Lily, I think, would have been proud of me.

The bundle I found in the morning told me that my sister died. I did not move.

The letter from Albus Dumbledore told me that my sister died. I did not move.

The strange news segments told me that my sister died. I did not move.

The people dancing in the streets all told me that the war was over - and that my sister died. I did not even wave.

But I remembered her words. I remembered her saying that she would tell me, no one else. That I couldn't trust a letter, not from anyone. So I watched Harry for the day, so sure that she would come by at the end, telling me it had all been something to win the war, but it was fine, she would take Harry now.

I looked out the window as the streets darkened, as Vernon went upstairs to bed, but she was not there. The shadows moved across the lawn, and suddenly, in the light of the moon, I saw him, one of Lily's friends. He could tell me what was happening. Or could he? Wizards could seem like other people. Right?

But then, if she had died, how would I ever know?

I opened the door, and he walked across the grass. "Hello, Petunia," he said.

"Hello, Remus."

"Petunia, I'm sorry to have to tell you this," he began, but I was already shaking my head.

"No. No, see, Lily - she said only she will tell me, only her."

He frowned. "But you know me. You - how can I work this?" He thought it over. "I have seen you many times. The first time was in your family home, Plas Newydd, in Anglesey. You were in a course in London, which is where you met your husband, Vernon Dursley. Your middle name is Carys. And right now you are caring for Harry alongside your own son, are you not?"

"Yes," I whispered. I paused. "So she really died, then?"

He reached out to my shoulder. "Really, Petunia. And - James too. You do have Harry here, don't you?"

I nodded, pointing to the twin stroller just inside the door. "For all his life, I guess." I narrowed my eyes. "So it was this You-Know-Who, wasn't it?"

Remus nodded. "It was Voldemort, yes. The war has ended, so we can say the name now. Voldemort is gone. Because of Harry."

My voice became too loud for the quiet neighborhood. "Because of Harry? Are you sure?" But when Remus nodded, I was not surprised.

I was not surprised, but I was -

"Thank you," I whispered, and I closed the door.