Spinner's End, Snape House
"Go on, give me your best shot!" Tobias playfully dropped to his knees as Severus landed a blow to his gut. Clutching his side and writhing in feigned pain, Tobias struggled to suppress a grin.
Ever since Severus turned three, Tobias had been teaching him how to fight. Eileen, his wife, often got upset that he was teaching their son how to fight, but fighting ran deep in their veins. I mean, his father was Tobias Snape, a former pro boxer—a real tough guy with 21 fights, only lost three, and 18 wins by knockout.
Severus hopped on his dad's back, giggling that he was the champ, just as Eileen walked in, arms crossed. "What's going on in here?" she asked. Severus quickly jumped off, trying to look innocent. "Nothing," he said.
Tobias grinned at his wife. "Yep, nothing," he said, as Eileen shook her head, muttering about boys and their games. She walked over to Severus and picked him up, causing him to burst into a fit of giggles.
"Alright, let's get you ready for school," she said, heading towards the door with Severus in her arms. As they left the room, Tobias couldn't help but steal a glance at the photos on the wall—his wedding day, snapshots of Severus, but it was the ones of him in the ring that held his gaze the longest.
He cherished his life: a wonderful wife and an incredible son. Yet, sometimes, he longed for the days in the ring. The only reason he hung up his gloves was for Severus. He could still recall the moment vividly—the loss, the hospital bed, and Eileen gripping his hand, urging him to give up boxing.
He remembered the sting of defeat, the ache in his body, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. But most of all, he remembered Eileen's eyes, filled with concern and love. She had been his anchor, his reason to walk away from the sport he loved.
He was jolted out of his reverie by Severus hugging his leg, gazing up at him with wide, innocent eyes. Tobias couldn't resist the infectious joy reflected in his son's expression. He chuckled softly, bending down to scoop Severus up into his arms. With a playful grin, he tossed him gently into the air, earning a burst of laughter from the boy.
After gently setting Severus back down, Eileen entered the room, dressed for work. She planted a kiss on Tobias's cheek before bending down to affectionately kiss Severus's cheek as well. "Tobias, don't forget to make sure Severus takes his lunch with him," she reminded him before heading out the door, leaving father and son alone in the living room.
Tobias nodded in acknowledgment as he watched Eileen leave. Then, he turned his attention to Severus, picking up his lunchbox from the table. With a warm smile, he scooped up his son into his arms and headed out the door, off to take Severus to preschool.
Tobias's heart pounded with worry when he received the call about Severus getting into a fight at school. He abandoned his lunch break without a second thought, disregarding the calls from his mates as he dashed out of work. With Severus's preschool just down the block, Tobias sprinted the entire way there.
Breathless, he burst through the doors of the preschool to find Eileen already there, engaged in conversation with the receptionist at the front desk. Catching sight of Tobias, Eileen's expression mirrored his concern.
Before they could exchange a word, the principal emerged from his office, his stern expression signaling the seriousness of the situation. Without hesitation, he motioned for Tobias and Eileen to follow him into his office.
As Tobias entered the principal's office, he spotted Severus sitting in one of the chairs, his small fingers fidgeting nervously. Beside him sat the other boy, flanked by his parents, their expressions tight with disapproval as they cast accusing glares at Severus.
Without hesitation, Eileen rushed over to Severus, her motherly instincts kicking in as she began to check him over, ensuring he was unharmed. Tobias couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness for his son as he watched Eileen's gentle ministrations.
Turning his attention to the principal, Tobias crossed his arms. "So, what exactly happened?" He sat down in the seat next to Severus.
Before The principal could respond, the other boys' mother piped up. "Your beedy-eyed son attacked my little boy for no reason!"Tobias' head snapped towards the woman, his blood boiling. He was going to speak his mind when Severus jumped up out of his seat, his eyes big and scared.
"That's not true!" Severus's voice trembled slightly as he addressed the room, his small frame shaking with determination. "H-He said... he said I was a wuss for being scared of a stupid little spider!"
Tobias felt a surge of anger rising within him, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The words cut deeper than he expected, knowing how much Severus struggled with his fear of spiders. Tobias looked back at the principal.
Tobias's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "My son did nothing wrong." With determination, he rose from his seat, scooping up Severus into his arms. Without looking back, he strode out of the room, his steps purposeful and resolute. Eileen hurried after him, her expression mirroring his steadfast resolve.
As they arrived home, Tobias's fiery anger had cooled, replaced by a quiet worry as he held onto Severus, who had started to cry. Eileen stayed close, gently wiping away his tears and whispering comforting words.
Tobias settled Severus on the couch, flipping on the telly to cartoons to cheer him up. With a nod from Eileen, they slipped into the kitchen to talk in private. As soon as they were out of earshot, Eileen tore into Tobias.
"This is why I told you not to teach him that boxing shit!" Eileen's arms gestured wildly as she spoke, her frustration evident. "Look what's happened now!" Her words stung Tobias. He knew that the reason the other boy had a black eye instead of Severus was because he had taught his son how to defend himself.
"Eileen, Sev is safe because I taught him how to fight!" Tobias countered, his voice firm but gentle. He understood her concern, but he firmly believed that giving Severus the skills to protect himself was essential in this world.
They kept on yelling at each other, their voices getting louder and louder. They were so into their little fight they didn't notice Severus trying to get their attention, but when one of Severus' toys hit Tobias in the head, both of them turned to look at Severus whose toys were floating around him.
Tobias's heart raced. No... no... Eileen had assured him that Severus couldn't possibly have any magic.
In a swift motion, Eileen scooped up Severus, causing his toys to clatter back to the floor. Tobias couldn't look away from his son... his son was... a Wizard.
Eileen handed Severus a cookie and ushered him back to the telly, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. But Tobias felt as though the air had been knocked out of him... Everything had just shifted in an instant.
"You lied..." Tobias's accusation hung heavy in the air as Eileen turned around, shaking her head in denial. "No... Tobias, no." She reached out, grasping his hands tightly.
"Se-Sev is just.." her words faltered as Tobias yanked his hands from her grasp.
"He's what?" Tobias pressed, urgency lacing his voice. Eileen met his gaze, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she couldn't find the words to explain.
"Just don't be mad at him... he's just a boy," she pleaded softly, her voice choked with emotion.
Tobias felt tears welling up in his own eyes.
As if on autopilot, Tobias found himself walking out of the kitchen and into their bedroom. His mind was a blur as he began to pack his bag, ignoring Eileen's attempts to stop him, her hands reaching out to grasp his arms in a desperate plea.
"Tobias... please!" Eileen's voice quivered as she made another attempt to grasp his arm. "D-don't leave me and Sev like this!"
Tobias paused in his packing, his heart heavy with conflict. Slowly, he turned to face Eileen, his expression wrought with anguish. "I'm not leaving Sev, I'm leaving you," he uttered, his words heavy with finality.
Eileen recoiled as if struck, her tear-filled eyes widening in disbelief. "Tobias, please... don't say that," she pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. "We can work through this, together, as a family."
Tobias shook his head, his resolve firm despite the ache in his heart. "I need some time to figure things out," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "For both of us."
With a heavy sigh, he resumed packing, his movements mechanical as he tried to shut out the pain in Eileen's eyes. But deep down, he knew that leaving wasn't just about finding clarity for himself—it was about protecting his son from a world he still couldn't fully comprehend.
Tobias walked into Severus's room, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. He began to pack a bag for his son, carefully selecting clothes and toys to bring along. Eileen trailed behind him, her voice trembling as she pleaded with him once more, begging him not to go.
But Tobias remained resolute, his actions speaking louder than words. He couldn't ignore the turmoil churning inside him, nor could he ignore the need to protect Severus, even if it meant leaving everything he knew behind. With each item he placed into Severus's bag, Tobias felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him.
"Tobias, a-at least tell me where you're going..." Eileen's voice cracked with emotion, tears streaking the bit of makeup she wore. His heart ached to comfort her, to wrap her in his arms and promise that everything would be alright. But his mind told him otherwise, urging him to stick to his decision and go.
Tobias paused, torn between his desire to console Eileen and his need to distance himself from the chaos. With a heavy sigh, he met her tear-filled gaze. "I don't know yet," he admitted quietly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I need some time to clear my head... to figure things out."
As much as he longed to give her answers, he knew that he couldn't offer them just yet. With a heavy heart, he turned away, his footsteps heavy as he continued packing Severus's bag, each item a reminder of the life he was leaving behind, if only temporarily.
When Tobias entered the living room, the sight of Severus playing with his stuffed bear tugged at his heartstrings. He felt a pang of guilt wash over him, knowing that leaving would be difficult for both of them. But he also knew that he couldn't leave without his little boy.
With a heavy heart, Tobias approached Severus and scooped him up into his arms. As he held him close, he walked out of the house, each step heavier than the last, until they reached his old beat-up pickup truck parked in the driveway. Gently, he set Severus down in the passenger seat, ensuring he was securely buckled in before climbing into the driver's seat himself.
The engine rumbled to life as Tobias turned the key, the sound echoing the turmoil in his heart. As they pulled away from the familiar surroundings of their home, Tobias glanced over at Severus, his precious son, sitting quietly beside him.
"Where's Mum?" Severus's innocent voice broke the heavy silence, his gaze searching Tobias's face for answers. Tobias's heart twisted with anguish, unable to find the words to explain the situation to his young son.
"Um... Mum's at home while me and you go on a trip," Tobias replied, his voice strained with emotion. He couldn't bear to burden Severus with the truth, not yet. Instead, he focused on keeping his son happy, determined to shield him from any pain.
Severus, happily singing along with the radio, was blissfully unaware of the impending chaos. Tobias merged onto the highway, the rhythm of the road lulling him into a false sense of security.
Suddenly, with a deafening screech of tires and a bone-jarring impact, their world turned upside down.
The truck was tossed violently as metal crunched and glass shattered. Tobias struggled to maintain control as they careened out of control, the force of the crash knocking the air from his lungs and his vision swimming with disorientation. In the midst of the chaos, all he could think about was protecting Severus, clinging desperately to the hope that he would somehow emerge from the wreckage unscathed.
Severus crawled out of the upside-down truck, crying his little heart out and screaming for his papa. Other cars on the road stopped to see what happened, one woman ran forward to check up on severus and to shield him from the sight of his father's lifeless eyes. the road stopped to see what happened, one woman ran forward to check up on severus and to shield him from the sight of his father's lifeless eyes.
"Shhh, it's okay," the woman murmured soothingly, cradling Severus in her arms as he cried out for his papa. He squirmed and clawed at her, desperate to go back to his father amidst the wreckage.
Tears welled in the woman's eyes as she held onto Severus, her heart breaking for the little boy who had just endured such a terrifying ordeal. She whispered words of comfort, gently rocking him in her embrace, determined to offer him whatever solace she could
In the end, He Was Just a Boy