Lily and Petunia Evans

Lily Evans sighed as she dragged her suitcases across the platform. Her mother beamed down at her, eager to see her daughter once more. Lily was only half listening to her mother's greetings though, and instead her focus was set on her sister, Petunia. Petunia. What had happened to her over the past few years? She used to be such a lovely girl. She used to love her sister.

Oh wait, Lily thought bitterly. That's before I became a freak.

Lily hated it. The two of them had been close – closer than many other sisters in their town were. It was the day that she had received her Hogwarts letter, the one that told her she was a witch, when everything had gone down hill.

For the first couple of years, Lily had put it down to jealously. She was a witch. Didn't every little girl want to be more than she was? She had magical powers. Who didn't want that? It was only when Petunia had stuttered that one word – freak – when Lily realized that it wasn't jealousy at all; it was disgust.

"Hello Mum," Lily smiled, hugging her mother briefly. She turned to her father, giving him the same treatment. "Where's Petunia?"

Her parents' faces immediately fell, and she wished she could take the question back. Neither of her parents was oblivious, and both saw the way Petunia resented her sister. They saw how it affected Lily. They watched as the two sisters broke away from each other, and how desperately Lily tried to hold on. It saddened them both, but what could they do?

Lily gave a small nod, acknowledging their silence as they made their way to their car. As expected, Petunia was nowhere in sight. She sat in the car, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she stared out the window. She missed her sister. She missed the fun they used to have together. Now they barely talked. They were sisters, yet their bond had been broken so easily. It almost seemed unreal.

The car trip was quiet. It was only when they were nearing the driveway when the silence was broken.

"Where is she?" Lily asked. "Tuney, I mean."

"In the house, I assume."

Lily nodded, picking up her bags and entering the house. She had barely taken one step into the living room when her sister greeted her.

"You're back." It was said bluntly, with no emotion showing in her words. Lily felt her heart sink. She had hoped that she could make amends. But then, she hoped that every year. And every year she was disappointed. Every year, without fail, Petunia would either insult her, stripping her of her glory, or simply ignore her. She wasn't sure which she hated more.

"How was your year, Tuney?" Lily tried to keep her tone friendly and light.

"Don't call me that, freak," she snarled in return.

"Fine." Lily knew a lost cause she saw one. There was no way things would be as the used to be. Only when hell froze over, would Petunia see her as a person again.

There was no going back.