He'd seen Michael Evans.
When Severus Snape returned to Spinners End after his Second year, Tobias Snape was already roaring drunk. When he noticed the return of his magical son he'd exploded into a rage. Tobias Snape was a petty man with no great gift; an office worker doing accounting work at a nearby foundry. Severus always suspected the elder Snape was intimidated by his son's obvious greater intelligence. Whether it was jealousy over magical or intellectual gifts or the fact he was a small-minded man that took out his anger and frustrations on a defenceless child didn't really matter. What mattered was the severe beating that followed.
Lily eventually found him in the weed-infested 'park' near their houses. She dragged her battered and bleeding best friend back to her house. Her mum, Patricia Evans, patched up her daughter's friend even as her eldest daughter looked on disapprovingly.
Then Michael Evans returned home. He was a foreman in the same plant where Tobias Snape was employed. That is where the similarity ended. The Evans man shared his youngest daughter's eyes but he was incredibly strong from lifting heavy loads all day in the heat of the foundry. While he wasn't built like a Muggle body builder, he was arguably the strongest man in the plant. He was also fairly intelligent and a leader amongst the workers. He also was known for a wicked temper and being the last man standing in pub brawls. He never started the fights but by God he finished them.
When Mr Evans heard what happened, he simply nodded and offered to walk Severus home. (The laws of the time hadn't given him much choice.) During the short walk to Spinner's End, Severus took comfort in the man's quiet, solid presence.
When he arrived home, Severus opened the door and Mr Evans followed him in. Tobias Snape saw his son and started yelling and moved forward to strike him again. He never noticed Mr Evans until the man's hand was clamped about his neck and hoisting him off the floor. Mr Evans effortlessly held the man above the floor and delivered a promise that if Tobias Snape ever touched his son again in anger it would not happen a third time.
The scared little man never touched his son again.
The expression, tone, and even the words were almost exactly what Severus Snape had just experienced again… except this time they were directed towards him. The only Muggle ever to defend Severus Snape and now to see him again in his grandson…
"Severus?" Dumbledore called out. "Severus, are you okay?"
"Potter is dangerous. He should be expelled."
"Come now Severus. I am sure if we simply keep them separated for now their tempers will cool."
Snape forced a sneer onto his face. "Mark my words, professor. Potter is the most dangerous student you've allowed in this school since the Dark Lord himself. Maybe even worse. The Dark Lord fought for power. Potter will do it because he thinks he is right ."
Severus left without another word. He needed to reign in his Slytherins. They would have to take their revenge subtly, not through open confrontations with Potter. Yes, Potter was only a Second year now but time would take care of that. The brat was third in his class academically and was showing signs of being potentially the most magically gifted student in several years no matter what he told the brat in class. The Prophecy said Potter would have the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. What could that be but magical power?
In any case, Potter was a danger to his students. The brat might be the key to eventually stopping the most evil wizard to ever exist but Potter was a danger to his students NOW. Somehow he would have to make the Headmaster see that.
...
Want to read ahead. Then Join my Pa*treon for the mass release of 60+ chapters that has happened.
Even Free members can enjoy 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: p*atreon.com/Divine_Quill (Remove the *)
Join Right Now