Brief Lesson: M.O.M. Classification: XXXX - The Unicorn is a white, equine creature with a single horn on its forehead. They are fully grown at about seven years old, at which at this age they turn a shade of pure white that is so bright that it makes freshly fallen snow look gray in comparison. Their hooves are golden, (remaining so from their gold stage, the first two years of their life), and their blood is silver-blue in color and shines under the moonlight. Unicorns prefer a woman's touch, but the young ones are more trusting and do not mind men as much. Unicorns are also so fleet-of-hoof that they can rarely be caught by humans. (Courtesy: Harry Potter Wikia)
Task Chosen: Write about something/someone pure.
Prompts Used: (word) snow;Gringotts Prompts Bank [Vocabulary] Figures of Speech - change of heart, the ball is in your court, bite the bullet, deafening silence [Descriptors] Instead of Said – states, concedes
A Weighty Decision
1)
As she stands over her newborn son's crib as he sleeps, Eileen Snape née Prince marvels over him, this son of hers, her little Prince. She didn't have a difficult pregnancy, by-passing the usual symptoms of swollen ankles and morning sickness. However, the actual delivery of her baby is anything but easy. Eileen delivers prematurely, the cause being a violent push down a short flight of stairs by her husband during one of his drunken rages.
The delivery of her son is difficult for Eileen and it seems like he will not take his first breath outside of her womb, yet he proves otherwise. Her pride and joy, Severus Prince Snape is born, kicking, screaming and with a scowl on his face, like he already finds the world he has been born into disagreeable, obnoxious and just overall offensive.
As she looks down upon him as he suckles her breast, Eileen decides she has never seen a more beautiful face.
2)
Three days later, Tobias appears in the hospital room, flowers in one hand and a soccer ball under his arm. As his wife gazes upon him her suspicion of him obvious, Tobias squirms nervously and clears his throat (an obvious delay tactic) before speaking.
"The nurse told me that the doctors thought that the baby was going to die," he states faintly, a contrite expression on his face.
His voice fades and an uncomfortable silence and the only sounds he can hear are the faint background noises of the beep and hiss of the machines. Tobias is unnerved by the cool look upon Eileen's face and asks –
"Are you upset?"
The only response Eileen can give is to scream, which prompts the nurse to usher Tobias out of the room as she berates him for causing her patient undue stress as she recovers.
3)
Tobias returns the next day and after assuring the nurse on duty that he will not be any trouble, he visits once more to make an appeal.
"I apologize. My attack against you was unnecessary. It was a mistake. I really do love you and I want to start again, build our family together, make our house a home. The ball is in your court," he says in conclusion, trying to convince Eileen of his sincerity.
Eileen wants to believe him and his change of heart despite her building anxiety. Yet she can't quite shake the terrible visions of her baby as a young child, abused both verbally and mentally by the man he should feel safest around. She sees him as an adolescent being bullied by his classmates in the halls she recognizes as belonging to Hogwarts. Eileen sees her son as adult, visions of him suffering in a two wars that she doesn't survive to see. As she bites the bullet, Eileen let her love for her son be the ultimate reason for her answer.
"We can't be together."
There's a deafening silence as Tobias processes Eileen's words yet the explosion she anticipates does not come.
"Although I don't agree or approve of your decision, I respect your right to make it," he concedes.
Tobias leaves the room and all Eileen can feel is the relief one feels once a weighty decision finally made.
4)
Eileen allows herself a little time to grieve.
She mourns the loss of the man she married, the man she thought who would be her partner for life. Eileen wants to fall apart but knows that she can't dwell on the negative when she has a new life that is depending on her. So when she is finally released from the hospital, she turns her face upwards toward the weak winter sunshine with a hopeful spirit.
Eileen carefully walks through the snow on the sidewalk, mindful of the precious cargo she carries in her arms. Fortunately, luck shines upon her when a couple with a daughter and another child on the way offers her a ride home. Glad to be out of the cold, she accepts.
During the car ride to their destination, the two mothers chat Eileen soaks up all the advice given to her, determined to avoid the fate her visions foretells. The first step was ending her abusive relationship. The next step, however, will be harder to take. However, she is reassured by her red-haired companion that the course of action she has decided upon is the right one.
"No matter how we depart, our parents will always welcome us home."
5)
When she arrives at the house she shares with her husband, she immediately can tell that he is currently not in the residence. Wanting to be gone before Tobias comes back; Eileen packs everything of value that she own, muggle and wizarding items.
Tobias hears a faint whoosh as he walks into the house and he senses a change. The walls seem dingier, the air staler and the overall atmosphere is grimmer.
'It's like all the magic has been sucked away,' he thinks to himself.
As he enters the kitchen, a golden glint on the table catches his eyes and when he comes closer to inspect it, his worse fears are confirmed.
Sitting on the table is Eileen's wedding ring.
6)
She stands in front of the gates that guard her childhood home apprehensively.
Eileen wants to immerse herself in the pure magic that surrounds the Prince Family estate, but she is afraid that it will reject her. So she stands, gathering her courage, as she rocks the fussy baby that is her son. The clearing of a throat disrupts the mental argument Eileen is having with herself on whether she's going to stay or go and attempt to rent a room in at the Leaky Caldron.
"Come, child," a voice that Eileen hasn't heard in a long, long time demands. "We have been waiting for you."
Eileen's eyes fly up from her son's face to look upon the face that shares the same fathomless onyx orbs.
"Daddy," she whispers and he opens his arms and Eileen runs willingly into his embrace.
"Daddy, Daddy, I love you and I've missed you so very much," she sobs and her cries are joined by Severus' own as he is not pleased with all at being squished in the middle as father and daughter reunite.
"May I," Eileen's father asks and when she nods her permission, Augustus Prince holds his grandson for the very first time.
Augustus doesn't relinquish his hold upon the baby but instead, calls one of the many house elves on the estate to take his daughter's belongings and to inform the mistress of the house that her daughter has returned.
'Orchid was right,' Eileen thinks to herself. 'My parents never stopped looking for me.'