Title: Venomous

Author: Phinea Rogue

Rating: PG-13 for now, can be R later, not sure yet…

I don't own anything, don't sue me, they all belong to JKR . . .

Here's another chapter, hope you'll like it. Let me introduce to you Severus Snape's father . . .

Chapter Two

Limping slightly, Severus Snape headed slowly to his rooms when he heard quick steps echoing behind him. Hadn't he made himself clear moments before? Dear Merlin, rid him from that Potter at least in summer! Please, please, can't he have a peaceful summer? Well, relatively peaceful considering the Dark Lord and his father . . . Severus was about to turn and made it clear once again, when Dumbledore's hand grabbed his shoulder. The headmaster hadn't meant to hurt his employee, but in that sudden motion Severus lost his footing, wavered and fell against the stone wall with his wounded hand. As in a slow movie, Albus watched the Potions Master fall, hitting the wall strongly. Severus cried out in pain as he slumped to the floor. Frantic, Dumbledore knelt down to him.

'Severus, oh dear, I'm so sorry!' he exclaimed, anxious. Snape glared at him, a numbing pain travelling from his hand up his arms, spreading through his body. Several times he blinked, clearing his vision. Taste of something metallic made him realize he had bitten his lip a bit too hard. He felt Dumbledore's arms come around his waist as he pulled him to his feet. 'Forgive me, Severus, I didn't mean to hurt you.'

Snape pushed him away, staring into the older wizard's eyes with loathing. 'Don't you touch me!' he hissed and turned his back to Dumbledore. But Albus, well used to all the glaring and hissing, followed Severus to his private rooms and the Potions Master didn't attempt to stop him. They made themselves comfortable in armchairs at a fireplace, the younger man clutching a cushion to his chest and refusing to say a word or look at the headmaster.

Dumbledore pondered the situation for a moment. Was Severus sulking? No, he might be hurt, hitting the wall like that, and also disappointed. His head was bowed, long lashes casting shadows onto his marble-like cheeks, silent. The headmaster moved his chair closer to him and took his hands into his.

'I'm sorry, Severus.'

Snape nodded, closed his eyes tight and removed his hands from Dumbledore's. 'You make me nervous!' he spat suddenly. 'You want me to go to that brat and teach him. Don't play with me, master, I won't go,' said Severus silkily and with satisfaction watched how Albus flinched when he had called him master. Why not use headmaster's guilt over hurting him, albeit unintentionally, to give up that silly idea of teaching Potter? Why wouldn't he leave him alone? Get out! Out! Hadn't he had enough of him to leave him alone?

'Why do you seek to anger me, Severus?' asked Dumbledore annoyingly patiently, surveying the younger wizard from under his half-moon glasses. Severus rolled his eyes and moaned desperately. 'If you want to be on your own, just say so. We can talk about this later.'

'To hell with you!' cried Snape abruptly and threw the cushion at Dumbledore who looked taken aback by the unexpected action. Well, cushions were always better than jars with cockroaches. The spy was evidently exhausted; he should have waited with Harry's cause.

'You need a rest, Severus,' sighed Dumbledore and stood up. 'Make sure to have some painkiller potion before going to sleep. I hope you have some.'

'Of course I do. Do you think I've been brewing love potions all year long?' came Snape's irritated voice. 'And if you need me for something sensible, I'll be at home.'

The famous twinkle appeared in Albus's clear blue eyes as he, to the astonishment of Severus, bent down and kissed his forehead, whispering, 'You know I love you, so be a good boy.'

Before he was gone, another cushion struck the back of his head. Albus laughed heartily, picturing the Slytherin's face in his mind. Clever of him to co home, he couldn't follow him there, not with Tarquinius being back.

§§

A gulp.

And then another one – a big gulp followed by a cough – and a sound of liquid which splashed inside a bottle.

Severus walked into the living room of Snape Manor where a pair of steely grey eyes raised to meet his. Not again, he thought, snatched the bottle of Firewhiskey from his father and threw it against the wall. It burst into many shiny pieces of glass and burnt for a while in a spectacular crimson flame. Tarquinius watched it for a while, fascinated by the display of colours, then realized it had been his bottle and his Firewhiskey. His eyes met those of his son again.

'That. Was. Mine!' he hissed angrily, pointing his finger at what was left of his drink. Severus shrugged indifferently. Not yet drunk, Tarquinius flew from the couch at his son, slapping him hard across the face. Severus's eyes ignited in hatred.

'Don't touch me, you old drunk!'

'Yes? And what are you going to do, Snivellus?' mocked him Tarquinius as he straightened himself. He was a huge man, taller than his son who was skinny and frail compared to him. A sly smile spread through his face as he gripped Severus's wounded hand and tightened his claw-like fingers around it. A stab of pain shot from the hand up to his arm and Severus gasped, struggling to free himself.

'You've always been weak, Severus!' barked Snape senior.

The son looked defiantly into his father's pale eyes. 'How I hate you, father,' he whispered. Tarquinius framed his face with his hands, their coldness freezing the marrow of his bones. 'No, Severus, you don't hate me. You hate yourself, yourself in me. We're so much alike, aren't we? You see yourself in me.'

In a great rush of hatred, Severus knocked him down. 'You should be glad to have someone who looks after you, father!' he shouted. 'I give you money, you have a roof to sleep under, what more do you want?'

Both of them stared at each other in silence, studying the other's face. None of them moved and none averted their gazes. The room had filled with mutual dislike, intoxicating the air they breathed. Severus could sense it, almost grasp it, as Tarquinius's pale eyes were piercing him. Why did he have to look so much like his father? The same hooked nose of the Snape men, their pale skin and black hair. Anywhere one looked, the same features haunted him from old family portraits. He had used to console himself that at least he had his mother's eyes. Now he let them dive into his father's, for a tiniest fragment of time believing that deep inside them he could find some hidden emotion. Not love, he didn't hope for that much, certainly not, but acceptance perhaps. And then something other than dislike flickered there, but it was only disappointment. Severus lowered his gaze in defeat.

The deadly cold fingers brushed his cheek lightly as Tarquinius laughed quietly. With one final glare Severus left him there, hurrying to get away. The steely grey eyes followed him to the door and when he was gone, Tarquinius sighed,

'I want so much more, Severus, so much more,' and added, calling loudly after his son, 'Lucius Malfoy's here!'

§§

Big thanks to all the reviewers – PhyllidaAnne O'Nimous (Great nickname! Sorry, I've never realized it's Hogwarts and not Hogwarths, the school has a different name in my language, so thank you for pointing that out.), Snape Girl 1, Usakura, Clover Brook and Satio.