Snape sat on the edge of the flying carpet, his black hair gently fluttering in the morning breeze. In a calm tone, he recounted his experiences of the past two days to everyone.
"That old witch's experiments were quite evil," he said, his gaze drifting to Anna, who was huddled in the corner. "This little girl and her family are all victims."
He spoke for about a quarter of an hour, and everyone listened intently. Only the whistling wind could be heard, occasionally interspersed with the hooting of an owl.
"Parseltongue," Mr. Weasley's voice carried a clear note of worry. "That's a very rare ability; Salazar Slytherin himself was a famous Parselmouth." His gaze shifted between Snape and Nagini, coiled on his shoulder.
"I certainly think you're a good boy," Mr. Weasley unconsciously swallowed, his voice becoming hesitant. "Although Parseltongue is said to be connected to dark magic, many famous dark wizards throughout history possessed it and used it as their symbol, like You-Know-Who—"
When Mr. Weasley mentioned the name, a flicker of hatred crossed Lily's eyes, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around her wand.
"Professor Dumbledore can also understand Parseltongue," Snape said casually, deliberately making his tone light after noticing everyone's reactions. "There are Parselmouths among great and good wizards too, aren't there?"
As they traveled, he inadvertently noticed that Anna's father's face was shockingly pale, his lips an unnatural bluish-purple, and his chest rose and fell weakly. The healing charms he had cast on Anna's father had surprisingly failed so quickly.
Snape quickly moved to the man's side, reaching out to touch his forehead—it was terrifyingly hot.
"We need to go to a hospital immediately," he quickly cast a few more healing spells on the man, then turned to Mr. Weasley, saying urgently, "His condition isn't good."
Hearing this, Mr. Weasley fumbled frantically in his robe pockets, pulling out a crumpled Albanian Magical Travel Guide.
"Found it!" He pointed to a small red cross symbol on the map. "The only magical infirmary nearby is over fifty miles to the southeast."
The flying carpet immediately changed direction, carving a sharp arc in the air. Mr. Weasley knelt down and used the drowsy owl on the flying carpet to send a message to the local Ministry of Magic, telling them they had captured a Dark witch. The owl hooted discontentedly but still vanished into the morning light with the note.
When they pushed the unconscious old witch into the hospital, the receptionist Healer almost called the Aurors. It wasn't until Mr. Weasley showed his British Ministry of Magic identification that they reluctantly believed they weren't kidnappers.
"You British are always so—" the Healer mumbled, watching them warily. "Reckless."
Soon after they had completed the admission procedures for Anna's father, several wizards in elegant black robes excitedly burst into the ward. The leading official sported a meticulously trimmed handlebar mustache, a ridiculously exaggerated fake smile on his face, and waved a yellowed wanted poster in his hand. The old witch's black-and-white photo on it grinned sinisterly, occasionally spitting at them.
Snape narrowed his eyes, seeing that the wanted poster stated the old witch was suspected of kidnapping, illegal human experimentation, and at least seven cases of missing wizards (with a special note: extremely cunning, skilled in disguise). Anyone assisting the Ministry in capturing her would receive a bounty of 500 Galleons.
"Department of Magical Law Enforcement!" the handlebar-mustached official rubbed his hands, announcing in a booming voice, his eyes fixed on the old witch thrown in the corner. "We've been tracking her for three months; you've been a great help!" His assistant behind him was already eagerly pulling out his wand, wanting to take custody of the old witch.
"Hold on," Snape stepped sideways to block him. "Are you forgetting something?"
The handlebar-mustached official blinked, his fake smile freezing on his face. "Of course, of course, thank you very much for helping us catch the wanted criminal—" He tried to move around Snape as he spoke.
"The bounty," Snape said, blocking his path, enunciating each word.
After a standoff, Snape finally received a heavy bag of Galleons. He weighed it in his hand, confirming the amount was correct before moving aside, allowing the Albanian Ministry of Magic officials to take the old witch away.
After the Ministry officials left, he turned and handed the money bag to Anna. The girl was too surprised to speak, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Take it," Snape said, his tone much softer than usual. "You need it more."
"Sir, you haven't told me your name—" Anna said timidly, clutching the money bag tightly with her small hands.
"Severus Snape," he replied gently.
As they left the hospital, they ran into Mrs. Weasley, who was holding Percy and hurrying along, quite out of breath. Behind her were sleepy-eyed Bill and Charlie, both with hair as messy as bird nests, clearly dragged out of bed by their mother.
"Oh, Severus!" Mrs. Weasley, without a word, pulled Snape into a hug. "Thank Merlin you're alright!" Snape stood stiffly, unaccustomed to such close contact, but didn't pull away.
Shouldn't this be for Harry? he thought. For future Christmases, I must send more presents to the future little Weasleys, like wizard robes of all sizes that will last for many years.
Mrs. Weasley released him and immediately turned to her husband, her voice rising an octave: "Arthur Weasley! Is this what you call an 'absolutely safe' family trip?" Her voice trembled slightly with lingering fear. "If anything had happened to Severus, I don't know what I would have done!"
"I'm sorry, Molly," Mr. Weasley apologized profusely, hanging his head like a naughty child. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
No one dared to interrupt Mrs. Weasley's scolding of her husband. Bill and Charlie took the opportunity to bypass their mother and crowded around Snape, eagerly asking for details of his adventure. Charlie even curiously reached out to touch Nagini. Nagini cautiously raised her head, letting out a warning hiss, making him quickly retract his hand.
"She's just a bit nervous," Snape said soothingly, stroking Nagini's head.
Charlie and Bill exchanged an envious look.
"I'm going to raise dragons when I'm older," Charlie grumbled defiantly. "They're way cooler than snakes."
Later, at Mrs. Weasley's insistence, they decided to end their trip early.
On their second plane ride, the Weasleys were much calmer. Though Bill and Charlie almost caused a commotion over the window seat, they were quelled by a single look from Mrs. Weasley.
When the plane landed, it was almost dawn outside the cabin window. They dragged their luggage to the car park. Mr. Weasley opened the boot and stuffed all the luggage inside. He yawned, slammed the car door shut with a thud, and prepared to leave.
Just then, the Muggle car park attendant suddenly walked up to the car.
"Parking fee, sir," the Muggle attendant said, tapping on the car window. "One hundred pounds."
Mr. Weasley nervously pressed a button, and immediately, the car windows turned a peculiar color to prevent anyone from seeing the abnormally large interior space and the number of passengers far exceeding the car's official capacity. Of course, to the Muggle, the car's interior appeared normal, with only Mrs. Weasley sitting in the passenger seat holding little Percy. In the back seat, there was only Snape sitting alone.
The Muggle attendant scratched his head in confusion; he remembered seeing more people enter this car just moments ago.
"Hello," Mr. Weasley nervously opened the car door and stepped out. The moment Mr. Weasley opened the door, the Muggle attendant tried to peer inside, but Mr. Weasley quickly pulled the car door shut.
"How much?" Mr. Weasley's voice came from outside the car; he had already gained some understanding of Muggle currency's purchasing power over the past few days. "Why don't you just rob Gringotts?"
"What's Gringotts?" the Muggle attendant asked, confused. "That's just the rule. Your car, let me see, it's been parked here for over six days. So, the parking fee isn't a small amount."
"No," Mr. Weasley glanced into the car twice, where Mrs. Weasley was looking down, soothing Percy. "This fee can't be reimbursed." With a flick of his wand, the Muggle attendant walked back to his booth in a daze.
After a bumpy ride, they finally returned to the crooked Burrow, parking next to a dilapidated garage. The rusty cauldron by the Burrow's front door seemed even more rundown. A few fat brown chickens were still pecking at the ground in the yard, just as they had been when they left.
Charlie and Bill cheered, rushing inside. At Mrs. Weasley's invitation, Snape and the others followed, planning to have breakfast before heading home.
Eileen and Mrs. Weasley were clanking and banging as they prepared breakfast together. Sausages and bacon sizzled in the frying pan, and the aroma of toast filled the kitchen. Snape watched his mother's busy back; her movements were much livelier than usual. He then turned to Lily; her spirits also seemed much improved. It appeared that despite the perilous journey, the trip had helped them regain much of their vitality. Perhaps it was always good to go out and about more often.
As they enjoyed their breakfast, the sound of visitors came from outside the door.
"Arthur, Molly! Long time no see, you're back!"
Two people with dark golden hair walked through the door. Fabian and Gideon, the two brothers, warmly greeted everyone inside.
"Severus, Lily, you're here too. And this is—" Gideon said. "Let me guess, from that hooked nose, you must be Severus's mother."
Eileen smiled back at him, magically adding plates for the two of them.
"We were just doing something in the village," Fabian said. "Saw smoke coming from your bacon, so we came over. Why are you back earlier than planned?"
"We ran into some unexpected things," Mrs. Weasley explained, glaring at Mr. Weasley again. "Albania isn't safe at all, not like Arthur said."
Just then, Nagini slithered out of Snape's sleeve, and Snape affectionately picked up a piece of roasted meat to feed her.
"Ah, Severus," Gideon said, surprised as he looked at the small snake. "The Daily Prophet said there's a Parselmouth student at Hogwarts. Is that you?"
"Why would the Daily Prophet report on this?" Eileen asked with a frown, her fork paused mid-air.
"Bertha Jorkins," Mr. Weasley said with annoyance. "It must be her. She used to work at the Daily Prophet, knows a lot of people, and besides, she's famously a bigmouth and a busybody—"
That Bertha would blab was within Snape's expectations. However, he wondered if, by his own actions, she would still end up harming herself because of this habit.
"Yes," Snape said with a smile, deliberately making some hissing sounds. "Do I look like the Dark Lord to you?"
"Haha!" Fabian exaggeratedly clapped him on the shoulder. "If you're the Dark Lord, then who's You-Know-Who?"
After breakfast, Eileen, Snape, and Lily prepared to take their leave. As they stood up, Gideon suddenly called out to Snape and Lily, saying he wanted to discuss something about Ministry of Magic internships with them.
"Mum, you go ahead and head back," Snape said. He saw Gideon wink at him and immediately understood that this "internship" was just a pretense.
After Eileen left, Bill and Charlie ran off to play in the backyard; Mrs. Weasley put the sleeping Percy down inside the house. The remaining people sat down in the Burrow's kitchen.
As they chatted, Gideon and Fabian, the Prewett brothers, eventually brought up the Order of the Phoenix, and invited Mr. Weasley to join. "Arthur, why don't you come over?" Gideon asked. "Dumbledore is leading us; we're sure to win!"
Mr. Weasley seemed to hesitate, his eyes flickering.
"No!" Mrs. Weasley suddenly slapped the table, making the cutlery clatter. "Arthur, think of Bill, Charlie, and Percy! Think of this family!"
Snape had never imagined that Mrs. Weasley, such a plump, kindly-faced woman, could resemble a tiger baring its teeth.
"Molly, the situation is dangerous now, we need more people," Gideon tried to persuade Mrs. Weasley. "As a Gryffindor, Arthur—"
"You still think the situation is dangerous?" Mrs. Weasley exuded a dangerous aura. "In my opinion, both of you should leave that group too! Have you thought about how upset I'd be if something happened to you?!"
"But Severus and Lily also joined the Order of the Phoenix," Fabian whispered, shrinking his neck. "Help me say something."
"What?!" Mrs. Weasley's eyes sparkled with fury, her chest heaving. "What are you getting involved in? Do your parents even know about this?!"
Snape was about to speak when Lily's voice rang out.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," she said. "My mum and dad both died in You-Know-Who's attacks."
"Oh, Lily," Mrs. Weasley's tone instantly softened, the anger in her eyes turning to heartache. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"It's alright. Mr. Weasley really shouldn't join the Order of the Phoenix," Lily said, shaking her head. "I understand what it feels like to lose family, and I don't want you all to go through that too."
Mrs. Weasley walked over to Lily and gently pulled her head into her embrace. But she still glared fiercely at her two brothers.
The family conversation ended on a sour note, and Mr. Weasley apologetically escorted Fabian and Gideon out of the Burrow.
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