I knew I was in for more than I'd planned the moment I passed through the house wards and into the kitchen. There were strangers here, the feel of them clear to me now they weren't masked by the protections wrapping our house in magic.
It took me a moment to decide what to do. I heard voices talking, coming from the living room and was pretty sure Mom felt me the moment I arrived home. I tried to keep the rustling of my shopping bags to a minimum as I stuffed them into the corner behind the table, not sure why the sounds I made caused me to flinch and wince. It was as if I was intruding in my own home or didn't want to be noticed all of a sudden.
The little girl in me wished she was anywhere but there just then.