Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,
Chapter 34, A Spanner In The Works
Severus was so focused on helping Heather and Raislen study for their OWLS that he nearly forgot to write his mum about visiting Raislen for the summer! By the time he remembered to do so, it was already early May. When his mum didn't respond right away, he forgot about it, basically assuming that it would be fine when she did not say no. Raislen and his family were traveling as they did each summer for their yearly book hunting expedition, so he and Severus planned for Severus to come in August and spend the entire month. The two could do their Hogwarts shopping together and ride back together on the train!
For some reason, shopping with Raislen seemed particularly exciting! There was no particular reason for this, as his mum didn't make shopping unpleasant or anything. The thought of exploring Diagon and Nocturne Alley with Raislen felt more adventurous somehow, though. "I'll deserve a fun summer after all this cramming for OWLS," Raislen had said more than once as he and Severus made plans. Heather was actually going to be home for the summer.
For once in ages, her parents had no tours booked. Raislen invited her to pop over any time while Severus was visiting. She promised to visit as often as her parents permitted. "I don't see why they won't allow me to visit as often as I like," she said. The three of them would have quite the time among the books in the WestCraven library. Severus was certain of it. He was thrilled by the prospect of socializing with his friends outside of Hogwarts. Noticing Regulus's wistful expressions as they made plans Raislen included him with a smile. "You can come over as well if you'd like, Regulus." During this particular conversation, the fab four sat in the Slytherin Common room taking a much needed study break. For the past few hours Severus and Regulus had grilled Heather and Raislen hard for their OWLS. Thankfully said OWLS would be happening soon, so all this studying would, at last, be over.
"Really? I'd love any excuse to escape Sirius," Regulus said eagerly. "And of course to see that library of yours. The way Severus talks about it, it's practically heaven."
"It really is," Severus said, giving a dreamy sigh.
"May Kreacher come as well," Regulus asked, and Raislen nodded.
"Of course." It shall be nice to see him again."
For once, Severus found himself quite excited about the summer to come. For this reason, he was eager for the term to end. The sooner it did, the sooner he could get to Raislen's. Due to this sound logic, he wasn't at all sad when term ended. Heather and Raislen had done well on their OWLS, and both proclaimed that it was largely due to Severus and Regulus's help. Severus didn't truly believe it, because both Heather and Raislen were good students who always had high marks in all their subjects, but the praise and appreciation was nice nonetheless.
On the train ride home, Raislen promised to have some sort of celebratory lunch when all four of them were together at his over the summer. "Heather Toy and I need to celebrate our high marks and Severus and Regulus deserve a grand lunch as a thank you, so there are two good reasons this should happen."
"I agree, and that's sweet, Raislen," Heather said warmly. "Nonetheless, though, calling me Heather Toy is never ever going to go unpunished." And with that, she slammed him in the stomach as per usual. Severus exchanged a world-weary look with Regulus over this, which had also become per usual. The friends parted on Platform Nine and three-quarters, promising to meet again soon. Severus rushed to his mum, giving her a firm hug. "I've missed you," he said. For a moment they clung together wordlessly, and he pressed his face to her shoulder, savoring the familiar scent of the perfume she always wore.
"Oh I have missed you too, my baby boy," Eileen said. "I promise we'll do as many fun things together over the summer as I can afford."
"That's great, but you know I shall be at Raislen's for enough of it, which will save you some money," Severus said. Eileen's thin mouth tightened into an even thinner line as she flicked her wand at his trunk to float it ahead of them. Taking his hand, she walked off the platform.
"I didn't write you back on that matter, because I was trying to talk Father into changing his mind," she said. "I tried for months, but to no avail. I'm sorry Severus, but he doesn't want you going away for the summer."
"Why," Severus shouted. "I'm not his! What business is it of his anyway?" He heard a snicker at that and whirled to see all four Gryffindor Gits walking behind them. All but Lupin were smirking at Severus and his mum. Severus shot them a venomous glare. "I hope a giant shark eats every single bloody one of you," he shouted.
"Not if he eats you first," James shouted happily back. Eileen turned to glare at the group, but before she could speak they ran away. Lupin shot an apologetic glance over one shoulder as James dragged him along, and Severus made a rude gesture that he'd learned from his father involving the middle finger.
"Dreadful little prats," Eileen said. "Those are the ones you told me about, are they not?" Severus nodded mutinously. For a moment he'd nearly forgotten his fury over Grandfather Prince's needless meddling, so overcome with rage was he at the Gryffindor Gang of Gits. "I hate them so much. Nearly as much as I hate Grandfather Prince and Voldemort." He spoke Voldemort's name under his breath so that only Eileen might hear."I know you do, Baby. I'm so sorry you have to deal with any of them ever," Eileen said sincerely and Severus sighed.
"Me too, Mum. Why won't he allow me to go," he asked dully. The reason didn't matter, because it was sure to be a stupid one.
"He didn't even say," Eileen admitted. "He just insisted that you saw your friends enough during term and that you should stay home."
"But he hates me! You'd think he'd be pleased as bloody punch to have me away," Severus said. He was so angry that he was nearly shouting again. "He's more pleased to make me suffer though," he added wrathfully.
"I'm so sorry," Eileen said. "If I could afford to live away from him and not follow his rules, I would." She sighed. "But Severus, he's going to punish me and by proxy, you, for Tobias until he dies."
"I wish I could help him along," Severus said between gritted teeth. "And I always thought that visiting the sins of the parent on the child was the stupidest thing ever. Not that you ever sinned. Dad was always worth a million gits like him.""
"Indeed he was," Eileen said. The overwhelming sadness on her face caused Severus to swallow back a lump that suddenly rose in his throat. He knew that he and his mum would never ever stop missing his dad, but this was as it should be. Tobias deserved to be missed. The sadness served to quell his rage for the most part, and the ensuing adrenaline crash left him feeling tired and subdued.
When they got home, he went directly up to his room to write Raislen, figuring that he may as well get the delivering of bad news over with. After he'd done that, he wrote Heather and Regulus too. He told everyone to get together without him, because they shouldn't miss out on the fun just because he had to. Strangely, he didn't hear back from Heather or Raislen. He may have wondered if Grandfather Prince was withholding his mail, but he did receive a reply from Regulus by lunch the next day. Regulus was sympathetic as could be expected.
He spent a few pages commiserating over how they both had to live with insufferable gits. He concluded by promising to write often. Though he appreciated this, Severus didn't write back directly, because he had nothing of interest to say that he hadn't said the previous day in his initial letter. Along with sharing the news of Grandfather Prince ruining his summer, he'd also shared the encounter with the Gits on the platform as he and his mum were departing.
He tucked the letter away for the present, planning to answer it when he actually had something interesting to say. Likely this would involve whatever book he happened to be reading in the next few weeks. At least his mum had promised to take him to Nocturne Alley for book shopping soon. Normally this would've thrilled him to no end, but it paled in comparison to the visit at Raislen's. Not wanting his mum to feel worse, though, he didn't indicate as much to her. Instead, he pretended excitement that he couldn't quite muster.