The story starts of in the past. Just to make the premise of the story clearer. Harry will join the plot soon enough!
Canon Dimension: Summer 1977
"I really don't understand why I have to help you cook for your freak friends." Petunia mumbled, while she was cutting some carrots. The Marauders were coming to visit Lily. Petunia had been particularly nasty the past few days, because Mrs. Evans had asked her to prepare food with Lily.
Last week Lily had been at James place. The house was only a short drive away and her parents came to pick her up. Mr. and Mrs. Evan had been amazed by the Potter manor, the polite, handsome boy and surprisingly also by his friends, Sirius, Peter and Remus. Lily wouldn't have invited them. She knew her sister would be horrible to the boys. While James pretended to be this mild-mannered boy in front of her parents, she doubted that he could keep his temper, if Petunia accused them of being freaks. But her parents had generously invited all of the boys for dinner.
"You don't have to help me. I'm fine on my own." Lily answered. Her eyes were burning as she was cutting onion.
"Ha! And then I will be the bad sister again, who can't even help her little sister with a stupid dinner for her freak friends." Petunia sneered. Petunia was much more practised in cooking. Lily only cooked a few times during summer, Petunia was cooking for their parents every evening since she came home from work earlier than mum.
"I won't tell." Lily argued. But Petunia snickered.
"You will ruin this dinner, if you try it alone. Cut the peppers, when you are done with onion." She ordered Lily.
Petunia then went into the dining room and came back with a chair. She climbed on it and started looking through one of the cupboards.
"Where is that big pot?" She voiced under her breath. "Ah! There."
Petunia's head was inside of the cupboard and she made muffeled noises as she tried to reach something. Then there was a loud cracking noise. The cupboard fell from the wall and before the girls could do anything, the cupboard fell on Petunia. The older girl screamed. Lily saw a big bleeding wound on Petunia's forehead.
"Tuney! Oh god, are you alright?" Lily yelled worried about her sister. She ran over to her. Petunia pulled her self up on the kitchen counter. She touched her forehead and she seemed confused, when her fingers came back bloodied.
"I will go get dad. He will drive you to the hospital!" Lily explained and ran to get her father. The dinner would have to be cancelled. Hopefully, Petunia would be alright.
Alternative Dimension: Summer 1977
Lily and Petunia had just been cooking for the Marauders, when the cupboard was falling down on the older of the two sisters. Lily's accidental magic was just quick enough to prevent the cupboard falling down on Petunia. The heavy wooden cupboard and all the port were levitated in the air. Gently Lily put it down on the floor next to Petunia.
"You did magic!" Petunia shouted confused and exasperated. "You said they would kick you out of school, if you do magic!"
"It… it… was an accident." Lily stammered. "They will understand."
"What if they don't?" Petunia argued.
Lily gulped. She would definitly get kicked out of Hogwarts.
"It was only a small thing. They will send me a warning. At most." Lily explained, but rather to calm herself than her sister. Petunia's face was an unreadable mask.
"Thanks, Lily." Petunia finally answered.
"Uh, what?"
"The cupboard could have crushed me." Petunia admitted. "You saved my life."
Lily blushed. "I would always save you, you know. You are my sister. I love you."
At that Petunia blinked. There was a long silence between the girls.
"Chop the peppers." Petunia finally said. "I will clean up this mess. Your friends are coming soon."
They were just quick enough to finish cleaning and cooking before the door bell rang. In a cherish mood Lily ran to the main entrance and greeted her friends. Petunia followed her rather hesitantly. Lily greeted James with a kiss, while Sirius teased them laughingly. Remus was the only one, who politely took off his shoes and commented on how beautiful the house was. James eyes were only fixed on Lily. If they would ask him the next day, how Lily's house looked like, he would probably not remember a thing. Peter was like always a bit more hesitant. He was the shiest of the three boys. James was an over-confident about everything, Sirius just didn't care about what others thought about him and Remus relied on his sharp mind to outsmart everyone. Peter was different. He never talked much, and it puzzled most of the Hogwarts' students, why the Marauders kept him around.
To Lily's surprise Petunia walked over to the shy boy and took his coat from him. They exchanged a few words, but Lily couldn't hear, what they talked. James and Sirius were telling her about the weird Muggle transportation they took to get here. But Lily barely listened, she was too worried about the interaction between Petunia and Peter. Peter was now explaining something extensively and suddenly Petunia started laughing loudly.
Everybody turned to them. Petunia kept laughing and Peter had a proud grin on his face. Lily was confused. Shy, little Peter had made her bitter, older sister laugh?
The dinner was pleasant. Petunia was actually chatting with all of the boy. She didn't use the word "freak" even once.
"Uh, guys" Peter interrupted the dinner at some point. "My dad is hosting this big party over at our house. Maybe you guys want to come?"
"You already invited us." James answered a bit annoyed. "Of course, we will come."
"Yes, you don't have to remind us every day.", Sirius added. Remus mumbled something that resembled an agreement, while stuffing one more potato in his mouth.
Peter's head got red. He his gaze was fixed on the carrots, which were left on his plate.
"Petunia, if you want, you can come too.", he invited Lily's sister. James and Sirius exchanged an exasperated look. Then Sirius' eyes light up and he smirked knowingly. Lily felt Remus kicking the other boy under the table.
"I would love to come." Petunia answered. And suddenly Lily's eyes started to fill with tears. James took Lily's hands in his and squeezed it tightly.
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