Home

Chapter One

Sylvester was in the dining hall with everyone else. He was sitting at the Slytherin table at the very end, where he likes. He likes the end seat. What he didn't like was that the end he was sitting on was closer to the teachers and headmaster. 

Sylvester had his right leg pulled to his chest with his head resting on his knee. He was playing with his food rather than eating it. He was silent, like every day. Suddenly, there was a shadow above him. He looked up and saw Severus Snape standing above him.

"A word, Parker," Snape said before turning and walking towards the teachers' door. Sylvester silently rolled his eyes but followed. They got into the hall and Snape turned to him. "Why aren't you eating?" Snape asked the small boy. Sylvester shrugged. "Parker, you haven't eaten since you arrived three days ago!" Snape pointed out. 

Sylvester nodded slowly. "And?" Sylvester asked, shocking Snape. Sylvester hasn't uttered a word since he arrived either. "Why does it matter if I eat? Why would you care?" Sylvester asked with an attitude. "Just leave me alone!" Sylvester said before walking back into the dining hall.

Sylvester got to his seat and sat down, pushing his tray away and crossing his arms on the table before laying his head in his arms. "You okay, Syl?" He heard his only friend, Jacob, ask. Sylvester nodded and kept his head down. Sylvester was mad. He doesn't like when he gets pulled away and is pointed out to the obvious.

Suddenly, there was the sound of wings and thuds. Sylvester knew it was the owls so he didn't look up. That was until he felt a thud right next to him. Sylvester looked up slightly and saw he had gotten a letter. 

Sylvester sat up and looked at it. He's never gotten a letter before. He slowly grabbed it and looked at the envelope. He sighed and put it in his pocket. He didn't want to read it now. It was probably from his abusive father and drunk mother. Sylvester laid his head back into his arms and sighed. He was tired that's for sure. He hasn't slept much since he arrived either.

Finally, dinner was over and Sylvester went back to the Slytherin house. He entered and went straight to his room. He entered and lay on his bed. Sylvester pulled out his phone and earbuds. Most students don't have a phone, but Sylvester made sure he brought his. He plugged in his earbuds and listened to music. He sat up and pulled the letter out of his pocket. He hesitated before opening it.

Dear Sylvester Finn Parker,
I am sorry to inform you that your mother and father have gotten into a severe car accident killing them both. We have been told you are at a boarding school. I'm sorry to say that you can no longer go home. You will be living at the boarding school until you are of age and you want to move out. I'm very sorry for your loss.
Sincerely, Winchester Court House.

Sylvester was in shock. His parents are dead. He was glad but was also very sad. He no longer had a family. He was alone. He put the letter on his bedside table. He looked at his wall and saw the only picture on there was of Sylvester and his older brother, Callahan. 

Callahan was fourteen before he died. Callahan was killed by his parents. They were very drunk and ended up killing him. Callahan's death was the worst thing Sylvester has ever gone through. After his brother's death, the boy had gone silent. Not uttering a word to anyone, unless he needed or wanted to. Sylvester sighed and laid down. He closed his eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.

Two months later and it was time for students to go home for winter break. All the students have left, or so the teachers thought. The teachers went to the dining hall for lunch since the children left after breakfast. They were sitting at one of the student tables, having a conversation when the doors opened. They all looked over confused and saw Sylvester standing there.

"Sylvester? What are you doing here?" Snape asked as he saw the boy. Sylvester shrugged and sat at his spot. The teachers all looked at each other confused. Suddenly, an elf popped up next to Sylvester and handed him a plate. Snape was surprised. He hasn't seen Sylvester eat at all! 

The boy silently ate half of his food before the elf took the plate away. Sylvester stood up and went to leave. He was walking past the teachers before someone grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Sylvester, why aren't you home? It's winter break," Snape asked. Sylvester just looked at Snape's hand and tried to pry his handoff. 

"Let go!" Sylvester finally snapped. The teachers looked at him in shock. Only Snape had heard him say anything but none of them thought he would snap like that! "Please?" Sylvester asked almost in a whisper. Snape only pulled the boy to sit next to him.

"So, Mr. Parker, why are you still here?" Dumbledore asked. Sylvester just looked down. "Sylvester?" McGonagall asked as the boy stayed silent. The boy looked up at her. "I don't have a home." He told them. 

They were all surprised and shocked. "What do you mean?" Lupin asked. Sylvester rolled his eyes and pulled out the letter. He tossed it on the table and put his head on the table. Snape picked it up and read it first. He frowned before handing it to McGonagall. 

"I'm sorry to hear, Sylvester," Snape said. "Don't be." Sylvester lifted his head. "They deserved it." He said softly.

"How so?" Dumbledore asked after reading the letter. Sylvester went silent again and looked away. "Sylvester?" McGonagall asked. Sylvester sighed. "They were abusive." Sylvester finally said. They all looked at him shocked but also with sadness. "They are the reason Callahan died," Sylvester told them. 

They knew Callahan, he came to school here as well. "How are they the reason?" Lupin asked. Sylvester sighed. "They were very drunk that night and my father found his pistol and killed him. They took his body to an alleyway so it would look like he got jumped." Sylvester told them. Before they could say anything, Sylvester grabbed the note and left, leaving them all in shock.

"Poor boy!" McGonagall said sadly. "How old is he?" She asked. "Sixteen," Snape answered her. She looked at the door and frowned. Poor boy! She thought.

Sylvester went back to his room and pulled his guitar out of the closet. No one knew he had it except for him. Sylvester loved anything music! It's his favorite thing. He grabbed his guitar and opened his window and sat on the ledge of the balcony and played. What he didn't know was that every teacher was outside at that moment and heard him playing.

The boy played in peace while the teachers were listening below. None of them knew the boy could play instruments! This made them happy, even though some wouldn't admit it. Sylvester finally stopped playing and went to his room again. He put his guitar away and lay in his bed. This is going to be the most boring Winter Vacation ever! Sylvester thought before falling asleep.