Author's Note: This takes place in the summer before Severus's second year and Lucius's sixth year.
As was often the norm, Severus was woken up from his sleep by the loud screaming of his parents.
Severus laid in his bed for several minutes, waiting for his parents to stop arguing.
The small boy was hungry, but he didn't want to go down to breakfast while his parents were fighting. He didn't want anything thrown at him, and he most definitely didn't want his father slapping him around.
It really was unbelievable. His mother was a witch, and he was a wizard. Yet, they both were often terrorized by their Muggle husband/father.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't right.
But this was the reality of Severus Snape's life at home. He really couldn't wait until it was time to return to Hogwarts for his second year.
After about half an hour, his parents finally grew silent.
Maybe it was now safe to grab something to eat, even though Severus knew it probably wouldn't be much.
They should have had enough money to live comfortably on, but Tobias Snape was an alcoholic; and with a habit like that, it didn't take long for money to disappear.
Severus could only hope that his mother never touched the money that she had set aside for his Hogwarts education in order to give his father more alcohol.
It was bad enough that Severus looked so ridiculous when he was at home. He really didn't want to look ridiculous at Hogwarts as well. The last thing that he needed was for James Potter and his friends to have even more reasons to torment him.
Severus slowly and cautiously made his way out of his bedroom and into the kitchen. He kept his ears open for any sounds from his parents. But all he heard was silence.
Hopefully his parents would remain civil enough with each other just long enough for Severus to grab a piece of bread or some fruit.
When Severus finally entered the kitchen, both of his parents were reading newspapers. His father was reading the Muggle newspaper, while his mother was reading the Daily Prophet.
But at least neither of them looked bloody or bruised. At least not yet. The day was still long.
Neither of his parents acknowledged his presence as Severus gingerly sat down, but that was just fine with him. In his experience, it was safer to not draw attention to yourself.
Severus looked at the food that was on the table. There wasn't much. There wasn't any fruit. But there was bread, and for once, it didn't look moldy. And there was also butter, a rare luxury.
Severus had just finished eating a piece of buttered bread when there was suddenly a knock on the front door.
All three members of the Snape family looked up at surprise. They rarely had any visitors. Severus had not even told Lily where he lived, as he didn't want her being in a place like this.
"Well, don't just sit there," Tobias finally snapped at his wife. "Find out who's at the door, so that you can tell them to go away."
Eileen glared angrily at her husband, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she silently stood up and made her way out of the kitchen.
Severus grabbed for another piece of bread as his father grabbed for his bottle of cheap whiskey.
As Severus ate, he heard the sound of the door opening. He then heard the sound of his mother talking with someone. The small boy, however, couldn't hear their mysterious visitor.
Then, Severus heard his mother's voice raise in volume. It was clear that she was snapping angrily at whoever it was that was at the door. Moment later, however, she had grown quiet again.
Severus then heard the sound of the door closing, followed by silence.
Moments later, Eileen walked back into the kitchen.
"Sorry, Tobias," she said, "but he was very insistent on seeing Severus."
Severus looked up in surprise. Who would actually want to see him? And how in the world did this person know where he lived?
Their visitor then walked into the kitchen.
Severus blinked his eyes several times. Then, his jaw dropped.
He had to be hallucinating. He just had to be. Because there was no way that Lucius Malfoy was actually standing in his kitchen.