The following week was awful for Severus to bear.

Each morning, his mother would quietly enter his room and helped him apply the bruise salve and tending to his new pet, who mostly stayed silent after the fiasco. His back was entirely purplish-blue and even after taking a three-day break he had a hard time hiding his pain from the eagle-eyed Mrs. Davis.

As Eileen applied another layer of the salve, Severus pondered about how she recently never protected him or herself from the brute he was forced to call 'father'. Why couldn't she just fight back? Was she bounded to the wizarding marriage law? It might also be due to the Statute of Secrecy, but Severus felt there was something else in play. Something… sinister.

And for that, he needed to find out more about his mother's family.

"This looks more potent than usual," Eileen broke the silence, somewhat astounded that instead of taking a week for the bruises to disappear, the concoction her son had brewed simply took about four days.

"Scarcity makes up for creativity, Ma, and I still haven't perfected it yet," he mumbled, twitching as the pain in his body suddenly flared up. He had made a few changes to the original recipe so he could hide the marks much faster, though he also hoped he could find a way to relieve the pain in a quicker pace too. But wouldn't that be hazardous? Just how much magic would be dangerous to wizards? He certainly had a lot to think of this summer.

Two weeks had passed since his father beat him up over a stupid raven (which he now loved dearly), and Severus was fully healed with only a few spasms. He was busy arranging books in the Psychological Science section when he heard Mrs. Davis calling for him. "Just a moment!" he replied, glancing at the giant clock hung above the entrance. It was nearly closing time. Wincing for a bit as he straightened his back, he then looked for the librarian, finding her at the back section of the building. She beckoned him to go outside and being curious, he followed her to the woods behind the library.

There was a small cottage barely hidden inside the forest, and Severus found himself feeling giddy about what the old librarian wanted to show him. So, imagine his surprise when Mrs. Davis unceremoniously put a key in his hand.

"This used to be my shack," she reminisced.

Severus looked at her and the given key in shock. "But…!"

"Some people just need a comfort space, and I can tell your home… wasn't pleasant. Just think of it as your second favorite place. Or your secret hideout, whichever you'd like."

Severus gulped; he surely thought she wouldn't notice but before long, he pondered on the thought for a while. Yes, the old oak tree by the Cokeworth River was certainly his safe location, and he really admired on how despite never having much leaves on its branches for the past few years, it still stood strong and must had seen many things in its life. He really wanted to test his 'final memory' spell on it soon.

But the shack was much secluded, providing him shelter and warmth while also protecting his many, many secrets.

"I…" he blinked away some of his tears before looking at her with grateful eyes, "Thank you, Mrs. Davis."

The old lady only smiled in return.

It was a Saturday on early July when Severus finally got the chance to go to Diagon Alley in the pretense of meeting his schoolmates for lunch. As soon as he hopped off the Knight Bus and tapped the three bricks to enter the magical town, he immediately made a beeline to the Gringotts Bank and per the usual proceedings at the goblin-governed bank, he drew some of his blood onto the identification test and smiled as the Prince family tree appeared.

"I would like to change my surname and claim my Lordship," he began.

"You're not of age yet, Lord Prince," the goblin in charge, Ragnok said mockingly with a nasty grin. "And if you still want to, you need your parent or a guardian as witnesses."

Severus surely didn't want his mother to know of his current thoughts, and with a heavy heart he accepted his initial defeat. "I don't suppose you can hand me the key to Prince Manor, then?" he asked.

"What'll you do with it?"

"I thought I can use looking around the place before actually claiming it," Severus shrugged, acting innocent as possible. The goblin merely gave him a disinterested look. Exasperated over the passive reaction, he said, "Look, I just want the Portkey or whatever means to reach the Manor so I can check on something there. Please."

Ragnok stroked his pointy chin, seemingly thoughtful. "Something important?" When Severus nodded, he hummed in response. "Yes, I suppose we have quite a deal. Here." He handed a small necklace to the wizard and grinned as he saw the fleeting uncertainty on his face, "Don't worry, just press the button again and you will reappear wherever you were before."

Severus let out a relieved sigh; that would be very handy. He examined the given trinket in utmost intereFst, smiling at the glittering amethyst and obsidian gems that decorated the item, the Prince coat of arms being the button he had to press to access the family manor. He thanked the goblin in blessings before going to the Leaky Cauldron and ordered some packaged fish and chips for dinner, grinning widely in his journey home on the Muggle bus.

The Princes were almost extinct, if it were not for the only two remaining members of the family. They had known the news of the final Prince's birth thanks to a one-time spy they had sent to keep an eye on their estranged daughter. When he informed them how happy she was with her Muggle husband and their newborn child, they decided it was for the best that they broke any contact with her.

However, just before their deaths, Felix and Lux Prince decided the loneliness in their old age was too much to bear and had written that Eileen Prince and her son were to be welcomed back to the family if they wished to, even going as far as restoring her portrait in the family tree.

But as it was, no one bothered to check the letter inside Felix's study room after the funeral and so, the Prince family's portraits spent their days waiting for their descendants almost in vain.

When the rough drawings of the child first appeared on the family tree by his second birthday, all the portraits cheered in pure joy for their bloodline would continue for another generation. They admitted, 'Severus' was one fine name, but the boy's surname left a lot to be desired. It felt… tainted, and somewhat hit close to home too; as if mocking how the noble, and somewhat a bit forgotten, wizarding family had fallen from its grace by their daughter's action.

They continued watching the changes of their heir's face from round and wide-eyed to angular and with cautious eyes, taking notes of every small detail they could glean from the drawing's dour demeanor and talked about the possibilities of how the boy was now.

It was just a normal day in Prince Manor, where the portraits were simply minding their own business; some were talking while a few brewed their famous potions and the more reclusive members of the family were reading a book when soft knocks on the entrance doors and a sudden click literally made they jump out of their frames. Who had dared to step into the ever humble home of the Prince household? A thief…? But no, that couldn't be; no one could enter without any connections to them, be it blood relations or of marriage. And that could only mean one thing.

The ever-gossiping ghostly figures quickly went back to their respective places, waiting in anticipation for the inevitable. When the grand doors swung open, all the previous members of the Prince family had bulge their eyes in utter disbelief as a figure of a young man strode into the long entrance corridor. If it weren't for his hooked nose, they all thought the newcomer had been a miniature Eileen Prince that returned home after living nearly 18 years in exile.

The portraits stayed still in their frames with eyes minutely tailing after the boy. The way he walked was fastidious as if he was in a hurry and they collectively agreed to leave him be, simply observing as the teenager took his time reading the names under their paintings, sometimes with a frown, others were gazed indifferently and a few were met with slightly widened eyes, especially of his mother's. When he saw his own portrait however, he only huffed grumpily before entering the main hall.

To their surprise, the boy didn't head straight to any of the numerous rooms inside the mansion. Instead, he walked to the tapestry of the Prince family tree while taking out a notebook and a quill from an old satchel, much to their distaste. They looked at him curiously as the boy jot down a few things in his notebook and frowned, tracing his finger over the light blue line that connected the family members along with the usual black marriage bloodline.

They also didn't miss how he grimaced at the name 'Lily Evans' that was bound to him with only the blue line. Why was their heir interested over the family's loyalty bond? Had something happened between them?

Soon enough, the heir's visit came to an end and they were both grateful over the fact that one of their only descendants had finally returned home and weeping on whether he would come again in the future or not. They, especially Felix and Lux, watched with faint smiles as the boy headed toward the exit and wondered why he stopped after opening the doors.

"It's rude to stalk on people, you know," the raven-haired teen finally spoke before leaving, closing the grand doors with a soft click.

All the portraits shared a look before booming into laughter for the first time since the boy made his entrance.

"He's a Prince thorough and thorough, alright!"

July nearly passed by without much problem, and Severus held his promise to give half of his wage to his parents. He kept half of his portion for buying new school robes and another half for buying emergency stocks of food for both him and his pet. He was nervous about one thing, however.

His O.W.L results.

It was the end of July and he was spending his weekend in the shack Mrs. Davis had given him when he heard a soft tapping at the window. His pet raven, Rogue croaked to get his attention and he smiled, ruffling its glossy black feathers before letting the owl in. He was utmost glad that the owl had come to the shack instead of his home. Ever since he had Rogue, Tobias would glare viciously at him and the bird, muttering how they would bring the imminent death of him whenever they entered his vision. As a result, Severus never stayed long in Spinner's End and more than happy to live out in the shack.

He took the letters from the owl and unrolled them, seeing three scrolls of parchment instead of two, and along with a small package. He first read the school supplies list, though he quickly discarded it since his mother still had her old books. He just needed to compare them to the new editions his Housemates would get and took the important notes from there.

The second letter was his O.W.L results, and he opened it with a grimace as Potter and Black's voices subconsciously replayed in his mind.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVELS RESULTS

PASSING GRADES:

OUTSTANDING (O)

EXCEEDS EXPRECTATIONS (E)

ACCEPTABLE (A)

FAILING GRADES:

POOR (P)

DREADFUL (D)

TROLL (T)

SEVERUS SNAPE HAS ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING:

Ancient Runes: E

Arithmancy: E

Astronomy: E

Care of Magical Creatures: A

Charms: O

Defense against the Dark Arts: O

Herbology: O

History of Magic: A

Potions: O

Transfiguration: E

Severus smiled ruefully to himself; apparently he did well enough in his DADA written exam to get 'Outstanding' for the subject and almost on reflex, he turned to his side and his grin dropped upon seeing Rogue instead of Lily. If she was still around, they could exchange their results-

…There was it again; that strange longing in his chest whenever his mind strayed to think about the redhead. Just what it could be? Was the blue line he saw in his family tree really important that her name also appeared there? He shook his head, refusing to dwell on it. His investigations could wait.

The package was the only one unopened left and from what he could guess, the item inside was quite small. He unwrap the package cautiously and to his surprise, a badge fell out onto his palm. Feeling curious, he inspected it.

It was just a Hogwarts badge, having all the four mascots of the Houses in the magical school. However, the letter 'P' right at the center of the badge and a small golden arrow currently pointing at the silver snake of Slytherin had caught his immediate attention. Him, being a Prefect? What nonsense! Weren't Prefects only chosen on their fifth year? It's not like he had done anything outstanding last term and certainly nothing worthy on the previous four years.

Frowning over the new information, Severus looked at the final letter and immediately he felt his blood boil as he read:

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft,

Albus P.W.B Dumbledore

Dear Mr. Severus Snape,

I would like to inform you that you are chosen as the stand-in Prefect for the next term session. This means you will fill in for any Prefect who may not be able to do their duty for reasons. As of this, you will be considered a representative of all Houses akin to the Head Boy and the Head Girl, though you are first and foremost a Slytherin Prefect. This is not a role many have been granted with, and you may have the same power as any other Prefect in order to carry out your duties and in times comes, of emergency.

Congratulations, and sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

His mind quickly processed there was an underlying threat underneath the benevolent tone of the letter. And as he read about how he was supposed to fill in for any Prefect if they were indisposed, he wondered just whom could be sick on a regular basis.

The answer came a second later. He was to help REMUS LUPIN covering his furry problem?!

Severus wanted to scream, shred the offending parchment into pieces and use Incendio to burn the damned badge. Did Dumbledore really think he was doing Severus a favor, that the old coot could get (or rather, bribe) his forgiveness and his silence by offering him a position of power?! The nerves he had! Was all his life and dignity only worth for a small badge? No, no, no!

He threw the badge in a fit of rage, snarling as it bounced against the wall and momentarily clattered when it fell onto the floor.

NO!

After briefly seeing the wonderful and serene lives of the Prince family, Severus had made an oath to himself.

He wouldn't be a disgrace. He wouldn't be like his mother who was groveling over past memories of a pathetic Muggle, and certainly had no desire in following his father's footsteps. As it was, one sentence in the damned letter had grabbed his interest yet again.

You may have the same power as any other Prefect.

Severus then remembered his plan.

Albus Dumbledore wouldn't ever know what would hit him.