Time seemed to stop.
The green light surged from the tip of Harry's wand, making its way toward its target.
AVADA KEDAVRA.
In reality, everything happened instantly. The killer curse struck Petunia. The next instant, she was propelled backward. The impact was heavy.
BOOM.
Her body hit the drawer on the back and slid on the floor. A second later, it came to a stop. Petunia lay motionless on the floor, her life extinguished in an instant.
The remaining Dursleys, Vernon and Dudley, were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They stared blankly at the lifeless figure on the floor. Vernon's mind struggled to comprehend the unfathomable reality that unfolded before him. His wife was just by his side, and now she was on the floor. Finally, reality sank in.
Petunia was dead.
Vernon rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he cradled her in his arms. He called out to her, his voice a desperate plea for a response that he knew would never come. Her eyes now stared into nothingness.
"Petunia! Petunia, wake up!" Vernon cried out. Tears automatically formed.
Dudley was still standing, rooted to the spot. He watched his father shake her lifeless form, as if trying to wake her up from sleep. But the truth was inevitable. Her mother was no more.
Having no way to bring his wife back, Vernon laid her wife carefully on the floor. Now, his emotion transformed from sadness to pure rage.
The target, Harry Potter, his wife's murderer. "What have you done, boy?"
Harry seemed unfazed by his rage. Instead, he took a step forward, approaching the dead body.
"How does it feel, Vernon? How does it feel to lose someone you love?" Harry could almost feel a smile forming on his face. This was so satisfactory. Finally, he got his revenge. Now, Vernon knew what it felt like.
"You... you did this!" Vernon lashed out. He got up from the floor and walked rapidly towards Harry. His hands found their target.
Harry's coat. He grabbed Harry and shook him violently.
"How could you do this? You vile creature. Monster. This is your aunt. Bring her back right now." Vernon shouted. "Use that curse of yours to bring her back."
Vernon did not find any regret on Harry's face.
"Oh, now she is my aunt. Now you want me to use magic. Nah. Don't worry, Uncle Vernon. I'm not heartless. I know how much you love her. I'll reunite you with your wife. You can join her in whatever comes after." Harry smirked.
Vernon felt a sense of dread overcome him upon hearing his nephew. He let go of his coat and took a step back.
He began to voice out, "Harry... please.."
He did not have time to finish.
AVADA KEDAVRA.
The green light surged from the tip of Harry's wand, tearing through the air. Just like his wife, Vernon was killed instantly, and his body fell on the floor.
Dudley could only watch the unfolding horror as his parents were now both dead. He wanted to run, but his entire body was paralyzed.
Harry turned toward Dudley, his eyes locking onto his cousin's wide, terrified gaze.
"Dudley... Dudley... Dudley," Harry called out, mocking the boy. "How the tables have turned. Do you remember the times you and your gang bullied me? How much did you enjoy making my life miserable?"
Dudley, still processing the shock of his parents' sudden demise, stammered, "I... I didn't know, Harry. I didn't know you could do this. Please, I..."
Harry interrupted with a cold laugh. "This is so great. The brave Dudley is begging. Haha."
Then Harry's expression changed. "You never knew, Dudley. You never cared. But I remember every moment. Now, I'll make sure you don't get an easy death."
Dudley, desperation etched on his face, called out to Harry. "Harry, please! I'm sorry, I didn't know. I didn't want this to happen. Forgive me!"
He begged, cried his eyes out, hoping that Harry would spare him.
Harry, unmoved by Dudley's pleas, raised his wand. With a flick of his wrist, he cast the Cruciatus Curse.
CRUCIO.
The curse struck Dudley, and the room was filled with the guttural sound of his agonized cries. Dudley writhed on the floor, his body contorted in pain.
"You see, Dudley," Harry spoke over the anguished cries, "this is just a taste of what you and your parents made me go through. The pain, the fear, the helplessness. Now, you'll understand."
Dudley, trapped in the grip of the curse, could only writhe in agony as Harry raised his wand once again. Just as Harry prepared to unleash another wave of cruel torment upon Dudley, a deafening explosion echoed from the entrance door.
The two Aurors who had been keeping watch outside had seen the green light that flashed within the Dursley house and caught their attention, sending shivers down their spines. They also heard a scream soon afterward. They immediately understood that something unexpected was happening inside the house.
Without hesitation, the Aurors sprinted towards the front door, wands drawn. The urgency of the situation demanded immediate intervention, and the Ministry-trained wizards were ready and blasted the entrance door to get inside as quickly as possible.
The scene that unfolded before them was one of horror and chaos.
Petunia and Vernon lay lifeless on the kitchen floor, their eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Dudley writhed in agony, the effects of the Cruciatus Curse still evident. The sight sent a wave of shock through the Aurors, and they quickly assessed the situation.
As they cautiously moved through the kitchen, one of the Aurors approached Dudley, his wand still trained on the distressed young man.
"Are you alright?" the Auror asked, concern etched on his face.
Struggling to speak through the pain, Dudley managed to utter a few words, his voice strained. "Harry... did this. He's here."