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Written for Auction Prompt - Spinner's End
Word Count - 247
The Echoes of a Nightmare
He apparated directly into the house, not wanting the nosy neighbours to see him. He'd never wanted to return here, had thought that this part of his life was finally over, and yet here he was.
Older, certainly. Wiser, certainly not.
Severus stared around the ramshackle house he'd grown up in. He couldn't bring himself to call it a home - it had never been homely when he was a child.
His eyes caught on a dint in the wall where the paper had never been fixed. The memory of it happening played through his mind, his father throwing an empty whisky bottle at him for 'cheek.' Severus had taken six lashes of the belt for ducking out of the way of the missile.
Memories of his mother crying, of shouting and screaming and the dull sound of fists hitting flesh echoed in the walls.
It was every nightmare brought to life.
Stripping off his travelling cloak and outer robe, he sat down, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He could just see the outline of the dark mark on his arm through his white shirt.
He'd made so many mistakes in his life already. How many more would it take before he was completely beyond redemption?
A single tear dropped onto the filthy carpet.
He'd made his bed. Now it was time to lie in it.
He just wished it could be any other bed than the one in Spinner's End.