Lies and snakes

Chapter 19

Severus was awakened by a loud knock on the door. He looked over to his mate's side and saw that it was empty. Severus' mind was washed over with an unknown horror.

"Uncle Sev...open the door"

Draco's panicked voice drew him back to reality. Severus checked the door; it was locked from the inside, and it appeared that his mate had locked up before leaving. Severus took the wand and unlocked the door, revealing a distressed Draco on the other side.

"What happened...?" Severus asked.

"Hadrian... uncle Tom...they" Draco struggled to form a sentence. Severus grabbed the poor boy by hands.

"Take a breath... and speak properly "

"Hadrian was talking about his past and uncle Tom over heard us...he got shocked and left... Hadrian tried to go after him but lost the track" Draco replied.

Severus' skin was crawling with horror. This was something he hoped would never happen.

"Did he hear about him killing me in the past..." Severus inquired.

"How did you know that..." Draco asked, confused.

"Answer me Draco" Severus demanded in a straight tone.

"Yes"

Draco responded, and Severus swallowed.

"Where is Hadrian..?"

"In our room"

Severus grabbed Draco and teleported upstairs. He spotted his son, who was seated on the floor with a broken stare.

"Hadrian," Severus whispered quietly, and Hadrian raced to his arms, sobbing.

"Pa...Dad left...i..."

"It's ok... "I'll bring him back...calm down," Severus said as he hugged his son again.

"I don't know where he's gone...it's all my fault..."

"Hadrian....hear me carefully...it wasn't your fault your father just needed some alone time...and I promise you I'll bring him back by the morning...trust me okay," Severus stated, and Hadrian nodded.

"Uncle Sev, but we don't know where he went"

"I know where he went...Draco looks after your mate okay...my mate needs me"

"No... I'll come with you" Hadrian immediately responded.

"Son, listen to me, your father needs me right now...let me do this...and trust me, I'll bring him back..." Severus held his son and looked at Draco, who responded with a nod.
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Severus was standing in front of a run-down house in the middle of a desolate valley. The house was large, but it was abandoned and in horrible condition. The residence of Tom's muggle father, who fled after learning that he had married a witch. Tom had no fond memories of this place, but he decided to spend his darkest hours there. Apart from Tom, only Severus in the world knew about Tom's hidden location.

Severus opened the door and began looking for his mate...He opened a room door to see his mate seated on the floor with a photograph in his hands. His face was stained with tears, and he appeared broken.

"Tom" Severus called softly.

"Get out....!"

Tom gave a bland response. Hearing that tone filled with no feelings like the terrible dark lord reminded Severus of deja vu.

"Love.." Severus called once more after taking a deep breath.

"Get away..." Tom yelled again, but this time Severus was filled with newfound confidence and a trace of rage.

"Make me," Severus said as he took a step closer.

"Just keep your distance from me, Severus Tobias Snape... before I kill you." Tom yelled once more.

"You think you can kill me..." Leaning down in front of his mate, Severus inquired.

"I know...because I already did..." Tom responded, his gaze averted.

"Oh..love" Severus attempted to hug his friend, but Tom flung his hands away.

"Please...stay away from me...I'm a monster"

Severus hugged his mate despite the attempt of Tom.

"Stay away from me.... please" Tom struggled in his mate's arms and Severus tightened the hug.

"It was all a past that had been completely erased from the present time line."

"You knew...?" Tom inquired, his tone showing both confusion and realization

"Yes..."

"When...?"

"When Hadrian received the Death Mark....I tried Legilimens... because of his weakness, fragments of his memories were visible...I knew it from there," Severus said.

"So...why didn't you tell me...?" In tears, Tom inquired.

"Because it didn't matter...it was another timeline where you weren't my Tom...you were a victim of Dumbledore's manipulation....that wasn't you."

"Well, it matters to me... another time line or not...I killed you...love...with my own hands..." Severus pushed away from Tom's grip with a tinge of rage.

"Look at me, Tom... I'm alive and breathing right in front of you!" shouted Severus.

"That won't undo what I did...all this time I was thinking about how I hurt you by pushing you away and avoiding you...I still haven't forgiven myself for doing that...but how can I come near you now?... When I realize I've sinned...I killed my own mate...I'm damned..."

Tom responded haltingly. His eyes were welling up with tears. Severus wiped his tears away and inhaled deeply. He understands that this will not be easy.

"Tell me one thing... do you blame our son for murdering you in his previous life?"or letting me die."

"Merlin...no...he doesn't know anything... he's just a child manipulated by Dumbledore," Tom responded quickly, shaking his head.

"Exactly, you didn't know anything either, just like our son... Dumbledore made you like that"

"I was your mate....I should have perished before thinking about harming you."

"You're still my mate, and you've got your family by your side..." Severus cried out.

"Please, Tom... do not do this... don't push me away..." Severus choked on his own tears. "I can't take it anymore... I'd rather die..." He added with a broken voice.

Tom immediately hugged his mate while shaking his head.

"Please don't say that, love...I don't deserve your love....i."

"Tom, we belong to each other.... You're my mate....my life...I lost you once and I don't want to go through that agony again...I love you..." He murmured.

"I....I love you, too," Tom responded faintly.

"Come back with me...to our home...our son is waiting for us" Inside him, Severus grasped his mate's hand in his and spoke.

"He... Our child...I don't know how to face him...I failed as a mate and a father... love," Tom sighed.

"Don't....just don't think like Tom Marvelo Riddle...Our son risked his life to bring us together... in order to bring our family together. He fights his demons every day so that we can all be happy...this is our opportunity to protect him. He needs his father, and I need my mate....come with me, love."

Severus wailed while holding his friend. They both stayed by each other's sides, sharing their deepest feelings and comforting one another.