Muggle cars- a bad invention ((Flo only))

[leon]

Leon awoke suddenly, without any warning. From one glance out of the window he could tell it wasn’t even nearly time to wake up. Searching for the cause of his early-morning wake-up call he found it with a sigh. Flapjack had pounced onto his stomach once again clearly- the kitten belonging to his sister was perched on the end of his single bed with an ‘it-wasn’t-me’ look on his face. Completely adorable, but Leon wasn’t to be fooled. With an angry tone although he wasn’t actually that annoyed, Leon scolded the little kitten before picking it up in his blue-pyjama swathed arms. The feline squirmed almost immediately but didn’t jump out until Leon had opened his younger sisters’ door just a crack, making enough room for the kitten to squeeze through. Although he hadn’t planned it Leon followed the kitten softly, being carefully to avoid the odd thing on the floor which may cause May to wake.

He watched Katie-May sleep. Years ago he had done the same thing but they had been in a hospital, with May’s face pale and sweaty, her eyes bloodshot and wide. The illness which took hold of his baby sister- no longer a baby of course- was still as much in his mind as he knew it must be in hers. She was now cured, after taking surgery in a muggle hospital. The fact that Leon’s parents had chosen a muggle hospital, something far-fetched and completely odd, had confirmed Leon’s fears that his sisters’ problem had been more than slightly serious. Although she was officially cured now the past pain Leon knew she had felt still came back and he couldn’t help edging closer to watch her sleep.

His Peskie Pixie. He loved her- he knew many siblings fought like mad, bickering all the time and driving parents mad. But he and May weren’t like that. When she was born he had hated the attention she got- he had just turned three when she was born and he had felt jealous and almost neglected. But it didn’t last long. When her second word came out as ‘Leon’ he felt a little less annoyance towards her. By the time he was five and she was three they loved each other completely. Since then they hadn’t fought seriously over anything and were just like best friends in many ways. When her illness kicked in Leon would cry and be depressed a lot, he loved his little Pixie that much.

“Stop staring at me you weirdo,” her sleepy voice broke into his thoughts. Grinning, he pushed her curled-up form gently in a playful way- similar to the style a mother cat would bat away a kitten.
“Don’t forget that Flo’s coming over today. We were planning on heading off to the park for a bit before lunch, you gonna come?” He asked her though he already knew the answer.
“Course! What time is she coming? I can’t wait; it’s been a while since I’ve seen her. Well… three weeks. But still! She’s so much fun to have around. I honestly think you should ask her to be your girlfriend, Lee.” She giggled, kicking her brother back softly. Leon raised his brows. May was forever on at him to ask Flo out- made him laugh really. They were such good friends it would just be weird. Sitting on his little sister’s leg so she couldn’t move it Leon explained to her this but she merely shrugged. “Now get out so I can get dressed. We have…” She glanced at the small silver watch on her bedside table. Leon had given in to her for her ninth birthday, knowing the little engraved butterfly on the back would appeal to her. “two hours. It’s half eight already, so scram!” She told him, pushing him from the room.
He obeyed, grinning. Two hours just to get changed? That girl was mad. He supposed she probably used it- he had seen girls dressed up before. Maryn, for instance, had taken ages to get ready when the two went to the Halloween Ball together. Though the outcome was gorgeous, he smiled. He hadn’t seen Maryn for ages and although the Ball had been more of a friends-together thing he wouldn’t have minded meeting up in a different way. He made a mental note to ask Flo what she thought of the idea of asking Maryn on a date when he went back to Hogwarts.

Stepping with a slight hop down the stairs he walked into the kitchen curiously. Being awake early was a new thing and he wondered if he’d get the best of the breakfast due to this. Glancing over the furnished surfaces he decided firmly not to be healthy. The breakfast muffins his mum always ordered for the early-morning wakers would be gone soon and he snatched one fast, and on a second thought took another for May. Who knows how many muffins his toddler-loving parents could feed the devil of a baby brother Leon had? Stealing the top from another muffin as a sign of great rebellion, he walked from the kitchen.

The next hour and a half were spent very creatively. He ate his muffin and half of May’s, fed the cats, glared as Matt’s screams woke everyone up, glared at his mum when she pushed his finger away after he’d cut it a little, just so she could get to Matt’s bottle, and he’d also dressed and washed. It took him about forty minutes to do all that so the other fifty minutes he had spent watching some lame kids programme that he didn’t even know was called. It was in fact Bob the Builder but the only thing Leon was interested about was how the little truck- Roly or something, was sketched while it was made. Bored still he sprinted to his room, seized his huge sketchbook and drawing pencils, and rushed back downstairs before the programme could finish.

It didn’t take long to sketch out the simple outline. Since he never had a still-shot of the little blue truck it was fairly hard to get a perfect angle but he managed it in the end. Adding details slowly, now and again sharpening his pencil and dropping the sharpening leftovers onto the suede cushion beside him, Leon ended up ignoring the tv as he continued. He shaded slightly, adding extra points that weren’t on the programme. He then turned to a new page in his full-up sketchpad and drew a larger sized truck. This one had tiny butterflies dotted all over it, drawn with amazing detail for their size. Along the front bumper Leon scratched in the letters ‘F’, ‘L’, and ‘O’ in little 3-D font. He was just drawing in the driver’s seat of the truck a tiny sketch of Flo, with a huge goofy grin on her face, when a sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
“Leon James Harrow!” His mothers voice cut in, making Leon draw a hard line across Flo’s face. The kind that don’t come out, no matter hard you rub with an eraser. “I have told you time and time again not to leave the pencil sharpenings everywhere! Or am I not listened to completely in this house?” She began to raise her voice, making Leon wince. “You have the television on when you aren’t even watching it, and just now I found Flapjack eating a half-eaten muffin outside May’s door. This has got to change young man!” Her shrieks were interrupted by the dinging of the door, causing May’s footsteps to scamper down the stairs and Leon to stuff his sketchbook away in a drawer and rush to the door.
He opened it with a smile, knowing that Flo must have heard his mother’s ranting.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo was falling, falling through the sky. Before she was flying, with giant butterfly wings the colours of pink and blue, with spirals and swirls and spots. But suddenly she lost the wings, just as they had suddenly appeared. Yes, Flo was dreaming. And yes, of butterflies and her being a butterfly. Even she couldn’t control her dreams or her obsessions, and when they come together, they usually leave a giant bump on the head as Flo got as she woke up on the floor with her blanket sprawled around her and her mattress standing vertically. That’s not how Flo usually slept. Then she heard a giggle and realized that it was Tim, her idiotic little brother, that never seemed to get tired of pulling pranks on his sister, just because that’s how siblings were supposed to act. Always fighting and hardly ever nice to each other. Tim and Flo would always be fighting about something. Whether it was who had to wash the dishes, or who caused the fire in the kitchen (“It's as much Tim's fault as it is mine!”) Flo supposed they would never stop yelling at each other. “Tim! Get out of my room! Out! Mum!” Flo screeched out loud and scrambled to get up so she could chase Tim out of her room. It was a bit hard with her floor having floorboards and her blanket slipping all over it. “Get out! Now!” Flo screamed once again as Tim started to point and laugh as Flo fell over again trying to stand up.

“Tim, you know what your father and I have told you about this! Out, and You have to do Flo’s chores for two weeks understood?!” Was Flo’s mother's voice coming from Flo's doorway. Tim ran around Flo’s bed up to his mum and pleaded. “That's not fair! You know she put my jeans next to Scooter's cage on purpose! Now they have holes in them and half a leg is missing!” This was true, Flo had put his jeans next to his pet rat’s cage, but she didn’t know it was going to eat nearly all of his jeans. She thought that it might just nibble on the bottom of the legs and make the hem come out, making Tim trip over his jeans. “Who knew that rats could fit so much in their tiny stomachs?!” Flo teased her brother, before pushing her him and her mother out of her room so she could get dressed. Flo yawned and looked at the clock above her bed. “11.20…Ugh…too early…stupid Tim…” Flo pushed her mattress back onto her bed and feel back onto it, throwing her blanket over her then closed her eyes. It took Flo awhile before she realised she was going somewhere. Her eyes flew open and she threw off her blanket then ran downstairs. "Mum! Why didn't you tell me I was late!?" Flo cried out to her mother as she got ready to have a shower. "Late? Late for what?" Was her mother's response. "You forgot?!" Flo poked her head out of the bathroom. "I'm going to Leon's remember?" Flo's mother frowned for a second then suddenly remembered. "Oh dear. Well hurry up!" She passed Tim his breakfast and he attacked the toast, like a lion would attack it's prey. "Pig..." Flo muttered and closed the door.

Quickly Flo had her shower, got dressed and started to dry her hair, when she heard her brother hitting the door. "Flo! Stop being a girl and hurry up! Dad's waiting for you in the car!" Flo sighed and opened the door. "My hair is still wet!" She replied, holding up a bunch of her hair and flicking some water onto Tim. "So? Hang your head out of the window, what do i care?" Flo rolled her eyes and pushed her brothers head into the door and ran back upstairs to her room, before grabbing her bag and running back downstairs. "Bye mum!" Flo waved to her mother as she raced past and ran outside and into the car. "Ten minutes young lady." Her father's angry tone came from the front seat. "Sorry! You dont want me to catch a cold when my hair is wet do you?" She asked as he started the car.The car ride was long and boring. Even doing homework would be more fun then driving in a car with old country music on the radio and your dad singing along. For awhile Flo had fallen asleep. She hadn't had a late night, Flo just liked to sleep.

Flo woke up as they arrived at Leon's home. Her hair was wet from her hair, but Flo didn't mind. She quickly took off her seatbelt and opened the door. "Hurry up dad! We're already late!" Flo urged her dad. "By two minutes Flo!" He responded. Flo ran around the car and dragged her dad towards the Harrow's front door. Flo jumped as she heard yelling inside. She frowned and ringed the doorbell. It took a few seconds before the door swung open and Flo was hugging Leon's little sister.

[leon]

Leon rolled his eyes as his mother peered over his shoulder at Flo, and grinned as May rushed forwards, throwing herself into Flo's arms.
"Flo! FLO!" She screamed happily. But then she backed away, a slightly disgruntled look on her young face. "Uhhh Flo you're hair is soaking wet." Leon laughed and May took this badly, frowning, annoyed, at her brother. Before she could say anything Leon stepped forwards and hugged Flo too, careful not to get his white jumper soaked by her dripping hair. He drew back and smiled at her, then looked at his mum curiously.
"Mum can we go to the park now? You don't mind, do you Flo? Just chuck your things inside and we can tidy them up when we get back."
"No, Flo, don't 'chuck' your things inside!" Leon's mum tutted, frowning disapprovingly at Leon. "Yes you may go out now, here's a few pound incase you want any ice-cream or whatever you kids eat now. Here, Flo, let me take this." She leant forwards, taking Flo's bag from her and smiling at her dad. "Morning, Hank. Care for a cup of tea? The baby's at the Doctors with his dada, so it's nice and quiet here." She smiled.

This did, of course, give Leon and May the opportunity to giggle. Their mum never knew how to react around muggles and although Hank no doubt knew everything about the magical world, their mum was obviously more than a little awkward around him. Taking the money Leon pushed it into his pocket of his black jeans and quickly snatched the sketch he'd drawn of the car and Flo, stuffing it under a pillow so his mother wouldn't see. Tugging Flo and May with him he headed towards the main streets of London, turning towards the two and walking backwards with a grin on his face as he took in the image behind Flo and May; his mum struggling to find something to say to Hank as she ushered him inside.

"So Flo, what have you been doing so far this holiday? We've been bored as usual. Mum's stricter than ever cause stupid Matt has a stupid cold. Leon's drawing everything he sees because he'd getting stressed too." May grinned, nudging Leon with a smile. "Stop walking backwards you fool, there's a road right behind you!" Leon glanced behind him, slightly fearful. He hadn't thought he was so close to the road but saved himself just in time as a small Beetle rushed past dangerously. May tutted, tugging her brother and Flo towards the crossing.
"haha- Flo, Leon wants to know what you think about him asking Maryn out." She grinned as Leon's mouth opened wide, annoyed but still wanting to find out Flo's answer. Both of them looked at Flo expectantly, waiting for the traffic lights to turn green.

[Flo Murvac H4]

The door flew open, and Flo was almost knocked over by a small tiny girl version of Leon. Flo grinned as she hugged back May, and giggled as she backed away, telling Flo that her hair was wet. "I know, silly! I had a shower!" Leon went to hug Flo and she hugged him back. She was excited to see them both again...even If she had seen them nearly everyday at Hogwarts, it didn't count. It wasn't school, It was the holidays, so that made it better. Flo looked over Leon's shoulder and saw his mother. Flo smiled slightly and gave a slight hello before she was intterupted by Leon. He suggested that he, May and Flo take a walk to the park. Flo liked the idea and shoock her head as he asked if she minded. Flo grinned and Leon told her to just 'chuck her bag somewhere'. His mother obviously didn't approve about that, and told her differently. "I won't Mrs. Harrow!" Flo smiled at her a she took her bag from Flo's shoulder. She then had addressed Flo's father by his real name, which Flo would hardly ever hear, just like anyother child, as they usually called their parents by mum or dad.

They were ready to go. Leon had practically pulled Flo and May along with him. May was asking Flo questions of what she had been doing on the holidays, and telling her that they were bored as their baby brother had become sickand their mother was fretting over him left right and center. Flo giggled. "Well, I suppose...nothing really. Tim's a pain, as usual.." Flo stoped as May told Leon was was close to becoming hit by a car. Flo had to admit, he was a bit too close to the road. Her eyes widend as he glanced behind him and quickly stopping. Flo sighed. "You'd think that seeing kids of our age, they would slow down! Oh no.." Flo giggled. "I'm begining to sound like mum!"

They walked a few more steps before seeing a crossing ahead of them. May once again started talking. But this time it was about Maryn. "Maryn?!" Flo exclaimed. "Leon! Yes! You should!" She turned to Leon as she saw his wide-mouthed expression. "Hehe! Yes! Maryn's so nice!!" Flo couldn' believe it. Maryn was one of Leon and Flo's friends, and if Leon and Maryn, were going out, it would be excellent! Flo looked down the street, waiting for the cars to drive past and the green light with the little walking man to turn on. So far, It was the bast news Flo had heard all day!

[coolasice]

May laughed as Flo spoke, similar to the way a mother would. "That's the problem with muggle cars; you can't see them coming sometimes.' Leon merely ruffled her hair at this; he'd got used to them but for her, the difference between Hogwarts and the muggle cars-world was offsetting. But he stopped as the reached the crossing and laughed.
"You think? I think Stryder's interested in her too though. Though maybe, you could... 'distract' him while I 'charm' her?" Leon laughed, not being serious anymore. The fact that distracting for Flo would be more than easy enough for her made him smile. He liked Stryder, he was a good guy really. But of course the fact that rumours had being going around saying Maryn was interested in him, and vice versa, made Leon want to ask her out soon. He stopped himself momentarily. He had already planned roughly with her a meeting in the holidays; they'd taken the train ride home together and while talking about her brother's cancer he'd offered to visit her in the hospital. Leon grinned at the thought of seeing her, then noticed May watching him with a small smile playing about her lips.
"What?" He asked accusingly. She merely laughed lightly, nudging him and Flo towards the other side fo the road as the red man changed to the green. Halfway across Leon slipped slightly and stumbled, balancing out his fall just in time.

"Wwoops!" He exclaimed hastily as the coins his mother had given him fell out of his pocket, scattering across the road. He didn't look up as he picked them up one-by-one. A car beeped loudly and made him glance towards Flo and May. They were already on the other side and he smiled at them before noticing May's expression. It was of shock and fear, and she began to run out on the road towards him. He stood up in confusion from his crouched position, even though the coins were still scattered on the ground. A sharp pain crashed into his side. He wondered what it was, wondered about the coins on the floor, wondered who would pick them up, and then wondered no more as he fell to the ground, hands not even reaching out to stop his fall.
"LEEON!" May's shriek echoed around the area. Everything seemed silent, it was just May and Leon. May and Leon. People were getting out of cars and staring, eyes-wide at the young, thirteen-year-old wizard on the ground. A tiny shade of red began to appear around Leon's face and May noticed even from where she was standing, the long, red gash across his cheek from his fall.

"What's happened?"
"That boy! Is he ok?"
"Call an Ambulance! Quick!"
"That girl, she's clearly his sister. Someone give her a blanket, and the other one."

The voices came to May's ears like a hammer and finally she noticed everyone around her. Eyes-wide she ran towards her brother, waiting for him to get up with a grin on his face, wipe off the fake-blood and yell out "Fooled you" in his usual cheerful voice. But he didn't. The blood stayed there. His eyes stayed open, the piercing blue seeming to look at May and past her.
"The guy's driven away! Call Police!" A scream ran out in the crowds, now clustering around Leon's body. The car that had hit him, a small red Ford, had disappeared and peaple were hastily trying to remember the number plate for police help. An ambulance could be heard, the sirens screeching in the bustle of the city. May stared, eyes-wide, mouth open, arms hanging, as someone spoke in a fearful voice.

"There's no pulse..."

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo's jaw dropped as a sign of a tiny smile appeared on her face. Her, "distract" Stryder? Flo laughed. That wouldn't be happening! Flo hit Leon on the arm as she laughed even more. "Shut up!" She said jokingly, as the little green man appeared on the lights. May and Flo started to walk across the road. Flo went quickly. She hated roads. Even when it was safe to cross, there was no telling what kind of maniac was out there, just wanting to run over small children. Flo shuddered at the thought of this as she reached the other side. She glanced behind her, to check that her friends were still there. May was, but Leon was a few feet behind, picking something off the road. Flo frowned. She then sighed ad waited for Leon to join them. But he never did.

Flo heard a car horn beep at him. Flo's head quickly turned, to see a car rushing torwards Leon. Flo's eyes had widened. May obviously had seen the car also, as a loud screech came from May's mouth, calling to Leon and he stupidly looked at May and Flo, and not what was about to happen. The car didn't stop. Leon didn't get out of the way. May had rushed forward towards Leon. Flo's only reaction was to grab her. "No!" Flo cried out to May. Then it happpened. It was all a blur. A sureal blur. Surely what had just happened wasn't real. It just couldn't be.

Flo stood there, still holding May. People were yelling and screaming. Flo blinked. She turned her head towards the way the car had sped off. It's not real. May had wriggled out of Flo's arms and had rushed towards Leon. Flo still stood there. Leon was on the ground, blood on his face. Flo heard someone say there was no pulse. Flo gasped, her hands brought up to her mouth. Flo was in shock. It hadn't happened. It couldn't of. Then, Flo realised the last thing she had said to him. "Shut up." He had. He was never going to talk again.

[leon]

May stared.

Her heart was pounding fast, thumping beneath her chest like a huge drum.

”There’s no pulse…”
”There’s no pulse…”
”There’s no pulse…”
The words couldn’t connect in her mind. No pulse?! What! They were obviously checking it wrong… did they know you have to wait a bit? Have they got the right finger, right place? Surely… surely there had to be a pulse!

“Here, doll, have this.” Someone thrust a warm drink in her hand and wrapped a dark red blanket around her shoulders, while another woman did the same for Flo beside her. The woman was unfamiliar and May’s eyes turned even wider as she saw her. Her heart was beating even faster beneath her shirt. The lady was spinning. Flo was doubled. The warm drink in her hand fell and landed, crash, to the floor. The glass went everywhere and May didn’t notice the women as their mouths turned into perfect ‘o’s, shocked at her movement. “Now now dear, no need for that now! That was a mug from my best china collection…”

The voice seemed to fade away until May couldn’t hear her, and once again she was thrown into a world of silence. She couldn’t see anything, the world was spinning and she felt dizzy as memories washed over her

Leon grinned, leaning against the closed door of his sister’s bedroom. She was on the inside, he on the outside. They were both in their costumes and Leon couldn’t wait to see hers. “After three then May?” He called through the door, grinning as his toddler brother Matt woke up and straight away began crying because of his call.
“Yep.” She answered happily.
“One…” Leon said.
“Two,”
“THREE!” Leon finished after her ‘two’ He opened the door quickly, setting his eyes on his younger sister. “Aww May you look so gorgeous! I love your hair like that,” He complimented, walking over to her. She was wearing a pixie outfit, blue for Ravenclaw. It had white rosebuds along the neck-hem and several loose, floaty material along the bottom for effect. She had a pair of silvery-white, shimmery wings on her back that Leon’s mother had spelled to flutter randomly on the minute, and the wings had tiny white sequins on them which moved across the material like little bugs, though giving it a real effect.
“Thanks… um…you too!” May stifled a laugh as she spoke, but then she couldn’t hold it in. Laughing so hard she had to sit on the bed, she gazed at her older brother with amusement. For Leon too, was wearing the exact same pixie costume.
“Yeah, you think I look gorgeous?” He grinned, posing cheesily for her as she giggled non-stop.

May and Leon staring, eyes-widened, as Matt was brought for the first time into the house. They both hated him instantly.

May’s mother telling her that her second word, after ‘mama’, was ‘Leon’.

Leon tickling May and giving her a congratulatory hug after she received her Hogwarts letter, his face full of joy.

Leon giving up the chance to sit with all his friends on the train ride to Hogwarts, offering instead to sit with May and keep her company on her first day.

Just that morning, Leon joking around with May and Flo. Talking about asking Maryn out. Now he’d never get that chance…[/size]

The memories rushed over May and while they passed, she noticed her world coming back to her. Someone was asking her questions.
“Sweetie,” The impatient voice said in a cold tone. “Darling, what is your name? Where are you parents? This is an important situation now, we will need to inform your parents. Your brother… he has passed away. I am sorry.” Although the police officer sounded nothing but sorry. The words caused silent tears to flow down May’s face. They poured out of her light-blue eyes, leaving slithered tracks down her fair skin. They continued to fall and she made no effort to clean them, her moist eyes fixed on Leon’s body as they fell, as the crowd gasped, as the police officer moved on to question Flo.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo's legs turned to jelly as she sort of crumbled to the ground. Flo sat there, still with her hands over her mouth. Slowly, tears flowed from her eyes as Flo began to cry. It was fair! It just wasn't! Leon was too young to die! Flo jumped a little as a lady approached her with a blanket and a hot drink. She handed Flo the drink and wraped the blanket over her shoulders. Flo didn't drink the hot chocolate. She just sat there, holding it in her hands. Flo glanced up at May, who was still on the road. She watched as the mug fell out of May's hands. Flo gasped before the lady who was with May started complaining about the mug. Someone dies, and all she cares about is the stupid mug! Some people! Flo watched as May suddenly collapsed. Flo's eye grew wide, still watery and red from crying. The lady next to her whispered an "Oh dear" and rushed over, as did everyone else, fussing over the little girl who had lost her brother. Poor May! It was too much for her! First she is ill for almost half her life, now this? It wasn't fair on her. Flo didn't know how she would cope. Flo didn't even know how she was going to cope. It was all her fault. Flo aws always talking. Talking talking talking. This time, it had managed to get her best friend killed. It wouldn't be like that if Flo didn't talk at all.

Flo cried harder. It was all her fault. The police and ambulance had finally arrived. In a time of crisis, they sure liked to take their time. One of the officers ran over to May, and began to try to wake her up. The rest of them and medical staff ran over to Leon. It looked like they were double checking, just incase they had got it wrong, and Leon was still alive. One of them shoock their head and Flo cried even more. The lady had come back and tried to comfort Flo. "It's ok, your friend is alright...But..oh dear I'm am so sorry." The lady told Flo. No your not. Flo thought. You didn't even know him Another woman approached Flo. She was in uniform. Flo knew that she was a police officer, but she didn't want to talk to her. She didn't want to talk to anyone. "Excuse me dear, but could you please tell me your name?" The officer asked. Flo ignored her, and kept crying. "Dear? You'll have to answer the Police lady." The other lady told Flo, putting her hand on her shoulder. Flo wasn't going to talk. It was her fault. Flo told Leon to shut up. and now he was dead. Flo was never going to say a thing ever again.