The next few days flew by like the wind.
All the while, Severus Snape tried to make sense of what his best friend- no, his ex-best friend, Lily Evans had told him the night after the worst failure in his life.
"You've chosen your path, and I've chosen mine."
Severus knew their friendship had strung at threadbare over the past four years, but he still had hoped she would remember their promise they made even before entering Hogwarts.
His remaining O.W.L. exams were answered half-heartedly; his mind barely processed the spells he had to do for the Defense against the Dark Arts practical and calculations for Arithmancy. Even his Ancient Runes drawings were comparable to a child's mindless scribbles.
He was still angry and eventually wondering over one thing, however.
When had it gone wrong? Was it really the word 'mudblood' that ended it all? Or the ultimate humiliation he suffered under the eyes of James Potter and Sirius Black? She kept nagging about him studying the Dark Arts but why couldn't she see how magic is all about intent? Did all Gryffindors really throw their common sense out of the window in favor of sticking up to their own?
Lily- no, Evans; it's Evans now- she was a Prefect too, yet why did she kept talking to Potter, ignoring the one in need of help? He thought he saw something but hadn't had the chance to review the memory in detail.
He decided to write home a week before the end of term so his mother could pick him up, having no interest in seeing the Evans family ever again.
On the journey back to King's Cross Station, Severus had locked himself in a compartment with the curtains drawn and a 'Don't Disturb' sign plastered on the doors for good measures. He read about memory spells in his Charms book and wondered if there was a better way to show a piece of evidence without relying on the Pensieve.
Of course, since he was also a spell crafter, he decided it would keep him busy enough over the incoming summer. Maybe he could find work at the big city as a librarian to find more information and other inspirations.
When the Hogwarts Express finally stopped, he exchanged his school robes for Muggle clothes and went out almost hurriedly in attempt to avoid the familiar redhead. Rushing innocuously through the barrier, his eyes lit up upon seeing his most trustworthy person in the world.
Standing near the exit was Eileen Snape, her sallow face was frowning as her eyes fell on him.
"'Ello, Ma," he mumbled when he reached her. She merely hummed and pulled out her wand before leaving the station with a crack. They reappeared behind their home in Spinner's End and walked around the pallid house, with her pulling out a rusty key to unlock the front door.
After taking off their shoes, Eileen dragged her son to the living room.
"You must have a reason for this," she queried with a raised eyebrow. Severus looked up for a fleeting second before turning his gaze to the fireplace, his feet rubbing themselves in slight discomfort.
The woman sighed. "Is it about that Evans girl?"
He remained quiet.
"A fight?"
He gulped rather audibly. "I- I… called her 'mudblood'."
Eileen clicked her tongue.
"Hold still. Legilimens."
Severus froze, keeping eye contact with his mother as she perused through the surfaces of his mind, the memories of his worst day ever flashed before his eyes and he couldn't help cowering in utmost shame. The damned word was ringing loud in his ears.
When she was done, Eileen held out a breath with eyes wide in pity. "Did you know she smiled through it?"
Upon hearing it, Severus lifted his head. "…What?" he gasped in dawning horror.
"She did. It's barely there, but…" She shook her head and turned toward the kitchen. "She doesn't worth your time, Severus. Get changed and help me with dinner, OK?"
The boy merely nodded and clumsily took his trunk upstairs; onyx eyes bulged in disbelief and betrayal. Eileen couldn't bear to see the shattered expression on her son's face; she knew he kept himself aloof but even the strongest had their breaking point.
When he came back downstairs, she told him to make soup while she cooked some bacon; it was the only time she could use magic before the supposed breadwinner of the Snape family returned home. Right on 6 o' clock, the front door swung open and a man strode in with some paper bags.
"Welcome home," Eileen spoke rather timidly, not knowing what mood her husband would be for the night. Beside her, Severus set up the table without much of a noise.
"What'cha got?" Tobias Snape quipped in his gruff voice, putting aside the groceries he bought and sat on his usual place at the dining table.
"Bacon and soup."
Tobias snorted, but he didn't say anything else as he filled his plate and bowl, his wife and son followed suit. They ate in silence though Eileen noticed how Severus squirmed in his seat and shifted her eyes to her husband.
"Severus, do you want to say something?" Her question caused Severus to choke on his mouthful of bacon and he quickly drank up his entire glass of water to alleviate the pain.
"What's it, boy?" the man turned to the teenager in annoyance; he already finished up his portion.
"I… I wanna get a job." Severus' voice came out hoarsely and he sent a half-hearted glare to his mother.
Eileen's eyebrows rose in curiosity, not minding the subtle threat. "And where would it be?"
"…Just in the big town," he lowered his gaze and fidgeted with the hems of his shirt, "Always seen the library putting on job offers."
Silence filled the room; everyone was having their own thoughts about the youngest member's decision.
"About bloody time ye said that," Tobias finally muttered while picking on his teeth. "I don't care what job ye'll have, as long as ye got cash and bring in half here. Ye hear me?"
"Yes, Pa. Thank you." With that, Severus finished his meal and quietly took the empty plates and bowls to the sink. Eileen watched her husband go upstairs before cleaning up the table and kept the groceries to their respective places.
"You need money to go there," she stated while drying up the dishes with a cloth.
Severus sighed as he washed his hands thoroughly and wiped them on his shirt. "I had enough, Ma. Tutoring fees and potion requests."
She merely rolled her eyes at his ingenuity of surviving. "Is this actually a plan to get more money or to get away from her?"
"…Both."
"Hmm. You'll come back in weekends?"
"Yes, Ma. I'm not that eager to leave home forever, you know," he scoffed lightly, leaning against the cabinet with arms crossed. Eileen appreciated his effort to get along with her even when he had every reason not to. Perhaps she was all he had now, with the Evans girl had left him lonelier than ever.
"You're going tomorrow?"
"No, on Sunday."
"Sleep well, little prince." Finishing her work with a wave of her wand, she lightly kissed her son on the forehead who grumbled under his breath but still, he returned the gesture and went to his room.
The next day, Severus took out his summer homework and debating on what subject he should start on first. Charms, Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts had his attention but he didn't want to leave the hardest for the last. And so with a sigh, he grabbed the Transfiguration and Arithmancy books along with his writing set, putting them in his old satchel before heading downstairs.
The house was utterly silent when he stepped into the kitchen, quietly making tea for his parents and putting some bread with cheese on the table before leaving a note.
The sun was shining bright as ever as he walked to his familiar haunt, the old oak tree by the river. The stagnant smell from the water and the humid heat barely bothered him as he set down his books and went to work.
He was about a quarter through his Transfiguration essay when he heard footsteps from behind him and he tensed, sitting straight up.
"…What are you doing here?" he spat upon seeing who it was.
Lily Evans folded her arms with a grimace, her flowery bag swinging on her side. "What's it look like, Snape?"
"This isn't your place."
"Neither is it yours."
"I'll have you know, I showed you this place." Severus stood up, clenching his fists. "And besides, the early bird gets the worm, am I right?" He knew he should have stopped, but he couldn't. The revelation of what she did was too much for him to simply brush it away, and it's time for payback.
"Leave, Snape!" Her emerald green eyes shone in rage.
"Make me." He simply sneered. Oh, how he reveled in finally putting Lily Evans in her place. He really was doing her a favor by not publicly humiliating her, as much as he wanted to. Perhaps there might be another time.
When she only looked back and forth at him and his books, Severus raised his eyebrow mockingly. Apparently that was the last straw since all she did was huffing and stomped on her way back to her house, where her elder sister Petunia would undoubtedly bother her as much as he did now.
As soon as her figure disappeared from his sight, Severus laughed with a strange feeling blooming in his chest. Oh, how he hated of being treated like nothing about him really mattered. For five years straight, no one gave him a second glance other than as 'the Slytherin who befriended a Gryffindor'. Well, he knew better and would make do with just being himself, no strings attached. His mother was the only companion he ever needed.
He returned to his homework with a smirk, only returning home when dusk fell and he slept soundly right after dinner.
