POV Lily
The late afternoon light streamed softly through the window of Petunia's tidy Surrey living room, illuminating dust particles dancing in the air. I was sitting on the floral sofa, watching Harry and Dudley play a video game on the carpet. My heart swelled with a complex emotion seeing the two cousins laughing together, their former disagreements replaced by a genuine camaraderie.
Four years in a coma. Sometimes it was still hard to believe I had lost so much time, but a part of me was grateful that this hiatus had, paradoxically, healed some old wounds. The distance that had always existed between Petunia and me had shrunk into something resembling a cautious truce. I knew part of this was due to the financial help Filius had provided during my absence—a safety net that had prevented Petunia and Vernon from facing difficulties while caring for Harry. I understood perfectly; without that intervention, things would have been very different.
My sister was sitting in the opposite armchair, drinking her tea with that upright posture that always characterized her. Her light blue eyes watched the children with an expression I could barely decipher—something between approval and constant worry.
Vernon was watching a rugby match on the television, occasionally grunting with approval or discontent, completely absorbed in his sporting world.
My attention returned to the children when I heard the characteristic sound of the game ending.
"Come have a snack, boys," I called, heading to the kitchen.
While pouring juice and making sandwiches, I heard Harry begin to tell Dudley about the latest developments from the Court of Owls.
"...and then Hermione told me they improved the Wolfsbane Potion," Harry explained animatedly, biting into his sandwich. "Now werewolves can control themselves better during the transformation! And Uncle Filius created a cure for Squibs!"
Dudley looked at his cousin with wide eyes, completely fascinated. "What's a Squib?"
Harry stopped, and I saw his face blush slightly. "Well... it's... like..." He looked at me for help.
I smiled softly and approached, kneeling to the boys' level. "It's like this, dear," I explained to Dudley. "Just like in non-magical families like yours, magical children like me can be born, sometimes the opposite happens—in magical families, children can be born who cannot perform magic."
Dudley thought for a moment. "So they are like us?"
"Not exactly," I replied, choosing my words carefully. "Even though they can't cast spells, they can still see and interact with magical creatures, and the magical world is still part of them in ways you don't experience."
The boys went back to playing, but my attention was caught by Petunia's expression. Her face was pale, and her hands trembled slightly as she held the teacup. I knew the reason—I remembered perfectly the letter she had sent to Dumbledore as a child, begging to study at Hogwarts.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and soon it was time to leave. Harry and I were having dinner with Filius at a fancy Muggle restaurant, and he was coming to pick us up.
Just as the words left my lips, we heard a soft knock on the door. Dudley ran to answer it before anyone else could move.
There, framed in the front doorway, was Filius. He wore an impeccably tailored black suit that seemed to absorb the light around him, creating an elegant and powerful silhouette. Behind him, the silver Rolls Royce he used for his forays into the Muggle world shone in the twilight.
"Good evening everyone," he greeted, his voice soft but carrying a natural authority.
Vernon stood up so quickly he almost knocked over the coffee table. "Mr. Umbra! What an honor to have you in our humble home!" His voice was shrill, almost fawning. I knew Filius owned the company where Vernon worked—in fact, he had helped my brother-in-law get a significant promotion. I admit I felt somewhat uncomfortable with the apparent nepotism, but Filius had insisted Vernon was genuinely competent at his job.
But it was Petunia who surprised me. She stood up and walked directly towards Filius, her hands still trembling slightly.
"Mr. Umbra," she said, her voice softer than I had ever heard it. "Harry was telling us about... about the cure for Squibs you developed. Is it true? And... can you tell if someone is one?"
Filius stopped completely, his silver eyes focusing on Petunia with sudden intensity. He studied her face for a long moment, a spark of recognition in his eyes.
"Interesting," he murmured. "I always presumed you were a complete Muggle. But analyzing you now... you are a Squib. That makes sense—the blood protections Dumbledore placed here would still need magic to activate from both sides."
Petunia choked up, and for the first time in our entire adult lives, I saw tears welling in her eyes. "You mean that... that I will be able to do magic now?" Her voice was broken, laden with a hope so fragile it broke my heart.
I didn't think—I just stepped forward and wrapped my sister in my arms. "Don't worry, Pet," I whispered in her ear. "I will help you with this. I promise."
To my complete surprise, Petunia clung to me, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in my shoulder. It was the first real hug I had received from her since the day my Hogwarts letter arrived, so many years ago. I tried to find in my heart some remnant of the old resentment, the accumulated hurt through the years, but feeling my sister's body trembling with contained emotion, all I could find was compassion and a love that had never truly died.
Filius observed the scene with a softened expression. "And Dudley is also a Squib," he added gently. "And unlike you, Petunia, he is still young. His magical pathways are not as damaged. He will be able to attend Hogwarts and, in the future, perhaps even perform magic independently."
He then looked at Petunia with a more serious, yet kind, expression. "However, for an adult like yourself, whose magical channels have been dormant and atrophied for decades, the process is different. You will not be able to develop the ability to cast spells naturally as a child could. Your connection will need to be facilitated. This is what the customized wands I developed with Mr. Ollivander are for. They contain pre-loaded spells. For you, and other adults, this will be the key to experiencing magic."
Before we left, Filius turned to Petunia again. "Would you like to participate in the public presentation of the cure? You have one of the most severe cases of magical atrophy I have ever encountered—that's why I never perceived your nature before today. But this is not a problem," he added quickly, seeing her worried expression. "You will not be left behind. The wand will ensure that."
Petunia looked at me, then at Filius, and finally at Dudley, who was watching the scene with wide eyes. "Yes," she said, her voice firm for the first time. "Yes, I would like to very much."
In the car on the way to the restaurant, I turned to Filius. "Thank you," I said softly, my own emotions still raw.
He took my hand and squeezed it gently. "It was the right thing to do."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry smile discreetly to himself before looking out the window. My son was not stupid—he had known about the romantic relationship between Filius and me for some time, and clearly approved.
As I watched the city lights pass by the window, I felt a weight I had carried since childhood finally dissolve. For the first time in decades, my sister and I were no longer the witch and the Muggle—we were simply Lily and Petunia, two sisters who had finally found their way back to each other. And at the center of it all was Filius, the man who had not only transformed the wizarding world but had also healed the deepest wounds of my heart.
The Light of a New Era - Part 2
POV Filius Umbra
Backstage at the Grand Auditorium of the Court of Owls in London, the air was charged with an almost palpable energy. I adjusted the collar of my silver robes while observing the final preparations. Wizard technicians were putting the finishing touches on the magical projections that would illustrate my presentation, and security members were verifying the protective shields around the stage.
Natasha approached me, her magical tablet in hand. "All systems are operational, Filius. The broadcast to international headquarters is stabilized."
"And Filch and Petunia?" I asked, my voice low but carrying the authority the occasion demanded.
"They just arrived. Ororo is accompanying them here."
Moments later, Ororo Munroe entered the backstage area, followed by Argus Filch and Petunia Dursley. Both were dressed in simple but appropriate clothing for the occasion—Filch in his usual caretaker robes, though clean and well-kept, and Petunia in a discreet dress that still managed to convey her practical nature.
"Ororo," I greeted, "are the runic tattoos functioning perfectly?"
She nodded, her silver eyes reflecting the seriousness of the moment. "All systems are as planned. The runes responded perfectly to initial tests."
I walked over to where Filch and Petunia were standing, their faces a mixture of nervousness and contained anticipation. I placed a hand on each of their shoulders, and at my touch, the complex runic tattoos that had been applied to their shoulders and backs became visible, glowing with a soft silver light.
I analyzed the patterns dancing under their skin, checking the integrity of every line and curve. The runes were stable, perfectly channeling the latent magic that had always existed within them but until now had no way to flow.
I nodded in approval. "Relax a little," I said softly. "Are you comfortable with how the presentation will proceed?"
They both agreed, and I could see in their eyes not just nervousness, but a spark of something I rarely saw in Squibs—the genuine hope that they could finally hold a wand and perform real magic.
When everything was ready, I gave a final nod to my team and then took a step back, merging with the shadows behind the set. A moment later, I emerged on the main stage to the applause of an audience that packed the auditorium.
The space was a marvel of spatial magic—though externally it seemed to seat a few hundred, internally it housed thousands of representatives from every corner of the magical world. Witches and wizards of all nationalities, ages, and backgrounds were present, their faces reflecting the curiosity and skepticism I expected.
I activated the translation runes around the stage, ensuring every word would be understood by all present.
"I am Filius Umbra," my voice echoed through the auditorium, "Head of the most ancient and noble House of Umbra, and President of the Court of Owls."
A calculated pause, as my eyes scanned the crowd.
"Today I do not come here to present something revolutionary," I continued, "but rather something necessary. Magic is a beautiful thing, and those of us who can wield it are fortunate. However, in our unjust world, not everyone who can commune with magic has the ability to manipulate it. And in my view, this is wrong."
I walked across the front of the stage, feeling the audience's attention intensify.
"But before presenting our innovation, I need to explain what a Squib truly is." A gesture, and a magical projection showed a diagram of a wizard's body. "A Squib is simply a witch or wizard like any other, but with damaged magical pathways. These pathways are the metaphysical bridge between the soul and the body that allow us to use magic."
Another gesture, and the backstage doors opened. "To illustrate, I would like to present two examples of courage and perseverance."
Filch and Petunia walked onto the stage, their steps somewhat hesitant under the gaze of thousands. "A round of applause for Argus Filch and Petunia Dursley!"
The sound of applause filled the auditorium as the two took their places beside me.
"I, in conjunction with the Grand Sorcerer of Austria, have developed a way to create this bridge artificially." I walked over to them. "If you'll permit me..."
With a respectful gesture, I indicated they should remove the upper part of their garments. Petunia stood in her bra, Filch in his undershirt, but the importance of the moment was so great that no one paid attention to this detail.
I touched their shoulders once more, and the runic tattoos glowed intensely, their complex patterns now visible to the entire audience.
"This tattoo," I announced, "is what will allow a Squib to use their internal magic." I waited for the information to be absorbed before snapping my fingers, making their clothes instantly return to place. "However, this is only an artificial bridge. To complete the connection, Mr. Ollivander and I created this."
Ollivander entered the stage carrying two carved wooden boxes. He opened them ceremoniously, revealing two wands resting on blue velvet.
"These wands," I explained, picking one up, "can contain pre-loaded spells, according to the owner's choice." The common brown wand in my hand seemed ordinary, but everyone present knew that nothing Ollivander created was truly ordinary.
"Combining these two elements," I continued, returning the wand to its box, "a new kind of witch or wizard will emerge."
Magical projections showed the three available models. "The standard wands will contain ten spells, the intermediate twenty, and the maximum thirty. The prices will be ten, thirty, and seventy Galleons, respectively."
I looked at the audience, sensing the skepticism mixed with hope.
"But now," I said, my voice low but laden with meaning, "it is time to prove that I am not wasting your time."
I took the box Ollivander was holding and opened it, revealing a beautiful dark wood wand. I extended it to Petunia.
"There is a spell that suits this moment well," I said softly. "Petunia... light the lamp of a new era."
Her trembling hands reached out, and when her fingers closed around the wand, a soft light emanated from it, accompanied by a gentle breeze that stirred her hair—the classic indication that the wand had chosen its owner. Ollivander clapped, his face lit by a genuine smile.
Petunia looked at the wand in her hands, then at me, and I could see in her eyes that she was remembering the hours of training with Lily for this moment. A simple spell, but which now, in her mind, must have seemed the most divine magic ever conceived.
The crowd in the audience was so apprehensive they seemed to have stopped breathing. Everyone knew they were about to witness history being made.
"Let there be light," I whispered.
Petunia took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she possessed. She raised the wand and, with a voice that started tremulous but steadied by the end, pronounced: "Lumos!"
The tip of the wand shone with a clear, steady light, illuminating her tear-streaked face.
"And he saw that the light was good," I quoted softly, a reference few would understand, but which seemed appropriate.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if a dam had broken, the audience erupted in deafening applause. Shouts of joy, tears of emotion—the entire auditorium was in an uproar.
I handed the second wand to Filch, who held it as if it were the most precious artifact in the world. "Lumos!" he shouted, and another light ignited on stage. The old caretaker fell to his knees, tears streaming freely down his face.
"Thank you," he wept, his voice raw with an emotion that moved even the most hardened members of the audience. "Thank you!"
I leaned down and gently helped him up. "You're welcome, Argus. Petunia," I said, extending my hand to her as well. "Welcome to the world of magic."
As the two remained on stage, their wands still shining like beacons of hope, I looked at the audience, which continued to applaud standing. This was not just a demonstration of new magical technology—it was the beginning of a new era of inclusion, where no one would be left behind due to accidents of birth.
And in the light shining from Petunia and Filch's wands, I saw not just a simple spell, but the glow of a brighter future for the entire wizarding world.