July 1980- Petunia

Although Petunia was now awake and aware, she was still lost in a fog of sadness. She was surrounded by magic but barely noticed it; Vernon's death had taken all the colour out of her world. Mornings were the worst; waking up and remembering anew what had happened overwhelmed her in a jarring rush of grief and it took everything she had to get up. Few things appealed to her. She paid little attention to the enchanted portraits that adorned the walls of Potter Manor. She hardly tasted the food that Soosa the house elf brought to her. She could barely even rouse herself to be fascinated by the house elves that occasionally popped in and out of her room to attend to her needs. Even the books that Lily had carefully stocked her room with held little interest for her.

Through it all, however, Lily stayed by her side. She never forced Petunia to speak, instead opting to sit with her in silence, a comfortingly familiar presence. Even James, who had played dozens of stupid pranks on her when they were teenagers, was uncharacteristically kind to her.

'Bad luck, old thing,' he had said, awkwardly patting her on the shoulder. It wasn't the most eloquent of speeches, but Petunia appreciated it all the same.

She quietly reflected on the changes the war had brought about in her sister and her brother in law. They were more quiet, and serious. Lily was certainly kinder and less boastful. James had not played a single trick on her since she had come to stay. The war seemed to have given him purpose and direction. Strangely enough, it had brought out the best in both of them. She wondered if the war were to end soon, would they go back to their carefree selves?

Sometimes, the sisters would take quiet walks in the beautifully manicured gardens, and Petunia found herself asking about various plants and flowers. It gradually became easier to speak of commonplace things like the garden and the house; she could not yet talk about the loss of her child and husband. Her throat ached with tears that threatened to spill over, and stopped the words from coming out. Even asking after Lily's pregnancy was difficult, and Lily- to her credit- never pushed the subject. But the child- Petunia's niece or nephew- would be born soon, and she wanted to be there for her sister as Lily had been for her. Seeing the small nursery Lily and James had set up was difficult at first, but spying some of the baby books that had been Lily's brought back happy memories. While learning to read, Petunia had often read 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' and 'Rumpelstiltskin' to her little sister and had felt so grown up. She thought she might like reading to Lily's baby too, in this bright and airy room.

As the days passed, Petunia began to open up more to her sister and her new home. Once, she found herself laughing with Lily over an old childhood joke, but stopped abruptly, feeling guilty. How could she laugh, when Vernon was dead?

Lily noticed her silence. 'What's wrong, Petunia? Are you alright?'

'It feels wrong to feel anything but sad,' confessed Petunia, a tear slipping down her cheek. 'It feels like a betrayal to Vernon and mum and dad to laugh when they're gone.'

'Oh Tuney,' said Lily, reaching to hug her, 'I don't think anyone who ever loved you would begrudge you any happiness. I never met Vernon but I know he loved you, and I don't think he would want you to feel sad forever. It's okay to be happy again.'

Petunia nodded, her eyes filled with tears. Perhaps it really was alright to let herself heal.

July 31st 1980- Lily

Lily woke up feeling irritated, her back aching terribly. The night before, she and James had had an argument- he wanted to go out to the pub with Sirius, since he had some free time. Voldemort's death eaters had been less active lately and James was bored and restless. But Lily was nearing her due date and the baby could arrive at any time. This wasn't a time for James to be away from home if he could help it. It had turned into a silly row with foolish insults being thrown back and forth- he said she was too smothering, she replied that he was a child- and eventually James had stormed out. She had awoken to a cold and empty bed; he hadn't returned.

'Good morning Euphemia, Fleamont. Have either of you heard from James?' Lily hated pulling James' parents into their squabble, but she was worried. She was still annoyed at Euphemia for suggesting that she abandon her sister. Although her mother in law had not said anything more on the subject, Lily was careful about what she said to her.

'No, of course not. Have you two had a fight?' asked Euphemia, sipping her tea out of a delicate china cup.

'Oh no… he just went out with Sirius last night and hasn't come back,' said Lily airily, trying to mask her displeasure, 'and I'm not feeling quite well, I do wish he wouldn't leave when it's so close to the due date.'

'I'm sure you're fine, the baby won't come for a few weeks. Why, James was a whole month late!' claimed Euphemia, waving her hand dismissively. 'Really, you mustn't try to control him like that Lily, it will only cause problems.'

'Boys will be boys! I'm sure he will turn up soon,' grinned Fleamont, carelessly buttering a piece of toast.

Lily gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile and nod. She excused herself to lie down as her cramps and backache intensified. She was curled up in pain when she heard Petunia entering the room.

'Lily! Are you alright?' asked Petunia, gently shaking her.

'It hurts, everything hurts,' groaned Lily. Suddenly, she felt her robes soaked with a wet warmth. Her water had broken.

'Oh my goodness, I think you might be having the baby!' shrieked Petunia in alarm, and rushed off, calling for Soosa.

Minutes later, the house elf appeared at Lily's side and she whimpered at her to fetch the healer and James. Healer Crowe arrived through the floo downstairs and hurried to Lily's room where she confirmed that Lily was in labour and that the baby was coming quickly.

Soosa popped back in, looking distressed and Lily could hear her whispering to Petunia that she had found James with Sirius, both drunk and passed out. Lily was in too much pain to care, and called for her sister who dutifully stood at her side and held her hand. Pain blinded her as her contractions intensified and Healer Crowe cast several pain relieving spells, but even those could do only so much. She squeezed poor Petunia's hand and cried out fruitlessly for James.

Finally, with one last push, a welcome cry sounded. Lily's baby, a little boy, was here. Healer Crowe handed her the squirming bundle and she gazed into his green eyes, a reflection of her own.

'Harry… we'll call him Harry,' she whispered to Petunia, who was sitting next to her on the bed.

'After dad?' murmured Petunia, her voice shaking a little.

'Yes… Harry Potter,' smiled Lily, stroking the baby's face.

'Hello, Harry,' said Petunia softly, gazing at her father's namesake.

Lily was happy; her sister, who she had long given up on, was by her side, and her baby was in her arms. The only flaw in her beautiful picture was James' absence.

October 1980- Petunia

The months that followed Harry's birth saw James redeeming himself by becoming the most attentive father and doting husband he could be. He was very contrite about missing Harry's birth, and after Lily berated him to her satisfaction, he was somewhat forgiven. Petunia smiled as she observed her brother in law rushing around, trying to get Lily to lie down as much as possible, changing nappies and trying to learn as much as he could about babies from the new nursemaid house elf, Topsy. He even held his tongue when it came to the name Lily had given their baby.

'"Harry"? Are you sure Lilyflower? Wouldn't you prefer a more… regal name? Perhaps say, after MY father, Fleamont?' started James tentatively.

'Harry is perfectly regal! It was my dad's name! Are you saying my dad wasn't a regal person?' wailed Lily in response, her eyes dramatically brimming with fake tears.

'Of course he was!' James assured her frantically, desperately attempting to avoid the dog house again. 'Harry is a wonderful name! I can't think of a better one!'

Petunia and Lily had a good giggle at his discomfort and all seemed well at Potter Manor. Indeed, James, Lily and Harry made the perfect family, and Petunia sometimes wondered if she was intruding. She tried to sidle out of the rooms to give them space, and prepared herself to be the lonely soul she was as a child, the uncomfortable fourth addition to her family's cozy trio. But her younger sister wouldn't let her. Lily insisted on her presence and company and would pull her into conversations and asked for her opinion and guidance frequently. Petunia would sadly remind her that she wasn't a mother… what advice could she possibly give? And Lily would point out that she had a degree in teaching children, and Harry was a child, so she must know something!

As Harry got a bit older, Lily became more willing to leave him in the care of Petunia and Topsy when she and James went on Order meetings. As she held her nephew in her arms, Petunia thought with pain of the child she had lost and who she would never hold or see. But whenever Harry gazed at her with his big green eyes, and babbled to her in his baby language, Petunia felt the hole in her heart heal just a little bit more. And when her sister hugged her and told her how much her help meant to her, Petunia's spirits lifted. A little magic had trickled into her world.

AN: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed so far! Let me know what you thought of this update, and look out for the next chapter next week!