Chapter Three
The Secret Life of Severus Snape
Chapter 4 of 8
OzRatbag2When Eileen Snape listened to the hushed warnings of her sister, Kathleen, little did she realise that her decisions regarding her son's education would affect not only him, but also her only grandchild. Written for Sunny33
ReviewedThe Secret Life of Severus Snape
Chapter Three
The next years of his schooling followed a very similar pattern, with the exception that Lily actively sought him out on more than one occasion. Oh, she used schoolwork as an excuse, but as they were paired in Potions by Professor Slughorn, David decided that this was a huge plus for him to have the prettiest girl in their class working with him since their first year. It was her choice of friends that wasn't particularly tolerable, but Lily acted as a buffer from the Marauders' excesses on occasion. Sirius Black, the prat from the train, and James Potter were the worst of Lily's friends, but they usually waited until Lily wasn't around to torment David for his heritage, parentage and anything else that seemed to garner an angry response. The worst thing was when they gave him the nickname of Snivellus, in direct response to his upset and pain at realising that he had no true friends, and was reviled by his housemates for his lack of background and by everyone else because he'd ended up in Slytherin house - the home of all bad wizards. Black particularly liked to torment David with a sympathetic audience to make the teasing all the more malicious. If only he'd waited until he was safely in his dormitory before he'd given into the pressure of constantly acting a lonely role during those first few weeks of his first year.
The most laughable slur Black chose to repeat often to whoever happened to be around at that chosen moment was the idea that Snape had known more curses and hexes than any other first year. Many of the students and some of the teacher's believed Black implicitly, and it made Snape all the more feared. What no one chose to examine was where he might have learnt those tricks, particularly when Sirius Black had come to Hogwarts with a healthy arsenal of nasty curses himself.
Self defence was still regarded as the sole domain of the Gryffindors and other houses. Anyone from Slytherin using such an argument usually found themselves carpeted by whichever teacher happened to catch young Snape in the act. More often or not, it was Professor McGonagall or Headmaster Dumbledore who expressed disappointment in his antics, glossing over the fact that he had, more often than not, been goaded in the extreme by both Black and Potter. In the four years he'd been at Hogwarts, he'd never really managed to outwit either Black or Potter not that he hadn't tried hard enough in the process. No, any curses or hexes he knew and tried to adapt, had been first perfected on him by the golden boys of Gryffindor Tower.
~*~
And so David resorted to schoolwork as his outlet. He knew he was bright, loved reading and exploring new ideas and the like. Hogwarts gave him the opportunity and permission to extend himself outside the realm of simply maths, science or the beauty of the written word. All too often he occupied quite happily a quiet spot in the library pouring over not only his assignments, but a large number of extra books that looked interesting, or might come in handy at some stage. It was no surprise that he was one of the top students in his year, along with Lily Evans who also threw herself into learning and adapting to this new and strange world. David liked her a lot. In fact, any thoughts of Jane took a smaller part of his thoughts when Lily was close by. David liked to think that Lily might be interested in him as more than a friend, but she seemed content to have David as a friend, nothing more. So they bounced ideas off each other, shared bibliographies and generally were content to work peacefully side by side in the dignified confines of the library stacks. Sirius and James couldn't attack him openly in the library either, though he was constantly on his guard when Lily left him by himself. Leaving the quiet peace of the stacks meant that David knew absolutely that his tormenters would be waiting for him to leave, and then they'd attack him slinking away like the cowards they were only for him to hobble back to the relative safety of his dormitory. Just once he wanted to get the better of both of them - just once, but the opportunity had not presented itself so far.
~*~
The isolation David felt so keenly at Hogwarts was directly opposite to catching up with his mates from primary school once he got home to Harrogate. Most of them, including Jane, had all gone to the local comprehensive in Harrogate. David, along with several other children had instead been shipped off to other boarding schools, though no one else was magical. It was a relief to hop off the train each holidays and feel relaxed at home after an obligatory night spent in the dank and dreary terrace in Spinner's End. This was done to reverse the foul brew he had to drink each week at school to mask his appearance, and because Lily Evans also lived in the same town. What better way to have a few precious hours talking to Lily without the need of constantly watching his back as he did at Hogwarts. As David grew older, he found the more he hated the terrace in Spinner's End. It was merely a stopping point on his way to Hogwarts or the shell he hid in for a solitary night as he shed the persona he'd been forced to assume by his mum, but he couldn't ever see it being a home. Living above the shop in Harrogate was always warm and secure. It was his sanctuary and one David relished returning to because it meant he could throw off the secrecy and artifice of his day to day school life and simply be himself. No, it seemed to David that the snobbery and hatred he elicited at Hogwarts was nowhere in evidence where it really mattered - at home, and as much as he enjoyed his lessons, he had no idea just what he was supposed to do for a job once school was finally finished with, in three years' time.
Oh, there were the half-hearted jibes from his friends about not knowing any of the latest bands, or why David never talked about school and the teachers like his friends did, but perhaps the hardest thing about straddling two worlds was that David always felt the uncomfortable sensation that he didn't really fit in anywhere. It didn't stop him from meeting up with Jane and the others and hanging out at the local chippy or milk bar. Then there were the mornings they all converged on the local record shop, laughing and looking through all the new psychedelic colours of bands with far more popularity and street cred than any of them could claim. There was always the thought echoed by all the boys that these chaps never had to worry about pulling a bird, the general consensus was they had to beat the groupies off with a stick, and wouldn't that be fun for a lark. All any of them could do was drop hints for birthday presents and wish. None were truly from families who were flush with cash, and so the most they all could do was window shop and scour the local paper for the very scarce holiday delivery jobs. When they weren't roaming up the high street or lounging around making a bag of greasy chips last for as long as possible, as they took turns feeding the jukebox, there were the impromptu games of football in the local park, or the occasional game of touch footy or cricket.
~*~
Had David understood just how hard the next two years would be on his psyche, he might just have chosen to flee to the Muggle world and do something, anything to avoid the pain and ostracism hurtling towards him.
~*~
AUTHOR NOTE: This was written for Sunnythirty3 for the recent 2013 SSHG Exchange, but could not be completed in time to post. The first part is complete and the second in the process of being written. If you're looking for hawt sexxors, then this isn't the story for you. There is some swearing, along with the judicious use and misuse of canon.
Many thanks to the fabulous team of Scattered Logic and Magically25 who have helped me get the story to the stage it is at currently. Without their input, I doubt this would be half as good. I am truly very, very lucky to have had their continuing help. Any remaining mistakes (yes, my comma fetish) are mine alone.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Secret Life of Severus Snape
28 Reviews | 5.0/10 Average
omg. i could kill dumbledore. What a twat!
Interesting idea. Looking forward to reading more :)
It is going to be a very long seven years, for Severus/David.
My heart is breaking, for both Severus and Hermione.
How very kind of Dumbeldor to teach David how to split his personality, so he can be a useful tool for him.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Yes, he's the consumate manipulator. After all, who would willingly send a child to a home to grow up knowing he was regarded as something akin to excrement, and thereby forge a tool he can use...later.JKR may have wanted the last laugh against a teacher she hated, but her treatment of Harry is remarkably similar to David/Severus' - eerily so.
It's really interesting to see how he's managing his personas and it's equally disturbing as well. This dichotomy is going to be important in the course of things, yes? I love the meta of this whole concept.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you so much! :)It will be important and it's been one of the hardest things to do - separate the personas and then deliberately weave them together. How I've actually tried to do it will be more clear once the first few chapters of the second part post. This could have been a prompt that sponsored a one-shot, but why do anything easily? 
That putrid sack of crud, what "thugs" Potter and Black are the thugs, and they get off scott free .
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
~dances with joy~ I do like it when readers get a strong emotional response from my chapters, because it's exactly what I was after! :)I've always hated Sirius with a passion because he is the typical bully, self assured and able to pick the outsider quickly and efficiently. That JKR used him as a window for Harry as a close friend of his parents leaves a particularly sour taste.Dumbledore turns a blind eye to the bullying because it suits his purposes to do so. After all, who better to spy than the youth who is completely ostracised and almost invisible? Mind you, David will have the last laugh. ;)
Love the twist. I don't think I've ever hated Dumbledore more and that's saying something. You should be so very, very proud.
In my heart, I wish David had told him to go stuff it and left him to create a new pawn, but then we wouldn't have this wonderful setup for whatever else you have in store, so I will persevere.
I've always felt that Lily could and should have done much more in that scene, if she was any type of real friend. I certainly would have.
Response from arynwy (Reviewer)
I've always felt that Harry was much better friend material than his mother and I totally agree with you as to why she made the choice she did. It was a frightening time and she wasn't a social outcast like Sev, Hermione and to a lesser degree, Harry himself.
I also understand that Harry was in a position to take the risks because he had nothing to lose except his own life, which he didn't put a high value on due to his upbringing. Lily did what was easiest and most logical - what all of her peers were doing.
This is why I've always felt that Harry's group was stronger than that of the Marauders and that his generation could be the one to break the cycle of war and prejudice. Lily never would have reached out to Draco. Harry could and did.
The parallels between Harry and Sev's lives always manages to fascinate me. I tend to imagine James and Lily sitting there, forced to watch Harry live a version of Severus's and her childhood combined, seeing how he makes the difficult, but correct choices over and over again as a form of penance.
I've written a book here... going away now and looking forward to your next update. I wish you happy writing as always!
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you so much! :DIt took ages to write this chapter, just as one of the chapters in the second part is still giving me grief, but I'm so pleased it works. It really sets up the second part and gives the window to what Harry saw in the pensieve during his Occlumency lessons with Snape.Yep, I really wish he had too, but then I wouldn't have a story. ;)She could have and should have, but I tend to think Lily understood the dynamics of the world she'd been thrust into as an 11 year old. Realistically, would she have risked losing her status in Gryffindor for someone she knew had earned the ire of Sirius, James, and to a lesser extent, Remus and Pettigrew?Honestly, I don't think so, as wrong as that is. It's only when Lily snares James that her place is secure in the magical world, though for only a brief moment.She's painted as a heroine, when in reality she seems (to me from my judicious misuse of canon) far more fickle with her friendships.
My heart is just breaking for David.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and things will get better for him. :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and things will get better for him. :)
Loving the contrast from his school days to his holiday times. Talk about messing with his brain! :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Always! :) I'm a cruel author the way I torture the characters, no matte their guise. :p
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Always! :) I'm a cruel author the way I torture the characters, no matte their guise. :p
Peter is right, of course. Eileen is a fool to trust that devious old tyrant Albus Dumbledore. Safest place in Britain my eye!
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and you're right, Eileen has placed her trust in someone with an agenda. :)I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and you're right, Eileen has placed her trust in someone with an agenda. :)I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Very interesting. And I love that his dad is a Granger, of I'm sure those Grangers. Poor Severus having to deal with all this at the age of eleven. I'm inclined to agree with Peter.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! I was looking for a different slant to Severus' backstory, and the bunnies deliveredd. To deal with this at such a young age, when he's too young to understand just what his mother is asking, is pretty dark and dastedly, but I really do love the character of Peter Granger. he appeared almost fully formed. :)I think it Peter had a smidgeon of magical blood, David would have had a far more different childhood, but then I wouldn't have had a story. ;p
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! I was looking for a different slant to Severus' backstory, and the bunnies delivered. To deal with this at such a young age, when he's too young to understand just what his mother is asking, is pretty dark and dastardly, but I really do love the character of Peter Granger. he appeared almost fully formed. :)I think it Peter had a smidgeon of magical blood, David would have had a far more different childhood, but then I wouldn't have had a story. ;p
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! I was looking for a different slant to Severus' backstory, and the bunnies deliveredd. To deal with this at such a young age, when he's too young to understand just what his mother is asking, is pretty dark and dastedly, but I really do love the character of Peter Granger. he appeared almost fully formed. :)I think it Peter had a smidgeon of magical blood, David would have had a far more different childhood, but then I wouldn't have had a story. ;p
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! I was looking for a different slant to Severus' backstory, and the bunnies delivered. To deal with this at such a young age, when he's too young to understand just what his mother is asking, is pretty dark and dastardly, but I really do love the character of Peter Granger. he appeared almost fully formed. :)I think it Peter had a smidgeon of magical blood, David would have had a far more different childhood, but then I wouldn't have had a story. ;p
This is a very interesting and intruguing start. Can't wait to see where it goes from here.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and I hope the story continues to intrigue you! :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you, and I hope the story continues to intrigue you! :)
You can't just throw a Granger in there with no explanation!!! Something tells me David doesn't have such a nice time of it at Hogwarts...
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I know, cruel of me isn't it? ;)I think your hunch may be quite accurate, but there is a silver lining in all of this. It just won't be apparent for a while. :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I know, cruel of me isn't it? ;)I think your hunch may be quite accurate, but there is a silver lining in all of this. It just won't be apparent for a while. :)
Okay, you've got me hooked. Now what is going on?
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :) Music to my ears to hear I've hooked you from the prologue. May you continue to stay hooked.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :) Music to my ears to hear I've hooked you from the prologue. May you continue to stay hooked.
This story get more and more interesting. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the plot.And the writing is superb too!And the people! I like how Eileen is pictured as more complex and with no possibility of leaving her bad husband because she has shamed her family. It makes good sense.Looking very much forward to the next chapter.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! :) I wanted to show Eileen as more complex than a battered wife. She's an individual who has her own journey, even though what she has done to D/S is questionable. No one, not even Severus is black and white.The next chapters are in the queue.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! :) I wanted to show Eileen as more complex than a battered wife. She's an individual who has her own journey, even though what she has done to D/S is questionable. No one, not even Severus is black and white.The next chapters are in the queue.
Ohhh, Dumbledore promised, that's alright then what could possibly go wrong.
Granger! any relation to a future know it all, there must be, this is getting interesting.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I know, a kindly old man with not a manipulative bone in his body. :pMaybe... :D
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I know, a kindly old man with not a manipulative bone in his body. :pMaybe... :D
Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that Jane Jones becomes Hermione's mum?
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I think your sneaking suspicion might be right on the money. :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
I think your sneaking suspicion might be right on the money. :)
mmmm 
Interesting premise, never seen this one before should be quite a ride.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :) I believe I can safely guarantee that this going to be something very different and I owe it all to Sunnythirty3's prompt. Without it, I would never have had the bunnies doing somersaults. ;)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :) I believe I can safely guarantee that this going to be something very different and I owe it all to Sunnythirty3's prompt. Without it, I would never have had the bunnies doing somersaults. ;)
Interesting beginning, looking forward to more.May I assume since it is posted in Potions Under Duress that Sev and Hermione will be an 'item', so to speak?
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Hmm, yes, they'll be an 'item' but not quite in the way I think you're suspecting. The clues are all in the summary, and though it may not be regarded as SSHG in a romantic sense, it's location in Potions Under Duress is for a very good reason. :)/cryptic clues
Response from snapes_witch (Reviewer)
Oh dear, I hope my suspicions are wrong . . .
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Hmm, yes, they'll be an 'item' but not quite in the way I think you're suspecting. The clues are all in the summary, and though it may not be regarded as SSHG in a romantic sense, it's location in Potions Under Duress is for a very good reason. :)/cryptic clues
Response from snapes_witch (Reviewer)
Oh dear, I hope my suspicions are wrong . . .
Yay! *more happy dances* So pleased to see this posted here. :D
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
~hugs~I will never be able to thank you enough for the absolute gift of a prompt that fostered this story. I just hope that when I write 'The End,' you'll end up with a gift that no one in their right mind ~twitch~ would ever think of doing. :D
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
~hugs~I will never be able to thank you enough for the absolute gift of a prompt that fostered this story. I just hope that when I write 'The End,' you'll end up with a gift that no one in their right mind ~twitch~ would ever think of doing. :D
So, Severus, selectively Obliviated, renamed and relocated away from the Evanses. Hmm. I'll bite.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Umm, no, not really (sort of) but it's a good guess. :) The story is long, involved and should be clearer when the first chapter posts. I hope it entertains as I unravel canon bit by bit.
Response from arynwy (Reviewer)
Now, you've really got me sitting here wanting more.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you for such a fabulous compliment! :) Once the story is fully finished, I believe I can safely say that I think it will be the best thing I've ever written.The whole story is plotted out, the first part and part of the second part complete...and now I just need to nail the bunnies to the desk and finish it off. :p
Response from arynwy (Reviewer)
::pushes box of #3 nails along with my most comfortable hammer through the screen::
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
LOL - Hold that thought and I'm sure you'll enjoy the chapter in the second part which is making me laugh even louder. :D As for the bunnies, they appear to be co-operating currently.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Umm, no, not really (sort of) but it's a good guess. :) The story is long, involved and should be clearer when the first chapter posts. I hope it entertains as I unravel canon bit by bit.
Response from arynwy (Reviewer)
Now, you've really got me sitting here wanting more.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you for such a fabulous compliment! :) Once the story is fully finished, I believe I can safely say that I think it will be the best thing I've ever written.The whole story is plotted out, the first part and part of the second part complete...and now I just need to nail the bunnies to the desk and finish it off. :p
Response from arynwy (Reviewer)
::pushes box of #3 nails along with my most comfortable hammer through the screen::
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
LOL - Hold that thought and I'm sure you'll enjoy the chapter in the second part which is making me laugh even louder. :D As for the bunnies, they appear to be co-operating currently.
Interesting start. I'm looking forward to see where this is heading.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you and though it will be slightly different to my usual stories, I hope people enjoy what the bunnies dropped off thanks to Sunnythirty3's delicious prompt. :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you and though it will be slightly different to my usual stories, I hope people enjoy what the bunnies dropped off thanks to Sunnythirty3's delicious prompt. :)
About time you joined the land of the living again! *grin* Good start. Let's see some more. SOON!
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :)Another chapter is in the queue and I'll add a further chapter to the queue this afternoon after I've had some sleep. I do nights, so it's off to the cot for me.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
Thank you! :)Another chapter is in the queue and I'll add a further chapter to the queue this afternoon after I've had some sleep. I do nights, so it's off to the cot for me.
Poor David, he is a round peg in square hole. I get the horrible feeling that manipulating old twit,{ AKA Dumbledor } has had a hand in this.
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
He is, and I wanted to show that no matter who he has to be a Hogwarts, his future is determined by that fiction. As for Dumbledore, I don't think he had a prior thought that he could 'use and abuse' David, but when the opportunity was presented to him, he grabbed it with both hands. I trust Dumbledore about as much as I trust Sirius - not that much. :)
Response from OzRatbag2 (Author of The Secret Life of Severus Snape)
He is, and I wanted to show that no matter who he has to be a Hogwarts, his future is determined by that fiction. As for Dumbledore, I don't think he had a prior thought that he could 'use and abuse' David, but when the opportunity was presented to him, he grabbed it with both hands. I trust Dumbledore about as much as I trust Sirius - not that much. :)