Chapter 3
LOVE IS AN OPEN DOOR
“I have seven brothers”
“Seven?!”
“Yes, all older too, so I’m just the one that's left behind”
“I have a sister, although I’m the eldest, so I can't say I relate.”
“So Rafael, what do you do for work?”
“Ummm, it's a bit complicated, to put it short… I’m a business consultant.”
“Yeh? I have no idea what that is,”
“Basically I help the really big boss make decisions about what the… business does next”
His hesitation didn't raise any red flags for Petunia. It should’ve.
They spend the next day together, too. Rafael tells her to meet him at the bakery and he whisks her off to all the best places for food, art and music. They spend days in each other's company. And she can feel herself slowly falling for him and his dark grey eyes. “I like you a lot,” She says. And he answers with a kiss.
A whole month goes by, and she knows this is it, he’s the one. He calls her flower and picks them from bushes just to tuck them behind her. And when he kneels down, ring box in hand. She can feel forever at her fingertips. A literal ring on her finger. And she can picture everything ahead of her. A life full of love. And laughter. A forever. And for the first time in forever, nothing is in her way. He takes her back to his apartment that night, where he thoroughly ravishes her and treats her like a queen. They lay in bed, planning everything: the song, the dress. And for a moment, everything is perfect.
A letter arrives from Lily. It reads:
Petunia,
I know you are far removed from the wizarding world, but there are threats here of war. You must know that your relation to me puts you in harm so that is why I am writing. There's an evil force working with an evil wizard. Please, if you see anyone who might look dangerous please keep away.
The letter went into detail about the dark wizards and their odd, cult-like tattoos, Petunia skimmed the letter, hoping, praying that Lily wasn’t in trouble. That she wasn’t going to die.
Your sister,
Lily
She puts the letter from her mind. But still hopes. Still prays
LET IT GO
Days go by in a newly engaged bliss. One night, as she climbs the stairs of his apartment she can hear noises of things breaking. Of chaos ahead. She braces herself for an intruder, a burglar in his apartment. But when she gets there, the reality is much dire. A woman stands there, dressed immaculately. Black robe and a hair full of pin curls. She’s screaming something at Rafael who only tries to reason with her.
“You left me for some muggle with a mudblood sister?”
“I only did it to get closer to-”
“No, you have family reputations to uphold, Rabastan! We were betrothed when we were only children; our parents made our bed, and we must lay in it for Merlin's sake.”
So many things rush through Petunia's head. The fact that Rafael's name isn't Rafael, it’s Rabastan. He was betrothed to the woman in the black robe with pin curled hair. The wand that is in the woman's hand, the one that likely caused the mess of glass and furniture in his flat. And the wand that Raf- Rabastan holds at his side. His grip tightly wrapped around it. He’s a wizard.
They don't see her as she peaks her head around the corner.
“Ok, fine, I’ll leave with you. I hope your mother will be pleased,” He grits out.
“It’s your own mother you have to worry about. She’ll hex you into next year. Let's hope the Dark Lord is more forgiving.”
And then, with a crack, the woman in black disappears.
“You,” She says, tears in her eyes as she appears from around the doorframe.
“Flower I-”
“I’m not your flower anymore.” She takes off the ring and throws it on the floor. The soft metallic tinkle echoes through the room.
“Petunia, listen to me for one second”
“No, I don't think I will”
He grabs her arm, his sleeve riding up enough for her to see the tainted skin beneath it.
“My family is making me do this,” He pleads. But she has already heard enough. Grabbing his wrist and hiking up his sleeve to show his exposed arm, the snake tattoo darkly imprinted on his skin.
“Your family make you do this too?”
There's an odd sort of silence now as she packs up her room in her aunt's house, readying herself for the journey back to England. There's a silence but also a heaviness. One that comes with a great amount of betrayal and heartbreak. She never thought that an envious amount of love and laughter could lead to a heartbreak so bitter and destructive but here she is, living proof that it exists, that it happens.
Her flight leaves at midnight and she could not be more happy to leave. She has no idea what she’ll do when she gets back to England. Probably stay at a backpackers lodge until she can find a shitty apartment with an easy rent. And from there, she’ll figure out what to do. She always does.
REINDEER(S) ARE BETTER THAN PEOPLE
She doesn't have a job or a purpose. No uni lectures to go to or people to meet up with. All this solitude makes her wonder. She had never really had a purpose before, or friends to help her find her way. And maybe she was destined to be alone. That's why she couldn't make it work with her and… Rabastan.
Another letter arrives from Lily. This time, it's more of an invitation than a letter.
Lily and James invite you to celebrate their marriage.
Now, she’s got even more things to worry about. First, her sister's wedding to a man that Petunia hasn’t ever met. Her still ever-looming heartbreak. Her dress for the reception. Her accommodation. And the list just keeps getting longer and longer. So that's why she sits alone in the cafe down the road. Peppermint tea and a plate of reindeer-shaped gingerbread biscuits are sitting on the table. As she lightly prods at the biscuits, someone walks up to her table.
“Are you gonna eat that?” He says, gesturing toward the reindeer. She looks up at him. He has soft features and soft, light eyes. She shakes her head and pushes the plate away from herself. He sits himself across from her in the booth, taking the plate from her and grabbing the reindeer on the top. “Reindeer really are better than people,” He says, mouth full with an antler he’d just bitten off. “Is the plural reindeer or reindeers?” She asks, finally finding her voice.
She never thought that a conversation with a complete stranger—one who really has the worst people skills and is the most brutally honest person she’s ever met—would provide her with the most effortlessly comfortable feeling she’s felt in months. Vernon had talked to her about the most pointless things: what the plural of reindeer was, how reindeer are so much better than people, and how absolutely terrible the gingerbread actually was.
“It’s… spicy,” He said, taking a sip of his own drink to wash it down.
“How can gingerbread be spicy?” She asks with a laugh.
He shakes his head with a smile, “It’s so gingery and spicy, maybe you should try it for yourself.” He pushes the plate toward her and she picks up a reindeer, taking a quick bite out of the leg.
“Oh my, you're right! That's very… spicy.” She laughs
“What's that?” he gestures toward the invitation on the table beside her.
“Ah, a wedding invitation from my estranged sister. I haven't decided if I should go or not”
Vernon shakes his head. “You should. If she invited you, it's gotta mean something, right?”
Petunia clears her throat, “Well, I don't have a dress, even if I wanted to go.”
“Nope, up you get. Let's go get you a dress.” Vernon stands, his hand out for her to grab.
Vernon's hands aren't as strong or sturdy as Rabastan's. But they are soft, comforting, and warm. And as he leads her out of the cafe, all she can think about is how she doesn't want to part from him yet. She just wants to be around him for just a few minutes longer.