Hello, people! Welcome back!

As always, you are all wonderful people for reading this story and a big thank you to those who reviewed.

I'm tickled that the direction I'm taking Peter is being so well received. He's an interesting and honestly tragic character in that he never got to have true, real support from his friends despite them clearly expecting him to go so far as to risk his life for any of them. The very fact that they picked him as Secret Keeper not because they trusted him, but rather because they thought so little of him they figured no one would suspect him speaks volumes for how he was viewed by his so called friends. I don't agree with his decision to sell out Lily or baby Harry, but I can't say I blame him for not being willing to stick his neck out for James. I mean, how sad is it that the only respect he ever was given came when people thought he had died as Secret Keeper? And even then that respect came with a lot of "never would have thought he had it in him", further illustrating how unremarkable they saw him as.

Well, let's give you what you came for: Drama!

Trigger warning for references to domestic abuse. Not sure how triggering the chapter would be since it's sort of just someone recalling and talking about their past, but the author notes at the end might get heavy for some.

Also, minor (really minor) character death.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter Sixty-Six: Ashes

Of all the things Severus would expect waking up to in Slytherin—a curse upon his trunk, a hex on his way to the bathroom, possibly even an enchantment rendering him immobilized in bed—he certainly wasn't expecting his Head of House hesitantly knocking at the door to the sixth year boys dorm.

A normally jovial and self-assured man. Slughorn hung back in the doorway this sunny morning, an uneasy and somewhat somber expression on his face, his drooping oversized mustache giving him the look of a sad cartoon walrus. Without his boisterous charisma, Slughorn almost seemed to shrink in on himself, diminishing in size, a spectacular feat given his massive belly.

"Severus…my boy?" he asked tentatively, "The Headmaster would like to see you, please." Despite the uncertainty in the professor's voice, it wasn't a request.

Casting a subtle glance at his eavesdropping dormmates, Severus slowly got up from his bed, setting his homework revisions in his trunk and sealing it tight.

Following Slughorn into the common room, Severus did his best to appear nonchalant as he passed by the few students out and about so early in the morning. Truly, it wasn't even six o'clock yet, students weren't due to class for three more hours. The early birds who did flitter about the common room cast a curious eye at Severus as he walked passed with his professor.

Severus spied Simone stumbling groggily out of the girl's dorm, her hair wrapped up in a silk scarf and a steaming mug of tea in her hand. Blinking blearily back at him, Simone cocked her head at Severus questioningly, gesturing towards Slughorn with her mug in obvious inquiry. Severus could only shrug, mimicking her confusion.

"What exactly is it the Headmaster wants, sir?" Severus finally asked as he and Slughorn strode through the dungeons.

"There's something he needs to discuss with you," was Slughorn's vague reply.

"Sir," Severus pressed, his concern rising, "Has something happened? My mother," he said as the thought occurred to him, "Is my mother alright?"

Slughorn was quick to reassure him, "Your mother is fine, lad."

"Then what happened?" Severus asked again.

Slughorn shifted uncomfortably. He took Severus by the shoulder, gently urging him onwards.

"It's probably best if the Headmaster explain it to you," he said.

Confused more now than he was before, Severus allowed himself to be guided to the stone Gargoyle outside Dumbledore's office.

"Licorice whips," Slughorn said, causing the statue to spring to life and jump aside.

Riding the staircase up to Dumbledore's office, Severus couldn't help but puzzle of the choice of password. A lover of sweets, Dumbledore was notorious for candy related passwords to his abode. Sweets he liked, that is. From what Severus understood, even the whimsical Albus Dumbledore had little love for the taste of licorice. So why choose something so unpleasant for today's password?

Severus's ponderings were cut short when the staircase came to an abrupt halt outside the office door.

Slughorn unceremoniously knocked on the door, drawing a beckoning from within from Dumbledore himself, only much more reserved than usual.

Entering the office, Severus immediately honed in on Dumbledore seated behind his opulent desk, hands steepled in front of him pensively. A student could always tell a summons to Dumbledore's office was serious if he did not get up from his desk. When the news was good, the Headmaster was open, friendly, circling around his desk to shake your hand or inquire on your health. He was a friend in those circumstances, a confidante.

When he didn't rise to greet you, however, was when things were dire. He was reserved and formal, commanding respect without saying a word. . It was in times of severe matters that Dumbledore became your professor, a symbol of authority and order.

Severus also noted that McGonagall stood beside Dumbledore, her face marred with a grave frown. It never boded well for a student to have the headmistress involved as well.

"Severus," Dumbledore began, waving Severus closer with a hand, "How are you?"

"I've been well, Headmaster," Severus said, not making direct eye contact with Dumbledore. He couldn't help worry that this summons had to do with the diadem and diary, two things he would like to keep from Dumbledore's hands until the threat of each of them were diminished.

Dumbledore nodded, "Good. Lemon drop?" he held up one of the candies in the dish on his desk.

"No thank you sir," Severus declined politely, "With all due respect, I don't believe I was called here for pleasantries. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit concerned by the suddenness."

McGonagall tutted quietly, not at all pleased with Severus tone, but for whatever reason she held back from scolded him.

Clearly, the matter was very dire.

"Slughorn has assured me that my mother is safe?" Severus said, looking briefly over his shoulder at his subdued Head of House, "I trust that is true?"

"Of course," Dumbledore said, "You're mother is safe."

"And Lily?" Severus questioned, his mind searching for any reason and anyone who could cause such an early invite to the Headmaster's office. Was Lily alright? He hadn't seen her yet today to be sure, "What about her family?"

Dumbledore raised his hand, silencing Severus's questioning.

"Fine," Dumbledore said, "They are all safe and accounted for."

"Then may I be so bold as to ask what all of this is about?" Severus queried, "Because I was led to believe something awful had happened and I can't fathom what that can be if my friends and family are alright."

Dumbledore chuckled quietly, "It warms my heart to see you have so many who are dear to you, Mr. Snape."

Severus flushed, looking away.

"All will be explained shortly," Dumbledore assured, "We are merely waiting on one more person—" a knock sounded at the door, "And here they are."

The door pushed open slowly and Lily poked her head timidly into the room, accompanied by the Head girl.

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" Lily asked nervously. Her eyes landed on Severus and her face morphed into one of complete bewilderment.

"Ms. Evans," Dumbledore greeted kindly, "Do come in. I believe there is a seat next to Mr. Snape available for you." He kindly waved the Head Girl off.

Worriedly, Lily took a seat next to Severus, exchanging a glance with him, searching for answers. As awkward as things had been between them lately, the present matter distracted them from any muddled feelings they may have towards one another, replaced instead by cautious curiosity.

Dumbledore took a deep breath, folding his hands upon his desk.

"I'm afraid I bring you some concerning news," he began gently, "As of one o'clock this morning, there was a reported attack upon a small town in Britain. In Cokeworth."

"Is my family alright?!" Lily asked in a panic, jumping to her feet as Severus simultaneously shouted, "You said everyone was okay!"

Dumbledore held up a hand, "Rest assured, you have not been called here to discuss the passing of a loved one. All of your family is quite safe, Ms. Evans. Your mother as well. Severus."

"Well, what happened?" Lily pushed, turning confused, frantic eyes to her Head of House.

Minerva for her part looked quite conflicted.

"It would appear an attack was orchestrated by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," she said gravely, "By the time the morning papers come in, all of wizarding Britain will know his mark was seen floating over Cokeworth."

"Several muggles were victims of random attacks by Death Eaters in the ensuing chaos," Dumbledore continued for his Headmistress, "Auror's were dispatched quickly to the town, so casualties were a minimum. And of course, your families were not a part of those numbers. Ms. Evans, the wards put in place around your parents' house helped it avoid detection; it seems the Death Eaters came to Cokeworth expecting no magical failsafes in place on a predominantly muggle town."

"The wards Moody and Frank put up," Severus realized.

Dumbledore nodded, "The very same. haThe wards have since been strengthened in the meantime and Aurors will begin patrolling your neighborhood. Should any further cause for alarm arise, we will move your family to a safer location, Ms. Evans."

"What of my mother?" Severus inquired.

Dumbledore's face grew serious, "Your mother is the reason I have called you here, Mr. Snape. It is true she has come to no harm, but we very well feel it was the original intent of the attack."

Severus sat up straighter, "What do you mean."

"It was a fire that alerted authorities," McGonagall cut in, her face fraught with turmoil, "A fire that was clearly magical in origin; it took several hours of Aurors efforts to put out. Without their help, it could have consumed the entire block. As it is, several houses were lost in the blaze."

She looked directly at Severus, her eyes pitying and sad, "Severus, my dear, I'm afraid the source of the flames was your house."

Lily gasped, hands going to her mouth in shock.

Severus sat there stunned.

"It is of my understanding that few are aware your mother no longer resides at Spinner's End, correct?" Dumbledore asked.

Severus nodded dumbly; in any other situation, he would have scoffed at the Headmaster's feigned inquiry. The Headmaster was oblivious funding Eileen's stay in the Women's home in secret.

"Did anyone know of your former residence in Spinner's End, Severus?" Dumbledore asked seriously.

Severus shook his head, "I never liked telling my housemates because some of them didn't know I was halfblood."

"So you told no one?" Dumbledore repeated.

Severus thought about it a moment.

"Wait," he said, recalling something, "Back in second year…Lucius told me before winter break that he would send me a letter over the Holidays. He seemed okay with my blood status at the time, so I didn't see the harm in giving him my address…I trusted him." The card had been a simple well wishing, complete with an enclosed photo of Lucius's grand family festivities, doing little more than to dishearten young Severus to his own dismal holiday.

Slughorn inhaled sharply, his face stricken.

Dumbledore regarded the Potion's Master carefully.

"You've known my suspicions for some time now, Horace," he chided, before turning his attention back to Severus, "Mr. Malfoy is aware you were relocated to a new home under temporary guardianship, Mr. Snape. Presumably he thought your mother was still residing at your old home."

"You think the fire was intended to kill my mother," Severus said dully. It wasn't a question.

Dumbledore nodded gravely, "It would appear that way, yes. Fortunately she was no longer living there, so their plan failed."

"And they think my father was killed by Death Eaters," Severus said speculatively, "That's what everyone's been saying around school. Some think I orchestrated it as revenge for how he treated me," he glanced in Dumbledore's direction.

Dumbledore gave Severus a benign smile, "I assure you, no one present here thinks you would commit Patricide. But evidence does suggest the series of incidences revolving around your family were instigated by You-Know-Who's followers; be it as a warning, or a bribe."

"You actually think they expect Severus to be happy they've done all this?" Lily asked in horror and outrage.

Dumbledore tilted his head towards Lily, "Gossip and speculation has unfortunately made Severus's circumstances at home general knowledge for some time now, Ms. Evans. Even before Tobias Snape's death, Severus own housemates would be aware of the contention between Severus and his father. It is not out of the realm of possibility that someone thought removing one of his main abusers in life would draw him back to their…oppressive way of thinking."

"What about his mum, then?" Lily challenged, "Why would they think he'd want her dead. He's never said a bad word about her in his life."

"Ah, but there lies the problem," Dumbledore pointed out, "Severus has never mentioned his mother at all to my knowledge, nor to the knowledge of my colleagues."

'And you've no doubt been spying on me for years,' Severus thought crossly, mind still somewhat askew from all the information dropped on him.

"With no real idea the sort of woman Eileen is, those targeting Severus would have to base their beliefs on pure conjecture," Dumbledore carried on, "The fact remains that Eileen was aware, if not compliant to Tobias's actions over the years. It would make sense for one to assume therefore that Severus bared some ill will towards her."

"I don't" Severus said quickly, coming to his mother's defense, "She's as much a victim as me."

Dumbledore nodded, "Of course. Regardless of the reasons for this most recent attack, it is clear someone wishes to send some sort of message to you, Mr. Snape. I'm interested to hear what you think their intention is."

Severus exchanged a look with Lily. A few unspoken words passed between them in that gaze, before Lily nodded in encouragement.

"Back during Christmas," Severus started, "Our friend Thea was invited to dinner by a friend of her parents. The invite came from the Malfoys."

Slughorn ran a hand over his face, shaking his head in disbelief. McGonagall pursed her lips.

Dumbledore meanwhile, listened quite intently.

"The overall discussion of the evening was in regards to a betrothal…Thea's to Rabastan Lestrange," just saying the name made Severus feel like he had swallowed curdled milk.

"Yes, I'm aware of the arrangement between the Mnemosynes and Lestranges," Dumbledore confessed, "A mismatched pair those two would be."

'You're telling me,' Severus thought, thinking of the cruel, leering face of Rabastan, "That's not all though. Thea informed me over the break that prior to leaving that night; Lucius pulled her aside."

"I take it he had a rather clandestine reason for that?" Dumbledore theorized.

Severus shrugged, "Not sure why he needed to be secretive about it; his whole family—through blood or marriage—shares his beliefs. Thea's parents seem to as well. He could have said whatever he wanted in front of them."

Dumbledore nodded, "So what was the knowledge he wishes to impart upon Ms. Thea?"

"A warning," Severus replied, "for me specifically. Apparently I've angered his master."

Slughorn was muttering behind him, wringing his hands.

"Such a charming boy," he muttered, "Could have been great….where'd it go wrong? Another Slytherin Prefect gone wrong…"

Severus couldn't help taking note of that last part. He discreetly looked at Lily out of the corner of his eye; she was clearly thinking the same.

"That's enough Horace," Dumbledore chided softly, "We'll address that at a later time."

Turning his attention back to Severus, Dumbledore beckoned him to continue, "What precisely did young Mr. Malfoy say, Severus."

"Basically that I had a choice," Severus explained, "I can either rejoin them, or…"

"Or?" Dumbledore prompted gently.

Severus shot a glance at Lily, "Or those I care about will suffer."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose, "And you've known about this since the holidays? I must say, Severus, I'm surprised you didn't come to me."

"Well presumably, students are safe at Hogwarts," Severus said challengingly. Even heated, Severus knew better than to look directly at Dumbledore, avoiding his eyes, "That's what you always assure the papers, isn't it. It's not like any student nearly died in the past year or so and nothing was done about it." The sarcasm was heavy in his voice.

Lily looked nervously at Severus; it wouldn't do to start a fight with Albus Dumbledore.

If Dumbledore register that as a slight against himself, he didn't rise to the bait. However, his gaze took on a slightly sad, remorseful expression.

"Hogwarts is certainly the safest place for you," he agreed, "Every brick of this castle is steeped in old magic, the likes we could never hope to recreate. There is no safer place than this school."

"However," he went on, "that only applies to outside threats. That protection does very little in regards to your fellow classmates, as you are, unfortunately, well aware," he inclined his head to Severus slightly.

Severus only continued to scowl.

"We should arrange escorts," McGonagall came round the desk, placing a hand on both Severus and Lily's chairs, "Prefects to look out for them and ensure they get to class safely."

"Now, Minerva," Dumbledore protested well naturedly, "Ms. Evans here is a Prefect; one of the most diligent, I might add."

McGonagall huffed, "Still, someone should be looking out for them. If you won't expel that riffraff when they're clearly well in You-Know-Who's pocket—"

"Any expulsion I make would have to be on provable grounds," Dumbledore said, "Not suspicion. If I expel them for merely seeming bad, people would demand a reason."

'Didn't stop you from threatening to expel me that time with Lupin,' Severus thought sourly, "Are you talking about Rosier and his lot?"

McGonagall pointed at Severus triumphantly, "See? He's their housemate. He'd know better than anyone what they get up to; he's forced to be around them more."

"As I've said, people would protest," Dumbledore reminded everyone, "Rosier and several of his compatriots come from prominent families, they could push for their readmission if I expel them without concrete proof."

"Still," Dumbledore mused, stroking his beard, "They are the most likely to carry out any ill intent on Lucius's part. Perhaps surveillance would be necessary."

Severus did his best to keep the alarm off his face. If Dumbledore had Severus and his friends under supervision, they'd never be able to find out the truth about Riddle.

Coming to his rescue, Lily wisely interjected, "Forgive me, Headmaster, but wouldn't it not be a better solution to follow Rosier and his friends? Yes, with chaperones, we'll be safe, but what would keep Rosier from harming other students out of frustration that he cannot reach us as ordered? I'd hate to frolic in safety while other students are at his mercy."

Dumbledore studied Lily carefully, prompting Severus to hold his breath. He prayed Lily remembered to avoid eye contact.

"I'm certainly sure Mr. Rosier would not risk calling undue attention to himself by attacking students at random," Dumbledore said sagely, "But perhaps you are right; if we wish to ensure Mr. Rosier and his group do not pose threat to the school or its students, we need to keep a close eye on them. Perhaps that is a better use of our resources."

Severus resisted breathing a sigh of relief. Problem averted. For now.

"Now," Dumbledore said, "I'm sure both of you are greatly worried for Ms. Evans family and would like to see them. I've arranged for an auror to escort you to Cokeworth for the day to check up on them, if only to assuage your fears. The teachers have been alerted and your classwork will be postponed a day."

"Thank you, sir," Lily said, smile in relief.

"But sir, what about my mother," Severus asked.

Dumbledore smiled, the maddening twinkle in his eyes, "Your mother has been graciously offered a stay at Augusta Longbottom's home until a time when we can find proper residence for her."

Severus blinked, he hadn't expected that, "Thank you, sir."

"Is there anything else," Dumbledore added, as Severus and Lily rose to leave, "You wish to tell me, Severus."

Severus kept his expression cooly blank, neutral.

"No, sir," he said, "Nothing at all."

{page break}

"I wish I could go with you," Mary said, forlorn, "You need the support."

"My mother wasn't hurt, Mary," Severus assured her, "This isn't a tragic visit, just a wellness check for Lily's folks."

Mary pouted, "Still, you need your friends there with you. It was your home, Severus."

Severus sighed, "It hasn't been home for me in a great many years, Mary."

By the time Severus and Lily made it down to the Great Hall, the school had been near hysteric with the news. The Dark Mark appeared in Cokeworth; the first time it's been seen in months.

Almost immediately upon setting foot in the Great Hall, Lily was swarmed by her housemates in a flurry of tears and inquires to her wellbeing, many acting as if it were Lily herself who'd been attacked. Of course, they paid no mind to Severus, not a one besides Mary and Lupin inquiry about Severus's mother. Severus doubted most of Lily's housemates even bothered to remember Severus lived in the same town as her. Most of them probably were under the assumption he lived in some dark, foreboding dungeon year round or under a bridge, somewhere dark and dank.

Potter, of course was quick to lay on the charm, swooping in to rescue Lily from the hoard of questioning classmates while Sirius played guard. Bringing her over to a very concerned and melodramatic Jess, James played the part of loving boyfriend quite well with his arms wrapped consoling around Jess. All the while though he asked Lily how she was faring, attentively inquiry to her family's health and giving convincing platitudes about how he hoped everyone Lily loved was fine.

Severus begrudgingly admitted—to himself at least—that Potter probably was worried about Lily, but it didn't change that even when the boy was being genuine, he still subconsciously worked the angle of winning Lily over. It was as if it were ingrained into his brain to do so.

Severus didn't have long to dwell on the matter, as no sooner had he reached the Slytherin table, he was set upon by a demanding Simone and near frantic Thea. The taller girl nearly strangled him from her chokehold on the front of his robes as she demanded confirmation that Petunia was alive and well. As soon as Severus had assured the two girls enough to be released, Nesme nearly toppled him to the floor with her embrace, Davis hot on her heels with Mary as they all fired question after question at him.

When Mary managed to extricate Severus from Nesme's arms, he did his best to answer everything he could, but the truth was, they all already knew there was a mark out for Severus and that Lucius didn't make idle threats, so it wasn't like he could give them new information.

"Here," Simone said, thrusting an envelope into Severus's hands, "You give that to Petunia immediately when you arrive. I want to hear back from her straight away."

"Will do," Severus conceded, stuffing the letter in his robes.

"And this," Simone added, holding up a necklace featuring a Phoenix wrapped around a geode, "My mum gave this to me for protection when I travel. Pet needs this more than I do."

Severus pocketed the necklace, "I'll make sure she gets it."

"I hope things are well at home, Severus," Thea said sincerely, "You've both been through so much already."

Nesme nodded, "This was the last thing you needed. You come find us if you ever need to talk, okay?"

Severus smiled crookedly, "I would, but I've already got Marcus for that." He'd probably have to schedule an appointment with him after all this was said and done.

"What do we do while you're gone?" Davis asked suddenly, "You're sort of leading the search on Riddle."

"Shh," Severus shushed, looking around. Casting his silencing spell quickly, he directed his attention to Nesme and Davis.

"You two keep looking for Riddle's record," he instructed, "That records room the Come and Go room made is huge, but he has to be in there somewhere."

He turned to Simone and Thea, "You two go about your day, but act secretive when Potter's watching. I think he and his pals are up to something. Keep them on a wild goose chase if you must so that they don't go looking for Nesme and Davis."

"Got it," Simone agreed.

"What about me?" Mary asked.

"Help them keep Potter distracted," Severus said, pointing at Simone and Thea, "Get his girlfriend worked up about romance or something; she'll be all over Potter and keep him tied up paying attention to her for hours."

"Sev," Lily asked, coming over with a tall, stern faced auror, "Are you ready?"

{page break}

"So this is all that's left," Severus noted dully.

Before him stood the ashen, dilapidated remains of Severus's childhood home, rendered little more than a smoky husk of charred beams and blackened floorboards.

Aurors still flitted about, disguised in muggle garb and impersonating the fire brigade to steer curious muggles away with a well placed confundus charm every so often.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't an improvement," Severus intoned insipidly, kicking at a smoldering brick at his feet, "At least it smells better."

"Sev," Lily said for lack of anything better to say. She was at a loss. There wasn't much she could say in current circumstances.

Shortly after arriving in Cokeworth, Lily and Severus had been promptly swept up into the embraces of Willow and Hank, the pair nearly squeezing the life out of the two teens in their worry. Even Petunia rushed to greet them, thoroughly shaken; Simone's letter was a comfort to her, but not by much. It wasn't like a few kind words could change that people had tried to kill someone within her own little town and even though they failed at finding their target, they still managed to rob several random passersby's of their lives.

After formality and reassurances were out of the way, it didn't take long for Severus to grow restless. He was dying to find out how bad the damage to his former home was, just how severe the attack had been. Dumbledore said the fire was magical, unable to put out by regular means. An enchanted inferno would mean Lucius words were no idle threat; you had to know what you were doing to summon flames that great. Too easily could they turn on a weak-minded wizard lacking the conviction to do harm.

So enduring some final fussing by Willow, Severus managed to convince the Auror escorting him to bring him to the scene of the fire. Lily quickly insisted upon coming along, adamant she not leave Severus to face this journey alone.

Now they stood in front of a hollowed out carcass of wood and brick still glinting with the occasional warm ember, a reddish glow tinting rotted beams of wood and curling back the remains of matted, dirty carpeting.

One side of the house remained semi-intact; the brick chimney apparently having withstood the fiery onslaught if just barely. The fractured and split wood siding trailed up along the brick structure in jagged pieces, several floorboards from the upper level still hanging on. It gave the remains of the house an overall broken eggshell look.

Other than that, hardly anything remained to indicate Severus every lived there. His room was gone, his parents' bedroom partially consumed by flames, the furniture either barely standing or completely demolished into ashes everywhere you looked.

"I'm sorry, Sev," Lily said sadly, "Did you lose anything important in there?"

Severus shook his head, "Not really; anything of value your dad helped me move out the day you took me in. Everything else was my parents; dishes, furniture, many some old photo albums. Whatever mum didn't take with her to the women's home I guess."

"Then I guess it's fortunate this happened after you both left," Lily murmured, staring at the lopsided chimney, "You didn't lose anything of value."

"I wouldn't go that far," Severus muttered.

"What was that?" Lily questioned, having missed it.

"Nothing," Severus said evasively, "It just…feels unreal. To be frank, it seems strange that the next time I walk past Spinner's End, I won't see this house looming over me. For years, just looking at it from the outside filled me with dread," he wrapped his arms around himself, "I hated walking home to this place every night."

He could still hear the breaking glass, the muffled screams.

"Maybe it's for the best then," Lily suggested, "Better to have this gone and replaced by something new, better even."

Severus looked at Lily, "Best for who, though?" he hadn't meant the question to sound so hostile.

"Well, I'm just saying," Lily began cautiously, "If you had so many bad memories in this house, it's good to get rid of it. Part of moving on, you know."

"Moving on shouldn't mean pretending it never happened," Severus grumbled.

Lily looked at him in confusion, "I don't get it."

Severus sighed, "No offense, Lily, but I wouldn't expect you to understand."

In truth, Lily couldn't. Lily, who's own home was filled of so many happy, homey memories couldn't fathom Severus's own desire to remember this place. In fact, her abundant happiness prevented her from relating to Severus.

To Lily, the worst was best laid forgotten, put behind you so you can heal and grow. It something hurt you, cut it loose and push it from your mind, replace it with something better. It was that mindset that nearly separated them for good last year. Severus had become someone hard to smile around, someone who stirred up more memories of arguing than laughter. Ultimately, Severus wasn't surprised Lily had started subconsciously looking for a way out; it was in her nature to cast aside the unpleasant rather than deal with it.

But Severus wasn't the sort to walk away when things get bad. Call him stubborn, but he was more prone to dig in his heels and remain the harder things became. It was a mark of his own need to prove he could endure anything. He wanted to show that world that even though it turned its back on him, that didn't make him disappear. He still existed, no matter how hard one tried to ignore his presence or cast him out.

The same applied for how he dealt with his father. For years the only thing that kept him going in that hopeless, tragic house was the knowledge that every morning he got up and looked his father in the eye—cut lip, bruised cheek, broken nose and all—his father didn't win. Every effort Severus made to show his scowling face to Tobias was just further proof that the pathetic man couldn't beat his problems away.

Looking at all that remained of his house now, Severus almost felt…insulted. After all the years of suffering and struggling to make it, the very house that stood a testament to his survival was little more than smoldering debris. People would look upon the remains and think what an eyesore it was instead of what terrible things once happened within it's four walls.

To Severus, it was as if his past was erased, the proof of what he endured burned away and disintegrated. Severus wasn't naïve to believe that if he chose to let go of his past he would somehow forget about what he went through. So he'd rather remember it and hold it close as evidence that he was stronger than his father—or anyone—had ever given him credit for; that he hadn't been broken. A part of him wanted others to remember it to; at least as repentance for the number of folks in town who surely suspected the abuse and turned a blind eye.

Now, there was little left to remind anyone of the horror that once resided in the last house on Spinner's End. With Tobias dead in the ground and Eileen off losing what remained of her fragile mind, Severus was the last living proof that his hardships ever existed at all; and he felt slighted by it.

"Sev?" Lily questioned, watching Severus with thinly veiled concern.

"It's nothing," Severus replied, shaking his head. He turned his back on what remained of his old house, "We should go before it gets dark."

Lily followed him, worrying her lip between her teeth.

"Sev," Lily began again, seeming to deliberate over her next words, "About what happened on the train…"

"I'd really rather not talk about that right now," Severus said wearily.

"I know," Lily persisted, "But I have to say….you should know that I'm really very sorry and—"

Severus cut her off, "I know you are. I know you would never hurt me intentionally. But at the moment I don't want to hash out our disagreement."

"But Sev," Lily pushed.

"Please, Lily," Severus said, turning to her with tired, pleading eyes, "I've got a lot on my mind right now with all this," he gestured back at the house, at the scorch marks littering the streets, "Now's not the best time."

Lip bit her lip, "I just wanted you to know—what's that?" Lily's gaze shot past Severus to the alleyway behind him.

Turning around, Severus followed her gaze to a heap of garbage piled up against a dumpster. At first glance the pile was inconspicuous, but upon closer inspection.

"Is that a…hand?" Severus said slowly in growing alarm.

Lily clasped a hand over her mouth.

The Auror that was accompanying them drew his wand.

"Stay here," he barked, signaling over several of the disguised Aurors.

Severus and Lily hung back as the Aurors trudged down the muddy alleyway, wands at the ready.

One of the Aurors kneeled down to the trash pile, prodding it carefully with the tip of her wand. Receiving no reaction, she reached out her hand and slowly pulled back several sheets of wet cardboard.

"We've got a body," she called, shifting the rest of the garbage out of the way. The Auror rolled the body over with little effort, the lifeless form immensely light given its emaciated frame.

A flash of silver on the person's wrist caught Severus's eye; light gleaming off of a soda tab secured by string, "Wait…I know her!" he rushed forward, pushing past the Aurors to reach the dumpster.

"Sev, wait!" Lily called after him, hot on his heels.

Pushing a final Auror aside, Severus gazed down at the body before him.

Blank glassy eyes stared back at Severus from a haggard face, skin too sallow and cracked for the young body it clung to. Dirty brown hair spilled out in snarls and tangled along the ground in a crude halo around the woman's head, several beads and braids woven into random locks.

"It's Gwen," Severus said softly, prompting a gasp from Lily.

"You know the vic?" the head Auror on the scene inquired gruffly.

Severus nodded, "A neighbor. She…lived around here." He wasn't about to divulge the level of poverty Gwen had found herself in during the last ten years of her life. Poverty in the wizarding world was rough, but not an outright sentence to living off bare necessities. Magic could alter a tent into a livable home, moldy bread into a passable meal. Muggles on the other hand were well and truly in the slums when they fell on hard times and it was hard for the magical world not to perceive that as inferiority.

Even the kindest wizards already struggled to keep biased out of their assessment of muggles; many of them would surely fail to not find judgement in a woman on the streets.

"Looks in pretty rough shape," One Auror noted, examining Gwen's malnourished form.

"She always looks like that," Severus corrected, "She didn't tend to eat much…and she's known for her…eccentric tastes in fashion."

"You're telling me," the Auror muttered, eyes sweeping Gwen's rag clad body, "So what's the verdict, Hals."

Hals, a bushy browed Auror with heavy creases in his forehead cleared his throat roughly. Pulling out his wand, he waved it back and forth over Gwen's prone form.

"No signs of a struggle," he noted brusquely, "No blood, can't make out an injury on her," he bent over and peeled back her lips to examine her gums and teeth, "No signs of poison. I'd say she died of shock; must have been right scared when the fire broke out."

A surly, young faced Auror scoffed, arms crossed over his chest.

"That's a load of dragon dung, Hals," he said snidely, "There were Death Eaters all over this place last night. She clearly got hit with the killing curse."

Hals, straightened to his full height, scowling down at the younger Auror, "Trainee Bones, may I remind you that I'm am head of this investigation?"

Bones rolled his eyes, "Then do a better job of it. This has killing curse written all over it."

"She's died smiling," Hals pointed out, gesturing to the dreamily merry grin frozen on Gwen's face, "Who dies smiling at the killing curse?"

"Oh, like smiling through a heart attack is any more feasible?" Bones challenged.

"Such, impertinence!" Hals blustered.

A small cough brought everyone's focus back to the body.

"Not to put a damper on your pissing contest, gents," said the female Auror who uncovered Gwen's body, "But neither of you is correct."

"Oh?" Hals said peevishly, "And what makes you say that Carraway?"

"The fact that the poor girl's been day for over a day and a half," Carraway quipped, waving her wand across the body, "This happened before the fire ever occurred. Completely unrelated, if I wagered a bet."

"Then," Lily started hesitantly, "What killed her?"

Carraway rocked back on her knees besides the body, "I'm not much of an expert on muggles, but I reckon this," she held up an item from the rubbish, "did her in."

The dirty syringe glinted wickedly in the sunlight, the clear glass tube in the middle caked over and smudged with scummy fingerprints.

"If you look closely," Carraway went on, "There's a tiny pinprick of blood on the girl's right arm. I found this too," she held up an empty bottle. Bringing it to her nose, she took a quick whiff.

"Smells like," she took another sniff, "what's that drug muggle use? Morphine? Too much of this would probably put anyone six feet under. She must have nicked it from a clinic somewhere."

Carraway looked pityingly at Gwen's body.

"Poor girl must have wanted to go quick," she said. With surprising gentleness, she reached over and drew Gwen's eyelids down.

Severus hastily backed out of the alleyway as the Aurors gathered to collect Gwen's body.

"Are you okay, Sev," Lily asked compassionately.

Severus sighed, "Define okay."

"I can't say I'm surprised she did it," Severus admitted. He glanced up and down Spinner's End at the grimy windows and rotted shingles on crooked houses, "I can't begin to tell you how many here have probably thought about doing the same."

Lily touched Severus's shoulder, looking sadly into his eyes.

"Most people don't turn out as lucky as I have Lily," Severus told her, "Good people don't come knocking on everyone's door offering to save them. They all have to save themselves here and let me tell you…that harder than you'd expect."

He spared one last glance towards his old home, his past, "Let's get back before your parents worry."

Unsure what to say to ease the heaviness in Severus's heart, Lily simply followed in silence.

So...you all still with me?

I'm sorry if Gwen's death troubled any of you. To me, she represented a very harsh reality of poverty and how it isn't so simple as to 'pick yourself up and brush yourself off'. Not everyone came dig themselves out of a hole; there's nothing wrong with needing help. The trouble lies in the fact that help rarely comes for most of us.

Severus conflicting feelings over his house are drawn directly from my mother's own thoughts.

My mother endured what I can only describe as a hellish childhood, as I'm sure many of you have picked up on from other scenes in this story that were inspired by her experiences.

Her father was a dangerous man who had multiple women in his home despite being married and he abused them all to the point that they would help each other hide the abuse to save him from going to jail, not because they lived him, but because they feared him. He beat his second wife mercilessly while having an affair with her sister, forcing both of them to witness each other's beatings. In turn, his second wife, my mom's stepmother, beat her and emotionally and psychological messed with her to cope with the feeling of powerlessness.

My mom can recall covering her baby sister's ears to drown out the screaming as they sat on the sidewalk in front of their house (the farthest they were allowed to go because the girls had little freedom), trying to keep her little sister from hearing her mother be beaten an inch within her life.

My mother remembers her brother accidentally setting himself on fire with their father's gunpowder, receiving second degree burns (made worse by jumping in a chlorinated pool to put the flames out), and instead of being taken straight to the hospital, their father tried to beat him to death as punishment for going through his things. Mom also recalls her brother, after finally going to the hospital, being brought home covered head to toe in bandages and having the mirror placed in his room to face his bed, so that when the bandages came off his eyes, he'd be forced to look at his wounds while bed ridden.

My grandfather was a monster who's suicide I do not mourn. I only wish he wasn't buried besides his first wife-my biological grandmother-so I could spit on his grave without disrespecting her, one of is earliest victims.

A few years ago my mother's childhood home burned down in a massive fire. My mother and my aunt traveled to the town they grew up in and stood on the sidewalk outside their old home, their personal house of horrors. Mom told me they had different feelings about it. My aunt, who was honestly spared a great deal of the physical abuse but has PTSD from witnessing how many times her mother was beaten, felt relieved to see the house go. To her it was the end of the nightmare for real, the last shred of evidence that that monster existed wiped from the earth with the dwelling he once ruled with an iron fist.

To my mother...she told me it was like her suffering was erased, like every secret within those walls died with the house. Mom bares mental scars from her father, those can't be seen by others. That house was, to her, physical proof of what she endured and she wanted it to remain standing as a testament to her survival.

Sorry for the heavy stuff. This chapter has been brewing in my for months, driven by the need to in someway convey the impact domestic abuse can have.

Review please.