Los Angeles, California. Creed Estate

Severus groaned as he rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was only 7:00 AM. Ma didn't wake up until 9:00, meaning he had a couple of hours to himself. Getting up off the floor, he stretched and walked over to the window, looking out at the quiet morning.

Deciding to make the most of his free time, he quickly did his morning routine before rushing downstairs. By 7:39, he had some time to get started. He went over to the fridge and started pulling out a bunch of different stuff: eggs, bacon, milk, bread, ham—everything to make a full breakfast before Ma woke up.

As he worked, he turned on the Telly and enjoyed the early morning, the sizzle of bacon in the pan, the aroma of fresh coffee brewing. He whisked the eggs, sliced the ham, and popped the bread into the toaster. He wanted to surprise his ma with a hearty breakfast, something he hadn't done in since the summer of 4th year.

The kitchen was filled with the sounds of the telly and smells of cooking, and Severus found himself humming the Spongebob theme song as he moved from one task to another. It felt good to be doing something nice for his ma, to show her how much he appreciated her.

By the time the clock struck 8:30, the table was set with a spread fit for a king: fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, golden toast, fluffy pancakes, and a steaming pot of coffee. Severus looked at his handiwork with a sense of pride. He wiped his hands on a dish towel and poured himself a glass of orange juice, taking a moment to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Just as he was finishing his juice, he heard footsteps on the stairs. Ma appeared in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the breakfast feast.

"Severus, what the hell...?" she asked, her voice filled with amazement.

"Morning, Ma," Severus said, grinning. "I wanted to surprise you. I figured you could use a nice breakfast for a change."

She walked closer, her smile turning into a smirk. "So you're saying my cooking isn't a 'nice breakfast'?"

Severus chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Ma'am, your cooking is great. I just wanted to give you a break and do something special for you."

Her smirk softened into a genuine smile as she reached out to ruffle his hair. "Well, you did a great job, kiddo. This looks amazing."

They sat down together, and Severus poured her a cup of coffee while she helped herself to the food. The aroma of freshly cooked breakfast filled the kitchen, and the two of them enjoyed the meal in companionable silence for a few moments.

"So, any plans for today?" she asked between bites.

Severus scratched the back of his neck. "I thought I'd go visit a friend... from Hogwarts..." He saw the way her hands stilled as she raised a brow before putting down her fork.

"Did you cook all this just to make me say yes to you leaving the country to visit a friend?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Severus sighed, feeling the weight of her gaze. "Not exactly, Ma. I mean, yes, I do want to visit, but I made breakfast because I wanted to do something nice for you. You've been working hard, and I thought you deserved a break."

His mom's expression softened slightly, but she still looked skeptical. "And who is this friend? Why is it so important for you to visit them now?"

"Lucius," Severus admitted. He knew his Ma didn't like Lucius because, in her eyes, he was a rich snob. He was wealthy, yes, but he wasn't mean or anything.

"Lucius Malfoy?" she asked, her tone sharp. "The boy with the fancy robes and the attitude to match?"

Severus sighed. "Yeah, Ma. But he's not as bad as you think. He's actually been a good friend to me at Hogwarts. He invited me to spend some time at his family's estate. They have some rare potion ingredients and books that I could learn a lot from."

His mom's face remained skeptical, but her eyes softened with concern. "Severus, I just worry about you getting involved with the wrong crowd. The Malfoys have a reputation, you know."

"I know, Ma," Severus said gently. "But Lucius has always been decent to me. He's not like the rest of his family. Besides, this is a chance for me to learn and grow. You always said I should take opportunities when they come, right?"

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I did say that, didn't I? Alright, you can go. But please, be careful. And remember who you are and what you stand for."

Severus nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "I will, Ma. I promise."

She hugged him tightly. "I trust you, Severus. Just make sure you keep in touch."

"I will," he assured her, hugging her back. "Thanks, Ma."

Just as Severus ran up the stairs with Ma's reluctant blessing, the doorbell rang. He ignored it and started to change his clothes. He quickly packed his bag: books, wand, more books. He opened his door to go to the restroom when voices filled his ears—his ma's voice and a... man.

Abandoning the restroom, he rushed down the stairs, jumping over a few steps as he went.

At the bottom of the stairs, Severus skidded to a stop, his eyes widening as he saw the visitor. Across from his mother sat a man in a white T-shirt with a dark blue fedora, a plate of the food Severus cooked in front of him.

Stepping into the room, Severus knocked over a plant to make himself known.

The man looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Severus. "Who are you?" Severus looked the man up and down before deciding he didn't like him already.

"Who am I? Nah, who the fuck are you?" He took a step forward as his mother stood up. "Severus! Watch your mouth!" she scolded, her tone sharp and warning.

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "No need to be hostile, kid. I'm a friend of your mother's." Severus took a step closer to his Ma, watching as the man stood up and held out his hand.

"Name's Rocky Balboa." Severus stared at the man's hand before turning to his ma. "Ma, why the hell is this man doing here!?"

His mother sighed, rubbing her temples. "Severus, please. Rocky's here to talk, that's it. Why don't you go finish getting ready to go to Lucius's house." She gently pushed him toward the stairs, but Severus was having none of it.

"Hell no, I ain't leaving my mother with some random man!" Rocky took a step forward, his amusement replaced by shock.

"Mother? Mary-Anne, you got a kid?" He turned to Severus and looked him up and down. "This ain't Apollo's kid...did you...?"

Severus felt his blood boil. Apollo was dead before Mary-Anne took him in, but he had seen the pain it caused her when she found out Apollo had cheated and almost gotten another woman pregnant. For this 'Rocky' to walk in here and accuse his Ma of cheating was below the belt.

"Watch your mouth, old man," Severus snarled, stepping protectively in front of his mother. "Apollo had nothing to do with me or Ma after he died."

Mary-Anne placed a calming hand on Severus's shoulder. "Rocky, Severus is my son, and that's all you need to know."

Rocky raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, whoa, calm down. I didn't mean any disrespect. It's just... a surprise is all."

Severus glared at him, still seething. "Well, now you know. So either say what you came to say or get out."

Rocky sighed, the tension in the room palpable. "Look, kid, I came here to talk to your mother, not you." Severus felt the anger inside him rising—the same way he felt when Potter talked about his mother—and just like then, he couldn't control it.

He took a step forward, pointing to a photo of Tobias on the wall in the ring holding up the heavyweight belt. "You see that man? That's my father. If there's any bit of him in me, then you should know I'll fucking kill you."

He felt his Ma trying to pull him back as Rocky looked between the photo and Severus, before staring at Severus with newfound understanding. "Yo—You're Tobias's kid?"

Mary-Anne finally managed to step in between them, her voice firm. "That's enough, Severus. Rocky, it's true. Severus is Tobias's son. I didn't tell anyone because I wanted him to have a normal childhood."

Severus felt the anger inside him die down as he stared at Rocky, then looked at Mary-Anne. They knew his dad and never told him? He had so few good memories of his parents, and he tried to find out as much as he could, so to know his Ma knew his father was...

"Ma, you knew my dad?" Severus asked, his voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of hurt and curiosity.

Mary-Anne sighed, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "Yes, sweetheart. I knew Tobias. He was a great man and an even better father, but I didn't want you to grow up under his shadow. I wanted you to be your own person."

Severus glanced at Rocky, who was watching the exchange with a thoughtful expression. "Why didn't you tell me? I had a right to know."

Mary-Anne nodded, her eyes filling with unshed tears. "I know, Severus. I just... I thought it was for the best. I didn't want you to feel pressured or compared to him."

Rocky cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Look, kid, I didn't come here to stir up old wounds. Tobias was a friend, and I didn't know you were his son. But knowing that now, it makes me even more certain that you have potential. Your father had it, and I believe you do too."

Mary-Anne whipped her head around. "Rocky! Now is not the time." Severus gently removed Mary-Anne's hands from his face and stared at her as he spoke to Rocky. "What type of potential?"

Rocky met Severus's gaze, his expression serious. "The potential to be something more than you are now. Tobias was a fighter, and not just in the ring. He had a fire inside him, a drive to succeed no matter the odds. I see that same fire in you, kid."

Severus frowned, feeling a mix of emotions churning inside him. "So, you tryin' to train me or something? Can you even fight, old man?"

Rocky chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. "Kid, I may be getting up there in years, but I can still hold my own. And as for training you, well, let's just say I know a thing or two about turning raw potential into something more."

Severus raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "And what's in it for you? Why do you care about me and my potential?"

Rocky's expression softened, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes. "I left everyone after Apollo died. Tobias was... one of my best friends, and one day he called me saying he needed a place to crash for a day. I agreed, but he never showed... Just looking at you... everything I messed up with him, I can make it up with you."

Severus's skepticism softened as he listened to Rocky's words. He could sense the genuine remorse in the older man's voice, and it struck a chord within him. Despite his tough exterior, Severus couldn't deny the longing for connection and understanding with a father- a dad.

"I didn't know my father very well," Severus admitted, his voice softer now. "But I've always wondered what kind of man he was. If you knew him, maybe then you'll help me understand him."

Rocky nodded, a somber look crossing his face. "I can't bring Tobias back, but I can try to make things right by helping you. That's the least I can do."

Severus considered Rocky's offer, weighing the possibilities in his mind. The idea of learning more about his father intrigued him, and Rocky seemed genuine in his desire to help. Maybe this could be the opportunity he'd been waiting for, a chance to finally uncover the truth about his past and shape his own future.

"Okay," Severus said finally, his decision made. "I'll give it a shot. But no promises." He felt Mary-Anne pull his arm, glaring at Rocky before she turned to Severus. "Baby, No. I can't let you, I won't let you."

Severus pulled his arm away from her grasp before picking up his bag and walking out of the house. His mind was made up, and he couldn't let anyone, not even his own mother, stand in the way of his decision.

As he sat at a bus stop, he felt a presence next to him. Turning he found Rocky tossing up a black ball before speaking up. "Can you fight kid?"

Severus glanced at the ball, his expression guarded. "I beat two guys bloody at my school," he replied.

Rocky nodded, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "That's good to hear. But fighting isn't just about physical strength. It's about discipline, strategy, and determination."

Severus furrowed his brow, intrigued by Rocky's words. "What are you getting at?"

Rocky leaned closer, his eyes intense. "I'll train you, kid. But no more fighting unless it's in the ring."