Chapter Four - Deception
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews, and my apologies for the delay. I am one of many victims of NaNoWriMo. The stereotype in question for this chapter is 'Tobias Snape Rivals Voldemort For Pure Evil!'
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
"You will never lay a hand on her again," Severus snarled at the quivering mass of flesh crouched at his feet. The stench of alcohol reeked throughout the air, and he fancied that he could almost hear years upon years of abuse within the walls howl throughout the very air.
Tobias Snape did not look up at his son, which only infuriated the young man further. "Get up," he hissed, kicking sharply at the other man's ribs.
He moaned and flecks of blood became visible at the corner of his mouth. Severus grabbed his hair and pulled his head sharply back.
The much-hated eyes opened -- and were hazy.
They were hazy in a way that Severus found chillingly familiar.
Impossible.
It can't be--Imperius?
Other memories came to the forefront of his mind. Whenever his father flew into an alcoholic rage, he rarely would meet his son or wife's eyes. But when he did, there was haziness.
"Finite incantantem."
The words were whispered. Tobias slumped to the ground and remained motionless for a few minutes before finally stirring. The reaction confirmed all that Severus suspected and made him feel sick.
Who has been cursing him? How? Why?
How did we not ever notice?
"Severus?" he whispered softly, no disgust or hatred in his voice. "Severus . . . what has happened?" He sat up, wincing sharply and putting a hand to his ribs.
"Father," Severus said slowly, kneeling down on the filthy floor. "I need to look into your eyes. Will . . . will you trust me? I believe that I may know what has happened."
The man only nodded and held his head steady. Severus took a deep breath and whispered "Legilimens."
Hours later, Tobias Snape had ingested several healing cordials and lay sleeping next to his exhausted, disbelieving wife.
"Your grandfather has been cursing him all of this time?"
Severus nodded from his place on the floor. He held one of Tobias's wrists, constantly monitoring his pulse and ignoring the many spells that would have done the trick for him. It had been a simple task to root through the man's memories and find one common denominator. Cold fury grew within the pit of his stomach, outstripping anything the blasted Marauders had ever wrought within him. "He never accepted him, did he, Mother?"
A strange, unfamiliar fire grew in Eileen Prince-Snape's eyes. "Oh no, he didn't. And he knew I would never suspect --- oh, my Tobias. And Severus---oh, he will pay for what he has stolen from us."
It went beyond the wasted years that the family had been forced to endure. Jeremiah Prince had stolen any chance that Tobias could lift a hand without his son or wife flinching. He had discovered the history of alcoholism in Tobias's family and done everything he could to make certain the addiction took hold and that his daughter would then be punished for the ghastly deed of marrying outside of Wizarding kind. No matter what the outcome was, Jeremiah was determined to have his revenge.
Unfortunately, he had taught both his daughter and grandson far too well for either to be content to know the truth without revenge of their own.
There would be times later when the family would have to sit together and work to uncover the full truth behind what had passed for their history. Tobias had sworn to go into treatment for his drinking and find some way of managing his temper -- the beatings had not ever been completely Jeremiah's fault. But for the time being, Severus Snape sat in the presence of both of his parents and felt a certain sense of peace for the first time in his life. The three of them were stubbornly strong, and none wished to give up.
Severus, before exiting his father's mind, took the precaution of leaving an unwelcome surprise for the next individual to try to use the man as a puppet once again.
The screams were finally silent, and Severus slept in peace.
//TBC//
