InsaneJournal

Lame Ducks
Short ficlet written for the 'duck' challenge on lj's hpcon_envy community.
Rated G
Disclaimer: It's all JKR's. No money has changed hands.



Blowing off the thick layer of dust, Hermione opened the last of the boxes that Severus had transported from Spinner’s End to their new home in Hogsmeade. By the faded label on the side, she guessed that it had lain, forgotten, in the attic there for many years.

‘Tea?’

Hermione looked up to see Severus standing in the doorway, a mug in each hand. ‘Mmm. Please. Nearly finished here.’

Severus put one mug down on the small table next to her and sipped from the other. He tilted his head to one side so he could more easily read the label. ‘What have you got there? he asked. ‘“Fragile...” That’s my mother’s writing.’

‘Let’s see...’ Hermione gently lifted out the contents, which had all been carefully wrapped in newspaper. She noticed the date on one of them and grinned. ‘1972, eh? A bit before my time.’

‘Just what are you implying?’ Severus asked grumpily, picking up one of the items and unwrapping it. ‘Are you suggesting—’ He stopped. ‘Put them back. They can go out with the rubbish.’

‘What?’ Puzzled, Hermione removed the newspaper from the package in her hand. ‘Oh... It’s a duck.’

A plaster duck. A plaster, flying duck.

She turned to Severus, who looked mortified. ‘Why would you want to throw them away?’ Hermione asked. ‘They’re really kitsch—collectable, even.’

He snorted. ‘Somehow, I doubt that. Most of them are damaged—like this one.’ Severus held out the ornament by its wing—part of the beak was missing.

‘What a shame...’ Hermione removed the next injured duck from the box. This one had been winged. ‘How did it happen?’

‘Target practice,’ Severus replied simply. ‘I hated the damned things.’

‘But why? They’re so cute.’

‘Lily...’ he swallowed. ‘She said they were common.’

Hermione bristled. ‘Well, they’re not. And they’ll be as good as new once I’ve finished with them.’

Putting his arms around her, Severus hugged her close. ‘My mum would have loved you,’ he said.