Chapter 28 – For Eternity
Note: Chapter Title from Robbie Williams' song 'Eternity'
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
Now that that's out of the way, let's begin…
Petunia Dursley sits at the kitchen of number 4 Privet Drive thinking on her life, and how unhappy she is with it. Vernon has always been a rather negative man, but he's grown so hateful over the years and she's turned a blind eye to it. It's driven away everyone she has ever cared about and left her with no joy, no friends, and a lifetime of regrets. She had promised herself as a teenager that she would never let unfounded hatred interfere with her family after all the wasted time spent hating Lily. But it has, she's lost everyone.
Petunia stares at her phone, knowing they'll answer if she calls. Remus had texted her, after all, to tell her Sirius is alive and free, knowing she wouldn't answer a phone call. They're waiting for her, always waiting. She just doesn't know if she's worth waiting for anymore.
"I'm home!"
Petunia steels herself for a difficult conversation as her husband enters the kitchen and kisses her on the cheek, "Welcome home, Dear." She takes a deep breath, "I was thinking, we should have some of my friends come over for dinner soon."
"Some women from the sewing guild, I assume?" Vernon asks. Petunia hates the people in her sewing guild, though not as much as she hates sewing.
"Actually, I was thinking of Remus, Sirius, Severus, and the kids." Vernon's face starts turning red, and then purple. "I haven't seen them in years and, well it would be nice to catch up with Sirius. Now that I know he's alive and didn't kill my sister."
"I will not have those freaks IN MY HOUSE!" Vernon shouts at her.
"Those freaks are my friends, Vernon. My family! I want my family back!"
"YOU LISTEN TO ME, WOMAN," Vernon demands, grabbing Petunia by the hair. She cries out in pain but he ignores it, "DUDLEY AND I ARE YOUR FAMILY, YOUR ONLY FAMILY! Not. Them!"
"Vernon, you're hurting me!" Petunia cries.
"GOOD! MAYBE THAT'LL KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO YOU!" He screams as he shoves her to the ground. She drops her phone on the way down but quickly picks it up again and dials a number she knows off by heart, putting it on speaker just before Vernon knocks it out of her hand and pulls her up by her hair.
"Pet?" Phia Lupin's voice comes through the speaker, sounding surprised by the call.
"OF COURSE, YOU'D CALL THE BLOODY DYKE!"
"Phia, help, please, Vernon's lost it!" Petunia calls out, crying out in pain again when he tugs on her hair. All of a sudden Phia is standing right beside them. Just as suddenly, Vernon flies across the room and into a wall, dazed but conscious. "How did you…?"
"I don't know," Phia replies, eyes wide, "But I think we should get out of here." Phia holds a hand out to Petunia who takes it. The two disappear right as Vernon lunges towards them. They reappear in Remus' old house in France.
"D-Did you just…use magic?" Petunia asks, somewhere between awe-filled and fearful and mildly ill from whatever the hell that was.
"I think so, I…oh God I did, no, no this can't be happening," Phia says, pacing and pulling at her hair, "No, I don't want this," She states. A vase holding dead flowers shatters as she walks past. She jerks back in fright, "No, no, no, no, no," She chants dropping to her knees as things start levitating around the room.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, Phi," Petunia tells her, kneeling in front of her.
"No, no, I don't want to be like this," She says, shaking her head rapidly, "They're evil, I don't want to be evil."
Petunia grabs her chin, making her look at her, "You just saved me, Phia. Potentially you saved my life. You aren't evil, you're a miracle. And I am so sorry I kicked you out, I'm sorry I let him kick you out. Phia…" Petunia leans forward and kisses her oldest friend. The levitating things around the room stop their movement, frozen just as Phia feels time has as she kisses back and remembers…
November 1973
Phia walks down streets at random, just enjoying spending time with her girlfriend.
"Phia?"
Phia looks away from Julie to see, "Petunia?"
Petunia smiles, walking over, "Hi, how are you?"
"I'm good, yeah. Oh, Petunia, this is my girlfriend, Julie. Jules, my brother's friend's sister," Phia introduces.
"It's nice to meet you, Julie," Petunia replies.
Julie smiles, nodding, "And you. We're just looking for a bakery for lunch. Care to join us?"
"If it's not an imposition, I'd love to."
The three spend the next hour laughing together before Jules has to leave. Even after that, Petunia and Phia grab some tarts to go and walk through the park where they first met, feeling a friendship forming to last a lifetime.
"…so then the next thing I know, Loopy's playing guitar and it turns out he can actually sing," Phia explains, Petunia and she laughing in Petunia's loungeroom. It's been months over a year since they first met and Phia's staying over night, as she has many times now.
"I wish I could go to Australia, or anywhere really. Vienna would be the best experience," Petunia says.
Phia grins, "Maybe you'll go one day."
"Yeah, maybe." Petunia shakes her head with a smile, "So, your brother taught you and that's how you learnt?" She asks, nodding towards the guitar in her friend's lap. Phia nods. "Play me something?"
"Okay, but I only learnt this recently." Phia takes a breath before she starts strumming. "Close your eyes so you don't feel them
They don't need to see you cry
I can't promise I will heal you
But if you want to I will try
I'll sing this somber serenade
The past is done
We've been betrayed
It's true
Someone said the truth will out
I believe without a doubt, in you
You were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And I hope you find your freedom
For eternity...
For eternity
Yesterday when you were walking
We talked about your mum and dad
What they did that made you happy
What they did that made you sad
We sat and watched the sun go down
Picked a star before we lost the moon
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and gone to soon
You were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And I hope you find your freedom
For eternity...
For eternity
For eternity
I'll sing this somber serenade
The past is done
We've been betrayed
It's true
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and gone to soon
You were there for summer dreaming
And you are a friend indeed
And I hope you find your freedom
For eternity
You were there for summer dreaming
And you are a friend indeed
And I know you'll find your freedom
Eventually
For eternity
For eternity."
Petunia claps enthusiastically, "Wow, you're so good!"
Phia blushes, "Thanks, Pet."
Phia's out at dinner with Julie when her phone suddenly rings.
"Oh, Phia, really?" Julie complains.
"Sorry," Phia replies, stepping away for a second to answer the phone, "Pet, what's up?"
"I'm having a crisis and I really need your help."
Phia frowns, "What's going on?"
There's silence on the line for a few moments before Petunia speaks again, this time tears are clear in her voice, "Please, can you come over?"
"…I'll be right there." Phia walks back over to the table, "I'm sorry, I have to go. Something's wrong with Petunia."
"Phia, it's our anniversary and you're taking off?" Julie asks, incredulous and annoyed.
"My best friend needs me, Jules, what do you want me to do?"
"Think about your priorities for a moment, because I always seem to come second. What's more important to you, Phia? Our relationship or whatever petty middle-class problem Petunia's having?"
Phia looks at her girlfriend for a moment, disbelief on her face before she scoffs and grabs some cash out of her bag, putting it on the table. "See you later, Jules."
She heads straight over to the Evans' house. "Petunia?" She calls, letting herself in.
"In here," A sniffling voice replies from the closet under the stairs. Phia frowns as she opens the door to the closet and finds Petunia sitting on the floor. Phia moves to sit beside her and lets the door swing shut. "Lily and I used to hide in here when we were little and didn't want to clean our rooms. We'd have a hoard of snacks each that we'd collected from various places and we'd bring them with us and stay in here for hours together."
Phia smiles softly, "That sounds nice. If Remus and I were left alone that long we were at each other's throats."
Petunia chuckles at this, though it also has tears streaming down her face. "Vernon said today that he thinks Lily is odd. Says we probably won't see her much once we're married, doesn't even want her at the wedding."
"What?" Petunia lets out a small sob. Phia frowns, taking her hand, "Petunia, you told me that the biggest regret you have is the years you spent not close with Lily. Don't let him make you regret more."
"What if I can't stop him?"
"Then call me, because I'm sure as hell not going to let him bully you into pushing away your family."
Petunia smiles, nodding, "Thanks Phi."
"I'm here for eternity, Pet."
She nods, remembering the song sung so long ago, "For Eternity. Is that our version of 'always waiting'?"
Phia chuckles, "Hopefully it doesn't need to be proven as often."
"They really are a mess, aren't they? I'm surprised they haven't blown up that school with all their arguments and mischief."
"Well, Loopy did set a room on fire, so there's that."
The two laugh, cuddled together on the floor of the cupboard.
"Okay, what's all this about, Phia?" Julie asks, a smile on her face as she takes in the flower petals everywhere.
"I…I know we can't do this legally, but all the weddings lately got me thinking," Phia begins, she kneels down on one knee, "Julie, will you marry me?"
Julia beams at her, and then the smile slowly falls. "Phia…I can't."
Phia frowns, getting up again, "O-Okay…erm, why not?"
"I love you, Phia, but I'll always be second best to you."
"What? That's not true at all, Jules!"
"Yes, it is. Because whether or not you're willing to admit it, you care for Petunia, a lot more than you should given she's married to a homophobic arsehole. And I know, you'd never do anything so long as you're with me and while she's married. But I don't want to live my life in second place," Julie explains, tears in her eyes, "I'm sorry."
She walks away.
"AUNTIE PHIA!" Harry calls excitedly as Phia walks in the front door of Privet Drive. "Auntie Phia look look!" He drags her to the living room where his and Dudley's new school uniforms are folded and waiting for them to wear in two days' time.
Phia grins at her nephew, "Hello to you too, how's my favourite guy doing? Oooh, nice uniform. This reminds me of the horrid uniforms my brother and I had to wear at our primary school," Phia tells him, glad he's so happy.
Harry giggles, "Did you have fun?"
Phia smiles, nodding, "Loads. Just…don't set anything on fire while you're there, okay?"
"Okay," He agrees with a nod, "Oh! I maded bacon all by myself this morning!"
Phia freezes for a moment, blinking, "You did?" She turns to face at Petunia before looking back at Harry, "That's wonderful," She lies, not wanting Harry to think she's upset with him nor take away from his accomplishment. "Kid, why don't you go play outside for a bit." Harry walks away.
"Phi-"
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Petunia?!" Phia snaps, "He's five, why is he anywhere near a hot plate let alone on his own!"
"He's perfectly capa-"
"Would you have Dudley doing it? My God, Petunia! How would his parents feel if they were here?"
"WELL THEY AREN'T! THEY'RE IN PRISON!" Petunia shouts at her.
"What's going on here?" Vernon demands, entering the room.
Phia and Petunia share a tense look before Petunia backs up towards her husband, "Phia doesn't like the way we're raising Harrison."
"Oh she doesn't? Well, you're lucky we're doing it at all!" Vernon tells her angrily, Phia sighs. "DON'T YOU SIGH AT ME, THAT FREAK SHOULDN'T BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOU SHOULD BE DAMNED GRATEFUL WE'VE TAKEN HIM INTO OUR HOME AT ALL!"
"YOU ONLY DID BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF A BEARDED OLD MAN WHO LOOKS LIKE A STRONG WIND WOULD SHATTER HIS BONES!"
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
Phia looks to Petunia, but Petunia only looks away. Phia scoffs, nodding, "Fine, I will."
Phia opens her eyes as Petunia pulls away.
"Thank you, Phia, for saving me."
Phia smiles, cupping Petunia's cheek with her hand, "Didn't I say I'd be here for eternity?"
Petunia smiles, nodding, "For eternity."
"Where's Remus living now, if not here?" Petunia asks as the two drink tea, the only consumable thing left in the house.
"Not sure exactly. Some secret base or something. How's Harry?"
"Doesn't live with us anymore," Petunia replies.
"Did he move in with his Dad?" Phia asks, surprised when Petunia shakes her head.
"No, I doubt it. Harry doesn't do great with having people who care for him, and after Sirius lied to him…I doubt it. But he left before Sirius came back to life, however that happened."
Phia chuckles, "Yeah, I'm not sure what happened there but…"
"Best to just go with it?" Phia nods, the two laugh quietly, remembering the times they'd thought that as teenagers. "You remember Lucius Malfoy?"
"The blond? Remus' friend that no one liked or trusted? Yeah, I saw him pretty recently actually. Surprisingly nice bloke now, helped me out."
Petunia nods, "Harry moved in with he and his son, Draco." Phia's eyes go up in surprise. "Draco tried to convince us he was a muggle but pulled the same routine that Sirius did to win me over originally, back when Lily and I weren't getting along." Petunia has a pained, yet calm look on her face, finally coming to terms with her sister's death. "I think I blamed him, somehow."
"What?" Phia asks in confusion.
"Harry, I think I blamed him for Lily dying." Petunia shakes her head as she frowns, "Stupid, I know. He shouldn't have suffered because of me but…"
"Remus and I barely got along as children because of misplaced blame. He, in some way, felt I was at fault for him becoming a Werewolf. Took him ten years to get over it, just about," Phia replies with a shrug. "It's not a fun position to be in, but I don't think he'll blame you if you tell him that and apologise."
Petunia nods, knowing she couldn't possibly face him now. But maybe one day.
"I need to get back home…I'd like you to come with me."
"I can't leave my son," Petunia says instantly, looking at Phia with fearful eyes.
Phia bites her lip, "Would he go with you, if you gave him the chance?"
Petunia looks at her mug, tears in her eyes. "I don't know, but I have to try."
"Hi, Dad!" Phia greets as she steps through the floo from Remus' house to her parents'.
"Phi- did you ju-what?" Lyall stutters, but Phia walks out of the room.
Then Petunia follows through the floo. "Hi, Lyall," She says, then follows after Phia.
"Pet-wha-I-"
"We're borrowing your car, thanks, Dad!"
The front door closes behind them.
Lyall just shakes his head, "I don't want to know."
Phia and Petunia drive all the way to Dudley's school before waiting half an hour for school to end.
"Dudley!" Petunia calls out when she sees him.
Dudley frowns in confusion but heads over, "I thought we agreed you wouldn't pick me up anymore," He says, casting surreptitious looks around to his friends.
"Well, you can blame me for this, it was my idea."
Dudley's eyes widen as he sees who is with his mother, "Aunt Phia!" He hugs her, for once not caring about seeming tough in front of 'the guys'.
"Hiya, Dud."
"What are you doing here? Does Dad know?" Dudley asks, suddenly looking concerned.
That more than anything tells Petunia she's doing the right thing. "Dudley, I'm going to stay with Auntie Phia. I'd like for you to come with me."
Dudley's eyes widen again, "You're leaving Dad?"
Petunia hesitates, wringing her hands before nodding, "I am, yes."
"I don't want to leave Dad."
"I know, Dudders. But I don't want to leave you alone with him, and I don't want to lose my son. Please, come with me."
Dudley hesitates, "I don't want to move schools."
"That could be a problem, I live pretty far away," Phia tells Petunia quietly though Dudley can still hear and they both know that.
"How far?" Petunia asks.
"Vienna."
"Vienna?!"
"I'm sort of the queen," Phia replies, scratching the back of her neck in a way reminiscent of her old friend James. Petunia blinks at her. Just blinks. Doesn't know how else to react. "It's a long story. You don't want to know most of it."
"Right…Anyway, Dudley, it doesn't have to be forever. You can come and see your Father when you want to. But please, come with me now." She takes Phia's hand as she speaks, nervous that he'll refuse.
He looks at it, looks between them, and his eyes widen. "Are you two…?"
"W-I-…" Petunia takes a breath, "We haven't discussed it yet."
Dudley walks away for a moment, then he walks back. "All right, fine. I'll go with you."
"Great!" Phia exclaims, then grimaces, "Now we just have to work out how to get to Vienna."
"You're the Queen, can't you just order a royal jet or something?"
Phia sighs, "Sadly, no, Dudley. I never use it unless I'm travelling for diplomatic reasons. Plus, there's no record of me leaving the country, that would be a tad awkward to explain."
"Fireplace thing?" Petunia suggests awkwardly.
"No floo in the castle."
"What about the teleport thing you did earlier?"
"I don't know what that is or how I did it."
"Will your Dad?" Petunia asks. Phia shrugs. "Why don't we go find out?"
"I'm not really supposed to Apparate muggles, Phia," Lyall tells her, looking between the three in his house.
"I don't need you to. Then there'd be no record of them entering the country and, in the palace, such things are monitored. What I need is for you to apparate me back while Petunia and Dudley get a plane over there," Phia explains.
Lyall nods, "That I can do."
Later the next night, with Dudley in his new room and Petunia and Phia relaxing in a sitting room, Phia broaches an uncomfortable subject.
"What happened?" She asks, "That set Vernon off, I mean."
Petunia frowns, tears gathering in her eyes, "I only wanted to see your brother again, and the others. I mean, Sirius is back and innocent and I…" Petunia tries to swallow around the sob building in her throat, "He just went insane and I don't know…I mean he's never been like that, not with me, but he lost it and-" Phia moves forward, holding Petunia as she sobs.
"It's okay Pet, you're safe now. You'll always be safe with me." Phia sings in a soft voice, "For eternity
I'll sing this somber serenade
The past is done
We've been betrayed
It's true
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and gone to soon."
Petunia smiles, "You were there for summer dreaming
And you are a friend indeed
And I know you'll find your freedom
Eventually
For eternity."
"For eternity."
