Forgiveness

You blink rapidly as the green light engulfs your body, stopping your heart immediately. You expect to feel pain but you feel nothing, not even the fear that coursed through your veins only mere seconds ago. You pass through the bright light, after all, that's what you're supposed to do. You watch as the soul of the snake infuses with your baby, leaving a thunderbolt scar on his forehead. You're relieved that your baby is safe and sound, that your sacrifice didn't go unnoticed.

Petunia picked up the sleeping baby that was left on her doorstep and brought it inside. She read the note in shock, her sister was gone. Dead. As was her husband, not that she really cared about him. The letter explained that Harry had to stay with her and Vernon. Something about a blood protection that she didn't understand, she hated magic but she owed that much to her sister at least.

You watch your boy grow up under your sister's roof. At first, it's fine, you watch the two toddlers grow up together, almost like siblings. However, once preschool age creeps in you watch as your bastard brother in law starts to beat your baby and shove him in a cupboard. You watch in terror as your sister does nothing. As no one does anything.

Petunia pushed some stale bread through the flap on the cupboard under the stairs.

"Thank you," Harry's voice is raspy and weak but Petunia says nothing. She just walks away.

Years pass and you're forced to watch your baby suffer at the hands of your sister and brother in law. You watch as your nephew gets everything and your boy gets nothing. You watch as his Hogwarts letter finally comes but he's still forced to go back to the abuse summer after summer. You watch it all in horror.

"You know, I never said I was a good person, Lily," Petunia sighed. "But you knew that you knew I was rotten when really I was just jealous. You had magical powers for crying out loud and I was just an ordinary muggle. I wanted to be a witch so bad that once I realized I couldn't, I turned my jealousy into hate. I took it all out on the boy - Harry, I mean - I just let Vernon do whatever he wanted with him, it was inexcusable and I honestly couldn't be more ashamed of what I've done. I didn't realize what kind of damage we brought onto him until it was too late - but your old friend, the one with the crooked nose? He saved him and he's a lot better now. You would be proud of what he has accomplished no thanks to me. Once Harry was taken out of our house, Vernon started to hit Dudley and it wasn't until then that I realized how horrible Harry's life had been. I'm sorry I let everything happen to him. I'm sorry I didn't care. I'm so sorry and I know you probably can't hear me, and you'll never forgive me. But I just hope your happy, whenever you are now. I love you, Lily. I always have, even if I was too much of a bitch to realize it."

Petunia stood up and laid the flowers in her hand - a petunia and a lily - on her sisters grave.

You look down at your sister - after everything she has done, it's hard to even broach the possibility of forgiving her. However, she was your sister and despite everything, you loved her.

"I forgive you, Tuney," you whisper even though you know she can't hear you and you sincerely hope that she somehow finds peace.

WC: 614

This is a gift for who wanted a Lily/Petunia sister fic. I'm sorry it took me so long to write, it didn't want to be written. Also SorryNotSorry for the angst.

Mythology, task 3: Write an afterlife!Au

Character Appreciation: 17. Word: Apology

Disney Challenge: 2. Write about someone finding the good in something bad.

Sophie's Tea Room: (emotion) Disgusted

Insane House: 610 WC