The seventeen-year-old boy was hunched over a desk, his shoulder-length black hair hanging over his face. In front of him was a book titled Advanced Properties of Mind-Controlling Potions. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Candles lighting the desk burned low and everyone else in the house had long since gone to bed. By the look of the sky, dawn was still a long way off.
He stood up and blew out the candles. Looking around his new room, he shivered. It was well furnished, but not at all welcoming. A small painting hung on the wall by the door. Within it sat a stern looking wizard in his 80's (who was presently sleeping) on a bench in front of a large and impressive estate. The boy was, in fact, in the very same building pictured on the wall. "Goodnight, Grandfather." The boy said. All he got in reply was a snore.
The next morning he awoke to the sounds of his father shouting, "You incompetent fool! Keely, I've told you before NOT to serve me eggs. I'm allergic to them! If I didn't know you were so stupid, I might think you were trying to kill me!" "I'm s-s-so sorry m-master!" squeaked the house-elf. There was the sound of glass breaking. His father must have thrown the plate at Keely.
The boy sighed and got out of bed. The sun was out now, but it did little to cheer up the room. He pulled on a black robe and walked towards the door. A deep, drawling voice spoke from the wall. "Good morning, Severus." The boy turned to the picture and stared at his grandfather. He was surprised, but didn't let it show. He had never met or spoken with his Grandfather in real life. "Well, hurry up. Your Father needs to speak with you." "Of course," said Severus as he walked out into the hall.
As Severus made his way to the dining room, he noted that the yelling had subsided. Keely must be back in the kitchen fixing more food. A long oak table filled the room with enough chairs to seat at least fifty people. At the far end sat his father and mother.
His father was an imposing man with graying hair, black eyes, and a large hooked nose. Severus resembled him in many ways, but he had is mother's jet-black hair and introverted, calculated mannerisms. She was slender but tense, and very intelligent. Severus knew that although she remained in the shadows of his father's career, she was the true brains behind it all. However, neither were openly affectionate with their son in the way many other parents might be.
His father looked up from his paper. "Severus, we have important matters to discuss. Sit down." The only time he ever speaks to me is when there are "important matters," thought Severus as he took a seat. "I hope you have been reading the texts I have supplied you with?" Severus nodded in affirmation. "Good. As you know, your mother and I are proud that you received so many O.W.L.S. in the past exams. However, the N.E.W.T.S. are coming up this next year and they are even more important in determining your status in the professional wizarding world once you graduate. I will not stand for you to do poorly on them. It would bring great shame to the Snape family name and you will not find me to be sympathetic to your excuses." His father turned back to his paper, signaling the end of the discussion.
After breakfast, Severus was back in his room packing for his final year at Hogwarts. Keely came into the room with a basket of freshly laundered robes. "The mistress of the house has requested that you meet her in the library as soon as you finish packing. If it suits the young master," Keely continued, "I will finish packing so that you may go speak with her."
Severus didn't move. "What could she possibly want?" he wondered aloud. Her talks with him were even more infrequent. "Don't keep her waiting, boy." Severus glared at the painting as he walked out.
The library was at the opposite end of the estate. Severus noted the dusty condition of most of the furniture lining the corridors. Since his Grandfather died and they moved in last month, Keely hadn't had a chance to clean everything yet.
His mother was sitting by a large fireplace in the library and a large black cat was curled up in her lap. "It seems that Mars has taken a liking to this room." The cat purred and rolled over. "I take it yours is too cold for his liking." "What is it you wished to speak to me about?" asked Severus. She motioned him to sit in the adjacent armchair by the fire.
"Your father is a narrow minded man." Severus widened his eyes in momentary shock. He had never hear her speak ill of his father so openly before. "All he cares about is wealth and prestige. He does not concern with social politics within the wizarding world and refuses to join me in my support for Lord Voldemort. He claims that Voldemort is just a troublemaker and will never have the power or control to make a big enough influence on his bank account." Severus could detect the annoyance in her voice and he was beginning to get an idea of where she was going with this "talk".
"However, I believe the Dark Lord will indeed come to power soon. He has detected a strength and intelligence in you that could be fully realized should you choose to join him. He has followed your educational achievements through the house of Slytherin at Hogwarts. You may very well be in consideration for one of his top positions upon your graduation." Severus made a small nod with his head. "It would be a wise decision to accept his offer, Severus. You know as well as I that his power continues to grow and not even a fat bank account (she hinted at her husband) will hold sway over the will of the Dark Lord. Your Grandfather died defending him and he currently holds our family in high esteem." Mars had relocated himself from her lap to Severus', who scratched his head absentmindedly. "I don't expect an answer from you now, but you must give this serious consideration during your final year at school. If you prove yourself to have a strong potential in the dark arts, he will reward you with power beyond imagination." With that, she stood up and walked out of the library, leaving Severus alone with his thoughts.