Petunia Evans stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror that she had been standing in front of for the last hour or so, primping for her date.

She thought she looked rather good in her understated makeup with no wild or outlandish colors popping off her face, her simple, pale blue, flowy dress that didn't give the wrong idea paired with modest heels and a single string of pearls around her neck. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back from her face in a simple twist. Everything about the look screamed simple, average, normal and that's just the way she liked it.

She leaned in a little further towards the mirror to inspect herself more closely. Something did feel like it was missing, but what?

Perhaps she was overthinking it. This was, after all, a very important night.

A rapping on the bathroom door made her perfectly done face scrunch up into a scowl and she yanked it open, causing the intruder, her sister, to jump slightly taken aback. "What do you want?" Petunia asked, considering in afterthought that she could have chosen to speak a little nicer to her younger sister, who probably only wanted to use the bathroom. But what was done was one, and she maintained her cold expression as Lily blinked at her, momentarily flustered.

"Oh sorry," the redhead apologized quickly. "I didn't know you were busy in here-"

"Typically when someone's in the restroom they're pretty occupied don't you think?" Petunia scowled, once again ignoring the voice in her head that told her to lighten up.

The two girls stared at each other in silence for a long moment. Petunia was about to tell her sister to leave if she wasn't going to use the bathroom, but Lily spoke first.

"You look nice," she said, smiling a little, and Petunia could tell that she meant it. "Are you going somewhere special? Is it with… with that Vincent?"

"Vernon."

"Right, Vernon. Sorry," Lily corrected herself, casting her eyes down and chewing her bottom lip. "Sorry."

Petunia pursed her lips, taking a deep breath through her nose and slowly letting it out. "Yes. Vernon is taking me to dinner. A lovely place, Bistro Cassis. French, you know. The Prime Minister's cousin was spotted there last spring."

"O-oh…" Lily nodded, seeming determined to appear impressed. Petunia wondered what sort of fantastical culinary her sister's sort must have in their world if this didn't meet the criteria to pique interest. "That does sound nice."

Petunia held her head a little higher. "I do believe Vernon may propose tonight," she blurted out, trying to sound haughty. Trying to sound as if she had beaten the other girl to something. Lily didn't even have a boyfriend, as far as Petunia knew, and here she was about to become someone's Fiance.

She hadn't expected the younger girl's face to light up the way it did. Emerald green eyes nearly doubled in size as she gasped in surprise before flinging her arms around Petunia's neck. "Really? Oh, Tuney! That's wonderful!"

Petunia froze in shock for a moment. She and Lily barely spoke these days, in fact, Petunia avoided even looking at the other girl whenever she was home from that… that school of hers. Yet here she was, genuinely excited for her. Petunia allowed herself to relax into her sister's embrace, bringing her arms up to return the hug.

When they parted, Lily had a dreamy sort of expression as her eyes scanned over her sister. "I can't believe it. It sounds so… so grown up, doesn't it? You getting married."

Petunia found herself smiling in return. "It does."

Lily hummed happily, then she blushed and took a step back. "Well, I'll just… I'll let you finish up then, shall I? Sorry to have bothered you."

As she turned to leave, Petunia felt her heart tug slightly. "Lily! Wait!"

Lily paused and turned back to face her. Petunia worried her bottom lip and sighed. "I feel like something's… missing. I'm not really sure what though. I've been staring into the blasted mirror for an hour. What d'you think?"

Lily stared her up and down, her eyebrows furrowed as she concentrated with a tiny frown on her lips until her face lit up again. She reached into the back pocket of her jeans, drawing out a long, thin stick.

Petunia's eyes went wide and she took a step back. "What are you doing with that thing? Put it away! I don't want you doing some freaky spell on me!"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh stop. You asked for my help, didn't you?" She smiled softly, taking Petunia's hand in the one not holding her wand. "Trust me, yeah?"

Petunia didn't move, didn't blink, didn't breathe as Lily pointed the wand at the side of her head. There was a warm tingling feeling just above her ear and the tiniest, fearful whine escaped Petunia's throat as she scrunched her eyes closed, preparing for the worst. Then the tingling stopped.

"There. That should do it," Lily said, satisfied.

"What've you done?" Asked Petunia, eyes still scrunched shut.

Lily giggled. "Open your eyes and see for yourself, you silly thing."

Taking a deep breath, Petunia opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. Everything was the same. The same understated makeup, the same simple dress and hair twist. The only difference was the bright pink petunia that had settled just behind her ear.

"Much better," Lily said. "You needed a little pop of color." She smiled once again, watching Petunia reach up to timidly touch the flower's petals. "Enjoy your night, Tuney. Good luck."

—-

Petunia had waited patiently, doing her best to conceal her excitement all throughout dinner. Every time Vernon opened his mouth to speak she sat up a little straighter and frantically thought This is it! This is my moment! Only to wilt slightly back down in her seat when her boyfriend went on to tell her something or another about the drilling company he worked for.

Dinner came and went along with dessert and she nearly stabbed her fork through the strawberry tart she had ordered when it arrived with no sparkling diamond ring placed whimsically in the center.

She had just about given up, slouched back in her chair with her arms folded over her chest and a definite scowl on her face when the waiter arrived again to ask if that would be all or if they would like the check.

"Actually," Vernon said and Petunia sat up a little, her hopes restored. "Tonight is a rather special night. Would you mind bringing us two glasses of champagne?"

With a giddy excitement that she hadn't felt since she was a young girl, Petunia politely excused herself to the ladies' room where she freshened up her lipstick, powdered her nose, made sure there was nothing in her teeth, and adjusted the pink flower her sister had put in her hair. Perhaps, she thought with a smile as she fondly stroked the petals, whatever magic Lily had used to conjure it had also brought her luck. Perhaps Lily's abnorma- uniqueness, rather, wasn't as terrible as Petunia had always made it out to be. She would have to make more of an effort with Lily, she decided, and she checked her teeth one last time before leaving the restroom and returning to the table.

As she sat down she tried to remind herself not to appear as if she expected anything, but she couldn't stop the wide smile on her face.

Vernon frowned, looking confused. "Is there something in my teeth? I told that blasted waiter I didn't want any leafy greens in my dish, but you know how useless those sorts are. I'd like to see them handle a real job," he grumbled and narrowed his eyes disapprovingly in the direction that the waiter had walked off.

Petunia quickly shook her head. "No! Not at all." She leaned in a little, resting her chin on one hand, trying to look loving and dreamy toward the man. "I'm just happy, Vernon. Aren't you?"

Again, Vernon looked confused, but he nodded slowly. "Yes. Yes, of course. Very happy. In fact, that's why I asked you to dinner tonight. If only that damned waiter wasn't taking so long with the champagne… Ah, there he is."

Petunia was partially buzzing all throughout her body. She had to consciously stop herself from bouncing in her seat as the waiter poured two glasses from the bottle. When the waiter stepped away, she quickly brought a hand up to stroke over the soft petals of the flower in her hair once more. For luck.

"Petunia," Vernon started, clearing his throat.

"Yes?" She leaned in eagerly.

"I brought you here tonight as a celebration of sorts. I have a wonderful announcement that will change our lives completely, you see."

Petunia nodded. Out with it already…

Vernon lifted his wine glass and she scrambled to do the same. "To the future." Vernon toasted and she happily parroted him before they clicked glasses and sipped. Vernon sipped, and Petunia drank her glass down in one swallow.

"I'm glad you're so enthused," Vernon noted, chortling quietly at her empty glass.

She forced a twittering laugh. "You've got me on edge, dear. So, what's this about then?"

A rare grin spread across Vernon's face beneath the mustache he had finally managed to grow. He reached across the table, taking Petunia's dainty hand in one of his own. "Petunia, dear…."

This is it!

"They've made me the junior manager of Grunnings! Spectacular news, isn't it?"

Petunia felt as though her heart dropped into her stomach, but her happy expression only faltered for one fleeting moment as she fought to maintain a look of excitement for the man. "Yes. Spectacular."

—-

Petunia was surprised to find the lights still on inside the house when Vernon dropped her off later that evening. It wasn't particularly late, but rather it was the sort of hour where her parents may be in the sitting room watching the news and winding down for the night and her sister would be… well, doing whatever it was seventeen-year-old witches did in their spare time.

Her stomach twisted. She didn't particularly feel like facing her family. She wanted to go on up to her bedroom, take off all of this ridiculous makeup, and have a lie down… and maybe cry a little.

She sniffled a bit as she turned the knob on the front door and slowly opened it. She could hear her parents and sister laughing in the dining room.

Strange, she thought. They never used the dining room unless there was an occasion of some sort. She gasped, filled with dread. What if Lily had told their parents that Petunia expected to get engaged tonight? What if they were waiting inside the dining room ready to congratulate her?

Maybe she could sneak upstairs undetected…

Just as she took a step towards the stairs, there was her mother's voice calling. "Petunia? Darling, is that you?"

She sighed, defeated. "Yes, mummy. It's me."

"Come and join us in the dining room, honey!" Her father's joyful voice boomed. "We're celebrating!" She bit her lip. He sounded so excited. Daddy will be so disappointed…

Slowly she made her way into the dining room, her head hanging in shame.

However, they seemed to have already begun the celebration without her. Her father, mother, and Lily were all seated around the table, sipping wine and laughing. When her eyes fell on Lily, the younger girl blushed and smiled apologetically.

"I told them to wait-" She started.

"She did," their father defended, clapping Lily on the shoulder. "But I just couldn't help it. I was so excited. So proud. It's not every day a father gets to see his daughter be made Headgirl of her school, after all!"

The air was sucked clean out of Petunia's lungs. Her hands balled into fists at her sides and her cheeks grew warm as anger surged through her and her eyes, wide with fury, bore into her sister who was clutching a scroll of parchment in one hand and had a tiny badge pinned to her shirt. She saw red.

Stomping her foot, Petunia let out an angry cry and she turned and ran upstairs.

"PETUNIA WAIT!" Lily called after her. She heard the scratch of the dining room chairs on the hardwood floor followed by Lily's footsteps chasing after her. "PETUNIA!"

Before Lily could reach her, Petunia slammed her bedroom door shut and locked it. She threw herself onto the bed and ignored the desperate knocking at her door.

"Petunia, please!" Lily begged.

"Go away!"

The knocking stopped and for a second Petunia thought that Lily had given up. Then she heard her sister mutter something, a soft click, and the door opened. Lily peeked her head inside.

Petunia screamed, completely enraged. "How DARE you!" She cried, flying off the bed and charging toward her sister. "How dare you use your silly tricks to invade my privacy!"

"Petunia, please! I just wanted to talk to you!"

"Oh, but you ruin EVERYTHING!" She shouted, inched from her sister's face. "This was supposed to be my night! Mine! But of course, it's always about you!"

Lily shook her head. "Tuney, please listen to me! I told them not to make a fuss! I told them to wait until you came home before they went all out. I wanted them to celebrate your good news first! I didn't mean to steal your night from you!"

"Ha!" Petunia laughed coldly. "Well, it doesn't even matter because guess what? It didn't happen." She held up her left, ring-less hand to show her.

Lily deflated, looking up at Petunia sympathetically. "Oh, Tuney. I'm so sorry.." she reached out to touch her but Petunia jerked away from her.

"Don't touch me! I'm so sick of you! Perfect Little Lily always getting what she wants! Lily the witch. Lily the Prefect. Lily the Headgirl. Lily this, Lily that! I bet you're just the Queen Bee at that school of yours, aren't you? I bet everyone loves Little Miss Lily! Do they all just fawn over you, Lily?" At this point, Petunia could see tears welling up in her sister's eyes. Good, she thought. "I don't even know why you bother to come home at all when you've got it made over there in your world! I wish you wouldn't come back! I wish you'd go there and stay there forever so I never have to see your perfect little face ever again! So go!" She shoved the younger girl. "Go back to your perfect happy little fantasy world, with your magic tricks and stupid spells." She ripped the petunia out of her and threw it on the ground. "Go be Queen of the freaks and leave the rest of us normal people to live our normal lives without you constantly overshadowing them!"

"P-Petunia-!"

"Go. Away. Lily!" She practically snarled. "I never want to see you again!" She slammed the door in Lily's face and locked it again. She looked around her room frantically and then, with much difficulty, she pushed her dresser over so that it barricaded the doorway. There. That should keep her out.

Petunia was breathing heavily; mascara ran down her face as she collapsed onto her bed, buried her face in her pillow, and screamed.

—-

"It's finally happened." Remus sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You two must have driven McGonagall into complete insanity. There's no way she made this sort of decision completely sound of mind. Give me that." He snatched the parchment out of James' hand and read it over, convinced it must be some sort of forgery.

Sirius was howling with laughter, doubled over and clutching his sides. "Brilliant! Absolutely bloody incredible! They -haha!- they made Prongs Headboy!"

"Or," Remus said, desperate for a rational explanation. "Maybe this is a retaliation of sorts! They're pranking you back for all the idiotic stunts you've pulled. You aren't Headboy at all. They just sent this to make you believe it and then when you get to school and go to the first meeting, everyone will laugh and say 'I can't believe you thought we were serious' and I'll be sitting in the back and I won't say 'I told you so,' but you'll know."

James snorted and rolled his eyes, taking the letter back from Remus. "You're just out of sorts because you got your jollies off on being able to tell us what to do and now I get to tell you what to do, Mr. Prefect." He wacked Remus on top of the head with the parchment and stretched out across his bed. Remus frowned at him.

"I'm not out of sorts. I'm…flabbergasted, that's what I am."

Sirius, still giggling, came up behind the werewolf, sliding his arms around his waist and nuzzling into his neck. "Don't worry, Moons. You still get to tell me what to do."

"And me." Peter piped up, trying to be helpful. James snorted and Sirius howled once again, actually collapsing onto the bed. Remus chuckled a little, though his cheeks were pink and then it dawned on Peter. "Ah! Wait, no! I take it back! Ugh. Bloody hell, why do you have to make everything dirty, Padfoot!"

Sirius grinned, wiping away tears of mirth. "It's a gift."

"Come to think of it," Peter mused. "Shouldn't you be Headboy, Moony? Prongs was never even a Prefect and his detention records…" he whistled.

"First of all," Remus huffed, crossing his arms. "Moony doesn't want to be Headboy anyway. I've got enough responsibility as a Prefect and being Padfoot's only sense of morality. And Headboy goes to the most impressive student. James' grades are the top of the class, he's been Quidditch captain for two years-"

"And I've really stepped up my behavior," James gloated.

"Yeah right," Sirius scoffed. "You and I spelled all of the portraits in the west wind to be completely starkers a week before term ended."

James smirked. "Alright, I've stepped up my ability not to get caught, then." His eyes suddenly went wide and he sat up. "Wait. You don't think Evans is Headgirl, do you?"

The other three boys groaned in unison.

"Most likely," Remus said. He sat on the floor beside Peter and rubbed his temples. "So it would be much appreciated if you could please just keep it professional and not piss her off too much, for my own sanity. Don't use this as an excuse to pester her, I'm the one that gets an earful about it."

"I'm not going to pester her! I'm just saying this could be my chance to impress her! Show her how mature and responsible and… Headboy-ish… I could be, you know?"

"Merlin, the school is doomed…"

"Sirius, go give your boyfriend a snog or something, will you? He's all cranky," James said, frowning at the werewolf who simply stuck his tongue out in return.

Sirius perked up immediately, grinning at Remus in a very Padfoot-like manner. Remus glared. "Sirius, no."

"Sorry, Moons. Jamie's Headboy now. I've got to do what he says. And if he says snogs, then who am I to disagree?"

Peter snickered. "At least they didn't make Sirius Headboy, hah."

Remus' resolve broke and he chuckled to himself, giving Sirius an appraising look. "That would be the day."

Sirius pouted, crossing his arms and looking at his boyfriend indignantly. "What? My grades are nearly the same as James'!"

"But your detention record is nearly double." James rolled his eyes playfully.

"And your only extracurricular activity is… well… Moony," Peter added.

Remus laughed and took Sirius by the arm, pulling him down to sit on the floor between his legs. "Besides, I wouldn't want you to be Headboy. I like you the way you are. My little delinquent." He nuzzled into the thick black hair, inhaling his scent and humming happily as Sirius leaned back against him. It was hard to stay cranky when he had his Mate so close and warm and smelling so good…

Maybe he should drag the boy off for a moment, as per James' suggestion…

For all of the worrying Remus had done over the idea, it turned out that the whole 'mate' thing was actually quite nice. It had given him the strange feeling of completeness, like that cliche bit, about missing puzzle pieces and whatnot. There was something else also, something they had not quite gotten the complete hang of just yet and had both promised to do some more research on it. It wasn't telepathy, but it was close. It was like they were so hyper-sensitive to each other's emotions that they could communicate without words. They were very interested in just how far they could take that but.

Anyway, Remus had decided that this summer had not been all too dreadful, apart from what had happened with his father. Things were still awkward when he had returned home once a month and he and his father had not spoken again about what had happened at the beginning of the season, nor had Remus told him or his friends about the wolf who had visited him. He was choosing, for once, to focus on the positive things and enjoy the final few months of his freedom. Seventh year was only weeks away; graduation was just around the corner and beyond that, who knew? There was a war coming, that much they knew, and real life would be upon them before they knew it. For now, Remus was choosing to pretend that his life was simple, average, normal, and most of all… happy.

Hey Guys, quick update. This is the last chapter I will be posting in 2023. I'll be back on January 8th with the first chapter of 7th-year. After 7th year is completely posted, I will be going on a Hiatus. I hate to be that kind of author but I need to take time to figure out the Post Hogwarts chapters and how I want them to be and what I want to include. However, for your sake, I will be posting 7th-year chapters every other week instead of each Monday so that the updates last longer and hopefully the hiatus won't be as long. Typically I can write a chapter and have it edited in about max 10 days so if timing works out the hiatus shouldn't be insanely long if I already have a backlog of chapters to post.

Anyways, check out my Instagram and Gmail at Via889Fanfiction (in the new year I may start a Tik Tok under that same user name) and my podcast The Marauders (Olivias' Version) on Spotify and Google Podcasts as well as on Instagram at themaraudersoliviasversion.