Memories of a death eater (Severus x OC)

5. Day 3, second part

As he picked up the next bottle, Dumbledore realized that the label marked a very long interval of years. What the hell would Snape have put in there?

Without wasting any more time, the headmaster emptied the contents into his stone vessel, and entered the silver substance, falling inside...

***

...they were in Laura's room. A short time had passed since the scene of Tobias's murder, and the girl was very nervous, almost hysterical.

She moved from one place to another, crying, and putting the few clothes she owned in a bag. Young Severus followed her, as if he were her shadow, trying to talk to her.

"Calm down! It's not that big of a deal!" he said.

"Isn't it a big deal? And you expect me to believe it?" she shouted. "You plan to make a living... Killing people! Couldn't you think of anything better? Did you have to become a death eater?"

Dumbledore looked at Snape in amazement. He noticed that he was wearing the black robe that was usual for the adult Snape, and that he was holding, apparently unconsciously, his left arm.

"It's a good way to protect you."

"Protect me? Protect me from what?" she asked, stopping for a moment her incessant coming and going. "Do you think that by becoming a criminal you are going to do something good?"

"Shut up! You know nothing!"

"No, Sev , it's you who doesn't know anything. You only act for your own benefit!"

"I always took care of you! How can you say that? When have I failed you? Hey? Tell me!"

"You're failing me now," Laura's eyes filled with tears, and the girl turned so that he wouldn't see her cry. She continued shoving things into her bag. Dumbledore saw her pick up a long, narrow box, her wand box, and put it in with the rest of the things.

"Leave that!" he tried to stop her.

"Do not touch me!" she shouted, moving away.

"Do you really plan to leave? Have a little common sense, Laura! This is all nonsense. You're only eleven years old, you can't go anywhere alone."

"That's what you think," she pushed him to close her bag. "I have called social services. They're coming for me."

Severus stared at her, uncomprehending, until a grimace of stupor covered his face.

"What! Have you called...? How could you?"

"I'd rather be in an orphanage than live with a death eater!" she screamed. Her words cut him to the core, and Severus's face contorted with rage.

"Well, very good! Go away! I don't need you at all!" he shouted at her, but Dumbledore saw that his eyes were also moistening, and his fists were clenching until they were white. "Who wants to put up with a disgusting squib?"

Laura's face also contorted, making her look like her brother.

"I'm glad mom is dead. She won't be ashamed of you like I am!"

Severus slapped her, and the scene seemed to stop, as the two siblings stood still, silent. A silence that resounded like a cannon shot. The echo of the slap still sounded in the room. Slowly, Laura raised a hand to her face, and looked at Severus, shocked and hurt. He didn't seem to believe what he had done.

"Laura, I–" he tried to say, but she burst into tears, and without giving him time to do anything else, grabbed her bag and ran out of the room. "Laura, wait! Laura!" he shouted, running after her, but the girl was much faster than him, and left the house, slamming the door. "I'm sorry," he sobbed, leaning his back against a wall. I'm so sorry–" he let himself fall to the floor, where he buried his face in his hands. He was alone...