The life and Death of Lily Evens

Chapter 9

September 13th 1970

The dim light of a single candle flickered weakly in the small, cluttered sitting room of the Prince household.

The room was stifling, filled with the musty smell of sickness and old memories. Severus Snape sat in a worn armchair, his dark eyes fixed on the figure lying on the tattered sofa. Elleen Prince, his mother, was propped up with pillows, her frail frame barely visible beneath the heavy blankets.

Eileen's eyes were glazed, lost in a haze of fever and bitterness. "You know, Severus," she began, her voice weak but laced with a trace of her old hauteur, "my family was once among the most respected pureblood families in the wizarding world. They were proud, prestigious... esteemed."

Severus nodded, though he had heard this story many times before. "I know, Mother."

She continued, her voice gaining a sharp edge as
she spoke of the past.
"And then I met Tobias. That filthy mudblood." The disdain in her voice was palpable. "He tricked me. He pretended to be someone he wasn't.
And look where it got me-sick and alone, with a son who is destined to restore the family name."

Severus shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He had heard her blame his father for their circumstances before, but it never failed to sting. "I'll do it, Mother.I'll make sure the family name is restored when I get to Hogwarts."

Elleen's gaze softened slightly, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and desperation. "You must, Severus.Hogwarts will be your chance. The wizarding world thinks we are wealthy, that we still hold the same power and respect we once had. You must sell yourself well"

Severus nodded again, his thoughts a tumultuous mix of anticipation and trepidation. Hogwarts was his escape, his chance to prove himself, to finally leave behind the bleakness of his home life. The thought of becoming a student at the prestigious school was a beacon of hope in his otherwise grim existence.

The peaceful silence was shattered by the loud slam of the front door. Tobias Snape, Severus's father, stumbled into the room, his clothes disheveled and his breath reeking of alcohol. He had a loud, boisterous demeanor that contrasted starkly with the fragile atmosphere of the room.

"Well, well, what's this?" Tobias's voice was slurred but carried a sneering edge. "The great Eileen Prince, reduced to lying here like a sack of potatoes.
Can't even be bothered to get up and make herself useful."

Eileen's face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation. "Tobias, please. I'm not well."

"Not well? More like lazy and pathetic!"
Tobias's laughter was harsh and grating. He approached the sofa and loomed over Eileen, his mockery unrestrained. "What a joke. And you, Severus, you're just as much of a disappointment
as your mama"

Severus's fists clenched as he watched his father's cruel behavior. He could feel the boiling anger inside him, an emotion he struggled to control.

Tobias's words cut deeply, especially the insults directed at his mother, who was already in a vulnerable state.

"You think you can just waltz in here and belittle us?" Severus's voice was barely more than a whisper, but it was thick with rage. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Why don't you just leave?"

Tobias's eyes narrowed, his sneer turning into a dangerous glare. "Oh, what's this? The little boy wants to play hero? You think you're better than me?"

The argument escalated quickly,Tobias's taunts growing more vicious.Severus's breathing grew erratic, his anger reaching a boiling point. The room seemed to close in on him, the air thick with tension.

In a fit of rage, Severus grabbed the nearest object-a knife from the nearby kitchen. The metal gleamed ominously in the candlelight as he stormed towards his father. His movements were driven by a blind fury, and as he swung the knife, a red haze clouded his vision.

The next thing he knew, he was standing over his father, who was on the floor, blood pooling around him.Tobias was gasping, his face contorted in pain and fear. The sight of his father in such a state was jarring, and Severus felt a cold dread seep into his bones. He also powerful for the first time in his life.

"Help me," Tobias croaked, his voice weak and pleading.

Severus stood frozen, his mind racing.
The knife still felt heavy in his hand, and he could barely process what had just happened.The sound of his father's pitiful pleas seemed to echo endlessly in the room, mixing with the overwhelming guilt and horror that surged through him.

"I... I can't," Severus finally managed to choke out, his voice trembling.

He looked down at his father, unable to move, unable to help.The door to the room burst open, and Eileen, with a look of horror, staggered to her feet, her hands reaching out in desperation. "Severus! What have you done?"

The weight of the moment crashed down on Severus, and he sank to his knees, his mind numb with shock. The reality of what he had done was too much to bear. He had lost control, and the consequences were laid bare before him.

Eileen's cries and Tobias's weak pleas filled the room, but Severus was lost in his own turmoil. His world had shattered into pieces, leaving him with a heavy, unbearable burden.

Hours later, the blood and body had been cleaned away, his mother was truly a godsend and the room was eerily quiet.

Eileen had collapsed in her bed, and Severus sat alone in the darkened living room, his thoughts a swirling mess of confusion and regret. The knife was gone, but the emotional scars would remain.

As dawn approached, Severus stared out of the window, the pale light of morning casting a cold, unforgiving glow on the world outside. The promise of Hogwarts seemed more distant than ever, overshadowed by the grim reality of his home life.

The escape he had hoped for now felt like a fragile, unattainable dream.

In the quiet of the early morning, Severus was left with only the echoes of his father's dying words and the painful realization of his own actions.

The weight of the night's events hung heavy on his shoulders, casting a long shadow over the uncertain future that lay ahead.