Chapter Twenty: Case of the Missing Evans

Time to leave Hogwarts came quickly. Gryffindor won the house cup again, with 522 points. When they got back, Lily remembered her problem: she had no where to go. Last year she had spent at the Potters', but she didn't want to stay there again. Vanessa had offered to take her over the summer, but she had left already (her mum worked two jobs and couldn't wait for Lily to get off the train.) When she thought no hope remained, she got picked up in a bag, a Silencing Charm was placed upon herself and the bag, and she was brought somewhere—somewhere that was not familiar at all.

"You know you want me Evans," said the boy, who Lily recognized as the Slytherin seventh year (just graduated) Matt Flint.

"No, I don't," said Lily, as she realized she still had no voice.

"Yes you do," said Flint, grabbing her bag and bringing it to somewhere else she knew not of. She suddenly felt her clothes disappearing within the bag, and when she was fully naked the bag had bust. Flint was climbing on top of her—but, a she used to wrestle other boys, she was able to get out, grab her wand, and mutter the Full-Body Bind at him, along with the Silencing Charm. She then magiked herself some new clothes ('Setholcno!') and left—but, having no clue as to where she was, she walked around the house. The Full-Body bind was beginning to diminish from Flint's body—his legs were moving once more.

As she found a telephone, she picked it up and dialed Vanessa's home number, walking outside (it was a portable phone) with her wand and trunk (she found the bag with her clothes inside of it, her trunk with her stuff) and therefore found the street name and house number.

"Vanessa?" she said, and Vanessa answered her.

"Lily? Where are you? You didn't come with me!"

"The reason you couldn't find me was because some Slytherin graduate had got me in a bag and put a Silencing Charm on it. He tried to rape me, but I got the better of him—he's probably waking right now. Your mum can Apparate right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm at 822 Sly Snake Lane. Tell her to Apparate here and pick me up—oh wait—no, that won't work, I can't Apparate with her—um, well, can you use Floo Powder and come pick me up?"

"Be there in two minutes," said Vanessa from the other line, and they both hung up.

True to her word, two minutes later Vanessa came tumbling out of the fireplace.

"Hey Lil! You okay?"

"A couple bruises and my ego is hurt, but besides that no," said Lily.

"Okay—I brought some extra floo powder to go back, just say '915 Griffen Lane'—that's my house number and address and all."

Lily didn't waste one more minute. She walked right into the fireplace with her trunk and everything, said "915 Griffen Lane" into the fire, and came out of the fireplace at Vanessa's house.

A minute later, Vanessa came tumbling out. "Flint woke up," she explained. "Needless to say he was not happy—but I put him back in a Full-Body Bind so he's lying down again," said Vanessa proudly.

"I'm just hoping we don't get expelled for the use of magic," said Lily, and the smile from Vanessa's face vanished. "Forgotten, have we? We can't use magic outside of school until we graduate!"

As Vanessa almost replied, there was an owl flying towards them.

"Great, just great," said Vanessa, as Lily and herself opened up their letters.

Dear Miss Evans,

We received notice that you used a Full-Body Bind at half past noon on the thirtieth June. We also received notice that you performed a Silencing Charm at half past directily after the Full-Body Bind.

You remember you are not allowed to use magic outside of school before you graduate.

However, given the circumstances, we must congratulate you. We also received notice of what Mr. Flint was doing to you—so he'l be getting a notice as well. No punishment will be issued to you, as this was a life-threatening situation.

Have a good summer holiday.

Good day,

Mathilda Hopkins,

Improper Use of Magic director

Lily thought her eyes were deceiving her. "So it's okay?"

"Looks like it to me," said Vanessa. "Mine was only different in the times it said and that it said something about 'saving your friend's life'."

Lily laughed. "I never did thank you. Thanks."

"Not a problem."