Petunia hadn't expected to find herself back at Spinner's End so soon, or ever. Last time she went it was out of desperation, since she couldn't find any other way of contacting Lily.
The house, while small, had a surprisingly normal look about it. She couldn't see any flying teapots or ghosts or whatever the magical people's houses were supposed to have. She could distinctly remember Lily entertaining her parents with wild tales of her summertime visit to some friend, and how wonderful (read: freakish) that girl's house had been.
Eileen Snape, on the other hand, didn't resemble a witch in the slightest. With her homely face, a simple but neat cotton dress and an apron, she could've been easily confused with any other housewife on this unfortunate side of town. The dark haired woman set a tea tray with some plain crackers on the table and nodded at Petunia's 'thank you'.
Lily muttered something suitable as well, while conspicuously avoiding even glancing in the Snape boy's direction. Whatever happened between them, must've been something awful. Fortunately, her sister assured Petunia that Snape didn't hurt her or do something inappropriate. Otherwise neither of them would've set a foot in this house, no matter how helpful his parents turned out to be.
Tobias Snape entered the room, and sat down at the head of the table, also nodding at his wife, who joined Severus on the other side from the girls. The large man turned to Petunia.
"Colin got everything sorted out. That's an old mate at the local force I told you about. You'll still need to go to the station and give your statements, but those relatives of yours shouldn't bother you none anymore."
"Thank you, Mr. Snape," answered Petunia.
The man shook his head.
"Ain't right hitting little girls. That bastard'll get his dues, mark my word."
Mrs. Snape nodded seriously. Lily raised her head, but kept quiet. Maybe she had thought that the scary looking man beat his wife or something, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Do you need to call a doctor for your eye?" asked Eileen. "Or I could try a couple of healing spells, they should help with the bruising."
"Better wait until Colin sees her. He took my word for it, but he'll have an easier time making the charges stick if he has some photographs of your face. Though I've got to say, you look much better than I thought you would. Anything feel broken?"
"It should be fine. I gave her a healing potion earlier. Sir."
Lily didn't appear happy to be there at all, even though she had been the one to call the Snapes over while supposedly pouring tea for the Camptons. Apparently, Mrs. Snape then did something called "apparition" to get herself and Mr. Snape to the Evans house right as Petunia was knocked out. Tobias, being the large, scary looking man, and a former soldier to boot, easily scared the Campton's off, but not before telling them about his copper friend to make sure they didn't do anything stupid, like call the police on him instead.
Petunia had no idea what Snape junior said to his parents to get them so involved, but it was clear that he still carried some kind of torch for Lily. If the way he was glancing at the girl every five seconds from under his long greasy hair was any indication.
In any case, as long as the boy didn't do anything creepy, Petunia was fine with accepting the Snapes' help. Her and Lily's parents had many friends, but after they already helped her so much with the funeral arrangements and other costs, it wasn't proper to bother them so soon.
Lily felt conflicted. Deep down, she didn't really believe that mum and dad were dead. Intellectually, she knew that it had to be true, with too many people already involved in the supposed charade. But her heart refused to accept it, so she pushed the thought away for the time being to focus on the more immediate problems.
Tuney had been attacked by some evil man. It was so outrageous. Her sister always felt above everything, as if nothing could really touch her. Lily supposed that the last time she saw Petunia hurt had been before Hogwarts. When Sev... Snape dropped that tree branch on her.
Snape was a big part of Lily's current mood too. After all the times she promised herself to never speak to him again, she just couldn't think of anything better to do. None of her actual friends could apparate yet, or even knew how to get to Lily's house. And using her own magic against muggles was a sure way to lose her wand and get expelled. No matter the reason.
That's how Lily found herself and Tuney in the uncomfortable position of being guests at the Snape household. At least she could ignore Severus forever if he just kept silent like he was now. Come to think of it, he didn't say anything the whole time. He wasn't even there to chase off the evil couple. His parents did everything. Snape didn't even offer his condolences to her or Tuney. What an insensitive toerag!
Silently fuming, Lily continued to sip her lukewarm tea, while Petunia conversed with Mr. and Mrs. Snape like they were all best buddies.
Everything just felt so weird. She longed to-be back at Hogwarts where she belonged.