Roses (Petunia, PG)

[lazy_neutrino]

Title: Roses
Author: lazy_neutrino
Rating: PG
Words: 1070
Prompt: Number 53: I don't visit my parents often because Delta Airlines won't wait in the yard while I run in. Not used in the end.
Summary: The past is another country. Thanks to the delightful winding_path for a quick, thorough and helpful beta.

Comments

[a_t_rain]

Eee, you've almost made me feel sorry for Petunia. Poor woman.

[lazy_neutrino]

I do feel sorry for Petunia, actually! But then I used to feel sorry for Susan in the Narnia series. (Not that Susan had to live with Vernon and Dudley, either.)

[jaswanson]

Wow, this is amazing. You know, it's so often easy to forget why we write fan fiction in the first place. For me, it's always been about the characters and the opportunity to play in JKR's world, as opposed to living and breathing the ships. It's been convenient to overlook that in the wake of new canon and the hullabaloo the ships brought. This is a great anchor, a subtle and poignant reminder of the fact that great writing is great writing, and that there are fics out there which can touch the heart without any sort of romance whatsoever. I think you did an excellent job fleshing out Petunia's character, a very believable continuation of who we know her to be from canon. The continuity provided by the rose garden stories was very well done, especially. Thanks very much for sharing. I enjoyed this immensely.

[lazy_neutrino]

Thank you for your wonderful review - it made my day. I am really glad you liked the story so much: I was extremely pleased with it. (You know how sometimes a story just seems to work?) If I don't write anything else like this in 2005, I shall still be happy. I do feel that Petunia is very vulnerable now, having cut her last ties to the magical world pretty much forever. I can't imagine how that might feel - to know that your future is now Vernon, Dudley and number four, Privet Drive, and perhaps it could have been so much more.

[minerva_fan]

Magnificent. Just a beautifully-written character study. Will definitely pimp this one everywhere. :)

[lazy_neutrino]

I'm really glad you liked it! Thank you for saying so and thank you if you do pimp it!

[drusillas_rain]

heartbreakingly beautiful

[lazy_neutrino]

Thank you!

[lorelei_lynn]

The flower imagery is beautiful. So is the juxtaposition of Petunia's happy childhood with her barren present. Excellent fic.

[lazy_neutrino]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! 'Barren' is exactly the right word for her life right now, isn't it - you've hit the nail on the head. And she could have had so much more...