Petunia was most certain that Lily was playing with that Snape boy and despite all her efforts her parents didn't seem to believe her. (Or maybe didn't care but Petunia was sure her Mum would at least so she must not believe her). This was what led Petunia to crouch behind a tree while listening to her sister and that little grease stain talk about made-up magic schools and monsters from closets. It was disparaging; feeling like the weirdo in this situation. But she wasn't going to let that hit her pride… much.
The conversation went on eventually turning to that stupid school again when Lily glanced around looking a bit shameful, "You're not having me, right? You're the only one that says magic and Hogwarts and all this other stuff is real and I want it to be but..."
The boy looked perturbed by her sister's sudden development of a sense of reality. He steeled himself and shook his head, "Of course it's real, my mum told me all about it. And she'd never lie to me and I wouldn't to you either. Hogwarts is as real as rain and so is magic."
Lily looked satisfied with that answer flashing a smile and he practically preened. Petunia figured she heard enough so that when she confronted Lily about it infront of their mum, she would believe Petunia and put her foot down. Lily would be safe from his poisonous lies. Petunia would be victorious.
"Oh I can't wait for me and Tuney to get our letters, then we can go to Diagon Alley and we can study magic together in the magic library and we can go to Hogmead and try all the candy from Honeydukes, she does love sweets, and we can go on the train!" Lily prattled, "and, and-"
"Lily…"
Lily paused for a second to study Snape's glum, gaunt face, "Oh, I'm sorry," Lily said a bit embarrassed, "You'll be there too of course, I'm absolutely positive that Petunia and you will be friends."
Snape bristled, "That's not it. Lily, your sister's a Muggle an-"
Petunia's foot slipped on the root she was standing on hitting the ground with a crunch. Both of them looked and saw her, so Petunia decided it was more dignified to step out. Lily graced her with excitement, Snape wasn't nearly as happy.
"Oh Tuney, you've got to sit. Sev's been telling me all about Hogwarts and Diagon Alley and Hogsmead. You'll like it a lot."
Petunia puffed out her chest and hoisted Lily up by her wrist, "Like I want to listen to some gutter rat spout off lies so he can talk to a pretty girl."
Said gutter rat furiously stood up and stared down Petunia with burning hatred, "Well Hogwarts wouldn't take her anyways because she's just a noisy, normal, BITCH!"
"I'M NOT A BITCH!"
She wished he'd just shut up. That Lily would never talk to him again. And-and-and a strange wave of burning energy like a terrifying sense of thrill overtook her body. Petunia stood still confused for a moment when a sharp slicing whoosh broke her trance.
In a flash a large branch came hurtling for that boy's head. Lily shouted in horror and Petunia for the first time panicked. Admis the girls' terror filled cries a loud crack sounded. The Snape boy stood in between the branch that was now split in half leaving him unharmed. The three stared at the branch for a moment before chaos broke out.
Lily came crying as she nearly tackled him to the ground, blubbering about if he was okay and that they should get him checked just in case. Snape instead had his mouth agape and in a small uncertain voice said, "You're… you're a witch."
"N-no," Petunia backed away on shakened legs. There was no way in hell she made that happen. She wasn't a freak or a weirdo. But a small voice whispered 'but you wanted him to shut up and it nearly happened'. She shook it away, "I- I."
"Tuney? Did you?" Lily asked, not wanting to believe it herself. Snape seemed less upset by the idea.
"It was an accident," he proclaimed, but Petunia shook her head again more violently.
"No I couldn't have."
"I don't blame you. I do it too sometimes when I get upset. It was an accident," he said again this time to Lily. She was still concerned but took his word for it, but Petunia couldn't take it.
"I'm no witch. The branch just snapped. It must be some freak accident. I- I need to go…" Petunia ran back to the house, tears streaming down her face. She didn't dare looking back when Snape and Lily called for her.
Petunia was distraught to say the least. If magic was real and that was the type of thing it did, then… then what did that make her? She didn't mean to try and kill that Snape boy. Even if he was a dirty nuisance, she didn't want him dead. And if she could do things like that when upset, what about the next time she and Lily fought...
'No' she decided 'there must be a better explanation, magic's not real'. Curled up in her puffy pink bed she clutched a notepad and a pencil, her hand shaking as she put it to paper.
Tree branch snapping realistic explanations:
Tree rot?
Tree healthy, no sign of rot. (Check later to be sure)
Branch already broken?
Maybe, but I didn't see it ( Would I have noticed?)
Branch fell horizontal down, not vertical ( Maybe happened to fast to see what way it was pointing)
Wind/ Weather? (stupid idea)
She tapped the pencil against the paper a few more times, humming in frustration eventually throwing the notepad back onto the bed. She couldn't think of anything else, what else could explain it.
Magic she supposed, but magic was not an answer. Magic was what people used when they didn't understand something or they were silly kids, and Petunia for one was not silly. She must be missing something…
A pair of hestitain though firm knocks rang through Petunia's empty room throwing her off her train of thought. "Petunia, are you in there? I want to talk." the somewhat sombre tone of Lily called through the door.
Petunia weighed her options: she could tell Lily to come in but she was surely to be no help just touting what the brat told her. Or she could tell Lily to go away and she could stew (and maybe come up with an answer). Or she could convince Lily to play with her and forget everything else for now. Option three seemed like the best.
Petunia opened the door but before Lily could even open her mouth she declared, "I'm going to garden. If you'd like to come, you can," then promptly walked down the hall. Lily caught up, squinting at Petunia with suspicious eyes but didn't say anything against it.
The garden was kept in the backyard and spanned the entirety of the wall. Full of bright vibrant pinks, purples, and yellows, the flowers dotted the ground like an expressionist painting. They were in full bloom inviting honey bees and dragonflies to buzz about.
The withered white shed stood by the metal fence in the back. Petunia threw open the shed door and started rummaging for her miscellaneous gardening tools, tossing a few behind her. Lily dutifully picked up everything and brought them to the flowerbed and then ran inside the shed to pick out new flower seeds to plant.
"Orange foxtail lilies and yellow star petunias because they match us!" Lily said, to which Petunia muttered out a fond 'dork' as she filled the watering pail. Once the pail had been waddled over the two gave each other an encouraging nod and went to work.
While both girls were fairly good gardeners Petunia had the green thumb of the family. She loved to learn about all the pretty plants and how to properly grow them so that they would be their best. And as of yet there hasn't been a plant she tried that hasn't sprouted spectacularly.
So Petunia began to dig up new plots and Lily went around watering the old flowers, both humming amongst themselves. The sun beat down fairly hard, but neither minded as the hour went by doing their respective tasks.
Lily finished fertilising as Petunia was getting ready to plant the seeds. She sat next to Petunia cupping something in her hands, when Petunia looked over she saw a bright yellow tulip bulb sitting in the crest of her two hands. Lily took a deep breath and scooted so that she was facing Petunia with her hand out reaching.
Petunia curiously looked over her shoulder, "Is there something wrong?"
Lily faltered for a second but regained her determination, "You remember how I wanted to talk earlier?" Petunia frowned, she really must have been naive to think Lily would give up that easily. In spite of her sister's obvious reluctance Lily continued, "So after you ran Sev, um, told me about how magic works-"
Petunia bristled, "Already got a nickname for your new boyfriend?" she muttered under her breath, Lily's face turned red and hard.
"Don't be mean and listen to me for once! Please!"
Petunia sighed, "Okay, what did the Snape boy say?"
"He said that before kids are taught how to use magic properly that they can have outbursts," Lily paused, seeming to think on what to say, "And, um, that it isn't always bad like the tree thing. And I don't know if you really don't believe it or if you're just really scared of it and… Oh Tuney I don't want you to be scared of magic! It's not all bad I promise, just watch."
Lily shoved the bulb closer to Petunia's face, so close she could smell the floral perfume. At first nothing happened. The bulb stayed static in Lily's hands, her face twisted in frustration and suddenly the petals twitched. The petals simultaneously opened up into a full bloom, as though she was watching a real life recording in fast motion. Petunia's lips parted in an o and Lily looked even more pleased with herself. A buzzing honey bee landed on the tip of Lily's thumb and climbed to the pistol inside the flower.
"That- That looks so cool." Petunia whispered and Lily's smile somehow widened even further. Lily blew the honey bee away and closed the flower so that it was bulb once again and placed it in Petunia's hand.
Petunia rolled it in her hands until it was positioned like Lily had it, "Okay now what?"
"So I thought of what I wanted to happen and I pushed my magic into it."
"How am I supposed to do that? I can't control it."
Lily looked thoughtful, "Do you get a warm fuzzy feeling in your chest like right here?" Lily banged her chest right under her breast bone. Petunia shook her head. "Oh… What did it feel like when you broke the branch."
Petunia thought back; she remembered being angry and then scared, but when she thought hard she was briefly excited maybe, "I felt hot right before the branch snapped, it was like waves of hot air coming from a fire. I don't know, it felt kinda scary, but also exciting. All around just weird."
Lily thinned her lips, "Hmm, well I feel happy and jumpy after I use magic."
Petunia sat there for a moment, pondering, "What do you think about? With the tulip, what were your thoughts?"
"Oh well how I like pretty flowers and that I wanted it to grow, that you'd be surprised and happy when it bloomed and I'd be happy that you're happy. And that I would make you less scared of magic if I did it. And that maybe we can grow the garden faster! That would be nice," Lily finished her ramble and looked at Petunia with expecting eyes, but Petunia continued to question.
"What about when you floated off the tree or when you made the pot sing?"
Lily giggled slightly and rocked back as she watched the sky, "Well flying must have to be fun I thought and so I imagined myself floating and laughing and then landing and doing it again. As for the pot, I think that was an accident, I wasn't trying to make it sing,"
"Okay, I think I have an idea then…" Lily swung herself back into sitting position staring at her hand in anticipation.
Petunia closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths. She imagined the hot sun, how it helped flowers grow. She thought about the warm summer wind blowing against her face and how that made the flowers move in waves. She imagined a big bright push of air forcing the petals open. Then she imagined her excitement and Lily's bright, happy smile at the bulb opening.
Then she felt the warm tingling wave beginning to pool in her hands. She focused harder on that feeling trying to expand it until it nearly felt like she was holding a fire. Soon little movements started, at first it was barely detectable but the edges of the petals brushed up against her palm and she knew she did it by Lily's excitable squeals. Petunia opened her eyes to Lily staring over her hands whispering 'you did it' on repeat.
Petunia's lips quirked upwards, "Of course I did it. I'm a witch, aren't I?"
The pair continued to practice their magic together in the garden throughout the following weeks. Lily would often run off and play with Snape and then report back on everything he told her. Apparently he was pleased that Petunia was also a witch and that she could play with them too. Petunia decided that she might have to deal with him at Hogwarts but she didn't have to be his friend.
After an exceptionally strenuous time growing their new foxtail lilies and star petunias (which they tried to grow with just magic) they laid on their backs staring up at the midday July sun.
There was a loud crack towards the front of the houses, which caused both sisters to startle into a sitting position. They scanned the backyard, but nothing was amiss.
Slowly Lily stood, "Should we go check? It sounded like it was in the front lawn."
Petunia hesitated, but nodded her head. Her and Lily crept to the front hugged against the wall with Petunia bringing up the back. When they got to the corner of the wall Lily swung her head out and swung back almost immediately.
"There's a woman with a silly witch hat at our door." Lily breathed out.
"What?"
Sure enough Lily was right, a tall stern looking woman with straight black hair pulled into a server bun was standing at their door. Her clothes were most peculiar; a black velvet pointing hat with some ornamental stitchings into the brim and a flowy moss green dress that covered her feet and swept out behind her like a trail. She was the image of what one might look like at a fancy Halloween party if they were going as a witch. She knocked on the door with sharp precision and then when the door squealed open Petunia grabbed Lily by the hand, dashing back to the garden.
Lily was ecstatically asked in a low breathy voice, "Do you- You really don't think they're here to give us our letters?"
"What else? Who else would dress like that."
Lily grabbed her by the arms and started to jump while spinning Petunia in a circle. Petunia, uncorindadly, joined in, leading both into a laughing heep.
"Girls?" Mum called out in an uncertain tone, "Can you both come in, we have someone here to see you."
Both jumped up and rushed through the yard where they met their mum's somewhat confused and uncertain face. She gulped and opened her mouth then shut it again, opting to just lead them inside the house with a firm hand pressed behind both their backs.
In the sitting room sat the woman in the leftmost cream chair daintily holding a cup of tea as she stared rather boredly at the... pig? A full grown pink pig was happily lying where the coffee table once was. It seemed content with its nap, but Dad was staring at the animal with confusion and was surely trying to figure out how to get rid of it.
Mum slightly coughed as the three entered the room, lightly shutting the door behind her. This caught the strange woman's attention, she placed the cup on the saucer and stood up to address the girls, "This must be Miss Petunia and Miss Lillian?"
"Lily…"
"Ah, my apologies. Well I suppose I should start with an explanation. I suggest you all sit," she swiftly gestured to the love seat, which both girls sprang onto nearly immediately. The parents were a bit more weary, but with a swishing of a long skinny stick the pig turned back into the family's coffee table.
"Oh wow," Petunia let out an amazed sigh.
Lily giddily bounced, "Can you show me how you do that?"
The woman gave them both a warm light smile, "In due time dear, now my name is Minerva McGonagall and I am here as a representative of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, with a letter of invitation for Miss Petunia Evans."
A puff of smoke produces a yellowed letter with the name Petunia Evans crisply written on the front with the address underneath. On the back was a wine-colored wax seal with a coat of arms on it. The coat of arms had a snake, a badger, an eagle, and a lion surrounded by an H. Taking a deep breath she opened the letter and began to read.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Horace Slughorn
Deputy Headmaster
A second page of parchment fell out detailing all the equipment she would need for the schooling term. It had a list of strange textbooks on a variety of fields of magic and other peculiar objects such as a cauldron and a telescope. She didn't have the slightest idea where she might find any of this but the overwhelming feeling of 'this is real' was too much to bear to worry. She heard London had a variety of strange shops anyways.
"So this is real," Petunia said gazing at Ms. McGonagall, "He wasn't lying, I'm really going to a magic school."
"He?" Ms. McGonagall asked with raised eyebrows.
"A boy, Snape, said he was a wizard and going to Hogwarts. Also that we were too," Petunia explained.
Lily added, "Yeah he can make twigs fly, it's really cool."
Mum took the second page of parchment from Petunia reading over the list and muttered in confusion, "Ms. McGonagall, where are we supposed to find wands and magic books? Also, we haven't an owl, would they be able to get an acceptance letter through the Royal Mail? And, where is this… Hogwarts? I haven't the slightest idea how to get there."
Ms. McGonagall gave the family a comforting smile and explained everything. She told the parents about the Leaky Cauldron and how to get into Diagon Alley, about the shops they needed to visit, and about platform 9 ¾. They were slightly relieved, and made a plan for a day trip to Diagon Alley. Ms. McGonagall fielded a few more questions about the school and told a dejected Lily that she would have to wait until next year for her letter.
"Well then since everything is settled, I'll be informing Headmaster Dumbledore that we should be expecting Petunia on the first of September. I hope you all do well in the intermediate," after that Ms. McGonagall disappeared with a pop.
