Disclaimer: Anything you know is either J.K. Rowlings or Marion Zimmer Bradley's. Just the plot dance is mine.
Author Note: I have no idea why I have done what I have with Petunia, but it may be that I felt a tad sorry for the woman. Who could put up with Dursley Jr. and Sr. in the same household? Harry wasn't the only one deserving of better I'd wager.
Chapter 7-Petunia Evans
Petunia leaned over her kitchen sink looking out into the neighborhood. 'What have I done?' She thought. 'I was Harry's only blood left, and look how I treated him. Harry isn't Lily. I should have tried to be better to him, and now it's too late.' Petunia's memories of a time long since passed drove through her mind. 'I can't go back to that place. I can't admit all of this now, after all this pretending. Vernon would have a heart attack, and Dudley, poor devil, would be scared of me for life. But Harry could die, and it is all my fault. It all hangs on me now. I must do something.'
As Petunia tried to imagine a way to make things right, she found herself crying. So many memories were so hard to think about. She had so much bitterness toward her sister. Such great feelings of inadequacy. And James, hum. He was the perfect man. Lily was so lucky and she never knew until it was too late. Finally, Petunia decided she couldn't keep pretending for her husband. Vernon needed to know that his wife is a witch. Just when she realized what she needed to do for herself and owed to Harry, her husband came home from work.
Vernon Dursley came in as usual. He opened the door and slammed it shut. He walked toward the umbrella can and placed his briefcase underneath the table next to it. He hanged his coat on the hook next to that. Then, Vernon went to the sitting room and turned on the telly to the news. Vernon didn't seem to even notice her there in the kitchen. He just went on like he did every other day of his life. Petunia just realizing how unhappy she had become, let the tears fall. The bitterness and hate she had pushed on Lily seemed remote compared to that she felt for how her life had turned out. She grabbed a napkin from the ceramic holder on the kitchen table and walked into the living room.
"Oh, there you are Petunia. Boy, was work hell today. My secretary couldn't figure out the Xerox, and all my order came out the wrong way."
"Really? You think that's hell, huh?"
"Well, yes of course. It ruined my whole routine. I'm very glad to have you here at home to keep things just the way they should be." Vernon's words stirred Petunia's thoughts and resolved she said,
"Vernon, there's something I need to tell you and you aren't going to like it."
"What now? Did Ms. Figg send that cat of hers over here again?" Petunia almost laughed at what her husband thought made her unhappy. But instead she continued,
"Vernon . . . huh," Petunia looked for the easiest course, "Lily wasn't the only witch in my family."
"Well, yes we all know Harry is a damned wizard."
"Vernon . . . I . . . hum."
"Petunia, why are you crying? What's wrong with you?"
"It's all my fault."
"What's your fault now?"
"Harry is in more danger than since we took him in, because I let him go."
"But he was raving mad, Petunia. That isn't your fault. It was right of you to let him go. You have to think of Dudley and me."
"Yes, but you don't understand Vernon. Harry is my nephew. He is my last blood relative. He is my only link to who I really am."
"Who you really are? Petunia you are Petunia Dursley. What more do you need?" Vernon's words scalded Petunia. The burn made her want to burst out at him, and so she did,
"Vernon. I'm a witch."
"What?"
"I'm a WITCH, Vernon!" Her words exploded out and for the first time in years Petunia felt free.
"No you're not. You're just a normal housewife. You have just let that nephew of yours mess with you head. A witch, honestly."
"Have you never wondered why I wasn't in our high school for the first three years, or never finished our primary school."
"I just thought your parents sent you to private school."
"They did Vernon. They sent me to Hogwarts the year after Lily."
"You're joking right. You're just poking at me."
"Vernon, look at me. Do I look like I'm trying to be funny?" Vernon looked at his wife crying. He had never see Petunia cry. Petunia was always steadfast and unemotional. Vernon looked up at her and shook his face turning purple as he did, but he let her continue.
"Everything Harry's been telling us for sixteen years has been true Vernon. The wizarding world exists and he is in very real danger. I went to Hogwarts for five years before the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. No one would ever say his name because they were afraid of him. Lily and James died protecting Harry from him, and the evil wizard tried to kill him, but failed. Lily and James loved Harry so much that he was protected, and he became famous for being the only living person who ever got away from the Dark Lord."
"My years at Hogwarts were mostly pleasant until I started to grow up and like boys and all that nonsense. I wasn't very popular or very skilled, which was completely opposite of my sister. I followed Lily around because I had no one to really talk to. About my third year I developed feelings for a boy in Lily's class who was very much like myself except brilliant in all his studies. I knew he would be a great wizard one day, so I tried to spend time with him. I asked him to help me with classes and he did, because he enjoyed seeing people learn. I thought maybe he might have realized how I felt at some point, but he ignored it and kept tutoring me."
"Then, one day Lily was talking to a friend of hers and told them who I had been hanging around. Her friend laughed and looked at me, 'Slithering with Lily's man are you?' I was devastated. I thought he was helping me because he may have liked me a bit, but he was only doing it because Lily had asked him to. I was deeply hurt. For each holiday after, I heard nothing except news of Lily and this boy. It continued to hurt me, and I couldn't get over it. After my fifth year I asked my parents if I could go back to "muggle" school, and they let me, I think, because they knew I wasn't feeling good about myself at Hogwarts. Of course, they didn't understand why. I don't think Lily ever knew that I really knew what she was doing. All of it. Including what the death flower did at night." Vernon looked at her perturbed, but slightly entertained. Then he asked her,
"Why have you waited so long to bring this up?"
"I knew how you felt about the wizarding world, and after I left Hogwarts, because of the awful things Lily was getting away with, I didn't really want to remember." Petunia shook her head, "I know it's a lot to take in. I'm having trouble myself just remembering it . . . I've packed a bag so you don't have to see me . . . I'm going to go look for Harry and give him what I kept of Lily's things. Something might help him, even if I can't."
Petunia took a taxi to The Leaky Cauldron. When she entered the usual glances that would have spotted the most famous of wizards looked away from her as if she wasn't even there. Sadly, Petunia remembered how things had been for her once upon a time in the wizarding world. Had she been Lily, everyone would know who she is and everyone would be shaking her hand. Her self-loathing resurfaced to the front of her mind. The pity she held for herself was so strong she almost decided to leave. She stood still for a moment, battling her thoughts internally. 'No, she finally thought. I may only be a Hufflepuff, but I can do a good thing here. I can try to be me again and help my nephew along with me.' Petunia lifted her head, brushed off her clothes, and proceeded to the hidden doorway to Diagon Alley. With three taps of her fingers upon the bricks of the walls, Petunia Dursley, Hufflepuff witch and biological aunt of Harry Potter, walked back into the wizarding world. Her first stop—Gringotts, of course.
Petunia gazed down the alley and realized that thankfully not many were up and about at this time of day. Standing tall and firm, her resolve lead her to the goblin at the front desk.
"Name please."
"Petunia Evans-Dursley."
"Key please." Petunia reached beneath her sweater and pulled out a slightly tinged silver chain. On it was her vault key. She hadn't taken her money with her when she left the wizarding world. There was not much, but there was plenty for her doings for this day. The goblin looked up at her with confused eyes.
"You are Lily Evans' sister?"
"Yes. That I am."
"Well then please follow me." Petunia perplexed, rose an eyebrow much like a certain potions professor.
"Excuse me, but where are you taking me?"
"That Madame is for you to find out in a moment." She followed the goblin nervously to a hallway she never knew existed. At the end of it the goblin opened a door for her. On the glass door written in gold letters were the words Most Valuable Witches and Wizards. Both Petunia's eyebrows were raised now. When inside the goblin directed her to a private office with an outdoor balcony overlooking all of Diagon Alley. Petunia, still at a loss asked the goblin,
"What is the meaning of this fiasco?"
"Shortly Madame, your sister's liaison will meet with you. When she arrives all your questions will be answered." Petunia sat down in the red leather wing back chair and sighed looking out the balcony doors. The sky was slowing darkening and she realized she needed to hurry on her way before the shops all closed for the evening. Just as she thought of sneaking, out she heard a pop near the fireplace behind the large desk. A familiar face spun the huge desk chair around. The woman's red hair eased the lines of her aging face making her look the same as fifteen years before, the last time Petunia had visited her home for New Year.
"PETUNIA EVANS! HOW DARE YOU TREAT YOUR NEPHEW WITH SUCH DISTAIN THROUGH THESE YEARS! YOU SHOULD HAVE KISSED THE GROUND THAT BOY WALKED UPON! IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT YOUR SISTER WENT THROUGH TO PROTECT YOU! YOU ARE A HUFFLEPUFF FOR THE GODS SAKE! SINCE WHEN IS IT WRITTEN IN THEIR CREED TO BE THE MOST DISLOYAL LOT OF THE HOUSES? AND WHY ON THE GODS GREEN EARTH DID YOU LEAVE YOUR FAMILY FOR THAT TOAD OF A HUSBAND? YOU HAD SUCH POTENTIAL. WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?"
"Molly, I'm glad to see you still have those lungs of yours cousin," Petunia responded in an almost laughing whisper. She had missed her favorite cousin these fifteen years, but her lectures were all but unfamiliar. Petunia turned her head to face the Weasley matriarch. "As to why I left, my long lost family, dear Molly, we must save that for another day. It has been a hard, cruel time I've had getting myself to come back, and I must do some emergency shopping before I can go off and find my nephew. I know I have done wrong in letting Vernon raise the boy, but I think we both know this point is beyond reasoning. I know I've done wrong and I mean to make good on it. I should never have allowed myself to blame Harry for my sister's mistakes. This point is well-proved. I know this. Please Molly, can we discuss this later?" Molly looked at her cousin and chuckled.
"Oh, Petunia, it amazes me still how much you learned from, Severus. Now that I see your old Hufflepuff-self coming back to the surface I know you mean well. And because dear cousin you finally made the right choice, I have your rewards. This is the key to your new vault. Within the vault you will find everything you left when you left us behind, including your money and some very valuable mounts of gifts from your sister Lily and your mother's inheritance to you girls. Or didn't you know your mother was a Seer just as Lily was. Your mother carried the blood of the Grey Lady of Avalon. You, your son, and Harry have the blood of Arthur's kinswoman, and his sister, Morgan Le Fay. Because you are the last woman of your line, you are the Lady of Avalon."
With this speech given, Molly reached into her robes and pulled out a shining sword. The sword seemed to echo time and prove a past, which the future forgot. The legends of Excalibur did not come close to describing the majesty that radiated from the blue stones of the hilt. The power Petunia felt was immense, but as Molly handed her the sword she frowned.
"Molly, how can this be? You know how awful a witch I am. I never had the power or the sense that Lily had. How am I to pull this off?"
"Petunia, the magic within you is so old and rare that few know what you possess. It never was the average daily-taught magic of our modern day. It is something much deeper within you. Only you can find it and protect it. Only you can learn to wield it within yourself. May the Goddess guide you, cousin."
"Why was I not informed sooner?"
"Lily was not unkind in letting things pass as they have. Because she was the daughter your mother chose to pass the knowledge to, she was left in charge of Avalon. When she realized the pain she had caused you, Harry had been born, and Voldemort was after James and his son. Before the Fidelius Charm was caste, she made sure Avalon's secrets would be protected and you would be safe until you were ready to come back to the wizarding world. Lily knew you had the Lady's powers, but she knew you would never listen to her after all the pain she caused you. I think within the vault Lily created a diary for you explaining more of what happened after you left. It was hard, but Lily did eventually land on the good side of things. She did love you Petunia."
Petunia turned away and looked again out the balcony. She walked to it in disbelief. Fifteen years she stayed away to clean house, and feed her male pigs, leading an absolutely dismal life. For fifteen years she could have lived the life she had dreamed of as she read tales of Viviane, Elaine, Morgan, and all the priestesses of Avalon. By turning her back on the wizarding world and Harry, she had forsaken herself. It wasn't only Vernon's influence over the years that had created the mess that was Petunia Evans-Dursley—it was Petunia herself. When she thought of it that way, it felt just as empowering as it did depressing. She now had power to make a difference, if she could unlock the secrets so long hidden.
Petunia held Excalibur up to the sun. As the hilt sparkled and the blades gleamed, Petunia turned to her cousin with the first excited smile she had had in fifteen years. "Well, cousin what are we waiting for? Let's take a trip shall we?" Molly went to her long lost cousin, smiled and said with triumph, "Let us away dear Lady."
Molly lead Petunia to the MIWW ejection elevator. The ejection elevator would take them to the secure, unplotted location of the vault. This procedure was only for the most elite and vast vaults of Gringott's. They were so elite only ten existed, each vault having its own elevator. The ladies sat down on the blue velvet window cushions of the elevator and pulled up the table with their dinner ready and served to them. The Gringott's goblin that appartated to them made ready the elevator, and the three began their short trip. The trip was brief allowing just enough time for the two women to finish their sup. This elevator ride did not feel any worse than a regular muggle elevator going up and down. This elevator was capable of any direction though. The goblin mentioned that William Wonka created the first version when preparing to give his candy estate to Charlie. The end of the ride was a soft landing during which the ladies first drifted off the floor a bit. The goblin opened the doors for the two ladies and they gracefully walked out into the vault. What they found was a shock to them both.
While Molly was Lily's liaison, she had never seen the vault itself. Lily had been too anxious about Voldemort. Lily's concern for Molly should the Dark Lord ever find out about the Evans' secret, made Lily most cautious with her plans. She only gave Molly Excalibur, told her the legends, gave her the wishes of Avalon, and bound Molly to the sisterhood. These actions, tied Molly to Avalon and her duties would only be fulfilled if the new Lady returned. This way had Petunia chosen not to return, Voldemort would not have been the wiser, and Excalibur along with all the other secrets of Avalon would never been found and used in perverse ways.
Both women's mouths fell open as the goblin actually smiled and said, "Welcome to Avalon, Lady."
The women gazed upward to the foggy sky. Suddenly as if just by their thought, the sky cleared and revealed the lands of Avalon. The vault was the island itself. The island was surrounded by rocky terrain with ancient trees interlaced between the rocks. The hills and peaks of the island created the impression of a mountain valley without the height, but with the same majesty. One hill held a circle of rock formations created by the ancient Druids who revealed the magic of the isle. The vegetation of the land was as rich and full as only lifetimes of unattended growth is capable of maintaining. They slowly, still in awe of the legendary beauty, made way to the mossy stone path that lead to the heart of Avalon, and the mysteries of the Grey Lady.
When the women returned to the ejection elevator, Petunia was equipped with her wand, spell books, potion ingredients, and the blue robes of Avalon. In addition to the robes, the new Grey Lady, with the help of her sister priestess, now possessed the mark of Avalon upon her brow—the mark of the blue crescent moon. The blue hues of the robes and mark accented Petunia's eyes to reveal that her eyes were not the black she always saw them as; they were a dazzling midnight blue. She wrapped Excalibur in its blue velvet protection sheath and hide it within her robes ready to give it to the man the goddess deemed worthy of it. Fully equipped with these and other relics of Avalon, Petunia brought the diary of her sister Lily. Knowing now that she had a place to go should she decide to leave the muggle world behind, Petunia Dursley was no more. This trip to Avalon had proved to be better than any trip to Diagon Alley's stores would have wrought that night, and the two priestesses renewed their love for each other in just a few short hours.
With a sigh Petunia, Lady of Avalon said, "And now I must prepare to find and protect my nephew, the last kin, in spirit, of King Arthur." Molly smiled and said,
"I know a place of safety and solitude where we can work on your skills, Lady, and also reunite yourself with Harry. We must be sneaky about it at first until you have your powers built up, but when you are ready we will reveal you as the Lady of Avalon to your nephew and perhaps a bridge can be built when the time is right. I don't think Harry will forgive Petunia Dursley, but perhaps he will grant the Goddess amnesty."
"I think that may be for the best. I will not forgive Petunia Dursley either. Hopefully, the gift I give him will help with protection and the cause. The power of Avalon can now back the Order of the Phoenix like it was always meant to."
"Petunia, are you sure there are no other Evans left? No other cousins or anyone?"
"If there are I am not aware of it. The only way it would be possible is if father had another woman. My father wasn't the sort, so I'm sure there couldn't be. Why do you ask?"
"I may have had a vision, but I am not practiced. I saw a young boy with dark hair and blue eyes sitting on the sorting stool with the hat upon his head. The hat put him in Slytherin."
"Well, we will see. It may not be a worry. Not all Slytherins are dark wizards. Perhaps it is the hope of bridging the houses that will bring down Voldemort."
"Yes, it very well may be."
Author Note: I have no idea why I have done what I have with Petunia, but it may be that I felt a tad sorry for the woman. Who could put up with Dursley Jr. and Sr. in the same household? Harry wasn't the only one deserving of better I'd wager.
Chapter 7-Petunia Evans
Petunia leaned over her kitchen sink looking out into the neighborhood. 'What have I done?' She thought. 'I was Harry's only blood left, and look how I treated him. Harry isn't Lily. I should have tried to be better to him, and now it's too late.' Petunia's memories of a time long since passed drove through her mind. 'I can't go back to that place. I can't admit all of this now, after all this pretending. Vernon would have a heart attack, and Dudley, poor devil, would be scared of me for life. But Harry could die, and it is all my fault. It all hangs on me now. I must do something.'
As Petunia tried to imagine a way to make things right, she found herself crying. So many memories were so hard to think about. She had so much bitterness toward her sister. Such great feelings of inadequacy. And James, hum. He was the perfect man. Lily was so lucky and she never knew until it was too late. Finally, Petunia decided she couldn't keep pretending for her husband. Vernon needed to know that his wife is a witch. Just when she realized what she needed to do for herself and owed to Harry, her husband came home from work.
Vernon Dursley came in as usual. He opened the door and slammed it shut. He walked toward the umbrella can and placed his briefcase underneath the table next to it. He hanged his coat on the hook next to that. Then, Vernon went to the sitting room and turned on the telly to the news. Vernon didn't seem to even notice her there in the kitchen. He just went on like he did every other day of his life. Petunia just realizing how unhappy she had become, let the tears fall. The bitterness and hate she had pushed on Lily seemed remote compared to that she felt for how her life had turned out. She grabbed a napkin from the ceramic holder on the kitchen table and walked into the living room.
"Oh, there you are Petunia. Boy, was work hell today. My secretary couldn't figure out the Xerox, and all my order came out the wrong way."
"Really? You think that's hell, huh?"
"Well, yes of course. It ruined my whole routine. I'm very glad to have you here at home to keep things just the way they should be." Vernon's words stirred Petunia's thoughts and resolved she said,
"Vernon, there's something I need to tell you and you aren't going to like it."
"What now? Did Ms. Figg send that cat of hers over here again?" Petunia almost laughed at what her husband thought made her unhappy. But instead she continued,
"Vernon . . . huh," Petunia looked for the easiest course, "Lily wasn't the only witch in my family."
"Well, yes we all know Harry is a damned wizard."
"Vernon . . . I . . . hum."
"Petunia, why are you crying? What's wrong with you?"
"It's all my fault."
"What's your fault now?"
"Harry is in more danger than since we took him in, because I let him go."
"But he was raving mad, Petunia. That isn't your fault. It was right of you to let him go. You have to think of Dudley and me."
"Yes, but you don't understand Vernon. Harry is my nephew. He is my last blood relative. He is my only link to who I really am."
"Who you really are? Petunia you are Petunia Dursley. What more do you need?" Vernon's words scalded Petunia. The burn made her want to burst out at him, and so she did,
"Vernon. I'm a witch."
"What?"
"I'm a WITCH, Vernon!" Her words exploded out and for the first time in years Petunia felt free.
"No you're not. You're just a normal housewife. You have just let that nephew of yours mess with you head. A witch, honestly."
"Have you never wondered why I wasn't in our high school for the first three years, or never finished our primary school."
"I just thought your parents sent you to private school."
"They did Vernon. They sent me to Hogwarts the year after Lily."
"You're joking right. You're just poking at me."
"Vernon, look at me. Do I look like I'm trying to be funny?" Vernon looked at his wife crying. He had never see Petunia cry. Petunia was always steadfast and unemotional. Vernon looked up at her and shook his face turning purple as he did, but he let her continue.
"Everything Harry's been telling us for sixteen years has been true Vernon. The wizarding world exists and he is in very real danger. I went to Hogwarts for five years before the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. No one would ever say his name because they were afraid of him. Lily and James died protecting Harry from him, and the evil wizard tried to kill him, but failed. Lily and James loved Harry so much that he was protected, and he became famous for being the only living person who ever got away from the Dark Lord."
"My years at Hogwarts were mostly pleasant until I started to grow up and like boys and all that nonsense. I wasn't very popular or very skilled, which was completely opposite of my sister. I followed Lily around because I had no one to really talk to. About my third year I developed feelings for a boy in Lily's class who was very much like myself except brilliant in all his studies. I knew he would be a great wizard one day, so I tried to spend time with him. I asked him to help me with classes and he did, because he enjoyed seeing people learn. I thought maybe he might have realized how I felt at some point, but he ignored it and kept tutoring me."
"Then, one day Lily was talking to a friend of hers and told them who I had been hanging around. Her friend laughed and looked at me, 'Slithering with Lily's man are you?' I was devastated. I thought he was helping me because he may have liked me a bit, but he was only doing it because Lily had asked him to. I was deeply hurt. For each holiday after, I heard nothing except news of Lily and this boy. It continued to hurt me, and I couldn't get over it. After my fifth year I asked my parents if I could go back to "muggle" school, and they let me, I think, because they knew I wasn't feeling good about myself at Hogwarts. Of course, they didn't understand why. I don't think Lily ever knew that I really knew what she was doing. All of it. Including what the death flower did at night." Vernon looked at her perturbed, but slightly entertained. Then he asked her,
"Why have you waited so long to bring this up?"
"I knew how you felt about the wizarding world, and after I left Hogwarts, because of the awful things Lily was getting away with, I didn't really want to remember." Petunia shook her head, "I know it's a lot to take in. I'm having trouble myself just remembering it . . . I've packed a bag so you don't have to see me . . . I'm going to go look for Harry and give him what I kept of Lily's things. Something might help him, even if I can't."
Petunia took a taxi to The Leaky Cauldron. When she entered the usual glances that would have spotted the most famous of wizards looked away from her as if she wasn't even there. Sadly, Petunia remembered how things had been for her once upon a time in the wizarding world. Had she been Lily, everyone would know who she is and everyone would be shaking her hand. Her self-loathing resurfaced to the front of her mind. The pity she held for herself was so strong she almost decided to leave. She stood still for a moment, battling her thoughts internally. 'No, she finally thought. I may only be a Hufflepuff, but I can do a good thing here. I can try to be me again and help my nephew along with me.' Petunia lifted her head, brushed off her clothes, and proceeded to the hidden doorway to Diagon Alley. With three taps of her fingers upon the bricks of the walls, Petunia Dursley, Hufflepuff witch and biological aunt of Harry Potter, walked back into the wizarding world. Her first stop—Gringotts, of course.
Petunia gazed down the alley and realized that thankfully not many were up and about at this time of day. Standing tall and firm, her resolve lead her to the goblin at the front desk.
"Name please."
"Petunia Evans-Dursley."
"Key please." Petunia reached beneath her sweater and pulled out a slightly tinged silver chain. On it was her vault key. She hadn't taken her money with her when she left the wizarding world. There was not much, but there was plenty for her doings for this day. The goblin looked up at her with confused eyes.
"You are Lily Evans' sister?"
"Yes. That I am."
"Well then please follow me." Petunia perplexed, rose an eyebrow much like a certain potions professor.
"Excuse me, but where are you taking me?"
"That Madame is for you to find out in a moment." She followed the goblin nervously to a hallway she never knew existed. At the end of it the goblin opened a door for her. On the glass door written in gold letters were the words Most Valuable Witches and Wizards. Both Petunia's eyebrows were raised now. When inside the goblin directed her to a private office with an outdoor balcony overlooking all of Diagon Alley. Petunia, still at a loss asked the goblin,
"What is the meaning of this fiasco?"
"Shortly Madame, your sister's liaison will meet with you. When she arrives all your questions will be answered." Petunia sat down in the red leather wing back chair and sighed looking out the balcony doors. The sky was slowing darkening and she realized she needed to hurry on her way before the shops all closed for the evening. Just as she thought of sneaking, out she heard a pop near the fireplace behind the large desk. A familiar face spun the huge desk chair around. The woman's red hair eased the lines of her aging face making her look the same as fifteen years before, the last time Petunia had visited her home for New Year.
"PETUNIA EVANS! HOW DARE YOU TREAT YOUR NEPHEW WITH SUCH DISTAIN THROUGH THESE YEARS! YOU SHOULD HAVE KISSED THE GROUND THAT BOY WALKED UPON! IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT YOUR SISTER WENT THROUGH TO PROTECT YOU! YOU ARE A HUFFLEPUFF FOR THE GODS SAKE! SINCE WHEN IS IT WRITTEN IN THEIR CREED TO BE THE MOST DISLOYAL LOT OF THE HOUSES? AND WHY ON THE GODS GREEN EARTH DID YOU LEAVE YOUR FAMILY FOR THAT TOAD OF A HUSBAND? YOU HAD SUCH POTENTIAL. WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?"
"Molly, I'm glad to see you still have those lungs of yours cousin," Petunia responded in an almost laughing whisper. She had missed her favorite cousin these fifteen years, but her lectures were all but unfamiliar. Petunia turned her head to face the Weasley matriarch. "As to why I left, my long lost family, dear Molly, we must save that for another day. It has been a hard, cruel time I've had getting myself to come back, and I must do some emergency shopping before I can go off and find my nephew. I know I have done wrong in letting Vernon raise the boy, but I think we both know this point is beyond reasoning. I know I've done wrong and I mean to make good on it. I should never have allowed myself to blame Harry for my sister's mistakes. This point is well-proved. I know this. Please Molly, can we discuss this later?" Molly looked at her cousin and chuckled.
"Oh, Petunia, it amazes me still how much you learned from, Severus. Now that I see your old Hufflepuff-self coming back to the surface I know you mean well. And because dear cousin you finally made the right choice, I have your rewards. This is the key to your new vault. Within the vault you will find everything you left when you left us behind, including your money and some very valuable mounts of gifts from your sister Lily and your mother's inheritance to you girls. Or didn't you know your mother was a Seer just as Lily was. Your mother carried the blood of the Grey Lady of Avalon. You, your son, and Harry have the blood of Arthur's kinswoman, and his sister, Morgan Le Fay. Because you are the last woman of your line, you are the Lady of Avalon."
With this speech given, Molly reached into her robes and pulled out a shining sword. The sword seemed to echo time and prove a past, which the future forgot. The legends of Excalibur did not come close to describing the majesty that radiated from the blue stones of the hilt. The power Petunia felt was immense, but as Molly handed her the sword she frowned.
"Molly, how can this be? You know how awful a witch I am. I never had the power or the sense that Lily had. How am I to pull this off?"
"Petunia, the magic within you is so old and rare that few know what you possess. It never was the average daily-taught magic of our modern day. It is something much deeper within you. Only you can find it and protect it. Only you can learn to wield it within yourself. May the Goddess guide you, cousin."
"Why was I not informed sooner?"
"Lily was not unkind in letting things pass as they have. Because she was the daughter your mother chose to pass the knowledge to, she was left in charge of Avalon. When she realized the pain she had caused you, Harry had been born, and Voldemort was after James and his son. Before the Fidelius Charm was caste, she made sure Avalon's secrets would be protected and you would be safe until you were ready to come back to the wizarding world. Lily knew you had the Lady's powers, but she knew you would never listen to her after all the pain she caused you. I think within the vault Lily created a diary for you explaining more of what happened after you left. It was hard, but Lily did eventually land on the good side of things. She did love you Petunia."
Petunia turned away and looked again out the balcony. She walked to it in disbelief. Fifteen years she stayed away to clean house, and feed her male pigs, leading an absolutely dismal life. For fifteen years she could have lived the life she had dreamed of as she read tales of Viviane, Elaine, Morgan, and all the priestesses of Avalon. By turning her back on the wizarding world and Harry, she had forsaken herself. It wasn't only Vernon's influence over the years that had created the mess that was Petunia Evans-Dursley—it was Petunia herself. When she thought of it that way, it felt just as empowering as it did depressing. She now had power to make a difference, if she could unlock the secrets so long hidden.
Petunia held Excalibur up to the sun. As the hilt sparkled and the blades gleamed, Petunia turned to her cousin with the first excited smile she had had in fifteen years. "Well, cousin what are we waiting for? Let's take a trip shall we?" Molly went to her long lost cousin, smiled and said with triumph, "Let us away dear Lady."
Molly lead Petunia to the MIWW ejection elevator. The ejection elevator would take them to the secure, unplotted location of the vault. This procedure was only for the most elite and vast vaults of Gringott's. They were so elite only ten existed, each vault having its own elevator. The ladies sat down on the blue velvet window cushions of the elevator and pulled up the table with their dinner ready and served to them. The Gringott's goblin that appartated to them made ready the elevator, and the three began their short trip. The trip was brief allowing just enough time for the two women to finish their sup. This elevator ride did not feel any worse than a regular muggle elevator going up and down. This elevator was capable of any direction though. The goblin mentioned that William Wonka created the first version when preparing to give his candy estate to Charlie. The end of the ride was a soft landing during which the ladies first drifted off the floor a bit. The goblin opened the doors for the two ladies and they gracefully walked out into the vault. What they found was a shock to them both.
While Molly was Lily's liaison, she had never seen the vault itself. Lily had been too anxious about Voldemort. Lily's concern for Molly should the Dark Lord ever find out about the Evans' secret, made Lily most cautious with her plans. She only gave Molly Excalibur, told her the legends, gave her the wishes of Avalon, and bound Molly to the sisterhood. These actions, tied Molly to Avalon and her duties would only be fulfilled if the new Lady returned. This way had Petunia chosen not to return, Voldemort would not have been the wiser, and Excalibur along with all the other secrets of Avalon would never been found and used in perverse ways.
Both women's mouths fell open as the goblin actually smiled and said, "Welcome to Avalon, Lady."
The women gazed upward to the foggy sky. Suddenly as if just by their thought, the sky cleared and revealed the lands of Avalon. The vault was the island itself. The island was surrounded by rocky terrain with ancient trees interlaced between the rocks. The hills and peaks of the island created the impression of a mountain valley without the height, but with the same majesty. One hill held a circle of rock formations created by the ancient Druids who revealed the magic of the isle. The vegetation of the land was as rich and full as only lifetimes of unattended growth is capable of maintaining. They slowly, still in awe of the legendary beauty, made way to the mossy stone path that lead to the heart of Avalon, and the mysteries of the Grey Lady.
When the women returned to the ejection elevator, Petunia was equipped with her wand, spell books, potion ingredients, and the blue robes of Avalon. In addition to the robes, the new Grey Lady, with the help of her sister priestess, now possessed the mark of Avalon upon her brow—the mark of the blue crescent moon. The blue hues of the robes and mark accented Petunia's eyes to reveal that her eyes were not the black she always saw them as; they were a dazzling midnight blue. She wrapped Excalibur in its blue velvet protection sheath and hide it within her robes ready to give it to the man the goddess deemed worthy of it. Fully equipped with these and other relics of Avalon, Petunia brought the diary of her sister Lily. Knowing now that she had a place to go should she decide to leave the muggle world behind, Petunia Dursley was no more. This trip to Avalon had proved to be better than any trip to Diagon Alley's stores would have wrought that night, and the two priestesses renewed their love for each other in just a few short hours.
With a sigh Petunia, Lady of Avalon said, "And now I must prepare to find and protect my nephew, the last kin, in spirit, of King Arthur." Molly smiled and said,
"I know a place of safety and solitude where we can work on your skills, Lady, and also reunite yourself with Harry. We must be sneaky about it at first until you have your powers built up, but when you are ready we will reveal you as the Lady of Avalon to your nephew and perhaps a bridge can be built when the time is right. I don't think Harry will forgive Petunia Dursley, but perhaps he will grant the Goddess amnesty."
"I think that may be for the best. I will not forgive Petunia Dursley either. Hopefully, the gift I give him will help with protection and the cause. The power of Avalon can now back the Order of the Phoenix like it was always meant to."
"Petunia, are you sure there are no other Evans left? No other cousins or anyone?"
"If there are I am not aware of it. The only way it would be possible is if father had another woman. My father wasn't the sort, so I'm sure there couldn't be. Why do you ask?"
"I may have had a vision, but I am not practiced. I saw a young boy with dark hair and blue eyes sitting on the sorting stool with the hat upon his head. The hat put him in Slytherin."
"Well, we will see. It may not be a worry. Not all Slytherins are dark wizards. Perhaps it is the hope of bridging the houses that will bring down Voldemort."
"Yes, it very well may be."