Author's Note: Warnings for references to domestic and child abuse.

Thanks to my amazing betas: Aya and Gab :)

Hogwarts Assignment #8. Lesson: Advanced Warding, task 1. Task: Write about not being able to go somewhere

The Houses Competition. House/Year: Hufflepuff, 5th year. Category/Prompt: Drabble, biscuits


The Price of Biscuits

319 words


Severus' stomach grumbled loudly. He winced at the noise and the pain that followed. He hadn't eaten anything all day and it was almost dinnertime, he was sure. It was hard to tell the time without his alarm clock, but that had been thrown against a wall in a fit of anger some months ago.

He peeked out from his closet, where he liked to hide and pretend it was a cave and he was a knight searching for dragons to slay. He could hear the television playing in the living room, which meant his father was occupied—hopefully even asleep.

The small boy crept out quietly and did his best to keep to the shadows. Mummy had told him to keep away from his father while she was out getting groceries. Severus didn't need much convincing, being anywhere near his father usually resulted in a series of new bruises.

Tobias was still sat in his arm chair, where he'd been hours before, the last time Severus had checked on him, but he was still wide awake, sipping from a bottle of beer.

Severus wrinkled his nose at the sight, but continued on towards the small kitchen area, hoping to find even a crumb. He knew Mummy kept biscuits in a jar under the sink for when his father was especially angry. Severus was never allowed to have any, but now that he'd remembered them, it was all he could think of.

The sound from the telly grew louder and Tobias laughed at something. Severus took his chance, racing past the living room and towards the sink. He managed to get a hand on the cabinet knob before he was noticed.

"What do you think you're doin', boy?"

Severus froze in fear, weakly letting his hand fall to his side. Mummy would be angry with him for getting caught, and she'd be right to. Biscuits weren't worth all the trouble.