When the Moment comes

Severus hunched his shoulders and hugged battered books close. The corridors were abuzz with students hurrying to the great hall. A rumour circulated that Dumbledore had an important announcement.

“Out of the way mutt.” Someone rudely pushed Severus. The Marauders gang ran past him. Sirius Black, athletic adolescent with curly hair and piercing, grey eyes, paused at the entrance and gave Severus the nastiest look, which set the boy on guard. He slowed down letting professor Flitwik go into the hall first. Professor’s entrance was followed by loud gasps and a thud. Laughter exploded. Unnoticed, Severus snuck through the doors and ran to the Slytherin table. Red faced James was helping drenched professor Flitwik up apologizing profusely. Beside him Black was pale as a mummy clutching half empty pumpkin juice jar. Severus almost rolled his eyes. How pathetically obvious they were. The Marauders kept trying to trip and drench him with something sticky three years in a row and it never worked. He avoided them. Just as he didn’t fight his stepbrothers, Severus didn’t retaliate against the gang either. He was dreadfully afraid to be expelled from Hogwarts. The school was his only hope of ever gaining freedom. One more year, he told himself, one more year. He made it into the seventh year despite numerous obstacles. He was going to turn eighteen after he graduated and then he would disappear. Tanya could not find out. She would have him trapped as her servant forever. She burned the first Hogwarts letter brought to him by the owl. She argued that indecent filth like him had no right to be educated. Then she was summoned by the Ministry of Magic where she met Headmaster Dumbledore. She came home seething with fury and beat the boy. Regardless, she had no choice but to let him attend Hogwarts. He feared revenge. Stepmother would find him back in school should he attempt to flee earlier. He had to wait. Luckily, he had the patience to endure.

“Your attention please.” Dumbledore tapped his throat with the wand. His voice was carried loudly to every corner of the hall. “A very important announcement. This year, Hogwarts was honoured to host a great Halloween celebration. The crowned prince had completed his magical education last year. He will be turning nineteen.” Dumbledore raised a hand to calm feet stomping, fists banging against the tables and loud cheers. “All our guests attending will be from the most respectable schools of magic. There will be three consecutive balls. It is no secret that the King wishes for his son to find an appropriate match. All students over sixteen are welcome to attend the celebration.” It took several red fountains of sparks and a booming, ‘SILENCE’ to settle the crowd. Younger students yelled it was unfair. Older ones were all too pleased with the arrangement. Fights broke out. The teachers were right there to interfere. Over four hundred points in total were lost before the noise subsided.

Something large and soft hit Severus on the back of the head. It was a black, crumpled garbage bag. He turned around to glare at the neighbouring table.

“Here is your ball attire, Snivellus.” Black shouted. Beside him Pettigrew and James snorted loudly. Remus was smiling tensely. “You can cut holes in it and put it over your head.” Black continued howling with laughter. “Maybe you can invite prince for a dance.” Pettigrew choked on his drink.

“If you’re very lucky he might pity you and let you clean out the palace chimneys.” James continued mocking him. Black couldn’t talk anymore. He could hardly breathe. “It doesn’t look like a new chore to you. Greasy git. Are you using your head to do it at home? No wonder your hair is like a mop.”

Severus would gladly agree to clean chimneys in the palace, as long as he did not have to live with his stepfamily, but he refused to tell them that. The Marauders were laughing but the gleam in Black’s eyes suggested that he would not have minded following Severus out of the hall and giving him a beating in a quiet corner. “Worry about your own petty life Potter.” Severus spat venomously. “Is that Lily kissing a Ravenclaw perfect?” He pointed behind them. All four boys turned around. Lily innocently sat laughing surrounded by girlfriends, no Ravenclaw perfect in sight. When they looked back the offensive Slytherin was gone. Black sighed disappointed and vowed to take revenge.

Meanwhile Severus ran through the corridors towards the dungeons where Slytherin dormitories were. He held the ripped books close. Only he knew their true price. They were his freedom. He worked hard to acquire them. Tanya may have allowed him to attend Hogwarts but nobody mentioned that she was responsible for providing him with the necessary school supplies. The books were bought on the collected money he earned working every Monday and Wednesday in the evenings as an assistant in Hogsmeade apothecary. Kind, elderly wizard who owned the shop offered the child a clean up job mainly out of pity. Soon, however the child proved most hard working and valuable. As Severus’ studies progressed, Master Wollow allowed the child to assist with uncomplicated potion brewing. He liked the quiet child very much but never dared to show his affection openly, worried that he might be misunderstood. Sometimes Severus dreamed the old potions Master would take him as apprentice once he graduated. He was very good at potions. He got an O every, single year. That was a wistful thinking of course. He would have to hide from his family and go far, far away. When he was not helping Master Wollow, he studied until darkness each night. On Fridays in the evening he went home with Basil and Kerdo where his stepmother gave him endless chores until he could barely stand on Mondays. It hurt to be called names by everyone when he hardly ever had time even for a brief shower. He usually fell asleep exhausted after work. Not that Tanya ever was happy to see him clean. The uglier he looked the more it pleased her. He would give anything for a nice, relaxing bath.

“Password?” Without looking where he was going his feet carried him to the dormitories.

“Serpent blood.” Severus replied without sparing a look at the painting, which learned long ago not to delay him. The boy was not the one for idle conversation. The painting with a soft click granted him entrance. The breakfast was not over and the common room was still empty. He had about twenty minutes before the classes started. Best part was that Basil and Kerdo would not miss stuffing their faces for the world. Most unfortunately for him, they also got sorted into Slytherin. Between them harassing him in the dormitories and Marauders haunting him outside, Severus hardly ever found a moment of peace. An edge of a dark bruise appeared on his arm and Severus awkwardly pulled the sleeve in an attempt to hide it. Of course the opportunities to be left alone came during the mass celebrations. His stepmother never allowed him to take part in any. She never signed the Hogsmeade permission form. He never attended a real ball, only imagined them in his dreams. They must be magnificent. The students always came back in groups with shining eyes, laughing and gesticulating widely and remembering the experience in the following weeks. He lurked in shadows listening to descriptions that could only have come out of the fairy tales. Severus sighed, realizing that day dreaming is not helping him get any work done. He closed the transfiguration book and went to class.