Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System

A few days had passed since Severus's birthday by the Black Lake one of those golden memories I wanted to hold in my heart forever.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

And now, somehow, it was my birthday.

I woke up to the sound of whispered giggles and the flickering glow of candlelight. Still foggy with sleep, I rubbed my eyes and sat up groggily.

Only to find Emmeline and Pandora kneeling by my bed, hovering over me with matching grins. A floating chocolate cake bobbed gently between them, its thick frosting topped with small silver stars and thirteen flickering candles.

"Happy birthday to you," they sang softly, not exactly in tune, "happy birthday to you..."

I blinked at them, then smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.

"You two this is lovely."

"Make a wish!" Pandora said, bouncing on her heels. "But don't take too long, I want to eat cake before it melts."

Laughing, I sat up fully and leaned forward, closing my eyes for a brief second. I made my wish silently nothing grand, just a quiet hope that this feeling of warmth and friendship would never leave me.

Then I blew out the candles in one breath.

We all cheered softly and hugged tight and sincere. Emmeline's arms were warm and steady, Pandora's were dramatic and theatrical, but I felt equally loved by both.

"Here," Pandora said, handing me a lumpy package wrapped in pale blue paper. "Open mine first."

I peeled back the wrapping to find a velvet pouch filled with moonstone earrings. "They're enchanted to always match your mood," she said with a wink. "So we'll always know when to run."

I laughed. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

Emmeline's gift came next a little tin box decorated with pressed flowers and intricate swirling patterns. Inside was a delicate silver locket. I opened it to see a tiny photograph of the three of us, waving and grinning. I didn't even remember it being taken.

"I charmed it to update whenever we take new pictures," Emmeline said softly. "So you can carry us with you."

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away quickly and pulled them both into another hug. "I love you two so much."

After a few bites of early morning cake and promises to save the rest for later , we dressed and headed down to the common room.

Severus, Andrew, and Felix were already waiting. The moment they saw me, they stood.

"Happy birthday!" Felix grinned, holding out a small, tidy parcel wrapped in bronze and blue.

"Same here," Andrew said, giving me a lopsided smile. "Hope it's a good one."

Severus approached me last. His hands were tucked behind his back, but his expression was soft, warm.

"Happy birthday, Petunia," he said quietly. "I hope all your dreams come true."

My heart gave a little flutter. "Thank you, Severus," I said, hugging him tightly. He hugged me back with equal warmth.

Andrew's gift turned out to be a sketchpad filled with beautiful magical parchment that shimmered faintly in different light, and Felix had gotten me a tiny enchanted quill that changed colors depending on the ink it dipped into.

Severus's gift was in a sleek navy box, and inside was a book I'd been searching for Magical Manuscripts and Marginalia: A Study of Handwritten Spellcraft. It had been out of stock for months.

"How did you—?"

He shrugged. "My grandfather had a copy. He let me give it to you."

"You're all too good to me," I said, looking at them, and truly meaning it.

The morning passed quickly. We joined our joint Transfiguration class with Gryffindor, and I spotted Lily walking down the corridor toward the classroom with her usual crowd Marlene McKinnon, Alice Fortescue, and Mary Macdonald.

I left my friends for a moment and made a beeline for her.

"Happy birthday, Lily!" I called.

She turned and saw me, her face lighting up with that smile we shared our mother's smile.

"Happy birthday, Tuney!" she said, and we hugged each other tight.

Her friends stopped nearby, watching curiously.

"Oh—this is my twin, Petunia," Lily said, beaming. "She's in Ravenclaw."

The three girls offered warm smiles and birthday greetings. Marlene had bold energy, Alice had kind eyes, and Mary looked at me with polite curiosity.

"Nice to meet you," I said with a soft smile.

"Same to you," Alice said. "Happy birthday!"

We filed into the classroom together just as Professor McGonagall entered with her usual crisp efficiency.

"Today," she said as we settled into our seats, "we will continue our study of intermediate Transmutation specifically, the theory and mechanics of converting non-living objects into animated figures."

I shared a desk with Severus as always. He looked quietly focused, parchment and ink at the ready.

McGonagall waved her wand, transforming a teacup into a small hopping frog. "This," she said, "requires precision, clarity of intent, and complete focus. You may begin."

I already knew this spell. It had come up on the Ravenclaw reward system weeks ago, and I'd practiced it thoroughly. Now, with calm determination, I lifted my wand and focused on the wooden spoon in front of me.

"Transmutare Vivens."

A small puff of golden smoke rose from the tip of my wand—and then the spoon wriggled, shuddered, and burst into the shape of a tiny wooden squirrel, twitching its tail and scurrying in a circle on the table.

Severus looked over, eyebrows raised in approval.

Professor McGonagall noticed.

"Miss Evans!" she said, clearly impressed. "That was a remarkably precise execution. Five points to Ravenclaw."

I flushed, glowing under her praise.

After class, Severus, Andrew, and Felix headed to the library. Emmeline, Pandora, and I took a detour toward the girls' lavatory but we didn't get far.

Near the corridor bend, we spotted a familiar group of Gryffindor boys Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew lounging near the archway. They were laughing at something James had said, all tousled hair and mischievous grins.

As we neared, Sirius spotted us first. He broke from the group and walked toward us with an odd, slightly nervous expression. Emmeline nudged me in the ribs.

"Evans," Sirius said casually, stopping in front of me. "Happy birthday."

He held out a small package, wrapped in deep red paper with a crooked silver bow.

"I, uh—I heard you'd been looking for this," he added. "Thought you might like it."

My fingers tingled as I accepted it. "Thank you, Sirius. That's... really thoughtful."

"Ohhh, look at that," James drawled, sauntering over. "Sirius Black, buying gifts for girls now. What's next? Poetry?"

Remus smirked. "You're slipping, mate."

Peter snorted. "He probably made it himself."

Sirius flushed. "Shut it, all of you."

I opened the package. Inside was a rare book I had only ever seen mentioned in the footnotes of another text Arcane History of Witchcraft and Rituals: Volume I. My eyes widened.

"I've wanted this for ages. Sirius... this is amazing."

He looked sheepish "We had it in our house library," Sirius said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Figured it was just collecting dust, so... thought you'd actually appreciate it."

I laughed. "Well, I'm honoured. Thank you."

Behind me, Emmeline and Pandora made exaggerated swooning sounds.

"Well, well," Emmeline whispered. "Sirius Black, coming through again."

James leaned closer to Sirius. "You sure this isn't a thing?"

"It's not a thing," Sirius said quickly, then glanced at me. "Is it?"

I grinned. "That depends. Are you planning on getting me Volume II for Christmas?"

He blinked, then laughed. "Maybe I will."

"Look at him already planning birthdays and Christmas," James teased.

"Shut up, James."

They eventually wandered off down the corridor, laughing and jostling each other.

As soon as they were gone, Pandora turned to me.

"Wow. In every occasion, Sirius never fails to give you a gift."

Pandora clasped her hands dramatically. "The boy is smitten."

"He is not," I said, blushing.

They exchanged looks.

"Mhm," Emmeline said, teasingly. "And I'm a troll in a tiara."

We laughed together, the kind of warm laughter that makes your heart light. I held the book close to my chest and glanced back once toward where Sirius had gone.

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