Chapter 6 - Return (1/2)
Late that afternoon, Eileen excitedly receives an owl delivered letter and anxiously begins to read the handwritten note. With shaking fingers, she glances up at the tiny clock in her room as her face blanches at the hour. Eileen hurriedly reaches for the small savings hidden in the back of her nightstand and carefully puts the money in the inner pocket of her beige coat. With pale fingers, she grabs the already packed carpet bag from the floor, before hastily rushing over to the twin's room.
Eileen comes to an abrupt halt as her face unhappily pales at finding the twin's bedroom empty. Suddenly she recalls, Severus shouting out that they were going to play in the fields. She hastily grabs a single day change of clothes for the twins, before closing the carpetbag shut and hurrying out the door. She grimaces in exasperation as she steps onto the gloomy street and looks both ways as the shadows lengthen with sunset upon them.
”Where could they be?” Eileen crossly thought to herself and frowned. From the corner of her eyes, she suddenly sees two small figures holding hands as they walk down the street. She instantly runs over to the surprised figures of Severus and Rowan.
With the streets getting dark it was naturally unsafe for Severus and Rowan to stay out. And though it was unsafe to be at home, it was worse to be caught outside in the dark unawares. However, what truly shocked them was to see their mother, Eileen dressed up in her best clothes including her beige coat as they couldn't recall the last time, she looked quite so nice. Nor for that matter, the last time she had come out to greet them or made sure they safely got home and were tucked into bed.
Eileen with relief smiles at the twins and says, ”We haven't got much time. Come along.” Rowan and Severus stare at each other with unspoken words as Eileen notices the twins aren't following her. ”Quickly!” Eileen harshly cried out. With no other choice nor explanation, Rowan and Severus grip each other's hands firmly as they struggle to keep up with Eileen's brisk pace. Soon enough, they arrive at a small train platform with two small two building serving as the train station.
”Stay here and don't talk to strangers!” Eileen sternly instructed Severus and Rowan as she sat them both firmly onto a bench. Giving them once last commanding look, Eileen quickly marches over to the ticket office to buy three one-way tickets.
The platform is rather empty at this later hour except for two other passengers seated at a shared bench. After a moment, Severus quietly says, ”Are we leaving?”
”Probably,” Rowan bluntly responded.
”I didn't even get to say goodbye to Lily!” Severus said in a panicked voice.
”It'll be alright,” Rowan soothingly said. ”Once we get there you can always send her a letter apologizing and letting her know our new address.”
Severus sighs in understanding and gloomily murmurs, ”Okay.”
With a loud cry, the metal train approaches, and lets out a screeching whistle as slides to shrieking halts next to the platform. Eileen's brisk footsteps are quickly heard as she returns with three tickets clutched in her hand. ”Hurry up now, we must quickly board!” Eileen snapped as she led the twins away.