“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.”
During a particularly severe winter, Severus Snape was born. To the Snape’s, every winter was severe, of course. They lived in a rundown house that could be better described as a shack. The walls seemed as if they’d fall in at a moment’s notice or after a large gust of wind. Eileen Snape was bed bound for the latter part of her pregnancy, thanks to her lovely husband and his alcoholic tendencies. She was bruised more often than not, and that transferred over to her son. His infancy and toddler years were spent mostly protected from the wrath of Tobias. Not so as he grew older. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t hear them yelling at each other through the thin walls, couldn’t hear glass shattering or the unmistakable sound a bone makes when it breaks. As he grew, he learned to run, and run far. Before Eileen passed, she taught him everything she could about protecting himself. From his father. From other people. From those who’d deem him unworthy because of his unusual facial structure- or because of his hand-me-down clothes. She tried to teach him to be stronger than those around him and not let them hurt him.
When he met Lily Evans, he thought he’d found the one good thing in the entire world. Even though his mother had told him that no one was going to be good to him. That he would have to carry himself. But he wanted Lily to know that even though her sister thought she was a freak it wasn’t true. And for a long time, he did believe Lily was the one and only good thing to happen to him. When they were separated in Hogwarts to their respective houses- he in Slytherin and her in Gryffindor- he was certain that it would be the end for them. Gryffindor and Slytherin’s rivalry spanned centuries- it wasn’t going to change all of a sudden. And just like the whispered voice of his mother, the red-flags came as soon as they began their first week of class. The curly-haired boy with glasses and his friends would haunt Severus throughout his entire schooling. He didn’t understand why Potter hated him so very much, but he assumed it was because of his lack of nice clothing, books, and cauldron. Because, unlike the pureblood Potters, he barely had enough to get by.
It was the summer of his sixth year that Eileen died, mysteriously. A home invasion, his father said. And out of fear of the man, Severus agreed. They’d never been to a hospital, they’d never called anyone for help when she was hurt. But Sev knew what his father had done. And he vowed as he watched the man slump over in a drunken stupor, that he’d find a way to avenge his mother. And when he returned for the seventh year, he was very different. He’d mixed himself in with a crowd who were bound to join the Death Eaters. He threw himself into studying dark arts. Ignored Lily. It wasn’t until James and Sirius thought it a good idea to taunt him amidst a crowd of onlookers that he unleashed- not only on them but on Lily. Who was just trying to help him?. And try as he might, he could not come back from that fateful moment or word. Eventually, he just stopped trying.
When he graduated, he chose to take up the mark, chose to become a Death Eater, and almost gladly so. It was the first time in a long time that he felt like he belonged somewhere- anywhere. That he was accepted because beneath the mask, it didn’t matter who you were, or how much money you had in Gringotts. Your influence was based entirely on your skill. And it was no secret to any of the members of that room that the eighteen-year-old boy was more than just a boy. He was a master at potions, a craftsman with spell work and had invented a few of his own dark spells. His studies had gone far beyond the Hogwarts curriculum because Professor’s felt sorry for him.  He had asked of Voldemort only one thing, to allow him the opportunity to murder his father and ensure there would be no repercussions.
SIRIUS BLACK – After the events at the Whomping Willow there’s no doubt in Severus’ mind that there is nothing in Sirius other thank darkness. If given the chance he couldn’t say that he wouldn’t give the clown a piece of his mind, and possibly a black eye.
LILY EVANS – The person who he truly believed would be his friend forever, Severus knows that saying that word was wrong but he also can’t believe that was all it took to push Lily away after so many years of friendship.
PANDORA LOVEGOOD – As odd as she may be the fact remains that Pandora is one of the most honest people that he’s ever met. Aside from that, she is one of few people who can keep up with his discussions of potions and more often then not lets him lend a hand when it comes to her experimenting.
Severus Snape is an OPENÂ character with a FC of Richard Harmon.
