Chapter 1--Home
Author: Maryh
Muggle father, witch mother. How common. How many other cases can I name? The most famous is the Dark Lord himself: muggle Tom Riddle, witch Merope Gaunt. It's also more common among Slytherin witches. And they usually use a potion or spell of some kind.
That's what my mother did. She wanted my father because the wizard they had picked out for her would have lorded it over her, and his status didn't make it worth her while to put up with it. Tobias Snape was a reasonably well off working-class man, and she knew she'd be able to wrap him around her finger. That's the usual reason Slytherin witches go for muggle men.
Mother loved cooking, and she loved potions. I can't remember a time when I didn't help her in the kitchen. Of course, she always had the love potion going, to keep Father bound to her. I still know the ingredients and the procedure by heart. It was when I was one of those hazy ages after three but before you remember things clearly when she told me it was "to make sure Daddy keeps loving me". "What potion do you take to make you love me?" I remember asking. "No potion, no potion at all," she said. "You're magic all by yourself." I was quite pleased with the answer.
Father had a temper. He'd yell at Mother, and usually I would manage not to be there. I can't say that I felt much for Father one way or the other, but I detested his outbursts. It was ridiculous for anyone, especially an adult, to lose control like that, and it was even more disgusting because I knew that Mother could stop him with a flick of her wand hand. Once, Father caught us both in the sitting room. After that, Mother started brewing another potion, and Father's outbursts stopped. I learned that one by heart too.
I don't remember exactly when I found out I was a wizard. The Princes didn't visit often because they didn't approve of my muggle father. And I went to a muggle school until it was time for Hogwarts. It was funny, really. Mother would talk about potions and call us magic, but never Father. When I was very little, I believed her literally. Then I went to muggle school, and found out magic was just pretend. Then I found out that for us, for Mother and me and Grandma and Grandpa Prince, it wasn't. By the time we got the letter from Hogwarts, I already knew.
I knew there were other witches and wizards in the world. But I wasn't particularly interested in meeting them. The Princes were the only ones who ever visited us, although rarely, and it was never pleasant. I imagined that all the other witches and wizards lived among muggles like we did - I couldn't conceive of entire wizarding villages or schools or buildings. That was fine with me. Having magic among those who had none seemed a very satisfactory way to live.
I was the top student in my muggle school, and whenever I had trouble with bullies, Mother would give me something from her cauldron. The other kids soon realized that bad things happened to kids who bothered me, and left me alone. They avoided me, too, which I encouraged - I preferred to be alone. If I actually wanted any muggle companionship, it could be arranged.
It was a bit of a shock learning about Hogwarts when I was ten. Of course, it made perfect sense when Mother told me about it. I should have figured out myself that something like Hogwarts must exist. Magic is not only an inborn ability but a skill that requires training. I suppose I had some idea that Mother would teach me all I needed to know.
Posted by Madmaxime at October 22, 2005 02:21 AM