Nothing belongs to me.

XLVIII: Flowers

Though the Potter children were quite used to it, their mother's "disappearances" remained something of a mystery to them.

They never knew where she went or what she did, but it was always the same, everyday.

At precisely noon, Ginny Potter would drop whatever she was doing at the moment and vanish for fickle amounts of time, leaving her children behind with the house elf that conveniently materialized.

Upon returning, Ginny would act as though she had been present all along. James, Albus, and Lily tried questioning her about it, on many occasions, but it was useless: their mother wouldn't speak of it.

She had done this – it – as long as they could remember, everyday, even on holidays, each year.

Their father never made much of it.

"Well, perhaps your mum goes shopping…" was what he had always offered before quickly changing the subject to that of his work or Quidditch.

This habit, however, only suggested that he knew more than he was letting on.

Horribly unsatisfied, the children had decided to scavenge further details on their own.

With vigilant observation, they learned this:

Their mother Disapparated, always, with nothing but a bouquet of fresh flowers, and when she returned the flowers would be gone.

Apart from this, they knew nothing else, and after James headed off to Hogwarts, their quest became strained, eventually crumbling.

It wasn't until the summer before James's final year at Hogwarts when their curiosity finally bested them.

Not a week had passed after the end of term when James came home, flushed with excitement.

"I've passed my Apparition Test!"

There were sounds of appreciation in the kitchen, at his news.

"Wow, Jamie!"

("Finally!" exclaimed Albus. "It's been what – fifty seven times?" James merely scowled.)

"Darling, that's wonderful!" Ginny moved towards him, her arms outstretched. "Oh, wait until Harry hears – !"

She had frozen, staring horrorstruck at the clock on the wall, her arms still raised. In a swift movement, she snatched up her wand on the counter, and with the vase of flowers sitting on the table. With a pop, Ginny was gone.

Lily stared sadly at the spot where their mum had stood. "Why does she do that?"

Albus patted his brother awkwardly on the arm. "It's okay, Jamie. She'll be back."

James shook his head, his face now ashen. "I think it's about time we figured out just what Mum's been hiding."