On December Something

Taken Opportunities

The next couple years were a blur for Petunia. She had to push past the pain and dread that followed her every time she thought about Sirius. If it were possible, she had become even more secluded and avoidant throughout the remainder of Harry's years at Hogwarts. Until one summer when she stood in her living room, watching them remove her life out the very door she came through to begin again.

She had thrown away the red dress and anything that reminded her of Sirius from her closet. She hid the pictures and letters of him in a box and labeled them 'Petunia Keepsakes' so that maybe no one would open them. She sent her owl to be with Remus so that it would go undetected by the ministry. She wanted to get rid of anything magical from her soul. She didn't want to be reminded of anything. She wanted to forget. She begged to be obliviated and cried out for someone to take her away.

Instead, she stood there with an unreadable expression in her empty living room. The one painful reminder of everything back in those days walked quietly into the room and watched her. He watched her for a good few minutes before they exchanged what could only be pleasantries in their case.

From the empty house to the car, from the car to the new house, from the new house to an even smaller house was where Petunia stayed. A constant limbo.

She remembered reading about the war and how Harry had finally defeated Lord Voldemort. She received a letter and a paper from Molly Weasley. Petunia ignored the slight pain she felt at learning about the death of so many she had kept in contact with. Remus had told Molly that if anything were to happen that she would need to tell Petunia. So, Petunia stayed in constant contact with the lovely woman. In any other circumstance, she imagined they would be friends.

Nothing broke her heart more than when Harry decided to never try and find them. Dudley was more disappointed than anyone. She knew that they would end up bonding. After Harry had saved him from the Dementors, things had changed and it was evident to Petunia. They had moved away and things changed.

At least, that's what they imagined.

Twenty Years Later

Harry's footsteps were heavy on the pavement as he walked down the streets of London. His heart was heavy and his hands were full of things he had found. He hadn't told Ginny where he was off to and he hadn't discussed his decision with Hermione or Ron. He knew they would talk him out of it. He didn't want to be talked out of it.

He wanted the truth.

Harry had recently learned where his Aunt Petunia lived and after learning that Uncle Vernon had passed away a few months ago he wanted to try and find them. He wanted to send some flowers or something nice to at least let them know he did care. Sure, they made his life hell for his entire childhood but it's not like Harry Potter to be heartless.

He stared up at the flat that Petunia supposedly lived in and immediately he noticed which one was hers. The balcony was decorated and overrun by bushes of pink roses that she had planted in those ugly olive colored pots that she had packed in the car. She had been scared that they would break. They were just planting pots so he didn't understand the real meaning behind them. If it were up to him, he'd have tossed them at first glance but he digressed.

He climbed the stairs to the flat and knocked on the door lightly at first. When she didn't answer immediately, he knocked a little louder and waited. He heard the shuffle of feet on the other side and she pulled the door open.

Her eyes caught his attention first. They were wide with astonishment but the wrinkles on the side gave them age. Her brown irises were dull and lifeless as they gazed at him. They traced over him and studied him like she didn't recognize him at first. That could have very well been true. Her eyes gained a little light when she realized who she was staring at.

She almost smiled until she realized what he was holding in his hands. She moved away from the door to let him in. She knew he had questions and she was finally ready to answer them. She had no one to keep safe anymore except herself and now she didn't care.

"I'll tell you whatever you want to know," she said softly, inviting him inside.

-XOX-

"Where did you find this place?" Harry asked, looking around the small flat.

"I used to live here before I married Vernon. This was your mother's room," Petunia told him, motioning to the second bedroom.

"How am I going to feel after I ask these questions?" Harry asked, sitting on the couch.

"I don't know. Should I make some tea?" Petunia offered, looking towards the kitchen.

Harry nodded. She did as he asked and hurried to bring them to living room. They say there and watched each other carefully. Petunia looked nervous and much older. The years had not been kind to her but neither had the circumstances.

"Why do you have all of this in a box labeled for your keepsakes?" Harry asked.

"I always wondered what happened to that box," she mused.

"Aunt Petunia," he pleaded.

"I was more involved in your life than you knew. It started when you landed on my doorstep..."

She told him everything. From having to pretend to hate him to her having slight magical powers. She had to tell him about her relationship with Sirius and why she had to marry Vernon. She showed him letters, papers from the Daily Prophet, pictures from Lily, and everything else she could find in her box.

"So, everyone was in on it?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I'm on your safety? Yes, I would think we were. We wanted you to be here. If you weren't, you'd never know this story," she defended.

"I guess I understand, I just..." he trailed off, shaking his head and looking at his hands.

"I know," Petunia whispered.

"So, you never hated me?"

"I couldn't! I tried my hardest to pretend effectively but I always started to fall away from it. You were the best reminder I had of the life I always wanted," she told him.

The silence was comfortable. He was trying to process it but there was something eating away at him.

"What's wrong, dear?" Petunia asked, trying to get him to tell her.

"Sirius left something for me to give you and I never understood why. So, I never gave it to you. Now I understand why," Harry answered, pulling a small envelope out of his back pocket.

She peeled the envelope entrance opened and smiled at the contents. There is was. A cassette tape with her writing on the label.

'Our Songs' she had labeled it.

The tape she had given him when she left him in the tent to get married. It was here. He had kept it all these years. He never stopped loving her.

"He never lied to me," she said through a watery smile.

"About?"

"That I was his girl. That I would always be his girl. You may never forgive me for my past transgressions and I wouldn't blame you. However, I loved everything about my life then. The entire year was something to remember and then it all fell apart. You're my nephew and I love you. I'm sorry that I could never show it before," she said with a small smile.

"How did you hide your magic from us for all those years?" Harry wondered out loud.

"I didn't. That vase you thought you broke? That was me. The flowers in my garden? Well, Sirius and I did that. My magic was always present but hidden in ways you didn't know about. Vernon always hated it when I let it slip," she laughed.

"I'm sorry about his passing," Harry told her with a sympathetic smile.

She just nodded.

They didn't share a hug. They shared a nod with a mutual understanding. That was their way. They weren't that kind of relationship.

He didn't ask her anymore questions. He promised he would visit more. He wanted to understand her a little more and it was the only way to do it. The steps back to his place were lighter than they were when he left. He couldn't wait to tell Ginny what happened.