"No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why." - Author Unknown.
Hi Tuney,
I hope it's alright. I called you that; I know you said to stop calling you that, and after our last fight, I wasn't sure where we stood anymore. I know you might not even read this, but I also know my sister, and you're probably rolling your eyes at this part. But you're still reading, I bet. James and I are in a safe house, and if you received this letter, it probably means I was able to bypass the wards to get it to you. Do you remember our talk about wards? They're like fences, sort of, but invisible. Anyway, Harry is doing well. I wish you could see him. Maybe on his birthday, it's in July. I'm not distancing myself on purpose, Tuney. I know you said you didn't care, but I hope you were lying. Harry is amazing, and I would love to have him in your life. We might never have that again, but Harry isn't James or me; he's just Harry. How is your pregnancy? Are you resting? Vernon had better buy your chips; I remember craving them before Harry was born. It's hard to get them, though; the wizarding world isn't into fried food yet. I have to keep this letter short; it's easier to hide it. I'm scared, Tuney. I won't tell James this, but we're different. There's so much going on, and once this storm passes, I want to visit. Maybe Vernon and you can visit us. I don't care; I want to see you again. These past few months have shown me how much we shouldn't let the past break us apart. Evans sticks together.
Love, Lily
Petunia had reread the letter for an unknown time as she glanced at her blank paper. Lily's letter was crumpled and marked with grease spots, obtained after repeated attempts to throw it away before Petunia inevitably fished it out of the trash. It had been weeks since she had received Lily's letter, with no return address for Petunia to send it back to or respond to. Petunia thought it probably had some magical way of returning to the sender once you wrote your response, but Lily had never discussed this with her. She was out of her depth and questioned how Lily would be so foolish. She glanced over the letter again, reading Lily's fear. Petunia found it typical of Lily to leave out so much context, just like how they were girls and Lily would burst out about her Hogwarts and magic—always leaving out important details that Petunia would inevitably have to ask for clarification on because if you're going to explain something, you explain it right.
Something she was struggling with at the moment as she looked at the scrapped papers, most of which spoke of Petunia asking Lily never to write to her again and that she would be quite happy with her normal life. Petunia scoffed as she reread the last line.
"Evans stick together?" Petunia muttered, rolling her eyes, "As if you haven't been going to a magical school while I was stuck here."
Petunia desperately wanted a drink or anything else to take off the edge. She would write her letter later, once she wasn't dealing with everything. She had her own family to think about. Vernon had just gotten a promotion at work, and longer hours away from home meant Petunia was left with more work on handling the house while Dudley grew bigger by the day.
She sighed and sat down at her dining table as she reached for her landline and began to contact her favorite fish and chip store in town.
She could write a letter later. She would have time.
She would write and discard many letters, months passing by. Harry had already had his first birthday, and she contemplated writing to them then—an excuse to pass a message with congratulations. Vernon had told her to be done with that family.
"They have always made you feel lesser; they don't see the Petunia I know." He had told her, kissing her on the cheek before heading off to work. He looked different from how he used to before Dudley was born, like when he tried to woo Petunia in her youth. Petunia faintly remembered hearing about a new secretary who had joined his office. Dudley's crying cut off her train of thought and readily accepted the distraction.
She finally sat down, dirty and ragged from caring for Dudley. She had a sense of pride in how she was raising her boy, who fussed but would still grasp her pinkie with his fingers, and she swore he had a twinkle in his eye whenever he saw her face and smiled.
She brought out a sheet of paper and her pen. She would get through this. Petunia Evans was a survivor, and writing a letter was not some challenge she could not face.
The fall air was settling in, and Petunia could already see her neighbors set up Halloween decorations. She would have to ask Vernon to set them up when he could. She began to write, going on and off throughout the day, then the evening, the week, until Petunia finally had her letter written after two grueling weeks. She bit her lip as she read through a rewritten copy to look spotless and perfect, as if she hadn't rewritten the letter multiple times now, scrapping a copy if it had even the slightest mistake. She wanted it to be perfect, although she would not admit it out loud. She also wouldn't admit that she missed her sister, instead she insisted to herself that it was best for the children. Family should stay connected, and maybe Lily needs a little "muggle" in her life. Petunia frowned at the word. Shaking her head, she sighed in frustration and tried to figure out how to send her letter to an unknown address until Dudley woke up from his nap, and she forgot altogether.
It wasn't until Halloween, a few days later, when she realized she had left the letter in her kitchen drawer, that she went to retrieve it.
"Vernon, before you go, could you put this out for the post?"
Vernon grabbed the letter from her hand as he walked towards the door. He halted as he looked over it.
"There isn't an address or stamp on here, Petunia."
"I'm sure Lily has some sort of magical nonsense to get it sent back to her."
"Well then she can come and get it, I'm not wasting our time on this 'magical' nonsense."
"Vernon-"
"She's a bad influence, darling. Anyway, I have got to go, darling. It's a busy day at work! I won't be home until late, so eat dinner before me. I left candy for the neighborhood kids at the door." Vernon called out, tossing the letter onto their hallway table before leaving.
Petunia watched as her husband walked away, and with Dudley in her arms, she went and grabbed her letter. She would go about her day until finally after all the trick-or-treaters were gone and most homes had settled in for the night. Dudley was in his crib, and Vernon had not come home yet. Petunia went to her backyard, taking a few moments to breathe. The cool Fall air felt refreshing to her. Halloween had been her favorite holiday, and she had used to dress as a witch. Feeling humorous, she pretended her finger was a wand and mouthed a few spells Lily had explained. She had never seen them since Lily said she wasn't allowed to, so Petunia had always imagined what they might be like. She sat down on her lawn chair and sighed. When had things turned so ugly for her? Petunia was a woman with a strong resolve, and she did not question herself regularly, so these moments were always puzzling to her. Despite Lily's flaws and the world she lived in, Lily was her sister. Evans stuck together.
A rustle in the bush caught her attention. A soft meow welcomed her as a stray cat crept towards her. Its dark fur looked too well-groomed, and Petunia wondered if her neighbor's cat had run out.
"I'm afraid I don't have any food for you," Petunia said, reaching down so the cat could sniff her hand.
Its friendliness as it approached her cemented that this was a neighbor's cat, but its intelligent gaze almost made Petunia feel she was being scrutinized.
"I'll have to call around and see who you belong to unless your owner lets you out for a stroll."
Petunia glanced at her baby monitor, Dudley's soft breathing coming through to assure her of his safety. She would need to check on him soon.
The cat jumped onto the table and seemed to focus on the letter she had. Petunia's mind, perhaps feeling energized by the night, wondered if this cat was all she thought.
"Are you some familiar or whatever they're called? Are you Lily's?"
The cat cocked its head at her and sniffed the letter.
Petunia stood up, prepared to go and check on Dudley, and felt tired. She needed to sleep.
"If you are, take that to her."
Petunia left the letter and walked inside to check on Dudley.
She would wake up the next day and come down to make her family breakfast. After feeding Dudley before placing him in a crib in the living room, she would see the letter on the backyard table and the cat missing.
Petunia gave a "tsk" and grabbed the letter.
"I'm a bloody fool," Petunia said to herself as she placed it in her pocket and began to make breakfast.
She, irritated to the point of determination and tenaciousness, vowed she would give this to her sister.
Later that evening, when Petunia awoke to Dudley's crying, she heard the doorbell ring. Unable to wake up Vernon, Petunia checked on Dudley, who calmed himself quickly and hesitantly went downstairs to open the door. It was too late in the night for Petunia not to have suspicions. She cracked the door open to see a cradle and a baby inside. She gasped, opening the door fully.
She knelt and looked over the child. He was quiet and peaceful, wrapped in a knitted blanket with the word "Harry" in the corner. A scar on his forehead seemed to be a tear in the beautiful child's face. Petunia felt a dread in her stomach.
"Harry?" Petunia asked softly, picking up the cradle to take him inside.
Two letters were placed in the cradle, and Petunia settled Harry in her cradle in the living room before turning on the light at the dining table and opening the letters.
Hi Tuney,
If I'm right, you're probably going mad over the fact I haven't sent you an address. Although, I'm not even sure if you would have written anything back to me. I wish I could tell you everything going on. I just wanted to say that, despite everything that we have done to each other, I'm here for you. I'm not sorry I'm a witch, Tuney, but I'm sorry we grew apart. I know when you called me freak you didn't mean it. I might be wrong though. It's strange how I feel so certain about how you feel sometimes, but we're not kids anymore. I don't know if you like the back of my hand anymore, but sometimes I feel I still do. We are sisters, after all, even if we are apart, I believe we still know one another. I hope you will meet Harry, and if you do, I ask you to refrain from saying all the things you said to me, to him. He's just a boy, Tuney, and I want him to know my older sister. You always say I'm the special one, but you've always been special to me Tuney.
I love you,
Lily.
Petunia placed the letter down gingerly; her dread had spread like poison in her body. She glanced at the sleeping child in her crib.
"What's happened, Lily?" She asked herself.
She began to read the second one.
Dear Petunia Dursley,
I regret to inform you of the passing of Lily and James Potter on October 31st, 1981. In this unfortunate event, guardianship of Harry Potter has been passed to you. There are a few tasks that you must do to keep Harry, and yourself, safe. Firstly, Lily's blood that runs in you serves as a protective force for your family. It is in everyone's best interest that he remains with you. Secondly, I ask that you not tell Harry of the circumstances of his parent's death and of his magical heritage. He will learn of it eventually. I ask that you provide him with a stable childhood…
As Petunia continued to read through the letter, she felt a range of emotions burst through her before a dreadful silence as her shock settled in.
Petunia sat at that chair, staring at Harry with grief until the morning when Vernon came downstairs, confused that breakfast had still not been made.