Chapter 3

Lily and I arrived home just as the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the quiet streets of Cokeworth. The warmth of home greeted us the moment we stepped through the door. Our mother, Violet, stood in the hallway, her soft red hair tied back in a loose bun, her apron dusted with flour. She beamed at us, wiping her hands on her apron before pulling us both into a hug.

"There you are, my darlings," she said, kissing Lily on her cheek and then mine. "Go on upstairs and get yourselves ready. Dinner's nearly done."

Lily grinned and darted toward the stairs, her red hair catching the fading light. I followed at a slower pace, savoring the cozy atmosphere of home. Once in our shared bedroom, Lily perched on her bed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Petunia," she began, her voice brimming with excitement, "tell me more about Severus. You said he can do magic? Like, real magic?"

I nodded, sitting cross-legged on my bed. "Yes, Lily. Real magic. He told me about it while we were sitting under the garland tree."

"What's he like?" she asked, leaning forward eagerly.

"He's... different," I said thoughtfully. "He knows so much about the magical world. He told me about Hogwarts, the school we'll be going to when we're eleven."

Lily's eyes widened. "Hogwarts? What's that like?"

"It's a castle, Lily. A magical one. Severus said it's huge, with towers and dungeons and moving staircases. There's even a giant lake with a squid in it!"

Lily gasped, her hands clasped together. "A squid? Really? What else?"

I smiled at her enthusiasm. "He told me about the four houses. There's Gryffindor, where the brave go; Hufflepuff, for the loyal and hardworking; Ravenclaw, for the clever and curious; and Slytherin, where the ambitious and cunning belong. Each house has its own dormitories and common rooms. ."

"That's amazing," Lily whispered. "Which house do you think we'll be in?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "Severus said he wants to be in Slytherin. He thinks it's the best house because it's full of powerful witches and wizards."

Lily tilted her head, pondering. "I think Gryffindor sounds nice. Or maybe Ravenclaw. I love learning things."

We talked for what felt like hours, sharing our thoughts and dreams about Hogwarts. Lily's excitement was infectious, and her questions came one after another.

"Do you think we'll get our letters soon?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

"When we turn eleven," I replied. "Severus said the letters come by owl post on your birthday."

"Owls delivering letters? That's brilliant!" Lily exclaimed, her laughter filling the room.

Our conversation was interrupted by our mother's voice calling us downstairs for dinner.

At the dinner table, the aroma of roasted chicken and fresh bread filled the air. Our father, Henry, arrived just as we sat down. He kissed Mother on the cheek before settling into his chair.

"How were my girls today?" he asked, his cheerful tone lighting up the room.

"Petunia and I had a lovely time at the park,"Lily said, glancing at me.

"Did you make any new friends, Petunia?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

I nodded, but before I could speak, Mother interjected. "Henry, you won't believe what Petunia's teacher told me today."

"Oh?" Father turned his attention to me, his eyebrows raised.

"Her teacher thinks she's ready to move up a grade," Mother said proudly. "She's been doing so well in her classes, and she won first place in the dance competition last week."

"That's my girl!" Father exclaimed, his face glowing with pride. "You get that from me, you know. Beauty , Brains and talent."

Mother playfully swatted his arm. "Don't listen to him, Petunia. You've got that from me" She reached over and brushed my hair lovingly.

I glanced at Lily, who was quietly picking at her food. I could tell she felt overshadowed, so I quickly changed the subject. "Lily's been learning all about flowers in the garden. She's getting really good at taking care of them."

Father turned to Lily, his smile warm. "That's wonderful, Lily. What's your favorite flower?"

"Daisies," Lily replied shyly, her green eyes lighting up.

"Well, maybe you and I can plant some together this weekend," Father suggested.

Lily smiled, and the tension lifted. We spent the rest of dinner sharing stories and laughter, the warmth of our family filling the room.

Later that night, as we lay in our beds, Lily's voice broke the silence. "Petunia, are you going to see Severus tomorrow?"

"Yes," I replied, turning to face her.

"Can I come?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Of course," I said with a smile. "Goodnight, Lily."

"Goodnight, Petunia," she murmured.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. Despite the strange twists of fate that had brought me here, moments like this reminded me of the beauty in the life I now lived. Lily and I were more than sisters—we were best friends, sharing dreams and secrets in a world that was just beginning to unfold.