Title: Petunia Takes Charge!

Disclaimer: The normal, I don't own the characters of Harry Potter. This is just for fun. I'm not making a dime off of this.

Summery: AU story…Harry thought he knew everything about his Aunt Petunia but he was wrong. Harry comes home after his first year at Hogwarts to find that things have changed at the Dursley's or more importantly his Aunt Petunia has changed. What does that mean for Harry? Well read and find out…

The morning before Harry is due to arrive home…

Petunia Dursley sat at the kitchen table sipping her tea while reading a letter she just received from Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Apart from the formal letter telling Petunia of Harry's graders and how things went for him during his first year at Hogwarts, this personal note was attached.

Dear Petunia,

I realize that it has been quite awhile since I last contacted you, but I felt that I owed it to Lily and James to write. I have spent the last year teaching Harry and I found a few things disturbing. I feel now that Harry is due to arrive home; these things should be addressed.

Now, I understand why you turned your back on our world. I almost did the same thing after loosing my husband and children to Voldemort myself. If it wasn't for a special friend who convinced me otherwise, I might have walked away like you did. He talked me out of it though and kept me going through those hard first few years. I realize now that maybe someone should have done the same thing for you. It would not have been easy loosing both your parents and sister in such a short span of time, barely three months a part like that. I guess that is why Albus felt that placing Harry with you was so important, even when, sadly, I thought it was a mistake. It wasn't that I didn't think you could take care of the boy, rather I felt your husband's willingness to open his home to a member of our race was wishful thinking Albus of course, felt different and gave you a chance. It was clear to me from the moment I saw Harry that first day that my fears were justified.

However, I will admit that Lily did talk to me about your husband and how he felt about our world. I have never said anything about what Lily had told me to anyone else. I made her a promise that I and I will keep my word. But, due to the fact that Harry is in my house, I feel that it is my place to say something to you personally.

Lily told me the reasons behind your marriage to Vernon and how much you told him about your part in our world. I do not think I need to remind you how she felt about it. She did understand your reasons for putting up with him, but I think even she would have spoken up about your husband's attitude towards Harry these past ten years if she was able to. . .Petunia, I wrote Harry's first letter and remember I know how it was addressed. I have watched Harry closely this year and after all my years teaching I have come to know the signs of abuse. It is obvious that he is being abused and we both know who is doing it. Now, I know you care for the boy because Albus has assured me that the wards around your home are strong. So, for this reason, I'm willing to over look what I have seen so far as long as you take steps now to make a change in Harry's up bringing.

I think you should be reminded though why the wards are there. Lily gave her life to protect her son and she did it out of love. I do not believe she would be too pleased with how her son has been treated up to now, do you? So, Petunia, if you can't make a change in your life for Harry then make it for your sister. I think you owe it to her, don't you?

I hope you do not take my words to be too harsh because they were not written that way. Instead, they were written with kindness and love in mind for both you and Harry. Please Petunia; think about what I have said. If you need anything please feel free to write. You are not alone and you do have people in thisworld that care for you and Harry. You just have to reach out and initiate contact.

Minerva McGonagall

When Petunia first read McGonagall's letter, she was outraged at the woman's impudence, but as she read it again she started to rethink things. She knew what McGonagall wrote was the truth and she did owe it to Lily to give her son a better life then what he had up until this point. It wasn't Harry's fault that Voldemort murdered her parents, his mother or father. It wasn't his fault that she ended up in this empty marriage: the marriage was actually her fault. She had thought many times that if she hadn't gotten drunk that night, she would have never met Vernon and her life would have been different.

Petunia put down her tea and looked at the clock. It was nearly three. He would be coming home soon. He would need to be fed. He would then go into the living room sit in front of the TV and fall asleep; if she was lucky that is. If not, he would sit there and drink. He would then start finding fault with how the house looked or how she looked. He did all the time at least when Harry wasn't home. When Harry was there, he would take his angry and rage out on him, the poor child. Harry didn't know, but Petunia made his room the cupboard because she knew Vernon couldn't fit in it. He couldn't reach the boy there and while it was wrong, it was for the greater good. Oh, there were times she would hear him cry and her heart would break. She wanted to hold him but he was there watching her. She couldn't do it. She had to hide how she felt for the boy. She knew about the books, toys, and food Harry squirreled away after Dudley had tossed them aside. Dudley had so much and Harry so little, she couldn't begrudge him whatever happiness she could give him, especially as this whole situation was her fault as well. So, she let the little things slide. Besides, she did it because she knew how Vernon thought things or how life, should be. 'Oh, if he only knew…she thought. No, if he knew, then… well, she didn't want to think about it. She couldn't. She had worked long and hard to cover that up. She knew it was wrong but what else could she do? Nothing, she was trapped and she knew it. Where she go? To Rosewood Hall? No, that place out of reach to her wasn't it? Yes, she lost that when she married Vernon in the first place.

Petunia looked the letter again and read for the fifth time. Her old Professor knew at least part of it. It was then that Petunia realized this was a warning. Change or I'll tell? What would their neighbors, friends or, heaven forbid, wizards think knowing how she treated Harry? He was safe from the dark side She knew this. She knew there were people out there in that world that would harm the boy worse then Vernon could, or even use him. He was Lord Potter after all. He also held the Evans legacy. Oh, if Vernon knew what power Harry held in their world He would use him himself. Thankfully, he didn't care about her and Harry's world. Fortunately, He never notice the owls that came once a month dropping off reports about their funds in Gringotts bank. If he ever realized he could change that fortune into pounds and he'd never have to work again, the results would be disastrous. He already took credit for what others did. With a fortune like that at his disposal he'd become … Petunia shuddered at this thought. She just didn't want to think about it.

She glanced at the clock--3:10… Petunia sighed and she stood up to start supper. As she walked around the kitchen getting things ready, she thought more about her life. Petunias knew about Dudley's favorite game of Harry Hunting and so she kept Harry busy around the house to keep an eye on him, protect him in her quiet way. She knew if she kept him busy around the house then Dudley wouldn't bother him, at least for the most part. Petunia knew that Dudley was a bully. She wasn't as blind as her neighbors took her to be. Oh, Vernon might be oblivious to the matter but then again, he was a bully himself and most probably proud of 'his son' and his actions. Petunia shook her head sadly at this. She knew that not only Harry suffered because of her actions.

At that same moment in time, Dudley was in the park sitting alone, thinking about the past year. He had gone to school thinking that life would be as it usually was. He would be the leader of a pack of kids and they get a laugh out of bulling others smaller they were. It didn't work out that way. He was the one bullied at school. He didn't fit in with anyone. Now he was the one they called names like fatty and dummy! They would steal his stuff and no one wanted to associate with him. He was alone for the first time in his life. So, when came this summer. He was really looking forward in seeing his friends again. It turned out his friends weren't around. Piers had moved away. His father had gotten a job in Liverpool and they were living there now. The other guys were away at summer camp, or visiting, or away on family vacations. So, he found himself alone like he had been all year.

The old man who worked cleaning up the park walked by and said in a gruff voice, "Hey, boy. It's been nice without you around. If you cause me any trouble this year, I'll call the law on you. Understand!"

"I never caused you trouble," Dudley called out.

The old man laughed. "Oh, you didn't? Then who turned over all the trash cans in the park and set them on fire last year?" Dudley tried to hide his smile but the old man caught it. "I knew it. It was you, you and those so-called friends of yours! It is a good thing their parents sent them away for the summer. They finally wised up and realized who the real troublemaker was. Your parents blame that poor cousin of yours. Well, they found out the hard way didn't they," the old man laughed.

"What are you talking about?" Dudley asked him.

"What, didn't your parents tell you? Your friends got picked up a few months ago, out past curfew. They were throwing rocks at the shops' windows near by and busting them for fun. The law really came down on them. I heard one of the boy's parents moved away just because of it. I think he is going to a military school now, or something like that," the old man laughed and he walked away picking up trash as he went.

Dudley watched him leave thinking the old man was crazy. He jumped off the bench he was sitting on and went to walk around neighborhood. He was walking past Nosey Nancy's house, or at least that is what Dudley and his friends used to call her. She was always asking what they were doing and where they were going. She was outside sitting on the steps and called out to him, "Hey, Dudley come here." He grimaced at this for he was hoping to walk by without being noticed.

Dudley stopped making a face and went over to talk to her. She started in before he even reached the steps, "So, did you hear what happened to Piers and the others?" She told him the same story as the old man told him with a few more details. "You should be grateful that you were away at school. You would have been in trouble as well, you know so, how was school? Make any new friends? Like your classes? I like history but I can't stand math. The teacher I had last year was a real hard case," Nancy said talking on and on about everything and anything. He wondered how she could continue to talk without breathing

At five Dudley arrived home for dinner. As he walked in the front door, he heard his father and mother yelling, or rather, his father was yelling at his mother. Dudley sighed deeply and thought, "I didn't miss this at school."

Dudley pushed the kitchen door open and as he did so. His father snapped, "You're late!"

"Sorry, I lost track of time. I ran into some friends," Dudley lied.

Vernon's mood suddenly changed. "That is my boy. Just like his old man, he makes friends everywhere he goes," Vernon said as Dudley pulled up a chair and sat down. "Better then that freak nephew of yours." Vernon snapped giving Petunia a dirty look.

Dudley knew then what his father had been yelling about. Harry was must be coming home from school soon. This meant life around there was going to get even more interesting. Dudley couldn't help but wonder how school for him went this year, and if he had made any friends.

"I will not have him talk about his freakishness around here. I will not have it!" Vernon said. "Bad enough, we have to take him back."

"I'm sure it won't happen," Petunia said calmly.

"You better believe it won't. I want that boy kept busy. He will earn his keep," Vernon snapped. "Do you know how much money it cost to keep him?"

'Nothing! We get paid from the Potter Estate a monthly allotment,' Petunia thought. "I know dear and trust me. I'll make sure Harry stays busy."

Vernon grunted as he shoved food in his mouth. Dudley and Petunia ate slowly, neither one eating much or saying much. They just watched and waited to see what Vernon was going to do. Vernon shoved his food into his mouth until his plate was cleared. He then pushed away from the table, walked to the fridge, and grabbed a beer and walked into the living room. The pair heard the TV turn on and Vernon groan as he dropped down in his favorite chair.

Petunia sighed deeply as she stood up to clean the table off. "I'll help," Dudley said to his mother.

"No, I'll do it," Petunia said looking towards the living room.

Dudley knew why she said it and nodded. "Okay, I'll be in my room, he told her and he walked upstairs avoiding the lounge. Dudley figured he would loose himself in his video games or computer for a few hours.

The next day, Dudley was hanging outside as his father pulled up with Harry sitting in the front seat. Vernon climbed out of the car and stormed inside without bothering saying a word to either boy.

"Hi," Dudley called out to Harry as his cousin climbed out of the car.

"Hi," Harry cautiously said, opening the boot of the car and starting to pull his over sized trunk from it.

Dudley stood up and said, "I'll get that. You get your owl."

Harry looked at Dudley like he grew another head for a moment but didn't say anything. He just went to get Hedwig from the car. Neither boy said anything as they walked into the house and headed upstairs. They could hear the TV on in the living room. Dudley put Harry's trunk on Harry's small bed as Harry placed Hedwig's cage on the dresser. "How was school?" Dudley asked Harry.

"Okay," Harry said hesitantly, not sure what Dudley wanted. Dudley never talked to him before unless it was to torment him. "How was it for you?"

Dudley paused at this and opened his mouth to say something when his father appeared in the doorway. "Boy, I want the yard mowed now and then help your aunt in the kitchen to get supper," Vernon ordered.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Dudders, lets go watch the boxing matches together," Vernon said patting his son on the shoulder and pulling him from the room.

"Okay," Dudley said giving Harry a small smile before following his father.

Harry sighed deeply and looked at Hedwig. "I really wish… I could have stayed at Hogwarts," Harry said to his owl before quickly changing his clothes and heading down to start on the lawn.

After working on the yard, Harry went into the kitchen to find Petunia starting super. "Hello Aunt Petunia," Harry said as he walked in and started to wash his hands.

"Hello, how was school?" she asked him.

"Okay," Harry said as he washed the potatoes before he started to peel them.

"I read from the report the school sent me that you made the Quidditch team," Petunia said as she laid a long thin stick on the counter beside Harry. Harry's jaw dropped open in shock and he looked at his aunt with bugged eyes. Petunia leaned in and said in a low voice. "We will talk later." Harry nodded his head, too stunned to speak. Petunia put her wand away and went back to work. "I'm making stew tonight. So, dice those in cubes please," she said to Harry.

Harry gathered the ingredients together and went to work. As he cleaned and cut the potatoes, he thought about what he had just seen. His Aunt was a Witch? Did Uncle Vernon know? Why didn't she say anything before? What other surprise were waiting for him?

Later on, Vernon was passed out in his chair and Dudley was in his room playing video games. Harry had gone up to his room to unpack after helping Petunia in the kitchen. He had just opened his trunk when Petunia knocked on the door and then opened it. She was carrying a small box in her hands. "I guess you wondering why I never showed you my wand before today?" she asked him.

"Yes," Harry said stopping what he was doing, instantly curious.

Petunia sat down on the bed and she patted the spot beside her. "Sit, and let's talk," Petunia said. Harry sat down beside her as Petunia placed the box on her lap. "Harry, I think you are smart enough to know that sometimes adults do things they later regret. I'm no different. In fact, I have plenty of regrets," Petunia said. "One of them is how we, I treated you, and for that I'm sorry. I was weak and…afraid."

"Of Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.

"That and getting too close to you and then you leaving me," Petunia said sadly. "You see Harry I lost your grandparents and your mother months apart. I was scared that it would happen to you too. So, I didn't want get close. It didn't help that Vernon has no love for our world and before you ask. No, he doesn't know about me."

"You never told him?" she asked him.

"No, I never did. In fact, he doesn't know much about our family. You see I married Vernon because I was pregnant with Dudley. Your grandparents didn't know about it until after the wedding. After that my relationship with them was strained," she said.

"They didn't like Vernon?" Harry asked.

"No, they did not and tried many times to get me to leave him," Petunia said.

"Why didn't you?" Dudley asked as he walked into the room. He had seen his mother go into Harry's room and listened in to see what was going on.

Petunia sighed deeply and said, "I don't know. I kept telling myself that I could make it work."

"But you don't love him," Dudley said. He knew why Harry didn't get the guest room because that is where his mother slept.

"No," Petunia said.

"Then why don't we leave?" Dudley asked.

"Where would she go? She has no money and no talents," Vernon's gruff voice said from the hallway. "Having a family gathering without me?" he snarled.

Petunia stood up moving in front of Dudley blocking Vernon's path to the boys. "You would be surprised where we would go," she said to him.

"The streets," Vernon laughed.

"No, my parent's house. I never sold it. I could open it up," Petunia said.

"Oh, that's right. The place you can't claim while you are married to me," Vernon snapped. "I can't help but wondering Petunia, why your parents did that? What lies about me did you tell them?"

"I never said anything about you to them," Petunia said.

Vernon huffed at this. "I bet. Tell me! What did you say?" he demanded grabbing her hand and started to shake her.

Petunia cried out in pain as Vernon pulled so hard that he yanked her arm dislocate it. Dudley had had enough and he pushed past his mother and shoved Vernon away from her. "Get off her!" He yelled.

"What has gotten into you boy?" Vernon demanded.

"I'm sick of you pushing her around," Dudley snapped.

"You are her son aren't you," he snapped. "A worthless pansy! I read the letters you wrote her crying about wanting to come home. It's no wonder no one likes you at school."

"No, one likes me because I acted too much like you!" Dudley yelled back.

Vernon lost his temper at this and with one quick punch he hit Dudley in the mouth sending the boy flying backwards and crashing to the floor. Harry was so stunned about the turn of events that he couldn't move. Vernon took one look at him snarled. "This is your doing! You caused this. I bet you did something to them!" He said, stepping over Dudley and Petunia heading for Harry.

Harry backed up with fear written all over his face. He had his wand in his pocket, but he knew he couldn't use it. If he did, he was out of school for good. Harry tried to think of something, anything that could protect him but there wasn't anything. It was just him and his uncle. Vernon walked to with this evil gleam in his eyes. "You will pay for this boy," he said.

Vernon was inches away from Harry when suddenly a bright light hit him right in the back and he fell to the ground a heap. Harry looked over at his Aunt to find her on the sitting up on the floor with her bad arm against her and her wand in her hand. "Harry, get a piece of parchment and quill for me," she told him.

Harry nodded and quickly did what his Aunt requested. Harry placed them beside her and she wrote sloppy but quickly a quick note. She then rolled it up as Harry got Hedwig out of her cage. Petunia handed the note to the owl and said, "Take this to Professor Dumbledore!"

Hedwig took flight out of the window as Petunia stood up. She pointed her wand at Vernon. He was soon bound in thick ropes and a gag was in his mouth. Harry helped Dudley sit up. Blood was flowing from his mouth his jaw line was just turning purple. Petunia pulled herself up and placed her wand away. She then helped Harry with Dudley. "Let's get him in the bathroom," she said. She would try a healing spell that she knew, but it had been so long since she done it, she was worried that she would mess up. So, she decided to wait for help to arrive.

Harry and Petunia were in the bathroom tending to Dudley as Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey walked up the stairs, "Good Evening, Petunia," Dumbledore said his face tight with worry.

"Thank you for coming sir; I didn't know who to contact," Petunia said as she held a wet rag to Dudley's mouth.

"Let me look," Madam Pomfrey said quickly taking charge.

Harry slipped out of the bathroom and stood by the Headmaster watching as Madam Pomfrey worked. Dudley hadn't made a sound while his mother and Harry worked on him but he wasn't too happy about Madam Pomfrey taking care of him. Harry couldn't blame him because the last person that did magic on him gave him a pig's tail. Harry noticed as he stood there that Professor Dumbledore had gone into his room and closed the door. He did try to listen in but he couldn't hear anything. Harry guessed that Professor Dumbledore had put a silencing spell on it.

Harry went back to the bathroom to find Madam Pomfrey tending to his aunt. The nurse had just finished and she was giving Petunia several bottles of potions. "These are for you and these are for your son. You should take it easy for a few days before going back to your normal actives," she said.

"Thank you," Petunia said placing the bottles on the sink for the moment.

Madam Pomfrey turned and looked at Harry. "I'm pleased to know that you weren't hurt Mr. Potter," Poppy said. "You've already spent enough of your first year in my care."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said.

"Petunia, I just talked to Vernon. He is going to stay in Harry's bedroom while we pack your and Dudley's things. I already took the liberty and packed Harry's belongings. I hope you don't mind Harry." Albus said patting his pocket.

"No, sir." Harry responded. Madame Pomfrey helped Petunia to her feet while Harry helped Dudley. As they went off to pack, Harry thought, "What a bizarre day this turned out to be." This was only the beginning of the bizarre events Harry would experience this summer.