Petunia's Acceptance Letter
Petunia soon noticed her little sister's downcast eyes and understood at once how sad she felt. This time, their roles had completely reversed: the comforted had become the comforter. She gently slipped an arm around Lily's shoulders and said softly, "It's only one year. As soon as you turn eleven, you can come and join me at Hogwarts. I'll write home often, and I'll send you all sorts of fascinating little things."
As Lily listened to her sister's gentle promises, the gloom in her heart gradually lifted, and she smiled again. As long as Petunia was a witch like her and they belonged in the same place, what did one year apart matter? The thought of them walking side by side through Hogwarts Castle made her look forward to the future even more.
Ever since confirming she had magic, Petunia's long-held sense of separation and prejudice had completely vanished. She no longer objected to Lily going to the little park to meet Snape. Instead, she often offered to go along with her sister.
The perceptive Snape soon noticed the change in Petunia. Her wholly Muggle aura had disappeared without a trace, a clear sign that her magic had fully awakened. Yet his attitude toward her remained as distant as ever. He made no deliberate effort to push her away, but he never sought to get close to her either.
In his mind, Petunia's label had merely changed from "Lily's Muggle sister" to "Lily's Muggle-born sister." That was all; nothing else had changed in the slightest. He remained obstinately convinced that he alone could be there for Lily completely and understand her magical world.
Meanwhile, Lily's life grew fuller and busier. She devoted herself to running the Tales of Blossoms Department Store. The dazzling assortment of novel goods in the shop had all been secretly exchanged for and retrieved from the system by her, after which she arranged for delivery drivers to bring them to the shop together to be put on the shelves.
The little shop offered a wide range of good-quality, inexpensive goods, and business was always booming. In a short time, the pounds she earned had nearly caught up with the income of Mr Evans, who worked as a supervisor at a factory.
Mr Evans was delighted to see how hardworking and capable his younger daughter was, supporting herself at such a young age. He made a special trip to the bank to open a separate account for Lily and helped her deposit all her earnings. But Lily was unwilling to keep it all for herself. Every month, she offered Mrs. Evans a portion of the profits to help support the family, giving them more to spend on food and everyday expenses.
Petunia, meanwhile, had undergone a complete change in outlook. Classes that had once been dull and tedious no longer bored her; her thoughts were full of her approaching birthday and the adventures awaiting her in the magical world. With only a few days left until her birthday at the end of July, she was so excited that she tossed and turned every night, eagerly awaiting her own Hogwarts letter.
Seeing her sister's fervent anticipation, Lily sympathized deeply. She knew only too well what it was like to feel both nervous and thrilled. If she were about to receive her own letter, she would surely be just as eager day and night, unable to sit still.
The days flew by in anticipation, and before they knew it, July 30 had arrived: Petunia's birthday.
All day long, Petunia scarcely left the window. She paced back and forth, her eyes fixed on the sky outside, terrified of missing the owl coming to deliver her letter. She paced so often and so quickly that even Lily, sitting nearby, was growing dizzy watching her.
Just as Petunia was growing anxious and straining her eyes for a glimpse, a faint tapping suddenly came from the window.
An owl was gently rapping its beak against the glass!
Petunia jolted and rushed forward almost instantly, throwing open the window. An owl with smooth feathers perched steadily on the sill, a parchment envelope sealed with wax clutched tightly in its claws.
She raised a trembling hand and carefully took the letter meant for her. The instant her fingertips touched the thick envelope, her heart began pounding, and immense joy swept through her.
Seeing this, Lily hurriedly brought over the breakfast sausages left on the table and some fresh water, smiling as she offered them to the owl. The perceptive owl nuzzled Lily's palm affectionately, then lowered its head and ate in peace.
At the window, Petunia had already torn open the envelope, unable to wait another moment. Neat, elegant handwriting met her eyes, every word an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She read it over and over, checking every word and sentence again and again. The light in her eyes could no longer be hidden as she truly felt that this was no dream: she had really received an acceptance letter from a school of magic, and she really could enter the magical world she had long yearned for.
Unable to contain her excitement, Petunia immediately turned to find paper and a pen, then sat upright by the window to write her reply.
By the time she finished writing and folded the letter, the owl had just finished eating. Petunia gently tied her reply to its leg and watched it spread its wings and take flight, soaring across the blue sky until it vanished over the town's horizon.
A gentle breeze drifted through the window, dispelling the nervousness and unease of the past few days. Petunia gazed in the direction the owl had gone, her eyes shining with fervor and her heart filled to the brim with longing for the magical world.
Only a few days after the reply was sent, a magic professor with a neat bun and an elegant, solemn bearing made a special visit as promised, to take Petunia to Diagon Alley to buy a full set of school supplies. Lily was still at school at the time and missed the chance to go along, so only Petunia and Mr and Mrs. Evans went.
By the time Lily returned from school that evening, Petunia had already finished sorting everything out. She had neatly arranged a case full of first-year magic textbooks and wizarding necessities in her room. Most eye-catching of all was her own wand, lying quietly in an exquisite wooden box, smooth and distinctive. Petunia's fingertips gently stroked its length, her eyes full of affection and delight.
Lily quietly gazed at the wand that belonged to her sister alone, and her reluctance to part surged up within her. Taking Petunia's hand, she reminded her again and again, earnest and insistent: "Petunia, when you go to Hogwarts, you must write to me often. Please don't forget me."
Petunia nodded firmly, her expression gentle, then brought out a tame little owl and held it out to Lily. She had already thought of everything and had bought two owls especially, one for each sister. They could write to each other whenever they wished, and no longer had to fear that distance would weaken their bond.
September and the start of the school year arrived as expected, and the day to see Petunia off quietly came. Lily went with Mr and Mrs. Evans to King's Cross Station and watched Petunia, dressed in brand-new wizard's robes and carrying her suitcase, walk step by step through the wall at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and into the grand and magical world beyond.
The rumble of a train sounded faintly as the wall blocked the last view of her. Lily stood in the bustling station, feeling hollow inside, filled with a profound reluctance to part and a sense of loneliness. Her sister, who had been at her side day and night, had gone far away, leaving her alone in their familiar little town.
Mr and Mrs. Evans saw how downcast their younger daughter was and bent down to comfort her gently and patiently. Lily nestled into Mrs. Evans's warm embrace, her voice tinged with hurt and regret. "Mum, why aren't Petunia and I twins? If we were the same age, we wouldn't have to be apart. We could go to Hogwarts together."
The child's pure, straightforward wish made Mrs. Evans feel both tenderness and amusement. She gently patted Lily's back and comforted her softly, gradually soothing the disappointment in her heart.