Chapter Thirty-Five

Looking back, it was easy to see that putting James Potter and Vernon Dursley in the same room would end disastrously. Both tended to be the center of attention, though for entirely different reasons. James's joking manner was at odds with Vernon's imperious self-importance. And then there was the matter of magic. James had never known a day without it, and Vernon could never wrap his mind around the idea of magic being real. But I was desperate to have Lily and James with me, so I willfully pushed any and all doubts out of my mind as our dinner date grew closer.

James Flooed over to our house, since he didn't have a car, and I drove the three of us to the restaurant in Greater Whinging. Vernon was waiting, all solicitous concern and a cold kiss to my cheek. He'd already met Lily the day before, so he greeted her with a kiss to the cheek, as well, then turned to James. "You must be Potter," he said, holding his hand out for a handshake.

James grinned, and even I could tell he was barely managing to hold onto his laugh. "That's me, James Potter," he said, quickly shaking the other man's hand. "Nice to meet you, Vernon."

"They should have our table ready," I said quickly, desperately wanting this to go well, but somehow, I knew it wouldn't.

Everything went smoothly as we read the menus and ordered, but it all went pear shaped after that. "So, Potter, what do you plan on studying at university?" Vernon demanded, nearly the second that the waitress left with our orders.

I choked on my water, anxious at his coming answer and suddenly wishing the water was something a bit stronger. Like firewhiskey, maybe. But James answered smoothly, reminding me that he had taken Muggle Studies. "I'm actually not going to go to university after I graduate," he said calmly. "I'm going to be joining the military next fall."

I could tell that Vernon wasn't impressed with that answer, even as I inwardly began to panic for a different reason, now. "And just how do you expect to take care of Lily while in the military?" he asked, a significant look at the emerald sitting on my sister's finger.

James blinked, and he twisted his lips a bit, almost like he couldn't possibly believe he was being asked that question. Lily was a bit shocked, as well, but I was merely resigned. I already knew that Vernon based his views on people on how much money they had. I flagged down a passing waiter and asked for a bottle of red wine. At least that was classy, even if it wouldn't be strong enough for the meal.

While I was ordering the wine, James answered Vernon, a smile twisting his lips that looked anything but happy. "I actually come from a fairly wealthy family," he said, and I almost snorted into my water at the understatement. "We'll be just fine, but thank you for your concern."

"And it's not like I won't be working," Lily added, more of her fiery personality coming out than had the day before, even while being very careful to not say exactly what she would be doing. "I'm not the kind of girl who expects her husband to take care of her."

Even though her words hadn't been aimed at me, they still sliced deep. After all, that's exactly what Vernon was planning on after we married, and with taking care of Mum, I hadn't had a chance to even think about a potential career.

"That's what a husband does," Vernon proclaimed pompously. "He takes care of his family. Petunia will never have to work a day in her life, I'll make sure of that."

"Which is lovely, if that's what she wants," Lily replied, a quick glance my way telling me she didn't understand my silence. "But that's not what I want. I want to make a difference in the world around me."

"The biggest difference a woman can make in the world is raising her children to be productive citizens," Vernon countered, and I suddenly had a vision of the life I could expect with him. At home, with more children than I could count, and absolutely no life of my own. "Surely you understand that. Your mother did that, after all."

"Mum was an art teacher before-"

I couldn't handle the argument that was sure to follow, so I quickly cut Lily off. "Vernon took me to see A Midsummer Night's Dream last week. You would have loved it, Lils. Titania and her fairies had the most gorgeous wings. It reminded me a bit of the ones we had when we were little," I told her, mentally begging her to follow my lead.

She did, after a grudging moment. "I would hope a professional production would have something better than coat hangers bent to vaguely look like wings," she said, eyebrow quirked to a sarcastic angle.

"Of course, they did," Vernon blustered. "I wouldn't take my Petunia to anything less than the absolute best. Petunia deserves the best, of everything. I took her in my new Vauxhall Senator that day. I noticed you arrived with the girls, Potter. What sort of car are you driving these days?"

"I'm not," James said simply, a careless shrug thrown in for good measure.

"You're not?" Vernon seemed to be completely thrown. "How- How can you not drive? How did you get here?"

"Pet drove," James replied. "I don't have a car. I do have a very nice racing broom, though. The newest Shooting Star was just released in January, and Dad got me one for my birthday."

"A racing broom? Are you having a laugh?" Vernon's face slowly grew redder, which I took as a sign to change the subject. Again.

"Vernon, dear, how did it go with that new contractor firm? Were you able to get a contract with them?" I asked. The waiter arrived with the wine as Vernon went off about his success, but I didn't care. I hurriedly poured myself a glass and took a (large) sip.

By the time the food arrived, Lily and James quite evidently did not like Vernon, and it was obvious he didn't like them, either. He took to trying to upstage James at every possible turn, and when James turned it around with references to something magical he didn't understand, he simply got more upset. And with nearly every sentence he said, I took yet another sip of my wine. That was the only way I made it through the meal, to be honest.

"Petunia, darling, I hate to eat and run," Vernon told me when the waitress came to ask if we wanted dessert, "but I do have that meeting first thing in the morning. Will I still see you on Sunday for dinner at Mother's?"

"Of course," I said, smiling more real than I had so far all evening. "Good luck tomorrow."

"I don't need luck," he boasted, pulling out his chequebook. "It's merely a formality at this point. I attended Smeltings with Polkiss, after all, and Smeltings boys stick together."

"Did either of you girls want dessert?" James asked, looking at Vernon rather like he used to at Snape.

"I'm tired," I said quickly, trying to get back home as soon as possible.

"I'm alright," Lily agreed.

The waitress smiled back and left to get the bill. James and Vernon argued over who was going to pay. In the end, Vernon wrote a cheque for our half off the bill, and James slapped a one-hundred pound note into the waitress's shocked hand and told her to keep the change. Vernon brushed an angry kiss to my cheek and stormed out.

Sighing, I dug the keys out of my handbag, which took far longer than needed, since they had somehow fallen to the bottom. I gave them to Lily and told her, "I'm going for a walk. I'll see you at home," and walked out before she had a chance to reply.

I tugged my coat on as I left the restaurant, ignoring the pitying look the waitress shot me as I passed by her. There was a cinema nearby, so I headed toward it like I wanted to see a film. In reality, I'd seen an alley on the near side of it on our way in, and my mind thought of it as a good Apparition point now that I wanted to get away. As I spun on my heel in the dark alleyway, I didn't have a definite destination in mind, but as I opened my eyes, I wasn't surprised to see a small cemetery in Devonshire. The twin headstones called me like a beacon, and I collapsed on top of Gid's grave, letting loose the tears that had been threatening all night.

I lost track of just how long I sobbed, cuddling up to Gid's headstone in some vain attempt at comfort. Everything spilled out, how much I missed him, how little time I had left with Mum, how much I worried about Lily and now James, and Nic and Danae and Lottie and Tina and Sirius and Remus and Peter and the Weasleys and everyone who was involved in this bloody war. I had lost so many already, and I was terrified to see who else this insanity about blood purity would take from me.

I raged at him for leaving me, then begged him to come back to me. Even though I didn't want to, somehow everything with Vernon bubbled to the top, and I confessed just how much even the simplest touch from Vernon made my skin crawl, but the idea of him made Mum so happy. I was losing myself to conform to the ideal of a man I didn't love, but I couldn't do anything about it. The wedding was set for August, and I couldn't get out of it without disappointing Mum, and who knew if she would survive the heartbreak and scandal if I were to break it off?

I finally ran out of tears and just rested against Gid's headstone. "I miss you, every day, my love," I whispered. "It would be so easy to join you." Minutes passed, or hours, I didn't care. I simply sat with the man I adored, letting my fingers play with the new grass, much like I had done with his hair. I could almost pretend it was his hair, but Gid was never that cold. Or silent.

A small pop startled me from my reverie. "Petal, are you here?"

I sat up slowly and looked around. "Sirius? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," he said, hurrying toward me. "Lily and Prongs have been frantic. It's been hours since they got back to your house."

"Oh, sorry," I said, unable to summon any concern. "I didn't mean to worry them."

He knelt next to me, taking my hand apprehensively, before swearing. "Bloody hell, Petal, you're freezing!" Nearly before I could blink, Sirius had his coat off and around me. He conjured some bluebell flames for me, then pulled me into his arms. "How long have you been here, Petal?" he asked me, trying to chafe my arms even through the two coats.

"I don't know," I mumbled, sinking into his embrace. "Since I left the restaurant."

"You've been here for five hours? It's April, Petal. You'll make yourself ill," he scolded, though his chafing grew more frenetic. "You had us all worried some Death Eater had gotten you."

That sank in a bit, bringing a stab of shame. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't-" I bit off the whisper before it could turn into a whimper.

"It's alright, love," he murmured, hugging me tighter. "You're safe. I'm here, and you're safe. Though, we probably should go back to your home, let everyone know you're alright."

"If you can conjure a Patronus, I can help you send a message to them," I replied, not wanting to go home just yet.

"Can't you-" he started, then shook himself. "Alright, how do I do it?"

I walked him through the steps Dumbledore had taught me at my first Order of the Phoenix meeting, then watched as his giant dog took off in the direction of Surrey. Once his wand was back in his pocket, he wrapped his arms around me again. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, still rubbing my arms and back to try to warm me.

"Lily and James hate my fiancé, who also seems to despise them," I said, shrugging against the arm around me. "What else is there to say?"

Sirius sighed and pulled me closer. "You don't have to say anything, Petal. I'm here for you." And he simply sat with me for another hour or more. We didn't really talk, we just sat there on Gid's grave, and he kept me company. It was the most at ease I'd felt in nearly a year.

AN: I really hate Vernon, in case anyone was wondering :) And yes, he is a necessary evil to help Petunia grow, even though it breaks my heart for her. But she's gonna be so strong after him, and I can't wait for that! I sort of wish I could just skip ahead to that part, but we do need to see it, so bear with me through it. Thanks for reading, and a big thanks to SapphireSkys001, ej-83, Devereaux13, and guests for your lovely reviews. They make me so happy! And Sapphire, don't worry. There will be plenty more moments with Sirius, since he is my all-time favorite literary character. Lots of Sirius in the future!