The Tale of the Three Sisters (A Lily and Petunia fanfic) (Book 2)

Chapter 3: The Search

Albus stood by the limbo state where he was dropped off to his Heaven, which was not too far from Severus and the others'. He was waiting patiently for Petunia's train to stop or pass by slightly.

Many trains passed as thousands of people die every day. Today was no exception, but Albus was confident that he'd know which train was Petunia's. After all, he was a wizard and one of the greatest. He looked in his usual scanning way for the right train as he saw other people entering their doors. Some looked accepting, others looked unhappy and full of despair, but Albus knew these people would soon be happy in no time.

Albus finally saw after an hour of waiting a train that had a familiar appeal about it and Albus knew that Petunia was on board. He expected for the train to stop or at least slow down, but it did not. It continued to roll along its cloudy lines and still at speed went out of sight.

Albus was surprised. He thought that surely Petunia would want to be close to her sister again in death. That she couldn't wait to be reunited with the sister she had lost to Lord Voldemort many years ago.

Albus knew now that he would have a longer time searching for Petunia and that meant that his friends, the two Lilys would have to wait a little longer, but he knew that Lily was patient. he waited a long time to be reunited with Severus, to find happiness with him and James, and was still waiting for Harry to return.

So Albus went through his door and found himself back in his old home with his free father, his happy mother and even better, his perfectly healthy sister, Ariana, who was able to get used to her skills at magic.

"Hello, Albus." smiled Ariana to her brother, who to her looked young and strong like he was at his younger age when he was best friends with Grindelwald, whom was also granted entry to Heaven, as Albus stopped him in time to stop him from completely tarnishing his soul to pieces.

"Hello, Ariana." said Albus lovingly, embracing his sister.

"We just can't get enough of you, Albus." laughed Kendra, "Especially since you're always trying to help others in Heaven."

"Yes, mother and today is going to be no exception. Looking for a newly arrived soul, whom seems to be avoiding her younger sister." said Albus, still puzzling. Surely Petunia didn't blame Lily for how she was a pure Muggle and Lily was gifted.

"Well, do be home for dinner, please Albus." implored his father.

"I'll do my best, father." replied Albus, and he entered his family fireplace and said clearly, "Petunia Dursley's Heaven."

With the green flames surrounding him, Albus vanished and spun. As he did, he saw with fondness the spinning Heavens of various wizards and Muggles alike. Eventually, he fell out and found himself in the Heaven home of Number 4 Privet Drive, clean, spotless, well except for the two fat, portly lumps that were Vernon and Marjorie Dursley, the latter of which died of eating another "funny whelk."

Vernon and Marge were livid at Albus' unwelcome arrival.

"What sort of Heaven is this?" shouted Vernon, "I still can't escape your LOT!"

"Hello to you too, Vernon." said Albus cheerfully and he bowed politely to a repulsed Marge, whom was shocked to see a man pop out of a fireplace, as she had her memory modified by the Ministry of Magic when Harry inadvertently blew her up like a balloon.

"Charmed to see you, Miss Dursley." said Albus, "I don't recall us ever meeting in life."

Marge was pale and collapsed in Vernon's arms. "Vernon, what's happening?"

Vernon snarled at Albus. "What do you want?" he barked.

"I'm looking for your wife, my good sir." said Albus.

"Well, she's just gone, even though she just got here." said Vernon crossly.

"Where did she go?" asked Albus curiously.

"What business is it of yours?" snapped Vernon, cradling a shocked Marge.

"None whatsoever," said Albus, "but I was asked to find Petunia by her sister."

Vernon went from purple to pale. "She wants nothing to do with that woman." he said furiously, "She has nothing to say to her or you or any of your kind. I must ask you to leave our Heaven at once."

"I will if you just help me reach Petunia." said Albus.

Vernon was furious. He wanted to beat Albus out of his house, but knew already it was not possible to physically harm a person who was dead and in Heaven. And Heaven was a place of peace and bliss.

"Fine," he spat cruelly, "she's gone to clear her head in peace outside. She's walking along the Heaven Privet Drive streets."

"Thank you, Vernon." said Albus.

Vernon ignored him as he struggled to lift Marge up onto her feet and Albus left the house and entered the streets.

It was very sunny and there were no polluting cars parked in the drives and no big bullies like Dudley prowling around looking for younger victims. It was peaceful and deserted. As Albus strolled the street, he searched for Petunia, who he came across sat on a clean bench, looking sad and away with the fairies, not that she'd express it that way.

Albus quietly walked up to her and he did not notice his appearance until he sat down next to her.

"AAARGH!" she screamed.

"It's alright, Petunia." smiled Albus kindly.

"Why are you here?" gasped Petunia, "Why can't you lot leave me in peace? You were quite eager to be rid of me when I was a little girl."

"And I did send my kindest apologies for denying you to study magic." sighed Albus, "But by the way you've acted in your life since then, it would appear that you not being able to go to wizarding school was the best thing that ever happened to you."

"Only because I wanted to believe that it was." snapped Petunia, looking around to see that no one could hear, especially not Vernon, "And it was. I don't regret not being able to be like my freak sister at all."

Albus scanned her with his eyes, and it was obvious that she still seemed unhappy to have not been gifted like her sister. But Albus hoped he could bring Petunia to see Lily without outing her as a freak again, because he felt sure that James and Severus would get rather too defensive over it.

"I understand your bitterness. You were always in the shadow of your younger sister and you also had to endure Harry's success in wizarding life and felt proud of it under your roof." said Albus sympathetically, "But that is all over and Lily would like to see her sister again."

"Why?" snapped Petunia, as though she was being asked to sweep dirt into the house.

"Because she misses you." said Albus simply.

Petunia was unsure if she wanted to go. She did miss Lily once she had died and she did feel an ounce of regret for never reconciling with her. But her many years of hurting Harry and hating his heritage made her too bitter to feel regret anymore. When she forgave Harry for nothing, she was hesitant to be sorry to him. She still wasn't certain she was sorry and even worse, she feared she would lose her temper with her sister once again.

"If I go, you will bring me back again and leave me and Vernon in peace." she said quietly, but firmly.

"Very well, Petunia." said Albus, "We'll go through this door here. It's quicker than going back into your fireplace."

Petunia turned and saw a shining door which she assumed led to Lily.

Though scared, she had agreed and followed a kind, encouraging Albus through the door and they went to see Lily as the door shut fat behind them and disappeared.

Author's end of chapter talk: There's Chapter 3. Petunia was hard to find. She and Vernon certainly haven't changed that much.

So what's to come in Chapter 4? Will Petunia be happy to see her sister again? How will she react to her sister being two Lilys? And how will Vernon rect when he finds out that Petunia went to see "Lily's lot"? Find out in Chapter 4!