Chapter 2: Magic (Age 7)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my twist on the plot.

By the time Severus returned home from the park, the sun was beginning to set. After his father's outburst that morning, he was dreading having to spend the evening there. He had considered spending the night in his secluded nook in the park, but had thought better of it, knowing that he needed to check on the well-being of his mum. He had high hopes that his father would be out of the house. It was a vicious cycle, Severus thought. On one hand, he enjoyed when his father spent the night holed up in one of the local pubs so he didn't have to deal with him, but on the other, he always returned drunk, ready to take his anger out on him or his mum.

As Severus neared his house, the last and one of the shabbiest on Spinner's End, he pondered what part of town the girl Lily and her sister Petunia might live in. From what he had seen of them at the park, they both had nice clothing and the Petunia girl seemed very concerned about appearances. Severus assumed they lived on the other side of the river where the wealthier people lived in clean brick houses with pretty gardens, a far cry from the garbage strewn street of Spinner's End, lined with dark and decrepit stone houses. He pondered what he would say to Lily if he met her. He couldn't talk to her about magic, but perhaps she liked to read Muggle books. He'd read through the few Muggle books that his father had in the house, though he doubted the man had ever so much as looked at them, but maybe he could talk about them with Lily. Severus frowned, abandoning his daydream, even if he ever got the chance to speak to Lily, she'd probably just assume that he was some disgusting gutter rat like his father.

Reaching his house, he pushed open the creaky front door. The house was far too silent for his father to be home. "Mum?" Severus called. "Mum, are you okay?"

Severus heard the sound of soft footsteps coming down the stairs a moment later. As his mum came into the dim lamplight of their small foyer, Severus could see that she had a few cuts on her arm, likely from the glass of the picture frame, and a bruised cheek.

He frowned, "Did he hurt you again, mum?"

Eileen looked down at her son in his overly large clothing and scuffed trainers. He was really a sorry sight, she thought. She wished she could have given him the lavish, carefree childhood that her own parents had provided. She missed living in the magical world, even if it meant she would be all alone, having left her prejudiced pureblood parents, at least she could have given Severus a better chance.

"I'm alright Severus, nothing I can't fix with a healing spell in a moment. I just needed a lie down after your father's outburst this morning" Eileen said with a sigh. "Where have you been all day?"

"I was at the park mum, the one on the other side of the river." Severus considered his next words carefully, and then, while still feeling bold, asked "Mum? Are all muggles bad people, like father?"

Eileen was startled for a moment. Her son was so young, yet already so distrusting due to her poor choice of a husband. She started carefully, "I wouldn't think so, Severus. I've never really known any other than your father and his parents. However, I would assume that there are good and bad muggles, just like there are good and bad wizards. You'll just have to judge their characters for yourself. Now come along, I'll fetch you some supper, you haven't eaten all day"

Eileen fixed Severus a meager meal of some stale bread and vegetable stew, then joined him at the table. At first, they ate silently, until Severus worked up the courage to ask his mum a question he'd been stewing on.

"Mum? Why do you stay with father?" his voice quivered, "I don't like that he hurts you, and he hates magic."

His mum didn't respond for a moment, taking another spoonful of stew, with a pained look on her face.

"Your father is all we have, Severus. As much he may be… unpleasant at times, he's still your father. I don't want to break up our family."

Severus scowled at her, "Family, mum? He hurts us! He hates us because we have magic!"

He glared down at what was left of his stew and muttered under his breath, "you could stop him if you wanted to, you have magic."

"Severus!" Eileen admonished, slamming her hand down on the table, rattling the dishes. "Don't say things like that! I'm not going to hurt your father with magic. He doesn't hate us, it's just the drink that makes him say things he doesn't really mean."

Severus glared at her, tired of her excuses, "Well I hate him mum! I hate how he treats you! You deserve so much better!"

Now thoroughly upset, he angrily grabbed his bowl, throwing it in the sink, slammed his chair against the table, and stormed up the rickety staircase, his footsteps echoing through the small house. Had he turned around, he would have seen his mum's tear stained face, staring after his retreating figure in despair as he stormed off.

Severus entered his room, slamming the door behind him, before collapsing onto his bed, staring blankly at the cracks in the ceiling plaster. He couldn't understand how his mum, a witch from an old and powerful magical family, could allow his father to treat them like rubbish. He supposed the man had cared about her at one point, otherwise they never would have gotten married, but he couldn't see why his mum didn't see that his father was a lost cause now. He did love his mum, but it was nights like this that made him feel like she didn't care about him. How could she let his father continue to hurt him and still love him at the same time? Letting his sadness overwhelm him, he rolled over on his bed, burying his face in his pillow, allowing his tears to stain the pillowcase.

He heard the muffled, soft footsteps of his mum walking up the stairs. Quieting his crying, he curled up on his bed, pretending to be asleep.

"Severus?" she called softly, gently knocking on his door.

Ignoring her, he slowed his breathing, focusing on imitating sleep. He was too annoyed with his mum to talk to her tonight. She clearly cared more about staying with his horrible father than his well-being, Severus thought bitterly, squeezing his eyes shut tightly as more tears threatened to fall.

He heard the click of his lock as his mum opened the door magically, followed by her light footsteps as she padded closer to his bed. There was silence for a moment, then he felt her hand lightly ghost through his hair and gently squeeze his shoulder. He remained still and silent. She must have stood for a moment, looking over him, before he heard her sigh and turn to leave the room.

Severus heard the lock click again, then nothing but silence, not even his mum's footsteps retreating down the stairs. Assuming she'd placed a silencing spell over the door, he drifted into an uneasy sleep, spared from the commotion downstairs when his father returned home.

(***)

The next morning, Severus awoke, never having heard the sounds of his father's drunken rages upon his return from the pub in the early hours of the morning. Today, he had a plan. After last night's argument with his mum, he didn't want to be in the house. Severus planned to return to his secret spot at the park and spend the day reading, avoiding both his parents for the day. Surprisingly, he found himself hoping the girl Lily and her sister would return to the park as well. He thought Lily seemed lonely like him, and even if he wouldn't speak to her, watching her provided him with silent company.

He grabbed his potions book and a stale end of bread from the kitchen. Noiselessly, Severus crossed the small living room to the foyer, tugged on his trainers, left a note for his mum, not wanting to worry her even if he didn't want to speak to her, and then slipped out of his silent house.

The early morning air was crisp and cool, but the overcast sky only made Spinner's End look all the more depressing. Severus enjoyed the walk. Cokeworth was nothing much more than a small mill town, but it was rather charming once you crossed the dirty river on the antiquated stone bridge where there was a lot more greenspace and nicer homes.

Upon reaching the park, Severus settled himself among the roots of the enormous beech tree that grew beside the river, propped open his book, took a bite of bread, and prepared to wait until Lily and her sister finished school and hopefully returned to the park.

(***)

The sun was quite high in the afternoon sky by the time Lily and Petunia reached the park. Glad to be out of the classes for the day, Lily ran ahead of her sister towards the small swing set at the center of the park with a laugh.

"Lily!" Petunia shouted. "Lily! Don't run ahead like that. Don't you remember what dad said? We're close to the bad part of town. You need to stay close to me in case any of those ruffians are around."

Lily sighed. "Okay Tuney", she conceded, slowing her pace. "Promise you'll go to the swings with me then? I want to show you my new trick I learned at school today."

Petunia nodded, trailing a bit behind her sister, glancing around the park suspiciously.

(***)

Severus was alerted to Lily's presence as soon as he heard her laugh. He quickly shoved his book away and clambered up to peer out at the sisters from behind the bush that granted him privacy in his secret spot. Lily's laugh was nearly as good as magic, he thought. He'd never heard someone laugh with such carefree happiness. He watched the two sisters with envy as they played on the swings, wishing that he could join them. He tried to imagine what his life would be like if he was like them, to have a friend or sibling to laugh and play with, and caring parents to run home to.

Suddenly, Severus was distracted from his musings when Petunia let out a shrill shriek. He looked up, startled by the sudden noise, just in time to see Lily catapult herself from the highest point of the swings path. Severus was immediately frozen with panic, thinking that Lily was about to fall and hurt herself, however, he was as shocked as Petunia when Lily floated down gently from her point of release, landing perfectly on her feet. He stared, fascinated, with his mouth agape. Lily was a witch!

Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter.