Sick

Author's Note is at the end. ~ SS19

Chapter Eight:

The boy had brought scorn upon the whole of the Snape family, divided them, torn them apart, and was the work of Satan himself. His mother, a witch, clearly consorted with Satan and was one of Lucifer's angels, and she should have never been allowed any contact with his younger brother — whom was a good man at the heart, and was certainly not anything unholy. But he had been charmed and she had clearly poisoned his drink that night, corrupting him and leading to the conception and creation of the abomination that stood before him — his nephew, although he would never call him that, a boy who was made before marriage and carried the Devil's mark, could do unnatural things, and was a freak, just like his mother.

Jairus Snape had never understood his younger brother's fascination with Eileen Prince, and had tried to bring him back toward the Light when she had started to tempt him, but Tobias was too young, too naive, not yet wise to the ways of women and sirens, and he had fallen for her. When she announced that she was pregnant with his child, he had sworn that he would find some way to defeat her and her evil ways.

Of course, he would never hit a pregnant or unarmed woman, much less a child. There had always been a chance that the child did not inherit his mother's powers, and remained true and in the eyes of the Lord, pure. Untainted.

But he did not. From the age of ten, he started to exhibit the same talents as his mother — and it was then that Jairus had finally understood his mission. His mission was to drive the freakishness from that boy — to make sure that the Snape family remained pure.

He hated his nephew more than anything else in the world. He could not stand the child, with his dark hair and dark eyes and most of his mother's features — apart from the Snape nose, which had been something to be proud of before he had arrived. Even the name given to the child sounded to Jairus like it was the work of the Devil — and he would never use it.

He had other titles for this Satan's spawn, however.

Lucifer lay within his very blood, and it was through that blood that the Devil could be purged.

He had to punish the boy, because the boy needed punishing, through that punishment would come redemption and perhaps renouncement and then he would finally be a worthy heir to the Snape line.

Severus backed away from his uncle, not sure how the Dark Lord had managed to find him, not wanting to contemplate what might happen next — he swallowed and knew that he was demonstrating fear — but his uncle was cruel and merciless in his treatment of Severus, whom he hated and disliked and wanted to see dead. Whenever he hit Severus, he said something about saving the boy's soul — and Severus had never been able to fight back. Jairus Snape was tall and bulky and strong, much so than his nephew — and he could always break Severus.

Most of the time, Jairus waited until the witch was out before instilling his regime upon the boy. She went out often — and Tobias had a job — so they often asked him to look after the boy. He had been brought here once again so he could make sure the other learnt his lesson — to consort with the Devil was a sin that was punishable.

"Come here, freak." Snape said harshly, a command more than a request.

Severus hesitated, wondering if he could draw his wand, was this some sort of test perhaps, to see if he could murder his uncle, was that what the Dark Lord wanted? He shook his head, feeling no older than twelve years once again, and wishing he could find some sort of internal strength. His uncle had always waited until he had Severus alone before doing anything to him — made sure no one could hear Severus cry out when the pain became too much — and when his parents had arrived home, he had always managed to brush it off. His father said he deserved it, and his mother was too weak and depressed to say anything — not even to defend her own son. So Severus had for much of his childhood simply accepted the beatings and had tried not to cry too much, because strong people did not cry.

But he did not want to approach his uncle, he knew what would happen if he did —

The boy was outrightly disobeying him, and it enraged Jairus. He was stood, being defiant, the way Eileen Prince had been when Jairus had threatened her should she marry his younger brother. He would not stand for such disobedience and defiance, not by a child — he marched across the room, and grabbed Severus by his collar.

Before Severus even had time to react and draw his wand, his uncle had grabbed his collar and slammed him back against the wall, sending shivers through his skeleton. Severus winced as his uncle gripped his chin tight between his fingers and raised Severus' face to his, the nails digging into his skin, enough to puncture. He hated his uncle's eyes for they were devoid of any emotions, except hate, and it scared Severus beyond anything he could imagine. "Uncle…" He murmured, disappointed at how weak his voice sounded.

"You're a freak, boy." Snape replied, cutting across Severus, "Get on the floor."

Severus tried to shake his head, "No…"

His uncle threw him onto the floor at the sound of his reluctance, "Do not question me."

Severus, frightened, went for his wand - but Snape was quicker, kneeling next to Severus and trapping his hand against his side, "Do not even try, I know your mother and her tricks, you will not find me such easy prey —"

"My mother was not like that —" This was the one thing that continually angered Severus, because his uncle believed his mother was some sort of temptress when she had been a good person, inherently so —

Jairus slapped Severus across the face, splitting is lip because of the sheer force, "Your mother is the spawn of the Devil, boy, and I do not even wish to contemplate what that makes you — you are him trying to possess you —"

Blood dribbling from his mouth, Severus tried to squirm away but his uncle had managed to grab Severus' wand and pulled it away from him. He threw it into a corner as if touching it burned him, before focusing his attention back on Severus. "I think perhaps you need a small reminder of what you are — remember, I am doing this for your own good —"

Severus flinched away, "No…if my mother…"

"Oh yes, your mother. If she can hear you from Hell, I suppose she will come to help you — is that it? Such a shame she stepped out in front of that car — " Jairus spat and Severus seemed about to say something in response but thought better of it. Jairus stepped away, "On your knees and beg for redemption, freak."

Severus shook his head, "No."

"Defiance?" Jairus grabbed Severus by his hair and pulled him up to his knees, "Hands behind your head."

Severus hated more than anything this humiliation technique — but he did put his hands behind his head as commanded.

"I think perhaps some of my lessons have started to wear off — perhaps the poker might reinforce the message."

Severus turned, lowering his hands, "No…no…"

Jairus whirled, "Hands behind your head!"

Severus contemplated running, but he would not get far — the poker — he hated that — it was hot and — "Please, I've learnt, I cannot change what I am, you do not need to reinforce the message, Uncle, I know what I am…"

"Then say it, boy." Jairus answered. "Tell me."

But Severus would not admit the word because he knew what it was — a betrayal of his mother —

"Very well. I think perhaps you have lied to me."

Jairus picked up the poker from the fireplace and inspected the end. Although the Devil inhabited Hell, it could not bear it when heat was applied to a mortal skin, for the pain was too great. He made sure his hand was well away from the screaming hot metal and faced the boy, who had his back to him, muscles tensed. This was for his good — exorcise the Devil — and then he could have a fresh new start, he could be pure once more, and perhaps he would even be accepted into a Kingdom somewhere. "Shirt off, boy."

The boy seemed paralysed by his own fear, and that was good, because that meant Jairus was rightfully putting the fear of God into the boy — "Quickly."

But still no response from his nephew — so Jairus walked across and raised the poker high, "Do not flinch, that is the Devil's command."

The boy had tightened his muscles, eyes closed, like a coil ready to spring — and then he brought the weapon down.

Severus cried out as the red hot metal made contact with the skin that was visible around his neck. He had refused to take his shirt off because he did not want to be burned - but the force that his uncle brought the poker down caused something in his neck to break and the pain exploded. He tried to get out of the way, turning his face toward his uncle — at exactly the wrong moment. The metal collided with his face and he recoiled, his skin suddenly feeling alight, burying his head in his hands with a scream that quickly became a sob as the pain intensified.

He was vaguely aware of someone shouting "Riddukulus" but the pain continued and he sobbed into his hands. Why was someone shouting the counter curse to a Boggart, because that was what that curse did…why wasn't his uncle still hurting him…he raised his head and saw a flash of blonde hair. "…What…"

Lucius stepped into his vision and looked down at him, "How intriguing."

Severus, well aware there was blood on his face and he was badly burnt, stared at him, "…It…It was a Boggart?" He whispered, "…Why…"

"How better to teach you a lesson, Snape, than to watch you face your greatest fear? It was highly entertaining." Lucius tutted, "You believed in it — you ought to clean yourself up — otherwise someone at Hogwarts may suspect something."

Before Severus could stand, Lucius reached out and pressed a hand to his shoulder, keeping him still, "Next time…you will kneel when asked." He withdrew his hand and turned away. Severus got shakily to his feet and disappeared out into the corridor, leaving Lucius alone.

Not quite alone.

"How very interesting, Lucius. An interesting tactic — very underhand too, I might add. I am very impressed." Lord Voldemort murmured from the shadows, and Lucius bowed to him, accepting the compliment. "Did he perform to your liking, master?"

Voldemort seemed to consider, "It was certainly an enlightening experience, and gives me much to work with. However. I suspect you are not quite finished yet, are you?"

"If my Lord so allows, I wish to test him in a slightly more…pressurised situation…and of course, he should Duel us — if my Lord would so consent."

Voldemort nodded, "I will have one sent to you from Azkaban. Remember — do not kill him — I want him alive."

"I am at my Lord's service."

Severus hid in the bathroom at Hogwarts, the cubicle door locked and his face still buried in his hands. He had picked up his wand and managed to repair most of the damage so it was at least invisible — but he could not stop the way his heart pounded — that had been a vision? A Boggart — and yet — he had been so sure it was real, and now Malfoy knew what his uncle had done to him — he had never felt such self loathing, he had been so very pathetic, and he had been watched!

He pulled the toilet lid up and retched the contents of his stomach into the bowl, trying to ignore the tears that streaked his cheeks as he coughed and spluttered.

His uncle was right — he was tainted.

Diseased.

Sick.

Another difficult chapter - I am working from my perception that Boggarts can cause physical harm because they assume the form of whatever the person fears most - in this case, Severus fears his uncle and most importantly the pain his uncle causes - thus it hurts him in real life too, just like the Dementors can cause Harry to collapse.

I hope that my OC in Jairus Snape was a little bit different to usual - I have approached this topic before but never in this sort of way - he will return later in the story.

Yours ~ SS19