Written For:
Lin (for The Betting Agency)
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Writing Club
World Orphan Day - Write about someone with no family (not necessarily an orphan)
Warnings for references to domestic abuse.
No Longer Alone
Petunia's eyes shot open, a scream clawing its way up her throat and out of her mouth. She squeezed her eyes shut as the nightmare replayed in her mind.
It was one she had often and what it made it so much scarier than an average nightmare was the fact it was based on real life, based on the nightmare she once lived through.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and sat up in bed, slowly opening her eyes. She looked around her bedroom, but there was nothing out of place.
Of course, there was nothing out of place. Why would it be any other way when she lived alone?
"Stupid girl!" a cruel voice echoed in her head. The sound of flesh hitting flesh sounded as well, and she couldn't stop the automatic flinch at the memory.
Petunia took a shuddering breath. "Vernon is gone. He'll never hurt me again," she whispered, doing her best to convince herself of the truth.
Maybe a glass of warm milk would help. She stood up on shaky legs and slowly made her way through the house to the small kitchen.
When she had the milk in her hand, she took careful sips, trying to stop thinking about the nightmare that was playing on repeat in her mind.
When she was a little girl, she dreamed of having a family. She wanted a husband and kids. At least two of them. One boy and one girl would have been perfect.
And when she met Vernon, she thought everything was falling into place beautifully. He had been so wonderful when they dated.
After they married, his true colors had shone through, though, and she saw what kind of monster he really was.
Now, Petunia was alone, but at least she was safe, and that was something she had to keep reminding herself of.
She was safe. Vernon would never be able to hurt her again.
When she was done with her milk, she rinsed the glass and placed it in the sink, she went back to bed.
The next morning, she woke up and went to the front porch to collect the paper. Instead of a newspaper, she found a baby with a note attached to his blanket.
She picked up the boy and when his eyes opened, she recognized Lily's emerald eyes. She silently read the note.
She looked at the boy and turned around, walking the two of them back into the warmth of the house. She never once thought she'd ever want to raise a magical baby, but he didn't have a family anymore either. And at least this way, neither of them would be alone.
xXx
(word count: 446)