Wonderful chapter 2
Invisible Boy
They walked. Toby had lost the car months before. Even after seven years, Eileen hadn't quite grasped everything in the Muggle world. She was almost afraid. If there were something dangerous, would she do something magical to protect herself and her son? If she did, and a Muggle saw, it would be bad. The greatest fear her world had was that the Muggles would find out about its existence. Sure, the few magical ones knew, but the majority of them were quite oblivious. She began to think she could make some money in the wizarding world by writing a tell all book entitled, 'So, I Married a Muggle.' She chuckled to herself.
Silent until then, Sev looked up and asked, "Mum, why is that funny?"
"Why is what funny?"
"The name of your book."
Ele stopped walking. She looked down at Sev thinking, 'They said he'd have Legili potential. Didn't think it'd show up this soon.' To her son she said, "It's a grownup joke." Then she turned a bit, well, severe. "Stay out of Mummy's head!"
Severus took a few steps back. His face was paler than usual. He rarely saw this side of his mother. It scared him. He still obediently nodded. "Ye-e-s Mum." A small part of him would rather stick his tongue out at her. Then again, she might make said tongue disappear if he did.
They continued through the cobblestone alley to an area that wasn't quite as shabby as Spinner's End. The riverfront had markets, pubs, as well as other businesses.
"Where to start," Ele muttered to herself. "Where to start? " It just so happened that they were standing in front of a pub that bore an interesting placard.
"Look Mum, a snake." Sev pointed up to the pub's name. He read it out. "The Serpent's Tongue."
"That's a good sign," Eileen thought aloud. There was also a hand written 'help wanted' tucked in the window. "And a bit of luck." Too bad she didn't have that potion with her. It was too early for the establishment to be open. There were a few patrons from the night before left inside. Deliverymen were dropping off new supplies. Ele eyed the pub, unsure if it was a good idea. "Can't bring Sev in there." Ele had a habit of saying her thoughts aloud. She reached inside of the handbag she carried and pulled out a vile. Sev took a deep breath. He knew what it meant.
"Invisibility, Mum?"
"Just a little." The boy took a sip of the potion, and indeed, faded. "Stay near," Ele ordered as she shoved the vile back. "Don't touch anything." Being invisible kept his mother from seeing the deep burrowing frown on Severus' face.
'That's no fun,' the boy thought.
"Or anyone."
Eileen took a deep breath before opening the pub door. Inside she looked at the few people sleeping off the night before in booths, or slumped over tables. There was an older man cleaning up behind the bar. He saw Ele and called out, "Oi, we're not open."
"I know." Ele tiptoed past the passed out. She made her way through the debris, to the bar. "I wanted to inquire about your help wanted sign."
"I don't know, Miss.?"
"It's Mrs., Mrs. Snape. Eileen Snape." She held out her hand. The owner slowly reached across to shake it.
"I'm Joe," he informed before asking, "You Toby Snape's wife?"
"You know Toby?"
"Oh yeah, he's in here quite a bit." Joe looked as if he realized, maybe he shouldn't have said that.
Ele ignored this and asked, "You do need help?"
Something made Joe not want to answer. Eventually he did. "Yes, but I'm not sure you're right for it though."
"Why not?"
Joe gulped. He couldn't say what was on his mind. The invisible boy who had snuck behind the bar could 'hear' what the man was thinking: 'Oi, because that face would sour more ale than it'd sell.'
A pint glass 'fell' off of a shelf shattering near Joe's feet as he answered, "This establishment is a bit rough for a lady such as yourself."
"Look, I need a job. I'm good at, mixing things."
Joe thought about Tobias Snape. The man did tend to spend more money than he had with him. Joe knew they had a kid. But that face. Against his own judgment he said, "You can help clean and set up for tonight. Then we'll see if it might, might mind you, work out."
Ele smiled. Joe wasn't sure if that didn't make it worse. 'Good thing most of the patrons will be drunk.' Another glass 'fell.' "I better get that shelf fixed."
"Thank you, you won't regret this."
"Yeah, yeah, grab yourself an apron and a rag. Start on the tables."
Ele got to it. By this time, her son had gotten to the pub's dog that was sleeping behind the bar. None of the shattering glasses seemed to faze the lazy canine. Severus wanted to pat it, but remembered what his mother had said, "don't touch anything." The dog, being quite astute, knew the boy was squatting next to him. The dog began to lick the boy's face. It took a great deal of control for the boy not to giggle. Joe looked at his dog. All he could see was the animal licking thin air. "Better get Bengi to the vet soon," Joe reminded himself. "He's gone all loopy."
