Part 4

Severus retreated to bed pondering over the day's events. His father arrived home late and was so drunk that he was brought home by two of his friends on their shoulders. His mother was resting in her bed when all this happened. So, not wishing to disturb her he led his father to his bed where he fell asleep immediately. He then softly tiptoed to his room where he sat down on his bed and stared out of his window. His room was more of an attic than a room, but he still didn't mind being there as it kept him away from his father and he could practice spells without any disturbance. He learned almost all spells from his mother's book of spells which he silently used to read while she was away or working. Though he learned all spells, still he fancied the dark arts spells more than others. It suited him and also made him feel less worthless. He learned the accurate incantation and steps with a piece of a stick as he was unable to practice it with a real wand but still, he was quite good at it.

He felt proud reflecting upon the day's event for he was able to save his mother from that man. The effect of the spell was just as he anticipated it. But the question was, who was that wizard and why did he want to hurt them. He did not look like a criminal rather he looked rather polished and gentle. As he lied on his bed he started feeling thirsty. He starts looking around him and spots the glass of water on his table.

'Accio' He says loudly with the stick in his hand pretending as if he was chanting a spell. He had been doing this for a long time, from the day he found his mother's book of spells and potions.

'Well, whom am I fooling? I can never be a wizard.' He mutters to himself.

He gets up to fetch the glass of water when the door opens.

'Where did you learn that spell, son' she asked him angrily. It was illegal for a kid to practice spells outside Hogwarts and she couldn't allow him to do that too for it was not safe.

'I.....Nothing...Mom' he stammers.

Eileen even knew about the day's incident. She received a message from the Ministry of Magic while she was sleeping. An owl brought it to her. At first, she did not believe it and went to Severus to ask him but after watching him recite the spell she got sure.

'Did you use a spell to save me in the park, Severus' She asked.

Severus was confused as he thought that she would be proud of him but that was not the case.

'I thought...you would be happy, mom' he said with his head down.

'Well using spells is no joke, Severus...You could have got hurt.

'But I didn't, mom. Instead, I saved us.' He was starting to get a bit angry. His mother sensed his anger and decided to soothe him.

'Severus, it is not right for a child to practice magic in open...There are rules for that and you can't break them.'

'Sorry, mom' He felt depressed for the only thing he liked doing was magic and that was taken away from him.'

His mother sensed his dismay and felt sorry for him. 'Well, you can't do magic that doesn't mean that you can't do anything magical right.'

Severus didn't know what she was talking about but still decided to give it a try.

'Okay, then from today we learn potion-making'