Summary:
My take on what might have happened if someone had noticed and reported the abuse Severus endured at the hands of his father.
Rating: T
Warning:
graphic physical abuse, domestic violence, mention of suicide
Author's Note:
This story definitely is AU, even to my headcanon and my other stories, a what-if.
There will be no more trigger warnings in later chapters, only the one above.
Disclaimer:
Everything, that in some way sounds like JK Rowling (characters, plot, dialogues, etc.) belongs to her.
The mistakes (spelling, grammar, whatever) are mine, though. So, if you find some which escaped me, please send them back. I'll care for them.
Prologue
Police record
Date: 16/02/1970 6:30 pm
Complaint: shouting and loud crashes
Place: 21 Spinner's End, Snape family
Officers: Officer Miller, Officer Graham
Ten minutes after the call we arrived at the house, we still heard shouting, but no crashes. After several knocks and demands to open the door an obviously drunk Mr Snape appeared. He asked what we wanted, to which we repeated the complaint. We also insisted to enter the house and check if anyone was hurt, due to the reported crashes. Mr Snape agreed after a lot of persuasion.
At first we could only make out some broken furniture, it was rather dark inside. Next we spotted Mrs Snape; she had a split lip, bruised cheek and looked frightened. At last we saw a small form in the darkest corner of the room. At a closer look we realised it was young Mr Snape, the couple's son. He was unconscious and bleeding from multiple wounds all over his torso.
Officer Miller immediately arrested Mr Snape on charge of child abuse and domestic violence and called an ambulance, while Officer Graham tended to the child and his mother. The boy was taken to hospital. Mr and Mrs Snape, as her injuries were minor, were brought to the police station for questioning.
Medical record
Name: Severus Snape
Date of Birth: 09/01/1960
Father: Tobias Snape
Mother: Eileen Snape
The boy arrived unconscious, the officers said he hadn't been awake when they had found him either. He has a cut on his left temple, maybe passed out from that.
At first sight he appeared very fragile; he is too short for his age (4'4'') and extremely malnourished (54lb).
He has many bruises and fresh wounds on his back, sides and arms, looks like he's been whipped. Multiple times, judging by the amount of scar tissue underneath. Some injures have the shape of a belt buckle, others are straight cuts, maybe a switch. His feet and hands are scarred as well. He also has a scar on his right wrist above the veins, might have been done by himself.
His right wrist and forearm are broken, the right shoulder is dislocated. Six ribs are cracked or broken, the lungs are not punctured. Two vertebrae of his lumbar region have small cracks, nothing serious, but definitely painful. He probably hit the wall repeatedly. There are also multiple old fractures on his wrists, arms, shoulders, ribs, legs and ankles.
He has a high fever, 39.7°C, and a bad cold. His kidneys are bruised, likely from hard kicks to that region.
No signs of sexual abuse.