"Perhaps, Madame I can be of some assistance." Dumbledore offered from the doorway to this small storeroom.
"Professor Dumbledore?!"
"Hello, Eileen Prince, if I am not mistaken, class of 1942-"
The surprised younger wizard swiped at his eyes and rose to his feet leveling a hard glare at Dumbledore. "I don't want you here, leave MY quarters at once! You have no right being here-"
"Severus! Is that anyway to speak to the headmaster? Apologize at once, young man." Eileen scolded.
"But, Mother-" he protested.
"Now, Severus!" Giving her son a fierce scowl that spoke volumes.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Before Severus could reply the potion vials and jars that lined the far wall began to rattle as uncontrolled magic swirled in the air. The young wizard backed away as several glass jars burst with the intensity of his emotions. The child 's face washed with a sudden horrified look. Accidental magic was …unsettling to a child let alone a teenage who should have better control…it was just frightening.
A flicker of indecision swept over his face before he stepped forward grabbing a jar of dead cockroaches he launched it in the Headmasters' direction with a loudly shouted NO! Embarrassed by his outburst he fled the side door.
The Headmaster narrowly sidestepped the projectile as he scowled at the retreating black clad back. Terrified and angered by his lack of control he made to go after the boy. He had every intention of cornering that young man and paddling his back side until sitting comfortably became a distant memory. What if he had lost control like that in front of Tom? He would be maimed or dead that was for certain. But a soft tear filled voice stopped him.
"Wait, please, sir…" Eileen beseeched as she stepped closer to her former teacher. He had always been an honorable wizard.
"Severus is a good boy-he wouldn't disrespect an adult like that -not without cause. Please do not fire him- he has said this is the only place he has ever called home. Be patient with him, he will be terribly frightened. His father-he-he would beat him for things like this- the bast**rd detested magic. I tried to protect him but I could not always shield him. Tobias went into a rage whenever he saw me hold my wand much less use it. He-He locked it away…threatnened to snap it in two if I touched it again. I used to sneak it out when he would pass out and heal the visible wounds he inflicted." she trailed off, glancing at the closed door leading to her sons' bed chamber.
"Eileen, may I ask…why ever did you marry that man?" he searched her face for an unspoken answer.
"Tobias was not always that way. In the beginning he was quite kind…that only changed after. Severus started having his first bouts of accidental magic-little things really-about five years of age. My husband lost his job the same day and he was so sure that somehow Severus was to blame. Then he started to blame me because he hard gotten his freakishness from me. I tried to explain that magic was a gift and in no way was that the cause of his misfortune, but then he started drinking…he never recovered after that." Eileen dabbed her eyes on a handkerchief.
"Why did you not seek out help surely your family-" the headmaster interjected.
"I had no one; my family, what was left of it, had disowned me. I could not turn to the muggle agencies because I could not explain our magic. The wizarding world does not look kindly on half bloods either. So who was I to turn to?" she twisted the cloth as she spoke.
The headmaster sighed. Who indeed?" I would have helped-" the elder wizard began.
"Would you, Professor? I'd like to think you would too, but you made it very clear to every house that you valued bravery and other attributes that only the Gryffindor seemed to possess. Why would I have thought after seeing you do nothing to help my Slytherin house that you would have a change of heart. I was a coward to stay with that man after all. " she whispered.
"My dear, you are more right than you know. I must see to Severus. Would you permit Phineas Nigel to guide you to one of the portraits in my office so that we may speak further? " he replied sadly.
"I'd like that, sir. A change of scenery would be most welcomed. A person can only look at pickled dragon eyes for so long with out going barmy." Eileen smiled briefly.
The headmaster strolled to the door and paused, turning back to the portrait.
"Oh and you need not worry about Severus he is in good hands." with a twinkle in his eye,he wandlessly opened the door to confront his boy.
"Thank you, sir." Eileen reponded.