Written For:

The Golden Snitch: Build the Burrow
Prompt - Paintbrush: Write about a character covering up a big secret.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: The Friendship Challenge
Prompt - a friend consoling another after a breakup

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Speed Drabble
Prompts - flatter, doodle, shrug

Once Upon a Time: Princess Aurora
Prompt - write about a first time mother

Friends Competition: TOW Joey Dates Rachel
Prompt - Write about a platonic date.

Are You Crazy Enough to Do it Challenge
Prompt - 264. (location) Three Broomsticks

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Secrets and Heartbreak

Petunia met up with James at the Three Broomsticks. She easily found him at a table in a corner, away from the bustling crowd.

As she neared him, she noticed the doodle he was currently creating on a napkin but didn't comment on it. Instead, as she sat down across from him, she said, "So, I would say this is a date, but my sister might kill me for suggesting such a thing."

James laughed bitterly as he shrugged. He was going for nonchalant, but it was anything but casual. "Call it a platonic date if you want, but Lily has no say in my social life now."

She blinked. "Since when?"

"Since she decided I wasn't good enough for her and dumped me."

Petunia gasped. "Why? I mean, the two of you always seemed so happy."

James ran a hand through his hair, and it might have been her imagination, but it seemed to lay flatter. Petunia wondered if that what heartbreak was doing, making James' hair behave itself. "I don't know. I thought she was happy with me, but I was obviously wrong."

"My sister is a fool," Petunia proclaimed.

"You've never gotten along with her, so I can't really trust your judgment, even if I appreciate you being on my side. I fire-called you because I knew you'd let me rant and not take Lily's side."

Petunia shook her head. "No, even if I got along better with Lily, I would still think she was a fool. You loved you. You would give her anything she wanted, and she threw it away. No one in their right mind would throw away that kind of devotion. I know I wouldn't if I had someone look at me the way you looked at Lily."

James' eyes softened. "Thanks. I wonder if I'll ever fall in love again."

Petunia flushed as she averted her eyes. "I'm sure you will." She looked at James again. "Lily was your first love, but it doesn't mean she has to be your forever love. And the next girl you give your heart to will be the luckiest girl in the world."

James' eyes narrowed. "Something's wrong with you."

Petunia gasped. "Nothing is wrong with me."

He rolled his eyes. "I don't mean wrong with you, wrong with you, but something is bothering you." He took her hand. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Petunia never told anyone the truth about why she stopped talking to her friends from Hogwarts. Most of them just thought she believed she was too good to associate with them, but that was so far from the truth. "It doesn't matter. You're hurting, and we came here to talk about you and what an idiot Lily is. Me and my issues can wait."

"Petunia, we're friends and friendship works both ways. I confide in you, and you confide in me."

She swallowed and took the plunge. "I'm a mum. Gave birth almost six months ago."

James stated the obvious. "No one knew you were pregnant."

She nodded.

"Who's the father?"

She shook her head.

"Petunia, who's the father, and you better tell me he's taking responsibility and helping you."

She shook her head once again. "He didn't want anything to do with me or our son. And I was so embarrassed that I allowed myself to get suckered in by him, and then he abandoned me. I was too ashamed to admit my mistake."

"So, you kept your pregnancy a secret."

It wasn't a question, but Petunia nodded anyways.

"You said Lily was an idiot. Well, this guy was an idiot too. I'm going to help you with your kid. And I know Sirius and Remus will as well. In fact, the three of us will probably be competing for title of favorite uncle."

Petunia felt tears stream down her cheeks. She had felt so alone, and she hadn't realized how hard it would be to be a single mother. She was glad she'd finally have some help.

Fin

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(word count: 670)