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: Wow, okay so let me just start this by apologizing for taking so long to update. I don't really have a good excuse, try as I might to think of one. I will say that my lovely friend has been bugging me for ages about actually updating this thing. It definitely has not been forgotten about. I know this is a short chapter, sadly, but I do have the next one started up already and hope to post it this weekend as long as my friend can get to editing it this weekend. I did go back to chapter two and change Amos' age from twelve to fourteen. It makes more sense for what I have planned in the future! Well, until the next time I update, I hope you all enjoy!
A shaky breath pushed fell from her lips and a hand, that was no doubt Marlene's, patted her lightly on the back. Well, pushed is more like. She shuffled forward, the weight of everyone's eyes resting heavily upon her as she sat on the stool like everyone before her had done and she couldn't help but cringe as the grimy hat that was placed on her head.
Who knew how many heads this hat had been on?
"Hm," a soft hum echoed, rattling around in her mind as the hat twisted and turned upon the crown of her head. It was almost restful, sounding deep in thought as it croaked. "Interesting. Very interesting." Her eyes darted around, shifting to and fro, wondering exactly what was so interesting. The hat gave a wheezy chuckle at her thoughts. "Lets see where to put you now - loyal, but only when it seems to benefit yourself. Courage, spades of it, but perhaps, not when it counts. . . ahhh, I see, a thirst for knowledge. Well, it better be RAVENCLAW!"
Professor McGonagall pulled the hat off of her head and Petunia shot Marlene and Frank a smile before making her way to the cheering table. The fact that the hat had ultimately put her in the house that she wanted left a pleasant buzz beneath her skin. Sitting at the open end of the Ravenclaw table, she smiled at her new housemates surrounding her. The call of other names bringing her attention back to the sorting that was continuing, all eyes swivelling back as a new kid was put under the microscope.
Name after name was called and with each name that was read out, the line of first years grew shorter. To her amusement, Frank was sorted into Gryffindor, he didn't seem too brave just hours before when faced with crossing the lake. Marlene on the other hand, quickly joined Petunia at the Ravenclaw table. The two girls grinned at one another before the last names were called out and Professor McGonagall took her place at the Head Table.
An older man with a hint of a smile tugging at his lips then stood up. The quiet conversation that had picked up slowly dwindled as all eyes moved to him. He definitely had an odd sort of presence, Petunia thought, dressed in brightly colored robes with a giant pointy hat sat upon his head.
"Welcome! Welcome! I see a lot of new faces joining us for their first years as well as some, more familiar ones, continuing their adventure with us," His arms were outstretched as if to welcome the entire hall into his embrace, he did look a little odd though. "I can only hope that this school is everything you could imagine. As usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, asks me to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is quite self-explanatory, and it out of bounds to all students. His growing list of banned joke items from Gambol and Japes will be posted outside his office as per usual. With that being said, dig in!"
As if his words had literally summoned it, food of all sorts appeared before them, quiet murmurs of awe filled the air at the magic. Her nose wrinkled as Petunia took in some of the… odder dishes and recipes.
"This isn't what mum makes at home," she said, the distaste dripping from her words. If she was being honest, she was definitely wary of the delicacies that were being offered to them for the Welcoming Feast. Getting a huff in response, she watched at Marlene, and the others at their table started loading down their plates.
"It's not going to hurt to try something new, you know," a voice from across the table said to get her attention. Her eyes shot up, a little confused as to why he was talking to her in the first place. The boy sitting across from her wasn't much to look at, not really, but he had a kind smile, the sort that her mother would have threatened to pinch his cheeks for.
She pressed her lips together tightly and reached forward, plucking something off of one of the center dishes before letting it drop onto her plate. She wasn't a snob when it came to eating, not really. She was just a bit, well, picky; more so when it came to food. And whatever it was that she'd just put on her plate, it didn't exactly look very appetizing. It looked down right foul if she was being honest with herself.
A snort beside her snapped made her pause her glaring at the food on her plate, knowing it could only be Marlene.
"She's a bit of a 'fraidy familiar, this one. You should have seen her when we were boarding the boats to cross the lake! I practically had to hold her hand," the blonde said around a mouthful of food. If it was anyone else, Petunia probably would have stuck her nose up at that statement, but she noted the fondness of the tone.
Petunia rolled her eyes, jabbing a sharp elbow into Marlene's ribs to try and get her attention before sticking her tongue out at the girl. She had no idea what a "fraidy familiar" was but, it sounded an awful lot like scaredy cat. "I wasn't scared! Now you're just over exaggerating." she exclaimed in her own defence.
"Was too," Was the extremely mature response she got back, a glob of food falling out of her mouth alongside it.
"Well, that's very ladylike, isn't it?" Petunia drawled, though she sounded more like her mother. Usually whenever her mum said something like that, it was about the neighbours daughters who she thought looked like; ladies of the night', whatever that meant.
She huffed, jerking her head forward, utterly done with Marlene's antics for the time being. Instead, Petunia focused her attention on the boy sitting across from them. He seemed to think it was right funny their little squabble, probably thought it was dinner and a show or something.
"It's not going to eat itself." He practically sang, grinning as he raised his own fork with emphasis, taking a bite of his own food with an over exaggerated relish. Show off.
She shot him a dirty look before staring down at the mysterious meat, slowly trying to muster the courage to take a bite. Instead she simply grabbed a fork and poked it gently. She was being ridiculous, really, but she just couldn't imagine who would have thought heat something that looked so terrible would be tasty.
I took her a minute or two but she plucked up the nerve and Petunia finally stabbed a small piece of meat onto her fork. Quickly shoving it between her lips before she could think better of it. The tastes that exploded on her tongue hinted at something she had tasted before, though she couldn't really place it. A triumphant scoff from beside her soured the taste.
"See. That wasn't so bad now was it?" The boy across from them weighed in.
Petunia didn't even bother to deign them with a response.
Instead, she rolled her eyes and continued with her meal. Marlene and the boy, who introduced himself as Lau, kept trying to goad her into their conversation but little did they know, she was the older sister to one very annoying little sister. After so many years with Lily? Nothing they could do would phase her.
Whilst Petunia was down at the Welcome Feast, her familiar had made herself quite at home in their dorm. She'd claimed a bed for both herself and her owner. Petunia easily scooping up the little cat before clambering onto the four-poster bed, the feline wiggling out of her arms to curl up near her feet.
It had been a busy busy day and the yawn which almost cracked her jaw wasn't really a surprise to anyone. Being introduced to a whole new world took its toll on anyone. Especially an eleven year old girl.
Still, there was one thing that bugged her.
"Hey, Marly, I've a question," Petunia piped up, nudging Violet gently with her toe so she'd move over.
"Go for it," Marlene said as she plopped down on the end of Petunia's bed, narrowly avoiding sitting on her cat.
"What's a fraidy familiar?"
"It's just a saying," Marlene dismissed it, though she did look a little puzzled. "Everyone says it."
"No, they don't, McKinnon. Only children say it," One of their roommates chipped in, rather snottily actually. Petunia decided quite easily she didn't like her.
Marlene simply rolled her eyes, shrugging the girl off.
"Is it kind of like being a scaredy cat?" Petunia asked, the two of them collectively ignoring their roommate.
There was a quiet pause.
"Why would a cat be scared?" Marlene asked incredulously, as if it was the craziest thing she'd heard of.
Chapter Word Count: 1,512
Story Word Count: 8,467