Part 6

"Eileen, where's my coffee ?" Tobias screamed though the coffee mug and the cup were placed on the table. Eileen needed to pour it in the cup and serve him as usual. He had a newspaper in his hand and was scanning through it. It was his daily schedule even on the weekends when he went to enjoy with his companions.

"Coming Tobias. " She answered from the kitchen. She hurriedly placed the toast and bacon on the plate and reached the table. She laid it on the table and poured the coffee.

Tobias took a bite of the toast and made a distorted face.

"Considering the time taken, I hoped that the breakfast would have been better." Even saying that was his daily schedule. Each day either the toast was too hard or too soft. The bacon overcooked or under. The coffee too strong or too weak. He never appreciated her.

Eileen was used to hearing this and always preferred silence rather than arguing back. Even today she did not pay notice and sat down silently. Today her mind was too occupied to ponder upon these trivial matters. She needed to ask Tobias permission to go to the Wizenmagot the coming day.

Tobias was busy reading the newspaper when she called him.

"Huh....What?" He answered without even lifting his head.

"I need to go to the Wizenmagot tomorrow." She said softly.

Tobias folded the newspaper slowly and kept it on the table. He looked at her and asked her to continue. His face was blank. It meant that he was thinking about the matter.

Eileen was confused by his expression and decided to continue.

"The Wizenmagot has summoned me for a hearing for Severus's actions. He used magic in the zoo that day which is not permitted."

By then Severus had come down the stairs. Both Tobias and Snape looked at him. Severus was slightly nervous but still, he came down the stairs and took his seat. Tobias stared at him coldly as he ate his bacon.

"Severus, did you use magic in the zoo? " Tobias asked him with that same blank expression.

Severus's body turned cold with fear and he started stammering. He knew that his father would have found out eventually and he practiced what he would say all night but at the moment only a few broken senseless words came out of his mouth.

"I.....did...not." He stammered with his head low. He did not dare to look at his father's eyes.

"Severus, look at me and answer," Tobias said haltingly. He tried hard to conceal his anger. He could not believe that his son was like his mother or he did not want to. He wanted his son to be like him not like her, a witch who trapped him in loving her with her magic. A man unfit for the normal society. He wanted him to be, well.......just human.

When all this was taking place, Eileen quietly slipped out of the room and ran to fetch her wand. She knew what the outcome would be. She did not want him to hurt Severus, the only trace of her love for Tobias. She reached her room and started scanning the shelf. She picked a book and opened it. It had a special box in it to hide her wand. She took out her wand and placed it in the folds of her dress and ran towards Severus. He was lying on the floor buckled up and covering his head. Tobias was kicking him furiously. She could see the fury in his eye raging like fire.

She quickly took out her wand, pointed it at Tobias, and chanted " Obliviate." Greenlight filled the room and Tobias fell down motionless.

Severus was startled and walked towards his father.

"What happened to him, Mom," Severus asked his mother tearfully. He had Bruises in his whole body. Eileen was late in her rescue. She looked at him gloomily and again lifted her wand and pointed towards Severus.

"Episkey." She chanted. Severus looked at his body and found that the bruises had vanished and he no longer felt its pain.

"What about dad," Severus asked. Though he showed that he cared but he wished that he didn't wake up. He hated his dad.

"Oh, nothing. I just used a forgetting spell. He will wake up."

"So, how will go to the Wizenmagot? " He questioned.

"I will have to go without his knowledge for he will never allow me to go." She answered and she was right in saying this. She knew that he would never like magic in his life.

While they were talking Tobias woke up and looked around confused.

"What happened and what am I doing in the ground." He asked confusedly. He could not remember what happened due to the spell.

"You fell down from the chair and hurt yourself. We were discussing what to do with you." Eileen answered trying hard to conceal her laughter. Even Severus was smiling.

"Well, why are you both smiling. Does this seem like a joke to you." Tobias said angrily. He had no idea about what was happening and he hated that. It felt like it was their doing but he could not prove it.

" Don't you have to go to work. It is quite late." Eileen said showing concern. She wanted him to go so that she could plan her course of action.

Tobias looked at his watch and was startled. He quickly ate his toast and bacon and gulped down his now cold coffee. He did not want to be late for his work. His boss was a strict person and hated unpunctual people.

He ran to the door and slipped his shoes. He opened the door and rushed to the car slamming the door behind him.

Severus finally gave a sigh of relief when he heard the sound of his father's car fading in the distance.

Eileen then went to the kitchen and went about her chores. She had to take Severus's potion-making class later on. Severus also went to his room and prepared for his class. After preparation, he lied down in his bed and suddenly had a thought. He quickly got up and went to his mother.

Her mother was washing dishes in the kitchen when he approached.

He waited for her to finish her chores and when she was done she sat with her on the table.

"So what is it, Severus?"

"Mom, do you love dad? " Severus asked her seriously.

Eileen's body went cold and she felt uncomfortable. She knew what would be his next question and was ashamed to face it or answer it. It was her life's biggest mistake and she could not believe that she had to recall it.

"Mom, are you listening to me," Severus asked her waving his hand in front of her face.

"Yes."

"Then answer me...Do you love dad?"

"Yes."

"Does he love you?" Severus asked her with complete sincerity. Eileen was defeated. He asked exactly what he shouldn't have. Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled her past.