Chapter 88. Airplane.
London. Heathrow.
Sitting in a chair, Severus studied the huge board of departure times and flight numbers with keen curiosity. He had wanted to fly on a plane for a long time, ever since he first read about them in a book. Even so, he could hardly contain his excitement. What fascinated him most was how ordinary people could lift two hundred tons into the sky without magic. He had read the theory, but understood little of it. He needed experience, and seeing it with his own eyes would be far more interesting.
"Flight 202 of London Airlines to New York is now boarding. All passengers please proceed to gate 25."
Severus followed the stream of travelers hurrying past with their luggage, and then he looked around the airport again, crowded with Muggles. A disappointed sigh escaped him at the sight of how far they had progressed, while wizards had fallen behind, still living in what was essentially the eighteenth century.
If the magical world and the Muggle world united, humanity would develop much faster. But peaceful coexistence, he shook his head regretfully, is impossible. There are too few wizards. Muggles would overwhelm them with numbers, all trying to get their hands on magic. People are selfish. No wonder they created the Statute of Secrecy. If Muggles could pressure them in the seventeenth century, I doubt wizards could survive at all now. Most wizards are weak-willed. Under simple torture, they would betray their own mother, especially the aristocrats. Take away their wand and that's it. They are no longer fighters, just ordinary people. I would not be surprised if the Muggle government already knows about magic, and the Ministry of Magic is already cooperating with them. But how long will that peace last? A weary sigh escaped him again, and his gaze sharpened. I need to regain at least the rank of Grand Archimagus as quickly as possible, so I can protect myself if a witch hunt starts again, like in the sixteenth century. Lifting his eyes to the board once more, Severus thought, then slapped his fist into his palm, his face brightening. In that case, war might be avoidable even if everything slips out of the wizards' control. It is still worth preparing for the worst. But even if I do this... Shaking his head, Severus stood, straightened his shirt, and walked to the huge panoramic window, where a plane was taking off in the distance. I will still need safety measures of my own. Ugh, why does everything have to be so complicated?
"Young man, are you feeling unwell? Should I escort you to the medical station?" a concerned female voice asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. Severus turned toward her, smiled gently, and shook his head.
"Thank you, it's just my first time flying on a plane, so I'm a bit nervous." He glanced with mild interest at the petite woman in a short blue skirt and jacket over a white shirt, with a pillbox hat perched neatly on her head. Her radiant smile made her already pleasant features even more attractive.
I understand, but don't worry, everything will be fine. Just sit for a bit. Should I bring you some water?
"Don't trouble yourself, everything is fine. I am already feeling better."
Then an announcement came over the intercom.
"Flight 206 of London Airlines to Dubai is now boarding. All passengers please proceed to gate 12."
The flight attendant straightened her cap and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"That's my flight boarding. It was nice meeting you."
"Likewise, Miss Jonathan. Have a good day," he said, glancing at the badge on the left side of her chest.
"You too, Mr. Snape."
She smiled, nodded, shook his hand, and hurried off toward the gate.
"And you don't waste any time, do you?" Nagini hissed, watching Jonathan leave with narrowed eyes before looking up at Severus.
"Jealous again?"
"No. But it would be better if we just flew there or used Apparition. Why all these complications with Muggle technology?"
"I simply find their technology fascinating. I want to see what they have achieved without magic. And I could not simply Apparate to those jungles since I have never been there. Searching through every Muggle's mind for memories of that place would be foolish. I would collapse from mental exhaustion long before finding anything useful." He smiled, stroking the snake, now the size of a thumb, as it peeked out of his breast pocket. "Isn't it interesting to you too?"
"I suppose I will never understand what you find interesting about them."
"They have only just started developing certain areas that have caught my interest. And to be perfectly honest, the magical world has fallen behind. Muggles know far more about the world around them, not to mention the terrible ignorance of wizards who think Muggles still swing swords and hunt mammoths. Yes, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but that is the situation. Most do not even know what firearms are, let alone grenades and nuclear bombs. And it is fascinating. Ordinary people have reached the kind of power that could threaten the existence of wizards without much effort."
"Wait! You mean that bomb really exists?!" Nagini exclaimed, shocked, remembering that terrifying explosion they had once seen in a film.
"Yes, it exists. And the funny thing is, wizards do not suspect there is something that could wipe out Hogwarts in an instant." Severus nodded thoughtfully, remembering the charms on the castle. "Though maybe it could withstand a direct hit. But radiation? Probably not, since they do not even know what it is. Do not worry." Smiling warmly, he stroked the frightened snake on the head. "I can protect us. And I do not want the magical world to be destroyed. If it ever comes to that, I have a solution."
Rising from the chair, Severus headed toward gate twelve. Only ten minutes remained before departure, and his route was not particularly winding. He planned to fly from London to Dubai, transfer, and then reach Brazil. By tomorrow at this time, he should be in São Paulo, where a guide would be waiting. The man was the author of the very book, and Severus had paid two thousand Galleons for him to draw a map, explain the rough route, and lead him at least as far as the barrier he had once passed through.
Because, just like London and almost everywhere in the world, the Amazon jungle also had a place like Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, separated from the Muggle world. Terrifying monsters lived there. Rumors even claimed someone had seen a real Basilisk. Few believed it, but no one rushed to investigate and prove anything in one of the most dangerous places on earth.
A few minutes later, after passing security, Severus walked through the jetway, the enclosed tube connecting the terminal to the aircraft. Once inside, he smiled at Miss Jonathan, the short, pleasant attendant he had spoken with earlier.
"Welcome," Miss Jonathan said with a smile, but when she saw who had stepped aboard, surprise flickered across her face. She recovered at once, returning to her professional expression. "May I see your ticket?"
"Of course." He took it from his inner pocket and handed it to her. A few seconds later, she returned it.
"Your seat is number 25, on the right side. If you feel unwell at any time, you may contact me or my colleagues."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
Miss Jonathan watched him go with a thoughtful look, then shook her head and turned to the portly man who stepped up next.
"Welcome. May I see your ticket?"
After finding his seat, Severus sat by the window and watched a worker drive past on a strange machine. Then he shifted his gaze to a distant plane picking up speed. Seconds later, it lifted off the ground.
*I can hardly believe all this happens without magic.*
"Did you notice Miss Jonathan's strange look?" Nagini suddenly asked, and he nodded calmly.
"She is a Squib, someone with a magical core so weak that even the simplest spellwork is nearly impossible. She probably sensed you, though I didn't bother hiding your presence. She may not even know what she is." Severus raised his gaze to the bright sky, which stood out against the dark clouds gathering in the distance, frowned slightly, and shook his head.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! A moment of your attention, please. This is your captain, Frank McDowell, speaking. Welcome aboard the Boeing 707 aircraft of British Caledonia. We are flying from London to Dubai. Flight time is ten hours, five minutes. In five minutes we will begin starting the engines and taxiing to the runway."
Severus glanced toward the source of the voice, then shook his head and returned his attention to the window.
The thought of still getting that flower cheered him up. Then only the last of the three ingredients would remain. Perhaps he would even find something else. After all, this was the most dangerous place, and the wildlife should have kept people from taking everything. His eyes lit up and a grin tugged at his lips. He could not wait to get there.
"Try to look less pleased, or you'll look like you're plotting something," Nagini said in a bored voice. Flying on a plane didn't interest her at all, and lying in his pocket was uncomfortable.
"All right, all right, come out." Returning his face to normal, Severus strengthened the Notice-Me-Not charm on the snake and created two illusions beside him so no one would try to sit there. The seats were his anyway, purchased under false passports.
Nagini happily slipped out of the pocket, moved to the neighboring seat, curled into a ball, and closed her eyes in contentment, which stirred a faint tenderness in Severus.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We are ready for takeoff! Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and tightened to fit. Thank you for your attention!"
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