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.
