Secrets and Protection

Bickering and More Bickering - Chapter 7

Raven flatted her back against the wall when the door flung open. She did not know what to expect next. Something could come flying through the door at any moment. If it did, it would not be the first time she had seen it happen. As a young child she could remember the fights her parents would get into. Objects flying with and without the help of magic. Curses and hexes being tossed back at one another. Raven had learned most of the curses and hexes she knew from those fights. Just then a glass orb came hurling out the door; the currently one-armed witch used her good arm to catch it before it shattered on the ground. Kylean and Snape didn't even notice their daughter walk in as they were too busy yelling at one another about something Raven could not even grasp, but she was certain that the argument had started over how she was treated in potions. From there it probably had lead into a fight over nothing as it normally did. The young witch shrugged as she sat down on her mother's bed, took out her wand and cast a silencing charm on both her parents. Immediately the room was silent as the two elders' mouths moved wordlessly. Raven was quite shocked that it had worked-- this was the only thing that went right for her today. Within a second both sets of eyes were on Raven and they did not look too happy, but their faces changed some when they saw their daughter's right arm in a sling.

"Looks like I got your attention now," the child said as she got ready to raise her wand to let them talk, but hesitated for a moment. "Finite Incantatum," she spoke to halt the effect of the silencing charm that she had cast upon her parents. Raven then slid to the corner of the room, waiting for the duo to explode with anger over the stunt.

"What on earth were you thinking, child? " Kylean growled at her daughter, but softened her tone when she noticed her daughter's arm. "What happened to you?" the mother said as she went to examine the damaged limb.

"Herbology and bouncing bulbs happened," Raven said icily as her gaze turned to her father, "but I have you to blame for making my day so horrible. You never did give me that detention. So what is it going to be? Cleaning frog brains from the ceiling?" she said with venom. She was less angry over what had transpired in Potions that morning, but it was easier to focus her rage than to be wracked with fright over the dream she had.

"Raven," Snape scowled, "you are just like your mother," his voice transforming the comment into an insult. "How did you expect me to treat you in class? You made a foolish mistake. Did you expect me to coddle you in class just because you are my daughter?" The berating father stopped there as he could see the look of agitation on his child's countenance, "Wipe that look off your face this very instant. I am not going to go soft on you when you make foolish errors. Your mother might not have yelled at you in class but she informs me you were making mistakes that you should not have been committing in her class as well," Snape said in a calm, even tone. He noted with pleasure that Raven's face softened as she realized that her father was making some sense.

"It was my first day, in a new school. First-day jitters got the best of me," the daughter yawned. "I promise I will do better to make the both of you proud," Raven continued with a roll of her eyes.

Kylean ignored the teenager's childish tone, "Let me take a look at that arm." The mother approached her daughter and removed the sling, "Raven, that arm looks horrible. How come you did not tell me earlier you hurt you arm," the mother asked knowing her daughter had Herbology before her class. "Was this another one of your foolish mistakes? How could you not have been more careful with bouncing bulbs?" Kylean said as her anger grew.

"I knew you would act like this," Raven stared down at her mother. "Besides it's all his fault. His Fault. His fault his fault," Raven said, her tone reverting to that of a five year old. "It is his fault for his past," Raven growled looking for a scapegoat

"Enough," Snape bellowed as he turned to the two women. "You are not five years old any longer, Raven. I suggest you stop acting as one. Don't you dare blame my past. You know that has no relevance in relation to your quite recent acts of stupidity," the sour man spat at Raven.

That was all Raven needed to hear, "I hate you. You are nothing but a mean evil git." Raven stormed out of the room, but not before stomping on her father's foot.

"You are going to let her speak to me in this fashion?" Snape curled his lips with anger.

"I am not going to get in the middle of your fight with your daughter. You handle her," Kylean said as she pushed him out of her room.

"Not getting involved was always your specialty," the potions master hissed at his ex-lover.

"It's a wonder why I ever dumped you," Kylean said in a sarcastic tone. "Now leave before I cause you some serious pain!" the woman's voice echoed though the hallway. The ex-lovers then locked their eyes together in a brief glaring contest. The loathing between them was evident. Snape retreated back to his dungeon without a word.

After Snape was gone Kylean clenched her fist tightly. "That man drives me completely crazy," the irritated woman slammed the door to her room so hard that a few cups that were on the shelf near the door fell off. It was a pity, because she knew that while on the surface Severus was a difficult person to get along with there was a time when he had let her see what was inside. Unfortunately, that side of him had retreated long ago, and she would probably never see *that* Severus ever again. Kylean sighed, quickly burying old memories of happiness that had begun to resurface unbidden. No, she was better off hating the man.