Why does it rain on Knockturn Alley?

Chapter 1-Like Rats from a Sinking Ship

Daphne Sinistra was refilling the barrel of beetle's eyes in Toil and Trouble, the premiere supplier of potions ingredients on Knockturn Alley. Here witches and wizards could procure any potions ingredient, legal or illegal, no questions asked. She rather liked the job, but it did tend to rattle one's conscience. Why would anyone want Manticore hair, cobra fangs or unicorn blood anyway? Sometimes the only way to get through the day was not to think about it; not to think about the fact that they seemed to getting more business nowadays, not to think about the growing obsession with the Dark Arts and Purity of Blood on the Alley and to just continue to put the beetle's eyes in the...

"Don't look now Daphne, but here comes that tramp Ravenclaw Mudblood and her brood." Ah, Rena. Looking to be an expert on genealogy and divination. To her there is nothing worse than having Muggles in the family tree, as she continually insists on pointing out, usually followed by predictions of a great assault against the impure, the non-magical, and a revival of the Dark Arts. She was a complete phony when it came to predictions, but they scared Daphne anyway.

"Now Rena, I'm sure that if someone from such a distinguished Slytherin bloodline saw fit to marry her, she can't be all that bad." Actually, Milificent was an absolute bitch, but that had nothing to do with being a Ravenclaw or a Muggle-born. God, Daphne had to get a new job. Somewhere cheerful, where it didn't insist on raining despite being underground. Maybe she'd walk to Diagon tonight and fill out some applications.

"Not that bad! Daphne, she's corrupted one of the most prestigious and respectable families in the Wizarding world, goes all the way back to the founding. The eldest boy will be head boy next year, and all the Ravenclaws are pleased. Snapes in Ravenclaw! What is this world coming to? And the next son is starting this year, and the way he always has his nose in a book, he's probably Ravenclaw too. And the youngest girl could never make Slytherin." Daphne tried her hardest not to shake her head or roll her eyes, all the while thinking, 'What a crime! There is nothing worse than not being in Slytherin! Snapes in Ravenclaw! Someone stop me from laughing!'

"There is nothing wrong with being a Ravenclaw, Rena. My sister's in that house, may I remind you. Besides, it could be worse, they could be Gryffindors." Daphne knew there was nothing Rena hated worse than the Gryffindors. Mere mention of them could stop her ranting.

"Don't scare me.... Oh hello, Milificent. And what may I do for you today?" In walked the Snapes. To look at them, you would hardly think that the family ever dealt in the Dark Arts. The eldest, Cassius, was continually looking over his shoulder, like he'd give anything not to be seen here. Not that Daphne blamed him. Severus, a young boy of about ten, was wandering around the store staring at the ingredients like he was in a candy shop. The youngest, Anastasia, was hiding behind her mother, trying not to be seen. Poor girl must have been scared out of her wits. And then there was Milificent, with her perfect hair, moon-white skin and cheery demeanor. So perfect. Daphne hated her so much. You would've thought that after twenty years of living with Octavius Snape she would have changed, but her smile was just as radiant and she was just as cheery as she had ever been. If the Snape family didn't do it to her, then Knockturn Alley and the cold reception she always got there should have. But maybe it was starting to get to her. Are those circles under her eyes? And does the smile seem a little forced?

"I'm just looking for some salamander skins, nightshade, unicorn horn and... SEVERUS, DO NOT TOUCH THAT! IT COULD BE DANGEROUS! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU TO LOOK, DON'T TOUCH!" Ah, Severus had gotten into the boomslang skin, and fell off the stool when his mother yelled at him, knocking over Daphne's barrel of beetle's eyes. Milificent was glaring at him while Daphne helped him up. Damn, now she was going to have to pick all of them up. Milificent grabbed Severus and paid for her ingredients, storming out of the store. Daphne examined the boomslang skins and noticed a few were missing. That was it, tomorrow; she would quit and go to work somewhere respectable.



***



Great. Now mum is mad at me. Two weeks until I can go to Hogwarts and get away from this hellhole. I honestly didn't mean any harm, I just wanted to examine the boomslang skin, and maybe grab one or two for my own personal experiments. I actually came off better than I planned, grabbing a few beetles' eyes as well. Cassius just walked off to go join his friends in Diagon Alley. I notice he never invites his friends here. Almost like he doesn't want to be a Snape. All rainbows and sunshine without the thunderstorms and darkness of the night. Who is he fooling? He can't escape the shadows; they're in his blood, in father's blood, in my blood. Well, just let him live his fantasy that he is a good boy while mother pretends to be happy, Anastasia hides and father keeps himself away from the mansion. Visiting old school friends, business trips to Russia… something's going on. I don't know what's up, but something's going to happen. He's never been this busy before. The sooner I get away the better.

"Severus, I'm going to take Anastasia into this store to get some new shoes, you sit out here and stay out of trouble." Oh, great. Sit out here, and wait for it to start raining or for Lucius Malfoy to show up. This is going to be fun.

"OK, Mum."

"Don't roll your eyes at me."

"All right, all right." And I sit down on the curb, carefully examining my wand. I have had this wand since I was nine, when my father insisted I get one, to 'protect myself'. I was tired of all the kids on the Alley yelling at me and calling me an impurity, a mudblood, a disgrace to Slytherin. Now they wouldn't dare pick a fight with me if they valued their health. All except Lucius.

"Hey, Mudblood." Speak of the devil.

"Stay away from me Lucius, you wouldn't want to get cursed now would you?"

"I'm just here to warn you, you little worm. I hear you're going to Hogwarts this year. You better hope you're not in Slytherin, because we don't take well to impurities. You and your Muggle-loving brother had better start listening."

"Listening to who Lucius–– you? I'd rather eat bubotubor puss." I draw out my wand, ready to curse him but then mother comes out and grabs me by the collar. Lucius walks away. "Yes, Mum I know I shouldn't get into fights.... No, Mum he started it.... You've got to believe me Mum." The usual routine. When I go to Hogwarts, I'm going to be the best Slytherin ever, just to spite them all. Yes Lucius, you'd better watch out.

***

Anastasia and I are sitting by the fire playing a game of chess. Mum is still angry, but she's too busy preparing dinner to punish me yet. Ha...checkmate. Poor Anastasia, you know you can't beat me. "Do you want to play again?"

"Can't we play something else, like Snap, or a puzzle, Severus?"

"No, I want to play chess"

"OK." So unassertive. Poor little sister, you'll never get anywhere. You need to stand up for yourself, demand what is yours, because if you don't people will walk all over you. You know they do and you let them. Pretty soon you'll be in Ravenclaw and your friends will drive you farther away from your life, your family, your destiny. Pretty soon you'll pretend you're a goody two-shoes like Cassius and deny everything, because they won't accept you if they knew that you were related to dark wizards, that you live on Knockturn Alley, that you really aren't as innocent as you seem. And those who do accept your darkness will only ridicule you; you do realize that, little sister. We are an impurity to be stamped out, to be ignored. You have to be strong, and it is only in the darkness that you find your strength, but you've disavowed the darkness, haven't you?"

"Severus?"

"Yes?" I said looking up at her. She's not even paying attention, only staring out the window. It looks like there is going to be a storm tonight.

"Why does it rain on Knockturn Alley?" Hmm… because it has to. Because without it, this place would be just like any other of the underground Alleys, so calm, so sunny, so unbelievably sweet.

"I don't know, ask Mum."

"OK. Mum, Why does it rain on Knockturn Alley?" This will be interesting I think, waiting for Anastasia to take her next move.

"Many years ago, a wise old wizard decided that there was too much dark magic being done on this street so he enchanted it so there would be rain whenever dark magic happened. He hoped that it would discourage them, but the wizards just moved inside and hid their dark magic. But it still rains, and whenever it does we know to be suspicious." Wow, Mum actually said that with a straight face. It only rains, what, three times a week, but we both know that there is a lot more dark magic going on. Wonder what the real reason is? Oh well. Checkmate. Anastasia doesn't look too happy.

SLAM!

Dad's home, and in a hurry from the looks of it. Mum stopped him at the door and she doesn't look too pleased either. In fact she looks like a tiger ready to pounce.

"Just where do you think you're going?"

"Darling, I have to go to the docks. Tom's returning to Britain, and he would expect me to meet him. I just need to grab a few things..." Tom, dad's old school friend. The one whom they are always fighting over. The one who is better at the dark magic than dad. The one who can talk to snakes. The one who hates my mum. This is not going to be a good night. Two weeks until Hogwarts, and then maybe I can get away from this.

"YOU GO TO MEET TOM AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME OR THE CHILDREN AGAIN." Dad turns around and just walks out. Mum rushes over to Anastasia and me and tells us to pack our bags. She can't be serious about this. We can't leave; this is our home, where we belong. But there she is sending the house elf out to find Cassius. Maybe she's actually going to do it this time. We're leaving. Just when things are going to get interesting. Like rats deserting a sinking ship.



Disclaimer... Yeah yeah, Severus, Knockturn Alley, Tom and many other things belong to JK Rowling. Therefore I reject any right to make money off of them. If you like this send the money you would give me to Ms. Rowling or bluemeanies college fund PO BOX... Ok Ignore that last part.

Many Thanks to Blackletter and Moey for betaing this. It wouldn't be nearly as readable without them.