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Petunia Dursley was very glad to be able to finally state with full confidence that she is a totally normal woman, married to a totally normal man, living an ordinary and gray life.
Others may point out that Vernon is not that kind of man, the respectable woman would dream to connect her life with: husband often uses quite an inappropriate language and a bit addicted to alcohol, has slightly an unattractive appearance, not so smart as someone would expect from college leaver and not the last and definitely not the least is that his older sister breeds bulldogs. One of Petunia’s friends from college can continue this list for about an hour. But nee Evans would just say on it that nobody is perfect and with such high standards her friend will never find a husband.
Petunia has left the dream to find Prince Charming a very long time ago, that is why, boring and gray Vernon, who was just as dull as she is, was a perfect candidate – because more the younger Evans grew, the more clearly she understood that if someone shines brighter, the other will be in the shadows, forgotten. Which Petunia doesn’t want to experience again – her sister has left her and her parents have taken Lily's side in that argument, that was a disaster she doesn’t want to repeat.
At first when Petunia was younger, she had some doubts about this philosophy: she dreamt to follow her sister and to live in a mysterious castle and to be a part of a great secret, but that was impossible to someone so colorless as she is.
Well, the last statement is true, but even here she is on the short end. Everyone in that world counts her just as a minor muggle in the background, who needs to keep her mouth shut and not add problems to them, but not a full person with a voice.
When Lily bought an owl, using it Petunia wrote dozens of letters to the headmaster, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore – a ridiculous person with a ridiculously long name. She still can’t understand how thousands and thousands of adults trusted that clown, but the freaks are ones not only for their strange appearance, but also for doing equally strange things.
At much younger age, while her classmates were buying something for them, Petunia spent all her pocket money on the paper and ink pens, but now she is even not sure, were they truly read. As paper is a “muggle” thing, which means it may not have the correct level of quality and snobbery to reach parchment, which were used by normal people in the Middle Age.
Huh, now Petunia understands how blind she was to follow that crowd instinct in wish to become even more childish in magic, but fortunately that naivety has gone.
Then Lily went to Hogwards alone, taking away her older sister’s opportunity to do at least those elusive actions. But that was a good thing, looking back, as Petunia has stopped wasting her money.
She used to believe that just like in a fairytale, there will be an artifact or a potion, which can make her more like them. That she can be with her sister. Petunia was ready to escape from her own gray life and bury any chances to be successful at what she is good at, just to see that magic is true, just to fulfill the sisters’ promise – stay together no matter what.
Lily was always bright, in all senses. She was kind, sensitive and smart. Her charms were even able to influence that dirty next door rat, who was the first who introduced the title Petunia will be called by the rest of her life by the ones of his sort – “just a muggle”. Lily was good at everything, everyone around liked Lily. She must be a heroine, who will find her own prince and live happily ever after, while Petunia will protect and support her younger one.
Because that is what older sisters should do. Even when sisters argue they will get back together, as there is no one closer in the whole world. That's what their mother said. But later Petunia understood that it is true only in her world. The part, where your memories and feelings can’t be changed with a wave of a wand. They are too different from each other to stay together and Petunia saw it.
And even if Lily is a heroine. Her older sister just has a little role in the prologue of her story.
Petunia was afraid that nobody would ever understand her. But then Vernon came to her life. She liked what others called his weaknesses. And he gave all his heart to such an ordinary woman. Even if they were still not sure, is there any love in such a relationship or just a cold arrangement to reach social expectations – would that be a problem? Both of them were happy with it and it’s the most important.
Love is a too changeable feeling to rely on, Petunia has repeated it in her mind hundreds of times, as if she tried to convince herself – which she was not.
At some point of their dating she told Vernon everything. About her sister, about her childish dreams and about that world. It was a mindless action, later she understood it. Vernon could not believe her, call her crazy or destroy her reputation, so the rest of her study will be the true hell. Or maybe even worse – freaks would come and destroy her mind, so Petunia will no longer be truly herself.
But she couldn’t carry this anymore. Not alone. Her parents agreed with their role as minor characters in Lily’s story. They ignored Petunia’s tears and just said to be proud of such a brilliant sister. They said these emotions are just a phase of her growing up – being a teenager – she will regret these words in the future and so on…
Petunia stopped believing that there would be a miracle in her life. But fortunately, one happened that day and nee Evans took it as a sign to finally turn the page and forget magic.
Vernon believed her. He didn’t call her crazy, or the one just who looks for attention. No. Just said that her sister sounds like a person he would prefer never to meet, but it's not her fault to have such a weird one, sharing the blood.
And he gave her a story of his life. It didn’t have anything extraordinary or something far away from average. But Petunia was charmed by it.
Not so long after they married.
Lily was able to destroy even this special moment of her life. But that was not a new thing between them. Petunia should be at the center of attention, but her sister’s stupid friends were able to transform the most important part of Petunia's life into a magical circus with flying dishes, coloured hair, animal ears, exploding desserts, clown clothes and the light show, of course – what else should she expect from those freaks.
And later someone from their government came to clear up and vanished the guests’ minds.
Which was one one of the most unfair things nee Evans has ever seen – which were quite a lot, looking back. It took all of Petunia’s mental power not just to come and ask those freak officials why were those of their sort, who caused most damage, and just normal people, who needed to pay for it?
That was more than a calamity, but at least it gave her new little family an excuse not to get in touch with the paranormal world and its members anymore. Vernon said that Petunia made the right decision. That there is no place for that tribe in the normal people’s world. And after support from her closest person, all of the doubts left Petunia’s head, freeing the space for thinking about her new life.
A bit later Lily got married. To James “Stag” Potter.
She thought that her younger one would find a better prince, as even a sallow bat would be better than this animal. But to say that Petunia needs to be involved in Lily’s life, what she doesn’t want to be.
Petunia’s parents died in a car accident. Examination confirmed that they were on the way to Lily’s wedding, which wasn’t even registered anywhere. Petunia can’t clearly remember what she said to the police, but they let her go.
But what nee Evans can resurrect in her blur memory is that she has never felt so happy and proud about throwing that invitation letter away, as that action possibly saved two more lifes from being taken by the chaos of that world.
Petunia organized funerals only with Vernon's help. Both of them were still students, so couldn’t afford anything over a general ceremony. Even after that she needed to find another part-time job.
Lily didn’t come to the funeral. Didn’t even send a card.
Nobody questioned the absence of the parents' younger daughter.
Petunia was consumed by tears of realization that she was right all of that time and Lily abandoned her old family and preferred it to her new world.
Her eyes were already opened, but such things always hurt.
Newspapers report more about the inexplicable disappearance and death of people. Police promised to find culprits. Politicians urge everyone to stay at home at the dark time of the day and look more carefully after their children. Even the weather became worse, which Petunia thought was an impossible achievement in such a country as England.
Lily wrote more letters. But Petunia had no words even to argue with her.
Vernon had finished college and found a proper well-paid job in Surrey. Petunia chose to become a full-time housewife by rejecting the idea of further education and moving with her husband to the London countryside, where she gave birth to the most adorable boy in the whole world – her little Diddy.
She has never raised the topic connected to her sister in her new home. Neighbors know that the only member of their extended family is Marjorie Dursley.
Petunia was finally fully delighted with her life and definitely did not want anything or anyone from that old-fashioned and uncivilized group.
Magic is for children. It’s time to be an adult.