The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Boy Left Behind

Elieen Prince had grown thin and changed her name to Snape. Her expression pinched into a neatly formed arrangement that never faltered far. She held her hands tight to her abdomen and she stood next to Victoria Malfoy, her childhood friend who had made the effort to reach out to her even after Eileen had abandoned the wizarding world for a muggle man. 

"I have to be honest, Victoria," Elieen said, picking at the nail beds of her fingers, "I did not expect you to ever want to see me again."

"I had not expected to ever see you again." Victoria smiled softly as she glanced behind her to the bench where Octavian and one of his friends were looking through their quidditch trading cards. "I suppose it was some kind of fate that Lucius and Severus became friends." 

"I suppose so." A gentle smile graced Eileen's face as she looked down at the floor in an attempt to hide her expression. Her happiness did not go unnoticed by her son who seemed delighted to see her smile again. 

Severus and Octavian had never seen eye to eye when they had brief interactions in the common room. Conversations usually involved light bickering so they tended not to speak. At his mother's side, Severus turned his head to listen to the two witches as they talked. 

“And you're happy?” Victoria asked, tilting her head as she studied the thin look of Eileen's cheeks. People aged, she understood that just fine but Eileen had always had a bright complexion as a girl with a healthy look about her. 

Mrs Snape hummed for just a moment like the question caught her off guard. “Yes, yes of course. And yourself, doing splendidly I'd imagine?”

Nervous eyes flickered over to her youngest boy as she finally recognised the look in Eileen's eyes. It was one she wore often herself. “Just so.”

A silence hung between them, one that Severus looked to be studying like a book. Silent and observant as he took on his mother's new personality rather than mirroring her youth. 

"We should get going," Eileen said, placing a hand on her son's shoulder. "His father will be getting back from work soon and he'll want us home when he is." 

"Of course," Victoria nodded, frowning a little at the put out expression on Severus' face. "I won't keep you, but I hope to see you again." 

"Yes, we can have tea." Eileen seemed happy for any kind of company, she smiled and guided Severus towards the gate back to King's Cross. "It is good to see you, Victoria." 

"And you," Victoria smiled, turning to find her youngest son still engrossed in his quidditch cards. "Octavian, are you ready to go?" 

"Can we wait a little longer Mother, please?" the boy asked, his dark eyes shining up at her. "Barty's dad isn't here yet, he shouldn't wait on his own." 

"I'll be fine." Barty Crouch Jr shrugged, handing Octavian his trading cards back. "He won't be long, he just works a lot." 

"Nonsense," Victoria said, shooing Octavian over on the bench so that she could sit beside him. "It's Bartemius, isn't it?" 

"Barty is fine." The boy shook his head quickly, the long black strands of his hair whipping over his eyes. "I prefer Barty." 

"You don't like your father's name?" Victoria asked, watching his nervous expression as he hugged his arms tight to his body. "My father had a rule about names. They hold a certain respect for you and those that held it before you." 

"I don't like my father much," Barty said, chewing at his bottom lip. "I think he forgets I exist sometimes, but he doesn't hurt me though, so I guess it isn't all bad." 

"Alright then, Barty." Victoria's voice was gentle, not pushing or dismissive, it wasn't the time. "We can wait here a while longer, but if your father doesn't turn up by then, you can come back to Malfoy Manor with us and I'll send your mother an owl and she can come and get you."