บท 35: Chapter 35 - Godric’s Hollow Pt.2

Serena lay on the bed she shared with Lily, the soft moonlight filtering through the curtains and casting a serene glow over the room. Petunia was already in her bed, her breathing steady, a testament to the exhaustion of the day. Serena's mind, however, was far from restful as she recounted the events of their first day at the Potter household.

The day had taken an unexpected turn with the arrival of an owl from the Malfoys. The invitation to Lucius and Sirius' engagement party had sparked a flurry of activity. Serena had penned a quick letter to her grandparents, informing them of the invite. They had been meticulous in their response, ensuring that Serena was truly prepared to step into the high society of the wizarding world. Her affirmation had been swift and certain; she was prepared to say the least.

The news had been shared over last night's dinner, an affair filled with warmth and laughter, the Potters' hospitality wrapping around her like a comforting shawl. Euphemia and Fleamont had been supportive, their eyes sparkling with a shared excitement for Serena's first social debut. But it was James' reaction that had left an indelible mark on the day.

His enthusiasm had been boundless, his hazel eyes alight with an excitement that was as infectious as it was overwhelming. Throughout yesterday night and today, he had found every opportunity to suggest—with a persistence that was as endearing as it was maddening—that they attend the party together. Serena's patience had been tested time and time again as he floated ideas of matching outfits and grand entrances, his charm turned up to its full, devastating effect.

Lily had tried her best to intervene, her eyes and voice were always flashing with reason and exasperation as she attempted to stop James from his relentless attack on her best friend.

The boys, initially sympathetic to Serena's plight, had eventually been roped into James' scheming, their loyalty to their friend outweighing their better judgment. They started brainstorming ideas on how to convince Serena, much to her dismay.

Petunia, on the other hand, had been a silent observer to the chaos, her presence a quiet constant in the corner of the room. She had played with Bowe, who seemed equally entertained by the unfolding drama. There was a subtle hidden delight in Petunia's demeanor that Serena could not help but notice. It was clear Petunia found some humor in the situation.

As the second night drew on, the Potter household had settled into a tranquil stillness, and Serena replayed the moments spent wandering the Potter Manor under the guidance of James and the boys. They had traversed the expansive property, which was imbued with the Potter family's rich history and magical heritage.

The tour had commenced with the basement training grounds, a well-equipped space that spoke of the Potters' dedication to defense and dueling arts. Serena, with her deep knowledge of magic and her former life's emphasis on self-preservation, found herself quietly approving of the practical setup. The space was filled with an array of dummies and targets, each one bearing the marks of countless spells cast in training.

As they continued, James led them to his personal quarters, opening the door with a flourish that was both playful and proud. The room was a vibrant homage to Gryffindor, adorned with the house's red and gold colors, and featured an impressive collection of Quidditch team posters that plastered the walls. Amongst the memorabilia, Serena's eyes caught sight of a collection of training wooden swords of various lengths, each a testament to James' years of growth and surprising martial training. A mental note was made by Serena to inquire about those swords; their existence piqued her curiosity and perhaps even a hint of respect for James' less-known pursuits.

To the surprise of Lily and Petunia—and indeed, to the slight chagrin of the boys—the room was impeccably tidy, defying the stereotype of a teenage boy's abode.

James, seizing the moment, feigned offense at their astonishment, his chest puffed out in mock indignation that they would expect anything less. Though Serena highly suspected that it was only cleaned for their visit. The two words of Potter and organized? Not possible. She couldn't believe it—won't believe it.

Lily and Petunia, for their parts, were visibly astounded by the magical enhancements woven seamlessly into the household. From enchanted cleaning tools to self-stirring pots in the kitchen, each magical element elicited gasps and wide-eyed wonder from the sisters who had grown up in a Muggle home.

Inwardly, Serena felt a familiar twinge of disdain and envy. As Severus, she had endured a childhood marred by neglect and strife, a stark contrast to the loving and nurturing environment the Potter family had provided for James. The unfairness of it all gnawed at her, the disparity between her past and James' idyllic upbringing in Godric's Hollow. He had been spoiled and cherished, raised in a home where love and magic were in abundance.

Yet, as Serena reflected on these thoughts, she recognized them as remnants of an old bitterness that had no place in her current life. She was Serena Prince now, with a fresh start and a different path ahead of her. The jealousy was fleeting, a shadow that passed as quickly as it came, for she had been granted a second chance—a chance to forge new relationships and to experience life from a perspective she had never imagined possible.

With a sigh, Serena released the memories of the day, letting them fade into the backdrop of her consciousness. The night embraced her, and she surrendered to the comfort of the bed, allowing the prospect of tomorrow's adventures to lull her into a restful sleep.

~~~

The next morning at the Potter Manor was bright and bustling with the same infectious energy that had marked the previous day.

After a hearty breakfast, the group reconvened, with James once again taking the lead to show off more of his family's home. Their first stop was the Potter library—a grand room lined with towering shelves that reached up to a vaulted ceiling. Ladders on wheels stood ready to glide along the rows, offering access to the higher realms of knowledge. The walls were adorned with portraits of scholarly wizards and witches, some nodding in approval at the sight of young minds eager to learn.

Lily's eyes sparkled with unbridled curiosity, her gaze sweeping over the tomes and manuscripts. Petunia's attention, however, lingered on the practical enchantments that kept the books dust-free and perfectly organized. Serena, familiar with the wealth of information such spaces held, felt a pang of appreciation for the collection before her.

The tour continued, eventually spilling out into the Potter's expansive grounds. The land stretched far and wide, a testament to the family's long-standing prosperity. The Evans sisters stood side by side, their expressions mirroring each other's astonishment at the sheer scope of the property. When asked if her new home, the Prince family mansion, was similar, Serena nodded. The simple action was enough to widen the sisters' eyes further, a silent recognition of the grandeur that Serena had stepped into.

The boys, buoyant and brimming with ideas for adventure, proposed they take to the skies to better appreciate the lay of the land.

As the effervescent leader, James took the lead suggesting the idea to the girls.

"Imagine the view from above, the wind as your companion!" he exclaimed, his voice resonating with an infectious enthusiasm. "The Potter estate is a sight to behold from the skies. You'll love it, I promise!"

Lily Evans, her green eyes alight with eagerness, nodded vigorously. "That sounds absolutely thrilling! I can't wait to see the lake you've told me about."

Serena, however, stood back, her arms crossed, her expression aghast. She remembered all too well the sensation of flying—or rather, the lack thereof—from her past experiences. Especially her first flying lesson with Potter. The art of broomstick flying had eluded her then and had not magically improved in this short amount of time.

Petunia, who had never even dreamt of riding a broom, balked at the suggestion. She also looked on with a blend of fear and longing. The magic of flight was something she had yearned to experience, even as she resented the wizarding world that had excluded her.

"I'm afraid I'll have to pass on the offer," Serena said with a polite but firm tone. "My talents lie elsewhere, not in the domain of the skies."

Petunia nodded, her face pale. "I—I don't think it's a good idea for me either," she stammered.

But James would never be deterred. His gaze softened as he looked at Serena and then at Petunia, his charm shifting gears from buoyant to gently persuasive. "Come now, Serena, Petunia, you can't miss this chance! Plus I have four brooms from my own collection. So don't worry, you won't have to fly alone. Serena can ride with me, and Petunia, Remus will be your pilot. We'll take care of you, I swear on my honor as a Gryffindor," he finished by holding up his right arm as an act to pledge his honor.

At his side, Remus gave an encouraging smile which offered a comforting presence, particularly to Petunia who found herself inexplicably drawn to the gentle, tall boy.

Lily, sensing her sister's trepidation, reached out and squeezed Petunia's hand. "It's going to be wonderful, Tuney. You'll be flying!"

Outnumbered by the collective persuasion, Serena and Petunia exchanged a resigned glance. There was a certain pull to the idea, a lure to explore, was difficult to deny, especially in the face of such camaraderie.

"Alright," Serena conceded with a small huff. "But Potter, if you drop me, I swear I'll hex you into next Tuesday."

James laughed, the sound rich and warm. "It's a deal, Prince. You have my word."

Petunia looked at Remus, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You'll be careful, won't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Always," Remus assured her with a gentle nod, his eyes locking with hers in a silent vow.

With the decision made, the boys went off to grab the brooms and the girls went off to change their sundresses to proper pants for the activity.

~~~

The warm sunlight filtered through the window, casting a golden glow over the room as the girls prepared to change into suitable attire for their unexpected flying adventure.

Serena was swift and methodical, folding her sundress neatly before pulling on a pair of dark trousers. Lily, bubbling with excitement, couldn't stop bouncing on the balls of her feet, her words tumbling out in a fervent rush.

"Can you imagine, Tuney? Telling Mum and Dad that you've flown on a broom? They wouldn't believe it!" Lily said, her eyes shining with the thrill of anticipation.

Petunia, who had been silently reaching for her jeans, froze. The light in the room seemed to dim as her expression hardened, and the air suddenly grew thick with tension. She turned to Lily, her voice laced with a bitterness that cut through the room.

"Oh, yes. How delightful it must be for a Muggle like me to be given the honor of flying with you magical folk," Petunia spat out, her words dripping with sarcasm. "I suppose I should be grateful to be the third wheel here, a mere novelty for your entertainment."

Lily's smile fell away, replaced by a look of shock and hurt. "Tuney, that's not what I—"

But Petunia was on a tirade, her pent-up feelings boiling over. "Funny, isn't it? How you all wave your wands and make things happen. How you look at me as if I'm less. Well, I've had enough of being the butt of the joke!"

Lily reached out, her voice gentle and pleading. "Tuney, you've got it all wrong. I love you. You're my sister, and I—"

Her words were cut off as Petunia whirled away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. It was then that a soft rustling sound came from Serena's direction, and before they knew it, Bowe had leapt nimbly from Serena's hair to Petunia's shoulder.

The tiny creature, with its inquisitive eyes and twig-like body, reached out a delicate hand to gently pat Petunia's cheek. There was an innocence and an empathy in the gesture that seemed to transcend the heavy words that had just been exchanged.

Petunia's breath hitched, and the anger that had etched lines into her face began to soften. She looked at Bowe, the embodiment of a world she felt excluded from, and yet here it was, offering her a silent comfort.

Serena's gaze lingered thoughtfully on the scene before her: Bowe perched comfortably on Petunia's shoulder, offering silent support to the girl who had grown up in the shadow of a world she could never fully be part of. It was a curious behavior for the little Bowtruckle who had shown an unusual affinity for Petunia since their arrival.

Bowe had taken to Petunia in a way that Serena could not quite understand. The creature hid from the boys, including James, whom he had met before, and even maintained a polite but distant demeanor towards Lily, only engaging when Serena prompted him. But with Petunia, it was different. He sought her out, played with her, and seemed to offer his presence as a form of comfort.

Serena's mind wandered back to their first day at the Potter Manor. Her initial observations had been set aside when Herms, Lucius' owl, arrived with the invitation from the Malfoys. But now, as she watched Bowe and Petunia, the pieces started to come together.

Yes… it was weird that only Lily was a witch between two sisters when multiple muggleborn siblings were attending Hogwarts in the past and future. For example, the Creevey brothers—it's possible…

Bowe was likely responding to the latent Omega traits within Petunia. Traits that were probably masked by her status as a Squib…

After a moment of silent contemplation, Serena spoke up, addressing Petunia with a gentle but clear voice. "Petunia, you wrote to Headmaster Dumbledore once, didn't you? You begged him to let you attend Hogwarts with Lily."

The room fell silent. Petunia's face flushed a deep red, and she looked as though she had been struck. "How do you know about that?!" she demanded, her voice rising with shame and indignation. "That's—That's private!"

Lily's eyes met Petunia's, filled with a complex mixture of emotions: touched by her sister's desire to be with her, sadness for the unfairness of their situations, and a deep, abiding love that had weathered years of resentment and misunderstanding.

"I... I never knew," Lily whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You never told me, Tuney."

"And I wasn't planning to!" Petunia stated as she glared at Serena.

Bowe shifted slightly, as if sensing the tension, but he did not leave Petunia's side. It was as if the Bowtruckle recognized the complexity of human emotions and chose to stay as a silent guardian.

"Even if Dumbledore rejected your pleas to attend, with the reason being non magical—Bowe senses something special about you, Petunia," Serena said carefully, her gaze softening. "Magical creatures have a way of seeing what we sometimes cannot."

Petunia's initial burst of emotions gave way to a hesitant curiosity as she watched the Bowtruckle. It was a rare moment when the walls she had built around herself seemed to waver, allowing a glimpse of the wonder she might have felt as a child before the world of magic had become a source of resentment and jealousy.

Lily smiled gently at her sister. "He does like you a lot," she said to Petunia, hoping to bridge the gap between them, if only for a moment.

Serena watched Petunia closely, her mind whirling with the implications of Bowe's behavior. She had to know for certain.

"Petunia," she began, her voice calm but insistent, "did you ever experience anything unusual when you first... flowered?"

The question caught Petunia off guard, and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why would you ask something like that?" she demanded, her voice edged with defensiveness.

"It's important," Serena pressed, her gaze unwavering. "Please, Petunia."

There was a tense pause before Petunia sighed, a reluctant admission on her lips. "Yes, I did feel something strange," she confessed. "Mind you, I've only flowered around nine months ago—It was like a fever that took hold of me, lasting for a week. And it's... it's been happening every three months or so. But the symptoms I've felt weren't bad like a regular fever. I just honestly…. felt hot."

Serena's eyes widened ever so slightly. This information was significant. Squibs didn't experience any magical phenomena, but Omegas did—especially during their cycles. Serena's suspicions were becoming convictions.

Without a word, Serena rose from her seat, her wand in hand. With a swift movement, she cast a spell to lock the door and followed it with a Muffliato charm to ensure their conversation remained private.

Lily, sensing a change in the air, opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but Serena cut her off. "What I'm about to tell you must stay between us, especially you, Petunia," she said, locking eyes with the older Evans sister. The gravity in her voice left no room for argument, and both Lily and Petunia nodded their agreement, albeit with a hint of trepidation.

"Do you know about the wizarding world's second genders?" Serena asked, directing the question to Petunia, who shook her head slightly.

"I've heard a little about it, but not much," Petunia admitted, her voice betraying her curiosity despite herself.

With that opening, Serena took a deep breath and began to explain the basics of the secondary gender system—Alphas, Betas, and Omegas—and how it influenced the magical community. She watched the sisters carefully, gauging their reactions as she delicately wove her suspicions into the narrative.

"As an Omega, certain characteristics and... responses are common, especially during certain times. Given what you've described, and Bowe's actions," Serena said, her gaze flickering to the Bowtruckle, "I believe that even if the symptoms you're having are lowered to near nonexistent—there's a huge possibility you might be an Omega yourself, Petunia."