Chapter 3 Forsaken

For the past few weeks Lily had noticed that Petunia had been acting rather...odd. Whenever the two would be in the same room along with their parents, Petunia would get this look in her eyes that made Lily feel ill at ease. It was almost as though she was hiding something. And if she was, then Petunia was just holding it over Lily's head. Though Lily didn't know what secret could keep Petunia tight lip for such a period.

On the other hand their relationship had improved somewhat since the day Petunia ran off. They were now able to have a civil conversation for a few minutes at a time and Petunia had even expressed her joy in Lily's and Richard's relationship. Lily was ever thankful that her sister had gotten over her initial jealousy and was now supporting the younger Evans daughter. Though Lily found herself confused by her emotions when it came to Petunia. A side of Lily felt that she should tread with caution around Petunia but the other more louder side was ecstatic that they were mending their relationship. Lily had thought it was beyond repair when she saw the look of loathing and betrayal etched on Petunia's face. It looked like a walk in the woods made Petunia reflect on her life.

Speaking of which, currently the two were having lunch in an elegant restaurant near the coast. Petunia was gushing excitingly over her brief encounter with the Dursley Heir. "I bet he's sensitive at heart." Petunia spoke happily. "I can't wait for him to see me in the new dress at the Ball!"

"You'll look real lovely in the dress. I'm sure he will be quite taken with you." Lily replied. "Petunia, I need some advice." Lily started fidgeting in her seat. Petunia gave Lily a look and the auburn haired girl stopped all twitching in her seat. Continuing, Lily spoke tentatively "Richard wants me to meet his parents tomorrow night. Apparently he spoke about me often to them and they have been asking to meet me. I've never had to do this before, what if they don't like me?"

"Do not worry, I'm sure they'll find you refreshing." Petunia placated while she snidely thought. Because everyone loves perfect Lily Evans.

"Refreshing? Uh thanks...I think." Lily sounded unsure. Though the two were now considerably closer there were still times where Petunia was standoffish. And her advice was not always helpful and left the young girl confused. But Petunia gave a proud grin and Lily supposed she meant well.

"How are you and Richard doing then?" Petunia asked

Lily blushed and tried valiantly to hide behind her cup of tea. Petunia didn't allow Lily to get away with such actions however. The tea cup now from her grasp, Lily looked up meekly to an amused grin from Petunia. "He's wonderful." Lily finally admitted. "Very charming, a true gentleman. We have much in common, he even shares my passion for reading! And he has been telling me about his travels all over Europe. You should hear what he has to say about the Mediterranean Sea, I would love to visit there one day...I find myself falling for him hard. Is that strange? I've only known him for a few weeks."

"I don't find it strange. I am just happy you finally decided to find someone suitable. Mother and I were worry you would become an old spinster. Has he invited you to attend the Solstice Ball next week?"

"A few days ago. I don't know why I'm so nervous, Richard is kind and polite...and handsome. He's not like any other man I've met." Lily gushed

"Well he's seen your oddities and still finds you captivating, I would say you've gotten lucky that he is still around." Petunia spoke offhandedly.

Lily's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. "Petunia, I am sick and tired off all the jibes and insults you spew at me. I thought we were finally getting past all of this petting fighting. I thought I would have my sister back, but you haven't really changed." Lily realized "You're only acting nice for the sake of our parents. You're jealous, you've always been jealous of me. And now you resent me for something that is out of my control!" she nearly yelled. Lily was not one to create a scene, that was Petunia's specialty and she would hate to intrude anymore on her sister. "It is not my fault that the man you fancied, takes interest me. It is not my fault that you were no longer interested in Richard until you saw him speaking to me!

"You need to get over this petty jealousy and act like a grown woman, Petunia. I don't think we can mend our relationship until you get over whatever problems you have of me."

Petunia looked affronted, then deep fury settled over her face, and finally, to Lily's dismay, hate. "You think you're so special, don't you?" Petunia whispered heatedly "You act like this innocent, naive little girl that feels entitled to the whole world. You want everyone to see this perfect little angel that can do no wrong. But I know better.

"You think I'm jealous of you?" she scoffed "Why would I be jealous when you are nothing but a freak?" Lily's eyes began to burn, she refused to let tears form in front of Petunia. She did not want to give the other Evans the satisfaction that her words cut deeply into her heart.

"What is wrong with you? What have I ever done to you, to deserve such hatred?" Lily stood up from her chair abruptly and without another word left the table and the restaurant altogether. Her tears spilled rapidly from her eyes and down her cheeks. Lily was such an idiot thinking that Petunia had finally change for the better, that their relationship could finally be what it once was when they were children. But it was all a lie! Petunia had only pretended to be nice, and not well Lily might add, and for what? So that she could be looked as a fool in her sister's eyes?

Was Petunia's sole purpose was to make Lily as miserable as possible? Why couldn't she for once be happy with what she had, or happy for Lily? Lily and her sister were born lucky, they lived in a life of luxury. Even though Lily always felt as though she did not belong and fit in with the other girls, she did not pretend to not notice that everyone was not as privileged as she. Lily had seen poor, the looks on their faces. Lily would sometimes feel guilty as she looked at the poor with pity; she did not wish to be part of that life. Lily was grateful for all that she had, why wasn't Petunia? Lily felt as though Petunia would never be truly happy unless Lily was no longer part of her life. If Petunia truly felt that way, then the two had nothing more to say. As much as it hurt Lily, it hurt her more to hear the spiteful and hateful things from Petunia. "Mother will just have to come to terms that we'll never have the same relationship we did as children. " Lily muttered

A sudden chill ran down Lily's spine. She felt as though she was being watched by something...dangerous. Lily turned around frantically but did not find the source of her discomfort. Maybe I'm just too stressed at the moment. Lily thought. Nevertheless, her pace did quicken. She was unaware of the lone figure hidden in the shadows, watching her hungrily.

Petunia felt quite pleased with herself. After all these years of holding her tongue, she had finally knocked Lily down off of her white horse. It was surely justified, and Petunia found it not her fault that Lily couldn't handle the cold hard truth. She really was a selfish little girl that had always wronged Petunia. Petunia was simply just returning the favor. The blonde woman took another sip of her tea and placed it down on a scrubbed table. It was then that Petunia noticed she was no longer at the restaurant. She was in the Black Witch's cabin.

"So, proud of yourself?" Madam Black sat across from Petunia. She did not look pleased. Petunia could feel the cold anger rolling off the witch, encompassing her form. Her body started to wrack with shivers. The atmosphere had certainly changed. Whereas before the cabin was bathed in a warm orange light from the fire and candles, it now felt cold, oppressive. The flames placed about the cabin were now a cold cobalt blue. "I ask you to do a simple task, get the girl to drink the potion." Madam Black spoke sternly. "You couldn't have hold your tongue any longer? That girl no longer trusts you! The Solstice is coming ever closer, Petunia, we have a contract."

"I am aware." Petunia spoke meekly. She couldn't very well mouth off her frustration to the woman, she had no inclination of becoming a toad. "My sister is a lot of things, but she isn't that daft. How am I suppose to convince her to drink such a strange concoction? It cannot pass as tea!"

"When have I ever said she needed convincing?"

"W-what?" Petunia asked confusingly. "Wasn't the point of this whole debacle was so that my sister would drink this?" Petunia held up the blue-green potion up to their level.

"I said get her to drink it, I never said she had to be convinced or persuaded. You want your happily ever after as badly as I think you do, then you will fight for it. You have the advantage that I do not possess, you live with the girl. You force her to drink the potion while she is at her most vulnerable!"

"You expect me to behave like an unkempt sailor?" Petunia said aghast. "I will not stoop to manhandling, that is beneath me."

"And betraying your sister to a witch, never to be seen again is no problem to you." the witch said sardonically. "Listen, and listen well. Unless you want to die a horrible death, you will do any means necessary to get the girl to drink that." Madam Black pointed out.

Petunia was silent for a few moments. She felt a question gnawing at the back of her thoughts. Something didn't necessarily add up. "I will uphold my end of the bargain...but you're a witch, my sister isn't, why can't you grab her and whisk her here like you do to me?"

"...Your sister is not an ordinary girl. You would think she would be a freak. I will not tell you my plans, but I will tell you this, your sister is or was a witch."

"...I do not believe you." Petunia denied. It was not possible, no one in her family practiced witchcraft. No one had the ability. Even if Lily was a freak, she wasn't that freakish.

"Deny it all you want. Your sister was a witch. One of your ancestors had the gift of magic and now generations later it had reappeared in your sister...I have watched over your family for some time Petunia. I detected magic deep in her. But someone, and I don't know who, had locked her magic and placed a protection about the girl. I cannot touch her, that is why I need your assistance. And that is why you will feed her the potion. Once she drinks it, the protection is broken, and I will have her. You will not fail me Petunia. I have waited long enough, I want the girl tonight." the woman ordered. "Do you understand?"

"Y-yes...I do." Petunia shivered. She was uncomfortable being under those cold eyes, they were a warning. Petunia was starting to have second thoughts of this whole thing. She hated her sister yes, but Petunia was uncomfortable dealing with witchcraft, especially by a woman on the edge of insanity.

"Good. Don't fail me Petunia, everything you ever desire is so close. Do you want to throw all of that away for a ghastly death?"

Once more the young woman was reminded of all that would be entitled to her should she hand Lily over. Beauty, a husband, children, the only heiress of the Evans family. All her wishes were right there, so close and yet so far; Lily stood in the way of all her happiness. And like all obstacles, Lily needed to be removed. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "I won't fail you Madam Black." she opened her eyes to find herself once more in the restaurant, in the same seat. No one had noticed that Petunia had disappeared only to reappear from thin air. The woman was starting to become annoyed with that little trick of Madam Black's. The Evans Heiress finished the rest of her tea, placed some bills on top of the table and left.

The shadows that came with nighttime fell upon the grandeur house. All its residents were fast asleep. The servants and maids had only just retired into their rooms and all was quiet throughout. It was then Petunia deemed it safe to make her move. The afternoon had proved to be rather stressful. Her parents and even the help, had noticed the oncoming tension brewing between the two sisters. Their mother had tried multiple times to get either sister to talk to one another or explain what had happen. Both were silent. It was the first time Petunia had seen such fury in Lily's emerald eyes. And it only angered Petunia more, what right did Lily had to be angry when Petunia told the truth? And then to find out that Lily was even more of a freak, a witch with no powers! Oh if Petunia wasn't in league with a witch right now, she would have already told the townspeople and there would have been a witch burning come night fall.

As it is, Lily was already getting her comeuppance. There would be no need to call on the townsmen. Petunia had crept out her room, in a white nightgown, and treaded carefully down the hall. She was shaking with nerves and nearly dropped the vial more than a few times. It was with Madam Black's warning that made Petunia hold the vial tightly in both hands. She couldn't believe it, in just a few minutes Lily would be gone from her life; permanently. Lily will be wiped from her and her parent's memory, and the Evans name will be saved.

Petunia now stood at the front of Lily's closed door and breathed deeply. I can do this...I have to. she thought. Petunia ignored the small feeling of guilt, there was no reason to feel such a thing. Lily was only getting what she deserved. Petunia shook clear of all thoughts and slowly opened the door. The room was simple in decoration, light wood furniture and a queen sized canopy bed in the center of the room. And there was Lily resting peacefully on her side facing the door.

The elder sister crept into the room and closed the door behind her. It would have to be done quickly and quietly, her parents cannot know what is transpiring in this room. Her happiness depended on this moment. Petunia ran quickly across the room and jumped onto Lily's bed. Lily woke with a fright and before she could even scream, Petunia sat on her chest; making it hard to breath let alone speak. "Get...off!" she wheezed. Lily continued to struggle but couldn't shake off Petunia Has she always been this strong? Lily thought. Lily looked vehemently at her sister and froze. "Petunia..."

"You know, you had this coming for a long time. It has always been Lily this, Lily that. I know what you really are and I will not let you destroy the family name."

"...crazy...Petunia...please!" Lily gasped, her chest ached, her breathing labored. Fear had actually start to creep upon her, the look in Petunia's eyes...she was mad, insane perhaps.

"No! I will not listen to any pathetic pleas. You have always talked your way out of any punishment you had coming." Lily was panicking now and was starting to hyperventilate. Petunia and Lily had a bad relationship, but she never thought that Petunia would one day come to kill her. With a mad grin on her face, Petunia uncorked the vial and stared down at Lily.

There was something off about Petunia, it was as though she was no longer the same person. It was the same look she had seen randomly the past few weeks and had only foolishly brushed it off. Only now she had seen her error. Petunia held the vial to Lily's lips, and clasped her nostrils shut. Lily refused to open her mouth and drink whatever it was that Petunia hold in her hand. She started to fight Petunia with more passion this time, she had to get away from her. Something was wrong, something wasn't right with her sister, her anger toward Lily had festered into something more lethal. Spots began to dance in her vision, her lungs felt as though they were on fire. She couldn't give in, she wouldn't dare give. Lily kept fighting, resisting, but Petunia was stronger. Lily had never known Petunia had such strength.

Her vision was becoming fuzzy, her head spinning, and everything sounded far away to her ears. She was beginning to lose conscious and against her will, Lily gasped in mouthfuls of air; coughing furiously, and eyes watering. Thick and foul substance poured into her mouth and her jaw was clamped shut before she could even spit it out. Lily was in the same predicament as before, no way to breath, and furiously fighting off her sister. "Stop fighting and swallow the potion." Petunia hissed. Potion? As in witchcraft? Dear god, what has Petunia gotten herself into?

Petunia held onto Lily's jaw and nose until the auburn girl had no choice other than swallow the vile substance. Lily gagged at the foul taste and was finally able to breathe normally when Petunia got off her chest. She sat back at the edge of the bed and watched Lily warily. Lily stared fearfully at her sister and then at the door. The way Petunia was looking at Lily was like a predator watching its prey.

Lily began to feel sluggish, disoriented. She felt hot, too hot. Her forehead broke out in clammy sweat, and she was suddenly seeing doubles of everything. Her vision was becoming hazy "What have you done to me?" Lily asked in horror. She feebly tried crawling off her bed to the door. She didn't know what Petunia had done to her, but she knew she needed a doctor. Something was wrong with her and Petunia was also affected. She had to have been, she had messed with witchcraft! But it was futile Lily had lost consciousness and fell off the edge of her bed.

Petunia stared uncaringly at Lily's sprawled figure. She looked with mild fascination as a white aura suddenly appeared around Lily before it flickered. Finally the light faded into nothing. "Well done Petunia." Petunia jumped in fright. She would never get used to that. Madam Black appeared from the shadows and surveyed over the prone form of Lily Evans. "Well done indeed." She bent over the unconscious Evans and gently stroked her auburn hair. "I can touch her now." Madam Black smiled nefariously. She stood upright and faced the woman sitting on the bed. "You've held your end of the deal, and now so will I." Petunia smiled in relief, her life was finally going to be as she always dreamed about. Madam Black walked up to blonde woman. She pressed a cool thumb to the center of Petunia's forehead. "Just relax, and breathe deeply." Petunia did just as instructed, but she was eager for a new life. "Have a happily ever after, Petunia." A shock went through Petunia's body, the pain was only a split second and everything went blank.

Lily was slowly but surely regaining consciousness. Though she was awaking, her body still felt drained and feeble. It wasn't the best of sleep she had ever had. She felt an aching pain in her chest. Not to mention the most strangest dream she had had. Petunia had been slightly possessed by witchcraft, jump onto her bed, pinned her down of all things, and forced fed her some concoction that made her feel clammy and hot. Coincidentally Lily still felt as though her head was swimming.

As much as Lily tried to calm herself down, she couldn't help but feel some things were different. The bed beneath her was not as soft as usual. She was not underneath any comforters and were she in shackles? Tired and bleary eyes snapped open in alarm and she quickly took notice of her surroundings.

Lily was in a cabin, that much she was certain. She was chained to a small bed laying on worn wool. There was a cauldron burbling over a roaring fire, various candles lighting the house; there were no windows. Jars of unknown objects in colored water filled the shelves, there was an old table, a tall object underneath a brown tarp. Lily's eyes then rested on a thick book sitting on a podium. The very air itself made Lily feel on edge. It was something Lily couldn't put to words...foreboding perhaps...alive, the air felt alive. I'm going insane. I have to get out of here not pondering over how to describe the air. Lily chastised herself.

A door to the left of the bed opened and in walked a tall woman that looked as though she belonged in the same social class as Lily. Piercing blue-gray eyes peered down to emerald eyes. It felt as though her eyes were tearing straight through Lily's soul. This woman was not normal, Lily could tell immediately. The very air around her felt cold. Lily knew she was in a perilous situation the moment the woman smiled malevolently down on her. "Hello Lily Evans, my name is Elladora. And you my dear, are mine."