Chapter 12: Chapter 11: New Bonds, Old Wounds, and the Ghosts of the Past
Severus had always been driven by an intense need to prove himself, but now—after discovering his inheritance, securing his independence, and reclaiming his future—his motivation had reached new heights.
The Ministry's summer OWL examinations were known for being far more challenging than Hogwarts'. Unlike the school exams, which allowed students the comfort of familiar classrooms and teachers who knew their strengths, the Ministry exams were completely objective.
The proctors were unforgiving, the environment sterile and devoid of favoritism, and the expectations uncompromising.
He had registered for:
Muggle Studies – An easy pass, considering his half-blood background.
Care of Magical Creatures – Years of self-study had prepared him well.
Dueling – His secret lessons with Flitwick were about to be tested.
Basic Healing – Madam Pomfrey's guidance had given him a solid foundation.
Languages – Latin, French, and Irish, all subjects he had mastered in private.
His daily routine became rigid:
Mornings: Three hours of intense study before work.
Afternoons: Brewing and assisting at the shop, refining his potion-making skills.
Evenings: Reviewing theory, practicing spellwork in secret, and preparing for the exams.
Unlike Hogwarts, where bias and house politics dictated success, the Ministry exams would be based on merit alone.
And Severus Snape had never feared competition.
At first, Dorea Langston had been indifferent to Severus.
He was just another assistant, hired on Pomfrey's recommendation. She had little patience for incompetence, and her teaching style was brutal—far stricter than Slughorn's lazy, indulgent approach.
The first few days had been exhausting.
Severus had barely met her standards, and she made no effort to soften her criticism.
"Too much powdered bicorn horn, and you'll destabilize the entire batch," she snapped, watching as he adjusted his measurements.
But Severus wasn't fragile.
Unlike Slughorn's students, who relied on connections and charm, he relied on skill and intelligence.
Within a week, he had mastered her brewing methods, moving with efficient precision around the shop, correcting minor mistakes before they became disasters, and demonstrating a level of skill that left even Dorea silent.
One evening, after they finished a difficult batch of Blood-Replenishing Potion, Dorea leaned against the counter and regarded him with a smirk.
"You learn quickly," she admitted.
Severus wiped his hands on his apron. "I don't see the point of making the same mistake twice."
She gave a short laugh. "You're going to be dangerous one day, Severus Snape."
He met her gaze without hesitation. "Good."
From that day forward, she became more than just a supervisor—she became a mentor.
She taught him about business, potion innovation, the economics of magical trade, and how real potion masters operated beyond the academic walls of Hogwarts.
For the first time in his life, Severus had someone who challenged him, respected him, and taught him without condescension.
And he thrived.
Before everything fell apart, Severus had once belonged in the Evans household.
He had spent countless afternoons in their small, warm home—sitting at the kitchen table with Lily, listening to Mr. Evans' stories about his work at a printing press, or watching Mrs. Evans bake apple tarts.
For a long time, they had been the only family he had ever known.
Mr. Evans had treated him like another son, never looking at him with disdain or judgment. He had patiently explained Muggle inventions, given Severus old books from his shop, and defended him whenever Petunia sneered at his "freakishness."
Mrs. Evans had a soft spot for him, always tucking extra food into his hands, worried about his thin frame. She noticed the too-short sleeves of his second-hand robes, the bruises he never spoke about, the way he always hesitated before accepting kindness.
They never asked about his home life, but they knew.
And for years, Severus had believed he could always come back to their house, that it would always be a safe place.
Until he had ruined it.
Until he had called Lily that word.
Until he had lost them.
Now, as he sat alone in his rented room, reviewing his study notes, he realized how much emptier his summers had become.
Lily Evans' Summer Without Severus
Lily Evans sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
It had been weeks, and there had been no letter from Severus.
Not a single word.
She told herself she didn't care.
That she was better off without him.
That she had made the right choice.
But late at night, when the house was quiet, she couldn't ignore the hollow feeling in her chest.
Her mother had noticed.
At dinner one night, Mrs. Evans had asked about him.
"Lily, have you heard from Severus?"
Lily froze, forcing herself to keep eating. "No, Mum."
Her mother frowned. "That's odd. He used to write every summer."
Lily shrugged, keeping her voice casual. "We had a fight. We're not talking anymore."
Her mother sighed softly, giving her a knowing look. "You were always close. It's a shame."
Lily didn't respond.
Because the truth was, she didn't know how she felt anymore.
Petunia Evans' POV
Petunia had always hated Severus Snape.
He had stolen Lily's attention, whispered secrets to her about his freakish world, and looked at Petunia like she was nothing more than a foolish child.
But this summer, something was different.
There were no letters. No visits.
And her mother was worried.
For years, Petunia had resented how her parents welcomed that boy into their home.
But now, she found herself listening closely, waiting to hear if anyone knew where he had gone.
Because despite everything…
Severus Snape had always been a part of their lives.
And now, he was just gone.
Mrs. Evans' Worries
Mrs. Evans wasn't blind.
She had seen the way Severus never had lunch money at school.
She had noticed the way he flinched at sudden movements, the quiet way he accepted food, the way he had once clung to their kindness like it was the only thing keeping him from drowning.
She had worried about him for years.
And now, with no word from him, she was afraid.
Afraid that something had happened.
Afraid that no one was looking out for him anymore.
Afraid that he had no one left.
She didn't say it aloud.
But as she stood in the kitchen, stirring a cup of tea, she couldn't shake the unease settling in her chest.
She only hoped that wherever Severus was…
He was safe.
Tobias Snape's POV
Tobias Snape never realized how much of his life had been built around controlling others…
Until the day he woke up and realized they were gone.
Eileen.
Severus.
Both of them vanished.
There had been no warning, no fights, no slammed doors.
One morning, he woke up, expecting to see Eileen in the kitchen, brewing her damned tea, expecting to hear Severus shuffling around quietly, avoiding his presence.
But the house was silent.
At first, he thought Eileen had simply gone out.
But when he checked their bedroom, her clothes were gone.
And when he checked Severus' room…
It was empty.
A hollow sinking feeling settled into his gut.
He had never thought—never believed—they would actually leave him.
He had believed that Eileen was too weak, that Severus was too scared.
But now, for the first time in decades, he was alone.
And it terrified him.
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