It doesn't take her long to walk over to Spinner's End and find the house where Severus lives. She sees the grimy windows and dusty window ledges, she looks around nervously this is not a pleasant neighbourhood. Spinner's End was comprised of cramped back to back houses to house the factory workers and their families. The grim, dark cloud of the factory still loomed over this part of town, Spinner's End had not been modernised and cleaned up like other areas and was struck hard when the local factory laid off many of the workers, the result was that many families moved away in search of work, leaving the run-down houses abandoned with peeling paint and some broken windows.
She knocks on the door and is grateful when it is opened after a few minutes by a tired-looking woman with dark hair and dull lifeless eyes who clearly resembles Severus "Mrs Snape? I'm Mrs Evans, my daughter Lily is good friends with your son Severus, I wondered if I could have a word?"
The woman eyes her warily before stepping aside and gesturing to her to come in, she looked nervously up and down the street before shutting the door and indicating for her to go through into the kitchen and gesturing for her to sit in one of the wooden chairs.
Once they're seated, the woman looks at her wearily waiting for her to explain. She composes herself trying to decide where to start "you see I'm here because my daughter was quite upset when she came home today. She told me that your son was hurt. I've treated his injuries to the best of my ability but truthfully I'm rather concerned with what I've seen. He appears to be very thin and it's clear from the number of sores on his back that this isn't an isolated incident. He also indicated that his father had done this when I asked him who had inflicted these injuries"
As she sits back sighing she notices how haggard and drawn the other woman looks, her pale pointed face looks drawn and gaunt and there are visible shadows under her eyes.
"I see, thank you for looking after him. Honestly, I'm worried about him as well. His father is a very volatile man, he regularly lashes out at Severus and me. I've tried to shield him but it's not always easy. I'm not always there when he lashes out and as he's gt older it's gotten worse, if he wants to get to him, he simply tosses me aside. I always tried to heal his injuries but he's become so quiet lately, he never tells me when he's hurt and I feel so constantly tired it's hard to focus sometimes. I know it's no excuse he deserves better than this and more than what I can provide for him at the minute" she explains sadly, her head dipped despondently.
"You're in a difficult situation, I can see you did your best to protect him. It's not your fault that your husband treats you both that way, you both deserve better" she says sympathetically, reaching out to take the other woman's hands on her own.
She shakes her head sadly "I should have left him a long time ago but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to earn enough to make ends meet and raise a child by myself. My family didn't approve of him, they disowned me in shame when they learnt I was marrying him and much as he wastes our money on drinking and gambling he does still bring just enough home to keep a roof above our heads, to keep us clothed and fed"
She pauses "he never used to be like this you know. He was so kind when I first met him, a real gentleman with good job prospects, I was young and in love, I didn't listen to my parents, we were happy. Everything changed though when he learnt I was pregnant and that I was a witch. He'd been brought up in a strict religious house you see and he was taught that witchcraft was the devil's work. I think he was overwhelmed and frightened when he learned the truth and realised he was going to become a father and raise a child who might also have magic. He turned to drinking to calm his nerves instead of facing his demons, the more he drank the more he became bitter, violent and unpredictable towards us. Of course, it only got worse as Severus grew up and began exhibiting signs of magic. He's a good boy but I think he's inherited some of his father's temper, he can be quite protective of me you know, fortunately, most of the time he has the good sense to run"
"I see. You did what you had to to get by, I didn't realise things were so bad. I don't think he should come back here though at least not until he's had a chance to heal, he's very upset and traumatised by everything he's been through, I don't want to let his father hurt him again when he's in this state"
"No you're right he needs to feel safe" she agreed "you'd take him in and look after him?" She looked up at her in astonishment.
"Yes of course if that's ok with you? I don't want you to feel as though I'm interfering or trying to take your son away from you, but I am concerned about him"
She looked away, appearing torn for a minute before a grim, resolute expression set on her face "No, I can't provide him with what he needs at the minute. I'd do anything to keep him safe" she sighs "honestly I worry about him. I'm not exactly in the best of health myself, what if something happens to me and I can't look after him? I'd hate to think that I'd be leaving him to fend for himself or on his own with his father. Are you sure it's ok though it's quite an extra burden to place on you and your family to take in another child to look after and feed? I don't want to inconvenience you"
"Nonsense we earn enough to get by and look after another, I'll have to talk to my husband of course and explain things but I'm sure he won't mind. He's already best friends with Lily, she's always trying to drag him round for tea, besides it's more important to make sure he's safe and loved"
She smiles at this "ah yes, the young witch with hair like fire, he's most enthralled by your daughter you know, she's the first person he's met other than me who can do magic. If you're sure that's ok, I'm guessing you'll be wanting some of his clothes?" she says moving to stand up.
"Yes that would be good thank you, I've got two daughters so somehow I don't think he'll appreciate wearing their clothes and my husband's would be a bit big"
She nods before leaving whilst Lily's Mum looks around the sparsely decorated kitchen, there is an air of despondency lingering about the house with much of the furniture appearing old and grimy or broken. A few minutes later she hears footsteps announcing her return, she hands her a bag full of his clothes and some of his meagre belongings.
"Thank you for taking him in, I really do appreciate this. I want him to be safe and happy. Please promise me that you'll look after him and give him all the love I've been unable to, I want him to know that he's loved. He's a good boy, really kind and clever he just needs someone to give him the attention he needs, to stimulate and challenge him"
"Of course, I promise you I'll do everything I can to help both of you and to protect him and give him all the love and affection he deserves. I swear I will love him as if he were my own child. I hope that you'll come round and visit any time you want to see him or if you need a break you're always welcome in our house or I can bring him around here to see you when his Dad's not here if that's easier" reaching out to hug her.
She considers this for a moment "I'd like that thank you" she says smiling tiredly.
"Good, I can see that he worries and cares a lot about you. I want to make sure he still gets to see you as much as possible. Please look after yourself"
Unfortunately on her way out she happens to encounter Severus's father lurching unsteadily down the road from the local pub. Mrs Snape retreats into the shadows as the man approaches reeking of booze, and his large form looms intimidatingly over Mrs Evans "well what've we got here then, I'm not used to pretty ladies coming round my home" he says leering nastily, his bloodshot eyes looking her up and down, "Well, what are you wanting round here then?" he snaps roughly.
Mrs Evans tries to keep calm and composed. It would do no good to appear scared in front of a man like this "I was just chatting to your wife about your son, now if you'll excuse me Mr Snape I'd really better be going" she replies tersely trying to make her escape.
He cuts her off his bulky frame, blocking the exit and forcing her back inside the door "oh and what would you be wanting with my pathetic whelp of a son then?" he says anger rising in his voice.
"I'm concerned about him, I merely want to look out for his best interests" she replied trying to swallow her fear and put on a brave face.
"Oh you do, do you? Well if you're so concerned for him then why don't you take him the good for nothing lazy ******* thinks he's too good for this place anyway, him and his good for nothing mother with their freak powers it'll be one less mouth to feed with him gone, no good scrounger. Well, bloody take the runt and don't bloody think about bringing that freak back when you're sick of him!" He spat angrily leaning right over her, his face looming large over her so close that she could see his bristly stubble and stained yellow teeth and smell the overwhelming stench of cheap lager on his breath making her feel like retching.
"I assure you, Mr Snape, I have no intention of bringing him back here, I intend to keep the boy safe and protect him" she replied tersely, vowing that he would never be coming back while his father was there. She seized the opportunity to escape as he lurched unsteadily on his feet, turning to yell more choice curse words at her before staggering into the house. She could hear his drunken shouting as she fled up the street, she suddenly understood why he and his mother both looked so ill, the sooner she notified the police and social services the better for all concerned was her last thought as she hurried back home.
Author's notes:
Another chapter down and I think we're beginning to get a pretty good picture of Sev's home life and his parents. I've seen many different interpretations of them but I've always had a fairly clear idea how I imagine his father (Tobias) and indeed his mother (Eileen) to be based on the limited information we get ini cannon its quite easy to imagine his father as being a typical big, burly worker, your standard rough intimidating drunk complete with stubble, and stained teeth. Of course, that's not to say that he was always like this, I think naive as Sev's mother Eileen may have been coming no doubt from a magical family that she wouldn't have been that desperate as to marry a rough and violent drunk, it's reasonable to assume that Tobias was once a kind and charming young gentleman with good job prospects, then something happened to turn him into the character we see in cannon and here. Discovering your wife and child have magic might just tip the balance, particularly if he'd been brought up in a religious home as many people semed to be at that time, add in the fact that Spinner's End appears to be a run-down and grim-looking industrial town and it's easy to imagine, Tobias being laid off and tkaing out his increasing anger on his young family.
Reivews:
James Birdsong: thank you
Excellent
Raymond21: thank you I'm glad you liked Lily's Mum, treating him, that mother's instinct and need to protect a vulnerable child kicking in there. No doubt it was quite a tiring and traumatic experience for young Sev particularly when he's been so starved of love and affection.
I agree Tom is often overlooked, who knows whether a better start in life may have set him on a different path but Harry and Severus both had pretty horrible lives. I don't condone Severus' behaviour towards his students as an adult, rereading it's hard to defend but I do think that he is misunderstood. It's quite clear in canon from his first meeting with Lily that he has poor social skills and almost blows his first chance of making friends with Lily, what's not clear is whether that's as a result of his upbringing, his personality or whether he has some other social or learning difficulty like autism (I know it sounds far fetched but think about it). His school life isn't much better, he's clearly not popular and is constantly harassed and hexed four on one. He also appears to have few real friends except Lily, perhaps some of his housemates, although it's unclear whether they actually care about him or are simply using him to their own ends.
Add in his experiences with the Death Eaters and all in all he's not exactly given much of a good example on how to interact positively with people. I also suspect that he was probably coerced into being a teacher so Albus could keep an eye on him and make sure he protected Harry. He certainly doesn't appear to enjoy teaching or be good at interacting with kids, some of whom initially would remember him as a student, he's used to hiding his emotions and weakness so it's hardly a surprise that he reacts to kids who already dislike him the only way he knows how by lashing out with bitterness and biting remarks.
Anyway I'm rambling but that in brief is my take on it. Without giving any spoilers things are going to get better for him from here on in.
PhoebeSmilee: Thank you. Yes he's staritng out from a bad place and his father is an absolute b*****d but years of abuse takes time to heal. Glad you liked the description of him being comforted, it's hard to know how an abused and neglected child would react so I'm glad it's coming across well. He's not going back not now that Mrs Evans protective instincts have kicked in.
Freedom89justice:
freedom89justice chapter 2 . Feb 8que buen capitulo, al ver como hubiera sido su vida si hubiesen descubierto el abuso que recibió por parte de su padre, y tratar de curar su daño mental, ya que en el canon se puede ver que su vida fue un infierno, abusado en casa, abusado en la escuela prácticamente nunca tuvo paz, espero que tu fic acabe en severus y lily juntos