I have to admit, when I suggested that I would like Petunia/Lily, I thought the odds were very low that anyone would actually write it, and I wouldn't have been disappointed if you didn't, but I LOVE that you did! I love how Petunia can't even admit the infatuation in her own mind, but blames it on Lily's magic, which is so perfect because you can see how it generates this endless cycle in Petunia's mind, of loving her and hating her for making her love her.
And you've pinned down exactly how I see the triangle between Petunia, Lily, and Severus. It's really like you read my mind! I love Petunia and Severus's mutual obsession with Lily, and how the frustration and competition between them collapses into passion. And Lily is so much off in her own world, is it possible that she just doesn't see how they feel about her? Or is she in some denial of her own?
When she circled her prey to pick the right angle for the attack, her feet seemed to float several inches above the ground. When she opened her mouth, her power over him ran through her veins like magic. Two simple words, softly spoken, but they worked like a dangerous hex.
"I have," she said.
This seriously blew me away. Amazing imagery.
Thank you for this outstanding gift, Mystery Author. I know it's always a risk to write something that involves a pairing that's way "out there" as fandom standards go, but you've pulled it off beautifully and made me a very very happy reader. :D