Chapter Three
Normally, Mikah’s mum would be waiting at the station with Lily’s parents, Lily and Severus. Normally, Mikah would snuggle into her mum’s side as they rode in the back of the Evans's car to town. Normally, Mr. and Mrs. Evans looked thrilled and wore bright colors. Normally, nothing was off.
This wasn’t normal.
Mikah sat between Lily and Severus, hands gripping the others. Something was off and everyone knew it but no one knew what it was. The entire train ride to London, the trio had noticed the constant presence of Lucius and the Marauders, pacing by their cabin but not one of them entered…which was bizarre in its own right. Lily, who normally sat with the Lions, had been determined to sit with Mikah. Severus, who always sat with the Snakes, made a point to sit in the same cabin. It was just as tense then as it was now.
Mikah couldn’t figure out what was wrong but everything was wrong. From her childhood friends wanting to be near her to the pacing Blond to the sad looks on Mr. and Mrs. Evans faces. The growing tightness in her chest was about to burst when they finally pulled into the driveway of the Evans home.
Severus and Mikah had barely gotten out of the car when Mrs. Evans pulled both of them into her chest, wrapping her arms around both teens' shoulders. “If you need anything, if you need a place to go, the door is always open. No matter what.”
The dark-haired teens shared a look over her shoulders before hugging her back, a silent agreement to the woman’s request. They pulled back and started down the road toward the park.
That park was what separated the Nice part of town from the bad. That park is where Mikah and Severus would part. That park had been where their magical lives started and where they had bonded. That park…had been the only place all three children could be children. Severus stopped and turned toward Mikah, his mouth open as if he wanted to say something.
“Even though it’s not the best place, I’ll leave my window unlocked. In case you need somewhere to run.” His voice was changing so it took Mikah a minute to make sure she didn’t laugh at the crack in his voice.
“My home is not as bad as yours,” Mikah said, a little confused as to why Severus had offered when he had all but abandoned her to the Snake Pit.
“No…but something is off about your side of the street.” He said, his eyes moving from hers to stare down the road toward her house.
So he could feel it too…Maybe there was something wrong at home.
“If it’s that bad, I’ll be the first to climb into your window,” Mikah said with a small smile. “You know, I was gonna offer to leave my window unlocked for your dad’s not so plastered nights at the pub.”
Severus smiled and pulled the smaller Snake in for a hug. “Keep it unlocked, just in case.”
Mikah watched Severus walk away for a moment, taken aback by the fact he hugged her. Now she knew something was wrong. Severus was never one for touch…like at all. Shrugging, Mikah turned away and started down the road.
He was right…her side of the street did seem…dark. A chill ran across her skin and Mikah pulled her robe closer around her body. She didn’t realize it but Mikah found herself hesitating at each step until she found herself standing in front of her home.
The lights were out and it felt….cold. That wasn’t her home. Her home was warm, welcoming, enchanting…not dead and cold. Her hand rested on the doorknob and she almost didn’t want to open the door…but she couldn’t stay outside all night. Taking a breath, Mikah opened the door and waited for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. The metal smell associated with blood was the first thing that hit her nose.
She tore through the living room, trying to find something to light her way until she heard the first step of her foot in something wet. Dropping to her knees, Mikah crawled along the floor, following the wetness until she found the kitchen island…and her mother’s cold hand. She didn’t need the light to see, she knew her mother’s signet ring. Mikah couldn’t remember if she screamed, couldn’t remember running out of the house with the ring in her hand. All she remembered was wanting to get out.
“Oof….” She groaned and adjusted herself in the snow. Mikah had no idea where she was…but she knew to stay put. It was rare for Mikah to let magic guide her…but as she had no idea where she was or how she got there, she listened. Pulling her hood up, she nestled in the small alley between the two shops, trying to make herself as small as possible from those doing last-minute shopping.
It was sometime before she heard the crunching of footsteps in the snow pause just outside her alley. “Hey…” She knew that voice but she didn’t know the hand that gently cupped her chin and pushed her hood back. She was pretty. Ice blond hair, the lightest blue eyes Mikah had ever seen…and a smile. A knowing smile, a warm smile. Something Mikah hadn’t expected to see on a woman who was very clearly the mother of Lucius Malfoy.
“Come child. This is no place to spend a cold night. Lucius.” The woman held out a hand and Mikah finally looked at Lucius as he sighed and handed his mother his outer robe without argument. The woman pulled Mikah up and wrapped her in the thick robe. “Let’s head home.”