The Potions Master and the Ravenclaw

Igor Bloody Karkaroff

Author's Note: There's another quote from GoF (book) in this chapter. I couldn't help it. It's one of my favorite scenes in the book. I love snarky Sev. Haha! Credit to J. K. Rowling.

...

Snape was stretched out on the couch with Madeline lying on top of him, her head resting on his bare chest. She had unbuttoned his shirt so she could feel his skin against her cheek and listen to his heart beating. He was running his fingers lazily through her curls with one hand, holding her gently with the other. Her arms were wrapped around him. Merlin the cat was perched on the arm of the couch purring and a fire was crackling in the fireplace.

Snape closed his eyes, breathing in her scent and savoring the peace and contentment. The happiness. He sensed that it would be short lived and he wanted to drink it in while it lasted.

"May I ask you something?" she said, kissing his chest.

"Anything. You know that," he said softly.

"Did you always know you were a wizard?" She adjusted her body so she could look up at him and see his face.

"I always knew I was... different," he mused, stroking her face. "As a very small child I was able to summon my toys to me, make objects move around without touching them, that sort of thing. I think my mother was pleased that I wasn't a squib, but was also concerned about how my father would react. He knew she was a witch of course, but he was... unpredictable. She tried to hide my abilities from my father, which wasn't easy, I'm sure. He hated magic.   I finally found out I was a wizard when I was about seven years old."

"How did it happen?"

He paused and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. She lay her head on his chest again as he began to speak softly, entranced by his rich, low voice.

"Well, there was a gang of boys in my neighborhood who were always giving me trouble. Making fun of my clothes, my appearance, the usual. One day, one of them went a little too far and I somehow caused his mouth to seal shut. Of course he panicked and the other boys began to shout. I didn't understand what happened. I didn't mean to do it. I just... wished he'd shut up and... he did. My mother heard the commotion, came out of the house - wand in hand, reversed the curse, obliviated them all, and sent them home. It was the first magic I had ever seen her - or anyone - perform. Then she took me in the house, sat me down at the kitchen table, gave me a cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits, looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Severus, my son, you're a wizard.'

"I almost choked on my tea. She then proceeded to tell me that she was a witch and I had inherited my magical abilities from her and her family. I asked if my father was a wizard and she said he was not.

"Then she told me when I was eleven years old I would go to a special school where they would teach me how to use and control my magic and I would make friends. Find others like me.

"My mother neglected me in many, many ways, but I must say that she was quite attentive to my magical education. She may not have noticed whether I was clean or well fed or had proper clothes, but she taught me all about the wizarding world at that pathetic little kitchen table. Not every day, certainly, but when she was... up to it... over the next few years. It was the most attention I ever received from her in the entirety of my life. Told me all about Hogwarts and  Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and Azkaban and the Ministry of Magic. And I soaked it up like a sponge. Hung on every word. I was starving for it.  And she taught me about academic subjects, as well. My mother was quite clever, as it turned out. I certainly didn't inherit my academic acumen from my father. I pored over her old textbooks. Read them over and over. It was like a salve to me. It fed me, even when my stomach was empty. I couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts. I knew it would be an escape from my parents. From the fighting and the neglect and the abuse. From the poverty. I'd have clean clothes that looked like everyone else's. I'd always have food. And I was right. Hogwarts has been my home ever since."