A Life Turned Upside Down

Chapter 22 -

"ALEX!" Two voices cheered as Alex finally entered Snape's chambers.

"WE'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" Hermione cried as she threw herself at Alex.

Alex grasped at Hermione's hair as she bound herself to him crying with relief. "I've missed you too." He said softly in a voice that Hermione had only heard once herself When Alex was truely frightened; the last day of third year as his uncle threw him into the back of his car.

"Oh Alex!" She cooed as she smothered him, never wanting to let go.

"Give my cousin a break Hermione, you're going to cut off his air at this rate." Draco spoke in his velvet voice. Cousin? So Snape had grown a back bone and told Draco the truth?

"Why didn't you contact us?" Hermione asked after letting go of Alex.

"I..." Alex didn't know what to say, "You were better off without me." He finally said defensivly.

"Alex how could you think that?" Hermione's eyes were welling up with tears and Alex couldn't bear to look at her.

"He made me think that." Alex spat angrily nodding over to Snape. "Besides it's true, it was better that I left."

"Quit the bullshit Alex." Draco snapped. "I can hazard a guess at what happened when you returned 'home'."

Alex didn't look at Draco, "It's none of your business."

"You're right Alex it isn't, but do you know what you put your father through by leaving? Not to mention what it did to Hermione!" Draco snarled as he placed a protective arm around Hermione's waist. "They were distraught, no that's still putting it too mildly!"

"Yeah well that makes two of us wishing that I hadn't come back then doesn't it?" Alex spat angrily, "Do you think I wanted to come back? I was ha..."

"Happy?" Snape interrupted, "Yes of course you were happy, that's why Remus was called to your school when you passed out due to your injuries!" Snape added cruelly.

Alex hissed at his father, "You drove me to leaving."

"How? By reprimanding you when you needed it?" Snape smirked.

"Hang on," Draco interrupted. "That day I found you out cold on the floor?"

"You'd broken your promise." Alex hissed at his father. "You'd said you would never hurt me but you did. Hogwarts was supposed to be my safe place but you took that away."

"So you ran, like your cowardly god father?" Snape tormented.

"At least there people wouldn't let me down" Alex challenged

"No, they beat you instead." Snape barked, Hermione gasped to Alex's left and Snape shot her a deadly glare. "Go back to class Granger." He said through gritted teeth.

Hermione was reluctant to leave but another growl from Snape forced her to leave Snape's chambers. She couldn't work out why Snape was acting like this, Hermione and Draco had seen how upset Snape had been when Harry had run off. Why was he acting like this now?

"I wish I'd never come back" Harry spat angrily. "You have you nephew as the perfect son, what do the muggles say? Three's a crowd?" Draco looked confused whereas Snape was fighting to compose himself.

"Stop this foolishness Alexander and calm down immediately." Snape reprimanded. "I have apologized provusley and seemed to accept it but now you are all guns blazing once more!"

"I understand that you are upset and angry Alex but we have to work through this." Snape continued. "I am frightened for you Alex, not just your physically wellbeing but your mental health, i have known others in your situation that have ended their lives because they could not cope. I am thanking the small mercies in life that you are still here, still my Alex. Yes you are broken and you are hurting but I know we can get through this because you're still here." Snape watched as a tear rolled down his sons cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Alex sniffed and then Snape rushed forward and gather his son up into his arms. This lead to greater sobs from both Snape and Harry as the pair rejoiced in each other's company.

"I think we should go and collect your belongings." Snape said softly.

"Just a little longer." Harry pleaded and Snape gave in, rubbing soothing circles into his sons back.

After a few more minutes in this position father and son broke their embrace and weakly smiled at each other. "Well now that's over." Draco smirked. "I think we need to get you out of that fashion abomination!"

Harry smirked before answering, "I haven't got any stuff with me at the moment so this will have to do."

"No, I am not being seen with you like that. I have clothes in my dresser that will fit you perfectly." Draco said walking Alex into their room, he soon found the garments and handed them to his much smaller cousin. "Did they even feed you?" He asked,

"It was a luxury I never received." Alex said coldly.

"Do you need any help getting changed Alex?" Snape asked Alex, "We'll go and get your belongings once you are changed."

"I'm alright." Alex nodded and entered the room he shared with Draco and there he saw his Slytherin cloak just like his father had said.

As soon as the door was shut Alex walked over to it and traced his finger around the Slytherin crest, it hissed as he traced his finger over the snakes slender, silver body. The serpent wasn't as friendly as the Gryffindor lion. Alex slowly began to take off his muggle comprehensive uniform and slipped into the clothes Draco had given him.

Alex refused to look at his body as he buttoned up the black shirt and slipped the emerald green v-neck sweater over the top, he then pulled on his jeans and gingerly stepped over towards the mirror.

His reflection shocked him. He was skinnier than he had ever remembered, the circles under his eyes were the centre of attention whilst his deadly pale skin looked worse against the colour of the shirt. Alex shook his head and picked up the cloak on the bed and was about to exit the room when his father entered.

"Would you show me what they have put you through?" Snape asked softly.

Alex pondered for a moment, stuck with what to say.

"Please Alexander?" Snape pleaded with him. "Just show me the scars, you can show me more if you wish later."

Alex took off his jumper and then slowly began to unbutton his shirt with trembling fingers. Should he really be doing this? What right did Snape have?

"I can't"

"Please?" Snape pleaded with Alex once more as he placed a hand on top of Alex's.

Alex unbuttoned his shirt and allowed his father to help him shrug it off. Snape stood back for a moment and then helped Alex get back into his shirt. "I am so sorry Alexander."

Alex didn't say anything he just put his jumper back on and left the room. Snape was left standing in the middle of the room, on the verge of breaking down. How could he have let his son go through that? Lily's son?

A single tear fell down Snape's cheek as a horrible grief took over him and then the tears flowed, flowed for his lover, his mistakes and his son. At least Alexander was safe now and they could work on being a family again, yes, it would take a while but Snape was willing to try for the sake of his son. Snape felt another tear fall and shook it off as he collected himself before joining his son and nephew in the living room.