I have not acquired the Potterverse in the past week, so no, I don't own it.

AN: Many props to my first reviewer, Marauder3Moony. Yay! Thanks again for reviewing, and let me know how you like this chapter.

Chapter Two

Severus woke slowly to a bright light in his eyes. Squinting, he carefully raised himself to a sitting position and looked around. Why was he on the floor in the sitting room? Oh, father. Severus winced as he recalled scenes from the previous night.

Something had caused him to be upset. Well, more so than was usual. He had called the boy down and began screaming about freaks not being welcome in the family. Severus didn't understand what he was going on about, but had discovered long ago that 'I agree perfectly, Father' was always better than 'I don't understand, sir' and never was there to be an 'I disagree, sir.' Tobias seemed extremely pleased at his son's agreement.

"I'm glad you see it my way, boy," he had grinned. "There's only one way to get it out too, don't you agree?"

"Yes, sir," he had foolishly replied. Never before had he felt such pain as when his father decided to 'beat the freak out of him'.

Just then, Eileen bustled into the room. "Ah, you're awake. Come; let me have a look at you." She gently ran her hands over his face and shoulders, searching for injuries. "Hmm, only a few bruises and cuts. Nothing serious. How does your head feel?"

"Like I've run headlong into a brick wall," Severus rubbed the back of his head gingerly. "What happened to it? I don't remember much."

"Well, you were doing pretty well, until he picked up the poker. Sensing how much it scared you, he advanced with it. You ducked when he swung and he threw you against the wall and left. Hasn't been back since. Now, go get ready. I'll not let anything spoil my baby's big day."

"Mum, I'm not a baby," Severus mock-growled. Actually, he had nearly forgotten that today was his eleventh birthday.

"No matter how old you get, you'll always be my ba—" she was cut off when an owl swooped into the room. It dropped a letter at their feet and swooped back out.

"What was that about?" Severus asked.

Eileen kneeled and picked up the letter. "Oh, Severus! It's for you!"

Severus was slightly confused but reached for the letter and read the envelope- 'Mr. S. Snape, Sitting Room, 14 Spinners End, Scotland'. He glanced at his mother's blissful expression as he opened the thick yellow envelope. Inside was a letter written on the same thick parchment with the same glittering green ink. He slowly read it aloud:

Hogwarts School

of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Snape,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

"What is this? Some kind of joke?"

"No, sweetheart, it isn't. I myself went to Hogwarts. Oh, I'm so proud of you! We'll get your things today."

"What does it mean—'we await your owl'?"

"The magic community uses owls instead of post."

"Oh. Can, um... well, I mean... can you do magic?"

"Yes, I can. Would you like to see?"

Several hours later the two were exiting the apothecary. "I believe that covers all the supplies," Eileen commented as she checked the list. "Yes, that's everything. All that's left is a pet and wand. They're both down here."

They walked for a minute before she announced, "Here we are. Olivanders."

Severus followed his mother as she entered the building. "Be with you in a moment," called a voice from the back. A moment later a short old man hobbled to the counter. "Ah, Phoenix tail feather, mahogany ten inches. Haven't seen you in quite some time."

Eileen smiled. "Hello, Mr. Olivander. We're here to get my son his first wand."

"Ah, starting school this year, are you? Hogwarts, I presume?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, good. Just need to get your measurements," he tottered around the counter and conjured a tape measurer out of the air. "Hold out your wand arm, please."

Severus glanced at his mother quizzically. "It doesn't matter which one, dear. Just the one you'll be using the most." She then glanced at Mr. Olivander and added, "He's ambidextrous."

"Really? Don't get many wizards born that way. Was he taught?"

"No, actually. We just noticed that he didn't favor either hand and decided not to influence him in any way and see what happened."

"Is that so? Interesting," he muttered as he measured Severus's left arm. He then tottered off behind the counter and carried several long boxes back up front. "Here, try this one first."

Severus picked up the red wand and gave it a bit of a flick. When nothing happened, Olivander took it from him and shoved another in it's place. This continued for quite some time, and after many trips to the back for more boxes, the boy was certain he was being a menace.

"No, no," the old man was quick to correct, "I love the challenge."

Eventually, he gave the lad a speculative gaze. "I wonder..." He brought a dusty box and placed it on the counter. "Try this one."

Severus opened the black box and was amazed to find that, unlike the previous ones, the inside of this box was lined with red velvet. In the center lay the most marvelous wand he had ever seen. "Ash, fourteen inches, heartstring of a particularly powerful dragon whose origin is unknown. My ancestor crafted this wand and the species was recorded as 'black dragon'."

Severus gazed at the smoky-toned wand a bit longer before gingerly taking it in his grasp. The moment his fingers closed around the end felt like coming home. He was surrounded by a swirling mist for a moment, and when it had cleared he saw the look of astonishment in the elder man's eyes.

"Amazing. Simply marvelous."

"How much for it, sir?"

"What was that, m'boy?"

"I asked how much the wand cost?"

"Nothing. I couldn't possibly charge you for that wand."

"Sir?"

"No, I insist. Just take good care of it, eh?" he chuckled.

Eileen ushered her son outside after a quick farewell and directed him toward their final destination. Upon entering the shop, his mother stopped him. "Do you know what you want?"

"Um, what were my choices again?"

"A cat, toad, rat, or owl."

"Which is the cheapest?"

"Don't worry about the cost, dear, just get what you want."

"That takes money, mum, and we don't really have very much, you know," he responded skeptically.

"Nonsense, son. We don't have much Muggle money, true, but you have one of the largest fortunes in the wizarding world. Equal to that of the Malfoy's, at least."

"Malfoys?"

"Sorry, dear. Their an aristocratic family. Very old lineage, and all are purebloods."

"Oh, um, okay."

"Just chose a pet, dear."

"Right." He wandered about the shop, looking at all of the strange creatures there. Finally he had narrowed his choices down to two options: a snowy-white owl or an adorable cat. His decision was soon made for him—the cat leaped into his arms and began to purr loudly as he rubbed his head against Severus' chest.

He carried him up front and showed him to his mother. The cat was a male American Shorthair and was colored similar to a Siamese. The differences were that his 'white' was slightly dusty looking and his face was round rather than pointed. His eyes were a deep blue and he was apparently very affectionate.

"Good choice," grinned the young woman behind the counter. "He doesn't have a name yet, so you can chose whatever you like."

After they had paid for him, the trio went outside, the cat still in his new master's arms. "What are you going to name him?" Eileen asked.

Severus looked into the cat's eyes for a moment and grinned. "Mugsey."

"Mugsey? What an odd name."

"It is, isn't it? What about you boy? Do you like it?" The cat purred louder, if possible, and the mother and son laughed together.

"Come along, then. We'd best be getting home."

Something struck Severus then and he began to grow apprehensive. "Does father know? About Hogwarts, I mean."

"Don't worry about that. I have already devised a suitable story. Actually, your father thinks that Hogwarts is a school for only the most intelligent in all of Briton. He has been hoping to sign you up since before you were born."

"Really? That long?"

"Yes. And don't worry about the supplies. To him, they will look like ordinary school books and he won't suspect a thing. All you have to do is keep your head down for a few months and keep Mugsey hidden, and on September first you leave to your first year at Hogwarts. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

"You said first year? Does that mean there are more after that? How long do I get to attend?"

"Seven years," she answered. "You will have two months of summer vacation in between each year. You may also return home at Christmas, if you like, but that is entirely up to you. Now, let's get this stuff home, eh?"

TBC...

AN: Yay! Chapter two is now posted! Go me. lol and it's longer than last time. Six pages an all. Oh, and Mugsey? Yeah, he's real. Right now, he's outside with all my other cats; Figaro, aka Figgy, and Mini Figgy are the females and Mugsey, Salazar, Miroku, and Shippo are the males. I've also got an inside cat named Sylvester (he's Figgy's brother, and Figgy is the mother of everyone else save Salazar and Miroku, who is Mini's. Not sure where Shippo came from...). NEhoo, see that button down there on the left? No the bottom left. The OTHER left. Yes, that one. Press it and tell me what you think so far. Please? Remember, the more reviews I get, the sooner I post new chapters. hint hint NEhoo, reckon that's it for now, sooo...

Next chapter: Severus boards the Hogwarts Express.

TTFN