A/N: This chapter has been newly revised to fix some of my own canon errors. All info about Jack the Ripper is wither taken from Beyond the Usual White Chapel Suspects by Michael Gordon or the Jack the Ripper casebook at (it appears like this because the crap will not allow me to display a webpage) www dot casebook dot org slash suspects slash gchapman dot html. If anyone could impart knowledge as to how I go about displaying webpages on ff, I'd be more than glad to hear it.
Just as he had planned, Severus arrived in the potions classroom before everyone else. Sitting alone at his lab table, he took the journal out and seized the opportunity to read the first entry.
25 December 1886
Master Rappaport gave me this journal for Christmas. As one day I hope to pass this on to a son, I've decide to put this to use by keeping a memoir.
I was born 14 December 1865 to Andre and Catrina Snape. Happily, I lived with them in London for 10 years. During this course, I learned Italian (for we are a strong Roman family), English (of course), Yiddish, Latin, and Polish. I am thankful now for my harsh schooling. It is the knowledge and strict discipline I ascertained that kept me alive for the past 10 years. Ah, I digress!
It so happens that my father took me out on my tenth birthday as a rite of passage. He took me to a brothel-the name of which evades me now-where naked women performed curious acts with men onstage. This was my introduction to sexual acts between man and woman. As I was well on my way into manhood, Father deemed this the best way to begin my transition. How he must curse himself now!
After the "show," he took me to a place that changed my life forever. We went to a smoky suburb in East London. I find this just as odd now as I did then: we were upper-class gentlemen! We had no business in these rough slums! He complimented me on my astute observation; but as I took in my surroundings, I quickly changed my mind about the place. I pointed out that visiting such a place didn't seem so preposterous after all: plump and pleasant whores greeted each passerby at every corner. For this I was severely scolded. Father told me that disease lived there along with lust, doom, and ultimately death. "These are not suitable companions for a gentleman." Never take a dishonorable woman, he warned me. As if his own words were prophecy, I was snatched up by a passing carriage. Father chased after me for two blocks to no avail.
That was my first horrific encounter with Ms. Emilie Klosowski and most definitely not my last. She was a Polish prostitute living there in East London. "Where the profits are good," so said she. From that point on, I was doomed, just as Father had warned.
Alas, we were swept out of England; as for my part, I did not go without a fight. But Emilie, ever the career woman, knew many brutish fellows that could vanquish me. So, off to the Polish village of Nargornak we were because her passport had expired.
And it is here that I have been for the last 10 years, being her "child" at first and something much more terrifying later on. "I serve the likes of you for your pleasure." Surely she was speaking of men as a sex, for it certainly was not I she was pleasing. "It's time you please me." I was only 14 when I first became her prisoner of pleasure.
She even denied my true name, and made me take hers. "Severino Antonovich Klosowski" was printed on several documents, falsifying my identity to make me seem more Polish.
School was my only escape, but I could not be late coming home. By then, I had attended Krasseminsk Public for 4 years and she knew exactly when to expect me. If ever I were late, she'd see to it that I regretted it. She'd seek me out and harass me in the streets, driving away what few friends I had. And girls. She saw to it that girls took no interest in me. The games were appalling. She'd make me do chores naked while she flourished me with compliments concerning my manly endowment. These memories will forever haunt me. God be thanked for Master Rappaport's generosity!
Well, I should continue my story. Emilie was not the only person I impressed. My teachers were thoroughly impressed with my academics. It was they who recommended me to Moshko Rappaport in hopes that I would make a fine surgeon. I must admit entering under his tutelage was the best decision I ever made! I am serving as assistant surgeon, apprenticing until I can become Junior Surgeon and attend a formal school. Master Rappaport has even offered to pay my dues for the Society of Surgeons! He's even invited me to live with him until I am accepted. I suppose it's best that I leave on a positive note. Everything is looking up!
--Severino Anton Snape
As he heard the approaching voices of his Gryffindor and Slytherin classmates, Severus snapped the book shut and quickly stuffed it into his bag.
"Reading Daddy Bat's book, Snapey?" Sirius smirked, taking his usual seat in the back of the room. Lily, James, Peter, and Remus followed in suit. Lily eyed Severus tensely as she passed by him.
Severus opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a familiar voice. "Severus the Snake."
Severus forced his gaping mouth shut and said through tight lips, "Antigone, I insist that you quit calling me that."
The blonde bombshell smiled at him and took a seat at the table behind him. She leaned forward in her chair so much that her back arched and her rear stuck up in the air. As several males in the classroom took notice of this, Severus suddenly became the object of their envy. "You didn't object to it last night," she whispered and then leaned back into her chair.
A sly smile spread across Severus's face. He turned in his seat, nonchalantly pretending to be retrieving something form his bag. He snuck a peek at Lily, who was staring at him, just as he had expected. She then gave Antigone a look of disbelief. Satisfied, Severus sat back up in his seat.
Lucius Malfoy swept into the classroom, and all the girls stopped what they were doing to gaze at him. He sheepishly tossed a lock of golden hair over his shoulder.
"Oh, quit showing out and sit down, you girlish git!" Severus ordered.
Lucius took his set next to Severus. "You'd flaunt it too if you had it, Sev."
" 'Flaunt it if you got it' ?" Severus grimaced. "Surely you haven't been taking up with that sixth year Narcissa again? Lucius, isn't she a bit low on the evolutionary ladder?"
Lucius sighed. "Yeah, but she's easy on the eyes."
"I thought she was just easy period." Severus cracked a knowing smile.
Lucius looked at Severus askingly. "What's got you so riled up? Did you and Antigone--"
"Yes," he cut Lucius off quickly.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot." Lucius's voice lowered to a whisper. "It's hush-hush in front of Evans. How's that going, by the way?"
"Painfully slow, I'm afraid. Who was Edgar Lestrange's target again?" Most of the Slytherins and certainly all of the Death Eaters had chosen a "target," some unfortunate witch or wizard to torture, toy with, and/or scare into yielding to the Dark Lord.
"That gal Frank Longbottom has his eye on. I can't remember her name."
"Yes, Nancy-something or other. Well, her lineage is not impressive enough to remember her surname anyway."
The two hushed quickly as Professor Ashton entered the classroom. She rushed through the role and assigned a hair-growing tonic.
With Severus taking the lead, he and Lucius finished the potion correctly before anyone else in the class. After receiving their sample vial, Professor Ashton tested their work on a hairless cat.
"Excellent work, gentlemen. Mr. Malfoy, go on to your next class and Mr. Snape stay and help me with these imbeciles."
Lucius gathered his things and left. Professor Ashton led Severus over to James and Lily's table while she assisted Sirius and Remus.
"You should be grating that willow root not grinding it," Severus warned. Lily nodded and retrieved a new root to start over.
"There's a difference?" James asked.
Severus sighed. "Would I have bothered bringing it up if there weren't?"
Noticing color rising in James's cheeks, Lily eyed him warningly. James swallowed nervously. "Professor Ashton?"
"Yes, Potter?"
"I have quidditch practice, may I be excused?"
Professor Ashton looked at her clock on the wall. "Yes you may. Everyone whose potion is brown may go as well." She turned to Severus. "You stay and help Evans."
"I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong," Lily sighed impatiently.
Severus sat in the chair James left vacant. "You're probably not getting it simply because of the willow root. Tell me what else you put in it."
Lily called off her list of ingredients.
"And how long did you let it boil?"
"Five minutes."
"Okay, let's try this: start over with a new solution and as it starts to boil, add some sea salt. That helps integrate the components more successfully."
Lily began preparing her new ingredients. This left room for conversation. "So, I saw you talking to Antigone earlier. I didn't know you two were a couple."
"Couple? I wouldn't call it that," Severus chuckled.
"But she was saying something about last night--"
"Ever the naive Gryffindor!" Lily stared at him blankly. "Miss Rice and I don't have to commit ourselves to something as pointless as a relationship to have a good time."
Lily shook her head in amazement. Today was apparently her day to be repeatedly shocked by Severus. "So, it means nothing to you?"
"Oh, it has it's meaning, just not the one you're thinking of."
Lily stared at her potion for a moment. She was searching desperately for something else to say. "Oh, I noticed that you received a large package this morning."
"Does anything escape you?" Lily frowned at him. Oh, what the hell, just humor her, he thought. "Yes, as a matter of fact, Father sent me my great, great grandfather's journal."
"Wow, that sounds interesting!" She was trying hard to keep the conversation going.
"It's actually rather disturbing. Apparently Severino, my great, great grandfather, was kidnapped and sexually abused."
Lily gasped.
"Yeah. This is the guy I'm named after." He shrugged.
"So, he wrote about it then, in his journal?"
He nodded. "He didn't go into detail, though, thankfully." He inspected her potion. "Time for the sea salt."
Lily nodded and sprinkled some in. "So what do you think we'll be doing in History of Magic today?"
Severus rolled his eyes. He silently wished Professor Ashton would look up from her papers and tell Lily to shut the hell up. "Didn't Professor Binns mention a project last week?"
"Yeah, that's right!" Ugh, Gryffindor enthusiasm.
The potion was taking it's precious time boiling. Severus propped his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand. This is the sappiest approach, he thought.
"Penny for you thoughts," Lily said. Severus looked bewildered. "Sorry, it's a muggle expression," Lily smiled.
Severus scowled. "You certainly are proud of that, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am very proud to be the first Evans witch."
"You enjoy being surrounded by muggle fools?" His tone was getting darker.
"They're not fools, Severus. They're my family!"
"I guess a Gryffindor feels right at home among them!"
Lily stared at him in shock: his entire demeanor had changed right before her eyes. It was as if he were now someone else. He had to be, she was actually starting to like the Severus that was helpful and almost charming moments before. This Severus was snobby and hateful.
"Better not let Black see you with your mouth hanging open like that. He might take it as a deliberate invite."
Lily scowled at him. "Ugh!" She stormed out.
Severus sat there, just staring into nothing when Professor Ashton reentered the classroom. Severus had not noticed her leave but was thankful of her absence nonetheless, especially after what had just occurred.
"Where's Evans?" she asked.
"She rushed out in a hurry. She must have gotten sick or something." He ladled a portion of the hair-growing tonic into a vial. "I believe she got it right this time."
"Very well, then, you may go."
Severus gathered up his things and headed towards the door.
"I almost forgot. There is a Mr. Riddle waiting for you in the library."
