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—Christmas—
That Christmas should have simply been Dudley ’s second Christmas, yet Vernon and Petunia found themselves dealing with Harry’s first Christmas, which filled Vernon with a great deal of loathing.
After all, there existed a level of obligation to that, a level that Vernon didn ’t like. They were expected to provide not only for their darling Dudley but also for that brat, as there were certainly specific needs. Yet, at least they didn’t need to worry about toys for the tot, and Vernon yelled at Harry for attempting to play with some of Dudley’s toys.
Nor did he hesitate to become drunk right before going out for a walk, remembering the day that Harry came into their lives, how he ’d ignored the signs of something magical happening. Metally, he cursed himself for not realizing, for not broaching the subject further with Petunia, as he might have forewarned her that her nephew would be showing up at their doorstep, another mouth to be fed.
His breath smelled like alcohol, but what he really wanted was to be at a pub, ranting at some other non-magical person about his woes, and yet—
It was impossible to do so, lest he ended up placed into a psych ward for insisting magic was real, or whatever consequences the wizards might place on him, should it get back to them that he revealed their existence—for there did exist a level of fear for that particular unknown.
—why—
He ’d simply wanted an escape, and the only part of the escape he could have was the drink, and now he walked outside as the snow fell, wishing he didn’t have to give anything to that child for Christmas rather than just not toys that Dudley didn ’t have to deal with that child being their ruining Christmas while—
“Too much,” Vernon thought to himself, breathing out, not caring how much of a Grinch he would come across had he divulged his secret that certain people would side with actually caring for the child.
—a whirling sound—
Vernon paused, standing there, watching—
— a blue police box appeared —
He found himself staring, ducking to the side, wondering what sort of magic suddenly occurred in front of him as a man gamed out with a companion. His breath drew in, and he hoped the magical folk wouldn ’t see him, wishing to be anywhere but there.
And—
“I must really be drunk,” Vernon thought to himself as he stared at the blue police box as the snow continued to fall, wondering what he was seeing in front of him as he—
His mind—
“I must really, really be drunk,” Vernon thought as he didn’t put his thoughts together. He decided to head back in the direction he came from, taking a slightly different path so he wouldn’t quite arrive home right away.
And it was moments later—
The wizard and his companion ran across his path, much to his chagrin. He took a deep breath, wishing that he hadn ’t just seen the blue police box appear, allowing the wizard and his companion to disappear.
He sighed and—
“Time to head home. Too drunk for my own good,” Vernon said, finally arriving home, seeing a frown from Petunia for him taking off and for him drinking while leaving her to deal with Dudley and Harry. However, she wouldn’t say anything, always putting up with her lot of her spoiled child and caring for her sister’s child.
It was just the way things were, and he didn ’t mention the police box or the wizard and his companion appearing and disappearing, deciding he’d simply been that drunk when—
“Best to forget,” he thought to himself.