Last time: Severus boarded plane; had a memory of past events of when Itachi brought him two books. At Hogwarts his presence is missing, but not orderly perceived yet as being gone; gone. Samuel and Albus Dumbledore received the transactions Severus asked to be delivered to them.

Chapter 3: Enter, Petunia

Petunia Evans was an ordinary average Jane. There was nothing special about her. She wasn't like her sister, Lily. She didn't get complimented for her looks or her progress rather it was academically or not. Her eyes being a similar green to her sisters, but not quite as vibrant were dull in comparison.

Her parents always fawned over Lily. It was unnatural! Why couldn't they see her? So, what if she couldn't do that freaky magic? Shouldn't she be able to be praised even just for the tiniest of things? But, no, no, she wasn't praised. Not by them.

Not by her own sister, Lily.

You read that right, Lily so engrossed in performing magic – turning teacups into rats- didn't even see her own older sister. Heck, she didn't even talk the infamous girl time! You know where sisters' talk about the hot guy, or the jock of the school. Yea; that was said to their mother, but not her. She may be one month older than her little sister, but that stung.

Petunia entered the house; sitting on the street of Cokeworth that pretty little yellow house-well, yes, but to Petunia who entered the home it was miserable prison.

"I'm home," she uttered, closing the door. Mr. and Mrs. Evans looked up, but only nodded in acknowledgement not uttering a single welcome back to Petunia.

With a quiet disappointed sigh, Petunia headed up the stairs just as a tawny owl flew in landing on the table.

"Honey! An owl! Lily sent a letter!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed excitedly. Mr. Evans jolted up placed down his newspaper.

"Well, open it. What does it say?"

"Give me a second, Harold!"

That same reaction again. It was the same every time rather Lily was home, or not.

Harold Evans huffed with a grunt. His wife finally opened the letter.

"Come, here, Tuney-how she hated that nickname! "Let's see, what your sister say," all smiles. Smile that held pride and joy, a smile that wasn't directed at her, but for Lily.

"I have homework."

"Don't take that tone with your mother, young lady! If you were like your sister, Lily..

"Harold! She just need to do her homework. No need to compare her to our talented Lily."

That stung; no, that hurt. They said this once before when Lily received her Hogwarts letter, but hearing it was the same result. The feeling of neglect, the feeling she was just a shadow of her sister. Like, like she didn't matter. Well, of course she didn't! What parents would ignore- not giving a single praise- their eldest daughter and pay attention to the youngest just because she could do magic?

Apparently that was her parents.

"No, I'm not Lily and I don't want to be!" She hissed nastily, stomping up the stairs to her room. Slamming her door shut, Petunia plopped on her bed and screamed into her pillow.

Harold grunted, "Needs a good wallop she does." He spread letter for both of them to see.

After reading it..

"Well, it about time. That kid was no good."

"Harold!"

"It true, Camellia. Don't deny it, you think so as well."

Mrs. Evans now know as Camellia bit her lip frowning. Yes, she had to agree with her husband. That boy Severus Snape was trouble it's a good Lily isn't friends with him anymore. "Yes, I supposed your right. It for the best -what with his household.." she trailed off.

Harold nodded as if to say exactly. A household was were kids picked up habits that could travel to other places and vice versa, and that Snape boy lived in a home that wasn't suitable for their Lily.

"let's write back, dear."

Harold went to get a piece of paper and a pen; coming back a few minutes later with mentioned items.

Dear, Lily..

As her parents were writing the letter, Petunia sat up in her bed hugging her pillow. She dully looked around the plain room that was so different from Lily magical one no doubt. It was plain; simply plain. Ordinary just like her.

She sluggishly got up from the bed, opening her window to let some air in. She nearly trip over as another one those came-an owl. What, did her sister sent a letter with another one those creatures?

Said creature held out its talon; hooted lightly. Paling a bit, Petunia shakily took letter from the owl and looked at it. The name was Petunia in neat script. It wasn't Lily's hand writing that much was certain. It was too neat, way to neat and felt something else was inside.

So even with a little bit of trepidation, Petunia unfolded the letters contents; a tiny box fell from the envelop..

Dear Petunia,

Highly unlikely you would have ever received a letter from me, but circumstances occurred where it was time one of us grew up. By the time you read this; I'll be gone from here. Not even Lily will be able to give answers if you ask; our friendship is over. I..

On first Petunia wondered who, but reading just that sentence alone she knew it was from that no-good boy. However, what was this? Gone? Friendship over.. if Petunia cared she might felt sorry for the so called best friends. Unfortunately; at the moment she didn't. There was more to the letter so she continued to read.

Yes, shocking as you remember me claiming we would be best friends forever. Well, that isn't the case; enough of her. I'm writing to you, Petunia to apologize for my ways. I treated you badly because you weren't like us-magical. But, if you ask me if I knew my life would be hell both at home and the magical school...I would've preferred to be normal. This is quite hard to say, but I'll go out and say it...

To say Petunia was floored would be an understatement. That boy- no Snape apologized for being a freak to her, was saying normal was better! Did hell freeze over ? No, no it didn't. There was more.

Magic is making the ordinary, extraordinary. Petunia, being ordinary is its own magic. You may not do what a witch can, but you can turn yourself into something beyond normal. Live not in Lily's shadow, but your own. Enclosed is small box.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape

Well, Petunia thought as she reread the letter repeatedly just to make sure some spell didn't zap out from it; this seemed odd, but refreshing. Magic was freakish, but he complimented her within said letter about her just being normal. Sure it mentioned, it mentioned her show-off sister... Of course she had to come up with a response. That was the way apologies worked, or she could be a bitch about it and do nothing. However, Petunia pursed her lips should she forgive him for that branch incident that nearly could have killed her?

Making up her mind; Petunia opened the box, gasping. For inside was a moonstone pearled necklace. Ok, so it was something expensive, something that wasn't magical-possibly- Petunia stopped in her whirlwind of thoughts long enough to notice the note inside box. The onte wasn't much just told her she didn't have to return it. Taking the necklace out carefully between her fingers she gasped. No way! No way were these real pearls and moonstone! No way, but ..

"I better reply to Snape."

Placing the necklace back she closed the box and tuck it carefully within her desk drawl; took out a piece of paper and ink pen; plopping on her bed she sat to write a reply.

The owl sat rooted in same spot it landed: the window.

Meanwhile, while Petunia began writing up her response her parents just finished writing theirs to Lily; however, just as that owl took off another appeared. Perhaps it was from one of Lily's teachers they thought. Unfortunately, it was not. This brown owl that flew in held a letter and a puch to its talon.

"Not, Lily again, or a teacher, dear."

Harold grunt. "Well, lets see what it says then."

Dear Evans family,

Thank you so much for your hospitality. Unfortunately; there is no clear way to repay you both so I hope you accept my sincere thanks.

sincerely,

S.S

The owl once the items were taken from its talons took off.

Camellia curiously opened the pouch, only to reveal -she gasped. "Honey, look! Your grandfather's watch!" Harold eyes bulged out. That watch he threw it in the trash because it shattered one afternoon when he carelessly..

Harold took the watch out of the bag and blinked. Well, he be damned it wasn't broken it worked. He glanced up when he heard his wife gasped again. What was it?

Camellia looked closed to tears. Her mother's tiara passed down from her grandmother. Camellia breathed in then out she thought she lost this forever when Lily aged eight decided to play with it. That was before she displayed any forms of magic. How did that boy- Of course Lily must have told him. This was a replica, most likely, but...

"Harold I think we were wrong about that boy."

Indeed they were and now felt guilty. Just slightly mind you, but one judgment couldn't be deterred so easily by old gifts. But, the gifts and the letter that sounded like farewell..

"Perhaps, but perhaps not. We may never know. We can ask Lily in two weeks since she be home."

Anything to washed away the small part of their mind that knew they were being jerks.

"Yes, no point in sending a letter yet. And, asking Lily in another letter would just be a waste."

Camellia nodded agreeing with her husband and besides the owl was long gone. Taking their items and letter they headed up to their room were they relaxed for the night.

Petunia sighed finished. Finally, she read letter once more before giving it to the owl- it took flight as soon as she hooked it to its talon. Petunia stretched and exit her room heading to the bathroom for a nice warm bath.

Severus sighed wondering if the Evans family received the letters yet. He had them sent off the night before he left Hogwarts. It was perfect timing to send them as if he did so while leaving it would cause some suspicion. He looked around pausing to smile like a loon as he heard Itachi's voice.

"Severus."

Severus jogged over towards Itachi who nodded in greting, taking Severus shoulder and vanishing away fromt he airport. When they landed they were by a cave rock tunnel.

"Stay close, and remember this passage, Severus."

Severus nodded doing as Itachi requested. It was pitched black, but as torches lit aflame Severus could see two tunnels that resembled a path road. Quickly following Itachi step by step he swiftly found himself venturing the second tunnel entrance eyes wide as torches lit; zigzag bridge that didn't quite seem to connect

"Itachi- he was tossed over the elder man back.

"Traps everywhere. If take wrong step you be done for. Another time I'll show you the route to avoid them."

All Severus could do before Itachi took off in a blur was nod his head.

TBC. I know short and barely had Severus appear. However; he met with Itachi and is being led somewhere, but where is Itachi taking him, hum? Hope you enjoyed :D

Poll closed. Edit as best as I could : 3/17/2020