At last the garden looked like a garden. After all the hard work they had put in it, it was unconceivable that Petunia and Severus would not take full advantage of it. Petunia especially had fallen in love with her little piece of paradise. She spent a lot of time outside now and had even managed to talk Severus into eating lunch outside once or twice. The boy also seemed satisfied by how it had all turned out. As Petunia had hoped, Severus tended to his Potions ingredients well and had learnt to appreciate the new space.

For a while, the almost disastrous encounter in Diagon Alley was forgotten. Completing the garden and the simple joy of being at home in a house that actually resembled one had distracted them from it. It was to be temporary however.

As they were sitting outside one afternoon, discussing Potions and the fifth year program that Severus would be starting in a month or so, an owl flew swooped down, landing next to Severus. The bird seemed to examine the dark haired boy haughtily before dropping an envelope at his feet. Severus didn't take it immediately. He wasn't used to getting letters, much less by owl post. The way he saw it, the owl's arrival wasn't a good sign.

He shook himself at last, and took the letter, breaking the seal and fishing out a folded parchment. He unfolded it quickly and let his eyes travel on the neat slightly slanted script, his brow furrowed. Sat beside him, Petunia waited in silence for him to finish. Though she was curious about the letter's contents, she was too polite to try and read over his shoulder as Lily would no doubt have done. The thought amused her, distracting her for the few minutes it took for Severus to finish reading. Twice by the looks of it.

"It's Regulus." announced the dark haired boy at last.

The girl looked thoughtful as she tried to recall who Regulus was. The dark haired pureblood they had encountered in Diagon Alley soon floated to the front of her mind and her eyes flashed with worry.

"What does he say?" she asked, her tone betraying a hint of nervousness.

The boy sighed.

"He seems to be saying he won't mention our meeting to anyone."

"Seems to be?"

"Purebloods tend to be a bit roundabout so I can't be absolutely sure, but he refers to you as a 'witch' so I'm guessing it's his way of saying he won't mention I was with a Muggle."

Petunia nodded thoughtfully. Indeed that made sense. Especially considering she didn't believe for one second the younger boy hadn't guessed she was a Muggle. It had been obvious the way he'd looked at her.

"He also asks to meet me."

Petunia looked at the boy sitting next to her. In a rare show of emotion, his features spoke of puzzlement and anxiety. Clearly, Severus had no idea why the other would want to meet him.

"Will you go?" she asked and placed her head gently on his shoulder, hoping to be of some reassurance.

"I don't know." answered the boy.

She could see his eyes reading the letter again, as if he was trying to detect a hidden message he would have previously missed.

"I suppose so." he added at last. "I wouldn't put it past him to blackmail me so it would probably save me a lot of trouble to just meet him."

Petunia hummed softly in reply.

"Well, you had better write him an answer then." she said at last, straightening herself and getting to her feet. "I'll be in the kitchen."

She pressed a quick kiss to the boy's lips and made her way back inside the house, giving Severus privacy to write his reply.

Left alone, the dark haired boy looked at the letter once more, his black eyes seeking a line in particular. I wish to talk of a matter which will soon concern us both, had written Regulus. It was probably too soon for assumptions but Severus had an idea of what the matter in question was. Seeing as it followed a mention of Petunia as a 'witch' which she was clearly not, it led him to believe Regulus was referring to Voldermort. What was left was to know whether Regulus was a supporter or not. Either way, he doubted the Black heir would be upfront about it. He would have to play the game tactfully and stay on his guard.

On the day Severus went to meet Regulus, Petunia decided to go shopping. Though she usually went with Severus, as the bags could get a bit heavy, she decided she needed the distraction. Comparing meat prices was without doubt much healthier than worrying about things she couldn't help. It didn't however, stop her thinking about she could help. And so her mind wandered towards the future.

The events of the summer and what she had learnt about the troubles of the wizarding world had put a dampener on her dreams of the future. She could see now that keeping her home with Severus was going to be a lot more challenging than she had thought it would be. It might even be dangerous. For her certainly, she understood that that Voldermort fellow wasn't what one might call a pacifist, but also for Severus. She wasn't stupid. She realized she wasn't the one who was in immediate danger. It was Severus who would be on the front line. He would be starting fifth year at the end of the summer. So three more years amongst potential Death Eaters. It wouldn't be easy for him to be one amongst them who didn't agree with blood purity and whatever else Voldermort had on his agenda.

Forget agree with their views, he would be in serious trouble if it was revealed that he associated with a Muggle, namely her. Even worse, if they realized the full extent of their relationship. Perhaps, she thought gaze fixed on a bottle of milk, perhaps there would come a time when she it would be better for her to leave him. She suspected Severus wouldn't do so of her own accord so it would fall to her to take the necessary steps. She hoped such a time would not come, but if it did she would do what was needed. She may not be a witch but she would protect him anyway. Whatever it took.