I accidently reuploaded chapter 5 as chapter 6 last time, and that mistake has now been corrected! And of course here's another brand-new chapter ^^ Enjoy!

January 1972

There is no way he would be here that early, Petunia decided. Eugene didn't strike her as someone who would arrive more than an hour before that train would leave the magic station. She expected relief to spread through her stomach, easing her tight belly, but instead it seemed to fill with lead, sinking through her body and settling somewhere around her feet.

You're here to make sure Eugene doesn't meet Lily, she reminded herself, her eyes gravitating towards her sister who was talking to some unknown girl. Not to meet him yourself.

Platform 9 3/4 looked different from the last time she'd been here, which was mostly because it was missing the suffocating mass of people. This time barely anyone was present yet and the space looked strangely cavernous and empty. Red brick walls curved high above her head, making the steps and muted chatter echo loudly all around her, while a dispersing cloud of smoke whispered across the ceiling. Its scent lingered in the slightly cool air, reminding Petunia of burning wood.

Familiar, delighted laughter rang out and Petunia's attention wandered back to Lily, who was still talking to her friend. The girl had short hair and pudgy cheeks, wearing the same red-gold scarf Lily had proudly displayed since Christmas. She looked kind and harmless and, Petunia thought, weak. But maybe that was a wrong impression, then despite the impressive glower Severus was sending her way, the girl didn't flinch or even spare him a glance.

Her mother had gone to talk to some other adults, leaving Severus and Petunia behind, an obscure pairing considering they had been ignoring each other ever since Severus first got into the Evan's Vauxhall. Petunia's mother had taken the wretched boy along to London as a favour to Mrs Snape, though Petunia wished she would have just brushed the other woman off. That way Petunia wouldn't have been forced to spend all of the car drive obsessively focusing on whatever was outside her window and trying to ignore that the wretched boy was not only sitting next to her, but that he was sitting next to her after he had seen her cry.

At least Severus seemed to share her intentions, and had never once even acknowledged her presence, happy to bathe in Lily's light and concentrate solely on her during the drive.

His luck ran out though, when Lily spotted one of her new friends after just stepping through the wall and promptly ran over to talk to the girl.

Catching herself staring back at the fake-wall, Petunia decided it was time to divert her attention. She knew he wouldn't step through, so what was she waiting for?

Gazing around for a distraction her eyes stilled on the dark expression on Severus' face. He was decidedly unhappy and she almost found his pouting comical.

"Must be one of her new friends." The comment slipped from her lips before Petunia could remind herself that they were ignoring each other. Severus hadn't forgotten though, refusing to respond or look at her, but his expression soured a bit more.

Now that she had already started, Petunia didn't intend to stop.

"Matching scarfs," she tutted, her voice deceptively soft. "They look very close."

He still refused to respond but Petunia didn't give up that quickly. "Why don't you go over?"

Severus' lips twitched downwards before he squeezed them into one pale line.

"You don't like Lily's new friends? Or could it be that … they don't like you?"

He finally glanced at her, his black eyes spitting venom. His voice was pressed and silent. "Shut. Up."

Petunia didn't even think about it. "I wonder why that could be …"

Severus sneered. "A muggle wouldn't know."

Petunia took too long to think of a come-back and the wretched boy continued scathingly, encouraged by her momentary silence. "You're truly pitiful. Acting like you belong with us, getting owls, but actually having no idea what it means to be part of our world. When will you accept that you're just an ignorant, foolish outsider?"

Petunia swallowed but was careful to keep her face haughty. "What's there to understand? You're wretched, poor and unpleasant, that's why no one wants - "

"It's because I'm Slytherin," he interrupted her with a forceful hiss.

Petunia blinked. And then a surprised scoff escaped her, loaded with derision. "Slither where?"

He was back to glaring, but it had a different quality than before. More condescending than enraged. "You know nothing about us."

I know what Fizzing Whizbee's are made out of, Petunia thought. I know why Thestrals are visible only to some people. I know that furry books might bite and how to calm them down.

I know more than nothing, she thought, and found herself surprised by it.

Suddenly Severus' eyes shivered and darkened so much they looked like clumps of coal in his pale face. Petunia blinked, distracted from her own thoughts. She was unsure what had caused his switch when she realised he wasn't looking at her but at something over her shoulder.

Turning her head to follow his gaze she spotted two dark-haired boys accompanied by an elderly couple that had just stepped through the magical fake-wall. The only thing that might make them noteworthy in Petunia's eyes was the very expensive coat one of the young boys was wearing, unsuitable for someone his age. Otherwise they blended with all the other students that would trickle through the wall in the next hour - suitcases, scarfs like the one Lily was wearing and untidy hair. While the one with the ugly glasses looked as if he never even heard of a comb, the other's hair was too long, almost as long as Severus', but less stringy and more wavy. His desperate need for a haircut was obvious to Petunia who started to wonder if the wizarding community hadn't invented hairdressers yet.

And then as if he could sense Severus' regard the long-haired boy turned his head and looked their way, his expression morphing into an impressively mocking sneer. Elbowing his spectacled companion, they left their trunks (one of them very expensive made out of shining leather and embossed with gold lettering) with the couple - parents? Grandparents? - and made their way over.

Severus stiffened so much that Petunia was surprised he didn't hunch his back and hiss like a threatened cat.

"Greasylocks," Specs began with a grin when they stopped in front of them. "They actually let you slither out of the dungeons for Christmas?"

Sneer chimed in. "A snake like you must be missing that damp darkness. It certainly fits you."

"What's there to miss, with how poor he is, his home is probably a dank cave," Specs continued.

Petunia was watching them thoughtfully. So the wretched boy had frozen because they liked to taunt him? Was he actually afraid of them? It was almost a bit … disappointing. He was the one Petunia had to step carefully around all that time and now these half-grown twats were making fun of him - and obviously not for the first time.

"Shut it, Black," Severus spit. "At least I still have a home, traitor."

Sneers expression darkened and Spec jumped in. "Be careful, Greasylocks. Your precious Snake-Den would much rather welcome a pureblood, no matter his circumstances, than a half-blood like you."

Petunia couldn't help herself. She scoffed.

She would never claim that she even understood half of what they were talking about - dungeons? Snakes? Traitor? But one thing that became obvious to her was that Severus was being looked down upon because of his birth, 'half-blood' didn't leave much room for interpretation. He was being dismissed and mocked the same way he had always dismissed and mocked Petunia for being a 'muggle'.

What goes around comes around.

Her disparaging noise had caught Sneer's attention and his slate-grey eyes focused on Petunia. He had to look up a bit and Petunia immediately reveled in her height advantage, raising her pointy chin and looking down her nose at him. Little boy.

But it was Specs who commented on her presence, addressing Severus. "Already found another girl to fight your battles for you? Where's Evans? Did she grow tired of mopping up the grease dripping from your head?"

A certain sparkle lit his hazel eyes when the name 'Evans' left his lips and Petunia had a hunch. Of course, it would play out this way. It was Lily after all.

Severus' face twisted with derision and his eyes almost ghosted to Petunia. "I don't need anyone to fight for me!"

And certainly not her, Petunia imagined the continuation of his sentence. Though I of course wouldn't mind Lily coming to my rescue.

But Lily hadn't noticed her loyal friend's dilemma yet, she was still talking with the short-haired girl all the way over by the train. Though she was facing their way so it probably wouldn't be too long before she noticed Severus' adoring gaze was missing.

Specs ignored him. "So you agree about the grease?"

"Not like your hair is any better," Petunia cut in, her voice haughty and more derisive than either of the boys had managed. She didn't really care if they ganged up on the wretched boy and made fun of him. But the fact that he clearly didn't want her to speak up for him was nettling. What could he do now that Petunia had joined in? Was he regretting that Lily wasn't here next to him?

And a small part of her also wanted to best her sister. There was nothing Petunia was better at than Lily except for being mean. Lily was too righteous - she would probably scold them for being bullies before flouncing off.

Petunia didn't scold. She returned the favour.

And Specs had already given her the perfect ammunition. "Looking at that mess on your head, you must be the annoying brat Lily is always complaining about."

Specs' gaze widened while Severus was frozen next to her, staring straight ahead.

"Shaggy hair, ugly glasses and short stature - that can only be you, right?" Petunia continued before he could answer. He wasn't even all that short considering he could be no older than eleven, but Sneer, Severus and Petunia all ranged on the taller side, making him look small in comparison.

"Who cares what Evans blabs about," Sneer cut in, but no one could miss how Specs swallowed and stopped talking. Specs' bustle was decreasing quickly, his small chest deflating. "She really … said that?"

"Of course, she goes on and on about how much of a pest you are." Considering his expensive wool coat with the golden buttons Petunia added on: "She hates conceited braggers."

"Well," Specs tousled his already unruly hair in an angry gesture. "I hate her too! Always thinks she's so perfect! Blasted know-it-all, is what she is."

Petunia heartily agreed but stopped herself from nodding along. "Well, how convenient that the feeling is mutual. But seeing as she's coming over, you really should go. I really don't want to listen to any more complaints about you and - " Running her gaze deliberately from his gravity-defying tresses to his polished shoes she didn't hide her contempt " - looking at you, I don't doubt that she would have a lot to say."

Specs turned where Petunia indicated with a lazy finger but Sneer wasn't that easily distracted. His silver gaze was still trained on Petunia, his eyes narrowed either in suspicion or dislike.

Petunia hadn't lied about the last part though: Lily really was hurrying their way, her fiery hair trailing like a red war banner behind her, her face screwed in determination. She locked eyes with Specs for a second and Petunia noticed his face flush. And then he glared right back and turned away, stomping of the way he came from.

"Wait a second, James," Sneer called after him, but the boy didn't stop. Giving Petunia a last glare and Severus a last sneer he left them with the parting words: "You better look out, Greasylocks. There won't always be little girls around, ready to protect you."

Little girls? Petunia wondered how he had convinced himself that he was actually taller than her. Maybe it was a boy's thing.

Sneer passed Lily, tackling her shoulder so that her stride faltered and Severus surged forward protectively.

"Are you alright?"

The both of them spoke at the same time and Petunia couldn't suppress an eye roll.

"Did they bother you again?" Lily continued, clearly worried.

"Nothing happened," Severus answered and Petunia thought he sounded slightly defensive. Maybe it injured his manly pride that Lily saw him as the victim in these confrontations.

Emerald-green eyes wandered over his sallow face before she gave a small smile. "That's good. Should we board now? Alice suggested we do it while the train's still empty so we can choose the side with the better scenery."

For a second Severus looked unhappy when Lily mentioned her friend but then he gave a slight smile and Petunia realised that Lily was the only person he ever smiled for. "Mhm."

"Let me just find Mum to say goodbye," Lily beamed, before glancing hesitantly at Petunia. "Tuney … I'll miss you. I'll see you during Easter."

"Yes," Petunia agreed, not looking forward to it. Lily waited a second longer before she lowered her head, walking back towards the place where their mother was talking with some other parents. Petunia wondered if all of them were witches or if there was another normal person among them.

When Lily stopped next to her, their mother bent down and stroked Lily's smooth hair affectionately, giving her favourite daughter a tight hug. She didn't need to see this - Petunia averted her gaze until her eyes snagged on midnight-black ones, for once trained on her instead of her sister.

Petunia waited for Severus to comment on her cold attitude towards Lily, about how mean she always was to the perfect angel who only had goodness in her heart, but the wretched boy stayed silent.

And then Lily called his name and the spell was broken. Like a trained puppy his gaze swivelled back to her, back where it belonged, and he walked her way without a word of good-bye. Not that Petunia had expected one but it somehow felt strange to see him go without any of his usual insults blistering her ears.

Watching the both of them board the red steam-engine she realised that the only good thing was that she wouldn't see them for quite a while.

Unfortunately, while the wretched boy had unexpectedly let Petunia get away with her callous attitude towards Lily, Petunia's mother wasn't so inclined. She must have seen more than Petunia suspected or maybe Lily had tattled, because the whole drive back to Cokeworth was one long scolding. The gist could be summarised with: "Why do you make it so hard on your little sister? She just wants to be friends again. You should stop being angry about something none of us had any influence on. You're too old to be sulking like this."

Petunia refused to respond, causing her mother to sigh deeply, as if Petunia was being especially difficult. She wanted out of this car and to see Aspen, touching his cold skin to reassure herself that he was still there. She didn't want to think about Lily or magical schools or the wretched boy.

Or even Eugene.

The first hour into the drive she had been frustrated because she had come all this way and not even seen him. And then doubt had seeped into her mind like slowly dripping ink, colouring her thoughts black. Had she really wanted to see him? Despite the Christmas present?

Petunia had valiantly tried not to think about it since she got it, but something about the long, dull car drive with her mother's nagging as a backdrop and the disappointment prickling her insides like rough wool caused her thoughts to wander back to it.

Petunia had told herself that she shouldn't read too much into it, that it wasn't something he'd done intentionally. But within that lied the problem. Either he hadn't known what it would force her to realise about Aspen and herself, which meant he didn't care enough to give it a second thought. Or he had known, which would mean that he didn't care if it hurt her.

In the end it just meant that he didn't care, either way. Or at least not as much as Petunia was starting to.

She'd come all the way to bloody London, sharing a car with the wretched boy and forced to watch her sister embark on her magical adventure with her giggling new friends and pouting admirers. Why would she put herself through that, if not …

Petunia felt a bit nauseous, trying to concentrate on the scenery blurring outside the car's window to hopefully settle her stomach. It wasn't too late, yet. She could still protect herself. It had been wrong from the start, he was one of them after all.

They belonged to different worlds.