Eileen Snape had woken up early on Saturday morning. She was pacing about her room at 8 AM completely ready. She had told Severus she wouldn't be at the gates until 9, but she couldn't help herself. She hadn't seen his face for years, and they hadn't exactly parted on good terms.

He had told her of his loyalty to the Dark Lord expecting her to be proud of him. She had always told him that he was going to be something when he grew up and he needed to do whatever it took to succeed. She had eaten her words even though she knew that he had many reasons for joining the despot. One of them being sweet Lily Evans.

Eileen knew that Severus and her had had a falling out, but she never forgot to ask him if they had finally made up. One day, he had blown up at her, something he had never done to that extent up until that point. Her heart broke for her poor son. Lily was marrying James Potter, and Severus was truly defeated.

He didn't tell her that, but being his mother, she knew. Two weeks after that, he joined the Dark Lord's ranks rising quickly. He had friends in high places. He was rather good at making friends when he wanted to be. Too bad that wasn't too often.

She had blamed herself for that. If she had only had the courage to leave his father when he started beating her, maybe he wouldn't have been so sullen, so hard and cold. Although she hadn't spoken with him for almost 20 years, she stood up-to-date whenever he was in the newspaper.

He reminded her of her father in the pictures she saw. He had a rather elegant air about him and seemed to be very successful in Potion's. She knew he would be. When he was young, potion's was all he seemed to talk about. She indulged his drive, but Tobias was very cruel to the boy, making him keep his equipment locked up at the bottom of the stairs over the breaks.

She knew Severus hated coming home because he would have to see his mother be beaten within an inch of her life, and being the heroic little boy he was, would fight back. As he grew up, he stood up for her more, telling her that he could take it. She received her husband's beatings year round. He could take a few for her so she could rest up.

No matter how snarky Severus had become because of his home life there was always a soft spot for his mother. She felt extremely guilty for being so upset with him the day he told her about joining the Dark Lord, but she could not mince words. She was disappointed in him and he was putting himself in danger yet again. They were ridded of his father during his sixth year.

His lungs were in horrible condition from working at the mill for so many years and it was only a matter of time before he keeled over from lung cancer. Eileen had felt it coming about two weeks before he had died walking on the way to work. He didn't have the energy to beat her thoroughly anymore. He didn't even have the energy to fuck her until she ached anymore either. They both were glad to see him go. She lived in Spinners End until Severus made her move in with her parents at the Manor.

She hadn't been on speaking terms with them either. They were mortified that their daughter had married a muggle, being the high class pureblood family that they were, and had cut ties with her upon hearing of Severus' birth. Severus on the other hand was never one to cut ties with someone who could be of aid to him later in life. So, he reached out to them. They were his family after all. They discovered that he was quite a bright boy, brighter than his mother even, and she was one smart cookie, that is until she went and got herself impregnated by Tobias.

Because of Severus, she was reunited with her parents before they died and she owed him big time for that. She loved her son so much and by the time her parents died in their sleep, He had been made Slytherin Head of House.

She was quite proud of her son. He was exceptional in his field and seemed to be getting his life together, even though she knew he was still apart of the Dark Lord's regime. Around the time of Dumbledore's death, she became worried sick for her son and reached out to and old friend of hers, Pomona Sprout, for help. Pomona was more than happy to oblige, telling her that she couldn't believe Severus had done what he did for any malicious reasons. She told Eileen of how he had looked up to Dumbledore as a father figure for so long. She told her of how Severus had grew as a person over the years, his moods teetering on brooding constantly.

Eileen was very saddened to hear of how miserable her son was with his life despite his success, but that was exactly what she told him would happen. He didn't believe her, but she had told him that the Dark Lord would try to break him down year by year until he was a hollow shell. Yet Pomona had instilled some hope in her. She told her of how Severus sometimes seemed a little less miserable than others. She told her of their chats while gathering ingredients and how he and her had become close friends. He had told Pomona how much he missed his mother in a moment of weakness and Pomona had truly felt for the boy. After that, he had become distant and cold with her.

That was until he became Headmaster. Eileen looked at him in the Daily Prophet, tears streaming down her face. Her son looked to regal and intimidating on the outside, but being his mother, she knew he was completely loathing everything he did. There was a small spark in him though. She couldn't really put her finger on what it was, but something was aflame in him. Something good was still holding on inside him. She rejoiced.

Then, one morning she received the paper that almost killed her. She saw his name on the list of the dead and weeped for her son. He had so much promise, so much to live for. If only he hadn't made that detrimental decision to join the Dark Lord. She might be able to hold him in her arms again. She spent days mourning him.

When the Daily Prophet did their special issue on him two days later, exclaiming that he had made a recovery, she was ecstatic! Her son had gotten a second chance! His purpose was not to die for the Wizarding world, but it hadn't been realized yet.

She purchased Rita Skeeter's book on him hoping to get to met her son again, but everything she read was filth. She knew none of it was true. It couldn't be. Her son was not some conniving little bat, living in the dungeons of Hogwarts. He had made his own share of mistakes, yes, but he would never do these things and find enjoyment out of them. He had never been a violent person. Despite all they had been thorough, but he was sweet and caring toward living things. He valued them all at one point. She even remembered him rescuing Lily's cat, Eugene from a well once. She was furious with him for doing such a dangerous thing, but he insisted that it must have been done. Lily's cat was drowning and it had been nothing but sweet to him the entire time it knew him.

So, no. None of this book could have been based on truth, but there was one thing she just couldn't seem to look over: those letters they had found on him. Severus never carried anything on him that wasn't completely necessary. Even as a child he'd rather go without something rather than lug it around. Those letters must have been important to him and after reading them, she realized why. Whoever had written those to him had loved him very much. They never actually said it, but Eileen had what she liked to call mother's intuition. She just knew there was more to them.

All was confirmed when she had walked into the kitchen earlier in the week and saw Obsidian. She ruffled the bird's head and went to get him some meat. Winky had brought it to her, the complete darling that she was. She placed it in front of the bird as she ran her fingers over the spidery script she knew so well bearing her Pseudonym. She smiled before turning it over and breaking his seal. Jeeze, She thought. Does he have everything personalized with his initials?

On the inside was a sweet note written to her. Taking the time to explain just how sorry he was:

'Mother, It has been so long since I have spoken to you and I don't even know if you'll open this letter, but you always told me to try in all things. So, here I go.

I am so ashamed for how I treated you upon our last meeting. You wanted nothing but to help me and keep me safe, but I thought I knew better than you, mother. I was wrong. I don't think I will ever be able to apologize to you enough for the injustice that has befallen you. You've always been nothing but kind to me, and I truly messed that up.

I've changed over the years, mother. You no doubt have kept tabs on me. I know Pomona has been relaying messages to you over the years. Legilimency, what can I say. I sometimes can't help myself. I let her keep doing what she did because I truly did miss you, mother. You were right about everything. I think you may have some seer blood in you, because everything you said would happen happened to a tee.

The reason I send you this letter is not just to renew ties with you, although that is one of its primary purposes. I have wonderful news for you, mother. I met someone. She's smart, kind, and beautiful, but most of all she cares about me more than anyone I've ever met in my life, next to you of course. Her name is Jordan. There is a bit of an age difference between us, but she is nothing but the epitome of virtue, mother. She and I have actually already adopted one of our own. Her name is Caroline and she favors Jordan in every since of the term. Yet, she is brilliant in her own ways. She's ambitious and a complete social butterfly.

I couldn't be happier right now, mother. I owe that to Jordan. That is why we have decided to marry, and I want nothing more than to see you there. I know that I haven't done things right in the past, but I'm trying to make my second chance worthwhile, mother. I want you included in that.

If you do not wish to attend, don't write back. You could burn this letter if you wanted to. I just wanted to reach out to you, mother. After a lifetime of bad things happening to our family, this could be a shot to make some happy memories. I love you, mother.

Your son,

Severus Snape'

Eileen couldn't believe it. Severus? Getting married? Having a family? Surely this was a dream. She read the letter again and took note of how he described Jordan. 'intelligent, kind, and beautiful?' Surly he was being dramatic. She knew her son was not exactly a looker, although he did possess qualities that a witch might look for in a wizard. He was well educated, a Deputy Headmaster of one of the best Wizarding Schools in the world, and she couldn't deny that he had his father's voice. Tobias had seduced her with that voice. No doubt Severus had done the same with Jordan. Surly Jordan couldn't be too bad if Severus had decided to marry her. Her son was no fool.

And then there was this business of the child. Caroline he called her. She too would not have been welcomed into Severus' life if she weren't exceptional. Eileen did rather like the idea of grandchildren. She had always just assumed that would be a luxury she would never obtain, but now she had one. An adoptive granddaughter, but still a granddaughter nonetheless, and maybe Severus and Jordan would have their own children. The thought of another snarky, black-haired boy running around made her smirk. Then again, they could be girls. The thought made her shutter. Her son would be in a world of trouble either way, but especially if they had girls. Eileen, herself was quite the handful even though she studied hard and always put school first, she got around. Let's just say it was a wonder she wasn't pregnant before Tobias came along.

Filling out the RSVP card, she wrote a note to Severus about her arrival on Saturday, and placed in the envelope. She gave it to Obsidian who had been sitting on her kitchen counter scowling at her for the past ten minutes. He was Severus' alright. The bird looked just like him when he scowled. It warmed her heart to know he had truly missed her all of those years, but she felt a pang of nervousness hit her.

What if Jordan didn't like her? Granted, she didn't have a choice, but still. Severus had this ideal of the perfect family, what happened if that didn't work out the way he wanted it to? Would things go back to the way they were or would he make do with what he had.

Eileen sat down with her tea and thought about Jordan. She had always wanted a daughter. Someone to relate to and shower with love. Someone to let her braid their hair, and do their nails, girl things. She truly did love her son with all of her heart, but he couldn't do those things with her. She had tried. He simply scowled at her and made some excuse about homework he forgot before slinking away, not to resurface until he thought it safe.

So there she was, her waist length hair billowing behind her as she paced through the foyer of the Manor. She walked into the bathroom on the ground floor and gave herself one last look before reuniting with her son. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Her long, slender legs going on for days. She had aged well, but then again Prince's always aged well. It was in their blood. She looked at her face, her high cheekbones accented by her feminine looking archaic nose. Her black eyes piercing herself as she glanced into them. That had always been her crowning achievement, her eyes. Wizards and Muggles alike would fall into them, never to escape. She huffed and she looked down at her watch. Their problem not mine. She then turned back to look at her hair. Perhaps it should be up. She put a holding spell on her hair and she twisted it into a bun and brought her hands down to smooth her dress. It was a bright yellow dress, with silver suns around the hem, waist, and neckline. It was rather snug on her and showed off her thin waist. There would be no doubt whose mother she was.

Glancing back down at her watch, she noticed it was time. He'd be waiting for her. She took a deep breath and Apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts.