Chapter Text
Withered Flowers May Bloom Once More by LibbyRiverReads
A fem Harry fanfic about love, loss, sisterhood, family, and the choices we make.
Prologue:
Petunia Dursley nee Evans wanted to hate the girl. To scorn and despise her for her freakish traits and hide her away in shame. But all she could feel was regret. Regret for Lily. Her sister. Her sister who when they were younger would copy her every move and hang off her every word, enchanted by her stories and the gossip she brought home from her outings, which Lily was too young to attend. She remembered Lily’s laughter ringing out, her untamable red hair sticking up in all directions, almost looking like she had gotten electrocuted. But most of all she remembered her eyes. Lily always had the prettiest eyes. Everyone admired them; Petunia was lucky she got to see them the most. They were bright green, like fresh cut grass and dewy moss. Undimmable. But now, Petunia knew from the moment she saw that girl that her Lily was gone, eyes forever dimmed now.
She picked up the small sleeping baby girl, wrapped tightly in a worn blanket and the crinkly letter along with it. She crept inside, for once her house had yet to be bustling with noise. Her husband Vernon had left extra early this morning for work, saying he had an important meeting he had to prepare for, and her Dudley had been off at Piers for a sleepover since the night before and would be arriving back home around noon. So no one has even thought to look on the front porch for the small, delicate girl. Who would be so cruel as to abandon a child out on a porch on this freezing morning? I pray the darling hasn’t been out all night. Although from the looks of the shivering baby’s form, she had.
Once she had set the baby down gently inside, she tried to think about what she should do next. Her motherly instincts told her to care for the girl, a child is a child regardless of where they came from or who their parents are, and all deserve love. But then she felt the familiar feeling of rage and resentment rise up. How dare Lily die on me? Leaving me with her child! She had heard the news of Lily’s pregnancy through the owl post but never expected to actually meet the girl. Lily did invite her to the wedding and the baby shower, but she hadn’t deigned to respond to the summons. She had been so upset that Lily hadn’t even come herself to tell the news of either major event and had blamed it all on that awful Potter boy and his influence, and of course, on magic.
Still Petunia remembered a time before. Before Potter. Before weddings. Before magic. A time she would never have again now that Lily was gone for good. She reminisced on when Lily would follow her around, like a baby duckling following its mother. And for a time when their mother was away at parties and galas and high society events, she was the mother for Lily. Her source of support. The one she came to for questions about boys and crushes. The first one to truly see and experience Lily’s magic firsthand. Though it was more to having been on the receiving end of her little sister’s many pranks.
She knew faintly that it was less Lily she hated but more herself. But she would never admit it. She had learned the hard way the choices you made stuck and her bitter attitude hadn’t helped them reconnect at all. Both women were too stubborn and prideful to admit defeat in their feud. But now, she remembered, coming back to reality, Lily was gone. There was no more time for second chances or goodbyes. Only a sleeping child left as proof.
Abruptly she turned to look at the baby girl who had just let out a cry, her eyes wide open now. The same colored eyes of Lily’s. She looks just like Lily! Oh, what to call her? Why, she really needed to know her name. What was it again? It was something strange of course. Something of significance, which Lily had explained in her letter a year prior. Something else Petunia had read but ignored. I will have to find Lily’s old letters. I think I hid them all in that trunk hidden in the cupboard under the stairs. Maybe if I read them, I’ll find some guidance on what I’m supposed to do now. Though seriously what does one do now when put in this situation? Then Petunia realized she still hadn’t opened that stupid letter which should have been her first priority. Too distracted by her grief and old, bittersweet memories.
On the letter it read:
To Petunia Dursley nee Evans
Older Sister of Lily Potter nee Evans
She ripped open the letter, not bothering with niceties. Reading it carefully-she ignored the old coot’s ramblings of blood wards and chosen ones-she finally spotted the girls name.
Calla Adhara Potter
She couldn’t help but sniffle and let a single tear fall down her face. Her beautiful, glowing, happy little sister. She had kept her promise. The Evans sisters years ago had promised each other if they ever had a girl they would keep the tradition alive and name her after a flower. Just like their mother had done to them, and her mother before her, and so on. The girls had been fascinated by the tradition but especially Petunia. She read books on gardening, the different types of plants and flowers, and how to arrange flowers perfectly for any occasion. (It had worked spectacularly for her housewarming party.) She also learned the language of flowers, finding it fascinating. Her repertoire in all things flora was unmatched. It showed in the careful care she gave to her front lawn and backyard, and in the many flower pots surrounding the perimeter of her house.
When she heard her niece's name, she knew there was no going back. (No, even before then.. when she saw the girls eyes… she got this feeling she couldn’t explain.) This girl was hers to keep. Hers to cherish and protect, just like she once did for Lily. Someone to be the darling flower to her Petal, as Lily once nicknamed her. Though she knew no one would ever be able to replace her sister, she hoped she could do right by her at least and make amends through Lily’s daughter, Calla.