I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does. Get it through your head.
+ What caused Severus Snape to become such a bastard? Was it his hatred of the Marauders? His time with the Death Eaters? Or was it something else? +
+ + +
I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know
Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a messand no one likes to be alone
+ + +
Fear.
That was the first emotion that settled in his mind. Mind-numbing fear that wrapped itself around his heart and made him shiver even though it was still warm for September.
Eleven-year-old Severus Sadiron Snape stood in confusion at the King's Cross Station. He was hopelessly lost and so afraid. Not a good combination in any situation.
"Are you alright?"
Severus jumped and spun around to face the person who had spoke, before him stood a girl with bright red hair and friendly blue eyes.
"Do you need some help?"
Severus could only nod numbly. No one in his life had ever asked him if he needed help, he wasn't sure how to respond.
"I'm Molly. Molly Bannon."
"S-Severus S-Snape."
Molly smiled.
"Well, S-Severus S-Snape, where are you going?"
Her jibe was friendly and joking, not cruel like those of the other boys at the orphanage. Severus pulled his ticket out and read it.
"P-platform nine-and-three-quarters."
"Really? That's where I'm going. I'll get you there. Just follow me."
Molly smiled and pushed her way through the crowd. Severus grabbed the trolley his trunk was on and pushed it after her.
"Here we are!" said Molly brightly.
Severus frowned. They were standing in front of the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. He looked up at Molly in confusion and she smiled, winking.
"Trust me, Sevi."
His eyes widened at the nickname. No one had ever called him anything other than Severus; no one had ever cared enough to give him a nickname.
Severus nodded. "Okay."
Molly smiled and leaned down to talk to him.
"Alright, Sevi. See the barrier between the two platforms? Now, I want you to run straight at it. Just barrel towards it and don't think about it. Relax."
Severus frowned. Run at the barrier?
"Trust me, Sevi," said Molly again.
Severus searched her face then nodded. He didn't know why but he trusted her and he really didn't trust anyone. He turned to the barrier and grabbed his trolley, shoving it forward. The wheels rattled loudly as he ran, gaining speed.
His brain kept screaming, 'The barrier! The barrier!'
He squeezed his eyes shut, the brick wall ahead getting closer and closer. He kept expecting the trolley to crash against the barrier and that any minute he would get yelled at.
But he didn't.
Instead he opened his eyes and found himself staring at a crowded platform, a scarlet engine idling next to it. There was a sign that said, "Platform 9 ¾" and the words 'HOGWARTS EXPRESS' were on front of the locomotive. He grinned.
"Now there's what I wanted to see!"
Severus turned and saw Molly standing behind him, smiling. She said, "Good job, Sevi. Now c'mon. You can sit with me and Arthur."
Severus blinked. Arthur?
Molly started off and he followed, eyes staring widely at the wizards and witches around him.
"Arthur!" Molly shouted and a tall seventeen-year-old with red hair that was even brighter than Molly's turned from talking with a group of boys and grinned.
"Mol!" He rushed forward and swept her up into a hug, causing her to laugh. They kissed then pulled back, smiling at each other. Severus watched them with wide eyes.
Molly then turned to him, her hand clutched in Arthur's. "Arthur, this is Severus Snape. Sevi, Arthur Weasley."
Arthur held out his hand to Severus, his friendly brown eyes smiling. "Hello, Severus." He then looked at Molly and asked, "How come I don't get a nickname?"
"I could call you Bob," said Molly mischievously. "I've always liked the name Bob."
Arthur blanched. "Never mind."
Molly grinned then said, "I told Severus he could sit with us. That okay with you?"
Arthur nodded. "Perfectly alright. What do you say we go find us a car?"
Molly nodded and grabbed her trunk. Arthur picked up an old battered trunk, which must have been his, then offered Severus a hand with his.
"Need a hand, Sev?"
Severus nodded and Arthur smiled.
"Alright then. You grab that end and I'll grab this one. Got it? Right, one, two, THREE!"
Severus pulled and shoved and pushed and after a few minutes managed to get his trunk onto the train and into a car with Arthur's help. When they finally settled into the car, he looked around with wide eyes again. Molly smiled at him as she leaned against Arthur, who had his arm slung about her shoulders.
Severus smiled back at her. He had found a friend.
/ * / * / * / * / * / * / * / * / * / * /
Molly had marveled at the boy when she had seen him. He was so small for an eleven-year-old. He looked more like a nine-year-old with those almond-shaped black eyes that were wide and innocent. But she guessed from his long arms and legs that he would be tall when he got he got to be her and Arthur's age.
And he was so quiet.
He had seemed surprised when she had called him 'Sevi'. As if no one had ever called him by a nickname before.
Molly watched him now through half-lidded eyes. He was curled up on the seat across from them, the remains of a pumpkin pasty and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans lying beside him. His shoulder length black hair fell across his pale face, one strand was lying across his rather large nose and was moving whenever he breathed. She had to fight not to laugh at that.
Arthur smiled down at her and she returned the expression, eyes shining. Turning back to Severus she thought, 'What a sweet boy. I wonder where his parents are?'
+ + +
And I wanna believe you
When you tell me that it will be ok
Ya I try to believe you
But I don't
When you say that it's gonna be
It always turns out to be a different way
I try to believe you
not today…
+ + +
The first song is I'm With You by Avril Lavigne and the second is Tomorrow, also by Avril.