyes towards him, blinked twice, and then let the baby blanket fall as she grabbed Harry’s other hand. “James! Where’s Lilly? What happened to her?” she asked worriedly.

Harry was confused. He had been told that he looked a lot like his father, but he was only thirteen! His aunt couldn’t have met James Potter before his seventh year, so how could she confuse them?

‘I’ll ask Popsy to bring Madam Pomfrey here,’ he sensed Hermione.

‘Fine, do it,’ he told her.

“Aunt Petunia, I’m Harry, Lily’s son,” he tried to plead with his aunt.

“Harry?” This seemed to have confused her, before her expression changed to dread and regret. “Oh, Harry!...” she started sobbing, still holding his hands tightly. Harry took a step closer. His aunt let his hands go and hugged his torso, putting her head on his chest and continuing her sobs.

Dudely was standing at his mother’s other side, looking worried. Hermione had left the kitchen and returned a bit later with Madam Pomfrey in tow. Dudley looked at her apprehensively, but said nothing.

While Petunia was still sobbing on Harry’s chest, the healer talked to Dudley quietly before moving her wand along his mother’s body, chanting a spell. Once she finished, a small parchment appeared our of her wand. She plucked it and started reading, frowning quite deeply.

“What is it?” Dudley asked, frightened.

The healer lifted her head and smiled at him reassuringly, seeing his expression. “Nothing that can’t be fixed,” she told him. “It seems like she had been cursed while still a child. It should have faded long ago, but for some unknown reason it hadn’t. There’s also a lot of anxiety which is quite recent, as part of that old curse had been overpowered. All she needs is a few potions, some rest and a lot of love and patience from her close family.”

“I’ll do anything!” Dudley promised.

The healer moved her wand a few more times, mumbling something. Petunia seemed to start calming down. Her sobs became quieter, yet her hold on Harry didn’t loosen at all. She started mumbling quietly. All Harry could discern was “Lilly”, “love” and “should”.

Madam Pomfrey left in order to get the required potions and Hermione took her place, looking at Harry and Dudley alternately. Petunia seemed to calm down a bit more. She lifted her head and looked Harry in the eye. “I’m sorry, Harry. I should have been a much better guardian to you. I should have been like a mother to you, but I let my stupid feelings dictate my deeds. I’m so sorry!”

She renewed her sobbing, still holding Harry tightly, but Hermione knew it was making Harry very uncomfortable. “Help Harry sit down and then heat some water. A calming tea seems to be in order now,” she told Dudley.

The boy didn’t argue. He actually seemed relieved to be able to do something. He moved as swiftly as his large body would allow. He first brought a chair nearer to Harry and helped him down, while Petunia continued holding him. He then filled a kettle and put it on the stove and also prepared a tea-set for serving.

Madam Pomfrey was back before the water started boiling. Petunia was startled when she noticed the healer, releasing Harry a bit. The healer noticed the preparations for tea and smiled. “A cup of tea would be just great at this time.”

She then turned to Petunia. “I brought some medicines which should help you recover soon, yet there is one problem I can’t help you with. You have been beaten more than once during the time since Harry joined your family. I suggest you involve the authorities in this case. Beating one’s family has never been considered normal in either magical or muggle society. I’m sure your son and your nephew will support you, but only you can make this work.”

This brought a new wave of tears into Petunia’s eyes, yet her expression changed once more. It now showed determination.

“I suggest you take this first,” the healer said, giving Petunia a pink potion. “It will help you clear your mind and find the answers to some of your problems.”

Petunia looked at her with some doubt but took the potion nevertheless. “It tastes nice,” she noted.

Hermione and Dudley prepared the tea and served it a few minutes later. Dudley also brought some food for his mother, who thanked him with a small smile.

They stayed there for another hour. Madam Pomfrey checked them all, looking very satisfied with Harry and Hermione, but frowning at Dudley. “If you want to live to an old age, you must get rid of most of your fat and start exercising, otherwise you may die early of heart attack. I can give you a potion to help a bit, but you should change your eating habits first.”

“I’ll do my best,” Dudley promised.

Petunia started weeping again.

“What is it?” Harry asked.

“I can’t leave Vernon. I have nowhere to go.”

“I thought you owned this house in common,” Harry told her.

“No. He convinced me it would only cost more to register it as common property and registered it as his alone.”

Harry didn’t hesitate. “You can live in one of my houses, or I can even buy you another one.”

This seemed to grate on her nerves. “Harry! Be serious! How can you buy a house? You don’t even own your own clothes.”

Hermione smiled. “Actually, he can. Didn’t you know that the Potters are one of the richest families in Britain?”

It took them some time to convince Petunia, but eventually she agreed to move into one of the smallest houses owned by the Potters: a six bedrooms house at the outskirts of London with only one acre of garden surrounding it. Dudley was eager to move as well, saying that his father was already grating on his nerves with all his prejudice. Having discovered that he was also beating his mother was the last straw.

“Popsy, can you go to that house and prepare it for my Aunt and my cousin to live there?” Harry asked the house elf once it was decided.

Popsy disappeared only to appear about two minutes later. “The house is ready and Jema, the house elf responsible for that house, is eager to serve you and your relatives,” she told Harry.

“I own house-elves?!” Harry sounded really surprised.

“Didn’t you know?” It was Popsy’s turn to be surprised. She then explained. “Master has at least one house elf at each house he owns, and the Potter elves are well known.”

Hermione didn’t seem to like the idea, but this was not the time or the place to discus it.

Harry made sure that his aunt had enough money to reach her new home before asking Popsy to take him and his wife back home to the Granger residence.