The Unknown

Chapter 50: Mother and Son

To my dear Severus,

I'm sorry. I've wanted to say that for twenty years, since the day I left you with Tobias, since the day I died, but no matter how much I wanted to say it, I never could. Since the day you were born, all I ever wanted was to be there for you, to protect you, but I couldn't even do that when it came to the likes of Tobias. After my parents died, I was so alone and then I met Tobias and I thought he loved me and we got married and had you and that's when I told him about my magic, our magic. You know the laws about Muggles being told. It was only then I saw Tobias' true self, the hatred he felt about our magic, about anything he couldn't understand, and I know now, I should have taken you and ran. I should have used the Prince family fortune to take care of you and maybe then, I wouldn't have died, and you wouldn't resent me.

I was watching over you, when you were told about my death and when you came home, I was watching over you and I saw you screaming at the world, saying that you hated me and that I abandoned you. I guess I did because I should have fought harder to survive, I was just so tired that I couldn't fight Tobias anymore. I saw you push everyone away and consume yourself with the dark magic I taught you to protect yourself with and I hate myself that my death did that.

Don't mistake my words with hate for who you have become, I am proud of who you are. The youngest potions master in history, I am so proud. You didn't let the mistreatment of Tobias hold you back and followed your passion and I'm glad you didn't tell him about the key to the Prince vault I hid in your potions book, that money is yours and yours alone and I'm glad he never discovered it. I wish you could have followed your dreams of travelling the world, but I know about the promise you have made. I will not go into it, in case this letter falls into the wrong hands, but I know your place is not teaching students and it doesn't make you happy and I know that she would agree with me. You've sacrificed so much, my little prince, taking orders, hiding secrets, showing the world one person while hiding your true self. It should not be this way. You should be able to make your own choices, live your own life and not feel trapped in a castle where you were tormented in as a child.

There is so much to say but it seems I'm coming to the end of my parchment. Please come see me. I'll be in the middle courtyard at midnight, so no one sees us, I just want to see you again but if you decide not to, it's okay. Just know, I love you, I've loved you since the moment I held you in my arms and whatever you decide, I will always love you.

All my love,

Mum

Snape had placed the letter on his desk, hidden between two books after Dahlia left as the thought of a letter from his mother was far beyond belief. He tried to make himself believe Dahlia was lying, that it was a prank on the grease-bat potions professor, but it was his mother's writing. He would recognise it anywhere as he still had a few of her letters, the last letters, she sent to him while he was at Hogwarts before she died. Throughout the day, he pondered on the unopened envelope in his office all day, as he taught those no good, no talent, waste of space children where less than a handful even had an appreciation or talent for the art of potions.

When it came to lunch and dinner, he tried to avoid speaking to anyone which didn't make much of a change, but Dumbledore noticed when Madame Pomfrey spoke to Snape about a potion in the making that could help cure Dragon Pox twice as fast, Snape said very little before brushing her off whereas before he would be speaking with the mediwitch. She was after all knowledgeable in the art of potion making because of her job. However, his brushing off seemed to attract the attention of Dumbledore, and Snape could tell his eyes kept on glancing at him until he left the Great Hall and returned to his office for the rest of the evening.