Lily and I are sitting in her room, talking. Lady is upstairs with us, lying against Lily's leg. I am rubbing Lady's belly while Lily rubs her ears and jowls. Petunia recently painted Lady's nails pink. Lady is having the time of her life.

"My dad was sober for a whole month" I say, not looking at Lily.

"Was?"

"Yeah. He was gonna get a promotion and didn't, so he came home from the bar and was really mad"

"What did he do this time?"

"It doesn't matter" I say as I shift my position to avoid stretching the marks and cuts on my back left by my father's belt.

"Oh, Sev, I'm so sorry that he's like this," Lily says, tears in her eyes, as she embraces me. I squirm away from her hands on my back, "What's wrong? Do you not like it when I hug you anymore?"

"It's not that, it's this," I turn around and lift the back of my shirt up, "He used his belt so that mum wouldn't know he'd been drinking again. She knows, though. She always knows. She just doesn't let on much. Before she left for work she put some of the pain-relieving potion I made for her headaches on my back to numb it up a little"

"I'll go get my mum! She'll help bandage you up!" Lily cries, rising from the floor and disturbing Lady. Lady lifts her head and looks at me, a long-suffering expression in her loving eyes.

"No! It's fine! I don't want anybody to know! The last time somebody sent a social worker my dad was so mad, I was in the hospital for 2 months! Please don't tell!"

"Fine, Severus. I wish you would at least let my mum clean those cuts up"

"No, she doesn't need to know about it. I don't wanna cause your parents any more trouble"

For the rest of the day, we sit by the fire, pet Lady, read our books, craft things to give as gifts, and help Lily's mum bake and prepare food for Christmas Eve. I write my mum and dad cards and decorate a wooden letter "E" for my mum to put on her bedside cabinet.

Dear Mum,

I love you and I wish you were around more but I know you have to work realy hard. Please stay safe while I am at Lilys and Lucius houses. I hope your headakes get beter. I made you this wood leter so you can put it on your bedsid kabinet and it will remind you of how good of a mum you are. If you ever get sad you can play with my strang rok colection if you want. It's in youre old trunk by my matress. Happy Christmas.

Love,

Severus

Dear Dad,

I hope you get your promoshon. I know you work realy hard to help suport me and mum. I hope that during sumer break you will tak me fishing like you used to. It was realy fun.

Happy Christmas,

Severus

Mr. Evans promises to drive me by my house tomorrow on Christmas Eve so that I can run in and put the present and the letters on my mum and dad's respective bedside cabinets. I told my mum that I would leave them there so that she would know to look there. She told me she would leave my card and present on her bedside cabinet. During supper, the Evans' talk a lot. Even Petunia seems happy for once. I think it is the Christmas spirit. I tell them that my family went to church last Sunday for the first time since my dad lost his job at the mill. They seem to know I am proud, and tell me that that's wonderful, and that they wish they could go to their old church more often, but it's so far away they don't usually have time to get there before the service starts. I tell them that they can go to my old church if they want to. They say that that's a great idea, even though I know they don't want to go there. I know they want to go to their old church, probably a wealthy church where wealthy people go, nothing like my old church- one room, lights flickering, and lots of smelly poor people. I don't say anything, though. Lady begs under the table. Occasionally Lily and I throw her scraps of chicken. When Mrs. Evans catches us, she scolds us, saying that Lady is already getting too chubby and that we need to stop feeding her so many treats. Petunia seems happy to see us getting in trouble. I give her a dirty look when nobody's looking.

The next day, Mr. Evans and I drive over to my house at noon. He comes into my house with me to make sure. I give him a tour because I am proud of all the hard work I did trying to make the house look decent. He tells me that I'm a hard worker, and that I should be proud. When I leave the cards and present on the cabinets, I find a card that my mum has written, and a pair of green gloves with a matching hat from the donation center. On my dad's cabinet, I find another letter.

Dear Severus,

Thank you for tidying up the house so nicely this last week. I am sorry that I never got to see your good grades, but I'm sure you're doing well. Stay safe at school. Don't get in any fights. Make sure all of your professors like you- someday you'll have a wonderful life if you have the right connections in school. I know you have trouble remembering things sometimes since your head has been hit so many times, so study hard. Keep getting good grades. If you can't hear your professors, sit near the front of the class. I love you.

Happy Christmas,

Your Mum

Severus,

I'll get that promoshin someday then I'll take you to McDonalds and maybe even fishing this summer. Would you like that? Hopefuly now that your gone Ill have time to focus on work and to get that promoshin. It's hard for me when your here cause I get real distrakted and tired.

Happy Christmas,

Toby

Eyes a little wet, I carefully tuck the cards and my mum's gift into the pockets of my coat. Upon leaving the house, Mr. Evans hugs me tight, and tells me that everything will be okay. On the ride home, we are both silent. I know Mr. Evans read the letters my mum and dad left over my shoulder. I know he pities me for my house and my situation. I just want to disappear. I want to get out of this town and not be pitied anymore.