Revelation, Retribution and Renunciation

A/N: To everyone who has been reading, thank you. To those who have been reading and reviewing, thank you very much for encouraging and supporting me.

Warning: This story contains religious content.

Chapter 3: Revelation, Retribution and Renunciation

Early Sunday morning, Eileen stared out the front room window, watching the falling snow. Perhaps they won't come. No one would want to travel in such weather... Even in a magical way.

She was hoping against hope they would decide to miss her son's baptism. Seeing her mother and father would be at least tolerable, but to have her brother in the house...

Eileen shivered, drawing her dressing gown closer to her. She started when her husband came up behind her and wrapped his long wiry arms around her. "This weather is unbelievable, isn't it. I don't ever remembering this much snow in my life, let alone in one winter."

"Should we take him out, Tobias?" Eileen asked, hoping that her husband would want to stay home.

"It's only barely cold enough to snow; any warmer and it will change to rain. I'd rather take Severus out in the snow than in a cold rain," her husband answered. "Just bundle him up well." He handed his wife a small package wrapped in brown paper. "This is from my sister; she wanted to make something for her godson."

Eileen carefully opened the package and held up a simple white baby gown. For all of its simplicity, it was well-made from excellent quality linen and would last through several children. She held it to her cheek. Making her way across the tiny room to where Severus was squirming in his basket, she draped the pristine garment over him, admiring the contrast between the white fabric and his black hair. He looked so sweet and innocent.

Her sister-in-law had been so quick to accept her, if only her family had taken to Tobias as readily. Her parents had been tolerant of the match; it had saved them from trying to marry off the youngest child who stood to inherit so little of the family's tiny wealth. This was further complicated by the glaring fact that she didn't even have a pretty face or a sweet disposition to make up for it. Actually her parents had seemed rather relieved. Her eldest brother on the other hand...

"He looks to be a right handsome lad," Tobias said with obvious pride in his voice. He slipped his rough work-worn finger into the baby's hand, smiling at his son's firm grip. "Healthy and strong, just like his mam."

Eileen admired her tiny son. "I can't believe she went to all of that trouble. It's so beautiful and perfect."

"My sister is very fond of Severus... and you," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Enough dawdling. If we're going to Mass this morning to have Severus baptized, we need to get moving."

With a sigh of resignation, Eileen hurried to dress and brush her hair. As she changed the baby and looked down at his sweet face, she felt an unaccustomed wave optimism wash over her. Perhaps everything would be fine after all.

With the snow blowing around them, Eileen and Tobias made their way to the chapel. His sister and her husband were already there, and to Eileen's relief, her family was nowhere in sight. Perhaps things would go well after all. Tucked in his warm nest, Severus slept soundly through the service. As they stood for the final blessing, Eileen relaxed, certain that she was spared any embarrassment only her family could provide.

After the Mass was finished and the chapel was empty except for the family and a few older people, Eileen reluctantly took Severus out of his carrying basket, worrying that it was far too cold for such a small baby. No sooner had the priest invited them to bring the baby forward and began the opening rites than he stopped mid-sentence. Eileen turned to see what caused the strange expression on his face, and she felt her heart sink. Standing at the back of the chapel were three figures dressed in long, dark, fur-trimmed cloaks. Her parents and brother had decided to come after all.

Horrified, Eileen watched as they found places in the pews. The young mother forced her attention back to her son and the rite, focusing on the Latin. The baby took everything well enough until the icy water from the font was poured over his head. He howled in protest as he was proclaimed a member of the Church in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Some of the old ladies smiled at the sound of his healthy lungs. Eileen turned her dark eyes to meet her husband's soft brown ones. There was no mistaking the love and pride that shone in them.

Father Carrington congratulated the young parents and gave the family a final blessing. Eileen tried to listen to his kind words, but her eyes kept straying to her parents and brother. She barely heard Tobias' sister as she explained that their youngest child was ill and being looked after by the older ones, and they needed to go straight home. Eileen managed to acknowledge her when her sister-in-law promised to visit as soon as possible. Eileen thanked her for the baby gown, promising to use it for their next child. Her sister-in-law gave her a parting embrace before she and her husband prepared to brave the weather. Now she had no choice but to face her parents.

"Oh, let me see him, Eileen," her mother crooned, her eyes bright with happy tears, as she hurried forward.

Eileen hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse to tell her mother. "Wait until we get to the house, Mother. It's too chilly in here for him."

"Nonsense!" The old woman wasn't about to be put off.

"Eileen," her father broke in softly, "your mother hasn't seen him yet."

"Fine, but just for a moment, I need to get him home for a feeding." She handed the baby over to the waiting arms of his grandmother. What if they Disapparated with him?

Instead of vanishing with her grandson, the old woman cuddled and fussed over the infant. Severus made a cooing sound in response to the attention. Her father joined in the affectionate display, but her brother watched from a slight distance, a greedy look in his eyes.

Eileen shivered; although she wasn't certain if it was from the cold or the expression on her brother's face. She reached out for her son. "Please, Mother, it's cold in here."

"Oh, very well," the woman said, reluctantly returning Severus to her daughter.

William took a few steps forward, asking, "Is he a normal, healthy child, Eileen?"

Tobias, who had to this point remained silent, now became defensive and stood behind his wife. "Of course he is. Eileen takes excellent care of him. He's strong and healthy."

"I am certain she's an exemplary mother, Tobias," the older woman said, diffusing the potential for an unpleasant exchange. "As Eileen pointed out, it is rather cold in here. Perhaps we should be getting the baby to your home. I would rather like to fuss over him a bit more." Eileen's mother smiled warmly at her son-in-law while casting a warning look at her son. Eileen knew that William would never dare cross their mother.

Eileen looked at her husband and tried to force a weak smile as she bundled the baby back into the carrying basket. She hoped to smooth all of this over with Tobias on the walk home. She felt she might be able to... if only they were going home by way of Belfast.

Tobias quietly closed the door behind him. "I honestly don't mind having your parents here, but I didn't expect you brother to tag along."

"Neither did I," she admitted with a sigh. "He came with Mother and Father; I can't very well send him away."

"Then we will just trust him to behave himself, and if he doesn't, I'll throw him out on his ear." He took her coat and hung it on the line of pegs next to the door.

A stab of fear shot through Eileen. "Please, let Mother handle him. He knows better than to cross her."

"I take it your mother was the disciplinarian."

Memories of the punishments inflicted on her and her brothers came to mind. Eileen answered, "Believe me, there was no such thing as waiting until Father got home. In fact, I would have preferred to deal with Father when I was in trouble; he was far more lenient than Mother, even on her gentle days."

Tobias shook his head in disbelief. "I can't imagine your mother thrashing anyone."

"She didn't have to," his wife answered dryly.

A knock sounded at the door before Tobias could question her further. He opened the door and welcomed his wife's family into their home. Eileen's mother praised her daughter's house-keeping skills as she handed over a covered basket containing some of her daughter's favorite foods. Her father shook hands with his son-in-law and kissed his daughter. William, however, hung back and looked about the room with sneer, clearly conveying that the tiny dwelling was not worthy of accommodating his presence. There was a painfully awkward moment before Tobias retreated to the kitchen with basket.

While he was gone, Eileen's parents settled on the old sofa and engrossed themselves with the pleasant task of spoiling their only grandson. William stood over them, watching the baby with that same greedy expression he had had at the chapel.

"Oh, Eileen, he's so beautiful!" her mother gushed. "I take it he is eating and sleeping well."

"He still sleeps almost all day and is up mostly at night, but he's a very good baby."

Her father looked up at her. "Perhaps you could come and visit once the weather is warmer."

"Oh, yes, Father," William scoffed behind them. "I'm certain all of your friends would love to meet your son-in-law. Shall I invite some of my associates over that evening as well?"

"It would be limited to immediate family," their father replied bluntly, ending the conversation.

William pressed on. "Don't you think they would love to see how much the Prince family allowed itself to be lowered? Money dwindling... land sold... daughter permitted to marry riffraff... bloodlines diluted... How very... impressive."

"William, that's quite enough!" the Prince family matriarch snapped. "We are content with your sister's choice in a husband, and you should be as well."

"She has been stripped of her heritage, Mother! She has been forced to turn her back on what she is." He pointed a long, thin finger at Severus, who let out a whimper. "Do you honestly think your grandson will ever be permitted to visit you and learn our ways? I am positive it will not be allowed. His sire is nothing but..."

"Stop it, William," Eileen pleaded, and Severus began to cry in protest at all of the chaos around him. She held her son to her shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"I suggest we get a few points settled," said a resolute voice from a cross the room. In response to the commotion, Tobias had entered the room, his eyes blazing in anger. "I didn't force your sister to convert, William; that was her own choosing. All I asked was that our children were raised in my faith."

"This is not a question of religion! Far from it! Eileen has other secrets... darker secrets to keep from you. She--"

William was unable to finish his sentence. In desperation, his mother had drawn her wand and hexed his mouth closed. Tobias stared uncomprehendingly at the delicately carved piece of wood in his mother-in-law's shaking hand. "Bloody hell!"

"Get out all of you!" Eileen screamed, tears streaming down her face. The baby's wailing became even louder.

"Eileen, I'm so sorry," her mother whispered, her hand pressed to her mouth.

Her father reached out to her, clearly upset by the abrupt revelation. "Your mother and I--"

"Just leave." Without warning, her parents and brother vanished with a loud crack.

"Holy Mother of God!" her husband cried, falling to his knees.

Eileen turned away from him and did her best to quiet the shrieking baby. Once things had quieted around him, his screams turned to a hiccupping cry and finally faded to a whimper. She held his tiny shaking body to her, feeling his heart pounding wildly. All of this upset couldn't be good for him. She stroked his hair, pleading, Please don't let him die. I may lose Tobias, but I can't lose my son.

Only after the baby was calm did she dare look at her husband. Tobias Snape was kneeling in the middle of the room, clutching the crucifix on his rosary. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. Slowly the frightened look turned into a dangerous one. For the first time, Eileen was afraid of her husband.

"I don't suppose you want to tell me what exactly is going on here."

Severus gave another miserable hiccup, distracting her. "I...."

"Eileen, I want to know what is going on, and I want to know now!"

She lowered her head. For better or for worse, the truth was going to come out. She took a deep breath and steeled herself as if she was about to dive headfirst into an icy lake. "I'm a witch, Tobias. My entire family can use magic."

There was a dreadful silence in which the only thing that could be heard was the baby's whimpering. Tobias snorted a weak laugh. "There's no such thing."

No, she never expected him to believe her. "Some people have a gift..."

"No, there must be another explanation," he said, cutting her off.

"I-I can prove it if you don't believe me." Without waiting for him to answer, she retreated to the bedroom. After tucking the baby in between two pillows, Eileen dug her wand out of the back of the drawer. She stared at the finely carved piece of ash with it's core of unicorn hair. It looked like a child's toy, but it held the power to hurt or heal, give pleasure or pain.... What would she do if Tobias decided to abandon her and the baby? She kissed her son and headed back down the stairs all the while thinking, What if he leaves me What if he decides to take the baby from me? Will I be forced to hurt him to keep my son?

Downstairs, Tobias was standing mutely where she had left him, conflicting emotions shifting across his face. She said, "Go get something off of the shelf. It doesn't matter what it is; just pick up anything."

He stumbled over to one of the shelves and picked up a book...Grimms' Fairy Tales, no less...and held it out in his hands. Eileen waved the wand and said, "Mariposis!"

With a snap and a puff of blue-ish smoke, the book turned into a butterfly, left her husband's shaking hands, and fluttered about the room. Tobias...half-amazed, half-fearful...watched it until Eileen whispered another incantation, causing the butterfly to disappear and the book to fall to the floor.

"How did you do that?" He picked up the fallen book, turning it over in his hands, looking for evidence of a trick.

"It's called Transfiguration," she said as matter-of-factly as possible, hoping to make it seem like a normal thing. "Transfigured objects don't stay transfigured, so it's really only helpful for the short-term. I can..."

"How could you keep something like this from me?" Tobias snarled suddenly. There was no ignoring the sense of anger and hurt in his voice. Any hope that Eileen may have harbored for a peaceful outcome was destroyed with those furious words.

"I never said anything to you because I doubted you would believe me."

"You should have told me!"

"I couldn't!" She covered her face with her hands, sobbing, as he screamed things at her, using words she had never hear him utter no matter how angry he had been. "I never meant to hurt you, Tobias. Please, believe me."

"Why should I?" Tobias shouted.

Eileen turned her beseeching face towards him. "Because I love you."

"You don't know anything about love, Eileen!" Tobias snapped. "You don't lie to people you love! You don't trap someone you love with deceit."

The words hurt more than if he have struck her. She lowered herself into the nearest chair and continued to cry. She looked up when she heard the doorknob rattle. "Where are you going?"

"Out!" He snatched his coat from the its peg by the door, thrusting his arms into the sleeves.

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know." He jammed his hat on his head and flung open the door. "If I come back, it will be to get my things."

The pitch of her voice rose with panic. "You have to come back! Think of Severus; he needs you."

"If he's going to be the same as you, I don't want anything to do with him." Tobias slammed the door behind him.

Eileen stared at the door, trying to decide what to do. She jumped to her feet and yanked it open. Outside, the light snow had changed to a frigid rain, obliterating the traces of footprints so that she couldn't tell which way he had gone. In desperation, she called his name, but there was no answer...not that she really had expected him to answer. She stepped back into the house and closed the door behind her. There wasn't anything else to do but wait and see if he returned.

She slowly climbed the stairs to their bedroom. Curling up on the bed beside her son, Eileen went over the morning's disaster in her mind. This never would have happened if her brother had stayed away. Her mother and father would have kept her secret, but William had to poke his cruel, prying nose into her life. There was no doubt in her mind that his actions had been intentional. He had adamantly opposed her marriage to Tobias from the start. He had called her a blood-traitor more than once and had refused to attend her wedding. Now he had purposefully exposed her secret, knowing that her husband would most likely leave her. But why would William do such a thing? Spite? Possibly. So he could gloat when she was forced to return to her parents or starve in the streets? There wasn't much chance of that happening. She may not be the most talented individual, but she wasn't entirely without resources.

A tapping noise at the window startled her. Eileen could see the outline of a owl. As soon as she opened the window, the drenched bird landed on the footboard of the bed and shook the water from its feathers. Eileen took the letter from the bird's beak. At first, she thought it was from either her parents or her brother. Catching sight of the official seal, she realized that things were even worse than she thought.

Dear Mrs. Eileen (Prince) Snape,

Reginold Hornby

IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE

Ministry of Magic

RH

She reread the letter a few more times to reassure herself that the Ministry would not be barging in any moment and taking her wand. The second part of the letter troubled her. Now that she had been given the opportunity to make it as if the ugly incident had never happened, Eileen was tempted to just allow the Ministry Obliviate Tobias and have him remember some heated argument with her brother over religion. It would be so much easier to have Tobias return to his state of blissful ignorance.

"But I would know," Eileen whispered to herself. Now that Tobias knew her secret, it was better to deal with the situation...no matter what the outcome would be.

Severus woke up, smacking his lips. Eileen realized that he hadn't been fed since before church. She kicked off her shoes and slid herself and the baby under the warm blankets. Settling him next to her, Eileen smoothed her son's hair as he ate. There wasn't much sense in dwelling on her brother's motives. For now, she would focus on her son. The exhaustion that had been pressing her for the last several weeks began to take over. Eileen felt her eyelids grow heavier and heavier until she drifted off to sleep.

The creak of the floor boards woke Eileen from a deep sleep. Tobias was standing at the foot of the bed, watching her and the baby. There was a tender look on his countenance that made her wonder if she was actually waking up from a vividly horrible nightmare. She carefully sat up, closing the front of her dress. "You're back."

"I am." The gentle expression on his face hardened. He turned away from her and pulled a battered haversack from the tiny closet.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing." He began to stuff his clothing into the pack. "I'll be speaking with Father Carrington by the end of the week to arrange a hearing for an annulment."

"An annulment?" The thought of their marriage no longer existing made her heart skip a beat. It hurt that he didn't even want to admit that he had ever been married to her. "What are you going to tell him?"

"Something you wouldn't understand.... the truth," Tobias said coldly. The words were like a slap across the face. Eileen sat on the bed, making herself hold back a fresh round of tears. "And just so you know, I'll be petitioning for custody of Severus. He will not be raised under your ungodly influence."

"You cannot take my son away from me! Do you honestly think any Church official will actually believe you when you tell them your wife is a witch?"

"You'll show them."

"I can't do that, Tobias." He glared at her, and she rushed on to explain. "The only Muggle, non-Magic person, I'm allowed by law to let know about abilities is you. It's permitted because we are expected to trust the person we married."

His voice rose angrily, dangerously. "Yet you didn't think it was worth mentioning before I was trapped..."

"Why did you ask me to marry you?" Eileen broken in quietly.

"What?"

"Why did you ask me to marry you?" she repeated. "I'm not pretty, my cooking is mediocre, I have no real accomplishments to my name, and no money to speak of."

"I was attracted to you." He clenched his rough hands into fists. "Maybe you had something to do with that, some spell or some concoction."

"To what end? Why would I forsake a reasonably comfortable life for one of hard work and struggle?" Severus began to stir, and Eileen picked him up. "My parents would have found a match for me; I wouldn't have ended up a lonely spinster unless I wanted to."

Tobias didn't move or speak. He looked at the floor.

"I love you, Tobias, but I will not try to hold on to you if you don't want anything to do with me." She stood up, shifted the baby to one arm, and took a few hesitant steps toward her husband. "I was wrong to keep what I am from you. I broke your trust in me, and in the process, I hurt the two people I love most in this world: you and Severus. Look at me... look at us... and tell me you don't love me. If you can do that, I will do what you ask and free you from this marriage."

He kept his head bowed, and Eileen could see that he was shaking slightly. She reached out to touch his hand. When he didn't pull away from her, she slipped her small hand into his large one. Tobias' eyes met hers, and she could see the conflict reflected in his dark brown eyes. He was furious with her, but she didn't blame him for that. There was a flicker of love that encouraged her. After a while, his other hand brushed back several black strands of hair that had pulled loose from the knot at the back of her head.

Tobias looked at his son. "I want to forgive you...for his sake. But I don't know if I can."

"If you would be willing to try to forgive me, I would give up magic. But I don't want to make the same mistake twice. When and if Severus shows signs of magic, I want to tell him." When Tobias opened his mouth to protest, she held up her hand to keep him from interrupting her. "If he is like me, he will need to learn how to control his abilities, how to use them wisely. Magic is both a wonderful and dangerous thing. It can be used for noble purposes, or it can be twisted by greed."

Tobias stared down at his son. Eileen wondered if he shared her thoughts. How could the soft bundle in her arms ever be anything but innocent and pure? Eileen was not naive. The magical world contained as many dangers and temptations as the Muggle one. Preparing her son to shoulder the responsibility that accompanied his abilities was not a mistake she could afford. Just before she married Tobias, she had heard there were several purebloods within the Ministry who were pushing for change... high level positions to be held only by those with pure bloodlines... Muggle-borns to have no status within the wizarding world... Muggles...

She didn't want to think about the fate of Muggles if any of these things came to fruition. She herself was considered a blood-traitor, contaminated by the Muggle to who she had committed herself. The only way to protect her son was to teach him how to live in such a precarious world. She began to feel light-headed from the scope of the obligation before her.

"Eileen, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." She looked from her son to her husband. The baby was wide-awake, observing her with a gaze that suggested he knew exactly what was at stake. "I just realized how difficult it will be to raise him. Tobias, I can't do this alone. He needs both of us."

Tobias touched the side of her face. "I made a vow to spend the rest of my life with you; no matter what God decided to test us with. I will honor that vow."

Gratitude washed over her so powerfully that she couldn't even begin to thank him. She gave a choked sob and rested her head on Tobias' shoulder. Eileen felt the familiar sensation of his arms around her. As she lifted her face to thank him, Tobias silenced her with a kiss. No matter what happened, she was determined to never betray his trust again.

A/N: Next up the scene Harry saw when he blundered into Snape's suppressed memories.