𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 [𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮]

CHAPTER IV

HAGRID HAD TAKEN ON THE RESPONSIBILITY of escorting Harry to King's Cross, where he would board the Hogwarts Express. I remembered in a rather viciously vivid way the day Lily had boarded the Express for the first time, leaving me standing with our parents, inwardly burning with jealousy. 

 The memory was so bitter I didn't speak to anyone the day Harry left the house; Dudley pointed out that I looked 'almost as drawn as Mrs. Figg from across the street.' Vernon brushed his cheek against mine, his stubbly cheek grazing my skin, then left the house. For a moment I stood in the threshold, staring blankly across the street, until Dudley began tugging at my skirt. 

 "Mummy, can I go to a friend's house?" he asked. 

 "Which friend, dear?" 

 "Piers' house."

 I turned around and looked down at him. "Oh, Dudley, I don't think it would be such a good idea..."

 Dudley frowned, lowering his head, keeping his eyes on me, like a bull about to charge. "Mum!"

 "School's just around the corner, and–"

 "And nothing!" he interrupted. "Piers is fun, and not boring like you and Harry! And he hasn't got a stupid, weird stick."

Stupid, weird stick. 

 I stood quiet for a few seconds, then moved backwards to close the door. Dudley was still glaring at me. If I didn't give a straight answer fast enough, he might throw a day-long tantrum. 

 "And you simply plan to show up at Piers' house without an invitation?" I finally asked. 

 "Duh! That's what friends do!"

 I looked at him again, contemplating whether or not I should let him go. Occasionally it slightly bothered me that Dudley was so insistent, and more often than not, ended up getting what he wanted. Perhaps I was just vexed because I knew deep down that my childhood was nothing like his. 

I sighed. "We can go visit in the afternoon. Why don't you go play in the garden?"

He gave me a stubborn look, then marched out the door.

I moved to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. The large window revealed most of the backyard, framed by a wooden fence crawling with creepers and other climbing plants. More often than not I would find myself peering over the edge of the fence just to look at someone else's house, to get a taste of someone else's life, because deep down I could stand mine.

As the kettle started I opened the window and went into the backyard. The sun shone weakly through the clouds. Two loud voices were coming from Number Three. A mother and child.

"I've already told you no," said the mother. "You could get hurt."

"Mum!" the child protested. "You're always on about me getting hurt. What's out there to hurt me? The pavement?"

"There's more out there than you know, Willow. You never really just how much you don't know."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Mum. I might not know lots but I know enough."

Silence. A little chuckle from the mother.

"Alright," she gave in. "But be back by teatime."

Nothing else was said. A small figure of about twelve flew out of the door, honey brown hair flying behind her.

Number Three had a sort of veranda on the side of the house I could see. Beyond it was the garden, much like ours, and finally the fence, where I stood. There was something different about Number Three, however; it had a more cosy look to it, like people lived there happily and wholly.

A woman with strawberry blonde hair walked out and onto the veranda. I didn't have enough time to look away, and for a moment we simply looked at each other, the way neighbours do: you've been using too much electricity and water and your dog barks too loud.

Then she said, "They grow up so fast, don't they?"

For a few seconds I was startled at her tone, at her words. I didn't know why this kindness shocked me so much.

"They seem to," I finally said.

She gave me a kind smile. "You're right. They seem to, but they really are still little kids."

I took a deep breath, words getting stuck in my throat.

She cleared her throat. "Athena Nightingale."

"Petunia Dursley," I stuttered.

Athena nodded slowly. Her garden was beautiful. I'd never seen so much green looking so... inviting. It looked a bit like her.

I stepped back from the fence. "My kettle's going off."

I turned around and walked back into the house.