"Are you aware your daughter is writing at the University Level?" Mr. Little questioned.

Petunia felt like banging her head against the desk. Wasn't this just supposed to be a regular parent/teacher conference?

"Really? Our Petunia?" Mrs. Evans asked. "I know she'd been throwing herself into the hobby as of late, but she'd only eleven."

"It's not just her writing though Mrs. Evans." The teacher continued, pushing up his glasses. "She could easily test out of her year today and pass with flying colors."

The girl winced, biting her bottom lip as both her parents stared at her.

"That's amazing!" Lily exclaimed happily, a look of wonder on her face. "You're so smart Tunnie!"

"You're quite right little miss." The man continued. "I actually have reason to believe she could test out of school entirely if she wanted to."

The girl held her head in her hand, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.

"Surely you're exaggerating Mr. Little." Jasper Evens eyed the man.

"Apologies, but I'm being more than serious." The man nodded, pulling out a stack of papers. "If you'd take a look at these I'm sure you'll understand."

The family looked over at the papers, seeing a large red mark 118% at the top of the page.

"Please take a look at question number 7 first." The man waited for them to read it over. "What you're looking at is one of many questions I threw in just for fun. They are just for extra credit you see, letting the children get used to seeing things they don't understand."

The man leaned back on top of the desk as he spoke.

"I started with a few from the next grade up, but your daughter didn't even flinch. So the next time I went two grades, then three. She didn't hesitate, as if the questions were simple busy work to her. Finally I added question 28, if you'd turn to it."

Petunia didn't look, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"That's a question I failed three times back in University, but your daughter got in on the first try."

The room was silent, all people staring at the girl. She let out a regretful sigh.

"I'm not sure how else to say this, but your daughter is beyond smart Mr. and Mrs. Evans. She's a genius and could easily teach her class as well as I if, not better. Furthermore," He paused, contemplating his words for a moment. "I believe she's bored."

"Bored?" Angie asked.

"Yes. Petunia will finish her work first, and help those who ask. But other than that she spends all her time writing, unless she's in the company of Lily and Severus. I've only been here for a few weeks, but it's plain to see I'm under prepared to teach her anything."

The room was silent. Petunia's head spun with different things she could say, but honestly she was stuck. What could she do? They'd caught her… The girl looked up at the new teacher, a frown on her face. She let out a long annoyed sigh.

"Why did you have to tell them?"

Her words caught the adults off guard, her mother gasping at her harsh tone.

"Petunia! Don't be rude." The woman scolded, earning another sigh from the child.

"And why not? I was perfectly content to sit in the back of the class and work on my own projects. But now that he's brought you lot into this, that dream is as good as gone." She pushed off from the chair, swiping the packet of papers from her father's hand. "Now you'll all start talking about having me test out, sending me off to some fancy adult school so I can keep learning. You'll send me away so I can 'Further my Education', and for what? So I can be the only 11 year old in a class of people a decade older than me?"

She ripped the papers in half, tossing them in the bin with scowl and turning to glare at the new teacher.

"No bloody thank you!"

"Petunia!" Her Father yelled.

The girl turned back with a frown.

"So you want to send me away? You want me to be stuck in a room with a bunch of twenty year old's."

"That is not what we're saying." Angie cut her off, standing with her hands on her hips.

"So you're going to let me stay in classes even though I understand everything they're teaching and more?"

The woman pursed her lips.

"That's what I thought." Petunia pinched the bridge of her nose.

"If I may…" Mr. Little interjected, a little sheepishly with a raised hand.

What was he, twelve?

Petunia crossed her arms over her chest, sending the man a contemplative look.

"I was actually going to suggest we ask what you what you wanted."

His words took the wind right out of her sail, shoulders falling slightly in surprise.

"Petunia," He began, kneeling in front of her with a soft smile. "You are an incredibly smart young lady, and it's obvious to me that you have big plans for yourself. Plans that don't involve leaving your family or going off to seek a higher education right now."

"But I've seen the way you look after all the children, making sure everyone is caught up and happy. I didn't call this meeting to hurt you. I've just noticed that you are always so focused on other people's needs that you seem to forget your own."

The girl was more than shocked by the mans words, unsure of what to say.

"So… You won't make Tunnie leave us?" Lily sniffled, water welling up in her eyes.

"Puff…" Petunia's heart clenched. This was why she didn't let children sit in on such meetings.

The young red head launched herself forward, clinging to her sister as she quietly sobbed. The elder girl stroked her hair silently, frowning at the situation.

She just couldn't catch a break.

"You might have led with that Mr. Little." Severus had also stood up, coming close to stand with the girls. He hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around the two of them. "What else were we supposed to think by the way you led the conversation?"

Petunia was grateful for the boy, his cool tone had made the point perfectly.

"My apologies," The man began. "To all of you. I never meant to cause such a ruckus. I just wanted to make sure Petunia wasn't being forgotten."

"Thank you Mr. Little." Jasper Evans nodded to the teacher, but didn't take his eyes off the children. "Would you please give us a moment."

The room stilled.

"Of course. Please take you're time."

And with that, the teacher left the family alone.

Petunia internally groaned. The awkward air in the room was stifling. She couldn't even look at her parents.

"Is he right?" Jasper continued. "Are you really that bored?"

She was surprised that was his first question, but found her self nodding.

"A little… But I don't mind. I've been keeping busy. I enjoy helping the other kids, and I love having so much time to write…" Her words petered off as she looked at the floor.

"And you thought we'd send you away if you told us?" Angie continued, a sad frown fixed on her face.

Petunia just nodded.

"That's what the books at the library said!" Lily cut in, red splotches marring her delicate face. "It was about a boy who was really smart, so smart he won a big prize. But he lost everyone. He was so lonely he started doing bad things…. He said it wasn't worth it."

The reincarnate didn't realize her sister had found such a book, looking down at the child with wonder. She wasn't wrong, that sort of thing would be terribly difficult for any child.

"We'd never allow that." Mr. Evans stated gruffly, standing up next to his wife. "I'm not sure what that boy's situation was, but we would never leave you like that Petunia. We are Family, and that means something!"

"You're father's right. Even with out Mr. Little meeting we knew something was going on. You've been different since your accident. You've grown, in more ways than we thought apparently."

"I'm sorry." She muttered, tightening her hold on Lily to reassure herself.

Mr. Evans came close, kneeling in front of the three children.

"It's okay flower petal."

Petunia wasn't sure when she'd started crying. Perhaps it was hearing the old nickname she'd had as a baby, or maybe it was the reassurance that these people wouldn't abandon her. If didn't mater at the moment, her soft sobs filled the room as her Father swept both her and Lily into his arms.

Maybe the Evan's family and the Charleston family weren't so different.