The Prince's Tale
By. R.
Chapter One
The Abandoned Boy
"'... Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known.
He and Voldemort and Snape,
the abandoned boys, had all found a home here..."
[Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Page. 697]
June 30, 1975
Severus Snape sat in his train compartment watching the country side of Scotland pass him by. It was the same scenery every year towards Kings Cross. He was going home.
Severus sank lower into his seat, leaning his forehead against the window pane.
Hogwarts was his fist real home- not that hovel in Spinners End.
Home was the Great Hall filled with floating candles, and mouth watering flavors. Home was gazing at the stars from the Astronomy Tower, and a library filled with ancient texts. Home was in her red locks and vibrant green eyes. Lily was home.
Just thinking of her made his heart lurch painfully.
Again he tried concentrating on the passing scenery, but Severus could see none of it. Everything about this moment was so familiar, and yet so different.
Nothing was the same. Not anymore.
This time he was alone.
Severus glanced down at his middle finger which bore a plain silver ring. It had been a gift from Lucius in his first year at Hogwarts. He noticed how often Severus was bullied, and beaten by the Marauders and decided to intervene.
"Take it Severus." Lucius smiled warmly offering him the silver ring.
"What is it?" Severus asked warily, narrowing his black eyes. He never trusted people, no matter how kind they treated him. He knew they had to be an anterior motive.
"a ring." Lucius chuckled. "Its a protection ring. Any time your in need of me you only need to rub it and whisper my name into it."
"And how is whispering your name into a ring suppose to help me?" Severus snapped irritably, whipping the blood from his swollen lip.
"I have a twin ring, you see?" Lucius raised an elegant hand, showing off his own ring that Severus hadn't noticed before. "It has an invisibility spell over it so that no one will be able to see it but us. I'll be able to tell when you need me, and I'll be able to track your location."
"I don't like being tracked." Severus said shortly, turning to walk away.
Lucius reached out to grab the first year, thrusting the ring into Severus's hand.
"You never know." was all Lucius had said before walking away.
For some reason or another Lucius took a protective shine to him, which at the time Severus had mistaken for friendship. How utterly pathetic. Lucius was a friend to no one. He collected 'friendships' he saw to be worth investing, and knew how to play his cards right to get exactly what he wanted. To the Professors at Hogwarts Lucius Malfoy was well mannered and polite with a charming personality. He was beautiful and rich, and that alone made him appealing to the untrained eye.
Now that Severus had studied the young man, he realized such things were a facade for something worse. He was cruel and vain, and merciless. He believed himself powerful, but Severus knew if the time came he could best Lucius any day. Coming into Hogwarts, Severus already knew more curses than most seventh years. His mother might have been a pathetic excuse for a which and parent, but she also came from one of the oldest pure-blood families- thick in tradition of the Dark Arts.
He toyed with the silver ring wondering if Lucius could feel his pain...if it could detect location, what else was it capable of?
Severus surveyed the empty compartment. He glanced towards the glass door watching as students made to enter it, but turned away once they saw its sole occupant.
He had never been popular. He spent every spare minuet with his nose buried in a book. He was snarky and snapped at anyone who dared cross his path. On days when the school trenched down to watch a game of Quidditch, Severus spent his time creating new spells and experimenting with potions. By the end of the year his potions book was unrecognizable, as he had corrected and modified the potions within.
If he had any time to spare it was with his best friend, Lily...'was' being the key word.
Severus sneered turning away from the passerby outside his compartment door. With a flick of his wrist the shades rolled down separating him from the cheerful faces that passed.
Everyone seemed so excited about going home for the summer, he couldn't bear to look at them anymore.
For good measure he uttered a silencing charm, waving his hand gracefully through the air. He'd spent most of the year practicing wandless magic with Lil-
No! I won't think of her...I wont.
However the longer Severus sat in the silent train compartment, the more he thought of her. Yes, for Severus Snape, the sun truly did rise and set with Lily Evans. She was home, she was his soul, she was his ultimate reason. Without her he knew he could never truly be happy. She was his light, his life.
This time there would be no easy conversation, to pass the hours back to Kings Cross. He would not hear her laughter, and she most certainly wouldn't be here to reassure him of her company during the long summers hols. Emotion swelled in his throat.
How would be survive?
Enough!
Severus shook himself , straitening. He wouldn't cry. He was strong, he was powerful. He was not a child. He would not cry.
But even as there thoughts crossed his mind a thin film of moisture gathered at the corners of his eyes. Roughly he whipped it away with the back of his frayed sleeve.
The robes he wore were bought from a second hand store in Diagon Alley, in the summer of his third year. They were much too short on him ,and awfully faded. Having just finished his fifth year, Severus knew he must have looked quite ridiculous in them.
He was nearly six feet tall and wore robes fitted for someone five foot. Luckily he'd saved enough pocket money helping Professor Slughorn ,and Madam Pomfrey stock the Hospital wing with: pepper up, fever reducers, dreamless sleep, and any other potions needed.
Perhaps if he wore better clothes, or had more money like Lucius, Lily would have noticed him...really noticed him.
Severus Snape had never been an attractive boy. He was thin with sharp features, sallow skin, intense black eyes, greasy hair and a hooked nose.
No one in their right mind would have considered Severus Snape hansom. Intelligent, yes. Powerful, certainly. Cunning, witty, sharp, calculating, quick- definitely... But beautiful he would never be.
Drawing a shaky breath Severus took out an his potions text book from his robe pocket and began to read and make notes. Potions always cleared his mind, and just thinking of facing an entire summer without the respite of Lily made him physically ill.
By the time he arrived at Kings cross Severus had finished the book. He snapped it shut and stood to opened his small school trunk. Inside were an assortment of different textbooks, extra robes, quills, potions equipment, neatly arranged. Beneath that in a gray satchel were his Muggle clothes . He pulled the items from the bag , feeling empty inside.
Slowly, he stripped out of his Hogwarts robes, burying his face into the fabric once last time before September first. He could still smell the Hogwarts breakfast in its folds. Blinking rapidly, Severus threw his clothes into the trunk slamming it shut.
He pulled on his long sleeved, plain gray, Muggle tee-shirt, which was thin but remarkably without holes. Another enchantment Lily had taught him. She was always good at charms, better even than Severus ,who prided himself on excelling in every subject.
Quickly he pulled on his faded jeans and chunky boots he had found last summer beside a dumpster. He had felt so lucky to have found shoes that actually fit. His school ones would have aroused too much suspicion with his father.
His school shoes had been purchased in Diagon Alley in his third year ,with the pocket money he earned with Pomfrey. He couldn't allow his father to find out about the extra money. If there was one thing he about Tobias Snape, it was his father's anger.
Once Severus was finished he looked down, surveying himself with disgust. Before he could think anymore he tucked his wand up his sleeve, and hauled his trunk behind him as he made his way out of his compartment and through the train. Most of the students had already exited the train. He only hopped Lily had already left with Mr, and Mrs Evans.
"Well, well, well," Came a mocking voice from behind "Look who it is boys!"
Severus snapped around with lightning quick reflexes. His wand was already out, a hex on the tip of his lips. Unfortunately his opponent was faster...
Which consisted of not one, but four boys.
The Marauders.
Oh, bloody fucking hell.
A blast of light exploded around him, sending a painful burning hex in his direction . The hex hit Severus, scorching his skin raw. He gasped, falling to the floor, watching his long pale fingers begin to blister.
"Just think of it as a farewell gift ,Snivellus!" Potter snorted arrogantly.
He could hear Black's barking laughter as he clapped Potter over the back enthusiastically.
"Good one James! Oi-let me have next go, I still haven't payed the greasy git back for last week!"
By this time Severus managed to rise on all fours, glaring up with hatred at the four laughing Marauders. Just thinking of the potion Severus had thrown at Black last week made his lips curl into an evil smirk.
The potion was created by Severus himself to use 'for enemies'. It caused its victim not only to spill their secret fantasy's, but also deep dark secrets. The potion worked as an uncontrollable compulsion to spout the persons inner thoughts that were not meant for anyone to know.
Needless to say the entire school now questioned not only Blacks sanity, but sexuality as well...who knew he enjoyed staring at Remus in the Gryffindor showers?
Nothing he could do to the Marauders could compare what they, in turn, had done to Severus- splitting Lily and him apart ...but he did feel a little better thinking of last week.
"I mean it Prongs- I know it was him who done it!" Black barked "I get next go!"
"By all means Padfoot." James Potter bowed, offering Severus up for his entertainment. " Its not like anyone's going to run to his rescue today- not now that Evans found out what a piece of shit he really is. Calling her a Mudblood of all things!"
"Awe Jamie, your defending her honor!" Black chuckled, batting his eyelashes suggestively.
"Shut it mutt! Its not even about that- us...Us Gryffindor's gotta protect our own!"
"Uh, huh. Sure." Pettigrew smirked, leaning against the wall. "Prongs and Evans sittin in a tree-"
"Finish that Wormtail, and I'll sick Mrs. Norris on you next year."
Severus watched the playful banter play out ,as his skin continued bubbling under the burning heat of the hex. He winced as the sticky blisters on his palms broke open.
They continued to laugh as Severus gazed up at them with an expression of purest loathing.
Well technically only Black, Potter and Pettigrew were laughing. Lupin remained the only one staring down at Severus with concern...or was it pity? It was just like the werewolf to remained silent, standing on the sidelines.
How dare he look concerned for My well being, Severus thought, How dare that wolf look me in the eye after nearly killing me third year.
He would never forgive Black for luring him to the Whomping Willow, and he wouldn't forgive Lupin either.
Severus hated him for it. It wasn't the fact that Lupin didn't stand up to his friends. It was the way he looked at him that Severus couldn't stand. He would have rather the wolf curse at him- laugh at him- mock him- anything! Instead he took the cowards way out and stood watching with disapproval, towards his friends, and pity towards him.
Severus hissed as he began to rise to his feet, which had also began to blister. He was no coward. He gave as good as he got, and cried for no one. He wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing any weakness within him. No one could use his own emotions against him. No one.
His thin lips curled into a wicked sneer as he flicked his wrist towards the laughing boys sending them flying town the corridor. They tumbled, knocking into the walls, butting heads, and even breaking threw a few compartment doors.
Risking a few moments, Severus pulled out a healing draught from his pant pocket,yanked out the stopper and downed half the vial. Ever since his second year Severus made it a habit of carrying a few vials of healing potions everywhere he went...including back at Spinners End.
Especially there.
Severus smirked grabbing his trunk before spells began flying in his direction again. Quickly he exited the train onto the platform where magic was no longer allowed. He was in the clear even as they tumbled out of the train behind him, with a look in their eyes that promised retribution come next September.
"See you next year Snivelly," James called coolly, dragging a hand to ruffle his unruly hair. Whether it was to shake out the pieces of glass or attempt to look rugged, he wasn't sure. He hoped the toerag's fingers cut him every time he tried ruffling his birds nest.
Severus didn't bother looking back. He rushed as quickly as he could through the barrier without attracting any more attention than was necessary. Then again no one ever paid him any attention. He walked onward, shoulders hunched and head bowed. Once outside ,there was barely anyone around he recognized...and by 'anyone' he meant Lily.
Severus took a deep breath masking his face so that no emotion showed. Years of living with his parents taught him well. On the outside he seemed stoic and unfazed.
One wouldn't dare approach the bitter looking fifteen year old, who looked more like a gutter punk than any respectable member of society. He walked through Kings Cross silently, unnoticed, like a shadow. He was a perfect statue of determination and cold intellect.
Along the way he passed parents wrapping their children in warm embraces. He watched them walk away together laughing. Everyone was smiling and chatting excitedly about their past school year, and classes, and grades.
Severus steered himself towards the front of the building. No one would be meeting him here today, not that he ever expected anyone to. Just imagining his mother or father waiting to take him home from school was a laughable notion.
He was several blocks away from the station when he took out his wand , and raised it with his right hand.
A deafening BANG, filled the air, and a moment later Severus found himself face to face with a large triple decker purple bus.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus!" a short young man with blond hair chimed. He wore thick glasses which made his blue eyes bug out of his head. At his waist Severus noticed a silver sash, where three different shrunken heads hung. They conversed in gibberish, every now and then giving Severus a stern glare that said, 'butt out'.
"The Knight Bus-emergency transport for the stranded witch or Wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you desire. My name is Ernie Prang, and I will be your conductor for this evening! Would you care for any hot chocolate?"
Severus gave a curt shake of his head, shoving past Ernie.
"Spinners End, London." He muttered sharply, pulling his trunk behind him before Ernie decided to help him.
Right away gov, that'll be eleven sickles!" the little man said enthusiastically.
Severus thrust the gold into the mans outstretched hand, before turning to find an empty seat near the back. He didn't feel up to conversing pleasantries with anyone. He sighed as he sat back, touching his skin over his knuckles lightly.
"Take er away Bart!" Ernie called, knocking on the pane of glass separating him from the driver.
Severus took a deep, shaky breath as the bus leaped forward with another loud BANG! They wove through alleyways and trees, hill country's and city streets until finally the atmosphere became dark and thick.
Though he tried not to, his mind began wandering towards what awaited him at home. He hadn't written to his mother all year. Of course she sent her weekly letter imploring Severus to tell her about school, and how he was doing in his lessons, but he did not answer one of them.
With the letters came bits of spare change. A pound here , a few coins there. It was all rubbish. What could he possibly do with spare Muggle change at Hogwarts. So they remained thrown at the bottom of his trunk with the rest of his Muggle items. Merlin only knows what Avery, Mulciber, Lestrange, or the Carrows would have done if they found them. He shuttered to think
Being a half-blood in Slytherin was hard enough without drawing more attention to himself than necessary. It was better to act the part of someone he wasn't for the sake of waking up without screaming. His dorm mates came from old families well versed in the Dark Arts. If anything he had to be prepared for the worst, which was why he always slept with his wand, and warded the area around his bed.
Never- the– less Severus kept the Muggle money, just in case.
Compared to his father, his mother was a saint. She was kind hearten and gentle...but she was also weak. He couldn't find it in his heart to forgive her for every time she smiled and looked the other way as his father lashed out at him. She never once came to his defense, not even when he begged her so pitifully.
As a child he had realized that no one would ever help him. Ever since then he distanced himself and became reclusive. It was hard to imagine that his mother had once walked with her head held high. She had been a proud pure-blooded witch, until she fell in love with a Muggle who then reduced her to the hallow shell she became today.
Her last letter had come over a month ago pleading for Severus to contact her. However with the stress of his O.W.L examinations, and the incident with Lily, writing his mother became last on his 'to do' list.
It wasn't that he didn't love his mother. He did, perhaps to a fault since she had never once recognized it. Everything was always so formal with her, and whatever emotion she showed was difficult to know if it was real or not.
Severus clutched the arms to his chair tighter, giving nothing else away to his emotions. Perhaps in that aspect he was like his mother. Bringing his long thin fingers to his nose, Severus touched it lightly.
His father would also be there, no doubt in a particular mood that never ended well for Severus. He remember how many times he's broken Severus' nose. Over time, without it placed properly, it began to hook into a most unattractive angle. He hated his father for it. Every day he woke up to a reminder of what awaited him, so in the end he had smashed all the mirrors in his room and avoided them at all cost.
His hair was another thing Severus hated. Surprisingly he was quite a neat freak, and took care to shower at least three times a day. However, working with potions and the fumes always made his hair greasy. In fact Severus had quite fine hair: smooth, silky, and soft. Very soft.
Unconsciously Severus spun a lock of his inky hair between his fingers. Realizing what he was doing he quickly he jerked his hand away , folding them neatly in his lap.
When the Bus lurched to a stop, Severus sat a moment longer knowing what was coming next. Slowly, like a man facing his execution, he stood, lifting his trunk behind him.
On the outside he appeared collected.
….No one would have been able to guess the truth -that inside- he shook with terrible fear.
He was back 'home'.
Severus exited the bus , watching it disappeared into the night, leaving him alone. The street was already dark. Most of the street lamps had been broken by neighborhood thugs. He walked down the street until he reached the last house on the corner.
He could smell the filthy stench of the river behind his house, and hear stray dogs barking in the distance. The house itself was small, a shack really. It was a gray color that he imagined had once been white some several years ago. Its tall brick chimney issued black smoke that floated into the air mingling with the stench of the river.
Yes, he was back 'home'...
Back to Spinners End.
Instinctively Severus touched his silver ring, wondering if it was too late to call Lucius, or anyone else to take him away from this place. Hell, even the presence of The Dark Lord would have been a welcome sight compared to this.
Authors Note.
Drop a review. Cause I like it ;)