Chapter Three
It was still morning, and outside the birds chirped on the smut-laden trees and hunted for worms in the sparse soil around the flowerbeds. A slight breeze eased through the window and touched the curtains, sending wavering hints of shadow around the kitchen. Mrs Pennyman absentmindedly picked up a biscuit then put it back down again.
"Well, of course, I never met your father. He'd been gone a week when we moved in here, and her still in the hospital."
Snape turned his head so fast it was surprising his neck didn't break. "Hospital? I never heard that! Did he? How?"
"Oh, it was him all right. Filthy brute had come home one night, swilliking like old Harry, she tried to stop him doing something and he'd beaten her to within an inch of her life. He must have taken off then, but the old lass who was here and sold the place to me had heard your mother screaming, and sent her youngest off for the police. Had to break down the door, they did, and found her mollycrushed on floor, all muggled up."
Snape started at this, and stared at her, but she thought he was reacting to the state of his mother, and continued. "So they said, and she were a sennight in the hospital. Came home the day we moved in, so I sent my Jenny over to help her in and look after her the first week or so. I told her, I did, that if that … " The motherly woman's voice had started to rise, but then she collected herself and continued. "If your father turned up again she could stay here, but he niver showed. I'm thinking he came to a bad end, for by Christmas she was telling me she was free of the old fellow for ever. And such a happy lass she was, Miss Eileen, making such plans for the two of you. She would show me those funny pictures of you, the ones with that moving trick, and tell me all about how you were doing so well, and making lots of friends. And that at the end of the school year she'd be having you back for a proper holiday, one with trips to the picture theatre and picnics and all." Mrs Pennyman stopped, and put down her cup of tea. Snape waited for her to continue, but she just sat for a minute, staring into the tea herself. Then, with a great sigh, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a plain but serviceable handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.
"I can remember her, sitting at this very table, right where you are now. She was smiling and happy, and she broke my second-best teacup waving it around in excitement. Fair got me riled up it did." She paused again, then leaned towards Snape.
"'Course, I knew about her magic."
