I clambered off the train, my trunk held under one arm, Isis’s carrier under the other. I followed the crowd of other students through the barrier into the non-magical part of the station, before finding a person-free spot, and standing there. Where were my parents?
Eventually, the crowds cleared enough for me to see my mum sitting on a bench, so I squirmed through the people. My mum looked up when I had almost reached her, and she stood up to give me a brief hug, before taking Isis’s carrier.
“Are you okay? Was the train comfortable?”
“Yes.” I replied. “I had a compartment to myself for most of the journey.”
“That’s good. Let’s head off.”
“Are we going by train or car? And where’s dad?”
She was quiet for a few seconds. Maybe he was at home. He didn’t like cars very much. Or, he might be at the toilet.
“By train.”
She started walking, and I walked after her, trying my best to keep up.
“But, where’s dad?”
We were nearly at the ticket booths, and my mum stridently stopped, and swung round to face me. I stopped just before I would’ve crashed into her.
“I don’t know where he is.”
I could feel the confusion going across my face.
“I wasn’t going to tell you until a bit later. But, you will not be seeing your dad this holiday. Or, in fact, for a few years.”
“But -“
“We got divorced just before Christmas. Now, we need to hurry up, otherwise Alex will wonder where we are.”
“Alex?”
“My new husband. Hurry up, we need to get home.”
I froze. She was married, again?
“I want to live with dad.”
“No. No, you can’t. I have forbidden him from making any contact with you. And you can’t make contact with him. Come on. The train is in half an hour, and we still need to buy you a ticket.”
She started walking, before realising that I wasn’t following her.
“No.” I took a deep breath. “No, I am not coming with you. I’m not staying at home without dad.”
My mum took a step forward.
“What else could you do.”
I thought quickly. There was a reason that I was a Ravenclaw - I could come up with ideas.
“I could stay with Aunt Louise, Uncle Max, and Alana. I’m sure they would be fine with that!”
“You can’t just stay with them all summer.”
“I won’t have to. School has a summer camp, for the entirety of August. I would only have to stay with them for a month.”
My mum sighed. She knew me well enough that I wouldn’t back down. She reached inside her pocket, and pulled out her phone. I watched with wide eyes as she opened it, and started calling someone.
“Stay here.” She commanded, before walking partly away, so I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I sat down on a nearby bench, and watched Isis readjust her curled up form. After what felt like a lifetime, my mum returned.
“Fine. They say it’s fine. They will meet you at Newcastle station. But, you will have to get the train yourself. I need to get home.”
I smiled slightly, and picked up my trunk, as she handed me some money.
I started to walk to the ticket office, but she placed a hand on my shoulder.
Her voice was deep, and I froze. “Mirada. If you do anything, anything bad at all, you will be sent back to me. And, you won’t go to this summer camp of yours. Now go. Get your ticket. I need to catch a train.”
I waited until she was out of sight before walking to the ticket office, and buying a one way ticket to Newcastle, reassuring the person there that I had parental permission, and that there was someone to collect me at the other side. I was told that one of the staff would keep an eye on me for the journey, and I smiled gratefully, before waiting for the train. I paused just as I stepped into the train. It was then that I decided that I didn’t ever want to live with my mum again.
