Chapter 47: Old Hurts, New Comforts
{A/N: Here's another update...short chap...}
{"You lift my heart up when the rest of me is down...You, you enchant me even when you're not around...If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down...I'm latching on, babe, now I know what I have found...I feel we're close enough...Could I lock in your love?...I feel we're close enough...Could I lock in your love?...Now I've got you in my space...I won't let go of you...Got you shackled in my embrace...I'm latching on to you..."}Latch,Sam Smith/Full Disclosure
My Thanks To All My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy S.S.
The Master Bedroom, Snape's Estate, Muggle World...
In the wake of what occurred with Tobias, Severus had not said a word as he lied in bed holding on to Hermione for dear life. The memories of what Tobias had done to him and his mother in the past had been hard to suppress. The amber eyes of Hermione Granger had been filled with concern as she met his sorrowful obsidian gaze. She had not known what happened between her former Professor and the drunken muggle but she could see that it had a profound effect on him.
The silence that filled the room had been welcome and the warmth shared between them even more so. The pale light of the moon that managed to get passed the heavy drapes was also welcome. It seemed to have a calming effect on the anguished wizard as he continued to hold his lover within his embrace.
Hermione shifted some until she pressed her soft pink lips into his pale ones.
She didn't like seeing him so upset but she knew pressing the issue would only make it worse.
"Severus...I'm ready to hear what's bothering you if you wish to talk about it." she said as she softly stroked his sallow pale face.
Snape continued to remain silent instead enjoying the time they were spending together. He returned her kiss and continued to hold her. With nothing left to be said, both the witch and her weary wizard fell asleep in the silence of the master bedroom.
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Spinner's End, Cokeworth, England, Muggle World...(1973)
Severus Snape had only been thirteen years old when his father grabbed him by the over-sized collar and flung him into a nearby wall. He could see that Eileen had been crying and her face showed signs of bruising.
"You think you're a man now freak?" asked the drunken brute in a gruff tone.
Severus scrambled to his feet despite the white hot pain shooting through his back as a result of contact with the wall. He knew there would be a bruise to endure come morning.
The drunken brute Tobias Snape had not been finished with his son by a long shot.
He grabbed the boy and began beating him despite his feeble attempts to stop it.
The end result was a busted nose and a broken jaw.
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The Master Bedroom, Snape's Estate, Muggle World...
Snape had been tossing and turning in his sleep and it got the immediate attention of Hermione whom had tried rather successfully to awaken him. The former Potions Professor suddenly sprung out of bed with his wand drawn and let of a series of spells that Hermione narrowly avoided. His body had been tense and sweat soaked his pale frame as his mind had barely any time to adjust from the horrid memory to the comfort of his own home and as a result of being awoken so abruptly. It hadn't been the witch's intention to cause him more grief but she couldn't understand what was wrong with him.
"Severus." said Hermione nervously meeting his gaze. "Severus please talk to me."
The raven haired wizard let his wand fall to the floor and turned his attention to the witch before him. He had not meant to nearly attack her, the memory of his father's brutal behavior had been plaguing him since they had encountered him at Miss Dewberry's place.
"The drunken brute...that assaulted the old crone was Eileen's husband." he said finally noting her concern for him.
"What?" she asked in disbelief.
"Apparently, Tobias had survived all these years when I believed him dead and recently resurfaced." said Snape almost bitterly.
"I'm so sorry." said Hermione immediately embracing him. "That must have been so horrible for you."
Snape sighed noting that she had gotten to know him pretty well since their initial reunion.
"It doesn't matter." he said smiling rather sadly at the young witch. "I-I apologize for..."
She put a finger to his lips stopping him from saying more.
"It's forgotten." she said softly.
They shared another kiss and lied back down. It was only a few hours before dawn and the children would most definitely be awake and full of questions.
