Chapter Eleven-Hogwarts Won
Disclaimer-These characters belong to JK Rowling, I'm just borrowing
Tobias had become more distant over those weeks and Eileen delved even further into her potion addiction. Severus on the other hand was very busy teaching himself as much magic as possible. He did have free use of his mother's wand most days to practice with. He had pretty much mastered the Wingardium Leviosa, Alohomora, and Engorgio charms. He also knew many hexes and curses as well. He'd been able to perform the Confringo, Flagrante, jelly fingers curse, leg locker curse, reductor curse, and the stinging hex. The stinging hex took some time to master.
He found a rat in his kitchen of all places one morning. The rat was large but not huge, and he'd made a big mistake sneaking into the Snape kitchen that day. Severus aimed the wand and said the incantation for the stinging hex many times before the hex did anything. It seemed like the rat just stood there for an hour and was appearing bored until Severus finally got a good sting off the wand. He knew he succeeded when the rat made a wincing-noise. This made Severus smile, so he hit the rat again, and again and again.
The rat was running around the room, trying to get away from the maniac attacking him. Severus enjoyed this as the running-target posed more of a challenge. He hit him a few more times and then stopped when the rat looked visibly tired and in pain. 'I wonder…if…the killing curse would work on him?' he thought to himself. He'd read all about the killing curse and the other Unforgivable's in his many books. 'It's just a dirty old rat, carries diseases, why not kill him?' he tried to justifiably ask himself again. The rat was in a corner and staring at Severus. Severus aimed his wand and glared down at the helpless rat. He really wanted to try the curse. He really did hate rats. He stared at the rat and tried to say the words, but nothing came out.
He could feel fear welling up in his chest and his breathing become more rapid as he tried again. That time he did say the incantation but nothing happened. He did not say it with any force, just let the words fall out of his mouth. He was half pleased to discover that nothing actually happened. The rat just stared back at him, almost begging him not to harm him further.
He stood and stared at it, wanting to do something to it. But he couldn't. He just…couldn't.
"Fucking pussy," he said aloud as he used a levitation spell to pick rat the up. He watched as the tiny gray feet were running in their place, trying to get away even though he was hovering four feet in the air. "Disgusting creatures," he muttered, opening the front door. He slowly let the rat down and was not at all surprised to see it run off faster than he thought a rat capable of running, towards the dirty river across the way. Just before the rat was at the river, he turned quickly to run in a different direction, right down the sewer.
"Where you belong, filthy shit," Severus said with a small smile as he shut the door to his house. Before he could head back to the kitchen to get some milk he heard a peck at the front window. When he opened the door there was the largest and loveliest gray owl he'd ever seen. The owl was the official Hogwarts owl and he had a parchment just for Severus.
"Shh, mum's asleep. I don't have much to give you, let me check the pantry," he said taking the letter from the owl. The owl, like the rat, seemed to understand what Severus was saying to it. He scoured the pantry for anything owl-edible but all he found was a box of old crackers. He tasted one to make sure it was not too stale. He thought it adequate and offered it to the owl. The owl hesitated for a moment, but then ate the treat.
"Could you stay here for a few moments, so I can write a response?"
The owl just stood there staring at Severus. He took the owl not flying off or leaving a heaping pile of crap at his front door step a good sign the owl would indeed wait for him.
Severus had a feeling the letter was from his great uncle and he wanted to be able to write him back.
Dear Severus,
Good name you've chosen. I was deeply troubled to hear that your parents do not have the means to send you to Hogwarts. Marrying a Muggle was the stupidest thing my niece ever done. I have granted your request for more books; they will arrive later in the week. I brought you used Hogwarts text books, I hope you like them.
I was talking to the Headmaster about your plight; a young and highly gifted wizard such as yourself should not be denied the great honor of attending the finest school in the world. I simply will not allow that to happen. Because you are family, you get a discount. The family discount is half. If your pathetic excuse for a Muggle father can't foot half the bill then damn him! Worthless scum.
I hope you are practicing often and learning well lucky boy.
Your uncle,
Argus
'Half off? That's got to be a good thing. I am lucky indeed!' Severus thought to himself, quickly penning a response back.
Later that night he told his father the good news about his 'discount'. His father seemed somewhat pleased but even at half off he still could not afford it. He reminded him that if his lazy mother would find a job, she could easily pay for his education. Severus knew his mother would not take a job. So Hogwarts was again, lost.
A week after he received his package from Argus. It contained advanced potions text books, defense against the dark arts, Herbology, Transfiguration and Arithmacy. He studied them, practiced more spells and hexes and brewed basic potions.
Over the next few months his parents would fight more and more about money, about Hogwarts, and about his mother's habit. He would continue to play with Lily and her annoying sister Petunia as often as he could, and of course, continued his studies. Every Wednesday night he was invited to the Evans house for dinner and he and the girls played each weekend during the school year and daily during summer vacations.
Lily worked with Severus on his offensive table manners. He was not a very willing student but even Petunia could admit his manners had improved immensely. He still hung his head low, talked with his mouth full and chewed loudly. He no longer wrapped his fist around the fork and shoveled food into his mouth; he no longer used his arm or sleeve as a napkin and for the first time in his life got most of his food in his mouth, not on his face or clothing.
Occasionally Tobias was home on Wednesday nights and never cared that Severus was not around. He was terribly tired of canned soup and sandwiches for dinner though so he started eating at home less and less.
If Eileen ever noticed Severus's absences from the house, she never mentioned them. He would pretty much go about his business and do whatever he wanted. He had almost unlimited access to his mothers wand. She usually woke up early to brew her potions or shop for supplies. Since Severus had no bed time, he had not wake time either. He was naturally a night-owl and tended to not get to sleep until 2 a.m. and wake up until 11 a.m. His clothes still did not fit properly. Eileen would use magic to extend the legs of his trousers but they were still too short.
To date Severus had not taken a proper bath since he was three. His hair had remained unwashed all those years but he did take what the Muggles would call a "whore's bath" each day. He cleaned his armpits, privates, feet and bum with a soapy washcloth in the kitchen sink. He magically cleaned the rest of himself each morning. One thing Severus did do was brush his teeth with Muggle toothpaste. His mother used a magical potion mouth-wash only but Severus never felt like his teeth were clean unless he actually brushed them. His teeth may have been ugly, but they were good and no one could ever accuse him of having bad breath.
It was a few weeks before Severus's eleventh birthday and he was dining with the Evans like he would any Wednesday night. He was sitting alone with Lily for once in her room and was going through her school books. It was Christmas hols but she still had a lot of homework. He thought her homework was simple. Basic math, simple science, some history he already knew and she had to read a novel.
By nature Severus was a shy, morose loner who normally would prefer the confines of his own room to anywhere else in the world. He did enjoy his time with Lily and Lily's parents were very kind to him. Despite his enjoyment of visiting the Evans's each Wednesday, he still was not a cheerful kid who liked to laugh and rough-house. He was quiet and almost lazy, preferring to read, draw or just stare into Lily's emerald green eyes. He didn't fancy her; she was a frilly girl, gross. But she was very pretty and she'd stopped nagging him about his manners and language. He'd still swear something awful around her, but tried his hardest not to in front of her parents.
That night her mother made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. All kids like spaghetti but Severus was not all kids. In fact he was probably the only child on the planet Muggle or otherwise who hated spaghetti with red sauce. But he had manners and would never tell; he'd eat the spaghetti and thank them as always. Even though he did not care for it, it was worlds better than cauliflower.
The family ate their dinner in relative silence that night. Severus was not talking much and neither was Petunia for that matter. Petunia was hardly eating and just sat there looking down at her meat balls. Severus was playing with his food more than he was eating it. He was in a total and complete funk. The realization that he'd never attend any wizarding school was finally hitting him and it was hitting him hard. He'd not told Lily about it yet, he didn't want to upset her. The thought of staying in his shitty house, listening to his parents fight and having no friends after Lily left in a few months was too much for him to bear. He just sat there and twirled the long red strands of pasta and stared off into space.
"Sev, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Liar!"
"Lily!" her mother said giving her daughter a very dirty look. "That's not a nice thing to say to your guest."
"He eats here every week, he's hardly a guest mummy," Petunia said glaring at Severus.
"Cheer up Sev, we'll be a Hogwarts soon…"
"I'm not goin'," Severus interrupted.
Once again all eyes were on him. He sat with his eyes on his plate, his fork breaking up the strands of spaghetti.
"Sev, why?"
"Me parents can't afford it."
"But your great uncle works there, can't he get you a discount?"
"Yes Mrs. Evans but it's still too much money."
Severus's spaghetti was crushed and played with so much, it looked like rice. The room was silent, even Petunia said nothing, nothing at all.
"Mum, I don't want to go to Hogwarts alone!"
"Shh Lily, there's nothing we can do about it. You'll see him during breaks," Mr. Evans said trying to calm his daughter.
Mr. Evans gave Severus his obligatory drive home. The two were silent, except for a muffled and barely audible "thank you" when Severus left the car. He stayed until the boy was in the house and then returned home.
"Such a shame, that poor boy, this was his only hope," Mrs. Evans said to her retuning husband.
"He seems to be gifted, he can still work in their world, and he does not need proper schooling, just look at all he can do."
"Still though, he can't stay in that…house…with those…people!" she sneered, trying to dry her dishes.
"That house is where he lives and those people are his parents, not us! This is not our problem!"
The next day Severus was back at the Evans house. They had invited him to come over for dinner as it was the day before Christmas Eve and they knew they would not be seeing him for a few days. He was a friend but not family and Christmas was for family at the Evans house. Mrs. Evans would have loved to have Severus but neglectful or not, he belonged with his family on Christmas.
Petunia was in a fouler mood than usual that night. She stayed in her room with her door shut which greatly pleased Severus. He sat on Lily's bed and drew a picture of her, per her request as her Christmas present. He sketched it quickly and then decided to do the detail work later from home. He was examining her closely for the portrait. He never really stared at her until that moment. Her eyes were a deep shade of green, a very deep shade of green and her hair was a vibrant red. She had the characteristic freckles on her nose and a very nice set of white teeth. Severus was quite amazed that this little witch friend of his was turning into a very lovely girl. She had no shape to her yet but was still an inch or two taller than him.
"Sevvie, please don't draw my freckles."
"Sevvie? I'm gonna draw 'em big and fat now 'cause you called me Sevvie!"
"You don't like that name?"
"I tolerate Sev, Sevvie is just…fucking stupid Lily, or should I call you…Lil-Lil or something equally pathetic?"
She giggled. She looked very sweet and pretty when she laughed. Her teeth were so brilliant and his were so…ugly. Everything about him was ugly, especially compared to her. He was having very odd thoughts about…eww a girl, what was wrong with him?
"Okay no more Sevvie, but if you draw my freckles big and fat, I promise to introduce you as Sevvie to everyone I meet at Hogwarts…oh…uh never mind, I keep forgetting you are not going."
Severus felt like crap. He didn't want her to go without him; he didn't know what he'd do without her. He glanced down at his paper and continued to draw, making sure to ignore the freckles.
Lily came over to take a closer look at her Christmas present. She stared at it for a few seconds, then looked at Severus and started to tickle him. He didn't know what was going on, all he did know was that she was practically on top of him, tickling his neck, his arms and his chest and she wasn't going to stop. He didn't want to burst out in laughter, but he did. He had no idea he was ticklish, but indeed he was. He could feel the tears start to roll down his face as he gasped for air. The louder and harder he laughed, the more she tickled him. His neck was the most sensitive area. The more she tickled him he really thought he was going to die. But death by laughter would not be a bad way to go.
His reprieve came in the form of one Petunia Evans, who raced into the room angrier than hell.
"What are you doing?" she yelled.
Lily leapt off of Severus who was lying on the floor, red faced and panting.
"What does it look like, trying to cheer him up."
"You are being too loud! Both of you! Shut up and leave me alone!" she screamed and stomped out of the room. She slammed her door hard which caused Lily to burst out in laughter. She rose to close her door.
"What the fuck is her problem?"
"She got her period a few days ago."
"Eww! Nasty!" Severus said. Why would he want to hear that?
"I know, so gross…and she's been really…bitchy…" she muttered shyly, "…ever since."
Severus joined the Evans for dinner and as usual, her dad drove him home. His gift from the Evans's was a gray wool hat and matching gloves. Lily got him a Muggle art book which all sorts of interesting famous paintings and drawings in it.
Christmas and Boxing Day were not a big deal at the Snape house. His father was home of course but in a bad mood and drunk as usual. His mother was emotionally vacant and he spent most of the time reading in his room.
Late in the evening Severus received the best Christmas gift he'd ever receive, a letter from Hogwarts. It was the same regal looking Hogwarts owl and it carried a letter from his great uncle.
Severus sat on the couch next to his father and read the letter. He was in total and utter shock at what it said.
Dear Severus,
You simply must
attend Hogwarts next school year. You are of proper age and all
Filches go to Hogwarts. I still have the family discount and I will
pay for the remainder of your tuition. I will buy your books, wand
and robes. I'm sorry to say you will probably need to get second
hand books but I trust you to manage the money well. I will send you
money and the supply list at the beginning of summer. I'm very
excited that you will be attending. I hope you get sorted into
Slytherin, you'd do great there.
Happy Christmas,
Argus Filch
Severus felt tears well in his eyes. He could not believe it. As full of disbelief he was that he was not attending, he was even fuller of disbelief that he was now attending. Used books did not offend him, he was happy with anything he could get.
"Father, this letter is from Argus. He said he'd pay for my tuition," Severus said handing his father the letter. His father read it and was silent. He handed the letter back to Severus, stood up, patted his son on his head and then went upstairs.
Eileen did not look overly excited that her uncle was bailing out her son. She simply told him to do well and to make his family proud. He could not wait to share the news with the Evans', but he had to wait until after the holidays.
