Here, we have the average family wishing their youngest a safe trip on her way to school, but what you don't know is that young Ms. Lillian Marie Evans is a witch. A muggle-born witch, to be exact, going off for her first year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.'It all started with that boy and that letter. They're the cause of it all. Now it's nothing but Hogwarts this and Hogwarts that, she's not my Lily anymore,' thought Petunia as she and her family walked into the station.
"Goodbye, darling. We'll miss you and see you for Christmas," said Mrs. Evans as she hugged young Lily.
"Tunia, don't you want to tell your sister goodbye?" asked Mr. Evans.
"Why, she's already ruined everything by going," muttered Petunia as she turned her back on her sister."-sniff-… I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen – Maybe once I'm there…" Lily pleaded.
Petunia snuffed at the thought that she would ever get into that freaky school."– no, listen, Tuney! Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!" reasoned, Lily.
"I don't – want – to – go! You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a – a… – you think I want to be a – a freak?" Hissed Petunia.
"I'm not a freak. That's a horrible thing to say," stated Lily.
"That's where you're going. A special school for freaks like you. You and that Snape boy… weirdoes, that's what you two are. It's good you're being separated from normal people. It's for our safety," said Petunia, turning on her heel out of the barrier of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, back to the car.
The sisters drifted apart, practically in two different worlds, but what can you do. The rift between them grew over the next four years, and while their parents tried to keep the peace, there was only so much they could do.
Christmas 1971*Petunia was lying on her bed reading "Jane Eyre," when she heard, "Petunia, come down here, please," said her mother. Petunia sighed as she rolled off the bed and made her way into the hallway and down the stairs. She wondered what it was about now; it had better not be about Lily again. 'I'm not going to talk to her while she chooses to be friends with that Snape boy,' she thought.As she entered the living room, her mother greeted her with a sad smile. "Petunia, we need to talk," Mrs. Evans said softly.
"Your sister is coming home for Christmas, and we want this to be a happy time for all of us."Petunia crossed her arms, her face set in a frown. "I don't see how that's possible when she's bringing her world into ours."Mrs. Evans sighed. "I know it's hard, dear. But she's still your sister."
Meanwhile, on the Hogwarts Express, Lily Evans stared out the window, the Scottish countryside speeding by. 'I'm going home for the Christmas break, but I don't know if I should,' she thought, feeling a knot of anxiety in her stomach.
'I wish Severus was here,' she sighed as she leaned against the window."Why so glum, Evans? You look like someone killed your kneazle," came a voice from behind her. She turned to see James Potter, a fellow student with a mischievous grin.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Not now, Potter."James sat down across from her, his grin softening into a look of genuine concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"Lily hesitated before speaking. "It's my sister. She... she hates me for being different.
For going to Hogwarts."James nodded, understanding. "It's tough. My parents are wizards, so I don't have that problem. But maybe... just give her time. She might come around."
Lily smiled weakly. "I hope so."As the train pulled into King's Cross Station, Lily's heart raced. She stepped off the train, scanning the crowd for her family. She spotted them – her parents waving eagerly and Petunia standing a bit further back, her expression unreadable."Lily!" her mother called, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"We've missed you so much!"Lily hugged her father and then turned to Petunia. "Tuney, I... I've missed you."Petunia's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions. "Welcome home, Lily," she said quietly.
As they walked towards the car, Lily felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas would be different. Maybe it was a chance for healing, for understanding. As the snow began to fall gently around them, the two sisters walked side by side, both hoping for a little bit of magic to mend their broken bond.
As they walked towards the car, Lily felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas would be different. Maybe it was a chance for healing, for understanding. As the snow began to fall gently around them, the two sisters walked side by side, both hoping for a little bit of magic to mend their broken bond.