As it was, Severus didn't find himself trudging home across the moors. Mr Evans was driving in that direction anyway – he had no idea why – and had offered to give him a lift.

"I would have telephoned your parents," Mark explained, "to get them to collect you, but I thought, no need to have them make the journey if I'm headed there myself."

Severus neglected to mention that they had neither a telephone, nor a car.

"Thank you," he said, once they'd arrived. It was only a half-hour drive, however it always took Severus two hours to walk over the moors.

"No problem," replied Mark, waving it off. "Are your parents in?" He stared hard at the living room curtains. Severus wondered what he was looking at. Perhaps he wanted to see a twitch of life from inside the tranquil house. Either way, it wouldn't be an exact replica of how the Snape abode usually was. You'd need screams and shouts for that.

Severus shrugged. "Father won't be," he answered indifferently, "and Mother will be sleeping." If gazing dreamily into space counted as sleeping.

"Hmm," was all the man said in response. "Maybe I should come in, so you're not on your own."

Severus looked hard at Mr Evans. "I don't think you should," he stated seriously. "Every man or woman that crosses this threshold enters at their own risk." He began walking towards the front door and then stopped and looked round. "And there aren't many," was his parting shot.

Mark sat motionless in his seat for several moments before turning the ignition key and driving home, uneasy.

*

Severus had been lying about his father not being home. He was sure that Mr Evans would have been all too pleased to have a chat with his slovenly drunkard of a father and that was a conversation Severus didn't want to witness.

"Severus?" It was his mother, standing uncertainly by the kitchen table. Perhaps she hadn't expected him to ever come home.

"Mother," he acknowledged. "Where's_?"

A blow to the back of his head gave him the answer to that question. He staggered back to his feet and turned to the face the ever-poisonous sight of Tobias Snape.

"Father," he gasped, eyes streaming, "I'd been lying if I said I was pleased to see you."

"You insolent, little_" Tobias made another swipe at the young boy but missed; Severus had ducked just in time, much more agile than his stumbling father. He ran for the door. He'd sleep on the moor if he had to.

"Boy," Tobias threatened, "If you leave here, you're never coming back. Just think of that."

Severus hesitated and that was all the time the older man needed. He grabbed the boy by the collar and punched him in the face. Severus fell back, reeling. His father gave him a hard kick before grabbing his coat and going towards the door.

"I'll be at a mate's house if anyone needs me," he said gruffly, and ventured back into the night.

Eileen knelt by her son. Blood dripped off his face onto the dusty stone floor.

"Tip your head back," she ordered, "and pinch it; it'll stop bleeding soon."

"But, Mum, I think it's broken!" Severus exclaimed thickly.

"It shouldn't be," she frowned. "Tobias' punch isn't that hard_" Both of them knew it wasn't true. They experienced it enough. She sighed. "I'll get something cold to put on it."

She walked into the pantry. Severus laid his head down on the cold flagstones and closed his eyes, suddenly exhausted.

Something cold touched his face. Severus opened his eyes and yelped at the sight of a bottle.

"Shh, Severus, it's only me." His mother's face appeared in his line of vision. She seemed to be smiling, but apprehensive. "I'm afraid Toby's beer is the only cold thing we have in this house."

"Along with my bedroom, the running water, the floor, the attic and your bedroom," Severus grumbled.

Eileen glared at him. "But apart from that," she said, gently pressing the bottle to his nose, "we have nothing as cold as this."

It stung but Severus was used to the pain.

"Will you ever..." he began abruptly, and then stopped.

"What?" Asked his mother cautiously.

"Leave him. Will you ever leave him?"

She gave him a sharp look before replying.

"You're clever boy, Severus. It'll never be allowed."

"Why?" He was also an inquisitive boy.

"All he needs to do is get a doctor's note saying I'm not in my right mind and that's that."

"But, in 1839, Caroline Norton convinced the government to change its decision on only giving the men the right to keep the children. The judge is the only one who can decide." Severus had read all about it.

"But you are not four or under, Severus." It seemed his mother had researched it too. "When you're an adult, you can get away from here. But, until then, we need his house and his money. I can't work and he has custody of you."

"But why would he want to keep me?" Severus was desperate.

She gave him a sad look. "There are people in these world who are simply plain evil."

"I once asked you if you wished him dead," Severus said slowly. "And you said no." Well, she had slapped him, so that made it clear enough.

"I don't wish him dead – no-one deserves that." As he made to interrupt, she said sharply, "Not even him. And I don't wish I'd never met him."

"Why?"

Eileen gave her first true smile for a long time.

"Because then I wouldn't have had you."

*****

A.N. A bittersweet ending! Severus keeps getting into scrapes and we see a bit more of the mysterious 'Toby'.

I'm sorry for the long delay - I have exams coming up - but I hope the long chapter makes up for it.

Thank you for reading and PLEASE REMEMBER TO COMMENT!!!!!!!!