Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System-Chapter 57 - 55

Coming back from our family vacation in Hawaii was supposed to feel comforting a return to normal after two blissful weeks of beaches, sunshine, and forgetting about the world. I still had the scent of the ocean caught in my hair, and sand lingering in the pockets of my suitcase. I thought that when we got home, there would be nothing waiting for us except a bit of unpacking and the usual humdrum of daily life.

But life, it seemed, had other plans.

It all started with a letter.

The envelope was sitting neatly on the kitchen table when we arrived home, tucked between a few bills and advertisements. I recognized the handwriting instantly Severus's the neat, sharp strokes that somehow looked both careful and slightly aggressive at the same time. Curious, I tore it open right there, still standing in my sandals, bags dumped at my feet.

The words inside spun the whole world off its axis.

Tobias Snape... wasn't Severus's father.

I had to read the sentence twice, three times, before it truly sank in. No, I thought stubbornly, I must be misunderstanding. This had to be some wizarding nonsense, something strange and twisted that didn't mean what it sounded like. But there it was, spelled out clearly. Tobias had never been Severus's true father. His real father was Alphard Black.

Alphard Black.

I nearly dropped the letter. Even I knew that name from the snippets in the book Alphard Black. A pure-blood wizard from one of the oldest, proudest magical families. The Black family was infamous even among wizards. Alphard, was said to Sirius favorite uncle o the uncle who had given Sirius Black another outcast an inheritance when he ran away from home.

In every story, Alphard Black was a bachelor. No wife, no children, just a rebellious Black who went his own way. And now somehow Severus was his son?

And not only that, but Eileen and Alphard were getting married.

I gripped the edge of the table, feeling dizzy. The room spun a little, the walls tilting oddly around me. Sirius Black and Severus Snape were cousins now. How the hell did that happen?

A marriage. New parents. A new family.

It was too much to take in a single letter.

I stood there for a long minute, the letter trembling slightly in my hands. Then I gathered myself and tucked the parchment back into its envelope. I needed to talk to Mum and Dad.

I went upstairs. Our house still smelled faintly of fresh laundry and whatever air freshener Mum had sprayed before we left that comforting, clean scent that usually made everything seem normal.

I pushed open my parents' bedroom door and saw Dad standing by the open wardrobe, slipping suits into a leather suitcase. Mum was perched on the bed, folding ties and passing them to him one by one.

"Dad? Mum? Can I talk to you?"

They both looked up. Mum smiled warmly, patting the spot beside her on the bed.

"Of course, love. Everything alright?"

I took a deep breath and sat down, feeling the mattress sink under my weight. I twisted the envelope nervously in my hands.

"I got a letter from Severus. His mum... she's getting married. And they've invited our family to the wedding. Can we go?"

There was a pause. Dad tucked a tie neatly into the suitcase and straightened, his brow furrowing.

"Oh, honey," Mum said gently, "your father has that business meeting in France. You know, the one that's been scheduled for months."

"And I've got to meet with a new client on Sunday," she added, giving me a regretful smile. "We can't change the appointments, not after the vacation. We already pushed so much back."

I felt my heart sink a little. I knew they weren't brushing it off Mum and Dad always made an effort for me and Lily .

Dad came over, kneeling in front of me. "Why don't you and Lily go, sweetheart? You're old enough. You'll represent the family. Tell Eileen and Severus we send our regards and that we're terribly sorry to miss it. If I could move the meeting, I would but with everything we postponed because of Hawaii, there's too much piled up."

I give dad a small smile. "It's okay, Dad. I understand."

"Good girl," Mum said, ruffling my hair fondly. "We'll trust you and Lily to be our ambassadors."

Dad chuckled. "Now, how are you going to get there? I assume it's not on foot."

I hesitated, then remembered what Severus had written. "Lotty their house-elf will apparate us."

Dad blinked. "House-elf? What's that?"

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

I laughed at the expression on his face. "It's a small creature like, really small that serves wizarding families. They're sort of like magical helpers."

Mum raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "That sounds fascinating."

"Yeah," I said, smiling. "They're very loyal, I think. Lotty's nice."

Mum touched my shoulder, her smile softening. "Well, take care of yourself, Petunia. Be good. Remember your manners."

"I will. I promise."

Dad kissed the top of my head, and Mum hugged me tightly.

After saying goodbye to my parents, I went straight to Lily's room. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, sorting through a pile of postcards we'd bought in Hawaii. She looked up when I came in, her green eyes curious.

"Hey, Tuney. What's up?"

I closed the door behind me and crossed the room in a few quick steps.

"You're not going to believe this," I said, thrusting the letter toward her. "Severus's mum is getting married."

Her mouth fell open. "What?!"

I nodded rapidly. "It's a long story, and honestly, I don't know all the details yet. But apparently Tobias Snape wasn't his real father. His real dad is Alphard Black you know, Sirius Black's uncle."

Lily's mouth opened wider, if that was even possible.

"Wait, wait what?"

"I know," I said grimly. "And now Severus and Sirius are cousins, somehow. And Eileen and Alphard are getting married."

Lily blinked, then burst out laughing, a slightly hysterical sound. "This is insane!"

"Tell me about it."

We both dissolved into giggles, the sheer absurdity of it all breaking through the tension. After a minute, I wiped my eyes and handed her the invitation Severus had enclosed.

"Anyway, Severus invited the whole family, but Mum and Dad can't go work stuff. So it'll just be us."

Lily smiled. "Alright. Then let's do it."

I sat down at her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment. I scribbled a quick letter to Severus, explaining that only Lily and I would be coming, and that our parents sent their apologies and best wishes. I kept it cheerful Severus didn't need more disappointment.

Once the letter was finished, I folded it neatly and called one of my owls anna . Anna took off into the twilight sky, letter clutched in its talons.

As the owl disappeared into the distance, I leaned against the windowsill, staring out at the setting sun.

So much had changed in such a short time.

Severus had a new father. A new family

.........................................................................................