House: Ravenclaw

Year: Three

Category: Standard

Prompt: Lily and Petunia

Word count: 1502

Year One

"So how was the freak school?"

These were the words Lily Evans was greeted with as she entered her living room for the first time since the Easter holidays. Petunia was sat on the sofa at the opposite end of the room, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyebrows furrowed. She was stubbornly refusing to look at Lily, instead opting to stare intently at the television.

"Now now, don't be nasty, Petunia," Mrs Evans scolded, bustling into the room, carrying Lily's owl, Hercules. The tiny brown owl fluttered it's wings indignantly at the jostling, looking rather ruffled after the long car journey.

"It was fine, thank you," Lily said, stiffly, wondering why Petunia was so upset at her. It was unfortunate she couldn't go to Hogwarts, but it wasn't Lily's fault. After all, she didn't choose to be a witch. How could she help it if Petunia didn't get her Hogwarts letter? She couldn't do anything about the fact Tuney was a muggle after all…

"Going to show us a magic trick then?" Petunia sniffed. "Go on then, turn me into a frog."

"Actually, we're not, supposed to do magic outside of school," Lily said softly, sitting on the armchair in front of the television. It wasn't really anything interesting, just a weather report promising a weekend of thunderstorms and rain. "In fact, the most exciting thing I've done with frogs is turn them into handkerchiefs and back."

Petunia seemed slightly happier at the knowledge that Lily wasn't some all-powerful sorcerer after her first year at Hogwarts. "So, no magic?"

"No magic."

Mrs Evans came in and smiled at Lily fondly. "Did you enjoy your classes, dear? I know you and Severus were especially excited about potions."

"Potions was amazing!" Lily said, lighting up, and Petunia scowled. "Professor Slughorn says I'm the best in our class, after Sev."

"That's wonderful dear! And that class – what was it called? Oh yes, transfiggyation"

"Transfiguration."

"Yes, transfiguration sounds great. You could transfigure that ghastly cardigan aunt Sharon knitted for me into something nicer."

"Mum! That's a perfectly nice cardigan. And besides, I can't do magic outside of school, remember? Although I have been learning to knit with magic using a textbook I borrowed from the library-"

The two looked up as the living room door slammed shut, and they heard Petunia stomping up the stairs, sounding as if she would rather go without hearing Lily's stories from Hogwarts.

"Don't pay her any mind, dearie. It's a little upsetting for her to hear what you've been up to, that's all. She would have so liked to go to Hogwarts. So, tell me about this magic knitting?"

Year Two

"So how was the freak school?"

Lily ignored Petunia and went to sit in her armchair. The train journey had tired her out and she wasn't in the mood for Petunia's snide remarks.

"How did your end of year exams go, dear?" Mrs Evans asked, handing Lily her trunk.

"Okay I think." Lily replied, stifling a yawn. "I studied loads so I can't have done that badly. The results should come via owl post at some point this summer."

"What do they even test you on anyway?" Petunia huffed. "It's not like you learn anything useful, like Maths, or Science, or English…"

"We do History. It's taught by a ghost." Lily said, skipping out the fact it was probably one of the most boring classes ever.

"A ghost? Ghosts don't exist. You're making that up."

"Oh yeah? And I supposed Witches and Wizards don't exist either."

"Girls that's enough! Lily, did you try out for that sports team you were interested in?"

"You mean the quidditch team? Ugh, I was going to, but Potter signed up, and you know how I cant stand Potter."

"Potter, dear?"

"The one who I've mentioned in my letters? He's arrogant and his ego is huge! Honestly, he thinks he's God's gift to this world, the way he struts about the castle with that awful Sirius Black."

"The one who pulls all the pranks?"

"Yes!"

This time the two didn't notice Petunia leave for the kitchen in a huff to write a letter to her sensible, non-magical classmate who didn't know ghosts existed (and honestly, was better off for it).

Year Three

"How was the freak school?"

"Stop calling it that Petunia!

"But that's exactly what it is! It's a school for freaks like you, Sev and the Potter boy you always complain about to learn how to make freakish things happen and brew potions under the moonlight that give you boils or turn people into frogs.

"How many times? We don't turn people into frogs!"

"But you could. If you wanted to."

"I'll turn you into a frog if you don't shut up about my school."

"Enough you two! Can't you just get along for once? Now, Lily, were you going to tell me what extra subjects you chose?"

Lily was about to answer when Petunuia stood up angrily. "Why do you always care more about Lily than me? You're always asking her about her freak school, but you never care about my regular, proper school. You know, the type of school that actually educates you properly, and teaches you important things."

"Dear, Lily's been at boarding school since the Easter Holidays and I like talking with her about her school. It's very interesting."

"Freak," Petunia spat, and left the room, slamming the door behind her.

"I'm doing arithmancy, care of magical creatures and ancient runes in case you were still interested," Lily said, glancing at the door for a moment before running out after Petunia.

Year Four

"How was the freak school?"

"Go away Petunia."

Year Five

"How was the freak school?"

"Good, not that you're actually interested." Lily turned to her mother. "And Marlene and Professor Flitwick are convinced I aced the charms OWL! There was one answer I wasn't sure about but I went over it with him after class and it seemed like I'd get the marks!

"That's wonderful dear!"

"Oh yeah, can Marlene come to stay for a week or two at the end of the holidays?"

"Of course! She sounds like a lovely girl."

"You don't like my friends," Petunia muttered under her breath.

"I don't dislike them, I just think some of them can be a little rude and pretentious," Mrs Evans reasoned.

It was just then an owl carrying a letter brandishing the Hogwarts seal tapped its beak on the glass.

"That was quick! Mrs Evans exclaimed, opening the window for the owl. The owl perched on top of the television and Lily took the letter.

"They don't normally come this early, it usually takes a couple of weeks.

"Mum, get the owl off the television!" Petunia whined, glaring at the poor creature, which shook its feathers all over the screen, then continued perching, looking rather pleased with itself.

Mrs Evans ignored her and turned to Lily. "What did you get, dear?"

Lily opened the letter slowly. "So the pass marks are O for outstanding, E for Exceeds Expectations and A for Acceptable. The fail marks are P, D and T.

"And what do those stand for?" Petunia asked, trying not to let it show that it actually kind of interested her.

"Poor, Dreadful and Troll."

"Troll?"

"Yes." Lily fumbled with the seal nervously before reading the letter and letting out a sigh of relief. "Three Os, six Es and an A for… Arithmancy. Never mind, the professor did warn us it was a hard class and most likely around half of us would fail. Oh, I knew I should have let Potter help me with my transfiguration… I bet he got an O.

"Potter? I thought you hated Potter."

"I do. He just happens to be rather good at transfiguration."

Year Six

"How was the freak school?"

"Probably better than your muggle school. Hey, guess what happened this year mum?"

"What?"

"I started dating Potter!"

"But I thought you hated Potter!"

"I do. He just happens to be rather good at kissing. And err… growing out of his immaturity. And er, I don't think I hate him anymore."

"Good for you! He isn't being mean to Severus anymore is he?"

"Well… Sometimes. But not unprovoked. I'm not really friends with Severus anymore."

Petunia smiled. "Good. I always hated that kid."

"Petunia! Don't be rude. And I'm sorry to hear that Lily. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Great, let's play everyone listen to Lily's problems because she's the one who's got it bad," Petunia huffed before running out the room.

Year Seven

"Where's Petunia?"

"She's moved in with her boyfriend from University. His name's Vernon or something. But well done on your Hogwarts graduation! Petunia said she's sorry she could make it."

"Did she call it the 'freak school'?"

"Oh don't you worry about Petunia. You know she doesn't mean it."