Chapter 4: The Sisters Estrange

There was no doubt that out of all the possible things the strange boy with greasy, long, black hair and grubby hand me down clothing would say to the two Evans sisters, neither had anticipated that he would say to Lily the words: "You're a witch."

Petunia immediately scoffed.

"You're mental."

"Ridiculous." added Lily.

"No, it's true." said Severus desperately. "Please believe me!"

He didn't want to repeat the scene he saw in his memories where they thought him rude and mad, and left him standing alone feeling rejected and isolated. But he felt that perhaps it might be best…because by not being isolated by Lily later, after she accepted the truth, it had led to Petunia's isolation, albeit partially self-inflicted by her bitterness.

"Why should we believe you?" asked Petunia, though in her eyes, Severus saw a twinkle that could foreshadow jealous tears.

"Because…how else can you explain all these unusual and abnormal things that Lily can do? What I can do?"

"You?" asked Lily, her curiosity sparkling.

Severus learned this trick whilst alone in the park over the years. He used his instincts and kicked off the ground on the swing and he started swinging rapidly in circles around the swing bars like an out of control millwheel.

Petunia and Lily shrieked, scared he would fall but then he flew off the swing, somersaulted and landed with a swish of wind, like a graceful bird.

"How?!" cried Petunia.

"Magic." said Severus, with a sense of pride at the look of awe on Lily's face.

"Is this true?" asked Lily. "I'm a…witch?"

"Yep, and if you want further proof, you shall have it when you turn eleven! On that day, an owl will deliver you a letter giving you a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." said Severus enthusiastically.

Lily suddenly looked excited. But Petunia was staring at her in shock.

"You don't honestly believe him, Lily?" she gasped. "He's obviously delusional after that illness he had. We're lucky it wasn't catching!"

"But how did he spin like that, Tuney?" asked Lily keenly. "How can I do all those things you find weird?"

"I don't…I'm not…"

Petunia looked between them both and ran away to her house.

"Tuney?" called Lily.

"Wait!" yelled Severus. He wanted to ensure somehow that Petunia would not get jealous and bitter.

But Petunia did not reply or turn back. She disappeared from view a few seconds later.

"Oh dear…" murmured Lily. "I think you scared her."

"I-I-I didn't mean to." said Severus earnestly.

"But…are you really telling the truth?" asked Lily timidly. "Are we really magicians?"

"Well, we don't call ourselves magicians." replied Severus. "We're wizards. Magicians are what Muggles portray themselves as when performing illusions."

"What are Muggles?" asked Lily.

"What we magic folk call people with no magic powers."

"Is Tuney, my sister, a Muggle?"

Severus sighed mournfully, recalling the time he had called Petunia a Muggle in an offensive, demeaning manner out of spite for what his Muggle father put him through, leading to his overall disdain for all Muggles automatically.

All except Lily and for a year or two, her parents; Rosemary and Trevor Evans.

"Yes." he replied after this pause.

"You don't sound pleased about it." said Lily, puzzled.

"I'm not." said Severus. "When I saw you that day, flying off the swing and making flowers appear out of your palm, I didn't just see fright in your sister's eyes. I saw that she wanted it."

"Wanted what?" asked Lily.

"She wanted to do what you could do too. She was jealous." explained Severus, a trifle impatiently.

"Oh."

Lily could see where he was coming from with this. She could see why Petunia would feel envious for her magical abilities, if she truly had any. She couldn't imagine being in her sister's place; being the normal one while her younger sister has special talents that make her unique.

"I must see her." said Lily.

"Okay." said Severus, but he was unable to shut out the sadness in his voice.

"Could…could we meet here again?" asked Lily. "It's just that there are so many questions I wanna ask."

I'm sure there is, thought Severus.

"Of course. Tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sure." said Lily, now unable to keep the excitement out of her own voice.

With a mutual smile to each other, Lily took off back towards her house, hoping to be able to straighten things out with her sister…and likely must explain what had been revealed to them both to their parents, if Petunia hadn't done so already.

As it turned out, she did.

As Lily came in the door, Rosemary or Rose for short, her mother, came into the hall, with a look of puzzlement and concern. From the other end of the hall and into the kitchen, Lily saw a distraught Petunia sat next to their father, Trevor. She was staring at Lily with a look of bewilderment, as if she couldn't understand why her sister would wish to pay any attention to the weird boy across the street. But upon hearing Severus' words concerning Petunia a few minutes before, it was now plain for Lily to see the longing in Petunia's eyes, and she immediately felt a pang of pity for her sister.

Maybe next time I see that boy, I can ask if there's any way that Tuney can do magic too, she thought. And learn his name, now I think of it.

"Lilykins." said Rose. "Petunia has just told us that she and yourself met that boy you tried to help a couple of weeks ago again and he started to give you the impression that you had magic powers. Is that so?"

"Y-yes." said Lily.

"Do you believe him?" asked Rose, with disbelief in her tone.

"I'm not sure." admitted Lily. "But he has a point, Mummy. How can I do the things I have done? Like summon my dollies from the other side of my room, or from upstairs. You remember, Mummy?"

Rose did remember that particular occasion and she could never fathom how it was done. But now, thinking of that time, she found herself starting to believe this boy she had never met before as well.

"Sit down at the table, Lilykins." gestured Rose, and Lily sat between her and her father.

"If what you and what this boy has told you is true…if you are indeed a…witch or a magical girl…we won't ever stop loving you." said Rose, with strong dedication. "We will just see that you're a special girl with a very special gift, and we will find it wonderful to see where these powers will take you."

"Indeed, Lily." agreed Trevor. "Maybe when you're older, you can fix the old camper with your powers or make it automatic in every way."

The three of them laughed, but Petunia was staring at them all, pale and as Lily looked across to her, something disappeared from the eyes of her usually affectionate and loving, albeit protective and nervous sister. The gleam of innocent sibling love had faded. All that was left on Petunia's face was coldness and the most obvious look of jealousy.

Without a word, Petunia rose from her seat and walked quietly to her bedroom. But Rose and Trevor didn't notice. They embraced Lily and smiled.

"I think we need to have a word with this boy though, Lily." said Trevor. "What's his name, anyway?"

"I…I don't know." said Lily foolishly.

"Hmm, that doesn't bode well for what he has said. He could just as well be a bully, who's making fun of you." said Rose dubiously.

"I don't think he is." said Lily, trying to hide the hurt in her face and voice. She really didn't like the look on her sister's face, and she intended to put an end to it. She wanted to patch it up.

"Well, nevertheless, we need to meet the boy. Maybe his parents too and straighten this all out properly." said Trevor.

"Can I go upstairs now, Dad?"

"Yes, I understand you need to do some thinking."

So Lily went up the stairs, but she had no intention to think alone. She needed to talk to Petunia.

Petunia's room was the first door facing the top of the stairs. The room to the left at an angle was the bathroom. The two doors to the right were the master bedroom where Rose and Trevor slept and the one next to it, facing the bathroom was Lily's room. The door between the master bedroom and Petunia's, was a cramped space that kept the boiler, and on two shelves above it, were where the family kept their bathroom towels, so they would always be warm following a bath.

Lily knocked gently on her sister's door. There was no reply.

"Tuney…please open the door." said Lily.

Still no answer.

"Tuney, please…I'm scared." mumbled Lily nervously. "I'm scared that boy may be lying. I'm scared of what being a witch means. They used to burn them. What if the neighbours find out and burn me if it's true? Please, Tuney! I need you!"

She started crying, and then the door opened, after the sound of a bolt pulled back. Petunia looked at her sister, and let her enter the room.

As Lily sat on the end of Petunia's pink bedsheets, as was their usual custom when visiting one another's rooms, she looked up at her protective elder sister.

Petunia had a creased forehead, suggesting she was indeed worried about her sister being burned at the stake, but on the other hand, the loving gleam in her eyes was still vacant.

"Tuney…"

"I won't let you get burned." she said.

Lily desperately wanted to hug Petunia, but was repelled from doing so because of the lack of compassion in her face.

"Always were the better of us." mumbled Petunia.

"W-what?" stuttered Lily.

"You were always the better sister." said Petunia shakily, as if she wanted to say this for ages. "You had the prettier eyes, Mum said. She said no-one's eyes ever looked more beautiful to her…and your hair was perfect…and you always looked 'so beautiful, so perfect' in your clothes. In other words, Mum and Dad always thought you're the better looking out of us two…and you're only nine. I'm eleven. My friend, Lacie said that I am deve-"

She was going to say she was developing earlier than her other classmates, but was not at all comfortable saying as much in front of her little sister.

"And now…you seem to have everyone convinced, thanks to that awful boy, that you have magical powers. Yet another special thing about Perfect Lily to out-do me. To make me seem like a lesser person compared to you, I'm more of a Plain Petunia than ever now. I hope that boy is lying! Then you won't be any more special than me, and you won't have to worry about being burnt and then you can just…just…stop making me feel worthless!"

"B-but…you never told me I made you feel…bad." mumbled Lily, her tears refreshing down her cheeks.

"I tried to be a good big sister. I took you to play, I even kept your hair smooth and long to keep Mum and Dad happy. But since you wanna believe in some weirdo down the road, who looks like he has never had a bath in his life, about being magical, you don't seem to appreciate everything I do for you! You're ungrateful and selfish! I will protect you from being burned at the stake, Lily. But that's all I'll ever do for you again! Now leave my room!"

Lily didn't need to be told twice. Her sister's outburst was equally matched with the venom in her voice and the coldness of her eyes, and so she fled from her sister's bedroom and ran to her own room, shut and slid the bolt in, leapt onto her bed, also with pink sheets, and cried into her pillows. She now realized all those wonderful compliments she received almost every day from her parents were also harsh blows to her elder sister's confidence, and the possibility of being a witch, something that her parents seemed to think was a wonderful gift that made her even more special than she already was, seemed to be the last straw for Petunia.

Lily now knew that if what that boy had said back at the playground was true, that she was indeed a witch, she was going to gain a new outlook on life, but in the process, she would lose the big sister she had grown to love, admire and look up to all nine years of her life.

It was several weeks later.

Severus was introduced to Lily's parents a few days after he told Lily she was a witch. He noticed with dismay that when he and Lily met at the park again, Petunia wasn't with her. Prior to the meeting with her parents, Lily made it very clear that if he was lying and brought this rift between her and her sister for nothing, he would regret it.

Severus couldn't imagine how a nine-year-old girl could make him regret anything, as opposed to how he made himself regret things in his other life, but as he didn't want to lose Lily this time, and as he was also nine, he believed her with a fearful expression.

After explaining to Lily's parents about magic, Hogwarts, and about the letter she would get at the age of eleven to got to the famous school, they came to believe him more and more. He omitted the prejudice against Muggle borns. But he decided that was a private discussion between himself and Lily for another time, when they were better friends, and this time he would not lie to her.

However, her parents were still finding it hard to accept that witches and wizards were able to hide out in the world, and that no-one knows about them. They asked Severus for a demonstration of magic, but after explaining for the umpteenth time that children his age were not allowed to do purposeful magic, he invited his mother to vouch in his favour about the existence of magic.

Eileen was only too happy to oblige her son. But she invited Lily and her parents to her house, as it would not seem unusual for magic to be performed willingly in her house, as opposed to a Muggle residence.

She showed off some magic. She showed the Summoning Charm that Lily subconsciously used in her life. She also used the Levitation Charm and the Tickling Hex, which apart from raucous laughter that only ceased when the caster of the spell chose to, was harmless. She demonstrated this on Severus, who hadn't laughed voluntarily in a long time, and Eileen was delighted to hear him do so once more.

Lily liked Severus laughing and smiling. She was growing fond of him, and these demonstrations had proven beyond all doubt in hers and her parents' minds that magic existed and Lily was indeed a witch, albeit Muggle born.

Severus insisted to Eileen not to bring up the subject of the differences in magical blood.

As those weeks passed, Lily and Severus became closer, and Eileen, Rose and Trevor became firm friends. But where Lily and Severus' relationship grew…the relationship between Lily and Petunia became almost non-existent.

It made Lily feel very forlorn. She tried telling her parents about it, but they felt that Petunia was just being silly and would soon come round to the idea of her sister being magical, but Severus knew that unless he managed to alter things, that would never happen.

He had spoken to Lily a couple of times about the matter. He explained to her about how jealous Petunia must be, to not have magical powers. Lily admitted that Petunia was jealous already that their parents seemed to favour her unconsciously in Petunia's eyes, and now being magic made her all the more upset.

Once the Statute of Secrecy was explained to Lily, she realized that she needn't worry about being burned at the stake, but chose not to tell Petunia this, or the last thing that held them together would sever and they could very well be estranged forever.

One day, Severus and Lily were chatting about all sorts of things magical, particularly other beings. Goblins at Gringotts. House elves within rich wizarding families; Lily wasn't particularly keen on the idea of wizards keeping elves as slaves. Then they got down to the subject of Dementors, and then hearing a rustle behind them, Severus suddenly realized that this was in one of his restored memories…the day he hurt Petunia and planted a seed of distrust within Lily…prior to Hogwarts and James Potter.

He had no intention of letting Petunia get to him again, nor let her run away. He had to put things right with her and Lily.

"Tuney!" cried Lily when she saw Petunia was spying on them.

Petunia's curiosity had eventually gotten the best of her. She spent most days sulking in her room or going to Lacie's house for the day, but not explaining why she was so miserable lately. But after her parents became good friends with the Snape boy's mother, and seeing just how close Lily and Snape had become as well, she wanted to see and hear for herself about this magic world her family now seemed to have accepted…and what she now wanted too.

Petunia, having seen she was caught, tried to flee, like before.

Before Lily could call her back, Severus spoke first.

"Petunia, wait!"

She froze, then swung round on Severus.

"What? I never said you could talk to me!" she snapped furiously.

Ignoring the irate elder, Severus prepared to speak as kindly as he could, and with difficulty, considering she was a Muggle, worst yet, a rude Muggle whom seemed to outcast magic just as much as Tobias used to.

At last, he spoke hoping he would not regret this.

"Um, please, Petunia…would you care to join us?"

There's Chapter 4. Sorry it's a day or two late and slightly shorter than the last chapter. Hope this story continues to be to all your liking, and I will update again, hopefully next Thursday. Please review, thanks for reading.