Chapter 9: Severus

A/N: I feel like I have to warn everyone, it starts to get pretty grisly from here on out. Consider this your PSA. TW for domestic and child abuse and implied sexual misconduct. Consider yourself warned.

Things had gone surprisingly well, Severus thought happily as he began the long journey back to Spinner's End. He had Lily's forgiveness in tow and he would be seeing her again tomorrow, just like he'd hoped. The decision to put an everlast charm on the yellow lily had been a last minute stroke of genius. When he went home tired and defeated from that uncomfortable occurrence with the Muggle girl, he thought very seriously on what he could do to fix what he had gone and muddled in the first place. His mother was moved practically to tears when he came home with the small assortment of groceries and promised him a good night's supper. In the meantime, he had gone upstairs to his attic bedroom and pored over his mother's old books, unsure of what he was looking for.

He found the charm in one of her herbology texts, 'Herbs and You: A Beginner's Guide to Magical Gardening.' He had to tinker with the spell a little bit since he was dealing with a plant of no magical significance, but it turned out to be a very easy alteration. He just hoped it worked, for her sake as much as his.

It had been a bit, touch-and-go for awhile. He had expected her to be angry, but he never expected her to refuse to even listen to him. That had been an obstacle of dire inconvenience. In the end, he refused to be dismissed so carelessly and his stubbornness won out. Actions speak louder than words, and if she wasn't prepared to listen to him, than he had to be inclined to do something about it. Perhaps the decision to conquer the side of her house had been a bit...dramatic, but then again she was a dramatic sort of person, wasn't she? And Severus thought it was appropriate to speak her language. How else could he make her listen to him?

She had been right though, the decision to confront her so late in the evening was either perfectly concocted, or rather imbecilic. On the one hand, if he got home late enough, than Tobias would already be home and passed out on the sofa. He would have nothing to worry about. On the other less appealing hand, he would be awake and lucid enough to register he had gone, and Severus had no doubt he would pay for that one dearly. He hoped the situation didn't make a liar out of him, he already told Lily he wouldn't be in that much trouble-

'Probably,' he had said 'probably.'

Severus breathed a sigh of relief, comforted by the fact that he hadn't exactly lied. He was getting pretty good at inserting and omitting truths and twisting his words in just such a way that he remained honest without giving away too much. Letting people draw their own conclusions from what he said was key, as was knowing when to say very little. When you lived with a man like Tobias Snape, tactics like this were crucial for survival. It was a trait he'd have to remember to continue studying.

A cool wind blew in, tousling his over-large coat and trousers, making them flap around his lean frame and causing him to shiver slightly against the chill. It was no matter, he would be home soon and out of the wind at least. He held his breath as the small grey silhouette of his home appeared up the road in the steady gloom. Whatever lie in wait for him there would be worth it, he told himself, as he drew nearer and nearer to the cramped building embraced in shadow.

When he got close enough, he heard the familiar savage howls of madness that made him halt in his tracks and turned his blood to ice. the rampant roars of rage that could only be Tobias Snape. They cut through the chill night air, causing another violent shake that racked through his entire body and had nothing to do with the wind. distant at first, like an echoing whisper, but growing unmistakably louder as he closed the distance between himself and the house.

Great.

There, on the deserted pavement, he faltered and waited, standing stark still so he could listen to the distant shouting and attempt to catch some of what was being said-

"-back to me Eileen! You don' perform yer duties as a woman or as my wife! You can't even keep track o' that ruddy kid o' yours! Where is he Eileen? Cause he sure as hell ain't here! Yer a sorry excuse for a mother and I won't have it in my house, ya hear? You needs to be taught a lesson and I'ma teach ya up real nice ain't I? Just watch me-"

A horrific scream erupted up ahead, splitting across the sky like lightning.

Severus's heart dropped sickeningly into his gut before his feet were automatically thundering against the pavement. He sprinted desperately towards the house in a panic, his body reacting instinctively to his mother's distress. It felt like a dream. Or rather, like a nightmare. It was like he was running through water, trying desperately to get his limbs to move faster but unable to make his muscles react and obey as effectively as he wanted them to. A thousand what if's flashed through his mind and, reacting purely on instinct, he reached out to his mother to try and gather the state of her.

Probing at the barrier was easy when it was lay so bare and near the surface. He felt pain, and fear, and resentment and currently he couldn't differentiate the panic he felt as Eileen's or his own or some combination of the two. Images of Tobias flashed in his brain, his lips peeled back from his teeth in a menacing snarl, one large calloused fist raised, the other gripping tight against a pale and delicate wrist. Severus tore up the walk and crashed through the door, his feet nearly giving out from under him as he stumbled into the house.

The scene before him was exactly as he had expected. Tobias towered over Eileen, one bony wrist clenched tightly in his fist as he pulled her across the floor towards him. Eileen's hands were out in front of her face defensively and she screamed and pleaded with her husband to stop, her skirts hiked halfway up her thighs from the force of being dragged across the floorboards. He was poised mid-strike when the thunderous crash of the front door being lobbed open distracted him from his brutal attack.

Tobias turned to look towards the noise, breathing heavily in fits of primal gasps and bursts that made him sound more animal than human. Fear reached out and caught hold of Severus, trickling down his spine and squeezing his stomach, stealing his air until his throat felt raspy and dry. As much as he was afraid, the anger at seeing his mother sprawled out on the kitchen floor in a tangle of sweat and tears, an expression of terror frozen on her face, was enough to ignite his courage. In the end, it was his courage that won.

"Leave. Her. Be." Severus threatened in a low but intense voice. His eyes narrowed and he tried to stand as tall and straight as possible for his small stature, his hands clenched into tight fists at his side.

"Well, well...what 'ave we here? Looks like someone's finally grown a pair, ain't that right, boy?" Tobias's mouth curled into a malicious grin. "So, it's Sev to the rescue, is it? Lookee here Eileen, yer son has finally dropped his balls, you must be mighty proud of 'im, ain't ya?" He released Eileen's wrist and stepped over her, folding his arms in front of him as he straightened himself up to his full height.

"Sev! What are you doin? Get outta here! Go to your room!" Eileen screeched frantically, her voice trembling all over as she steadied herself on shaky arms.

"Now, now Eileen, not so fast now," Tobias said calmly holding out a hand in front of her to stop her from talking. "Looks like Sev here has somethin' he wants to say, ain't that right, Sev?" Severus was shivering convulsively, but he stood his ground and met his father's eye.

"I said," he growled with barely controlled rage "to leave her be." He glowered hatefully at Tobias's towering form. Tobias chuckled humorlessly in the back of his throat.

"I'll tell you what, boy, I'ma make a deal with you," Tobias said airily. "Since you's finally toughin' up an' showin' me some backbone, Im'a give you the opportunity of a lifetime. Colour me impressed," he shrugged his massive shoulders and threw his arms out, gesturing as though in utter disbelief to the otherwise empty room. "If you can prove to me you's a man now, you can have whatever you want." Tobias didn't miss the look of distrust that flickered across his son's face. "Now, now I'm serious here. A man always keeps 'is word. If you want me to let yer ma alone, consider it done. If you want this here house, on my word, boy, you can have it. Hell, I'll even leave this house for good an' never come back if tha's what you want. Prove to me yer a man, and a man you'll be. And a man always has run of 'is house, don' he boy?"

Severus stood there looking doubtful, it sounded too good to be true. This could be his way out. If Tobias was telling the truth, all he had to do was prove himself and he, and his mother, would be free of this vile mound of human waste forever. No longer would he have to worry. No more pain. No more nightmares. No more tiptoeing around the house. No more fear...

If.

That one little word buzzed incessantly in the back of his brain like an angry insect. He sounded genuine enough, and he knew his father stuck to his word, Tobias was many things but a liar wasn't one of them. If there was something you could say about the man he was nothing if not honest. But the possibility of Tobias dangling something so significant in his face just to snatch it away again, no matter the outcome, felt like something he would do, especially when it meant tormenting Severus. In the end, the temptation was too great, this could be his one...his only chance.

Severus's face became stony and resolute. "What do I have to do?"

"Tha's my boy!" Tobias all but whooped, clapping his massive hands together. "Did ya hear that Eileen?" Tobias called back over his shoulder over top her hysterical sobs. "Sev here is gonna show me how it's done! He'll be yer knight in shinin' armor yet. All you gotta do, son, is win. Do that and I'll honor yer terms, no matter what they be. Otherwise I won' think ya learned nothin' bout' what I been workin' so hard to hammer into that thick skull o' yours, and I can't very well leave that unfinished now, can I? Tha's an important lesson, that is."

"Tobi! No, please!" Eileen begged, the tears beginning to flow once more. "Don't hurt him!" She attempted to grapple his ankles, but he just shoved her off him with a fierce shake of his leg.

"Christ on a biscuit, Eileen, SHUT YER WHORE MOUTH!" Tobias roared.

"Win?" Severus interrupted hastily to distract Tobias from his mother's compromising position. "How?"

"Now, don' go gettin' yer knickers in a twist, it's just some good ole' fashioned tusslin' no big deal," he said holding up his hands to prevent any further interruptions. Tobias thew a beefy arm around Severus's shoulders, causing him to stumble slightly under his weight as he lead him easily into the house. Tobias bent over until he was level with his son's glowering stare. "You can do that, can't ya boy?" he whispered patronizingly.

"Severus Tobias Snape! Don't you dare!" Eileen shrieked from the ground, anger leaking into her voice, to mingle with the hysterics. Severus ignored her. This was what was best for the both of them. Even if she couldn't see that now.

"State your terms," Tobias said smoothly as he pulled a long strip of tattered cloth from his trouser pocket, glancing down at it mildly.

Severus knew that his cocky demeanor was designed to distract him and wear down his confidence before he ever even threw a punch, but he couldn't help but be irked by Tobias's arrogant attitude. "I want you out," Severus sneered. "Leave for good," he spat out, his temper rising.

Tobias grinned and nodded his head in agreement as though expecting that exact response. He slowly wrapped the fabric around his hand, just around the knuckles, tucking in the end and making an experimental fist with it. "You got yerself a deal," Tobias agreed as he opened his arms wide as though in welcome. "Now, show your Da what you got. Come on now, give me yer best shot."

"SEV! DON'T!" Eileen shouted.

Severus stood in uncertainty, still unsure if Tobias was trying to trick him or not. His mind went through about a hundred different scenarios all at once, calculating his best chance. How was he, Severus, a scrawny 11 year old kid who was all but 80 lbs soaking wet, meant to drop a full grown man ten times his size? The lack of concern or defensiveness in his father's stance was also making him uneasy. Severus took a deep breath and mustered up the rest of his courage before it fled. He may never again get another opportunity like this, and he had to try didn't he? Even if he failed miserably, he had to try, or the guilt of knowing there was a possibility, and that he had done nothing, would eat him alive from the inside.

Severus's face contorted into one of hate and rage as he shot towards Tobias, who sidestepped him easily. Tobias was looking severely disappointed at his son's lack of judgement and even sighed like he was about to say say exactly that, when, from out of sight, Severus leaped as high as he could and clambered up his father's back.

"What the-" Tobias groped blindly behind him as Severus's long arms tried to pry their way in between his chin and chest, ready to snuff out his air supply as Tobias had done to him on so many occasions in the past. Severus's hands were clasped together in front of Tobias and he was trying desperately to wriggle out of reach of his father's flailing arms at the same time.

Encouraged by his unexpected success, Severus tried to squeeze his arms as tight as he could manage, around his target. Tobias's large hands reached up simultaneously and grabbed both of Severus's coat sleeves in his fists. In one fluid motion he ducked his head and flung Severus right over top of it and flat onto his back with a sickening crunch.

All at once the lights flickered out of existence and once again he was left in the dark. The dark wasn't so bad. The dark he had grown accustomed to, but it was the sudden lack of oxygen that had him grasping at his throat in terrified panic, trying desperately to draw in air and finding his lungs unable to respond to his body's demands for air. He spluttered and coughed on the ground at his father's overlarge feet, turning over onto his side to recover from the assault on his central nervous system.

Heavy footsteps approached him, stopping right next to his ear. When he opened his eyes again he saw one muddy, thick heeled boot hovering right in front of his nose.

"Ah too bad boy," Tobias gloated as he stared down at his son's crumpled form with little pity in his voice. Tobias whipped around to Eileen who had not ceased her shouting since Severus had come home. "You see that there, Eileen? He ain't got one over on his ole' man yet! Guess he ain't no man after all."

"Oh God Tobi, what did you do!?" Eileen gasped out, her face was blotchy and red and her face was such a mess of sweat, blood, tears and mucus that she looked soaked to the skin, her hair standing out in a messy rats nest of contradiction to the usual, carefully tamed, dark tresses.

"Bed Eileen!" Tobias commanded as he shifted towards her once again, ready to claim his prize. As he turned towards her, however, his feet locked and he stumbled, and his heavy build mixed with his current state of drunkenness was enough to send the troll plummeting heavily to the ground.

As he sailed through empty space his jaw collided painfully with a rogue chair that had innocently found itself in the middle of the turmoil, his jaw slamming together forcefully with a clack of teeth as though, it too, was sick of Tobias running his mouth. He hit the floor with a heavy and loud crash that vibrated throughout the entire house.

Tobias howled with rage and frustration and whipped himself around from his spot on the floor. Eileen intuitively snatched her skirts away from him, inching out of his way as he fell forward as though he were a disease. He spit grotesquely into the ground leaving a small trickle of blood at his lips to dribble down his chin.

Severus was behind him, still on the floor with his father's shoelace clasped tightly in his fist and a smug expression on his face.

"WHY YOU SNEAKY LITTLE SHIT!" Tobias thundered in raw, untamed fury. "YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT ONE, BOY!"

Tobias scrambled to his feet and thundered towards his son, pounding all of his weight into the floor as he rushed him in unmasked animosity. Tobias grabbed a fistful of Severus's shirt and heaved him up off the floor as close to his face as possible. Severus hung from his father's grasp in near suspension, but for his toes which barely dragged against the ground in a futile attempt to steady himself from swinging haphazardly back and forth. Without saying anything, Tobias's fist slammed into Severus's face in a lightning quick jab. First one, then another, and another, in rapid succession.

One.

The darkness was back.

Two.

Stars swam into view behind closed eyes.

Three.

The world turned upside down and he felt dizzy.

Four.

He could taste the bitter metallic sting of blood in the back of his throat.

Five.

Blood flowed freely now, threatening to flood out his throat and nostrils.

Six never came. Eileen had hurled herself across the the room and thrown all of her weight onto one large beefy arm, hanging off of it like a human ragdoll to prevent him from hitting her son again. "TOBI STOP IT! STOP IT, YOU'LL KILL HIM!" she cried shrilly.

Tobias faltered, his senses returning to him as he finally realized the magnitude of his actions. He blinked stupidly at her and then back at Severus still dangling limply from his clenched fist. His expression darkened once more and he tossed the boy away from him. Severus hit the ground with a heavy thud. "Don' you dare come home after me again boy, ya hear?" Tobias growled. "Less I'll make you sleep outside, damned if I don't,"

Tobias swung back around and eyed his wife who was still clutching onto his arm as though her life depended on it. His arm wrapped around her waist automatically and pulled her tight against his hip as he headed towards their bedroom his eyes empty and his expression dangerous. Eileen looked meaningfully back at her son, who was still smeared across the floor, wiping at the flow of blood currently gushing from his nose.

She looked pained and apologetic and though Severus's head was still swimming with dizziness and his eyes were unfocused, he could tell her expression was telling him not to worry, she would be alright. She could deal with Tobias. With that, she disappeared behind the door.

Severus continued to gawk at the space where she vanished until he heard the unmistakable click of the latch behind her.

And he was left alone.

The next morning dawned as normal as ever. The sun was shining brightly in an ocean of blue and white and the birds were chirping happily as they bathed themselves in the decorative basins of cool water gifted to them by generous strangers. As far as the day could tell, nothing awful had happened at all, nor ever had before. But in the cramped and dingy attic of the Snape household, the discrepancy of that statement stirred himself awake.

Severus was uncomfortably plugged and stuffed from the dried blood that had caked itself to the inside of his nose and mouth. He had taken a long time to get to bed, as it had been hard to stunt the insistent jet of blood oozing from his injured nose. His back and face were aching and the added issue of pain kept him awake and alert for long into the night. Wincing, he got up from his mattress and slowly dressed, afraid of what the repercussions of time had done to his appearance.

It seemed Severus had overslept. The sun was much too high in the sky for his usual routine. At this hour, it was safe to assume that Tobias had already left for work and he was free to wander about the house as he wished without consequence. That in mind, he carelessly made up the bed before heading down the narrow staircase for breakfast.

Eileen sat at the wooden table, hunched over a large cup of tea. She looked terrible. She had dark circles under her eyes and the lip that had broken open the night before had crusted over and swelled giving it a slight pout on one side. She looked up when Severus entered the kitchen and, offering a wan smile, got up from the table to get him something to eat. There was a sealed cream colored envelope resting in the center of the table with a bright crimson wax seal that was addressed in green ink.

"H-how did you sleep?" his mother's voice was dry, like a forced whisper and even as she spoke it trembled. Severus expected she may have lost her voice from all the yelling she did the night before, really it wouldn't have been an unreasonable assumption, but he said nothing. Instead he shrugged his shoulders and sat down at the table refusing to meet her eye. "Your letter arrived this morning," she continued strenuously, attempting to keep things as light as possible as she set a plate of toast in front of him alongside a small jar of preserves. Severus glanced at the envelope on the table and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms resentfully in front of him.

Eileen sighed heavily, "Sev, I-"

There was a sudden burst of bright green flame that shot out from the fireplace, causing Severus to jump. Eileen let out a small squeak of fright as she straightened up in alarm and stepped in front of Severus's chair, blocking him from view.

"Is anyone home? Eileen? Are you there?" A disembodied voice called from inside the floo.

Severus's mouth gaped open in bewilderment. They had never been hooked up to the floo network before! Tobias would never allow it. Severus had only ever read about it in his mother's books and it was possible she may have mentioned it once or twice before in passing...but never had he the chance to witness it first hand.

"Vesta?" Eileen called cautiously. "How did you-"

"Wait, I'm coming through. I can't understand a word you're saying." the voice shouted back.

Eileen exchanged a confused glance with her son, but even then she never budged. The flames brightened briefly and a middle-aged witch came spinning into view, stepping out of the fireplace and dusting off her emerald robes with the flat of her gloved hand. She had a narrow pointed face and eyes that curved inwards at the inside corner ever so slightly, giving her an exotic appearance that Severus supposed could be considered attractive. Her black hair was loose around her shoulders and was perfectly straight with a glossy sheen that framed her porcelain skin. The woman coughed momentarily before straightening herself up, and took an arbitrary glance around the room, tucking her clutch firmly under one arm. Her nose wrinkled in distaste and the corners of her mouth pulled into a frown as she scanned her surroundings.

"Vesta! What are you doin' here? How did you get us connected to the Floo Network?" Eileen questioned in astonishment. She rushed forward and gave the other witch a fleeting hug before stepping back and ogling at her in utter amazement.

The witch waved a hand dismissively and chuckled "Oh it wasn't a problem. I called in a favor with a friend of mine who works at the Department of Magical Transportation at the Ministry. It wasn't but an hour before it was all carried out and in order. Anything for you Vesta, he says-" Vesta cut off her explanation suddenly as though only just noticing Eileen was there. "Sweet Merlin Eileen! What happened to you?"

Eileen's fingers passed spontaneously over her lip. "Oh...It's really nothin' Vesta, just an accident-" Severus snorted in mock amusement. Eileen fixed him with an icy glare, warning him to keep his mouth shut.

Vesta's gaze wandered down to Severus still sitting at the table and her eyes grew round with recognition. "Oh Eileen! This can't be my nephew can it? Is this little Severus? I can't believe it, he's just so grown up!" Vesta crouched down next to Severus and held out her black gloved hand, which he shook awkwardly. "Severus, I'm your Aunt Vesta," she said kindly. She hardly left him a chance to answer before she whipped around excitedly and said "He's a shy one, isn't he? Why do you let him keep his hair so long Eileen, I can hardly see the boy. Here Severus, come, let me get a good look at you." She pulled him up out of his chair by the hand she was still shaking.

Vesta let out a startled yelp and clapped a hand over her mouth as Severus peeked up at her, his long hair swaying back to reveal his face. Severus's usual pale skin was studded with ugly purple bruises that clashed horribly with his fair complexion. His eye was swollen and heavy lidded and a thin cut brandished itself across the bridge of his nose which was clotted and scabbed over. "Good heavens child! What on earth happened to you!?" Vesta exclaimed breathlessly.

"I suppose...it was an accident." Severus replied scornfully, meeting his mother's eye. "Was that it, Mum?"

Vesta swung around and threw Eileen a look that could petrify a basilisk. "Eileen! How could you let this happen!? He's just a boy! He's your son! It was that horrible Muggle man, what's-his-name, wasn't it?" without waiting for an answer she turned angrily back to Severus and drew her wand. "Now I'm no expert at healing spells dear, but I do know a thing or two. I am a mother after all- No, no don't fuss, let me see it, I'll sort you out," she smiled at him reassuringly.

Murmuring under her breath she began waving her wand around Severus's injuries, concentrating on the deep plum colored bruising and the cut on his nose. Severus felt his face prickle with the consistent flow of magic against his skin, but restrained from reaching up and scratching while she worked. By the time she finished the spell, the bruising had receded significantly and what remained faded to a splotchy red or a pale blue at its worst. Both the cut and the swelling over his eye had vanished entirely, and the pain had thankfully subsided to just a dull throb rather than the constant tender ache it had been.

Vesta tutted, "I'm afraid that's the best I can do, lamb," she crooned apologetically. She got to her feet and turned to face Eileen. "He's been beaten black and blue," she scolded accusingly, one hand coming to rest protectively on Severus's shoulder. "How could you? Did you do nothing?" Eileen looked tormented and bewildered all at once as she stood, twisting uncomfortably, under her sister's penetrating glare. The reality of her only son's suffering crashed down on her full force, swelling to an ugly truth she could no longer pretend to ignore.

"What are you doin' here, Vesta?" Eileen said softly. "Ain't it against the rules to even be talkin' to me?" Her voice was laden with guilt and self pity. Her shoulders slumped in defeat and exhaustion and she pinched the bridge of her nose wearily as she waited for a reply.

"I've come to see if you won't reconsider our offer," Vesta replied smoothly as though unaffected by her sister's self loathing. "Lucia and Alder got their letters yesterday. I knew Severus's would be along soon as well. On Salazar's grave, I never expected to find such a mess." There was a heavy undertone of prosecution to her words. "Weigh your options carefully Eileen. It would do you well to think of Severus."

"I am always thinkin' about Severus," Eileen said, her patience wavering. "What about father? You got him to agree to this too then, did you?"

Vesta snorted, "Agree to it? It was his idea! We never sentenced you to exile, Eileen, if you'll recall. You turned your back on us when you chose that Muggle over your own flesh and blood. A habit I see you've failed to outgrow," she said pointedly, eyeing her nephew. "Severus has magical blood, he deserves to be with his own kind. Release him and I promise you he'll be safe. We'll take care of him. I'll take him as one of my own, it's Lucia's first year at Hogwarts too, they can look out for each other."

"A boy need be with his father. With his family." Eileen hissed acidly.

"We are his family, Eileen," Vesta argued pointedly. "You let that Muggle lay his hands on you. So be it. You only have yourself to answer to for that. But to allow the same of Severus...Well...now you've gone too far."

"You can't come waltzing in here and pretend like you know my life, Vesta. You and the rest of the family haven't talked to me in years! You stand there bein' all self righteous and...superior! But you don't know nothin'."

Vesta sighed sadly, "How long are you going to keep telling yourself the same lies, Eileen? Look around you. Is this how Muggles live? Look at yourself, hell, look at your son! Nobody deserves to live like this. I suppose if you insist on living like a neanderthal, I can't stop you or force you to see sense. At least release Severus."

Severus had jumped to his feet eagerly. "I want to go," he stated bluntly. Eileen looked like his words had physically pained her. Her expression was one of deep remorse and she turned agonized eyes to look into her little boy's face. Her gaze flicked over the angry blotches that Vesta's healing spell failed to dissolve, and she swallowed back heavy tears.

"There now, see? Vesta said as if that resolved the matter. "Go pack your things Severus, and we'll be off in two flicks of a snake's tongue." Severus turned to head back up the narrow staircase to his attic bedroom when Eileen fluidly stepped in front of him, blocking his path, her hurt replaced by an irrational anger.

"You're not goin' Sev. That's that," Eileen said strictly. "And as for you-" she turned on the witch still standing in her kitchen and pointed a trembling finger at her in outraged defiance. "How dare you come to my house, uninvited, and make all sorts of accusations an' assumptions you know nothin' about! How dare you try an' steal my only son away from me after insultin' me and my husband! You're not welcome in my house! Get out! And for the love of God Vesta if I ain't disconnected from the floo by tonight, I'll come through that fireplace an' wear your guts for garters!"

Vesta's expression grew dark and pompous as she swiped at her sister's wagging finger. "Don't point those filthy hooks at me, Eileen!" she snapped irritably. "You've always been the selfish one. You won't even put away your pride long enough to consider how this decision affects Severus. Just when I thought my opinion of you could sink no lower, but you continue to shock me with your impudence. I never thought I'd see the day when a mother would put herself before the welfare of her only child."

"GET OUT!" Eileen shouted furiously.

Vesta crouched down and gave Severus a sorrowful look before wrapping him briefly in her arms and whispering, "I'm sorry, lamb" in his ear. She straightened up and fluffed out her robes marching pointedly back to the floo, her nose in the air. With one more disdainful look at Eileen she threw a handful of black powder into the grate and stood back as a jet of green flame came shooting out of it. "You're making a grave mistake, Eileen," Vesta said mournfully as she stepped into the roaring flames. With one final blaze of glaring jade, she was gone.

"The gall-" Eileen muttered to herself in disgust. She turned to look at her young son who was no longer there. Her head swiveled around, scanning the room until she had eyes on him once more. "Sev-" she began quietly. "Sit down, let's talk about this." Severus snatched up the cream colored envelope on the table and stuffed it haphazardly into his coat pocket.

"There's nothing to talk about," he said carefully.

"Severus, I'd like to talk to you," Eileen replied sternly.

"There are things I want too, Mum," Severus replied as he crossed to the front door. "Clearly we don't always get what we want though, do we?" And with that he had gone, slamming the heavy wooden door shut behind him.

A/N: I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, it took a long while to sort out. It went through more editing than you probably realize. I hope it's up to standard. Thanks for reading!

*Minor Re-editing*