letters to lily (petunia evans)

June 1982

In the months after her sister's death, she had found hope in her two boys, pulling her out of her depression and bringing her joy. It was difficult losing Lily, but she knew she would make it. This on the other hand, was a nightmare. Petunia knew full well that her nephew would be a wizard, what she did not expect was for her son to be the same. As his second birthday neared, her golden boy began to show signs of accidental magic.

"Oh, God! Oh no, no, no, no," Petunia cried. "This can't. I can't. Dudley! Get back here! Don't you go causing trouble." The little boy giggled and cooed as he ran away from his mother and cousin. To Dudley, it was just a game. "Please put down the vase. It's your father's!"

Petunia saw her son's playfulness as precious innocence that needed protection. So far, she had done all she could to stop Vernon from seeing the magic in their household. It didn't help that Dudley found his mother's frustration as something humorous.

"Vase! Vase! Vase!" Harry cheered his cousin on. His excitement caused him to rise into the air with every giggle that left his mouth. "Go! Go! Go!"

"What is this sorcery that is happening inside my home!"

The room drained of its happiness, its atmosphere becoming considerably colder. The voice broke Dudley's concentration and the vase fell to the ground smashing into pieces. Harry darkened and fell to his feet, beginning to tear up. They were in trouble now and Petunia had to protect them.

"Vernon! Uh, we didn't expect you to be back from work so early today. We were ju-" she tried to say, stepping in front of the two babies.
"Shut up, you dirty bitch. Lying to me. Sneaking around once again? I should have killed you when I had the chance." Vernon grabbed a piece of the vase, getting ready to use it against Petunia.

"NO!" screeched Harry. He moved towards the two adults with determination. Though he was only nearing 2 years old, he could sense the danger his aunt was in. "GO!"

"Move out of my way you orphaned brat!" yelled Vernon. Harry was the root of his problems. Vilifying his son like that by playing with the vase. And the audacity of Petunia to let him go on like that, to violate their home.

"STOP! BAD DADDY!" Dudley stood up to Vernon. He and Harry had just been playing. Mommy was enjoying it too.

Petunia screamed. Vernon was no longer focused on her but instead moving towards her boys. He threw the piece of the vase he had been clutching to the ground. Looking away from the scene, he began to laugh a dark and dry sound leaving his mouth. "So, this is how it is. You your sister and her filthy son into our home and turn our son against me. Well, get out of my damn house. All of you." Vernon gestured towards the door. "Get out!"

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She had waited until night time to go back to the house. After Vernon had kicked them, she had take the boys to the park and let them play to their hearts content. But now it was dark, they were both tired and they had nothing. Petunia knew that Vernon often went to the bars with his coworkers around this time and she knew this was their opportunity to grab their things.

"Boys, please be good and sit on the sofa while Mommy goes to grab our things." And with that she dashed up the stairs and left the boys to themselves.

Petunia was a mess. There was so much to grab and she couldn't carry it all by herself. Just the essentials she chanted. Diapers, baby clothes, bottles, formula, clothes for herself, and the money she had been hiding from Vernon for years. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. She ran down the stairs with a suitcase full of clothing, a diaper bag, and her purse, whisking her two sons into hers and carrying out them out the door.

"Come on babies. We're starting a new life."