Petunia Dursley considered herself as a lucky woman. She had a wonderful home, a loving husband, Vernon, and an absolutely gorgeous baby boy, Dudley. Sure, it wasn't Petunias favorite name in the world, but it surely fitted her son.
Petunia was content to be a housewife and have the responsibility for the house and their son. If anyone tried to imply something else, she would shut those people out of her life for good. Petunia had done it before.
Yes, Petunia Dursley was happy.
It was October 31th 1981. Halloween was here again. Petunia had just came back home after shopping groceries for that night's dinner. She held a paper bag in one hand and Dudley in the other. The boy had cried for candy the whole way home, and still did. Petunia sighed, but gave in to her sons whining and gave him a lollipop. Dudley immediately stopped crying. Some people might say that the rather chubby boy was spoiled but Petunia wouldn't listen. What was so wrong to give her son everything he wanted?
When Dudley finished his lollipop Petunia carried him to his nursery for his afternoon nap. After a lot of singing, pleading and soothing the boy finally fell asleep and Petunia could return to the kitchen to do her duties in peace. But first, she needed a cup of tea.
While the tea water was boiling Petunia sat down at the kitchen table and looked out the window, with her chin resting in her right hand. She watched the leaves being pushed around by the wind. And suddenly she felt…moody.
She started to think back to her childhood's Halloween events. When she and her sister (whose name was forbidden in the Dursley household) used to dress up like witches and giggling like crazy when they did their trick-or-treat rounds. Petunia shocked her head at herself. Why was she starting to think about that now? It had been years! So many years…
Petunias thoughts started to wander again. Now to places in her mind she hasn't touched for a long time. She had wanted to be an artist, but her parents disapproved. She had wanted to travel to Paris, but the few jobs she ever had simply didn't have enough money to save. She had wanted to marry a handsome, kind man who loved her for who she was, but she got Vernon. He did love her, of course, but he wasn't her first choice. Just as the life she was living now wasn't her first choice.
Petunia sighed really deeply this time and her pale eyes were filled with sincere sadness. What had happened to her dreams? Her plans? She had wanted to do so much, but none of it had happened. And it hurt to think about it. It really, really hurt.
Petunia quickly dried away the tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks and rose up from the table. She adjusted her apron and pulled her blonde hair in a bun. She took a deep breath to collect herself, and started to prepare the dinner. The tea water stood abandoned at the sink. Forgotten.
Just as forgotten as Petunias dreams.
Petunia took an onion and begun to chop it. Thin rings were filling the cutting board. When she was done Petunia just stood there and stared at it. Is this what her life had become? Cleaning, taking care of a whining child and chopping onions? Not to mention she had to listen to Vernon's endless talks about drills day in and day out. All of a sudden Petunia sat down at the floor and just stared in front of her. Once again, her head were filled with long forgotten thoughts and memories. And this time, she didn't stop them.