Chapter Two: Crowded Kitchen
Several hours later, a glistening ray of sunshine attempted to flood the room through the long, gray curtains that cascaded from the top of the window. After wriggling its way in, an ounce or so of the golden light landed on the tip of Severus' nose. As if on cue, his eyes popped open and a yawn escaped from his mouth.
He listened, but heard nothing. His father's snores weren't swimming down the hall and other men's voices weren't bouncing around the house. He wasn't being ordered to do chores or cook breakfast- scrambled eggs, bacon and a side of toast with strawberry preserves. Severus was home alone and decided to embrace the peace. He clamored out of his wrinkled bed linens and placed his feet firmly on the floor. It was nice for Severus to be able to take his time for once.
He stood up and pulled on a pair of crisp, blue jeans and a fresh, clean white tee shirt. He knew today was going to be a good one. His hardest decision of the morning was what to do first. Slowly, Severus looked around his neat yet barely furnished room; his eyes settled on the large pile of books on the floor. "Can't do magic outside of school, but nobody said I couldn't read about it." Severus said the words out loud as if he had to prove to a silent jury he wasn't doing anything wrong.
Smiling with self-content, he selected the most appealing texts and headed to the back porch. The porch was anything but special; the ivory paint was peeling. The chairs had cracks galore, and the neighbor's dog barked anytime a muscle was moved. Regardless of its unkempt appearance, Severus liked it. It was his link to the outside world- a world his father did not regulate and ruin- yet he didn't have to associate with anyone. His father had never set foot out there, so it also acted as a safe haven when Severus needed to get away from the gloom.
He examined the three, run-down white wicker chairs and sat in the one that appeared to be the safest. He then chose a book from his pile and stacked the rest neatly alongside the unleveled chair feet. With just a glimpse at the title, Hogwarts: A History, he was taken into a world of daydreams. Yes, a school full of bewitched ceilings, floating candles, ghosts, an elite teaching staff and a talking, thinking hat was just the place he wanted to be. Severus especially liked the part about the hat. It was able to read your mind and sort you into one of the four school houses! He read the three pages over and over again until he had them memorized. Curiosity then got the better of him. Which of the houses would he be put into? Ravenclaw perhaps? He definitely had a ready mind; he loved reading and learning anything he could. Indeed, Ravenclaw was more than a possibility. Severus was sure that's where he would go.
He continued to read Hogwarts: A History and the rest of his pile. By the time he closed his last book, Magical Drafts and Potions, he felt drained and hungry; he hadn't eaten breakfast. Severus trudged back into the empty house and made himself some supper. "I wish we had a house elf. All of Father's friends have one," Severus thought out loud.
"What was that boy?" Severus heard a pop and was greeted by his father's raspy voice.
"Nothing. Never mind," Severus replied.
"Really? Because that nothing sounded a lot like I wish we had a house elf, but you know how I feel about those things."
"Yes, Father. They are disgusting and dreadful, utterly unworthy to grace a wizard's presence."
"Severus! You've surprised me! I'm flabbergasted that you listen to what I say; that's very good to know. Now, hand me that roast chicken and Yorkshire pudding. That Black fellow and a few others are coming here to discuss a mission."
Severus looked down at the plate he was holding. He'd only prepared enough for one, not expecting his father to pop in. Reluctantly, he thrust the plate down on the cherry wood table directly in front of where his father was sitting. Thaddeus began shoveling the food into his mouth like a starving lion. Severus couldn't bear to watch. He ran away like a small child, his eyes covered and his stomach rumbling.
Once he was in his room with his legs crossed on his bed, he felt his face grow white hot. His skin was bright white like an unused bed sheet, giving off the appearance that he had been burned. What is it going to take for him to respect me? Severus thought. Why can't I have a father who wants to teach me how to become a star Quidditch chaser? Why can't I have a father that wants to teach me how to talk to girls? Girls. The word interrupted his thoughts. Once again, he was taken back to the scene in Flourish and Blotts where he had been talking to the girl with long, red hair. She actually made him want to be at school more than he had- a next to impossible task.
"School!" Severus shouted. "The train leaves tomorrow! I'm not packed! Father doesn't know he has to take me to the station!" Severus leapt of the bed, sticking a landing that would have scored him a perfect ten in a national gymnastics competition.
He skated across the hardwood floor; his white socks grayed due to the remains of greasy floor polish and small dust particles. In a few seconds, he was standing in the kitchen amongst a dozen men that looked angry at his interruption.
"Father, the Hogwarts train leaves tomorrow at 11. You're going to be able to take me, aren't you?" Severus asked in his polite, respectful voice.
"You're sending your son to Hogwarts? Hogwarts of all places? The staff there allows mudbloods to be taught. I don't believe someone of your status in Master's eyes could pull a stunt like that," said a balding man entering his early fifties. A stubbly white beard was sprouting from his chin.
" I didn't have much of a choice. Closest school to here. Easiest access to him if Master needs me to move about the country." Thaddeus reacted as if he had the excuse memorized and ready for playback at any minute. "Black's sending his son there, as well."
A man sunk down in his chair, hiding his reddening cheeks with his hands. He was obviously Black and he was obviously embarrassed.
"Are you going to be able to take me to the station tomorrow?" Severus asked again.
Thaddeus did not reply. Instead, he grabbed his son by the shoulder of his tee shirt and dragged him out of the kitchen. "I'll teach you to embarrass me." He tightened his grip on the shirt, causing his shirtsleeve to slide down. It revealed a green skull tattoo; the skull had a smirk and a snake slithering out of his mouth.
Severus hit every step on the way to his room. His arms and legs were already bruising severely. At last, Thaddeus tossed him onto his bed. After one loud slap across the face, a slap that left a red handprint, Thaddeus clumsily collected all of Severus' school supplies. The items were tossed three at a time haphazardly into a large trunk.
"What's the rush Father? I can do this. Go back to your conference."
"There is a great rush, boy. Something I should have done along time ago." At the end of his words, the lid of Severus' trunk closed with a thud. Why is he rushing? What is he going to do to me?
Now, Severus saw his father shutting the large, antique brass latch and ensuring it was closed with Severus' combination lock. He picked up the heavy luggage by one handle and made his way to the stairs. "Follow me boy."
Severus followed obediently, brushing his hair out of his face. He longed to know what was going on. His puzzled expression showed that. After another chorus of thudding on the stairs, though this time it was the trunk, Thaddeus reached the front door. He cradled the doorknob in his hand and turned it slowly, embracing each second that went by.
Finally, the door was open and one of Thaddeus' icy white fingers was pointing to the blackness of the street. "Since you're so excited to get to the station, leave now. You should be there by ten if my calculations are correct."
"How am I to sleep? Besides, Father, that's 35 miles to walk!" Severus was standing up to his father, something he had never done before.
"Leave NOW! Thaddeus' voice was booming; the words shot to the rafters. "You should make it there by ten!"
Laughter was spilling into the entry hall from the nasty men in the kitchen. Severus finally caught on. His father was kicking him out. He reached down to grab the trunk's handle with the steadiest hands he'd ever had. He didn't weep; he didn't whimper. His face was expressionless, icy and cold. He walked courageously out the door.
The night was kind to him. The moon was bright, making him feel safe. He enjoyed the heavy silence, the misty air. He wished he had a time capsule to capture the moment in forever.
Severus walked on for several hours straight. His feet, in ratty old tennis, were aching-throbbing- miserably. His eyes were getting heavy, and it took much of his strength to keep the lids separated.
Maybe I'll just sit down for a second, thought Severus as he made his way to the curb. He sat down and wrapped his arms around his sore legs. He was a powerless little boy as his eyes fluttered shut and the night surroundings absorbed him, taking him into a world of dreams.