Severus spent the next few days at home with his mother, and Lily only came to visit a couple of times, for ever since Eileen's outburst, Severus was wary of bringing anyone else into the house. As much as he wanted to help his mother, he was beginning to feel the weight of the burden of caring for her rest quite heavily on his shoulders. The beginning of the new school year was fast approaching, and Severus still wasn't sure what he would do about Eileen.
One mid-August afternoon, Severus was taking a walk through the neighborhood, needing a break from his mother. She was sleeping soundly, and he had warded the house to ensure no one would get in and she wouldn't try to get out. He hated having to resort to locking her up like this, but it was for her own good as much as his.
Eileen hadn't had another episode like the one the day she had called Severus by his father's name. She had moments of lucidity, but she didn't seem to be making much progress overall, which was disheartening to Severus. He felt he was trying as much as he could to help her, and every time she would lapse into one of her listless moods, he would wonder if she would ever be well again. His suggestion a few weeks ago of getting a wand for her seemed ludicrous now. How could Eileen ever be capable of handling a wand again, let alone trusted with one?
As Severus rounded the corner, he noticed a public bus pulling up to a stop to pick up some people. He had seen the bus several times before and not spared it a second thought, but this time, he cursed himself for being so stupid. Here, Lily and he had been looking for a way to transport his mother to a facility, and there was public transportation less than five blocks away!
And Lily tells you you're brilliant, Severus inwardly scoffed.
The flame was ignited inside him. They had a way to get Eileen to a mental ward! Now, there was the problem of convincing her, and that was something Severus had been trying to talk with her about every day since he had first mentioned it. More often than not, Eileen wouldn't respond, whether because she didn't understand or because she chose not to.
Severus returned home and did something he rarely did: He used the phone to call Lily.
Of course, Petunia had to be the one to answer the phone. When Petunia found out it was Severus on the other end, she nearly hung up, but he resorted to pathetically begging her not to, saying it was important. He could almost see her roll her eyes as she relented and shouted for Lily.
Within a minute, Lily's lovely voice came over the line. "Severus?"
"Yes, Lily, it's me."
"Why are you calling me? I mean, you never use the phone. Is everything okay?"
Hearing the concern in her voice, he stated hastily, "No, no, everything's fine. I just... really needed to tell you something. Lily, I think I know how we can take Mum somewhere for help."
Later that day, Severus was seated across the table in the kitchen from Eileen. They had just finished dinner, and Eileen had been more talkative than usual. Taking this as a good sign, Severus posed the question.
"Mum, would you consider letting us take you somewhere to... to get help for your, er, condition? Before you say anything, please at least think about it. You know something's not right, Mum. Father has ruined you. I've asked you this over and over again, but please... Mum, it's important to me." He added the last part, playing the guilt card, something he hadn't yet tried.
Eileen frowned. "Severus... I know I'm not happy, but Tobias is gone now. Can't you just let me be? Why would I need to go somewhere other than here? I'm not mental, Severus."
"I'm not saying you are, Mum," Severus said, trying to keep his voice level, knowing she was unbalanced and depressed, but not wishing to tell her. Telling her she was crazy would not help matters any. "I just... School is going to be starting soon, and I won't be around to help you. I've been cooking for you and making sure you go to bed for weeks now, Mum. I can't just leave you alone and be left wondering if you're taking care of yourself. It wouldn't hurt to see someone who is a professional about these matters and see what they have to say."
Eileen was silent. She seemed to be considering her reply. After a long while, she murmured, her shoulders drooping, "I- I know you're right, Severus. It's just that... admitting it is hard." She paused, then nodded slowly. "All right."
Severus smiled in relief and left his seat to embrace his mother.
"You realize I'm only doing this for you," said Eileen's sarcastic voice into his hair.
"I know, Mum; I know."
And that was enough.
Three days later, the arrangements made, Severus stepped onto the public bus with Lily, who was there for support, and his mother. Eileen glanced around erratically, uneased by the other passengers. She hadn't been in public since she had come to pick Severus up at the train station, but that was a trip she was familiar with well enough to manage. Severus kept a fast grip on her arm as he led her to a seat.
"These Muggles are a strange, scary lot," Eileen muttered, her eyes sweeping left and right. "Why are they all looking at me?"
Severus glared at the man who was sitting across the aisle from them and said to his mother, "Just be quiet and relax, Mum. We'll be there soon."
Lily sat there quietly, a calming presence for Severus as he imagined what the other passengers must be thinking about his mother. It wouldn't be a lie if he told them she was crazy. Surely that was what they thought as the odd woman used words like "Muggle."
They spent the next half hour on the bus until arriving at their destination: St. Katherine's Mental Facility. The building was old and small, built with weathered brick. Trees surrounded the front walk as they made their way toward the front door. Severus thought it looked welcoming enough, and upon entering, the lobby area was also inviting. Nothing about the place spoke of imprisonment.
The woman behind the counter smiled at the group and asked, "May I help you?"
"Yes," Severus said. "We have an appointment with Dr. Lukvar."
"Ah," the woman said. "I'll let him know you're here."
They took seats in the lobby and waited. Eileen murmured to herself about not liking the place, about wanting to leave. Severus hoped she would be lucid enough to admit to wanting to be housed and cared for here. If she continued to be the muttering, frightened woman she was right now, the doctor would turn them away, for two sixteen-year-olds had no say in whether someone could be admitted or not.
"Sev," Lily whispered, trying to calm his nerves. "It'll be okay." She reached for his hand.
He nodded, trying to believe her.
A few minutes later, they were invited to the doctor's office. Doctor Lukvar was foreign and spoke with a thick accent, but his English was good. He had dark brown hair that was thinning and glasses that were so thick, Severus wondered how his nose held them without breaking off.
"Please, be seated," he cordially told them. They did so, and he proceeded to ask, "So, what has brought you here today?"
Eileen didn't answer. Severus, feeling the need to speak on her behalf, said, "My mother. She is quite unwell, sir."
By the way Severus had spoken, the doctor thought him older than sixteen. "I see, and are you wishing to admit her at St. Katherine's for care, Mr. Snape?"
"Yes," Severus replied automatically, for that was what he wanted.
Dr. Lukvar shuffled through some papers, examining them with his hugely magnified eyes. Severus was reminded of Sybill Trelawney.
"It says here you are Eileen Prince Snape's only son and that you were born on January 9, 1960. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Severus said tersely, knowing where this was going.
"That would make you all of sixteen years old, young man, not old enough to claim responsibility for another. Where is her husband?"
"My father," Severus spat, "was in no condition to care for her. He's the reason she's like this! He was a raging alcoholic who abused her for years, and now he's finally gone... probably living on the streets."
Shocked by Severus's small tirade, he adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "Yes, well, be that as it may... I am sorry, Mr. Snape, but unless Eileen Snape wishes to admit herself, we cannot proceed."
Just then, Eileen said softly, "I know I need help."
Severus sighed in relief. Eileen was watching the others intently, her eyes completely alert and focused. She spoke again. "My son has to return to school soon... He won't be around. This is... the best option."
Dr. Lukvar regarded Eileen skeptically and then said, "Very well, but I will need to ask you a series of questions to further assess your condition. Are you willing to do that, Mrs. Snape?"
Eileen didn't respond at first, and Severus sat there on the edge of his seat, anxious with worry. Lily reached for his hand again, saying nothing, but steadying him. Finally, Eileen nodded.
The questions began, and Severus listened as his mother answered to the best of her ability. She was well enough to speak coherently and thoroughly. After a long time, the doctor said they were finished.
"I will review your history and be in contact with you shortly, Mrs. Snape," he explained. "I cannot make any promises just yet, but I have a feeling we can find a place for you here at St. Katherine's."
He shook their hands, and as they exited, Severus felt an enormous burden lifted from his shoulders. He kept one arm locked with Eileen's arm and the hand on the opposite arm holding tightly onto Lily's hand.
"Thank you," he breathed to Lily.
Author's Note: Thank you for being patient with me! I'm sorry for not updating yesterday as promised, but I was absolutely exhausted from the weekend. I don't think this chapter was my best, but I needed to get it written, and I'm quite tired today.
St. Katherine's Mental Facility is fictional. If there really is a place with this name, it's purely coincidental.
I figured since Severus would be using a Muggle mental facility for his mother, it would make sense that he wouldn't be against using other Muggle things, like the phone or the bus.
Dr. Lukvar's name came from a bastardization of "Dr. Lookfar" from Snapecast. If you've never listened to Snapecast, you must check it out at snapecast(dot)com! They even answered my email message to them in their owl post segment on the Sept. 1 episode:)
Several people have suggested that Severus sit his N.E.W.T.s early, but part of the point of him reliving his life is to be with Lily, and Lily would still be at Hogwarts for two more years. Plus, just because he is an adult doesn't mean he would sufficiently pass them. If you've been out of school for a number of years, you'll understand what I mean when I say that you can't retain everything you learned. I don't imagine Severus was excellent at every subject, so he would probably fail some of them without schooling again.