The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee
Squibstress12 Reviews | 7.25/10 (12 Ratings, 0 Likes, 0 Favorites )
After the war, Petunia takes refuge at the Three Broomsticks. Nominated for a 2012 HP Fanfic Fanpoll Award.
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About Squibstress
Author
Squibstress
Member Since 2010 | 36 Stories | Favorited by 103 | 43 Reviews Written | 528 Review Responses
I'm a middle-aged, professional writer of non-fiction and would-be professional writer of fiction who also writes Harry Potter fanfiction just for fun.
I’m a proud member of the Harry Potter Old Lady Smut Brigade, which means I’m most interested in the older female characters in the Harry Potter saga, particularly Minerva McGonagall.
If I had received my Hogwarts letter back in nineteen-mumble-mumble, I would most likely have been sorted into Ravenclaw, or so everyone tells me, probably because I’m a geeky data-freak (my Real Life™ requires me to read piles of medical journal articles.) I, however, think I’d feel right at home in Hufflepuff too, so I consider myself a Ravenpuff.
The fics I write may contain adult themes, and I will always warn for non-con, graphic violence, bestiality, incest, or underage sex. I don't warn for homosexual relationships or sex, or for threesomes/moresomes, unless they contain one of the aforementioned elements.
Disclaimers: Anything from the Harry Potter universe belongs solely to its creator, J.K. Rowling, and her licensees. Original plot, characters, dialog, etc. are mine.
My stories are available for use under a Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license (CC-BY-NC-SA).
I have a blog: http://squibstress.wordpress.com/.
I'm also on LiveJournal and Twitter (@Squibstress).
I maintain a master list of (mostly Minerva-centric) recs at Diigo.
I am a proud member of the Harry Potter Old Lady Smut Brigade.
Reviews for The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee
A humanised Petunia. You pulled that off wonderfully. And there is not enough Rosemerta out there. Thankyou for sharing this was a delight to read.
Squibstress, I love the way you handle and explore lesser developed characters. In canon you dislike and/or pity Petunia. Here, you've made her human and I loved every moment. And Dudley working with Hagrid ... Unexpected, but I find I'm also glad to see him happy. What a great story!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks. The less-developed characters are definitely my favorites to write!Petunia interested me in canon, and I kind of expected JKR to do more with her later. But that's what fanfiction is for, right?Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks. The less-developed characters are definitely my favorites to write!Petunia interested me in canon, and I kind of expected JKR to do more with her later. But that's what fanfiction is for, right?Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading!
I've never really seen a story with Petunia painted in a flattering light, but this one was nice. It's kinda interesting to hear more about Rosmerta too. :)
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks. I'd never written either character before, so it was fun to think about them.Thanks for reading and commenting.
wow what a great insight into a few characters' past and future. You caught Petunia's starting point and depicted her development very naturally. You make Petunia gradually get more insight into wizarding society, and I like how she re-considers Lily over it.
We learn just enough about Rosmerta and Minerva to round up the story.
I was permanently fearing for Harry to show up and either expect or receive saucy gratitudes. I'm very happy he had the wisdom to stay out.
Petunia's relation to Vernon could indeed have been rooted in social classes; that's a great thought, and you demonstrate it with so few, well chosen words!
I will admit that Dudley's development isn't as convincing to me as Petunia's, esp how he could possibly live a satisfying life in the castle without getting as bitter as Filch. Obviously we've not seen enough to understand it fully--Minerva or Harry or whoever, might have instated something we're not aware of.
I loved every moment of this. You did a wonderful job humanizing Petunia and giving Rosmerta a proper backstory.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Sorry to be so late in responding.Thanks for your lovely comment. I've wanted to write a Petunia story for a while--JKR just kind of left the Dursley family hanging.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Sorry to be so late in responding.Thanks for your lovely comment. I've wanted to write a Petunia story for a while--JKR just kind of left the Dursley family hanging.
It's a nice change to read a story featuring Petunia. I like that she's finally made peace with her past.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks.I always wondered what happened to her after DH, so I decided to write it myself, LOL!(Sorry for the late response!)
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks.I always wondered what happened to her after DH, so I decided to write it myself, LOL!(Sorry for the late response!)
So pleased to see this posted here ! As I mentioned over at the Fest, I found it very touching to see magic in it's ordinary uses - doing the dishes, cooking the meals, tidying up the tavern. As with life, not everything is about the great, grand and adventurous - sometimes it's the smallest things that are our treasures. You've done a beautiful job making Petunia into a real woman - with her own sorrows, failures, and quiet triumphs - and I can think of no better mentor for Dudley than Hagrid. This is a lovely jewel of a tale. The fun now is going to be watching all the Festival tales (including my own /g/) show up over here !! Hurrah !!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Sorry to be so late in responding.Thanks for reading it here, too!I often wonder about magic and everyday applications--we don't seem much of that in the books.I found Petunia an intrquing character, so I wanted to do a story to flesh out a little bit about how she felt about things, and about what happened to her after the war.I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Sorry to be so late in responding.Thanks for reading it here, too!I often wonder about magic and everyday applications--we don't seem much of that in the books.I found Petunia an intrquing character, so I wanted to do a story to flesh out a little bit about how she felt about things, and about what happened to her after the war.I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I enjoyed this so much, especially the slow shifting of Petunia's perspective. She's essentially the Petunia she always has been, but given much more depth. What struck me was the almost casual cruelty of the removal of their identity - yes, it was done to save them, but then to leave them effectively adrift in a society in which they can't function was a sad comment on even the 'Light' side of wizarding society. It is fascinating that those with whom Petunia and Dudley are most comfortable and build the closest relationships are those who seem to have the least power and to practice the least magic.
Excellent! I'm one of those legion who usually read SS/HG. But I do branch out now and then. This was lovely.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thank you for branching out and reading my little story.I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thank you for branching out and reading my little story.I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Now that was certainly original.Squibby - I worry about you sometimes - nobody can write depression nearly this well unless they are intimately associated with it. And you write depression and anger brilliantly.Take care of yourself.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
I've been wanting to to a Petunia story for a while.And don't worry,
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
. Hemmingway I ain't. I'm not depressed and angry all the time; only when I read the news, LOL!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Hemmingway is one of my favorite writers - so please don't discount what I said to mean "this is crap" - because, as I'm sure you know, it ain't. Its a brilliant piece, and quite uplifting that there was a life for the Dursleys, or at least some of them, after the war. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Hagrid and Dudley.And - I didn't even count it against you about Minerva's "fanatic" father. *coughs* You are forgiven for that. *winks* So, as per usual, BRAVO Squibby!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Aye - I've boycotted the news myself - since it seems my state is the leader in children's deaths by their own parents - no thanks, don't need to read about that anymore - so my best advice - just don't watch/read the shit. It ain't worth it.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Oh, I didn't think you were criticizing the story. I just meant that, in addition to not having Hemmingway's gifts (and who does?), I don't have his black humors, either.I really wanted to have Dudley taken under Hagrid's wing. After all, Hagrid was the first grown-up to really discipline Dudders, so it seemed fitting that he should guide him into a new sort of life.And the fanatic father--remember, that's Rosmerta's perspective. Obviously, it wasn't meant as a dig at all religious people. Some of you are quite tolerable. ;-)
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*chuckles* You ain't fooling me! YOUR Rosmerta's perspective, you mean ... *grins* you can't discount your own opinions and experiences, though I'd never consider Catholicism fanatical - at least not in today's age - perhaps 100 years ago.Aye! Glad you recognize that we ain't all "Holier than thou" - tee hee. Though - of course, I am, but I refuse to look down my nose at you. *ducks and runs* 
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Oh, you'll get no argument from me... you're definitely holier than I am. I'm a heathen to the bones.There are plenty of fanatical Catholics and plenty of non-fanatical Presbyterians. Fanatical Robert McGonagall simply served my nefarious purposes here.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
HEATHEN! VILE HEATHEN!*smirks*If only you knew half of the debautched life I used to live ... I have no room to point fingers, but I can tease!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
I've been wanting to to a Petunia story for a while.And don't worry,
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
. Hemmingway I ain't. I'm not depressed and angry all the time; only when I read the news, LOL!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Hemmingway is one of my favorite writers - so please don't discount what I said to mean "this is crap" - because, as I'm sure you know, it ain't. Its a brilliant piece, and quite uplifting that there was a life for the Dursleys, or at least some of them, after the war. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Hagrid and Dudley.And - I didn't even count it against you about Minerva's "fanatic" father. *coughs* You are forgiven for that. *winks* So, as per usual, BRAVO Squibby!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Aye - I've boycotted the news myself - since it seems my state is the leader in children's deaths by their own parents - no thanks, don't need to read about that anymore - so my best advice - just don't watch/read the shit. It ain't worth it.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Oh, I didn't think you were criticizing the story. I just meant that, in addition to not having Hemmingway's gifts (and who does?), I don't have his black humors, either.I really wanted to have Dudley taken under Hagrid's wing. After all, Hagrid was the first grown-up to really discipline Dudders, so it seemed fitting that he should guide him into a new sort of life.And the fanatic father--remember, that's Rosmerta's perspective. Obviously, it wasn't meant as a dig at all religious people. Some of you are quite tolerable. ;-)
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
*chuckles* You ain't fooling me! YOUR Rosmerta's perspective, you mean ... *grins* you can't discount your own opinions and experiences, though I'd never consider Catholicism fanatical - at least not in today's age - perhaps 100 years ago.Aye! Glad you recognize that we ain't all "Holier than thou" - tee hee. Though - of course, I am, but I refuse to look down my nose at you. *ducks and runs*
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Oh, you'll get no argument from me... you're definitely holier than I am. I'm a heathen to the bones.There are plenty of fanatical Catholics and plenty of non-fanatical Presbyterians. Fanatical Robert McGonagall simply served my nefarious purposes here.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
HEATHEN! VILE HEATHEN!*smirks*If only you knew half of the debautched life I used to live ... I have no room to point fingers, but I can tease!
Wonderful, wonderful story! I like the way you show Petunia becoming content with her life, even if it is in just a small way, and coming to terms with her past. I do enjoy stories that show us a more three dimensional Petunia, and you have succeeded in this! Even your title is wonderful, and very fitting. Thank you!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks. I thought Petunia and Dudley needed a bit of closure.I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks. I thought Petunia and Dudley needed a bit of closure.I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Wow. That was amazing. I think your insights on what might have happened are authentic and believable. So poignant... so sad... and yet a bit hopeful. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks.I always wondered what happened to Petunia and Dudley after the war. I'm glad you found it hopeful as well as sad.
Response from Squibstress (Author of The Peculiar Resilience of the Refugee)
Thanks.I always wondered what happened to Petunia and Dudley after the war. I'm glad you found it hopeful as well as sad.