Disclaimer: Don't own nothing not even a smidgen. All works owned by J.K. Rowling Bloomsbury paperbacks and a few others.
Summary: A gift has arrived to none then Severus Snape and due to reasons will not accept it. Will Dumbledore be able to persuade him to keep it to open his heart and trust before it's all too late? 1st ff be nice RRAU i actually wrote this before book 5 so yeah... i think i say Post GoF- i hope thats right!
Love and Trust of the Heart
Prologue
The sun was setting as 7-year-old Severus Snape came rushing to a halt outside his parent's room, with a bunch of flowers in his hands. He silently pushed open the bedroom door, and peeped into the dark filled room, to see a sleeping figure. He gently slipped through the door, trying desperately not to wake his terribly sick mother. He tiptoed silently up to his mother's bedside table towards the vase. He placed the fresh flowers, on the desk as he took the wilting flowers out. He then placed the fresh flowers in the vase.
"Oh, Sevvie, thank you, they're beautiful," came a soft gentle tired voice.
Severus turned to his mother who was smiling softly. The light of the room brightened a little.
"I didn't mean to wake you," Severus replied shyly.
His mother slowly sat herself up against the pillows coughing, "Come here Sevvie," patting to a place beside her.
Severus climbed up onto the four-poster bed, beside his mother. Before long Severus was pulled onto her lap, and was hugged tightly.
"Your so thoughtful Severus, you got that from your father."
"Your kind too mum," Severus replied softly.
She smiled wearily at him and kissed his forehead.
"Severus will you promise me something,"
"Anything,"
"When I go to heaven-"
Severus looked up startled, "Y-Y-You're dying," he asked fearfully, his eyes glistening with tears.
Severus' mother sniffed and nodded slowly.
"But I-"
"Listen to me Sevvie, I love you very, very much-"
"Don't die, you can't die! I love you too much, I need you!" Severus cried hugging his mother fiercely as if at any moment she'd disappear, crying.
"Severus-"
"No, you can't go!"
"I need to be strong for me,"
"You can't go,"
"Promise me you will be strong and look out and after your baby sister Sabrina. She's going to need you," his mother sniffed. "And help out
Artimetis,"
"No you can't die I wont let you."
"Sevvie, promise me, please."
"I hate Artimetis, I think he's-."
"SEVERUS don't say that about your father."
"He's not my dad, Salazar Snape is my dad," Severus said in tears, as his mother sighed softly, "but I promise to look out and after for Sabrina," he whispered.
His mother smiled warmly at Severus, "I'm proud of you Sevvie, and I love you so much, you're such a caring and loving brother. Sabrina is very lucky to have you," she said as she kissed his forehead.
They stayed silent for a couple of minutes, in each other's embrace before they heard tiny faint padding footsteps.
Severus slipped from his mothers embrace, wiping his eyes and opened the door for his little baby sister.
She gave an adorable winning smile at Severus, who felt his heart melt. She toddled over to the bed.
"Hey Sweetheart," Severus' mother cooed.
Severus help lifted Sabrina onto the bed. Sabrina crawled into her mother's arms. "M-m-m-m-mummy," Sabrina stuttered. Severus' mother explained to him that his baby sister had speech problem called a stutter, when she spoke.
Severus smiled slightly before climbing on the bed, and sat the other side of her.
Eventually the bedroom door opened and a tall man opened the door slightly only to see Severus, "Severus," he hissed, "OUT! Your m-"
"It's ok Arty," Severus' mother replied.
Artimetis opened the door to see his wife holding Sabrina in her arms, tickling her, making her giggle. He walked over to his wife and kissed her. Severus glared at him.
"D-D-D-Dad-d-dy," Sabrina stuttered out arms outstretched.
"Arty did you hear her, she- she called you-"Severus' mother gasped.
Artimetis scooped Sabrina up and laughed.
Severus smiled softly; she had finally managed to get the word daddy out. It was a hard word to pronounce for her. Severus hated that she called Artimetis father because he wasn't, but it's still a pretty big thing for her.
"You said it, you said it, who's a clever girl," Artimetis said kissing her cheek and cuddling her. Sabrina just wore a huge adorable smile. "Good girl! I love you munchkin," Artimetis replied, who was smiling widely. Severus pretended to vomit while no one was looking, and glared when they were.
"You need your rest love," Artimetis added quietly to his wife.
"I am resting-"
"You know what I mean," he replied sternly. "Come along Severus, let your mother rest."
Severus stared desperately at his mother wanting to stay; she pulled Severus into a tight hug and whispered. "I love you, don't be so hard on him Severus, and be nice, goodnight sweetheart," she added kissing his forehead, ruffling his hair.
"I love you too mum."
He slid off the bed still holding his mother hand, before slowly letting go. Artimetis kissed his wife, "I'll be back shortly, say goodnight to mummy munchkin."
"G-N-n-n-night m-m-m-mummy," as Severus watched his mother kiss Sabrina on the forehead, "Night Sweetheart, love you."
Artimetis carried Sabrina out, firmly pushing Severus out the door, "Come Severus."
Severus walked slowly to his room, dragging his feet until he decided he was thirsty. He headed to the kitchens to get a drink. Severus was greeted by cheerful hellos from the house elves. "What can Twitch do for Master Severus."
"Can I have a drink please?"
"Certainly Master Severus,"
A few seconds later Twitch handed Severus a glass of milk.
"Thank you,"
Severus' father had told him to always be polite to the house elves, they didn't have to cook and clean for us. Be grateful.
Twitch gave Severus a goofy smile. Severus licked his lips after he had gulped down the milk.
Suddenly the kitchen door opened and Artimetis stormed in.
"There you are," he growled.
Severus back away slowly, 'what did I do this time.'
"What have I told you about disturbing your mother," he growled.
"I-I-I wasn't disturbing," Severus stuttered. 'How come whenever mum's not around he's mean?'
"She is dying Severus, she needs her energy," he said striding towards him, grasping him by the arm, dragging him out the kitchens, from the staring eyes of the house elves, his fingers digging into his arm.
"Hey, let go that hurts!" Severus cried desperately.
Artimetis dragged Severus into the room before getting out his wand and placed a charm over the room. (Silencing Charm)
"It hurts does it," he snarled twisting Severus arm around his back. Severus nodded tears welling up in his eyes, "Let go, please."
"You are not to go into your mother's room," glowered Artimetis. Severus cried, "Let go, please Artimetis, please."
Artimetis twisted Severus' arm further back, "Is that understood,"
Severus cried out in pain, he was going to see his mother whether he liked it or not, he let the tears fall.
Artimetis glared menacingly, twisting further, and digging his nails in more, drawing blood to break the surface. Severus screamed in pain, "Do I make myself clear?" he thundered.
Severus nodded in fear, tears falling down his face.
"Is that a yes," Artimetis bellowed.
"Yes," Severus cried out.
"Yes what?"
"Y-Yes Artimetis," Severus sobbed.
His arm went further back and Severus screamed out, Severus was sure it was broken.
"Yes sir!"
"Y-Yes sir!" Severus hollered out.
Artimetis let go of his arm and pushed Severus to the ground, Severus skidding back. Severus cradled his arm to his chest crying. He could see the nail marks and bruises that had appeared.
"If I catch you in there boy, look out," he said in a deadly tone. "And stop crying!" he snapped coldly.
Artimetis stormed out the room.
Severus crouched into a ball his arm to his chest, rocking backwards and forwards, crying quietly. Severus sat there for a while thinking, 'Maybe I could go to Great Uncle Alby, Dad said whenever I needed help, I could go to him. But I need Floo powder.'
'What about Sabrina! I promised mum. I won't let Artimetis hurt her. EVER!'
Severus was interrupted from his thoughts by Twitch the house elf. He stared at Severus sadly before taking his hand and looked at his arm, magically healing it. Twitch then lead Severus to his room and told him to sleep.
"Your father Master Severus said to look after you,"