Lily always liked giving Petunia her broken toys, the ones that had lost their shine. It made her feel generous, and commanded a small power over her older sister, whose plain face and dull personality got her much less from the adults around them. Petunia loved her regardless. Lily might have been the darling of their family but she was HER darling. Petunia worshipped her as much as their parents did. It might have turned out alright, if only Lily wasn't a witch.

Chapter 1

September 1st, 1971- Petunia

Dawn broke over the horizon and lit the sky with watery sunshine. Petunia had been up for ages, tearfully watching the sky become lighter and lighter, the ever growing glow of morning promising to rob her of her last hours with her sister. Later that morning, Lily would be on a train with that awful Snape boy, to a school for magic. A school that Petunia couldn't attend or ever see. She had never felt more left out in her life.

As an alarm went off somewhere in the house, her parents began bustling about, calling for Lily to wake up, for Lily to finish packing, for Lily to eat her breakfast, for Lily to hurry before she missed her train. Petunia sat aside quietly, watching the sister she would not see again for months. Said sister took no notice of her, her head occupied by thoughts of wands, magical text books and mysterious scarlet trains.

The morning rushed by in a blur. In no time at all, the Evans family were nearly at the entrance to Platform 9 3/4. The air was choked by the smell of smoke and people. A steady din of trolleys, chatter and oddly enough, squawks from several caged owls filled Petunia's ears. Her parents walked ahead, Lily clutched between them, chattering away. Finally, it was time to say farewell.

'Bye Tuney!' called Lily, with a cheer that Petunia didn't feel.

'Bye Lily,' whispered Petunia, tears threatening to silence her small voice, 'Don't forget me, please, and write to me always.'

Lily didn't reply; she was being smothered in weepy affection from her parents.

A few minutes later, Petunia watched as Lily was swallowed by the barrier to the magical platform. She was alone.

Christmas, 1971- Petunia

At first, Petunia felt Lily's absence sharply. Her room stood silent and void of its usual laughter, and her absence at supper was felt. Lily's chatter was replaced with letters. They came from Hogwarts, carried by barn owls, filled with stories of sumptuous feasts held in a great hall, teachers who could turn into cats and vast green houses that held strange and exotic plants. She frequently mentioned 'Sev' and his ongoing feud with a messy haired boy. Petunia's letters were quite mundane in comparison. She wrote of the neighbour's new baby, whose shrieks could be heard all the way up the street. She told Lily of the new recipe for shepherd's pie that she and their mum had tried, and of her teacher's kind remarks about her school work. Lily was never quite as impressed with these stories as Petunia was with hers.

The days grew shorter and colder, the leaves turning golden and then disappearing altogether. Petunia counted down the days to Lily's arrival for Christmas on her little calendar. She wondered if Lily had changed, or if she would be the same little sister she had always known.

Lily arrived at King's Cross in a flurry of snow and grey skies, her red hair standing out like a flame. Petunia thought she looked older, even though it had only been a few months.

'Mum! Dad!' shouted Lily, as she leapt into her father's arms.

Their parents enveloped her into a hug as they greeted her, while Petunia stood awkwardly to the side. The three of them walked ahead of her, a perfect little family, and she felt strangely out of place. She shook it off and put on a mask of excitement to greet her sister.

As Christmas neared, the house filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted potatoes, baked chicken and Christmas pudding. At thirteen, Petunia was old enough to help her mother in the kitchen. Her mother felt confident enough to leave her to complete tasks and chat with Lily. Indeed, Petunia found herself alone in the kitchen quite often while Lily regaled their parents with tales of Hogwarts.

'…and WE don't have end of term exams Mum! We've only got end of year tests!' Petunia caught the end of something Lily was saying.

Poking her head out of the kitchen Petunia interrupted, 'We've got rotten exams every term, you're so lucky. We even had projects to-'.

Her mother cut her off.

'Petunia, let Lily speak'

She turned back to Lily, effectively silencing her older daughter. It would not be the last time that holiday that Petunia was told to hold her tongue while Lily prattled on about Hogwarts. No one wanted to hear about silly old 'muggle' school while Lily talked about turning teacups into rats, though Petunia seriously doubted she could, or was even allowed to do that!

They went to church on Christmas morning, and it was almost like things were normal again. She wore her new red coat, and nicest hat, and felt quite put together. Even the sight of that annoying Severus Snape fawning over Lily as usual didn't lessen her joy. Petunia's heart was full as she happily sang 'Joy to the World' and 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman'. Then the service was over, and so was her temporary happiness. Their parents showed Lily off to everyone, their daughter who went to an exclusive boarding school. Only one elderly woman, Mrs. Figg, asked Petunia how school had been. Everyone else talked above her, commending Lily's achievement of getting into a 'posh' school.

They got home, and Petunia busied herself in the kitchen, trying to rid herself of the resentment she could feel welling up inside of her. As she viciously chopped up an innocent carrot for Christmas dinner, she cut her finger. Blood gushed out and dripped to the floor and she cried out for her mother.

'Oh dear, Petunia, how clumsy,' her mother murmured, as she bandaged the cut.

'Too bad we don't have any essence of dittany,' Lily piped up, 'Professor Slughorn says it's the BEST for injuries.'

'SHUT UP!' shouted Petunia, jumping up angrily, 'I don't CARE about your FREAK medicine or your FREAK school, for all you FREAKS!'

Her mother gasped, 'Petunia! Go to your room! I won't have that sort of talk on Christmas Day.'

Petunia fled the kitchen, tears running down her face. She could hear her parents discussing her poor behaviour, and Lily occasionally interjecting that her school was NOT for freaks. In that moment, Petunia hated magic more than anything, except perhaps those who practiced it.

Later, listening to her parents and sister chatter downstairs as they ate Christmas dinner together, the strange feeling of not belonging came back. That strange feeling never really left her again.

AN: Hi to anyone who might've read this! This is my first story, just getting my feet wet. Please let me know what you think! Chapter two should be up in a couple days.