The mission
Chapter 2
She thought they would have more time. More time to sort out her relationship with her sister. Lily was only 21, and she was 25, so she thought they had time. She was not ready emotionally to deal with what her death meant; the permanent guilt, the knowledge that the last words they had were an argument. Now, this baby is here. She will have to explain certain things to John that she did not want to but must for the safety of her growing family.
Petunia had never imagined her life would take such a turn. She thought she had more time to reconcile with her sister and mend the rift that had grown between them over the years. Lily was only 21, and Petunia, at 25, had believed that their future still held opportunities for forgiveness and understanding. But that hope was shattered when she received the news of Lily's death. With her sister gone, Petunia was left to grapple with the permanent guilt of their last words—an argument that had cut deep.
She had believed there was still time to mend the frayed edges of their relationship, talk through the arguments that had driven them apart, and heal the wounds of jealousy that had festered between them for years. Lily had been only 21, with a whole life ahead of her. Petunia thought they had years to bridge the gap that had grown between them, but fate had other plans.
The guilt was almost unbearable. The last time they spoke, it had ended in an argument, words laced with bitterness and resentment. Now Lily was gone, and Petunia was left with the permanent ache of unsaid things, of apologies never given. But there was no time to dwell on her grief. A baby, her sister's child, Harry, was now in her care. And with the responsibility of raising him, Petunia knew she had to confront the reality of her past and present life.
Petunia also knew she would have to tell John the truth. Until now, she had kept the magical world, her sister's life, and even parts of her past hidden from him. Their life together had been built on the quiet, orderly existence she had created, one far removed from the chaos of her childhood and the secrets she had buried deep. But now, with their child due in November, Petunia had to come clean. For the safety of their growing family, John needed to know everything.
Explaining her strained relationship with Lily to John would not be easy. The years of envy, the unspoken love, the bitter arguments—it was a story fraught with pain that Petunia had always kept to herself. But she trusted John to understand, to see that her actions now were driven by a desire to do right by Lily's son, to protect him in a way she hadn't been able to protect her sister. At the very least, she knew John could handle the civilian paperwork that would come with integrating Harry into their lives, a small comfort in so much uncertainty.
That night, she sat John down, feeling the weight of what she was about to reveal. She began with her childhood, explaining how she had always lived in Lily's shadow and how her sister's magic fascinated and tormented her. She spoke of her decision to pursue a university degree, to carve out her own identity in a world that had always seemed to favour Lily. Then came the most challenging part—recounting how Lily had died, the protective magic surrounding Harry according to Dumbledore's letter, and her suspicions about Dumbledore's true intentions. She explained the complexities of the magical world that Harry was now a part of, a world so different from theirs.
John listened intently, his face a mixture of disbelief and concern. The revelation of the magical world was overwhelming, but his primary concern was their family's safety. He realised that Petunia had been carrying the burden of these dangers alone, and his protective instincts immediately took over. He reached out to her, reassuring her they would face this together. Though the magical world was beyond his understanding, John was determined to support Petunia and protect Harry to the best of his abilities.
With John's support, Petunia's intelligence training kicked in. She began to formulate a plan. Her connection with Elena Weiss, her European colleague specialising in magical protection, became invaluable. Elena was a seasoned operative with extensive knowledge of the magical world, and Petunia knew she could rely on her expertise to keep Harry safe. Petunia reached out to Elena, and together, they devised a strategy to establish powerful protective wards around the Dankworth home. These wards would be crucial in shielding Harry from magical threats, ensuring his safety under Petunia's care.
As Petunia held Harry close, feeling the small warmth of his body against hers, she was acutely aware of the immense responsibility that had been thrust upon her. The world she had meticulously constructed, one of order and control, was now intricately linked with the unpredictable and chaotic world of magic. But Petunia was resolute. She would protect Harry, using every resource at her disposal. In doing so, she would honour the memory of the lost sister, even if it meant re-entering a world she had long tried to escape.
However, Petunia also knew that to protect Harry fully, she needed more information. She needed to understand what had truly happened to Lily and James and the potential threats that still loomed. Severus Snape was the key. She remembered how close he had been to Lily during their school years and how their friendship had endured despite the pressures of the magical world. Severus might have insights into the events leading up to Lily's death and Dumbledore's motives—insights that government reports could never provide.
But finding Severus Snape would be challenging. His reclusive nature and connections to the Death Eaters and Dumbledore made him a complex man to track down. Petunia knew she would need help, so she again turned to Elena. Elena's extensive network allowed her to gather intelligence on Snape's movements, eventually pinpointing his location. It was a risky endeavour, but Petunia knew it was necessary.
When they finally tracked him down, it was in a dilapidated house in Spinner's End. The encounter was tense from the start. Armed and prepared, Petunia entered the house with Elena at her side, catching Snape off guard.
"Hello, Severus," Petunia began, her voice calm but firm, "please don't do anything rash. As you can see, I have a gun pointed at you, and unlike most wizards, I know you understand what that means. My colleague is behind you. We want to talk."
Snape's eyes narrowed, his wand hand twitching slightly, but he remained still, assessing the situation. He was wary, his defences up, unwilling to reveal anything to Petunia. But she pressed on, showing her knowledge of Lily's death, her suspicions about Dumbledore, and her determination to protect Harry. Slowly, she began to break through Snape's barriers. Her words struck a chord, mainly when she spoke of Lily. Eventually, Snape relented, offering her partial truths just enough to give her a better understanding of the dangers that lay ahead.
Petunia knew that gaining Snape's complete trust would take time, but she had opened the previously shut door. She felt a renewed sense of purpose as she left his house that day. She was stepping back into the world of magic, not as the resentful sister left behind, but as a protector, a strategist, and a mother determined to safeguard her family—no matter the cost, and in doing so, perhaps find a way to reconcile with the memory of her sister.