Title: Normality is Overrated
Summary: Just how different would life be if one miss Petunia Evans had gotten her letter to Hogwarts after all?
A/N: So this took longer than I expected to write. Don't have much of an excuse other than I was busy with work. I'd love to know what you guys think! Also wouldn't have been able to write this chapter without the help of someone very important! So thank you tamedbanshee
Diagon Alley was an out of world experience, literally.
Professor Flitwick had given firm instructions on how to get to such a place, despite the weird looks Petunia's parents gave him but when the wall opened up to the other side; all doubts were forgotten in an instant. Coming out of the wizarding bank, Gringotts, a fascinating place full of goblins and their pockets now full of exchanged money- they were free to wander up and down the multicoloured street. Throngs of people drifted between quirky shops of bright luminescent colours with eye catching banners, strange slogans and names. It made Petunia's head spin a little as she tried to take it all in, both she and Lily in awe as they spun around, trying to soak in the fact that this entire world had been under their noses this entire time rather than in the back of the wardrobe as they'd previously suspected.
Not only were the shops unique but so were the people, their clothes, their hair, the style, Petunia tried not to gawp but when a man strolled down in luxurious wine red robes and a pointed hat. She felt like it was halloween, in only the best of ways. Lily's curiosity mingling with hers as they pushed the limits, pulling away from their parents to the furthest of their reach. Nosying in windows and gazing at possible wares.
"Lily." Her mum huffed firmly.
"Petunia." Her dad murmured, equally as firm, both girls skulking away from the large mason jars filled with eyeballs and livers just outside the apothecary. Lips jutted out as their curiosity was left to fester, instead they defaulted to the list firmly secured in their mums hand. Dad wasn't to be trusted with the shopping.
"What's on the list, mummy?" Lily asked, eyes wide as she tried to stretch up on her tiptoes to see what was in fact written on the list. Petunia having a good couple of inches on her sister so she could at least glimpse at the bottom of the list, the cursive emerald writing pretty against the scroll of parchment.
To be honest, whilst Petunia was usually meticulous in her searches, she wanted to wander. She wanted to seek out every nook and cranny of the world behind the wall, to see what being a witch, as Professor Flitwick had called her, offered. So many bright colours and lovely looking items, it all made the world which she'd come from look a little dull and a little grey. How could she go back to the monotony after seeing all of this?
"Well, how about we get your books first?" Martha murmured, more to herself than to Petunia actually, trying to think of the best way to do everything so they weren't lugging around heavy bags for the entire day. Still, at the mention of books it made Petunia light up. Her bookshelves were heaving at the moment, weighted with Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters, but she'd make room for all kinds of wizarding books she could lay her hands on. The thirst to know everything was there, in the back of her throat, wanting to consume as much knowledge as she possibly could.
Her parents laughed as she spun around, trying to catch sight of the closest bookshop which they could find. Flourish and Blotts looking relatively busy but Petunia managed to slide through the thin gaps between other shoppers. Lily following obediently behind her, eyes wide as the sight of so many books, holding onto the back of Petunia's dress tightly as not to get lost; their parents eyes darting around worriedly as they lost sight of their two daughters in the cluttered bookshop.
"Look Lil," Petunia crooned, pulling out a leather bound book full of star maps and constellation names, flicking through pages excitedly as they poured through the astronomy section with a gusto. "So many pretty names-" smiling as Lily pointed to one on the opposite page "- that one's Aquila, the eagle-" her own finger skittering across the stars, connecting them in their imagination. Lily's hand automatically going to the next bright star she could see on the page- "and that's Canis Major."
"I want a pretty name like the stars," Lily huffed for a second, cheeks puffed out as she sighed. Grimacing when Petunia flicked her sister's nose teasingly, shutting the book and sliding it back into the crevice in which they'd taken it form.
"Lilies are very pretty." Petunia contradicted her sister, rolling her eyes. At least she wasn't stuck with a name like Petunia, because really, was Tuney the best nickname she could get out of it? Lily rolled her eyes but didn't argue any further, instead moved along, going past the astronomy section and started eying the thick textbooks on the end table.
One moment of clumsiness though, Lily's shoulder accidentally knocking against a stand and a few books were sent tumbling to the ground. Both Evan's sisters scrambling to pick them up, Lily's pale skin flushing it's usually bright red as it did whenever she got embarassed. It was then which a third set of hands joined them, picking up the books and holding them out.
"You okay?" Petunia glanced up, friendly blue eyes glancing worriedly between a flushing Lily and herself.
"Yeah, thank you," Petunia murmured for the two of them, Lily shying away behind her sister ever so slightly. No doubt she'd grow out of it in a couple of years time but she was a little wary of new people. "Bit of a clumsy moment."
"Tell me about it, personally, I think tripping up on air is a talent," The girl scoffed playfully as she turned the book over in her hand. "Textbook, huh? You doing your Hogwarts shopping too?"
"Mhm, thought we might as well get it over as soon as possible," Petunia chimed with a nice smile, placing the books back on the stand in which Lily had knocked them off of. "Petunia Evans." She introduced herself, holding her now free hand out for the girl to shake like her parents did whenever they introduced themselves. It made people take you more seriously, or at least, that's what her dad had told her.
"Marlene Mckinnon, call me Marly," Marlene reciprocated the introduction, shaking her hand enthusiastically with a toothy grin, her righteous blonde curls coming undone from her sloppy pigtails. Turning, she smiled at Lily- "What about you?"
"Lily." She said quietly but still smiled nonetheless, Marlene's bubbly attitude and infectious smile hard to shy away from it seemed when you had her full attention.
"Nice to meet you guys." Once more she was all smiles as she rocked back on her heels to stand up.
"So, are you going to Hogwarts this year, too, then?" Petunia asked, receiving a nod as she moved to stand up as well. "That's great. It'll be nice to know someone before arriving since Lily isn't going to be going this year." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lily shoot her a sour look at the almost purposeful dig that she'd made.
"Yeah-huh, first year too," Marlene nodded enthusiastically, really it was like her hair had a mind of its own. She looked ready to bounce in one spot actually, how much energy could be contained in such a tiny body? "My mum's betting that I'll be a Gryffindor but my dad and my brothers all know I'm gonna be a Ravenclaw."
"Ravenclaw does sound the best," Petunia admitted, rolling her shoulders, because it was true. The idea of a house which knowledge and intelligence was one of their defining traits was very appealing to her- not to mention Professor Flitwick had been so nice about everything. It was bound to make an impression. "It's either Ravenclaw or Slytherin." She admitted without fear.
"Fingers crossed for Ravenclaw, I mean, I know a few other kids but-" Rolling her eyes as she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder at someone indistinct in the background. "They're pretty boring actually, known them since I was a baby. I like meeting new people and, it's be nice if we both go in the same house." She chirped, like, seriously, was this girl caffeinated or something?
"Oh, Ravenclaw? A Professor from that house paid my family a visit a few days ago. I mean, he was probably making his own house sound better than the rest but, it definitely seems like one that I want to be in," Petunia announced, becoming rather animated herself, "It'd be nice to know someone there."
A cough behind them broke the girls out of their little bubble causing Lily to squeal a quick "Mum!" before sprinting from by her sister. Petunia's head tilted back to look at her father, a steady smile on her lips. With each passing moment, the girl was becoming more confident with her decision to embrace this new world that she found herself in.
"Oh, Marly, these are my parents! Daddy, Mum, this is Marly. She'll be going to hogwarts too!"
Martha stepped forward, gripping Lily's hand, a warm smile on her lips as she greeted her daughter's newest friend. Robert, with his tight lipped smile and skepticism even greeted her kindly, though his eyes glanced around the bookshop.
"While it's lovely that you've already seemed to make a friend, you shouldn't have run off without us. This is a rather unknown world for us, Pumpkin," Robert chastised, a twinkle in his eye as Petunia groaned in protest over the nickname.
A snickering Marlene nudged her in the stomach with her elbow. "Your dad's probably right. Anything can happen, Pumpkin."
Turning a glare onto the exuberant blonde, Petunia rolled her eyes. "We aren't close enough for that," she mumbled good naturedly.
"Sorry." Marly at least had the decency to look sheepish even if she did carry on grinning despite the admonishment. "But I better go find my mum as well. She's probably rounding up my brothers."
The blonde waved enthusiastically before quickly disappearing into the crowd scattered throughout the little shop, leaving Petunia alone with her parents and sister. The family made quick work gathering the strange books that were required for her new curriculum. Even picking up the latest edition of Hogwarts: A History, at the insistence of the excited little student. She wanted to know everything imaginable about where she would be staying for the majority of the next several years.
With the books in hand, they rushed around the shops picking up the other necessities. Wand, check. (10¾" Ash with a Unicorn Tail hair for the core) Cauldron and supplies, check. Trunk, check. Robes, check. As they were leaving Madam Malkin's that Petunia spotted a little kitten in the window of a shop across the street. It was easily recognized to be related to be at least related to a siamese cat, though Petunia couldn't be sure. Perhaps the Wizarding world had their own breeds of animals.
Squealing, she dragged Lily by the hand to press their faces against the window and look at all the different kinds of animals that were within. Though her pale green eyes didn't stray too far from the little kitten that had drawn her in the first place. Turning the best pouty face she could muster towards her parents, her finger pointed at the little kitten within.
"Please," she whined slightly, recalling from thee letter that they were allowed to bring either a Cat, Owl, or Toad, "I promise I'll take care of her!"
A laugh escaped her mother's lips as she bent down slightly to look at the almost all off-white kitten in the window. With Blue eyes and a light brown face, it stared back at the family before it began to rub itself against the glass- trying to get as close as it could to it's new possible owner. "It's a big responsibility to care for an animal. Are you sure that's the one you want, sweetheart?"
Knowing that was her mother's way of saying yes, a wide smile spread across her lips, "I can do it!" Petunia exclaimed. "I want that one. Please mum? Please oh please oh pleeeeeease, pretty please?"
Before the word yes was even out of her mother's lips, Petunia had already gave a yelp of triumph and scurried into the little shop to claim her pet.
Robert sighed as he watched his eldest dart off into the shop, looking happier than he'd seen her in a long time. But still, his baby girl, his first daughter was heading off into the big bad world without him or her mum to hold her hand. It was something unsettling, it was a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach as he watched her flit around in this magical land which he was still partially convinced was a hallucination of some sort.
"Lily-pop," Robert called out to his youngest, watching her head tilt back to stare up at her dad. She was only a year behind Petunia, no longer a baby either but he couldn't help but cling onto the hope that his girls would need him. "Promise me you won't grow up, huh, sweetheart?"
Lily stared at him for a second- "For now." She promised ominously, lancing away and missing Roberts slightly terrified stare.
They took after Martha way too much.
Petunia could tell that Lily was at her wits end with her.
The morning hasn't started out the way she had wanted, deciding at the very last minute to unpack and then repack her trunk. Just incase she had forgotten anything the last hundred times she had packed it. It had almost made them leave later than they had intended. What had actually made them leave their town of Cokeworth was the fact that Petunia had forgotten the book she had been obsessed with for the past week and a half, Hogwarts: A History.
The four hour car ride from their house to the train station was practically torture for the excited Evans. Lily absolutely refused to tolerate her incessant talking about how wonderful it sounded. Which was understandable. She would be jealous too if she had to go with Lily to leave for Hogwarts.
But it wasn't her fault she was this excited. It was like Christmas all over again, but, it was September, and it was school and it wasn't like Christmas at all really. In fact, she couldn't even sleep last night, the anticipation that was always present when Christmas came around making her much too excited to possibly even try.
The bickering was put to a stop when their father swiveled around and threatened to turn around so that they wouldn't be even going to Hogwarts, leaving them in deathly hush. Petunia was vibrating in her seat, the closer they got, the more excited she seemed to grow. Finally, it seemed like God took mercy on her poor soul as they arrived at the station.
Practically flying out of the car, once they were safely parked of course, Petunia tapped on the trunk of it excitedly.
"Come oooon," she whined as her family seemed to move even slower than they usually did. Lily was in a rather petulant mood, taking pleasure in teasing her sister, knowing that the longer it took, the more anxious she would be. Marching over, Petunia grabbed Lily's arm and tugged on it firmly, making her hurry along as her father pulled her trunk out and put it on a nearby trolley. Martha placed her kitten's carrier on top as Robert pushed it along after the two girls.
The train station was bustling with people, each hurrying to where they needed to be. Remembering the Professor's instructions on how to get to the secret platform, she kept hold of her little sister as her eyes searched for 9 and 10.
Glancing at a clock they passed by, she kicked it into overdrive, practically running to find the entrance. In her haste, she hardly noticed the two families standing by a wall, until a voice called out her name.
Marlene was waving her hand frantically, it looked like it might break off if she waved any harder, a wide grin on her face once the two Evans stopped. Slightly out of breath, their parents were quick to stop behind them, exchanging looks between themselves. Professor Flitwick's instructions had been very clear. This was as far as they would be able to take their daughter.
"Come on! We got to go," A boy she hadn't met said impatiently, huffing and stomping his foot before disappearing into the wall. Petunia's eyes following his every movement, Lily's jaw dropping.
"We better go. My parents will Avada me if I don't get on the train with Amos," Marly said, with a roll of her bright blue eyes. Turning towards the wall, she took a few steps with her trolley before glancing over her shoulder. "Hurry up with the goodbyes, Pumpkin. We need to steal a good spot."
Spinning on her heels, Petunia threw her arms around her mother before the older woman started crying. Feeling rather embarrassed by the multitude of kisses that was getting pressed to her face, she pulled away and looked up at her father.
"I'mma miss you guys," she mumbled as Robert swept her into a big hug. Even his eyes were a little wet at the thought that his little girl was growing up.
The last one left was Lily, who pouted and stomped her foot that she should be allowed to go too. They did almost everything together.
"Just think of it this way, I'll get to go and learn everything so I can teach you this summer! "That seemed to bring a slight smile to the youngest Evan's face, though she still wasn't happy to be left behind. It didn't stop her from throwing her arms around her big sister, realizing she was going to miss her while she was gone. Who else would she scream at in Petunia's absence?
Giving her family one last look, Petunia's pale green eyes looked towards Marlene with a nod. The blonde quickly disappeared into the wall, with Petunia quick to follow. It was hard to describe the sensation but the image of the scarlet train suddenly appearing before her was a memory she'd hold onto forever. The Hogwarts Express written in golden letters on the side as other students ran around, getting ready to leave.
Following Marlene was easy enough, Petunia reckoned she was really lucky that she'd met someone to show her the way through this confusing world. The duo quickly reuniting with the boy from before, Amos, Marlene had called him. Exploiting his height and the three year age gap between them so he'd put away their trunks for them.
She only kept a few items on her person, her wand, the robes she'd change into and of course, her kitten, who she'd named Violet. With that she was ready, boarding the train and the three started hunting for a semi-empty compartment to find a seat.
As soon as they came across one semi-empty enough, Amos swivelled on the balls of his heels, a finger pointed threateningly at an almost angelic looking Marlene. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go back to my mates. Try not to get into any trouble," He started out threateningly but in the end it sounded more like a plea, eyes narrowing as they landed on Marly.
Snickering, a sweet smile appeared on the tiny blonde's face as she batted her eyes at the older boy. "Really Amos? Does this look like the face of someone who'd get into trouble?"
"Yes?" He scoffed, rolling his eyes as he turned around, waving over his shoulder as he headed off to hunt down his own friends lest he be stuck babysitting first years. As he left the two behind, they oppened the door to the near empty compartment, only a boy in there already.
"Mind if we sit here?" Marly asked, though they'd already taken their seats. Quick to make herself comfortable, the blonde seemed more docile today than she had in Flourish and Blotts. Maybe she hadn't been allowed any caffeine or chocolate yet? Petunia mused to herself as she settled down herself. Violet purring from the safety of her arms, rubbing her head affectionately against Marlene.
The boy sharing the car with them regarded them from behind his book, he didn't say anything for the longest of times. "Sure," he finally said, flushing ever so slightly before ducking his head and going back to his reading.
"Excellent. I'm Marlene, you can call me Marly. And this in my friend Petunia," she said, giving a toothy grin, not taking the hint that he clearly didn't want to be bothered. "And who are you?"
"Er- Longbottom. I mean Frank," he said, his face flushing a deeper red at his tiny slip up, slightly embarrassed. He seemed to be using his book as a shield almost, ducking behind it once again to try and once more to go back to his reading. There was no stopping Marlene though.
"Long-" Marly started, only to be elbowed by Petunia. And they were boney elbows, Lily compared them to kitchen knives once. They were one of her best weapons. At least, before she knew about magic.
"Knock it off, Marls. It's a long train ride, You don't have to make him talk," she whispered, and though she was trying to be quiet, the thankful look that Frank sent her way made it obvious he heard her.
"She is simply the cutest, little thing!" Marlene cooed as she turned her attention away from poor Frank to Violet who had seemed to take a liking to the perky blonde. Marly reached out to pet the kitten, obviously already smitten with the poor thing. While it had been slightly hectic, Petunia was fairly certain Marly had an owl with her on the trolley. "I mean, not as cute as Beaky but-"
"Beaky?" Petunia asked, nose wrinkling.
"Yeah, he's my owl." Marlene continued as if Petunia's distaste for the stupid name of her bird wasn't even there. "I mean, he's a bit old and my brothers tried to use him as a quaffle a few years ago but, he's a good owl. Gets a bit mixed up sometimes and likes to eat mash potatoes-" she sort of started to babble and if Petunia was honest, she just began to nod and smile like they did with some of the old ladies from her mums church group. It seemed to work well with them and it worked just as well now.
So whilst her new friend went on and on about her bird, who by the sound of it, had suffered a lot when it came to her brothers ( "There was one time Beaky almost got hit by one of them- fireyworks? My brothers nicked a few from his mates and set them off" ). Petunia turned to look out the window, Violet's warm weight on her lap as well as the buzz of her purr soothing her frazzled nerves. In some way, she wanted nothing more than to have Lily right beside her and in others, she was glad she wasn't there.
It was her first adventure without her sister, new places and new faces.
Petunia couldn't wait.
Chapter Word Count: 3,903
Story Word Count: 6,955