Scared
Harry woke up to the sound of rain tapping on the window, and a feeling of dread. It took him a moment to remember why: Lily.
Why? Why was he so worried? He could understand Ginny and Hermione being worried: they worried about everything, it was their job as mothers. He could understand Mrs. Weasley being worried: she was Mrs. Weasley, after all! He could understand Ron being worried: Ron became worried if Hermione came home 5 minutes late.
But why was he worried?
Harry crept downstairs, peeking into the childrens' rooms as he went.
There was James, sprawled horizontally across his bed: Covers a mess, glasses still on, mouth agape, snores erupting.
All was well.
There was Albus, a neat little lump under the blanket: Head on the pillow, glasses on the bedstand, clothes laid out, small, quiet sighs at a regurlar pace.
All was well.
Where was Lily? A hand hanging off the bed?: Hair, a halo of flame? Mouth open only just? Book on her lap? Murmuring in her dreams?
Not all was well.
Her bed had the cold, unslept look in it. All her fairytales were on the shelf. Her clothes from yesterday weren't in the hamper. She wasn't outside: her raincoat and rainboots were right here. But this was normal.
Why was he so scared?
o~O~o
She would be downstairs in the kitchen. She usually was. Head on the table, face planted in a bowl or on a plate, a cup of milk nearby, a half-eaten apple in her hand. This was normal.
Why was he so scared?
o~O~o
She wasn't at the table.
No food was missing. No milk was gone. There were no extra dirty plates. No piece fruit was unaccounted for. Everything was exactly as he left it.
Where was she?
She would be on the couch. She slept there when she was scared. There might have been lightning earlier. She would be a little ball in Harry's favorite armchair, cuddling with Arnold, Ginny's pygmy puff. This was normal.
Why was he so scared?
o~O~o
Arnold was alone in the chair. No Lily. Harry remembered: Lily loved rain. She didn't mind lighting. Why would she hide from it? She would probably go play in it. she loved getting wet, but hated baths.
That's where she was! Outside, of course! She would always go outside if it was raining. In the day and in the night. In sickness and in health. This was normal.
Why was he so scared?
o~O~o
She wasn't outside. Harry checked everywhere: in the bushes, by the pond, even in the trees. Lily's whereabouts remained a mystery. She probably went for a walk. She went on walks by herself all the time. Harry might have waited, but something urged him to look.
He covered all of her routes three times, and he still hadn't found her! She hadn't come home yet. Ginny was up and searching as well. She had looked in the same places as Harry had, and was about to go on a walk when Harry came home.
Where was she?
Maybe she was hiding? She had the best hiding spots. She also hid when she was angry or upset. Last year, when James went to Hogwarts, she threw a tantrum and hid in the attic for three days because she couldn't go.
That was it! She was just hiding! This was normal.
Why were they so scared?
o~O~o
They combed the house. They looked in every nook and cranny. Harry and Ginny checked, and double-checked the attic. When the boys woke up, they looked too.
Where was she!
o~O~o
The last anyone had seen of Lily was she going outside to play yesterday morning. They didn't know if she even came back in.
Something was wrong.
They called her name as they searched the house a third time. None of the neighbors had seen her. Relatives were notified. Harry and Ginny were panicking.
They notified the Muggle Police. They notified the Daily Prophet. They looked again.
Lily would never frighten them like this purposely!
Harry was scared.
Something was definately wrong.
A.N. YAY! Thanks for the review! :D Hope you liked it!
R&R
~Nova Dies
P.S. I decided to change the rating.