Your parents were fond of Eileen Prince, a former old friend that they went to school with when they too were young and lively. She grew older and married off to a muggle man named Tobias Snape, they only ever had a single child and that was Severus.

Severus' house always seemed rather tumultuous. His father would physically and mentally hurt Eileen, maybe physically as well. He did it not only to Eileen but to Severus as well, which obviously affected him.

Tobias came home with a letter and slammed it down the table, calling out for Eileen. They started talking in low voices but Severus could hear it all.

A family was coming to visit..old friends coming to visit..Severus loathed having people around, mostly because he'd know that they would judge his living style, his looks, and just basically everything about him and his life.

Eileen then called out for Severus to come downstairs, in which he hesitated but came down nonetheless out of fear, not wanting to get an earful from his father.

His mother explained to him that he must dress nicely and wash up for a formal family was coming to visit, bring their own child along, {{user}}. How exciting. Bringing strangers over and their kid, just what Severus needed.