a/n: warning for character death
The train shudders and the gears groan as the Hogwarts Express begins lumbering down the tracks carrying Severus Snape to Hogwarts to being his sixth year. As in years past, once he arrived on the train he changed into his new wizarding robes. Every other year he left the station as a boy, escaping from a house of mistrust and abuse. This year, however, he left as the man of the house. The events of the day he arrived back after fifth year still echoing in his thoughts.
That day when Severus arrived home and unpacked his trunk, his father came into his room and shut the door. The man had overheard a conversation between his wife and some fellow. At first, he was concerned about an affair. All thoughts of that were vanished from his head when he heard the pair mention Severus and the magical school he went to. The thought of his boy being pulled into the nefarious plot sickened Tobias.
His father dared never to raise a hand against Eileen. He had made the mistake once, and had been cursed so wickedly by the witch they nearly had to call a mediwitch. Fortunately, Cassiopeia Black was able to come to the house and reverse the spell damage, but his father was never the same again. He would oftentimes yell and berate his wife and child, which would anger Elieen and Severus more often than not, end up in the corner afraid of another one of his mother's outbursts.
Severus was able to divert some of the negative energy from his mother when he was around. The witch was not welcomed back into the folds of the family after marrying the Muggle, and spent most days mad at the world she no longer belonged to, and the one she could never fit into. Once it became apparent that Severus was a wizard, she began his indoctrination into the Dark Arts.
That day, however, Severus was not able to divert any of the energy, and when his mother blew the door off its hinges, Tobias caught wooden shrapnel in the carotid and bled out before he hit the floor.
As Severus sat on the train he thought back to the moment, only a few months back, that changed everything. He was now the man of the house, and his mother didn't need to hide her magic at home any longer. It was a terrible summer after losing his father, but he was looking forward to making this the best year. The year of him, and of the Half-Blood Prince.
.o0o.
The Houses Comp
Hufflepuff- Y2
Drabble - WC 431
Additional Requirement: A sad occasion/moment/emotion- [Theme] Family