Bother

Disclaimer: While I obviously do not own the characters you recognize

(*cough* Snape *cough*), I do claim Maleficent and Gerald as mine at my own

peril. This story is set before Severus Snape gets to Hogwarts, and was inspired

by the song "Bother" by Stone Sour (which, oddly enough, I don't own either!!).

Chapter One - Too Dead To Cry

*** Wish I was too dead to cry

My self-affliction fades ***

The raised voices seeped through his bedroom floor, louder, and then softer as

the anger and hatred pulsed almost thick enough to touch in the living room

below. He huddled on his bed, clutching his knees to his chest in a futile

attempt to find some solace or warmth in his otherwise desolate and miserable

childhood. He was grateful that the lights were out; even if anybody came in his

room, no one would be able to see him cry.

 His father and step-mother had fought at least twice a day for as long as he

could remember -- which wasn't saying much, since he was only eleven. But this

time, he knew without a doubt that it was because of him. Pushing the sweat-damp

black strands of hair out of his flushed, tear-stained face, he stared through

the cast-iron bars on his window at the traffic that passed so quickly that he

often could only make out a blur of color and motion. With a sigh, he wished, as

always, that he had that much freedom.