Coming Back to You

SeverusxLily

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Coming Back to You

Chapter 26: Petunia's Response

Petunia was in her garden tending to her flowers in order to keep her mind occupied, but it wasn't working. She couldn't help but think about Sirius and his confession of…strong like for her. The wizard hadn't made any indication that he wanted to talk to her more about it, but then again, she always moved away from the topic whenever she herself tried to bring it up. But that didn't mean she didn't think about her own feelings in regard to Sirius in her own time.

Sirius was…something else. Not just because he was a wizard and she was a Muggle. No, it had nothing to do with that. Sirius was so charming and considerate; he was almost like the dashing and daring princes and heroes in her romance novels. The only difference was that he was a bit hardheaded and had a slight bit of a childish nature, or great depending on how one looked at it. And she couldn't deny that he made her heart beat faster just at the sight of him. It made her feel like a teenager again. But she didn't think she was ready to open her heart to another man, especially after the way she was so carelessly tossed aside by Vernon. She knew in her heart that Sirius wasn't anything like that portly excuse she called an ex-husband, but she was afraid of getting hurt again.

If there was any one lesson that her mother taught her growing up, it was to listen to and follow her own heart. Petunia had been told plenty of times that she thought too much and missed out on many opportunities because she over thought. She wondered if this was going to be one of those opportunities. Was she going to let a possible good thing get away because of her fears? It would seem ridiculous if she did, and wonderful if she didn't. But how much did she herself really like Sirius? She knew she did like him, but did she care for him the way he did for her?

Sighing she finished tending to her flowers before whistling to her miniature Antipodean Opaleye Twinkle to follow her inside the house where he rested on a leaf snapping at dragonflies that hovered nearby. Twinkle flew over to her shoulder and landed on it, nuzzling her ear in comfort as he could sense her inner conflict. Petunia wondered if all magical creatures, animal or human, could sense another's distress. As she walked inside, she found Sirius sitting and reading one of her many books on the sofa, an intent look on his face as his grey eyes glided over the pages, taking in every word. Before she realized it, a blush had risen in her cheeks, causing her to quickly turn her head and head up the stairs, not at all noticing Sirius' eyes following her in concern.

Blue eyes popped open later that night for the umpteenth time, an aggravated sigh passing through pink lips. Petunia sat up in bed and ran her hands through her blonde hair, frustrated that she couldn't go to sleep. And the reason she couldn't was because her mind wouldn't settle.

All that was on her mind was Sirius and her possible feelings for him. The blonde woman couldn't get the man off of her mind. And furthermore, he had made a place for himself in her heart, a place where she had always told herself that only a man that she truly loved would dwell. Petunia had thought that man was Vernon, but now…now it seemed that it was the wizard that was just down the hall.

Petunia didn't know if she should be opening her heart to Sirius, but it wouldn't do her any good to just sit around and avoid the topic. Especially so when she knew that Sirius was expecting a response, though he didn't say so. But could she really do it? She wouldn't know unless she tried, and there was no better time than the present, even if it was just a quarter after midnight.

Throwing the covers off of her, Petunia slipped her feet into her slippers and grabbed her robe, putting it on and tying it before heading towards her bedroom door. Opening the door she quietly stepped out into the hallway, silently making her way towards Sirius' room. Reaching the door, she took a few deep breaths before raising her fist and lightly knocking on the wood with her knuckles, holding her breath as she waited for the room's occupant to answer.

Sirius was perched on the edge of the bed, shirtless and in his jeans, and his hair in a low ponytail. He had his wand in his hand and he was conjuring roses, making each petal fall one by one as he silently said to himself, "She loves me, she loves me not." And each time the final answer would change from 'she loves me' to 'she loves me not'. As a result of his activities, a pile of rose petals had built up in the floor.

Just as he picked the last petal from the rose he currently had, its answer 'she loves me', he heard a light knock on the door. Vanishing the petals and stems, Sirius placed his wand on the nightstand before standing and walking over to the door. Opening it he was a bit surprised to see Petunia, especially so late at night.

"Petunia," Sirius said. "Is there something you needed?"

"I would like to talk, if that's alright," Petunia answered, her eyes averting themselves from the man's naked chest.

The dark haired man nodded and allowed the blonde woman to enter, where she sat down on his bed and looked down into her lap. Sirius sat down next to her and asked, "So what did you want to talk about?"

Petunia seemed to hesitate for a moment before she said, "I wanted to talk to you about what you told me, about your confession."

"Oh," Sirius said, his eyes widening a bit.

Nodding Petunia said, "After you told me that you were more or less in love with me, I was completely shocked. I didn't know what to do or how to respond or react. I felt as if I had had the breath completely taken from my lungs. And as a result I avoided the topic with you and ended up avoiding you completely. I'm really sorry for that, by the way."

"No, it's fine. I admit, I did spring that on you suddenly, though I did plan it out."

"But still, it was wrong of me. I shouldn't have let it become awkward between us. However, I did have a chance to think about your feelings and my own in regards to you. As a result I figured out a few things." Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I realized that I do indeed return your feelings, Sirius. I have come to the conclusion that I may be more or less in love with you as well, if not then I really strongly like you. It made me realize that I wouldn't mind being in a relationship with you, regardless of the fact that I'm a Muggle and you are a Pureblood wizard from a prejudice family. Not to mention I'm three years your senior, though age means hardly anything these days. The only thing I'm really afraid of is being hurt again, and I'm afraid that you will hurt me. But I do want to be with you. It took a lot of thinking on my part to come to that conclusion, but it's true."

Sirius didn't know what to say; he was speechless. This woman, this amazing, beautiful woman, returned his feelings, despite the fact she still had reservations. He felt like he could fly a broomstick around the world, to the moon, and back. Of course he understood her insecurities considering what that tub of lard did to her, but he wouldn't do that and he would strangle any man that dared tried.

Gently taking Petunia's hands in his Sirius coaxed the older woman to look at him instead of in her lap. Grey eyes stared into blue as he softly replied, "I'm happy that you feel the same way that I do, Petunia. In fact, I couldn't be happier and I honestly want nothing more than to kiss you right now. However I won't because I don't want to pressure you. But I would be pleased if you decided to be my girlfriend right now. Like I said, I won't push you into making decision just based off of my own; I want you to go at your own pace and I will walk with you along the way. And I can't promise that I won't hurt you, because everyone gets hurt in a relationship, sometimes over the stupidest things. But I can promise you that I won't hurt you the way that good for nothing bastard did. I will forever remain faithful to you, if you'll have me."

Petunia didn't know what to say, but she did feel her eyes fill with tears, some of which spilt over and were caught by the younger man's thumb as he wiped them away. Looking up at Sirius Petunia couldn't help but stare at the handsome man in front of her, the man that had grown into himself, that was so confident and carefree while also being caring and considerate of her, the man that she had fallen for when she thought she wouldn't fall for anyone ever again. Before she knew it she had leant up and pressed her lips lightly against Sirius' own, her eyes closing slowly as she did so. Sirius was surprised that Petunia had kissed him but welcomed it, returning her kiss sweetly before pulling away.

Smiling down at her he said, "We can talk more about this tomorrow if you'd like, though I'm already happy with your response."

Blushing Petunia nodded before standing, bidding Sirius 'goodnight' before leaving and heading back to her own room. As soon as she shut the door behind her, a wide smile spread across the blonde's face as she took her robe off. Walking over to her bed she took off her slippers and got back in, pulling the covers up to her chin as she snuggled into her pillow. And finally Petunia was able to drift off to sleep, her dreams full of Sirius as he flew with her on a broomstick into the night sky.

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is short. Summer school work is piling up faster than I can do it and its taking time from me writing. But regardless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter with Sirius and Petunia. Next chapter, Death Eaters will close in on Lily and Harry. Love, SehunsBae37.