Outside, it was raining.

Inside the dilapidated house, Severus Snape was holding his tears in, not daring to let them spill out of his eyes. He was in immense pain; Tobias wouldn't stop beating him. All the black-haired boy wanted was for the pain to end.

He was sure both his ankles were broken. Severus was also sure that something in his abdomen had exploded, Tobias had kicked him near his guts, causing immediate pain. The worst part, was his head. Tobias Snape, the man he didn't dare call his father, had kicked him in the head. He couldn't remember the last time his head had hurt this badly.

All he had done was trip over his own feet while bringing his father a meal. This meal, that the eight year old Severus had worked his heart out on, had been a surprise for his father. Every night, Tobias would force Severus to make a meal for him, but this time Severus had done it without being asked to. Tobias had been surprised, smiling for what seemed like the first time in forever, but that all changed when one misstep led to a young boy falling to the ground.

After this, Severus had been pushed to the floor where his father had kicked him in the stomach, each repetitive blow raining down on his sensitive organs. Then Snape had flipped him over and kicked him in the back and legs at least twenty times, muttering, "Stupid, goddamned child."

After those blows, Severus had been kicked in the head, causing immense pain. This led to Severus screaming, but he wouldn't let the tears fall out of his eyes. He would not cry, not matter what the cost. For if he cried, each tear would lead to another, eventually leading to a rainstorm. And big boys don't cry. The tears went back into his eyes and his emotions were now under control. Despite the pain, he would not let out the inevitable rainstorm.

Severus' eyes grew extremely heavy and he couldn't keep them longer. He thanked his "father" for finally stopping the abuse. The blows were no longer raining down on him, which relieved Severus. Everything around him grew hazy, and he wondered for a minute if he was dying. All the pain seemed to dissipate into thin air and no longer existed, making Severus content. Thinking to himself, Severus theorized, Well if this is death, then I'm glad it's coming. For once, I won't be able to feel pain and I could go to the Heaven that my teacher always talks about. Maybe if God is real, he could be my friend. I've never had a real friend before. No one has ever liked me that much. During morning tea, no one would ever hang out with me, because I smelled bad. If I could choose, I would have chosen to smell like daisies, but Tobias would never let me shower. But maybe everyone in Heaven would be my friend.

On the final thought, everything grew black for Severus and he felt himself drift slowly into unconsciousness.

Nurse Evans, a red-headed nurse with a heart-shaped face, looked at her newest patient, Severus Snape, with horror in her eyes. One of the neighbors had heard screaming coming from the child's house, and had decided to call the police. The malnourished boy had arrived via ambulance through the terrible rainstorm. She would kill someone if they had done that to either of her two daughters.

From what she had heard, the man that had done this to her patient was completely sober, meaning he had complete control over his actions. When the police had broken through the door, they had found the young boy laying near the front entrance, surrounded by a pool of his own blood. The mother had been found in a room, tied to a bed with next to nothing, unconscious. They were planning on charging the man with attempted murder, endangerment of a child, and child abuse. After this, the boy was going to be sent to an orphanage where he was likely going to live for eight or more years.

Nobody wants to adopt the kids that go through trauma.

Meanwhile, they had to put the boy into a coma. He had been kicked in the head which had given him a severe concussion, leading to brain swelling. Nurse Evans was afraid it would lead to brain damage for the boy who had already been through enough. Currently, the boy was going through exploratory stomach surgery as there was extreme bruising on the abdomen. She suspected a ruptured spleen and a bleeding liver, but it was too early to tell. Not only that, but both of the boy's tibias were broken, possibly leading to the child never reaching his full height.

What a terrible rainy day.

There was a man with greasy hair that went down to his shoulders. His obsidian eyes had evidently seen tragic and terrible things, yet that didn't matter.

The boy himself wanted to die. He knew he was in a coma and knew death was knocking at his door. Yet, that didn't matter. The man that he saw symbolized something bigger, the first time he had ever lived without the constant worries of his father raining blows down on him. He didn't want to wake up to face his father.

The older man approached him and tilted his chin up. The young Severus Snape looked at the man with fear in his eyes and asked, "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"

"Severus Snape, I am you from the future. However, I didn't experience the pain that you are experiencing right now, which makes you a brave boy." The child looked at the man expectantly. "However, I don't want you to give up now. I know you haven't had a friend yet, but I know deep inside how much you want to have a companion, someone you can trust. Soon, you'll meet your newest best friend, her name is Lily Evans and she has the most beautiful green eyes."

The eight-year-old was skeptical and glared at the man. "And how do I know this is true?"

"I just happen to know that it is. Promise me you'll wake up and I guarantee you'll have a better life."

The older Severus Snape stuck his pinky finger out, wrapping it around the childs pinky. "I pinky promise. I have never broken one of these before." The older man said, remembering the time he used to do this with Lily.

The child smiled and prepared to wake up.

Thanks for reading!

Words: 1106

Category: Short Story

Prompt: Rainstorm

House: Gryffindor

Position: Prefect