Crossing Over

CHAPTER ONE

Nora Williams was a complete workaholic, she worked so much it was almost impossible to count how many hours she had work during the week, in fact it was much easier to subtract how many hours she didn't work from the 168 hours per week. Most folk would point out she just had a passion for her work; others might pick on a lonely love life. But whenever someone had a word with Ms Williams, (because that is the only amount of talking she would do before snapping back to her work) she'd just walk off.

So as the sun began to set on a quiet Friday afternoon it was no surprise she was still at her desk carefully examining several sheets of paper. And as the shadows began to grow bigger and darker her eyes never once left the typed sentences. It got later and later and later but she still didn't move. It didn't even startle her when there was a there was a loud knock on the door of her office and a deep voice gruffed, "it's getting late Ms Williams, need you to come on out otherwise those cleaners will give me some trouble."

Nora sighed. It was her boss Mr Bumble (more commonly known as Bumblebee because of the sting he submits when crossed). She knew if she didn't pack her things this minute he'd be inside and usher her out. Slowly and relucted she gathered up her things, carefully arranging it into her brief case and stood up taking a second to check whether she had everything or not. Finally satisfied she walked out.

Upon reaching the car park she felt there was someone behind her. Taking a look behind her she could see there was no one there. Feeling rather ashamed of her sudden suspicions, Nora unset the car alarm and got in.

As she started the car her mobile emitted an annoyingly cheery ring tone. Hurriedly she grasped the phone in one hand as her car began to speed out of the car park. Nora looked at the number and her face immediately changed into a look of panic.

"Honey are your okay?" she questioned trying to keep a steady voice. There was no answer.

"Hello, Mary are you okay?" Nora asked again but there was still no answer. Though there was no answer Nora could clearly hear heavy breathing, which only made her, feel more panicky. And suddenly the phone hung up. Nora dropped her mobile into her bag. And didn't even realise she was going the wrong way.

Something was wrong

It had been fifteen minutes since she had received Mary's phone call from home and Nora's mind was still filled with worry every last inch was filled with far fetched reasons on why Mary would call her so late at night. Nora set off a loud beep of her car horn as an old couple were very slowly cruising the streets of London. With another beep their car made a very quick right turn into the next street. They both gave Nora patronising looks as she drove passed out of sight.

I must slow down thought Nora as she lightened her foot on the accelerator and told herself to calm down. Checking her watch she could clearly see it was 9 p.m. and she would still not make it home till 9:30. As the car began to slow down to the correct speed limits she could feel the thoughts in her head beginning to waver, giving her mind a chance to think clearly.

As Nora continued to drive her face broke into a smile, she had been reflecting on how foolish she acted. What did she have to worry about? Seriously? Mary was a good kid...the perfect child. Well almost perfect... Nora thought as she remembered on how Mary wasn't exactly her kid. Mary was adopted and in fact wasn't even Mary. Before Nora took her under her wing Mary's name was something else, something strange, something on the lines of Cressinda...

As Nora thought about this her mind wafted into thoughts on how and why she had adopted Mary, not to train her like a dog but out of the sudden emotions Nora felt when she found Mary as an orphan stranded on the street. She remembered on how she had began her work as a detective who was still a workaholic but was much more discreet and lonely back then. And then came Mary who changed everything. Nora had adopted her and taught her still being able to keep working with at least 14 hours a day.

When Mary started to grow there were problems. Though Nora had given all the love, attention and compassion that any ordinary child got Mary never really excelled in anything at school. She didn't do badly. She was fine. She never was noticed for anything. She wasn't a great gymnast and bad academic or the other way round. She was just normal in everything. She would tell Nora this but Nora tried everything to help her excel in something to make her particularly noticed but it never happened. And still now when Mary was fifteen nothing was happening.

Mary must've called to talk about this problem with her thought Nora as she turned into her street and looked up at the apartments that towered above. But as she looked through the windscreen she could see ...no it couldn't be her apartment but...yes it had to be ...three windows to the right ...8 windows up...it was! Up in the building in her apartment window (as Nora had counted) different coloured lights were flashing. Nora's immediate reaction to this was to pull into the nearest car park (which happened to be a reserved parking space) and run as fast as she could to her apartment.

Nora run burst through the sliding doors and began to run, er, slide down the hallway to the elevator.

"MS WILLIAMS! THERES A MAN IN YOU-"

"Can't talk now James!" yelled Nora as she whizzed past the crippling owner who looked very anxious as she smashed into the wall next to the elevator and pulled herself up and began jabbing her finger on the up button.

When she started to consider taking the stairs the doors of the elevator opened. Nora's eye bulged out of the sockets.

"Mary?" she said.

And as she said this out came Mary looking very dazed. Mary's eyes peeled down towards the floor of the building and never once left as she turned her body a little and let her hand reach out towards the elevator.

As Nora's eye followed Mary's hand she saw another cling onto it. Nora's eyes as if daring themselves to look up, slowly followed, at first all she could take in was a black robe sleeve but then her eyes followed up to see a man wearing a huge black cloak with a mass of black hair tied up behind his back. His face was swallow and his eyes glint like huge black beetles. He smiled at Nora as if to try and comfort her as he got out of the elevator. Nora began to feel sick again.

Suddenly Mary created what was supposed to sound like a cough but it sounded more like a gag. Even through this though it didn't divert Nora's attention to Mary. With her face set in a look of anxiety, confusion and fear up at the man who was holding Mary's hand. Nora's lips unstuck themselves.

"Who's this now Mary?" asked Nora.

"This...er," Mary stammered, there was no way to explain, "Nora this is ...(Nora's eyes flashed)...I mean mum this is er...this is my father, Sirius Black."