Written for Quidditch League: Round 6: Link 'Em Up
Team: Holyhead Harpies
Position: Seeker
Pairing: Petunia Dursley/Severus Snape
Summary: There were two times after Lily's death that Severus Snape visited Petunia Dursley.
Word Count: 1085
It was about a week after taking in her nephew that Petunia Dursley left her house. She knew Vernon would disapprove of her decision to meet the man, so she gave her husband a vague set of excuses to hold onto. Besides, his opinion didn't matter anyway as she knew she had to meet him.
It was already cold, although midday had just passed, autumn having fully set in. Petunia walked stiffly towards her destination, dreading the meeting but knowing it was necessary. Maybe if she walked slow enough, he would leave before she arrived.
Her hopes that he wouldn't be there were dashed away when she saw him sitting at the table, outside the cafe they'd decided to meet at. He still looked the same as the last time she saw him: greasy hair, hooked nose and a sneer almost constantly on his face.
Petunia scowled at the man as she sat down and, likewise, he sneered at her in return. Despite that, she could still see the grief in his eyes, a grief she was sure reflected in hers. They had a common interest now, one filled with tragedy.
"Tuney," Severus Snape greeted her stiffly, a slight mocking tone to his voice.
"Severus," she returned.
For a moment, they just sat in silence. In a way, it was nice to meet someone who shared the same pain as her. She might have grown to hate her sister, but Lily was her sister nonetheless and the loss had hurt Petunia more than she thought it did.
She knew he felt it too. Petunia had known for a long time that Severus was in love with Lily and in her hate-filled heart, she pitied him. It was hard enough to lose the person you loved to your hated enemy. It was probably harder to know that that was the reason for their murder.
"How is the boy?" he asked, cutting straight to the chase.
And there it was. She had no doubt Severus suspected her nephew might not be treated well by them. Her husband hated magic, mostly because she hated it and because of the unhappiness it caused her. Vernon might seem gruff, to most, but he cared about Petunia in his own way.
Harry Potter would be treated well though. He was still blood, to the Dursleys, and it didn't matter what his parents had done, intentionally or unintentionally.
"He will be fine," Petunia replied sharply, her eyes narrowing at him.
He nodded. Petunia knew he had his own reasons for hating her nephew but she also knew that he would care for him, because he was also Lily's son.
"He will use magic eventually."
"I know. He will still be treated the same."
Petunia did not mention that her husband thought about putting Harry in the cupboard under the stairs. They had an extra bedroom that was being used for extra storage and Vernon mentioned he did not want to waste it on his nephew.
She knew it was wrong but she didn't care. While she did not blame the child for what he was or for the things his parents had done, Petunia honestly didn't want to waste money or resources on him. He would grow up fine either way.
"Good. I will check in again in a couple of years so be prepared," he warned, "If you are treating him unfairly, there will be consequences."
Petunia nodded at that. Satisfied, he stood up and left without saying his goodbyes. She watched him go, hiding her trembling hands under the table. She had no doubt he would follow through on what he said and she feared for what would happen if he did find them treating the boy unfairly.
It was a sobering thought.
After going home, she tried to forget what happened. Sometimes though, when she threw a frying pan at Harry, Severus' words would ring in her head and she would hold back a flinch.
Severus did meet with her again, five years after Lily's death. His eyes still held the same grief and she knew he would never get over her loss. She, herself, felt better, the grief lessening over the years and being soothed by the reminder that Harry's emerald green eyes were so much like her sister's.
"He has her eyes," she said to him as he sat down.
Severus flinched at that. It was meant as a barb and both of them knew that. It might have been petty but it made her feel a bit better about this meeting.
"He is doing well, I presume," he said, his voice attempting to sound smooth.
Petunia could hear the slight waver in his voice but choose to ignore it. The boy was growing up well, in her opinion. He was nothing like his parents in her books, something she thought was good.
"Yes. He's in school now. He's doing well in class," she reported stiffly.
Severus nodded again. He was a man of few words and Petunia felt slightly guilty as he seemed to trust her word. She could easily lie to him as she knew he couldn't bear to actually look at Lily's son and see what actually might be going on.
"Do you think her death was your fault?" Petunia asked him, the need to know strong. It was something she thought about often. Who was to blame for her sister's death.
Severus paused. He seemed to ponder her question but she already knew the answer just from that.
"Yes."
Inexplicably, she felt rage well up in her. She took a deep breath to calm herself and it seemed to work. The anger was still there though, just lessened.
She sneered at him. He stared back, unrelenting. Severus knew what she thought of Lily and felt no shame towards her. There were only two people he would allow himself to feel guilty for: Lily and Harry.
"Don't come back," Petunia told him.
"I won't," was his reply.
Petunia was the first to leave this time. She walked home, with her head held high. She would not show weakness in front of him. She might not have had the best relationship with Lily but he was still her sister and Petunia grieved in her own way.
In a way, meeting with Severus brought her closure but Petunia never wanted to see him again. Harry Potter, acting as the last link to her sister, would be fine. Even if it was just to spite Severus Snape.