/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Nine

Finally arriving at the Three Broomsticks, I opened the door and stepped inside. It was as if a blast of hot air had hit against me. The place was brimming with smells of good food, drinks, and the hustle and bustle of people moving to and fro. I stood off to the side and let my eyes take everything in. It was hard to imagine that such a small place could hold so much.

After a while, I shook off my amazement and began looking for my mother. She couldn't be too far away, I was sure of it.

"Severus!" a voice called out across the room and seeing that it was my mother, I began making my way towards her.

When I finally reached her, my mother pulled me into a gut-wrenching hug. When she finally let go, I gasped in, feeling as if my ribs had just been broken.

"I thought you'd never come, Severus," Eileen gushed breathlessly, gesturing for me to sit down with her.

"Well, I was kind of…held up, mother," I replied, sitting down stiffly.

"Well, that's what I was afraid of, all of those greedy students ready to overtake the whole village," Eileen exclaimed happily. "So tell me, Severus, how are you? I've missed you so much, and you haven't been writing, I was getting worried."

I stared at her thoughtfully for a few moments before answering. Should I tell her about my detentions and my points deducted from Slytherin? Finally I decided not to. I didn't want my mother to be in a foul mood, especially here in the Three Broomsticks.

"I've been doing fine, mother," I finally answered. "I've been busy, that's why I haven't been writing to you."

"Well, I hope you're not getting too studious, Severus. I don't want them to think that you're getting…well, let's say, ambitious," Eileen stated.

"And why would you say such a thing?" I said. Don't get too ambitious? What was the woman playing at?

"Oh, I don't know," Eileen threw up her hands.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you do, mother, or you wouldn't be saying such things to me. Now tell me, why do you say such things?"

Eileen glanced around before leaning foreword towards me. Sensing that this was important, I leaned foreword, also. I wanted to know what was on Eileen's mind.

"Well, there's this new man rising from the ashes these days. He seems like the sort of person you might want to be associated with, Severus. He would lead you on your way to greatness," she said in a low voice.

"And…who is this man?" I asked. Could this be the same man that Dumbledore was talking about? Maybe I would finally get some more clues to this mysterious man.

"Oh, I don't know if I should say his name, he is so great," she whispered excitedly.

"Oh, get a hold on yourself, mother, it's not like he's going to jump from around the corner shouting that you've used his name," I retorted.

"Ok, ok, alright, I'll tell you," Eileen said. "His name is…Voldemort."

"Voldemort?" I said disgustedly, "What kind of a name is that?"

"Sh," Eileen exclaimed, her eyes looking around wildly. "Do not speak his name so loudly. He is a great man, yes, but he strikes fear into the hearts of everyone who hears it, such is his influence already at such a young age. Already he's got allegiances everywhere and we don't know who to trust and if they hear that we used his name…"

I rolled my eyes. "This is ridiculous. I don't even know why you're telling me this."

"Haven't you been listening to what I've been saying? He's going to be great, and I want you to be exposed to him, to become…one with him. It would be to your advantage, Severus, think of all the great things you could do with someone like him alongside you," Eileen stated.

"Mother, I don't need help from anybody. I can make it on my own. Don't you get it? Didn't you realize that when I stopped writing to you? I don't want the help, not from you, not from this Voldemort guy, nobody," I exclaimed.

"Severus, get a grip on yourself, this is your turning point in your life, just hear me out," Eileen said pleadingly.

I stood up. "Goodbye, mother. I've got homework to do along with a million other things. I'll see you later."

I started to leave when Eileen called out my name. I turned back around, exasperated. Now what did she want?

"You will be coming home for Christmas, won't you?" she asked, her eyes pleading.

I sighed exasperatedly. "I wouldn't count on it." And with that, I turned and left the Three Broomsticks back towards Hogwarts, never looking back.