Flee
Once the Death Eaters were gone – Disapparated or captured – another man came and sat beside me. This time, it was Remus.
"Are you all right, Petunia? I'm sorry we couldn't come sooner – not even Peter knew about it. It was only when I went round to check that you were okay that-"
"Remus!" I whispered, trying not to make my throat any worse, "it's alright! I'm alright! Or at least, I will be…"
You arrived before anything really awful happened, said the hand that squeezed Remus'. I was lucky. Maybe next time, I won't be.
I sat there for a long time, clutching Remus' hand and saying nothing. He understood, and also remained silent. And when I was Portkeyed to St Mungo's Hospital, Remus came with me.
"Remus?"
It was the first word I'd said since I'd arrived in the hospital.
"Yes, Petunia?"
His breath seemed to be coming faster, more strained.
"You should be asleep."
The hospital ward was dark. I had one to myself – maybe because Remus had made a tremendous fuss, maybe not.
"So should you."
Remus hadn't slept at all, as far as I knew, while I'd been in hospital. He hadn't slept and I hadn't spoken.
Only now I had.
There was a long pause. I could hear Remus trying to breathe as quietly as possible.
I switched the bedside light on.
"I threw a fish at Lord Voldemort."
Another pause, and then Remus and I both started to laugh.
And then I told him all about the night a Death Eater almost raped me.