Chapter 7
Whoever had decided that the entranceway to the entirety of magic Britain should be in a bloody bar, needed a couple smacks on their head- multiple times with a hammer.
Petunia had her long white blonde hair up in a mindless bun atop her head and she was dressed in a grey dress with white lace socks and white shoes that pinched her feet each time she took a step. She needed the pain. It grounded her. The blisters on her feet were red, painful and swelling but since she had started to wear a shoe size one size too small, her thoughts didn’t wander as much and the flashbacks were easier to ignore when her feet screamed out with every step she took.
They’d all clambered in their fathers’ car, driving to the address of the magical pub Mcgonagall had given them. Petunia knew it’d take around twenty minutes give or take to finally make it there. Lily had wanted to bring Severus with them, so he was stuffed in between the two sisters, his knees pointed in Lily’s direction. He already had most of the supplies he needed from his mother’s previous years, but he still had a couple of things missing. That along with the 200 galleons Mcgonagall had given Severus as a scholarship, made him seem inordinately pleased.
Petunia was staring at her purse, silently calculating the amount of galleons she’d have when she converted her money. With her allowance and half of the money she’d stolen from unsuspecting folk, she had around 40 galleons. She made sure to keep £150 pounds for when she decided to start investing. Her mind was racing with the implications of finding out the wizarding coins were in gold, silver and bronze. If they were real, she’d be melting that shit down almost immediately and running to a gold dealer to get her money’s worth. If it was real gold, then making money had just gotten much easier. The conversion of wizarding money to muggle would be based on gold ounces and when converting it back to galleons she’d inevitably end up with more than she had at the beginning, thus making a profit.
If that business avenue worked, she wouldn’t need to delve deep into illegal dealings to get the money she needed. Her exams were going great so far and that made getting scholarships all the more easier. She’d need a bank account set up, but it’d be under her father’s name due to her age and gender which wasn’t ideal. Her father would most likely begin asking questions if her account held obscene amounts of money. Thus bringing her back to the whole fake identity part.
Maybe for the right price the wizarding bankers could help her with investments and stocks, regardless of her age. It could be something she’d look in to. Wizards weren’t really known to be moral after all.
”Dad might I get some spending money for myself? If I see something interesting in a magical shopping alley, I don’t want to come up short,” Her eyes widened and her lip juts out in a pleading pout which makes her father laugh.
”Sure flower, you got Lily that scholarship after all. We can afford to spoil you two for a bit,” Her father says with a smile. Howard worked as a production manager for one of the big firms in the city. It brought in a solid pay-check for the family of four. That and Rose worked part-time as a secretary at the same firm, so she also brought in a good amount of money. “How about £50 pounds for each of you, you as well Severus?” Howard muses and Lily and Petunia beam at their father, both of them raining praises at him. Severus simply flushed a deep red, muttering silent thank you’s under his breath.
Fifty pounds gave her a solid ten more galleons to work with. She hoped books weren’t going to be expensive. At least she prayed there was a second hand bookshop somewhere. Last time her parents had spent an absurd amount of money on brand new books meant to allow their youngest more comfort.
The car comes to a halt in the parking space across the street and Petunia was surprised to see that she didn’t actually see the muggle pub when she looked over. She saw the Leaky Cauldron. And Petunia knew she could see magic very clearly and very accurately now. In the past, she always needed to be holding Lily’s hand to see it. She didn’t need it now.
Her parents very obviously didn’t have her new ability.
“Are we sure we’re in the right spot?” Her mother asks, eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Professor Mcgonagall said it was the Leaky Cauldron right?” Lily’s eyes go to her sister who nods, as she slams her door shut, her bag flung in front of her.
“Hold their hands Lily. The Leaky Cauldron is magical right? It would make sense that mum and dad can’t see it.” Petunia advises her sister who brightens up and rushes forward to do just that. She was glad no one questioned if she was able to see the pub.
“Wow,” Her parents breathe and Petunia gestures with her head to the street.
“Well let’s go. The professor awaits,” She says, acting like she wasn’t walking into a den of tigers. Petunia acted like the fact no one offered her a hand to view the magical pub didn’t hurt her. She could actually see it but they didn’t know that. It would have been the thought that counted.
Mcgonagall stood up the second they all walked into the building, a small welcoming smile on her lips. Greetings were given and repeated all around until the professor simply holds up an arm, “Well shall we?”
She gestures to the back of the Leaky Cauldron, where they all walk towards. It was the usual dark bricked wall Petunia always dreamt about in the most obscure confines of her mind. Instead of opening up to reveal the beautiful alley she usually saw, it revealed crimson hair and wide unseeing green eyes.
Mcgonagall tapped the bricks- three up and two across- and the entire wall started flickering, bits of lights weaving into the restaurant as the wall morphs into an arch- an alleyway leading into the wizard world.
Petunia swallows harshly, memories of sneers, black robes, jibes and wands racing through her mind. Flashes of people calling Lily a mudblood. If someone called Lily that in front of her, she would be punching someone. She would not stand for it in this timeline. No, she would not.
“We will be going to the bank first to acquire Mr. Snape’s and Ms. Evans’ scholarship funds,” Mcgonagall states firmly, ushering them towards the huge bank, which looked much more put together and futuristic than all the rest of the buildings in this shopping district.
Her parents were conversing amicably with Mcgonagall, while Petunia was taking inventory of all the buildings around her. She was noting them down in her brain, thankful she’d brought her notebook along with her to jot down notes of any questions she had for the bankers.
Severus was trying hard not to stare, but Petunia had a weird look in her eyes that made him a tad uneasy. “Don’t do anything rash Petunia,” He hisses, making those grey eyes turn towards him. Her eyes were always like mist, clear like fog, but now they thundered, much like a storm and Severus knew that couldn’t mean anything good.
“When would I do anything rash?” She answers him, a smirk barely grazing the slopes of her lips and Severus wanted to kind of smack her head.
They climbed up the stairs of the stone-white marble building that towered over all of the other small shops. The bronze doors of the bank were flanked by two guard goblins in uniforms of red and gold. They grinned threateningly at anyone walking through and Petunia very much liked the ambiance they provided. Passing through the doors, Petunia blinked at the words engraved on the second set of silver doors, leading into the bank.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed.
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have be warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
It was a warning. A heed told to strangers to warn them against even attempting thievery. Petunia decided right then and there that goblins preferred taking more dramatic routes. Threatening poetry was the essence of dramatic in her opinion.
Inside Petunia was greeted with the sight of goblins sat upon rows of counters, peering down at them. Rows of black eyes, stared at them and Petunia couldn’t help but stare back, her eyes never wavering. Too long had her eyes wavered in the face of confrontation but not anymore.
“Greetings, I would like to request access to Hogwarts scholarship funds for two students,” Mcgonagall informs the teller, holding out a large, old, golden key.
The goblin teller took the key, examining it for a moment before nodding, “One of my associates shall lead you to Vault 891,” Mcgonagall followed after the goblin, leaving Petunia and her family standing awkwardly by the counters.
“Sir Goblin, might you have a list of any and all services the goblins provide?” Petunia asks and the goblin stares at her silently before nodding and flourishing a piece of parchment from out of nowhere and proceeding to write on it.
The parchment was being written on with an actual ink jar and a quill, something Petunia knew for a fact Lily had detested.
The goblin hands the parchment to Petunia, curious intrigue on his face. She nods firmly, “Thank you Sir Goblin, much obliged.” she says taking the dried parchment and tucking it into her bag, eyes never leaving the goblins’.
“Of course Ms?”
“Evans sir,” Petunia replies softly and the goblin nods, “I also require the conversion of muggle money to wizarding,”
“Indeed…” The goblin nods to a goblin beside them who takes them aside to convert their money. Petunia ends up with 50 galleons, 12 sickles and 2 knuts from the £250 pounds she’d amounted. She intended to come back here, preferably with Lily and Severus to open up three new accounts for them all and talk investments with the goblins.
Mcgonagall hurried towards them, two pouches filled with galleons. She handed one over to Severus and the other to Lily. Both of her future students smile up at her in thanks. Petunia did not miss the way the professor gazed warily between Petunia herself and the goblins, and it made her purse her lips against a bark of laughter.
“Well lets head over to Madam Malkin’s to fix you two up with a couple of proper wizarding robes,” She declares and Petunia fully intended to get herself a pair of second-hand robes she could wear to fit in more. She intended to let her parents do the same. Wizards would never even take a second glance at them if they disguised themselves properly. Petunia found the most prejudiced wizards and witches tended to see only what they wanted.
The shop was near Gringotts so they didn’t need to walk too far, and the image of the shop was a sight for sore eyes. Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, stood in a regal corner and the second the family and professor walked into the shop, Petunia could feel all the stares and stress leave her shoulders.
Her eyes flicker to the sides and Petunia could tell the difference in quality immediately. The silks were further in the shop and the scratchy cottons and wools were in the front of the store. Petunia thought it was more due to thievery attempts. Stealing high quality silk would be more costly to the store.
“Hello madam, my students here would like to be set up with the Hogwarts custom package,” Mcgonagall states.
Petunia glances at the prices, wincing. She’d not be able afford high quality robes but her sister would. “High quality silk for Lily please. Three work robes, and a winter cloak if I’m correct. We’d also like a travelling cloak for her as well, similar to the one in the window still. The gloves and hat don’t require precise measurements,” Petunia muses, eyes flickering to Severus who appeared very confounded.
“I’m assuming high quality robes would be a good thing in Slytherin? The scholarship can pay for it,” Petunia murmurs to Severus, who’s conflicted expression hardens slightly with Petunia’s words.
“I’ll take the high quality robes as well,” He says out loud, expression wavering. Petunia hid her surprise when he looked to Petunia for assistance and she nodded, a slight smile on her lips.
“Of course dearies. Up please. Let me take your measurements.” Madam Malkin gestures to Lily, who hops up on the podium. Petunia wanders to the front and picks out robes a tad bigger than her actual size.
“Mum, dad…. you should get some too,” She motions to the second hand robes, “Makes us easier to fit in,”
Her parents smile at her, “Good idea flower,” Her dad tells her and they each go and pick robes as well. Petunia ignores the way those smiles make something warm inside of her unfurl because it would only hurt her so much more when those smiles were given to Lily instead.
“Those robes are two galleons each deary,” Madam Malkin says with a kind smile. Petunia smiles softly back, not mistaking her kindness for weakness because Malkin had stress wrinkles surrounding her face, and bright blue eyes filled with eons of fire. Any aggression or rudeness in her shop would not be tolerated.
Petunia places two galleons on the counter and puts the robes on over her clothing. She gets a smaller, brand new pair for Lily and hands it to her mother, eyes on her sister, “So you don’t have to walk around in school robes all the time,” She tells her.
A flying ruler was flitting around her sister, taking measurements every which way, “Alright darling, down you go. I shall have your robes finished in the next hour along with this young man’s here.” Madam Malkin replies after Severus had his own measurements taken.
“We shall return once the hour is over, thank you,” Mcgonagall says wth a smile, her keen eyes taking in the wizarding robes adorning her students’ muggle relatives with intrigue. Lily was dressed in the new robes Petunia had given her and Severus was already wearing wizarding clothing so Petunia could rest easy now. When they went back outside, the stares would stop and her heightened senses would ease somewhat.
“Shall we get your wands now?” Mcgonagall asks with a smile. Severus lights up slightly, eyes alit in excitement but Lily’s smile is strained, moving closer to her sister, green staring up at her sister’s form.
Petunia gives her an encouraging smile, and her younger sister relaxes as Lily’s hand comes up to loop in her own.
“To Ollivander‘s it is,” Mcgonagall murmurs and then they were walking towards the shop across the street, much more relaxed now that their ordinate muggleness was hidden.
Petunia’s family didn’t seem to realize how different they were acting now that the robes allowed them a means to hide behind. She could see how at ease they seemed.
It also didn’t escape Mcgonagall’s notice either. The scene seemed sad to her. The fact that these kind, keen people had to hide whole aspects of themselves in order to feel safer in this world was rather tragic. Her bespectacled eyes train slightly on the elder Evans daughter. Mcgonagall wasn’t aware why Petunia Evans seemed to be so intriguing to her. Her reactions and words did not line up with usual twelve year old behaviour.
The wand shop looked old, seemingly fixed every decade or so, but that added to its ambiance.
“Welcome, welcome,” An old man says, a smile on his face. “Minerva Mcgonagall… It seems only yesterday, you were in here buying your wand. Nine and a half, fir wood- well suited for transfiguration.” He announces and Mcgonagall smiles, her expression filled with mirth.
“You tell me the properties of my wand every time I step into this shop Garrick,” She tells him and the man with white, white hair and pale, pale eyes grins back, his grip tight on his cane.
“Indeed I do,” He says and then gestures to Lily and Severus, “Well then, which one of you is first?”
“Lady‘s first,” Lily blinks at Severus and nods shakily, hesitant as she steps forward. Petunia knew the wand Lily would get. It was a ten and a quarter, willow wood wand with unicorn hair. Lily had talked about her wand for days. It was a pretty wand, if Petunia was judging. It was a nice light wood colour with blackened swirls nearing the middle running towards the handle. There was no one who loved their wand more than Lily. Petunia damn near expected Lily thought her wand to be an extension of her very body and soul.
It was a connection forged through years and years.
Petunia barely holds back a flinch when Lily blows up the vase to Petunia’s left and Lily ends up giggling at the baffled expression on her older sister’s face. “Sorry,” She winces and Ollivander shakes his head.
“No. No. No. Not that one,” Ollivander sets out to find another wand for her sister. “Alright how about Alder wood…” Lily proceeds to shatter the window behind them and Ollivander shakes his head, fixing the window with a wave of his wand and an uttered, “Reparo.”
“Maybe Willow?” He muses and hands Lily her wand. The wand that had chosen her last time and Petunia actually flinches when Lily ends up cracking the front table in half, the wand flying out of her hand like Lily’s hands were on fire.
“Oh. It didn’t like me very much,” Lily giggles and Petunia was blinking frantically at Lily’s old wand from where it was embedded in the side of one of the bookshelves.
“I do believe that was one of the most aggressive wand rejections I have ever seen,” Ollivander looked highly amused.
Of course Lily’s old wand wouldn’t choose her. She wasn’t under a compulsion. Petunia just didn’t expect her entire personality to change because of it. Wands were a ticket into a person’s personality. When someone knew another’s wand characteristics, they had all they needed to know about them.
Ollivander was staring at Lily intently, eyes trained on her. Petunia could tell instantly Lily was uncomfortable and gently hops in front of her, eyes narrowed on the old man.
She felt the intrusion in her mind almost the instant her eyes met his. She recognized the feeling seeing as the last time it had happened, she’d spent the next two days in the bathroom, throwing up constantly with a never-ending migraine.
Eye-contact.
She scowls, sending all of her anger and slamming down her emotions in a second. She sees him flinch back the second before her eyes flicker away. “That’s rude you know. It’s a blatant invasion of privacy and if you can’t choose my sister’s wand without reading her mind, then we can go elsewhere,” Petunia snarls out in anger. Lily grabs onto the back of Petunia’s robes startled, and she could feel the shakiness of her sister’s fingers.
“Oh,” Ollivander was silent in his shock and Petunia could feel the burning curiosity from Mcgonagall. She knew she’d regret this in the future, she was just too pissed at this old man’s audacity to care very much.
“I’m a natural Legitimens you see. I can’t control the thoughts I hear from the people I am around. It usually helps me gauge someone’s personality better and assist in choosing their wand,” He reasons out and Petunia raises a single disbelieving eyebrow.
“Well it’s rude,” She demands, both Ollivander and Petunia knowing perfectly well he could control his abilities if the previous stunt was any indication.
“My apologies,” Ollivander smiles and Petunia could tell it was anything but a smile. “Shall we continue?” He questions making Petunia want to scowl at him- she doesn’t of course.
She turns around her face directly beside Lily, “Don’t make eye contact,” She hisses quietly knowing Severus had moved close enough to hear. He’d sucked in a surprised breath but remained quiet. Lily was staring at the table in thought, her hands clenched and her jaw taught.
Ollivander handed her another wand and Petunia almost did a double take when she realized she could actually see this wand’s magic and Lily’s magic merging into one. She knew in her heart, this wand had chosen Lily, and it did. The second her sister wrapped her fingers around the stunning, ivory, white wand a warm glow overtook the two and Lily gasped. Petunia could see the magic around them intermingling like interlocking fingers. It was honestly one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. It looked akin to those northern lights she always saw in textbooks. But in person, the colours were intenser and the power in it was remarkable.
“A ten and a half aspen wood wand with a heartstring taken from a very temperamental Hungarian Horntail,” Ollivander looked intrigued, “Aspen is said to chose only those with an affinity to martial magic. Those who would become impeccably good duellers. It is also known to be remarkable for charm-work. A very powerful wand that is,” Garrick tells them and Lily beams looking to Petunia who smiles back at her, pride in her eyes. “Now Mr. Snape, your turn,” The wand maker informs and Severus steps up, excitement in his gaze. Petunia notices that Snape never makes eye contact with the wand seller.
Good.
Petunia took note to research wandlore and the different types of wood used as well as the significance of the length of one’s wand and the core. It seemed if you knew one’s wand, you had an exclusive window into the aspects of a person’s personality. It also seemed that Ollivander noted down the wand type and the name of the person it belonged to. No matter how good of a mind reader he was, the man must have records of every wand he had ever sold. Petunia also wouldn’t put it past the old man to give those records out to people when given enough incentive.
She attempted to focus her magic sight to attempt to test herself. It was weird in a way. She could see every wand interacting with Severus’s magic. She realized that she didn’t notice she could see magic unconsciously before. She had to be actively focusing on it to see it. The wands would reach out, touch his magic and then decide whether or not they liked him or not- at least that was what she was assuming was going on.
A couple wands actually liked him, lingering a little but only one stayed. It was a wand near the back, just like Lily’s had been. By the intrigue on Ollivander’s face, Lily’s wand was a rare type. So Petunia could assume the rarer wands were placed near the back. It took Ollivander five tries to finally move to the back and search for a wand there. Petunia wondered if her ability to see magic was common in wizard-folk, because it would be very useful in the wand-making industry.
Garrick must have some talent though, because the next wand he brought out was the very same with the strongest connection to Severus. “An Ebony wand, with the heartstrings of a Romanian Ridgeback dragon, eleven inches.” He announces, looking intrigued and a tad wary if Petunia could place the emotion.
When Severus grabbed the jet-black wand, it lit up in much a similar fashion to Lily’s. The glow was just as warm and just as red, a look of content settling over Severus’ features
“Ebony is highly suited to all manner of combative magic, and to Transfiguration. It’s happiest in the hand of one with the courage to be true to themselves. In my experience the ebony wand’s perfect match is one who will hold fast to their beliefs, no matter what, they will not be swayed.“ Ollivander muses and Petunia couldn’t help but think that was very contradictory to what she knew of Severus but what would she know? It wasn’t as if she knew everything there was to know about Severus Tobias Snape. “That will be eight galleons per wand,” Ollivander continues and Petunia raises a brow slightly.
“There are wand sleeves right? Like how knives have a sheath? Wands should have something of the sort, correct?” Petunia asks out loud and there is a second of silence.
“There are wand holsters,” Severus informs them and then asks for one for himself and Lily. Petunia nods in silent support. She noted the possibility of getting the two of them second wands if it was possible and wouldn’t mess with their magic, although from what Petunia could see, the wands were acting as conducts for their magic. She didn’t see an issue with them having a second way to control their magic. After all people had multiple aspects to their personalities. Different wands could like different things about the witch or wizard.
“Shall we head to the bookstore now?” Petunia asks, suppressing the urge to rub the palms of her hands together like an evil megalomaniac.
“Yes! Lets!” Lily jumps up in delight and Mcgonagall nods with a suppressed smile, then proceeds to make conversation with their parents as she leads them into the bookshop. Mcgonagall seemed to lead her parents to books that might make their transition easier. Petunia was delighted that the professor had offered them an option between Flourish and Blotts, a prestigious bookstore, and one of the smaller second hand shops. Of course they decided to go to the second hand shop after a couple well-placed inquires from Petunia.
Petunia eyes were solely trained on the Ancient Runes books dead centre in Hogwarts schooling section. Her entire body froze and her pupils flicker every which way, trying to glean more information. The rune on the cover of the introductory book was similar- it was so similar to the one carved into her wrist. It wasn’t the same though and Petunia almost lurches with the need to read more, to learn more.
She opens the book, her gaze taking in all of the different runes. It was an alphabet and like any alphabet you could place multiple runes together to form words and those words inevitably worked like a magic spell did when placed in the proper order. She placed all five of the Hogwarts runes textbooks in her basket, surprised when it didn’t seem to weigh anything. The books were all 2 galleons each and then she hurried towards the Ancient Runes section in the bookstore. There wasn’t much. It didn’t seem to be very studied or very popular, but the books were very much advanced. She didn’t bother with getting any introductory books to magic, considering Lily would be getting most of them with her scholarship money and she had more than enough time to read most of her books. She could simply photocopy them as well if she needed her own copies.
These particular rune books were for people with masteries in the subject- that was what Petunia could garner from her spot in the corner of the bookshop with her nose deep in a copy of Secrets of Nordic Runes. This book consisted of eight to fifteen rune formations that had enough power to level a whole bloody neighbourhood if done incorrectly. It also seemed like most people got their NEWTs in the subject, which Petunia could garner was the wizarding equivalent to a muggle’s A-levels, and simply left it at that. There were only a handful of Rune masters in Britain. Petunia thought it was a shame. It was an ancient practice even in the muggle world and already by skimming the book she could see many advantages to learning runes.
Petunia would definitely shoving a couple rune books in Lily’s face before her third year- perhaps get her to chose to take it as one of her three electives.
“Find a new favourite subject?” Someone asks suddenly and Petunia nearly has a heart attack from how god-damn close this guy was.
She whirls around, constantly cursing her lack of awareness. Petunia would be damned before she ended up murdered in a ditch somewhere because she didn’t know who was around her. Constant vigilance and all that shite Lily had been on about after she graduated from school.
“Yes….” Petunia muses, “Runes has seemed to catch my interest,” She tells the boy with honey coloured hair. His magic was a very distinguished gold. It was whirling in upon itself, falling gently to his legs and then repeating. His magic reminded her of leaves in autumn, falling slowly to the floor only to be swept up by the wind.
“It’s an interesting subject yes?” The boy looked to be around Lily’s year and Petunia just wanted to throw him over to where her sister was- just toss him. But that would be rude even in the eyes of wizards so she wouldn’t throw the boy who seemed to be more honey than person.
“Indeed,” She murmurs, waiting for him to move on but he was looking at her, eyes wide in excitement and her cold heart thaws a little. She sighs, a small smile on her lips, “I am Petunia Evans,” She nods at him primly and he startles slightly.
“Remus Lupin,” He grins at her and oh dear god why were all of Lily’s fellow classmates so sunny?
“Pleasure,” She nods and realizes this boy wanted to make small talk. He was probably hoping she’d be in his year and he’d have a friend. “What subjects are you most interested in?” She ponders because this boy seemed like an intellectual and if he intended to stay and make conversation, she’d squeeze information out of him like a lemon. His magic was reaching out to her slightly, as if it was content now and knew she was safe. She blinks, startled when his magic brushes her arms and cheeks almost friendly.
Holy shite. Was magic actually sentient?
No. Nope. That was a revelation that needed whiskey.
“I’m looking forward to Arithmacy, Runes and Defence mostly. The first two will have to wait until third year though,” Remus was pouting and Petunia had to cover her snort.
“Just read ahead if you’re so interested in it. That way it‘ll help you out when OWLs come around,” She says softly, plopping the Secrets of Nordic Runes in her basket. It was 4 galleons but she still wanted it. It looked akin to a tombe as opposed to a textbook, thicker and much more dense.
“That’s an idea, yes. Are you buying out the entire runes section here?” Remus snickers and Petunia chuckles.
“If I must yes. Not like there is much of them,” She grumbles.
He hums, “Yeah most of the good rune books are in pureblood libraries but they mostly focus on runes in Dark Arts and such if you know what I mean…” Remus tells her, his tone soft and melancholy.
Petunia ponders over this for a second, “I saw somewhere in one of these books something on runes carved into ones skin? Is that an example of Dark Arts and runes intermingling?” She asks him and Remus blinks frantically as if uncertain Petunia was actually asking him this. It made her feel incompetent and stupid, but she’d do anything to get the knowledge even if it meant making a fool out of herself.
“Are you talking about Blood runes?” He hisses under his breath and Petunia got the idea that she’d either asked something very tabboo or very illegal.
She decided to lean into the act of a clueless little girl.
“Oh yes I guess so. It seems archaic doesn’t it?” Her eyes were trained on his. Eye contact usually made people uncomfortable and more likely to spill one’s secrets. Which was ironic in her opinion, considering wizards had to look into your eyes to read your bloody mind.
“It’s a prohibited practice in our times but it used to be something honoured culturally. Most pure bloods worship anyone who is a blood rune weirder. They are very rare. I think there was only like five people in the world who could actively wield blood runes and only a handful of people who specialized enough to become experts on the topic.” Remus shrugs, “I find it quite archaic as well but the runes are beautiful in and of themselves,”
Petunia was struggling to actually understand what the bloody fuck this sunshine blonde brunette was talking about.
“Blood runes need magic don’t they? To actually function properly?” Her nose was squished up in confusion.
“I would think so yes,” He blinks, surprised. “I think though, a squib would be able to use them as well. Although that poor squib would be overwhelmed with proposals and people trying to get a wizard kid out of the poor thing,”
“Thing?” She was aghast, “Are you one of those fucked up bigots who hate squibs and detests muggleborns?” She was glaring at him now, and she didn’t realize how severe her look was until she noted the hesitance in Remus’s magic and the panic on the boy’s face.
“No! Oh my gosh, no! I was- sorry it was habit. My father is a right pounce and he hates squibs. They’re usually an embarrassment to the family,” He whispers to her and even though Petunia had no bloody clue what a squib was, she wasn’t letting him know that. Remus must’ve seen the hesitance on her face because he continues to explain, “You know seeing as they have magic and just can’t use it. People think its Lady Magic’s way of punishing them you know…. if you believe in the olde ways,” Ah, alright never mind. Remus seemed a bit of a know-it-all, explaining terms normal wizards might already know as he spoke. Although it was informative to her- some people might not appreciate it.
Well, whatever. It was assisting her now.
“Understood yes. But no one deserved to be labelled as a thing. It is disrespectful.” Petunia grumbles, proceeding to take all of the rest of the seven mastery rune books and place them in her cart. She was at around 30 galleons, if she counted it right. She plopped a beginners Arithmancy book into her cart as well seeing as it was only a couple sickles.
“Sorry about that,” He winces and looks down at his shoes, lower lip slightly trembling with emotion. Petunia sighs, staring up at the ceiling and asking -no begging- anyone for mercy right now.
“You’re fine Remus. Although…. you should just be a tad more hesitant before you divulge your own views and biases while in conversation with a stranger.” She pats his shoulder like he was a wild cat and Remus’ lip ticks up just a little. She notes the tired expression on his face and the dark eye bags. His face had a dozen or so little scars every which way and his hands were also torn up. That was interesting.
“Yeah alright. Thanks for that Petunia,” He beams at her and she had the urge to squint. Petunia had an inordinate feeling that this boy and Lily would get along handsomely. “You know you might find a bigger variety of Rune books in Knockturn Alley,” He hisses under his breath, “It’d have some of the rarer purebloodesque books you know?” Remus tells her as she moves towards the magic theory section and plops a beginner’s book in there as well. One with a different title than the ones she knew Lily was getting. A Look into the Magical Theory behind Light, Grey and Dark Magic, seemed very interesting to her.
There were a hoarde of books on wizarding culture and wizarding law and she bought more than enough of the sickle-costing books to add up to a single galleon. She thought eight books for 1 galleon was a proper trade off in her opinion. Most of them were older though, less costly and less interesting to the masses. They were mostly about wizarding culture.
The books on law, on the other hand, nearly gave her a stroke from how expensive they were.
She ended up getting only two books and they both cost ten galleons. She was grumbling under her breath about the cost making Remus laugh at her.
“Oh alright laugh it up Lupin. I’m just going to rob a pureblood’s library if you’ll excuse me,” She was being serious but Remus probably didn’t know that because he burst out into rounds more laughter.
“Let me in on it,” He grins, “The more books the better.” They pass a wizarding genealogy tombe and Petunia promptly pops it into her overflowing basket. It was three galleons and once again, Petunia was desperately wishing she were a bloody billionaire.
Lily rounded the corner, skipping over to her sister when she halted, blinking rapidly at the stranger in front of her, “Who is this?” She asks a tad defensive.
Remus looks over at Petunia once and at Lily in confusion. Petunia had to sigh, because of course no one would know Lily and Petunia were sisters. They looked nothing alike.
“Lily this Remus Lupin. I just met him here. Remus this is Lily Evans, my sister.” Petunia ignored the look of utter bafflement at his words, trying to swallow down the hurt.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Remus beams and he was instantly charmed by the excited smile on Lily’s face.
“You’re going to Hogwarts too!?” She trills in amazement making Remus seem amused when he nods his agreement.
Petunia gazes down at the two baskets in Lily’s hand. A basket could hold a total weight of around fifty books. “How are you doing for galleons?” Petunia asks her sister and Lily beams.
“Mum and dad decided to pay for the books! So I have more than enough!” She says with a grin and Petunia’s heart clenches slightly.
“Oh?” She smiles thinly and then proceeds to place the ten books she wanted from the law section, each one from either five to ten galleons, in Lily’s second basket. “Then they should have no problem paying for some of mine too right?” She infers and Lily blinks rapidly, seeing the issue immediately.
“Yes of course!” She beams, deciding she wouldn’t be telling regardless if her parents saw the basket Petunia was carrying and decided not to pay for her sister.
She didn’t appreciate at all the look of pity she got from Remus as a response. It made her feel three inches tall. Petunia’s jaw clenched slightly but she was able to quickly compose herself to appear uncaring.
“Are you finished loves?” Rose peers to the side around one of the shelves, eyes seeking her daughters out.
Lily looks to Petunia who nods her agreement and they turn to the cashier each paying for their own purchases.
Petunia did indeed end up paying for her own books, an uncaring smile on her lips and a deep clench in her chest. Lily’s scholarship fund remained untouched and her parents paid every cent for the books she needed. Apparently it was uncouth of them to not pay for their daughter’s education, at least a little.
It wasn’t as if Petunia was slaving away for her own education day-in day-out, using donated books to study, using the local library because apparently muggle books were much too expensive to buy brand new. She ignored the hurt- at least she tried to, because this had all happened once before and she was used to it.
Dudley, Lily, Harry. Dudley, Lily, Harry.
As long as she could uphold their safety, nothing else mattered; not her inadequate feelings, not her parents, not anything- not even her own life.
The reminder helped solidly her emotions, helped her shove everything back.
“See you Remus. It was nice meeting you,” Petunia smiles kindly at the boy with sandy hair and too many scars to count. The past injuries sure looked like they had hurt.
“Yes! It was really nice meeting you! I’ll see you at Hogwarts,” Lily beams up at Remus, who was kind of blinking up at Severus who towered behind Lily, a permanent scowl on his face.
“Nice to meet you too Petunia,” His gaze was softer on her stiff form before it turns a tad awkward when staring at Lily and her bodyguard, “Uh- yeah see you there Lily,” Remus smiles gently and then proceeds to stroll back into the shelves, a final wave given to Petunia.
Petunia grabs her shrunken down book box containing all her purchases. It had a time limit on it for four hours before it’d grow back to its normal size.
Diagon alley was much to alive in Petunia’s opinion. Everything seemed to move and it seemed akin to an intricate dance she just did not know the steps of.
Lily hovered near her sister, and Petunia thought the fluttering she was doing reminded her of a butterfly. “Mum and dad didn’t mean it Tuney,” Lily whispers, “They would have bought you the books if you asked,” Lily didn’t really sound convinced though and Petunia just didn’t have it in her to tell her their parents not meaning it was the whole point. It was negligence. And it would just get even worse in the future. She’d become a shadow in her own home. Nothing but a ghost.
“I don’t think I was supposed to ask them Lily. If they were buying books for you then they should’ve done the same for me,” She blinks at the crestfallen expression Lily was wearing. “-but they could’ve honestly forgotten and that’s alright,” Petunia gives her sister a smile and Lily seems to think it over.
Severus was walking behind the two girls, eyes darting between the look on his best friend’s face and the mask Petunia was wearing. He could tell by the way her eyes seemed a tad too sad to match the smile on her face. He wondered how long she’d had to fake a smile like that and no one had noticed. He hadn’t noticed. And he had been trained from birth to join Slytherin’s ranks.
It was just as impressive as it was sad.
“You want us to sneak into Diagon Alley alone?” Lily demands, aghast and Petunia was struck with the thought that baby Lily was very much a stickler for rules. Well Petunia couldn’t judge because up until her entire world was uplifted, she had been just the same. Lily had eventually grown out of it seeing as she’d died as a child soldier compelled to do the bidding of an old man. Petunia didn’t think she had lived a life any better though. The highlight of her life had been her son.
Which was fine.
She just wished she had been happy with her own life and hadn’t pushed all her emotions on her nephew and child. She just wished she had been happy with her own life and hadn’t pushed all her emotions on her nephew and son.
“I think we can get bank accounts there Lily. The goblins deal both in muggle and wizarding cash so any investments we want to do will go through.” Petunia tries to persuade her sister and Severus, showing them the pamphlet she had in her hands. The goblins actually offered a variety of different things. They dealt with bank issues but they also offered lawyers, healers, teachers and so much more. She was mostly interested in the classes they had to offer. They had classes meant to integrate muggleborns into wizarding society, and classes for every subject Hogwarts offered and even some the esteemed school didn’t offer. Lily mustn’t have known about this in her previous life. Petunia would make damn sure she’d be signing up both her and her sister for as many of the classes as they could. Petunia could take most of them during her muggle school years. She had applied to just about every university in the state after her A-level results came through. She was begging to just about any entity that they’d look beyond her gender and see her grades. The sexism wasn’t as bad as it used to be- but it was still bad. Petunia knew it’d get much better in the years to come. She’d make a name for herself even if she had to do it crawling and bleeding.
“Lily I honestly believe your sister is possessed if we have ruled out Polyjuice completely,” Severus hisses to the redhead suddenly. Petunia was honestly offended when Lily nods sagely.
“I am not possessed idiot,” She glares at Severus who leans back, crossing a leg over the over, looking smug.
“So this whole adventure-“ Severus starts and Petunia interrupts.
“Not an adventure Severus, we are doing the smart thing and getting bank accounts in the wizarding world since we have our parents signatures right here,” She hold up three forms and both the kids in front of her blink.
“What the hell?! How did you get my mother to sign off on that!? She’s the most cautious person I know,” Severus demands, lurching forward to grab the papers with Eileen’s signature on them.
“It’s called being muggle. Hence being underestimated. A lesson for both of you. Wizards won’t give a shite about muggles. Use it to redirect when necessary.” She points to them and Lily blinks slowly, as if wondering if she was in a fever dream.
“That’s a good point…” Severus murmurs, flipping through all of the papers and reading them slowly.
“So what? Our parents think we’re on some sort of trip today?” Lily asks hesitantly and Petunia smirks as an answer. “We’re hanging out with some nonexistent friend and their parents aren’t we?” Lily sighs at her and Petunia shrugs.
“I’m good at acting older than I am,” She grins, not mentioning that she’d lived as an adult more than she lived as a child. Impersonating a concerned mother for her child’s extreme introvert characteristics was simpler than anything else she’d been forced to do recently.
“She signed off on a separate, private vault for me!? She can’t touch anything in it!” Severus screeches out, standing up so suddenly he caused the two Evans sisters to whirl around and glare at him.
“Shut up Severus! We’re undercover!” Lily looked excited at the fact and Petunia stared at her toothy grin warily. Petunia was pretty sure she was creating two mini monsters.
Severus cringes, looking around unstealthily -if you asked Petunia- before sitting down again and staring at the blonde girl with hints of respect in his eyes.
“She would have never agreed to this.” Severus says slowly, which in Severus talk was basically a thank you.
“You’re welcome.” Petunia decided to answer his unspoken words, crossing a leg over the other to raise an eyebrow at the kids in front of her. “So you in? This is good for your futures. You two have a hefty amount left over from scholarships. And I have my savings. Investments are key.” She tells them and has to sigh when they look lost.
“I don’t know what investments are!” Lily wails and Snape scowls, which was an undeniable agreement with his best friend’s words.
“I’ll be making the investments for us for today. Next time I expect you two to have read up on it to contribute your thoughts and ideas.” Petunia takes out a book from her bag. It was a book on mostly muggle stocks and investments but the same concepts would apply for the magical world.
Severus snaps the book from her grasp and Petunia rolls her eyes. The guy must hate being perceived as anything but the best.
“I’ll explain it to you,” Severus promises Lily, who looked seconds from killing her best friend in cold blood.
Petunia takes out the second identical copy she’d borrowed from the library and throws it at her sister. “No need. Lily is smart enough to grasp it on her own.” She says and Lily beams, looking inordinately pleased at her older sister’s words. Lily was extremely smart and Petunia would be damned if she didn’t help grow Lily’s confidence in her own capabilities.
“Lets do it then! I want to see Diagon Alley too,” Lily muses, now understanding why Petunia had told them to bring their travel robes. “How are we getting there exactly?” Her sister asks and Petunia raises a brow at Severus who goes slightly pale when he understands the undernotes in Petunia’s gaze.
“No.” He shakes his head and Petunia simply blinks going into a staredown with the future Slytherin.
“No! Petunia, the Knight Bus?” He hisses and Petunia shrugs.
“Might as well,” She muses with a cringe of her own. Lily had taken them on it once just to test it out from her readings and what she’d been told by her classmates. Safe to say… they never took the Knight Bus again after that.
“What’s that?” Lily asks, hopping along the two who’d gotten up to glare at one another. She was so glad they were getting along recently. It made everything so much easier to have her two favourite people being friendly.
“It’s a magical bus that comes when you call on it,” Severus grumbles slamming the door to the Evans household shut. Lily takes one look at the adorning cringes on their faces and pales slightly.
“This is going to be painful isn’t it?” She asks.
Petunia shrugs, “It shouldn’t be that bad. It should only take a couple minutes too. Fast and efficient even if it might be a tad-” She pauses as if thinking for a word that would freak her sister out less, “-burdensome.”
“Burdensome,” Severus deadpans, holding up his wand in the air. “Let’s see Lily’s opinion after she rides the bus from Hell shall we?” He gave her a sickening sweet smile and Petunia had to remind herself that smacking brats was wrong.
The bus appears not even a second later- just as big and flashy and purple as Petunia remembered. She blinks before hanging over the thirty three sickles needed for the three of them. Severus dashes to a corner and holds onto one of the rods for dear life not even bothering to wait for them. Petunia wanted to laugh but she turns to the driver, just as eccentric as the bus he was driving, “Diagon alley please,” She says and he nods his agreement. She then proceeds to wrap herself as elegantly as she could around one of the passenger handles.
Lily pales even more seeing both of their reactions and she dashes to do the exact same.
Must not have worked though seeing as Lily pukes up the entirety of her stomach after the ride and Petunia ends up kicking Severus for looking smug.