On December Something

Meeting Sirius

December 1977-- Petunia's Flat
7:31pm

Oh, bother!

She had burned another batch of Christmas cookies in her oven. She had been trying to bake all November but she still couldn't get the hang of it. All she wanted was for Christmas to be perfect.

She had spent so much time decorating her flat to make it look like a Christmas she and Lily used to have with their parents. Although, her mother never burned the cookies. After they passed away during Lily's fifth year at Hogwarts, Petunia always tried her best to keep the traditions going. However, despite the limited space in her flat she wanted this year to be extra special. It was Lily's last year at Hogwarts and Lily had asked her if she could bring a couple of friends to stay with them over the holidays. Petunia learned that the friends she wanted to bring had nowhere to go for the holidays. Although, Lily didn't tell her their names.

Petunia always wanted to meet witches. She loved hearing the tales and what kind of classes were taught at Hogwarts. Petunia had since apologized for her behavior but sometimes it was still hard to hear about the life she could have had if she had been a witch herself. Still, she loved her sister and she didn't want to lose her over something like that.

"Tuney?" someone called from the living room.

She didn't even hear the door open but she imagined they didn't really need a door like the magically inept. Lily told her that non-magical people were called muggles but it felt funny using that word since she was one.

"In the kitchen, Lils!" Petunia called out with a smile.

She hadn't turned around yet since she was still trying to get the burnt cookies out of the smoking oven. She had hoped Lily would be later because the house sure didn't smell like Christmas. It smelled worse than her attempted farewell breakfast she tried to make for Lily that August. She just had to accept the fact that cooking wouldn't be one of her skills.

Petunia turned around and came eye to eye with a boy. Not just any boy, a handsome boy. His dark and shaggy hair was practically covering his mysterious eyes and his smirk was ever so tantalizing. He looked like he was judging her and Petunia automatically felt the need to try and fix herself. She suddenly felt silly in her apron and swept the stray blonde strands out of her face.

"Um..Hello," she greeted nervously.

"Hello," he said mockingly.

"Tuney, this is Sirius Black. Sirius, this is my sister Petunia," Lily introduced and looked sternly at Sirius.

He held out his hand and she took it gingerly. She noticed the roughness in his fingers but she didn't find it to be anything less than alluring.

"And this is James Potter, my boyfriend,"

There was a boy of strong build with dark hair and piercing eyes but she was still drawn to the boy they called Sirius Black. He was staring at her and it made her feel different. She couldn't decide the kind of different that it was. It wasn't a feeling she was used to since she had started being courted by Vernon Dursley. She felt positively plain when she was around him. However, within the first few seconds of meeting Sirius she was on fire under his gaze.

"Uh, hello," she stammered, holding out her hand to shake his but she was too busy staring at Sirius.

Lily cleared her throat and gave her sister a sly smile. Petunia brought herself back to reality and started apologizing profusely for the burnt cookies and promised that they would order out for dinner. She didn't want to try and cook in front of him.

She ushered Lily into her bedroom and closed the door. She was going to scold Lily for bringing home boys and forcing her to be pushed into certain situations that she wasn't comfortable with.