"no more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world"
-blinding, florence + the machine
Petunia used to be like a flower, sweet and innocent and nice.
Sitting in her room now, her breathing ragged, her fists clenched and her pillow tear-stained, she is more like a flower than she ever was. At last, she is living up to her name - Petunia, traditionally symbolizing jealousy and resentment.
The letter from Albus Dumbledore lies crumpled on the floor, the letter that changed who she was for ever. It hurts her eleven-year-old heart to even look at it, but she picks it up, smooths it out and reads over it again.
Dear Petunia,
It is with deepest regret that I reply to your letter in order to tell you that we do not have a place for you at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though we would love to have you here, our school only caters to students with magical blood, and it would be impossible for you to attend classes if you cannot perform spells. I am deeply sorry to have to tell you this, as I know how much you would like to attend this school, but please don't take it too hard. After all, magic is not the most important thing there is in life, and you seem like a very intelligent young girl who will go far.
We at Hogwarts will take excellent care of your younger sister, so don't worry - she will be very happy here. Be sure to write to her and not to lose touch, won't you?
Good luck, Petunia.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
It's a kind letter, she can't deny that (though his suggestion that she write to Lily is laughable). But every word -particularly the word impossible - feels like a stab in the heart with Lily's new wand.
Lily's wand. A lump forms in Petunia's throat from sheer longing. She has seen Lily using the wand, seen the sparks flying from it and illuminating Lily's delighted face. But when Petunia waved it, trying to copy her sister, nothing happened. No sparks. Just disappointment and embarrassment that made her face burn crimson and her heart sink like a stone.
She hates Lily now, and she doesn't want to, because Lily used to be her best friend. But she can't help it. The jealousy has consumed her, and she knows that things will never be the same again.
People will always live up to their names, and now Petunia is living up to hers - anger and resentment will become the energy that fuels her for the rest of her life, influencing her every choice, every decision.
But it wasn't always that way.
Petunia used to be like a flower, sweet and innocent and nice.
She's still like a flower. But she's not sweet and innocent and nice. Not anymore.