Notes: I've been working on this story for a while, but it'll probably be slow going. Also, I'm looking for a beta if anyone is interested. Also, I own nothing, I'm just playing in J.K. Rowlings world.
"Come Petunia," her father said softly. "Would you like to meet your little sister?'
Petunia crept up to her father hesitantly. At three years old, she was a bright child and took herself very seriously causing her mother to teasingly call her Lady. She assisted her mother with chores and loved when she could sit and read or play with her father. When a few months ago, her parents told her she would have a sister soon she had been ecstatic. As the months passed Petunia grew enthralled with her mother's swelling belly. She babbled on and on about all of the things she and her sister would do with her parents listening indulgently.
As Petunia finally got a look at the baby in her father's arms, only one thought crossed her mind and she blurted it out, "She's too small Daddy. And wrinkly!"
"Yes, Pet," her dad answered. "Very small indeed."
Petunia pouted, "But she won't be able to play with me or do any of the fun things I wanted! I don't think we should keep her. Take her back Daddy!"
Petunia's pout deepened as her father laughed. "You were once this small as well, Pet."
"Really," Petunia questioned, eyes wide and curious.
"Really. One day Lily will be big like you, but until then we have to take care of her. You, Pet, are her big sister and that means you are her protector. It's our responsibility to always love, protect, and offer her any help we can."
Petunia nodded solemnly. "Yes, Daddy."
From that moment on, Petunia always took her responsibility as Lily's older sister very seriously. She taught Lily everything she could and protected her from all she could. Only one child on their street ever made the mistake of teasing Petunia Evans little sister. After the boy went home crying no one else was ever brave enough to try. Petunia's parents were always so pleased with how the girls took care of each other. If Petunia was Lily's most earnest protector, then Lily was her most adoring fan. She listened seriously to Petunia's instructions and was most often amendable to her ideas. Lily was the only person Petunia allowed to call her Tuney. And though she scowled something awful if said in public, nothing cheered Lily up like Petunia calling her LiLi as they whispered their deepest secrets to each other.
Everything changed on Lily's eleventh birthday. Lily had already made friends with that horrid Snape boy months ago, and though Petunia did not approve, she allowed it because of the happiness shining on her sister's face. But an owl carrying a letter! That was odder than anything the Snape boy had ever done. Their parents believed the letter to be a hoax, but one look at her beloved younger sister's face and Petunia knew. Everything in the letter was frighteningly real. An actual, live witch named McKanagal something or other, came to their house and proved to their parents magic existed. And with each spell the witch cast, Petunia despaired, easily seeing the eagerness on Lily's face. As they walked through the wizarding version of Oxford street, Lily's captivation was even more obvious. How could she let her little sister, her responsibility go off into this world alone? So despite her uneasiness with the world she sent a pleading letter to the school, begging to be able to accompany her sister.
The reply was no. The wording was very kind, but all Petunia could grasp from it was she would have to let her sister leave her. So Petunia spent the rest of the summer spending ever moment she could get with her LiLi. She made sure to tell her all of the important things about being away. She told her to make sure not to be alone with boys and how to spot when someone is taking advantage of her. She told her to make friends and be the best witch she could possibly be. She told Lily not to forget her and Tuney loves LiLi more than anything. Terrified as she was to have her darling sister so far out of her reach, Petunia even forced herself to have civil conversation with that Snape boy, begging him to keep her sister safe.
Lily wrote home faithfully and Petunia was always the most excited to see the post coming. During the summers, she listened with rapt attention to the stories Lily had to tell. Then as they got older, Lily began to talk about a boy she fancied, a James Potter. Suddenly, Petunia realized Lily didn't need her anymore and wouldn't be coming back to Petunia. Lily was a part of this world she left for each year. Petunia was just a part of Lily's past.
Heartbroken at the realization, Petunia didn't write to Lily as often, and as far as she could tell Lily never noticed. She rarely saw her sister, but despite it all, the knowledge her sister was safe and happy made it bearable and Vernon helped make her OK. Shortly after Petunia and Lily's weddings Petunia found herself pregnant, and despite their distance, Lily was the first person she wanted to call, only to find Lily standing outside her door bursting with happiness. Lily was pregnant, too. Her child would be born about a month after Petunia's and their excitement was immeasurable.
About six months into the pregnancy, Lily came to Petunia crying. She told her about the war currently going on in her world and the prophecy surrounding the child safely ensconced in her womb. What terrified Petunia the most were the calm, words Lily said with absolute conviction and belief.
"I certainly hope what I'm about to tell you is false, Tuney, but I don't think it is. I don't think I'm going to survive this war. In fact, I'm fairly certain I'll be dead in the next two years."
Petunia's, "LiLi no!" rang throughout the house and she frantically began to make plans. She demanded Lily and James leave the Wizarding World and flee. She must come to somewhere where Petunia could protect her. Lily's sad dismissal of her plans and staunch determination to protect the world she had come to love only further inflamed Petunia's rage. She couldn't understand why Lily would not let Petunia protect her. Her rage led her to the last words she would ever speak to her sister.
"Well, if you're so determined to die, I'll mourn you now. I'll not wait in anticipation for the news my sister is dead. You are dead to me now. Get out of my house."
She watched her sister's shocked face coldly, before Lily disappeared. Petunia was still crying when Vernon came home.
Petunia blamed everything magical for Lily's abandonment. If that infernal world had never come knocking Lily would be safe where she belonged. She grew bitter and when she received the announcement of Harry's birth she simply sneered at it instead of letting out the internal sigh of relief at the knowledge her sister still lived. As the months passed without hearing anything from Lily, the bitterness churning in her gut grew. It continued to grow until one late night she and Vernon found a basket sitting on her front step.
Notes: Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think! Love, peace and hair grease, Raindancer08 :)