(A/N: A large round of applause for patient readers. You deserve it for bearing me. Expect slow updates until April. My board exams are postponed to March 15th. yippees sarcastically )
Chapter 25: Trapped
About half an hour later, James woke up, groaning and cursing the unbearable throbbing in his head. Sirius by his side, he was still in the same, now deserted train corridor.
James looked up as a shadow fell across his face.
A large, burly man with hands as large as cymbals appeared, shouting in some foreign language.
Although James couldn't understand his tongue, he immediately realized what he wanted to say: Get off the train.
James was a very obedient young man especially when it came to hugely muscled guy with tattoos showing large skulls. He got off, dragging a barely conscious Sirius behind him.
At the muggle barrier, James found a luggage cart and shoved Sirius on it. Then, he passed through the solid metal at a fast run.
On the other side, the scene was exactly the opposite of the wizarding world. It was busy, chaotic and totally packed.
A mannish woman stared at the sleeping form of Sirius. James caught the glance and hastily pulled out his wand, "Envnerate…" Nothing happened. He repeated the word once, twice to no result, until suddenly; it turned into a large sword. James looked at in horror. This wasn't his wand--- it was one of the fake wands from Hogsmeade.
He pounded at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 but it didn't yield.
James was trapped--- trapped in the muggle world, without magic, without money, without Lily.
Lily was walking to her house, tears flowing silently over her face.
She paused at the doorstep of a large white house with poinsettias on the porch and tried in vain to wipe off the smears. She took a deep breath and knocked firmly.
A few seconds later, a petite woman of about forty appeared at the door, an apron reading 'World's Best Mum' tied around her stylish pant suit.
"Lily!" She cried and embraced her tightly.
"Mum…" Lily choked out, "You're smothering me!"
"Oh, sorry, dear." Her mother released her suddenly and studied her face carefully.
"Lily, have you been---" She stopped. "Never mind, dear."
Lily grimaced as she followed her to the kitchen. Her mother very well knew that her little girl had been crying. Lily forced herself to listen to what her mother was currently saying.
"Now, see, we'll have Christmas dinner at home, as usual. Vernon and his parents are so anxious to meet you!"
" Vernon? Who's Vernon?" asked Lily.
"Didn't you hear? He's Petunia's new boyfriend. And speaking of boyfriends, didn't you mention something in one of your letters…"
"Drop it, mum." Lily said sharply.
"All right, all right." Her mum began babbling again.
"Mum, what's wrong?"
"What gave you the idea that something was wrong?" She asked absentmindedly, as she shredded some greens.
"You're talking thirteen to a dozen, for god's sake. First sign of nervousness, you know."
Her mother conceded. "Yes, well… Petunia… you know how she is." She smiled awkwardly.
Lily nodded disbelievingly.
"She's, well, going through a new phase of hers."
Lily raised her eyebrows curiously.
"She… er, she refuses to acknowledge you as her sister."
Although, she tried not to let it register on her face, Lily was shocked. One hurt right after another.
Out loud she said, "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
Her mother turned to her but before she could say anything, Lily had stalked up the narrow stairs up to her room.
Lily entered her room and dropped on her bed without stopping to survey her surroundings.
It had looked the same for six years now: bare and obnoxiously neat. It felt like a ward in the hospital. But it hadn't been like this six years ago…
At that time, the room had been bright and cheery. It even had a board on the door with the words "Petunia & Lily's Room' scrawled with childish drawings of both flowers below.
Just as she was about to launch into afull-swing anguish attack, the phone on her bedside table rang. Once. Twice.
She leaped at it.
"Hullo?" She said, her voice blubbery.
"Yes, I'll hold."
After a pause, she heard a voice on the other end and her eyes widened.
"What? Where? Oh my fuckin---"
(A/N; Sorry for the short chappie. Best I could do with a boot lock on my computer. Can anyone teach me how to hack a bootlock password? Waah!! I need it. Also, about the numerous lines.... I don't get this QuickEdit thing yet... please excuse my ignorance.
P.S. Wait for the next chapter. I'm going to enjoy writing it sooooo much!!)
