Petunia sat on the floor of her room, her back pressed against the locked door, her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The image of the terrifying creature she'd seen, tall and gaunt, its skin like cracked bark, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow, burned in her mind, a haunting presence that made her heart race even now. The small, winged figures and the translucent humanoid shape she'd seen before were strange, but this new creature was something else entirely, its jagged claws and twisted limbs a nightmare she couldn't unsee. She'd closed the curtains tight, shutting out the world, the darkness of her room a fragile shield against the terror outside.
As the hours passed, her fear deepened, her mind spiraling to a memory she'd heard years ago, a distant relative, a woman named Aunt Clara, who'd started seeing things no one else could. Whispers in the family said she'd been sent away to a madhouse, locked up because people thought she was crazy. Petunia's breath hitched, her chest tightening at the thought. I don't want to end up there, she thought, the idea of being taken away, labeled as mad, scaring her more than the creatures themselves. What if her parents found out she was seeing things? What if they thought she was losing her mind? The fear wrapped around her like a vise, her body trembling, the stress and terror taking a physical toll.
By evening, Petunia felt a heat rising in her body, her skin clammy, her head throbbing worse than before. She curled up on her bed, pulling the blanket over herself, her mind a tangle of fear and exhaustion. Downstairs, the family was gathering for a quiet New Year's Eve dinner, the clink of dishes and the murmur of voices drifting up through the floor. Her mum called up the stairs, her voice gentle but firm. "Petunia, love, dinner's ready, come down!" But Petunia didn't reply, her throat too dry, her body too heavy to move, the fever burning through her.
When no response came, her mum's footsteps echoed on the stairs, a soft knock following. "Petunia?" she called, her voice laced with concern. She pushed the door open, finding Petunia curled on the bed, her face flushed, her breathing shallow. Her mum's hand flew to her forehead, her expression shifting to alarm. "Oh, love, you're burning up," she said, her voice soft but urgent. She hurried downstairs, returning moments later with her dad in tow. He took one look at Petunia, his brow furrowing. "We should take her to the doctor," he said, his tone serious. "This doesn't look good."
Petunia's eyes widened, a surge of panic cutting through the fever's haze. "No!" she croaked, her voice hoarse but vehement, the thought of a doctor someone who might ask questions, who might think she was mad, terrifying her. "I don't need a doctor, I'll be fine." Her mum hesitated, then nodded, her expression softening. "Alright, love," she said, brushing a damp strand of hair from Petunia's forehead. "I'll get you some of my medicine, let's see if that brings the fever down." She returned with a glass of water and a spoonful of a bitter herbal remedy she kept for such occasions, helping Petunia sit up to take it. "Rest now," she said, tucking the blanket around her. "We'll check on you later."
The next day was the day Lily was set to return to Hogwarts. The house was a flurry of activity as Lily packed her trunk, her voice bright as she called out reminders to her parents, her books, her wand, her new quill set. Petunia stayed in her room, the fever still lingering, her body weak and her mind heavy with fear. A soft knock came at her door, and Lily poked her head in, her red hair tied back, her expression a mix of concern and hurry. "I'm leaving for school, Tuney," she said, her voice soft, a flicker of guilt in her eyes from their argument the day before. "I'll see you at Easter, okay?"
Petunia, curled on her bed, her face pale and her eyes heavy, gave a small nod, her throat too tight to speak. The gesture was all she could manage, the weight of her fear and the lingering tension between them keeping her silent. Lily hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but then offered a small smile and slipped out, the door closing softly behind her.
When her mum came to check on her later, asking if she wanted to see Lily off at the station, Petunia shook her head, her voice small. "I'm not feeling well," she said, the excuse true enough, her fever hadn't fully broken, and the thought of facing the outside world, even for a moment, made her stomach churn. Her mum nodded, understanding, and left to join the family at the station.