Silent Surprises

The rating will end up as R, but for now it is something like PG or PG-13.

Chapter One: The Beginning

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4 Privet Drive

31 October 1981

Petunia Dursley was finishing up with her nightly cleaning chores around the house. It was getting rather late, she saw, glancing up at the clock which read ten minutes till midnight. All of the trick-or-treaters had long since stopped coming and ringing the doorbell, wearing their silly little costumes and begging for candy.

She gave the mantle a last dusting and returned to the kitchen to put up the duster. As usual, the kitchen was spotless and shining, much to her satisfaction. Closing the cabinet door, she thought she heard a low rumbling sound out on the street. Normally, she would have gone and seen who it was returning home at this late hour, but she was too tired tonight. Vernon was coming back down the stairs now, ready for a snack. He sure did love to eat, just like her little Diddykins.

Vernon had no sooner walked into the kitchen than the doorbell rang, causing both of them to jump slightly.

“Who in blazes could that be?” Vernon asked loudly, huffing towards the front door. Petunia followed close behind, peering around his massive frame.

“What do you want?” Vernon asked as he opened the door, only to stop short at the sight of the people on their doorstep. A tall, old man with a long white beard and hair stood at the front, with strange clothes on, which were purple with silver crescent moons on them. He wore half-moon spectacles, and his twinkling blue eyes radiated a sense of power and command. Immediately behind him was a woman, wearing the same style of cloths, but dark green instead and a pointed black hat. She had a rather severe look to her. But the last person of the party was the most disturbing of them all. Well over seven feet tall, he was absolutely huge. His wild hair and beard make him look exceedingly dangerous and uncivilized. His large trench coat was at least normal looking, but he carried a pink umbrella, even with no forecast of rain for several days.

Petunia immediately recognized the first two. Impossible to forget after visiting her sister, looking much the same as they did now, although they had seemed much more... cheerful when she had last seen them. But that was no matter, it was the fact that they were all part that crowd that bothered her. The unnaturalness of it scared her, just like her sister did. Lily was one of them. That was the reason the last time she had talked to her had been several years ago. Right before she married that Potter.

Vernon was still standing there with a look of confusion and anger on his face.

“Good evening, Mr. Dursley. May we intrude upon you at this late hour? I fear that it is of utmost importance.” It was the old man that spoke. Dumble something or another, Petunia thought to herself. The other one was McCrandall maybe? She didn’t know who the last one was though, and she really didn’t care to either.

Vernon slowly moved back to let them in, staring at them as they passed into the living room. The big one had to stoop to get into the house he was so big. Petunia noticed him carrying something in his arms, cradling rather. Something like... a baby.

The old man sat down in a chair, as did the other two. Petunia was scared that the couch the huge man sat on was going to break. She and Vernon just stood there, Vernon obviously not quite understanding what was going on.

Again the old man spoke. “Please, sit down. We have much to discuss and our time is somewhat limited.” She sat down stiffly, and Vernon soon followed suit. “Now, first off, you are probably pondering why we are here? A very good question. I must say it is not very good. Earlier this evening, Lily and her husband James were killed in their home by Lord Voldemort.”

He stopped here, obviously expecting some kind of response. She had none. Lily was one of them. Petunia had no sorrow for her, just one less freak to worry about. Good riddance.

“I see. I know you have never had much love to Lily, with her being a witch, but you could at least show some respect for your sister.” He stopped again, and yet more silence. The woman shot her an angry glance and the giant just sighed.

“Well then. Now you may ask how this involves you and you husband. You see, the Potters had a child as well, and he was born about the same time as your son Dudley. Harry here survived the attack earlier, fortunately, and I feel that as his only remaining relatives, he should stay here.”

Petunia was stunned. A child? They want us to take care of it? Vernon had already roared a definite no, and she was about to do the same when the old man- no, Dumbledore, that was it- held up his hand.

“Now, before you object, I must explain a few things to you. Sadly, the Potters knew that this was coming, and had prepared for it. Lily made it very clear in her will that she wanted Harry to stay with you, Petunia, asking that as her dying wish, you take care of him. They left a sizeable portion of gold for food, clothes, and such as well.”

Dumbledore stopped to let all this sink in. Vernon hesitated only a second before he said no in as calm a tone he could manage. Petunia knew he was thinking about the money, as always. She had half a mind to say yes. Dudley was about the same age as Lily’s child from what she could tell of the bundle in the giant’s arms. As she looked at it, she knew she didn’t have the heart to say no- as much as she hated Lily for what she was, this was still family and she would take care of him.

“We’ll take care of him,” she said in a low voice. Vernon immediately turned around and stared at her in shock. “Lily was my sister, and I can’t say no to her like that. We will take him in with us.”

This last comment was directed at Vernon, who upon seeing the look on her face, shut up immediately. Dumbledore had a small smile on his face, as did the woman. Petunia knew that she was in for some hard times with Vernon, but she didn’t care right now. She stood and walked over to the large man and held out her arms, silently requesting to hold the child. The man gently deposited the bundle, Harry, into her arms and let out a loud brawl.

“Shush! You’ll wake him!” Petunia whispered furiously. The last thing she needed right now was a crying baby in her hands.

Their visitors all shared a look with this statement.

“Petunia, I do not believe that silence is necessary around Harry. There is a few details about the attack that you need to know,” Dumbledore said. He motioned for her to sit down again. “Since the rise of the Dark Lord Voldemort a few years ago, he has been killing witches and wizards who defied him. Lily and James were a major part of our resistance group. They had three run-ins with Voldemort over the years, and somehow managed to escape each time. That was until a month ago, right before the start of the school year. A candidate for the post of Divination teacher related to me a prophecy regarding those who had “thrice defied him”, meaning Voldemort. Other factors were involved, but in the end, they went into hiding. Until last night, when they were betrayed and Voldemort came after them. He found the location of their house and attacked when they were putting young Harry here to bed. He killed James first, and then made his way upstairs and killed Lily, who stood in his way. However, when he tried to kill Harry, something happened. No one has ever survived this curse, except Harry. Lily’s sacrifice was probably what saved him in the end.

“Well, Harry survived, but not without some injuries. The most noticeable is the unusual lightning shaped scar on his forehead. That will never go away or fade,” Dumbledore said.

“What does that have to do with waking him?” Petunia asked, confused.

“That was not the only harm done to Harry. When we found him, sitting on the floor and crying loudly, there was blood trickling from his ears. I performed a basic healing spell on them and it stopped, but he did not respond to anything we said. So I checked again, and found nothing, but he obviously couldn’t hear us. We believe that he is permanently deaf.”

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I have chapters one thru four totally written, and five through thirteen (?) ready to be edited.

The next chapter doesn’t make any sense right now, so don’t read it!