Resorted

Chapter Seventy-four

Severus Snape walked to the gates of Malfoy Manor. Feather white peacocks walked around the sides of the dead, shrivelled bushes and the grey grass. The outside walls paler than the Malfoy family themselves. As Severus made it to the front door, the Werewolves hung about. Lurking, guarding. "Name." One of them said - he stunk of urine and animal waste.

 "I highly think it's unnecessary, Werewolf, now let me in." He punctuated the last words, staring straight at the mutts mud-coloured eyes. At least Lupin bathed, these animals hadn't washed in weeks.

"All jokes, all banta', Sevvy!" One of them said, going to tap his shoulder.

"If you ever so much as continue to think about touching me I will see to it to personally remove your fingernails one by one."  The Werewolf pursed his lips, but nodded for them to let Severus in.

Unsurprisingly, he was the last to arrive at the Malfoy's table. It was more Malfoy, singular, now, and Severus hadn't seen his best friend so devastated until the moment he heard about Narcissa's death. Even Bellatrix had been mellowed for a day. 

They were still talking when he walked through another set of grand doors, and Voldemort looked up with red gleaming eyes and a smile only spiders would love. "You bring news, I trust?"

"It will happen Saturday next, at nightfall." Snape took his seat on a table that didn't need to be so big if it housed three people before Voldemort's return.

 "And this information comes-"

"From the source we discussed." Snape didn't disclose the source. 

"Where will he be taken, the boy?"

"To a safehouse. Likely the homeof someone in the Order. I'm toldit has been given every manner ofprotection possible. Once there,it will be impractical to attackhim. We may have compromised theMinistry, but there are those whoremain loyal to him. As long asthe Ministry stands, his allieswithin will have the means attheir disposal to ensure his safety."  

The image of Charity Burbage, boneless, almost scraped from all her flesh, still burnt in Severus' memory.

0o0

Harry took a final trip around Number 4 Privet Drive on Saturday. Everything but the wallpaper and the flooring was stripped away (they didn't take anything from his room). For the final time, he opened the cupboard. This was where he spent every night he could remember before Hogwarts, and now he was too big to even sit up straight in it. He tried anyway. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the familiar walls on his sides.  

Eyes still closed, he reached for the toy soldier behind the light switch. Shakily, Harry held it and brought it to his chest, holding it to his heart. this, and a blanket. All he had left from his life before Hogwarts. He pocketed the army man.

Recovering quickly, Harry closed the cupboard door, leaving that part of his life behind for now. But, as he went to pass the living room, Aunt Petunia stood in the centre. She looked no different: she still dyed her hair, she still wore curtain-floral, she still used anti-wrinkle cream. 

They would always have a connection because of Lily, even if they never acted like they were related. "Ready to leave?" Harry knew The Order would be over soon to escort him away, so the less they interact the better. 

Petunia continued to stare out of the window. "You have her smile." She uttered. "You have her curiosity. You even walk like her." Harry had never heard any of that before. He never thought it would be Petunia who pointed it out. "We didn't just lose a mother that day." She turned to look at Harry, something shining in her expression Harry had never seen before. "I lost a sister."