Reborn as Petunia Evans with a System

I woke up early today, excitement bubbling in my chest. It was finally time for our annual school shopping trip to Diagon Alley! As I went downstairs for breakfast, I noticed Lily wasn't at the dining table. Puzzled, I asked Mom, "Where's Lily?"

Mom looked up from her tea with a knowing smile. "She must still be asleep. Why don't you go wake her up?"

I nodded and grinned. "Alright!"

Heading to Lily's room, I knocked softly before peeking inside. She was still curled up under her blanket, her hair a tangled mess on the pillow. "Lily," I said gently, shaking her shoulder. "Time to get up. We're going to Diagon Alley today!"

Lily groaned but eventually sat up, her emerald eyes blinking against the morning light. "Alright, alright. I'm getting up," she muttered sleepily.

By the time we were ready to leave, Dad had already loaded the car. He drove us to the Leaky Cauldron, the gateway to the magical shopping district. The familiar, slightly dingy pub welcomed us with the warm smell of butterbeer and chatter from witches and wizards enjoying their breakfast.

Once inside, we made our way to the brick wall in the courtyard. I tapped the bricks in the familiar pattern, and the entrance to Diagon Alley unfolded before us in a cascade of shifting stone. The bustling street came alive with sights, sounds, and smells: the chatter of shoppers, the hoots of owls, and the enticing aroma of freshly baked cauldron cakes.

"First stop: Gringotts," Mom said, leading the way toward the towering white building. "We need to exchange some money."

While my parents and Lily headed toward the counter, I saw my opportunity. "I'll just look around outside," I told them casually, slipping away before they could say much.

Navigating through the crowd, I made my way to one of the Gringotts goblins stationed nearby. His sharp features and piercing eyes studied me as I approached.

"I'd like to access vault 714," I said confidently.

The goblin raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do you have the key?" he asked in a gravelly voice.

I pulled out the small, ornate key I'd been given long ago, holding it up for him to inspect. His gaze lingered on it for a moment before nodding.

"Follow me," he said, turning sharply on his heel.

He led me through the towering marble hall and down a narrow passageway. We boarded one of the small, rickety carts that zipped through the tunnels of Gringotts. The ride was exhilarating, the cart speeding along twisting tracks, plunging into the depths of the bank. The wind whipped through my hair, and I clung tightly to the edge as we rounded sharp corners and passed glowing waterfalls.

Finally, the cart screeched to a halt in front of a large, ornately carved door. The goblin stepped out and gestured for me to follow. "Vault 714," he announced, pressing his long, bony fingers against the door. With a loud creak, the door opened, revealing a mountain of Galleons that shimmered in the dim light.

My breath caught at the sight. I pulled out my pouch and began scooping the golden coins inside. The clinking sound echoed through the vault as I worked quickly, keeping an eye on the entrance. Satisfied with the weight of my purse, I stepped back into the cart, nodding to the goblin.

The return ride was just as thrilling, and soon we were back in the main hall. I slipped out discreetly, weaving through the crowd until I spotted my family. They had just finished exchanging money, and Lily was admiring a handful of shiny new Sickles.

"There you are!" Mom said, noticing me. "What were you up to?"

"Just looking around," I said, smiling innocently. "Trying to find some new shops to explore."

Dad chuckled, patting my shoulder. "Well, you'll have plenty of time for that. Let's get started on our shopping trip."

I nodded, relieved they hadn't noticed my little detour. With my pouch securely tucked away, we set off down the bustling alley, ready to tick off our school supply lists. The day promised to be full of adventure, but nothing could match the thrill of my secret visit to vault 714.

With our money exchanged and lists in hand, we began our shopping trip. The bustling energy of Diagon Alley filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile as we made our way to Flourish and Blotts, our first stop. The shop was brimming with witches and wizards of all ages, browsing shelves stacked high with books of every size and color.

Inside, I immediately spotted the section for Hogwarts textbooks and hurried over to grab the required books for the upcoming term. As I collected my copies, a glint of gold from the "Special Editions" section caught my eye. "Mom, can I get another book?" I asked, tilting my head toward the shelves.

She smiled warmly. "Of course, dear. Just don't take too long."

I wandered over to the section, my fingers brushing against the spines of beautiful hardcovers. I was about to pick up a book titled The Magical Myths of Olde England when a hand shot out and grabbed it first. Surprised, I frowned and turned to see Sirius Black smirking at me, the book held triumphantly in his grasp.

"I was going to buy that," I said evenly, trying to keep my tone calm.

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Well, it's in my hand now, isn't it?"

I took a deep breath, biting back a sharp retort. He wasn't worth the energy. "Fine," I muttered, deciding to let it go. Arguing with this particular dunderhead would only drain my patience.

Just then, a younger boy's voice called from the back of the shop. "Sirius! We need to go! Mother's waiting!"

The boy looked strikingly similar to Sirius, though his expression was far more serious and composed. It clicked in my mind: this was Regulus Black, his younger brother. Sirius rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Just a few seconds, Reggie! Nice to see you again evans " his tone mocking.

"Well," I said coolly, "I can't say I feel the same way."

He chuckled, clearly unfazed, and with one last smirk, he turned and left, the book still in hand. the younger boy gave me a brief, almost apologetic glance before following his brother out of the shop.

As the door closed behind them, I stood frozen, the encounter leaving a strange weight in my chest. Regulus Black. A name I knew all too well from the pages of my past life. The boy who would someday die, a tragic hero, after betraying Voldemort in an attempt to destroy a Horcrux. A chill ran down my spine as the realization hit me like a cold gust of wind.

I had been enjoying this life so much—laughing, exploring, and soaking in the magic of the wizarding world—that I had momentarily forgotten the darkness looming over this world. The rise of Voldemort, the war, the countless deaths... all of it was coming. And I knew the future. I knew what would happen if things played out as they did in the canon I once read.

For a fleeting moment, I felt utterly terrified. Terrified at how easy it had been to lose myself in the joys of this second life, forgetting the peril that awaited. This world wasn't just a story anymore. It was real. The people here were real. And their fates were something I could no longer ignore.

I clenched my fists, determination igniting within me. I couldn't let history repeat itself. I couldn't stand by and let this generation be ravaged by war. I didn't know how much I could change, but I had to try. For Lily. For severus For my parents and my friends . even for Regulus and Sirius. For everyone.

Taking a deep breath, I shook off the lingering dread and returned to browsing the shelves. The shop's warm light and the rustle of pages brought me back to the present. I picked out another book, this time holding it tightly, and headed back to my family.

Mom noticed the look on my face as I approached. "Everything alright, dear?" she asked gently.

I managed a smile. "Yeah. Just... thinking about things."

She gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder before ushering us toward the counter to pay. The rest of the day passed in a blur of shops and chatter, but the weight of my thoughts stayed with me, a constant reminder of the responsibility I now carried.

By the time we finished our shopping trip and returned home, my bag was filled with books, parchment, and supplies. But more importantly, my mind was filled with plans—plans to ensure that the darkness wouldn't claim this world the way it had in the stories I once read. This was my second chance, and I wasn't going to waste it.