Chapter 8- Missing
Hi everyone, sorry for the long wait! What can i say, life has caught up, and fanfiction got pushed to the side. I hope you are all enjoying the story stall though.
Lots and lots and lots of thanks to my co-writer and beta DN Stalker! I wouldn't have got this done without you!
Without further ado, chapter 8...
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Snape felt his heart clench painfully in his chest. The house seemed unnaturally quiet. The stairs creaked under his black, shiny boots, as he stalked, half angry, half regretful down the stairs. He could hear the faint gasps and hitches in the small child's breath, as he sobbed himself raw. The sound of tears and cries floated down the steps, haunting him, forcing him to confront his questionable actions towards the boy upstairs. He truly had not meant to be so harsh with the child, but his absolute fury at the arrogant, self centered brat was entirely unparalleled.
The wretched child had actually tried hugging him, with such sure familiarity that he could have been cuddling up to his own doting relatives! The nerve of the little brat. Expecting him to indulge in him, and worship the ground he walked on.
No. No, he would teach this boy the meaning of hard work, discipline and punishment. He would remove the silver spoon which had been wedged into his mouth from birth, and teach him some respect for his betters.
As the evening grew on, Severus began to grow concerned. There had not been a single sound for hours, not since he had left the boy sobbing on the bed. He listened diligently for the sound of footsteps, or any sign of misbehaviour. Nothing. Perhaps he had been too harsh on the boy. He was only small after all. Severus felt an unfamiliar feeling of guilt and remorse clog his throat. He had only felt it once before, when he had called Lilly that despicable name and lost her forever.
Perhaps he would go and check on Lily's child? Yes, he thought. After all, although he is Lily's son, he is also James bloody Potters spawn as well. Who knows what mischief the boy could be getting up too? With a quiet, exasperated sigh, he settled his potions journal on the glass cabinet next to him, stood gracefully and ascended the steps.
He reached the top landing, and made his way to Potters room. He reached the ebony door. For a second, his hand twitched, as if to knock on the door, but caught himself in time. The boy had been thrown into his life, with no warning, and somehow, he felt that barging into his room uninvited could give him the tiniest revenge, for the fury and betrayal he was feeling.
So he opened the door, and looked over at the bed. It was empty; the sheets were smooth and untouched. Not a single sign of the lousy creature anywhere. The burning hot anger he felt was quickly replaced by panic. Dumbledore would surely kill him if he lost the precious saviour. Panic settled over him, and in desperation, he tore around the manor, searching every room for sign of the brat. He checked the kitchen, bedrooms, toilets, dining rooms, even the garden.
But with no luck. He was at his wits end. The boy was gone.
Severus sat down on Potters bed, and held his head in his hands. He couldn't find the child anywhere. He began to stand, intent on flooding Dumbledore, and letting him know of his golden boys disappearance.
Just as he began to stand and proceed to his private study, where he could fire- call Dumbledore, he stopped. No, it couldn't be. A quiet shuffle came from the wooden cupboard in the corner of the brats room. Had it not been for his excellently honed spying skills, he might have missed it, silent as it had been. He stood, feeling the anger build up inside him, and he'd hot fury over take him.
He stood, and strode over to the closet. He reached out a bony, potions stained hand, and opened the door, and fast asleep on a nest of clothes was Potter. He slumbered on as if he had no concern over the worry he had caused Severus, when it was noticed that he was missing from his bed. Potters sleepy smile made him see red.
He glared at the form, and then shot his hands out, and roughly clenched on the boys shoulders, he cruelly dragged the boy out the closet, and threw him with all his might onto the hard floor.
He clenched his fists into balls, and held them intimidating on his fists. Harry crouched in the corner of the room, tears coercing down the little ones face. Snape stood, towering over the child.
"YOU UNGRATFUL, TROUBLE MAKING FILTH! HOW DARE YOU COME INTO MY HOME, BURDEN ME WITH YOUR DISCUSTING PRESENCE, AND NOW DECIDE TO ACT SO APSULUTLY AND UTTERLY DISOBIEDIENT? YOU CAN REST ASSURED YOU HORRIBLE ANIMAL, I WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. "
He didn't notice the child cowering, raising his arms to protect his face and neck, and curling up to protect his vital organs.
With that, he yanked the boy of the floor, ignoring the red face and salty tears adorning the little ones face, and threw him again the bed, cruelly.
"Lean over," he yelled, feeling the fury coursing through his veins. The boy deserved discipline, and discipline he was going to get.
He summoned a wooden paddle hairbrush, and raised it high above his head...
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Thanks for continuing with my story, and remember, reviews are easy to hand out, and motivate me to write. Next chapter hopefully posted sometime in Monday- Wednesday.