Aug 12, 2005

Severus leaned on his cane as he walked along the cobblestone road in the dingiest area Cokeworth had to offer. The entire area was eerily silent, the majority of the areas residents having left many years ago, leaving the old groaning buildings empty except for the occasional family who had the misfortune of being unable to afford anything more.

"You filthy cunt!" Severus heard the a deep male voice bellow from a nearby alley way. The bellow was followed closely by a loud smack, a high feminine yelp, and the crash of an old trash can.

Severus was far since used to this. The area was common to abusive relationships. His own parents were a good example of that. He ignored the sound of the woman crying as another slap sounded through the alley, continuing on his way towards his home, cursing internally for not taking another street.

"Mommy!" Severus paused on the street when he heard a little girl cry.

"Honey, go back inside!" He heard the woman sob, though she was clearly trying to hide it.

"Mommy!" He heard the sound of small footsteps splashing the small puddles that remained on the ground from this mornings downpour.

"Listen to your mother!" The man yelled and the next thing Severus heard was another smack followed immediately by the little girl screaming. Severus sighed, his brain screaming at him to not get involved. The jingle of a belt buckle made his decision before he could think otherwise.

He moved to the entrance of the alley and slowly stepped into view, looking at the man Severus immediately regretted his decision to get involved.

The man was at least an inch taller than him, and seemed to be twice his weight in muscle. The man stood over the little girl, his belt in his hand as he looked up at Severus.

"What are you looking at cripple?" The man asked. "Get out of here! This ain't none of your business.' He ignored Severus as he raised the belt into the air. The little girl looked up at him screaming as the belt came down.

The girl winced and braced herself for the blow, but it never came.

Severus had had every intention of handling this without magic, but he had no time to do anything else.

Severus pulled his wand out of his sleeve, not even thinking anymore that these were muggles. Severus raised his wand and with a flash of blue light, the man was propelled backwards into the wall of the building behind him. The belt fell to the floor with a clatter as the man fell to the ground. Severus walked over to him, his cane click on the cobblestones.

He raised his wand again, already surprised the Ministry wasn't on his ass.

"What are you?" The man asked, his eyes wide. Severus rolled his eyes.

"Merely a man. Nothing more." He said using another non verbal spell, knocking the mans head back into the wall knocking him unconscious.

Severus turned and walked past the little girl who was no longer crying, just sniffing and staring at him with wide eyed wonder.

He saw the woman getting up from the ground and winced at the bruise and split lip she had.

"Thank you." The woman said. Severus sneered at her.

"I wasn't protecting you!" Severus said to her bitterly, "I was saving her."

"I know …" She said quietly. "Thank you." She said. "I … I can't protect her from him."

"Then leave!" Severus said angrily. How many times he'd wondered why his mother hadn't. there was no excuse, especially when it came to the safety of your child.

"I can't-" Severus cut her off.

"No, you can! You won't!" Severus said turning from her. "You're a coward, and your child is the one paying for it." He walked away from her and towards the entrance of the alley.

He heard the soft patters of little feet in the puddles before something tugged at his pant leg.

He paused and looked down to see the little brown haired girl, a fist full of his black pant leg in her hand. When he looked at her she faltered, despite how confident she had been running up to him.

"Fank you, sir." She said quietly, still holding on his pant leg. It didn't seem like she was going to let go any time soon, and he didn't want to just shake her off as his immediate response wanted to.

"You're welcome." He said quietly, the little girl smiling up at him before running back over to her mother.

((A/N – Man I'm just busting out the writings today – if only I could focus on one damn story at a time. Anyway, if you like this please leave a review. Please keep in mind I'm not abandoning the other fics, I just have so many story ideas going on in my head I'm like me after I've eaten a bowl of captain crunch "WATCH A MOVIE RP VIDEO GAMES COMICS BOOKS READ HARRY POTTER FANFICS SNAPE REMUS TEDDY DOWN WITH THE FIRE NATION PLAY A VIDEO GAME DO IIIIIT NETFLIX!" but you know ….. in regards to multiple fanfics …. Anyway as always please review, I won't have any new ones coming out anytime soon, so I'll just be updating the ones I have up from now on.))