Chapter 2. Arrival at Spinner's End.
The sound of a horn interrupted Severus Snape's reading. Annoyed, he decided to look out to see what all the fuss was about. A large car was in the middle of the street. At the wheel he saw a man who looked like a walrus, judging by his corpulence, his mustache and the sounds he made. Beside him he saw a familiar face. Petunia looked even stiffer than the last time he had seen her, more than a decade before. Her hair color was different, lighter, which in his opinion accentuated her resemblance to a weasel.
"Get out of the way!" the walrus-man growled, sticking his head out the window (surprisingly it fit) and waving a fist in the air.
The boys who were chalk-painting the asphalt floor reluctantly stepped aside, and the car continued in the direction of the Evans' house. As it turned left, Snape could see the face of a boy peering out the window, and as he made eye contact with him, despite the Muggle-repelling spell his house had, he realized he was a wizard.
"Harry Potter." Snape said in a deadpan voice.
Snape knew that Dumbledore had gotten the Ministry of Magic to issue an order to ban all wizards and witches from trying to find Potter's family, but in his opinion there was nothing stopping him from approaching his old friend's house and taking a look around without intervening, so he strode steadily towards the house that brought back both fond memories and feelings of regret.
By the time he arrived, the fat man, yes someone would definitely have to check to see whether humans and walruses are more closely related than previously thought, had parked the car by the expedient method of leaving it in the middle of the ramp. He had just gotten out, though Snape wasn't sure how he had been able to get through that door, and was grunting orders to the others. Petunia got off immediately, and then the back doors opened. Out of one of them came a boy who was clearly the couple's son, for he was almost identical to the man except for the mustache, which Snape guessed would not be long in coming. Clearly the walrus-like features predominated over the weasel-like ones. Down the other side came a small boy dressed in secondhand clothes that were at least two sizes too big in the waist and back, though not in length.
The fat kid gave Potter a shove clearly for no reason, because he had to change trajectory to do so. "Move over, freak." he said gruffly. Then he walked over to his mother. "Mum, I'm hungry."
"Honey, we're going to eat in half an hour." she said.
"But I'm hungry now." the boy shouted sharply.
"Give him something to eat." the man said to the child's satisfaction.
"I'll give you something right now." Petunia replied meekly.
The two adults and the fat boy headed inside the house, while Potter opened the trunk and grabbed two suitcases that bulked up more than he did and dragged them inside. After a short while he came back out and grabbed two more suitcases.
The door was open, and from inside came a childish voice. "No cable TV? I'll miss my favorite show!" he said loudly.
"What a charming boy, I'm so glad he's not going to be my student." Snape muttered toward the house. Potter heard him, and turned to look at him. For a few moments Snape could see his eyes clearly, green, just like Lily's, but much sadder. almost immediately, the boy seemed to remember not to stare at an adult and turned away to continue with his task.
Petunia left the house in a hurry. "Where's the bag with the food in it?" she asked nervously.
"Here you are, Aunt Petunia." the boy said holding out a bulky plastic bag to her. She rummaged around a bit and found a bag of potato chips, whereupon she sighed in relief.
"Come in right now, wash your hands and help me with lunch."
"Yes, Aunt." said the boy reaching for the trunk gate to close it.
"Leave it, I'll do it." she said closing it.
"Thank you, aunt." the boy said very quietly, and they both went into the house.
Snape felt a small vibration in one pocket, and muttered a word for it to cease. His hematite stone was warning him that in five minutes he had to decant the potion he was working on, so he turned and headed home, though with the thought of returning.