The Last Horcrux

Tummy Trouble

It was late by the time the meeting broke up and they got the kids loaded into the Ford Anglia. Sev was tired and irritable. He felt a growing queasiness in the pit of his stomach, but he figured it was just nerves. The children were whining. Phoenix was whimpering softly in her car seat and would not settle. Gavin and Oakley were bickering in the back seat.

"You hurted me!" whined Oakley. "Papa, Gavin hurted me!"

"I just poked you!" Gav defended himself. "You poked me first anyway!"

"I didn't!" Oakley protested.

"Did too!" Gav retorted.

"Did not!" Oakley insisted. "Papa, I didn't!"

"Baby!" Gavin taunted.

"I'm not a baby!" Oakley protested. "Phoenix is the baby! I'm big!"

"Baby, baby," Gavin chanted.

"I'm big!" Oakley insisted. He sounded close to tears. "Papa taughted me to tie my shoes. And you're a meany!"

"Baby!"

"Meany!"

"Silence!" Sev yelled. "Enough, the both of you!" He tried not to yell at the children, but he had to think, had to sort everything through in his mind. Krum had reported that Rodolphus had met with Karkaroff. Well, Rolphus must be fairly desperate to go to him, that old weasel. He was a betrayer of the first order. Sev chewed over the news that there was a horcrux still at large. But where could it be? He had to get Draco to let him talk to Narcissa. Maybe she had a clue of some kind. Otherwise it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. He also felt worried about the goings on at Hogwarts. Minerva had pulled him aside and privately asked him again to return to teaching there. She must be concerned. He felt as if maybe he should do it, although he hated the thought of once again having to discipline a mass of unappreciative adolescents. But if he was needed.....he would have to talk to Remus once they got the children settled.

He hated this damn car! Remus was driving, flying above the suburbs of London into the dark countryside, north, toward Cokeworth and home. It was a lowering sort of night, with scuddy clouds and a few splatters of rain hitting the windshield. The swaying motion was making him feel carsick. The boys were still scuffling in the back seat, fighting in whispers.

"Ugh!" said Gavin. "Who farted?"

"Wasn't me," said Remus promptly.

"Traitor!" thought Sev.

It had been Sev. Passing gas had made him feel marginally better. But the car was filled with the stench of an obviously adult fart.

"Ooh Mister Sev!" said Gavin at once. "Gross!"

"Pee-yoo!" exclaimed Oakley holding his nose.

"Rich one," commented Remus appreciatively, rolling down the window.

"Dis - gusting!" Gavin continued. Oakley giggled. Suddenly they were no longer enemies, but allies, united in their horror of adult bodily functions.

"We're almost home," said Remus. Sev could feel the car losing altitude, causing a swooping sensation in his already roiling stomach.

"Mr. Sev, I have a tummy ache," Gav said.

"Me too," said Sev and farted again.

"Urghh! Papa!" Oakley complained.

"I think I might puke!" said Gav.

"Me too," said Sev.

"What did you two eat at Grimmauld Place?" asked Remus.