Disclaimer: still don't own anything.
Summary: Severus first unintentionally use of magic did not lead to what he hoped it would. Instead it turned out to be a nightmare.
Another warning: Chapter contains harsh words and abuse.
Also, I think I might have tempered with the compound tenses here. Hope it is still readable.:)
Chapter 1: Magic is in the house
A loud bang echoed through the small and shabby looking house standing in a gloomy street where even the streetlights emitted a hostile aura. Rain was drumming mercilessly on the small attic window of the grey-green house encouraging the nightly disturbance.
A second bang followed suit accompanied by the desperate scream of a woman and the angry shouts of a man.
If someone cared to listen hard enough he might have heard a whimper that could have come from a small boy.
A small boy with messy black hair that fell to his shoulders. He pressed his hands forcefully on his ears as though he wanted to lock the voices out. His pitch black eye pressed shut, he sat in the corner of the dusty attic right under the window which was the only light source in the room. The boy flinched hard and gave a whimper when the third bang rang through the room, coming from the trapdoor on the other side of the attic. He tried to scramble in the small corner behind him, nervously listening to the voices downstairs.
"I am going to kill him!"
"Please, Tobias! Please! He didn't do it on purpose! He didn't! He never did it before! I beg you! Please! He is only a child!"
The voice belonging to the man named Tobias sounded mad with rage:"I don't care! He is a freak! A damn freak like you are! Let go of me you ugly witch! This monster will get what he deserves! Try to stop me and you can join him!"
"He is your son! Please, Tobias! You are drunk! You don't know what you do! Stop it! He is our child!"
A sound like someone had been slapped was heard. Right after it the woman sobbed.
"You dare name this... this THING my son!? How dare you filthy bitch! How dare you ever lie to me about what you are! How dare you! Dammit! You said he will be normal, he will be human! This damn devil's spawn! Screw you!"
More slapping sounds were heard as the sobbing of the woman crew louder occasionally drowned by Tobias' furious shouting.
The boy on the attic shook with silent cries. He did not dare to make any sound, did not dare to move even a finger. At least the banging on the trapdoor had stopped. But it did not ease his nerves because he was right aware of the scene downstairs. He could practically see how his father constantly beat his mother Eileen. She had tried to protect him. Of what would have been if she hadn't done it, he did not dare to imagine.
What had he done? He did not know what had caused this. He only wanted to show his father what he could do. He thought he would be amazed and maybe even proud.
A few hours before, Tobias had been watching a football game on TV like he always used to do on a saturday evening. Normally, his son Severus joined him, sharing his father's passion for this sport. But not this evening. He had been in his parents room trying to fix his fathers old football trophies from high-school. Tobias had shown it to him a day before, proudly telling his child how good a player he had been and that Severus will one day succeed or even surpass him. The six year old boy was so eager to show his father how much he treasured his trust in him that he had decided to repair the old trophies.
The task had been easier than he had thought at first. Sneaking upstairs with the old toolbox from the garage, he settled on the carped, carefully handling his fathers treasures. It took him only a minute to repair the first one and it looked like it was new. He sat there for another ten minutes cleaning as well as repairing some medals and practically feeling the old fabric of the old jersey knitting itself back together under his fingers. He was really proud and excited, wanting to show his father the surprise soon.
He had been so entitled in his work that he did not hear his father entering the room. That is why he missed the change of expression on the man's face.
First he looked curious of what his son had been doing, shortly followed by an expression of love and care when he saw his son carefully handling his belongings. But as he kept watching his son, his face contorted into a mask of horror and disgust.
That was the time the shouting started and then the beating. His mother had rushed up the stairs after the first shouts and he used the diversion to duck under his fathers swung fist. Running to the attic. The place he always used to hide if he got upset
His cheek was still hurting from the first blow he received. The first one ever. But what had hurt the most was the look of hatred on his fathers face. He sniffed, shivering from the cold, he looked around trying to find anything to protect himself from the nightly air. The whining and beating downstairs had stopped and no other sound except the constant drumm-drumm of the rain was heard.
Not finding anything he rolled up into a tight ball and watched the now slightly brighter sky. It must be near sunrise. Drying his tears on his shirt the boy rolled over and fell asleep, exhausted.
He woke up about 3 hours later. His small body hurt and it took him a while to find out, where he was. Tears filling his eyes when he finally remembered.
Listening nervously he heard no sounds from downstairs. Carefully he got up and went to the trapdoor unlocking it with a loud creak of the rusty metal.
He descended downstairs, always ready to run by the slightest movement. After he had sneaked into his room, he changed into warmer and clean clothes, checking his appearance in the mirror on his wardrobe only to flinch back at the sight of his own reflection. His left cheek was swollen and red. Even his eye was only half open because of the swelling. That explained the pain at least. Biting down on his lip to prevent himself from sobbing again he left the room and went to the kitchen.
He was pretty sure his parents weren't there or were still sleeping. That was why he got frightened when he saw someone moving near the stove.
"So, you are awake.", his mother did not turn around while she handled two pans simultaneously. It smelled like scrambled eggs. Suddenly Severus stomach began to ache with hunger. He drew nearer, wanting to savor the tasty scent. Only then did he realize the red bruises on his mothers arms and her shaking hands.
"Mommy..?"
"Not now. I have to make a good breakfast for Tobias. He is still very angry at your misbehaving yesterday. You were very bad." Her voice sounded so strange, so unlike her.
"I was... bad?", he could not belief what he was hearing. He still could not understand what he had done wrong. Had he really been this bad? Was he not allowed to touch his fathers trophies?
Of course! That mus be it. That was the reason why he had been so mad. Maybe he had broken something and had not realized it. He will apologize to his Daddy and everything will be fine. His father will laugh at him and ruffle his hair like he always did and then they will go outside and play football and his Mommy will bring them warm slices of freshly baked apple pie like she did last week.
Smiling he offered:" I'll bring him breakfast and apologize, mommy. I'll be good now!"
She spun around, suddenly screaming at him, her face swollen and covered in bruises: "You will never be good! Look what he did to me all because of you! Look what your evil doing did to me! He is right! He is always right! You are a monster! Hurting your own mother!"
In fear he tried to move backwards but fell over a kitchen chair and landed hard on the floor. He had never seen his mommy like this. His mommy had always been kind to him. His Mommy...
What was wrong with his mommy?
Did he really hurt her?
What had he done?
How?
Was he really a monster?
Not being able to hold back the tears once again he cried: "Mommy, I'm so sorry. I really am. Don't be mad. I'll be good now. I promise."
"You promise!? You! You liar! Out! Get out! I don't want you in here! Tobias is right! GET OUT!"
With the last words she threw an egg after the crying small boy, missing only by inches. The child was getting at his feet as fast as he could. Shocked he ran to the door as his mothers voice rang in his ears: "NOW YOU WOKE HIM! YOU WOKE HIM! YOU FILTHY CREATURE! NEVER CALL ME YOUR MOTHER EVER AGAIN! YOU ARE NOT MY CHILD! MONSTER!"
Pressing his hands to his ears once more he ran as though his life depended on it. His small bare feet seem to fly over the cold sidewalk. He did not see where he ran to because his vision was so blurry from his tears. But it did not matter anyway.
Poor Severus. But I actually think something like this could have happened in cannon. After all he never cared for his appearance what is typical for abused or traumatized children as well as the opposite around. Maybe his self-loathing had his roots in his childhood. It could explain why he loved Lilly since his childhood. She was called a freak like he was and she never blamed him for having this talents. She actually loved to play with magic. Maybe she was the only person he had felt love from and loved her dearly in return.
Of course I am a little bit mean to him in this chapter. But he is strong and will get over it.
Fun fact: my writing program knows the names Severus Snape and Voldemort but does not know the names Eileen or Tobias. I think a HP-addicted person programmed it.
