A/N- Sorry about the long delay, I have been busy writing a short story for my creative writing class and time just sorta got away from me. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer- I only own one character, and she hasn't shown up yet, so in this chapter, I own nothing. *Sob*
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Chapter 4- Mommy Dearest
She suddenly was reminded of the tales of Medusa she had read about in Greek Mythology. She gave a sour laugh, and started to wonder if Severus would agree with her… Excessively beautiful, yet her soul was so full of acid the mere presence of it would turn anyone who looked into her eyes to stone, after all the eyes were the windows to ones soul.
She suddenly had the uneasy feeling she was about to find out why this memory had stuck out in his mind…
"Are you not finished yet, you miserable leech? I even gave you five more minutes than expected; I need the Lezathras for… Though… YOU don't need to know that you stupid…" She cut herself off, pursed her lips and brought her fingers to the bridge of her nose… At that action alone Hermione came to the conclusion that this must be Severus' mother, as she had seen him do that exact same thing many times.
"But Mother, it must simmer for two more minutes before-" At this the woman rushed forward and grabbed him in irritation. Hermione watched as he dipped his fingers into the still brewing potion just a mere second before the irate woman started to drag him away. Hermione could only watch in open-mouthed horror as the woman walked through the corridors dragging the small boy. Finally the woman stopped seething enough to actually speak.
"Never, NEVER call me by such sentimentalities, I loathe the fact I had you, and I wish to never be reminded of this fact. It was madness that drove me to disobey your sire and conceive you, how I have put us both through the torture of having a thing like you around all the time. Only a few more years and we can send you away to that place called a school so to be rid of your miserable…" She stopped her rant long enough to throw Severus against the wall. "Sit." The small boy obeyed.
Hermione watched as the taller woman opened the door next to him, and she caught her breath. It was beautiful… She stepped inside to admire the small greenhouse like sunroom, plants growing just about everywhere, but none enough to really provide any shade. Suddenly it dawned on her… Severus… She quickly turned to the door again to see his mother throw him inside. "Finish your potions on time, boy, be this a lesson to you." She watched as the door slammed and heard it lock. She ran to Severus.
"Severus…" She went to touch the small child but then recoiled her hand. He crawled into the corner of the room and pulled himself into a fetal position, sucking on the fingers that he had dipped into the potion. She watched horrified as tears started to silently run down his cheeks, and the skin that was exposed slowly start to turn pink.
Her surrounding melted again, and she looked around her curiously. Where was she now? It was a large room, sort of like a banquet hall but a tad smaller. Fancy tables were crowded into the room, and Severus Snape was standing off in the corner as if he were a statue. She neared him. He looked as though he were in his early teens at this point, 13, and 14 at the best. Though… She squinted at him; he looked so strange actually, compared to the way he first appeared to her… Still appeared to her. His nose wasn't quite as hooked as this, and his complexion not so splotchy either. How strange. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and then seen him cringe slightly. She looked around and saw the cause to the cringe. The tall woman quickly made her way to her son and stopped just in front of him.
"Is the Lezathras done yet?" He nodded.
"Yes Madame." She smirked as the boy stared in front of himself blankly, unmoving.
"May I have it then?" She held out her hand and Severus obediently placed the vile of Lezathras into it. "Good boy, maybe you will get something to eat tonight. Now off with you." He nodded and started to head to the door, but not before seeing her uncork the potion and drink it. Hermione saw him clench his hand to this and then he left. Once again the room changed.
"YOU!" Hermione heard the voice and cringed at its harshness. Once again it was his mother. "You didn't let the potion simmer long enough, it wasn't potent enough! I hardly felt anything from it you insolent little brat!" She watched as she saw his mother come down to the boys face in a loud smack. He turned back to her with his jaw set.
"You're addicted to it aren't you? I have no other explanation for it. All these years I thought I was making it for my sire after his meetings with Voldemort, but I seen you drink it yesterday." The woman clenched her jaw and Hermione could have sworn that they had turned red as well.
"How dare you…." Her voice was calm and quiet, radiating fury, but Severus still just looked her dead on. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing? Me? Addicted to a potion like Lezathras? You make me sick!" She suddenly grabbed out her wand and after a soft mutter and a bright burst of light Severus was thrown against the wall. "Never question me, you idiotic child." She turned then, and left.
The scene melted away, and when they stopped swirling, Hermione deducted that his mother was the main focus of these memories.
The woman had burst into the room tears staining her face, chest heaving as if in a combination of fury and despair. She barely had a chance to see the way Severus looked before the woman got out her wand and blasted the boy from his chair. He landed on the ground with a loud thud, and he groaned.
"Is there something I can do for you, Madame?" He peered up with his black eyes through his long hair, hatred emanating from them as he did.
"I have come to say that he is dead, and YOU are to take his place. I will have no argument on this, you are to have a meeting with one of them this morning, in precisely five minutes, do not be late." She turned on her heel and left. A look of shock passed Severus' face, and then horror.
"No…" He whispered. He got up and followed her, holding his side where the beam had hit him. Soon they were in the room with a dark cloaked man. He looked oddly familiar, but could not place him yet. The man spoke.
"Hello, Severus." The man stood and lowered his hood. Her jaw dropped open, it couldn't be…
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A/N- Hope you enjoyed this one, and a thank you to everyone that has reviewed. I love to get them so don't be discouraged. Hehe :) Anyways, I will try to get the next chapter up faster than I did this one, and once again I apologize for taking so long.