Once Again: A Severus Snape Oneshot

"Severus!" A woman yelled harshly out the back door, her command catching the ear of a small, pale boy sitting cross-legged on the patio. He turned towards the figure standing in the doorway, her maternal, flowery apron contradicted by the hook-nosed glare on her face. She raised one eyebrow, accentuating her gaunt cheekbones.

"What are you doing?! Didn't I tell you to clean up the drawing room? Who do you think you are, playing out here with that piece of rubbish?" The screeching woman then beckoned angrily, before whirling on her heel and vanishing inside the Victorian cottage.

Severus sighed, clambering slowly to his feet and brusquely swiping his dull, black hair out of his eyes. He should've known his mother would find some way to interrupt his rare moment of fun. What was wrong with the drawing room anyway? The couch cover was wrinkled and the carpet needed hovering, but that was all.
"Should just not do it..." he muttered, but deep down he knew that if he didn't, his father would find a way of forcing him to do so. A sharp rap came from the kitchen window, his mother's hurry up signal. Severus trudged inside, and hauled out the hoover.

Later that evening found Severus in his room, tired and hungry-his dusting efforts had apparently not been up to standard in the corridor, and so his father had banished him to his room without tea. He pulled his knees up to his chin, and began to daydream about Lily. Her green eyes flashing as they ran down the bank to the river. Her red hair, splayed out across the grass, fiery like her temper. She was so beautiful, mused Severus.
But why would Lily Evans, the most amazing girl he'd ever met, like him? Severus Snape?! He glanced in the mirror, taking in his pallid, translucent skin, his hooked nose, his small gaunt frame and greasy hair. His eyes met those of his reflection-dark, seeming to mirror the dark thoughts that constricted his throat and made his vision blur.
The young, sallow boy sighed, resting his head on the windowsill, his gaze directed down at the manky toy bear that lay forlorn and deserted on the red tiles.