Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System-Chapter 35 - 34

Days pass quickly when you're enjoying them. It's something I'd always heard adults say, but here at Hogwarts, I was beginning to understand it firsthand. Between classes, friendships, and quiet moments of laughter, time was slipping through my fingers like enchanted sand.

Right now, I was in the hospital wing volunteering, of all things.

Madam Pomfrey had agreed to let Lily and me assist her during our free hours. It started as part of a Healing elective project, but both of us quickly grew fond of the calm, clean-smelling ward, the clinking of glass vials, and the soft rustle of the matron's robes as she bustled from bed to bed.

"Petunia, pass me the calendula infusion—second shelf on the left," Madam Pomfrey called, her tone brisk but kind.

"Yes, Madam," I answered immediately, hurrying to the potions cupboard. I carefully removed the small glass bottle filled with golden-hued liquid and handed it to her.

She nodded in approval. "Good. Now Lily, mix this with three drops of essence of mallow root, and stir counter-clockwise. Steady, now. No bubbling."

Lily followed the instructions flawlessly, biting her lip in concentration. "Like this?"

"Perfect. You're both learning quickly," Madam Pomfrey said, her voice softening. "Healers need calm hands and sharp minds. You're showing promise."

Helping her was strangely soothing. I liked the order of it, the quiet steadiness. I refolded linens, organized potions by use and expiration date, and even practiced minor diagnostic charms under her supervision. She taught us how to mend minor fractures, apply magical salves, and identify magical fevers from mundane ones. Everything was a lesson, and she never wasted a moment.

Then the doors opened with a creak and everything shifted.

Remus Lupin staggered in, supported by a professor I didn't recognize. He looked pale, his face drawn and far too thin for a twelve-year-old. His robes were tattered and streaked with blood. Scars some old, some still weeping crisscrossed his arms.

My breath caught.

Madam Pomfrey rushed forward. "Oh, Remus.."

She helped him onto one of the far beds, pulling the curtains slightly for privacy. "Lily, Petunia—stay close, but let me do this."

Lily's hand found mine, squeezing tight.

That's when I realized.

Last night had been a full moon.

Remus Lupin was a werewolf.

My heart clenched not in fear, but in sorrow, and the guilt in his expression cut deeper than any claw ever could.

Madam Pomfrey was already at work, whispering soft spells to clean the wounds and knitting together torn flesh with expert flicks of her wand.

Then she handed him a vial.

It shimmered faintly, silver-blue with a swirl of opaque steam inside. "Drink this. Slowly."

"What is that?" Lily whispered beside me.

"A restorative blend," Madam Pomfrey answered without turning. "For wound healing and magical energy restoration. Mostly essence of silverweed, phoenix feather extract, and powdered moonstone."

Remus drank with a grimace, then collapsed back onto the pillows. Within moments, his breathing evened out. Sleep claimed him like a soft fog.

I couldn't stop thinking about it. The system in my body had once rewarded me with a mastery in Potions. It had included even the Wolfsbane Potion an incredibly advanced, complex elixir that allowed werewolves to retain their minds during the transformation. But it required rare ingredients, some of which I didn't have access to. My notes from the system's memory said: powdered wolfsbane also called aconite, fresh monkshood petals, silver-bloom essence, and a few other stabilized magical compounds.

Then it hit me.

Severus.

His family ran a potion supply business. If anyone could help me find the ingredients—even without knowing the whole truth it would be him.

I filed the idea away as Lily and I moved quietly around the hospital wing, tending to smaller tasks: wrapping a second-year's twisted ankle, preparing bedpans (not exactly glamorous), and cataloging inventory. It was oddly satisfying.

But then...

The door burst open with a bang.

"Madam Pomfrey!" came the unmistakable voice of Sirius Black.

The Marauders had arrived.

Sirius, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, heads swiveling until they spotted the drawn curtain around Remus's bed.

Madam Pomfrey stood up immediately. "Yes?"

"How's Remus?" James asked.

"He'll be fine," she said. "He'll be able to return to class tomorrow."

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Sirius let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Thank Merlin. We thought maybe he'd caught dragon pox or tried to wrestle the Whomping Willow again."

That earned a sharp look from the matron.

And then Sirius's grey eyes spotted me.

"Oh no," I muttered under my breath.

Lily chuckled beside me. "Here we go."

Sirius smirked. "Evans! No, not you," he said, winking at Lily. "Other Evans."

I ignored him.

He marched dramatically toward me, hand over his heart. "Petunia. Sweet, radiant, hardworking Petunia. Volunteering in the hospital wing? How utterly noble."

"Go away," I said flatly, stacking clean towels.

He leaned in closer. "You know, if you ever need a break from all these bandages and potions, I'd be happy to escort you to the Astronomy Tower for a—"

"—quick shove over the edge?" I offered.

"Ouch," Sirius said, pretending to clutch his chest. "Rejected again. James, I might cry."

"I've got a hanky," James replied, holding it up.

"Make sure it's soaked with your tears," I muttered, finally looking up. "So I can use it to clean the bedpans."

The Marauders howled with laughter.

Even Lily giggled behind her hand. Madam Pomfrey sighed, trying not to smile.

Sirius grinned, undeterred. "She wounds me with her wit."

"And I'll wound you with a bedpan if you don't move," I warned, brandishing one.

That made them laugh even harder.

Eventually, they left still laughing, and our shift ended quietly.

Lily and I parted ways near the entrance hall she was heading back to the dorm, but I turned toward the library.

A study group had formed recently second-years from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. No Slytherins, of course. I was a Muggle-born, and I had no "right" to teach them, apparently. But I didn't mind. Teaching helped me learn better. And with the system tracking every bit of progress, I also gained experience and galleon rewards

The library was warm and busy. Emmeline and Pandora were already there, seated at a long table littered with parchment and inkpots. Around us, five or six students from different Houses leaned over textbooks and notes.

"Okay," I said, sliding into my seat. "Who's still stuck on switching spells?"

Two hands went up immediately.

We went over wand movements, then tried practical exercises using ink jars and feathers. There were small successes, a few bursts of colored sparks, and lots of laughter.

Hours passed like minutes.

By the time we headed back to the Ravenclaw tower, the halls were empty and the moon was high.

Inside the common room, the fireplace flickered softly.

Felix and Severus were slouched on the couches, still in their Quidditch uniforms—mud-streaked and utterly exhausted. Andrew was seated nearby, legs folded beneath him, nose buried in a book.

I smiled and tiptoed over.

Severus looked up—and grinned the moment he saw me. His hair was damp with sweat, cheeks flushed from cold air and exertion.

"You survived practice," I said teasingly, sitting beside him.

He chuckled tiredly. "Barely."

Felix groaned. "Gavin made us do three sets of sprints. On brooms. Against the wind."

"Savage," Pandora said, flopping into an armchair.

I turned and hugged Severus without thinking. He stiffened for a second—then melted, returning the hug with warm arms.

"I'm sweaty," he mumbled.

"I don't care," I whispered.

The room filled with quiet conversation. We talked about our day—Emmeline recounted a funny story from Charms class, Felix complained about his bruises, and I shared only the good parts of the hospital wing shift, leaving out Remus's secret.

It was a quiet end to a long day. Full of magic, mischief, mystery, and warmth.

And as I sat there, nestled between my friends, I realized that here despite everything I had found a little family of my own in hogwart.

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