An Uneasy Return
3rd January 1970
Petunia Evans stepped through the wrought iron gates of Crestwood Junior High, her heart a flurry of emotions. Around her, the laughter of children echoed, seemingly brighter than the cloudy winter sky overhead. She readjusted the strap of her satchel, ensuring it lay comfortably on her shoulder, and turned to her friends, Yvonne and Emma, who flanked her on either side.
“It feels so weird,” she mumbled, casting her gaze down at the frosty ground.
“Are you okay, Petunia?” Yvonne asked, concern evident on her face.
She shook her head dismissively. “Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
The three girls navigated the bustling hallway, weaving in and out of groups of students. Eventually, Yvonne broke the silence. “So, how was your life with your grandma now?”
Petunia hesitated. “Honestly, it’s better than I thought. At least someone isn’t feeding me strawberries constantly.”
Understanding flickered in her friends’ eyes, memories of Petunia's speaking about her mother’s relentless insistence on feeding her those wretched berries, despite her severe allergy.
Yvonne’s voice was buoyant. “I told my dad about your situation that you wanna live with your grandma Permanently He got the papers ready was left is for you to take them and for your parents to sign off their parental rights to your grandma”
Petunia’s heart swelled with gratitude. “Thank you, Yvonne! You’re the best!” she exclaimed, a genuine smile lighting her face.
Emma chimed in, feigning indignation. “What about me? Aren’t I the best here too? And don’t forget, I’m the one who gave your stepdad the middle finger that he deserved!” Laughter bubbled from the trio, easing a pinch of tension in Petunia’s chest.
As they approached their classroom, Petunia’s eyes caught sight of her younger sister, Lily Evans, searching the crowd for her. When Lily spotted her, a bright smile burst forth, and she dashed to wrap her arms around her. “Tuney! I missed you so much!”
Petunia quickly returned the hug, but as she glanced over Lily's shoulder, her eyes caught sight of her mother, Rose Evans, and the man she had always considered her father, Harold. They moved closer, their faces showing discomfort, eager to close the distance between them, but Petunia chose to disregard them entirely. "Lily, I need to head to class now. See you later," she called as she waved goodbye and walked away, muttering under her breath, "Not this time."
She slipped into the classroom, sinking into her seat, the familiar scent of chalk dust and old books coating her senses. The lesson began—it was math with Mrs. Williams, a woman whose cruelty had twisted into legend among students. Petunia’s mind flickered back to a different time, a terrifying future where she had faced Mrs. Williams’ wrath—and ultimately, her demise at the hands of the Order of the Phoenix.
This time, free from the weight of her past, she cast a measured glare at the teacher. Mrs. Williams sensed an impending threat, as if she were being suffocated; more accurately, it felt as if a snake was coiling around her, attempting to squeeze the life out of her.
Her eyes then fell on Petunia. “Do you have any comments, Miss Evans?” Mrs. Williams asked, attempting to project authority, though a hint of fear quivered beneath her confident facade.
“No, Mrs. Williams. Nothing at all.” Petunia’s smile was polished, a twinkle of something dark lurking behind her eyes.
“Then why don’t you solve this problem?” the teacher challenged, smirking as she scrawled a complex equation on the board that was far above their grade level.
Nervous whispers danced around the classroom as all eyes turned toward Petunia. Behind the laughter was a buzz of apprehension—most of them knew that she had been gifted, but only a few knew her true potential, which she now wielded like a weapon.
The moment of tension snapped with her swift solution, delivered with effortless ease. She turned her empty gaze to the teacher, her voice low and deliberate. “Is that all?”
The teacher, taken aback, simply nodded in response. As Petunia took her seat again, a wave of murmurs swept through the classmates, their excitement and fear mingling in their hushed tones. “How did she pull that off?”
“Oh well She’s going to be out of my hair before I know it,” Petunia mused, a grin forming on her face.
At lunchtime, the three friends came together once more, the atmosphere alive with energy and laughter. Emma's eyes shimmered with admiration. “Tuney, you totally rocked it with Mrs. Williams!”
By lunchtime, she reunited with Emma and Yvonne, their chatter bubbling with stories about classes. Emma pumped her fist into the air. “Tuney! You were a badass with Mrs. Williams!”
“Seriously, how did you solve that? You must have seen the answers somewhere,” Emma pressed.
Petunia, not wanting to reveal too much, laughed lightly. “Oh, I just saw the answers on her desk.” The trio burst into laughter, each unaware of the truth lingering beneath.
Yvonne pulled out a flyer. “Petunia, check this out! There’s going to be a school play. You should totally play your violin!”
Petunia’s heart quickened at the thought, and she smiled. But just as she was about to respond, Lily wandered over, her expression a mix of eagerness and apprehension.
“I didn’t know you played the violin!” she exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
“Of course I do, Lily! What do you think? Should I compete?” Petunia teased, ruffling her sister’s hair.
“Yes!” Lily chirped, brimming with excitement.
But as her sister’s enthusiasm washed over her, uncertainty gnawed at Petunia's insides. “Lily, what’s wrong?” she soothed, sensing something unsaid lurking in the air.
With hesitance, Lily spoke, “I know mom and dad didn’t treat you right, but I really want you to come back. I mean, we can work this out.”
The sadness mirrored in Lily’s eyes stung Petunia's heart. Could she betray her past and change her future with such a choice? “I’m sorry, Lily, but I can’t come back. You’ll understand someday.”
Lily’s small nod felt like a loss, and as she and Emma turned away to discuss playful plans, Petunia began to concoct a new, more daring scheme.
“Emma,” Petunia began, a wicked glint in her eye, “your dad’s a police officer, right?”
Emma nodded, puzzled. “Yeah, he is. Why?”
“What if I told you Mrs. Williams is hiding drugs in her purse?” Petunia leaned in, relishing their growing intrigue.
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Wait, how do you know that?” Yvonne added, wide-eyed.
Petunia licked her lips, excitement bubbling within her. “I saw her sniffing her hand every time she thinks nobody is watching.”
The girls exchanged dubious looks before Emma's eyes sparked with familiarity. “Okay, let’s say she is taking drugs, but we don’t have any proof.”
With a wicked smile stretching across her face, Petunia leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t have to. We can just bring your dad…and his K-9 dog.”
As the trio exploded into a flurry of whispered excitement, Petunia felt a sense of power emerge in her—a sense of control that she had been robbed of before. This was her life now, actively reshaping a future from which she had once been exiled. She could navigate this second chance, and perhaps, just perhaps, unleash the ferocious spirit within her that had long been subdued.