Tuesday 11 April 1972
Petunia woke up with barely contained energy. Today was her 14th birthday and she was going to make the most of it. It would take all of her self-constraint not to get too bouncy while in school despite really wanting to. When she got downstairs, she found her mother and father waiting and smiling.
"Happy Birthday, Petunia!" They both sang out.
"Thanks, mum and dad. I wish we could spend the whole day together."
Harry waved this off, "Don't worry about it, honey. We'll just have a nice dinner this evening.
When she got to school, Maya spotted her and squealed in happiness as she wished Petunia a happy birthday as well.
"Any plans to celebrate your birthday?"
Petunia just shrugged, "Not really, especially since it's a weekday. I know that my parents and I are going to have a birthday dinner but beyond that, no idea. It's a real shame that Lily isn't here to celebrate it with us."
That evening after a birthday dinner, Petunia and her parents were gathered in the living room so she could open her presents. She got the obligatory clothes from other relatives and from her parents, a couple of books on magical topics from Maya and, in Petunia's opinion, the greatest present in the world from Lily; a journal charmed with never-ending pages.
Thursday 20 April 1972
Petunia and Maya were on their way back to the bus stop from the Ministry after finishing their mid-term exams when they were attacked from behind. Their attacker demanded their jewelry and purses as he brandished his gun at them. Maya was terrified and it showed on her face but Petunia was adamant about fighting back. As Maya was handing over her bag, Petunia whipped out her wand and cast the strongest Petrificus Totalis she could. The mugger's body stiffened up and he fell over with a thud. Petunia felt a wave of nausea and fatigue wash over her as she collapsed to the sidewalk.
Maya had let out a scream for help and they were fortunate that there were two Bobbies nearby that heard her scream and came running to help. Unfortunately for Petunia, they spotted her putting her wand away and thought it was a weapon. They were detained and separated in the station while trying to figure out not only what the purpose of the stick was but also how the mugger was unable to be released from his stiffened posture.
The investigator entered the interview room where Petunia was being held, pulled out the chair and began to ask her questions.
"Is there anything you wish to tell me, young lady?"
"Um…like what?" Petunia nervously stammered.
"Like what you did to your assailant that prevents him from moving? What is the purpose of that stick you were seen holding?"
Petunia looked chagrinned, "Umm…well…. you see, I'm not allowed to tell you about it. Family rules sort of thing."
"Uh-huh. Fine. Well, since you are a minor I will need to contact your parents or guardian."
Petunia acquiesced, "Could I have that stick back? It's… important."
The investigator leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment, "I can only release it back to your parents or guardian."
"That's fine. May I use your telephone?"
Petunia was guided to the station's telephone where instead of calling her parents, she contacted the Ministry using the telephone number she was given for these sort of emergencies. The operator on the other end told her to wait where she was and they'd send someone over as soon as possible. Ten minutes later, an older gentleman, one of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's Muggle Liaison Officers, stepped into the station's lobby asking for Petunia Evans. He was met by the investigator and told of the events surrounding Petunia's detainment. Her wand was retrieved and the mugger unpetrified. The MLO then pulled out his own wand and obliviated the others of their memory of the encounter and took Petunia and Maya back to the Ministry.
At the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Muggle Liaison Office…
Petunia sat nervously awaiting her fate as the Officer filled out the paperwork on the incident. She picked at her nails quietly and glanced around at the various items scattered around the Officer's desk and cubicle. 'Honestly, it doesn't appear too different from the muggle policeman's office. The pictures move but…'
The clearing of a throat drew her out of her reverie.
"Well Miss Evans, everything seems to be in order here. I must say that I am impressed by your quick thinking and wandwork. Not too many other third year students could take down an attacker like you did."
"I-I'm a first year, sir." She stammered.
An eyebrow was quirked up in surprise, "A first year? Now that is impressive! When did you learn the petrification spell? Which House are you in?"
"I'm not in any House, sir. I don't attend Hogwarts, I'm a hedge-witch and home schooled."
Cocking his head in amazement, he then asked her what her home floo address was so he could contact her parents so they could come and get her.
"Um, I'm a muggleborn. I don't think our house has a floo address. How would I set one up?"
With a purse of his lips in thought, the Officer motioned for her to stay while he got something from the front desk. When he got back, he held in his hand a form for her parents to fill out to connect their fireplace to the Floo Network.
"In the meantime, what is your home phone number? While you fill that out, I'll contact your parents."
Petunia gave her contact information while reading over the form. She asked him to tell her parents that she might be able to go to Maya's house until they got off from work. When the Officer hung up, she asked to be allowed to have her father read it over and give his permission to have their floo connected. The Officer stated that it wouldn't be a problem, just for her to get it filled out and processed soon.
"Oh, one more question sir? After I performed that spell, I felt nauseous and fatigued. Why did that happen?" Petunia inquired.
"You said you're a hedge-witch? Well, your feelings of nausea and fatigue are the result of your magic trying to do too much in such a short time frame. It's like trying to run a marathon while sprinting."
Maya appeared a moment later with her own Officer in the lead saying that she'd been cleared and was ready to go home. She offered to have Petunia come through her family's floo before heading home to which Petunia gratefully accepted. The Officer in charge of their case made a note of it and stepped through with the two of them to explain the circumstances to Maya's parents.
After all that and when the Officer left, Petunia called her parents and let them know that she had arrived safely at Maya's home. Harry and Marigold were filled in on the events when they arrived to pick her up after work. They were relieved that nothing bad had happened to their daughter; thanked the Richards for their patience and took her straight home.
For the next month, Petunia rarely left the house. She had become rather leery about being out in public and truth be told her parents didn't want their daughter to be out and about unescorted either. She had given her father the floo connection form and explained its purpose. Harry eagerly filled it out and mailed it to the address written on the back. A week later, a Floo Network Authority worker arrived on their doorstep to hook up their fireplace to the system and to instruct them on the proper usage. They received a bag of Floo Powder and it was suggested that they keep it on the mantle in a closeable jar of some sort.
Marigold had wanted to use a cute nickname for the floo address but everything she chose was already in use. Harry suggested that they just use their regular address so if anyone not cleared to know about magic wouldn't think anything of it if they heard the address being called out. Harry then suggested that they keep the newest addition to their home a secret from Lily as a 'welcome home' surprise to which both his wife and eldest daughter laughed and agreed.
In the meantime, Petunia thought long and hard about what the officer had said about someone like her using magic too quickly. She experimented with trying to cast progressively difficult spells and charms and recording their effects on her magic usage and regeneration. She concluded that her reservoir of magic was slow filling. She could use it fast but the repercussions were not to be trifled with. She ended with a bit of a shocking warning coming from her wand of all things; she had tried to cast a Stupefy hex and it caused her wand to heat up very quickly to almost the point where it felt like it could burst into flames!
She immediately stopped what she was doing and let the wand and her magic cool off while recording all of her research into her journals.
Friday 16 June 1972
"Good Morning, Miss Evans. Are you ready to take your OWL in Muggle Studies?"
Petunia had convinced her parents to allow her to take the qualifying test for the easier subjects ahead of time so she wouldn't have so much to take later. After reviewing the textbook for the Muggle Studies course, both Evans parents agreed once they finished laughing their collective butts off.
"Alright, Miss Evans. You will have one hour to complete the written section of the exam before we move onto the practical portion. Ready, set…begin."
Petunia flipped over the test paper and scanned the questions. As expected they were stupidly simple:
1) What are the main types of currency used by muggles?
2) Why do muggles use electricity? Give examples.
3) What is the primary form of communication used by muggles?
4) What is the primary form of transportation used by muggles?
The list went on for thirty questions. It took Petunia less than fifteen minutes to answer every single one of them. The practical was even easier, all she had to do was place a telephone call to a predetermined location (in this case it was to the Muggle Liaison Office and answer a few questions the proctor on the other end had), properly end the call and describe the features of the telephone. Next, she had to type a letter using a typewriter and also demonstrate how to dress in order to blend in with her environment.
When she was all done, the examiner stated that she'd receive her results by Wednesday of next week.
"How well do you think you did on the test?" Maya asked Petunia when the latter girl got home and the two met up in the Evans' backyard.
"Please! My neighbor's cat could ace that so-called 'test.'" Petunia scoffed derisively.
Maya's eyebrows rose and she tilted her head in thought, "Well, just by that answer maybe I ought to take the test as well."
Petunia patted her friend's hand, "You should. Not only would it allow you to get an OWL in the subject, it would also show those stuffed shirts that being a Squib is nothing to be ashamed of."
Maya just snorted in amusement at her friend's declaration.
Friday 23 June 1972
Petunia was impatiently dancing on her feet waiting for Lily to come through the portal at King's Cross Station. It was the end of the school year and she couldn't wait to tell her in person what her grades were for the classes she was taking! Finally, the muggleborn students started appearing out of the portal and she spotted her sister's red hair.
"Lily! Lily Evans! Over here!" she yelled out while jumping up and down and waving her hand.
Marigold and Harry rolled their eyes at their eldest daughter's antics and chuckled, "Really Petunia? I think you're just a little bit over excited there."
"Sorry mum."
Lily came bouncing over while pushing her trolley with her trunk on it. She let out a squeal of happiness as she met up with her family. Hugs and kisses were given out by all and Harry took over at pushing the trolley back to the car. Once they were safely underway, Petunia had a triumphant grin grow on her face as she announced her news to her sister.
"Guess what, Lily? I got the results back from my end of year tests!"
Lily turned to her with wide eyes and an expectant look on her face, "So what did you get?"
Petunia grinned, "I got all O's in all of my subjects. I even took the OWL for Muggle Studies. Got an O plus on it too."
Lily squealed in delight and gave her big sister a strong hug, "I knew you could do it especially that stupid Muggle Studies test. Did the examiner say anything? I remember you said you were going to tell them that you didn't even take the class."
"I did tell them and they were rather miffed at the idea but they admitted that perhaps the class could use a bit of an update."
Lily laughed, "A bit of an update? That's like saying grandma was a bit old when she passed away! So what happens now?"
Petunia shrugged, "I have the summer free just like you do though I think I'm going to continue to push through my History of Magic studies so I can get that much closer to taking the OWLs for that. If I work hard enough, I might be able to push the test date up to say just before the Christmas holidays. Oh, and according to the examiner at the DoME, I'm about halfway done with my basic course learning."
"That'd be awesome, Petunia! Wait, what do you mean, halfway done with the basics? Do you mean that you're almost a done with second year?"
Petunia gave a large, smug grin and nodded. Lily's eyes widened and just shook her head slowly in amazement then proceeded to fill her family in on what her test scores for the year were and like her older sister; she too got straight O's in all her subjects.
When they got home; Harry, Marigold and Petunia were able to finally spring their surprise on Lily with the news of their very own floo address. To say Lily was shocked was an understatement. She was utterly speechless for ten seconds then she squeaked as she tried to form coherent words before letting out another yelp of joy. Now she could connect with her magical friends without having to wait through the interminable slowness of the muggle to magical mail system.
"This is great! Now we don't have to get an owl or deal with the hassle of the muggle to magical mail system."
Marigold shrugged, "We may just get an owl anyways seeing as how it's not permissible to contact Hogwarts through the floo."
Later as they were settling down for the night, Lily stopped into Petunia's room to fill her in on the results of the advanced communication idea she had earlier.
"I spoke with the Ancient Runes teacher and she said that there is a method to connect two mirrors together to act as a communication device. She said that the rune work and enchantment to do so is terribly obscure and complicated to replicate. It's also horribly expensive to do so and that she just doesn't have the time to even attempt it because of all her teaching duties and whatnot."
Petunia sighed, "Well, there goes that idea. It was fun while it lasted."
Lily blushed pink, "Not necessarily. I may have let slip the idea to Remus and his friends about the mirror idea. By the sound of it, they have already tried to experiment with the idea."
"How do you know they're working on it?"
"Remus mentioned it one day as we were waiting to get into our Herbology class. He asked me what my need for it was and so I explained to him that it was originally your idea to modernize the way magicals communicated. He laughed and said it figured that you'd come up with something that was too fiendishly tempting for James Potter and his friends to keep away from. He says that Potter is torn between putting his full attention on this or two other projects they have in the works."
"What else are they working on? Do you know?" asked Petunia.
Lily pursed her lips and shook her head, "No idea but whatever it is doesn't bode well for the school. They've already made a name for themselves as pranksters."
Petunia cocked an eyebrow up and smirked, "Sounds like your sort of thing, Lily. Have you pranked them back yet? I remember you having trouble with that Potter boy."
Lily laughed lightly, "I decided that pranking magically has been done before and is rather blasé. To really spice things up, I pranked them using muggle means. I got Potter just last week using a Whoopee cushion under his favorite spot in the Common Room."
Petunia nearly choked on her laughter, "You didn't! What else?"
"Well, let's see…I put itching powder in their underwear. I used a Switching spell to accomplish that. Another time, I spiked the morning pumpkin juice with a color changing potion that would turn their skin different colors based on their body temperature."
Petunia laughed, "You turned them into human thermometers! Epic, Lily. Truly epic! Amazing isn't it? You're a muggleborn and if you were to listen to the drivel spouted by the aristocracy, you shouldn't even be at the school yet you're already performing fourth year spells."
Lily just smirked in response then glanced over at Petunia's 'Mood Flower,' "What's the latest with the publication on your flower there?"
Petunia scrunched up her face a bit, "The journal editor said it wasn't anything that could be published as it wasn't groundbreaking enough. She did recommend that I speak with the publisher of the instruction booklet and send in my results so that other Herbologists could share it that way." She shrugged, "Not a big deal, really. It was mostly just observations and not really something I wanted to be known for."
Over the next couple of months during their summer break Lily and Petunia spent time with their friends, going to the movies, going to the beach or attending concerts. Petunia had the brilliant idea to have Lily show their parents everything she'd learned the previous year at school. To smooth things over with the Ministry, she contacted the office within the DMLE that dealt with underage magic via the Floo Network and informed them that any magic detected at their location was strictly done in full view and supervision of just their parents. (She later received a thank you letter from the Improper Use of Magic office wishing her a pleasant day and heartfelt wish that more muggleborn children would think to inform the office of similar activities before actually doing it!)
"I thought our property was protected by that…what did they call it? A ward?" questioned Harry after Petunia finished with the Floo call, "If that was properly done, why contact them again?"
"It's just in case, daddy. The ward may have come down for one reason or another and we'd have gotten in trouble. Safety first, you know." Petunia replied.
After getting the approval from the Ministry, Lily demonstrated all that she'd learned in her classes. She turned a matchstick into a needle, charmed her pencil case to grow legs and run around on the table, showed them the results of her potion's exams and quizzes and described what she learned in the other classes.
The two girls were having a late night chat about the fact that Petunia was now a 'wand waver' like her younger sister to which Petunia scoffed.
"In all honesty, Lily? I barely use it. I only pull it when I need to practice for a test or when I'm in an emergency. I found out that if I perform any strong spells, I start to feel dizzy and sick. I wrote to Ollivander and described what happened. He said that my magical core wasn't strong enough to handle such a 'load' and would react like that every time. He recommended that I restrict myself to simple household charm levels like causing a spoon to stir a pot or this spell that would allow me to siphon off liquids; that sort of thing. I'm not going to be one of those magical idiots who whip out their wands for the tiniest reason. No foolish wand waving for me, thank you very much."