A Father's Legacy
It was a warm June evening in the town of Cokeworth, a proud working-class British community.
There, at the end of the neighborhood called Spinner's End, was a small Victorian house with bright yellow paint standing proudly on the street with a small backyard and porch.
It was once a decrepit and old house that scared those who dared pass by. Yet, in the last year, a new family called the Snapes settled in and with it changed the sight of the house and magically impacted the proud working-class neighborhood it belonged to.
Onlookers could only whisper about the sudden change, but none ever dared question it aloud. If one looked in closer, they'd see inside this house; a man was sitting in a cozy and furnished master bedroom tending to a pram near him.
He was a strong-built 6-foot man with jet black hair neatly combed over, matching a light beard that sported his sharp and pointed face. He sat on a small rocking chair and watched over a baby boy, who was small in size for his age.
The man watched him closely and noted his dark, curious obsidian eyes, a light yet pointed nose, with a smudge of silky black hair on his head. The gaze felt too prying, so he leaned against his seat; the man closed his eyes and thought back to the events in his life that brought him here to this moment.
The edges of his mind slowly faded, and the recollections of his past remained.
At the age of 25 years, Tobias William Snape had lived and survived many difficult experiences in a short life. When he was just ten, he survived German bombardments during The Blitz. Shortly after, he had to learn how to survive on his own when his mother died from one of the bombings & a month later, his father was killed during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
With only his wits and sheer determination, Tobias managed to support himself with odd jobs that were offered to him. These were all so that he could enroll and graduate from Sandhurst at the top of his class at the age of eighteen.
As soon as he got his commission, he set out where he spent the next few years leading squadrons across the jungles of Malaya, the desert cities of Palestine, and finally, the ports of Alexandria in Egypt.
During this time he learned how to fight, survive, and lead men to battle against superior odds throughout it all. By the time he returned home, he had come back with medals decorated across his chest and glowing recommendations from his superiors above.
It was at this time when on one of his leaves back to the mainland, his life changed again forever when one day he met the love of his life on the streets of London no less.
It was on a cold London evening, with rain slowly starting to pour, that Captain Tobias Snape was walking back to the Royal Officer's Club. The dampness was tolerable, but then he noticed a strangely dressed woman seemingly walking, unaware of the road.
The woman, dressed in dark black and gold robes, was confused and did not notice the lorry headed straight behind her. Without thinking, Tobias ran up to her and immediately jumped. Once he reached her, he tackled the woman in a heartbeat just before the lorry struck her.
As soon as they landed in a tangled pile, Tobias tried to help her up to her feet. His mouth parted as he wanted to ask: what the bloody hell was this lady thinking when suddenly his mind went blank. As she rose and looked at him with a startled yet angry face, he found himself speechless at the sight before him for the first time in his life.
She was tall and proud with long, silky, beautiful black hair. She had dark obsidian eyes that seemed to penetrate deep into your soul, and the air around her reminded him of the old English princesses he heard about as a kid. Her slightly muddy dark robes that hung off of her were a bit outdated for their time yet somehow still captured a regal appearance about her.
Like an enchantress from an old story, Tobias was immediately drawn to her, even as she began to berate and strike him for hurling himself at her suddenly.
Slightly out of his stupor, Tobias gave a sheepish look and explained the lorry coming her way and how it almost nearly killed her. When she realized Tobias was trying to save her and not manhandle her, she slowly looked him over.
The tension around her washed away as she noticed his smart yet wrinkled Royal Officer uniform, and with his strong built, charming yet timid smile and neatly combed over dark hair, she too became at a loss for words and began to blush a bit. The young Eileen Prince magically captured the young captain's heart from that night.
After their initial meeting, the two spent the next year frequently writing to each other. Both remained fixed with lives outside of one another, and these letters were a glimpse into each other. They exchanged countless messages about what they were up to, what was going on, and their little quirks and frustrations in their lives.
Whenever Tobias was granted a bit of leave, he always returned and met up with Eileen in the most curious and strangest corner of London, and from there, the two would go about exploring the many sites the city had to offer.
He didn't understand why at first, but for some reason, he always found it strange and yet endearing when Eileen would always become so star-eyed. Often the expression appeared whenever they'd visit a cinema or how she excitedly watched the baker flip dough and bake at the local corner pizzeria they'd always visit. Mundane tasks that she found so different and mesmerizing.
Despite their different backgrounds, the two formed an odd pair in the eyes of those around them. The commoner military man prided himself on walking around with, in his opinion, one of the most beautiful women in all of England.
He'd relish in delight whenever he'd describe his posts overseas, and with that curious and dazed look in her dark eyes, she'd excitedly ask about the little details of all the places he'd travel to.
The two formed a strong relationship, a secure bond as time passed. Although, any word on the details of their lives outside of each other remained hidden. They chose secrecy as a line was drawn between them, and neither opted to cross the barrier.
He didn't like to talk much about the combat missions he led and Tobias often changed the subject rather than explain to her some of the scars on his body.
In turn, she didn't want to talk about her home life other than the fact she came from a wealthy and old family. She added that they didn't precisely tolerate her daughter running around the streets of London at night.
It would not be until a year later when Tobias finished serving his commission, that on the night he decided to propose would he understand why Eileen never talked about her past.
It turned out that after Tobias got on his knee and proposed to Eileen at the very spot he rescued her from a year earlier, the truth leaked out.
He remembered her hesitance as Eileen looked down to her feet, her small hands balled into fists. Then her voice was softer than before as she confessed to Tobias that there was a secret she had been keeping all these years.
Slowly, Eileen began to explain and move strangely; he couldn't imagine in his wildest years that the elegant lady he had dated throughout this time suddenly began to introduce herself as a magical witch.
Tobias didn't remember the face he made, but he noticed her eyes flickered with a glint. To prove her outlandish claim, she took a strange stick out of her pocket and, in an instant wave, glowed to life.
To prove her point further, she then said some Latin-sounding words; the meaning left him confused. However, suddenly, the ring that was still held inside Tobias's box began to float around on its own magically.
To say he was bewildered was an understatement, and he had seen many things to render him in shock. He couldn't believe his own eyes and thought coming out of the military finally drove him barmy, and he just imagined things.
In a strong but dazed state, Tobias wisely suggested that they find a place to discuss this where they could sit down, and quickly, they walked over to a nearby park and settled down on a small bench. As they sat, his hands started to shake, and he took a deep breath in anticipation when Eileen tentatively took Tobias's hand. Her fingers gently stroked his palms, and she soothed the uncertainty he felt as she explained the wondrous world she was from.
Tobias learned from their little spot on the park bench that Eileen was not the only witch who lived in London. Surprise after surprise, he barely grasped the truth behind her existence, and there was more for him to realize. In reality, an entire society of wizards and witches lived secretly unbeknownst to 'mug-gills' or non-magical people as he understood it.
She explained their secret society from the great wonders they can achieve.
She continued onto the rules, schooling, and tradition that people like her family came from were generations in the making. She explained that she was a "pureblood" and came from a long and wealthy line of wizards and witches for centuries.
Because of her honorable status, she was raised from a young age to be a proper lady so that she may be suitable enough to be arranged to marry someone she hardly knew to keep their family line "pure" and wealthy. A face Tobias could barely swallow, but he listened to her all the same.
She elaborated further about the harsh rules that came with this powerful society. Tobias noticed how Eileen bitterly expressed the idea of being trapped within the confines of a large manor so that she may breed children.
All for some puffed-up lord; however, she had little to say in what she wanted to do. Eileen wanted to be free and be someone of her own character and merit. She did not like being forced into the role she had since birth; instead, Eileen wanted to pursue a life greater for herself that went beyond her expectations.
The night she met Tobias was coincidentally the first time Eileen took the courage to explore the 'mug-gill' world on her own. In her calm tone, she explained to him how she wanted to escape eventually and came out to research his world so that she may concretely plan a better way out in case her father did match her with a suitor. Eileen studied the muggle world and learned from their books and stories of inventions and clothing.
However, the moment she crossed the barrier that brought her over, she didn't expect to be overwhelmed at the great site in front of her, nor have her heart be stolen by a dashing soldier moments later. The confession spread warmth in him, one he kept subdued at times.
The year they exchanged letters and dated together were some of the best and most exciting moments of her young life. Each part may have seemed small but filled her life with a brightness she had never experienced. She felt so fortunate to have someone like Tobias escort her around and slowly show her the ways of the muggle world.
She loved the ingenuity, the determination, the work ethic, and the marvel of how despite not being as magically gifted, the muggles managed to create a much larger and superior world in every shape possible.
Along the way, she looked at Tobias's eyes, staring at her directly. Almost as if she sensed his hesitance and the fact he felt used, she reacted. Eileen didn't use him to develop herself, so she stroked his combed hair with her other hand and began to explain the most incredible surprise and joy of all.
For her, it wasn't the inventions, the food, or the scenery that captured her heart and decision. They were bonuses, and Tobias remembered how her smile seemed shyer when she glanced at him.
Her confession came naturally despite the faint redness on her face.
She spoke about the man in front of her. She described how he truly convinced her and showed herself a love she had never felt before. She explained that throughout the countless and seemingly powerful wizards that she grew up with, few could ever dare compete with the bravery, honesty, and integrity as the young captain did. She admired how Tobias was a man who came in his own way without much to his name and how he built a career despite being an orphan.
For Eileen wasn't someone he tried to create connections with or someone he considered lesser than him. Despite his manners, chivalry, and extremely headstrong attitude, she met a man who treated her as an equal. Someone who valued her opinion treated her with respect and doted on her not because she was Eileen Prince but just Eileen, the woman who couldn't seem to resist a toasty pizza or a great Muggle movie.
She felt herself become more than her name but who she was as a person. In turn, he was, by far, the most handsome man she ever laid eyes on and, in addition, one of the strongest and most dedicated individuals she'd ever met.
As she finished explaining her love for Tobias, she slowly took her hand out of his and began to put on the ring that Tobias had just proposed to her.
Proudly putting it in her hand, she proclaimed, "I'd be honored even to be considered Eileen Snape one day."
Tobias remembered how her lips curled up into delight; the twinkle in her eyes softened him immediately. Those words resonated within him, the start of a promise of their future.
Without a spell, a wand, or any strange chants- the moving words and speech that Eileen said to Tobias brought him out. Instead, the feelings of his initial hurt and lost trance transformed in seconds. He felt a deep sense of love, shock, and awe at her confession as he realized the extent of her words.
Here was a woman who could have anything she'd ever want in this world, be it money, men, or power, and she was willing to give it up from her world if it meant she could prove her worth on her own. A woman who risked everything, including her own family - something Tobias lost growing up - so she could find a place by his side with him.
She was beautiful, educated, and refined, yet she wanted nothing more than to go off on an adventure on her own, the same way he did as a young boy lost in Sandhurst.
There was a reflection of his past on her, and he knew her feelings were sincere. It was not lost on him as he understood how much Eileen wanted to be with him and was willing to show him the most secretive world and society just for love.
The young captain had seen many things in his time in the jungles or near the pyramids. They paled in comparison to now, and he knew he couldn't let her go. Tobias felt the same strange yet calm feeling that assured him everything was alright.
He closed the distance between the two on the small bench and embraced her without hesitation. He didn't have the words to tell her how he felt and instead counted his blessings to whatever higher power was out there for the chance given to him just now.
The gap between them only lessened as their love blossomed between each other. A month had passed after that fateful night when the two formally tied the knot on a lovely fall evening. It was a small and secretive ceremony at a small chapel on the outskirts of London.
If it were up to Tobias, he would have eloped her at a small township the night he proposed. However, he considered that Eileen had to make sure she made the correct preparations before leaving her family. He couldn't help but at least give her an actual ceremony for that.
Nonetheless, it was a memorable night, and some of Tobias's closest comrades from the service, followed by Eileen's personal friends from her world, came to celebrate the new family. He couldn't forget Eileen's delight as her smile highlighted her happiness or how she laughed.
Tobias knew this moment was when their difference seemed less noticeable as they were responsible for each other's bliss. When the wedding ceremony was finished, they went to a small restaurant owned by one of Tobias's friends from the Army, and from there, they held a small but fun reception filled with local food, music, and lots of dancing.
For Eileen, the day was one of great happiness and excitement from dressing in her muggle white elegant gown, the observed customs, and the various dances and styles Tobias's muggle friends hosted for them. After a long night of merriment and fun, the newlywed couple set off for their new life together.
From here, they felt inspired to try and settle down in a town much like where they hosted their wedding. The memory and feelings left an imprint on them, so they searched for some time together.
The newly married couple eventually got into Tobias's recently purchased but used Land Rover during their honeymoon and sought to explore much of the English continent.
Traveling across the coast, the mountains of the North, and many towns and hamlets nearby, the two felt a sense of peace in visiting places without the fanfare and fuss they grew up with their lives.
As the honeymoon ended, the young couple decided to try their luck and settle in the town of Cokeworth, especially when they discovered that Tobias had inherited his father's old family home on Spinner's End, and with it came the chance to try something for themselves, and settle down for once.
When they first arrived, they saw that the house was an old two-story Victorian-era brick house in dire need of repairs. The paint was faded, rainwater damaged the roof and flooring, and the furniture was worn out and filthy after years of neglect.
Nevertheless, within a month, the newlyweds got to work with a bit of Tobias's handiwork and Eileen's magic and style. The house became a brightly painted, newly renovated home with lots of magically induced additions, beautiful but simple furniture, and a backyard blooming with a new garden.
After so many years of the two of them living demanding lives, they could have a proper place to call home for themselves. The two settled and found a place they could return to without a fuss.
Tobias managed to procure work as a machinist at a local steel mill. While it wasn't the most inspiring profession to get into, Tobias had few options considering he never had plenty of opportunities when it came to working. His resume didn't exactly have much to offer aside from shooting, fighting, and leading operations.
With a bit of hard work, he adapted quickly and fell into a rhythm as one of the steel mills' most hardworking employees. In the meantime, Eileen took it upon herself to really settle and work on integrating into the Muggle world on a full-time basis
With effort, she managed to accustom herself to the functioning of muggle appliances, the postal system, and the laws of their society. In addition, with her wit, charm, and Slytherin-raised-ambition, Eileen networked throughout the community. To the point, she'd occasionally but discreetly dispense potions, but also as a dependable friend and confidant.
Her new muggle perspective enlightened her to what a world without magic looked like as she blossomed.
She switched out her fancy robes and dresses from her previous life and found comfort in the casual dresses and clothes that her new world had to offer. When the Snapes settled into their new home, the two found a cozy yet much-needed quiet rhythm and stability after a lifetime of pressure and excitement.
Unfortunately, as time began to pass, the newlyweds started to experience their first trial in their marriage.
It all started one day when Tobias was delivering a batch of steel the mill produced to a construction site on the outskirts of Cokeworth. When he arrived, a demolition group remained at the back as they tried breaking the ground for new water pipes.
While Tobias was casually talking to a workman after dropping off his load, the sound of loud explosions startled him and began to draw panic out of him. In a quick instance, Tobias went from seeing himself on the site and was back in the Malayan jungle as artillery shells exploded all around him. Adrenaline coursed inside him as he acted upon instinct: save the civilians first!
The thought permeated within him, and without warning, he tackled the workman to the ground, attempting to shield him from supposed incoming shrapnel.
He frantically called out, urging the nearby workers to take cover as his fighting instincts kicked in, making him utterly unreachable. As the crew began to go and tried to wrestle the poor man from Tobias's firm grip, the site foreman, an army veteran, rushed over and gently cleared the crowd. The tension was thick, but he spoke calmly to Tobias with a firmness to ground him back into reality as he slowly brought him to his senses.
When his manager heard the incident, he felt pity for Tobias and gave him the day off as he thought he was probably working too hard. Confused and embarrassed, he went out to a nearby pub and felt a good drink might settle his nerves.
From that one drink, it became two, and by the end of the night, he lost count of how many beers he had and stumbled his way home later that evening. His mind felt muddled and less full of his anxiety from earlier.
When he arrived at the house, Eileen had already heard from Tobias's manager about the incident and was nervous when she didn't know where he went after that.
His appearance drained the worry from her face as her frustration bubbled out.
She quickly barked at Tobias, "Where on Earth have you been, for hours, no less...!" but soon, her questions devolved into constant inquiries of what he was up to all this time.
As she began to ask further, Tobias remembered his foul response vaguely. He growled at her rudely, "Shut up!" but he barely noted the hurt reflected in her gaze. At the time, he could care less as Tobias wobbled his way to the couch, where he passed out a short while later.
Smelling the alcohol on Tobias and hearing from the manager earlier, she decided to let Tobias sleep off his stupor and settle the situation promptly in the morning.
However, her plans quickly changed when she woke up to the sound of screaming from the living room below later that night. Out of concern, she grabbed her wand, rushed quickly to see what was going on, and from there, she saw a dazed Tobias. She saw him shout and flail in his sleep, uttering a string of swear words and commands for what she assumed to be two men from his dream.
She slowly began to shake and wake him up when she suddenly felt Tobias's hands immediately grab her roughly and moments later struck down to the floor below.
The pain stung, and Eileen lost all her patience as she quickly grabbed her wand from her pocket and immediately cast a quick incarious spell on Tobias. In mere seconds, ropes quickly enveloped the confused and angry Tobias, and at once, she took the chance given to her.
Eileen ran to her little potions laboratory in the basement to grab a few calming draughts she had initially made for the community around her. Coming back to the living room, she quickly and forcefully downed one of the draughts down Tobias's throat, and at once, Tobias slowly became more lucid in his surroundings.
Tobias glanced around; he found himself bound and tied while Eileen stood in front of him. With his mind no longer foggy, he looked at his wife and noted the change; Eileen was sporting a bruise and a look of fear and relief on her.
She slowly released Tobias from her bind when he asked what was going on and sat him down back on the sofa. She explained everything that happened from the evening he returned home, shouting from his sleep later, and lastly, the attack.
Immediately, Tobias was mortified and quickly began to profusely apologize until Eileen raised her hand to silence him and quietly handed him another calming draught instead.
The weight of his guilt felt heavy, but he downed the contents of the vile to soothe them both. When he started to feel a bit calmer again, she finally asked him what on earth was going on and thinking back to the weird set of memories, Tobias explained.
As it happened, Tobias had been having constant nightmares frequently for the past few months since they moved to Cokeworth. In the beginning, there were a few traumatic episodes from his time in the military but by then began to become more vivid, constant, and horrific as time passed.
He broke down and began to explain the dreams, a fragment of reality, and confessed to losing some of his closest friends and companions during his deployment. He talked about the dreams of being forced to go back to the jungles of Malaya and the gruesome traps and jungle that persistently surrounded them.
Whenever he awoke, he simply dismissed them privately. He didn't want to upset or concern anyone, especially Eileen, but when he visited the construction site earlier yesterday, he explained that the sound of dynamite suddenly brought his sight and mind back to the jungles from an artillery attack he experienced during the war.
By now, Eileen's fearful face was full of concern and tears. The pain she felt was secondary, and while her body felt bruised from the strike Eileen had received earlier, that type of hurt felt secondary. The feeling remained cemented compared to hearing that her beloved had been suffering for months.
The pain he felt was inflicted from such horrific dreams, and not knowing about it as it continued to consume him. Immediately, she engulfed Tobias in a tight and fierce hug, and for the first time, Tobias cried properly for the first time in his life.
The tears he shed were for the loss of the friends he considered brothers for the first time, the broken childhood memories, and, more notably, because he had lost so much control that he struck the most beautiful and important person in his life.
The two remained in a tight embrace much of that night until finally, Eileen pulled away and looked at the usually strong man's eyes and promised him that he wasn't alone and there was anyone who'd help; it would be her.
She took the last two vials of calming draughts and administered them once more to Tobias and one for herself, and from there, she began to plan and explain how best they could help quickly.
Ultimately, she decided that she would brew calming draught and dreamless sleep potions for Tobias every day. During the day, Tobias would bring some vials of calming draughts for him to keep just in case any more moments would come up, and in the evening, he would take dreamless sleep so that he could at least rest the night peacefully.
It wasn't a long-term solution, but she knew, for now, this would be the best short-term plan to get Tobias's mental health back to normal slowly.
Tobias's moods changed profoundly for two weeks, and the nightmares and traumatic anxiety attacks promptly began to subside.
Yet as the days went by, he began to wake up and take more of the dreamless potions to go back to bed, and slowly Eileen found herself spending a lot of her time the day brewing more and more potions to sate his growing need for them. By then, Eileen felt that Tobias was becoming too dependent on potions.
One night after a nice dinner, she slowly brought Tobias back to the sofa from where they had their heartfelt moment weeks ago and explained that she would have to stop supplying Tobias with dreamless sleep potions.
At first, Tobias protested profusely, but in time she explained that dreamless sleep was highly addictive. The sudden confession made him stiffen as he listened. The more he grew to depend on them, as he was doing so now, the more his addiction would worsen to the point he might have severe consequences.
After some talking, Tobias agreed that he'd need to start to wean himself off of them and began thinking of ways to get professional help. Thankfully, his wife had a quick answer for him as she inched closer to him.
Eileen chimed in that a few days ago, Eileen discovered from one of their neighbors that there was a Veterans Association in Cokeworth and that they had a lot of programs that have helped veterans with Tobias's problems.
Remembering the night, he struck Eileen and reflected on how Eileen had already dedicated so much of herself to help him; he felt that it would be the least he could do to get himself back on track slowly. The agreement was easy, and he noted the relief reflected in her eyes; for both of them, he would try.
The next day Tobias drove to the association with apprehension weighing heavy on him, but he remained level-headed. When he entered the small hall, he discovered that the organization's director was none other than the Foreman, the same individual who helped him at the construction site weeks ago.
The Foreman, a (Ret.) Sargent Graham was a veteran of the last world war and fought at the famous El Alamein battle with General Montgomery.
He welcomed Tobias to the club and introduced him to the many members, some of whom Tobias recognized briefly during his briefings as an officer back in London. As far back as The Great War in 1914, many veterans had the same struggle with "shell shock" as they called it, and since that time, the town's association was formed as a way for the veterans to support one another.
Here, the veterans would gather every week, and from there, they'd hold support nights. The association designated these times so they'd gather in their little lodge and talk about the various battles they lived through.
They'd recant the stories, the achievements, the hardships, and all the little details that many people who did not serve simply didn't understand. In addition, the association also held weekly sporting events for members after work and organized annual events and even a charity section for needy veterans and their families.
He frequently participated in these events as he found ways to subside the trauma he faced. In time, Tobias forgot the dreams of his military past and instead began to sleep easily without the need for Eileen's potions.
From suffering in silence alone, Tobias finally overcame his struggles all with the help of his ever-faithful wife and now the support of lifelong friends in his town.
As the months went by, Tobias not only recovered from his mental struggles but also began to take an active role in volunteering with the organization. With his experience as a captain, he grew to become a mentor figure to a lot of the younger veterans of England's seemingly never-ending conflicts. He even became a local coach for their football team.
With his strict discipline, training, and experience, Tobias began being addressed as "Captain Snape" in their club and in addition began to attract the attention of one of their senior members - Charles Davis, the Principal of The Cokeworth Boy's Academy.
Impressed by Tobias's physique, leadership abilities, and the way he captured the attention of their younger members. The principal one night, asked Tobias to stay behind the lodge and asked him what Tobias' occupation was during the day.
Surprised, Tobias answered that he was a team lead at the local steel mill and was responsible for creating and delivering the steel they produced. While it wasn't Tobias's dream profession, it paid the bills and provided well for their family.
After hearing Tobias's explanation, the Principal replied that their school's Physical Education teacher was retiring and that they were looking for a new teacher to take his place.
He then continued and said that he had seen Tobias's progress from coming to their association and the contributions he was making to the younger members of their community. Incredibly impressed with Tobias, the Principal said that he'd be happy to petition Tobias as the new teacher. With his recommendation and support, he would definitely be able to get Tobias hired soon.
Standing in awe, Tobias couldn't believe the words he was hearing about the opportunity presented to him. He had long felt unsatisfied with his job at the mill, and while he excelled at his job and it gave him a sense of stability and comfort that he didn't experience during the Great Depression of his youth, he felt empty on the inside.
Now he'd be a leader again, and while he wouldn't be directing young boys to the frontlines, he would still be able to teach and pass on a lot of the skills he learned and all through his love of sports and physical activity.
With a glazed and pleased look in his eyes, he promptly shook the principal's hand and eagerly accepted the opportunity with a promise to make sure he wouldn't let him or the students down.
As soon as he accepted the position, he eagerly drove home to tell Eileen the news when he found her sitting at a table quietly sipping a cup of warm milk with an equally dazed look in her eyes. He slowly approached Eileen and asked what was going on, and slowly she took Tobias in her hands and asked him to sit down.
Curiously, he sat down and asked what was going on, and Eileen explained that she had been feeling a bit ill for the past few days, especially during the mornings. As Tobias began to ask if everything was alright worriedly, she lifted her hand to silence him quickly.
The words he wanted to ask fell into silence as he searched her expression but found nothing to worry over. She tended to do the slight action when she said something important, and with a weak smile and tears in her eyes, she told him, "I'm pregnant, Tobias."
Immediately, Tobias forgot about the job and the news he had and instead sat there with a stunned look in his eyes.
He looked at her and barely whispered the word, "Pregnant?" and Eileen, still holding his eyes, could only nod in the head as if to confirm Tobias did hear correctly earlier.
Moments later, he quickly got up and grabbed her into a tight hug and soon found himself laughing and full of joy.
His arms were careful as Tobias noted her still flat stomach; he didn't want to hurt her. After the turbulent past few months and the recovery he was going through, he would now be a father.
Looking at her full of love, the only thing he could muster to say was a quiet yet firm, "I love yeh, Eileen."
Soon she too broke out in joy, and the two excitedly held each other, for the first time in a while, feeling as if things were going to be more than just alright.
When they pulled away, Tobias looked at Eileen and told her his news.
By then she was now jumping for joy as Tobias was earlier and said that Tobias would be the best teacher that would ever grace that academy, and she was incredibly proud of him.
After months of recovering from "the incident," as they referred to it, they were finally moving in a new and better direction.
Blessed with good things, they were the best moments of his life.
A slight gurgling noise brought Tobias Snape back to the present in mere moments. The memories were cast aside but remembered clearly in the back of his mind.
Tobias glanced over at him, and he saw that the baby boy was awake from his slumber. A familiar gaze was staring at him with the curious obsidian eyes that enchanted Tobias's soul years ago.
Standing up, he walked over to the crib, gently picked up the boy, and held him tightly to his firm chest. Giving him a light kiss on his square forehead, he looked at the baby, and with a proud smile and determination in his eye, he promised him and whatever higher power that there was listening.
"Don't yeh worry, little Sev…." He whispered to his child and stroked the side of his face ever do gently,
"So long as I'm standing and proud with yer mother by my side, I promise to protect yeh and make sure yeh grow up to be the mightiest Snape that ever was."
Special thanks to all my friends and the community for help, please leave a review and feel free to reach out if interested in collaborating or being a beta