Chapter Text
In the cold dungeons of Hogwarts was an empty classroom with only one student inside. While everyone else was outside enjoying the last day of the school year, the lonely student, Severus Snape, was finishing brewing the last batch of sleeping drought.
Severus pondered how his life came to this. He sometimes wonders if he was cursed.
When he was younger, the slytherin had often dreamed of the wonders of Hogwarts. With all the amazing stories his mother would tell him, he couldn't stop imagining all the things he could learn and do to improve his life.
With enough determination and work, instead of wearing dirty and worn hand-me-downs, Severus could afford having soft and pretty clothes that would keep him warm. He could take his mother away from the clutches of his father’s abuse. Finding a home where there will always be food on the table. Winning a place in wizard society as a respected and talented potion master with his best friend by his side.
Hogwarts could become a safe haven and a place for a brand new start for Severus.
But it seems that life continued to be cruel towards the boy.
Severus tried not to cry into the cauldron for his tears would ruin the magical mixture. While he bottled up all the Sleeping Drought, he asked himself where he messed up for his life to become a disaster.
From the Marauders targeting him with their cruel pranks and ruthless mockery, to the expectations and demands of his roommates breathing down his neck, with the addition of the teachers not caring about his existence, Severus’s time at Hogwarts was going horribly. And to top it all, he just ruined everything last week with Lily Evans.
The Slytherin just didn’t understand why he destroyed 7 years of friendship by calling his best friend such an awful word.
While being stripped and humiliated by James Potter and his lackeys in front of a crowd, all he could think was hoping that Lily would save him. Immediately taking away Potter’s wand, cursing the Marauders away, and helping him recover elsewhere.
But that never happened.
When Lily arrived at the scene, she just talked to Potter, somehow thinking that it would have an impact. She wasn’t even hexing the boy to stop him. And Severus, while upside down, saw his best friend trying to keep down a laugh. The faint appearance of a smile on the red-haired girl’s face.
Severus felt wounded and betrayed.
And when everything stopped and Lily came close to help him. To push her away, he called her a mudblood.
He never wanted to hurt her. He just didn’t want her to see him like this. Dirty and crippled with fat tears running down his cheeks, toyed with like an animal. Severus tried apologizing multiple times, publicly expressing his regrets to his best friend, but Lily didn’t want to hear him out. With a roaring fire in her eyes, she voiced that she never wanted to interact with him ever again. Destroying all friendliness between them.
“Why do I just ruin everything?” Severus wept.
The raven-haired student finished packing up the potions and securing them in a box.
The batches of Sleeping Drought were an order from Poppy Pomfrey for St Mungo’s Hospital. It was supposed to be brewed by Horace Slughorn, the potion professor, but he was too busy setting up a big graduation party for the 7th year students.
It’s not the first time that Severus took over to complete a potion order.
Once, in Severus’ third year, Slughorn hasn't finished brewing the whole list of potions that Pomfrey asked for the hospital wing. Unfortunately, the Head of Slytherin was too preoccupied with his club and important guests to invite for an event he was organising.
That is when the young Slytherin was involved with the order. His professor asked him to complete the rest of the list because he was the only one the older man trusted. Slughorn offered Severus house points and some galleons to do the job for him.
Severus, often with nothing to do during his breaks and always needing money to live, promptly accepted the task.
This ends up becoming a trend where the raven-haired wizard would complete his Head of House’s brewing, to the point that Madam Pomfrey just asked him directly if he could brew potions.
With that small job and him often getting hurt by the Marauders’ “pranks”, this led to Severus interacting much more with the hospital matron than any other adult in Hogwarts.
His general view of Pomfrey was that she was kind and one of the few unbiased staff members in the school. Always ready to heal any patients coming her way.
She was the only adult that he trusted. The healer was someone that the student got to talk to a lot. Lending an ear to Severus and discussing multiple subjects : remedies for illnesses, magics and potions for a quick healing and knowledge on curses for identifying the patient’s problem. The matron never judged him for being himself.
Drying his tears, Severus hoped that his eyes weren’t too red.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Poppy Pomfrey was as strict and organised as she was kind, always making sure everything was in the right place for her patients. She worried about any and all students that came under her care. That is why she has complete control of the Hospital Wing; it is her realm, and not even the Headmaster could oppose her in it. The matron would regularly ask for the best medicine and equipment for her patients.
Which is why Poppy often thanks Lady Luck for offering her someone who actually could produce multiple batches of potions on time in these past three years.
As much as she respected her fellow staff member and friend, Horace was not the greatest at brewing potions and often forgets to do so.
No, the praise for the constant supply should actually be given to Severus Snape, a shy but very smart and talented student in many school subjects and even a prodigy in potions. She was skeptical at first when Snape arrived with the order instead of Horace, but the Head of Slytherin had complete trust in the young student. Saying that Mr. Snape’s brewing was superior and more efficient than that of many first time potion masters.
Despite her suspicion, this development became extremely helpful for everyone. Poppy got her potions punctually, Horace won free time to organise his club and Snape gained money for his work.
This minute, the healer was actually waiting for the raven-haired Slytherin to bring the batches of sleeping drought.
While cleaning up the beds, Poppy heard the 5th year student coming through the hospital wing’s front door.
“Sorry for being late Madam Pomfrey.” uttered Snape, entering the room with a wooden box in his hands.
“ Oh there is no problem. You are actually right on time!”
The two immediately went to store the potions in different small cases.
“ Thank you for brewing these potions as usual.” expressed the matron. “I know that St Mungo will appreciate having an extra supply of sleeping drought close by” Poppy turned towards the student. “I will make sure you get your payment tomorrow morning."
Snape murmured a response, staring blankly past her and more at a wall.
Poppy, looking closely, realised that the young Slytherin’s eyes looked very dry and bloodshot. The boy was clearly not having a good day, his pale skin looking much more sickly than usual and his back rounding with his arms close to his chest. It was clear that Snape was crying before coming into the room.
The scene tightened the heart of the healer. These past few years, Severus Snape was the student that she saw the most in the infirmary. Not only for the potion supplies, but also for him getting hurt by “tricks" and returning to school each year after a summer with bruises and signs of malnutrition.
While claiming she had no favorite, she often had a soft spot for the regulars in her care, and Severus Snape was definitely one of them. She knew the general view of Snape between the staff members. At best, they consider the raven-haired boy an intelligent student who needed to socialise more. At worst, on a bad day, Minerva McGonagall would swear that he would kill someone in the future.
But Poppy always saw Snape as just a poor but bright child given a bad hand to deal with. One that was often targeted by misfortune and cruelty.
And deep in her mind, she could see the remnants of an old friend ; he looked so much like Eileen Prince.
“Would you like to have a cup of tea? I’m eager to try a new blend.” suddenly proclaimed the mediwitch.
“Oh… Ehh I don’t want to intrude and shouldn’t you ask that to one of your fellow staff members instead of a random student?” responded Snape, his shoulders a bit tense.
“Well that is true, most of them are too busy with O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s exams or cleaning up the whole castle for the end of the year. And you can’t be intruding if I’m the one inviting you in the first place.”
“Ehmm… ok.”
Poppy guided him into her office. It was a room where soft rays of sunlight were peaking through the windows, bathing it in a warm light.
She invited him to sit on a wooden chair with a soft pillow while she put the kettle on.
“I have been wondering about some things and I wanted to speak to you about it first.” said Poppy after serving black tea with cinnamon and cloves.
About what Madam? said Snape, averting his obsidian eyes.
“I realise how much work you do for me and your Head of House. For almost three years, you fulfilled the labor designated to a teacher for a quarter of the earnings. You spend hours of your free time brewing dozens of high-quality potions. I thought that arrangement was really one sided toward Professor Slughorn's favor with all the work you put out.” explained Poppy.
There was a little air of surprise in Snape’s eyes. The student’s gaze turned back toward Poppy, realising the conversation was more formal and important.
The matron gave him a small smile before proceeding with her proposition.
“I was thinking that we could create a better schedule for you if you want to continue brewing potions. I’m sure we can get you a better pay because of the efficiency and quality of your brewing.” the healer stated while noting her ideas on a parchment. “There is also the time you spend working. With the 6th and 7th years coming up for you, you will need free periods for not just homework and studying but also for breaks. It is good for your health to go outside and spend time with people.”
Snape was listening carefully toward Poppy’s suggestions until she suggested being with people. The slytherin scoffed bitterly at the idea. “ I don’t think I will need breaks for socializing. There is no one that would like to spend their precious time with me and I prefer being alone anyways.”
“Taking breaks is important. I do not want to find a student passing out because of exhaustion and lack of sunlight exposure. Also, wasn’t there a girl that used to visit you here when you got hurt? Lily Evans is her name? She is a friend you could spend time with, right?” Poppy asked, wondering why a teenager would decline breaks.
A wounded look appeared on Snape's face. “I don’t want to bother her…” he countered quickly, his eyes glistening.
Concern flooded the mediwitch’s mind. Something bad happened and it was affecting the raven-haired student deeply. It might explain the red dry eyes that the lad came with at the start of his visit.
Whenever a hurt student visited Poppy, regardless of the reason, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. And Snape was one that repeatedly stepped into her wing with too many signs of abuse and neglect. He was one that should have received help a long time ago.
She was a healer. She was the matron of Hogwarts. She will make sure that Severus Snape would get that support.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
Severus wanted to fuse with the floor. Hiding in a hole and never seeing the outside world was very appealing to him right now.
Why did everything have to relate back to his miserable life and his mistakes? Somehow a conversation about his potions led to a reminder that Lily was not his friend anymore.
Severus realized that he had no one to trust in Hogwarts. He had no one to cling to in the school. He has lost the only friend he had and it was his fault.
Tears started to form in the corners of his eyes. A knot tightened in his stomach while his throat became chalky. Stuck in his mind, the Slytherin didn’t notice a handkerchief in his peripheral view. He only knew of its existence when Pomfrey placed it in his hand.
“Sorry…” Severus murmured.
“ No need to apologize. It is unhealthy to bottle up our emotions for long periods of time, so it's perfectly normal for you to release them.” Madam Pomfrey softly replied. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“For what?”
“Talking openly about our feelings to a healer or someone you trust can really help reduce the pressure in our head.”
The dark-haired boy’s shoulders tensed at the idea. His face hidden behind his long hair. He doesn’t want to talk about his mental health and life problems with someone, especially not to a Hogwarts staff member. If Slughorn, McGonagall, or Merlin forbid Headmaster Dumbledore asked him about his well-being, he would rather throw himself out of the Astronomy Tower.
But Pomfrey was not like the others. She never judged him when he stayed in the hospital wing. She was fair.
“Are you gonna inform the headmaster about anything I say?” said Severus, questioning the matron.
“Until your approval of the opposite, I swear to keep any personnel information and records of any patient to myself. Revealing them to unwanted parties will be breaking my vows as a mediwitch.”
Severus looked at the healer carefully, locating any ill will behind her words. But he knew what she said was completely true. She could be punished by law and even lose her magic if she broke her oath, and no one would risk that.
Maybe it won’t hurt if he spoke his mind. Maybe this time someone would believe him.
He doesn’t have much to lose anymore.
“I mess up.” Severus stated. “ I broke years of friendship because I called-”
Guilt and shame stopped the Slytherin's speech. He doesn’t want to admit what he said.
“Is it related to that red-haired Gryffindor girl?” Madam Pomfrey gently asked, no judgement in her voice.
Severus slowly nodded while looking to the ground.
“Is it about something you said to her?”
Severus bitten his bottom lip while trying not to cry.
“I called her a mudblood…” he murmured, shame flooding his face.
The mediwitch flinched at the word but recovered quickly.
“Was there a reason why you called her that?”
He knew why, but it was just for such a pathetic reason. To save his pride was it? People saw too much of him and he wanted to end it all, to hide forever.
“I-I… Because I was stripped down” Severus coldly stated.
“You were what?” Pomfrey abruptly responded with wide eyes, horrified by what she heard.
“It’s doesn’t really matter I was just stupid to-”
“No, no please explain what happened. Take your time, Mr. Snape.”
“I… I was waiting for Lily under a tree near the Great Lake after my classes. I was just reading a book when… Potter and his gang came to me and decided to levitate me up-upside down and-and…” Severus' throat was contracting. He was clenching his jaw to stop him from hiccupping. He continued with a tremulous voice.
“ The-they took off my pants and left me bare. They aIso scourgify my mouth for yelling ba-back. I was so angry and humiliated and-and Lily was doing NOTHING!” He wailed, his fists hitting the table. His vision was blurring and his eyes stinging.
“She was just talking to Potter, trying to reason with him like it would bloody do something. And she is a prefect! Just a simple spell could have saved me but noooo. And I saw her trying to keep down her laughter. I just felt betrayed. She was supposed to help me… And I just ruin it all because I… I don’t know anymore.” His face was now hiding in his hands. “I never meant to hurt her. She is my best friend. She was my best friend.”
A pregnant pause filled the room, but the raven-haired boy’s hiccups could be clearly heard.
Severus continued to weep in his shame until he felt hands gently taking hold of his own. He looked up toward Pomfrey, receiving not a face of disgust and judgment, but one of understanding. One corner of her mouth quivered upward, a gentle gesture that didn't quite reach her eyes and was filled with concern and sadness.
“Can I call you Severus?” the matron murmured to her patient.
“Uh.. Sure, but for what?”
“Severus, what happened to you should have never taken place in your life ,especially this young.”
The young boy was in disbelief at her words.
She was not revolted by his present after exposing the truth. She still spoke to him with respect and care.
“Even if I’m a poor, dirty, greasy Slytherin halfblood?”
“No one, no matter their past and background, should have to endure this horrible treatment. Your core is not dirty for being born less fortunate than others . You didn’t deserve this cruelty thrown upon you. What those boys did was abuse, sexual assault. It is a crime and they should be punished for it.”
“But-but I still called my best friend a slur. I should have deserved it because I am a-a mistake. Da and others always say that I ruin everything. That I’m a sissy. That evil like me should have ne-never been born-”
“Severus.” voiced Madam Pomfrey to stop his rambling. “ From my understanding, you didn’t mean to insult your friend, correct?”
“Yes..”
“It is natural for someone to lash out after experiencing a traumatic event.
When we are at our limit, our emotions can blind us from our reason and we can end up doing things we regret. We can end up hurting our loved ones. It’s unfortunately very normal to our mind to react that way. We are not perfect. Everyone messes up at some point in their life.
What you said to her is terrible and it is her right to be angry with you. From my perspective, your action did not stem from bad intention, but instead you said it out of shame and betrayal. You are not evil or a mistake for that one misdeed.”
For the first time in his life, Severus felt a weight fade from his chest and mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the healer’s words sink in. His cold thin hands finally went to hold a cup of tea. While sipping the drink, a warm feeling coursed through his throat and stomach, soothing his nerves. Maybe he wasn’t the lost cause numerous believed.
As Madam Pomfrey poured more tea into her own cup, she enquired in a calm tone, “Did you apologize to her for what you said?”
“I did. Well I tried,” murmured Severus, a cloud of gloom engulfing him while recalling his memories. “On multiple occasions, I went to her to apologize. Many times I publicly express my regrets, but she never wants to hear from me. At some point she just told me to fuck off and to stop bothering her. I don’t talk to her anymore…”
The matron refilled Severus’ teacup and pushed towards him a plate full of savory finger sandwiches that came out of nowhere.
“Then, I believe you did the right thing. You can only truly move on from your mistakes by apologizing, accepting the consequences of your misdeeds, and proving you learn with your actions.” Pomfrey explained. “You did well to leave her alone when she asked for her own space. Now, you need to let her think about everything on her own. Maybe she will realise that you lashing out at her was not from bigotry, but from pain.”
“But, what happens if she doesn’t forgive me?”
Pomfrey gave him a sad smile. “It will be tough to live through, but sometimes, a long friendship can break when both parties are wounded and one truly does not want to amend the relationship. You might have to move on from her.”
“Oh…” Severus' back curved toward the floor, causing his shoulder to hunch inward. His forearms rested on the table while twisting his fingers together. The hopeful gaze in his eyes dimmed. He might never have his best friend back. His dear sister Lily, gone from his life.
In the silence, Pomfrey took the forgotten handkerchief. She paused a bit before she pressed the soft tissue to the boy’s face. Her patient slightly flinched before leaning into the touch, letting her gently dabbing away the remaining tears clinging to his eyelashes and cheeks.
“Severus, listen to me.” The mediwitch started, waiting for the Slytherin’s gaze to meet hers. “She does not owe you forgiveness for your apology, but you also do not owe her servitude for your mistakes toward her. You are allowed to grieve for the loss of your friendship while also moving along with your life. You are your own person, child. You are allowed to find happiness without the permission of others.”
The weight of her words sank between them. Severus stared at Pomfrey with wide dark eyes, baffled that an adult other than his mother could talk to him with consideration and goodwill while also understanding his troubles.
“Can I ask you something?” Pomfrey queried.
“Sure.” Severus responded.
“Miss Evans is a childhood friend or one you met at Hogwarts?”
“In my childhood.”
“I see… Now that you don’t see her anymore, would you be ok at home during the summer?”
“What?” The raven-haired student exclaimed, surprised yet again by the matron’s questions. “How-What would you know about my house-”
“Severus, whenever I see you after summer break, you always come back to school with bruises all over your body and clear traits of malnutrition. You were too short for the age you got sorted in Hogwarts. When you visit me, I often find unexplained injuries.”
“I-I don’t need help. I can deal with it!” Clear frustration appeared on Severus’ face.
“Severus, the staff members of Hogwarts have the duty to help students not only in their education and journey to adulthood, but as well in their safety. And you are one of those students. We are obligated to help you if you reside in an abusive household.”
Severus’ lips thinned, becoming a grimace. His eyes now full of doubt. “At the end of my first year, I asked the Headmaster if I could stay at Hogwarts during the summer. My mother and I thought I could stay at a place like the school. But Dumbledore denied, saying that I should stay with both my parents.”
Pomfrey sighed at the new information while rubbing her temple. She knew about her boss' outdated view on family, believing that no harm toward children could originate from their caretaker.
Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. “Hold on, give me a moment.” Immediately she entered into a backdoor, leaving a confused Slytherin in her office. Shortly after, she returned with a bracelet in her left hand and her wand in the other.
“The Headmaster was correct about not letting you stay here during the summer as there is no one suitable nor qualified to look after children in the summer.” Pomfrey clarified.
Severus let out a sound of disappointment.
“But, he should have still tried to help you.” The healer countered. “ We can’t do anything including Albus or the law about your household with you leaving tomorrow. So I decided to give you this bracelet.”
She dropped the ornament into Severus’ palm. It was a simple thing made of leather threads, but it was completely encased with magic.
When her patient gave her a confused look, a short laugh escaped Pomfrey’s lips before she explained the following : “It is a portkey. Specifically, one that will teleport you to the hospital Wing.”
“Why are you giving me this?” Severus questioned, scepticism and hope laced into his voice.
“Well, I can’t just let you go back to your home without defence. I’m giving you an escape plan.” The matron stated truthfully. “ If you need to find shelter, all you need to do is to hold the bracelet in your fist and vocalise that you need help.”
Looking at the bracelet, his thoughts were intertwinning with each other. Plans and scenarios were forming in his mind, finding the best use of the trinket. Inside, he was a mess gifted a chance for stability in his life.
“You are giving a powerful object that I could use to betray you and this school. I could lead threats easily into one of the safest rooms in this establishment. What made you think I’m trustworthy?” Interrogated the Slytherin in a pessimistic tone after realising the amount of power and trust he was bestowed.
“Maybe it’s me being a Hufflepuff, but from what you showed, I do not consider the possibility of you abusing this power. I know that you are a person with a good heart, Severus. Use it to assist yourself, ok?” Pomfrey was far from naïve, she knew exactly what she was doing.
“I just hold it and say out loud ‘Help me’? And it would work?”
“Affirmative.”
“Ok…”
There was still some doubt lingering in Severus’ mind. Ultimately, he decided to wear the bracelet. It shined for a few seconds on his thin wrist.
“It's getting late.” said Pomfrey at the sight of the sun going down. “You should go to your dormitory. Curfew will start soon and you need to get up early tomorrow for the train. So don’t you dare stay up late, young man.”
“Of course.” Severus responded, stuffing parchments into an old worn bag.
“Eat a sandwich on your way out. You could gain a stone.” The mediwitch murmured the last part.
“Sure. Um- Thank you for your services, Madam Pomfrey.” The student said at the exit. He gave her a little smile while his shyness painted his ears a soft pink.
Pomfrey let out a chuckle. “Have a good summer, Severus.”
With a small nod, the young wizard walked out the Hospital Wing.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
The Hogwarts Express was traveling through Scotland's mountains and plains at a steady pace, transporting numerous students to Platform 9¾. Chatter could be heard everywhere within the train.
Alone in a compartment, Severus was gazing out the window.
He could perceive his reflection from an angle. The picture of a miserable boy with sickly pale skin, long dark straw-like hair, a broken nose and dull onyx eyes stared back at him.
A pitiful life he was living and he will likely lead it to more horrors.
He really did not want to go back home with his father roaming around angry and drunk. However, he refused to leave his mother alone in that hellish place they unfortunately called a home.
For the rest of the trip, Severus rested his mind and body for what would come.
He wished that the ride home was longer as the train arrived at its destination.
He stepped out the train and platform with his second-handed trunk as fast as he could, trying to avoid bumping into anyone. Usually Lily’s parents would give him a ride home, but with how his year ended, it won’t happen again.
So, he walked alone toward his house.
Severus only arrived at Spinner’s End after many hours traveling on foot. And minutes later, he reached the Snapes’ residence.
It was a filthy place. All over the brick walls’ crevices were grime and muck. The roof was falling apart and most of the windows were broken. The surrounding wasn’t looking any better with the vegetation being dry and a more yellowish colour. Probably from the polluted river around the corner.
Before the front door was Eileen Snape (née Prince). It was clear life was not kind toward her. But, even in old rags and clear exhaustion in her eyes, she tried to hold herself in front of her son. Even after so many years, she still kept the pride of a pureblood witch.
“Hello Sev. How have you been, darling?” His mother spoke softly, pulling him into her embrace.
“It's been alright ma.” Severus lied through his teeth, resting his head on his mom’s shoulder. Oh how he missed her so much.
“You are later than usual. What happened?”
“The Evans couldn’t bring me here this time so I had to walk from the platform to here. But everything is fine ma don’t you worry, they were just busy.” The younger said, fabricating more lies to ease the older’s mind.
While they separated, Eileen’s lips thinned, clearly not believing her son's words.
“Well… You arrived just in time for dinner. Just put away your things before your father sees them.”
Severus sometimes wondered how his parents got together in the first place. He remembered his mother recounting the tale of how they met.
Both foreigners to Spinner’s End. Love at first sight she narrated. The young wizard wondered if his parents being both of the same origin, half-Japanese, was what attracted them to each other. They were complete strangers to everyone else in Cokeworth while they were similar in one aspect.
Maybe they were truly a happy couple in the past. Maybe everything was fine before his magic manifested. Maybe he was the reason everything went to shit.
Severus put his school materials in a small cupboard, one that his father would never check.
For a few days, all the Snapes resided as usual in a building filled with neglect and regrets. Screams and cries were often audible through the walls. When he was younger, whenever his father shouted at his mother, Severus would go hide and cry in a corner. Now he just stayed in his dark room and ignored the noise. Trying to avoid trouble. There was always a suffocating air in the house.
Severus tried to avoid his father’s path, but he will still end up with bruises at the end of the day.
That’s why on a random Saturday, the young wizard went outside for fresh air as the house was too constrictive for him.
He went to the polluted river near the area. There he plucked out weeds and herbs for future brewing. Many plants with no uses for muggles were valuable for the bases of multiple potions.
Blooming at his feet were little flowers. Their presences brought colour and charm to the dull and tainted environment. He took a few in his palm, admiring their delicate petals.
Could I ever be pretty? He wondered. Could I ever be worthy to be surrounded with such beauty?
Finishing with his harvest, Severus put all the plants he picked up in a small worn bag.
The trip back home was peaceful for a change with Severus taking the time to observe the wilderness and its little critters.
That was until he reached his house. From outside he heard an earsplitting gunshot.
Dread consumed the boy whole. Right behind the backdoor, pressing his ear to the wood, he caught sharp and heavy footsteps. Peeking around the corner of the door, he saw his father walking up the stairs with a hunter’s gun in hand.
“I’l deal with that devil spawn later.” Mumbled the muggle, alcohol clearly still in his system.
Severus stayed as quiet as a mouse, waiting for the older man to lock himself in his bedroom. When the path was clear, he rushed to the kitchen.
“Ma? A-are you there?” he called out.
On the cold stone floor was his mother’s body, her blouse rapidly staining red.
“Ma!?” Severus cried out. His tears rained rapidly to the ground while he tried to find his mother’s pulse.
Her body was lifeless. Empty onyx eyes met a copy full of sorrow.
Hugging her corps with no care for his clothes, he wailed into the crook of her neck, his tears running like waterfalls. Holding his mother close, the boy could feel her warmth was fading away, she had gone cold. His mother was going away.
He is now alone in this cruel world.
Severus knew he couldn’t stay here or he would soon face the same fate.
With fat tears still running on his cheeks, he took only his trunk and wand outside.
He ran straight for the woods, far away from the house and his father.
Where could he go? He won't live long in the wilderness. Lily will not welcome him for sure. All that was left were the streets. Where could he-
Severus just remembered the bracelet on his wrist. He had a portkey to safety.
Maybe in other situations the Slytherin would have been too prideful to use it. That he could pretend everything was fine with his life and that he really didn’t need this. But with the lifeless body of his mother still embedded into his mind, his body and consciousness would not let him go back.
“Please…h-help me!” Severus screamed, the ornament glowing in his fist.
One moment Severus was standing in the middle of Cokeworth’s woods, the next he fell to his knees on the stone floor of the Hospital Wing.
Gasps formed in front of him. Looking up, he saw not only Madam Pomfrey but also Professor McGonagall staring at him with total shock.
“How did you-” McGonagall cut herself off from seeing the blood on Severus.
“I’m sorry! I- I couldn’t stay ba-back home… I-” Severus choked, his voice trembling and nausea in his throat.
“Severus, what happened-” Pomfrey tried to ask, but the teenager kept going.
“I ju-just couldn’t… My dad, he killed my mom… My ma is dead-DEAD! I’m-”
“That is enough Severus. There is no need to apologize.”
“Poppy, he's going to suffocate in his hiccups!” The professor yelled out.
“I know that, let me just work!” The mediwitch retorted, trying to manage the situation. “Here, please drink this calming drought. You did well, Severus. Now you just need to rest. We will deal with everything, don't you worry.” She assured him with a smile while giving him the potion.
“B-but I-” Severus panicked.
The poor boy was overwhelmed. The tears and bright lights clouded his vision, the witches being only moving bubbles to his eyes. The rapid thrumming of his heartbeat was the only sound he could distinguish.
He flinched at a firm hand holding his jaw, trying to open his mouth. He tried to spit out the floral minty liquid by reflex.
Spiraling in his mind, he didn’t realize that the bottle was not in front of him anymore. Nor did he sense the magical mixture relocated into his stomach.
Distress evaporated from his system and exhaustion took its place. His eyelids felt heavy and his heartbeat slowed down.
Severus slowly fell into a world of darkness and dreams, the matron’s face being the last thing he saw before sleep overtook his consciousness.