Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System

After our conversation about his father, Severus turned to me with an uncertain expression. "My mum... she wants to meet you," he said quietly.

I blinked in surprise. "Me?" I asked, pointing to myself.

He nodded. "She's heard a lot about you, especially about how you've been helping me. "

I hesitated, unsure how to respond.. But then I saw the hope in his eyes, and my resolve firmed. "Alright," I said softly. "I'll meet her."

A rare smile graced Severus' face. "Thank you," he said simply.

We walked together to Spinner's End, a dreary and lifeless neighborhood. The houses were packed closely together, their bricks worn and gray from years of neglect. The air felt heavy, the faint smell of dampness lingering. Severus led me to a small, unassuming house at the very end of the street.

As we stepped inside, I was struck by the darkness and cold. The walls were bare, and the furniture was sparse and old. The house was eerily quiet, as though holding its breath. Despite its state, there was a strange sense of calm that seemed to envelop the space.

"Mum," Severus called out, his voice steady yet soft.

A woman emerged from the shadows of the kitchen. Eileen Snape's appearance told a story of hardship her face was gaunt, her cheekbones sharp against her pale skin. Faint bruises lingered on her arms and neck, evidence of the life she had endured. But there was something else a glimmer of peace in her eyes, as if a great weight had finally been lifted.

Severus stepped aside, gesturing toward me. "Mum, this is Petunia."

I offered a small smile and held out my hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Snape."

Eileen's lips trembled before she broke into a genuine smile. Ignoring my outstretched hand, she pulled me into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for being such a good friend to my Severus."

I froze for a moment before returning the hug. "He's a good friend to me too," I said honestly.

Pulling back, she looked at me with tearful eyes. "He told me it was your idea to reach out to my parents," she said. "I don't know how to thank you for that. It means the world to me."

"I just thought they could help," I replied gently. "You and Severus deserve better."

Eileen's expression softened further, and she nodded. "We're going to visit them tomorrow. It'll be the first time I've seen them in years." we talked alot of things on how me and severus become friends and how discovered that I am a witch that i did not notice the time 

the sound of a clock chiming caught my attention. "Oh no," I said, realizing how late it had gotten. "I need to go."

Severus frowned but nodded. "I'll walk you home," he offered. "It's not safe here after dark."

I turned to Eileen. "It was lovely meeting you," I said sincerely.

She smiled. "And you, dear. Please come again."

Severus and I left the house, walking in silence until we reached a safer part of town near my house. "Thank you for today," he said, his voice low but earnest.

I smiled at him. "Anytime, Severus. Take care of yourself."

He nodded, watching as I walked up the steps to my house. Once inside, I found my parents waiting for me, their faces etched with worry.

"Where have you been?" my mother demanded, rushing toward me. "We've been so worried!"

Before I could answer, my father joined her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Petunia, you know better than to wander off without telling us."

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I was with a friend. His name is Severus—he's Mr. Tobias Snape's son."

My mother's eyes widened. "Spinner's End? You went there? Petunia, that's no place for you to be!"

I lowered my head, guilt washing over me. "I'm sorry," I said again. "But Severus is my friend. He's been through a lot."

My father sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You're a kind girl," he said, his voice gentler. "But you need to be careful."

My mother's expression softened as well. "Maybe... maybe you could invite him over for dinner sometime," she suggested. "This is the first time you've talked about having a friend."

I blinked in surprise, then smiled. "I'll ask him. Thank you."

They both hugged me tightly, their worry finally ebbing. As I climbed the stairs to my room, I couldn't help but think about the day's events.