Welcome back my faithful readers! Not much to say about this chapter, it's just a chapter some of you have been waiting for; development for a certain character.
On with the show!
If Someone Cared Enough
Chapter Twelve: Chance Encounters
"And here we have the average middle aged male, in his natural habitat: a job," Simone said in a faux voice of unbridled wonder and excitement, much like a documentarian.
Sitting on a bench at a park overlooking a local business office, Thea observed her longtime friend in bemusement.
On a daytime excursion, the pair had gotten hopelessly turned around without the aid of a map and had come upon this lovely park. Tired and frustrated—not that Simone would ever admit it—the pair had picked a bench on the outskirts of the park where Simone quickly took up one of her favorite past times; people watching.
"Let's call this man Tim," Simone went on, hands cupped around her eyes like a pair of binoculars, "Tim is a fine specimen; stout, balding, he's got a bit of a paunch so we know he is a well fed male among his herd. Notice the dull, vacant stare; that indicates he has recently eaten and is well sated. He's has broken free from the herd at the local watering hole and is now engaging in the ritualistic past time of smoking. Experts say specimens like these believe it gives them power and increases virility."
"Simone can't you just watch people quietly like a normal person," Thea pleaded, secretly amused at her friend's antics.
"People watching is far more fun the way I do it," was Simone's clipped reply, "Oh-oh dear, he's spotted me…yes he's spotted me…huh?..that can't be a polite gesture…Tim's a bit of a twat…" Simone put her hands down, watching the now very flustered, angry muggle storm back into the building, "Well there goes my entertainment. Now what?"
"Well we could always ask for directions," Thea suggested.
Simone pushed her lips together, making a raspberry sound, waving Thea's comment off with a flick of her hand, "Nonsense, we don't need help. I bet I can figure out where Severus lives in no time. I saw it once on the tag for his trunk early this year; I'll remember it."
"You've been saying that for quite some time now," Thea pointed out.
Simone brushed her off, "It'll come to me. Besides, aren't you having fun? The muggle world is so fascinating. All these bells and whistles they've got; I swear cars will never cease to amaze me. And they build practically everything by hand. Such industrious people. Even in most Wizarding trades, the craft is aided by magic; we don't even make ice cream without the use of a wand!"
"It is pretty impressive," Thea agreed, watching another car go speeding by them.
"Yes it is," Simone declared. She stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes, "Well that's enough rest, I'd say. Let's keep going."
"Going where?" Thea asked, "We still haven't figured out where we are, let alone where to head."
Simone waggled a finger at her friend, "And there lies the adventure. Come now, when have I ever led you wrong."
Thea opened her mouth.
"Don't answer that," Simone said quickly, shushing Thea before she could speak, "Anyway, I distinctively remember that street," she pointed to a nearby sign, "in the directions. Onward!"
"What makes you so sure you'll find the place this time?" Thea inquired.
"My father was a Hufflepuff," Simone replied, "So, logic dictates that I'm a good finder."
Thea sighed, following her prideful friend on yet another wild goose chase.
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Petunia worried her lip between her teeth.
The girl before her quirked an fine, blonde eyebrow imperiously, "Well Petunia? Are you going to answer? I asked you why you missed my party?" She flipped her curly golden locks over her shoulder with a flick of a manicured hand, "You better have a good excuse."
"Yeah," piped up her pinched faced friend, her expression eerily reminiscent to that of someone who had just swallowed a lemon, "It isn't polite to turn down someone's invite."
"Even worse when someone just stands us up," added the third, a thick necked girl with a nose too small for her face, her lips caked in heavy pink lacquer.
Petunia wrung her hands, "I told you, Cynthia, I was with my family."
"And I told you that answer wasn't good enough," Cynthia said, "I want to know where you were."
"We've been in an out of the hospital," Petunia explained, "I told you that my sister's friend was hurt protecting her."
"Ah yes, that sister of yours," Cynthia sniffed.
"Does she still go to that school for delinquents?" Peggy, the pinched faced one asked nastily.
"She...still goes to the same school, yes," Petunia answered hesitantly.
"Nothing but a troublemaker," said Delilah, the third girl, shaking her head.
Cynthia gave a put upon sigh, "I trust you at least remembered to get a present for me?"
Petunia looked down at her shoes, "Well...no. We've been so busy."
"Visiting a injured Ne'er do well?" asked Delilah skeptically.
Petunia shook her head, not liking where this conversation was going, "It was serious. He really got hurt saving Lily from some bad people. Really bad. The police got involved and everything." 'Wizard police, anyway.'
"What happen? Your sister fall in with a bad crowd?" Cynthia teased, "It's to be expected. She's no good, Petunia." She smirked, "She probably brought it on herself; probably deserved whatever it was."
"That's not true!" Petunia blurted out. She quickly snapped her mouth shut, horrified.
Cynthia went deathly still, "What was that?"
Petunia shook her head, mouth clamped shut. She had always tried to stay on Cynthia's good side. She was one of the popular girls, the 'proper' girls. From a family with more money than Petunia's own, she toted grace and sophistication, all prim and exuding class. She even laughed with her hand hiding her mouth like the women in the movies did. In short she was everything there was to respectable, normal society.
Cynthia took a menacing step closer to Petunia, "Are you saying I'm wrong?"
"I..." Petunia stammered timidly, "I just meant that Lily didn't do anything...they just came after her."
Petunia's mind wandered back to her sister when the train pulled into the station; covered in blood that wasn't her own, wrapped in a borrowed robe to hide her ripped shirt. With nail marks on her face and bruising around her face and wrist, Lily had looked so small and lost like a little girl again. This was Petunia's baby sister, the one who's scraped knees she used to bandaged and kiss when Lily was five. And she stood before them with a split lip and the healers that met them at the station talking about needing to treat bite marks in places they should never be. Petunia felt just as sick thinking about it.
"They were the ones in the wrong," Petunia said with a bit more conviction, "Lily did nothing."
"But she's just a freak," Peggy said nasally.
"Don't call her that!" Petunia snapped.
"What's your damage, Petunia?" Cynthia asked angrily, hands on her hips, "Lately you've been all 'my family this,' and 'my sister that'. You couldn't stand any of them before. You used to jump at any chance to insult that weirdo sister of yours. What's changed now?"
"Don't tell us you actually like her now?" Delilah gasped, disgusted, "Her and her freaky friend."
Cynthia leaned forward, "Or don't tell me...you're a freak too now?"
"I-I'm not," Petunia stated hotly.
"Oh but I think you are," Cynthia said cruelly, circling Petunia like a shark, her grin just as predatory, "I think you've been hanging out too much with your freak sister and her freaky friends and now you're just as much a freak as she is."
"I said I am not!" Petunia shouted.
"Freak! Freak!" Peggy and Delilah cackled.
The girls continued to taunt her, delighting in Petunia's face turning redder and redder, her cheeks growing hot and tears stinging her eyes.
"Childish name-calling?" came a low voice from behind them, prompting the girls to whirl around.
Before them stood a pair of girls around their own age, one with skin like porcelain, the other with skin as rich as espresso. They were certainly a pretty pair, but they looked terribly out of place. Dressed straight out of the Victorian era history book, they wore high-waisted skirts that clinched as a corset under the bosom, cut short at the knee to reveal knee high, button up boots. Short sleeved white blouses buttoned all the way up their necks with ruffled cravats hanging from them. Both of them had their hair styled in tight braided buns with perfect curls hanging down from them.
The dark skinned one raised one aristocratic eyebrow at the scene before her, "Is this what pass for maturity around here?"
"And you are?" Cynthia asked rudely once she had gotten her wits about her again.
"Apparently in the presence of six year olds," Simone replied sardonically, "I think you should leave the poor girl alone."
Cynthia huffed, "Not that it is any of your business, but Petunia is our friend. She knows we're just teasing. Right?" she added sharply, looking over her shoulder at Petunia.
Petunia gulped and nodded weakly.
"If that's how you treat friends, I can't help but pity your enemies," Simone observed, "Anyway, I'm making it my business. Leave the girl alone. You're obviously upsetting her."
Cynthia narrowed her eyes into angry slits, hands on her hips.
"Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?" She asked, her two snobby friends flanking her.
"Someone who could teach you better manners," Simone drawled.
Cynthia laughed, loud and obnoxious, "You? Someone like you teach me manners?" She looked Simone up and down, a sneer forming on her face, "I've never seen one of your type hanging around this neighborhood before."
Thea stiffened, while Simone remained unphased, "Oh please, continue speaking elusively as though I can't tell what 'type' you're referring to."
Cynthia would not back down, "I'm just saying, we hardly see your kind in Cokeworth. I mean...unless you're working."
"Yeah, what are you one of the housekeeper's kids?" Peggy chortled.
Delilah snickered, "Here to apply for a cleaning job yourself?"
Glancing at Thea from the corner of her eye, Simone gave the slightest of smiles, "Now you've done it..." Her quiet friend's eyes had narrowed into pin pricks in anger.
In a series of odd events, Peggy's purse burst open at the bottom, all her items spilling out across the side walk. Something shiny rolled out among the mess, catching Peggy's attention and sending her lurching forward after it. Before she could reach it, however, a wind suddenly sprang up, sending bits of paper and random odds and ends flying up into the girl's face. Unable to intercept the pursued object, it rolled across the sidewalk to rest at Thea's feet.
Gingerly, Thea bent down and picked it up.
"I believe this is yours?" Thea questioned, holding the item out to Peggy.
Peggy hastily made a grab for the thing before anyone could get a good look at it, but she was too slow.
"Is that...William's watch?" Cynthia asked, snatching the watch from Thea's hands, "It is! The very one I gave him for his birthday. What are you doing with it, Peggy?!"
"I-I don't know," Peggy lied.
"Perhaps he forgot it while visiting you?" Simone theorized, thoroughly enjoying the exchange.
From the look on Peggy's face, Simone hit the nail on the head.
"What's my William doing visiting you, Peggy?!" Cynthia shrieked, "What's going on?"
"N-nothing," Peggy fibbed, hands raised in surrender.
"Oh like I believe that," Cynthia snarled.
"Cynthia, calm down..."
"Shut up, Delilah!" Cynthia snapped.
Simone chuckled, "Oh this is rich...your definition of friendship is truly entertaining. I mean, back stabbing, fighting, really this is a grand performance." She clapped for good measure.
Cynthia turned on Simone with a growl, "You think this is funny?"
"Hilarious," Simone replied.
"Do you have any idea who I am?" Cynthia demanded to know.
"Hm..."Simon approached Cynthia encroaching on her personal space. Quick as a whip she lashed out and produced a card, "Cynthia Dukes, student of the local private school," she observed, looking over the ID.
Cynthia bawked, completely aghast, "How did you?"
Simone smirked, tucking the ID back into Cynthia's purse, "I'm a good finder. Now let's sum up the playing field: You know nothing about me. I on the other hand, know your name, your school, and your two closest 'friends'—and I use that term lightly. That's a decent amount of info for me to do some serious snooping if I so wished. Now, you've already had one unpleasant little scandal revealed; I suggest you three saunter off before I find out which of your fathers has a mistress or something."
Cynthia opened and closed her mouth a few times, her friends gaping like fish. Recovering, she glared hatefully at Simone.
"Whatever," She said, turning on her heel and marching off, leaving her friends behind.
"Cynthia, wait!" Peggy called out, hurrying after the girl with Delilah on her heels, "I can explain!"
Simone watched them go, grinning broadly.
"I love that little trick of yours," She chuckled.
Thea flushed, embarrassed, "It's not a good thing, Sim. I don't like what it does with my emotions."
"Well it came in handy," Simone noted.
"That changes nothing," Thea insisted, "We aren't supposed to be doing anything of the sort in front of-"
Simone put a finger to her lips, "Shhh, present company," she pointed at Petunia.
Petunia stood staring between the too, seemingly lost for words.
Simone clapped her hands together, a friendly smile sliding over her face, "Well, wasn't that all an unusual coincidence? Are you alright, dear?"
"I.." Petunia began, finding her tongue, "I..." she shook her head, "Don't play games with me! I know what that was." she pointed a finger at Simone and Thea.
Simone cocked an eyebrow. "Beg Pardon," she asked innocently.
"That," Petunia elaborated, pointing at where Peggy's things were still strewn on the ground, "Magic. That purse is brand new Corinthian Leather, there's no way it would break. You used magic!"
"And by your lack of surprise, I'd say you've met one of us before, then, hm?" Simone hazard a guess.
"Do you go to that school too?" Petunia demanded.
"You mean Hogwarts?" Thea asked.
"So you do go there!" Petunia declared triumphantly.
"Indeed. Now why so hostile towards magic? It did just chase away your little problem," Simone inquired.
Petunia scowled, pursing her lips, "It's not normal," she insisted, "Unnatural."
Simone craned her head to the side, "That's a matter of perspective. You know...what with my whole family being born with magic? It's pretty normal to me."
Petunia sniffed, "I suppose that's true..."
"So who do you know with magic?" Thea asked politely.
"My sister," Petunia admitted reluctantly.
"So you hate her for being 'unnatural' I presume?" Simone questioned.
Petunia's head snapped up at that, alarmed, "I don't hate her!" Her mind kept taking her back to that scene by the train station, Lily pale and teary eyed while the authorities explained to their horrified parents what had happened, "I don't hate her. I couldn't."
"But you don't get along?" Thea inquired, "Because you aren't fond of magic?"
Petunia looked away, uncomfortable, "Well...it's complicated..."
Simone studied Petunia thoroughly, eyes narrowed in thought. Suddenly her eyes went wide with understanding, "Wait a minute...A sister in Cokeworth. She's a witch...does she have a friend with magic in around here?"
Petunia frowned, "Yeah...but we don't exactly get along well either."
"A friend you hate! You're sister is Lily," Simone cried triumphantly.
Petunia nodded.
"I don't hate him," she grumbled, "...not anymore...he's not so bad..."
Simone tilted her head thoughtfully, "So you don't call him a freak anymore?"
Petunia flushed in embarrassment, "Lily told you about that?"
Simone nodded, "Briefly, I was sort of in the middle of tearing her world asunder verbally, but yes, it was mentioned. So, can I assume this goes beyond simple sibling rivalry? Or does magic freak you out that much?"
Petunia glared at Simone, not liking where the conversation was going, "I really don't know you enough for us to be having this sort of conversation."
Simone slapped a hand to her chest, feigning shock, "Oh where are my manners? You're right of course, that was quite rude of me," she gave a small bow with an elegant sweep of her hand, "I'm Simone, and this is Theadosia."
"Pleased to meet you," Thea said with a curtsy.
"You can call her Thea," Simone added, "Now, think you can give us some insight into your dislike of magic? It's the first time I have ever really interacted with a muggle who knew about it yet didn't like it. Most families are thrilled when they find out."
Petunia rolled her eyes, "Oh trust me, my parents are thrilled. Lily is so special to them, she gets to be a part of some big special secret world, how wonderful," she waved her hands in mock celebration, "why don't we all praise Lily for being so special with her powers."
"Sounds like someone is jealous," Simone observed.
"I am not!" Petunia denied, flushing angrily, "What do I care that she gets to go off to a castle every year and make flowers bloom with a touch of her hands or see unicorns and dragons and fly through the air...it's weird. She can keep her weird little magic world. It's not like I'm a part of it anyway."
"Well, why aren't you?" Simone asked.
"What?"
"Why aren't you a part of it?" Simone repeated.
Petunia blinked, "...because I don't have magic..."
"Yes, but you know about magic," Simone pointed out, "One of your family member's has magic. So why aren't you roaming Diagon Alley or riding the Knight Bus out to Hogsmede with your sister during the summer? It's not barred to you if you're one of the muggles permitted to know about wizards."
"W-well because I told you...it's abnormal," Petunia stammered.
"You're upset it isn't you with magic, aren't you?" Simone summed up, "You're telling me you've never had a magical adventure since you found out it exists?"
Petunia shook her head.
"Well then you're in luck!" Simone exclaimed, throwing an arm around Petunia's shoulders, "You're going on one now!"
"N-now?" Petunia squawked.
"Yup," Simone declared happily.
"Sim, what about Severus?" Thea questioned, "Weren't we here to check up on him?"
"Oh that's right," Simone remembered. She turned to Petunia, "Any idea where he is?"
"He's with Lily," Petunia answered.
"Then he's in good hands for now," Simone decided, "As long as he's out of that house.
Taking Petunia by the arm, Simone dragged the muggle girl away from her average, unmagical world.
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Simone and Thea ended up bringing Petunia to Hogsmede, a place she had overheard Lily speak about often but had never seen. They led her into the priciest boutiques, having her try on robes and silk shawls woven from the finest Acromantula thread.
"I'm not sure about this," Petunia said nervously as fabric and measuring tape floated around her head.
"Nonsense, dearie," the seamstress said, "This color really brings out your eyes."
"Let the witch work, Pet," Simone told her, grinning at her petname for the girl, "She's going to make you look fabulous."
"Let's pull your hair up," the seamstress said, flicking her wand.
Petunia's hair arranged itself into an updo, fastened by a silken ribbon.
"Oh, now that's lovely," Simone said, turning Petunia towards the mirrors.
Petunia gasped. The reflection staring back at her was nothing like she had ever seen before.
Clad in a lavender robe, Petunia was encased in a high collar of intricate lace that fanned out over her shoulders before merging with the silk. Several lace stripes trailed down over her chest and widened out around the bottom of the floor length skirt and the bell sleeves ended in a lace trim.
With her hair pulled up in a bun, Petunia looked down right regal. In such expensive and fine material she had the appearance of someone far wealthier. She looked sophisticated, she looked beautiful...she looked magical.
"It suits you," Thea said kindly.
"Its...beautiful," Petunia whispered, touching the delicate lace embroidery.
"Well, enjoy it, because it's yours," Simone said, handing a sum of money to the Seamstress.
"What?" Petunia balked as the Seamstress too the robe off her and prepared to package it, "I can't take something so expensive."
"That's a shame because it's already paid for, and I'm not asking for a refund. Whatever would I do with a robe that isn't my size?"
"B-but," Petunia stammered. Floundering she looked to Thea for support, but the quiet girl just shrugged her shoulders with a smile.
"Not my size either," Thea said.
Petunia looked back and forth between the two girls with wide eyes. Seeing no way out she sighed. "Fine," she said wearily, "I'll take it."
"Wonderful!" Simone said, clapping her hands as Thea took the packaged robe from the store clerk, "Now let's go buy some matching jewelry."
The rest their time was spent in a jewelry shop, Petunia marveling over rings that truly did tell you actual mood, lockets that protected the wearer from minor harm, and necklaces that looked and smelled like actual flowers, but were as strong as steel.
When Petunia was finally dropped off back home, she walked up to her room in a daze, barely saying hello to her parents. Entering her room, she stared down in wonderment at the purchases Simone made for her. Had today really happened?
The front door opened downstairs and the sound of Lily's voice filtered up the stairs. She was probably coming home with new stories of her time with Snape, new adventures, new secrets.
Petunia looked down at the packages in her hands. Carefully, she hid them under her bed. They'd be fun to take out an wear when she was alone, but it was best to forget about magic. She wasn't a part of that world. Besides, she'd probably never see those two again; they seemed to be friends or acquaintances with Snape so it was unlikely they'd seek someone like her out anymore.
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A few days later Petunia was on her way to the store when she opened up the front door to find two witches on her doorstep.
"Simone!" Petunia gasped, "Thea! What are you doing here?"
"We were in the neighborhood—annoying Snape by standing outside his house and calling to him until he threatened to call the police—and we thought we stop by and visit."
"I don't understand...what do you want?" Petunia asked, flummoxed.
Simone shrugged nonchalantly, examining her nails, "I thought today was a good time for another outing. Have you eaten yet, Pet?"
"I did have a small bite to eat," Petunia said, confused.
Then there's nothing saying you can't have a snack," Simone said assuredly, "And I know just the place."
{page break}
"So what do you think?" Simone asked, "You know, now that you've had some time to let it soak in."
Seated in a velvet cushion chair in a choice spot by the window, Petunia looked around her. The café they were in was richly furnished, silken draperies and gold-inlaid trimmings on the wall moldings. Crystal chandeliers hung over every silk covered table, the lighting provided by orb-shaped globes designed to look like crystal balls. The glasses were fancy goblets with glass flowers and vines formed around bottoms and all the plates and teacups bore images of unicorns and fairies frolicking in meadows.
The place would almost pass for a fancy restaurant that Cynthia and her friends would pick, if it weren't for the fact that the crystal balls on the chandeliers were floating instead of chained to the lighting fixture. Also, the pictures on all the plates and teacups moved.
"It certainly is nothing like I've ever seen before," Petunia admitted.
"Do you like it?" Simone prodded.
Petunia thought a minute, "It's growing on me, I suppose."
Simone smiled, "Excellent. I thought we'd start with something small, so as not to overwhelm you," She steepled her fingers, "Now, tell me why magic is such a touchy subject for you?"
Petunia frowned, "Well…"
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Thea told her sympathetically.
"But talking might help," Simone threw in, feigning innocence in the face of the scolding glare Thea threw her way.
Petunia traced her finger around the rim of her glass, gathering her thoughts, "When we were little, Lily could do all these amazing things; fly from a swing set make things float or glow, have flowers bloom in the palm of her hand. It was just like the fairytales we read about and Lily was like a real, live princess."
"What did your family think about all this?" Simone asked, sipping her tea.
"Mom and dad knew right away that Lily wasn't normal, so they tried extra hard to make sure she didn't feel like an oddball or anything. They encouraged it, told her it made her special instead of different. The only trouble was in making her feel extraordinary…they were making me feel…"
"Less than ordinary," Simone surmised, "Average."
Petunia looked down at the table, "Mom loves to gush over Lily's accomplishments like we're living with a celebrity and it makes everything I do seem so insignificant. 'Oh, Lily! You got top marks in your exams. That's wonderful! And they must be sooo much harder than regular exams'...meanwhile I'm sitting there having just gotten great marks on those 'regular exams'. It's like she doesn't even realize she's doing it."
"Have you tried telling her this?" Thea asked.
Petunia sighed, "Oh, I've tried. But they always trivialize their actions. 'I know you worked hard, sweetie, but magic must be so difficult; unlike anything we can imagine. I can't even fathom what their exams are like!' Mom and dad always assume I don't need any assuring because I'm normal so I fit in just fine, but maybe I didn't want to be normal."
"You wanted magic too, didn't you?" Thea asked quietly.
Petunia fell silent for a moment, staring down at the prancing unicorn on her plate, an imaginary wind blowing its mane majestically, "…I tried so hard to do what Lily could do, but nothing ever happened. It didn't matter how hard I wished, how much I believed in it, a seed remained a seed…it never bloomed…and nothing ever floated or glowed around me. Lily was the main character in a fairytale story, and I was the plainer, older sister, someone to stay in the background while she had her adventure."
"But you can have your own adventure," Simone assured her, "You don't need magic to be a part of the magical world and all it has to offer. Just look at Squibs."
"Squibs?"
Simone nodded, "They're non magic people born into all magic families. They can't make things fly or blossoms or anything and this is still as much their world as it is ours."
"Tell that to some of our classmates," Thea grumbled moodily, "Or my parents."
Simone rolled her eyes, "Yes, some purebloods have a stick up their bums when it comes to who belongs and blood purity, but really it's all bunk. Truth is, purebloods aren't even pure. Last I checked, plenty of us wizards descended from the Fae."
"The Fae?" Petunia questioned, "You mean like fairies," she looked down at the image on her plate.
Simone waved her hand flippantly at the picture, "Not like those, the real, ancient kind. Like ethereal human-like beings. They're where we got this superiority complex from; they were always dividing into groups. Most magic folk come from them. The natural born witches and wizards of our time usually married Fae folk in order to ensure they wouldn't lose the rare gift they were mysteriously born with. Fae magic is strong enough to pass on generations after any Fae existed."
"Eventually the Fae withdrew from this plane of existence, but their legacy lives on," Thea picked up where Simone left off, "Almost all purebloods are descended from them. It's believed that even muggleborns carry Fae in their bloodline; why else would magic that is normally inherited appear in a non magical family?"
"So you're saying I could have fairies in my bloodline?" Petunia asked, amazed.
Thea nodded, "Quite possibly."
Simone hummed in agreement, "So really all these pureblood fanatics are kidding themselves. Not a single one of them can say for sure that their bloodline is one hundred percent wizard and not mixed with anything else."
"The boys who attacked Lily were like that," Petunia said, "Fanatics. I never realized Lily had to deal with that at school."
"It was never this bad before," Simone admitted, "Even I was caught off guard when I heard. But I shouldn't be surprised; hate is a monstrous thing and it shows itself in many evil ways. And don't call them boys; there's nothing boyish about what they did. They'll be tried as men and they best get the toughest punishment."
"Here, here," Thea agreed.
"They better be," Petunia growled.
"I take it by your tone that recent events have softened your bitterness towards your sister?" Simone inquired.
"Yeah…" Petunia conceded after a short pause, "I didn't realize there were people like that at her school. I always thought she was living out some grand dream I didn't get to be a part of."
"But you are a part of it," Simone pointed out, "You're a part of a secret most muggles aren't. You can see and experience things most of them can only dream of. Could that girl who was picking on you today come to a place like this, eat biscuit softer and light than a cloud?"
"You're right," Petunia said, a bit of wind returning to her sails as that thought dawned on her, "She couldn't."
"In fact…come with me," Simone said suddenly, delicately placing her napkin down on the table with payment for their food and drink.
"Where are we going?" Petunia asked.
Simone took Petunia by the arm and guided her through the café, "To see something you've probably seen in your dreams."
Simone, Thea, and Petunia wandered up to Hostess where Simone requested to see the owner. The Hostess nodded and scurried away hurriedly.
The owner, a stout man in a much too tight set of dress robes, waddled over to them, eager to please.
"Is there something you need, Miss Serapeum?" He asked anxiously.
"The food was excellent as always, Munssen," Simone praised kindly.
"Oh Miss, you do flatter me," Munssen gushed with a bow.
"Now this is something I wanted to ask you," Simone continued.
Munssen nodded, his oily mustache flapping, "Anything, my dear."
Simone leaned forward and whispered something in the man's ear.
Munssen's eyes widened. Pulling back, he looked at Petunia then back at Simone before his face split into a smile, "Why yes of course. Right this way!"
Munssen headed towards the back of the café and Simone beckoned Petunia and Thea to follow.
"I rarely get to show muggles," Munssen said over his shoulder as they walked through the kitchen, "It's always a treat to see their faces light up. Like a child in a candy store!"
"Or Headmaster Dumbledore in one," Quipped Simone.
Munssen laughed, "Quite right, quite right. Here we are," he led them to a door at the back of the kitchen, pulling it open for them, "Right this way, ladies."
Stepping out the door, Petunia found herself outside in a small paddock fenced in by sanded wooden posts. The grass was green and dewy and the sky was a lovely blue. In the distance, she could see a pond twinkling in the sunlight.
"The door's enchanted," Simone explained, "If you walk around the back of the building, this paddock won't be there. You have to walk through that door to end up here."
"But why are we here," Petunia queried.
Simone smiled, looking ahead of them, "See for yourself."
Petunia followed Simone's gaze and felt all the air leave her lungs, her eyes growing as wide as saucers.
A beautiful white unicorn was walking out from the stable. Mane cascading done her neck and back like a silver waterfall, her coat shined white as snow and almost luminescent. Her horn was a masterpiece of spiraled bone, ending in a fine point and sparkled as the light bounced off it in the sun.
"Petunia, meet Radiance," Thea introduced.
"Is this adventurous enough for you?" Simone asked with a smirk, her arms crossed over her chest as she stood proudly.
Simply dumbfounded, Petunia could only nod mouth agape, lost for words.
Cautiously she took a step forward, and then another.
A twig snapped under her foot and the unicorn looked up, making Petunia gasp.
"Easy," Simone soothed, holding Petunia's shoulders to keep her steady, "Easy now. Just watch."
Radiance stared at them, a chewing disinterestedly on some grass. Her lavender eyes landed on Petunia and she paused.
"Keep still," Simone coached.
Radiance stared at Petunia for a bit, her head cocked to the side. Slowly, the magnificent creature began to move, carefully and gracefully moving across the grass as if she were floating.
Petunia could only stand there stunned as Radiance came to a stop mere inches from her, staring deeply into the gob smacked girl's eyes.
Radiance huffed out a puff of air and lowered her head.
"You can pet her," Simone whispered excitedly.
With some encouragement, Petunia reached out a trembling hand. Holding it above Radiance's head, she hovered there for a moment before a nudged from Simone prompted her to place it on the creature's muzzle.
Petunia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Wow," she breathed, her fingers sifting through the soft fur beneath her skin.
"You know how it is said that Unicorns would only appear to pure, young maidens? Well in reality, they usually only approach muggle girls," Simone stated in a whisper.
"Why's that?" Petunia asked in a daze.
Simone squeezed Petunia's shoulders in a friendly gesture. "Unicorns are proud beings; they bask in the glory that is themselves and wish others to do the same. For centuries, unicorns have been commonplace for Wizards; rare, but well known. Respected, but expected. Muggles, however…Unicorns take your very breath away…"
Petunia stroked Radiance's head, mystified and entranced as the gentle giant nuzzled her palm.
"Welcome to the wizarding world, Pet," Simone said quietly, "We're going to have lots more adventures."
Petunia turned to her, her hand not ceasing it's movements, "We are?"
"I like you, Pet," Simone stated with a smile, "You've got class, you're proper…and under all that is a feisty little attitude. I like it."
"Congratulations, Petunia," Thea said warmly, "You've got magical friends."
Petunia stared at them in shock. Slowly her face pulled into a soft smile, "I do, don't I?"
There you have it! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter as you can probably tell.
Petunia as a teen was a complex character in my opinion. She's overshadowed by her magical sister with parents who don't realize they are essentially making her feel less than average by trivializing muggle things in order to make their magical daughter feel special instead of different.
So I hope you loved this chapter.
Read and review! :)