And here it is...the long chapter!

Her smile faded with every line of the letter.

"Dear Petunia,

Cleo made the trip, but next time, tie the letter to one of her legs. I'm sorry

to hear about Lily. I'll have a talk with her if you want. Not that you should worry about me,

but things are going quite badly for me, as well. My werewolf transformations are causing

damage to my spine. We go to Hogwarts next week. I wish you could be there; don't hesitate to

write me while I'm there.

Best wishes, Remus"



The letter made Petunia feel guilty. She was complaining about her sister while he had

to suffer painful transformations every full moon. She re-read the third line and felt a new

attack of envy, which came from thinking about Lily and Remus together for a full year. She

didn't care if Lily ever wanted to talk with her again...she didn't WANT to talk to Lily!

Petunia and Remus corresponded about once every two weeks. Petunia found another annoyance,

one that she managed keeping to herself. She was entering her tenth year at a school for normal

children and required 3 more years, while Lily only had 2 left before she could "graduate."

Worse luck, that Vernon Dursley, who was2 years older than Petunia, kept pestering and

even stalking her in hopes that she would go on a date with him. She didn't much care for him,

and used the excuse that he was too old for her even though it was not by much.

November 18th was Petunia's birthday. It so happened thaat Vernon knew and didn't think

of hesitating to make a point of it. He cornered her when she was walking through a crowded hall

to a cooking class; the crowd thinned out as they moved along together to give Vernon's wide frame

enough room. It must have looked comical- he was the largest person (teachers included) at their

school, while Petunia was the thinnest, even after gaining a bit of weight with a new rich diet.

"I jave gotten word that today is your 16th birthday," he announced with an arm around her

shoulder,"and that means we are only one year apart in age. Will you reconsider, my dear? I would

enjoy greatly taking you out for dinner."

There was something in his voice she didn't like. It was the tone of a man who revered

himself too much and others too little. Vernon Dursley was simply too pompous and egotistical.

He would make a good politician, Petunia noted.

"I really am sorry to disappoint you, Vernon," she lied,"but I am already involved with

another person."

"Who?" he barked out, looking around as if he wanted to search out this boyfriend and

maul him.

"You don't know him,"she answered,"His name is Remus."

Vernon frowned and stomped off in the opposite direction. Petunia gulped; she got rid of him

but hadn't been exactly truthful in doing so. Not that anybody at Hogwarts needed to know...

She walked home at 3:45 (what times do schools get out?) and took a shortcut through a

forest. Petunia was surprised when Cleo joined her halfway through. The poor owl was flying

dangerously close to the ground, burdened by several packages that probably weighed more than

she did.

"Loks like both of us nned to fatten up," said Petunia as she stopped to untie the parcels.

Cleo hooted and looked at her as if she wanted to say something. Probably a thanks for taking

them away.

Petunia sat on the hard forest floor and unwrapped the parcels; Cleo landed nearby on a

tree branch.

"Oh, wow!" gasped Petunia.

In addition to a letter and 5 birthday cards, she had recieved gifts from every one of

the marauders and her sister. A small cake, a set of magic photos that moved on their own,

a book about magical creatures, something called a remembrall, and a jar of some sort of powder.

Petunia shared the burden of carrying everything home with Cleo, and they went into her

bedroom. She had everything placed on her bed and looked at it closely.

"What do you suppose this is?" she asked the owl while picking up the jar of powder,"It

says it's from Remus." She put it down and took up the unread letter, which explained all of

the amazing birthday gifts.