v. i get it, but why?

Harriet almost expected an angry retort or a stuttered excuse and more orders, but what she certainly didn't expect was a full apology and explanation.

"I'm so sorry!", she cried. "I never wanted to hurt you, but Dumbledore's letter said we should! You would have to die anyway and it would be better for you not to get attached to anyone. But I wanted you to enjoy your life, until Vernon once caught me giving you one of Dudley's toys. And Dudley — really, why did I agree on naming him that? — I didn't even want to name him that, but Vernon insisted. He said he'd kill me and Dudley if I were ever deliberately nice to you! And that he'd write that Dumbledore fellow that I wasn't following his orders! In truth, I never even hated your mother. It's just- the letter from Dumbledore made me feel so angry every time I saw you. The things you said today- they kind of cleared my mind. I know that doesn't excuse anything, but I can't change it! Again, I'm so sorry, Harriet! For everything! And if we're on that topic already, I've got a lot to tell you."

"Ok, ok, I get it. I even already knew about the letter because I've read it myself. But why would Uncle Vernon want to kill his wife and only son for being nice to a child?"

"Vernon had a letter, too. I've never seen it, but he told me that you'd have to die and we should make sure that you were mistreated. He even mentioned something about us getting a monthly allowance for your stuff. But we didn't get you anything — I was tempted to at least three times a day — and instead had you wear your male cousin's clothes for years! I am so so sorry!"

Seeing her aunt in tears Harriet didn't doubt that she was sorry, but could Harriet forgive her? One the one hand, she knew that Petunia had a really bad history with her mother, which of course doesn't make her behaviour right. But then, Dumbledore's letter did make her feel angry whenever she saw her. What if Dumbledore had put some kind of Compulsion Charm on it to spread out of the cupboard to Petunia, keyed to Harriet? And — and this was that worst case scenario — what if there was more to her relatives' attitude towards her? And what if Dumbledore had something to do with her teachers at primary never noticing anything odd?

"Uh, well…I get that you're sorry, and I understand, and I hope you know that it won't be easy to forget was has happened", Harriet said and if Petunia noticed how mature Harriet seemed for a six-year-old, she certainly didn't show it. But honestly, Harriet thought that if Petunia had apologised in the original time-line, she would have said the exact same thing, even at six. She had always been brighter than other kids, only that she's acted almost all her life. She had been punished for doing better than Dudley, and her downplaying her talents carried over to Hogwarts. She'd been better than Ron as not to fail her classes, but still worse than Hermione, to avoid hurting her feelings.

Petunia sniffled. "Yes-"

Harriet interrupted her. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that I won't forgive you", she said and Petunia's eyes grew wide. The next second her arms were around the thin body of her niece. Then, she held Harriet away at an arm's length and asked, "Where did you find that letter anyway?"

Harriet shrugged. "I found that box under my bed in the cupboard. It's not only the letter that's in there, but so many notes about magic spells and potions! It's all so fascinating!" Harriet made a show of bouncing on her feet and grinning to seem more innocent than she actually was.

Now Petunia actually smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "That's wonderful, Harriet. Now, would you mind doing your usual chores for when Vernon and Dudley are back? I'll help you, of course, so that it goes faster." Harriet nodded enthusiastically. She had actually always enjoyed cooking and caring for the flowerbeds — even without protective gloves. It was fun, but all the other activities were hard on her small hands, so they weren't as fun. "I'll do the front and back yard, Aunt Petunia! And then I'll cook lunch! Would you mind if I went to the park after doing the dishes?"

Petunia shook her head, really trying to do better now that Vernon wasn't there. "No, I don't mind. If Vernon asks, I'll simply tell him you've finished all your chores and went to the park. Nothing more, nothing less. And I think we shouldn't tell Vernon of this anytime soon. It wouldn't end well for the both of us, and Dudley. And now off you go."

And while Harriet kneeled in front of the flowerbeds, she wondered how Petunia expected to do what she did. Pretend to hate her around Vernon and Dudley, and then smile at her and help with the chores when they were away somewhere. She was bound to slip up someday.

And then there was also the fact that Harriet should really tell Petunia about the time-travel thing. Not only would it be easier to change her identity, but it would also be way easier to find an appropriate explanation for Harriet suddenly leaving and another girl turning up in her place. Because as much as Harriet wanted to be gone from Privet Drive, she couldn't let the wards and thus the protection fall away — she had no problem leaving Vernon there, but she couldn't do that to Dudley and Petunia. But for now, they would both think of something different for a while. And since they were doing the work together, they'd have a bit of time to talk before Vernon and Dudley came home for lunch.

But who else should she tell about her true identity and time-travelling except Petunia? The goblins, of course. Otherwise she couldn't really have them handle the cup in Bellatrix' vault or her scar — if that even still was an issue with her going back in time (she didn't know if her soul was back as well, so couldn't determine if the soul piece was there too) — without being able to tell them how she knew about horcruxes. Dumbledore would hopefully never know. She may just tell Amelia Bones, the current Head of the DMLE, whom she found out in her old timeline to be an old friend of her parents, and of course Sirius and Remus — after determining if they were trustworthy. About her friends…she'd have to see. She would obviously turn up at Hogwarts under another identity, so she'd have to chose carefully about whom to tell and whom not. Though she already knew that she'd have to practice Occlumency and only tell people with Occlumency shields — as Dumbledore, Voldemort and Snape were pros in Legilimency.

Anyway, she'd definitely have to see about Occlumency shields for muggles and if they were a thing before telling anyone other than Petunia and maybe Dudley in a few zillion years. Vernon would never know, and Dumbledore wouldn't even think of visiting them to check on Harriet's whereabouts. The headmaster had some devices to see about her health and if she was still at Privet Drive, so that wouldn't be a problem, but if Harriet Potter didn't turn up at Hogwarts, he was bound to come to check on her.

Harriet paused what she was doing. On second thought, he'd ask Mrs. Figg about her or send Hagrid to collect her again. That man really had nothing else to do than send others to do his business. He was her self-appointed Magical Guardian, so why couldn't he check on her well-being himself? Why wasn't he there in the last five years? Of course, Harriet knew the reason, but it was still something to think about because there were surely more and deeper reasons for his actions.

But one thing was obvious: if Harriet was going to do anything, she'd so have to plan every step of it and study every possible outcome before acting. She'd need a Plan A, B, C, and possibly even a Plan D and E.