It was a cold winter day in London. The streets were slick with ice. On a peculiar street, filled with shabby, dirty houses, the sound of screeching tires echoed into the chilly air.

"Get out!"

"I'm sorry dad I-"

"Shut up! You're nothing but a worthless waste of space!"

The man abruptly opened the girl's door and shoved her roughly out onto the icy road.

"You can walk home!"

"But dad, that's miles-"

"You ungrateful brat! After all I do for you and this is how you repay me? Who the hell do you think you are!"

"Da-"

"You ever show your face again, you'll wish you had never been born!"

With that, the man slammed the car door and sped off down the street.

The girl with pixie cut black hair sighed softly. She looked around at her surroundings and her icy blue eyes landed on a battered street sign that said Spinners End. She had no idea where on earth she was.

A cold breeze swept through the houses and she shivered violently. She was clad in nothing but beat up old converse, dark wash jeans and a faded grey cotton sweater. She was just about to start walking the way her father had gone when a silky voice sounded from behind her.

"Lost?"

Feeling a little nervous, she slowly turned around and came face to face with a person she could only describe as an overgrown bat. He was dressed in all black and had greasy black hair that hung limply over his papery pale skin. His skin was shallow and his nose was hooked. His coal black eyes were cold and calculating. His presence, strangely, calmed her and her heart slowed down a bit.

"Must I repeat myself, silly girl?" The bat said impatiently.

"N-no, sir, sorry sir." She whispered.

"I take it that man is not coming back for you?" The bat said sarcastically.

Her eyes widened and her breathing quickened. How had he been standing there? How much had he seen? No one knew about what happened at home. Her father had not hit her in his little episode, but surely his words were enough to give something away. She contemplated running, but by the look of this man, she wouldn't stand a chance in hell. The voice of the man is what brought her back to reality.

"Don't even try running; you will just be wasting your time."

Her eyes widened. Could he read minds? "That was nothing, sir."

"Don't. Lie. To. Me. I heard and saw it all."

Her fear had been realized. Her eyes darted around anxiously, looking for a way out.

"What is your name child? The man said softly.

Licking her lips, she nervously replied, "V-violet."

"I am Severus Snape."

Barely even registering his name, her brain went to work. She had to get of there. This man knew way too much. He would report what he saw to the police and she would get in trouble. She hated getting in trouble. Trouble meant punishments and punishments meant pain. Acting quickly, she plastered a smile onto her face and looked the man in the eye.

"Well, Mr. Snape, if you could just direct me to the nearest phone booth, I would greatly appreciate it."

Mind your manners Violet. Little girls who don't mind their manners get punished, Violet thought to herself.

"Foolish girl." Severus replied coldly. "Do you really think I would allow a child to roam the streets of London, alone, after her charming father albeit disowned her?"

"I am not a child, I'm 16." Violet snapped.

"Severus raised an elegant eyebrow. "I see. Well, come with me."

Severus turned around and briskly walked up the houses beaten stone path. Robes billowing black shadows behind him.

Violet had seen people wearing robes before, so thought nothing of it. But what she had never seen was someone able to make them billow like that. She suddenly thought of Mr. Snape practicing his robe billowing in front of the mirror and fought the urge to laugh.

"If you waste any more of my time, girl, I will leave you to freeze out there." Mr. Snape snarled from the porch.

Startled, Violet looked up and ran up the path to the door. Severus sneered at her and shut the door behind her.