When the Moment comes

“You rotten dog! Get away from there!” Severus hissed angrily. He would have shouted if he was not afraid that someone in the mansion might hear him.



The stepfamily always defended the bulldog, despite the annoying mongrel’s tendency to chew shoes, turn over and shatter objects in the house, and to bite guests. Butch’s favourite chew toy of course was Severus. This is why the dog was welcomed to stay with the family. The dog was worth in nastiness every bit as much as his owners. He was as ugly as Basil and possessed a disagreeable Kerdo’s personality.



Currently, the dog was amusing himself by digging up a flowerbed with rare autumn violets. Tanya planted them during the summer. The flowers were capricious. Half of them died before the season. Tanya accused Severus of having a negative influence on her extravagant, expensive flowers. Thus, he did not want to be blamed for the rest should the flowers get destroyed due to the dog’s entertainment.



Severus’ stay at the mansion did not need to be prolonged. Tanya executed her revenge for the hex by sending an owl to the Headmaster after the ball. In the note she lied that Severus contracted a case of chizels, a highly contagious wizard disease which turned the skin angry red and itchy. The infliction had no cure and thus needed to be waited out, which could last from a day up to a month. He didn’t care to guess how many jokes he will have to endure about being slimy once he returned to school, although hygiene had nothing to do with the curse. No doubt his stepbrothers were informed by their mother and spread most disgusting gossip about him.



Severus had to secretly get Kerdo’s notes to find out what he missed at school. It was not much, but at least his stepbrother never missed his school work because he never looked into a single book starting every Friday night, until Monday. Severus hoped Tanya might release him soon if nothing went wrong at the mansion, before he fell too far behind in studies. Sadly, no one would help him catch up should that happen.



At least, unlike his stepbrothers, the dog could not complain to Tanya if Severus managed to kick him in exchange for multiple bites. With that in mind, Severus grabbed the nearest garden shovel and approached the dog. “Get away from there.” He said menacingly.



However, Butch hardly needed anyone’s protection. The bulldog spat out a clump or earth and flowers. He snapped formidable jaws that were equivalent to a bucket of a muggle excavator. He eyed the shovel like he considered snapping it in half like a twig. Butch growled lowly.



Severus didn’t back off. “One of these days I am going to turn you into a toad.” He promised darkly. Assuming the transfiguration worked. Since this was a guard dog, majority of the spells bounced off his thick fur, completely harmless to the animal.



Butch was not impressed by the threat. His paws dug into the ground throwing large clumps of earth back.



Severus prepared to whack the bulldog with the iron end of the shovel when the sound of hooves clicking against the road interrupted the standoff.



Butch instantly forgot about the challenge to his right of destroying whatever he wanted in favour of his adored hobby – chasing a rare passer-by near the mansion. Tongue lolled out over the teeth, Butch charged across the lawn.



Recognising that maiming another wizard is bound to bring him more trouble than a destroyed flowerbed, Severus followed the dog. “Don’t you dare.” he called, running as fast as he could. In an instant they reached the gate just as their target approached from the opposite side.



Grab the stranger by the foot and drag him off the horse, Severus guessed the dog’s tactic at once. He inwardly groaned at the inevitable. It was impossible for him to catch the dog before Butch reached the stranger.



Anticipation glowing like coals in the goggled eyes, puddles of drool trailing behind him, Butch was within a meter of the target when suddenly there was a brilliant flash of white light accompanied by a snap.



Severus nearly collided with the dog. Butch fled twice faster than he attacked. His coat emanated a thick trail of smoke which stunk acridly. A little impressed and a little afraid to suffer the same fate, Severus nevertheless thought he had to apologize to the wizard. The first thing at his eye level was a well-groomed stallion. Rich, delicately embroidered leather harness and a saddle indicated even to a complete ignoramus, at the first glance, that the stallion belonged to a noble owner. Severus inwardly groaned again. The nobles were unpredictable. They could either dismiss the incident with an elegant gesture or cause a great disturbance. His glance traveled up the long, muscular leg, dark-blue folds of the cloak, and a broad chest. “Excuse me, Sir, please accept…” The words stuck in his throat when he saw the face which haunted his dreams. Paling like death, Severus dropped the shovel and ran exactly as the dog had done moments ago. He didn’t get far. Strong hand wrapped around his waist and he was lifted in the air to be seated in front of the wizard. In despair, Severus twisted like an eel trying to break free at any cost.



“Please, be still.” He heard a quiet command. “I don’t want to harm you.” Severus went limp. Pain he understood.



Heavy silence settled on them.



“I didn’t mean intentionally.” Eradian said eventually, revealing understanding about many things, although this situation shocked him beyond words. He didn’t know yet details of the tragedy, but no wizard should have looked worse than a beaten house-elf. He was looking for a dream and found a nightmare.



“I don’t suppose you would. You are not capable of that kind of cruelty.” Severus replied bitterly, jealous of the Butch who was allowed to run away. He should not have doubted. Eradian would never hit or curse anyone defenceless, even when he was furious. He had every right to be angry with Severus. All Eradian had to do was to say mildly that he wanted nothing to do with a slimy, dirty liar who dared to pretend to be someone he was not.



After the ball, with the shoe in hand, Eradian went to see his father who approached the issue with the outmost seriousness. He appointed a committee responsible for getting the list of every student who attended the ball.



Within a week the committee, carrying the celebrated shoe, began making house appointments to the appropriate families. Their progress was much slower than initially estimated. Every family stalled them by insisting on offering tea, engaging in civil and completely irrelevant small-talk and batting eyelashes hopeful to capture attention, should the shoe experiment fail, of the perspective match in the court. Within two weeks, sleep deprived Duke, appointed in charge of the committee, expressed frustration with the affair and claimed that he required more than tea and biscuits for survival.



Eradian took pity on the wizard who was his father’s most trusted friend and advisor before the heir was born. Eradian took the shoe away and decided that a change of tactic would hurry the process. He intended to pay visits to several families, who attended Hogwarts, unannounced, to ensure they had no time to prepare the tea. He rejected all offers of escort. Bigger group would attract more of the unwanted attention and gossip. Eradian was difficult to ensnare in a conversation he had no interest in. How long could it possibly take to try on the shoe? It was easy so far because everyone was willing, but Eradian was uncertain whether the one who captured his heart wanted to see him again. Why did the young wizard flee? Eradian thought he was beginning to understand.



The young wizard was gaunt. Dirty rags, a house-elf would disdain and refuse to wear, hardly disguised the protruding bones and countless bruises. Greasy hair covered the face. However, the motion used to have this curtain fall into place was familiar. Thin arch of the aquiline nose remained visible behind the strands. Most incredible, the voice, that weaved a web of sorcery around a willing listened, was what Eradian had imprinted in his memory. Skinny limbs were cold. The youth wore no shoes. Eradian wrapped a corner of his cloak around the caught wizard. “What is your name?” he asked neutrally, keeping the anger at those responsible for the youth’s condition out of his voice. He did not care at the moment who did it; the abuse was undisputed.



“Snape. Severus.”



He heard a resigned answer. Eradian brushed the greasy strands away from the far too pale face. Dark eyes scared to death burned in contrast with the white skin. The youth was tense, gathered into a ball of nerves waiting for a blow. He looked close to fainting. “I was looking for you.” Eradian explained. Eradian intended to pay the first visit to this family. Snape was recorded to have prestigious lineage; nobleman, pure wizards through generations. He could not remember clearly, as he was young, but he heard this name mentioned before at court. It was some sort of scandal, someone died perhaps. Possibly, the Lady used to attend the court before her family became more important. The mystery could wait. His, should be reassurance, scared Severus more. “I care about you.” Eradian said as sincerely as he could manage. ‘Love,’ seemed too overwhelming at the moment.



Severus went from scared to confused, until his look hardened into a glare. “Don’t toy with me.” The glare revealed impatience, like the youth was waiting for someone dim-witted to grasp a very simple concept. Someone else might have found it belittling and thus offensive, Eradian found it adorable. Despite the unexpected disguise, he recognised his escaped date when Severus looked up at him. Eradian reached into the saddle bag to get the shoe. He slid it delicately on Severus’ foot; a perfect match. Because the scowl had no abated, Eradian kissed the corner of the tightly pressed together lips.



Severus jerked away. “Are you insane? Why would you care?” he questioned strictly.



“Why not?” Eradian said mildly.



Severus shrugged exasperated, then gestured degradingly at himself. “Look at me.”



“I see, you.”



“Have you lost your sight?”



“No, just my heart.” Seeing this was going nowhere, Eradian drew the stubborn wizard close in a lose hug. The cape folds fell around Severus hiding him from the world. “I am familiar with your family’s name Severus. What I don’t know is why the heir to this title is treated like a slave, however, I will ask an official or two to contact the Ministry of Magic for a detailed report. They have a special branch in charge of these affairs.”



Despite the mild tone, Severus heard a subtle threat to the few high ranking officials responsible for those affairs, should the findings fail to satisfy Eradian. “You are the Prince.” It was no longer a question. At the ball Severus didn’t know who Eradian was, besides someone whom he learned to trust. Only after Kerdo began telling his mother about the shoe and the noise made by the committee sipped through the information cracks to the mansion, did Severus piece together the rank of the wizard.



“Good. This means I can promise you; no one will harm you again.” Eradian suppressed an urge to wrap Severus in the cloak and carry him far away where the young wizard could be healed. He wanted to, ever since he lifted the youth onto his stallion. Once again he summoned the patience, which his mother claimed to be one of the greatest wisdoms of this world.



“I believe you,” the words were so soft, they were barely heard, “for all the absurdity.”



Eradian wanted to shout in glee. “Do I have your permission then to take you away from here? We can leave right now.”



The wizard stiffened in his arms. “No. Not yet. I can’t. I owe it to Rosy and Amber. I have to tell them where I am going.” He also remembered a small picture hidden deep in the basement, which was a part of his life. Severus escaped an embrace and looked down considering how to get off. The stallion was seven feet tall.



Seeing the desire to dismount, Eradian returned his charge to the ground inwardly frowning. Severus hardly weighted anything. “Very well, I will return for you to this gate tomorrow at the same hour.” He told the young wizard.



‘And Merlin save this house should some force prevent you from being here. For no rock shall be left unturned.’ He thought watching the slim figure return to the mansion.



Unknown to them another figure who came to investigate the source of the howling and barking saw everything from the cover of the trees. As fast as his fat legs would carry him, Basil also ran to tell his mother.