Before the Fire
The fire tickles at the wood, leaving kisses that scorch the grains. It doesn't take long to engulf the wood, slowly burning away any evidence of its existence. Severus just stares at it. Not sure what to do. His mind is blank, and his heart has practically stilled in his chest.
"No…" he breathes, eyes shifting around the orange light that his covering his family's home completely. Deep down he knows that he could put out the flames, that he could run inside and see what is left, what has survived. He cares little about his possessions; whatever he cares about he took with him to Hogwarts – to protect it from his father. He looks down to his hand, where his wand it already sitting, and considers raising it. His mind is still blurry from the shock, and it takes him a moment to think about it. At barely sixteen, putting out the flames would risk the ministry knowing he used magic, and could end up with him expelled from Hogwarts. But not doing anything would mean that his home would burn to the ground.
There are people swarming now, screaming coming from the neighbours who just came home from staring at the Christmas lights that had been erected a few streets over. They are bringing over buckets of water, and hoses. Someone has called the fire brigade. Severus realises he's too late now, and tucks his wand back in his jacket. There are people talking to him, they're asking him what happened, but he doesn't know. They ask him where his parents are, and he doesn't know that answer either.
Officials arrive and they storm the house, putting out the fire as they go. Severus coughs, his body shaking with cold as he stands in front of the smoking skeleton of a house, and watches as they pull out the body of a man or woman – too charred to know the difference. Severus starts forward now, choking in the smoke, and wracked with sobs. Someone wraps an arm around him. He has a gas mask over his face and yells something in Severus' ears. But Snape cannot hear him. The man is dragging him away, trying to turn him from the wreckage. The last thing he sees is another body being pulled from the fire, not a burnt as the other – still breathing even. His father. Severus collapses into the mans' arms, allowing himself to be dragged from the street, his breathing coming out in sharp sobs and his eyes burning from the smoke and tears.
He should have done something.
A/N: Words – 432
Ancient Runes [extra credit] – "Write about someone in front of a fire…"
Nov Event - Severus Snape