My throat clenched, my breath shortened. I felt the hot tears form in my eyes as the car pulled away from the driveway. He was gone and I doubt I would ever see him again. He left us, broken and hurt, with no one to run to. My mother was overwhelmed, four kids and a house to run. She didn't know how to do it alone, she couldn't do it alone. I wouldn't be surprised if we kids were just dumped in an orphanage.
I stood from the window seat and walked to the stairs, stopping at the bottom briefly to glance at my heart-broken mother. She was sitting on the floor, her head in her hands and her dark hair covering her kind face. She was shaking and I could hear the quiet sobs coming from her small body. Sympathy crashed into my mind and the tears pooled over, streaming down my cheeks. A sob escaped my throat. My mother snapped her head up and looked at me.
"Sophie…" Her words were strained, her throat sore from the crying. She made a move to get up, to comfort me I suppose, but I shook my head and walked up the stairs. She didn't come after me, she understood that I needed time alone, time for the recent events to sink into my mind. I also understood her need to cry, her need to grieve before she had to step up and try to become super mom to her four children.
I was the oldest at sixteen, with two younger sisters and one younger brother it was hard to be yourself. It was hard to lead your own life and have your own friends. I always had to be there when my parents couldn't be. My father was always working, playing golf, or at some convention. He was never home; I doubt he even knew that he had a family here.
Now he is gone, there is food to buy, and school to pay for. I suppose I would just have to quit my education at Hogwarts. I didn't want to of course, but it was the right thing to do, my mother needs my help if we are going to stay a family.
I walked into my room and closed the door. The tears had stopped and I was able to breath normally again. I sighed and lay down on my bed, my hair forming a dark frame around my face. I should owl Lily. Tell her that I'm not going back to Hogwarts in a week. I thought to myself. I made a move as if to get up from my bed but my legs weren't functioning properly and I ended up on the floor. I laughed quietly at my clumsiness and got up on my hands and knees.
I wobbled over to my desk and sat down; pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to write a letter to my best friend Lily Evans.
Dear Lily,
I began.
No, I'm not dead and no, I have not been kidnapped by evil monkeys who want to steal my virginity. I haven't written because… Well, because my family has been having some problems again. Dad left and mums in pieces. I've decided that my duty as her eldest daughter is to stay here and help her through this. So, I've decided not to return to Hogwarts this year. Please do not freak out and come over here in a rampage. I'll be fine.
I love you with ALL my heart.
Sophie
I finished the letter and tied it to my owl, Pookie(don't ask)'s leg. She nipped at my finger affectionately before taking off out my window, flying a few blocks down to Lily's house. I watched the bird as it descended before closing my window.
I sat down on my office chair and swiveled it around, looking at the contents of my room. There were posters of my favorite Quidditch team, The Chudley Cannons, as well as posters of my favorite bands, The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, and The Bubbling Cauldrons. My mother is a pure-blood witch and my father is a half-blood wizard, so I grew up in both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds. My broom, which was in desperate need of polishing, was set up against my bookshelf and my school trunk was lying next to my bed.
I jumped as a tapping came from my window. I stood up and opened it, letting Pookie in my room. She hopped on my desk and stuck out her leg that had a letter attached to it. I untied it carefully and began to read.
Sophie,
YOU CAN'T NOT GO TO HOGWARTS. WE ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS LEFT. ARE YOU INSANE?! YOU WERE MADE PREFECT WITH ME! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR BEST YEAR YET! WE WERE GOING TO GIVE THE MAURADERS DETENTION!!
I'm coming over right now. You need me. So shut up and quit your bitching missy.
I love you.
Lily,
I smiled and looked out my window. There she was; the feisty red head that I know and love. I decided that I should go outside to meet her instead of her coming in and seeing my mother a mess. I pulled on my trainers and walked out of my room and down the stairs. I looked to the left of the staircase expecting to see my mother there still, but she wasn't there. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but I shrugged it off and went outside to sit on my front porch.
Lily walked up to me, her auburn curls were up in a pony tail and she was wearing jeans and a sweater. Her hands were on her hips and her eyes were narrowed. I waved at her and sat down on the front steps leading into my house.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT SOPHIE ELISABETH MARIE JANE BELLUM?!" Lily screeched. I flinched at her use of my full name.
"Lils, please. No need to yell. Mum'll hear you." I said quietly. She just stood in front of me glaring. I sighed and stood up. "What do you want form me then Lily? I don't know what to do. One minute my family is fine and the next, my dad is out the door with a suitcase in his hand!"
Lily's face softened and her hands dropped to her sides. "You can't give up Hogwarts Sophie. It's your home, your true home. You said so yourself. You can't live with out it. Amanda and Aimee will be in their first year this term; your mum won't have to worry about them at all. You can watch them at school."
I sighed. Lily was right, I hadn't thought about it. My mum would only have Henry to look after, and he's not much younger than the twins. She could do that on her own I guess. I thought.
It wasn't that my mum couldn't take care of her own kids. It was that she had never done it on her own before. When I was born, she had her mother. When I got older and she had the twins and Henry, she had me to help. I don't have much faith in my mother. She tends to break down when the going gets tough.
"I guess you're right. What about money? How will she pay with out dad's money?" Lily looked thoughtful for a moment and then smiled.
"Your parents shared an account right?" I nodded. "Then they share money. I don't really know though. Why don't you just talk to your mum?"
I smiled at my best friend. She is always there for me when I need someone. Even if I don't know I need to talk, she knows. She understands everything about me and how my crazy mind works.
"Lily?" I said quietly, looking at my feet.
"Yeah?" She said as she put her small hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks."