Lost Ducks
The car, evidently rented at a considerable expense from the Ministry, appeared utterly normal as it wove through the streets. However, things would drastically change if it were to stop and any muggle peeked inside. Inside, there were only four people, but the car had been magically expanded to accommodate a bed for James to lie down comfortably, along with a table and even a stove. The poor boy would need to rest for at least two more days. Mr. Potter continued to internally curse the slimy brat responsible for this, while outwardly, he smiled lovingly at her son, who was lying down, looking sick and distressed.
Mr. Potter couldn't understand why they weren't allowed to fly the cars. They could make them invisible, couldn't they? Then no one would notice them. But what was the reason? Apparently, magic should not be applied to items considered muggle property in practice. However, they allowed enlargement charms. Wasn't that considered a spell? Ridiculous Ministry and its absurd rules! There were already too many pointless rules, and with each new administration, more nonsensical ones were added. If only Dumbledore had accepted the position of Minister for Magic... Why didn't he? That eccentric old man! His family's antique flying carpet had been confiscated. It was an antique! What harm did it do if it was flown a couple of times? And since when is a carpet considered a muggle item? Such nonsense! Soon they would be confiscating their brooms too! Mr. Potter couldn't understand this needless paranoia. At least for this one time, they should have been allowed to use magic. His son was ill. They couldn't transport him on a broomstick. Apparating was out of the question – the boy was already injured; they couldn't risk adding more pressure on him. The best method was to rent a car, and now they were stuck in traffic. Yes, in muggle traffic! Without any magic. It seemed as though nobody cared if they died here!
Sirius couldn't understand the reason of James' sullen face. They were going to get revenge from Snape for the beating. After all, Lily had given him a kiss; she had even visited him in the infirmary and hadn’t given a second glance to Snape. He should be happy, perhaps even ignoring his pain and frolicking around. He couldn’t still be upset about what happened between Carmen and Sirius, or the sudden intrusion of Li into his life, could he? Ah, of course! Maybe he was worried about not being able to be there for Remus during the upcoming full moon. How could he have not thought of that? Foolish boy! Pomfrey had said, 'Your wounds may not heal immediately, but you should be up in two days.' There were still six days until the full moon. Although this time, little Peter wouldn't be with them, it was still important to be there for Remus, right? Sirius leaned towards James’s ear.
“Pssst, don’t worry, Prongs. You’ll be fine way before six days.”
Snape attempted a smile at Sirius but ended up casting a look of disgust instead. As if his pain and troubles weren’t enough, now he had to listen to this dimwit whispering nonsense int his ear nonstop. And Sirius acted as if he was imparting the secret of the century. 'You’ll be fine in six days.' Idiot! Hadn’t he heard or properly listened when Madam Pomfrey said, ‘If you take your potions regularly, you should be up in two days’? These Marauders always used to whisper like this, making Severus think they were discussing something important and piquing his curiosity. It seemed their main intent was just to babble and arouse people's curiosity. Oh, Potter! Where are you now? With a bit of effort, he could have persuaded his mother to let him stay at school. Eileen Prince would have loved that. After all, whenever his father saw Severus, he got irrationally angrier. A child attending a wizarding school was an odd creature to him. Snape wondered how Potter would be welcomed at his home. For a moment, Snape wished none of this had happened. He at least wanted to believe that Potter hadn’t gone with his mother and had stayed at school.
Then they came to an abrupt stop with a sudden brake...
***
Damn it! He was ill, wasn't he? Alright, he was feeling better than Snape probably, but he had just been released from the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had said he 'needed rest.' But what were they doing? They were walking! And for hours! They could have at least Apparated. When he shared this idea with the interestingly even more despicable mother of the ever so despicable Snape, all he got was a shocked and angry look. What was wrong with his suggestion? Why did the woman start grumbling again? Such a sour face! Why had they turned into this disgusting street? Although he occasionally saw a few human silhouettes, this deserted, dusty street was terrifying even in the middle of the daylight. Were they here because it was a shortcut? They didn't need to! His feet were numb anyway. Besides, he would rather walk two hours on a normal street – preferably one crowded with people – than walk two minutes on this road. Wait a minute! They couldn't possibly be living here, could they? They had been walking for quite some time; it was possible. But no, surely not. Snape must have lived in the same neighborhood as Lily. And James had seen Lily's house. It wasn't in such a poor area at all. Why hadn't he asked about Snape's house then? Wasn't he curious? Yes, he was, but he feared Lily might misunderstand. In fact, they would hardly ever talk about Snape when they were together, as if he didn't exist. Now he thought about it, Lily's house was not very far from here. Maybe...
They stopped in front of the most frightening, most dilapidated of the row of shanties. There was no one around. No bird sound, nor a human voice. No, wait, from afar, very far away, he could hear children's screams. But these weren't joyful shouts. They seemed deliberately placed to add gloom to the atmosphere, like a background effect in a horror movie. James felt as gloomy as if a Dementor had come to give him the kiss right before his nose. Surely, they weren't going to enter this abandoned, ready-to-collapse house?
Mrs. Snape shook her head irritably. What was wrong with this boy? He had never behaved like this before, always following her quietly and obediently. But today, all along the way, he had been talking, asking nonsensical questions, and grumbling. He had even suggested Apparating, of all things - Merlin! What would Tobias do if he found out they had Apparated home? Indeed, this 'Potter' boy must have cast a really effective Confundus Charm on him. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she had used magic. But a Confundus Charm wasn't typically this potent. It meant Potter must have enhanced and applied it very skillfully. How could Severus dare to challenge such a boy? Perhaps he was jealous of the boy's talents. That had to be it. Severus was always jealous of everything and everyone. She was sure he deserved whatever had happened to him. Yet, she still felt sorry for him. Now, if only Tobias would not come home and make a scene. He was already angry because of the owl. He had been particularly irritable towards Severus since he started at Hogwarts. Combine these two, and she feared he might beat Severus. Not that she was afraid, really. It might be cruel, but she would somewhat enjoy Severus being home for the Christmas holidays - if only he came every Christmas. Tobias was always so angry. Sometimes Eileen couldn't handle him alone. But tonight, he could take out all his anger on Severus. Then she could breathe a sigh of relief. She was so tired from working all day. Let Severus deal with Tobias instead. She was already frustrated with Severus for wandering around all day like a lost duck. Suddenly, she felt a strong urge to slap her son hard.
"Don't just stand there gawking. Get inside!" she commanded.