Magic.
Not the practice; Tobias would have never allowed it. It was too dangerous that way. But the idea of it; the knowledge that was another world out there- one that was waiting for him. Severus was raised on the idea of magic; of Hogwarts, and purity, and a world that was not this one- not confined to Spinner’s End, or the cold, common life of Muggles.
Severus believed in ideas before he ever thought to trust other people. He knew about Hogwarts and Slytherin and in his mind, they were magic words. It was whispered knowledge, passed to him by his mother in his father’s home. His mother, eyes shining feverishly, told him everything.
It became his bedtime stories. Stories of his grandfather; bold and brazen. The family that had forsaken them; and in each of those childhood stories Severus was a Prince- about to retake his place of honor. He’d fighter harder than any other story character (and that’s how all the stories went- you fought for it, no matter what); he’d clutch it closer to his heart. He’d earned it.
All he had to do was be smart enough, brave enough and clever. He had to be worthy. Then maybe one day his grandfather would see his mistake and all this would be over. Tobias would only be a nightmare then; and his mother would be better. Whole again.
By the time, he reached Hogwarts he had already found his princess too. It was just like a storybook…
And when the time came, Tom Riddle made sure to tell him so. He had need enough for princes and Magics.
And he had a story too.
Severus Snape
Harry Potter
278
Not the practice; Tobias would have never allowed it. It was too dangerous that way. But the idea of it; the knowledge that was another world out there- one that was waiting for him. Severus was raised on the idea of magic; of Hogwarts, and purity, and a world that was not this one- not confined to Spinner’s End, or the cold, common life of Muggles.
Severus believed in ideas before he ever thought to trust other people. He knew about Hogwarts and Slytherin and in his mind, they were magic words. It was whispered knowledge, passed to him by his mother in his father’s home. His mother, eyes shining feverishly, told him everything.
It became his bedtime stories. Stories of his grandfather; bold and brazen. The family that had forsaken them; and in each of those childhood stories Severus was a Prince- about to retake his place of honor. He’d fighter harder than any other story character (and that’s how all the stories went- you fought for it, no matter what); he’d clutch it closer to his heart. He’d earned it.
All he had to do was be smart enough, brave enough and clever. He had to be worthy. Then maybe one day his grandfather would see his mistake and all this would be over. Tobias would only be a nightmare then; and his mother would be better. Whole again.
By the time, he reached Hogwarts he had already found his princess too. It was just like a storybook…
And when the time came, Tom Riddle made sure to tell him so. He had need enough for princes and Magics.
And he had a story too.
Severus Snape
Harry Potter
278
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