You know I always hear people talking about how quickly the years seem to go by in London. Personally, I haven't had the pleasure of that experience; the last couple of years of my life seem to have dragged on, moving so incredibly slowly that there's no chance to get away from the hurt and pain that creeps up at the most unsuspecting moments.
Time heals everything right?
What people don't seem to get is that time takes bloody ages to move forward, and in that time you don't heal. Or at least I haven't. Should I have? I mean it's been two years since I last saw them…saw him. And yet every time I think of them I get this pang in my chest, which requires a huge gulping breath to get rid off. It's annoying and in today's case, embarrassing as hell.
I was on the bus and I all I saw was this guy with his grey eyes. Cue pang in chest and huge deep breath. Only said huge deep breath was obstructed by the chewing gum in my mouth and the sucking in of air was promptly followed by a huge coughing fit to dislodge said chewing gum from my larynx.
Oh well, at least it got my brain off thinking about his eyes…for a whole short 15 minutes. But here I am now, burrowing my cold face in my woolly scarf whilst my curly hair whips my cheeks, thinking about him again.
Sirius bloody Black.
I can't believe it's only been two years. Two teeny tiny years since my whole life changed.
Actually I guess that would be incorrect; I mean people usually use the term my whole life changed in reference to a certain small period of time that had a big impact in their lives. My life may have completely changed two years ago but the build up to it happening lasted a whole seven months. Seven months of all things hateful. Hateful looks and hateful words, by the people I loved most in the world, the people I considered my second family.
Well I have definitely learnt my lesson. Now I only have one family, my real family and that's enough for me. Belle, Marie and me. That's all I need, I tell myself silently as I open the front door.
"Hey I'm home." I yell.
"We're in the kitchen." Belle yells unnecessarily.
I can already hear Marie's excited cries about the fact that dinner tonight consists of chips drowned in ketchup. As soon as I enter she launches off the chair she was colouring in and throws herself at me. I feel my mouth stretch into a smile, my dry lips cracking painfully. It's impossible not to smile when looking into Marie's bright green eyes.
"Hey honey. How was school today?"
"It was really good. Mrs Macaroni gave me a gold star and we got to play stuck in the mud at lunchtime." She replies enthusiastically.
"And you?" I ask walking over to Belle, who promptly slams the potato peeler down.
"It totally sucked…Julie's being a complete and utter bit-"
"Belle." I interrupt before she goes into a massive rant in front of Marie's innocent ears. She rolls her eyes in response. I feel Marie wriggling in my arms, eager to get back to her coloring. I put her down and sigh.
"So I'm guessing you and Julie haven't quite made up then? How long is this going to go in for? You've been best friends for bloody years. You shouldn't let a stupid boy come in between that!"
"Try telling Julie that." She sulks.
"You're both as stubborn as each other." I remark. Belle doesn't find it necessary to reply and we move onto a safer conversational topic.
"So how was work? Get any manky patients in today?"
Did I mention I was a nurse at Woodside Hospital? After Mum and Dad died in the car crash a few months after I moved back home, I had to get a job and quick. Belle was only fourteen and Marie two. Legally I became their guardian but at only 18, the local authorities weren't too confident in my abilities to look after two minors.
I used some of my inheritance in paying off the small debts they had left behind and most of the rest in enrolling in the local university to study Nursing. I'd always wanted to be a Healer but being shunned by most of the Order and therefore some of the most influential people in the Magical Community ended that idea pretty quickly. Muggle medicine was also out of the question. The course was too long and I had to show Child Services that I would be able to get a job quickly and support my family.
One and a half years later I finally finished my degree and seeing how I'd volunteered during my summer's home, I got a job as a nurse in A&E at the hospital within two weeks. Local authorities had darkened my doorsteps for the last time 3 months ago deeming me fit to take care of Belle and Marie.
"Nope, it was pretty normal stuff." I reply as I heat up the oil in the pan.
I glance warily at the clock. There'd been strikes across London transport today and it had taken a ridiculous amount of time to get home. I had to be at Sazio's by 7:30 to cover dinner service. Being a nurse, rewarding as it was emotionally if you can call it that, was lacking a little in the part where I was rewarded financially. I had to take a second job in the evenings at the posh Italian place on the high street to cover the necessities. It was tiring but it made sure that Belle and Marie got everything they wanted so I was happy to do it. I was usually home at around 10:30 so it wasn't too bad. An extra £100 quid a week helped soften the blow when it came to paying the gas bill.
It was so weird I thought to myself. Four years ago I was a normal witch attending Hogwarts and then I was told that I was an Elemental. Me, a muggleborn witch had powers that were written about in Magical fairy tales. Fire, Ice, Earth and Wind. My first thought when Dumbledore had told was no way, the guy had finally gone crazy.
I mean, I think I would have noticed if a bunch of flames shot out of my hands before.
Once it had sunk in a little, my second thought was how cool this was. I could easily freak out anyone who pissed me off from now on. No-one would mess with me when I could set their head on fire and burn their hair off.
My third thought was oh bloody crap after Dumbledore told me that He Who Must Not Be Named a.k.a. Moldy Fart was looking for me. He wanted me to join him- seems I would be useful in the whole taking over the world thing regardless of being a Mudblood.
Hypocritical twit.
Author's Note: Hi, this is my first ever story so I'd love to know what you think about it. I wrote the entire thing eons ago and I finally got the courage to post it so please keep flames to a minimum if they're necessary! Until next time, Curiositykils
