The winter of '69 was stressful for the Snape family. Eileen had a little jam jar in which she collected loose change (not that they had much) and hid from Tobias' prying fingers. The jar was mainly a fund for Severus, who had only his patchy frockcoat, and unintentionally fingerless gloves. The money was meant to be going towards his Hogwarts' education, but Eileen worried that Severus would get Pneumonia again, and feared that he might get it if he continued wearing what he did for his entire childhood life.

"I must get you some new clothes," fretted Eileen. "You can't wear that shabby coat forever, even if it is covering up those horrendous blouses."

"Whose were they?" Severus asked.

"Mine," replied Eileen disgustedly. "The Prince family liked their grandeur. Now faded."

"Whose was the coat?" Severus continued, interested.

Eileen gave her son a look. "Toby's father's. It was a proper fisherman's coat, back in its day."

Severus made a face. "Really?"

"Some Muggle fashion, I think," Eileen stated. "Nothing on robes, of course."

"Mother?" Severus questioned tentatively. "When will I get to wear robes?"

"When you're old enough. When you go to Hogwarts, at the age of eleven."

"Can't I wear them now?" Severus was desperate not to wear the blouses.

"No," answered Eileen. "Muggles don't wear robes."

"But I'm not a Muggle," said Severus stubbornly.

Eileen glared at him. "You are. At least for now."

"Will you ever tell me more about Hogwarts?"

"No," his mother said shortly. She'd lost patience in the conversation. "Be grateful that you'll be able to go and leave this place. If anyone deserves more, it's you, Severus. You have so much potential."

"So do you, Mum," Severus said gently.

"I might have had," the woman snapped, walking away. "Just not anymore. Your father saw to that."

Severus looked sadly after her retreating back.

"He didn't see to all of it," he whispered. "Please, Mum. Please."

He clasped his hands together in prayer as he'd seen the local congregation do through the church window, and begged an unknown deity to make it stop. Make all of it stop, and bring Eileen Snape the happiness she so deserved.

*****

A.N. It's been a while - I'm sorry. I'm constantly apologising for rubbish updates. I'm also sorry for the length of the chapter. :(

On the other end of the negativity spectrum, THANK YOU FOR READING AND PLEASE COMMENT!!!!!!!!! :)