"Cum potionem pulchritudinis faciens, diligenter debes tractare lachrymas syreni, quia si plus quam duas lacrimas addas, loco rugae et lineae expressionis tollendae, cutis vultus tui sicut saponem faciet." Petunia read aloud in nearly perfect Latin. She had learned Spanish and basic French, giving her a foundation to grasp Latin since both languages stem from it. "So, Lily, what did I say?"
"Well, when making a beauty potion, you must handle mermaid tears carefully. If you add more than two, instead of removing wrinkles and expression lines, it will make your skin look like that of a lizard."
"Almost right, but you got the last word wrong. Saponem means 'frog,' not 'lizard'."
Lily felt a bit disheartened by her mistake, but it was impressive that she had come so far in less than a month, especially since she only spoke English.
"You know, learning Latin will be useful in spellcasting classes, as most spells are pronounced in Latin. Understanding the pronunciation is vital for mastering non-verbal spellcasting, although that is only taught in sixth year."
Petunia already knew how to cast most first-year spells, but she kept that to herself. Lily was a natural genius, and Petunia didn't want to draw attention to her own advantage: the knowledge and memories of her past life. Without them, she would likely be average at best. Moreover, Lily's thirst for learning was insatiable. Petunia had no doubt that Lily could handle sixth-year material even now, but doing so would attract more attention than she already received.
People believed the two girls came from a German wizarding family, as Petunia always dressed in a witch's style and had a basic understanding of the wizarding world. However, if Lily stood out too much at such a young age, she might draw unwanted attention.
Petunia was aware, thanks to Aster, that many wizards from old families were fleeing the country and that a conflict was brewing. Even Lily had started to notice that something was happening.
.
Her grades arrived in early July, and she was satisfied. She achieved an O in Herbology and Runes, an E in Charms, Defense, Potions, and Astronomy, and an A in Transfiguration, History, and Care of Magical Creatures. She was happy because she could attend all the classes she wanted.
Margaret, however, didn't care much about her daughter's grades until Lily mentioned that Petunia would need to buy a brass cauldron (which cost ten Galleons, even second-hand), a considerable expense. Margaret said they couldn't afford such a purchase.
"I can lend her my brass cauldron. It's at the bottom of my trunk. You've done so much for me, so lending it to you is no big deal," Severus offered. He seemed genuinely happy to help Petunia, and she was grateful for his immediate willingness. Petunia had the money to buy a cauldron, and Aster had planned to give her one, but with Severus offering, she couldn't refuse. Margaret was pleased not to spend money on her.
.
"You know, I'm shocked at how thrilled she is about not spending money on me. She could at least hide it better."
The couple lay in Petunia's bed, embracing. The other residents of the house were already asleep. They met in secret at night, with Petunia opening her window to signal that it was safe for Aster to Apparate inside.
Aster kissed the top of her head and continued tracing circles on her back. All he wanted was to take her away from this house and bring her to Alexandria. But he knew she loved Lily and Severus, and he wanted to establish himself in the city first, ensuring she could have a good job there.
"How is your family?"
"Well, my second nephew, Charlie, was born last December. My brother and Molly want more children, but Arthur has a poorly paid job. You know how it is, growing up with second-hand things. We both know the struggles of having too many children. Those two will probably have at least four, which could lead to favoritism. I want to be a good uncle to them, someone they can trust."
"I'm sure we'll be wonderful uncles and aunts," Petunia said. "We'll be the childless couple that spoils the nieces and nephews, giving them cool gifts their parents wouldn't and supporting them when needed."
"You're amazing, you know that? I'd be devastated if I didn't have you."
"My life would be pretty sad without you, too."
They were about to kiss when Margaret's voice shattered the mood. Petunia's room, directly above the living room, had a small hole in the floor that carried sound easily. No one but Petunia knew about it. Out of curiosity, the couple decided to listen in.
In the living room, her visibly intoxicated parents were talking about their daughters. Both praised Lily, which was normal, and Petunia even agreed with some points. But when it came to her, the comments weren't surprising, though Asterion was appalled. He knew there was favoritism, but not to this extent.
"You know, we should've aborted Petunia. She's just a waste of money. I don't even know why we pay for her supplies."
"She's not entirely useless. At least she takes care of the house, doesn't cause trouble, and sews her own clothes."
"They're horrible parents," Aster muttered.
"They're not my parents. They just donated genetic material," Petunia replied. "I know what you're thinking, but I don't have the mind of a sixteen-year-old. I don't like them, but the only thing they've done is ignore me. In six months, I'll be an adult. I won't come back here for the holidays. It's just this year and the next, and I'll be off to Alexandria."
"I should leave before I do something I regret," Aster said, kissing her before Apparating away. Petunia knew he was upset, but she saw no reason to stir up trouble. She barely spent time with them anyway.
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Translator: Translate Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and French. To English.
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