Chapter 6: Dumbledore's Visit
After being granted permission by Eileen to visit the Evans residence to meet Professor Dumbledore, Lily practically dragged Severus to her house.
On the way, Severus felt mixed negative feelings of dread, hesitation and guilt. He knew full well that Petunia would not be able to attend Hogwarts nor be able to learn magic. He also felt he was mostly to blame as he had dragged out false hopes in order to maintain her sibling bond with Lily. Worst of all was the idea of facing an alternate version of the man whom turned him into a spy against Voldemort by means of his undying love for Lily. He was the man who used him to keep Harry Potter safe, only to learn the boy was meant to die all along…the man who died at Severus' hand, albeit under his orders. He still held a strong resentment towards the original Dumbledore, but couldn't help but feel grateful as it was he who recommended to the Higher Ones that he should relive his life in a different universe.
He then started to cling onto the hope that Petunia may still have some hope yet.
After all, history had altered in this universe on some things. Tobias died early, his grandparents emerged into his life and Eileen was now a much happier individual. There was always a chance that Petunia's life could change for the better and if somehow going to Hogwarts would keep her happy with Lily, then that's what should be given to her. He could only hope.
Soon they reached Lily's house and entered.
Petunia was pacing in impatience and nervousness. Her parents were sat at the table in the kitchen watching her.
"Hello, Severus." greeted Rose warmly.
"Come to see the big man himself?" asked Trevor cheerily.
"Yes, sir, ma'am." replied Severus quietly.
"Oh, do call us Trev and Rose." chuckled Rose. "You're more than welcome, Severus."
Severus nodded, but knew that would take some getting used to. He never managed to do so in his past life so far as he could remember.
The remaining time before Dumbledore's arrival passed insufferably slowly. Petunia wouldn't stop pacing and no amount of soothing words from Lily and Rose had any effect on her. Nor would they have effect after the meeting, thought Severus.
Ten minutes prior to the time of the meeting, Trevor Evans directed Severus into the living room and closed the door. This gave Severus very haunting memories of his father beating him, but not before shutting a door behind them, even though he had no intention of being discreet. But as it was the kindly Mr Evans doing this, he felt slightly more at ease.
"Severus." he said in a very serious tone. "Between you and I only, do you really think this Professor Dumbledore fellow will give Petunia a place at Hogwarts and the opportunity to learn to become a witch?"
Severus was unsure how to answer, but looking at the solemn look on Trevor's face, he decided it would be best to tell the truth.
"No, sir- Trevor, sir. I mean…" He paused to sooth his nerves. "No, Trev. I don't think so. If Petunia was capable of magic, she'd have gotten her letter by now. If you don't have magic, you cannot just learn to use it. It's in the blood, sir. The fact that Lily has it is only chance. I'm sorry, Trev, but I think Professor Dumbledore is coming here to let Petunia down gently."
Trevor inhaled deeply and sighed in despondency, then nodded several times to show he understood completely.
"Did you know all this before you encouraged her to write the letter to him?"
"Yes, sir…I probably shouldn't have given her false hopes…but…Lily and Petunia's relationship was falling apart cos Lily had magic and she didn't. When I thought of her asking a wizard teacher for help, she and Lily had hope…I just didn't want them to fall out forever because I came along and told Lily she was a witch." Severus lowered his head, his hair covering his shamed face.
The next thing he knew was that Trevor had gently pulled him into a warm embrace, gently so as to show enough tact not to force him into physical contact, considering the abusive relationship with Tobias. For all Trevor knew, Tobias may have done much worse than beating Severus…
Severus responded to the hug awkwardly.
"Thank you, Severus." said Trevor quietly.
"What for?"
"For trying to keep our daughters happy despite they're being none of your business. You could have left Petunia to wallow in that self-pity, but instead you gave her hope, and a person who fully understands magic to help her come to terms with the fact that she is not like Lily."
Severus looked at Trevor and was just about to speak, what he knew not, when the doorbell rang and his heart leapt in fear. Would Dumbledore somehow remember him? Would he be able to see his memories? He had to avoid eye contact with him, and besides, this visit was for Petunia's benefit, not his.
Rose hastened from the kitchen to the door, and opened it. She could barely comprehend the man before her. He was wearing a business suit, but he looked far from a man who'd wear one. His beard was tucked into his belt, his eyes twinkled jet blue and he had a very warm, friendly smile, quite unlike the stiff-lipped, stern and anti-social businessmen she regularly saw in busy streets and town centres.
"I believe you are the mother of a Miss Petunia and a Miss Lily Evans?" assumed the man.
"Yes, and, uh, I take it that you must be Professor Albus Dumbledore?" replied Rose uneasily.
"Indeed so, Mrs Evans. May I come in?" asked Dumbledore kindly.
"Oh, of course!" Rose hastened to let him in and shut the door.
Dumbledore entered the kitchen, invited in by Lily. Rose, Severus and Trevor followed up behind, Severus looking as uncomfortable as he had before. Petunia was now seated at the table, looking very worried, her thumbs twiddling with unease and apprehension.
"Please have a seat, Professor." offered Rose. "And would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please, Mrs Evans. Much obliged." replied Albus cheerfully as he took his seat next to the shaking Petunia.
As Rose made the tea, Trevor, Lily and Severus sat down too, Lily was next to Petunia and stopped her twiddling hands and held one, rubbing it with her thumb, in hopes of soothing her sister's spirits.
Eventually, once everyone was seated, Dumbledore, whom had been admiring the kitchen like it was a tourist attraction, cleared his throat.
"As you know, I am here concerning this letter that was sent to me by your daughter, Petunia, Mr and Mrs Evans." he said.
They nodded in the affirmative.
"Well, it says in this letter about how your younger daughter, Lily Evans, has shown signs of being a Muggle-born witch, and now Petunia has expressed the desire to become a witch too, and she asked me if there was a way for her to come to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn magic." went on Dumbledore.
They all nodded again, listening carefully.
"Petunia." He turned to her with a look that showed to her clearly that she was going to be deeply disappointed. "Magic is something that cannot simply be taught to Muggles. If that were the case, witches and wizards wouldn't be secret and hidden. We would share our gifts eagerly, as I wish Lily and I could for you. But as it cannot be taught, I'm afraid I cannot offer you a place at Hogwarts, much to, I hasten to add, with regret."
"B-but Lily was a Muggle, and she has magic! Why can't I?" Petunia was strongly holding off the urge to burst into tears. She still wasn't comfortable to show her emotions in front of Severus, nor this new stranger.
"Muggle-born witches gain their magic from chance, Petunia." explained Dumbledore. "One has to be born with magic in their genes. The fact that Lily has it and you do not is pure chance, and I am sorry you clearly feel so left out of the magical world."
"No." sobbed Petunia, but still resisting the evidently visible tears from escaping her eyes. "No. It's not fair. Lily was always the better one of us! She had the prettiest looks, the better hair, the most loved…and now I can't even share her talents! We're sisters! We should share! But she won't and can't! It's just not fair!"
She gave up and the tears poured.
Lily still clung to her right hand while she buried her face in the left. Lily was hurt by those words, but the fact that Petunia didn't recoil and take her hand away gave her hope that it was just an angry outburst and things would get better. But seeing her sister cry so freely and so mournfully indicated that things would not be getting better any time soon.
Trevor and Rose, for the first time, clearly saw how Petunia felt. They never meant for her to feel that they loved her less than they did Lily. That was never their intent. They never realized. But thinking back, it seemed quite an understandable assumption. They had always shown pride in Lily's special talents and her beauty. Rose couldn't even remember the last time she complimented Petunia as affectionately. She felt so remorseful and she rushed from her chair to embrace her eldest daughter.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart." she sobbed.
"Petunia, we love you just as much as Lily. We don't think less of you because Lily is a witch. You're our first born! You will always be a special girl to us, our first special girl! Being our first is what makes you special! We are all special in our own way." added Trevor grimly.
Severus slipped into the living room, pale and trying not to hyperventilate. His stringing Petunia along and Dumbledore's revelation nearly and could still ruin everything between Lily and Petunia. He was sure it was all his fault.
Back in the kitchen, Dumbledore waited patiently for the tears to cease and for the family's embrace and reconciliation to disperse.
Once they did, though Petunia was still sobbing, Dumbledore spoke again.
"I once again offer my most humble apologies for not giving you the answer you wanted, Miss Evans. And I do so wish you all the best in the life you were blessed with. But I promise you that not being a witch does not by any means alienate you from the Wizarding World. Through Lily, you will still experience wonderful things. I highly recommend you accompany your sister on her first visit to Diagon Alley. And on that note, Miss Evans, could I speak to you privately outside, please?"
He was gesturing to Lily at this last sentence, and Lily reluctantly released her sister's hand and followed Dumbledore into the hall, closing the kitchen door behind them.
"I decided to give you this in person since I was here." said Dumbledore with a smile still on his face, but a deep sympathy evident in his blue eyes.
He fished out a letter from his inside pocket and handed it to Lily.
"You needn't open it until your eleventh birthday." said Dumbledore. "It is your letter inviting you to attend Hogwarts. It will also show a list of all the essentials you will need, which you can collect in Diagon Alley."
Lily took the letter and tucked it into her own pocket, barely registering it.
"Is there truly no hope for Petunia coming with me?" she asked feebly.
"Sadly, no, Miss Evans." sighed Dumbledore. "Trust me, I would love to tell you both otherwise, but it is sadly what it is. Without magic in her blood, your sister cannot attend a school she would be next to hopeless in."
Lily wanted to snap at him for giving her a letter that emphasised her own ability to go to Hogwarts. A letter that she so wanted Dumbledore to give to Petunia right now, not to her yet. But there would be no use in it.
"Thank you for coming here, Professor. I think telling her this in person was the best thing." she mumbled.
"I believe so too." smiled Dumbledore softly. "I shall take my leave now. I doubt my presence will help your sister any, and your parents need to focus on her more than seeing me out. I look forward to seeing you at Hogwarts, Miss Evans. And of course, your young friend in the living room. Tell me, who might he be?"
"Severus Snape." replied Lily. "My friend. He was the one who told us I was a witch."
"He certainly seems fond of you and your sister. He seemed to be under some distress upon my arrival. Perhaps he knew the outcome of this meeting prior to its beginning. He seems quite a reflective young boy. Tell him I wish him luck at Hogwarts too."
"Thank you, sir. I will." replied Lily.
Dumbledore nodded thankfully when Lily kindly opened the front door for him. He bowed before his exit, gave Lily one last twinkle in his blue eyes and vanished right in front of her.
Meanwhile, Severus stood with his ear to the door. He had heard everything that was said between Dumbledore and Lily. He was worried.
Dumbledore saw through his dread. Though this was not entirely surprising, as Severus was nine and still was unable to fully conceal his emotions, even though he more or less remembered how to. If Lily realized this; that he knew Petunia would be rejected, would she hate him? Her father may have understood why he did it, but could he expect a nine-year-old girl to understand why he suggested her sister to write a letter, despite knowing the answers would not be what she wanted? After all, she couldn't understand that his calling her a Mudblood was a spur of the moment piece of anger that he never meant to come out of his mouth, and back then, she was sixteen. Not far off from being of legal wizarding age…and she left him behind. He felt certain that Lily would leave him if she knew.
Another thing Dumbledore said that had puzzled him was that he cared for Lily and Petunia. He cared for Petunia?
Back in his first life, he had never shown the slightest interest or concern in Petunia or her feelings. He didn't care as she was only a Muggle in his eyes, a piece of filth, just like his father, whom relished in tormenting him for his appearance. But now it was different. He did all that he did so far because he wanted Lily to be happier this time. He wanted her and Petunia to reconcile. Surely that meant that he didn't care for Petunia. He only did it for Lily.
But then again, said a voice in his head, don't you wish to be Lily's husband one day in this alternative future? That would make her your sister by marriage…you have to care for her.
And Severus knew then, that he did have to care. He had to care for Petunia Evans, and never lose his temper with her, nor judge her, nor taunt, retaliate or ignore her and her feelings. It was then that he comprehended at last, that he and Petunia had to be friends.
With Petunia's friendship and Lily's potential lack of friendship set thick in his skull, Severus could think nothing more than fleeing the Evans residence.
As luck would have it, he heard the consoling voice of Lily coming from the kitchen. She went back to Petunia after escorting Dumbledore out. He had his chance.
Severus slipped quietly from the living room, and dared a brief glance into the kitchen.
He saw Lily hugging Petunia, her back to him. Petunia showed no sign of wanting Lily to let go of her. Trevor was sitting in his chair, looking thoughtfully at his girls. Rose was stroking her elder daughter's hair, whispering consoling words. The only person who noticed Severus sneaking to the front door was Petunia. His hand froze on the door here.
He and Petunia looked at each other. Petunia looked confused, as well as hurt. Her eyes were bloodshot with tears.
Severus felt his guilt surge even more. He mouthed slowly to Petunia; "I'm sorry" and he slipped silently out of the front door, pulling it slowly to a close and made his way back past the park and to the streets of Spinner's End, towards his own home, craving nothing more than the soothing embrace and reassuring words of his mother.
So here it is! Chapter 6 updated early! Chapter 7 will be updated on Thursday or Friday. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review! Thank you!