The Evans household bustled with activity as the Christmas break came to an end. The kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of a traditional English breakfast. Violet, their mum, moved deftly between the stove and the table, serving plates of crispy bacon, golden sausages, eggs cooked to perfection, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and freshly toasted bread. The table was set with a pot of tea and a pitcher of fresh orange juice.
Upstairs, Lily and Petunia were in their shared room, getting ready. Petunia braided her hair neatly, securing it with a simple blue ribbon. She slipped into a cozy blue sweater and dark pants, finishing her look with a touch of lip gloss. Lily, wearing a green cardigan, teased her about fussing over her appearance. "You're not going to meet the Minister for Magic, you know."
Petunia shot her a mock glare. "I like to look presentable, unlike you, Miss 'Bedhead.'"
Lily stuck out her tongue but smoothed her hair quickly.
Descending to the kitchen, the sisters were greeted by their mum's warm smile. "Good morning, dears. Breakfast is ready. Sit down and eat while it's still hot."
"It smells amazing, Mum," Lily said, taking a seat.
As they ate, Violet asked, "Are you sure you've packed everything you need?"
Lily nodded. "I double-checked last night."
"Same here," Petunia added. "Everything's ready."
Henry, their dad, entered the room, looking slightly flustered. "I finally managed to fit all your trunks into the car. Honestly, you'd think we were moving house."
The girls giggled.
"If you forget anything, just owl us," he added. "We'll send it right away."
"Thanks, Dad," Lily said.
Violet glanced at the clock. "We should get going soon. I want you two to have time to settle into your compartment without rushing."
The family quickly finished breakfast, gathered their things, and piled into the car. The drive to King's Cross was filled with chatter about their holiday memories. When they arrived, they made their way to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, slipping through the magical barrier with practiced ease.
On the platform, the train's red engine billowed steam into the cold air. Violet hugged her daughters tightly. "Take care of each other, and write to us often. We'll miss you both so much."
"We'll miss you too," Petunia said, her voice muffled against her mum's shoulder.
Henry gave them both a bear hug. "Have a great term, girls. And don't forget to enjoy yourselves."
With one last wave, Lily and Petunia boarded the train, finding an empty compartment. Using their wands, they levitated their trunks to the luggage rack and settled into their seats. Soon after, the trolley witch appeared at their door, her cart laden with wizarding sweets.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked.
Petunia and Lily each bought an assortment of treats: Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Pumpkin Pasties, and Licorice Wands. They chatted excitedly about their favorites, comparing the magical candies to the ones they'd brought from Paris.
A knock on the compartment door interrupted their conversation. Severus stood there, his dark eyes lighting up when he saw them. Petunia jumped up and hugged him. "Sev! I missed you."
Lily smiled warmly. "How was Romania?"
Severus sat down, his usual guarded expression softening. "It was amazing. We stayed with our relatives and they took us to some incredible magical sites. The wizarding community there is fascinating—they have this massive market called Piața Vrăjitorilor. It's like Diagon Alley, but even bigger and older. We also visited some relatives who live near the Carpathian Mountains. The views were breathtaking."
Lily and Petunia listened intently as he recounted tales of enchanted castles, mysterious creatures, and rare potions ingredients he had seen.
"What about you?" Severus asked. "How was France?"
Petunia and Lily took turns describing their trip. Petunia spoke about the Eiffel Tower, the magical snow globe shop, and the delicious pastries they'd tried. Lily chimed in with details about Place Cachée and their family's festive Yule celebrations. Severus listened with genuine interest, a small smile playing on his lips.
As the train sped through the countryside, Petunia remembered Sirius Black's gift. She didn't want Lily to tease her, so she excused herself, claiming she needed the bathroom. Wandering through the train, she soon spotted Peter Pettigrew exiting a compartment.
"Peter," she called, startling him.
"Uh, hi," Peter stammered, looking nervous.
"Is Sirius Black in there?" she asked.
"Y-yes," Peter replied, glancing back at the door.
Petunia didn't wait for more. She opened the compartment door, surprising Sirius, James, and Remus.
"Well, well," James said with a grin. "What brings you here, Evans? Missing us already?"
Ignoring him, Petunia looked directly at Sirius. "Can I talk to you? Outside?"
James smirked. "Ooh, looks like someone's in trouble."
Sirius rolled his eyes but followed Petunia into the corridor. "What can I do for you, Evans?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Petunia held out the box with the necklace. "I can't accept this. It's too expensive, and we're not even close."
Sirius frowned, taking the box from her. For a moment, she thought he'd agree. But then he stepped closer, so close that she backed into the wall. Her breath caught as he raised the necklace, his expression unreadable.
"What are you…" she started, but her words trailed off as he clasped the necklace around her neck.
"It suits you," he said quietly, his usual bravado softened. "And you're not giving it back. If you don't want it, throw it away. But it's yours now."
Without another word, he turned and walked back into the compartment, leaving Petunia stunned. She touched the necklace lightly, feeling its cool surface against her skin. Returning to her own compartment, she tried to compose herself.
Lily raised an eyebrow. "What took you so long?"
"Nothing," Petunia said quickly, sitting down.
Severus noticed the necklace immediately, his eyes narrowing. "Where did you get that?"
Petunia hesitated. "It… was a gift. From Sirius Black."
Lily's eyes widened. "Sirius Black? Are you serious?"
Severus frowned. "Is it cursed?"
Petunia laughed, shaking her head. "No, it's not cursed. He… he just gave it to me for Yule. I don't know why."
Lily grinned. "I told you he fancies you."
"Don't be ridiculous," Petunia snapped, her cheeks flushing. She avoided further questions by changing the subject, focusing on their stories of the holiday.
The rest of the journey passed in laughter and conversation.