Snape leaned back in his armchair, resting his chin on laced fingers. Apparently, that was that.
"Just as suspected," he murmured.
It couldn't really be that much of a loss. After all, it wasn't like he cared about them, really. They didn't understand him and they likely never would. He was angry, certainly. Not at Tobias - the man couldn't help his nature - but at himself. For being so foolishly taken in by their charms. For allowing himself to get that close.
Because it had been close. Snape knew because he wouldn't feel disappointment, if it had been otherwise. Disappointment, because he thought people, like Derek, Diana and Briony, while odd and obviously flawed, could behave with something close to civility.
In a way, he had had to believe that muggles and normal folk had some sort of moral code. Not tainted by the lure of power that had destroyed so many of those he had once called friends. That the sacrifice his world had made had not been so futile. He may not have chosen to fight for muggles, but inadvertently, he had fought for their cause. And in some way, he had had to believe they were worth it. That by sparing them, humanity had gained something over pureblood ideaology.
It was in moments like these, Snape cursed his nature. He hid it well, but underneath, it was his ultimate flaw. How he had naively followed the Dark Lord. How he had offered Dumbledore everything. How he had believed he was protecting Potter, when he was preparing him for, what should have been, his death. How he had believed his father could accept him unconditionally.
Like a twisted sort of Peter Pan, where innocence was Fate's weapon of choice.
Or alternatively, the telephone. Which at that precise moment, began to ring.
It took him several moments to work out it was in fact, the telephone. Of course, the house was built for muggles, so had been outfitted with one, but he had probably used it only a handful of times over the years. He picked up the transmitter cautiously.
"Hello, is Severus there?" came Derek's muffled voice.
Fantastic. Just what he needed. "What do you want?" asked Snape coldly, although, he privately suspected the answer.
"I just want to talk." As always, Derek was calm and unaffected.
Which just served to irritate Snape further.
"Well what about? I haven't got all day!"
"I heard you an Dad had a fight. I just wanted to see if you were okay."
"What are you, my mother? I'm fine. And we didn't fight, not that it's any of your business."
"But you sound really angry?"
"I'm not angry
Snape sighed. He took it back, Derek was nothing like Lupin. He was infinitely more difficult.
"Then why are you shouting at me?"
Snape paused, considering his next move. "Your father told me the real reason your family wanted to meet me."
Derek was silent for a few moments. "Severus," he started slowly, "I don't know what he said to you. But please understand, if anyone's given you the impression that we didn't honestly want to get to know our brother, that our reasons were anything other than sincere..."
"And the will?"
"What about the will?"
Snape growled and flicked an empty glass on the bench, accidentally sending crashing to the floor.
"Look, Severus, whatever Tobias said to you, he wasn't speaking for me. Or anyone else."
Snape rubbed the corner of the table and inspected the grime that came off on his finger.
"So I was hoping you might give it another chance. Give our family another chance."
"I'm not sure I can afford to," he replied simply.
"Could you just come down to the practice? You don't have to go to dinner, you don't have to see anyone. Can we just talk, or we could go for a walk or something? I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding-" Snape slammed the phone into the receiver.