DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Harry Potter! I only own my original plot and the OCs. I repeat, I do not own any part of Harry Potter.
TRIGGER WARNING: CHILD ABUSE, ADDICTION, CHARACTER DEATH (later on), SUICIDE (later on). Do not read if you don't like it.
He skillfully opened the window and slipped out into the darkness. He couldn't stand to stay in that house after his parents fought and his father was drunk. Walking along the familiar path, he came to the park, dimly lit by two streetlamps like he always did after his father went too far. He sat, gently swaying, on the rusty swing. "Why doesn't Ma stop him? She's a witch for Merlin's sake. He's just a stupid bastard muggle," he muttered angrily. He heard a rustling sound and whipped his head around, ripping the newly healed cuts on his back. He hissed in pain but never took his eyes off the direction of the sound. Out of the bushes walked a girl with messed up hair and faded clothes.
"Fucking hell. Who the hell got him so drunk? And of course I'm the one that pays for it," she muttered. Limping to the swing next to Severus, she rummaged in her pocket, seemingly not noticing him.
"Who are you?" Severus asked quietly. The girl froze and turned around.
"You scared me. I didn't even notice you," she said, before pulling out a cigarette and "You're that Snape boy from around the block aren't you? I'm Helena but call me Hel. What brings you here tonight?" she asked, while casually lighting the cigarette with a snap of her fingers. Taking a deep drag, she continued, "I'm usually the only one out this late. You want a smoke? You look like you could use one."
Severus stared at the offered cigarette and hesitantly took it. "My name is Severus, not the Snape boy," he spat angrily. "And why I'm here is none of your business."
She raised her hands in surrender and said, "Chill Sev. Let me light it for you. Trust me it gets better after some smoke." He said nothing and just stared at her again, this time as if contemplating whether to trust her or not. Finally, he nodded and let her light the cigarette, his eyes catching on the casual display of wandless magic. Copying Helena's long drag of the cigarette, he promptly choked at the horrid taste that entered his mouth and lungs. Grabbing the cigarette, he threw it on the ground coughing. Shooting up from his seat on the swing, he stomped the thing into the ground, extinguishing the flame.
"What the hell was that?" He asked, glaring distrustfully at Helena.
Helena just continued smoking and nonchalantly replied as a trail of smoke left her mouth. "It's a cigarette. Makes you feel high, slowly kills you, and tastes like shit. Forgot to warn you about the last two bits."
"Oh yes, you definitely forgot about it," he sneered, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
"Ah, sit back down. It's not that big of a deal," she said. "You and I both know we don't want to go back anytime soon Sev."
Severus sat back down on the swings, his face morphing into one of pain as the sudden movement had jolted his wounds. "Don't call me Sev," he snapped, but didn't refute the claim of not wanting to go back. They sat in silence, gently swaying on the swings. They stared at the stars for a long time, only interrupted by the sound of Helena putting out her spent cigarette. Minutes later, it hit him. The euphoric high that came from the smoke cleared his mind of all his worries. It felt like the world had been lifted off his shoulders. "Merlin," he said, "this feels so..." He trailed off, not knowing what to describe it as.
She smirked and nodded. "Yup. Want to try it again? The taste takes some getting used to. You better not waste it though," she warns him, offering another cigarette to Severus. He readily accepted it and let her light it for him, the magic not even registering in his mind. Staring at the stars under a dimly lit streetlamp, they sat together without talking until dawn broke.