23

Chapter 22: Meanwhile….

Number 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging, Surrey

Petunia Dursley sighed heavily as she took a sip of tea. They did it. They had somehow managed to make in back to England in one piece and those freaks hadn't been asking where the brat was.

For weeks, she and Vernon had been worried since leaving that stupid town. God, that place was creepy. She was just glad that, that landowner or whatever had been willing to become the freak's full time custodian.

In a perfectly legal binding agreement.

Which made Petunia smile even more.

Even if those freaks came back, they couldn't mess with the law. She'd be sure to point that out to them.

Though, Petunia hoped she'd never have to deal with them again.

There was just a sense of dread in the whole thing, even though normalcy seemed to flow around them these days.

Petunia had not felt this relaxed since before that hussy of a sister of hers got killed. Actually, she felt better than she did back then. No Lily this and Lily that, it was just pure peace. She could enjoy the little things in life. Taking Dudley to play rugby. Going to dinner with Vernon. Even shopping for groceries, the normalcy was just nice.

Quaint like the Cotswolds.

She wondered if that man had figured out what a problem the little freak was yet. Neither Petunia or Vernon could figure, why a man who wore such a fancy suit would want to have custody of that freak.

However, Vernon told her not to ask questions since this was their golden opportunity to be done with that mess.

Which was why they signed the papers. And they signed the confidentiality agreement to not tell anyone what happened in that town.

God, Petunia couldn't even remember what it's name was. Let alone the man who had taken the freak off of their hands

Weird.

Not that she'd tell any of her friends what happened there anyway, that place was just full of freaks.

Even that man and his fancy suit were sort of freakish. Though, it was Armani.

Petunia sighed as put some milk in her tea. She had so much to do. She needed to pick up Dudley from practice. Buy a new dress for that dinner Vernon's company was holding. Make sure that Vernon had booked them a hotel room in London, because there was no way she was driving back to Surrey that night since Vernon would no doubt indulge in some liquor.

Plus, the hotel that meeting was being held at was quite posh and Petunia could do with some romance.

She smiled as she thought about how the mood had considerably lightened up between her and her husband these past two days. It was almost as if they were newlyweds, with a twelve-year-old.

Dudley was hardly a burden always playing with his mates. Fine lad and getting so big too.

This was truly their time, she thought. Nothing was going to ruin it. No surprise spawn from a dead sister of hers could haunt her now.

She still hadn't been able to figure out how Lily was able to have that brat of hers. Lily was supposed to be infertile. Petunia had been there throughout all those appointments her sister had as a teen, she knew her family history. After all, she and Vernon had to result to IVF to have Dudley and her problems were nowhere near as severe as Lily's. Yet, Lily and James somehow had been able to have the freak after all.

Probably by some sort of freakish magic.

Petunia shuddered and wondered if it would be too early for a glass of wine when her phone rang.

She smiled when she saw it was Vernon.

These past few weeks he had been so wonderful to her, calling just to say he loved her and he had even loosened up on spending. He had taken Petunia to get a steak dinner just the other day; she was remembering the man she married.

However, he wasn't calling her that day to tell her he loved her. Instead, Vernon was in tears!

This was truly alarming because Vernon never cried. Not at the end of Bambi. Not when Dudley had performed that adorable role as the lion in his primary school's production of The Lion and the Mouse. And not when Marge's best dog died.

Yet, he was bawling on the phone right now. Something about the company being bought out by some rich American and how Vernon had been let go.

"Let go!" Petunia cried. "But why, Vernon?"

He didn't say much more other than that he'd talk to her when he got home. When he figured out how to get home, that is. Since he had a company car that had been promptly repossessed.

Petunia really needed that drink now.

How could this be happening? Vernon was one of Grunning's best employees. He had even gotten employee of the month a couple of months ago. Petunia remembered making a big deal about the free fruit basket Vernon had been given to all her friends.

That Misty Gibbons looked like she was about to deck her.

Like Petunia cared.

She shook her head. She didn't get it. Their lives were finally coming together the way she hoped they would. They were getting a happily ever after. There was no freak to get in the way.

And now, Vernon had been sacked. It just didn't make sense. Suddenly nothing felt right to Petunia. The tea that had tasted so good on the patio a few minutes ago was too hot. And she now had a headache and did not feel in the mood at all to pick up Dudders.

God, they'd probably have to cancel their vacation to Granada this year and they were looking so forward to it. Finally, they'd be able to bask in the sun, without the freak…but now.

Petunia bit her lip.

They could fix this, he told herself. Vernon could worm his way back into the company or get a better job. All he had to do was meet this American and plead his case, he knew how to make an impression.

And she would help. She'd make her famous Cornish hen dish with a pudding. She'd also make her famous sangria that she got out of one of the fancy lady's magazines. A couple of glasses of that sangria and he'd really be eating out of their hand. And Dudley would be the perfect gentleman. She'd get him and Vernon matching dinner jackets. Yes, that might just work. Petunia of course, would dress as the dutiful wife. Maybe some beige and pearls?

Perfect.

She'd talk to Vernon tonight. Get him cheered up, and they'd start plotting their next move.

Now though, she really had to pick up Dudders. She was, after all, fifteen minutes late.

She wasn't prepared for how upset Dudley was. The way he kept snipping at her was really not called for. She kept asking what was wrong too, but all she got out of it was. "I don't want to talk about it."

Was her little boy becoming a sullen teenager?

Surely, not her Dudders. Petunia was half in mind to give him a good talking too, but instead she told him to go up to his room and watch Dr. Who or whatever it was he was watching these days.

That was the wrong thing to say.

"Only freaks watch Dr. Who!" Dudley said aghast. "I'm not a freak. I watch cool shows like Top Gear."

"Of course not, Dudley." Petunia said. "I just thought…"

He rolled his eyes. "You thought I was a freak. I'm not him, Mum, I'm not!"

She really didn't get this irrational behavior. "I never said you were, sweetums."

No, her Dudders was nothing like that nasty Potter boy. They looked and acted nothing alike. Well, Dudley might've been acting a bit like that boy today. Sullen. But usually, he was such a sunny bunny. She didn't even know why she would've thought to compare the two of them.

"Dudley," She said. "Are you okay?"

"No. I'm not." He ran up the stairs causing the house to shudder.

Petunia sighed heavily. Deciding that she needed that wine now. She wondered if Vernon had managed to get a ride home.

He hadn't. And he had just figured out that the tube couldn't take him all the way to Surrey and that he was going to have to take a bus.

Petunia sighed heavily. Public transportation was so filthy. Imagine the diseases you could get from being on such a thing. That's why she always had the freak do the marketing for her, when Vernon took the car.

It looked though that the bus would be in her near future, until she and Vernon figured a way to figure out things with that American.

Yes, a glass of wine was in order.

She figured maybe something stiffer was in order, but she couldn't push it. Imagine if the neighbor's saw her making a cocktail at three in the afternoon.

The embarrassment!

Though, with the shades down she knew that that's what she had to do for Vernon. The poor dear would undoubtedly be in a need of something strong when he got home.

Yes, a vodka martini would do nicely. She remembered that drink was the only thing that got them through the days the freak first came here. Lots and lots of vodka martinis.

Sigh. She was hoping they could do champagne for once.

It took longer than she thought for him to get home. She had already gone through half a bottle of wine and resorted to ordering takeout—there was no way she could go about fixing the stew she had been planning to make for dinner.

Instead, it was Chinese. The most surprising thing about it, Dudley didn't want anything. In fact, when Petunia had gone up to his room, he told her to go away. She ended up getting some of the orange beef for him, but it worried her he wasn't eating.

Perhaps, he was catching something.

Maybe one of those nasty Americans gave him something at the hospital. They had to spend way too much time there because of the freak. Those hospitals were just so dirty. Imagine the germs that her Diddykins could've caught.

Yes, if he was still moody later this evening, she'd definitely be taking his temperature.

As she was thinking this the front door opened and Vernon slumped in. His normally pressed suit was rumpled and he smelt quite ripe.

"Bloody bus wasn't air conditioned." He explained as he walked in.

"I made you a vodka martini." Petunia said.

"Good." He said looking at her, "I can't believe I've been sacked. Fifteen years with the company."

"It must be a mistake." Petunia said.

Vernon shook his head. "I'll tell you what's wrong. Foreigners taking over a good English company. Bloody Americans. I should've suspected enough with that conference in Maine."

Petunia suggested he take a sip of his drink.

Vernon followed her advice, but drained the entire glass. Luckily, Petunia was ready with another.

"Surely, we can show them they were wrong." Petunia said. "What about a nice normal dinner party to the new owner?"\

"He's an American, Pet. Besides, not much is known."

"Surely, you have a name. Vernon, I really think an invite to dinner can change things around. It will show ingenuity."

"Ingenuity." He said, "Yes, I like that. It sounds business like. Professional. I'll make some calls, Pet. I really think this has to be a mistake. I am responsible for the profit increasesat the company."

"Exactly!" She said.

This was good. Though, it might've been the booze that made him so agreeable.

"I'll see what I can find about Spinner Enterprises. Stupid owner, keeps himself anonymous. But I'm sure I can get one of the secretaries at Grunnings to give me his contact information."

"I'm sure," Petunia said. "Things are looking up, Vernon."

"You damn straight they are." He slurred. "Where's Dudders?"

"I'm afraid he's not feeling well." Petunia said. "Poor thing didn't even want orange beef."

"That doesn't sound like the little chap." Vernon said.

Petunia sighed. "I wonder if he caught something in that hospital. You know, I'm going to check on him. He needs to eat something or he'll waste away."

Vernon nodded. "You do that. I'm going to get another drink."

Good, that would keep him occupied. Better than having him scream and yell, like she thought he was going to. Petunia really couldn't handle the stress these days. Even though the freak was no longer a problem, it just sometimes got too much for her.

She just wanted to go to Granada with that a glass of sangria. Was that too much to ask for?

She was hoping that by this point, Dudders would've been relaxed. Yet, he still wasn't cooperative when she knocked on the door.

"Go away!" He snapped.

"Honey, you need to eat." Petunia said. "Are you feeling okay?"

Dudley didn't answer. That was it, Petunia was going in.

Imagine to her surprise when she found the door was locked.

"Dudley," She called. "Unlock the door, darling. Mummy wants to see if you have a temperature."

"Go away," He said.

"I have chocolate ice cream." That usually did the trick.

However, it didn't do the trick this time. Petunia frowned as she got the key out of her pocket. She knew that she should be giving her son privacy; at least that's what the parenting magazines always said. But she couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong with her Dudders. He never acted like this.

When Petunia put the key in the lock though, something unexpected happened. She felt her whole body be thrown forward against the wall behind the door.

It was like…

No, those freaks were gone.

"Dudley!" She called frantically after she was able to catch her breath.

"Petunia! What is that racket?" Called a drunk Vernon from downstairs.

"It's Dudley." Petunia said. "Dudley! Are you okay, did those freaks…"

The door opened. A crying Dudley came out. "It wasn't them, Mum. I'm…I'm a freak."