Beyond a few extra reports in The Times about gas leaks and car accidents, the passing of the Evans family seemed to stir no ripples in the Muggle world.
On the day of the funeral, Cokeworth Cemetery lay shrouded beneath a somber, leaden sky, the damp air thick with the scent of earth.
Severus Snape's gaze drifted over rows of bleak tombstones, settling on the pair of polished oak coffins ahead.
In the front row, Lily and Petunia stood at a distance neither close nor far.
Lily's slight shoulders looked especially fragile beneath her black mourning dress, her red hair dulled, no longer blazing with its usual fire, clinging limply to her pale cheeks.
"Such a tragedy," a man's voice broke in beside Snape. "They were so young."
Snape turned to see a stocky young man in a tight-fitting suit, tall, with barely a neck to speak of.
"Hello," the man said. "I'm Vernon Dursley, Petunia's colleague and fiancé."
"Hello," Snape replied, shaking Vernon's broad hand briefly. "I'm Severus Snape, Lily's friend."
"What do you do for work?" Vernon asked, eyeing Snape up and down, puffing out his chest slightly, his tone tinged with self-importance. "I'm in the drill business at Grunnings in London. Junior manager."
He emphasized "manager" with particular pride.
"Er…" Snape's lips twitched faintly. Vernon Dursley, true to form. He drawled deliberately, "I don't need to work. Family money. Can't spend it all, really."
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Vernon's face.
The crowd began to move, edging closer to the open grave.
"Talk later," Vernon muttered, pushing forward, his sturdy frame carving a path through the mourners.
Snape's eyes returned to Petunia. She was almost unrecognizable. The girl he once knew now wore a tailored black dress, her blonde hair neatly pinned up, her face a mix of grief and anger.
When her gaze swept over Snape, a flash of clear annoyance glinted in her eyes.
The vicar began reciting prayers, and Snape noticed Lily's shoulders trembling, though she stubbornly held back her tears.
As the final handful of earth fell onto the coffins, the crowd dispersed. Snape spotted a few oddly dressed figures lingering conspicuously at the cemetery's edge, pretending to adjust ties or handbags. One met his gaze and gave a slight nod—a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
Snape and Eileen finally had a chance to approach Lily, but she was already moving toward Petunia and Vernon.
"I'm so sorry, Petunia, I'm so sorry!" Lily grabbed her sister's hand, clutching it tightly. Petunia struggled to pull away.
"Lily," Petunia's voice was cold and sharp as she yanked her hand free, "how absurd. A gas explosion, they say. Lucky you lot told me the truth. Your freakishness has finally brought ruin to this family. Mum loved you so much."
Petunia wrenched her hand away at last, and tears brimmed in Lily's eyes.
Vernon watched the scene, bewildered, not grasping what they were talking about.
"What truth?" he stammered, looking at Petunia.
Petunia fell silent, her gaze flickering between Snape and Lily before settling on Vernon.
"Vernon… it's nothing… can we talk later?" Her voice softened in a way Snape had never heard before.
She turned back to Lily, her expression icy. "I'm going back to London."
Lily looked up, her green eyes swimming with tears. "Petunia, you can't just leave… we need…"
"No," Petunia cut her off. "You need. I have my own life now. These… memories… they're all yours."
Snape saw Lily's face go ashen.
"You mean… you're not coming back?" Lily whispered.
"Exactly." Petunia's expression darkened with sorrow. "This place…" She glanced around, her eyes sweeping over the tombstones and damp grass before landing on Lily. "There's nothing here for me anymore."
"Petunia," Lily's voice quavered with pain, "Mum and Dad loved you. They always hoped we could—"
"Could what?" Petunia snapped. "Pretend nothing happened? After you turned into… after all of this?" She shot Lily a look of disgust. "Look what your choices have done to this family, Lily. This is on you."
Vernon Dursley cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable with the argument. "Dear, shall we go?"
Petunia nodded and walked off without looking back. Snape caught a glimmer of tears in her eyes as she turned, quickly wiped away with the back of her hand.
Lily reached for her sister's arm, but Petunia was already gone. Her hand hovered in the air before falling limply to her side.
Her body swayed. Snape instinctively steadied her. Lily buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing silently.
He felt her tears soak through his suit, warm and damp.
"I hate myself…" Lily mumbled, her voice broken by sobs.
Snape gently patted her back.
"It's not your fault," he said softly.
After the funeral, they returned to St. Catchpole. Lily grew quieter, often sitting alone in the garden, lost in thought.
When Charlie zoomed in on his toy broom to remind them, Snape and Eileen realized they'd promised the Weasleys a holiday in Albania.
"Come with us, Lily?" Eileen said, helping Charlie off his broom. "It'll do you good. You've been alone too much lately."
Lily considered for a moment, then managed a faint smile and nodded softly.
Eileen quickly packed, stuffing everything into Snape's small wallet charmed with an Undetectable Extension Charm.
"Handy," she remarked. "Did you make this yourself? I could never get that charm right. Maybe make a couple more?"
"Ahem," Snape coughed, trying to explain. He hadn't mastered it—his attempts had failed. "It's tricky to cast an Extension Charm on something this small. Can't whip up another one just yet."
"Really?" Eileen examined the wallet's texture, skeptical. "With your skill, I'd have thought…"
"Let's go," Snape interrupted, pulling Charlie along. "Mrs. Weasley's waiting."
They crossed the yard toward the Burrow.
The midday sun scorched the hillside, sending waves of dry heat rising. A breeze occasionally stirred, rustling the parched grass.
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