First Times Fest

[marguerite_26]

All right. I am having a shit, shit week. I need a happy distraction.

Comment fest anyone? How about First Times? They are always good

Comments

HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

SolidWhen they'd met, he was strong, dependable. Petunia was still reeling from the way magic had stolen her sister away: first, by taking her away to that school, then by changing how she saw the world. Petunia would never forget or forgive that loss; Lily's death had been the final stage of something which had started years before

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[ellecc]

I saw this prompt and was like, "Petunia/Vernon? O.o" But this was so gorgeous and heartbreaking.

"...until his flesh became more him than his name." There's this wicked quiet desperation in that. I love when she realizes she's just waiting and doesn't need to anymore (and probably shouldn't have ever).

I don't know why I like Dudley asking after Harry, but I do :) Maybe Dudley stands a chance.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Thank you. :) I thought of how boorish Vernon was, and why anyone would ever want to be with him. He seems like the type of man to ignore his wife, unless she was feeding him or agreeing with him.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[lordhellebore]

This...this is perfection. *flails completely incoherently with love*

A small part of Petunia longed to hold him tight, to whisper her secrets to him as she had to Lily.

Yes! It had to be there, I can't imagine it any differently, and even if JKR gave us just the tiniest hint of a doubt, that is enough to build this.

Having Harry shipped off to Hogwarts must have been a relief, I agree. He wasn't disturbing their lives anymore, except for a few short weeks in summer. (In fact, I've written the same ;)

Petunia's realisiation that she is, in fact, always waiting for permission from Vernon was a good way to make her and the reader see that there must be something wrong.

And then the absolutely best part of this, how Vernon's solidity turns from desirable and a source of strength to constricting and something to escape from. Your use of the leaves and the light were a lovely visual. I wonder and would love to know where she will go from here.

Thank you! This is my Petunia, just the way I see her, and I adore you for it.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Your prompt intrigued me - the Dursleys are one of the unanswered questions of the HP books, I think.

I'd like to think that Petunia warms up a bit in the woods, and eventually leaves Vernon. Who only really notices the lack of ironed shirts and cooked meals.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[thepretender501]

This is great! I love the insight into Petunia and the explanation for why she said nothing to Harry on the day they left him for good. I like the whole characterizations of the Dursleys it's nice to see why they act the way they do.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Thanks! It was refreshing to think about other characters in the HP world - I spend so much time thinking about Harry and Draco, normally.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[potteresque_ire]

Oh wow. This is gorgeous and glorious. A beautiful character study of Petunia in a perspective away from Harry's. While in the books this couple plays the role of fairy tale style / comical bad guys, you breathe life into both Petunia and Vernon as well, and I can see (and forgive) why Petunia is the way she is, and that there's a whole world in her, filled with confusion and disappointments and heartbreaks.

Thank you so much for writing this!

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Glad you liked it!

Poor Petunia, I guess. I just want to believe that some part of her wouldn't have treated Harry so badly, if things had been different.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Thanks. :)
I'm glad I tried something new today, too.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Thanks! And I like both those parts too. :)

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[omi_ohmy]

Thanks, Evil, you know your opinion means a lot to me. :) It was nice to do something different too.

Re: HP - Petunia/Vernon (yes really)

[missingkeys]

That is awesome.