Reduced to Skin and Bone
All in all, fifth year had been the worst so far. Severus had faced several death eater supporters trying to recruit him to their cause, a bloody werewolf, and lost his best friend.
Well that last one was on him but other than that he held no fault.
Severus knew he had made a mistake when he called Lily that word. He can still see the way her face twitched. How her eyes had welled up with unshed tears.
Severus knew in that moment they could never return to how they once were.
But Severus was desperate. Surely his best friend, his sister, could forgive him. So every night till the end of term he sat by the gryffindor common room waiting for her. He dodged spells hurled at him and turned a blind eye to the taunts they didn't even try to hide. Then, every night like clockwork, Lily would crack open the portrait and just say two words.
Go away.
Severus had pleaded with her until a professor would catch him being out after hours and made him return to his own common room.
Severus had never served that many detentions in his five years at Hogwarts.
The day before everyone had to go home for the summer holiday was the second worst day he had had.
*
Severus was rushing through the corridors after his last detention for the term, when he was grabbed from behind. Severus had twisted and fought but he was no match for the boys who had grabbed him.
Rosier, Wilkes, Avery and Mulciber. Just perfect.
“Where are you running off to now Snape? Hopefully not trying to lose more points” mocked Rosier.
“It's none of your business” Severus sneered. He had been trying to avoid them due to them trying to convince him to join the Dark Lord. At a time Severus might have considered but he couldn’t do that to Lily.
“Well I do believe that it would be our business, you know the Dark Lord rather us stay under the radar, not be too noticeable.” Rosier smirked at him.
“What would you know about the Dark Lord Rosier? Last time I heard you weren’t marked. What, not good enough for him?” Severus drawled while crossing his arms.
Rosier laughed. “You see Snape, I’m in a partially good mood tonight so I’ll ask you again. Come to a meeting and you’ll see why this is important for us”.
“Rosier You know damn well I have said no and I will say it again. NO!” Severus furiously whispered.
Suddenly Rosier had his wand digging into his neck while Avery, Wilkes, Mulciber held on to him.
“I was hoping you would say that” Rosier sneered in his face. His breath ghosted over Severus’s face and he tried not to gag.
“You see, I finally met with the Dark Lord and told him that we could never get you to join because of your little pet mudblood” Rosier spat, “and he gave me an assignment! You are now considered a traitor to your house Snape. You do know what happens to traitors don’t you?”
Severus could feel his pale skin getting paler. He did know what happened to traitors of Slytherin House. They were killed, no executed, quietly and brutally. Severus had heard stories from his mother on how a fourth year had gone missing and they had finally found him in the forbidden forest, missing several limbs. Everyone chalked it up to the creatures in the forest but the Slytherins knew better. It was Slytherin’s best kept secret. Only doled out to those who truly deserved it. It had started out with truly bad people, but nowadays the message had been misconstrued.
Rosier laughed insanely and leaned closer to Severus.
“If it were up to me I would skin you where you stand right now but our Lord is merciful so you have one more year to enjoy. This time next term you won't be a problem. Don’t think to run away or tell anyone because we have eyes and ears everywhere. Or better yet, do tell! Then your little mudblood can take your place!” Rosier cackled.
Severus felt faint. He tried to speak but nothing would come out.
“Enjoy your summer Snape, as it will be your last” Rosier shoved him to the ground and with a click of his fingers his lackeys followed him.
Severus could do nothing but lay there. Running through those last few words. Without thinking he ran to the Gryffindor common room and banged on the portrait.
I have to warn Lily, he thought.She will know what to do.
Finally someone opened the door, who turned out to be Frank Longbottom.
“Snape,” He sighed “Lily doesn't want to talk to you”.
“I know!” Severus snapped “But this is important, life or death”
Frank gave him a hard stare and then turned to look back in the common room. He was talking to someone, hopefully Lily.
Frank sighed again and turned to look at Severus.
“I’m sorry Snape, I truly am, but she says she wants nothing to do with you. She– she said to figure it out.” With that, Frank shut the portrait door.
Severus sank to the floor. He felt like screaming. He wanted to rise and spell his way in, demanding to be heard but he could do nothing but sit there. After what felt like hours he made his way back to the dungeons. He had to pack. He didn't know what he was going to do but, he reasoned, he had a year to figure it out. While he stumbled back to his room, he came up with a plan. He would go home and tell his mother everything. Surely Rosier wouldn’t have anyone tail him back to his muggle household. It was a risk but Severus had no other choice. He couldn't do this alone. Hopefully his mother could help, or at least he would get to spend time with her before he died.
Severus had made it up to his bedroom and drew his curtains around his bed, warding and silencing them heavily. Then and only then did he let himself cry.