Vernon's new car rolled slowly into the garage at Number Four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. The familiar house, the familiar garden, the familiar everything.
Petunia just couldn't settle anywhere else. The massive villa Dudley had given them, with its swarm of servants and no need to lift a finger, was completely foreign to her. Only here, in the place she'd lived for a decade or two, did she feel most at ease.
Petunia was truly a creature of habit.
After writing to Dudley when little Lily was about five months old, they moved back. Now, little Lily was just a few weeks away from her first birthday. Dudley and his family were coming over to celebrate.
And, as one might expect, the Grangers were there too. After all, it was a family get-together.
After parking the car in the garage, Vernon greeted the Grangers with a big, boisterous smile, then slung an arm around Mr. Granger's shoulders and conspiratorially popped open two beers.
"I'm telling you, Wendell, my friend," Vernon said heartily. "I think you and yours should move to Privet Drive. The environment here is so much better than the streets of London. At least no one dares to relieve themselves in public."
Yes, that's right, relieving themselves in public. It's common knowledge that public loos in Europe aren't free, and many people aren't willing to pay. This isn't just a problem in England; it's all over Europe. In fact, compared to Germany, England is a bit better.
Mr. Granger took a long, satisfying swig and didn't reply right away. Instead, he asked, "I hear the house next door is up for sale?"
At the mention of this, Vernon's complaints came pouring out. "That's right, you wouldn't believe it... The Johnsons, who lived next door, suddenly moved out the other day. Apparently, they found a better job."
"It's strange, that's the seventh family to leave this street this month."
"I just hope the new neighbours are friendly..."
---
Vernon suddenly thought of something and turned to Mr. Granger. "You don't mean to say, Wendell, that you're considering...?"
"Yes, that's exactly what we're thinking," Mr. Granger said with a smile, confirming Vernon's suspicions. "Perhaps we'll be neighbours soon."
Is there anything more joyful than having your best friends living next door?
Vernon laughed heartily, chugged the rest of his beer, and let out a long, satisfied belch. "Comfortable!"
Hermione's face lit up with surprise as she looked at her parents. "Mum, Dad, are we moving here?"
Mrs. Granger teased, "Yes, Hermione. You don't like it? I thought you were always complaining about how far away Dudley's family was."
Hermione's face went bright red.
Over on the other side of the room, Petunia had just gotten little Lily to sleep and emerged from the room. She went to greet Snape, who looked decidedly out of place in his surroundings.
"It's been a while, Severus."
"It has, Petunia," Snape returned the greeting stiffly. His expression was a bit strained. For all his cutting remarks, he wasn't very good at socialising. Even with a childhood acquaintance, it was the same.
After the greeting, silence fell between them.
"You've changed so much," Petunia finally said, breaking the quiet.
It was so often like this. When old childhood friends, who hadn't spoken in years, reunited, everything felt different. Maybe you hadn't changed, but they had. Or you had, and they hadn't. Or maybe you'd both changed. It was a rare thing for the dynamic to remain the same.
Snape had indeed changed a lot. He was older, his hair was oilier... much, much oilier.
"You too," Snape managed to squeeze out after a long pause.
Silence descended once more. The others didn't interrupt them. Even Vernon chose to chat with the Grangers, giving the two of them a quiet moment alone.
"I remember back when..."
Petunia was the one to speak up again, reminiscing about the past. She used to follow Snape around like a thief to make sure he didn't get too close to Lily. And to escape her sister, Lily would find a way to get around her... Though their childhood wasn't rich, it was happy.
Snape didn't speak, but his expression showed he was lost in his own memories as well.
"I wish I could have gone to Hogwarts, too," Petunia said wistfully.
---
"..."
Snape didn't say a word, but in his heart, he wholeheartedly agreed with her. If Petunia had been there, if Lily had her sister by her side, perhaps he never would have said those words all those years ago. And even if he had, maybe there would have been a chance to take them back.
"Waaah..."
A loud wail broke through their reverie.
"Oh, it's Lily."
Petunia immediately turned to Snape apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Severus. Just wait here for a moment."
With that, she rushed back into the room.
Snape stood there stunned. What did he just hear? Lily?
The only thought in his head was to go into that room.
He strode into the room with a sense of urgency.
Then he stopped, frozen in place as though hit by a stunning spell.
Petunia was holding a small baby, patting her back and trying to soothe her.
"Severus," Petunia said with a smile when she saw him. "Doesn't she look just like Lily did when she was little?"
The moment Snape saw the baby, his gaze was fixed, as if pulled by a powerful magnet. He couldn't look away.
Like her? More than like her! She was Lily, a perfect match.
The baby's eyes... her expression... her features were exactly what Lily had looked like as a child.
Lily's face was a memory etched deep in Snape's heart. No matter how many years passed, he would never forget it, never mistake it.
This... this... how was this possible?!
Lily had died; he had seen it with his own eyes. She had died in his arms.
Snape's body moved on instinct, rushing to Petunia's side.
He unconsciously reached out to hold the little baby, but the moment his hand was about to touch her, he recoiled as if he'd touched a red-hot iron.
How could I ever be worthy?
It was my fault she's gone.
I'm her murderer, I should be dead.
But then a strange thing happened. The crying baby stopped her fussing the moment she saw Snape. Instead, she opened her big, green eyes and looked at him curiously. She then reached out her hands for him and began to giggle, as if Snape were her family.
If this were a magical world, Snape might have declared, "This child and I are fated."
Her laughter had a wondrous charm that went straight to Snape's heart.
I'll give her all the best things in the world!
I'll make up for everything that was lost!
"I... I want to be her godfather!" Snape declared with a sincerity he had never felt before, his voice resonating with an intensity he had never before possessed.