Nothing In This World (BEING EDITED)

VI.

Chapter VI: As Different As Day and Night
WARNING: Brief description and mentions of child abuse, neglect, and death.

Severus lay in his bed that night, the room enveloped in a quiet darkness broken only by the soft glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. As he drifted off to sleep, his mind began to wander back to his childhood, a time filled with bittersweet memories that seemed to haunt him even in his dreams.

In his dream, Severus found himself transported back to the small, humble cottage where he had spent his early years. The walls of the house were adorned with faded paintings and shelves filled with trinkets that had once brought joy to his young heart. But amidst the nostalgia, a shadow loomed-the memory of his father, a stern and cruel man whose presence cast a dark cloud over their home.

Severus's thoughts then turned to his mother, Eileen, a gentle soul whose laughter and warmth had been extinguished far too soon. She had passed away when Severus was just a boy of four, leaving behind a void in his heart that could never be filled. In his dream, he saw her face, a vision of beauty and kindness that brought both comfort and sorrow.

As the dream unfolded, Severus watched scenes from his childhood play out before him like a bittersweet movie. He saw himself and his mother laughing in the garden, her gentle hands brushing his hair as she sang him lullabies at night. But then, like a dark specter, his father would appear, his voice harsh and his eyes cold as he berated and belittled both Severus and his mother.

Severus watched as his three-year-old self stood by his bedroom door, watching his drunk abusive father beat the life out of his mother. She was always so brave; always laying there, taking the beatings for him. And every time she'd say, 'Severus, its ok, mama's alright, ' but she wasn't. He would watch the life drain out of her; helpless and small, but there was nothing that he could do to help. Eventually, his father's arm would get so tired that he'd have to stop. He'd stop, grab a bottle of the strongest whiskey in the house, and drink until he couldn't remember his wife's name or his son.

Eileen was always at the center of Tobias' drunken outbursts, and tonight was no different. They were having dinner when Severus had asked for the juice sitting at the opposite end of the table. It happened so fast that neither Eileen Snape nor his father knew what to do.

Tobias Snape lounged forward, grabbing three year old Severus around the neck.

"What did I tell you about using magic in this house?" He spat harshly. He grabbed the three year old harder, throwing him across the floor.

Severus' head came in contact with the wall knocking him out. His father made a direct bee line for him but was stopped by his wife. "Tobias, he doesn't know any better. He's still a baby."

"You can't continue to coddle him, Eileen." He said, grabbing her arms and lightly shaking her. "How's he supposed to learn?"

"He's a baby Tobias. He's not supposed to learn to control his magic." Said Eileen. She walked over to where her son was sprawled on the floor and picked him up. Three year old Severus started to whimper.

Eileen sat Severus on the kitchen counter, feeling him over for any cuts or bruises. She did a quick healing spell and placed her young son back on his feet. "Go play love, Mama is going to clean up from supper." Eileen watched as her son skipped to his room and gently closed the door. Once Severus was out of ear shot, she turned her attention back to her husband.