Interlude 1

Hera

She hates her husbands children with a passion, and usually winds up either killing them in various nasty ways, killing (or trying to kill) their mothers, or merely making their life as miserable as possible

Petunia Dursley nee Evans was a normal woman with a normal life. She had a normal husband with a normal job, a normal son who went to a normal school - and a distinctly abnormal niece and nephew tucked away in the cupboard under the stairs.

Harry Potter was an odd boy. Strange things happened around him. He was a troublemaker, and he looked exactly like his father. Except…

He had those cursed green eyes.

(Maybe if she looked less like Lily, she'd hate her more)

Vernon Dursley was a normal man. Slightly prone to anger, he was a wonderful husband and the father of her son Dudley. He had a normal job, and was good at what he did.

Cassandra Potter was odd. She was artistic, and Petunia could never stand those arty types. She was a bookworm, and could make brilliant leaps of logic. Vernon had tried to beat it out of her, but one time, she saw those pleading eyes - green eyes, cursed eyes. Occasionally she would say odd things that always turned out to be true.

(Maybe if she looked less like Lily, she'd hate her more)

Because Cassandra Potter looked exactly like her mother - that red, red hair. Not ginger, but the red of rose petals and spilled blood.

And those cursed green eyes.

Those eyes seared into her very soul, and one day, Petunia grabbed a bottle of bleach. She got Vernon and Dudley to hold Cassandra down, and tipped that bottle into her niece's eyes - right on the burn scar.

Cassandra screamed, but was muffled by Vernon's meaty hand.

The bleach did what the burn could not - it blinded her left eye for good. It also increased the scarring.

When the bottle was empty, Petunia turned away and ignored her niece's pitiful pleading and sobbing.

(Maybe if she looked less like Lily, she'd hate her more)

Now she looked less like her sister - but even more hauntingly beautiful.

Petunia didn't mind the boy as much - he was mainly under her control. But the girl, the girl …

Petunia hated Cassandra.

She looked less like Lily now …

Buy that single cursed green eye glared daggers into her back.

She'd have to get rid of that one sometime.

(Maybe if she looked less like Lily, she'd hate her more)

Maybe if she looked more like Lily, Petunia would care about her.