Well here is chapter one. I hope this doesn't fail!

Of course as always I am just borrowing Rowling's world. None of her content is mine.

-Greay

A hand gripped is arm painfully, snapping him out of his search for his best friend, Lily. Severus glared and winced as his father pushed him forward, almost knocking him over his cart.

"I'm not going to be seen anywhere near your kind. Leave, now." his father growled, grabbing his mother savagely and pulling her away.

Severus watched as his mother turned her head, mouthing the words 'I love you' to him before his father jerked her forward. That, he thought to himself, would earn her a beating if his father had seen. It had been a long time since his mother was allowed to show any real affection towards him. If found, they both would fear the consequences of his father's drunken rage. His mother used to try, when it was just her getting punished. Soon enough his father turned his ire towards Severus, and that was one thing his mother could never stand to see. She tried her best to protect him, even though sometimes Severus made that hard by instigating his father. Thankfully, he had kept his temper in check since receiving his letter, not wanting to chance not being able to come.

When he finally got his Hogwarts letter, his mother had made sure his father came across a substantial amount of alcohol, ensuring that the man would drink himself into a stupor, passing out for the majority of the entire weekend. That weekend had been wonderful, his mother pulling out her old books and school supplies, using her magic in a rare occurrence to take him to Diagon Alley and buy him all of the things he needed. She had told him all about Hogwarts, the train, classes, sorting hat, everything. It had so far been the highlight of his year. His mom and him having spent so much time together that it felt normal.

Soon enough his father had woken up. He saw and felt the change come over his mother, her immediately shrinking his trunk and telling him to put it in his drawer where it could never be found.

"Hide it, don't bring any of it out, including the letter. Do not speak a word. I will handle your father. I want you to go and play by the creek, ok? I love you."

She had hugged him ever so briefly then, before walking downstairs. Severus did as his mom asked, putting his trunk in his drawers all the way in the back. His wand he hid in the top of the closet, grimacing at the cob webs that met his fingers. Soon he was heading out of the window and sprinting into the woods, sitting on a tree stump by the creek. It was far enough that he did not hear his mom cry or his dad scream. He stayed in the woods that night, coming back in the morning when he noticed his father's truck gone. His mother was black and blue, her face swollen and marks around her neck. She avoided his gaze, simply telling him to go wash up for breakfast.

The rest of the month passed by quickly, until this morning when they were all loaded up into his father's truck and heading towards Kings Cross Station. He knew what would happen when his parents got home. He hoped that this school would teach him enough to protect his mother, and make his father go away. He wanted to be a normal family with his mom, to see her laugh and smile again. So, he would learn everything he could, until the day that his father would darken their home no longer.

These thoughts played through his head as he stood in front of the pillar. He pushed through without thinking and stopped at the entrance of the train platform. It was there, deep in thought that someone barreled into the back of him, having not left the platform entrances. Both tumbled to the ground, scraping their hand and knees. He turned over and looked at the culprit of his demise, seeing a small, curly black haired girl with tears in her eyes staring at her scraped hands. He sat up quickly, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and offering it to the girl. It was then that her parents came through the platform, looking worried. Immediately the girl's father leaned down, having noticed the boy handing a handkerchief to his daughter. Severus could hear him talking quietly to the girl, her nodding in response. He noticed their very expensive looking clothes and how the man was kneeling on the dirty ground, not caring about the state of his robes as long as his daughter was safe. He was so deep in thought he did not notice the girl's mother grabbing his hands and easily healing his scrapes, straightening his clothes, and brushing his hair off of his forehead. He took his time noticing every detail of the family. The girl was small for her age, with long black curly hair that pooled on the ground. Her eyes were bright green, with full lips that were currently pouting and tears threatening to fall down her full cheeks. She had a slight dusting of freckles across her nose. The father was tall, with wide shoulders and short black hair. He looked very distinguished with the hair at his temples turning silver. He had a thick, full goatee, and dark brown eyes. The man turned, his deep voice snapping him out of his shocked state.

"My wife asked you a question boy. Are you going to be a gentleman and answer her?"

"Galen, mind your manners, the boys probably in shock." his wife admonished gently. Severus' head snapped to face her, his face turning a deep red shade.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear your question."

The woman smiled gently, patting his hand. Her hair was a dark auburn, with wild curls that she attempted to tame into a braid down her back. Her eyes were the same bright green as her daughters, her lips full and red and the freckles across her nose more prominent.

"It's quite alright dear, I simply asked where your parents were so we could apologize appropriately."

Severus grimaced. "They aren't here." his shame making him look down at the ground.

The two parents shared a look above the child's head, worry in their faces.

"Might you tell me their names so we could owl them?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"My dad doesn't allow owls in the house. I can tell them whatever you wish me to if you would like. I have to send mail the muggle way."

"Yes, please tell them that the Kearns family asks forgiveness for this accident. If your parents wish to speak more in depth, they can reach us at this address." the woman smiled, pulling out a small black card with a silver and green coat of arms on the front.

Mr. Kearns head snapped up as someone called his name, and he smiled.

"I'm sorry Elora, apparently Abraxas has found a way to get ahold of me at last."

Mrs. Kearns smiled at him, helping Severus stand and patting any dust off his shoulders.

"Ember dear, give your father a hug and we shall help your new friend here on the train, yes?"

"Yes ma'am."

The girl hugged her father hard before turning and doing the same to her mother. She turned and smiled at Severus before bounding on the train.

"Oh dear, she's going to cause quite a ruckus at that school." Elora said to herself. She smiled down at Severus. "Would you mind terribly watching over her from time to time? I'm afraid locked away in our house she has not met many people, and I don't want her getting into too much trouble. It would be nice to know my daughter has a friend."

"I don't mind. I have a friend on the train that would be nice to her as well. Thank you for all your help, I'll tell my mother how nice you were!" Severus said, bowing slightly before boarding the train as well and going in search of Lily.

About that time Galen rejoined his wife, staring at the train in hopes of seeing his daughter one last time.

"We never got that boys name."

"It's alright love. You know Ember, I'm sure we will be receiving a letter tonight hearing all about it."

"I worry Galen. The boy's father, you saw how he treated his son and wife."

"We can't do anything love. As much as you want, perfect strangers would not be accepted into family affairs. Let's just hope Ember and the boy become friends. Then maybe we can help his mother."

"What did Abraxas want dear?"

"The same. He wants our dear Ember to marry his son Lucius. I've told him time and time again that my daughter has her own choice and if I ever even think any different you would have me in an early grave."

"I swear I will curse that man into next year if he keeps trying! She's just eleven!"

"Yes well, you know these English purebloods. Bidding children off like cattle. I don't think they know what to make of our Irish ways just yet."

"Love, we are English purebloods."

"Aye, but Ember is Irish through and through, seeing as this is her first time in England."

"Very true dear. Let's go home before I worry a hole in this ground. I miss her already."