Summer Writing Series Challenge (July 28)
Challenge: [Movie Week] Drama
Title: Nothing In Common
Word Count: 1,003
"I never asked you to come for me!" she growled from her wheelchair.
"Uncle Vernon's been gone for three years and Dudley refused, Aunt Petunia," Harry said with a sigh as he pushed her down the hall from her previously occupied hospital room. "I'm the only one who could come get you."
"I suppose you've heard that I need someone to watch over me..." she grumbled. "Out of everyone, I wouldn't have expected you to come here."
"Who else would?" Harry asked heatedly. "Besides, Hermione and I have already set aside a room for you to stay in until you can get out on your own." He Looked crossly at her and frowned. "I know what you're thinking and Hermione is not a freak, nor am I. Just because we do what we do doesn't mean that we're any different."
Petunia frowned and kept her gaze directly ahead, lifting her chin imperially in the air as if she were better than anyone else around them.
Harry caught her glaring at him out of the corner of his eye while he filled out her release papers and his mood became darker than it had when he'd received the phone call earlier that day.
"Love, it's someone from the hospital," Hermione called from the sitting room. "They say it's about your Aunt!"
Aunt Petunia? Harry thought with mild surprise. "I haven't heard from them since I was seventeen, what would cause them to call me?"
"I don't know, they want to talk to you," Hermione replied with a look of concern.
"Hello? This is Harry Potter..."
"Mr. Potter? This is Dr. Jones calling," the man said on the other end of the line. "Your Aunt, Petunia Dursley, is ready for release and we need someone to pick her up."
"Is there some mistake? What about her husband or son?" Harry asked curiously.
"Your Uncle passed away three years ago and her son refuses to return to England. You're the only other contact we know of from your previous medical records."
"I see, well, I suppose I could take her to her house," Harry said with a shrug. "What needs to be done?"
"You'll need to fill out some paperwork at the front desk and care for her while she recovers," the doctor replied.
"I'll have to what?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Your aunt suffered from a coronary infarction, Mr. Potter. For the next few months, she'll need special attention until she's strong enough to get around on her own... We'll see you when you get here, Sir."
"Goodbye," he said with trembling hands. Harry couldn't tell if it was nervousness, anger, or shock but the way he looked and the stiff manner in which he sat down spoke volumes to his wife.
The next hour he spent talking to Hermione about the situation and her temper flared as well. Harry decided to try and forgive and forget what he'd gone through as a child and Hermione begrudgingly helped him set a room aside for their new house guest.
"Don't worry, we're taking my car," Harry said exasperatedly before Petunia could protest using magic. "Yes, I do drive, as does Hermione," he deadpanned before she could say a word.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked after they'd gotten into the car and started towards his childhood home.
"Nobody else will," he replied simply.
"You know what I mean," she growled in return. "We haven't seen each other in ten years, you're married, in the w-wizarding world... We treated you badly all those years..." she looked to her clasped hands nervously. "Why would you even help me?"
"You're family," Harry said with a shrug. "You took me in when you didn't want to do so. Then, despite your hatred of my parents and me, you kept me in the house until I was seventeen."
"I didn't hate you or your parents," she said evenly. "I hate that you can perform magic! If you were normal, things would have been different!"
"Whether you like it or not, I can perform magic," Harry said in a growl. "Hermione can and our daughter Lily shows aptitude! We're helping you to get better and I expect that our wandwork will not be fought against."
"Y-you named your daughter after Lily?" Petunia asked with mild surprise.
"Yes, we did," Harry said quietly. "I think Mum and dad would have liked that."
They didn't speak again until they'd arrived at privet drive to collect Petunia's clothes and necessities. After packing what they needed for her two month stay, they drove to Harry's home where an expectant Hermione was frowning from the front stoop. She opened the door for Petunia and helped her into the house while Harry unpacked the car. Wordlessly, she showed her aunt to her new room and left her afterwards. Harry arrived a few moments later with a frown on his face as he began to unpack his aunt's things.
"She doesn't seem like the polite type," Petunia mumbled as she helped put things away. She became winded easily and sat in a rocking chair they'd provided for her.
"Just have a seat, you're in no condition to do so much work," Harry said quietly. "Hermione doesn't like any of you after she found out about the cupboard and how I was treated."
"Vernon made the fuss about the cupboard," Petunia said as she looked out the window into their beautiful garden. She sighed and a smile caressed her face, glimpsing her great niece running after a butterfly. "Lily's a lovely little girl," she whispered.
"Harry, tea is almost ready," Hermione said coldly from the door, pointedly avoiding any attempt to recognize the older woman's presence.
"We'll be there in a minute, Love," Harry said with a slight smile. Hermione nodded and left once again. "Aunt Petunia, it's going to be a really rough time..." he turned to her and helped her stand. "I know we have nothing in common, but let's try to put the past behind us."
A/N: This was inspired by the movie: Nothing In Common starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason. I was suddenly hit with this idea this morning and it took me a good while to just figure out the name of the movie ;) Well, here it is, not fluffy, not overly dramatic, but drama in it's finest form: Real Life... Hope you like it ;)