AN: Ok, so when writing this was suppose to be some short little paragraphs, but as I kept on writing it it got longer and more complicated, that I just made it into its own chapter, and boy am I glad as this is probably my longest chapter inside of this Fanfiction so far. Also the reasoning for why I depicted Lily as the way I did was due to the fact that people aren't all that perfect and Lily's friends have mostly seem only one side of her while Petunia growing up with her as seem more. Also this chapter was to show how Petunia became so bitter to begin with and why she lashed out the way she did, although it was not excuse for her the actions.
Summary: Harry Potter, in one world is reckless golden boy of Gryffindor. In this world Harry, now Harriet is a soft spoken girl, that chooses to fight for her own wants after she is willingly taken away from the Dursleys. Many things will bend to her way, but at the same time the cursed Potter luck will follow, causing unsavory problems as she makes her way through Hogwarts. This is a fem-harry fanfiction where instead of being placed in Gryffindor she is placed into Hufflepuff. Dumbledore bashing, no golden trio (just acquaintance with Ron and Hermione) and mutual friendship with Draco.
'Thinking'
Flashback
Letters/Text
Enjoy~
Chapter 7: Petunia, What a Bitter Flower
Petunia was scrubbing the floor in rigorous furry. It had been only been 3 days after the freak was taken and she was exhausted with all of the cleaning and garden work that she had to do. No matter how hard she worked the house and garden no longer shined and stunned people like it use to.
Stumbling up, Petunia cursed as she bumped into a shelf. Turning to face the shelf, her face paled in horror as she watched her mother's vase fall from the shelf and shatter onto the floor. Dropping everything, Petunia scrambled her way over towards the shattered porcelain, winching in pain as she feels the cut into her skin as she tries to gather up pieces. Sweeping her hands Petunia froze.
Shakley reaching out, Petunia grabbed a folded sheet among the broken china. Carefully she opened the sheet and felt all of her energy leave her. The sheet wasn't some random sheet placed inside of her mother's prized vase, it was a photo. A photo that she had completely forgotten about until now.
Petunia wanted to cry. In the photo it was a picture of her and… Lily, back when everything was perfect, where everyone was happy. Back when they were still sisters. Looking at the picture she could still clearly remember when the photo was taken and why she had hid it in the vase.
The photo was taken back when Petunia was 9 and Lily 6, she had just finished beating up some kids in their neighborhood for bullying a crying Lily. After those kids had ran off, it was then she and Lily had made a promise, a vow to always protect each other and to be by each other's side. Their parents were so worried by their injuries, but at the same time so proud that they had stuck together. She could remember how her mother had slapped her father's shoulder as he took out a camera stating that they had to commemorate the memory. Oh she gave the biggest and goofiest grin that she could manage, so proud of protecting her sister and their promise together, her arm around her smiling, puffy eyed sister.
But that happiness didn't last and not even two years later Lily had meet that Snape boy, that lived at the end of their street. When meeting him it wasn't all that bad, in fact it was actually kinda cool meeting a wizard for the first time, but the day that they had meet him was when Petunia's was in an awful mood. All she wanted to do was forget about her troubles and play with her little sister, but no, he just had to show up that day. Nearing the end of her patients, she finally snapped when he called her sister a witch, that she shouldn't be with muggles. Even though she didn't know what muggle meant she knew that it wasn't that nice of a word so she tried to get them back to their house where it was safe. Where it was away from that strange boy. But Lily didn't want to, she wanted to know more.
Petunia was about to push a bit more on convincing her to go back home when suddenly a branch came falling down on her, and it wasn't a small branch either. She didn't really know what happened next, but all she could remember was dragging Lily back towards their home and then suddenly have to wear a cast because something broke her arm and hit her head.
It was only a week after that incident before Lily told her that was going to meet the boy again. Petunia of course freaked out, and for a good reason as well. She had to wear a cast after meeting that strange boy after all. She tried to stop her by distracting her and, or suddenly needing her help, but it only worked for a short while before she could see and feel her sister begin to drift away.
Petunia could even remember begging Lily not to hang out with that boy, because of all of the looks and whispers she was getting from the neighbors. How her little sister was slowly becoming isolated by the people. She also remember hissing at those very neighbors to leave Lily alone, chasing off any bullies that came her way and even losing some of her own friends. But it didn't matter to her, Petunia knew that she could always make new connections and friends, however she only had one little sister.
Once again Petunia tried stop her sister to tell her why she was doing all of the things that she was doing but it was as if her words were like water on a duck's back. And then, Lily broke their promise. Now she knew that Lily has her own being and that she was free to hang out with whoever she wished to. Petunia knew that she wasn't going to stay the center of Lily's universe for forever, that she knew very well, but that the very least she thought that she would still be a positive part of Lily's life. But their promise was to protect and have each other's backs. So she couldn't believe her ears when she heard Lily betray her.
Petunia gave Lily the benefit of the doubt, but all of the evidence pointed that it wasn't an accident. Every time she tried to talk to her; every time they were in the same room, Lily would just outright ignore her or make up some sort of a crazy excuse and leave the room, or at times just exist the room without a single word. Petunia was internally dying trying to understand why her little sister was acting the way she did, but that didn't stop Petunia from protecting, looking out for Lily.
That were the photo came in.
Even at a young age Petunia knew that she had a temper and would stubbornly hold onto some grudges, so she knew at one point or another, she or Lily would lose their cool and blow up at each other. She didn't know when, but she knew that they were going to be blowing up soon. And when they did, it wasn't going to be pretty.
Just 2 months later, just as she predicted about their temper, they ended up having a having a really big fight that ended with Lilly ripping apart their photo into pieces right in front of her before she stormed off to rip up any more photos that they had together. Clutching the taped up photo, tears spilled down Petunia's cheeks as she remembers how she feel to her knees clutching the scattered ripped pieces to her chest. Tracing her hand over the aged taped connecting the pieces of the photo, Petunia chokes back a sob as she relives the aching tear stained pain she felt as if she had painstakingly puzzled and taped the pieces together. When she had finally finished putting all of the pieces together, instead of placing it into her picture frame where she had it originally placed where it would be safe. Inside of her mother's prized vase. After all, no one dared get too close in fear of accidentally causing it to fall making it the safest place in the house.
After that incident, Petunia didn't even bother trying to talk to her sister anymore, and when she did her words would twist and spewed the pain and hurt within her as poisonous insults such as calling her sister a freak. She never meant any of them. They also no longer shared a room together. Petunia needed time away from her sister and had decided that if Lily wanted nothing to do with her, than so would she. Lucky for her parents had agreed that it was time to have their own rooms.
The first night having her own room Petunia didn't think anything of it but on the second night she realized just how lonely the room was. While the room was slowly filling up with her own items to give it some life, she was so used to the little annoying sounds that Lily would always make in her sleep. it was quiet, too quiet. After a month or two all her anger and pain drained out of her and she instead became numb. Everyday was a routine for her, and it never seemed to change.
It became normal.
And Petunia hated every moment of it.
The crack just keep on fracturing them, and it seemed like Lily's letter for Hogwarts was her final straw. Things never got better between the two sisters, and their parents were no help. As much as Petunia would deny it and say that her parents help fix the problem between the two of them, they did nothing of the sort. To her own opinion, Petunia felt as though her parents had actually pushed the destruction of their little family.
They really were the perfect dollhouse family, so polished and happy, yet so fractured and fake in the inside.
At that point Petunia was 12 years old with Lily being 10 and all she wanted now was just to have her family back. Back when they were all full of smiles and harmless jokes, the picnics and the family bonding time.
The letter did nothing to help with their home situation. Magic, that was something everyone dreams about having one way or another. It was so unfair that her little sister had it and not her, but as much as she was upset or even jealous of her sister, and that even if Lily may have forgotten about their promise, she didn't. So Petunia grabbed some paper and began to write her own letter.
Petunia was rejected. The letter that they sent her had completely and utterly rejected her. It wasn't even a polite rejection letter either. No 'we are sorry but due to situational circumstances within in the magical world and within our school we cannot accept you into our establishment." and all of the regular pleasantries, it was just a blunt "ya, you're a muggle and we only accept the people that somehow entered our magical registration book or something, so you ain't all that important enough for us to really care, but you should be grateful that we're taking our time to actually write a response to you." it absolutely grated on her nerves.
As the days became closer to September 1st, slowly dread began to over power the numb feeling inside of her. She didn't really realize it at first but, the whispers and judgmental looks were no longer targeting her Lily. Instead, now the people of her neighborhood directed their scorn to her. They called her jealous, crazy. That all of the trouble that she created was because Lily was accepted into a high end boarding school, while she had to go to an ordinary public school. That was also the second time Petunia was betrayed by her sister. when she tried to deny that she wasn't crazy or jealous, Lily did absolute did nothing to defend her. she just watched and- if her eyes weren't lying then she gave her a sly smile, before acting all innocent at the back of a crowd. It escalated greatly and by the time it was for Lily to leave the people of their neighborhood would always take the side of her little sister.
The very same people that scorned and bullied Lily.
But she never said anything about it to anyone. She just kept her mouth shut and stayed in the background.
Lily was gone now. She left to go to that awful school. Petunia sighed, even to this day, as much as she may call magic a freakish thing, was, no is something... something that she wants. The ability to practical have everything at the tips of her fingers. To create unimaginable things that could heal, prank and grow. And not to mention the burning questions on magical creatures. Were unicorns, dragons, or mermaids real? Petunia wanted to experience what her little sister did. To see what ordinary people couldn't see.
When Lily came back that summer, she went raving on how wonderful her new school was and all of her new friend some other useless chatter that Petunia she couldn't really remember. She was too distracted the changed she saw in her sister. While it didn't seem like a big change, the change was in Lily's eyes. They may have not changed colours but her eyes, they didn't shine as brightly as they use to. It was as if there was a film placed over them.
She remembers her disappointment during her first summer back watching her sister from the corner of her eye, sighing when she learned that Lily wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school.
Having her little sister back, Petunia asked Lily on one of their better days if she could help with the garden and make some of the flowers bloom like how she use to. But instead of just agreeing like she did last summer, Lily said that it was impossible to do so. She said that she couldn't, that it would be impossible for her as she didn't know the spelling for it.
It was preposterous as before they even knew about that stupid school, Lily was able to make flowers bloom from nothing and make the pain of a scrape wound disappear or heal faster, she didn't even need a wand to do so. Thinking back, Petunia also noticed it was then Lily stopped being so creative, so open minded.
Petunia releases a strangled sob as she remembers when she realized what happened to Lily, what that changed inside of her little sister. She felt anger pour out of very being. What that school did was unforgivable. They killed off a part of her sister. The whole 'you never know until you try it' aspect. The part that made her who she was. It wasn't fair, not it wasn't right of them to do so. Lily while she may have been born outside of the magical world, they had no right to disable her little sister's magic.
Years went on by and Petunia kept a distance between her sister and herself. It seemed to be the right move as slowly the cracks in her family slowly started to mend. It was awkward progress to go through, but her home was slowly began to heal. It also helped that her parents finally took notice of her and stopped all of that insufferable gossips from the neighbors. Life went on and Petunia moved with it, gaining new friends, holding decent grades, and doing other stupid normal high school activities.
Normal.
That's what she became. She became like any other normal high school girl.
Petunia understood why she never took notice of it before Lily and that Snape boy went to Hogwarts. It was mainly because he took Lily away from her along with the strange feeling she had about him. But see could see it now that her sister and the Snape boy was back, both glowing in their own way. Well it actually took her a week after they returned did she somewhat realized what was going on with him.
Seeing him for the first time after his week long absence the bluntest way to describe he was that he looked like a dead man from the grave, it didn't help that he also ate as though it would be his final meal. Petunia understood why she never took notice of it before Lily and that Snape boy went to Hogwarts. It was mainly because he took Lily away from her along with the strange feeling she had about him. But see could see it now that her sister and the Snape boy was back, both glowing in their own way. Well it actually took her a week after they returned did she somewhat realized what was going on with him.
Seeing him for the first time after his week long absence the bluntest way to describe he was that he looked like a dead man from the grave, it didn't help that he also ate as though it would be his final meal, and that the weight loss was dramatically visible. Taking it onto herself, Petunia constantly invited him over to eat with their family for as many meals as she could.
While he may have hid his weight loss well with his baggy clothes that he always wore, he couldn't trick her. After all as being the protective girl she was and the fact that she was the mom friend of her friend group, she would watch the weight of her friends making sure that they wouldn't go too far with their diets and become anorexic, so she knew all of the trick that he tried to play on her. From that it took them a week before they finally managed to acknowledge each other.
Although they weren't the closest, Petunia first started inviting him over for dinner she stating that it would make Lily happy to be with her best friend and so that they could do their school homework. What shocked her when Snape came over to their house was that Lily didn't even notice how he was suffering. Lily, the girl who prided herself on knowing her friends and being there to protect them didn't even realize anything. In fact it seemed like for the first time Petunia saw Lily looked wary of the poor boy. It didn't make any sense, Lily never acted like that when he broke her arm when they first meet.
But Petunia didn't stop inviting him. She had finally figured out during Lily and his summer before their third year at Hogwarts, what the strange feeling was. It was after he had came over their house with bruised arm did she finally connected all of the pieces together and what was going on in his home. When she privately confronted him about it, the look of horrified fear on his face confirmed everything. Before she could even think of going to the police he stopped her in her tracks begging her not to tell anyone going as far as making her vow not to.
Thinking back on it, agreeing to stay silent was probably for the best. Severus would have mostly gone into a worse situation. His father was the only in his household that worked and was the only legal proof he had in the muggle world and in the magical world apparently his mother was disowned so they were penniless there. So if his father was taken away, they would no longer be able to afford the house and Severus would have been taken away due to his mother being unsuited for raising a child if she stayed the empty shell Petunia saw her as. Gone from his home Severus would have gone to the orphanage or a foster care system, a muggle one most likely and from there they wouldn't know about his heritage and… as much as she hated that school Hogwarts, Petunia accepted that it was his escape and to take away from him, to take away his magic it would destroy him.
Her condition with the vow was that for him to practically constantly come over to their house to eat and no, wasn't going to be an answer until her could somewhat support himself. The boy needed it. She was glad when he didn't stop coming even after hearing about the big fight he had with Lily. The meals may have been tense but she could see how grateful he was when he was still accepted into their home. It may have seemed like some strange type of torture for the both of them, but their fight was stupid if you asked her. Like why did it really matter which house you belonged to? And why in what right did it have to determine who they could be friends with. Anyhow most of the fault belonging to their stupid school and her sister for falling for such stupidity.
She had been in her second year of high school when she first meet Vernon. He had absolutely swept her off of her feet with his charm and charisma, but she didn't just fall for him, no she had set up little tests to see if he was worthy of her. After all she wouldn't dare fall in love with a man who didn't give her any sort of respect.
Slowly but surely he passed each and every test, she gave him, and it all started with the simple act of being friends first. In truth, she did sorta, accidentally forget about the whole 'is he worthy of me' thing only to remember when one of her friend brought it back up making her go 'what do you mean, he's my best... friend(?)' she didn't even think that Vernon even noticed her attraction to him, or at least that's what she thought before he surprised her by asking her to be his girlfriend. Smittened, she said yes.
She may have many regrets in her life, but what she will never regret was falling in love with Vernon.
One of her regrets was how he meet her little sister, her 'friends' and magic as a whole. Those friends that she brought weren't civilized at all. They were far from being proper English gentlemen. Hooligan they were, those Marauders as they called themselves. It also didn't help that they chased Severus off the moment they saw him enter their house either. Especially when the two men actually somewhat seem to get along with each other. Another part that sickens her the most was that Lily didn't do anything to help or stand up for Severus. She had to do it because her beloved sister was too preoccupied with something apparently.
Petunia gingerly raised her and touched a faded scar on her jaw line, feeling the phantom pain that came from remembering that day. When Lily did come to 'help' with the commotion, it ended up with her being hit by one of their spells. That was an awful day, and that day was the first time she began to fear magic. She could remember one of the boys moving towards her and how she screamed in fear as she crawled backwards trying to distance herself from those maniacs, before she was rushed to the hospital. Vernon by her side for the whole time, and strangely enough Severus was there as well instead of her own sister.
The time in the hospital was a complete blur but on their way back Severus mentioned that there were potions that could heal the injury without it scaring. Petunia was tempted yet from the trauma of getting hurt by magic made her absolutely reject going for any sort of potions. Her parents also agreed with her and Severus respected their choice.
After that incident Severus never came back to their house. And to be perfectly honest she couldn't blame him from doing so.
Petunia was going to get married. She had been so surprised when Vernon had proposed to her, but then again she still couldn't get over the fact that he had decided to stay with her even after meeting her family in such a way. She cried yes, over and over as he slipped a diamond ring onto her finger. Together they swiftly made the arrangements, both bubbling with excitement as they got everything ready for the wedding, setting up appointments, the booking the spaces, choosing who their maid/man of honor, bridesmaids/groomsmen, along with sending out their handmade Invitations.
Everything was going to be absolutely perfect. Or so she wished. On the day of her wedding Lily, her maid of honor, a position that they promised each other back when they were younger (they even had a childishly drawn contract) never showed up. Ti didn't make any sense as Lily had showed up to all of the practices and the dress picking. They had to awkwardly stand at the altar waiting for Lily to show up so the others could start walking after them. It was only with the signal from her mother that they didn't have to wait too long as they signed for the others to do what they practiced and just skip Lily's parts.
It was embarrassing as much as it was devastated her but she held on, smiling for the people at did show up and the fact that it was still one of her the happiest day of her life. So, other than Lily never showing up, the whole party went without a hitch and some magnificent memories were created that day. Like her father after sending her off into Vernon's arms that he sung her a song (her father practically never sung for anyone even though he had a beautiful voice). Her mother was crying with joy, and some of the bride and groomsmen were getting stupidly drunk while also doing stupid things. And Severus, yes Severus, congratulated the both of them and silently sat in the corner enjoying the rest of the party at his own pace.
It was confirmed. She was pregnant. Hearing the news her heart matched the joy she felt the day Vernon proposed to her. Of course when she announced it to everyone, they were ecstatic for her, congratulating her and showering her with support and baby gifts. But to what people didn't know was that before Dudley, Petunia was pregnant with Dudley's older sister Primrose, and that she nearly had a miscarriage Dudley but with fate on their side she managed to give birth to his as a premature child.
Her miscarriage was occurred when she was 4 months pregnant when her parents suddenly went missing. The sudden loss of her parents made a lot of people panic and she was on the top of that list. The stress was too sudden making her clumsy and frantic and on the third night while waiting for any clues about her parents whereabouts she felt something drop and blood begin to spill.
When her parents did come back they had absolutely no idea where they went and were horrified to learn that during the time they were absent that Petunia miscarriage. Reunited, together they mourned for Primrose and made a grave for her. Eventually they moved on but Petunia, she just couldn't stop thinking about what life would have been like if her darling little primrose had lived.
For Dudley when she was Pregnant with him they were extremely careful about everything. And for the next months everything was going smoothly, but apparently life decided that it was going too smoothly as on her eight month Lily came to visit. While Lily's sudden visit was a surprise, Petunia happily greeted her, until she saw Lily's own baby bump. Concerned when she asked about it, Lily happily told her that it was the work of her husband, shocked Petunia asked what Lily meant by husband and with Lily all bubbly and happy, she told her that she got married after graduating from Hogwarts.
After telling her that Lily then suddenly remembered that she had to go somewhere and vanished in a loud crack leaving her in her shock. Petunia didn't even realize when Vernon had came back home from work, nor did she even realize that she was crying until Vernon had swiped away her tears whispering sweet things in her ear gently prying at her to find what was wrong. She remembered how she blubbered on telling him that her little sister was pregnant and that she was married! She couldn't believe that her little sister didn't even bother to invite her or even let her know that she was getting married, she was in too much of a shock that she didn't even disagree with Vernon when he called her little sister rotten, because it was at that moment that Petunia knew that Lily, wasn't her little sister anymore.
She was a stranger. A vow breaking stranger.
Petunia was absolutely frozen with that realization, but was snapped out of it when Vernon suddenly shook her reminding her of the miscarriage from the last time she was in shock. Before she could even say anything about it, her gut clenched and her face paled. With an eerie calmness she announced that they had to get to the hospital. When hearing her the first time Vernon didn't seem to have registered what she said, but the second time she said it they were off to the hospital.
Giving birth was the hardest things she had ever done, but it wasn't a traditional birth. Dudley had to be cut out of her. She was absolutely terrified when she didn't hear Dudley scream even after they had smacked his bum. She was terrified that Dudley was a stillborn, and her fears never once she later learned that they almost announce him dead had he not cried at the time he did. From then she and Vernon made sure to make sure that Dudley got everything that he needed and more.
Caring for Dudley was a whole new experience of the both of them, but every moment to petunia felt like a blessing to her, for every day she spent with her fragile little baby, she saw how he got stronger and healthier each day. Petunia softly smiled as she remembered going to the pediatrician and having him tell her that one month old Dudley was no longer in his fragile premature state and that he was as healthy as a normal child. They even announced their curiosity over what she did to make him so healthy.
Petunia, wanting to help other mothers under the same situation them exactly what she did to help her precious little baby, but oddly enough it apparently what she did, didn't work for the other infants. It also started to terrify her when the doctors kept on asking for more and more samples from Dudley to figure out what was so different about him and the others, so much so that she cut all ties related to those people and practical stopped visiting all medical practitioners with the exception of the times where they were necessary, like yearly checkups, prescriptions and having to get shots.
Brushing that aside everything else in their life was perfect. Vernon had a stable, well paying job, she was close to finishing her degree, and Dudley was happy healthy. Yes everything was perfect and normal. And it would have stayed like that had Lily not gotten herself killed. Saddling them with their accursed offspring and a target painted onto their back.
The freak of a child was nothing like her mother when they were children, the child's magic flickered and spiked destroying things that they couldn't just replace on a whim. That, while it did upset her, Petunia kept the child because while Lily was a vow breaking scumbag, her daughter was still a Evans, or that's what she told herself up until a week of having that child under their roof. It was absolutely unforgivable what that child did to them. What that child's magic did to them.
Harriet Potter took away their ability to have another child for her own selfish protection.
They couldn't even get rid of her at that point. That awful, madman Dumbledore decided that without telling them, placed something called a blood-ward over their home so that they couldn't get rid of Harriet without having something bad happen to them, nor could they move to another house. Because of that, magic made it impossible for Vernon to get the promotions he wanted and worked so hard for.
Petunia admits that what they did to Harriet was straight up cruel and inhuman, and no matter what excuse they may have, it could never pardon their actions. But at the same time, for the ten years that they had spent with her felt unreal. In truth she couldn't actually remember what happened during those years, just strong sensations of wrongdoing, regret and fear.
Letting the photo down, Petunia snorted at just how similar her life looked like the shattered porcelain pieces. " I really do have a shattered life" she admitted " I really have a crummy, shattered life!" and with that it felt as though a great burden was lifted off of her shoulders and her mind no longer feeling muddled. It felt so relieving and in the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the dustpan. Picking it up, "Perhaps it's time for some change." Petunia said before using it to gather up the broken pieces.
The rest of the day, instead of scrubbing the house down again for the third time Petunia went up to the attic and did something that she thought she would never do. She was moving what was left from her parents and... and Lil... sister. Her Little sister. All of the albums, the heirlooms and even down to the last childish drawings and little trinket went into the trunk that she found. Occasionally getting trapped in nostalgia. She was going to give everything to Harriet, because as much as she loves her beloved Dudleykins, she knew that he wouldn't value the things she was packing.
Magic seems to be surprising her once again as it turns out the truck that she was placing everything side of was Lily's old magical trunk. To think that they had something so magical (other than Harriet herself) so close to them, and look at her now actually using it as well. It was really ironic.
Closing the trunk Petunia looks around the now empty attic and sighed. It was now or never. Lugging the surprisingly light trunk down from the attic and leaving in the living room she then looked at the kitchen clock. It was one in the afternoon. That meant she had spent around three hours in the attic, and that she now had another three before she had to get dinner started for the boys that would come back home at five.
Before Petunia could do anything else, a small tapping noise was heard from the kitchen window. Looking out the kitchen window was once again surprised to see another owl holding a letter. Instead of panicking like she did for the other owls that came to her home, she couldn't help but stare at the owl that moved from the kitchen window to the backyard and meekly pecked at the backyard glass door.
Her mind couldn't help but compare it to the other owls she saw came to her house. It was small, so small in fact probably the smallest owl she has ever seen and she felt so bad for it. It's feathers were ruffled and disarrayed, slightly hunched over itself. It was so unlike the other the larger owls she couldn't help but pity the meek little bird as it timidly pecked at the glass. Slowly she opened the door for it, and It made her heart lerch when she saw it tried to fly it's way over to what she believed it's goal being the back of one of the kitchen chairs.
the key word being tried, as it never made its way over to the chair. it just sat on the floor looking absolutely defeated as it looked mournfully at the back of the chair.
Although she was against touching a magical creature or animal's in general, she couldn't help her urge to gently picked up the little owl and placed it onto the table. Once the owl was on the table, from the corner of her eye understood how fortunate it was that the owl came at the time she did. Opening the letter that the little bird had, she was shocked at the message inside.
Inside instead of another Hogwarts letter all prim and proper, the words written on the letter were sloppily written as though a child had written it. When reading the letter Petunia scoffed at the obscurity and the whole hero worship the child had for Harriet. It was really pathetic and shallow as Petunia had no doubt that even Harriet could see the almighty hero image the child was forcing onto her. In truth after reading the first page Petunia was about to throw it in the trash, but something inside of her told not to and she was glad that she did. That the end of all that hero worshiping, there was one line that apologized saying that they had gone into Lily's house after it was destroyed and like many others began to ransack it, so that they could have something to remember their hero by.
Anger filled her system when Petunia heard that Lily's home was ransacked, but was somewhat subdued when the child that had written the letter was giving back what they took from Lily's house. Frowning, Petunia placed down the letter and moved her attention to a brown parcel that she didn't see before, nudged to her by the little owl. Opening it Petunia gasped in shock. It was a beautiful box.
The box had been very integrity created, and Petunia couldn't even phantom where it came from. Believing that the box was empty Petunia was surprised when a bunch of letter fell from the box and onto the floor. Dropping the box, Petunia also dropped to her knees and began using her arms to gather up the letter that were scattered all along the ground, while grumbling in irritation. Holding the letters in her hands, curiosity piqued her interest and opened one of the letters. Breaking off the wax seal Petunia read the letter and couldn't help but choked back a sob.
Letter after letter, nearly every letter was dedicated to her, filled with happy memories, apologies, regrets and fears. Picking up the box that fell onto the ground, Petunia lifted it above her head and found an inscription written on the bottom, 'My unspoken words -Lily'. This time Petunia allowed her tears to fall from her face. Her little sister, her little sister wasn't gone, she was still there inside of that awful stranger that used her little sister's face, and Lily will live on. It may not be done through her but Lily's memories will live on through these letters and... and her... her little sister's baby, Harriet.
Roughly wiping away her tears, Petunia pack all of the letter back into the wooden box (mildly surprised in the amount of letters that could fit inside of the box, but then again it was magic) feed the little owl, later naming it Nina, and asking it to stay with her until she gave the little owl something to deliver at a later date. Having the owl agree with her, Petunia entered Vernon's unused study, and began to write her story and a letter that was long overdue to an old friend.
Four months, it took her four months to completely write everything down. During those months Petunia practically did nothing but writing, only coming out to go to the bathroom, make food for her family. She even ignored Dudley when he threw a tantrum about wanting cake, and actually punished him when her ripped up one of the pages she was writing. While in the study, Petunia had also moved the trunk in there along with Nina, who was quite the bubbly happy little owl when she wasn't dying in exhaustion and beat up by other owls, always asking for cuddles and trying to help when she can. An example of that would be when she would drop her pen, Nina would swoop down and hand to her.
The first time Nina did that, it made her jump in surprise but she soon got used to it, growing fond of her. However, with the letter all done it was time for her to say goodbye to Nina, and Nina seemed to have known this as well, as she seemed to be taking as much time as she could to get ready. Understanding the reluctance, Petunia gently scooped up Nina and rocked the owlet, telling her that she was welcomed to come back, but also telling her that it would be safer for her to stay with Harriet. That there, there would be a lesser chance that she would get hurt or killed.
Sadly Nina cooed, and got ready. Making a last minute decision, Petunia took out all of the letters that were about and for her and placed them into the wooden box with Harriet's letters. Tapping the necessary pattern left by Lily, Petunia solemnly watched it shrink before placing it next to the other letter pile that she made.
Taking a deep breath, Petunia placed the shrunken trunk into a tied off small drawstring bag, and tied it onto Nina as securely and comfortably as she could before handing the letters, placed in a bigger envelope and tied in a way so that it was more comfortable for Nina to handle. Giving Nina a final hug, Petunia carries her out to the back yard and sends her on her way, ignoring the way how the snow cuts into her as she stands outside until she can no longer see the owl.
Entering her kitchen Petunia moves towards the living room and sits on the couch in silence. Petunia understood that she was a selfish person who wants everything to go her way, but... Perhaps it was time for her to take action once more on the promise that she made with her little sister. It was time for her to stop thinking about what the neighbors would think. She may be a Dursley, but before that she was an Evans.
And as an Evans she will act.