A stroll through Cokeworth

The days at the Evans household had passed quickly as Rowan and Petunia mostly hung out all the while keeping an eye on Severus and Lily. Not that they needed chaperones mind you, but Mr. Evans clearly thought so. It wasn't though Andrew was around much that week. He respected his girlfriend and knew that she wanted to spend time with her friend. So, all in all, Rowan and Petunia were able to catch up quite a bit.

After the return from her visit to the Lupin household, Rowan and Petunia plopped down in the front of the telly to watch the Bionic Wo-man, the main female character, Aime is posing as an undercover stewardess to keep an eye on Roy Wells who is transporting a top-secret formula. Abruptly the plane goes down during an electric storm, but luckily the plane crashes on a deserted island. However, there are spies on board the plane who will do anything to get the formula.

Petunia absolutely loved the portrayal of Aime and even Rowan enjoyed the show even if she did roll her eyes in exasperation several times. "So, what did you think?" Petunia excitedly asked.

"It wasn't that bad," Rowan reluctantly admitted. "Through some of the plot was a bit cliché."

"Duh! It's about spies, it has to be to an extent," Petunia huffed. "Anyhow, we can watch the Olympics now.

"How magnanimous of you, Tuney," Rowan drily replied earning a pointed and rather painful jab to her ribcage.

 Rubbing her ribs, Rowan sits back and resumes watching the Montreal Olympics with Petunia. The Summer Olympics this year were exciting especially gymnastics when Nadiaa at only 14 years of age scored a perfect 10 from the judges. It was a never-before-seen score in the history of gymnastics!

It was a shame that Severus and Lily weren't interested in watching. An utter shame, if you asked her. They didn't know what they were missing.

After some time, "Rowan and Petunia will you help me set the table?" Mrs. Evans called out from the kitchen. "Your father will be here soon, Tuney."

"Yes, mum," Petunia good-natured rolled her eyes as Rowan arose to go and help Mrs. Evans set the dinner table. There was potato salad, chips, a steaming pot roast, and gravy with a basket of fresh hot dinner rolls. And as for dessert, strawberry trifle is inside the fridge to remain cool.

Dinner was filled with chatter as the six of them ate. Home from the factory, Mr. Evans tried to make small talk. It was difficult as Lily and Severus tended to discuss things about Hogwarts and the magical world. It rather made him feel left out.

Thankfully, Mr. Evans was able to keep up a conversation with his eldest, Petunia, and Rowan. They all chatted about the ongoing Olympics. Mrs. Evans had even chimed in the conversation about being delighted to see the Queen opening the games. The Queen and several family members were in attendance. In fact, the queen's daughter, Anne was to even compete as part of the British riding team!

Tired from a long day of work, Rowan and Severus offered to clean up. Mrs. Evans happily accepted their help as the table and dishes magically were washed, dried, and put away. The family sat down to watch a bit more of the Olympics before heading to bed later in the evening.

Since Rowan and Severus' arrival, Mr. Evans has made it a point to sleep all this week on the couch. He worried that Lily might sneak downstairs to Severus's room or vice-versa. His back ached terribly after several days of sleeping on the couch. Setting his pride aside, he had finally accepted Rowan's offer to transform the couch into a bed.

Mr. Evans had been convinced by his wife's pleading and his terrible backache. Not that he would ever admit it to his eldest daughter, but it was Petunia's words that had moved him. "What's the use of magic, Dad, if you can't even use it for convenience? It isn't like Rowan can't transform the couch back to normal."

 The summer heat wave had begun to break, but it was still warm at night. It wasn't as bad with the cool night air drifting in through the open screen window. The crickets chirp in the garden. Occasionally, a bark from a dog can be heard or the screech of a cat.

The household finally falls asleep but not soon enough for Rowan, who has been wide awake staring at the ceiling of Petunia's room for a good portion of the night. Sensing that the household is deeply asleep, she reaches for her wand tucked under her pillow. Slowly sitting up, she casts a spell on the pillow to make it look as though she is still sound asleep.

Not taking the risk of waking Petunia or her parents by sneaking out of the bedroom, Rowan decides to walk to a corner of Petunia's bedroom. Closing her eyes, she opens her mind mapscape. Selecting a destination in mind, she soundlessly vanishes from the Evans household with none the wiser. The moon shines overhead on the outskirts of Cokeworth. She appears on the edge of a dirty brook, one wholly familiar to her from her childhood (and which split the town into the good and poor sides).

Scrambling past the dirty brook with overgrown, rubbish-strewn banks, the night is filled with the chirping of insects and the sounds of the creatures of the night. A vixen darts past dead, blackened trees into the field clenching a limp mouse in her mouth jaws to feed her hungry kits.

The Spinner's End is filled with rows of dilapidated brick houses that stand side by side; the majority of the house windows are dull and dusty from the outside. There is a sign of possible life in one or two houses reflecting the light of a telly in the windowpane. In this part of town, folks minded their own business; life was bad enough as it was, and they didn't need to add problems that were not their own.

Standing in front of a worn, rickety flat, Rowan gazes at her childhood home. The outer windows are thick with dust and the pavement is cracked and broken. The metal railing of the stairs is thick with rust, and the paint from the front door has since faded away. Climbing up the broken stairs that wobble beneath her feet, she stops in front of the door.