Chapter Twenty-Three

The drive back to their neighborhood from the train station was longer than it had been in September, for the December winds brought ice and snow, making the conditions hazardous. By the time Lily and Severus stepped out of the Evans' car, Severus felt the last of his patience dwindling. His legs were cramped from sitting for endless hours, and despite the fact he wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing his home on Spinner's End again, being in his own bed that night was a welcoming thought.

After helping Lily bring her things inside, Severus was standing on the front porch with her. Snow was falling lightly, and the sun was already low in the sky.

"I guess I should be heading home now," Severus said.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Lily asked.

Severus smiled slightly. Lily didn't need to ask if her presence was wanted. "If you want," he replied, "but won't your parents expect you for dinner?"

Lily shrugged. "Soon enough, but I already told them I'd be helping you take your things back to your house."

"All right, then," Severus agreed.

Had he been in the confines of his own house, Severus would have used magic to help move the bags, but in the open of a Muggle neighborhood, he knew better. They walked along the side of the road, careful not to slip on the ice. The sidewalks were unfortunately covered with large piles of dirty snow.

Turning a corner, they began walking past the playground where Severus had first observed Lily was a witch. Lily was quietly talking about seeing Petunia back home a few minutes ago when Severus noticed a form lying on one of the benches, shivering violently. A bad feeling pooled in the pit of Severus's stomach as his dark eyes rested upon the homeless man.

Stopping in his tracks, Severus continued to gaze at the form on the bench. Lily, noticing Severus's sudden hesitation, stopped as well and cast him a confused gaze.

"What's wrong, Sev?" she asked softly.

"Can you see him?" he returned just as softly, gesturing slightly with his head toward the man.

Lily followed the direction of the gesture and saw the man's body stretched out on the bench. She nodded.

"I think it might be my father," Severus whispered, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.

Lily's eyes shifted from the park bench to Severus and back again. "We have to walk past the playground, Sev. I suppose we could walk on the other side of the street."

Resigning himself to that suggestion, Severus and Lily crossed the street and quickened their pace. Regrettably, just as they were making their way past the bench, the man stirred, probably having not been properly asleep, and he sat up. A part of Severus wanted to turn his head and confirm his suspicions, but he kept up his rapid pace, eager to be as far away from the man as possible. The man, however, was now standing and ambling his way drunkenly across the slushy road toward the two teenagers.

Severus noticed and stopped, murmuring to Lily, "Get behind me." He reached for his wand.

"What are you doing?" Lily hissed in his ear. "Sev, this is stupid. Let's just get out of here."

"And have him follow us?" Severus hissed back. "I don't think so."

When the man was five feet away, Severus could clearly see that it was Tobias Snape. Tobias had never been an attractive man, but looking at him now, Severus found every inch of him deplorable. Tobias's dark brown hair was hanging wildly about his face, matted and filthy. He hadn't shaven since Severus had expelled him from Spinner's End, and so a beard, raged and just as filthy as his hair, framed his jaw. Severus tried not to breathe, as Tobias reeked of stale alcohol and general body odor. He noticed that man was wearing the same clothes he had been months ago, only they were darkened with months of grime and tattered and torn. It was no wonder Tobias was shivering in the cold - he had no winter coat!

"Severus," Tobias slurred, his bloodshot eyes displaying recognition. "Please... my boy, won't you let me come home? I've tried to find home, and it's missing..."

"Get away, Father," Severus ground out. "You're no longer welcome there."

For a moment, Severus locked eyes with Tobias. Even now, he was still drinking, and Severus knew the man wouldn't change. At least if Tobias were sober, what Severus said might sink in the smallest bit, but Severus had long ago given up hope for his father. The man destroyed himself and everyone around him.

Tobias glanced past Severus and seeing Lily, smiled. "Who's the pretty lady?" he asked.

"None of your business," Severus said sternly. "Now, go back to your bench and leave us alone."

"Having a bit of fun with your lady friend?" Tobias groused. "Can't I have a go with her?"

Insulted, Severus brought his wand out, forcing it between Tobias's eyes. "You will never talk about Lily that way, ever," Severus said menacingly. "You have lost all respect. You have chosen your path, Father, so this is the life you will lead - alone and damned by your own pathetic choices."

I would know what that feels like, Severus couldn't help but add in his mind to himself.

Suddenly, Tobias's pleading face turned harsh. His temper broke, and he raged, "You've taken everything from me, boy! You think you can take my wife, my home, my- my identity away from me! You'll get yours, you'll see."

As much as Severus wanted to use magic and blast Tobias, he knew it would be tracked in an open Muggle neighborhood. He didn't have the advantage of being inside his own house right now. He chose instead to punch Tobias in the nose, and when the older man was cursing and covering his bleeding nose a second later, cowering back, Severus took the opportunity to leave.

"Go," Severus hissed to Lily.

They took off at a run down the street, putting as much distance between them and Tobias as quickly as possible. Finally, reaching Spinner's End, Severus unlocked and unwarded the back door and slipped inside, Lily next to him the whole way. Once they were safely inside, Severus heaved a sigh of relief and dropped his bags.

Taking Lily's hand, he silently led her to the living room, where they dropped onto the couch. The electricity was no longer working, so Severus lazily aimed his wand at the fireplace and started a fire in the grate, both for light and heat. Noticing the TV, Severus was reminded of all the years Tobias had lain on this same couch they now occupied, the television blaring in the background.

"I need to dispose of that abominable thing," Severus remarked, glaring at the TV.

Lily, concerned, knew Severus was trying to withdraw attention from the earlier encounter with his father. "It's okay to talk about it if you want... about him," Lily murmured, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

Lily had never properly met Tobias before today. She had only seen him from a distance or heard about him from Severus. While she was put off by the man's general demeanor and appearance, Tobias's remarks about her, which should have abased her, hadn't done so. The prime emotion she had felt upon seeing the sorry man was pity.

"There's nothing to talk about, Lily," Severus muttered, looking into the fire.

Lily watched him for a few seconds. The shadows from the flickering flames danced across his face, illumined in a soft, orange glow. In the dark depths of his eyes, Lily regarded, entranced, the mirrored fire there. So much anger, so much hatred, so much a need to prove himself. Lily felt those emotions rolling off Severus like smoke, even if he tried to keep them snuffed.

"There's much to talk about, Sev," Lily finally gently countered, "but maybe another day. It's late, and I know it's been not only a long day, but the last few months have been taxing for you as well. You do know that you don't have to change yourself for me, right?"

Tearing his gaze away from the fire, Severus looked into her eyes. That green - so accepting, so forgiving, so loving... Where had Lily's words of concern come from? He knew she worried about him, and supposing his rage toward and about his father was giving Lily fuel for her concerns, Severus sighed and forced a small smile.

"I do know that, finally," Severus admitted. "But you're right. It has been a long day. I'll walk you back home, but we're going the long way around this time."

Lily readily agreed, and they left Spinner's End. A couple of hours later, after giving in to sharing dinner with Lily's family, Severus returned home. He debated about which way to take, and deciding the cold wasn't reason enough to take the shorter route past the park, Severus returned the way they had come.

Some time later, Severus was back in the sitting room, staring into the flames like before. The hour was very late, and he wasn't sure why he was moved to do it exactly, but Severus took a blanket from his parents' old bedroom and went outside with it. Finding Tobias's form shivering on the bench, Severus warily approached, hoping the other man was asleep. Tobias thankfully didn't move as Severus came closer and closer. Gingerly, Severus placed the blanket over his father. Tobias's shivers lessened and then stopped. He didn't stir.

Severus stepped away, keeping his eyes locked on his father. The snow began to fall lightly once again. The reds and greens of Christmas lights from nearby houses dimly illuminated the night, as did the soft glow from the streetlights. All was calm and quiet.

His breathing steady, Severus felt a warmth penetrating his heart. Some might say it was the feeling of the season, but it was more than that.

Lily... dear, sweet Lily.

Severus knew why he felt different. The warmth of a blanket on an abusive, lost, pathetic, undeserving man and the warmth in the heart of a cold, embittered, equally lost, once-dead man were one and the same.

Lily's greatest power. Love.

Author's Note: Yes, I know I promised a long chapter. Well, this was twice as long as chapter 22. I originally intended it to be longer, to encompass more of the Christmas season, and have the encounter with Tobias only be the first part, but it developed into something longer, and I liked ending it on this note, leading us to the next chapter, the full on Christmas one.

I apologize for the delay in between updates lately. I literally had to take a day off work to complete this. I needed a break, seriously! Thank God for personal days. Whew!

As for Tobias's character, I wanted there to be some compassion for the man. I don't intend to make him out to be an absolute bully. You'll see.