IV

Sunday arrived, and, for my surprise, a letter too. "That is uncommon… Does the postman work on Sunday?" said my father. I took the plates and glasses off the table, and put on the sink, to wash them. Suddenly, I heard my father screaming "Severus! Come here!"

I followed to our living room, poor with poor furniture and without many colors. My father was sat on an old armchair holding a piece of paper. My mother was astonished, and I was afraid as never. He glanced me and said "Read it"

I started to read, with tremulous voice "Dear Mister Snape, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than July, 31st …"

"List of books? What the hell does it mean?" My father shouted.

"He needs to buy books to go to school…" My mother tried to speak.

"What? I have to spend money with him? Buying stupid books? It's not serious is it? We barely have to eat, and now, because he is a freak abomination like you, I have to buy…" Exploding into a desperate angry, he hit my face, two or three times. "If you want some money, you'd better work to gain your own!"

"Stop it! Stop it" screamed my mother. I just wanted him to stop, I just wanted to have the chance to go away to the park, with Lily, and lay down upon the green grass. I wished that. I wished.

"You are a fucking nothing, freak!"

"No, I am not…" I whispered between the kicks he gave me. Lily's voice echoing in my mind "You are a prince, Sev! Repeat! Please Sev!" "I am the half-blood prince" I said loud.

My father's hand froze on air. He couldn't move, he couldn't hit me again. "What did you do? Revert it!" But I ran away, as fast as I could. Maybe spend a whole year at school wasn't that bad. It was raining, and I knew Lily wouldn't appear, but even knowing that, I waited for her in the park. The rain seemed to burn my injuries, and clean my tears. "You are a good boy, Severus"

I walked to Lily's house, and there, through the window I could see: upon the table a letter, and the Evans happy, holding Lily and kissing her cheeks. They were celebrating what she was. They were happy. My tears grew stronger than ever. I wanted to break the window's glass and heat myself near the fireplace. I wanted to make part of that family. I wanted to be loved. Before I completely blackout, I could swear I saw Lily's green eyes looking at me. I fell on the wet, cold floor, and there stayed, covered with tears, blood and rain.

I had some flashbacks. I remembered Lily's voice saying my name, and crying near my bed. I remembered Tunia saying I was a freak and Lily arguing "He is like me!" I remembered Lily's crying eyes, praying for me "Please, be good, Sev, please be good!"

I woke up in a pink bedroom. The sun seemed to be hotter there. There were some cartoons near my bed. Some of them had names. A thin, pale boy, with black hair and a crown on his head. A redhead girl, with a pink dress. Upon their heads, two names flouting: "Prince and Princess"
The door opened and a beautiful woman, with red hair and green eyes entered in the room. She had milk and cookies with her "Good morning, Severus" I didn't say a word "I am Lily's mother, Miss Evans. Do you feel better?" I nodded and she smiled. She was as pretty as Lily "Dear, don't be afraid. We're not going to hurt you" She said caressing my hand. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" I didn't answer. "I understand. Well, maybe you want to see Lily. She was really worried about you…"

Lily entered in the room, and I couldn't avoid a smile. "Severus! You are wake!" Her mother let the room, leaving the door opened. "Sev, I was so worried about you! Look, this is my room! You are sleeping on my bed! And I put all my favorite dolls there, to watch you!"

I laughed "Dolls?"

"Yes! They defend you from the monsters while you sleep! They protected you!"

"C'mon Lily, they're dolls. It would be better a sword…"

We talked for some minutes, and she said she received the Hogwarts letter. "Do you believe it? We are going to study together, isn't it awesome?" I felt a pain in my heart.

"Yes, I… I received mine too…"

Lily caressed my hand and she said "That's why you are hurt?" I nodded. "Poor thing… Poor thing…" She whispered holding my shoulders.

"My father doesn't want to spend money with my school material. I think this is it… I paralyzed his hand, and escaped from home… I am sorry for bothering your mommy…"

Lily smiled "You aren't bothering anyone, Sev… You are my best friend!"

I spent the day with the Evans family, they were really nice, and my shyness didn't bother me. Someone knocked the door, and I heard a very familiar voice "Excuse me; I am looking for my son, Severus. I know he is here" I felt a chill on my back and a little nauseated…

"Hi, I am Lily's mother. We sheltered him in our house, last night he was walking on the streets alone and very injured…"

"I don't own you explanations" my mother said "I am here to take what is mine"

"But your son shows symptoms of child abuse! We could denounce you two…" My mother smiled and took her wand.

I jumped from the chair and said "No, mommy! I'll go with you!" I ran to her and she put her hand on my head.

"There are some memories we should forget, right Severus?" She pointed her want to Miss Evans nose and whispered: "Obliviate"

All the Evans looked to be daydreaming, looking nowhere. Then my mother smiled and said "Thank you Miss Evans, now Severus needs to go home. I hope soon he can see your daughter again, he will be always allowed to sleep here"

Miss Evans smiled and said "Oh, sure, I really hope they can see each other again. He is a good boy. Severus. He is a good boy."