Chapter 38: Tobias Snape

Rose reappeared somewhere hot. That was the first thing that she noticed, that the air was far too hot and sticky. She was in the hall of an apartment complex. The walls were yellowed and there was a disconcerting scent of heated up mold in the air. Lights flickered eerily up the abnormally long hall.

A door opened down a few feet a head of Rose. A woman with artificially colored red hair was stepping out of a room. She was scandalously clad in a short leopard print skirt that barely covered her and a bright pink crop top.

Rose and the woman made eye contact as Rose took a few steps forward looking for the right flat number. "You going in there?" the woman asked Rose, indicating the room she just exited.

"No," Rose said instinctively, but then she looked at the number 314 on the door. "Yes," she groaned.

The woman looked at Rose up and down once, not quite sure what to make of her. "Hold your breath," the woman warned her.

Rose looked questioningly at the woman, who just shrugged and walked away.

'How opportune,' Rose thought sarcastically. She would not even have to break in. Sardonically, Rose thought that both father and son had an affinity towards redheads. Rose cringed, glad she didn't get there several minutes earlier.

Rose quietly pushed the door open, wand in hand. Immediately, she wanted to gag. The hot air was thick and dank. There was an over powering smell, a mixture of filth, stale alcohol, and urine.

The flat was dark. The only light came from the moon peeking in from the small closed window.

"Lumos," Rose said.

The area was a dirty as it smelled. Empty bottles littered the floor, along with various wrappers. Rose cringed as her wand light feel upon a used condom lying on the floor. 'At least you are being safe,' she thought. The place had very little in terms of furniture except a torn-up armchair, television set and rickety looking bed in the corner.

There was an audible thud that could be heard from around the corner. Rose froze. She was admittedly scared. She had never done anything like this before. She waited for a moment with her wand out. She could not even imagine what Severus would think about her being here. At least she would not disappoint him by coming unarmed. No one came forth.

Then suddenly she heard a horrible wretch followed by a gurgling sound.

Rose willed her feet to push forward to investigate.

Rose ran towards the noise which lead her into the bathroom. There she found Tobias Snape half-dressed and collapsed, his back against the tiled floor. He had vomited but he was too impaired to roll himself over, so he spluttered and choked on his own sick.

Rose stood over him, her wand illuminating his bulging black eyes. Rose considered for a split second that if she had never come this man would have perished and Severus would be rid of him forever. It would be too easy to just walk away.

Rose fell to her knees, her wand clanking against the floor as she pushed the man to his side letting the emesis fall from the corner of his mouth. Tobias coughed wetly and then gasped for air. His body was completely limp. Rose's hands dug into the exposed flesh of his back and abdomen to keep him supported. When she was sure he was through being ill, Rose strained to pull the man into a sitting position and propped him against the wall. This caused her to be out of breath and she had unintentionally dragged him through the puddle of vomit. Tobias Snape was tall like Severus but unlike Severus he was bulky. He had a beer belly and in addition he had the reminiscence of muscles from years of labor work.

Rose flipped on the light switch in order to assess the situation better. Both her and Tobias squinted against the flickering bulb. Once she saw the bathroom in the light, the place almost smelt worse to Rose. The visible images of extreme uncleanliness amplified Rose's mental perception to the odor.

Tobias's head flopped to one side and he stared at Rose through his heavy drunken eyes.

"I've seen you before," Tobias slurred.

"You have," Rose confirmed somewhat distractedly. She was scanning Tobias's body, looking for injury. "I'm going to touch the back of your head," she warned him.

Tobias looked mistrustful as Rose fingered his scalp, searching for any bumps or lesions. Tobias was unable to resist her in anyway; he was too intoxicated. His head was sweaty and his hair was greasy and matted. Rose scowled at the disgusting man.

Tobias flinched as Rose's finger tips brushed up against a bump on the back of his head.

"That must be tender," Rose said to herself. "It sounded like you fell hard." Rose reached for her wand, tilted Tobias's head back and preformed a quick spell to heal the bruise on his head.

For having a wife and son who were magical, Tobias Snape did not seem to have any idea of what Rose was doing. He clearly had no memory of magic. Yet the enchantment had either worn off or had not completely wiped all traces away of his past; for in the park he had recognized Severus right away and the sound of his own name was familiar to him if not quite comprehended.

"Who are you?" he asked sloppily.

Rose stared at the broken man in front of her and she tried with all her might to hate him, but she couldn't do it. He was looking at her with those dark eyes that were exactly like his son's. Those eyes were filled with misery and Rose could feel her heart breaking. "I'm your daughter-in-law," Rose answered after a long pause.

Tobias's looked at her with confusion for several moments until something seemed to click in his brain. "Severus."

"Yes," Rose said, "I'm Severus's wife."

Tobias's eyes moved from side to side rapidly as if something had shorted out in his thought process. Again Rose wondered if this was causing him pain. Tobias threw his head back and hit it against the wall.

"No," Rose pleaded with him. Sticking her hand against the wall to protect him from the blows that followed. Rose grabbed her wand again and pointed it square in Tobias's face. With a few mumbled words a silvery mist began lifting off the man and dissipating into the atmosphere.

Something immediately changed in the man's face. His expression distorted into a scowl reminiscent of his son. "Get that thing away from me," he barked.

Rose lowered her wand. "Mr. Snape," she greeted coldly.

Tobias glared at Rose. "What did you do to me, witch?" he spat.

"I stopped you from aspirating on your own vomit, healed the bump on your head, and most recently I gave you your memories back," Rose returned. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Tobias let out a humorless laugh of disbelief.

"I wouldn't ever," Rose said somewhat offended.

"I don't know you," Tobias said. "Why are you in my house?"

Rose frowned. "We met in the park," Rose explained. "You were very confused. I came looking for you to..." she trailed off.

"You're my son's wife," Tobias seemed to finally comprehend. "Are you really?"

"Yes," Rose replied roughly.

Tobias produced a drunken snort. "I remember him trailing after that little ginger girl when he was a kid," Tobias said. "And I told him then to give it a rest. I said that that little girl would grow up far to good for him and she would want nothing to do with him." Tobias laughed again. "But didn't he prove me wrong. You are certainly just as pretty if not prettier."

Rose's brows knit together. "You knew about Lily," she mumbled.

"Severus thought I didn't pay attention," Tobias said, "but I saw him. He couldn't out smart me even though he thought he could."

Rose bit her lip and looked off to the side. "Severus is the smartest person I've ever met," Rose said firmly.

"Is that how he tricked you into marrying him?"

"There was no trickery involved," Rose said coldly. "And I would thank you to not insult my husband with your cruel implications."

"Cruel implications," Tobias repeated with an eye roll. "Where is my son?"

"He is not here," Rose answered vaguely.

"So he sent his wife to do his dirty work."

"He doesn't know I'm here," Rose told him.

Comprehension was visible on Tobias's face. "Of course not," he said. There was something about his tone, regret maybe.

"Can you stand, Mr. Snape?" Rose asked firmly. "You are sitting on the disgusting floor and your trousers are soaked in puke. I need to make sure you are okay so that I can get out of here."

Rose jumped to her feet and held out her hands to the drunken man. He met his palms with hers. Rose tried to pull him to his feet but he was dead weight. Rose squatted in front of him and she anchored her arms under his underarms and pulled upward. It would have been simple to just lift him with magic, but Rose figured that wouldn't go over well. She pulled Tobias into a standing position. He smelled and felt as if he hadn't showered in weeks. Rose tried to ignore the fact that her body was rubbing against his. Her eyes slid to the tub.

"Get in," she ordered.

Tobias gave Rose a woozy look. "What would my son say about his wife bathing his father?"

Rose grimaced. "I really don't want to think about what Severus will say about any of this," she said. "Get in and don't make it weird."

It was difficult to get the large drunkard into the bath. Rose was sure she would have to use magic to get him out again. The tub filled with warm water around Tobias. The bottom half of him was still clothed. Rose figured she could wash his clothing and him all in one shot. He did not seem to find it odd that he was dressed in the bath.

Tobias sighed with relief at the soothing water. He was clearly ill. He probably could not get in and out of the bath by himself. Rose felt pity for this man, this man who she had always pictured as a monster.

Rose picked up a cracked and dry bar of soap off the edge of the tub. She dipped it in the warm water to soften it and then wordlessly took it and began scrubbing Tobias's shoulders. This was strange. She did not know this man, he wasn't her patient, but there she was bathing him. Sure, he was technically her father-in-law, but frankly that made the situations stranger. Tobias was too intoxicated to register how uncomfortable this was, but instead closed his eyes at her touch. She carefully finished washing the upper portion of his body. She had found a semi clean pot in the kitchen to use to dump water over his head to wash his hair. Then careful to not look too closely, she reached into the now murky water and undid Tobias's trousers and assisted him to ease them down his legs with his underpants. She pulled the wet clothes from the water and handed Tobias the soap.

"You can take it from here," she told him.

He gave her a little smirk that reminded her very much of her husband.

"I will hang these to dry somewhere," Rose said, standing up. "Be right back." Rose left the bathroom. She pointed her wand at various lamps and lit the room. She opened the tiny window to let some of the putrid air out and threw the wet clothing over the naked curtain rode. Then Rose held her wand straight up and the trash scattered around the room formed one pile in the corner. Rose suspected the flat lacked garbage bags so she didn't even bother dealing with the trash further. Rose moved over to the bed. There were not sheets or pillows just a balding blanket over a mattress with urine stains upon it. Rose bit her lower lip and glanced behind her. She pointed her wand at the bed and it transfigured into something that did not look contagious. The mattress was plump and soft and covered in smooth sheets and plush pillows. Perhaps Tobias wouldn't notice.

Rose produce a large towel out of thin air and walked into the bathroom once more. Tobias had his eyes closed clearly enjoying being clean.

"Come on," Rose said breaking through his calm. "I'm going to have to get you out with magic. I don't think I-"

"No," Tobias said, his eyes flying open.

Rose reached into the water and pulled the drain. "Yes," she protested. "There is no way that I can lift you when you're wet. Nor do I thoroughly enjoy the idea of having your naked body rubbed up against me."

Tobias opened his mouth again but before he could say another word he was yanked into a standing position. Rose noticed for the first time that his body was heavily bruised probably from multiple falls and his legs were covered in bug bites, probably from the colonies of fleas that surely lived in the flat.

"I told you not to point that bloody stick at me," Tobias said furiously.

"Yeah," Rose brushed aside. Wrapping the towel around the man's waist.

Rose led Tobias into the next room, she found him something to put on, in which she had to clean with magic behind his back.

"This is not my bed," he grumbled as he laid into the plush mattress.

"Sure it is," Rose dismissed as she pulled a sheet over him. It was far too hot for any covers, yet Tobias seemed to be shivering. "Lay on your stomach." She did not want a repeat of his display in the bathroom.

He started up at her with wonderment and then rolled himself over. "What did you say your name was?" he asked off to the side.

"I didn't tell you my name," she said.

Tobias let out a hard chuckle. "Won't you tell me your name then, daughter?"

Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "Rose Snape," she said flatly.

"Rose Snape," Tobias repeated. "Now tell me Rose Snape," he continued, "why are you doing this, clearly against my son's wishes?" Tobias was clearly sobering slightly.

Rose knelt beside the bed and gazed down at Tobias Snape. "I don't know, really," she said. "You're pathetic and pitiful and as my husband would tell you, I have a horrible habit of trying to fix things." She continued to stare at him. "And your eyes look like his," she added even though that really wasn't a sensical reason for doing anything.

"Ah," Tobias said, "and this habit you have of fixing things, does that extend to my son?"

"Why would you say that?" Rose replied skeptically.

Tobias's eyes flashed with some sort of sick amusement. "I raised Severus," Tobias reminded. "That in itself could cause him to be…" he trailed off. "But he was always such a troubled child."

Rose shook her head. "Firstly, I'm sure you were too drunk for the duration of his childhood to call what you did raising him," Rose said. "Secondly, Severus turned out to be an incredible person, despite sharing your genes."

"You are very loyal to him," Tobias commented.

"I love him," Rose said strongly.

"Those children in the park, the boy and the little girl," Tobias moved on, "Are those my grandchildren?"

"Those are 'our' children?" Rose confirmed coldly.

"What are their names?" Tobias asked.

Rose pressed her lips together.

"What harm could I possibly do with that information?" he pushed her. "I just want to know."

Rose sighed. "Ephraim and Esme."

Tobias's eyes flit closed for a moment as if absorbing the information. "I like the name Esme," he said slowly before looking at Rose again. "And how is Severus as a father?"

"He is the best father," Rose said passionately. "And a wonderful husband," she added.

"And the children," he asked, "are they like you and Severus."

Rose hesitated. "They are," she said after a moment. Esme had shown signs of magic very early on. Severus was so proud the first time Esme levitated her stuffed animals round her room. It was clear that both their children were powerful.

"Bring the children next time you pay me a visit," Tobias said. "I would like to meet them."

Rose had no idea what to make of this man. She had all her preconceived ideas from the little Severus relayed to her. She was sure this man had done monstrous deeds, yet Rose was having a hard time seeing him as a monster. "I don't think so," Rose said. "There will not be a next time."

Rose pulled out her wand and pointed it between Tobias's eyes. This was a horrible time for Rose to realize that she had never actually modified anyone's memory; she only knew the theory.

"What are you doing?" Tobias said in a panicked voice.

"I have to change your memories," Rose explained her voice shaking slightly. "You can't remember any of this."

"That's what Severus did to me before," Tobias realized, scrambling to sit up. He swayed slightly as he did, too dizzy to move from the bed. "You people are all the same, you, Severus, my wife. You all assert your power over those who can't defend themselves."

Rose's eyes widened and she looked appalled. "Like a man who asserts his power over his child," she snapped back.

Tobias did not argue. His face fell. "Don't do that to me again," he said in a defeated voice.

"It won't hurt you," Rose said. "You will have new memories."

"It won't hurt?" Tobias shot back at her. "Have you ever had your life erased?"

"But you won't know the difference," Rose said, losing her resolve.

"For years I just wandered from day to day knowing that everything was all wrong," Tobias told Rose. "And I didn't forget," he half shrieked, "not completely."

"What did you remember?" Rose asked, lowering her wand slightly.

"I had nagging, vague memories," Tobias said. "I knew I had lost something." The old man looked so broken. Tears pricked in the corners of his eyes. "I lost my child."

"Severus?" Rose questioned. Without really meaning to Rose allowed images from Tobias's mind to rush towards her. Rose saw the image of a nurse walking forth with a little bundle. Through Tobias's mind's eye, Rose gazed down at infant Severus, pink and wrinkled and beautiful. Rose blinked and stared back at Tobias once more. Magic cannot erase love, was the only explanation that came to Rose's mind. But how could you be so ugly to someone you loved? "You lost Severus years before anyone messed with your memories," Rose told him quickly losing sympathy, "And that was all your own doing." She lifted her wand towards him.

"Stop," he begged. "Please."

"Do you really have the audacity," Rose began, "after everything you did to him."

"If Severus wants to get rid of me," Tobias said, "he doesn't have long to wait."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm dying," Tobias told her. "Half my body mass is cancerous. Severus can be satisfied in that I am getting what I deserve. Just let me die with my memories."

Rose struggled with herself. "Dammit!" she exclaimed. She dropped her wand arm. Rose brought her hand to her forehead and massaged her temple.

Tobias watched her cautiously for a moment and then laid himself back down. Why was Rose so easily broken. "When should I expect you again?" he asked her.

Rose chewed on the insides of her cheeks and stared off to the side.

"Would you really let me die alone?" Tobias said bluntly.

Dread built in the pit of Rose's stomach as she thought of the trouble she was causing.

"Tomorrow," he told her.

Rose cringed. "Okay," she agreed against her better judgment.

Tobias reached out and grabbed hold of Rose's hand briefly. "Thank you," he told her.

Rose nodded and then stood. Tobias immediately fell asleep. Rose dimmed the lights with magic. She walked into the bathroom to clean up the remaining emesis from the floor. She eyed the ominous streaks of blood in the sick, if Tobias was telling the truth about having terminal cancer that was beyond magical healing abilities.

Rose then held her wand pointed up with both hands as if she was in prayer. A bluish glow emanated from the tip of the wand and spread from the ceiling to lining the walls. Now this place would be undetectable by magic. Rose knew this would not be much of an obstacle for her husband, but it would at least keep Severus away long enough for Rose to find some way to explain to him her decisions to come and to not modify Tobias's memory. She disapparated back to Hogsmeade.

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Thank you so much for reading and please review.

Sincerely,

Thora Jane