/ All characters belong to JK Rowling.
It was a lazy Sunday morning. The Sun shone brightly and birds chirped happily. For once Spinner's End didn't appear as gloomy as it usually does. Amongst a long row of similar building in that concreate jungle with huge old-fashioned factories using old, rusty machines and contaminating the air and the river nearby, there was one house that was a tad bit different. Our house. What was different was not the structure but the people it sheltered. We were unlike the people who resided in that town. We were surprisingly happy, cheerful. It was today that I learnt that there was something else which separated us or rather me from the rest of the town, or is it right to say from the rest of the world?
As rays of sunshine penetrated through the broken window, mum was humming a rather old song and preparing the day's breakfast in the kitchen. Da set the table and sat in the chair, tapping his foot to create a rhythm that matched mum's hum and was reading the newspaper, patiently waiting for breakfast. I was sitting on the floor opposite da and was watching his foot movements keenly. On the table above me was lying my favourite possession.
My favourite toy, my only toy. A car. Mum bought it from the supermarket for a very cheap price and gave it to me saying, "Every Prince needs a toy, don't you think Sevvy?" I was euphoric upon receiving my first toy. Getting bored of Fathers actions, I tried to reach up for my toy to entertain myself. But that table was taller that me and my chubby hands couldn't reach it. I was trying my best but nothing happened. I looked up to see if someone saw my struggle, but da was busy reading and mum busy cooking. I set my jaw firmly and tried for the last time, only to fail again. I really wanted my car.
I badly wanted to ask for help but Da always says boys are strong and they don't need help. I did not know what to do. Desperation began fogging my brain and clouding my thoughts. Then something unimaginable happened and I screwed my eyes shut. Something broke within me, spread from my chest, coursed through my veins and reached every cell in my body. It washed over me like a gentle wave in the sea. I opened my eyes and was astonished to see my car in my hand.
My eyes widened as my face broke into a bright grin. I looked up again and searched for my mother's face. She wore a warm, gentle smile on her face and a warm affectionate look in her eyes. As her fond eyes kept gazing at me, I turned to look at Da, expecting a similar reaction but I was wrong. He was paler than a sheet of paper. His face spoke volumes about the shock he had gone through, his eyes almost falling off their respective sockets and mouth hanging open.
I looked back at mum for her reassurance when, she came over to me with a worried look and gently whispered in my ears," Go to your room Severus. Mummy will take care of everything. No matter what happens, remember one thing. I am proud of you son." I did not understand what she was saying. What will she take care of? What was she proud of? what's happening? Did I do something wrong? So many questions, but I kept quiet and walked back to my room, my car clutched tightly in my hands against my chest.
I closed the door and ran to my bed. I sat on it and hid my face behind the pillow when I heard someone shout. The decibel level of the voices only seemed to grow as I kept pushing the pillow to my ears to avoid them. Some wetness in my hands, I realised I was crying. Tears freely flowing from my now red and swollen eyes, down my cheeks. My bottom lip began trembling as a new set of tears came. Thud! The front door closed with a loud bang that I was sure it would have broken if it was a bit older.
Another loud bang and woke up with a start. I did not realize when I began sleeping, but it seems like I slept a lot as my room was dark. From the window I was able to see the sun setting, it was almost night. I tiredly rubbed my eyes and was getting down from the yelling began again. Only this time it seemed to take a lot longer to stop….
"Sev? SEV? Earth to Sev. Did you even listen to what I was saying? God don't tell me you didn't. Sev…" Lily, with her bright green eyes and flaming red hair framing her round face correctly was asking me with a half worried and half annoyed countenance. I nodded absentmindedly and listened to her, as she began ranting again. "Tuney doesn't understand. She is not even speaking properly to me anymore. She either comes up with an excuse to avoid 'freakish' people or some hurtful remark to upset me. why did she become like this? She never spoke to me in such manner. Mum and dad don't know what to do? What am I going to do Sev? She is my sister; I can't leave her forever."
In response I could only nod my head like a fool. Usually when she asked about Hogwarts or Azkaban, I would give her a detailed answer but now I could not answer her question. Not this time when I myself did not understand what went wrong in my case. I was pulling the sleeves of my torn sweater to hide my bruises as I looked up at the sky searching for answers