Both of the sisters stood watching one another as though they might come to blows or argue. Even Goyle looked a little alarmed at the quiet. Severus who was standing beside his mother stood a little taller, even with his gangly limbs there was a flash of the boy he would be. He did not move to hide behind his mother but rather rested his hand against her arm. Possibly reassuring her or maybe. It was seeking reassurance for himself.
Spinners End was filled with people who pretty much minded their own business. Of course there was next door who was simply a busy body as Tobias put it. He had forbid Eileen to socialize with the woman. Indicated that he did not want her to know that his wife was a failure as a mother. Given Severus had been the only child they had in several years of marriage. Of course, Eileen never let on for once that she used a potion to keep this from occurring. It would of course have to be who called out the window "Oie, are you having a family reunion on your front lawn, Eileen ?" her tone was amused but it would be knowledge all over Spinner's End by the end of the day. Some rich looking folk had been through to see Eileen Snape.
Eileen felt color rise in her skin and bit back the prickling urge to give the woman a piece of her mind. Everyone knew that Mackey's husband left her for another woman on the block and was living with her now. Still, Eileen kept it at bay. Her sister spoke before it got worse and led to her excusing herself. Ingrid knew precisely how fight or flight her baby sister could be.
"We only want to offer some support for young Severus." she said simply. Her dark eyes mirrored in both Eileen and Severus. She nodded to the child's style of clothing or lack there of. "Tobias is not treating you right." Ingrid said with compassion. "We heard that he manifested his abilities at two." she added in a hushed tone. Her eyes drifting again to Severus. Who's dark brows were furrowed.
"He..said that I was a demon child, conceived in sin and a blight on his family name." the small boy stated matter of factually. Goyle looked mildly amused to the boy. Though moved to kneel down and met his dark eyes.
"Did he now." he asked "Well, you have to understand the common folk do not understand their place, the unwashed and unclean masses." he stated "Your father is a blight on Your name. Not his. His normality is an insult, however, it does not seem to have caused any issues with your own magic. Be proud of that if anything. You are a Half Blood, and while your muggle parent might have contributed something to you, the magic inside of you is solely yours." he rose back to his feet and frowned when the boy froze as though awaiting a hit when his hand ruffled the child's dark locks.
"Eileen.." he growled low. "Is he hitting the boy ?" he demanded. Goyle was a Auror in the Wizarding world and he would not tolerate such treatment to those of keen magic, never mind the status of his blood.
The two sisters ended their silent standoff at the conversation between Goyle and Severus. Eileen sagged against her sister. "I don't know what to do. You know I never intended for any of this to happen, but Tobias had some good parts, he was.." she sniffled rubbing her eyes with her sleeve as she motioned people into the House to avoid the greedy stare of Ms. Mackey. "He, doesn't care for either of us. " she said softly and than groaned the sound like a frightened animal. "Oh. but Merlin, Ingrid he knows..he knows about our magic, and he threatened." she choked up and dabbed her eyes.
Severus shrugged non committal about being hit, to him it was a normal thing. Weren't all children treated like this ? He did not know he was home schooled and that meant he never got much interaction with others. Not that he wanted it anyways.
Once inside Ingrid sighed to think of what her sister had gone through within these walls. What little Severus had endured. She glanced to Goyle. He was an Auror where Ingrid herself was an Obliviator for the Ministry. She often had the dubious jobs, of taking Muggle born. She never mentioned what became of them. It was something that was a hidden secret within the Ministry. Muggles born with magic, seemed to dirty the blood in the general opinion. The dark lord agreed apparently.
"You know it would be for the best, and our father is ill Eileen." she said as the woman in question began to put on the tea. A small frown on her face. She knew her father had been ill she had been his personal potioneer until she had fled an arranged marriage with a Nott boy. She had despised in her school days. It had been something childish, and foolish in her pure blood upbringing and it had brought with it misery. Though her gaze traveled to Severus who was getting the things together for the tea. Though they had so little he presented it with pride and it struck her again how her son did not deserve this.
"Come home, Eileen." encouraged Ingrid
"I want to but.." she began. "Father will never forgive my transgressions. She did not say Severus exactly but she meant him and the three adults knew that. Severus, was studiously adding two squares of sugar to a cup, making sure it melted properly with two counter clockwise stirs and one clockwise one. Proud of his work he was seemingly absorbed.
Looks could always be deceiving.
"Also, if he is hurting Severus..." he said slowly "I have every right to take him from this place. Under Decree 1343."
"That's only in a wizarding setting Caleb." Eileen sighed "It indicates if a magical child is being abused the child can be taken by the Ministry and placed in a safe home." she sighed quietly.
Caleb took the offered tea. "You have not been in the wizarding world for five years Eileen. It has been changed. If any magical child is met with danger. So do yourself and Severus both a solid, and return with us." he was not trying to use his Auror badge as something to influence her decision but he was convinced it was for the bed. "The Dark lord feels that our magical children are important, especially the ones that show magic early, and have a grasp on it." he glanced to Severus who lacking enough hands to fix tea for everyone had animated spoons to stir the tea for him.
"He's gifted." Ingrid sounded a little envious.
"Indeed." Eileen said with pride. It was a rare thing to have and they were giving her something else that was rare. Hope. However, hope was a terrible , terrible thing it could be dashed and destroyed so easily, so carelessly.
"Alright." Eileen said as Severus pressed the cup into her hands. "We will go..for now."
Tobias returned home later that evening the house was not lit, had the daft woman forgotten to pay the light bill again ? The fireplace where she cooked most often was cold. There was no welcoming sound when he opened the door of television. Severus was no where to be seen which was normal. Eileen did not peek her head from the kitchen preparing what ever meager things she managed to scrape together for dinner.
He was utterly alone.
He was also terribly angry, there was a letter on the table with his name on it. It was in the spidery handwriting of his wife. He felt a sinking feeling and than nothing but anger. The side table lamp crashed into the wall. The woman had finally gotten up the nerve to leave him.
No one left Tobias Ruthford Snape. No one.