Hope of the Phoenix (5/?)
Rating: PG –13
Pairing: Will eventually be Remus/ Petunia.
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own anything. It still belongs to J.K Rowling. Back to the wishing well for me!
A/N: Again, a big thank-you to all of you who reviewed my story! It is such a thrill to get review notification emails! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as the story is finally beginning to start rolling. Now, on with the show!
Chapter 5: New Friends and New Beginnings
Remus stared at the skinny, blonde long-necked woman who was standing in front of him, one arm linked with George Weasley's. Petunia looked just like she had done at King's Cross, when he had warned her and Vernon to treat Harry properly. Middle-aged, angry, terrified. But then he saw her eyes. It was startling just how much of Petunia Evans was still in those eyes. He could see the traces of the sweet girl he had once known, and his heart gave a bit of a leap. Then he remembered all this woman had done to Harry. He growled.
Petunia had just made a step towards him, when she heard him say clearly,
"Thank you for the breakfast, Molly. I am going to bed now." And before anyone could say anything, he had walked past Petunia and up the stairs, without a word. Petunia felt her eyes beginning to smart with tears, which she quickly brushed away.
Mrs. Weasley went over to the table from her previous position near the oven, gathered up Remus' half-eaten plate, and put down the one that she had prepared for Petunia. She smiled warmly at Petunia as Petunia moved to sit down at the table. She patted Petunia's hand, and only nodded absent- mindedly as the twins clattered out of the room.
"Don't you mind Remus, dear. He's had a hard few nights. He's been trying to get the werewolves over onto the Order's side, but he hasn't had much luck. Now you eat up, you have hardly any flesh on you at all! And don't you worry about Harry: Ron and Ginny came back last night; they'd been visiting Hermione; so they'll be good company for him. Professor Dumbledore said he'd be by later on, to decide how we can best use you in the Order. Of course, I don't know how you'd be much help, seeing as how you're a Muggle and all, but I'm sure Dumbledore will think of something. He is such a clever man, and working so hard for the Order and all."
Petunia listened quietly as Mrs. Weasley prattled on and on about the doings of more people of whom Petunia had never heard. She felt a momentary pang of guilt when Molly had mentioned her nephew, she hadn't worried about him at all; but she dismissed it. After all, he probably felt right at home in this freaky house, and with these strange people. Wouldn't he? They were his friends, after all. They were the ones who cared about him...
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she was suddenly aware that she had asked Mrs. Weasley this question. She hadn't meant to say anything. She listened carefully, though, to Molly's thoughtful reply.
"You just lost your husband and son. You nearly lost Harry last year, and the year before. I know that I'd be devastated if anything happened to my family. When I think of the things Ron and Harry get up to at that school, and of them being in the middle of this war! I don't approve of how you've treated Harry in the past, of course. But you're making a new start, helping us now. And I think that your going to need all the help you can get, to get through your loss, and to start fresh. And I'm glad to be able to help."
For the second time that morning, Petunia found herself smiling. She hadn't smiled because she was truly happy in years and years. Maybe being in the wizarding world wouldn't be so bad after all.
When Dumbledore arrived that afternoon, Molly and Petunia were discussing the differences between Muggle and Magic cleaning supplies. Petunia was all for the merits of elbow grease, while Molly was firmly entrenched in her support for Berkins Magical Mess Remover. Each had brought forth several examples in support of her own brand, and neither noticed Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall standing by the door to the kitchen, watching them with slightly amused smiles.
After hearing McGonagall's impatient cough, though, the conversation stopped. Dumbledore entered the kitchen, but McGonagall, after learning where Remus was, hurried upstairs to debrief him concerning his mission with the werewolves.
Petunia's nervousness had returned once the conversation had veered away from the familiar topic of cleaning products. She was very much aware of Dumbledore's twinkling eyes looking at her, as he refused Molly's offer of biscuits, and her offer of coffee, and her offer of tea, and her offer of cake, and as he prepared to discuss Petunia's future with the Order, and what her role would be in the upcoming war. She noticed that he was looking very, very serious. Perhaps, she thought, her stomach beginning to knot again with worry, perhaps he is going to send me back after all. Marge must have found out about Vernon by now, she'll be furious. What if he decides to send me back, its not like I'd be able to stop him.
Dumbledore seemed to be aware of the worried thoughts that were racing through her mind, because he said calmly, with the traces of a smile lurking around the corners of his lips,
"Don't worry, I am not going to send you back without your consent. I have been talking to the Muggle Minister for Defense this morning, and he has agreed that there should be an awareness campaign among the Muggle population. After all, the Death Eaters are quite likely to attack Muggle homes, and, we agreed that it would be best if a hotline were set up, so that the Ministry could act quickly in the advent of an attack."
"What would you like me to do?" Petunia asked, timidly. The idea of a hotline was brilliant; wasn't that what they had done with that escaped murderer, Sirius Black?
"I want you to be the spokesperson for the new hotline. You would speak to agencies; do advertisements on the television and radio. You would warn people of the danger, how to spot Death Eater activity, and let them know what to do in the event of an attack like that on your family. Are willing to do this?"
Petunia nodded. She found she couldn't speak, as her throat had caught with grief again.
Dumbledore smiled at her again. "This will take a little time to set up, so, in the mean-time, why don't you take over Molly's house-keeping duties, so that I can put her on active duty? It wouldn't be much different from what you did at home, and it will give you a chance to get to know the Order members and their families."
Petunia smiled, and agreed that that would be best. She was already planning out an incredible supper. Pork chops with orange glaze should be lovely, and she made a lovely angel cake, that would do for pudding.
Dumbledore and Molly shared a smile over Petunia's dreamy expression. It seemed having a Muggle in the Order wouldn't work out too badly after all.
Rating: PG –13
Pairing: Will eventually be Remus/ Petunia.
Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own anything. It still belongs to J.K Rowling. Back to the wishing well for me!
A/N: Again, a big thank-you to all of you who reviewed my story! It is such a thrill to get review notification emails! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as the story is finally beginning to start rolling. Now, on with the show!
Chapter 5: New Friends and New Beginnings
Remus stared at the skinny, blonde long-necked woman who was standing in front of him, one arm linked with George Weasley's. Petunia looked just like she had done at King's Cross, when he had warned her and Vernon to treat Harry properly. Middle-aged, angry, terrified. But then he saw her eyes. It was startling just how much of Petunia Evans was still in those eyes. He could see the traces of the sweet girl he had once known, and his heart gave a bit of a leap. Then he remembered all this woman had done to Harry. He growled.
Petunia had just made a step towards him, when she heard him say clearly,
"Thank you for the breakfast, Molly. I am going to bed now." And before anyone could say anything, he had walked past Petunia and up the stairs, without a word. Petunia felt her eyes beginning to smart with tears, which she quickly brushed away.
Mrs. Weasley went over to the table from her previous position near the oven, gathered up Remus' half-eaten plate, and put down the one that she had prepared for Petunia. She smiled warmly at Petunia as Petunia moved to sit down at the table. She patted Petunia's hand, and only nodded absent- mindedly as the twins clattered out of the room.
"Don't you mind Remus, dear. He's had a hard few nights. He's been trying to get the werewolves over onto the Order's side, but he hasn't had much luck. Now you eat up, you have hardly any flesh on you at all! And don't you worry about Harry: Ron and Ginny came back last night; they'd been visiting Hermione; so they'll be good company for him. Professor Dumbledore said he'd be by later on, to decide how we can best use you in the Order. Of course, I don't know how you'd be much help, seeing as how you're a Muggle and all, but I'm sure Dumbledore will think of something. He is such a clever man, and working so hard for the Order and all."
Petunia listened quietly as Mrs. Weasley prattled on and on about the doings of more people of whom Petunia had never heard. She felt a momentary pang of guilt when Molly had mentioned her nephew, she hadn't worried about him at all; but she dismissed it. After all, he probably felt right at home in this freaky house, and with these strange people. Wouldn't he? They were his friends, after all. They were the ones who cared about him...
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she was suddenly aware that she had asked Mrs. Weasley this question. She hadn't meant to say anything. She listened carefully, though, to Molly's thoughtful reply.
"You just lost your husband and son. You nearly lost Harry last year, and the year before. I know that I'd be devastated if anything happened to my family. When I think of the things Ron and Harry get up to at that school, and of them being in the middle of this war! I don't approve of how you've treated Harry in the past, of course. But you're making a new start, helping us now. And I think that your going to need all the help you can get, to get through your loss, and to start fresh. And I'm glad to be able to help."
For the second time that morning, Petunia found herself smiling. She hadn't smiled because she was truly happy in years and years. Maybe being in the wizarding world wouldn't be so bad after all.
When Dumbledore arrived that afternoon, Molly and Petunia were discussing the differences between Muggle and Magic cleaning supplies. Petunia was all for the merits of elbow grease, while Molly was firmly entrenched in her support for Berkins Magical Mess Remover. Each had brought forth several examples in support of her own brand, and neither noticed Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall standing by the door to the kitchen, watching them with slightly amused smiles.
After hearing McGonagall's impatient cough, though, the conversation stopped. Dumbledore entered the kitchen, but McGonagall, after learning where Remus was, hurried upstairs to debrief him concerning his mission with the werewolves.
Petunia's nervousness had returned once the conversation had veered away from the familiar topic of cleaning products. She was very much aware of Dumbledore's twinkling eyes looking at her, as he refused Molly's offer of biscuits, and her offer of coffee, and her offer of tea, and her offer of cake, and as he prepared to discuss Petunia's future with the Order, and what her role would be in the upcoming war. She noticed that he was looking very, very serious. Perhaps, she thought, her stomach beginning to knot again with worry, perhaps he is going to send me back after all. Marge must have found out about Vernon by now, she'll be furious. What if he decides to send me back, its not like I'd be able to stop him.
Dumbledore seemed to be aware of the worried thoughts that were racing through her mind, because he said calmly, with the traces of a smile lurking around the corners of his lips,
"Don't worry, I am not going to send you back without your consent. I have been talking to the Muggle Minister for Defense this morning, and he has agreed that there should be an awareness campaign among the Muggle population. After all, the Death Eaters are quite likely to attack Muggle homes, and, we agreed that it would be best if a hotline were set up, so that the Ministry could act quickly in the advent of an attack."
"What would you like me to do?" Petunia asked, timidly. The idea of a hotline was brilliant; wasn't that what they had done with that escaped murderer, Sirius Black?
"I want you to be the spokesperson for the new hotline. You would speak to agencies; do advertisements on the television and radio. You would warn people of the danger, how to spot Death Eater activity, and let them know what to do in the event of an attack like that on your family. Are willing to do this?"
Petunia nodded. She found she couldn't speak, as her throat had caught with grief again.
Dumbledore smiled at her again. "This will take a little time to set up, so, in the mean-time, why don't you take over Molly's house-keeping duties, so that I can put her on active duty? It wouldn't be much different from what you did at home, and it will give you a chance to get to know the Order members and their families."
Petunia smiled, and agreed that that would be best. She was already planning out an incredible supper. Pork chops with orange glaze should be lovely, and she made a lovely angel cake, that would do for pudding.
Dumbledore and Molly shared a smile over Petunia's dreamy expression. It seemed having a Muggle in the Order wouldn't work out too badly after all.