Tobias Potter// Second Book

17

It was the first day of the holiday, the year ended the same, Dumbledore gave Gryffindor just enough points to win and cancelled all the exams. So he sat at home on his bed, he found it more increasingly difficult to get out of bed each day. The cuts on his arms burned but that was a day ago, just before he got on the train, in the early hours of the morning. Everyone was asleep.

'Tobias can you come here please?' Tonks called up the stairs, he somehow managed to get out of bed. It was Tonks, he had to.
'What is it?' Tobias rubbed his eyes, he was so exhausted he had not slept the past two days. It was Harry, his face was just constantly in his mind. The bloody arm, the look of betrayal and hatred.
'Could you quickly run to the shops for me?' She never asked Tobias to leave the house, was something wrong?
'Sure, of course I can. What do you need?'
'Bread, eggs, milk and a pack of water.' She smiled and handed over he money, Tobias just needed to change.

He ran back up, pulled off his shirt to reveal his bandaged arms, he pulled on another plain black shirt, on top of that he put on a black hoodie. He completed his outfit with black ripped jeans and black boots, he checked himself in the mirror. Completely black apart from the electric blue hair that peeped from beneath his hood. Maybe that is what is causing Tonks so my anxiety, his new hairstyle. He thought he would give Ravenclaw some representation, he always loved Felicity and Bryn. He grabbed his Walkman and began playing his compiled mix tape. With his bag for the items he buys and his house keys he left, he quickly arrived and ended up getting an extra two bags. He brought some oranges and green apples specifically, he didn't like the red ones. It was fruit for the bowl, they had been running short. After he brought some other miscellaneous objects Tobias checked out, his favourite song came on as he walked down the road to his house. He put the keys in the lock and entered, his hands too full to turn off the Walkman so he sang along.

I always needed time on my own, I never thought I'd, need you there when I cry.

'I told you it was bad Sev.' Tobias couldn't hear the voice in the background. He was far to into the song now.

When you walk away, I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone!

'Yes, but never Avril Lavigne bad. Nymphadora this is a whole new problem, he has skipped stages.' Severus was honestly speechless, whether it was Tobias who looked nothing like Severus left him or the voice crack on gone.

Tobias placed the bags down and took off the headphones, he noticed the point blank expression his father wore. He felt somewhat embarrassed by his father overhearing him, but then it struck Tobias, what was he doing here? Tobias wasn't supposed to go with him until Friday.

'Father, why are you here?' Tobias emptied his pockets, the spare change and keys all crumpled together.
'Your mother called me, she said she is worried about you, now I see the hair and the pale skin tone that is next to mine which is not good, the depressing music, I am too. I know it seems funny, but honestly I think, you are genuinely struggling and won't get help. Trust me Tobias, I have been in the Avril Lavigne stage.' His father confronted him. Tonks remained quiet.
'So, what do you plan to do? Send me to rehabilitation, Dad I'm twelve.' Tobias sat on the bar stool, he couldn't see where Severus was going with this.
'Tonks wants you to stay with me, I know you planned to stay here but being serious now, you need help. Tonks doesn't know this subject as well as I do, I can guess what you're going through.' Severus wanted him to agree and not feel pressured.
'I bet you don't know anything.' Tobias bit harshly, nobody knows how he feels.
'Oh really?
I think, you are still confused about your feelings towards Draco however as you get older they're becoming immensely confusing. You feel outcasted by your only true family blood, Harry dislikes your house and the friends you have so you feel as if you'll never gain a connection with him. You feel as if nobody ever recognised that you go through and experience the exact same trauma that Harry does sometimes as well as extra traumatic experiences like bullying and stereotypes the school makes just based off your house. You are also haunted by what had happened in the chamber of secrets and now you lack sleep and have fallen deep into depression and I bet suicidal thoughts. Now Tobias Sirius Snape, I will not let you sit and wallow away because I absolutely care about you like only one thing ever before and I lost that and I won't lose you. You're staying with me and letting me help you. Get, your, things.' He slowly finished his last sentence.
'Okay so maybe you know something.' Tobias mumbled under his breath and went to collect his things.

They left and ended back up in his new home, they sat down and for some reason the second Tobias sat next to Severus on the sofa, he broke down and poured out everything. He told him the worst fear he had, that one day people will think and associate him with Voldemort. He told him about Harry and the papers. He told him about how he was sure on his feelings but feared no one would take him seriously because of his age. Everything that had been keeping Tobias awake at night, and most importantly, Tobias told him about the cuts. Which Severus looked at and made Tobias recall each reason for every last one. Then when Tobias told him he regretted them all, Severus erased them. Then held him, and didn't let him go until he knew Tobias was fine. It'll be fine, it's always fine. Tobias thought to himself. Those where the words that would keep him alive no doubt in his mind.