15 Dursleys Facing The Consequences
In Little Whinging, tranquility was notably absent.
"Where is that little freak? He should have made breakfast. And to not be home before nightfall, I will show him," raged Vernon Dursley.
Petunia nodded in agreement, sharing her husband's frustration. However, a lingering concern crept into her thoughts. What if something had happened to Harry? They had always kept him away from doctors or hospitals. What if he had been in an accident, and doctors found the scars on his back? The thought unsettled her; they could be seen as responsible.
As the Dursleys finished their indulgent meal, the doorbell chimed. Petunia, leaving the dishes in the sink, went to answer it. Two policemen, Officers Vasparion and Thornston, stood at the doorway.
"Good morning, are you Petunia Dursley?" inquired one of the officers.
"Yes, I am," she replied.
"We are Officers Vasparion and Thornston. We are here in an official capacity," explained the other. "We have been instructed to collect all personal belongings of your nephew, Harry Potter, kept in this house. Here is the official document."
"Your nephew has been removed from your family and placed as a ward of the government. Doctor Ickings found significant signs of child abuse on your nephew, and according to his confessions to the doctor, they were caused by your family," Officer Vasparion added sternly, glaring at Petunia.
Her face paled, realizing the severity of the situation. While the police might not be able to prove everything, the scars on Harry's back were damning evidence of abuse.
"Please step aside; we have an order to search your house for all evidence of the treatment your nephew received while under your guardianship," declared Officer Thornston, holding up another document. With no choice, Petunia could only comply.
"What's happening, Petunia?" Vernon bellowed from the kitchen.
His eyes widened as he spotted the two policemen entering the house. Petunia, with a weary sigh, returned to the kitchen and took a seat.
"They informed me that the boy has been taken away from us on charges of child abuse. Apparently, he's now a ward of the government," she relayed.
Vernon erupted, "That ungrateful little freak!"
In the corridor, the policemen exchanged glances, unimpressed by Vernon's outburst.
As they continued their investigation, it was clear to them that there was no sign of another child living in the house. No trace of Harry Potter.
Thornston, heading upstairs, left Vasparion on guard downstairs, suspecting the fat man might tamper with evidence.
After a brief inspection, Thornston returned with troubling news, "None of the rooms upstairs shows any indication that a boy lives here. There's the parents' bedroom, the son's bedroom, a guest room that hasn't been used for months, and a storage room for broken toys, but no sign of a bed or a cupboard."
Vasparion, eyeing the cupboard under the stairs, wondered if the boy could really be kept there. It seemed inconceivable, but the evidence suggested otherwise.
Approaching the cupboard, he opened it to find a small mattress on the floor, broken tin soldiers on a shelf, and oversized clothes in a corner. A child's training suit matched the one seen on Harry in London.
Shining a flashlight, he discovered a small scrap of paper pinned to an inconspicuous part of the cupboard with the words 'Harry's room' written on it.
"Thornston, get me a camera," Vasparion ordered urgently.
His colleague handed him a camera, and Vasparion meticulously documented the inside of the cupboard. He collected the boy's clothes and tin soldiers, glaring at the cowering Dursleys.
"Mum, I want to see TV!" Dudley whined.
"Stay in the kitchen with your parents until we're finished," Vasparion commanded, ignoring Dudley's protests.
The two policemen were appalled by the boy's behavior, convinced that these two were inadequate as parents. They pondered checking the Dursleys' bank statements to investigate if they had received any allowances for Harry Potter's care, potentially implicating them in embezzlement.
"Madam, we need the name and address of the doctor who provided vaccinations for your nephew, his vaccination documents, and all other official papers regarding the boy," Thornston requested, fixing a stern gaze on Petunia.
She was horrified. They didn't possess any of those documents. Neglectful of Harry, they hadn't bothered with vaccinations, thinking it would never come to light.
"Petunia's handbag, containing the vaccination documents, was stolen once when she was returning from the doctor with Dudley. Since then, no new vaccinations were needed, so we don't have any documents," Vernon hastily explained.
"And when we got the boy, he was just left on our doorstep at night, not very responsible. There were no official documents," he added.
"I see. You never thought to rectify the situation? Municipalities have copies of birth certificates, and doctors can reconstruct vaccination records," Vasparion pointed out.
Vernon deflated, realizing the oversight. Now, things were getting complicated.
"Where is the attic?" Vasparion asked.
"Why?" Petunia questioned.
"Because we have to be sure there are no things stored away from your nephew that rightfully belong to him," Thornston replied for his colleague.
"We threw away the blanket he came in when it was too torn to be used anymore. Made a massive racket, the boy," Vernon scoffed.
"We will decide that," Thornston asserted, and Petunia reluctantly led the policemen to the attic.
Meanwhile, Vasparion informed Vernon of the restrictions imposed on him and his family.
"You are forbidden to leave the country. Any disobedience will result in additional criminal charges."
"You are to fully cooperate with the police. You will be informed of a court date soon. Get a lawyer; you will need one."
"You have the right to remain silent, but everything you say will be used against you."
"You may be asked to hand over other documents in the future; you will be informed when we need them for our investigation."
"You aren't to come closer than a mile to your nephew's residence. Refusal will have consequences," he warned Vernon.
Vernon nodded, realizing the game was over. He hoped they wouldn't take Dudley away, believing he was a bad parent. The fear lingered about the money they received every month for Harry.
Thornston came down with a box and intriguing bank statements. "These belonged to Harry Potter's mother when she was a child. I also collected some bank statements," he informed his colleague.
"I think we're done here, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. Remember the rules. You'll be contacted soon. Good day," Vasparion declared, and both policemen left.
Vernon hid his face in his hands, realizing their attempts to deflect suspicions had failed. Dudley, unaware of the impending changes, indulged in TV and chips, oblivious to the challenges ahead.
....
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