Vicious Love [Teddy Lupin]

40. Reckless and the Brave

Wand, check.
Clothes, check.
Food, check.
Book, check.
Map, check.
Money, check.
Herbs, check.
Potions? Check.
I made sure to snatch several other ingredients on the potions cupboard as well, just in case I need to brew something else on the road.

"Alohomora!" I entered Professor Prince's trashed office and turned on the lights. The aurors have searched this office for any evidence of the bloke being the treasure thief and I don't know if they've found anything or not. Those aurors have surely forgotten to clean up the mess though because there are things scattered all over the room.

As I stood on a stool and opened a cabinet, I heard a small noise from below me. I looked down to find the one and only house cat, Tiana. "How did you get out of the common room, you silly marshmallow?" I sigh, grabbing the green container that contains floo powder.

I've had detention with Professor Prince enough to know where he hides some things.

Setting up the fireplace, Tiana circles around me and lets out a small cry. I sure hope someone didn't follow her. Otherwise, my plan to rescue my brother will be cancelled and I will not be getting any sleep, ever. I haven't gotten any, ever since the field trip and if the aurors can't find him, I'll do it myself. I can't just wait here and cry.

"Not now, cat." I groaned, picking her up and putting her outside. I then locked the door and quickly walked by the fireplace. I took a handful of floo powder and stepped inside.

Should I really do this?

What if something bad happens?

What if I can't find Seth either?

Oh well, here goes nothing.

"Avery Residence!"

My mother isn't home, neither are Seth and my father. There's no one in my house but everything is on their right places. I checked my room and it was just the way I left it: messy. I went to mum's room and found nothing. Although, I did find a family picture by her nightstand and it broke my heart a little. It was a picture of Seth and I when we were younger, along with mum and dad, on Christmas. Seth and I were wearing ugly red jumpers, mum was dressed in green and there goes that man covered in dark clothes, wearing that smile.

After looking through my house and finding nothing, I went outside. It's only an hour before midnight. The night lights are bright and the people are still loud ad awake. I walked across the street to where our neighbors are and knocked on their door. It took a couple of minutes until a teenage girl answered.

"Hi, I live across the street and I was wondering if you've seen any male enter that house?"

The brunette shook her head. "No. Only a woman, but she always leaves so technically the house is empty."

"Ah, thanks."

"No problem."

The house next to ours, I want to avoid but they might know something. I just really dislike the people living in it.
I knocked a few times and they took so long to answer. I could hear the big family arguing to each other, especially the teens and children, on who should answer the door.

Finally, one of them did and it's the one I loathe the most. "Well well, long time no see, Sammy."

"Where's your parents?"

"What, no kiss or hug?"

"I need to ask them something, Nick."

"Where's your brother?"