a/n: This chapter and chapter 8 were originally going to be one chapter. But then it would be a lot longer than the others and by making it into two chapters it allows for more detail and dialogue.

PETUNIA: CHAPTER 7: PROOVE THYSELF

Petunia threw out her third ruined cake. She could cook just fine, but when it came to baking she was abysmal. She needed to prove to Mrs. Dursley that she would make a fine wife for her son. The Dursleys were coming to her place for dinner that evening. It would be a tight squeeze as for their collective girth.

She washed out the bowl and pan and began again. She would not stop baking until she was pleased with her results.

Four cakes later and coated from head to toe in flower she had an exemplary cake. She iced it simply; afraid of ruining it. She looked at the clock and was startled to find that her guests would be arriving in forty minutes time.

The only thing she had prepared to eat was the cake and the roast simmering in the crock pot. She rapidly pulled a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer and tossed them in a pot. There was no time to cut and cook fresh ones. She sliced up cheese and arranged it on a platter with crackers. She placed everything on the table and ran to her room to change. She didn't have to run far.

She emerged spotless just in time to answer the door. The Dursleys greeted her briefly and began gazing around her apartment. Mrs. Dursley pretended to drop her handbag so she could gaze under the furniture as she bent to pick it up. She looked at her son's future wife and said grudgingly "Your house keeping is impeccable Petunia."

The family settled their selves at the small table. They immediately helped themselves to large portions, and though Marge surveyed the cheese and crackers with an upturned nose she scooped more than her share on to her plate.

Petunia brought out the cake uncertainly. She didn't see how, having eaten so much already, anybody could possibly have room for cake. But her efforts were not in vain, for barely a second after she set it down Vernon seized the knife and cut the cake into fifths. They devoured their portions faster than seemed humanly possible. Petunia ate hers slowly and found that she couldn't finish it. She pushed her plate away from her and Marge pounced on it and finished it off.

"Petunia that cake was splendid!" Mrs. Dursley boomed with all sincerity.

"Of course, you needn't expect anything less than the best from Petunia" replied Vernon. Petunia beamed with pride

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Petunia spent much of her free time improving her baking. But she was also busy moving stuff from her and Vernon's apartments to their new house on Privet Drive.

The night before her wedding she lay awake on her bed in her nearly empty apartment. The rest of the stuff would be moved out while she and Vernon were honeymooning in Majorca. She was thinking about Lily. How that she, Petunia, was getting married first.

She had always assumed Lily would land a man before she did. For once she had beaten her perfect sister.

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Petunia jumped as the door to her dressing room banged open and Marge came in looking like a wad of cotton candy in her frilly pink bridesmaid dress. "Your sister has arrived."

"Send her in" Petunia replied.

Marge stood in the doorway so that Lily had to squeeze past her to enter giving her a very mussy appearance. "Could we speak alone?" said Petunia very pointedly.

Marge sniffed and mumbled "Of course" and left, clearly affronted. Lily smoothed the wrinkles from her dress in the awkward silence that followed.

"I haven't told Vernon about…what you are." Petunia said softly while staring at her feet.

"I suppose you want me and James to act normal then I guess"

"It would be very much appreciated."

"Petunia…"

"Yes?"

"You'll never guess what happened on the way here."

"What?"

"James proposed."