Disclaimer:
I own nothing created and or mentioned, by J.K. Rowling, in the books of Harry Potter. This story is a product intended for enjoyment not financial gain.
Rating: Mature
Language Content; Sexual Content; Dark Themes; Drug Abuse; Child Abuse; Implied Rape; Implied Incest; Underage Drinking; Underage Drug Abuse; Implied Underage Prostitution
". . .I'll just give you some time to mull that over. The two hours it takes for that potion to subside seems good enough—I'll leave you to your thoughts then shall I. . ?"
Severus tried to protest, pulling against the belts frantically. His powers of speech had abandoned him. All he was able to muster was an aching cry of pain. A yelp so animalistic that if one hadn't seen the boy emit the noise, one would think it were an injured jackal. The loud creak of the door infected the room, mingling with his father's footsteps. Severus uttered another agonizing howl, arching his back, as his watering eyes strained to see his father's retreating back as the way shut closed. He was alone.
Severus' breath came in quick hurried gasps through his bared teeth as he closed his eyes tight. It was only two hours, he could bear this for two hours—but the pain was excruciating! Another yelp of pain escaped the recesses of Severus' mouth as he leaned his sweating forehead against his shoulder. The room seemed to be spinning, making him feel more nauseous than he already was, his stomach cramping miserably. His head was aching as the ringing in his ears and the buzzing in his mind threatened to overwhelm him completely. Bringing him to the verge of insanity.
"Please stop, please stop, please stop," he thought helplessly as the fever under his skin seemed to grow in intensity. Severus made another attempt to pull against his restraints as another ear piecing cry fled his lips. . .
. . .
Severus stared into the frozen pond mesmerized by the haunting memory of his first night back from Hogwarts. It had been three days since he had been taught his father's lesson. Three days since the bastard had left him in that bloody basement for far longer than the two hours he had described. He left him in there all night, shivering and miserable. The effects of the potion had worn off in do time but not until Severus had been drenched in sweat from his tortured body; his mouth and throat raw from screaming. Severus had been forced to sleep strapped down, soaking wet, and twitching from abuse. He was stuck in that fucking chair until his father felt compelled to fetch him the next morning. To which Severus thanked him for a valuable lesson. . .
". . .Severus are you listening to me?" Asked Eileen who had placed a delicate hand on his arm in inquiry.
"Yes, Mother," he replied mechanically as he drew his hands behind his back, walking past a statue of Apollo and into the rose bush maze, Eileen at his side. His sisters, who were also roaming the grounds were no where to be seen, having run off to do what ever it is that sisters do.
The maze had always been a favorite place of Severus'. The tall luscious bushes, towering far above his own head. Entangled with orange-green thorns and blushing pink roses. The hedges themselves were coated by ice, shimmering in the rare but persistent sunlight, glittering majestically. The bushes were so old yet so radiant and new, preserved by wondrous magic for years past and to come. It smelled of roses in the maze, fresh and mild but completely breathtaking and a feast for all the senses. Severus ran his hand on the icy bushes as he walked beside them, feeling the delight of the hardened buds beneath his fingers. He had always relished that sensation.
"That head master of yours, Dumbledore?" Eileen began as she trudged through the snow with three times the effort that Severus had to put forth. He made no moves to assist her.
"What about him?" Severus asked. He walked in front of her, not bothering to look back as he spoke.
"Did you not say he gave you a detention for calling that lab partner of yours a mudblood?"
"Oh, yes—he did," Severus replied as he rubbed his hands on his cloak to rid them of the ice, leaving his fingertips red and painful.
"I'm not certain how I feel about this matter. He can't give you a detention because you don't worship the mudbloods," Eileen said as if she was building to a point she had been dying to bring up.
"Well, The Headmaster's discipline regime isn't subject to your feelings. The event is in the past," he informed her as they took a left turn.
"You seem rather nonchalant about it. I would expect you to be furious."
"I was," Severus admitted as he stepped over a large mound of snow. "I've had time to, as they say, get over it."
"Yes, well I have not and I don't like it. Perhaps I should send a letter, stating that our beliefs are our own and his—"
"It won't make any difference. The Headmaster won't be persuaded," Severus said, knowing well from experience. "You could write one hundred letters and he would still give those who cry mudblood a detention."
"Ludicrous," Eileen breathed, shaking her head slightly in disgust.
"Yes," Severus agreed half-heartidly.
"Its when you bring up matters like this that I wish that your father never sent you down there," she said sadly as they approached the end of the maze. Severus could hear the tears laden in his mother's eyes as her voice shook. He could ignore her no longer.
"Don't," he whispered as a single tear escaped her eye.
"I just want what's best for you," she said, forcing her voice to remain stable, holding her stinging tears at bay. "And I can't help but wonder if Hogwarts is best—"
"Mother," Severus whined as he turned away from her, looking off into the sky. Eileen simply walked around him to stand where he faced her.
"You have no need for homework and written exams, Severus. Already you are the top of your year and you've only been there for a mere sequence of months. I don't know what or who is influencing you down there and I resent my son having to abide by the rules of blood traitors," she urged as another lonely tear escaped her barricade.
"Mother please," Severus persisted. He hated when she became mawkish and—motherly. It always made him feel uneasy which quickly transferred into anger.
"Why can you not stay here with your mother and your family that misses you so? Marry a respectable woman and bring a son into this world to carry on our family's name?"
"Mother stop this foolishness at once!" Severus barked suddenly, his demeanor challenging with an air of conclusion.
"Apologies," she said quickly with the slightest flinch. It was as if she anticipated some kind of punitive response that never came. A moment of silence past between the two before Eileen reached out her hand to stroke Severus' hair fondly.
"I just want what's best for you—you're my only son," she said as her tears continued to form, making Severus want to cringe in discomfort.
"I know that, Mother," he said annoyed, scowling ardently.
"If I could only know what prompted Tobias to place you at Hogwarts, what his intentions are, I might rest easier," Eileen said sounding very unsure. Her gaze was on the snow, only her eyes looking up at her son through her lashes.
"It is not your place to know," Severus snapped suddenly, sounding very much like his father. "If Father wishes for you to remain ignorant you should respect his verdict. He would have since told you should he have thought it necessary."
"Severus if your fath—"
"So, you are questioning him?" Severus asked, interrupting her in mid-sentence. Eileen looked up at Severus' hardened face with fear in her eyes. If he went to Tobias about her snooping he would certainly be displeased and she would pay a handsome price.
"No—no, of course not," she said weakly. "Of course your father is right. He always knows what's best for this family. I don't know what I was saying," she dictated lifelessly. As if programmed to do so.
"You'll do well to remember it," Severus responded coldly before walking briskly past her in a huff, leaving his mother forlorn in the snow.
. . .
Mother and son exited the beautiful maze, the snow crunching at their feet. Eileen's expression was hardened but nervous, as if something had spooked her to the core. Severus, on the other hand, exuded confidence; his expression perfectly cavalier and triumphant as he strode through the white blanket.
"Prepare for Christmas Eve dinner," Eileen commanded of him before turning gracefully and walking towards the manor. "Pompeii, attend!" She called over the courtyard where the little one was playing in the snow.
"What's wrong with Mother?" Servillia asked from behind Severus who had not seen her approach. She had, however, observed her brother and mother emerge from the maze and took quick notice of Eileen's panicked behavior coinciding with Severus' arrogant conduct.
"It's not your business, Servillia," Severus snapped impatiently as he turned to face his sister.
"Why does she look so shooken up?" She persisted, completely ignoring her brother's jagged demeanor to which Severus sighed.
"She forgot her place. I reminded of her of where that was," he concluded stiffly as he began to walk towards the manor.
"You're not Father, Severus, you have no say in such matters," Servillia said arrogantly, her eyes flaring with anger, her voice dripping with disgust. She had began to walk along side him, her steps boisterously demonstrating her rampant irritation, her arms swinging viciously as she strode.
"Forgive me, were you there? Did the words between me and our mother reach your forever monitoring ears? I don't think so. Perhaps you should shut up about matters which do not concern you," Severus snapped patronizingly, glaring at her in a side glance, his eyes shining with animosity as they walked.
"Don't you dare speak to me in that condescending tone! I'm not Fuchsia!" She barked, drawing her wand with white knuckled hands.
She had stopped walking, her wand held stiffly at her side. Severus had stayed his footsteps upon the absence of Servillia's. The pause enticed him to turn around slowly, only to be met by her threatening gaze, wand drawn out. A new anger flared in his chest as he growled low in his throat before taking three quick strides to be right in front of his sister, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Why? What are you going to do?" He sneered. There was a pause, for a moment or two, when Servillia didn't respond with word or magic. She stood her ground, jaw clenched, chin lifted, with a glare that could have frighten a jaguar. "That's what I thought—now put that thing away before you jinx your eye out you silly girl," he lectured with a smirk before turning back to his trek to the mansion.
Servillia reacted quickly, concentrating her wand at his back before firing an electrical shock that hit Severus at the base of his neck sending a quick pulse of electricity through his body. Severus yelped in pain before bringing a hand to cradle the stinging place where the hex had hit him. He quickly drew his own wand, bounding threateningly at Servillia, a craze embedded deep within his obsidian eyes.
"You dare raise your wand to me?!" He yelled, touching his own to her chest, as he grabbed a handful of her cloak.
"Uh-ah-ah you can't perform magic out side of school," She sang with a sneer. "The price of your freedom, Brother."
"How do you know that?" He breathed, stepping closer to her and pulling her forward. "Who told you that?"
"I can read you know," she countered smoothly, a devious smirk on her lips. Severus eyes flashed angrily as he searched his mind for any weakness of hers he could exploit but drew an annoying blank. Instead of persisting with the asinine argument Severus swallowed his furry, suppressing his aggravation to mere irritation.
"Indeed," he replied as if saying 'you'll pay for this', before slowly removing his wand from her chest and freeing her cloak from his grasp. He turned around stiffly before trudging back to the castle's warmth.
. . .
Severus shut his bedroom door behind him as he removed his over cloak, resting it in a heap on his bed before walking to the window to gaze out over the white horizon. He crossed his wiry arms over his chest, his eyes almost sore from the brilliant reflection of the white sky in the blanket of snow. He replayed the conversations betwixt his mother and sister in his head as a light snow began to swirl delicately through the air. He sat watching the vast expanse, deciphering the most peculiar emotion when contemplating the talk with his mother. It was like there was a weight in his chest that tickled his mind, preventing him from thinking of anything else. The only feasible feeling it could be was, guilt. But that didn't make any sense. He had nothing to feel guilty about. She had deserved his censure didn't she? She was sneaking around Father and trying to manipulate him into staying at home when he had an important duty to perform for the family...but then why did he feel so undeniably guilty about scolding her?
"Sod it," he whispered in a sigh as he turned from the window. He pulled off his sweater vest, throwing it on his bed, before unbuttoning his shirt and taking it off. Barebacked he kicked off his shoes before stepping into his bathroom to run the bath water. That was one thing he was beginning to dreadfully miss from Hogwarts: the showers. As the tub slowly filled up Severus adjusted the temperature, fixing it to his liking which was just shy of scalding. He removed his trousers before slipping into the water, completely submerging himself within.
He had his bath and climbed from the tub as the plug magically dislodged itself. As the tepid water began to drain Severus pulled a towel about his waist. He dripped water onto the floor as he grabbed a second towel and dried his hair of the wetness before stalking from the room. He was going to make a beeline for his closet when a golden barn owl at his balcony caught his eye. Brimming with curiosity he approached the transparent door, opening it slowly. His hair blew back by the twilight air as a gust of wind froze Severus' naked body. There was a small note on the owl's ankle that Severus delicately removed before shutting the door with a quiet snap. He turned the envelope over in his hands before sitting on the bed. He slipped a finger into a small gap that made easy work of ripping the envelope open to find it was from Melissa.
Dear Severus,
I trust that you are doing well and are enjoying your holiday but I must admit that I am less than enjoying mine. I'm savoring the lack of school work and I adore seeing my family but I find myself, day in and day out, dreaming of you—
"Ugh, disgusting" thought Severus as his eyes widened in amused disbelief.
I miss the smell of your hair, your face, your beautiful eyes looking down on me. I miss the slickness of you inside me— how wet and delectably warm. I miss your uncontrollable breath as your chest kiss my nipples; I miss your mouth on my neck and the sweet taste of your tongue in my mouth. Sometimes our bodies are too much for us, don't you think?
You arouse me in ways that I couldn't dream possible and I ache as I write to you now. I want your scent on my body, my finger tips softly touching the sides of your ribs, your waist, your thighs, your cock—I need you. I wish I could be in your body so I could feel what you feel. Sometimes, I wish you could be in my body—your own name amazingly on the tip of your new tongue, the smell of you (I mean me) in your fresh mind. Do you ever feel that way?
With Regard and passion,
-Melissa B.
"Bloody hell," Severus breathed with a smile as he looked down and reread the letter before he laughed loudly, unable to contain his amusement. This had to be some kind of joke! Who would write such a thing? Severus tossed the parchment on the bed, having no desire to respond to it. Even so how would one begin to respond to such a letter? Besides he had a bloody dinner to prepare for.
As he donned his best clothes Severus wondered if Lily had ever written an erotic letter to anyone and if so who? He honestly couldn't imagine her doing such a shameless thing—but she might have been able to execute it more tastefully than Melissa. Making the letter somewhat subdued and not so carnal. He imagined she would describe, in perfect poetry, each caress and movement she would want to do with him. How she would cater and respond to his body's rhythms and desires, being filled with her own pleasure, until they both rocked themselves to climax. The images in Severus' head began to grow more elaborate as a visionary Lily emerged from his mind.
The mirage Evans began to sway her hips exotically, her green eyes glazed over with lust, as she slowly began to unbutton her shirt for him. She whipped her head about, making her brilliant red hair whip around her as she bent over, legs straight, back arched, displaying her bulging cleavage as she removed the blouse. She twirled around in her short skirt and bra, wiggling her hips, and running her hands up and down her body as she reached around to unclasp the hook holding her brazier in place. Looking up at him with her doe eyes, through long lashes, she slowly pulled off the fabric, revealing her luscious breasts that bounced perkily as she continued to dance. The mirage Lily slowly descended to her knees, running her hands over her naked breasts and stomach, before she began to crawl seductively toward Severus, licking her cherry lips amorously. As she approached him Severus swallowed hard, reaching his hand out to cup a rounded breast as Mirage Lily threw her head back as if the thought of him touching her brought her to the verge of orgasm—
"Severus, dinner is on!" Called Fuchsia from the hall.
Severus stumbled in his closet where he had been stroking himself, tripping over his used towel, and falling to the floor. His head hit his hamper painfully, assaulted again as it hit the wooden floor.
"Fuck—Yes, Alright!" He called in a haze of arousal and pain as he rubbed his head. "I'm coming!"
He lay there on the floor, painfully erect with his head throbbing. It would be impossible to sit through dinner with such a—prominent nuisance. A high level of shame was present as he grabbed at his hardened member once more and began to move his wrist rapidly. He couldn't believe that masturbating to a mudblood was becoming a common occurrence for him, basically thinking of Lily every time he would partake. He, of course, hated himself for it, but that didn't stop him from finishing his task and coming far too quickly to really enjoy it. . .
. . .
Severus stepped into the dining room to find his mother and sisters already waiting, standing dutifully by their chairs. It was custom to not sit at the table until the master of the house gave you permission, the master being Tobias. Severus walked to his usual spot at the table which was to his father's adjacent right. He wondered if Fuchsia had filled his seat while he was away or if it had remained vacated. Probably the latter. Severus could feel harsh eyes on him and felt no surprise to meet the gaze of Servillia's scrutiny. Severus viciously glared back at her as a rush of anger coursed through his veins.
"Sit, sit, sit," Tobias chimed as he whisked through threshold with the urgency of a man who was late for an appointment. Everyone mechanically drew their chairs and slipped stiffly into them as a trail of house elves began to pour from a small door beside the main entrance. It was not a house elf's privilege to walk through the same doors as witches or wizards. The dutiful servants approached the table, levitating their prospective dishes to stand in a line as a marvelous spread. With heads bowed and eyes cast at the floor, one by one, they left the dining room. Not a word or glance to anyone.
"Dig in," Tobias said lifelessly with a lazy flick of his wrist. The Snapes began to gingerly serve themselves as Tobias watched them, his black demon eyes sparkling in the candle light. Tobias never ate much, a side-effect of his dire drug abuse. It was his pleasure to occupy the dinner table and watch while his family would eat. Monitoring them diligently. The soft eery clinking of silverware filled the room as Tobias spoke.
"You're not going to have any meat, Servillia?" He asked as Servillia began to spoon her meal into her mouth. Her plate contained every vegetable and starch on the table, but no meat.
"No, I've told you, Father, I don't wish to consume the flesh of animals any longer," she informed him pompously as she delicately placed half a green bean into her mouth, chewing slowly and ladylike before swallowing.
"A concept I still do not understand," Tobias growled, his eyes thinning into slivers.
"It isn't my concern whether you understand it or not," Servillia challenged.
"Servillia!" Snapped Eileen sharply, looking at her daughter with immense urgency. Begging her to stop talking.
"Silence, Eileen," Tobias said, his voice low and dangerous.
Severus had stopped eating and so had Fuchsia. They were both eying their sister like she was insane and eying their father like a lion prepared to pounce. Nobody ever spoke to Tobias like that. Not even Servillia, as hot headed as she was. She had always known when to hold her tongue in the past why would she lash out so rashly now? It was as if she had some kind of psychotic death wish.
"It isn't your concern, is it?" Tobias inquired calmly.
"No," she said simply as she forked a slice of carrot and placed it in her mouth. She wasn't even looking at him while she spoke but at her plate where she continued to push around various foods. Only it was apparent the diversion of her gaze was not out of respect but contempt.
"And what if I simply don't concern myself with you—at all," he offered as he leaned his forearms on the table, his harsh eyes boring into her like drills.
"Nothing would bring me greater happiness," she said challengingly as she finally turned her head to stare her father dead in his black eyes. Tobias locked gazes with his defiant daughter, chewing the interior of his lips as he ground his teeth. The demented wheels of his mind were spinning as tension wound in the room.
"That's what you want then, is it? Fine—I shant clothe you any longer, feed you, house you, or parent you. You can go freeze on the mountainside for all I care," Tobias said as he picked up his wine cup and drank from it generously.
"Good! Send me away, I want to leave!" Servillia enjoined, abandoning her calm collected demeanor as if she had reached some kind of point she had been planning for.
"Careful," Tobias sang as his thin fingers stroked his chin. "I just might do it."
"At least if you put me out I'll be able to go off to school!"
"Is that what this foolishness is all about?" Tobias scoffed. "This hogwash of 'it's not fair that Severus may go and I must stay'. I've already had this discussion with you time and time again, Servillia. How many more times do we have to have this conversation before you understand that you are not, and will not ever be attending Hogwarts?"
"But it isn't fair that Severus may go and I must stay!" She insisted. "He gets to do everything and we get to do nothing! Why should he be granted special privileges because he's a boy? I'm just as old as Severus; just as capable and twice as smart as him!"
Severus rolled his eyes at such a statement. Poor girl was delusional in her hysterics.
"Nonsense, Servillia," Tobias said with a laugh which caused Servillia's already angered face to darken fiercely.
"It isn't nonsense!" She barked as she brought her fists down upon the table. "I've read about women that do just as many great and honorable things as any man does!"
"You see, Eileen, I told you to refrain from teaching them the written word didn't I? But no you just insisted—and it obviously does no good at all. It just plants the seeds of absurdity in the minds of young women and I just. . ." Tobias trailed off as if his thoughts on the matter were extremely well known. Like he didn't have to finish to make his point clear.
"Of course, Husband, I was foolish to contend such a thing," Eileen whispered as she looked down at her plate. There was something like shame in her eyes that Severus hadn't really ever noticed before.
"You can't just—"
"Servillia enough!" Tobias yelled, leaving a ringing silence in the room that was thicker than morning fog. "You know, Fuchsia never questions her father!" He snapped. "She knows her place and relishes it. You would do well to follow her example."
"I would never be so subservient," she hissed venomously.
"Dinner is over!" Tobias snapped as he stood in one fluid motion.
"NO!" Servillia screeched as Tobias made an apparent attempt to grab her. As she was able to dodge his first attack she unable to avert the second. With a snarl Tobias grabbed Servillia by the upper arm as she protested ardently; pulling against his grasp while trying to free herself. "Come with me—now," he barked as he hauled at her.
"Let me go!" She screamed at him frantically, her voice sounding cracked, frightened, and shrill. The sound sent a shiver up Severus' spine that enticed him to look down at his full plate rather than at his wild sister.
"Dammit, Girl!" He hollered before wrapping his arms around Servillia and easily lifting her from the ground. While Servillia kicked and screamed, Tobias threw her over his shoulder and trudged from the room.
Severus and Fuchsia looked at each other, dumbfounded. This had never happened before. Those at the table could hear the ravenous cries of Servillia combined with Tobias' brash howls. Their savage steps could be heard, thumping up the staircase enticing the three children to crane their necks up as if to give them better hearing. It was certainly a very strange turn of events that Severus would never have dreamed possible for any of his sisters. Something was different about Servillia but it wasn't obvious what it was.
"You heard your father," Eileen snapped quietly, startling the remaining children to pull their gazes from the ceiling. "This dinner is over. Go to your rooms—now," she ordered. . . She had to hold back every last tear as the three exited the dining hall.
. . .
Severus climbed the stone steps to the west tower, his scarf and gloves doing no good against the bitter cold. He hated going to see his Grandmother who they kept under lock and key within her quarters. The spiral staircase had opened windows with no panes, allowing the blistering cold to enter unchecked. Severus hugged his arms about himself as he climbed, his breath issuing from him in large visible billows. It was beyond him why his father or mother didn't charm the tower to keep out the cold. Suppose it was because no one ever came up to that part of the castle. Only the house elves to serve the old woman her meals. Severus, out of polite habit rapped on the door three times knowing he would receive no orders to come in. This being so after his audible announcement of presence he opened the dark cherry wood door with the ring of keys his mother had let him borrow.
"Grandmother?" He said in a half whisper as he entered. The room was dreadfully hot, a large comparison to the icy staircase that lead up to it. The old woman appeared to be sleeping but Severus knew that didn't get him off the hook. If he didn't maintain a proper visit his mother would have his balls in a mason jar. He opted to awaken the old broad. He tiptoed around the grand yet flattened bed and lightly shook her shoulder. "Grandmother, it's Severus," he said as he shook.
Severus' grandmother groaned lightly before opening her crusted eyes. She seemed to be disoriented and frightened for less than a second before her gaze settled on Severus' face, her mind bringing the image to focus.
"Severus, my grandson, my only grandson" she cooed as she rose a gnarled hand to cup his face. Although the room was searing hot her hands were still bloody freezing. Severus disguised removal with affection as he placed his own palm around her crooked fingers, removing the ice from his cheek and kissing her hand. "You've been gone?" She asked sweetly.
"Yes, remember, Grandmother, I went to Hogwarts?" He reminded her as he turned to pull a stool from the wall to place at the side of her bed before stiffly taking a seat.
"Yes, I remember," she said, her eyes shining at him with immense admiration and happiness. "You'll do well down in the main country, I always knew you were destined to bring the Snape name to great heights. Unlike my drug addicted son."
Severus wiggled on his stool uncomfortably. He didn't like discussing Tobias' drug habit which his grandma often did.
"Hanhepi," she sighed looking longingly at the wall. "My husband partook in such things."
"I know, Grandmother," Severus advised, his back stiffening as it did when he became uncomfortable.
"It killed him too, a massive drug induced aneurysm," she said venomously. As if the concept brought her great anger.
"I know, Grandmother, and you took his body out to the mountains, where all our late ancestors lay, and committed his body to the ice, sanctifying his ever cold and chaotic memory. You've told me all this before," Severus recited monotonously.
"Have I?" She asked. "My memory is a little foggy these days."
'You don't say,' thought Severus. "It's alright, Grandmother," he said.
"Hanhepi has been in our family for generations," she continued. Once she got on the topic of the drug that ruined her life through the puppet of her husband it was a little hard to break her away from it. She claimed it was the demon that took her youth and son from her.
"Yes, Grandmother, since our ancient Roman ancestors, isn't that right?" He asked as he primped her pillows for her.
"Y-yes—How did you know that?" She asked incredulously as he stood from his stool to lift her head from the pillows to adjust them more thoroughly.
"Well, you've told me," he informed her as he gently lay her head back down to rest.
"Have I?" She asked in a trance. "Dreadfully sorry."
"It's okay," Severus murmured as he sat himself back on the stool.
"You'd do well to avoid such filth, Severus. It would be your downfall—just as all the men in this family before you," she lectured as she shut her eyes while Severus resisted the desire to roll his.
"I don't intend to partake, Grandmother, so don't you fret," Severus said with a smirk.
"I would hope not—terrible black eyes," she cooed, her eyes still pleasantly shut. Severus looked about the room as she prattled on, desperate to stop discussing the terrors of Hanhepi.
"Would you like me to tell you about Hogwarts?" Severus inquired, quick to change the subject. His grandmother's eyes flickered open and vacantly searched the ceiling before she looked over at him in a haze.
"Tell me of what?" She asked.
"Hogwarts?" He reminded her. "The school I've been attending for the past four months?"
"I don't want to hear of such trivial things," she explained. "I have something urgent to discuss with you," she said suddenly and unexpectedly, capturing Severus' attention.
He was taken aback. Never before had he heard such vigor come from his grandmother. It was possible that it was a crazed notion concocted by one of alzheimer's many victims but something warned Severus that to listen would serve his interests most greatly.
"What is it?" He asked, his calculating eyes twinkling generously with anticipation.
"Your father has sent you from these walls to live down in the main country—"
"Yes, to Hogwarts—"
"Don't interrupt," she barked. Severus fell duly silent with the vibe of a scolded child.
"You are the first of our family to leave these walls since they've come to it in almost two hundred years. In that privilege comes a most dire responsibility. It is your duty to reinstate our family's name to the public with the highest of standards. To mend the damage that has surely been done by nearly two hundred years of gossip and condemnation. Our family is a spectacle and a shame, Severus. Surely you must have realized this in a short time beyond these walls?"
"I might have noticed—"
"And we surely can't rise to our old esteem with such filth and uncertainty surrounding our name. The burden of renewing our glory falls entirely on your shoulders," she explained desperately as if the thought of Severus possibly failing would render her spirit broken. Severus stared at her blankly, unable to process that his mostly brain dead grandmother was speaking to him with such urgency and passion.
"I have a tool for you, a spell of absolute power. It is old magic, a curse, an invocation of the elements. It can shine light where there's immaculate darkness. Guide you when you are lost. Fill you with strength where there is only weakness. Reveal and lead you to the things your heart truly desires; a complete abstersion. The Romans called it, Acceptis Autem Spiritu and would only cast it at the utmost end of need. It can assure victory where failure is imminent. It is a very powerful spell, Severus, and should not be taken lightly. It was what took my late brother Carolus from us in 1890—but it shall not have you so."
"But how do I cast such a spell? What is it's incantation?" Severus asked, his voice dripping with urgency. It appeared his grandmother's desperation had infected him and he found himself starving for more information about the mysterious curse. The candlelight was brilliant in his dark eyes as they drilled diligently into his grandmother's.
"This I do not know," she said despondently. "When my brother departed this world my mother and father discarded all pages and otherwise on the spell. The memorabilia on Acceptis Autem Spiritu is limited and it dwindles daily."
"Then how do I find it, a book, anything?" Severus asked, growing irritated that the old bag would tell him about the spell but give him no paths to researching it.
"I do not know, Severus but you are a clever man," she said with an air conclusion as the passion and fierceness left her eyes, returning to their deserted state.
"Right," Severus said leaning on his knees, eyes dancing in his skull. This was certainly an interesting and very intriguing turn of events. It seemed this spell was just the key he had been waiting for in regards to his father's plan. . .
. . .
Severus stepped down the many spiral steps in the icy cold too wired and eager to feel frostbitten. Acceptis Autem Spiritu, an invocation of the elements. It certainly sounded powerful and Severus had been feeling anything but since returning home. Before that even—since Evans had helped him in the hall. He had felt powerless against those damn marauders and his thoughts which Evans seemed to have taken over. Now, here at home, his father took all his power away. He had been feeling like an insignificant nothing for much too long and the journey to conquering this curse was going to be the end of it.
Severus' footsteps echoed around him as he trotted down the main hall that lead to his bedroom. He was trying dreadfully hard to remain quiet as the house was dark and silent with inactivity. He slowed his gait to a mere tip-toe as he passed Fuchsia's room without making a noise. He continued on his way, approaching Servillia's room when a certain noise caught his attention. Severus paused in his sneaking to listen at the door, pressing his ear next to the wood. Severus heard, very quietly but quite distinctly, the sound of labored whimpering. He screwed up his face in concentration as he pressed his ear harder against the door before withdrawing completely. She was probably just whining about the incident at dinner. . .
Severus advanced along to his door, opening and closing it mutely. He sighed heavily as he retreated to his bed, loosening his collar as he fell back against his pillows. Acceptis Autem Spiritu: what a prospect to consider. Such an alarmingly alluring hope to achieve. How his life would be rendered flawless if he was to be as powerful as the Earth's elements themselves—but how was he going to accomplish it? Well, if there was any place in the world that would have even a glimpse of information on the spell it would be the Hogwarts library—in the restricted section. . .
Author's Note: As per usual I would like to express gratitude to my humble readers and give a big thank you to my few reviewers! I appreciate any interest shown in my F.F.. Stay tuned for chap eight, we're going back to Hogwarts ;)
