This story of Severus Snape begins with an intense, isolated teenager.  The half-blood kid from the industrial north of England with a genius for dark magic.  It is the mid 1970s, a time of crisis and shattered love.    You've heard this story . . . but perhaps not quite from this perspective. 

This continues the story of Snape's parents.  They have just married and Eileen, although disowned by her father, seems happy to be expecting her first child.  Tobias has been able to purchase a house.  Life should be good, but something is not right.  And Tobias comes to a disturbing realization.   Please: take the M rating seriously. Thank you.

Severus is rescued from his last predicament.  Eileen believes in home-schooling.  An unexpected letter sends Eileen and Severus to the old Prince manorhouse, Severus meets his first goblin, and they return with some unusual heirlooms.

A librarian helps a very bright, but very neglected, little boy who presents himself with an odd request:  he wants to learn Latin.  

The title and  cited lyrics (set out in bolded italics) are from "Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward), first recorded as part of the album Master of Reality, 1971.

Severus dreams of meeting the magical little girl who lives in his neighborhood, and Tobias surprises his bartender with a family secret.

Lily contemplates the Wizarding World with Severus, until, at last, they are both off to Hogwarts, where Severus encounters one shock after another. The Sorting does not go the way he expected. Not Lily's, and not his own.
 

The long-awaited first day of classes arrives for Snape, Lily, and the other members of the "Marauders" entering class.

For all who have stuck with this story through all the long, long delays, I am so grateful.

The first week of school continues, culminating in the dreaded flying lessons.