Petunia Durlsey sighed softly as she watched her niece through the kitchen window. It had been a month since Amelia had shown up on her doorstep asking for a place to stay. At first she was confused as to why her niece had wanted to until she had looked into her niece's emerald green eyes and saw the pain and hopelessness shining in them. It was at that moment that she knew that the war against the man that had taken her sister and her husband's lives had taken more out of her niece than anything that she had ever been through before. So she had done the only thing she could do, she stepped aside and invited her niece to stay as long as she wanted.
Ever since the day after she had arrived and she had sat down with Dudley and Amelia and they had apologized and offered to start fresh, she had seen sides of her niece that she had never noticed before. Her niece had a quiet strength about her that drew people in, her compassionate heart for those less fortunate blinded her, she was more forgiving than anyone she had ever met and her loyalty to family and her friends...well that something else entirely.
Though with all that Amelia was, she could see the pain of the betrayal's of one her friends and the man she had considered her mentor, she could see the weariness from being forced to fight in a war that she had wanted no part of. She could see how tired emotionally and mentally and yes even physically her niece had become from always having things thrust upon her shoulders and from the losses she had personally suffered during the war. The only thing that even brought a smile to her niece's face was her godson when she would be visiting him or Andi would bring him over for her to see and spend time with him and today was one of those days.
Turning around she carried the tray consisting of her teapot and four teacups into the living room where Andromeada or Andi as she liked to be called waited conversing quietly with Dudley and Hermione her niece's best friend. Sitting it down on the coffee table she made quick work of getting a cup ready for everyone before sitting on the couch and turning to Hermione.
"How is she doing Petunia? She hasn't said much to me but I am worried about her." Hermione questioned softly.
Exchanging a look with Dudley she sighed softly before take a sip of her tea. "To be honest, not well. Her nightmare's keep her up almost every night, I too am worried but I just don't how to help her and with everyone at your ministry wanting her to become an Auror and always asking her advice among other things..." She trailed off not needing to continue knowing the other three people there knew exactly what she was hinting at.
"Your right of course, for so long she has acted as the escape goat for the Wizarding World. If something went wrong it was Amelia's fault, if something went well she was praised and they keep asking more and more of her." Hermione sighed as she set her teacup on the table.
Andi and Dudley both nodded before Andi spoke up adding her own thoughts. "We all wish there was something that could be done. She refuses to fight anymore dark witches and wizards which is why she has yet to take up the minister's offer of becoming an Auror which is causing a slight uproar within the magical community. To be honest if she doesn't find a way to get out of Britain soon I fear they will force her into it."
"If only there was someplace far away from here that she could go to get away for awhile and to heal. That honestly is all she needs. Even after all these months she is still hurting from everything that she had to deal with during our Hogwart's years and then when Voldemort came back, she has never had the chance to deal with all the grief and guilt that she feels.." Hermione pursed her lips as she trailed off.
"Does she not know anybody? What of Fleur Hermione? Wouldn't her family take Amelia in?" Andi questioned.
"I'm sure they would but she needs to get away from the Wizarding World completely, with no way for them to contact her." Came the soft reply as Hermione rubbed her fingers against her temple's.
Dudley who had been quiet up until that point looked at his mother with curiosity burning his blue eyes. "What about Japan mum?"
Petunia who had been staring into her teacup looked up sharply at her son. "You can't be suggesting what I think you are Dudley!"
"Well why not? Have you not spoken to her since then?" He asked his mother his head tipping to the side.
"Yes of course but I don't think she would really take Amelia in. She hasn't seen Amelia since she was born, I don't even know if she is still alive." Petunia replied.
"She is."
A blonde eyebrow rose slightly at the tone of confidence that her son said that in. "You've been in contact with her haven't you?"
Sighing Dudley leaned back in the chair as he stared at his mother before moving his gaze to Hermione then Andi. "The person we are talking about is my other aunt, she left to explore the world after she graduated and she met her husband while visiting a shrine in Japan. They fell in love and married shortly before I was born."
"Wait wait wait, you have another aunt out there and Amelia doesn't know?" Hermione questioned.
Closing her eyes Petunia too set her teacup down before opening her eyes and looking at the petite brunette that her son fancied. "We do. The only reason I have yet to tell Amelia is because before I was unable to due to Vernon. He disliked the fact that my other sister married someone from Japan and forbade me from interacting with her. She came to visit shortly after both Dudley and Amelia were born, I met both her and Lily at a cafe in London and told her that I would not be able to keep in touch with her and when she questioned why...well let's just say that she was not happy about it. We ended up arguing and I left and didn't speak to her until she contacted me when Amelia was ten and her oldest was eight to let me know that her husband had passed away."
"I see...so why haven't you told Amelia now that Vernon is no longer here?" Hermione questioned.
Dudley spoke up then. "Because up until a month ago Amelia wasn't speaking with us. I have been meaning to tell her but wanted to run it by mum first." At this he turned his gaze back on his mother. "She knows that the war is over and that Amelia is alive, she's been asking to meet her mum."
Petunia closed her eyes as she took a breath then let it out before opening them again. "Go call her in here Dudley. I think your right, she needs to know and maybe if she is agreeable, we can arrange to get her to Japan without using magical means to do so."
Dudley said nothing as he stood and left the room to get his cousin and her godson.
Andi looked at Petunia for a moment before speaking. "You shouldn't keep holding onto the past Petunia it does you no good you know that right?"
Petunia nodded as she looked at her hands. "I know but it's hard. I see how Amelia is and I can't help but wonder if I had just done what I wanted to from the start and didn't let my grief and anger and hatred consume me that she wouldn't have had an easier time of it. The same for my sister, she shed her birth name and changed it to Hitomi when she married because she wanted to leave her life here in England behind and I resented that. I didn't want to lose touch with her not with me on the outs with Lily but I let my resentment and fear control my actions. I have never met my niece and nephew from her marriage though I have seen what they look like."
"I understand but it's time to let the past go. You have a chance to reconcile with your sister and to introduce Amelia to the rest of her family, you both deserve this chance you know." Hermione said placing her hand on Petunia's.
"What if Amelia doesn't forgive me for keeping this from her? There was so many time's that she questioned me about our family and I ignored her, what if she resents me for keeping it from her?" Petunia questioned obviously worried about what her niece would think.
"That won't happen Auntie." At Amelia's soft voice they all turned to see her standing in the doorway with Teddy propped up on a hip.
"Amelia?"
Smiling softly Amelia entered the room and took teddy over to the blanket that was spread out in the corner with his toys and sat him down on it before joining her aunt and her best friend on the couch. "I won't resent you for keeping something like this from me. I understand and Andi is right aunt, it's time to let the past lie there."
Petunia stared at her niece for a moment before she tentatively smiled. "Thank you Mia. I am sorry I kept that knowledge from you for so long."
Amelia shrugged as she rested her chin in her hand. "It's okay. Just the fact that I have another aunt and two more cousin's out there is more than I could have hoped for. So you all want to tell me what you were all talking about that ended up exposing this fact or what?" She questioned as she looked at the four of them.
The four of them shared a look between them before Petunia turned fully to focus on her niece. "We were talking about the stuff you have had to deal with since the end of the war as well as what happened since returning to that world Amelia. The truth of the matter is, you haven't fully coped with everything that happened and with the Wizarding World pressuring you to help round up all those that followed that madman we don't think you ever will."
Amelia tilted her head for a moment before nodding her head agreeing with them. The truth was they were right, she wasn't coping very well and the pressure was getting to her, she just wanted to get away from it all. Looking around at the concerned faces of those she cared about caused a warmth to settle in her chest, she knew she wasn't alone and while she was thankful for that she knew that it wasn't enough to counteract all she had been put through.
"Mia we were talking about possibly getting you to Japan to get away from everything for awhile. We know it won't be easy but maybe a change of scenery will help you come to terms with everything and help you move past it all." Hermione spoke up her brown eyes showing concern for her friend.
Amelia looked at Teddy as she thought about it. It would be nice to get out of Britain for once, to see someplace that she had never been before and this would give her a chance to meet her other aunt and her two cousins. She had to admit she was curious about why her aunt had left everything behind but that was something she could find out once she got to know the rest of her family. The downside would mean not seeing Teddy while she was gone and the one thing she never wanted to do was not be there for her godson like Sirius wasn't for her.
"What about Teddy? Me leaving means I won't be around for him, I don't want to do that to him." Amelia said as she looked at Andi.
Andi smiled softly. She understood what she was saying but she also knew that once Amelia was where she could fully let go of everything she would be back and devoted to her grandson. "You aren't abandoning him Amelia, you are taking time for yourself to heal and when you get back I know that you'll be in a better place to care for him and I know that is something that you want."
Again all Amelia could do was nod in agreement because it was true. She did want to be in a better place than she was now to be able to care for Teddy like he deserved so with that thought in mind she agreed to travel to Japan but only if her other aunt wanted her to visit. With that agreement made, Petunia quickly set about writing her sister offering her apologies for her actions all those years ago and asking if it was too late to reconcile and if she wouldn't mind letting Amelia staying there due to needing to get away from all the pressure she was under from her world and all the things she had to deal with over the last eight years.
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent talking about different things and Amelia playing with Teddy and showering the boy with as much love as she could.
Hitomi raised an eyebrow as she shuffled through the mail after returning home from the store and her eyes landed on the address of her sister's. Curious she set the rest of the mail aside as she sat down at the table and proceeded to open the letter to see what her sister wanted.
Hitomi,
It's been awhile and I am sure you are curious as to why I have chosen to write you after so many years of not talking and well...I want to apologize for my words and actions all those years ago. The truth is I was so frustrated and envious of you having the courage to leave home to pursue your dreams and with Lily being what she was and having that wonderful world to escape to and learn something that I couldn't...well I let my jealousy and resentment get in the way of my relationship with you both and I regret that so very much.
When Lily died I lost apart of myself and having Amelia around helped little for I was so angry at the world that had taken our baby sister away at eleven had taken her life as well. Amelia suffered for my weak will because of it and though she has now forgiven me and our relationship is a lot better, she is still suffering Hitomi.
As Dudley told you, the war is over and she defeated the man that had taken her parents and godfather from her but she suffers in silence from the grief and the pain. She was betrayed by people she was close to on top of all that she went through and she is not healing like she needs to be. I worry greatly about her, she wakes almost nightly from nightmare's from what she had to go through, the horrors that she saw and she has become just a shell really of what she once was.
Her friend Hermione, her godson's grandmother, Dudley and myself hope that you will be agreeable to allow her to visit for awhile. She needs someplace to go that she has never been to, she needs to get away from all the reminder's of what she went through as well as the people in her world that want her to do nothing more than continue to fight. They want her to join their version of law enforcement but she refuses and she is being pressured by not only their government but also the community themselves. The pressure is getting to her Hitomi, she needs a safe place that she can heal and when I told her of you and your family she expressed a wish to get to know her Aunt and her cousin's that she never knew.
Family is everything to her Hitomi. Please let me know as soon as you can so we can get her out of Britain as soon as possible. The quicker the better for her.
I love you Hitomi and I am sorry I could never be the big sister you and Lily both needed. I was petty and resentful and I can only hope that it's not to late to be that now. Please let us know as soon as possible.
Sincerely your hopeful sister,
Petunia.
Hitmoi set the letter down with a sigh. This was not something she had ever thought would happen. When her older sister had said those things to her all those years ago she had been really hurt. She remembered crying after she returned home and her husband telling her that Petunia would come around. She hadn't believed it but obviously he was correct even if it took longer than he may have thought it would have originally.
Picking up the letter again she read through it again paying special attention to what Petunia had said about Amelia. The poor girl had such a horrible hand dealt to her, all the stuff she went through from such a young age...she really was not surprised that the girl needed to get away and this would be the perfect opportunity to get to know her niece.
With a smile she got up and went looking for a pen and paper to reply to her sister. Hope that they could rekindle their relationship blossoming for the first time in years.
