Vernon bristled at the letter, wondering why on earth those… people would write to him. He glanced down at the parchment again, his eyes not comprehending the words scrawled on it. "Whomping Willow?" he muttered shaking his head, "What is that, some kind of freak name for a tree?" he exclaimed, his anger that the boy was not hurt magnified by his misbelieving brain.

"Who knows with them?" Scoffed Petunia as her nose wrinkled at the thought. Vernon harrumphed loudly and scrunched up the parchment tossing it into the fire. Shrugging, Vernon got up and sighed, thinking maybe next time…maybe.