Bells are ringing
Friday July 25th, 1975
Peter didn't feel thankful that his mom spoke to Tobias about his abuse. Man only cranked up the level and made him work out. This morning when the man left to his new job in this new neighbourhood, he was in his car but forced Peter to run alongside his car at 5.30 in the morning. Every minute he got late was a spoon less of food on his plate. At first, he was against it but on the other hand it was great to avoid the beatings.
If his mother also hears he refuses to do this every morning. It'll make him the bad guy, because all the man wants to do is look atfer his health, would his mom say. Today was the first day. Severus is already eating his breakfast as Peter wheezes with his red head in the doorway. Coughing until he vomits by the entrance. He resists rolling his eyes when Delilah praises her big boy. His body staggering in the movement of shoving oatmeal in his mouth after the woman announces, 'You two can now make your homework together, like brothers.'
Delilah drops them off at the magical forest with food and drinks. 'Have fun boys. I'll pick you up at 6!' She drives off, leaving two very stunned teens behind in the forest of Glassten. Name derives from the lake so clear, it's glass clear. Didn't take a genius to figure that out. It would take a genius to do some research and find that the owner specifically once searched for this forest with its clear lake to name it after his surname. A hint of narcissism.
Severus looked at his watch. It isn't even 10am. 'Let's go our different ways. You go there, I go here.' Pettigrew thought of a retort but shrunk under his eyes. Ominous eyes. None of them willing to turn their back on each other. Snape saw Peter opening his mouth and felt like he should take the high road; thus turns around to follow his path. Peter closes his mouth vacantly as his eyes involuntarily travel down the the spine of the skinny kid.
Glued to the ass, surprisingly looking well-formed for someone of his size. He flinches the moment Snape stops to throw a glare over his shoulder. Hurrying down his path. 'Stupid Snivellus.' he murmurs. Kicking the dirt while grumbling about the unfairness of it all. Snape's dad caused their situation to begin with. Snape doesn't want to work with him, a mocking voice plays on repeat in Peter's brain.
He takes a few pictures with a Polaroid camera, but finds Snape eating breakfast in the distance with something. A ghost? Of a young man nonetheless. Severus stumbled upon one of his homework plants. As he tried to take a good picture, he slipped and fell down into a ditch that was also an unmarked grave of two siblings. The eldest brother seems well into his teens while the younger sister seems to be at that age where she recently learnt running. He never did meet the sister. Assumptions were made from the dates on the marked grave.
There was more of 10-year gap between the two of them. These children seem to be witches and wizards but had too weak magic to be applying to any school. They could pass as squibs. 'So, come again. You have a school, full of people with amazing powers. You're like superheroes. It must be very peaceful compared to our... m-muggle was it? ' Waiting for the raven's nod and finishes 'To our muggle school.' Severus smiles. The kid can remember quickly.
Though, what he insinuates is not true. There is no peace in Hogwarts. He cannot talk about other magical schools, but his? 'Would you like to be my friend, Severus? ' The boy is between thin and slim but there was no mistake in the bullet wounds showing dark blue on his thigh and chest.
'I don't see a problem with that. I have no idea what to do with you though.' What do ghosts even do? Nearly Headless Nick likes scaring kids and prepare his entrance for a whole year. Every year, freshmen come around, he had a new show.
The boy chuckles 'Don't worry your pretty head over it.'
Taken back by such a nonsensical compliment, he got up but he also alarmed the kid he's with 'Wait, wait, I am sorry. I can't really keep my honesty in check. It's why I am here.' he sighs exhaustedly. Severus shakes his head with an attempt to show strict discomfort but the blush spreading on his cheeks hardly made it look serious. The boy smiles. Does the raven even know he looks as if he's pouting?
'What is your name? '
'Matthew'
'Matthew' Snape repeats softly. Feels strange to call someone by their name. Usually it goes by last name.
'Last name? '
The ghost became rigid. 'Anything but that disgusting name.' His tone becomes softer, noticing the other making himself smaller. They may be similar after all. He could finally have someone to keep him company here in the dratted forest! A wife. His mother did always teach him to date with the intention of making that person a wife. He missed a lot once he became a ghost. Made peace with a certain gremlin of a little sister. That died on the same day as him.
Matthew keeps Snape company during the homework adventure. Also twitching from irritation about a fat kid snooping around them the whole time. Does Snape cheat on him? Wait, that can't be true. They just met today so that other prick must be some attention seeker. Well this human is his. As the day grew darker, effortlessly becoming night, the "stepbrothers" meet at the entrance of the forest.
Snape introduced the two of them 'Matthew, this is... sort of my stepbrother, Peter Pettigrew.' He doesn't see him as one and he would certainly rather gut Peter than accept him. He said that in case Peter thought of backstabbing him by spreading lies to Matthew.
'Sort of? ' Matthew held back a snarl but the disgust wasn't hidden.
'My father and his mother are in a romantic relationship. We don't really have marriages amongst magical people if we go by muggle standards.' Matthew nods. He understands the situation somewhat.
'You feel hatred when you see him though. Did he do something? '
'He and I go to the same school, same class and things at home are none of your concern.' Matthew's eyes widen. How did someone say something so hurtful to him while keeping a steady voice. He watches a car drive by and Severus steps in first. Peter carefully inched closer to the car. Not noticing the picture that fell out of his bag.
Matthew frowns. That pervert had been taking pictures of Severus! Snape isn't lying. He loathes that oversized dimwit. It means the poor guy is dealing with unwanted attention of some stupid idiot. The ground swallows up the picture and he vanished when he saw Severus wasn't bothered enough to look back at him. At home, Severus rushes upstairs, but his dad spotted him unfortunately too quick. 'Welcome home, you brat. Let's eat. I've been starving.'
Delilah serves the steaming hot dishes. Chicken pot pie amongst many other things. All are barely seated when she exclaims mirthly 'We are getting married!'
Peter chokes on his food and Severus slowly chewed his. Narrowing his eyes on his dad. Tobias grins sheepishly 'Might make a new sibling too.'
She shows the ring while he cheeks turn red. 'Darling, not in front of the children.' Peter stares at his food for a long time to the point Severus kicked him from under the table to react. His mother at least expects that. Instead of a normal reaction he flinched the moment Peter abruptly got up. Throwing his chair back and bolt for the exit but Tobias was quicker. He always was.
Bruising fingers wrap around a pudgy and soft neck. 'You will sit and eat!' He basically flung Peter back to the dining table and his mother gave a rather pointed look. Severus chewed slowly on his food. He forces a smile and utters 'Congratulations'.
Delilah giggles 'Thank you, sweetheart.'
Tobias is proud. His son was raised so well. 'You did well today, Severus. Did you manage to do everything for your homework? '
'Not really. Some plants grow only at night and others on certain days.'
His father scoffs 'Of course it does. Next thing you'll tell me is that a plant cries when it's pulled out of the ground.'
It's rather quiet. Tobias walks up to his son, leans over and tucks his son's hair behind his ear. Cupping his face with one hand 'Cheer up, lad. I'll bring you as often as you need to the forest.' Severus looks up into the dark brown eyes of his father. Rare moment to see his father act so kindly.
'Thanks dad' He looks over at Delilah who is stunned by the sight.
'I'll go for a smoke, love. Would you like to join me? ' Delilah goes with him to their backyard.
Seeing him being so tender, ignited certain parts of her body. To do the same to her. Still, she kept it under the covers. 'He has a rather feminine face, don't you think? '
The man blows away from her face and chuckles after. 'He got everything from his mummy. My nose is barely present on his face.' Tobias has a rough-sketched Roman nose. It's the first thing people could notice on him. On Severus it looks odd, also first thing they'd notice on the kid. Because anything looks strange on a thin child. The eyes look bigger, the lips becomes awkwardly stretched and his nose made him look like he could smell your secrets.
Delilah had been taking care of his son's health now. 'He's beautiful'
Tobias is quiet. Because he knows his son might attract the wrong attention. He just hopes the kid brings a bird home and not a bloke. He looks down at the portly woman and lifts her. She wraps her legs around his waist. This is it. This is what she yearned for. As they got busy, Peter shovels food in his mouth and Severus ate his properly. 'You always fake smiles like that? '
'Only in his presence.'
'Why? He's a garbage muggle.' Ignoring the discriminating tinted comments, Severus rolls his eyes.
'He's sometimes kind. He doesn't always hurt me.' Now it dawns on Peter. Now the portly boy knew what kind of life Snape led.
He used to see Snape in this black ominous light but now it's as if he saw some lamb withering in winter. He's a victim that doesn't know he's a victim. That sentence alone shifted his view upon Severus. 'He still hurts you.'
'So what? My existence bothers a lot of people, including your 4-eyed bastard friend!' Severus slams his fist, spilling the water and sprinted up the stairscase. Made an attempt to. Slipping embarrassingly on the staircase. Closing his eyes and wait for the impact but an arm snaked around his waist. Smoke blown into his face.
'Shouting and running like a bitch. I raised you better than that Severus.' Snape rests his hands on his father's. Nodding quietly as the man places him on the ground. Instead of going upstairs, man drags him back to the table to clean up the mess and eat his fill to become bigger and stronger. Delilah looks at Snape hiding his face behind a curtain of his hair. He didn't do much for that night. Washed up and went to bed. Peter lays across him. He will meet his friends during summer vacation but this vacation alsready feels like an eternity. Each day passes so achingly slow. His hatred for Snape fluctuates. One moment he's so pathtic and pitiful and another moment, he's so awfully mean.