Chapter 53: Defiance and Protection
I grinned, and then flashed her a stick I'd picked up from one of the lawns. She went even paler somehow at the sight of it.
"Harry, why don't you go in and get yourself settled," I suggested. "I believe there is a spare bedroom up on the second floor you can use? It only has some useless garbage in there that can be moved out."
He stared at me, and I just nodded, gesturing for him to go inside the house.
"Who are- You can't do that!" she spluttered as Harry slowly went upstairs.
"Mrs. Dursley, are you an idiot?" I asked sharply, all niceness in my tone vanishing, replaced with blunt, cold words. "Did you really think we wouldn't find out about how you are treating Harry Potter? Your own flesh and blood?"
"I-I don't…"
"How dare you make a child live under the stairs all these years?!" I seethed furiously, cutting her off with a swish of my fake wand, causing her to flinch. "Ordering him around, barely feeding him… you do realize these are all crimes, correct? Even in the non-magical world! I could have you and your whale of a husband arrested right now by the police for child endangerment! Hell, I could probably argue for two cases of that, given how morbidly obese your son is!"
I took a menacing step forward, and she took a terrified step back. "Listen to me closely, you horse-faced bint! Things are going to change around here. Harry will not be sleeping under the stairs. He will have a real bed in a real room. He will not be wearing that pig's hand-me-downs, but actual, fitting clothes! He will receive full meals, the same as your two lard-asses. He can still do chores, but you cannot force him to do everything, nor can you expect him to work to the point of exhaustion! And If I catch even a hint of you, your son, or your husband physically hurting him? I will have you clapped in irons faster than you can say, 'Scotland Yard!' Am I understood?"
"Y-yes, sir!" Petunia stammered tearfully.
"Good," I snarled. "I am being extraordinarily lenient towards you. And that is only because Harry Potter is safe inside these walls due to a powerful spell keeping him – and you – safe from those who murdered his mother and father. If it were up to me, I'd convict you to the fullest extent of both worlds' laws!"
"Now, Harry has received his owl from Hogwarts. He will be going to school there come September. You now only have to see him over the summer, and even then, for only two or three weeks at the least, in order to keep the wards stable. Can you do that? Can you accept these changes, or do I have to get magical?" I demanded, forcing my Occlumency to the fore to cool down. When Petunia nodded wordlessly, I shot her a grim smile.
"Wonderful! I have to go now, but I will be picking up Harry again early this Saturday around eight am or so. He has a meeting with a professor from Hogwarts so he can get his school supplies. Don't worry, you don't have to pay for them. The money situation is being handled." I then gave her a mocking bow. "Have a pleasant evening, ma'am. And don't forget to tell your husband and son about what I said."
With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving the shrew to her mental breakdown. I had been absolutely serious when I told her I was going to have her suffer if she dared to backslide and try to abuse Harry in anyway. Screw Dumbledore's plan, I was going to wreck them if they stepped out of line!
As I walked back to the bus stop, I passed by Mrs. Figg's house, and saw her staring out her window at me in shock. I merely gave her a grin and a jaunty wave, tossing my 'wand' into her yard, before strolling away, whistling the Harry Potter theme song.
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