Chapter Thirty-Seven

That summer, for the first time in my life, I often found myself incredibly jealous of my little sister. Not only did she have a fiancé who worshipped the ground she walked on, but her future in-laws also adored her. Mrs. Potter made sure that Lily's wedding was exactly what she wanted, whereas Vernon's mother was doing everything she could to ensure mine was exactly what she wanted it to be, down to me wearing her old dress, which was hideous and huge, and her gaudy sapphire necklace that weighed a tonne. But I tried to be happy for Lily, even as I clasped the pearls around her neck, the pearls I'd dreamt of wearing for my wedding my entire life. "I want these back, you know," I teased her.

"Of course, Tuney," she grinned, looking so happy and beautiful it made my heart ache. "And you can wear them in a month, whether the old cow wants you to or not."

"Lily," Mum scolded, wiping away happy tears while ensconced on the fluffy bed behind us. We had spent the night at the Potter's house, and the three of us had slept in the same big bed, just like we'd done when we were little girls. Well, without Daddy, and that thought sent another pang through my heart. "Be nice to Vernon's mother."

"I will if she's nice to Tuney," Lils mumbled, but still loud enough for me to hear. I kissed her cheek and fluffed her hair one more time in response.

"I just want to know," I began, teasing her to lighten my own heart, "just exactly how you managed to land one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world."

"It was my sharp tongue that won him over," she joked back. "And my right hook sealed the deal."

"Love at first sight," Sirius added, popping into the room and startling us all. He grinned unrepentantly at our squawks of outrage. "I was sent to make sure you're all ready, and sweet Merlin, you Evans ladies are beautiful! Even more so than usual, I mean."

Lily rolled her eyes, while Mum and I laughed. We were all used to his kind flattery, after the whole summer of it. "I think we are ready, Sirius," Mum said, slowly extricating herself from her nest of blankets.

I hurried over to help her, only to be beaten by Sirius. He kindly and carefully lifted her out, making sure she was steady before letting go of one of her hands. When she started to thank him, he merely waved her off. "It's my duty as best man to make sure the mother of the bride is comfortable and relaxed," he retorted cheekily. We all laughed, and he escorted us downstairs.

The wedding took place in the Potters' garden, and it was beautifully perfect, even down to the weather. James looked suitably awed, literally gaping at Lily as she walked with Nic down the aisle. He rather looked like he had when he'd taken a bludger to the stomach and been completely winded. It was adorable, and everything I wanted for myself, and there was no way I would get it. Not with Vernon's mother involved. Or Vernon, to be honest.

During the first dance, I couldn't keep the envious feelings at bay. After all, the besotted look still graced James's face, and even when he had been talking with someone else, he couldn't keep his eyes off Lily. And now, while they were wrapped up in each other, Lily looked rapturous. She all but glowed in her happiness.

"So, I probably was told before," Sirius said, suddenly popping up at my elbow and settling into the empty chair next to me, "but where is Virgil? Shouldn't he be here?"

Should be, but I'm enjoying it so much more with him not being here, I thought to myself, then snorted. Enjoying may have been a bit too strong of a word. "Vernon couldn't get it off work, not with our wedding so close," I told him.

He hummed noncommittally, but not sounding convinced. To be honest, I wasn't convinced myself, but I couldn't say anything. "Well, Petal, you're looking far too beautiful to be sitting the dance out. Would you do me the honour?"

He held his hand out to me, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I agreed hesitantly, allowing him to pull me to my feet. And then I didn't sit for the next two hours. Peter and Remus stood up with me often, and Nic claimed several dances, and even James found the time to dance with me a few times. But every other song was claimed by Sirius, and that man never ran out of energy, it seemed.

"I desperately need something to drink," I gaspingly laughed, staving off yet another dance with him. He'd been throwing me around to "You're the One That I Want", and I needed to catch my breath.

Sirius just laughed and led me to a table, after snagging a bottle of butter beer for us. "You really don't have to keep me company all night, Sirius," I began as we sat, feeling a bit like a charity case.

But he didn't let me finish. "There is no one here that I would rather spend time with, Petal," he said, utter sincerity in his voice and eyes. Only for it to be replaced by that teasing twinkle when he continued. "And besides, isn't it the duty of the best man to make sure the maid of honour is happy at the wedding?"

I laughed, just like he'd intended, but I did feel much better after that. And I couldn't help but feel grateful that Vernon wasn't there, because there was no way I would have enjoyed myself that much if he had been. Instead, I danced with Sirius more, and chatted with my friends who all came, and generally tried to forget that I was engaged to a man I loathed. It also had the added benefit of helping me to ignore the war waging unseen, one I was doing my best to forget even existed.

…

The next month passed in nothing more than an anxiety-riddled blur, and before I knew it, Lily was settling my veil onto my hair. "Are you sure you want to do this, Tuney?" she whispered, giving me a hard, deep look. "Because if you don't want to, James and Sirius could have you out of here in seconds, and I'm sure between Nic, Remus and me, we could do a rather good Obliviate on everyone here. No Muggles would ever remember that there was supposed to be a wedding today."

Mum sniffled on the bed, pulling me out of the serious contemplation Lily's words had sent me to. "I'm sure, Lils," I said, faking a bright smile. "This is what I want."

She didn't seem to believe me, but she let it go, anyway, defiantly wrapping the pearls around my wrist as a sort of bracelet.

This wasn't the first time she had offered something like this. She'd been doing it all summer long, even going so far as to try to throw James's friends at me, Sirius in particular, in the hopes that I would change my mind. But I knew it would kill Mum, possibly literally, and I couldn't do that to her. And I could make myself happy, I just knew it. It might take some time, but I could do it.

The drive to the chapel seemed nothing more than a blink, and then the aisle stretching in front of me went on forever. Nic squeezed my arm, bringing me back to the present. "You don't have to do this, Pet," he said lowly, ready to whisk me off at the slightest hint from me.

I forced the smile back to my lips. "Don't be silly," I told him. "I'm doing this."

He sighed, but walked me down the aisle regardless. He glowered as he put my hand in Vernon's, but Vernon glared back at him. Neither liked the other, something else that made life even more awkward. The priest, a massively wide, yet incredibly short man, rambled on and on, and I was fairly certain that some of the passages of scripture he read were more appropriate for a funeral than a wedding, causing Lily to snort next to me. That thought registered dimly, however, in a back corner of my mind, as most of it was occupied with the realisation that I would be bound to the large man next to me for the rest of my life. It was all I could do to keep breathing. I had a brief vision of running when asked for my vows, just shouting "No!" and running back down the aisle, Apparating home and burning that hideous dress. But this fantasy was burst when Vernon cleared his throat loudly and nudged me.

I realised that the priest was looking at me very expectantly. "Do you, Petunia Caroline Evans, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" he asked me, clearly for the second time.

Flushing, I hurried to say, "Yes, I mean, I do."

With a disapproving eyebrow raised at me, the priest finished, naming me Vernon's wife. And trapping me forever.

…

My reception was nothing like Lily's. It was a horrid, stuffy affair, with Vernon drinking copious amounts of champagne and showing me off to all of his business associates. With most of them, I found an alarming trend of wives who looked startlingly similar to myself, tall, thin, and blonde, and incredibly quiet. None of them spoke more than three or four words, and I had a terrifying glimpse of what my life would be like. A silent, pretty bauble on Vernon's arm.

Lily and Nic, along with the rest of our friends, tried to make it a bit cheerier, but Vernon's mother's glower and loud exclamations of "Young people these days, hooligans, all of them" put a stop to that after long enough. And when it came time for us to leave for our wedding night, I was almost relieved, if not for what was coming.

Once in our hotel room, Vernon immediately began pawing at me, all but tearing the dress off me, and breaking my strand of pearls in the process. "I'll have it fixed for you," was all he said, before kissing me again, hot and forceful and tasting of all the wine he'd had that evening.

That was the worst night of my life. After his… affections, Vernon fell asleep, mostly on top of me. I pulled myself out from under him, with him barely stirring, and escaped to the bathroom. I couldn't even look myself in the eye, avoiding the mirror as I stumbled to the toilet and lost what little I'd managed to eat that day. After retching several times, I turned the water in the shower as hot as it would go and climbed in unsteadily, curling into a little ball at the bottom of the tub, my entire body aching. I stayed there long after the water went cold, until long after my tears ran out.

AN: I know it's depressing, trust me. I know. And unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. But Petunia will be happy, I promise! Just not for a while. Anyway, thanks for reading, and I'm going to try to get the next chapter out by next week. I'm about halfway done with it, so I should have it ready by next Sunday. Love you all, and a big thanks for all the reviews. They make my day!