"Come here, boy," Tobias slurs.
Severus flinches. It is always 'you there' or 'boy'. Never his name. Never any form of affectionate nickname. He supposes it is foolish of him to even imagine that his father would ever call him by some endearment. Such luxuries are for children whose fathers do not spend almost the whole day drinking and then scream insults at their wife and child once they return home. Perhaps in some alternate universe, he would have something like that.
For the umpteenth time, he wonders why his mother refuses to leave him for a better life, or even to use some spell to protect herself.
Then, deciding not to waste time on useless thoughts, he quickly runs to the sitting room, hoping against all odds that his father would not be very angry at the delay.
"What took you so long, eh?" he is questioned, as soon as he enters the room. He sighs quietly, and looks to the ground, knowing any reply would only make it worse.
As he walks closer to his father, the latter gets up in a sudden motion, and Severus finds himself on the floor, his head throbbing from the blow.
"I asked you a question, boy! Answer it!"
Severus feels the tears well up in his eyes in spite of himself. "I'm sorry, sir," he whispered.
"Sorry isn't good enough!" comes the retort. Severus hears his father walk up to the rack and pick up the belt lying there. He does not dare to raise his eyes, already knowing what would come next.
It is the sound of footsteps that finally makes him look up. His mother.
She walks over to them and seeing her son on the floor, looks pleadingly to her husband.
"Tobias," she begins, softly, but the fury in his eyes when he turns to her, makes her stop short.
"How dare you speak to me, you disgusting woman?" he roars, and she cowers.
Just like always, Severus thinks to himself. Within moments his father has picked up the empty bottle of drink in his other hand, and throws it at his mother.
"No!" Severus screams, lifting his arm, unable to stop himself. The bottle crashes at her feet, and he notices the shards have cut skin.
Leave, mum. Please, he begs her silently, with his eyes, hoping she will understand. He doesn't want her to get hurt further, for his sake. Her pleas to spare him always fall on deaf ears, and he would rather not have her injuries along with his own, to deal with.
She looks at his eyes and takes a deep breath, before shaking her head sadly. Severus sighs, realising she intends to stay.
"Please," she begs, turning back to his father.
He ignores her as he strides towards Severus, clearly bursting with anger.
Severus shuts his eyes tightly, preparing himself for the pain that would inevitably follow. Instead, he feels a pain of arms wrap protectively around him.
"Please," his mother says again, louder this time.
The comforting arms are yanked away by some cruel hands, and he hears his mother yelp in pain. He does not open his eyes, and turns his head away.
As the first of the many blows lands on his back, he lets the tears fall freely.
Notes: For the Father's Day event at The Golden Snitch. Prompt: Severus Snape and Tobias Snape.
Also for Ollivander's Wand Shop: Write about a Slytherin.
And for Through the Universe. Prompt: Alternate universe (words).
Please note that this is fiction and what Tobias is protrayed as doing here is abuse and NOT OKAY.