(Again, Picture not related, just funny.)
My first thought was to go straight to Malfoy Manner, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was a death wish to just go marching up to Lucis and demand Stryker when better Wizards then me had died trying to take him down. I decided to go home, not because I changed my mind but because I needed help. Not from an adult, they were more powerful, but they were also more careful and they were probably going to do this by themselves. I needed someone about my age who knew as much magic as my father. I could only think of one person. I arrived out the front of my house, right at the front door. I felt dizzy and sick, apperating too many times in one day always did this to me. I took a minute to steady myself, leaning against the rail. After a few minutes, I took a final deep breath and opened the locked door with 'Alohorma'. Matt was probably in a bedroom, resting. I decided to check my parents' room first. I walked up the wooden stairs, not worrying about the creaking step but jumping over a perfectly good one out of habit from climbing the stairs at Hogwarts. I reached my parents' room and braced myself to see him. I placed a hand on the doorknob. I let it lay there for a moment before yanking my hand back like the doorknob was burning hot.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't face him. When I saw him last he was bloodied, covered in ash and looked like he was going to die. My mother was very talented in magic but how talented could she be? And even if he was still ok...how could he ever forgive me? It was my fault that Stryker got taken. I knew he was in danger, I knew Lucis was coming for him. I knew something wasn't right but my dam pride got in the way of saving him. If I hadn't been so stuck up, proud and stupid I would have let him stay at my house, my dads an Aurora and my mums almost as good at magic as him. My father took down Voldemort! He could have handled Lucis. The burrow would be fine, Matts parents would have a home and Stryker would be safe, with me. I couldn't forgive myself, so neither should Matt.
I nodded one to myself, with a gruff sigh. I was about to turn around and go get Stryker by myself, but a strong, stern voice interrupted me.
"Merlin Lil, are you going to open that door or are you going to just stand there? It must be important, whatever's behind that door, cos you've been standing there for about 10 minutes. But don't mind me, I've just been lying on the couch, waiting for your mothers spell to finish doing its trick. She's amazing at healing by the way."
I slowly turned around, and saw, him, standing at the bottom of the staircase. His ginger hair sitting haphazardly on his head. His skin sprinkled with freckles and his torso, arm and head wrapped in bandages. He was leaning casually against the stairway rail, his mouth curved into an awkward grin and as always, he was talking way too much.
"Oh Merlin, shut up Weasly." I teased, running down the stairs.
I stopped halfway down when the shock of seeing him had left.
"What's wrong Lil? You look like you've seen a ghost." Matt, said, cautiously walking up the stairs toward me.
"I understand that your angry and I'm not asking you to forgive me..." He opened his mouth, I continued, pulling up a finger to silence him." ...but I need your help, Stryker needs your help."
Matt looked confused, worried even.
"Lily, I don't know who you think you're talking to." He said gently. "I'm Matt Weasly, your cousin, I don't blame you for reacting how you did, I know how upset you must be by this. I will do whatever I can to help you get Stryker back here." He said.
My eyes started to water. Matt smirked and put on a tone of mock horror.
"Is the unbreakable Lily Potter crying? Is this the end of the world?"
I giggled a bit and lightly punched him in the arm.
"No, it's just that you said that entire paragraph with using any Matt Weasly speech." I joked.
He gasped and lightly punched my arm.
"Shut up your self, Lily Potter."
Then he looked around.
"Um, how did you get here? Do your parents know what you're about to do?"
I blushed and looked at the ground.
Matt sighed.
"Of course not, that just makes it even more fun, no back up though. Pity, but then again we were too good for them anyway. Now let's see, you're going to have to check my bandages and maybe get rid of them, I'm so not pulling off this ancient Egypt look. Then we're going to have to grab some things and pick up someone else...and we're going to have to do it quickly." He said, very fast.
"Woah, Woah, Matt, slow down, you don't have to come. You barely escaped Lucis alive and now you want to go back? You don't have to do this." I said.
Matt looked at me, straight in the eyes, his childish playfulness vanished and even feature on his face was etched with seriousness. To be honest, it frightened me.
"I want to do this Lil. First Lucis took my friend then he burnt down my home. Now he will play."
I nodded, still a bit afraid. Then his face returned to its usual state and he clapped his hands, smiled. And started walking back down the stairs.
"Merlin, why couldn't I just be normal? Why can't I just have normal friends and a normal family?"
I made my way downstairs to get the first aid kit and some water. I knew how to change bandages without the aid of magic. I went downstairs and found my cousin wearing only boxers. It was...disturbing and...very strange. But I just did as my mother had taught me and soon Matt had two of the bandages removed. There was no sign of injury on his head or arm but there was still a gash on his torso. Which was unfortunate because it was the injury that would affect him the most. I got my bag and started putting things in it. The bag was charmed so that it would be bigger on the inside. I decided to bring the medical kit, the medical spellbook, some water, some food snacks, some money (both Muggle and Wizard.) and three spare wands. Because one could never be too prepared. Matt said nothing but looked on, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed. He saw me putting three spare wands in the bag and opened his mouth to ask why. Before he could I answered.
"Well, we're missing someone, aren't we? Unless you intend you leave your girlfriend behind?"
"Lily, no. Not Sai, she's too precious for me to lose." He muttered the last bit.
I tried not to puke and replied.
"Matt, we both know that Sai is strong, probably stronger than both of us. She can handle herself and will probably end up saving us. She's not weak. You know this." I said, gently.
He sighed and said nothing more, but I knew he was in two minds.
When we had finished packing I put the bag on my back and ignored Matts protests, I could carry a bag just as well as he could. I let him apparrate to Sai's house 10 minutes before me, just in case it got emotional and weird.
(Do you want to know what happens with Matt and Sai? If so then comment here and I'll add it.)
So I counted down the minutes on my watch. Inpatient and restless, I tapped my foot every now and then. Finally, it had been ten minutes, I picked up my wand and tapped it on my head. The world span around me, faster and faster until the world was just a blur. I closed my eyes and tried not to puke.
Then I opened them again and I was standing in front of Sais house. Matt was standing with his arms around my friend, pulling her into a tight hug, they where both staring at me, shocked by my sudden appearance. I barely had a moment to register what was going on before I bent over double and puked. I heard Matt rench and felt like he walked away. I felt Sais gentle hand on my back. She patted my back comfortingly and muttered reassuring words to me. When I had finished she took me inside and handed me a paper towel then directed me towards the bathroom.
From the bathroom, I could hear Matt and Sai talking to each other.
"Sai, I really don't want you to do this, it's too dangerous, you could get badly hurt. I don't want you hurt too, like everyone else I love."
There was a pause.
"Sai? I'm so sorry I-i didn't mean to..." He started, shocked. "It's just that..."
"N-no it's ok," She interrupted, "I really care about you too."
There was another pause.
"R-really?"
"Auah."
Oh Merlin, were they going to kiss?
I was finished but I decided to stay in the bathroom for a while, just to be sure.
