I'm baaaaack!

Thank you for all the lovely reviews. They were heartwarming, encouraging, and some of them asked or brought up interesting thoughts and questions about Petunia, Severus and my OCs. Never fear, many things will be explained in time, I assure you, and I thank you for the constructive advice :)

It was pointed out by one of you that while Petunia can see the world of magic, she will never truly be a part of it because she isn't a witch. I want to thank you for sharing your opinion and assure you that that is not entirely true. Almost all of the magical world is something Petunia can experience AND participate in. Keep in mind, wand work is only a small piece of the magical world. All the creatures, the enchanted items, the environments, that requires no wand. Hell, there are even some potions that do not require a wand at all. Petunia, with an enchantment or two placed on her can do just about everything a witch can do, aside from casting spells. This CAN be her world as much as it is Lily's. She may not be able to go to Hogwarts, but she can still have the wizarding experience.

Now on with the show!

Warnings for violence in this chapter.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter Thirteen: The Summons and the Rescue

'Over…under…pull it through…' Lily carefully wove the stems of the wildflowers together, paying particular attention to the process so as not to strangle the flowers or break off any parts. Once she had succeeded in adding two more stems to her link of flowers, she selected two more from the meticulously chosen pile besides her, this time a set of lavender and white hues to compliment the violet and robin's egg blues of the previous pair.

Smiling, she cast a glance at her silent companion, glancing from her crown in progress to him.

As if sensing her gaze, Severus cracked one eye open and peered at Lily, not bothering to get up from where he was reclining back in the grass.

"If that crown is for me, you're going to be sorely disappointed to find I won't be wearing it," he said lazily.

Lily giggled, tying off two new additions to her chain, "You'll find I can be very persuasive."

"Oh, of that I have no doubt," Severus agreed, "But you see, one must never underestimate my ability to be stubborn. I won't wear it."

"Even if I ask nicely," Lily asked, batting her eyes at him.

Severus closed his eyes, refusing to budge, "Even then."

"What about a puppy-dog pout?" Lily asked.

Severus opened his eyes slightly to find Lily giving him her best doe eyes, her lip stuck out and trembling ever so slightly.

"Impressive," he praised, "quite the convincing act. But not convincing enough, I'm afraid."

"Drat."

"Why don't you wear it?" Severus switched tactics, "It would looked fine on you."

Lily frowned, staring at the completed flower crown in her hands, "The colors don't really work with red hair," she admitted, "It would clash terribly."

"Nonsense," Severus replied, sitting up to pluck the crown from his friend's hands. Settling it gently atop Lily's head, he smiled at his handy work, "There, you look lovely."

Blushing, Lily reached up to touch the crown, her fingers lightly brushing the petals thoughtfully.

"Fine," she said, "I'll wear it."

Severus's smiled turned into a full blown smirk, pleased things had gone his way.

Lily adjusted the crown, humming to herself while Severus fiddled with blades of grass. It was a beautiful summer day, one not often seen in rainy London, and the pair had decided to enjoy it out in the deserted sports field by the remains of the old elementary school. Ever since the building had closed in favor of opening a better one a neighborhood over, the field besides it once used for kickball had gone abandoned and become overgrown. It was the place for the two friends to relax.

"So what's with you today, anyway?" Lily asked eventually, "You're not very talkative most days, but today it feels like your miles away. What's on your mind?"

Severus sighed; it was obvious he expected this conversation to come up eventually.

"Trouble at home?" Lily went to hazard a guess.

"No," Severus replied, shaking his head, "Nothing like that."

Lily kept quiet, but she knew even if home life wasn't what was on his mind currently, Severus's home still was a problem. He had managed to stick to his plan so far of staying under the radar and it allowed him to scrape by with little altercations, but occasionally Severus still crossed paths with his father and Lily would find him bearing bruise or nursing a split lip.

At the very least, Severus no longer hid the injuries from Lily, but he was still dismissive of them. "My dad got a hit in," he'd say nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

However, even his words were becoming suspect. Lily didn't want to call Severus a liar, but sometimes, the injuries just didn't add up. From what she'd heard from the healers at St. Mungos, Severus dad—well they didn't say his dad but they had their suspicions—had the power to do some significant damage; twist a wrist, break some bones. But sometimes, Severus bore bruises that were small, less deep in hue, like the blow had been weak. One time, Lily even swore she spied fingernail marks on his arm, and it was doubtful someone as slovenly as Tobias Snape would grow out his nails so effeminately.

"Ooookay," Lily said slowly, "If it isn't your home that's the trouble, what's got you so preoccupied?"

Severus stared as Lily, a silent debate playing out across his face. Finally, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, "This came for me by owl today."

Lily took the offered note, "By owl? I thought you had told the hospital your family didn't accept mail that way," 'Because your father is a magic-hating bigot,' was understood.

"It isn't from St. Mungos," Severus said, pointing to the broken wax seal on the outside of the envelope.

Lily peered at the seal, a gasp escaping her, "It's from the Wizengamot!"

Severus nodded, "Good thing I was outside weeding the garden when it came. I doubt my father would appreciate an owl disturbing his post binge drinking nap."

"What does it say?" Lily asked, not even waiting for a response as she opened the envelope to read its contents.

"It's a summons for questioning," Severus explained as Lily's eyes frantically scanned the parchment, "After questioning Avery, it has come to their knowledge that the spell he used was one of my own invention."

Lily looked up from the letter, worry evident on her face, "Are they going to arrest you too?"

Severus shook his head, "They can't arrest me for being the victim of my own spell. However, I did make a defensive 'dueling' spell without the proper permits and underage to boot. There could be a fine for it."

Lily frowned, "Dueling spell?"

Severus snorted, "I'm as surprised as you are. Given the nature of the spell and the fact that I'm sure Avery has told them all about what a wonderful recruit for You-Know-Who I am in order to save his own skin, I would have thought they would charge me with making Dark Magic."

"Well it all depends on how the spell is used," Lily offered, recalling Simone's words, "Technically, your spell could be used for cutting various things, not just people. It's all a matter of intent. It could have a common use in more innocent daily routines, right?"

Severus stared at Lily, bemused and defeated, "You mean like for cutting wood or shredding papers? Lily, I appreciate your support, but there is no arguing the potential for harm that spell has. We even witness the dangers of it on the train. I invented it as the ultimate defense against others."

"Well then you invented it for protection," Lily challeneged, "Look, I'm not going to say I approve of the spell or like that you made it, but it isn't like you woke up one day and said 'I think I'll make a deadly spell today.' That's something those two housemates of yours would do, but not you. You made it to defend yourself, not use for malicious fun."

"But even my defense was malicious," Severus argued, shamefaced, "Lily, do you honestly think it would have mattered to me if Potter had simply hexed me with a stinging hex? I would have still fought back with all I've got."

Lily bit her lip. He did have a point there, "That doesn't make you a bad person. Just misguided."

Severus stared at Lily for a moment. After a second, he chuckled, shaking his head, "How did the roles get reversed? It used to be you telling me I was in the wrong and me defending myself."

Lily flushed, uncomfortable, "I was missing some facts before. I judged you too quickly. Severus, even if that spell can be dangerous, that doesn't make it evil. There's some potential in it for good. Think of what the Aurors could do with that spell for defense against the Death Eaters."

Severus cocked a brow, "You're abdicating for that being used on the Death Eaters? I thought you would be against violence."

Lily's face darkened, her thoughts a jumble of images from that day on the train, "I've realized that you can't talk sense into everyone. Some people can't change, Sev. Anyway, it isn't like I want them dead. The Aurors could heal them afterwards with the countercurse if you teach it to them."

"You're acting like they're summoning me for a demonstration," Severus mused in good humor, "I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be a teaching experience."

"No, but surely someone is impressed with you," Lily pushed, "You invented a powerful spell all on your own. At fifteen!"

Severus preened under the praise; it was clear by the kneazle-got-the-canary smirk he wore. "I won't deny it was hard work, but I doubt that it going to matter much to the Wizengamot. As it is, I'm curious who had the pull to keep this from being a charge against the creation of Dark Magic."

Lily tilted her head speculatively, "You think someone pulled some strings for you?"

Severus nodded, "Without a doubt. I'm just a nobody from Slytherin; under normal circumstances, the ministry would be chomping at the bit to throw me in Azkaban alongside Mulciber and Avery, just to ensure they were narrowing down the potential recruits for You-Know-Who's side. They're getting more paranoid and knowing whatever Avery's admitted about himself under veritaserum, they know he's recruiting from the schools now."

Lily pondered the situation, tapping a finger to her lips, "So who would help downplay your spell to keep you out of trouble?"

Severus shrugged, "Whoever it is, I just hope they aren't doing it for some ulterior motive."

And afternoon breeze swept across the field, ruffling their hair and sending several flowers from Lily's crown skyward.

{Page Break}

Lily let out a groan of relief as she slipped her shoes off when she got home. Placing them by the front door, she headed to the kitchen for a drink so that she could curl up with it and a good book in the living room window seat and rest her sore feet. Those slip ons she bought were pretty, but they weren't the best for arch support.

The air smelled sweet and tasty; Lily's mom must have been baking cookies.

"Mom," she called, "I'm home."

It wasn't her mother Lily found in the kitchen, though, but a much more peculiar scene.

The kitchen was almost as immaculate as when Lily left that morning, except that the corner by the mixer looked like it had been hit by a sudden snow storm of flour. Various measuring cups and bowls sat spread out in the space dripping in batter. A few cookie cutters and a rolling pin lay on some rumpled wax paper and the empty bottle of vanilla extract was on its side, leaking the precious few drops that remained onto the counter.

Besides the mess, just beginning to tidying things up was Petunia and two unexpected guests.

"Hi, Lily," Thea greeted happily, gathering up some of the measuring cups.

"Hey," Simone said, without looking up from her place in front of the oven, staring into the window on the front in fascination.

"Lily," Petunia greeted merrily, wiping her hands off on her apron, "You're just in time, the cookies are almost done."

Lily stood there flummoxed, barely comprehending the scene in front of her, "What….what's going on?"

Petunia wet a cloth to wipe down the counter with, "What? Oh, you mean this. You've been so busy lately that I forgot to mention. These are my new friends." She gestured happily to Simone and Thea, "I believe you know them from school?"

"Yes, we've talked a few times," Lily answered, still stunned.

"I met them a few days ago," Petunia explained, far more chipper than Lily had ever seen her, "And we've been spending time together ever since."

"Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" Lily asked.

Petunia laughed, but not one of her fake, prim and proper laugh, but a real one, "Oh, Lily. Stop being ridiculous."

Watching her sister warily, Lily reached for a glass and grabbed an apple.

"Lily, wash that fruit before you eat it," Petunia scolded lightly.

'There's the sister I remember,' Lily thought.

Simone leaned forward in front of the stove, her face almost touching the glass.

"It's remarkable," she said, a dusting of flour covering her head and shoulders, "it was just goo minutes ago and now it's a cookie. It's like watching a mountain form or something."

"They love baking," Petunia whispered giddily, "Can you believe they've never done it before?"

Unsure what to say, Lily just shook her head.

"You should have seen how they reacted to the tv," Petunia giggled, "I'm pretty sure they love Doctor Who now."

"Sim, come help clean up," Thea chided, turning to giving her friend a stern look.

Simone waved her off, transfixed by the oven, "Hang on; the cookies have two more minutes left on them."

Frowning, Thea flicked a piece of dried batter at her.

"Petunia," Simone whined dramatically, "Thea's making a mess!"

"Really mature, Sim," Thea said, rolling her eyes with a smile.

Petunia laughed, her whole face lighting up like it never had before, "Simone the cookies bake faster if you don't look at them."

Simone turned to Petunia, her eyes wide.

"They do?" she asked in amazement.

Petunia nodded, "It's a proven fact."

Simone got up off the floor and took the rag Thea offered her. Chancing one last glance at the oven, she went about drying off the dishes Thea had washed.

"So Evans," Simone began casually, "How's Severus?"

Lily blinked, "He's fine. Sort of, at least. He's been summoned for questioning on the spell her created."

Simone paused turning slightly to look over her shoulder at Lily, "Summoned? He's in trouble?"

"We're not sure," Lily admitted, "Apparently the issue is that he developed a spell of his own without permission and while underage."

"Doesn't sound like an arrest," Simone mused, "Would you like me to send my father with him on the day he goes?"

"You would do that?" Lily asked.

Simone shrugged, "Of course. He is my classmate, and he nearly died doing something quite noble. It was be like spitting in his face if they brought him up on charges after all he's been through."

"Besides, he's our friend," Thea added.

"That to, I suppose," Simone conceded, stacking the now dry bowls on the counter, "My father does have some influence that could prove useful for Snape. If anything, having a wealthy pureblood without any ties to blood purity ideals represent a Slytherin could give them a better impression of Snape, show he's capable of making connections with more wholesome people."

"Thank you, Simone," Lily said, quite touched, "That would be great."

Simone gave a curt nod of her head, "Just tell Pet when the date of his summons is and she tell me so I can relay it to my father."

"Pet?" Lily asked.

"That's her nickname for me," Petunia smiled.

At that moment, the timer on the oven dinged.

"Cookies are done," Petunia exclaimed.

"They did cook faster!" Simone said, astonished.

Thea just shook her head.

"They say a watched pot never boils," she said quietly, a soft, fond smile on her face.

{page break}

"So Simone said to just relay her the date and time and her father will accompany you," Lily explained on the phone that evening, "This way you have someone respected to vouch for you. Isn't that great, Sev?"

Severus cradled the phone to his ear, still none too fond of the muggle contraption, "Well it certainly would help my case. So...Petunia is friends with witches now?"

"I know!" Lily exclaimed, "Isn't it weird? I never thought I'd see the day."

"Still, if there was any witch who could win over Petunia, it would be Simone," Severus mused, "She has that level of propriety and poise Petunia always tries to exude. They must be very similar personality-wise."

"Ugh, do not say Petunia and Simone are alike," Lily groaned, "I may have just gotten my sister back, the last thing I need is to find Simone's mannerisms in everything she does."

"I take it Simone will never be your favorite person?" Severus inquired.

"I'd sooner befriend a Cornish Pixie; they're less infuriating," Lily replied, "So how are things with you?"

Severus sighed, glancing down the hall before answering, "Okay, I guess. Tobias is sleeping and Mum is doing whatever it is she does when he's not up and about to bother her. I try not to concern myself too much at this point."

"Did you manage to get your chores done?" Lily asked. By the displeasure in her voice it was evident how she felt about Severus having to do so much work just to avoid being screamed at.

"Yes, thankfully, but who knows if it will be good enough for him," Severus answered, "for someone so used to being filthy, he loves to make me clean."

"He just wants to push you around," Lily stated, clearly upset.

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Severus drawled.

"Don't be a pip," Lily scolded, but even through the phone, Severus could tell she was fighting a smile.

"Me?" he asked in false shock, "Why, whatever do you mean?"

Lily giggled.

The sound of voices came down the hallway, faint but angry. Severus sighed.

"What's wrong," Lily asked.

"Guess who's up?" Severus groused.

"Are they fighting?" Lily asked, concerned.

"When aren't they?" was Severus dry response.

"What are you going to do?" Lily fretted.

"Things should be fine," Severus assured her, "He never has much energy at this time of night to really get into it with her. The most he'll do is yell a bit and go back to bed. As long as I stay out of his way he'll leave me alone."

"It's terrible that you have to put up with this so often," Lily lamented, "That's hardly a decent way to live."

"Better than being homeless, right?" Severus joked half heartedly.

"Sometimes I wonder," Lily grumbled.

"Lily..."

"No, Sev, it isn't right that you live in such conditions!" Lily persisted, "Limited food, no showers, a house falling down around you and on top of all that you've got a tyrant for a father." She paused, catching herself, "I'm sorry, that was rude of me...he's your dad."

"You didn't say anything that wasn't true," Severus muttered.

The sound of shattering glass caught Severus off guard, making him freeze.

"Severus," Lily called, "Sev, what was that?"

"Where is he?!" Tobias roared from down the hall, "Where is that little bastard?"

"Shit," Severus cursed.

"Sev, what's happening?" Lily asked, alarmed.

"He's coming for me," Severus whispered, trying to keep his father from hearing him. He could hear Tobias stomping up the stairs clumsily, doors being slammed as he searched the bedrooms.

"Sev, call the police," Lily implored.

"What good would that do?" Severus snapped.

"Severus please!" Lily begged.

"Lily, I'm fine—"

"There yew are!"

Tobias fisted the back of Severus's shirt, pulling up sharply and nearly choking him.

'How did he sneak up on me?' Severus wondered, 'he must have snuck down the back stairwell.'

"Sev?" Lily cried, worry clear in her voice, "Sev are you okay?"

"Yew little shit, hiding from me," Tobias sneered. He slammed Severus into the wall, causing him to drop the phone.

"Sev?!" came the frantic cry from the phone.

Tobias jerked Severus back by his shirt, twisting Severus around to face him.

"Yew thought yew could hide from me, yew little bastard," he said angrily, "But I found yew, didn't I?"

"Tobias leave him alone," Eileen yelled, coming down the hall, a bruise on her cheek.

"Shut up, woman!" Tobias shouted, "This will teach yew to talk back to me."

It made sense to Severus then. This had nothing to do with him at all, Tobias just wanted to punish Eileen where it hurt; her son.

Tobias slapped Severus across the face, "Look at me! Yew think yew're so special, with yewr wand and yewr magic? Well I've got news for yew; yew ain't nothing!" He struck Severus again.

"Tobias, please!" Eileen cried.

"Stay where yew are, or I'll realy give it to him, woman," Tobias threatened.

"C-coward," Severus managed to get out, straining against the strangling hold Tobias still had on his shirt.

"What was that?" Tobias asked dangerously.

"Coward," Severus tried again, "Picking on your wife and child. Think it makes you a big man?"

"Yew bastard!" Tobias snarled. He slammed Severus against the wall again, then again.

Pain blossomed across the back of Severus's skull and his vision swam.

"Stop it!" Eileen begged, throwing herself at her husband.

"I said stay out of this!" Tobias yelled, dropping Severus like a bag of dead cats.

Seeing his chance, Severus took off down the hall, heading for the living room.

"Oh no yew don't," Tobias shouted, "Get back here!" He shoved Eileen away and took off after his son.

Severus sprinted for the stairs, his father hot on his heels.

'I've got to get to my room,' Severus thought frantically as he started up the stairs, 'I need my wand.'

Severus was almost to the landing when a rough hand closed around his ankle and tugged. Hard.

Flailing for a grip that wasn't there, Severus tumbled down the stairs past his father to the sound of his mother's horrified screams.

Severus toppled head over heels, landing painfully on his ribs as he hit the bottom landing.

"Are you mental?" Eileen shrieked.

"I thought I told yew to shut up," Tobias growled, taking a picture frame off the wall and hurling it at his wife.

Eileen wasn't fast enough to dodge in time and yelped as it struck her in the shoulder.

Tobias stomped down the stairs and kicked Severus onto his back, "What do yew have to say for yewrself?"

Severus coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood from biting his tongue during the fall, "You're a coward," he sneered through a face full of blood and spit, the slaps from earlier already blooming into bruises across his face, "You pick on your family because you know you're stronger than us. But what does that make you if the only people you fight are weaker than you? You tell me that I'm nothing, but what are you? A worthless drunk with no life who beats his wife and child. Pathetic."

Tobias face twisted in rage, his skin turning an ugly mottled red.

"Yew bastard!" he roared, dragging Severus to his feet and pining him against the wall. His hands closed around Severus throat, "How dare yew talk that way to me. I'm yewr father!"

To Severus horror, his father began to squeeze.

"I brought yew into this world, and I can damn well take yew out of it!" Tobias said menacingly, his grip getting tighter.

Severus clawed at his father's hands to no avail. He kicked his feet and struggled uselessly, but his father did not relent.

"Tobias, stop it!" Eileen beat on her husband's back feebly, "You'll kill him!"

Severus could feel his head going fuzzy as he was deprived on air, his vision going black as his struggling lessened.

He didn't hear the front door being slammed open. He didn't here the raised voices in the hall.

What he did recall, was a brown haired blur slamming into his father and landing a blow to the side of his head.

Severus gasped for air as he was released, massaging his neck. Trying to gather his sense, he looked up at his rescuer.

Hank Evans stood over Tobias, his portly yet hulking frame seeming to tower over the man on the floor.

"Don't you ever," he jabbed a finger into Tobias chest, "Ever, touch that boy again, or you'll be taking all your meals through a straw. And that's if you're lucky."

"Are you alright, sweetie," Willow Evans asked Severus, kneeling down to him.

Severus nodded, too stunned to respond, the room still spinning from before.

"We're leaving, Severus," Mr. Evans said with finality, "Willow, help him to the car."

"Now just see here," Tobias began, struggling to his feet, "Who do yew think yew are to take my boy anywhere."

Hank whirled around on Tobias, piercing him with a deathly look, "Do not test me. I fought in the war. Do you think I can't lay a lousy drunk out flat?"

"Come on, dear," Willow helped a dazed Severus to up, guiding him to the door.

"You should come with us," Hank offered to Eileen.

Eileen wrung her hands fretfully. Glancing at her husband, she shook her head.

Hank frowned. "The police will be coming here," he said on his way out the door.

In a fog, Severus allowed himself to be led to the Evan's car. Head throbbing and vision going black around the edges, he let Willow put him in the back seat and guide his head onto her lap while her husband got behind the wheel in the front seat.

"Everything's going to be okay," Willow cooed, stroking his hair gently, "We're taking you away from that place."

Hank started the car and without a backwards glance, he drove off.

"I don't care what the added expenses are, Hank," Willow declared, "He's staying with us. I will not send him back to that house."

"I could probably ask the University if there is anyone I can tutor for extra money," Hank pondered.

"I could start working again," Willow suggested, "I'll teach piano."

"At least we have our evidence now," Hank stated, "We'd better contact Mr. Wrence."

"You're alright, Severus," Willow said softly, petting his hair as the boy began to drift off, "You're home now."

I probably should have put on a warning for Tobias's manner of speak as well. I'm sure some of you got a headache reading how he talks.

So when I was writing this chapter, it was very important to me from the start that Lily's parents get involved directly with the abuse. As the first muggle people Severus ever met to show him true kindness and acceptance (at least in my works), they represent Severus's chance to overcome his distrust and bitterness towards muggles. They also represent redemption in the form of a model for proper parents whom he can learn better behavior from while experiencing the security and parental love he never got at home. It is my personal belief that had Severus had a proper upbringing or better influences, he may have overcome his traumatic childhood and become a less bitter, reckless, and angry person. Don't get me wrong, he would still be sarcastic and dour, you can't take the snark out of the Snape.

Sorry you guys had to suffer through Severus's suffering, but the catalyst needed to come eventually. Unfortunately, there was a time for abuse survivors when help only came once things reached their worst. Nowadays, a person can call and report abuse and potentially be removed from the place for their own safety while an investigation was conducted, but back then, a police tended not to act until the problem grew so big that it could not be ignored, usually circulating in the worst cases of domestic violence that not even neighbors could turn a blind eye to. Severus was not going to get help until things reached a climax of massive proportions.

Read and review, tell your friends :)