Sandwiched between my lumpy mattress and threadbare blankets, I shiver slightly, even though it is summer. I have not eaten since yesterday afternoon because there is no food left in the house. My mum has been too busy working to go shopping for food. I haven't seen her in three days. I think she comes home late at night so that she doesn't have to deal with my dad. Sometimes, if my dad is away, she will sing to me, and tell me that someday it will all be the way it once was. Dad will get his job back at the mill, he'll stop drinking, we'll be able to afford to have food and electricity again, and we will be happy.
My dad was sacked from his last job yesterday. My back is still sore from his belt. At least this time it wasn't his fists.
Sitting up, I brush the hair out of my face and look around my room: the cardboard box I keep my books in, the wardrobe, and my mum's old trunk. In the trunk I keep my collection of strange rocks, a mason jar that I found by the river that I used to keep my pet spider in, my pair of shoes, a harmonica I found at the park, and a hawk feather I found in the woods. I push myself off my mattress, change my shirt, put on the same pair of socks I've been wearing for the last three days, and sneak down the stairs, listening carefully for signs of life as I reach the bottom step. Hearing none, I walk to the bathroom to comb my hair with my fingers so that it covers my yellowing black eye. Stopping by the kitchen, I lower my head to drink some water from the tap and check the cabinets for some food. Finding none, I leave the house, locking the door behind me. When I have walked a little way down the block, I stop- muscles shaking- and sit down on the sidewalk. After a few minutes, I force myself to stand back up and continue on to the park.
When I get to the park, I see Lily. She is flying from the swings like an angel. Her hair fans out behind her like wildfire, burning away my bitterness and despair. She is wearing a blue dress with little white daisies embroidered on the hem. The top half of her hair is tied in a white ribbon. From behind the bushes, I watch her swing, favoring to wait and watch than draw attention to myself and make her stop. When she at last launches herself off the swing and comes to rest on the pavement, I begin to walk over.
"Sev! I didn't see you there! How are you? Tuney's been angry with me again" she continues without waiting for an answer , "You look so tired! Are you alright?"
I am starving "I'm fine. I'm sorry that your sister is being mean to you. Someday she'll realize that she's lucky to have you as a sister"
"You're sweet, Sev. Hey- wanna come over to my house today? I told my parents you might come! They can't wait to meet you! I've told them all about you and my dad wants to ask you so many questions about the wizarding world and my mum wants to talk to you about Hogwarts and we're making shepherd's pie for supper!"
As we walk, I focus on not stumbling. My hopes and wishes for food engulf me, and I find it difficult to hold conversation. But I'm alright.